Lonely Star: Fanfiction/RPG discussion

[piosenniel]

*drumroll*

Today on the Star is 20 Cermië

21 Cermië - the Telerin ships arrive

22 Cermië - the rescue - begins dead of night for this day - say around 11 p.m. and runs into the next day --

23 Cermië - when Gorthaur plans to kill all the prisoners starting early a.m. (6:30) - and Bird rescues the last two sacrifices

Anyone know when the sacrifices take place, btw. Pio should probably know this, so she doesn't leave Bird stranded.

keep in contact, birdie!

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[mark12_30]

PIO: ...torture begins at one am, final death around three am. But by one-oh-five, you're too late...

SHARON: ...thank you Ancalimon!!! Hear, hear!!!

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Birdland]

'Practicing, Pio!'

Pio shook her head. This was like trying to undo a very tangled knot. She arched her eyebrows at the two and asked once again. 'Practicing what?'

'What Ms. Birdie taught us, Pio.' cried Shell. 'This!' said Coral holding out her hand.

Pio gasped in surprise, and then laughed and hugged the two girls. 'No need to find Ancalimon now.' she thought to herself. 'Did you do this yourself?'

'Oh, yes, and we have lots more!' Coral's smile turned to a scowl as Shell slapped her for telling their secret.

Molotov Cocktails?

[Birdland]

I'm going to be gone from around 3:00 to after midnight today. Is this going to pose a problem for the sacrifice and rescue, or is that going to happen tomorrow.

Do I need to go look for that gosh-darn Rosie? Better hope I don't find you, Rose, you haven't lived until you have a neekerbreeker scolding you 3 inches from your ear!

[Mithadan]

Correction to Piosenniel's timetable. On 22 Cermie, we enter the caverns at 11:00pm, led by Levanto, per our conversation with the Elders.

As usual, I will not be able to post much over the weekend. Given the absence of others as well, I doubt that the rescue can begin before Monday, and even so it appears that Helen will miss much of the fun (if that be what it is called).

[mark12_30]

Nevertheless, I am content. As long as the Esta story can go in, which is the leadup to the rescue, and Gamba and Azraph are on their way to the temple on time for Bird to fetch them. (DON'T FAIL ME BIRD!!)

If I get the chance before I leave, I'll write something for the rescue battles or a few bits about the swim down the river.

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

It looks like we're ready to go ahead then, except for the rescue of the errant Rose.

I assume that Pio or Mith will also do the arrival of the Teleri.

It looks like our plan is to get Helen's posts up by Sunday night, and start the actual rescue on Monday.

Bird, could you go ahead and find the errant Rose before 3 p.m? You can drag Cami along if you like. Go ahead, I dare you to wake her up in the middle of the night. She can be testy.

If you don't get to do that before you leave, I'll hack something out on it late this afternoon (unless Rose reappears!)

Helen, I'll work on a few things that we discussed about Cami seeing some of the things happening to Gamba. I'll either post those myself (I'll try, but it's hard on the weekend) or send them to you. You can always stick them in before or after yours in the same box. Or better yet, reserve me a nearby "box" just in case. Is that alright?

sharon

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

*thinks of Berkeley in the sixties,the smell of pepper gas in the air, men in uniforms with big clubs*

Molotov Cocktails?

These are little girls after my own heart! They did ya proud. Bird!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pat --

Before we actually do the rescue posts next week, there are a few things I thought it might be helpful to nail down in terms of sequence and responsibility. Pio, you probably have all of this stuff in your head. But I think I've forgotten some of it. It would help to have a refresher.

First, can we assume that the rescue posts will probably extend through most of next week Monday through Thursday or so, to nail everything down? Or will it be faster?

Pio, is there any way you could give us a list of the characters and say what their basic assignment is in the rescue.,

For example:

1.Joe on the Star; supposed to stay there;
2.Mary on the first ship; goes to fight in Tombs and slits guards throats;
3.Cami already in the tombs; is going to relay groups of kids down to the river where the hobbrim will take over.
4. the hobbrim --on ship 5; river duty
5. Khelek.....

Of course you won't know everything people plan to do, but it would be a place to start.And other people could add in their 2 cents to the outline if they want to do something.

It would make it a whole lot easier for me if I knew where these folk are supposed to be. Otherwise I'll post a scene where I am fighting with someone who's supposed to be back on the ship.

Don't we need a very basic chronological outline to guide us all in terms of what comes first, and, in some cases, who goes where? If we post for several days, we need to get the main things in some kind of order.

For example. This is just a start, a way for people to comment and switch things around:

1. sacrifices get hauled off --Gamba and Azraph and the Guard, 22 Cermie, about 11 o'clock???

2. 12:01 a.m. Bird as dragon rescues Gamba and Azraph; Takes Gamba back to the Locks to fight? Azraph goes back to the 5 children to help protect them? Does Bird need any help with this, or can she do it on her own.

3. 12:01 a.m. Hobbit slit brigades, mostly able bodied men and women, take out the guards in the main passages.


3. 12:20 a.m. Pio bursts into the Locks to slice the guards' throats. Daisy unlocks all the cells and distributes knives to the able bodied. We need someone helping the elderly and infirm here. Maybe Anee? Who all is fighting here? How long will this process take?

4: Hobbit rescue of weak, old, children,etc:
A. Organizing in the caverns 12:01 on
B. Running the guantlet, 12:30 on

Explanation: The old, the very young, mothers with tiny babies etc. will be waiting in the main cavern. They can't go till the slit brigades do at least some of their job.


They'll be on the inside with the fighters arrayed around them. I see them going out group by group to "run the gauntlet" to the river. There will be many groups; this is going to take a while. The fighters run back to escort the next group and the process repeats itself. Some will get through with no trouble; others not so lucky.

Cami wants to run the gantlet with the various groups of children. It is her responsibility to count the noses and make sure each and every one gets out.

At the river the hobbrim will take over getting them through.

This process will presumably take several hours?

5. Rescue of the Men--????? Mith, would this be last?

6. What about the final dragon fly-through to obliterate the evidence? Won't this be Bird, since Angara is on the Star?

7. Boarding of the Ships

8. Transport time.

Presumably, we're going to have some kind of major complication thrown in near the end. I have no idea!

BTW, Are those things the kids were making bombs or water balloons?

sharon

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen has sent me a detailed memo with some of the things she expects her characters will do in the rescue, and where they will be. Let me redo the outline and incorporate her stuff. I may not get to this till tomorrow. Since she's going to be gone, this is especially important to get into the outline before she leaves. That way, I can reserve spaces and put a general descriptive name on it.

Also, if others post their ideas, I'll keep revising the outline.

I know, some things will be spur of the minute thinking, and other things can't be discussed because of the element of surprise, but it would still help to have some of the major sequences down. At least when we write, we can play off some of the assmptions in the outline.
-------------------------------------------
Pat and Mith --

You know more about this planning stuff than I do. Please feel free to tell me to correct if we've got something wrong. Also to add your own parts, as far as you can disclose them.

sharon

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Mithadan]

My two cents. Move the time table back one hour per Mithadan's speech to the Elders. This is based upon the "plan" which I presented.

So, 11:00 PM - Assault forces begin to enter caverns. Hobbit "warriors" begin clearing the perimeter paths to the Northwest (Front Prison Entrance and East Graveyard Entrance and the tunnel to the Locks), as well as the East side perimeter paths. The tunnel to the guards' quarters is not on the map but is to the Southeast near the "Study" with the actual quarters located south of the Old Tombs.

"Quiet" rescue operations begin immediately. Women, children and elderly begin moving in groups to the River Tunnel. As the paths to the various entrances are cleared of guards, teams of "our" warriors take up positions guarding the tunnels to these entranceways to prevent more guards from entering. Is there a game of candlestones going on to cover all this activity? All in position between 11:15-11:30. Teleri archers position themselves at River Tunnel and prepare to enter the Southern portion of the Main cave to cover the fleeing Hobbit groups.

Pio, Mith, Kali, etc. begin Locks operation at 11:30. Hobbits being freed by 11:45. Men immediately thereafter. At some point, no later than Midnight, the alarm goes up and the Hobbits begin "Candlestoning" and the real battle begins both in the Main Cave (primarily Hobbits vs. Men at first) and the mouths of the entry tunnels.

Midnight - 12:15am: The remaining Locks rescuers and prisoners retreat back to the Northern portion of the Main Cave and hold the Locks Entrance with others stationed there. All "spare" warriors go to the assistance of the Hobbits in the Main cave.

12:15-3:00am(?): The "holding action". Guards in the Main Cave are slain. "Our" warriors hold the tunnels to the 4 entranceways (Graveyard, Front Prison, Locks/Mines and Guards' Quarters). Heaviest action, at least at first, is at Locks Tunnel and Guards' Quarters Tunnel. Hobbits flee to the River Entrance.

3:00am(?): Teleri arches advance farther into the Main Cave and the perimeter paths to support the retreat. Fireworks/bombs/pitch fires set off at tunnel entrances as retreat begins. Retreat proceeds North to South. Locks Tunnel first, Front Prison Entrance second, Graveyard Entrance third and Guards' Quarters last. Retreat proceeds down the River tunnel with the hordes following.

Sometime between 3:30am and 4:00am the last stragglers get to the ships and transfer takes place.

If I'm not mistaken, and Pio would know better, Angara is not letting Pio (and by default Mith) out of her sight so she is inside already. So at around 3:45am, she and Bird torch the place.

[LOL -- 50 guards race through the caves and tunnels in pursuit of the Elves/Hobbits' rearguard; they approach the River tunnel only to be met by 2 large and angry dragons...)

The rescue of the sacrifices happens when it happens and is not bound specifically by our timeline. But if it happens too early, there are a lot more angry guards swarming around so probably not before 11:30pm and if later it will create a distraction keeping guards from the caverns.

Details can be filled in as needed

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Mithadan --

Thank you for that. It makes it clearer. But I still have questions.

Can the groups of children, aged, etc. go forward until the hobbits slit the throats of the guards in the tunnels? Wouldn't they be stopped and ordered back? Don't the patrols have to clear the corridors first?

I could swear Pio said the dragon had to stay on the ship. She fears if she is mentally deranged from grief or otherwise detained, there must be someone to do the osanwe transfer. Perhaps, if Pio and Mith both make it back, Angara can be allowed to fly forth.

Is there a game of candlestones going on to cover all this activity?

No, not according to Helen. Gamba, the creator of the game, is totally grief stricken over the sacrifices from the night before, and some other complications. (This is a real tear jerker.) The hobbits and guards are just sitting around. You need to tell her now by pm, if the game is a necessity. She'll only be here through Sunday night.

Helen said those sacrificed have to be rescued as soon after midnight as possible. Otherwise they're goners. (by 1 am for sure, it's too late.)

sharon

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Mithadan]

Helen, compare our respective versions and think about the candlestones game.

I think its asking too much to have Hobbits guarding these entrances beyond the time that our warriors (those from the Star, the Teleri archers and those from Idril and Tuor's ship) move into place.

I just thought of candlstones. Sorry I didn't come up with it earlier. It would cover both the movement on the perimeter as well as those Hobbits moving toward the River tunnel. It would also cause the guards to congregate making it easier for the Hobbits to assault them. For this reason, I see the order as candlestones, Hobbits secure perimeter so that the Locks can be reached, alarm, candles put out, Hobbits attack the remaining guards.

If there can be no candlestones, then we'll work things out. Keep in mind that the guards like the game and Gamba or no Gamba, they'll want it played also.

[piosenniel]

Sharon -

Angara is on the first ship with Pio - not on the Star.

Ancalimon is also on the first ship with us.

Either of them can initiate the time shift if Pio is not there. The contacts on the Star for them will be Idril and Veritas, who will then activate the crystal.

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Mithadan]

Ancalimon may be on the first ship on the way out, but right now he's within the caverns. Is he coming back before the assault?

[piosenniel]

Either way for Ancalimon - but I thought from my reading of Sharon's post concerning it that he would only be with the hobbits until he had talked to Loremaster.

Sharon - did you intend Ancalimon to stay until the rescue began?

[mark12_30]

Wow, Mith, I'll think about that, hard. Azraph and Gamba are both distraught by then. New candlelighter required, no returning champions except Corby. I'll try Corby, and Kima and Mika as the serious contenders I guess.... who will re-light the candles?

ROSE!!!!! Ah- HAH!!!

Rose, you're on. (Gee, she'll be surprisd when she gets back. Sharon, is she going to object to giving away a kiss???)

I'll try it and see if I can make it work. If I just can't make it happen I'll let you know ASAP. I have bible study tonight so expect either a rough draft or a denial sometime tomorrow.

[Mithadan]

Helen, check your PMs. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ancalmon is going back to the Star. He will not stay in the tombs.

Also, here are some other ideas helen had. Since she'll be away, I wanted to make sure people saw this.

Phura will be commandeering the group from the Smithy. Loremaster will be masterminding the escape down to the river from the main cave, directing groups of children and the few remaining old folks. Phura and Gamba's children will be notably un-directed! No Esta, no Azraph! Could you take them? Please? Kesha will be fighting, but Roka, Asta, Ban, and Maura will be at a loss.

The sequence will go like this: Phura & co will go to the Smithy and bring out the visors and cheekpieces. (Mith's extra collection of Lonely Star daggers are a;lready available, perhaps?) Then they come back to the main cave, extinguish all the candles except the one in the Study and one in Azraph's fahter's annex, and do in all the guards in the main cave. Simlutaneously, the raids on the tool closets are happening, expecting the influx of guards from the outer doors and openings.

During all of this time, the children have been hopefully huddled in their alcoves, but a few are bound to get loose...

Meanwhile the assault on the locks is underway.

Phura is keeping the road clear from the Locks to the main cave. Tuka & co are keeping the graveyard entrance clear; Gamba was supposed to be keeping the entrance to the new tombs clear, up by the locks, but that's been delegated to... ah... how about Kima and Mika, the twins? Or Corby, the smith?

Me: Does this jive with what Mith said?

Also, surprise, the hobbits will be going to 3320 Second Age. See my latest post. I see no other way to interpret the early clues in our story! Anorien, here we come.....

[piosenniel]

3320 2nd Age is 'when' we had planned for (one year post sinking).

So - now we will timeshift as we planned (this will leave us in the vicinity of Meneltarma) and then set sail for Anórien with the hobbits? Immediately? . . . or?

Are the hobbrim coming along, or staying on Meneltarma, or . . .?

[mark12_30]

Whereever my sequence conflicts with Mith, I hereby defer-- especially since I won't be around to write it!!! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Anorien?? Hey! I signed up for the north Anduin, and elves...! (Gamba sighs, wondering what City life will be like... Gamba is very tired of stones under his feet and longs for green growing things. How about the Pelennor fields??)

[Child of the 7th Age]

Both Cami and Sharon had assumed the hobbits would be going to Third Age, 1000 or so, since that's when Tolkien says they were first known.

Now Cami wants to help get those poor guys out of prison. They're going to be her neighbors!

Helen, don't worry. I would strongly suspect that the city was only a brief stopping point for the hobbits. I would imagine they migrate out from there, each clan heading for the type of area which most attracted them. I see the Fallohides going to the northern forests, perhaps meeting a silvan Elf here or there. But that, I am afraid, is beyond the confines of this story!

Another alternative is to have the splitting up of the three groups come immediately at the drop off point in 3320. The Harfoot perhaps had to stay in Minas Anor (or whatever it was called) for a while to pick up farming stuff--seed, simple tools. The Fallohides head north to the Forests and the Stoors south to the river banks.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pat --Hey, if we survive the rescue, don't be in such a hurry to toss the hobbits out. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] We want the choosing, and then a big party. Of course, we don't know where the guests of honor may be. But that's ok, hobbits will always party, and drink a toast to the dear departed ones.

The hobbrim will stay on Meneltarma....many sad goodbyes!

Seriously, I had assumed that we'd have to time hop to get the hobbits to mid-Third Age Anduin, but we're in the year we should be so we can do regular sailing. Yes, the hobbits did not stay permanently in the city. But some of them must have at least stopped there a bit, and told the story of their adventure, since we did see the bas relief and the little house.

sharon

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

Are you saying that the imprisoned Faithful will now be heading back to the Telerin ships and we are taking them and the hobbits to Minas Anor?

What now is the timeline for staying on Meneltarma? Just through the choosing? Are the Men going to Meneltarma with us?

[Mithadan]

Are you saying that the imprisoned Faithful will now be heading back to the Telerin ships and we are taking them and the hobbits to Minas Anor?

No. The Men, if any survive, will not be going with you on the Star to Meneltarma or anywhere else.

[mark12_30]

In other words, freed to fend for themselves?

[Child of the 7th Age]

BTW, regarding the hobbits in the storyline, my preference is that we give Ancalimon the choice of where to take the hobbits for the final journey to their new home, rather than having anyone on the Star msake that decision. We are merely carrying out what he stipulates.
I think that to have us choose a time and place for the hobbit arrival goes beyond the role which we've been assigned, and mingles in matters above our heads. Perhaps we will find that Rose has guessed correctly.

Who knows? We'll have to see when we get there. I've made revisions in the post where we find Rose. This editing reflects Ancalimon's role in choosing a destination and Cami's continuing uncertainty about where they will actually end up. You may want to eyeball these revisions as it may surface again in the storyline.

sharon

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

It is now 21 Cermië - The Teleri will arrive today.

[mark12_30]

Candlestones doesn't start 'til the end of the workday, just after dinner, and that's when the first of the ten post avalanche happens. So if you have daytime posts, go ahead.

Sharon, its almost Sundown, are you there?

I've been pondering the Candlestones game for the night of the rescue, looks like it will work.
[img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

--Helen

[mark12_30]

Sharon, should I start on the next Candlestones? (THe silence is deafening...)

[mark12_30]

I'm thinking I need to wait for Pio to do the Teleri arrival, unless they'll arrive in the evening or nighttime? Does anybody know?

--Helen

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen -- I'm not sure, but I think it may be the evening. Why don't you post and put a note that you will 'leapfrog' over anyone else who needs you to.

I know Pio was working 12 hours days both Saturday and Sunday.

sharon

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen,

Please check your pm. I need the ages of the 5 children. sharon

[piosenniel]

I am home and exhausted - I will put a 'save' in the story for the Teleri arrival. Then I think you can go ahead and start the evening posts as you need to.

I have 3 12 hour shifts - Sat, Sun, Mon.

[mark12_30]

Poor Pat! May you sleep well...

Sharon & Pat, I see you've got places reserved, so I'll get started, and that will give folks time to interject or ask for "leapfrog" as they desire. I'll reserve some handy spots just in case.

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[edit]

I've brought us up to lunchtime of 22 Cermie. There are lots of spaces reserved for "anybody". If those look like a nuisance, let me know & I'll delete them, leapfrog, whatever.

I still have the Candlestones game of the evening of the 22nd, and Gamba's arrest. But I think there'll be a lot of activity around those and that would be a nuisance for everybody. What I was htinking was, to post them **here** in the discussions forum, and that way, whenever the story needs them, anybody can paste them in. The laternative is to saddle an individual with the task and if somebody wants the job let me know.

In the meantime, I'll put them in the next two spots here, and I hope this doesn't throw anybody off...

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[mark12_30]

The evening of the rescue was supposed to be a normal evening, but with Esta gone, starting a game of Candlestones would be no easy task.

Before dinner Phura gathered his command team, what was left of it; he was joined by Loremaster and the elders, and "We need a game of Candlestones to finish the planned preparations," Phura warned. "Gamba can't do it. I don't think Azraph will play. But we still need a game, or there'll be nothing to distract the guards. The raids on the tool storage areas and the beginning of the main assault won't be made any easier by the lack of a game."

Corby frowned. "I'll miss Esta, terribly, " he said. "We all will."

"Believe me, I know, " Phura replied through sudden tears. "It will be hard for all of us, but we've got to somehow make it look like we've gotten used to people disappearing, and we're determined not to let it stop our lives. And we can't. She would want us to go on, to do everything just as planned. We can't let her down by not doing it."

Corby nodded, and looking up, caught the gaze of Mika and Kima, and sent to talk to them. Word spread slowly through dinner, and as the meal progressed, a grim determination weighed down the main cavern.

Gamba sat down with Phura briefly and said little, staring at his bread crust. He left it uneaten, and looked haggard and exhausted. Then he slipped into the study and spent the hours after dinner quietly watching the children. Tuka did not come to visit.

Phura watched Gamba from where he was sitting, and suddenly he realised he had a large problem; who would be willing to take Esta's job and light the candles?

He made his way to where Azra, Nitir, and Azraph were sitting, and spoke with Azra. She frowned. "Won't people resent me?"

"Perhaps, " Phura replied, honestly. "But this whole thing will be over one way or the other, after tonight. And if somebody resents what you did for all of us, then I'll deal with it later-- if we all live through this."

Put like that, Azra could hardly refuse. "What do I do?"

"When someone extinguishes a candle, you light it again. Stay out of the way of flying rocks. And when a champion is named at the end of the night, they might want a kiss from you."

"That doesn't sound too bad, " Azra replied cheerfully, and Phura had to laugh.

The game commenced, slightly subdued, after dinner. The guards gathered, some with a trace of sadness, but others shouting and betting as enthusiastically as ever. Some guards clamored for Gamba to appear, but several disagreed, saying, "Have pity on the boy." Azraph was also missed, but she stayed in the study with Gamba as he watched the children. He sat as numbly and as still as if he hardly heard the game at all.

(OOC: If you want the game to drag on and on, for tactical reasons, my suggestion would be a final battle between Corby, Kima, and Mika. Kima and Mika are twins, so having them be perfectly matched would be kind of fun. I guess you could even have the game continuing after Gamba's arrest, and Azraph's... how's that for stress...)

[mark12_30]

There were seven guards. When they came for Gamba, he simply looked up, numb, and stood, and was almost glad. Already broken, and weary, and knowing the pain that lay ahead of him, he whimpered a little; but he told himself that he could scream all he wanted to, that no one would care, and that soon he would be wherever Esta was.

Phura, horrified, started to interfere, but the Study Guard held him away; Phura stopped with his blade at his throat, and watched through tears as they led Gamba away. Loremaster swept forward to hush the children who had woken and were asking what was wrong.

But when two guards had led Gamba away, the other five turned on the Study guard. His face went white, and he began to weep with fear, but he mastered himself and stopped the tears. Gamba turned, as they hustled him along, and saw him surrender his sword and dagger, and he was brought along behind Gamba.

The horse, Gamba realized. They knew that he helped us, because I rode his horse right back to the gate. It's my fault.

They had almost reached the doorway, when Gamba heard Phura cry out in anguish; he turned, and to his horror, saw Loremaster restraining Phura, and Azraph being escorted out by two more guards.

"Oh, Phura, " he whispered, and the guards hustled him along. "Why her?" he pleaded, as they marched them out.

"Champion at Candlestones," muttered one guard. "Quiet, " said the other, and no more was said.

So it wasn't just Esta's death that was his fault, but now it was to be Azraph and even the guard. They were all there because of him and his stupid Candlestones competition.

Guilt and despair circled him like hawks, and then he thought of Piosenniel's promise during the meeting that the Lonely Star would rescue the last sacrifices. But would they get there in time? Or would they get there after the first, lethal blow had been given?

Oh, Azraph, he thought, I am so sorry. I did this to you with my stupid game, and if the Lonely Star doesn't get here in time, then you'll die, and Phura will be all alone.

He remembered the torture that Esta had endured last night, and he began to shake.

They were brought to the horse pens, and each of the guards mounted a horse. Each hobbit was carried by a guard, and the Study Guard rode between the five men. They galloped towards the temple, and were joined partway by another group of guards and one more prisoner. Azraph tried to be brave, and not knowing what she was headed for, she mostly succeeded. Gamba, exhausted, demoralised and knowing full well what lay ahead, gave in to his fears and regrets, and sobbed.

Phura, stricken, turned to go to his assigned post, and Kesha followed him. Loremaster turned, weeping, to find the other elders, and make adjustments to the plans now that Gamba was gone. In his distress he did not notice that the childrens' beds were now empty. Four small shadows slipped unnoticed after the last contingent of guards.

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen,

First, we will definitely paste in the last night's posts you left in this thread, as they should come in the story line.

I have a problem which I'm not sure how to handle. As you know, we disussed how Cami has to witness and respond to some of these things in your own narrative for two reasons: her later adoption and relationship with Gamba; her involvement with the children during the rescue, especially the 4 young ones. Since the reserved spaces are under your name, you'd be the only person who could actually post something in those interim spaces.

The problem is I'm not sure I can get all these posts done this day. I'll try. Weekend posting is tough for me because of family obligations. I will send them to you as fast as I can one at a time with instructions where they go and you can stick them in at the proper place in the narrative. Unfortunately I am committed to a bunch of stuff today, lugging kids to birthday parties, my husband has to use the computer too , etc.

How late will you be available to cut and paste posts? Will you have any access to a computer this week if I send you a post to paste in once you leave town?

I'm unsure if anyone else will have this problem, or only me. It may be just me. I know Mithadan has some kind of special administrative magic wand where he can stick posts in any space. Maybe I could ask him if you were unavailable.

We'll see.

I also have another question about the rescue which I'm sending you by e-mail.

sharon

[ October 27, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

Sharon,
I'll check again before bedtime tonight, and you can send me any inserts you have til then; after that, I was awssuming that Mith would do the insertions.

I dno't think I'll have web access in Seattle. If I'm wrong, I'll send you a PM though.

--Helen

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen -- thank you. My signal is still acting up too. sharon