Tapestry of Dreams, Part 2 Discussion

[mark12_30]

New team members, please feel free to post at will here. If you like, I can repost the pertinent game background from the first discussion thread.

In short: requirements regarding canonicity, style and tone -- "it shall be high, purged of the gross"-- remain unchanged. The goal of this game is, to produce a story that Tolkien would not disapprove of (and might even enjoy.)

With that, the discussion thread for Tapestry Book 2 is now open, and Alaklondewen is the delegate in charge.

Enjoy!!

---------------------------

Here's a quick link to Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams Part 1 RPG (now in Elvenhome).

~*~ Pio

[alaklondewen]

Thank you, Helen.

Over the next day or so, I will go ahead and dig up the helpful resources we've had from the old thread on distances, geographical goals, times/dates, etc., which will hopefully put us all on the same day and help the new players so you all don't have to figure it all out on your own.

I am honoured to be the delegate in charge and will do my best to live up to the standards of Gondor and this game.

~Alak

[Celuien]

NAME: Sæthryd

AGE: 30

RACE: Human, Rohirric

GENDER: Female

WEAPONS: None

APPEARANCE: Sæthryd could be the perfect image of the Rohirric maiden – tall, blonde and blue eyed. From a distance, she appears beautiful. On closer inspection, she appears far older than her age and has what can only be described as a glint of manic intensity in her eyes, which tend to stare far away. What she ‘sees,’ she keeps to herself. She is unkempt and disheveled at home, but can put herself in order when required.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Insanity. But though Sæthryd is quite mad, she can hide her illness under reasonable words and actions when the apparence of sanity is needed to achieve her purposes. She possesses fanatical intensity over her obsessions, and she can be both ruthless and bold in their defense when threatened.

HISTORY: Sæthryd’s birth was an event of great joy to her parents, freeholders living near Dunharrow. At first, Sæthryd was an imaginative and playful child, and brought happiness into the lives of those around her with her gentle (if fragile) spirit and light-hearted ways. However, her imagination took a dark turn after she became lost on the paths leading to the Dwimorberg while rambling under the mountain's shadow. She was found three days after her disappearance, seemingly unharmed other than the expected hunger and fatigue of three days out of doors alone. Her rescue was a relief to her family, who feared the worst when she vanished. She never spoke of what had passed during those days, but it did not take long before the effects of her journey became apparent. While other children played, Sæthryd now wandered alone, talking and singing to herself of outlandish visions. At first her parents believed that she would outgrow what they thought was merely a wild imagination coupled with the terror of her three days at the foot of the Dwimorberg. But Sæthryd’s ‘imagination’ did not recede. Saying that the Dwimorberg and its inhabitants called to her, Sæthryd made numerous attempts to reach the Paths of the Dead, but was always stopped by her parents, who grieved for her shattered mind and hoped that she would one day be healed of her madness.

Sæthryd finally succeeded in reaching the Paths of the Dead a year after the War of the Ring concluded. With the curse removed and the Dead departed, no harm came to her, and she passed through to the other side of the Ered Nimrais safely. Having survived the journey, she developed a possessiveness about the mountain, believing that it belonged to her – and the visions she received of the inhabitants of the Paths of the Dead – alone. She then began the life of a hermit in the mountains and became a jealous guardian of the ways to the Paths of the Dead.

[Formendacil]

Okay, I'm still here... and still planning on being a part of this, at least as a minor participant.

I'd put up a character bio for Bergil right now, but it's late and it's so hard to get motivated when one's going through a rough night of the soul, so to speak.... but I promise to get it up within the next few days.

Oh, and on the Old Discussion Thread, Alak mentioned the possibility of Elessar having a cameo... if so, who would play him?

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Oh, and on the Old Discussion Thread, Alak mentioned the possibility of Elessar having a cameo... if so, who would play him?

A "canonist".

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

A "canonist".

But where would we find one of those.

[Formendacil]

NAME: Bergil, son of Beregond

AGE: 24

RACE: Human, Gondorian

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Bow, Sword, dagger.

APPEARANCE: Canonically stated to be tall, Bergil is going to clock in at 6'4". Dark-haired, clean-shaven (when able), fairly lean, he's more-or-less a typical son of Minas Anor.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Bergil is easy-going, a trait that goes back at least as far as his befriending Pippin. Matured by living in Minas Tirith through the Siege, Bergil is a confidant, successful young ranger. His greatest weakness would probably be that, possibly as a result of the War, he tends to see things in black and white. I'm also going to say that he's rather stubborn- once he makes his mind up.

HISTORY: Bergil is the elder son of Beregond, Captain of the White Company, the personal regiment of Prince Faramir in Emyn Arnen. Bergil was born in Minas Tirith, and was among the few boys permitted to remain their through the war. His adventures and life at that can be found in the Return of the King. Following the war, he moved with his father to Emyn Arnen. Bergil has a younger brother, Borlas, who was presumably with their mother in the White Mountains at the time of the war. Upon coming of age, Bergil joined the Rangers, who readers of the Two Towers will remember as Faramir's company. These Gondorian counterparts of the Aragorn's Rangers in Eriador would likely have been much-occupied in the early years of the Fourth Age with patrolling the still mostly-wild Ithilien, and as that became more settled with Faramir dwelling in Emyn Arnen and Legolas' Silvan Elves coming from Mirkwood, would likely have been the bearers of the King's law and order upon the unsettled eastern marches of the realm: in Harondor (South Gondor), between Poros and Harnen, and northeast of Ithilien, towards Rhovannion.

Bergil served with the Rangers in Harondor, a dry and uninhabited land, for half a dozen years, from the time of joining the Rangers until the current time, when he has returned to civilized Gondor to visit his family and childhood friends. At the moment he is in Minas Tirith as a part of the Steward Faramir's escort.

[alaklondewen]

Can you guys believe it's been about two and a half years since we started?

Wow! It's no wonder I feel like Erebemlin and Taitheneb are a part of me, and I missed them when we took our break.

Yes/no?

Yes!

Firefoot, I really like it. I'm looking forward to seeing where you go with the strange feelings and happenings in the mountains, and the scultpure is a nice touch.

Formendacil, great bio. I always find it interesting to come across characters from the books and then seeing how they've grown since the war. Well done.

I'm enjoying the surveys as well. I must say I envy you photographers. I've always wanted to take it up, but I've never had the time/money. Would you say that photography effects your writing? Do you see your posts as images before you write them, like photos readied to be played out?

I'm considering filling one out as well...I figure that if I don't know you very well...It would be a likely assumption that you don't know me either. We'll see.

[alaklondewen]

Name (that you go by): Alak, here. Summer, there.
Age: 27
Occupation: I work in the mental health field assisting the chronically mentally ill increase the skills they need to be able to function in society. The individuals I work with live in a facility much like a dorm.
Future Aspirations: becoming a Clinical Psychologist and letting God use me to touch the lives of those that are unable to help themselves.
Goal in life: Living my life as God would have me live, and following His plan for my life.
Short term goals: Taking the GRE; applying to grad school; teaching my daughter to swim; washing the dishes, mowing the lawn…
Passion: My God, my daughter
Hobbies: writing (), reading, gaming, painting
Famous for (brag about yourself): Attempting humour and people getting it later. Appearing to be on top of things. Always smiling.
Fave book: Ahem, LotR…also Pride and Prejudice, the Odyssey
Fave movie: Return of the King, Star Wars, The Thorn Birds, Finding Nemo
Fave sport: Oh, dear, I‘m not athletic. I would say dance (yes it is a sport). I used to dance years ago. It still makes be happy and watching others keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Fave store: Used book stores and boutiques.
Fave music: Contemporary Christian, Reggae, Classical
What you can't stand: rudeness, tailgating, pointless interruptions, The Wiggles
What you plain dislike: Racism (cliché, I know, but it hits too close to home), gossip, dishonesty, drama (not the enjoyable to read kind, the stressful real life kind)
Who you admire: People who live in a way that you can see God’s love in their lives.
What you most love to do: Have picnics in the yard with my daughter, actually anything that includes her; tree hugging, riding in the country with the windows down.
Your self-confessed flaws: I lack confidence to do things I know I am capable of doing. I procrastinate. I bottle my anger until it erupts.
What intrigues/fascinates you: People. I want to know why people do what they do. Mental illness, trees, flowers, shiny things…
What scares you: The responsibility that comes with parenthood.
Quotation to live by: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~Psalm 139:14


Value-specific:
What do you want most in a friend? Loyalty, honesty (I want a friend who will tell me without hesitation that there‘s broccoli in my teeth), acceptance, and humour
What do you want most in a teacher? Patience and creativity
What do you want most in an ally? Trust
What do you want most in a team-mate? Telepathic abilities
What do you want people to remember most about you? That I shone with the love of God, and that by him I made a difference.

Writer-specific:
Your favorite work you've written so far: Wow, each of the works I’ve been blessed to be write have been so unique that I cannot choose. Oh, and my thesis, if you can call that a ‘work’ as it certainly was work.
Your favorite character so far: Erebemlin (Tapestry, of course); Pelien (Corsairs and Corsets); Lyshka (Land of Darkness); Collothion and Cuilad (Resettling the Lost Kingdom) -- Can you tell I can’t choose?
What you plan to write soon: A dinner post for this game and the loads of paperwork from work.
What inspires you to write: Driving, music, birds, colors, sounds, images that form in my mind…
What makes your writing stall: exhaustion.
Do you get writers' block and how do you overcome it? Definitely. I take my writing away from the computer and to my notebook. I just start forcing it, even if it’s bad, and then eventually something will click and I’ll roll with it.

Middle-Earth specific:
Your favorite ME character(s)? Bilbo, Luthien, Feanor, Aragorn, Barliman Butterbur; Goldberry
What do you like about them? Bilbo was a “real” character, insecurities and all, and I became attached to him. Luthien was so strong and passionate, and really, look what she did with Beren to get the Silmaril…she rocked. Feanor is just a fascinating character all around…troubled, dark, flawed. Aragorn, I was moved to watch Aragorn come into his own and see him rise in his kingliness. Butterbur always made me laugh and I can relate to his forgetfulness. Goldberry is from pure fascination.

Your favorite moment(s) from the Trilogy? The hobbits’ first encounter with a “Black Rider”. Tom and Goldberry’s home. Gimli asking for a piece of Galadriel’s hair (I’m a hopeless romantic). How long the greeting took at the Entmoot. When Aragorn stood on the wall at Helm’s Deep and commanded the attention of the Orcs below. Aragorn’s choice to not enter Minas Tirith as its king until after the battle at the Black Gates. When Frodo sees Arwen coming to Minas Tirith (see my signature). Oh there are just too many to name them all!

Your favorite plot twist(s) from the Trilogy? Frodo lives!

Looking at your personality as it is, what race do you belong to in Middle-Earth and why? Probably a hobbit, I’m a simple person with simple ways and I like it that way.


What race would you *like* to belong to in Middle-Earth and why? I would be an Elf for their grace and appreciation of beauty in the smallest things.

What place(s)would you live in Middle Earth and why? Lothlorien, my happy place. Just the thought of walking beneath the golden leaves and hearing the melodic voices rising and falling in the trees surrounding me, calms me.
Where would you want to visit? Why? Rivendell to sing in the Hall of Fire. I’d also like to see Ithilien because of how it kept it’s beauty and had Elvish qualities despite how close it was to Mordor.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by alaklondewen

Would you say that photography effects your writing?

Without doubt. I'll tell a story, if you'll forgive it.

I took only two classes for my third term. It was a six week term and they were intensives. One was creative writing and one was a workshop in which we combined image and writing to make something "even more". I've never had so much fun doing school work.

My final for the writing class was to compose a short story. My final for my other class was to make a book or something else that combines image and word.

I had no idea where to start for each, so I was flipping lazily through some of my favorite pictures and spotted this image of Lucy. I glanced out the window and realized that the late afternoon light was brilliant. Unwilling to let it go to waste, I dragged a friend with me and we went on a crazed photography adventure that included the art studio, dead trees, and a graveyard that we had to pass many creepy townies to reach (I refrain from calling people creepy until they say or do things that make me nervous... they did, which is why I brought a friend).

In any case, I got some fantastic images like this one and this one and while looking through my memory card's contents, I had a stroke of genius that I should combine my final projects into a short story that has something to do with Lucy and a book that illustrates the thematic story. No children's picture book, that; I was fully aware of how dark and creepy both would end up being, but it was so sunny out that I couldn't resist.

After many spontaneous changes, I ended up with a 15 page story and a small hand-made book illustrating Psalm 23.

The whole combined project, the two most important grades of a semester, was of a creepy nature, but ended up with a lovely moral and was inspired almost entirely by one randomly taken image of a skeleton in the drawing studio. Formendacil helped, though he's probably unaware.

Do you see your posts as images before you write them, like photos readied to be played out?

I combine image and word in my thought, striving to capture the image as clearly as if I held a camera in my hands with perfect lighting and an unmoving model before me. That's easy, when you're photographing Lucy or others like her... she doesn't move.

What's more fun is to work in such a way as I would if I was making a movie. With constant characters, it's like having a moving stream of images at the speed of a Sony Handicam's capture rate. You can watch their life stories play out in real time, showing everything that seems important until you have a full story in a series of images, all transitioned beautifully into words and phrases that describe action as well as light and motion ever could.

Cameos are more like a cool indie flick made of stills. You can start with one post: a solid image, and describe it ad nauseum, if that's what you want. Next post can easily be something vastly different, and you continue on with enough transition for clarity and continuity, but without worry over what happens in between. Even if you know it, why put it in? Cameos are more thematic than continuously created.

You can Ken Burns Effect your way in for a closer look once you've started, or you can even introduce your character zoomed in with a description of her startlingly blue eyes, eyes that look out at you as though from worlds away, aware of both you and things beyond your imagination, and you can slowly expand into more of her character: a dreamer, an uncertain wanderer in a land of strangers, seeking for adventure like those her grandfather, now dead, once told to her... afraid to find it, afraid not to; all the same image, just portraying it one piece at a time.

So yes, in short... photography is like a vile disease that makes my writing illness that much more deadly. If I had any sense, I'd drop my crazy shenanigans and get a real job.

[Firefoot]

The birds twittered on heedlessly. No travelers passing by would ever guess that those parts of the mountains were inhabited by any other than themselves, except for perhaps the uncomfortable feeling of being watched, for so they would be.

Higher in the White Mountains than other Wild Men were wonted to go dwelled a single Wild Man whose only company were those heedless birds. But dwelling is a relative term, for he did not dwell there as the Stone Folk did in their fortresses of rock, or even as birds in their nests, but rather as a fish might dwell in the sea or a horse on the plains. He wandered, keeping careful watch over the mountains and taking pleasure in the small things life brought to him, and was content.

Presently Rugh sat meditatively beneath the shadowy trees in the cold predawn light, awaiting the rising sun and listening to the rumors of the earth. He was troubled. Strange things were happening, unnatural things he did not know about or understand, only that they seemed to be epitomizing here, in these mountains.

Then he took hold of a thick dead branch on the ground near him and broke off a short piece. He felt compelled to carve, as if the earth itself was urging him on. He started at the bottom with gently flowing curves, which transformed into confused angles – lost, searching and seemed to extend into two hand-like projections, long hands, unlike his own with their stumpy but manipulative fingers – reaching out, seeking…

The carving scared and fascinated him. It was not like anything he had made before; it bore no resemblance to plant or animal or person; it – she…? – was completely other and was somehow related to the strange happenings. Rugh did not like it. It ought to be stopped, somehow, and peace returned to his mountains. Leaving the carving where he had sat, he stood up and left. He only wanted him and his mountains to be left alone.

~*~*~

Yes/no? Wild Man here is going to prove an interesting challenge for me to write...

[mark12_30]

~*~

bump!

~*~

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Three cheers!

♥

[littlemanpoet]

"Yeah, but now what?" asks LMP wearily....

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"But now what?" Fea repeats, speaking in that incredulous tone that only she can ever seem to muster when it's late in both hour and project.

LMP nods, tired, and Fea smiles reassuringly.

"Now is when the new faces, the new pens, the new typing fingers lend energy and enthusiasm to you old folks." she grins, elbowing LMP jovially, hugging mark 'round the shoulders, and winking at the other oldsters, some of whom are technically like... well.. her age. She grins again, a spirit of impish excitement in her bright hazel eyes. "Now is when the ladies leave. A dream, remember? They leave, and the men follow, and upon the road, they meet new companions, and I get to write a little girl and test out what I can do. This is exciting!"

LMP appears to look less weary, glancing up with a new light behind his wire frames. Or maybe it is Fea's imagination providing the hope.

"Come on," she nudges. "There's a party to get started."

[Firefoot]

I'm here and ready to go.

This is a really busy time of year for me, however, so I may not be posting much in these first couple of weeks.

[mark12_30]

Celuien-- looking forward to Saethryd's welcome. Eeeeeyipe!

Nuru is lurking again! Hiya, girl! How goes it??

[Nurumaiel]

Helen, you caught me!

I'm going back and forth between studying and reading the thread, listening to some good old Irish music whilst doing both. I've realised that I need to go through all my Irish and Scottish CDs to familiarise myself with Liornung's character once again.

I'm thrilled about the second book starting up. It's going to be grand to play with all the oldies once again, and equally grand to work with all the new members of the group.

[littlemanpoet]

Raefindan? Bad dreams? Do you have something in mind I should know about?

Ædegard distracted and troubled? Missing Leafa perhaps.

I must admit to not knowing quite how to start these two characters back up again. So feel free to suggest things to me. Otherwise, I'll wait until inspiration takes me.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Raefindan? Bad dreams? Do you have something in mind I should know about?

Ædegard distracted and troubled? Missing Leafa perhaps.

I must admit to not knowing quite how to start these two characters back up again. So feel free to suggest things to me. Otherwise, I'll wait until inspiration takes me.

Actually, I was working more off of Erebemlin's likely suggestion, "You're all too busy to help Mellondu at the moment." Ædegard being distracted (Yes, I am quite busy-- now what was I doing? Something important...?) and troubled (Amroth never had a problem with Echo. What's this kid's issue? And what is it that Echo doesn't like about him?)

Raefindan's "bad dreams"-- oh, just more of the same stuff that haunted him and Mellonin, I assume.

I'm quite focused on Mellondu vs Erebemlin at the moment, and am probably neglecting the rest rather shamefully. There it is.

If you're uninspired about Raefindan and Ædegard--what's Tharonwe up to these days? And isn't it about time Jorje started missing good old Raefindan? Maybe Marigold needs a few heart-to -heart talks with the old hounder.

[littlemanpoet]

Yes, I had just thought of Tharonwe. How much time should the men be gone before he makes his escape? Surely the women should leave Minas Tirith first? Or does he shadow them? Oooooh! That would be interesting!

I'm ambivalent about Jorje. I want to have him come in as a surprise to rescue someone out of a seemingly impossible fix. Of course that means I need to wait for a seemingly impossible fix. Jorje miss Raefindan? I suppose so. Marigold have a word with the old hound? Yes, I could arrange something like that. Hmmm....

[mark12_30]

.....it's vewy vewy quiet.










.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

.....it's vewy vewy quiet.

I've been extremely busy for the last two days; 10 hour work days then 2 hour church meetings (at least yesterday) in between which I must fit in mowing the lawn, sleeping, eating, and thinking about this rpg, other rpgs, and my magnum opus. I need some inspiration. In other words, I need others to post first so I can have something to react to. Or else I'll just have to wait until inspiration strikes. Not to mention time allows. I guess this was a waste of a post, except to say, 'there are reasons'.

[littlemanpoet]

Please do not feel intimidated. I'm happy to help.

Judging from your most recent post, you don't really need any help.

What a way to twist the plot! Are the others close enough to hear Indil scream? Is the cruel voice Tharonwe?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Are the others close enough to hear Indil scream?

Dunno. I don't write the others. And if they are, I can always move Indil out of hearing distance if the mood strikes. She makes such wonderful bait...

Is the cruel voice Tharonwe?

Depends on how many creeps are stalking small children who sleepwalk through the woods. Your call.

[littlemanpoet]

I've set it up so that Tharonwë is so obsessed with "this opacity in the girl's brain" that he forgets about Bella and Leafa and everything else. Not sure how realistic that is, but I hope it came off.

The opacity is, to my mind, a blockage that is there separating this young personality from Angela and all of her memories. Maybe this blockage will remain that way, maybe it will be broken through. Perhaps Tharonwë's curiosity will get the better of him and he will choose to break the girl's mind to find out what it is, and to his horror he discovers that this little girl is suddenly talking with the knowledge and wisdom of a young lady from the 21st century! Now that would be fun... but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves......

So anyway, the two former captives can be found by the men. And if Celuien's hectic schedule ever gives her a break, she can have Sathryd heal up Mellonin, and Firefoot can have Rugh confront Saethryd on her cruel means of survival. Hmmm.... that could be interesting....

[Nurumaiel]

I don't know if you're going to need Leafa to do anything over the next couple of weeks, but I've found that I'm going to be unexpectedly unavailable. I don't know if you recall our family's little hobbit with the medical problems, but he's going to have at least a brief stay in the hospital. He got the chicken pox. With his immune issues it could potentially cause problems, so prayers would also be appreciated.

[Celuien]

As of Monday, my schedule will be considerably less horrible. At least for a little while.

For now...back to work.

[littlemanpoet]

I'm sorry but I'm certain my last post isn't really up to snuff. It's late and I'm tired, but at least I like the beginning and the end. Hope it's enough.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Not sure what comes next for Indil. But it seems like a really good spot to jump back to The Boys on their search for The Girls (euphamism for highschool romance?), since they've now had all day to look for Indil and find (or not find) things or people...

[littlemanpoet]

That would mean that of those who are more or less active, either Immy or I need to post next. Immy, would you like to? You need not feel yourself limited to only Aeron; there are other characters that could be written, at least at third person, such as Erebemlin, Liornung, Ravion, and Bergil.

[littlemanpoet]

Nice posts! More writers definitely enhance this rpg. I'll need some time to think about what's next for my characters.

[Firefoot]

Save filled.

I definitely love the edit post function on this new version of the site.

[littlemanpoet]

I went back to read where things went awry from Helen's vision. It starts, as I expected, in one of my posts, #50. In it, Jorje has just joined Rugh when the unnamed rider (Mellonin/Avarien) crosses theirt path. Jorje gives chase, and the horse falls, and Mellonin falls, and then I have Saethryd's cottage just around the corner. This is where we would have to start repairing the rpg if we choose to.

The reason I say this is that I really don't want to mess with key points of Helen's vision for this. Turns out there were more key points than I had understood. Oh well.

I'm quite willing to make it somehow so that Saethryd lives near the Paths of the Dead. In order to achieve that, Rugh has to either be convinced to join the search party, or has to have some reason to follow it. It would have to be a pretty persuasive reason, because it would mean leaving the mountains and the woods and moving along the open road, or more slowly off the road. The change would have to come within post #50, #69 (another one of mine), and #70, which is Firefoot's post, following my lead, in which Rugh follows Jorje to Saethryd's cottage. Post #71 was vague on location and would not have to be changed. Post #72 would have to be changed, to include a rather longish journey toward Edoras, but that leads to a problem: how do the men know where to look for the women?

Also, #72 needs to explain the absence of Nethwador; but I have no idea why he's not with the group, plot-wise. Some help there?

More changes would need to be done later, but at this point I'm only making suggestions.

By the way, Helen, I think you mean that Nimrodel's connection to Tharonwe would draw her EAST, not WEST.

On the other hand, Mindolluin is much closer to the salt water and gulls than Erech is.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

By the way, Helen, I think you mean that Nimrodel's connection to Tharonwe would draw her EAST, not WEST.

Roger that. East.

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I went back to read where things went awry from Helen's vision. It starts, as I expected, in one of my posts, #50. In it, Jorje has just joined Rugh when the unnamed rider (Mellonin/Avarien) crosses theirt path. Jorje gives chase, and the horse falls, and Mellonin falls, and then I have Saethryd's cottage just around the corner. This is where we would have to start repairing the rpg if we choose to.

I'm quite willing to make it somehow so that Saethryd lives near the Paths of the Dead.

How about she used to live there, but when they left it got boring so she moved a few miles w--- eh, EAST. MOre towards the pass that Avarien will use.

THen we could do something like this:
Rugh follows Roheryn & Mellonin for some odd reason for many many miles. Many miles. OUt of his forest, etc, He doesn't know why, really, except (I dunno) maybe the elf-woman calls him, or he thinks he heard some sort of call, or something. (Ideas please. Maybe Gwyll haunts him.) Jorje trots along. Avarien follows the trails toward the old pass she used before. (Ringlo? GIlraen? I believe GIlraen was the stream Nimrodel lingered by...)

THey get close to Saethryd's newish cottage: still very eeermy. JOrje THEN fritzes out, (Maybe Rugh does too) and scares Roheryn who dumps Mellonin. RIght next to the eeermy cottage.

There are holes in it but it's a start.

In order to achieve that, Rugh has to either be convinced to join the search party, or has to have some reason to follow it. It would have to be a pretty persuasive reason, because it would mean leaving the mountains and the woods and moving along the open road, or more slowly off the road. The change would have to come within post #50, #69 (another one of mine), and #70, which is Firefoot's post, following my lead, in which Rugh follows Jorje to Saethryd's cottage. Post #71 was vague on location and would not have to be changed. Post #72 would have to be changed,

DId I simplify this at all?

to include a rather longish journey toward Edoras, but that leads to a problem: how do the men know where to look for the women?

Also, #72 needs to explain the absence of Nethwador; but I have no idea why he's not with the group, plot-wise. Some help there?

I'll think about Nethwador for a bit.

They don't have to go all the way towrad Edoras; the pass towards RInglo would be an obvious choice for someone hurrying to Edhellond. Gilraen would also do since that's where Nimrodel originally lingered.

In terms of looking for the women, there's always basic tracking-- Ravion IS a ranger. Avarien is enough of a horsewoman to let her mount enjoy the turf, kindness to his feet & legs, etc. Let's say there has been enough rain, the hoofprints in the turf beside the road are deep and clear, and he doesn't have to work hard at all to follow them. Perhaps she could care less about being followed.

On the other hand, Mindolluin is much closer to the salt water and gulls than Erech is.

True. We don't HAVE to revisit Erech. As long as that's where she was, for a looooong time. I'm less tied to Erech than I am to Edhellond, but even that isn't set in , er, stone.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Helen

THen we could do something like this:
Rugh follows Roheryn & Mellonin for some odd reason for many many miles. Many miles. OUt of his forest, etc, He doesn't know why, really, except (I dunno) maybe the elf-woman calls him, or he thinks he heard some sort of call, or something. (Ideas please. Maybe Gwyll haunts him.) Jorje trots along. Avarien follows the trails toward the old pass she used before. (Ringlo? GIlraen? I believe GIlraen was the stream Nimrodel lingered by...)

THey get close to Saethryd's newish cottage: still very eeermy. JOrje THEN fritzes out, (Maybe Rugh does too) and scares Roheryn who dumps Mellonin. RIght next to the eeermy cottage.

There are holes in it but it's a start.

I'm good with it, but what does Firefoot think? Rugh is her character....

[mark12_30]

THe other thing we can do, is just correct our outlook of where Nimrodel is-- GIlraen, or somewhere toward Edhellond or Erech or whatever; that should be easier to fix.

Then explain why Saethryd moved so far w-- eh, East; let that be that; and then just keep going. I don't mind re-situating Saethryd into Gondor if we can just extricate Nimrodel-- put her somewhere further west or southwest than Mindolluin, and I'll be happy. I can't imagine Amroth missing her that completely, starting out in Minas Tirith and she was just over the back of the hill, ya know?

But Avarien can cross the mountains however she likes, and then travel (cough) West to find Nimrodel. That'll do fine. Let's not kill our newly found momentum with a lot of backtracking and editing. Move Nimrodel, explain why Saethryd moved to Gondor, & I'm happy.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, I'm cool with that too. Celuien has already said she's okay with it. So okay, let's keep the momentum going, and have Nimrodel (map 45 now) near the source of the Gilraen. That way she has been consistently about 3,000 feet up, from the Paths of the Dead to near the Gilraen. I'm cool with that. That gives everybody a little farther to travel, which is fine too.

[mark12_30]

Sweet!

So who is next?

[littlemanpoet]

There you go. Who's turn next? I've kind of set things up for Raefindan now, to spend more time with Mellondu. Hmmm...... But someone else needs to post next. Maybe get things moving down by Saethryd's place?