Ungoliant's Children Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Witch_Queen invites you to play in her game:

Ungoliant's Children

~*~

Historical Background After Bilbo and the dwarves escaped from Mirkwood the threat of a spider attack increased. Bilbo and the dwarves only caused the spiders to wake up. Now the spiders have begun wandering around the forest in search of food. A few elves have gone missing and Thranduil has sent out scouts. The only thing is no one has heard a word from any of the scouts.

[piosenniel]

Basic Storyline:

The purpose of the story is to follow the group led by Thranduil to the outer reaches of the Mirkwood forest. Some feel that their search for revenge or to prove their bravery is perhaps not the best idea. Questioning their motives for the journey and their faith in Thranduil, the group will come closer as a few decide to turn back.

[piosenniel]

Timeline for the Game:

1. Elves get lost after they chase the spiders south--going in circles. (3 weeks play time)

2. The hunters become the hunted, and the spiders kill off several Elves. There is much argument, with some Elves wondering if they should have come. (3 weeks play time)

3. Elves develop a plan to counterattack. Perhaps they discover the place where the spiders hatch and devise a plan to destroy it. Return to court. (3 weeks play time)

~*~

Obstacles: For the first week the "group" are going around in circle without realizing it until Thranduil notices it. Some arguments may break out between some of the members and their leader. A few may believe that perhaps Thranduil isn't the best elf to be leading them.

After a week of game play and the second "campsite" a few of the carry-alongs go missing during the night. All that remains are a few swords and spider legs.

After chasing a group of spiders the group then realizes they are not familar with their surroundings anymore. The Spiders have led them far south into a part of Mirkwood they are not familiar with. Plus not to mention the fact that the group is no longer the hunters but instead they have become the hunted.

[piosenniel]

This means we will know the story is over when: the group of elves have successfully eliminated the spider's nest surrounding Mirkwood.

Starting Location: Mirkwood

Likely destination: Sea of Rhun

[piosenniel]

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at the end of year 2941 (This is the year that Bilbo and the Dwarves set out to recover the Dwarven treasure from Smaug.)

The storyline itself or plot covers 1 month.

This game requires a time commitment of 9 weeks from me, the game owner and from the major players.

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Game open on 9/27

END DATE FOR GAME: 11/29

[piosenniel]

Characters needed:

7 Mirkwood elves – male (each character may have at least one or two carry-alongs, if they choose - a short character description will need to be given for the carry-alongs.)

~*~

NOTE: Prospective Players - Please use this as a guide for your Elven characters:

At the end of The Return of the King, Appendix F, is Tolkien’s description for Elves that we try to use in the Shire as a model for Elven appearance:

'They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as kings, who now are gone: the people of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finarfin; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that now is heard.'

[piosenniel]

~*~ Now Open to Take on Players ~*~

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Character Description Form

Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs?
–NO

How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?
-None

Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn or in The White Horse in Rohan?
– YES – The Green Dragon.


NAME:
- Taurthol – (forest helm)

AGE:
- 1,513

RACE:
- Elf (Sindar)

GENDER:
- Male

WEAPONS:
-Sword, short bow (and quiver of arrows), Knife and a dagger.

APPEARANCE:
-kind of face, grey eyed, brown haired and wears a dark green tunic. On his feet; sturdy boots and on his back, a large pack laden with many things.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES:
-Quiet, dose not like to draw attention to himself. Moderate skill with weaponry, no better than any other of the Eldar. Loyal to Thranuil, hates orcs and all things of evil. He has a slight which in his left eye that aggravates him in battle and leads to swift and later regretted rage.

HISTORY:
-He was born in the year 1066 II, Dwelt in mirkwood most of his life before becoming a scout for Thranduil and scouring the lands and travelling back and forth having many misadventures. Both parents went to Valinor only a few years ago.


First post:

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Hookbill the Goomba's post

Standing by the door, Taurthol found that he could think of nothing to suggest. Usually he was full of ideas, but today he had not been feeling one hundred percent. He wanted rest, but knew that he would not be permitted it. The earlier party had left a lot of them worn out.

Then all of a sudden, with out warning he drew his sword, and many others did also. He thought he knew what this meant. They had to fight. He knew that there was not much else they could do. Unless some elf came up with an ingenious strategy that did not involve going out to meet them head on, they had a challenge on their hands.

[piosenniel]

Hookbill

Please check your PM's.

~*~ Pio, Game Moderator

[Boromir88]

Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs?
-No

How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?
-Zero

Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn or in The White Horse in Rohan?
-Yes, The Green Dragon

CHARACTER INFO:

Name: Ercuion

Age: 1,200

Race: Elf, Silvan

Gender: Male

Weapons: Sword, Long Bow (quiver of arrows), Long White Ivory Knife, Dark Green cloth (tunic).

Appearance: Fair skinned, grey eyes, dark black hair, cloth boots/shoes.

Personality/strengths/weaknesses:
Loyal soldier, sticks with Thranduil through thick and thin. Being Silvan he is below an average Sindar elf in weapon skill. If he is given orders he will do them and give his 110%. His unwillingness to speak his mind gets him into trouble, both mentally and literally.

History:
Born in Mirkwood and has been a loyal soldier to Thranduil for his whole life. He is the son of Mallomion and Thindilien. His parents dwell along the Eastern border, close to the River Running. Ercuion roamed endlessly around Mirkwood, becoming familiar with the land and it's surroundings.
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Boromir88's post

Ercuion immediately thinks of his family, wondering if they have any knowledge of the threat. He says to himself "if Thranduil calls an urgent meeting to discuss a problem, about the spiders, the situation must be serious." He was more then eager to join the Scouting party in order to eradicate the spiders for good, or so he hopefully thinks.

Ercuion feels instead of sending out a small party, they should send out in full force, maybe a couple thousand man army, in order to wipe out the spiders before they become too strong. He gives in to the thought of having his idea rejected. He can't say anything, can only think "what if, what if they go along with my plan, but it turns into utter failure, and thousands of innocent elves are killed, BECAUSE OF ME!" Ercuion doesn't propose his plan. He just sits and waits out the meeting, waiting for his chance to join the scouting party.

[piosenniel]

Boromir88

Yes, you need to do an opening post for your character.

Please look at Witch_Queen's opening post for the game. Your Elf is one of those gathered in the hall with Thranduil.

Go ahead and let us see what he thinks of the spiders and their menace, if you wish (have any of his friends or family been done in by the spiders, for example), and does he agree with the King's plan, does he have something to add to it, or does he want to propose a different plan.

----

You also need to edit your Elf's history - It is not T.A. 3018. The timeframe for the game is TA 2941. This is the year that Bilbo and the Dwarves set out to recover the Dwarven treasure from Smaug.

Mirkwood is still 'Mirkwood' at this point.

[Boromir88]

Boromir88's post

Ercuion immediately thinks of his family, wondering if they have any knowledge of the threat. He says to himself "if Thranduil calls an urgent meeting to discuss a problem, about the spiders, the situation must be serious." He was more then eager to join the Scouting party in order to eradicate the spiders for good, or so he hopefully thinks.

Ercuion feels instead of sending out a small party, they should send out in full force, maybe a couple thousand man army, in order to wipe out the spiders before they become too strong. He gives in to the thought of having his idea rejected. He can't say anything, can only think "what if, what if they go along with my plan, but it turns into utter failure, and thousands of innocent elves are killed, BECAUSE OF ME!" Ercuion doesn't propose his plan. He just sits and waits out the meeting, waiting for his chance to join the scouting party.

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

[piosenniel]

Boromir88:

I've moved your post up to where your character description is - it makes it easier for me when I transfer the first posts to the game.

EDIT: Thank you for editing your history, B88!

~*~ Pio, Game Moderator

[Boromir88]

This is my tag along character for Ercuion.

Name: Nefal

Age: 1,048

Race: Elf, Silvan

Gender: Male

Weapons: Long bow and Arrows, short iron dagger/knife, cloth tunic, sturdy leather pauldrons and greaves.

Appearance: medium build, grey eyes, jet black hair down to the middle of his back.

Personality/Strengths/Weaknesses:
Persuasive talker, young and is all about killing anything evil. He is the younger brother of Ercuion, and totally opposite. Much better then Ercuion in weapon skill, but his arrogance and pompous attitude gets him into trouble. He feels Ercuion needs to stop being passive and speak his mind. Nefal will push so hard he might force his older brother to choose between Thranduil or him!

History:
Ercuion's younger brother. Eventhough they were brothers they sort of split off and went on their own paths. Ercuion loved to roam about Mirkwood, where Nefal's only pleasure came in slaying an orc or a deadly animal. Despite their differences they are still fairly close and Ercuion watches over his younger brother, but is Nefal tired of being in the shadow of his older brother?

[Witch_Queen]

Boromir88: Thats good. Now if Pio has any furthur questions about, Pio will let you know. At least we now have at least one carry-along. Yeah one less for me to come up with.

Pio: Theres two people so far. Hama will be posting some time soon. Lets just hope that we can get the rest of the number needed. *Sigh*

Hookbill: Just wondering are you going to have a carry-along? If so please go ahead and give me a short character bio about him. I would really appreciate it if you would have a carry-along.


<Witch_Queen>

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Just wondering are you going to have a carry-along? If so please go ahead and give me a short character bio about him. I would really appreciate it if you would have a carry-along.

I had not planed on getting a carry along. Unless it was some form of miniature Balrog... I'd rather just stick to the one character for now, I'm still getting used to the whole RPG world. I'm not going to be very adventurous for a while.

[Sleepy Ranger]

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – NO

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES
_______________________________________


For your character please include:

NAME: Melen

AGE: 458

RACE: Elf

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Long bow, long sword (called Remil), two sleek daggers.

APPEARANCE: Tall and agile, black hair down till shoulders, a cute youngish face which has a never ceasing smile on it, sleepy eyes and doesn't seem to be that well built.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Happy-go-lucky elf, rarely concerned about the problems of the world or even of his own home. He prefers the finer things in life, like food and drink but whenever theres any hint of a fight he isn't the type to back away. He prefers to use speed and strategy rather than brawn to win his battles. If its a fight in a small enclosed area with not much foot room, it would be unlikely of him emerging as the victor but that doesn't bother him much since he prefers not to think at times. He is still young going by elf standards and often gets himself into rather ridculous situations but thats where he relies on his quick wit to save him unfortunately for him its often strength thats his undoing.

HISTORY: He was the only child of Aldora and Ernaster. His father, Ernaster, died when he was but an infant of seven. His mother raised him with great love and affection. His agility came from the mothers side of his family and his wit and logic from his fathers. He ever really worried about much in life and never really did have much to worry about in the first place. He has never been in any big battle except for the time when he and some of his friends staged a fake battle for their own amusment.

__________________________________


Sleepy Ranger's post

He had been trying as hard as he could to listen to what Tharanduil was saying but his attention kept being drawn away by something. Sounds like there'll be a fight. If there is I don't see why I won't be there. He looks hard at Tharanduil not really concerned about the spiders or anything else for that matter.

I wonder if there will be a feast before we leave or if we just leave right away. His fingers were toying around with the hilt of his sword. Hmmm...Ale...don't mind if I do. He gets himself a mug and drains it in one go. Maybe now I'll pay attention.

He looks at Tharanduil again, trying his best not to scream out that they should meet them head on with a large army. Well whatever happens I'm in. It'll be fun after all. The smile that was always on his face was still there and he seemed a bit more happier than usual, the thought of going into a real battle was rather exciting for him.

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EDIT by Pio, game moderator:

I've set your post up to be easily transferred to the game, Sleepy Ranger.

Also, please note I broke your post into paragaraphs - Shire rules require a minimum of 2 paragraphs per post. You may, of course, edit the post into other paragraph groupings as you wish.

[Boromir88]

Witch_Queen, thank you, it will be my pleasure to RP. I am also anxiously awaiting more players so we can get going.

[Witch_Queen]

Thranduil's post is up. The elves have left the city. Now lets see where this is going to take us. Remember no one is going to die just yet.


<Witchy>

[piosenniel]

~*~ To Elvenhome ~*~