In the Shadow of the Star: Discussion Thread (Part 2)

[Child of the 7th Age]

Carrun, Himaran,

Welcome back! Himaran - if you need a post pasted in, just put it on the discussion thread or send it to Pio or myself by pm.

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OK.....Cami emerges from reading ancient, dusty pages of this RPG trying to figure out this location thing out.....

When they kidnapped Fosco, Nuru said this:

Bill Ferny sat impatiently, waiting for Stoatie. They had moved their hideout from Stoat's cottage to a place a little ways out of the village of Scary.

When Mithadan and Bird went to spy on Ferny, they said this:

Mithadan and Bird packed their things and took to the road a day after arriving in Bree. After some inquiries, they determined that Ferny's plantation lay outside Bree's fence to the south and east of Bree-Hill. They passed quickly through the town and exited by the east Gate keeping to the road initially. Though there would likely be a cart path to the plantation, they chose to leave the road to do some scouting about.



I guess we can assume four things then:

1. The original hideout was in Stoatie's cottage. (post of 4/11)

2. By the time Fosco was nabbed, it had moved to Scary. (post of 4/11)

3. By the time Mithadan and Bird went out to do their spying, the set-up and the kidnapped children had again moved to a large plantation south and east of Bree Hill. (post of 5/14) This is where the twins are being taken.

4. The ransom note will specify that Frodo and Sam be dropped off at the Three-Farthing Stone which is a different location than where the twins are being taken. (Nuru's note on the discussion thread)

Pio and everyone, is that right? I will do my post this afternoon based on that information unless I hear otherwise (in which case I'll be happy to edit).

Cami

[ July 01, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[piosenniel]

I'm taking Pio to the plantation just southeast of Bree - since that's where Bird seems to be at the moment.

In my next post, I'll have Pio stop at the Floating Log in Frogmorton - she can learn there that the First Eastfarthing Troop (Shiriff's of Frogmorton) had increased patrols greatly since the kidnappings in that area and it was suspected that the ruffians had now moved their base of operations out of the Shire. That should cover any indiscrepancies in the storyline.

Take your time on your post - I'll do a post in the meantime with Gilly and the twin's arrival.

[Nurumaiel]

The Ferny post is filled in. Frodo-lad has been given the ransom message to deliver to Frodo Baggins.

LMK if there are any problems.

[piosenniel]

Gilly's post for 7/1 2:40 is filled in. All she needs is an opportune moment to leave a clue.

Mithadan

Pio has just osanwë'd your character (7/1 3:08) - is she getting through to him?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio,

Just finished my post. Can you take what we discussed from here? (My post is like the energizer battery: it just kept going and going!)

You're welcome to borrow Stoatie and Shifty to help you as needed.

Cami

[piosenniel]

Pio will pick up the trail soon. Gilly's left her the clues and Mithadan will fill in the rest long distance.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Mithadan, Pio,

Please check your e-mails and respond when you have time. Then I will go ahead with the beginning scenes at Bag-end.

Cami

[ July 02, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio,

I've restructured the skeleton outline of saves slightly so they better fit in with your post. Let me know if you see any problems.

Himaran, White Lady, Nuru, Orual

Please check your pms and eyeball the saves on the thread.

You can send your posts to Pio or to myself and we'll paste them in.

Cami

[piosenniel]

I am moving these back above my post. I'll edit in a little lead in for them.

TO BE ADDED:

White Lady's post: Character witness for Mithadan

Himaran's post: Character witness for Mithadan

Child's post: Cami berates the shirriff: "None of this would have happened if you had believed us...."


What I saw happening is that Halfred heard all the character witnesses and Cami's outburst, but is still making excuses for himself. It's when Amaranthas comes in, and then his own wife orders him to get with the program that he finally 'gets it'.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio,

OK, I get it. That sounds fine.
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Everyone,

Himaran has filled in his save of June 25, 3:39 am (page 1) where he witnesses the kidnapping.

Cami

[piosenniel]

One other thing - the Shiriff and the band of hobbits: Halfred, Filibert, Milo, Hugo, Sam, Maura, Merimac Muddyfoot (Fosco's daddy), and Hob will come out of the cover of the trees from the west into the clearing where Frodo will be with the Big Folk, and engage the ruffians.

I am envisioning Mithadan here taking charge of Frodo and preventing any of the other Men from harming him.

[ July 02, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

I have filled in posts for Halfred, the Shiriff on:

07/01 - 12:18 am

07/012:41 pm

[Child of the 7th Age]

I received messages back from Orual and Nurumaiel. They'll be looking at the skeleton saves for the ransom note subplot and starting to work on something for that.

Cami

[Nurumaiel]

For the two Ferny posts needed, I think I'll wait until some of the saves previous to them are filled in so I can have a better idea of what to write in my own posts. Is that all right?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Nuru,

That's fine. I hope to get something filled in for Frodo and Cami in the next few days.

Cami

[Child of the 7th Age]

I received notes from White Lady and Himaran who will also be working on the back saves.

Cami

[piosenniel]

I filled in a 2nd spot for Halfred on 07/01 2:41 pm - anyone else feel free to add your observations if you wish.

[ July 04, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

I have filled in a post for Cami in the large save of 7/1 at 12:18 am.

Himaran has also filled in two posts for Frodo-lad at this same spot.

He also made an interesting observation which I think we'll need to make a decision on and edit one way or another. He is referring to Mithadan's earlier post where he "roughed up" Frodo-lad.

Pio's post right after the first save you left for me denoted that the Sheriff recieved a real ransom note. So Mithadan and I are doing one thing, while Pio is doing another.

Thus, the post I just emailed you might be wrong, so let me know if I should change it or edit it to your liking.

How shall we deal with this discrepency?

Cami

[piosenniel]

My post is edited - there are no further problems

[ July 04, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Nurumaiel]

I have a little question the concerns what will happen later on. How will the story end?

I would like to request that towards the end of the story after all the ruffians are dealt with I could make a Fosco-coming-home and Muddyfoot family post, just for the sake of a story where no one disappears. If any readers are following the Muddyfoot family in particular, I don't think they would really like it if they just disappeared midway through the story.

So let me know about that, and when the Frodo giving himself up post is done, I'll get to work on the Ferny post following it.

Thanks! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[piosenniel]

Nuru -

I was hoping that in the assault on Ferny's plantation, that Fosco's Daddy would join in with the Hobbits who will assist Mithadan on the assault on the front entrance to the place - drawing away most of the Men there, while Pio, Cami, and Bird kill a couple of the ruffians (Shifty plus one unnamed other) and get the children out by the path Pio will have established by then.

Immediately following the wrap-up of this, we will return to the Shire - you can do a welcome home for Fosco and Daddy scene then, surely Peony will be there too, eh - supporting her sister-in-law. (I for one have been following the Muddyfoot family!)

And following that, we'll head into the Naming Day Party followed by Cami's departure and then Pio/Mith et al.

[ July 05, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Nurumaiel]

Thanks, Pio! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Departures? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] I hope I don't go into tears at the end of the game.

[piosenniel]

*hands her a hankie

I'm already crying . . . Pio will never see Cami again . . .

[Child of the 7th Age]

Yes, I have definitely ordered extra hankies. I have also filled in the following saves in the ransom subplot:

7/1 at 2:40 am and 2:41 am.

My daughter had a slumber party to celebrate her birthday, and I've been up all night trying to get the hoardes to cooperate!

Cami

[piosenniel]

Herding cats, eh, Child?!

theWhiteLady's post is up on 7/1 12:18 am.

Have PM'd tWL (Rose) and Nuru (Merimac/Fosco's daddy) to see if they want to put in a post about waiting in the woods to capture Ferny et al.

[piosenniel]

Time to scrape the barnacles off the Lonely Star and bring her in to port.

Can those who need to get the 'SAVES' filled in concerning the Ferny/Frodo episode please do so.

If you wish, Cami, I'll write the subduing of Ferny and the freeing of Frodo - or ANYONE can volunteeer to do that scene.

Mithadan - your character needs to osanwë Pio the directions to Ferny's plantation. I have written Pio as far as I can, she will await now the arrival of the troops ( which should include Maura, Cami, Merimac - Fosco's Daddy, Halfred and the deputies - Filibert, Milo, and Hugo).

Cami can you PM people to get posts ready for the above mentioned slots and for the attack on the plantation.

Once this is done, the miscreants subdued, the children rescued, we will head directly back to the Shire.

Short Naming Day party/ceremony then and etc.

BTW - I'll carry Bird's character per her request for now.

[Mithadan]

I have edited Child's post of July 01, 2003 02:41 PM to describe the approach of Ferny and the others to the meeting place.

I have edited Piosenniel's post of July 01, 2003 03:08 PM to provide her with a general location for the plantation as she proceeds towards Bree.

[ July 08, 2003: Message edited by: Mithadan ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Thanks, Mithadan.

Pio,

I will do the pms tonight.

I've had my hands full with real life plus plot twists and missing posters in Hunt for the Dragon which is supposed to be chugging into Elvenhome by July 11. I would be most grateful if you'd do Frodo for me, at least if that part of the plot goes down before the end of the week.

Will get back with you later with more details.

Cami

[Mithadan]

I've PMed Nuru about Ferny's posts and offered to do them if she cannot.

[Mithadan]

Nuru has asked me to do the Ferny posts. I will try to get to them later today.

[Mithadan]

I've edited a few posts to detail the taking of Frodo by Ferny and the Battle of the Bywater Pool (such as it is). Ferny is dead, deceased, departed... he is an ex-ruffian (OK, I've been reading Entish Bow again).

Tomorrow, I will post the planning of the assault on the plantation and give Piosenniel directions.

[Child of the 7th Age]

I am back in the saddle again. I did two short posts near the end of the string that dealt with Stoatie's journey to the Plantation, and his dreaming of better things to come....

I'm working on a post now where a band of hobbits comes up to Cami as she's leaving the Inn. They will volunteer to help and she will accept them. By the time she gets up to the pond she will meet up with Mithadan and crew. They will begin their journey east, with Mithadan in the lead. Just a ways down the path, Frodo-lad will join us. Samwise will have no choice but to take him along, since speed is of the essence and we can't send him back alone. (He will assure us he's left a note for his poor mother and assured her he will stay close by his dad's side!)

I'll finish the post tonight or tomorrow.

Hope that is ok. If you see a problem or have other ideas, let me know.

Pio---do you want to do that strategy post?

After the strategy post, I'll do one where Stoatie wakes up. It's already dark. Ferny should be back but he's not. So Stoatie begins to get a little queasy.

Would that work?

Cami

[piosenniel]

I am back in the saddle again. I did two short posts near the end of the string that dealt with Stoatie's journey to the Plantation, and his dreaming of better things to come....

Hmmmm . . . looks like Bird is one of those better things, eh?!

I'm working on a post now where a band of hobbits comes up to Cami as she's leaving the Inn. They will volunteer to help and she will accept them. By the time she gets up to the pond she will meet up with Mithadan and crew. They will begin their journey east, with Mithadan in the lead. Just a ways down the path, Frodo-lad will join us. Samwise will have no choice but to take him along, since speed is of the essence and we can't send him back alone. (He will assure us he's left a note for his poor mother and assured her he will stay close by his dad's side!)

This sounds fine – please do mention Merimac, Fosco’s daddy, as being in the group going to the Plantation.

Pio---do you want to do that strategy post?

I would love to do the strategy post – but I’m a little unclear about what this is about. If it’s about the attack on the Plantation - I thought Mithadan had offered to do that just above your recent post on the Discussion Thread. He is supposed to be telling Pio that they are on their way and that they will attack at the front entrance (in the north) of the plantation, and draw off most of the men from the cottage where Bird, Gilly, and the children are.

However – I can get that done (I can do it from Halfred’s point of view, who is trying to get it straight in his mind) – if this is what you mean: I’ll have Halfred go over how Mithadan the character has outlined the attack plan to the band of Hobbits. Then, off they’ll go.

After the strategy post, I'll do one where Stoatie wakes up. It's already dark. Ferny should be back but he's not. So Stoatie begins to get a little queasy.

He should be getting queasy – he’s been drinking like a fish! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ack, your lovely avatars look so much alike that I am getting the two of you confused! Now I see this:

Tomorrow, I will post the planning of the assault on the plantation and give Piosenniel directions.

OK, my post is finished. Cami has led the band up and is asking for someone to fill her in. That can be Halfred or Mithadan, whatever works best. Or you can tell her that no one is sure yet. Whatever fits in the storyline.

I am going to write Himaran and see if he can do a brief post in the next two days where he meets up with the band. (He had written me to check on things on Friday, and to see what he should be doing.)

I'll make sure and do a save tomorrow for that just to be sure.

Also, I will drop a line to White Lady, Nuru, and Orual to let them know they can join in if their schedule permits.

Cami

[piosenniel]

LOL - Mithadan and Pio have been 'married' too long - they are starting to 'look' alike - or is that the old saying about people and their pets . . .

If Mithadan hasn't posted by tomorrow when I leave for work - I'll put up a strategy post and then Child you can get everyone to the plantation.

Cami should 'bug' Mithadan about where Pio will be so she can slip down and join her - (it will be dark, you had better try a little osanwë if you don't want the Elf to dispatch you as a baddie!)

I'll have Pio slip in and do a little planning with Bird and Gilly, before the attack begins. (Geez, Bird, get some tin foil on your antennae and tune in a little! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img])

[Child of the 7th Age]

Himaran, White Lady, Nurumaiel, and Orual.....please check your pms. Please get back with me by return pm or on the discussion thread.

Thanks.

Cami

[piosenniel]

Sharon -

Hobbits and Mithadan are now clattering down the road . . . bound for Bree

[Child of the 7th Age]

Himaran,

I did a save if you need it. But if you manage to get in quickly, you can just do one of your own, so it will be easier to post and edit.

Cami

[Child of the 7th Age]

Nuru,

Thanks for hurrying to do that before you leave on Wednesday. I'm going to post it on the discussion thread just to make sure it doesn't inadvertently get erased.

We'll move it over at the appropriate spot on the thread.

Have a good time, however long or short a while you are gone.

Cami


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THE POST

Merimac Muddyfoot burst into the hideout, scanning the room quickly. The one he was looking for was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled and more than a little fearful, he went into the adjoining rooms, but still no sign of life. Sitting down, he gathered his wits together, thinking back to days when they had all been home. What type of places had the little rascal hidden then? All types of places, that was the answer. If he became lost, he could be anywhere. There was no specific "type."

"Hallo, Daddy," a small, tired voice behind him said, and he felt a little hand slip into his. "Have you came to take me home now?"

Merimac turned, and a strangled sob burst from him. He pulled his son close to him, the tears streaming down his cheeks, clasping him tightly. Fosco relaxed in his father's strong arms, confident that he would be taken care of now. He knew he was safe now. There was nothing to fear.

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[ July 14, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

I've received a note from Himaran. He's working on a post for Frodo-lad to join the group.

Cami