Friends of Nimrodel: Tapestry of Dreams - Discussion

[Nurumaiel]

We're going off to the Christmas Eve Mass in just a few minutes, and we'll be busy from then on, so I'll give it to you early rather than late.

Merry Christmas!

And from our very own Tiny Tim: "God bless us, everyone!"

[littlemanpoet]

Sorry, Imladris! I just can't help myself! I see Aeron as at the most interesting place right now! And I got inspired. If you want me to change anything, please let me know.

The burial will be coming soon, at which time each character will have the opportunity to say something about Gwyllion (how I wish Raefindan was near!). Please give thought to what your character would/will say.

[littlemanpoet]

I edited my post # 613 so that Ravion and Erundil would be present for Aeron to exchange glances at the appropriate moment.

Now it's time for words spoken of the newly deceased.

[mark12_30]

Mellonin is tongue tied at the moment.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I hope it is all right that Bellyn spoke first -- if not, just let me know and I can delete the post.

Happy early New Year, everyone.

-Aylwen

[littlemanpoet]

Nice start, Aylwen! Delete? Heck no! The "looks like mother" part was quite throat clenching. Change nothing!

I feel, friends, that not only did we have the holidays, but we've been putting ourselves through a very difficult piece of rpg-ing with writing through the death, mourning, and burial of a beloved character. Imladris, I imagine this has been especially difficult for you. Maybe it has been a slow process, but that may have been for the best. I congratulate you all on what you've been able to add to this during this busy season.

LMP

[Imladris]

Imladris, I imagine this has been especially difficult for you.

Yes...it has. I never knew what to do with Aeron...I have never experienced a loved one die so I was at quite a loss. And I am very sorry that I did not do more -- that I did not develope Aeron's grief more --...it was simply because I did not know what to do. But you have all carried him so well....thank you.

[littlemanpoet]

I hope alak is ok with me putting words in her two Elves' mouths. Also, I hope Nuru is okay with me giving Leafa some words.

Excellent posting everyone. I know this burial and funeral is hard work. Nuru, that was an especially moving song! Well done!

Immy, I'm willing to speak for Aeron if you want me to, but I'd like to give you the chance first. Tell you what, I'll post for Aeron on Monday unless I learn different from you or see you post instead in the meantime, okay? After that, if there's anything you want me to change, we can always do that.

I still have to think about Raefindan. I was having real difficulty thinking of things for Maegeleb to look for, but maybe I can think of something. - LMP

[Imladris]

I will try to get a post up for him....

I just have to think about it....but I will....

[littlemanpoet]

Marigold gave Aeron the lock of hair so that Gwyllion's ghost may follow him wherever he goes; otherwise it would be drawn constantly back to the body until it goes beyond the walls of the world.

The party will now eat lunch in an informal wake, then pack for their continued trip. It just occurred to me that Marigold could have small gifts for each of them, but I'm not sure I'm up to thinking them all up! I better concentrate on Tharonwe and Raefindan.

After lunch and packing, the party will leave, I suppose, heading south, the Elves following the thought of Raefindan. I'd say they are maybe a day's ride behind them. So they would catch them up late the following day. Sound good?

[mark12_30]

I wouldn't worry about the gifts-- Goldberry didn't give any.

But a song would be good, and maybe a parting shot with the weather.

[mark12_30]

What is going to drive this story now that Amroth is submerged?

--foggy

[littlemanpoet]

1. The word of those who made their promises to help him find Nimrodel.

2. Also, Ædegard's oath. That will drive the story too.

3. Characterization - after the manner of fantasy would be cool - see this thread if you want to know what I mean. For example, how do various characters mirror others? We've already set up some interesting pairings: Ravion and Mellonin; Aeron and Gwyllion (still works with her ghost); Aeron and Ravion; Liornung and Leafa; Ædegard and Leafa; Bellyn and Nethwador; Nethwador and Amroth; Erebemlin and Taitheneb. Mellondu and Mellonin. Mellondu and Ravion! Just to name a few. What are the primary "types", if you will, of each character? I'll take a stab, and correct me as you wish:

Raefindan: noble foreigner
Aeron: irascible youth
Ædegard: traditional Rohirrim
Leafa: tentative sweetheart
Liornung: lighthearted minstrel
Ravion: flawed leader
Erundil: wise counsellor
Amroth: resolute hero
Erebemlin: distant but loyal Elf-lord
Taitheneb: approachable Elf
Mellonin: passionate sister
Mellondu: protective brother
Bellyn: thoughtful friend
Nethwador: intense youth

Who did I miss? How might these various characters reveal/mirror others?

4. New people? We don't have to, but that notion is what brought Marigold into being.

5. For the Elves, trying to unsubmerge Amroth - and Mellondu's resistance?

[mark12_30]

OK.

Next question-- Who is still here?

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

*raises hand* I'm still here!



-Aylwen

[Imladris]

I'm here too....even though I post much less frequently than I used to...

[alaklondewen]

I am here also, and will continue to be.

~Alak

[Orual]

Present, just at a loss on the game thread!

[Nurumaiel]

Here, and to the bitter end... I mean, the happy end... we are going to have a happy ending, aren't we?

I think we have quite a few things that we can use to struggle (skip easily!) onward.

There's Ædegard and Leafa... the way I understood it he was going to have some doubts about marrying her with the loss of his hand... and she's just the type to submit meekly after saying once that it doesn't matter to her.

There's the possibility of a romance between Bellyn and Nethwador, whether happy or sad.

Liornung is, as ever, willing to step in and help the poor little lads and lassies.

And the Gondorian and Rohirric folk still need to get better acquainted with each other. Liornung will have a wonderful time pressing them for their own native songs, and he wouldn't mind in the least counseling them in their little troubles and doubts.

Yes, Ædegard's oath... and, if I may say so, Leafa's worry over and disapproval of it.

As far as the mirroring and revealing goes, I think Ædegard and Leafa are a very interesting pair. They're in love with each other... and it's rather crazy that they are! Ædegard is bold (that is, he isn't shy) and brave; Leafa is very shy and quite timid. Ædegard is very traditional; Leafa is from (gasp) a wayfarer band. Ædegard is the type to make an oath like the rather worrying one he did; Leafa wouldn't even consider doing anything of the sort. Ædegard, being traditional, is slightly prejudiced against outsiders; Leafa welcomes all with open arms.

(By the way, lmp, forgive me if I've misinterpreted Ædegard)

Reflecting over their differences, it seems rather crazy that they could be in love with each other, and it seems impossible that they could ever be happily married. But, on second thoughts, it doesn't seem so crazy. For my part, I know many happy couples that are just like that (for example, one is pessimistic and panics easily and the other one is very optimistic and always keep cool). They counter-act each others' faults in a manner that helps them solve difficult problems and come out as a very strong pair. Ædegard and Leafa have this potential too.

Ahem!

Must cease in my rambling observations.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Nurumaiel

Must cease in my rambling observations.

On the contrary.

[Imladris]

Yes, Ædegard's oath... and, if I may say so, Leafa's worry over and disapproval of it.

I'm thinking that this oath could make quite a climatic end to this story. Aeron, though he thinks little of it now, will definitely want to think twice before killing the elf . Also from the elves experiences with rash oaths (*sniffs for poor Fingolfin and Feanor*) I'm sure that there might be a delightful conflict that could lead to a eucataastrophe -- but brighter minds than mine will have figure out how to do that.

How old is Nethwador?

[mark12_30]

I waffle about Nethwador's age. Somewhere between fifteen and eighteen. Would Bella mind if he was still sixteen? I'd prefer as close to sixteen as I can get him. He's smallish, too, from living off of slim pickings on the plains.


Name: Bellyn, or “Bella”
Age: 18 or so
Race: Gondorian
Gender: Female

[Nurumaiel]

For he is only sixteen years and I am... er... eighteen.

Keep this in mind, Bella, when deciding if you care that Nethwador is younger than you or not.... Leafa is older than Ædegard.... by just a leetle bit.

Imladris, you're right, Ædegard's oath could be a great (and terrible, from the in character point of view) thing for the story. Except, hear ye all and take warning... Liornung and I are going to shed bitter tears and go off to play lonely songs on our fiddles if Ædegard and Leafa don't have a happy ending.

And I hope we're going to have a scene with them heading home, whether it ends just there or it ends after they get home. I few months ago I learned a beautiful 'going home' song and I want Liornung to sing it.

By the way, for more light-hearted plot movement (seeing as we're looking at romance troubles and terrible oaths right now), perhaps the characters could spend a little bit of time helping Liornung out with the Ballad.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Would Bella mind if he was still sixteen?

Eh. I've heard of bigger gaps than two years (give or take). My friend's grandparents were fourteen years apart!

If they really loved each other I highly doubt Bella would mind two years. ::shrug::

Where to next, exactly? Off to find the elf and Raefindan? What about Nimrodel? Would Amroth reemerge if they were not searching for Nimrodel?

-Aylwen

[mark12_30]

Fortunately for the storyline, Swampy and Raefindan are in pursuit of Nimrodel themselves. So if we are following Raefindan, and hence Swampy, he will more or less lead us to Nimrodel.

Amroth cannot re-emerge without Mellondu's permission. Here's the trick: Mellondu *likes* dreaming about Nimrodel. Right now he's still quite angry about Amroth's willingness to sacrifice Mellonin to the swamp elf (Maegeleb, isn't it?). But that anger will slowly fade, because Mellondu doesn't stay mad at anyone for very long.

He is not uninterested in finding Nimrodel.

[littlemanpoet]

How many horses do we have? Who is riding with whom? I've lost track.

Raefindan and Tharonwe are on foot ahead.
Mellondu (Amroth) and Mellonin ride Echo.
Ædegard has his mount, the name of which I forget off hand.

What of ...
Aeron
Leafa
Liornung
Ravion
Erundil
Erebemlin
Taitheneb
Bellynd
Nethwador?

[alaklondewen]

Erebemlin and Taitheneb each have their own horse.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

...I'm pretty sure both Bella and Liornung left home on horses.

From a short distance, two more riders were watching Ædegard take his leave. The one, being Liornung, touched the shoulder of the other, being Bellyn, and gestured to the group of people and horses.

Unless I've totally missed something and we've ditched our horses completely?

I hope not...poor horses...



-Aylwen

[mark12_30]

Nethwador has his lanky chestnut (Name___).

Ravion has Gond.

Erundil previously had no horse, he must be riding behind or with somebody.
Aeron previously had no horse, he must be riding behind or with somebody.
Mellonin had no horse which is why she is behind Mellondu on tall chestnut Echo (originally Ædegard's packhorse. Generous Ædegard/ pesumptuous Amroth. )

The Rohan group was all mounted, but the Minas Tirith group had only one horse (Gond.)

I had guessed that the elves would do some hard and fast bargaining, perhaps using some of Mellonin's money (fromthe sale of the family shield.) Maybe the reason they are willing to bargain might be that Erundil and Aeron are riding behind Taitheneb and Erebemlin?

[mark12_30]

Yoiks, lmp-- keep it up and we'll have no choice but to kill him off... A Connecticut Swamp-Yankee in King Aragorn's court!

Either that or make him go stark raving mad like Maglor.

[littlemanpoet]

Fear not, Helen. Maegeleb/Tharonwe is Elf enough that he will deplore how against-nature mass production of rifles would be. Although the art of making one appeals to him. Either that or hypnotism. That would fit with osanwe in scarey ways, don't you think? And it would be right down Tharonwe's alley..... And of course, do notice the current quote in my sig...

[mark12_30]

So... we're heading towards our first southbound camp in the snowy fields of Gondor, right? And it's-- what, noon? Late afternoon?

[littlemanpoet]

Yes. I figure that with only six hours of riding, tops, with rests for the horses, the party doesn't catch up to Tharonwe and Raefindan until the next day.

[mark12_30]

Poor tormented Raefindan.... Ugh.

[mark12_30]

Bella and Mellonin are talking about Amroth. Aylwen, would you like to write that? I'd love to see how you would do it!

Nuru, maybe some tales by Liornung about Amroth would help Mellonin understand what's going on.

Or the elves could help explain. Maybe they'd have a vested interest in doing so?

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Sorry I haven't been posting as often as I should. Exams were this week and I've been studying nonstop since last week, and I've caught some kind of cold/flu/sickness flying around lately and have been sleeping since I got home from school yesterday. It seems that these sleepless nights from exam week have caught up with me! Meanwhile I'll work on a post - hopefully I can get one up later today.

I hope everyone is doing well and as always...great posts from everyone!



-Aylwen

Edit: Post is up. If there is anything wrong with the information in it or the portrayal of Mellonin, just let me know and I will change it.

[littlemanpoet]

Helen, Aylwen, nice stuff!

Tharonwë is going to allow himself to be captured, and Raefindan rescued. Raefindan will be under continual hypnosis. Both Tharonwë's and Raefindan's minds will be closed to osanwë by Erebemlin and Taitheneb; only Amroth will be strong enough to break through this. I figure this is so because of the kind of practice Tharonwë has had over the years, both of at least keeping tabs on (and maybe controlling to a degree) Nimrodel and Mithrellas over the years from his swamp, and controlling the many generations of merlocks.

Tharonwë will attempt to bring others of the humans under hypnosis. This will be much more difficult. The question I have is, would Erebemlin and Taitheneb be able to detect Tharonwë's osanwë like a smell on the air, or like "frisking"? How much experience do Ereb and Taith have with the art?

Upon Tharonwë's capture (for which he'll offer little if any resistance), he will begin to measure the humans. Whom will he find most susceptible to his will, and on what grounds? Below are just guesses.

It took time with Raefindan, who was basically strong of mind and resistant, but Tharonwë had the luxury of time, and the leverage of Raefindan's internal conflict with having come from the future.

Aeron is by comparison lawless and unruly, and grieving. That makes him unstable and susceptible.

Erundil is stable of mind and heart and profession, and is less so.

Ravion is full of self-doubt and self-loathing; more susceptible.

Mellondu is quite strong of character and will, and holds the fëa of Amroth within him; this Tharonwë knows and therefore will shy away from him, leaving him for last.

Ædegard is ruled by his oath, which has a power of its own. If Tharonwë can leverage the oath, Ædegard proves susceptible; if Tharonwë discovers that through the oath Ædegard tenaciously resists his will, Ædegard becomes one of the least susceptible - and more likely to resort to physical violence,

Leafa is timid and accepting of others. She seems swayable.

Bellyn seems more grounded and sturdy overall.

Mellonin is conflicted. Susceptible.

Nethwador has a connection to Amroth and the Elves; his mind is probably somewhat foreign to Tharonwë. He might be next to last.

Is there anything I'm forgetting? Missing?

[mark12_30]

Nuru, Aylwen, lovely posts. Were it not bedtime, I would reply! Tomorrow, I hope.

lmp, thanks for the outline! Food for thought...

[littlemanpoet]

I'm getting frustrated enough to speak up, my friends.

This rp is dragging. The quality of the posts has not diminished, but their frequency has. .... severely.

It seems that I'm the only one initiating anything in terms of plot. If I'm wrong, please feel free to slap my hand and tell me otherwise. Is anyone else going to initiate anything? Or are you waiting for me to do it? I'm tired of being the only one. Somebody esle, please start something.

[Nurumaiel]

Well...

*mulls for a few moments*

If Ædegard spoke to Leafa of what you mentioned earlier, that is, that he doesn't think he can marry her because of his hand, or rather the lack of it, perhaps something could come up, even if not directly linked to the central plot.

Er.... I'm not quite sure what's coming up next with Amroth, so Liornung doesn't have very much to do right now, aside from sing songs and tell tales. I think Leafa is the best bet for possible conflict, as far as my characters are concerned.

And I apologise for causing you frustration, lmp. I'll try to be better in the future.