Hard Winters Planning/Discussion Thread

[Mithalwen]

I was thinking that since no one expressed a preference that Elfthain might come with the caravan. I had thought he could have been transferred there if they were short handed but I think now maybe he could come as part of the escort and perhaps ask for a transfer in order to perhaps make a name for himself away from Edoras where everyone knows him and his family and vice versa.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Ha, I actually wanted to raise the question about how are people planning to introduce their new characters already several days ago, but totally forgot about it... Also been awfully busy these days (mostly Werewolf, but also other stuff in the rest of the spare time).

Anyway, that was one of the reasons I was being slow in posting the bio of my new character, because I was deciding in the end if I shouldn't make her come all the way from Edoras, which would shuffle around the end of her up-to-now story. But originally I was thinking she could be just living nearby (around one of the local lords' places) and she could technically come up even a bit later... or maybe she could arrive when the supplies come, since the Mead Hall will be sort of the "distribution center" for the local area, am I right? It might be an extra reason for her to come there...

[littlemanpoet]

Well, the official first post has been posted here.

Pio was going to copy and paste it to the game thread. I guess that hasn't happened yet.

I'm uncomfortable starting without Folwren.

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

The intro post is now on the RPG thread.
~*~ Pio

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I'm uncomfortable starting without Folwren.

I think she is now traveling, in any case she should pay a visit around here in, like a week, or a bit less? Which is, incidentally, also the "deadline" we kind of agreed on to be ready for the transition... So I think we can consult her then, among other things, even if she does not have time otherwise.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I'm uncomfortable starting without Folwren.

Folwren is going to visit us here in finland between June 20th - 23rd. And I got the impression Finland is their last stop in their voyage - so they'd be home on Wed June 24th.

I have two suggestions.

1) We start on the Midsummer's Day (or Eve) as it is a nice day to start in principle. Folwren won't be able to post on the few first days (that shouldn't be a problem as nothing that much probably happens in the early stages as most people probably wish just to bring their characters forwards to the scene?).

2) We wait for Foley and decide fex. that the game starts on Wed June 24th.


Either way I think we should decide on some exact time the game begins and after which posting is free - and Lommy could send her first post with Wilheard to kick it up then (I still like that idea that the first actual post would be describing the caravan coming to Scarburg).

[piosenniel]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

(I still like that idea that the first actual post would be describing the caravan coming to Scarburg).

Clarification, please - I put lmp's introductory post on the game thread as the first post. Are you saying that there will now be another first actual post to the game?

I'll close the RPG thread until whoever writes that post is ready to post it on the game.

[Mithalwen]

Just generally speaking, the 23rd June is a very good date....

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by piosenniel

Clarification, please - I put lmp's introductory post on the game thread as the first post. Are you saying that there will now be another first actual post to the game?

I'll close the RPG thread until whoever writes that post is ready to post it on the game.

Oh sorry to create confusion.

I mean sure we'd have the "jump-post" you already have there as The Very First Post. It explains what this place is and how have we jumped from the earlier installment of the Mead Hall to the current one.

But after that post we need to then start - to have something to kick it off and running.

Well it of course could have been any post with someone just starting it at the date we decide we're ready to start, but we thought it would be nice the first "actual" post in the thread (after the jump-post) would be Wilheard leading the caravan to the Mead Hall. It could also then signal a starting flag to everyone that the game is now open.

So we were in fact discussing of the second post of the thread, not the first one.

[piosenniel]

Got it!

So just let me know when the first poster author is ready to post his/her post and I'll open the thread....

[Inziladun]

NAME:Ladavan

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM:39/Male/Dunland

APPEARANCE (very brief physical description/or as detailed as the player wishes to be): Thin, average height for Dunland/Rohan. Hair is dark.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER
(again, as brief or detailed as you wish): Fought for Saruman during the War of the Ring. Parents had disappeared before then. He heard a rumor later they had been slaved to death in Isengard. Had a brother, Meryk, who had also fought in and survived the War, but had told Ladavan immediately after he was "going north" with a band of his fellows, and had not been seen since. Has come to ply his trade as a carpenter.
________________

LINKED ~*~ Pio

[Undómë]

Might I join in?

NAME:
Fana

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM:
15 y/o; female; an Eorling; a wooded area just south and east of the Meadhall – about 8 km down the local main road (I hope I am looking at Nogrod's map correctly and that the top of the map is North – HERE)

APPEARANCE:
Lithe as a flower’s stem; fair skinned; waist length amber blond hair, generally worn in a braid down her back; one eye light blue, the other green- hazel; deft of hand and nimble fingered; dresses in woodsy hues – long skirts, long –sleeved homespun blouses, warm woolen shawl, thick hooded dark woolen cloth for colder days

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER:
Fana is the grand-daughter of Haesel, the local gaers-wif (herbs-woman), who was also called by the less friendly to her ways – ‘haegtesse’ (witch). Those who crossed Haesel sometimes found themselves or their livestock vexed with troubles and botherations of varying sorts. For the most part, though, Haesel, eased her naeighbors' lives with her herbal elixirs and unguents. Haesel had taken her grandchildren under her wing when their parents died. Fana has proved to be a quick-minded pupil in the learning of her grandmother’s herblore.

She has two younger brothers – Secg, 7 y/o and Thystel, 5 y/o

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

NAME:
Haesel, the local gaers-wif (herbs-woman; herbalist) – one of the Cunning Folk

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM:
45 y/o; female; an Eorling; in an out of the ways part of the wooded area just south and east of the Meadhall – about 8 km down the local main road

APPEARANCE:
At 45, Haesel is truly an old crone. Her hair is long and thick still, but now an ashy grey, where once it shone as silvery blond as the summer's full moon. She wears it in two long braids wrapped round her head like a silvered crown. Like her granddaughter, Fana, she has one piercing blue eye, and the other hazel green.
She is 5’1” tall; her back as straight as an iron rod. She seems taller than she is because of the way she carries herself combined with her her commanding personality. She is a thin, wiry woman given to quick movement despite the aches and pains that come naturally with age. He skin is tanned reflecting much time spent in the out of doors. Her hands are gnarled with age, but her fingers are still adept and nimble at her craft. She generally wears a long homespun shift with a similar length long tunic of varying weights of cloth depending on the season – most of them in earthen shades. Atop these two garments is usually cinched an apron with numerous deep pockets. Around all this is a woven leather belt from which hangs a ring of many intricate keys of various sizes for her cupboards and her chests.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER:
Haesel can be as quiet as a cat sizing up a mouse when you first meet her. She watches closely and listens closer to all the little clues you give away without your knowing. She has a very organic sense of what is right and what is wrong. For the most part she feels we beings are mostly good in nature and will treat our problems and pains as best she might. For those she considers more on the negative side of the balance, she will treat them as well but with a sizeable helping of her counsel to be better persons added on to their dosings of elixirs and unguents.
She comes from a long line of Cunning Women – her grandmother taught her, and that grandmother taught her grand-daughter. Haesel sees in her grand-daughter, Fana, the makings of a very skilled gaers-wif (herbalist).

________________________

The two brothers will be written by Arry - and actually we'll share writing all of the characters as needed.

________________________

LINKED ~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Undómë and Arry!

It's been a long-long-long time!

Welcome to the Mead Hall indeed.


PS. And yes, the top of the map is North.

[littlemanpoet]

I second the welcome! How has Scarburg Mead Hall managed without a gaers-wif?

Thanks for helping to think through our starting process and all. I must have been looking in the wrong place for the jump post. Leave it to me to not be able to find the obvious.

I think it would be great for Wilheard's coming to be the "first" post.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I think it would be great for Wilheard's coming to be the "first" post.

Thinlómien said she'd have ample time to write it the coming week so that she could post it then whenever we decide the game is going to start.

[Arry]

OK - so here are my characters ---

NAME: Secg

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 7 y.o. Eorling boy; lives in the woods southeast of the Scarburg Meadhall

APPEARANCE : Scrawny, agile kid with brown eyes and dark blond hair that sort of sticks out wildly all over his head. His older sister, Fana, tries to corral him and keep it snipped to a shortish length. It’s of no bother to him that his head looks like a clump of sedge-grass has sprung up on top. It’s always been that way and if he needs to look presentable, he simply puts on a cap. Fana, his sister, keeps his clothes clean and mended as best she can. He’s a rough and tumble sort of kid and there are always tears and holes here and there for her to patch.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER:
Fiercely devoted to his sister and his little brother. A bright, quick mind – but sometimes his schemes get him into a bit of trouble. He takes care of and is quite fond of Naep, his nanny-goat. During the harsh wintertime, Naep lived inside the stone hut with straw-thatched roof that served as the family’s residence
__________________

NAME: Thystel

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 5 y.o. Eorling boy (see Secg’s bio for where they live)

APPEARANCE : Sturdy little boy, just on the cusp of lengthening out like his brother. Dark blond hair much like his brother’s – sticking out all over, unless his sister can catch him and get it brushed into some semblance of order. He’d rather just shove it under a cap, though, like his big brother. He wears his brother’s hand-me-downs and looks at times like a patchworked little fellow.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER:
Serious faced, given to scrutinizing strangers to the point where they often feel a bit uncomfortable. He has an able mind like his brother and sister and catalogs a great deal of information away in the mind behind his innocent little face. He’s his brother’s little shadow – trying all the things his brother does. He, too, is fiercely devoted to his sister. He takes care of the family’s chickens – only one of which has made it through the winter with them. Her name is Ulcia (Ully, for short), and she too, has wintered inside the hut with the family and Naep, the goat. She roosted in the strawy eaves and rafters in the sturdy little hut.

LINKED ~*~ Pio

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

Hey, "U" - it occurs to me that we'd better put together a short bio for Grandma Haesel. Are you game to do it?

- A -

[Firefoot]

Great to see so many new characters! Welcome, all!

[Nogrod]

This might be a redundant question - and sorry for asking if it is something you have held self-evident all the time and thought carefully already...

But have you all new writers to this story already thought of how your characters end up / have ended up to the Mead Hall?

You can arrive with the caravan or just on your own (after the winter has just lifted it's worse hold it makes it possible for you to run somewhere to find food) in a sense "real time" as the writing starts, or your characters could have possibly joined the Mead Hall during the winter - or even earlier if you wish.

We have a four years jump here so please feel free to put your characters into the Mead Hall at the moment you think fits best your ideas about your characters' past.

If you decide that your characters have stayed at the Mead Hall already a year or two (game-time) before we start (in real terms), we can always come up with some relations they'd have with the other residents afterwards.

[Inziladun]

Hm. Perhaps Ladavan has already been there for a time, if indeed some explanation of it seems logical.

[Undómë]

Originally Posted by Arry

Hey, "U" - it occurs to me that we'd better put together a short bio for Grandma Haesel. Are you game to do it?

Now how did she get forgotten? Yes, I'll get something together for her.
______________________________

Originally Posted by Nogrod

This might be a redundant question - and sorry for asking if it is something you have held self-evident all the time and thought carefully already...

But have you all new writers to this story already thought of how your characters end up / have ended up to the Mead Hall?

Our little family doesn't live at the Meadhall. We live out in the woods; Grannny prides herself on her independence. I think that normally we would come in at the first spring fair/market... but this year we'll come in a little earlier - needing to get something for Granny Haesel, I think. So, you Meadhallers would have seen us now and then and know Granny by reputations and use of her herbal elixirs and balms (perhaps even come to the hut for more urgent needs) . But, really we're quite the wildings compared to you more sophisticated "-hallers "

Does this sound feasible?

[littlemanpoet]

Inziladun, welcome. I'm interested in your ideas for your character. I think that we have other Dunlanders, such as Modtryth and famliy, am I right? It might be interesting how that all works out.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Inziladun, welcome. I'm interested in your ideas for your character. I think that we have other Dunlanders, such as Modtryth and famliy, am I right? It might be interesting how that all works out.

Thanks! I'm more then open to any suggestions.

[Snowdog]

it's looking like this may get started soon! A couple simple questions from someone who has not been involved with the past .... If I was looking at a map of Rohan, where exactly would I find the Meadhall? and has the in-game year and month of starting been decided? I haven't been following all the back and forth among the elder writers between the other thread and this one. I'm hoping a summary of the scene and setting will be covered in an opening post to help get us new folk orientated.

That said, Halcwyn is ready to 'show up' at the hall in my first post, which I'll finalise after the opening post(s) are up and the RP is running.

[Undómë]

So, Arry, Granny Haesel's bio is now up on my original post for Fana - HERE

That was fun thinking about her character!

[piosenniel]

Originally Posted by Snowdog

If I was looking at a map of Rohan, where exactly would I find the Meadhall?

Here's a link to a Map by Nogrod of where the Meadhall is: HERE

See other hand-drawn maps and a detail of the Meadhall and the outbuildings - HERE

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

It's Year 19 of the Fourth Age -- May
See HERE

Hope that helps!

~*~ Pio

[Thinlómien]

This looks all very interesting! Welcome Undómë, Arry and Inzil!

When I write the "first post" I can leave it partly vague who's coming along with Wilheard. Like I said, he's hardly a people's person anyway, and he's probably been even more immersed in his own thoughts since his brother's death; so I'm not going to spend the post writing his observations about his travelling companions... But still good to know Scyld and Elfthain are with the caravan.


Inzil - veeery interesting! I daresay you will end up writing with me and Nogrod. Nog's character Stigend is the resident carpenter, and my character Modtryth is his wife and half-Dunlending herself. So lots of connections with the little family of ours!

I'm actually excited about a Dunlending character from the perspective of writing Modtryth. Seeing as she identifies as an Eorling and has been previously mistreated thanks to her Dunlending looks, I can see a lot of drama in the horizon if she has to interact with an actual Dunlending. She's generally a kind and understanding woman but I think ironically enough she might show a bit of her hostile side to someone who belongs to a group she very clearly wants to disassociate herself from... oops.

Also there's the adorable 1/4 Dunlending teenager son of Stigend and Modtryth's, Cnebba, who might be curious about the folk his mother's mother belonged to... So if Ladavan has already been to the Mead Hall for a while, we might need to establish some sort of history for the interactions between these characters. Or then he could only come now and we could let it all play out on the thread...? Thoughts?

[Thinlómien]

by profession/attachment, hopefully helpful especially to the new players... my confused comments in italics, to be removed once someone refreshes my memory/ clears things up.


Residing nobility
Eodwine, the Eorl of Scarburg, played by littlemanpoet
Saeryn, his lady wife, played by Folwren
Eoghan and Ruari, their 4 or 5???? year old son and daughter, played by Folwren
Wilheard, son of the former Eorl Athanar, no official position in Scarburg yet, played by Thinlómien

Soldiers and such
Thornden, steward? master at arms???? someone enlighten me please, played by Folwren
Hilderinc, guardsman, played by Legate of Amon Lanc
Áforglaed, guardsman, NPC
Osmund, guardsman, NPC
Elfthain, newly arrived warrior-in-training, played by Mithalwen

Craftsmen and other established masters of the hall
Léof, stablemaster, played by Firefoot
Stigend, carpenter, played by Nogrod
Garreth and Harreld, smiths, played by littlemanpoet
Scyld, a half-professional leather worker, played by Firefoot

Household (serving) women
Modtryth, played by Thinlómien
Rowenna, played by littlemanpoet
Ledwyn, played by Galadriel55
Stefnu, played by Legate of Amon Lanc

Young Meadhall residents
Cnebba, 12-year-old son Stigend and Modtryth, played by Nogrod and Thinlómien
Javan, 18-year-old brother of Thornden, does he have a profession now that he's an adult???, played by Folwren
Garmund and Leodthern, 13- and 9-year-old orphan brother and sister, adopted by Stigend and Modtryth, NPCs

Locals
Haesel, herbs-woman, played by Undómë
Fana, her granddaughter and apprentice, played by Undómë
Secg and Thystel, Fana's little brothers, played by Arry
Heafoc, a hunter, played by Envinyatar

Visitors (???)
Halcwyn, played by Snowdog
Ladavan, travelling carpenter, played by Inziladun
Cerwyn, Léof's little sister, played by Firefoot
Brith, travelling seamstress, played by Thinlómien
Fréa and Caranthir, sellswords, NPCs
Balan Bard, a traveller and storyteller, played by Galadriel55

[Thinlómien]

^ I will keep the list above updated.

Comments would be very welcome since I've been mia from Scarburg for pretty long (oops). Especially Folwren and Gal, please check what I wrote about your characters and comment. Anyone else want to correct me, be my guest.

I have a couple of questions.

1) Any other characters that are around from the old thread? NPCs? Carry-along characters? My biggest question would be about Ginna, Kara and Frodides. Should someone message Lhuna and Kath (maybe on facebook). Nog, did you hear back from Celuien about her old characters?

2) I assume the total amount of people in Scarburg must be higher than this. So making up NPCs is welcome.

3) Speaking of which, I think we may have some rather important positions even unfilled. (Especially, for example, if we don't have Frodides/Kara as the cooks anymore.) Thoughts? What positions are there in the Mead Hall that should be filled by an NPC, an old character getting a promotion or that should be acknowledged to be open? (For example again, if the Mead Hall doesn't have a cook. I'm sure the household women would manage, but they do have a lot to do already with the child-rearing - if there are children, though, and not just a bunch of teenagers - and cleaning and assisting Saeryn and serving and generally seeing the domestic affairs in Scarburg run smoothly.)

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Inzil - veeery interesting! I daresay you will end up writing with me and Nogrod. Nog's character Stigend is the resident carpenter, and my character Modtryth is his wife and half-Dunlending herself. So lots of connections with the little family of ours!

I'm actually excited about a Dunlending character from the perspective of writing Modtryth. Seeing as she identifies as an Eorling and has been previously mistreated thanks to her Dunlending looks, I can see a lot of drama in the horizon if she has to interact with an actual Dunlending. She's generally a kind and understanding woman but I think ironically enough she might show a bit of her hostile side to someone who belongs to a group she very clearly wants to disassociate herself from... oops.

Also there's the adorable 1/4 Dunlending teenager son of Stigend and Modtryth's, Cnebba, who might be curious about the folk his mother's mother belonged to... So if Ladavan has already been to the Mead Hall for a while, we might need to establish some sort of history for the interactions between these characters. Or then he could only come now and we could let it all play out on the thread...? Thoughts?

Intriguing! I really am ambivalent as to Ladavan's means of arrival. I rely on the opinions of the"regulars" as to the potential for maximum drama.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

NAME: Stefnu

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 36, female, Eorlinga, Midemnet (originally from near Dunharrow)

APPEARANCE: 5' 6'' tall, a bit stocky, golden-red hair usually worn in two braids or under a scarf, grey eyes

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Stefnu was born in the shadow of Dwimorberg in the White Mountains as third of four daughters, but she had then lived for years with her older husband, Mildric, who was a traveling merchant, originally from the Scarburg area. Because of her husband's occupation, she often remained behind in his house near lord Friduhelm's hold. At first, she had the company of Mildric's son from his first marriage. He eventually began to accompany his father to learn the trade, and around that time Stefnu bore Mildric a second son. That kept Stefnu's life busier for some years, but when the boy reached his late teens, he left to learn a trade of his own. Mildric, growing older, remained more often at home those days, but there were still long periods of time when he and his firstborn son traveled around the Mark and sometimes beyond.
After Athanar's soldiers arrived to Scarburg, Stefnu met several of them when they were riding by on errands. Being home alone, she found new occupation for herself by preparing refreshment for the soldiers and treating them with meal whenever they were out long, which was duly appreciated. Especially young Áforglaed seemed to enjoy Stefnu's company and she liked to jest with him. When Athanar's men left to war, she made sure to wish them well on their journey, and she also heartily welcomed them back when they returned.
During the Hard Winter, Stefnu's husband remained at home, while his firstborn stayed in Edoras, where he reputedly had found himself a wife. As the winter hardened, Mildric, being already old and frail, took ill and eventually, one cold December night, he passed away. Stefnu mourned for him, but one thing seemed clear to her: she did not want to remain alone in the house belonging to her stepson. As soon as the weather permited, she decided to head for the Mead Hall in hope to find herself a new place.

Stefnu is an outgoing person, but having spent much of her life alone, she is not the type to stick her nose in other people's lives without invitation. She is respectful to others, but quick to speak up whenever she thinks otherwise. She is fairly intelligent and possesses a decent ability to judge people quickly. She also does not always keep her judgements to herself, even though she does it in a kindly manner. Having had her hands on raising two children of a very different kind, it has been proven she has something of a gift in addittion to experience with raising kids. She is a decent enough cook, but possesses better skills from other areas that she has honed while being home alone, such as her hobby of basket-weaving or making small decorative objects of natural materials. She has some knowledge of herbs and more ancient lore which has been passed down in her family; songs and tales of the old mountain-folk. She has a somewhat deep, very melodic voice, and likes to sing while working and sometimes even while not.
___________________________

LINKED ~*~ Pio

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

So, as you see, I finally posted the bio I've been drying here for ages... Figured out it would be the easiest to add the few finishing touches if I just post it here. The original idea, as mentioned on the old thread, was to have Stefnu come with the intention (her intention, at least) to eventually marry Áforglaed, one of Athanar's men who stayed behind. But I decided to let it develop on its own, now she is freshly widowed and it mostly serves as one more incentive for her to appear (and to be received, having met many of the men - not just Athanar's! - before).

Now, my dilemma is thus - whether I let her come to Scarburg together with the caravan (snows have melted, now she feels okay to travel) or (I might have slight preference for that one at the moment) that she came sometime after her husband's death, basically after realising she can't really cope on her own, I'm envisioning a lonely voyage through the snow with a sack of whatever provisions she had left in her home. Given that husband might have owned decent supply of some "exotic" food thanks to his profession, she would have perhaps even something small to bring to the Hall with her which she would dig up from her husband's hidden personal store, sad leftovers of what they hadn't eaten already. Of course it would be of little help to the amount of people in the Hall, but in such conditions... it would probably also ease her acceptance to the Hall. She would then gladly take on any tasks required to contribute. Speaking of which...

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

3) Speaking of which, I think we may have some rather important positions even unfilled. (Especially, for example, if we don't have Frodides/Kara as the cooks anymore.) Thoughts? What positions are there in the Mead Hall that should be filled by an NPC, an old character getting a promotion or that should be acknowledged to be open? (For example again, if the Mead Hall doesn't have a cook. I'm sure the household women would manage, but they do have a lot to do already with the child-rearing - if there are children, though, and not just a bunch of teenagers - and cleaning and assisting Saeryn and serving and generally seeing the domestic affairs in Scarburg run smoothly.)

...just looking at Stefnu's bio, I realised her CV could qualify her for example for the cooking and similar tasks. I did not intend her position to be that, in the beginning, but if it is something we are looking for, it actually seems she could fit neatly in there.

But yes, with that said, if I go with variant B (her being in the Hall for a few months already, during the winter), it possibly might be easier, people would be assumed to know her, even though still little enough so that all the relationships could be basically built from scratch. That would both give us the option of genuine relationship-building without the need to pre-invent anything and at the same time spare us the first encounters "Hi, what is your name" which might just be tedious if there would be a lot of new characters anyway...

[littlemanpoet]

Lommy, I contacted Lhuna and she will not be able to write for Ginna. Therefore, I have it that Ginna becomes lost during the hard winter, and Harreld has given her up for dead after a long search. So her actual doom is unknown, which is how I prefer to leave it until things shake themselves out. And I get to write a morbid Harreld if I choose.

[Snowdog]

Thanks for pointing me to the info Pio. I'll try and get my head around this as it seems that planning and backstory is to the nth degree. At this point, my character will be a casual visitor that happens by the Meadhall. Will try and work it in from there.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Comments would be very welcome since I've been mia from Scarburg for pretty long (oops). Especially Folwren and Gal, please check what I wrote about your characters and comment. Anyone else want to correct me, be my guest.

Yup, Ledwyn's description is good. I imagine that she has some skill with string-related crafts (probably some rudimentary weaving), like I briefly mentioned in her filler post, but that would be on-the-side. She would maybe occasionally make something, but do that in her "free time" as opposed to a main job.

Originally Posted by Lommy

I assume the total amount of people in Scarburg must be higher than this. So making up NPCs is welcome.

And the total number of dead people probably exceeds one boy. But we could leave the dead people unnamed, possibly referring to them as "the three men who dies last night" or somesuch.

Originally Posted by Lommy

3) Speaking of which, I think we may have some rather important positions even unfilled. (Especially, for example, if we don't have Frodides/Kara as the cooks anymore.) Thoughts? What positions are there in the Mead Hall that should be filled by an NPC, an old character getting a promotion or that should be acknowledged to be open? (For example again, if the Mead Hall doesn't have a cook. I'm sure the household women would manage, but they do have a lot to do already with the child-rearing - if there are children, though, and not just a bunch of teenagers - and cleaning and assisting Saeryn and serving and generally seeing the domestic affairs in Scarburg run smoothly.)

That's another thing I was also wondering about. Surely, with all the people in the Hall, the twins wouldn't be the only children born in 4 years? But that requires a lot of major changes in the lives of characters whose writers are either not active or don't want these changes to happen [so quickly]. Maybe we should invent some NPC children, or even a whole young family unit?


And since I'm posting here anyways, I thought that maybe it's fitting that Ledwyn should get mild frostbite sometime in the winter. It's such a delightful possibility that's been discussed but not really applied. I don't want the idea to go to waste, and I think it would benefit her in the sense that it would make her even more unbalanced. However, I'm debating which body part I should ruin. Not anything major, but perhaps a finger or toe, maybe an ear. You frostbite experts - which would you say is the most realistically probable case considering she wouldn't have spent that much time outside the Hall? I suppose the ear is the least realistic, fingers and toes are more likely. But even so, what could she be doing outside for so long when there's nothing to do due to the snow? Inside the Hall, it wouldn't be warm, exactly, but there is at least one fire, so it doesn't make sense for someone who spends the whole winter within a two-minute walk from it to get serious frostbite. Any suggestions?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

That's another thing I was also wondering about. Surely, with all the people in the Hall, the twins wouldn't be the only children born in 4 years? But that requires a lot of major changes in the lives of characters whose writers are either not active or don't want these changes to happen [so quickly]. Maybe we should invent some NPC children, or even a whole young family unit?

Unless most of the children born in the last 4 years also for example died during the winter. They are a bit of a risk group, to be sure (although again it would be the families' priority to protect them).

Originally Posted by G55

And since I'm posting here anyways, I thought that maybe it's fitting that Ledwyn should get mild frostbite sometime in the winter. It's such a delightful possibility that's been discussed but not really applied. I don't want the idea to go to waste, and I think it would benefit her in the sense that it would make her even more unbalanced. However, I'm debating which body part I should ruin. Not anything major, but perhaps a finger or toe, maybe an ear. You frostbite experts - which would you say is the most realistically probable case considering she wouldn't have spent that much time outside the Hall? I suppose the ear is the least realistic, fingers and toes are more likely. But even so, what could she be doing outside for so long when there's nothing to do due to the snow? Inside the Hall, it wouldn't be warm, exactly, but there is at least one fire, so it doesn't make sense for someone who spends the whole winter within a two-minute walk from it to get serious frostbite. Any suggestions?

Fingers and toes. You could make it an ear if you wanted to exploit the trouble you hinted at in your fill-in post in which she seems having to keep scarves on. As for a reason to go outside: just like everyone, to gather firewood. One badly timed part of afternoon outside is enough, having some head-cover, losing it thanks to wind as foreshadowed, and then farewell to arms. I mean, ears.

[Firefoot]

Fingers would probably be the most interesting (fun fact: forget about waistlines - hands are the second most important body part for self -body image, after the face).

Similar to what Legate said, you could have her out for firewood and take her glove off for some reason (too bulky/clumsy).

As for which finger(s), the thumb would obviously be bad news. But if I had to choose a finger to lose, it would be my index finger. Your middle and ring fingers can compensate pretty well. Losing the middle finger would be more awkward but still okay. Your ring and pinky fingers are really important for grip strength and stability (imagine carrying a heavy plate or tray with just your thumb and first two fingers). Missing either of these fingers, especially the little one, I would expect to see increased clumsiness, possibly dropping things.

The other thing to keep in mind is often with frostbite you only lose part of the finger, but the remainder/tip is often uncomfortably sensitive to touch, making it less useful than one might expect.

Hope this helps!

[Thinlómien]

Edited Ledwyn's details, added Stefnu and Scyld, whom I had forgotten because I didn't know where to put him. Btw Firefoot does he have any job or anything? What do you fathom he's doing in the Meadhall? Like, how is he useful?

LMP, I take it that you'll be writing Harreld then? Should Garreth also be listed as your character or as an NPC?

I'll message Kath on facebook and ask if we should keep Kara and Frodides as NPCs or if they should leave the hall, or if she wants to make a comeback and write them.

Currently sketching Wiheard's first post (yay!) and entertaining the idea of bringing my first ever 'downs RPG character for a visit to the Meadhall (no, Lommy, no!)

[Firefoot]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Btw Firefoot does he have any job or anything? What do you fathom he's doing in the Meadhall? Like, how is he useful?

lol, he previously was not useful I'm terms of skilled labor, but I wrote into his first post for the new thread that he's been working with his brother learning leather-working, since the hall lost its last one.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Undómë

Our little family doesn't live at the Meadhall. We live out in the woods; Grannny prides herself on her independence. I think that normally we would come in at the first spring fair/market... but this year we'll come in a little earlier - needing to get something for Granny Haesel, I think. So, you Meadhallers would have seen us now and then and know Granny by reputations and use of her herbal elixirs and balms (perhaps even come to the hut for more urgent needs).

If you live in the woods the Mead Hall people will be first and foremost astonished to see you alive after that harsh winter - not probably quite understanding that some folks could actually manage that kind of climate even easier than those depending on farming for their diet.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

If you live in the woods the Mead Hall people will be first and foremost astonished to see you alive after that harsh winter - not probably quite understanding that some folks could actually manage that kind of climate even easier than those depending on farming for their diet.

Can we start a witch hunt for these suspicious people surviving on their own in the wild?

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Snowdog

Thanks for pointing me to the info Pio. I'll try and get my head around this as it seems that planning and backstory is to the nth degree. At this point, my character will be a casual visitor that happens by the Meadhall. Will try and work it in from there.

I don't think you need to worry too much as a new character. I think most of the planning etc is because people are reprising existing cbaracters with histories with other players characters which have to be taken into consideration.

I have opted to have my character as a new arrival so I can learn with him about Scarburg as we go... however since I have used him elsewhere I just like to tie up his history for my own satisfaction.