Prisoner of Númenor Planning/Discussion Thread

[TomBrady12]

haha its good to know that Regin doesnt have a life....jk haha

anyway, i'm going to try to post tonight before i go to bed, i think it will need to be moved in front of Fea's post, im not 100% sure. As Soph said i wont be around starting tonight until probibly wednesday afternoon.

TB12

[Himaran]

Regin: Just trying to stay in character.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Hey where is everybody?

Tom: I'd like like to go ahead with my next post. Please let me know when you are going to respond.

Thanks,

- Regin

[littlemanpoet]

I'm here.
Waiting for someone to post.
And tempted to get Mabalar freed
single handedly.

I suspect that school finals are the main culprit, Regin. Let's be patient for about a week, after which most students will be quite ready to break out of school and play with us.

[Himaran]

I'm here - just waiting for the plot to move along... It does seem like a few players have disappeared, though.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'm here! I promise. Real life dragged me kicking and screaming into responsibility. Like the student council meeting I should be paying attention to. I... will post soon. After I do this. And after I work on the graduation slide show. And after I do my homework, eat something, do my chores, and pick out something to completely change my cousin's look, much like she did to me today. See? Stupid real life...

[littlemanpoet]

We're not writing a novel here, friends. Granted, we've set the bar high, but if it's so high that we're afraid to take a chance, what's the point? Let's get this going. Better to say "oops" after a post than "doggone it if only" after the rp is cancelled. I need some more action from you guys before Mabalar's next post. Let's do it.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I posted my group's first mishap, but I don't think that's what LMP meant, as my posting has very little to do with the direct story line.Can't wait to see what you guys have been cooking up all this time. Of course the delay was that you were all writing rather long and interesting posts...

[TomBrady12]

I'm sorry for being absent so long. No excuses, my apologies to everyone.

I've responded on the game thread, weather that post needs to be moved I'm not sure.

Again, sorry for the delay. I will be sure it doesnt happen again.

TB12

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

The same with for me.

Didn't mean to be gone so long, things converged rather more hectically than I thought they would.

I will try to get a post up tomorrow. It's really time to move the action along a little.

Again apologies.

Sophia

[Himaran]

Well, now that we're all done making up , let's get this story rolling! I put in a post in which:

- It's morning.
- It's sunny.
- The group is packing to leave the campsite.

And less important but still noteworthy:

- Abarzadan is having issues with animals.


I'm looking forward to getting to the city, where Abarzadan may or may not try to betray the company - naturally, something would go wrong, and he would end up back in cahoots with them, but we shall see...

Himaran

[littlemanpoet]

I guess I need to put some thought into the geography of Armenelos. If anybody knows anything, or knows where to look for it anywhere, please feel free to post info or links here. Thanks!

[piosenniel]

About Armenelos . . .

Here are some thoughts on Armenelos, culled from Fonstad's "Atlas of Middle-earth" and from "Unfinished Tales" - 'A Description of Numenor':

Armenelos lies in the region of the island called The Mittalmar, and specifically in a smaller area of that region called 'Arandor' (Kingsland).

From the Atlas, the city appears to lie very near the southwestern foot of the Meneltarma, where the grass-covered base of that tall mountain slopes gently into the surrounding plain.

Tolkien describes the Mittalmar as "a region of grasslands and low downs, and few trees grew there . . . a region of pastures."

Near Armenelos along the crest of the southwestern ridge of the mountain's base, was the climbing road that led up to the summit of Meneltarma.

Between the southwestern and the southeastern ridges of the mountain's roots (the mountain's feet, by the way, are in the shape of a star, matching the shape of the Island), there is a shallow valley named Noirinan (Valley of the Tombs). At the head of the valley chambers were cut into the rock at the base of the mountain and the Kings and Queens of Numenor were buried there.

[Regin Hardhammer]

My save is filled in.

[littlemanpoet]

Thanks, Pio. That was most helpful.

Given the type of terrain around Armenelos, and the nature of the rescuing party, it seems to me that some things need to be considered before the approach to the city is written.

1. There is no cover to speak of, with low, grassy hills being the major feature, for do doubt a good two dozen miles in every direction.

2. The mountain, then the temple, respectivley, appear to dominate the scene.

3. The place will be crawling with King's men.

4. The Kariborim will stick out like seven sore thumbs.

All this taken into account, it seems to me that the rescuing party will have to go under cover of assumed identities, as did Frodo as Mr. Underhill. The horses cannot go into Armenelos, unless they are noised as "spoils of looting" the Faithful.

If the party goes in acting like bad guys with Kariborim as spoils, they could well be forced into many an awkward situation, and rest assured this player will write them into the story!

If, on the other hand, the part agrees to split in two, a couple remaining with the Kariborim in secret, while a chosen group sneaks into the city, an entirely different set of risks present themselves: what if they are found out? some captured?

So, this needs to be discussed by the rescue party members, I think. Any other options you can think of should come up in such a discussion as well.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

We have an Armenelos contact, right? So there's always the all-together-too-simple way of meeting up at his place and going from there. But there's always the issue of GETTING there.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

LMP sums the position up nicely. I've read TB12's next post and I think that it will give the party a good opportunity to gather around and make some serious plans, rather than just plunging in.

Although, TB, on second thought, just for time economy, I think we ought to have one uneventful day travelling before your post. Could you edit it up so that it happens as we're making camp in the evening and not as we're leaving in the morning? I'm writing a post "covering the day" for Kathaani which makes the day go by quickly and uneventfully, although we're all growing more and more tense, waiting to hear from you before posting it.

Sophia

[piosenniel]

Due to a number of RL situations/stressors, alaklondewen has decided she needs to withdraw from her games at the Barrow-Downs.

How would the remaining players of this game like to handle the situation. Hers was a cameo character - the underground contact in Armenelos.

~*~ Pio

[littlemanpoet]

The character description is available to us all, post # 12 (some day I'll have to figure out how to link to just one post!).

Anyway, since the descrip is there, I suggest that any of us willing and able to write the character should do so. Or, if a particular writer is required, I'm willing.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I recommend simply writing in the character where needed. If the group's plan is to head to the contact's place (before which I suggest losing the King's Men... perhaps split up and regroup?) then why not just carry the character along?

EDIT: LMP, you know the post number in the top right corner of each post? It's a link. Click it and it will open a new window with just that post in it. Create a hyperlink with that.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

I think collectively handling Monoizindu would work out best as well, since I don't think the plot has any hope of working out without him.

LMP, could we get a very small mini bio of your friendly guard? And perhaps a short description of the way you see Tar Miriel's personality? I suspect the larger party will interact with at least the first and we'll want to know something about him.

I've filled in my save, so we've officially moved to the end of day two, at the end of day three we should be on the outskirts of Armenelos. I'd have filled it in earlier, except the people I live with are having a bit of a quarrel with their ISP so I haven't had service for most of a week. We're now with a different company, things should be reliable.

Sophia

[Regin Hardhammer]

I put up a post. Hope it's okay with everyone. I used Littlemanpoet's idea of using disguises and Pio's description of Noirinan. Let me know if there's anything I need to change.

- Regin

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I've posted as well. Certainly sucks for the good guys when the King has smart and loyal men working for him...

[Himaran]

I posted, attempting to collaborate with TB12 and provide answers to Abarzadan's recent behavior (as mentioned in Regin's last post). Personally, I like Regin's idea, but perhaps there's another way...?

[TomBrady12]

I also like Regin's idea.

What if we were to split the group, with one half appearing to ride straight to Rommena, forsaking the mission to rescue Abar, and the other group continuing, seemingly unaware of the Kings Men following, to Armenelos. The kings men would assume half of the party had given up the idea of a rescue and were fleeing immediately to the ships. With all the attention of the KM on the other party riding straight to Abars rescue, perhaps the "fleeing" group would be able to sneak unhindered into the city from the east and mount a rescue, while the other group stalled and delayed the KM.

I like the idea of combining Regin's idea with a split group, what does eveyone else think?

*Sophia* Somehow I missed your note asking me to edit my post to the evening. Would you still like me to do this?

TB12

[littlemanpoet]

Himaran, how about leaving it in doubt for now, and just playing both possibilities as alive? You never know how such things can help make the story interesting. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that even you not make a decision as to which way it is, so that when the truth comes out, it's a "surprise" to everyone, regardless of which way it is. Sound good?

[Regin Hardhammer]

LMP-

Try not to get yourself sacraficed before we get there.

I would appreciate if someone responded vocally to my plan in some way. It would help move the story.

Thanks,

- Regin

[littlemanpoet]

Regin, in the absence of complaint or objection, I'd say go for it. In fact, put words in Marsilion's mouth if he doesn't post soon.

[TomBrady12]

I've written a post responding to Azarmano's plan. I'm running it by regin before posting, so make sure you check your messages Regin

TB12

[Regin Hardhammer]

TB12-

I sent you a reply to your pm. Please check your pms.

Thanks,

- Regin

[Meneltarmacil]

Sorry for not posting in a long time. (I've really been neglecting my duties to this RPG lately... ) I'll post as soon as I can once I see what the plan for rescuing Mabalar is. I plan on carrying out the rescue mission rather than try to make a dash for Romenna. (I'll be on a road trip from June 16 until somewhere around June 29, so I'll try to do the best I can before then)

Oh, and if somebody could please add a hunting knife to my bio (as I don't think I can edit it at this point since it's in piosenniel's post), that'd be good.

[piosenniel]

Menel

I added the hunting knife to your character bio.

~*~ Pio

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I've just posted. Inzi's group can see Romenna, so I recommend hurrying. Just so it's common knowledge, I'm headed out of town for a few days, but I'll be back Tuesday night.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Put up a post for Azarmano. In it he lets everyone know in his lowdest voice about the split up. I would kindly request Meneltarmecil to edit the end of his post to not leave before I do, as it does not make sense. If anyone has any problems with my post and/or in game acting please let me know.

- Regin

[Meneltarmacil]

I've edited it. And thanks for adding the hunting knife, Pio.

I'll see if I can't make at least one more post before I leave on my great adventure.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Meneltarmacil,
Thanks for your edit.

- Regin

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Ach.

I write this (hastily) from a friend's house, had bring my laptop over and wait to use her internet until I wasn't blocking the phone line.

My ISP troubles which I thought were over, haven't been. I rent a room from friends, so I'm not really well filled in on what exactly went on. A while ago they told me the connection was back and would stay, now they're fighting again over a payment they may or may not have made. However, my friend has graciously offered me her connection during non-phone-use hours.

TB12 and Regin have cooked up a nice plan, I think. Better, certainly than what I would have thought of had I been there. It took me a while to read the new posts and catch up and my batteries are beginning to go, so I will have to write up Kathaani's thoughts on splitting the group tomorrow and buzz over here in the evening to put the post up.

Belatedly (as usual)
S.

[littlemanpoet]

Dwindling numbers, I see. Well, thanks for being a part of the story at least for a while, Thoronmir/Meneltarmacil.

I do believe our 12 weeks are about up by now?

Okay, maybe it's the time of year, maybe there's something else going on. Either way, I have a proposal.

If there has been no post to the rpg game in any five day period, I will take it upon myself personally to move the plot along. That includes making other people's characters do things that I think up. If you don't like what I do with your character, protest and I fix.

The goal of the above proposal is twofold: (1) get the party and Mabalar together. (2) spark some much needed interest in this cool story.

Responses?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'm up for it, LMP, but that's possibly because I have a character and part that have pretty much zilch need for interference. Inzi and Co. are settling nicely into Romenna, which gives you guys a remarkably short few "days". I recommend getting a move on, or there may be some serious issues with Elendil wanting to get his floating show on the road.

And come on guys, I'm sure Abarpa's getting nervous floating around in non-action waiting for Sauron to do something.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and what's the deal with Elendil? Is somebody covering what he says to keep it relatively canonical, or do I get free reign when daddy's little girl gets to see him?

[Himaran]

I'm a bit confused...

Are Abarzadan & Co. secretly entering Armenelos, or are they staying in Romenna?