Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Greetings, fellow players, here on the wide and rolling plains of Rohan!

This thread will be a place where we can discuss and plan the action and dialogue and what-not that is written on:

The Scarburg Meadhall game thread

The new facilitators for this incarnation will be:

Nogrod, ably assisted by Thinlómien

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NOTE:

All posters to the Meadhall must submit an Abbreviated Character Description form to this thread when they place their first post on the Mead Hall RPG thread.

See the Link in the following post for the form.

[piosenniel]

Information Links for the Meadhall -- Players/Characters List

1.) Location of Meadhall/MAPS: Scarburg Meadhall & surrounding area; Meadhall overview; General Middle-earth overview - HERE

2.) Time Frame for the Scarburg Meadhall/Links to Eorling Mead Hall threads - HERE

3.) Dealing with posts from places other than Scarburg - HERE

4.) Types of Characters Allowed - HERE

5.) General Reminders for the RPG Thread/"NO SAVES" reminder - HERE

6.) Abbreviated Character Bio Form for the Meadhall - HERE

7.) Useful Information about Rohirric (note: Anglo-Saxon & Viking) culture, including types of housing, political system, occupations, language, cookery, etc., & other links of interest - HERE

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Players . . . . . . . . . . . Characters - a list in progress as each new player is added

Durelin . . . . . . . . . . . Coenred (Coen) (Athanar's right hand man/in charge of his men); Tyrdda

Eönwë . . . . . . . . . . . . Daghan-Turi-Dan (Dan); Raedwald

Feanor of the Peredhil . . Degas of the Folde; Rowenna (Wenna); Linduial of Dol Amroth; Farahil son of Farlen; Adrigil son of Farlen

Firefoot . . . . . . . . . . . Léofric; Scyld

Folwren . . . . . . . . . . . . Thornden; Javan; Saeryn; Quin of Edoras

Formendacil . . . . . . . . . Náin son of Narin son of Nori

Galadriel55 . . . . . . . . . . Ledwyn and her son, Theolain

Groin Redbeard . . . . . . . Erbrand (leather worker/shopkeeper); Lithor (soldier); Girth the swineherd, his friend Hamrod, & Dog, their canine pal

Gwathagor . . . . . . . . . . Crabannan; Wilcred

Kath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kara; Frodides

Legate of amon Lanc . . Hilderinc (New Eorl's soldier)

Lhunardawen . . . . . . . . . Ginna; Randvér

littlemanpoet . . . . . . . . . Eodwine (First Eorl of the Meadhall); Master Falco Boffin; Harreld Smith; Garreth Smith; Rowenna (Rowenna now written by Feanor of the Peredhil); Laerdil (Elf)

Loslote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lilige (Wynflæd's maid)

Mnemosyne . . . . . . . . . Wynflæd (wife of Athanar, the new Eorl)

Nerindel . . . . . . . . . . . . Iomhair Fearghal, Æðelhild (Æðel); Balvir; Matrim Astalder (son of Lord Mordavim of Arnen);

Nienna . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ædre (daughter of the new Eorl)

Nogrod . . . . . . . . . . . . . Athanar son of Herewald (new Eorl of Meadhall); Stigend; Cnebba (shared w/Thinlómien)

shaggydog . . . . . . . . . . Oeric

Thinlómien . . . . . . . . . . . Modtryth; Cnebba (shared w/Nogrod); original Wulfric & Wilheard - short bio for the Meadhall (sons of the new Eorl);
Expanded bio for Wilheard for the 'Hard Winters' RPG -- HERE
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NPC's - Athanar's soldiers (BALDWIC SON OF BALDWIN; FEARGHALL; ÁFORGLAED; SCYRR)

- - - - - - - - - -

Carry-along characters (may be used gently by all players by agreement of their original writer):

Celuien . . . . . . . . . . . . Garstan, Garmund, Lèoðern

[piosenniel]

Location of Scarburg/Maps of Scarburg, Meadhall, Middle-earth

MAP OF MIDDLE-EARTH - HERE
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About Rohan: HERE (Lord of the Rings Wiki)
Rohan MAP

The Middle Emnet is the southeast quarter of West Emnet, bordered by the Snowbourn to the south and the Entwash to the east. It's northern border is halfway between the Snowbourn and the Entwash where it comes out of Fangorn. Its western border begins at the intersection of the Snowbourn and the Great West Road.


About the Mid-Emnet (from the 1st post to the Eorling Mead Hall discussion thread per littlemanpoet):

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

King Eomer makes an administrative move to improve the governance (and bureaucracy ) of Rohan by instituting a Mid-Emnet made up of the lands immediately surrounding Edoras, and makes Eodwine the Eorl of Mid Emnet.

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The Scarburg Mead Hall and surroundings

2nd Eorl's, Athanar (Nogrod), mead hall and outbuildings:

Mid-Emnet -- HERE

Mead Hall and outbuildings -- HERE

- - - - - -

1st Eorl's, Eodwine (littlemanpoet); mead hall: See attachments below


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[piosenniel]

Time Frame for the Meadhall - From the Eorling Mead Hall to the Scarburg Meadhall

The Eorling Mead Hall (1st hosted by littlemanpoet/now hosted by Nogrod and Thinlómien) - Game Thread --- Discussion Thread

~*~

Scarburg Meadhall


THE YEAR IS: 15 of the Fourth Age


March 25 - posts 1 - 114

Eodwine's first day as Eorl of Middle Emnet

April 1 - posts 115 - 205

The hall wall falls down

April 4 - posts 206 - 303

The Fair - Léof wins a horse race; Linduial is abducted; Nain arrives

April 25 - posts 304 - 400

Eodwine holds court; Stigend, Modtryth, & Cnebba arrive

April 26 - posts 401 - 468

Trystan arrives; Linduial leaves; Garstan and Stigend plan the new kitchen

May 22 - posts 469 - 634

Garmund, Falco & Thornden discover "Rilef" in the ruins; Javan arrives

May 23 - posts 635 - 705

Ginna arrives & Harreld goes moony

May 24 - posts 706 - 852

Elfthain arrives; Ritun & Lefun (Ritun) are killed by outlaws; Rowenna is freed & comes to the Hall. Elián arrives.

Events occurring between May 24 & June 24: Ulrich & Withold are hanged; Stigend is made a man of the Hall for a year and a day.

June 24 - posts 853 - 961

Eodwine announces Scarburg move; Ginna leads on and drops Harreld; Javan burns the stables down

Events between June 24 & July 8: Eodwine finds an innkeeper (neither of the 2 applicants written of) and orders Stigend to lead the Hall's workers in building a new stable while the women with the help of the children prepare for the move to Scarburg; Eodwine dictates Javan's punishment for burning down the stables.

July 8 - formerly posts 962 of Eorling Mead Hall thread (NOW the beginning posts to the Scarburg Meadhall game thread) -

Eodwine and his House arrive at Scarburg and find it in shambles.

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ROUGH DRAFT (Please check for updates HERE)

Timeline for August 9th -- through November 13

August 9 - Eodwine and Saeryn married.
Sometime in August - Saeryn conceives

Early Octoboer - Eodwine falls ill

October 9 - Eodwine becomes very ill and is moved to Edoras

October 10 - Three lords come to Scarburg and refuse to pay taxes

October 11-12 - Saeryn goes to Edoras, the king tells her he will appoint a new Eorl. Eodwine goes to Minas Tirith

November 11 - Athanar and his household come to Scarburg

November 12 - Erbrand nearly kills Scyrr. Erbrand and Lithor leave Scarburg

November 13 - Athanar goes to the three landlords and exerts authority over them. Falco returns to Scarburg.

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[piosenniel]

Dealing with posts from different places - e.g., outside Scarburg:

If you have to write an "Away" post please put at the top of your post in Bold:

Away - Location.

For instance:

Away – Edoras

[piosenniel]

Types of characters allowed:

Hobbits
Men
Elves
Dwarves

Originally Posted by Thinlómien from "In Transition: Inkeeper thread"

I hope that every player who is introducing an Elf, a Hobbit, a Dwarf from somewhere else than Aglarond or a human who is not Rohanian, Dunlending or Gondorian, would consider what on earth is his/her character doing at the hall or in Rohan at all.....people should be allowed to play characters that are different and far away from their homes, but it should be with consideration.

~*~

Note - guideline for describing your Elven character’s appearance.:

Please use this description from Tolkien when crafting an Elf:

Return of the King – Appendix F: Tolkien’s description for the Quendi (The Speakers) – the name given to the Elves by themselves after they first awoke in Middle-earth.

“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 Finrod; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that is now heard . . .”

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Character types that are not allowed:

Animals (as main characters - including dragons, eagles, wargs, etc.)
Barrow wights
Ents/huorns
Mewlips
Orcs
Trolls

Any other creature or persons not mentioned in 'Types of characters allowed'; e.g.:
No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only.

[piosenniel]

Reminders for the Meadhall RPG in play:

• Please remove your signature from EVERY post to the RPG thread
  
  
• No SAVES in the Meadhall.
  
  
• Don't use smileys in your RPG posts or icons - e.g., etc.
  
  
• Don't use the 'Reason for Editing' function on your RPG posts. If it's critical that other players know that you've changed something, then put a post on the Discussion Thread about your edit.
  
  
• No OOC (out of character comments) on the RPG thread - use the Discussion Thread.
  
  
• Swearing, sexual conduct, or obscenity of any kind are absolutely prohibited. There are no exceptions.
  
  

  . . . I always ask myself if any of these words or euphemisms for cursing would be found in Tolkien's works. So I always say no to cursing and to any 'pseudo-cursing'. They need to keep it clean. -- per The Barrow-Wight

[piosenniel]

Abbreviated Character Bio Form for the Meadhall

NAME:

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM:

APPEARANCE (very brief physical description/or as detailed as the player wishes to be):

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER
(again, as brief or detailed as you wish):

[piosenniel]

Useful Information about Rohirric culture

IN PROGRESS.....

01.) Lords and Vassals

02.) Oven Building

03.) Wattle & Daub Construction

04.) Saxon Buildings

05.) Anglo-Saxon Occupations

06.) Dance!

07.) Medieval and Anglo Saxon Recipes - NO LONGER WORKING

08.) Regia Anglorum (Anglo-Saxon & Viking Britain resources)

09.) Ravensgard (Anglo-Saxon culture)

10.) About the Rohirric language (from the Ardalambion site)

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Miscellaneous Links referencing questions in the former Eorling Mead Hall thread:

Anglo-Saxon culture and horses; Rohirrim-Dunlending relations; On Bailiffs, Stewards, and Almbudsmen; Medieval boy/girl stuff (“rolling in the hay”); Eorling Mead Hall & Surrounds Plan - HERE

~*~

Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Words and Influences (The Tolkien Society) - HERE - NO LONGER WORKING

[piosenniel]

Please start putting your Abbreviated Character Bios for the Scarburg Meadhall on this thread.
See post #8 of this thread for the Bio form.

I'll link them, then, back up to post #2 of this thread.

Thanks!!

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

The Meadhall game thread is now open for play.

Please get the Abbreviated Character Bio form done for your characters and posted to this thread in a timely manner.

Any NEW players to this continuation of The Eorling Mead Hall game must post their character bio(s) on the Scarburg Discussion Thread prior to posting to this game.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Groin Redbeard]

NAME: Erbrand

AGE: 28

GENDER: Male

RACE: Man

WHERE FROM: Aldburg

APPEARANCE: Stands at a height of 6'3; has long and untidy dish water blonde hair, he has a short scruffy beard, and wears clothes in the fashion of a peasent. He often dresses himself in a sheep wool cloak while out at night.

CHARACTER/HISTORY: Erbrand is a skilled leather maker from the city of Aldburg. He is very gruff in manner and seldom speaks to strange people, except for when you can catch him in a good mood. He is not at all wealthy, but makes enough for a living. He is strong for his age and practices in fighting with his axe. He is devoted to his work and works hard and long hours each day, but has found the time to learn how to play the fiddle.

He loves to go off on the hunt with his father and friends, but when he was at the age of 26 he lost his best friend to a wild boar in a hunting accident. Ever since then his work had become his best friend and soon became skilled in the tanning and crafting of leather.

When a herald came to Aldburg with the news of the Mead Hall's destruction, Erbrand left his store and set out on horseback, with all of his worldly possesions, to Scarburg in to offer his services to lord Eodwine, and afterwards set up shop in Scarburg.

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Linked ~*~ Pio

[littlemanpoet]

Abbreviated Character Bio Form for the Meadhall

NAME: Eodwine, Eorl of the Middle Emnet

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 46, male, Eorling, originally from the Gap of Rohan

APPEARANCE: blonde, 6'1", blue eyes, not bulky of build, but strong. Wears typical Eorling garb.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Veteran of the Great War, widower (wife & 2 children murdered by Dunlendings while he was off to war), formerly Messenger to Eomer, then scout to the Shire and Fornost (where he met Falco Boffin), and then created Eorl of the Middle Emnet by King Eomer. Has removed his House from Edoras to Scarburg upon the King's gift and command. Is kind, humorous, just, musical; his grief for his lost family has been assuaged in part by his new wife and children. He is very self-controlled. Weakness: not as observant as he might be because of all he is "in his head" about.

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Eodwine's full bio from Abduction in Edoras RPG

NAME: Eodwine (formerly of the Gap), Eorl of Middle Emnet

AGE: 46

RACE: Rohirrim

GENDER: male

WEAPONS: sword, hunting knife

APPEARANCE: blonde, tall, long legged, blue eyes, his face is fair, with a high forehead, and a not overly strong chin. He is strong, but not muscular.

PERSONALITY: He is quick to laugh, friendly, curious; a student of the War of the Ring; he is musical, a singer of songs and teller of heroic tales, (but he lost his harp in the Hills of Evendim). His voice is tenor and strong. He tends to be bashful and slow to put himself before a crowd, so he needs to feel at home and among friends before he will play or sing. Once he does feel at home, he is quite personable, funny, conversant, interested in other people, and almost - not quite - the life of the party.

STRENGTHS: he is compassionate, courageous and loyal. he makes friends easily and keeps them long. he is courteous to all, and considerate of other people.

WEAKNESSES: Not a good scout, mind wandering when alone. Hard on self when things go wrong.

HISTORY: He lived in the Western Emnet, close to the River Isen, serving in the forces of Theodred. He witnessed Theodred's fall, and came with Erkenbrand to turn back the rout of Helm's Deep. He marched to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and also with the small army that stood before the Black Gate when Sauron fell. He came back home to find that his wife and two children had been murdered by Dunlendings, his crops and farmstead burned to the ground. He joined the forces that hunted the Dunlendings down and brought them to justice, and having no family left, nor caring to start a new one, he went to Edoras and sought a place among Eomer's guard. He became one of the King's Messengers, traveling all over Rohan, and to Minas Tirith, as well as to Isengard, and places farther afield now and then.

In the year Fourth Age 14, he was in the Shire on a secret errand for King Elessar, on loan from King Eomer. Under the guise of researching the War of the Ring as it affected the Shire, he was to learn why, for four years running, craftsmen and smiths sent from Gondor to Annuminas were not heard from again. Leaving Bree, heading northwards, he was captured by a party of ruffians, and imprisoned by an unknown brigand lord and his growing army. His capture had been witnessed by a wanderer formerly of Bree, named Falowik Stonewort, who reported his capture in Bree. Falowik and a party of rescuers, including the Hobbit, Falco Boffin, went north to Deadmen's Dike, and to Lake Evendim, where they discovered enemy strongholds, and were able to overcome by skill and strategem. An informant then led them to the northernmost edge of the Hills of Evendim where the stronghold of the new brigand lord was. The brigand lord was the former Mouth of Sauron, who had renamed himself Herugor, who was about to sacrifice Eodwine on his altar to Melkor in order to take his blood and use it to gain more years to his life (not having Sauron's power to do this anymore). Long story short, they defeated Herugor's plans and his life was ended, and Eodwine was rescued. Thus began the friendship of Eodwine of West Emnet and Falco Boffin. They came down from the Shire to Edoras, for Falco wished to see the places the famous Hobbits of the War had been to.

The Man and Hobbit took lodging at the White Horse Inn, owned by Bêthberry. While there he became the foster father of an orphaned girl, Gudryn, who has since been handed over to the seamstress Gedd for tutelage.

Bêthberry left and turned the place over to Eodwine after King Eomer released from service as King's Messenger only to create him the new Eorl of the new Middle Emnet, the former White Horse Inn his Eorling Mead Hall. News of the change attracted attention and before long, Eodwine found himself the happy master of a bustling mead hall filled with likeable, loyal, and interesting folk.

Later, the King granted Eodwine the former holdings of Sorn at the Scar of Rohan, and Eodwine brought his house there, renaming it Scarburg. It had been burned to the ground and had to be cleaned and rebuilt. Though he fell sick with an unknown ailment which left him in a months long sleep, he is fully recovered.

Eodwine married Saeryn, and she gave birth to a twins, a girl and a boy. Being somewhat older than most new fathers, he dotes on them somewhat, enjoying his daughter's energy and his son's quiet thoughtfulness (much like his father at that age).

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Linked ~*~ Pio

[Folwren]

NAME: Thornden son of Thaldon

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 30 or 31, Male, Rohirrim, four or five hours ride respectively from Edoras.

APPEARANCE: Tall (approximately 6'4"), dark blond hair, hazel eyes, broad shouldered and strong.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Patient, usually quiet with a few flashes of feeling occasionally, allert to his surroundings and observant.
He worked in the King's guard for a year before joining Eodwine's court about six years ago.

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NAME: Javan son of Thaldon - Thornden's brother

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 18, the rest the same as Thornden's

APPEARANCE: Dark blond hair, a little darker than Thornden's, brown eyes. He has grown to be about 5'10", not too short, but still a head shorter than Thornden.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: He is the youngest child of six, and when he came to Eodwine when the Meadhall was still located in Edoras, he was irresponsible and mischievous. In the intervening years, he has learned a great deal of responsibility, and under the tutelage of Thornden, Eowdine, and other men at Scarburg, he has grown to be a fairly upstanding citizen. He is hot tempered at best, and may tend towards having fun more often than is good for him.

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Thornden's full bio from Abduction in Edoras RPG

NAME: Thornden

AGE: 30 or 31

RACE: Man (Rohirrim)

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: He has the ability to use a sword and spear if given to him, but he doesn’t carry any weapon.

APPEARANCE: Thornden is tall, roughly 6 feet 4 inches in height, and broad shouldered. He has straight, dark blond hair, the color of wet sand, cut close to his head. Hazel eyes that are often twinkling with his easy, quick smile.
His clothing usually consist of a plain white cotton shirt, sometimes with a vest over it, sometimes not. Brown breeches, fastened at the waist with a leather belt. Soft leather, mid-calf boots.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Thornden is a calm, quiet man, possessing both patience and good judgement (most of the time)(we all have our lapses, don’t we?). He is usually willing to think the best of people, so long as they haven’t proved themselves to be bad. He is often very easy going and is easily amused, but when it is necessary, he can be very immoveable and stern, doing what is necessary to get what needs to be done done. He does his best to be kind to everyone and hates to see anyone ill used, and his anger or temper is usually difficult to arouse (but it is possible).
His main weakness may be stubbornness. If he doesn’t want to do something, it takes a lot to get him to do it, and even ‘a lot’ may not succeed, depending on who you are. (For instance, if he disagrees with Eodwine, because he is Eodwine’s subordinate, he would probably end up doing as Eodwine told him to. On the other hand, if Gárwine and he were in disagreement. . .) Happily, he doesn’t often set his will on things that aren’t for the good of everybody involved, so generally his stubbornness is never confronted or trouble causing.

HISTORY: Thornden was born and grew up on a farm out in the country of the East Emnet. He was the oldest child of six, the youngest being thirteen years younger than himself. His mother taught him how to read and write and work with numbers, and his father taught him to farm. Thaldon hoped to have Thornden eventually take over the farm, but Thornden had different thoughts in mind. He didn’t want to farm and so he didn’t.

When he was twenty-three he moved from home to Edoras. For two reasons, mainly - one was to find something to do (other than farming) and to establish some sort of living and the second was to escape his mother’s and his sister’s constant nagging at his not being yet married. He was not long in Edoras until he got himself into the guard of Meduseld and he stayed there for a little over a year. Then, when Eodwine became Eorl, and was in need of someone as steward, Thornden thought that he may as well try it, and went out at once to try his luck.

Thornden became Eodwine's steward and worked in that capacity even after Eodwine was removed from Eorlship. He remained in that position until Athanar took Eodwine's place and worked with Athanar as long as he remained. When Eodwine returned, Thornden continued to act as steward under Athanar until Athanar departed. When Eodwine became Eorl again, Thornden returned to his position as steward under Eodwine.


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Linked ~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Folwren

Javan's bio looks fine to me. It'a a concise little picture of him that will be helpful for a fellow player to read and get the flavor of the character.


~*~ Pio

[Thinlómien]

This seems to be moving along nicely. Great! I will post a bio for Modtryth later today.

What about Celuien's characters? Should we who carry them along write something for then or leave their character descriptions be until Celuien pops in for a visit? She's my friend in LiveJournal, should I try to contact her that way?

[Thinlómien]

I just skimmed through the Scarburg Meadhall thread and it made me feel a little guilty... how on earth have I not had "time" to write for such a long while? Well, I'll write as soon as I do have time, but currently ww game, a pile schoolwork and a nearing exam week are keeping me busy... Maybe I'll have to take a nice meeadhall pause someday soon...

Also, I know a couple of writers I'd like to invite to the Meadhall. So in case I manage to send PMs to them and to convince them, be ready to see a couple of new faces here soon-ish...

[Kath]

For Kara:


NAME: Kara

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 20. Female. An Eorlinga. No fixed abode before the Mead Hall.

APPEARANCE: Not tall, probably around 5'4". Dirty-blonde hair, dark eyes. Not fan but a little wider than she perhaps should be due to the availability of food in a kitchen!

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Generally cheery and always friendly to all and sundry. Loves to be involved in what's going on but won't often offer opinions on it unless pushed.

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And for Frodides:


NAME: Frodides

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: Ooh never stated I don't think, I would assume around 40. She's female. An Eorlinga.

APPEARANCE: Around 5'2" with darker hair starting to go grey. Gives the appearance of being little and a bit dumpy but when roused can appear alarmingly tall, especially to youngsters trying to sneak food out.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Has been at the Mead Hall in whatever incarnation for a long time and considers herself in charge of the important bits. She respects Lord Eodwine but just wishes he'd take her advice more often. She can come across as a crotchety old thing but it's a well-practised front and she has a heart of gold within, though you have to earn it to see it.


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Hope these are alright! I will try to get a post on to the main thread tonight if we're alright to be posting there?


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Linked ~*~ Pio

[littlemanpoet]

A suggestion: This is rpg is from the perspective of those living in Rohan. However, 'Rohan' and 'Rohirrim' and 'Rohirric' are Gondorian terms used by Gondorians to refer to the folk that dwell there.

They call themselves the Eorlingas; an individual calls himself an Eorling.

IF you want to try to give this as much of a feel of Rohan as you can, follow Tolkien's example.

Foley, 4' tall is really, really short for a 12 year old boy. Average height would be 4'9", I'm thinking.

Lommy, go ahead and contact Celuien and see what she wants done.

Kath, Eodwine being 41, Frodides would have to be older than that. My sense was at least 50, maybe closing in on 60.

[Kath]

Oops, you're quite right lmp, I'll go change that.

[Groin Redbeard]

Are we allowed to post whenever our character bio is up, or should we wait for the Nogrod to go first?

[Thinlómien]

NAME: Cnebba (shared character w/Nogrod)

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 12, male, Eorling (1/4 Dunleding), his parents Stigend and Modtryth are from Westfold

APPEARANCE: Cnebba is small for his age, and nimble. He has the yellow hair of the Eorlings but his eyes are as dark as his mother's.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Cnebba is a boy with a seemingly endless amount of energy. He is sociable and curious, and often manages to land himself in trouble. While Cnebba doesn't always think things through, he is an honest lad who knows when he's doing wrong.

The hard winters have left their mark on the sensitive youth, and he has become quieter and moodier. Cnebba is of an age to start an apprenticeship but nothing has been agreed on as of yet.

~*~

NAME: Modtryth

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 35, female, half Eorling half Dunleding, originally from Westfold

APPEARANCE: Modtryth has the modest garb and demeanor of a serving woman. She is heavily built and not particularly beautiful, but her appearance stands out thanks to her dark colouring. Her eyes are almost black and her dark brown hair has been touched by early grey.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Modtryth is the daughter of a Dunlending kitchen wench and an Eorling lordling. Before she and her family came to Lord Eodwine's service, Modtryth's life had been hard and full of toil and travel. She enjoys working among the household women with little discrimination, for while she considers herself an Eorling, strangers often don't.

Modtryth is wife to Stigend the carpenter and mother to Cnebba. She cares for her husband although they tend to disagree on things, and her son is the apple of her eye.

Friendly and motherly, if a little reserved, Modtryth is generally well liked in the Mead Hall. She is even-tempered and a little stubborn, and very responsible and down to earth. Thanks to her colourful history before settling down in Lord Eodwine's service, Modtryth could be called a jack of all trades when it comes to household work.

__________________________________________________

Linked ~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Groin R. and All -

Yes - please do start posting on the game thread.

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Celuien agreed on the former Eorling Mead Hall thread to allow these characters to be carried along by the other players:


NAME: Garstan

AGE: 35

RACE: Human, Rohirric

GENDER: male

WEAPONS: stoneshapers’ tools, handy with a knife

APPEARANCE: About 6 feet. Blonde, blue eyed. Weathered appearance from years of working outdoors. Hands thickly callused from laboring over stone. Wears plain, simple clothing.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Garstan is a quiet, retiring sort, more accustomed to the company of his stonework than of people. For that reason, he tends to be uncomfortable in crowds or among strangers. However, once he finds a friend, he is deeply loyal and, while still reticent with regard to expressing emotions, can be warm and open if his trust has been gained. He has gradually learned to put himself forward to others, though his sense of awkwardness can ironically make him appear impulsive or overbearing when he makes the effort too strongly. He makes up for this failing by trying to be proper and polite. He is analytical and precise, both in his work and thought processes – he is a classic perfectionist. That coupled with his quiet manner can give the false impression that he is cold and distant, though in reality, nothing could be further from the truth, which is that his careful exterior masks deep feeling. He is devoted to and highly protective of his two children. On the downside, he can be gloomy and pessimistic if the mood strikes him, and if sufficiently provoked while in such a mood, can lash out unexpectedly.

HISTORY: Garstan was born and spent most of his life in the distant reaches of Rohan’s Wold region. Always possessed of a wandering spirit, he gladly went for an apprenticeship in stoneshaping near the borders of Gondor as an adolescent. After completing his training, he returned to the Wold, plying his trade as best as he could in a sparsely settled area. The low demand for his craft caused him to take on a nearly nomadic existence, always in search of work, and to learn the skills of other craftsmen he encountered. Thus, by the age of 22, he was something of a jack-of-all-trades, though his true gift remained remained in stonework.

Garstan’s wandering existence made it difficult for him to settle into a family life. However, at 23, he wed the daughter of one of his employers and set up a small shop as a general handyman and stoneshaper. The desire to roam the countryside was always in the back of his mind, but he didn’t feel the inclination to do so while his family was growing.

His wife died after ten years of marriage. After that, the old wandering spirit returned to him, and seeing nothing left to keep him in their old home, he sold off his household effects and took his children on a wandering path through Rohan.

After a year and a half of unsettledness, Garstan began to realize that roaming the countryside was not the best life for the father of two small children. He then set for Edoras, planning to settle there and hoping to make a reputation as a stoneshaper. A broken cart stopped his journey as it neared its completion, and he found his way to Lord Eodwine’s Mead Hall.

~*~

NAME: Lèoðern

AGE: 5

RACE: Human, Rohirric

GENDER: female

WEAPONS: none

APPEARANCE: About 3 and a half feet tall. Glossy, strawberry ringlets that run wildly over her shoulders. Bright, twinkling blue eyes. A bundle of motion. Can be located quickly by her constant talking and laughter.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Lèoðern is adorability taken to its furthest extreme. Chattery, friendly, and energetic, she has a way of endearing herself to almost everyone she meets. While doted on by her father and brother, she’s not the stereotypical spoiled child. Any trouble she causes is unintentional, usually the result of her irrepressible high spirits; she is unfailingly and genuinely sorry afterwards. Warm and affectionate to anyone who treats her kindly.

HISTORY: The daughter of Garstan the stoneshaper, Lèoðern has little memory of life before her father’s wanderings in their cart. While she has had few contacts other than her father and brother, she has never been lonely or unhappy thanks to her unfailingly sunny disposition and their constant attention. Life at the Mead Hall has been a new experience for her, made all the more exciting and wonderful by her instant friendship with Linduial.

~*~

NAME: Garmund

AGE: 9

RACE: Human, Rohirric

GENDER: male

WEAPONS: none

APPEARANCE: Blonde, blue eyed, tall for his age at 5 feet even. Has a thoughtful, introspective manner with occasional hints of sadness, unless Lèoðern’s infectious cheeriness has caused him to adopt her energy.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Garmund is quite strongly the younger version of his father, with a little more impulsiveness and more of a tendency to join in Lèoðern’s fun and games. Tends to be very protective of Lèoðern, has something of a ‘man-of-the-family’ complex. Bright. Gifted in stonework.

HISTORY: Garmund is Garstan’s oldest child. He has memories of the home the stoneshaper’s family inhabited before the death of his mother. This accounts for the occasional sad, far-away manner he takes on. His gift for stoneshaping was discovered by his proud father two years ago, and he eagerly looks forward to taking on the role of an apprentice in the next few years.


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Linked ~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

Are we allowed to post whenever our character bio is up, or should we wait for the Nogrod to go first?

Originally Posted by Pio

Yes - please do start posting on the game thread.

Like Pio said feel free to go on.

I try to steal time a bit tomorrow to post.

And just for Groin to know - if you haven't yet seen it anywhere. Stigend who is my original character here is a carpenter so your character would probably become Stigend's working-mate in the Scarburg Hall. So wellcome to make friends!

[littlemanpoet]

Groin, if, however, you don't want your character to be second carpenter after all, there are lots of interesting craft choices to be found here or here (scroll down to "Crafts and Everyday Life".

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Elempi

Foley, 4' tall is really, really short for a 12 year old boy. Average height would be 4'9", I'm thinking.

Really? Four foot tall is short for 12 years? I think I'm used to short people, then - my brother is 14 and he's still shorter than five feet.

I'll change it to 4'6" - does that work?

And I also had little idea of the Gondorian and Rohanian difference in langauge...I mean, I understood it somewhat, but obviously didn't think about it. Thanks, Elempi.

[Thinlómien]

Pio, just a little correction: both I and Nogrod are playing Cnebba, so he's kind of our common character. I trust you will find a way to mark that some way on the player/chracter list...

I will try to post this week but I might be busy....

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Edit: Done, Lommy! ~*~ Pio

[littlemanpoet]

Abbreviated Character Bio Form for the Meadhall

NAME: Master Falco Boffin

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 52, Male, Hobbit, from Michel Delving in the Shire

APPEARANCE: 3'6" tall, haystack hair, wears a proper waistcoat, has a long stem pipe, an heirloom. Wears colorful clothing (primary colors)

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER
Rather full of himself, thinks he's a hobbit made for the opposite gender (which doesn't much come into play in Rohan seeing as there ain't no hobbit lasses about, but if there were.... ); for all his bravado and seeming rapscallion persona, he is actually quite resourceful and can be heroic at need. He was a shirriff in the Shire before he joined the quest to find Eodwine in the Hills of Evendim, and is quite proud of his (almost) single handed defeat of the Mouth of Sauron in the rescue of Eodwine; who at first in gratitude, then in reality, became good friends. Falco is frank to a fault.

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Linked ~*~ Pio

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Groin, if, however, you don't want your character to be second carpenter after all, there are lots of interesting craft choices to be found here or here (scroll down to "Crafts and Everyday Life".

Good idea Lmp, I'll choose to work with leather instead of wood. I'll change my character Bio right away.

[piosenniel]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Groin, if, however, you don't want your character to be second carpenter after all, there are lots of interesting craft choices to be found here or here (scroll down to "Crafts and Everyday Life".

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

Everyone

Let me draw your attention to post #2 of the Discussion Thread - HERE

Link #7 on that site has various links to useful info on Rohirric (Anglo-Saxon/Viking) culture, including the links to the Regia Anglorum site; Ravensgard site; Ardalambion languages of M-e site; etc.

~*~ Pio

[Kath]

Well, a post is up. It's based on an MSN conversation I had with Lhuna a little while back, though some things have been changed as we thought Harreld had stayed behind! Hopefully it's ok with her.

[Folwren]

Elempi, what happens next with Javan and Eodwine? Should you post first in that business?

[Nogrod]

Oh how I love this fuzz and buzz around here! (hopefully that saying conveys only positive connotations as that is what I mean!)

I'm coming forwards with Stigend's short bio and possible other things soon...

[Nogrod]

NAME: Stigend, husband of Modtryth, father of Cnebba

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 30, male, Eorling from Westfold

APPEARANCE: Normal height, of light construction but muscular because of the hard physical trade he has. Bright yellow straight hair and blue eyes. Not the handsome guy girls fall in love with but his eyes do twinkle.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Even with the disagreements he loves his wife and has been forced to defend her honour quite a many times. His son means a world to him. He's a bit overprotective as regards to him even if he wishes him to be a soldier or a carpenter in the end. Stigend is a hearty man and always ready to laugh even if he's more silent and observational in the company of strangers or those ranking above him. He's a dutiful and honest man clearly knowing his place in the world is not among the noteworthy.

Originally Posted by Nogrod

They had come to Edoras because of the horse fair. There was always work for carpenters in fairs like this. Stigend had soon been enlisted to the workforce and had been building different stages, fencings, pens and the like for three long and laborous days with all the other hired hands. His wife Modtryth had made it to the workforce too – despite her outlook - preparing the canopies and serving as a general maid preparing food, taking care of the children and so on. Their 8-year old boy Cnebba had had the time of his life with so many other children around, running amok as their hired-hand parents had too much work to do to watch after them.

So Stigend was a carpenter, son of a carpenter. That’s the way it goes. Though he had rebelled against his family and the afore-laid career already in youth, enlisting to the local Men-of-Arms at the age of 16. But he never got used to the discipline of an armed militia or the hierarchical system involved. So he had returned and taken willfully to adopting his father’s trade. His second and the more serious rebel against his family concerned his marriage with Modtryth. “There will be no Dunleding blood in our family! Not a half-Dunleding, not fourth, not eighth, not any! You just realize that! And behave like a decent Rohanian! There are fine ladies to marry out there, and you come up with this Dunleding-monster!”, his father had bellowed to him, as he had told about his intentions to engage with Modtryth, a half-Dunleding.

They had tried to live in peace in their community as an odd pair for several years, raising their firstborn and getting some income from temporary carpentery and maiding. But it had been hard, sometimes unbearable because of the insults and the general scorn, not to mention the actual offences. When Modtryth’s mother accidentally died, they lost their last actual tie to the village they lived in and decided to hit the road. After that they had wandered around the countryside, taking a temporary post here and there. That kind of life had now lasted almost four years to date.

After the horse fair was over, and the workers were pulling down the constructions of the fair, Stigend was approached by one of the fair’s organizers, a man called Rumstan. His friend, a somewhat renowned Sir Byrthold needed a few handy carpenters to build an extention to his house as his stature was climbing up. Stigend was happy to have been picked from the lot, but also weary of having to serve yet another Lord or Sir or something. There was use for the money, but these “better people” just gave him the shivers. They were the ones who didn’t accept other kind of people and who despised ones like his son and wife. To his eyes, they seemed all to think that only strawhaired and blue-eyed people were humans to begin with. And only his sons piercing dark-brown eyes had led to contempt so many times already on different places they had lived in. Anyway, he accepted the offer because of the money involved – these “Sirs” could afford a nice pay if the work was well done.

By the time Stigend was working at Byrthold’s house, both he and Modtryth heard about the local Mead Hall being under renovation. “Think about it. That, if something, would be our chance to get a place - a good place actually - to stay and work in.”, Modtryth had remarked to him the day she had heard of the renovation. She had given him a sharp look and added: "For a bit longer while this time, maybe. You should really try to apply there."

“Those are those fancy folks living in a Mead Hall. You know them! I don’t think they will look at us too kindly there either. Remeber that Dunleding incident at the fair? What would they think of you, or Cnebba? You know the ways of these better people...”. Stigend hadn’t exactly tried to hide the poignancy of his words.

His wife had looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Nevertheless you should try to apply. You know I've managed with those lordly swines all my life. Funny, one could imagine you were the one with a Dunlending background" she had commented. As Stigend had opened his mouth to say something, she had continued: "As to Cnebba... You can't protect him from despise all his life. He has to learn to deal with it, as I have learned. And besides, not all rohirrim are like that. I believe they will treat our little darling well. If they don't, well, we'll deal with it... This is our chance. It is unlikely that we get another as good an opportunity very soon"

“But why not to try somewhere out of the sight of these pompous lords? Edoras is swarming with them! We should try and find a community to live in – not once again hiring ourselves to some lord who doesn’t care about us as humans but only as work provided!”, he tried to argue his wife for his case not to apply to the Mead Hall.

And this way they had gone to and fro with the discussion or argument, it depends on how you look at it. In the end Modtryth had gotten her will. She had managed also to force Stigend asking lord Byrthold for a letter of recommendation for him.

Sir Byrthold was a busy man and seemed somewhat annoyed by Stigend’s request for an audience. But then again, he had been happy with the effectiveness of these three carpenters his friend Rumstan had hired him, and the quality of the work had delighted him. So he allowed Stigend in. “A recommendation? What for, may I ask?” he had asked wryly from a bit trembling Stigend as he had come forwards with his cause. “For the Mead Hall you say... So you would like to work there?” Surely lord Eodwine had grown in stature, and it could be counted on Byrthold’s credit if he would in this way help Eodwine to get good workers enlisted. But Byrthold had also heard rumours about this man’s wife and child. Well, Eodwine is one of those stranger-lovers, he might even appreciate this. And if some of my friends come asking about my recommendation, I could always say, that I gave it to this decent Rohanian chap only – maybe I didn’t even know about his wife and the child..., Byrthold thought to himself and happily made his signature to a paper that was then to be filled by his clerk.

That evening Stigend and Modtryth embraced each other warmly the first time for a long time. Not that they were not getting along together, but there just hadn’t been that spark about them for a long time. Now everything looked somewhat promising. Although all was still open and Stigend had his doubts – as always. The next day could decide very much of their future.

But there is that court tomorrow... Will that high lord have time for our kind of people at all? I hope Modtryth is right in her hunch that this lord Eodwine is better than most of these lords and sirs. With these thoughts Stigend closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep. --- from Eorling Mead Hall/Post 321

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Please Pio could you also add a link to my post #321 in the Eorling Mead Hall where I kind of recite all of the history of these three (my first post to the EMH) after this CHARACTER/HISTORY stuff of Stigend? Just if anyone's interested. I sadly haven't yet learned how to "clip" just one post to link it...

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EDIT: Linked ~*~ Pio

[Groin Redbeard]

I just wanted to let you know that I have a post up in the thread. Let me know if you need me to edit anything.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Elempi, what happens next with Javan and Eodwine? Should you post first in that business?

Don't let me stop you! If you have an idea, go for it. If you don't, wait if you like.

Groin: Some things you'll want to take into account in your first post: Scarburg hall is a burned ruin, and makeshift tents, a "baker", and temporary everything.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Groin: Some things you'll want to take into account in your first post: Scarburg hall is a burned ruin, and makeshift tents, a "baker", and temporary everything.

Ah yes, I see I didn't put much detail into the halls description, sorry about that. I'll edit it when I have some time.

[littlemanpoet]

NAME: Rowenna

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 25, female, Eorling, from the southeasternmost farmlands of the West Emnet.

APPEARANCE: - for starters...just not so exaggerated. More athletic than she appears.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Serious, ambitious, thoughtful, secretive, an eavesdropper. Was abducted by brigands at age 18, her farm ransacked and her widowed father killed in cold blood. She had been the brigands' slave at first, was forced to kill her first two babies, as well as two other abducted women in order to survive the harsh life of the brigands. Not above causing trouble for another if it improves her own position. She had planned how to achieve the role for herself of Eorl Eodwine's wife, but that having been stymied, was forced to face her worst nightmares with the help of Eodwine's new wife, Saeryn.

She has happily become a serving woman at Scarburg, under the protection of Eodwine. She finds Nydfara endlessly mysterious and interesting, and has a hunch that his secrets are not so different from her own; but he reveals very little. She thinks that he is attracted to her, and hopes that the teasing ways they have toward each other may be replaced by something more substantive someday. Until Nydfara shows any signs of changing, she gives him the space he seems to need while tentatively entering it from time to time, as her intuition guides her.

**************************************************

NAME: Harreld Smith

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 40, male, Eorling from Edoras

APPEARANCE: 6'5", big, strong, and muscular. Straight blonde hair and blue eyes.

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Thoughtful, quiet, hard worker, painfully shy around women, especially ones to whom he is attracted; single and desperately wants a wife. Has been smitten with Ginna who is above his station. She eventually returned his affection and he has asked for her hand in marriage, which she gave. They have been happily married but remained childless. During the hard winter she went missing, and although he and his brother Garreld, and others, searched far and wide, she was never found, alive or dead. He thinks her drowned or frozen, and mourns quietly, but is dutiful in his work.

************************************************** *********

NAME: Garreth Smith

AGE/GENDER/RACE/WHERE FROM: 35, male, Eorling from Edoras; twin brother to Harreld

APPEARANCE: see Harreld's

BITS OF CHARACTER/HISTORY YOU FEEL MIGHT BE HELPFUL IN DEFINING THE CHARACTER: Brash, bold, somewhat boorish, talkative, thinks out loud at all times. Is single and wants a wife, and is very straightforward in his attempts. Has not yet accepted the fact that his talk is off-putting to the women he wants to court. When Harreld joined Eodwine in Scarburg, he at first stayed in Edoras, but eventually joined him. He is still single and hasn't learned a thing about how to act around women in whom he is interested. He is getting frustrated with Harreld's black moods and endless dark silence, and is thinking that the pickings among females is poor and has not sign of improving, and thus is mulling going back to Edoras.

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Linked ~*~ Pio

[littlemanpoet]

So yeah, I have five characters, and here I am getting ready to leave the Barrowdowns. Eodwine will be carried as a non-player character, and I personally find the other four to be engaging and fun to write, especially Rowenna, truth be told. But what will happen to them when I'm gone? Well, that's all of your business, I guess.