The Lingering Darkness Planning/Discussion Thread

[Elora]

That I most certainly can do Ealasaide. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Snowdog, may Illuvator guide your path and smile upon your days. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Imladris]

Thanks for the clarification, Elora. It's just that I'm one of those writers who like to have a reason for everything (hence some problems with writer's block) and I knew that the Bree and all was so that everything would come nicely together and all, but I wanted to know why Naiore was making for Bree, which you have just explained. My thanks. Rotten sentence. No time to fix. Sorry.

[Ealasaide]

Okay, Elora, I have posted with Kaldir. You may move ahead into the next day & Bree. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Elora]

Shall do, Ealasaide. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Imladris, pleased I was able to help. Nothing wrong with asking questions. I am known to do the same from occassion to occassion myself. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Nerindel]

Hey, all

I had hoped to post for both Amandur and Léspheria before I left, but there just hasn't been that time! sorry [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]



Imaldris and Hildeif you what you can rejoin Amandur in the prancing pony and have him introduce Dúlrain and I will edit their (Amanadur & Dúlrain) meeting in front of Léspheria's when I return [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Also Lespheria has entered the prancing pony and will tell the rangers that she sensed her nearby.

EloraI hope I was right in thinking that Naiore would feel when another was sensing her mind [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Anyway I have to get some sleep before we leave [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] cyas Tuesday [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Happy writing
~Nerindel

[Ealasaide]

ummm... I have question. I thought Kaldir was ahead of the other Rangers, but Nerindel's post has him behind them. One of us needs to do an edit.
Where are the Rangers?????

Since Kaldir had taken off well before the others, even what with Benia & Gilly, I had really pictured him as being ahead of the others.

[ September 23, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]

[Elora]

Ah curses, I had hoped to avoid gazumping you Nerindel and have ended up doing it all the same. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] My apologies!

You are correct that Naiore would sense another reaching for her. She doesn't read thoughts but is remarkably sensative to the emotions of others (a variation on Galadriel's abilities, to whom Naiore is related as is of course Vanwe). Vanwe's abilities could be developed in any number of ways.

That's why Naiore is concerned about Vanwe. Her daughter may use abilities inherited from her mother and kin to bring about Naiore's demise. In fact, Vanwe's abilities are largely undeveloped, a calculated consequence of leaving her with those unskilled in such Elven crafts (the Harardrim). They tend are healing, though, and take an artistic path. Can't forget her father is a Bard, and so she would also have a love of language and song.

I imagine that based on this, Vanwe will prove adept at learning languages. She presently only has Common Tongue, with limited literacy and numeracy. But she needs none of these things to heal.


Imladris and Everdawn I will be sending Barrold out on his errands for Naiore on the following day. I expect him to be searching for horses, poisons and of course, information.

My plan was for Barrold to inform Naiore that Menecin yet lived, and is at Imladris. Barrold being Barrold, it's unlikely he'd come across that tidbit or even know it's value, by fratenising with Rangers and Elves.

So, I figured that perhaps Barrold would get this from one of your characters in his interaction with them. They'd know that Barrold was in the market for some items that they'd make a tidy profit on and things could unfold from there.

Based on that, your characters get their introduction to Naiore and the chance to get a cut of the action/profits through Barrold.

Imladris, I realised that I have still left one of your questions unanswered. You asked why Naiore hates Menecin.

Their relationship is a complicated and tangled one. Naiore once loved him, as far as she left herself that is. She's a tightly controlled creature, and to truly love means to let go and open yourself. I doubt if she ever truly did that ever, even in the early days.

At first, Naiore would have hated what Menecin represented. Marriage to him would for Naiore mean capture, imprisionment. She would have felt contempt for his apparent blindness to the things she saw. She would have found his love a weakness, a thing to cloy her mind and life.

Menecin, though, loves with all he has. He is a creature of depth in emotion and mind. It was Naiore's unusual nature that drew him to her. She was like a muse, and the relationship developed to be more. When she left, he was devastated. Menecin was one of the most vocal who thought she had been taken.

He pursued her, hoping to somehow save her. He did not know he was attempting the impossible, to save her from herself, because he did not see into the depths of her heart. Naiore never let him. Menecin became driven, hunting her trail, refusing to believe the rumours until the disaster of the Gladden Fields.

When Naiore once again became known to her people, and this time as their foe, it became harder for Menecin to ignore the truth. Still, he claimed that she was in thrall. He had seen those in thrall to Morgoth in the First Age. He watched their torment, rejected by their people should they survive to escape. He loved Naiore despite all this and refused to abandon her to a smiliar fate.

The woman Menecin loved was a lie, but he did not know it yet. He pursued her doggedly through the years and the hunt took a terrible toll on his spirit. He changed, became dark and brooding. At times bitterly angry and others stricken by grief, Naiore became an obsession. He never knew how close he came to tripping her up over the years.

Eventually, Naiore turned to her past to deal with Menecin. He was, in a way, her first victim. His long deterioration and hopless quest was one cruel torture. He represented all Naiore thought she had risen above. She abandoned Sauron's service for a time to see to her own needs. Displeased, Sauron allowed this once he knew what his servant was doing. One Elf destroying another suited him fine.

Naiore set up Menecin so that he found her at last in a desolate place in the wilds. She had him fall on a raggle taggle band of orcs that she feigned had been tormenting her. Menecin was a fell creature. Fuelled by the discovery of his love, he fought as though he were possessed.

Naiore allowed him to slay the orcs and began perhaps her most terrible Ravenning ever. She allowed Menecin to think her saved at long last. She gulled him and Menecin was only too willing to believe. He had his love back once more. For Naiore, she was curious to see how far she could push love, how it worked. When she tired of her game, she attacked Menecin.

Her violence was viscious. Unlike occassions before, she was moved by personal passions that ran deep. This was no task appointed to her. This was her own. Menecin was too much of a hindrance that may trip her up at an inconvenient time. He was baggage when all was said and done. She thought she had disposed of him accordingly.

Menecin survived, barely. Naiore moved on, free of her past and believing that a glorious future awaited from her. That Menecin did not die will represent a personal failure for Naiore. That will not be acceptable. She'll further think that Menecin is in cohoots with Vanwe and thinks to use their daughter against her.

Menecin is quite mad, but even so would never match the depths to which Naiore will sink in order to see her will done.

So, for all those reasons, Naiore will hate Menecin with an implacable passion for he represents weakness and a past she would deny, as well as failure. Menecin's existance threatens to make all Naiore has worked for and all she believes in a lie. For he loves still, as much as he hates her now. Love cannot exist if fear is the root of all existance, all emotion, thought and action.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I thought Kaldir was ahead of the other Rangers, but Nerindel's post has him behind them. One of us needs to do an edit.
Where are the Rangers?????

I had the impression he was behind also, since the rangers were traveling through the Chetwood after Naiore & Vanwe while Kaldir was dealing with Benia & Gilly. I suppose that when Kaldir found the tracks they could be changed to read, “exiting the forest” instead of “entering the forest” which to my mind would place Kaldir after Amandur & Dúlrain in reaching Bree, but likely a little before Maethor & Rauthain, if it aright with everyone. With the nightfall and Rauthain’s delaying until there are more rangers, I can see them stopping close by Bree, perhaps with Maethor going ahead to the Prancing Pony to contact the others. I also was wondering about how to avoid Rauthain and Kaldir meeting up just yet. It doesn’t seem the right time. Or is it? Kaldir’s got a lot going on at present, and Rauthain would no doubt be irked to find he’d put shackles on a lady!

Elora, it is rather funny timing, your writing about Menecin and Naiore here. Yesterday I was working on a post I was trying to put up before you had a chance to change the time, and it mentioned their strange relationship. Needless to say I didn’t finish it before you posted, but I hope to get it cleaned up and tweaked before Imladris has a chance to go. I’m relieved to find it echoes quite a bit of what you have written here.

And Imladris, thanks for mentioning Naiore and Kaldir again. Hopefully Rauthain will out with at least some of his back story and knowledge! If his writer will stop typing here and get to work! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Ealasaide]

I am totally confused. I can't have the tracks exiting the forest because he is on the east side of the forest. If the tracks are exiting, then Naiore would be heading east & away from Bree.

All this talk about the Rangers in the forest...I thought you were still back in the forest around the inn! The business with Gilly and Benia wouldn't take more than about 30 minutes, tops. Also, how could Kaldir have seen Naiore & Vanwe if the Rangers were already ahead of him? That would put the Rangers ahead of Naiore as well. Oh, this stinks.

I will rewrite my post & try to find a way for it to work. Actually, I'll have to rework my last two posts.

Hilde - as for putting shackles on a woman...Kaldir isn't too fond of doing that either but since she sawed through the ropes he put on her earlier, he had to do something.

[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]

[Imladris]

Your welcome, Hilde, for mentioning Naiore and Kaldir. Maethor can't really decide what to feel about them. He is loathe to believe the tales of Naiore (yet he knows they are true) and he feels sympathy for Kaldir, yet he can't stand that he has turned to bounty hunting. Maethor also wouldn't mind running on ahead to the Prancing Pony whenever they reach Bree...

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I’m sorry Ealasaide! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

The way I saw things going, was that Kaldir left the inn got side tracked with Benia and Gilly, who were on foot headed north and a little west toward Archet. The rangers leave very soon after Kaldir, following Naiore also north and west but not exactly the same bearing. Kaldir could have skirted the forests lower edge after catching Benia while Naiore & Rangers made a wide high arc up toward Coombe and back down to Bree, as she was trying to shake off pursuers if there were any. Whichever way you decide to go, though. And perhaps I am alone in seeing things this way.

As for the shackles…here I thought you brought them into the story so you could place them on Naiore eventually! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Imladris, I’m still working on that post and HOPE to have it up today.

[Ealasaide]

No problem, Hilde. I'm rewriting to put ol' Slowpoke at the back of the herd.

Rewrites are done.

[ September 24, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]

[Imladris]

This is probably a useless post, but I'm putting it up anyway. I thought that that was an excellently crafted post, Hilde!!!! Very nice reading it!!! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Elora]

Hilde! I gazzumped you too? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

A pox upon me for my thoughtlessness. Next time, I think it fair to leave it to another of our fine crew to forward the time line if necessary.

However, I am relieved that what ended up being a long diatribe was of some use to you Hilde. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Thanks for the encouragement! I felt it to be a bit "over the top" and choppy, but now you all know where Rauthain's mind is.

Elora, actually I had the Naiore part written after reading Imladris' post on the story before I found your "diatribe" here this morning. Hence my reaction to it. Honestly, sometimes I feel telepathy is at work, I'll be writing something and someone will use the same particular word or phase a quarter or half the world away! I wonder if I am the only one who has this happen? [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] At anyrate you have done a wonderful job at describing your characters, Elora. Not an easy feat, for Naiore in particular is a bit hard to wrap one's mind around, (for this poor hobbit at anyrate).

Don't worry about gazzumping! I had plenty of time and warning about the impending time change.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Imladris]

Just to remind everybody, I'm going out of town for a week on Monday...I will try to get a post up for Maethor before I leave (Time, Time, where hast thou departed so swiftly?). I will try to post and keep up to date on everything but I make no promises.

[Ealasaide]

Imladris - thanks for the reminder regarding your upcoming absense! Post if you can with Maethor. Otherwise, is it all right with you that he be carried along with Rauthain & Amandur until your return?

[Everdawn]

Elora-
RE: Ferney, ill wait for you to lay the scene and he will be met with a rather hesitant but willing Avanill, is that ok?

[Imladris]

Yeah, that's all right if Maethor is carried along by Rauthain and Amandur. By the way, you guys have done a great job keeping Maethor true to his character. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Imladris - Is it Ok then for Maethor to go to the Prancing Pony and meet up with the other rangers if you haven't posted before you leave?

I'm stumped a bit about where to go from here since quite a few of the good guys have an excellent idea were Naiore is, and Maethor, Rauthain, and Kaldir will find her tracks leading there.

1) Are we planing to descend on Barrold's place at some point?

2) Is Naiore going to be forced to shift her location?

3)How are we going to orchestrate the stalking and run ins so that it is not a disorganized "free for all"?

4) Also wondering about the part of the script when Hanasian catches up to Kaldir. Conceivably Rauthain could fill this small part of Hanasian's portion of the story, although I don't know if I could carry it off well as I wish I could.

One more thing I wanted to bring to everyone's attention, Ealasaide has revised her last post for Benia. If you are printing these things out, as I am, you might want to replace it.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Ealasaide]

This is an e-mail I sent to Hilde earlier explaining where I see things. Looks like the bunch of us need to put our heads together & figure out where to go from here.

I think Lespheria & Amandur only know that she is in Bree. Have Rhauthain & Maethor tracked her as far as the house? I thought they would only get as far as Bree, then lose her in the shuffle of all the footprint traffic of town. They would pick back up on her (I thought) somehow at the inn.

And, yes, I think we need to keep Rhauthain & Kaldir separate for the moment.

I have a PM into Elora suggesting that Kaldir pick up on Naiore, et al, by seeing Barrold disposing of the stolen horse & following him to the house. Being outnumbered (Naiore, Barrold, Avanill, & Vanwe), he would not approach her at this time.

Maybe we should put all of this up on the Discussion Thread! I see some major confusion in the offing if we don't! Also, As I have said many times, Kaldir needs to get in ahead of the Rangers on Naiore's trail. If he doesn't, he knows he hasn't got a chance of getting at her. In which case, he would know he is wasting his time & head south with Benia. I can't see him trailing along as a spectator behind the Rangers.

Elora - the rest of us need your input in particular in terms of what you see happening next with Naiore!

Here is the status of things Right Now:

Amandur & Lespheria are on their way to rendevous at the Prancing Pony.

Maethor & Rhauthain are following Naiore's trail & are just outside Bree, probably within sight of the gate.

Avanill is at the Prancing Pony or on his way there.

Naiore & Barrold are in Barrold Ferney's house with Vanwe tied up in the cellar.

Kaldir is slipping into Bree from the North.

Benia & Gilly are in Kaldir's campsite north of Bree.

[ September 27, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]

[Imladris]

Hey, thanks for the thing where everybody is now, Elesaide...would it be alright if I had Maethor head off to the Prancing Pony in the post that I plan to write, hopefully tonight?

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I figured that Maethor and Rauthain were near enough Bree to see it, (on the outskirts I guess). Which compass direction I don't know. Sounds like to the east would be best.

Toying with the idea of having Rauthain hang back and not go to the Pony, but it sounds like he should be there.

Are we also going to introduce the new ranger? I suppose we need Nerindel's input for that question. Some one could or should explain Hanasian's absence.

[Ealasaide]

Here's what Nerindel had to say about the new Ranger (directed mostly to Hilde & Imladris):

you can rejoin Amandur in the prancing pony and have him introduce Dúlrain and I will edit their (Amanadur & Dúlrain) meeting in front of Léspheria's when I return Also Lespheria has entered the prancing pony and will tell the rangers that she sensed her nearby.

Does that help?

[Ealasaide]

I figured that Maethor and Rauthain were near enough Bree to see it, (on the outskirts I guess). Which compass direction I don't know. Sounds like to the east would be best.

Oops! Sorry, Hilde. I will correct my post. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Thanks, Ealasaide for refreshing my memory! (DOH!) [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

[Imladris]

Maethor has been posted. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I'm sorry if my writing hasn't been up to par lately...I have just been really tired for the last few weeks because of school and tons and tons of homework.

[Ealasaide]

No need to apologize, Imladris! Your writing has been just fine. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] We all understand time constraints.
Thanks for posting!

[Elora]

Okey Dokey [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

My thoughts of events in Bree for my posse of characters were as follows:

*Naiore has to learn of Menecin's presence at Imladris. Her plans to attack the Shire are then changed, seeing Menecin as a greater risk and danger, her personal reasons and her suspicion that Menecin is using Vanwe. She'll use Vanwe against him and Imladris.

*Naiore makes a concerted effort to further gull Vanwe whilst in Bree. It is easier to do there than on the road.

*Barrold needs to meet up with the underworld figures. I figured this would happen when he is out getting supplies for Naiore's attack on the Shire.

*Barrold will probably stumble across the news of Menecin. How he will do this I do not yet know. He won't know what it means, but sense that it is of great worth to Naiore and so furnishes it in return for a small sum of say, hmmmmmm 50 gold? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

*Naiore will change her plans and will need help if she is to take on Imladris. She sends Barrold to find help. He brings back the underworld types and the group is formed. It is a group of little loyalty and trust.

*Naiore sets off with the group and Vanwe for Imladris. She would be duly tracked and followed.


Does that help at all?

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Yes, that helps quite a bit. Thank you. Is this all to take place in a day or two RPG time, or longer?

[Ealasaide]

Thanks, Elora! That helps quite a lot.
I do have another question:

*Barrold needs to meet up with the underworld figures.

How many others is he going to recruit (besides Avanill)? Not that it matters...just curious.

[Elora]

Well now, interesting question indeed. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

He will certainly recruit Avanill.... mayhap Ealasaide's horse thief too...

Naiore could have an army and still Imladris would likely fend her off. Elrond chose his site for the defensive haven in the 2nd Age well. Plus, she will want to move swift and quiet.

Barrold doesn't trust himself, much less any colleagues in his line of work.

So, unless someone wants to play another underworld character, I figure Barrold would recruit Avanill and do business with Cobhran Tucker to obtain some freshly stolen horses. Fast ones.... Naiore will be happy to pay a price for the right mounts. She does not stint on necessities such as decent horses, weapons and the like and she has a remnant of the wealth she amassed over Two Ages of terror.

[Ealasaide]

Oh, yes! Cobhan Tupper would love to get involved here! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Also, could you ask Barrold to mind his language? Cursing is not permitted in the Downs. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Nerindel]

I'm back [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

WOW! lots to think about and reading to catch up on [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Ealasaide sorry about the rangers being ahead, but I assumed that her trail would grow cold in Bree and Kaldir knowing 'people' that the goodly rangers wouldn't, would then gain the upperhand! and trail her as she leaves?

after scanning the new posts here is how I see my characters progressing:

1/ Amandur will meet Dúlrain, while trying to get info from the less reputable folk of Bree, he will not find Barrold Ferney for though he knows of him he knows not were he hides, only that he frequents the Prancing Pony, hence meeting Dúlrain and the others when they arrive.

2/Léspheria finds Amandur and Dúlrain in the inn (also Rauthain and Maethor, if they are there before I post?).

3/once together and all is told they must decide what they should do next, will they search about the farm houses were Léspheria sensed Naiore? or will they continue to question the less reputatal folk of Bree until they find out something?

4/Léspheria has to somehow find out that Naiore has learned that Menecin is in Imladris,
Elora here is one idea: Barrold takes Avanill to raid the old ranger Tallas' supplies, there they can come across his notes regarding Menecin, Naiore, Valindon, Vanwe and Léspheria? they will have to mortally wound him and leave him for dead, thus Léspheria will sense something amiss as they pass back through the woods and she and Amandur will ride to his hut and find him and before he dies he will tell them what has happened, and together they will put two and two together and assume the worst. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

OK, I have printed out the new posts and will work on something for Amandur and Léspheria.

[Elora]

Great idea Nerindel. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I'll happily seize it! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Tallas will be near by Bree, I take it.

Ealasaide, fine! I'll take Cobhan Tucker and not Cobhran Tucker if you prefer! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] (Truth be told, my browser was loading slow and I ran out of patience in my skimming to check his name spelling. My apologies!)

I'll do my best to curb Barrold's vocabularly.... but I wouldn't be surprised if "Blimmey" (troll speak) and "Garn" still slip out. He's not a man overly concerned with social niceties, shall we say. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Your know after seeing this twice from dear Ealasaide, you would think I could remember it, but I came across it and thought to bring it up before we get ahead of ourselves.

I have a PM into Elora suggesting that Kaldir pick up on Naiore, et al, by seeing Barrold disposing of the stolen horse & following him to the house. Being outnumbered (Naiore, Barrold, Avanill, & Vanwe), he would not approach her at this time.

I would imagine that this should happen before the incident with Tallas. What say you Ealasaide?

And welcome back Nerindel!

[ September 29, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Ealasaide]

Hi, Nerindel, welcome back! Don't worry about those posts that put Kaldir behind the others on the way to Bree. Apparently, I was in my own little time zone. It's all fixed now. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Hilde - sorry, not to have clarified this earlier, but there has been a slight change of plan regarding Kaldir, Barrold, & Naiore that Elora & I worked out by PM. Kaldir will intercept Barrold on his way back from ditching the gelding & they are going to have a little conversation. I hope to get to that post today. THEN he will discover where Naiore is holed up. But, yes, I would think that would take place before the incident with Tallas.

Elora - how about Cobhan TUPPER? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] And, yes, I think a little trollspeak would be prefectly acceptable, especially from the likes of Barrold!

[ September 30, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaide ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Very good, thanks for the clarification, Ealasaide. Rauthain's not ready to pack it in for the night, so now I can have him out and about without interupting anybody. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Nerindel]

Great idea Nerindel. I'll happily seize it!
Tallas will be near by Bree, I take it.

I had to read over my post, but I put Tallas' hut south west of Archet but east of Combe (in Fonstads map it's the trianglular wooded area next to Combe)

here's the description of his hut:

"Well, we are here!" he said gesturing to a small ring of majestic oaks. Hidden within sat a small wooden house, which even her elven eyes had not perceived until he pointed it out.

"Stay close!" She whispered to the white mare as she followed Tallas through the green and brown wooden door. A small copper kettle whistled over the fire in the dimly lit room and the musty smell of the dried herb's that hung from the rafters reach her nose. On a small oak table by the south facing window sat two earthen ware mugs and a platter of fresh bread and cheese.

"well! do you plan to stand there all day or will you join me for tea" he laughed indicating the vacant chair across from him. Removing her bow and sitting Léspheria's eyes fell on the shelves that lined the length and breadth of the north wall, various vials, jars and bottles sat neatly upon the shelves.

[Elora]

Ealasaide, who the devil is Cobhan Tupper, garn it? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] :P [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Don't know who you're talking about.


*slaps own knee in appreciation of her hilarity. "Me so funny."*


Nerindel, thanks. Think I'll have Naiore and co encounter Tallas on their way to sneak into the Shire, where a change of plans undergoes. That way, they switch directions and should make it more interesting for those tracking her. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]