MEO RP/Tales of Lore

[Shelob]

oh, here's a just so you know thing:

I'll be out of town for the weekend, so I won't be able to post. I'll be back sunday evening for the meeting, so the gap between posting won't be all that big

[ArPharazon]

Varda said:

Bit of fun trivia: Tolkien used "gnome" in the beginning to refer to the Noldor, since the meaning had to do with being intelligent.

Indeed, gnome was an early name for the Noldoli, and I do not recall Tolkien using it in any other way since. Personally, one of the first things I thought when I read it was: would 'midget' not have been better? ;D

[Shelob]

that would have been too degrading.
I think that for a dwarf, being made up as an elf is insulting enough

[Eonwë]

Ok Turgon, I have to know, and Auros may ask Estarion this as well eventually (though obviously not in these words :}), but are you claiming to have read my mind or read my body?
I went ahead and waited to ask after I posted because I wanted to use that uncertainty for Auros' thoughts (which better not be easily read by any characters at this point btw :}).

I was going to write a long post explaining Auros and his "levels of deference" to other characters, but then I realized while typing there only really obvious one was the formal addressing :} So, here's rather how he sees each character :}

If he adds Lady, Lord, anyhting like that, it's a formailty used because he does not know the character well.

No title indicates one of two things, lack of trust or familiarity.

Calion is referred to as Calion because Auros considered to inability to kill the wolf as a failing, especially since Auros charged him with ensuring its death. As a sign of Calion's honor and his hope to restore it, Auros fully and completely expects that if the wolf Helvy tries to leave, Calion will kill it as Auros has charged him. Remember that the wolf is seen by Auros as a potential threat to his mission, considering its former master and the gravity of his mission.
Likewise, Estarion is referred to as Estarion because he does not yet trust him, given the less-than-pleasant circumstances surrounding his appearance.

Fainan is referred to as Lady Fainan, because Auros does not know her well and so simply Fainan is out of the question. I suspect that Auros would refer to a Lady as "Lady ___" even if she did something he found as a failing with because he is a chivalric character.

Haran is Haran because Auros has some history with him, at least as far as Rivendell (and not any further back by our earlier posts). He knows Dwarves as to their word. Too much pride not to make it happpen. Haran knows some, if only little, of what is going on in Rivendell (as far as Auros knows). Auros trusts in the wisdom of the Valar, that if Haran were going to run to Sauron and ruin the Quest, he would not have been in Rivendell. They are both smiths (I assume any Dwarf is a smith unless told otherwise :}) and warriors and so they have something in common. Sometimes he also refers tp Haran by the formal title, but that is usually to show him respect to others, especially in company he is not sure of. Hence, he speaks to Master Haran when discussing Estarion's sword.

Lomelinde was Lady Lomelinde as he never got to know her. Nimel, being an animal, would either recieve no title in the conventional sense, or perhaps would be "Nimel, Lady of the Elthoron" or some similar honorific, or perhaps be referred to by a surname as a sign of respect since she is of a "speaking" race, such as Gwaihir "the Windlord."

Now that my lesson in Auros ettiquette is over, I'll direct you to the "Archaic words and Uncommon Actions" thread, where I'll explain something I did in my latest contribution. I could tell you here, but this post is long enough already, and then you wouldn't go read the other one :}

Take care :}
Eonwë

[Shelob]

Not to give too much away, but it might have been both Eonwe

although in this particular case, it was body language. A swordmaster holding a dagger instead of a sword indicates there is some kind of problem. And with Estarion being a real threat before too long ago, a sword would be preferrable over a teensy dagger.

[Eonwë]

Lol, like a Noldo I automatically assumed Auros would be dangerous no matter the weapon, and forgot that it would be such a big indicator (sure notice the small stuff on others, but they'd never notice the difference between a sword and a knife :})

Knives are longer and in some cases larger than daggers, as well as a different shape in the blade (daggers tend to look like small 2-edged swords). Such is the case with Auros' knife. It is, after all, a hunting knife :} I'd say a 6-10 inch blade.

Take care :}
Eonwë

[Varda]

We had a comment at the meeting about possibly having a character corrupted in-game. MEO works the corruption angle by having the character pick up and use a corrupting object, something that gives an advantage at a price. A corrupted character has to go through a redemption process, no instant repair.

In our rp, perhaps a knife looted from an Orc or found in a spider cavern is extra strong because it uses strength from nearby companions. The choice to use it despite harming friends corrupts the soul. If someone wants to use this object I just invented in their storyline, feel free.

The darkness should not be a corrupter of our party because it doesn't give us the choice factor that makes the game most interesting. The guilhine (sp?) may be a way to bring all the villainous tools together under one mind (nazgul Auros was told to watch for?), and to corrupt "lower" life forms. Intelligent spiders are borderline there, but are already in some agreement with the nazgul in hating humanoids or at least considering them lunch. I like the idea of the guilhine coming from the mountains between Thranduil's kingdom and Dol Guldur. That area is little used in fic as far as I can see, and keeps us from interfering with JRRT's main storyline for Dol Guldur.

Any corruption change by object would show up gradually, not instantly, and could be missed as it is insidious. This also makes for cool storyline. Be sure to show a sharp contrast by defining the person's original behavior with actions and how he speaks. Later he/she might be in the same situation but the behavior has obviously changed.

A corrupt person is not necessarily obvious such as a cave troll berserking in our midst, but has a different attitude. He/she could be seeking vengeance for past wrongs rather than trying to prevent future ones. This can show up in how he attacks and lack of mercy. A corrupt person is more self-centered, and may or may not like himself. You can add your own thoughts as to how corruption might manifest.

[Shelob]

No comments on that for now Varda seems all very good.

As for Eonwe:
It is true that in the hands of a swordmaster any blade is deadly, but having your knife in hand and the other hand on the hilt of your sword indicated to me you felt some reluctance to use it. This may in itself have different causes, but the most logical one is the reluctance to put strain on a wound not fully healed yet. Other than that, for the trained eye, it was plain to see that you were battling some kind of pain, but in the way you controlled it and handled your knife, it would be easy to discern that the wound would heal fast.

As for the RP, given that Haran requested a song, give me a bit of time to construct one.

[ArPharazon]

Great. In the meanwhile, I'll try to set up a post.

As for the corruption: Great idea. What I had conceived in my head, was for me to be corrupted, and after I was pretty far gone, to be reminded and rescued by Helvy, who had been lost or had left on an earlier time, but would show up just in time. To this end, I'm thinking about letting him fall in the river during the crossing, and floating out of sight, until he could not be followed by us.

After my rescue, I will slowly redeem myself, and be a renewed warrior, more courageous than ever before, and filled with anger towards our enemies.

But, that was all thought of within a short time, and many thoughts will fail, and make place for others. The final story will undoubtedly be different, although in what way I cannot say yet, and you all will influence it, of course.

[Varda]

Phar, the only real problem I see with that story arc is that it separates your guy from the rest for quite a while, killing interaction.

To avoid that problem, the arc could have the same corruption thing and let Helvy and our fellowship help bring Calion back. Your character is basically a decent, strong-minded guy and could redeem himself with a little encouragement, perhaps including the loss of the object. For that, maybe somebody figures out the cause and Haran will treat the object the way the movie Gimli tried to take out the Ring at the Council of Elrond. The corruption wouldn't instantly disappear but would wear off slowly as Calion takes opportunities for better choices.

This suggests that our story needs to give everyone plenty of choices during action to do corrupt or decent behavior. That should push our creativity!

[ArPharazon]

Varda said:

Phar, the only real problem I see with that story arc is that it separates your guy from the rest for quite a while, killing interaction.

How do you figure that? I meant Helvy was to fall in the river, only coming back in time to save me from corruption, not Calion himself being separated from the company.

[Shelob]

The song I just wrote in the RP I would also like to be put up in the poetry page. The title is: Avari song of heartening before battle.

[Varda]

Oops Sorry Calion. Right. It was Helvy falling in the river, not Calion. np. *wipes eyeballs*

[Varda]

The Poetry page should now show show both Arathorn's and Turgon's songs. Please check for errors and email corrections if any to me, including bad links.

[Shelob]

unfortunately, I have to say that the link to my song goes awry and ends up at perfect nav.