MEO RP/Tales of Lore

[ArPharazon]

If the spiders would move in groups of 40, there could be some realism in their individual strength, even if the full group does slay 3 patrol guards without 1 loss. But I did not say the spiders were not injured: sure, no body parts, but if the ground is soaked with blood, the spiders could have bled a little too...remember: Shelob was injured by Sam, but did she lose any bodyparts?

But the fact that we have to face them eventually, so it seems, would be a little unrealistic... unless we get extremely powerful, and although that should be possible in time in RPG's, it would not fit into Tolkiens world. In that you have a very good point. We should take that into account when advancing the story.

But with the "elite" I did not mean Balrog-slaying or something, I just mean we stand above common guards and patrols, we come from high circles, not many steps beneath the members of the Fellowship. As such, we would be well equipped to defeat small groups of little-infected spiders and wolves without much injury to ourselves. Hey, even Bilbo could slay a few spiders on his own

There is a difference between elites in the Silmarillion and in the Lord of the Rings, so it would seem. But you also have to realise: Balrogs in the ancient times were probably weaker than the one(s, who knows how many remain in the deep places of the world) in the Third Age, and more frequent. That's one issue Tolkien never seems to have fully solved. And perhaps a good topic for a meeting

[Eonwë]

Ok, we've reached an understanding :}

I suppose in order to take the spiders on, we will not only have to increase our own skills, but increase our numbers,.. :}

I can cope with that meaning of "elite" :}

Elites in LotR and Sil:
Well, in LotR the definition isn't that much different, as "elite" for a Noldo would be Glorfindel and his whole ability to take on the Nazgul (chasing off the Witch-King once even) :} The Glorfindel, who in the understanding of some, also died slaying a Balrog in the First Age :}

Elite would certainly be different levels to different groups. Fëanor took on Morgoth's Balrog gaurd all by himself and did pretty good. Fingolfin wounded Morgoth seven times. If that's not elite I don't know what is :}
On the other hand, the Brandybucks and Tooks are elite for Hobbits( in the political sense and in the adventurous/warrior sense). So, it's all in who you are :} I certainly wouldn't say the best Hobbit warrior in the Shire would stand as much of a chance against a Balrog as an Elf-Lord (interesting how all the examples are involving a Balrog :} That's probably because they're elite :}).

I would say there is still a huge difference in power between a Balrog and an Elf, but as you said, that may be good for meeting discussion and I don't want to spend it all here :} Balrogs, however, are Maiar and so they wouldn't be any more or less powerful than they were in the past unless they did what Morgoth and/or Sauron did.

Take care, and time for me to add to the tale :}
Eonwë

[Varda]

No body parts or dead bodies of spiders can have reasons besides no injuries. There were no elf bodies either, just armor (leather I assume, since we're Mirkwood). This suggests something carried off or (ick) ate the bodies and/or body parts. Spiders generally drink the liquid from their victims, so this bloody mess suggests we have more than spiders to deal with, look out

Also, spiders are most likely to paralyze and haul off captives for later meals or their young once they hatch. This gives us something else to be concerned about. Some or all of those elves from the patrols may be alive and paralyzed, in need of rescue. Our small party would probably be killed unless we're very sneaky (always fun!), but it adds to what we have to report.

I don't intend to nitpick, but we can have a great time trying to meld our ideas into workable stories! Yay for the "edit".

[ArPharazon]

Heh heh. Yes, I actually meant the spiders have eaten the guards, though I did not say it

My idea was the blood came from the struggle, and some 'spilling' of the bodily fluids... do we really expect the spiders not to leave any mess when they eat?

The spiders would have paralyzed the guards, captured them in webs or something, and actually 'sucked' them out of their armor at the spot... thus leaving armor and pieces of web. This may have been a little unrealistic, although I believe I once read something about spiders actually making their victims in a sort of 'fluid', and then sucking them up. This was the general idea.

Having them paralyzed and captured, therefore them being alive somewhere, could work. It could provide us with a rescue mission, a 'side-quest' (it's an RPG, isn't it? Sorry, I don't do these forum thingies very often). Should this require editing at any post at any time, just tell me. I'll see what I can do

[Varda]

This is my first online text rpg.

[ArPharazon]

This is my second, the first one being Orodreth's Lotr 4th-Age RPG, which I'm sure you'll remember... and which did not get too far

[Eonwë]

This is an online text RPG? ;}

My first too :}

[ArPharazon]

Well, this is nice... Do Arathorn and Elatan have any experience with forum RPG's? And.... who actually suggested the thing?

[Varda]

I suggested it. I figure if anyone can handle a running story set in Middle-earth, it's the Valar Guild.

[Eonwë]

If you never try, you never get any experience, and the Valar Guild is the only group that could drag me into one of these :}
But the concept is not difficult, similar to what I had attempted with the Guild-Wide Story, only on a much easier to manage scale :} We've done great so far, and I'm confident it'll only get better. No dancing orcs yet, that's always a plus :}

[ArPharazon]

Dancing Orcs! Great suggestion! I'll insert it immediately! ;D

Nah...

[Varda]

At the meeting, Eonwe made a couple of nice suggestions for naming the blight in Tolkien-style:

Gulfuin or Gulhuine for "Gloom Darkness Sorcery".

[ArPharazon]

Gulhuine it is

And I have to say: controlling 2 creatures is a lot more fun than one, it's always nice to be able to put more content in 1 post

[Varda]

Intended Fainan to be a fighter, but my old cleric ways seem to be taking over - heh.

I don't remember anything about elves controlling animals in Tolkien (although it's done in MMORPG's such as EverQuest), but they did seem to work with them as friends. Perhaps this wolf's case is special, as it was under control of the enemy and we might learn from it. The control seems not to be the Guilhuine, either, so we have another story arc going, always good!

[Eonwë]

Technically, Gulhuinë is the Quenya form :}

Even more technically, the Quenya form would be roughly, Nolëhuinë since Gul and Nolë come from the stem -ngol, found in Noldor, but the Sindarin stem Gul gives a more proper sense of the meaning. I'm trying to avoid just giving a direct quote from the Sil :} Barely missed it :}

Simple fix Varda: your trade skill is healing/herbs, however they deal with this in MEO :} Might get to dabble in a little of both, but of course we can't master it all :}

Take care :}
Eonwë