Athelas - The Quest - Word Sleuth RP

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 272 points
*T U P O A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 207 points
*Q V F S W E Y*

@Pele Alarion and @Prometherion you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

"I do believe," Afird smiled up at Tara from his kneeling position and said, 'that most herbs can be grown from cuttings. You snip off a healthy stem leaving a few leaves on it and place it in a jar of water. Soon it will grow roots and can be planted in the earth once more. Mind, you must change the water regularly until roots begin to grow."
Getting to his feet, he brushed off his soiled breeches as best he could and looked down at the vigorous growing plant. It seems like it had a good many stems that could be for cuttings. It appeared that this plant enjoyed the partial shade and well-drained soil. There had to be a spot for it in the House of Healing's gardens.
"Can you find a place to grow this special herb, Pele?"

edit: fixed team Tarawen and Lailyn's score

[Lailyn]

Ljúfa’s pleasure at Afird’s affirmation the mushrooms would be worth money was short-lived. Pele’s warning gave her a sense the Master Healer might not be keen on the recreational use of mind-altering fungi. “Oh, don’t worry, I don’t plan to eat them!” She told her while trying to look properly abashed. Just going to sell them...she kept the thought to herself and studied the healer while she walked away. Feeling a bit like she should have kept her mouth shut, Ljúfa hung back a while until there was a clear sign the kingsfoil had been found.

She raced over, unbuttoning the top of her coat as she went for the day had grown much warmer now, and knelt down to get a look at the plant. Part of her wondered if she could pocket some of the herb to sell, too. It could make her a pretty penny. It was simple economics. If something rare was in demand, the value went up...

The idea was fully planted in her mind until she cut one of the leaves and crushed it accidentally, refreshing her with its fresh fragrance. “Ahhh,” she breathed it in with delight and knew she could not, would not, pocket any for her own profit. The mushrooms would be enough if she could get away with it. People who were sick needed this and she was not about to profit off their suffering. She knew people back home who would do exactly that and that was the whole reason she’d left.

[Baphởmet]

Team Pele and Frost

Playing YEWS horizontally underneath ORIOLE, thus changing ORIOLE to ORIOLES

YEWS = (4 + 1 + 4 + 1[2xDL])3xTW = 33
ORIOLES = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1[2xDL] = 8

Total = 41 pts (no quote)

@Pele Alarion RP incoming

[Pele Alarion]

Pele let the whole matter of mushrooms go, though she retained a stern look with a glint of playfulness at the edges, while she hurried over to see whether the newly found plant was athelas.

"Ah, so it is indeed!" she exclaimed, dropping on one knee to take a closer look at the plant, as she caught up with Afird and the others. "If it can be carefully removed without damaging the root system, the plant should be doing all right in our garden." She was rather sure that the gardeners would find the best place and cherish the plant once it came into their hands.

"Seems that it was worth getting rain and all that..." she added, satisfied with the result of their little excursion. Carefully she dug her hands into the soil to see how far the roots of athelas went.

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 272 points
*T U P O A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 248 points
*Q V F *

@ Fuin Elda and @Moriel you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

As Pele dug her hands into the soil to see how deep the roots went, Afird leaned over her shoulder to observe and remind her that clippings could also be taken and stored in a container of water until they arrived back at the Stone City.
"This way," he said, "if the roots get damaged, we will have some clippings to grow the plant from while the plant recovers."
Leaving the digging to the others, he wandered off a bit to investigate the far side of the thicket. The sun was smiling in the early morning azure sky, casting shadows about the bushes and trees. He was happy that they had succeeded at what they had set out to accomplish. Still, the desire was not an uncommon trait in a dwarf, and Afird wanted more.
"What if the roots break from the dig? And what if the clippings don't root?" he thought to himself as he searched the woods musing. "That would be a terrible shame. If only the lone Athelas plant had a partner or two."
As these thoughts ran through his head, the sun shone down on a dark spot by some thick bushes. He could see a different shade of green amongst the bushes. Drawn by the greenery, his heart suddenly lifted in joy, and his mind became once more clear of doubt. They're tucked away between the bushes was the plant. Rushing towards it as if it was a dragon's hoard, he called out in his deep voice.
"Ai! Praise Mahal! I have found another plant!!"

edit: fixed team Tarawen and Lailyn's score and Pele and Frost's

[Pele Alarion]

"You are quite right, it is always good to ensure several options!" Pele agreed when Afird mentioned the clippings. With much care, as if the plant was her patient, she ran her fingers through the plant to choose what would be a fitting clipping or two.

"Whoever is closest to the cart..." she all but gave an order without looking up. "Find me a suitable container, maybe a mug or somesuch - if necessary remove what's in it - pour in some water and bring it here!" Once this was done, Pele would have a go at removing the whole plant and make sure it is safely gathered with some soil for its roots.

Then she heard Afird announce the finding of another plant, and her heart was glad all the more because it meant that there were more chances to make sure that at least one of the plants would be made comfortable enough to grow in the gardens, if not both. Besides, even if the plants were hard to come by in general, they'd only take a couple of those and not dig up the whole area and leave it without.

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 272 points
*T U P O A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 248 points
*Q V F *

@ Tarawen and @Lailyn you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

The last thing he remembered was praising Mahal when sudden darkness filled the thicket, and the wind blew the branches. He looked up in surprise and saw one fall from the trees above him, and knew no more until he opened his eyes and was lying supine beneath the sky. (my excuse and apologies for not getting to this update sooner, bah! )
He looked around, unsure how long he had been lying out of sight; a thick branch lay nearby and reaching up, he touches his head. A large bump protruded from his scalp. He rubbed it, but luckily no blood appeared on his fingers. Still, it was a nasty bump on the noggin: this, his second head injury since he left on his journey to Minas Tirith. Pretty soon, he would be babbling nonsense like a merry brook if he was not careful.
Rising slowly to his feet, he felt no dizziness, but his head did ache terribly. He slowly made his way over to Pele, who was still digging in the dirt and said.
"I have one demon of a headache, Master Healer. Do you have anything in your bag that will help alleviate it?"

edit: fixed team Tarawen and Lailyn's score

[Lailyn]

Ljúfa cut clippings of the plant she had found but also had a mind to dig some up and bring back to the city. It seemed she was not the only one who thought so. Upon Pele’s call for a container, she sprung up and dashed over to the cart as fast as she could. She wanted to prove herself capable and helpful instead of the slightly irresponsible mushroom-gatherer she was.

Kneeling in the cart, she rummaged through sacks of food and supplies until her fingers landed on something suitable. A pair of mugs that would do quite nicely and hopefully no one would miss. She grasped a flagon of water and raced back.

“Here! I’ve got something!” she called to Pele as she approached with the two mugs.

“Oh dear, that is quite a bump growing on you head, Afird.” She frowned at him and held out her flagon. “Would you like some water? Might some of this athelas help with that?” she asked Pele.

Team Tara and Lail play
NUPA horizontally on the N in ISEN
NUPA = 1+1+3(*3)+1=12 (+5 for ME word) = 17

"westra lage wegas rehtas, wraikwas nu isti.
westweg waes rihtweg, woh is nupa"
- Leaves from the Notion Club Papers: Part Two, HoME Vol 9, Sauron Defeated

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 289 points
*T A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 248 points
*Q V F *

@ Pele and @Prometherion you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

As Afird stood patiently waiting for the Master Healer to pull some magical cure from her bag, he glanced over at Ljúfa, who was kneeling by the plant. She had a serene look upon her face as though she had come to an inner understanding. She looked quite lovely in the dappled sunlight beneath the trees. Then up, she jumped and dashed to the wagon (at Pele's request) and soon returned with two mugs. She offered one to him, suggesting water might help with the ache in his head, a maybe the athelas. He took the mug and smiled his gratitude, saying.

"Thank you kindly, Ljúfa! Aye athelas would most definitely help, but I would hate to waste the precious leaf on a minor bump that will soon be just a memory."

He smiled at her once more as he gently rubbed the bump on his head. This adventure would soon be over, and it had gone on longer than he had anticipated (due to some slacker and late updates ). It would be good to head back to the city and move on to a new adventure. Like maybe finding Drifa on the Old Forest Road. He missed his old friend. He took a deep breath. The air was cool and fresh and invigorating. The athelas had something to do with it, he was sure. Still, time was short, and one had to move on. Excitement filled him suddenly, and he smiled up at the blue sky, thinking of all that was yet to come.

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I have come to love is around the bend
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a wanderer I go down the roadway
Looking for adventure and new friends
Insisting that the world keep turning my way
And my way
Is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I have come to love is around the bend
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a wanderer I go down the roadway
Looking for adventure and new friends
Insisting that the world keep turning my way
And my way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I have come to love is around the bend
And I can't wait to get on the road again
And I can't wait to get on the road again[/i]
*adapted from On The Road Again,Willie Nelson*

[Pele Alarion]

"Thank you!" Pele responded to Ljúfa who had reacted to her calls for some sort of containers, and set about securing the precious plants and clippings as best as she could so that those could be safely brought back to the city. "And what is it you are saying, Afird?"

Done with the plants, the healer brushed the dirt off her hands, making the legs of her trousers more dirty for it, as she stood up and looked down at the Dwarf's head. Ljúfa was right, there was a pretty bump decorating Afird's head.

"Something cold on the bruise would do well, a rag dipped in cold water, for example," she said, ready to step over and find a stream coming from the mountains which would surely be colder than any water they had brought with them. "And maybe a bite of good food too, yes?" Pele's blue eyes smiled, as she mentioned that, while she reached and gently plucked a single leaf off athelas plant, crushing the leaf with her fingers to release the refreshing scent and see whether it would do any good for Afird.

~~~~~
Team Frost and Pele would like to play:

QU vertically, using U of EXHUMED
10+1=11 + 10 (MEB) = 21 x 2 (DW) = 42
Total = 42

Quote: "QU has been used for cw, a combination very frequent in Quenya, though it did not occur in Sindarin." ~ Appendix E, LOTR

[Afird Splitax]

Lossarnach - Lotro-Wiki.com

Word Sleuth Dictionary

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 289 points
*T A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 248 points
*Q V F *

@Pele Alarion and @Prometherion
Unfortunately I can not except your play. QU in Appendix E in The Return Of The King, is a consonant, not a word. You still have your one grace period. Please make another play if you choose to! Thanks!

@ Pele and @Prometherion you have 12 hours to make your play. Good luck!

[Pele Alarion]

Eeeps... But it's in the books, @Afird Splitax, it's in the books!

In that case, we will play:
IF horizontally, using I of RANCID
IF = 1 + 4 = 5 + 5 (MEB) = 10
Quote: "And if I'm not with him, he may be in trouble, and he may need help." - Strider, FOTR

[Afird Splitax]

All that is gold does not get you WS points,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The Q that is worth 10 points does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a vowel shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be word that was unaccepted;
The Q again shall be kIng.

Remember this my friends!

I shall update this evening! Thanks!

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 289 points
*T A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 258 points
*Q V *

@ Fuin Elda and @Moriel you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

The plants had been stowed away. The return trip was inevitable. The quest had been a success. Hopefully, the plants would thrive and populate the House of Healing gardens in Minas Tirith. Afird had a feeling that more plants were about this thicket, but they could remain where they first started growing. Who knew, they may be the offsprings of the first Athelas having been brought to Middle-earth by the Men of the West. The world was a mysterious and grand place...

[Afird Splitax]

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 134 points
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 289 points
*T A*
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 258 points
*Q V *

@ Tarawen and @Lailyn you have 48 hours to make your play. Good luck!

[Marceline]

Tarawen

“Yes! These will make a fine starter set for the Houses of Healing.” Tara straightened up and smiled at Pele. “Absolutely worth the rain, for a haul such as this!” Tara stood beside their dwarven leader and watched the Master Healer rooting into the soil to extract the plants. For someone who was doing very little of the actual work here, she was quite pleased with the expedition’s outcome. Soon it became even better - Afird had run off and found a second athelas plant!

But just after he shouted his discovery for all to hear, there was a loud crack! and a rustling of branches and leaves as a large bough detached itself from the tree under which Afird stood. Tara’s mouth opened in shock, and she ran over to check that he was alright. “Afird!” she called as she went, “Are you quite well over there?” Her question was answered by the sight of the dwarf getting to his feet. “Oh, good,” Tarawen breathed, slowing to a walk and giving him some space to breathe. It seemed space to sing was what he truly needed, and Tara was able to relax, knowing that he was well enough for a jolly song (if a bit bruised).

She inhaled extra-deeply when Pele cut a leaf of athelas to help soothe the bump on the dwarf’s head. Even standing in a beautiful wooded area, healthy as could be, Tara felt her spirits lift when she caught its scent in the air. For this alone, she was glad she’d managed to join the group on the little quest.

(OOC: Lail will be posting our play soon!)

[Lailyn]

Team Tara and Lail play:

ATA vertically on the A in NUPA (starting at the TW tile)
1+1+1 = 3(*3) = 9 + 10(ME word) = 19

Quote:
ATA-. father. PQ * atu, * atar: Q atar, pl. atari; hypocoristic atto. N
adar, pl. edeir, eder; ada. Cf. Iluv-atar. Ilk. adar, pl. edrin; adda.
AT(AT)- again, back. Q ata again, ata-, at- back, again, re-; N ad. Cf
- Part III The Etymologies, HoME Vol 5, The Lost Road and Other Writings

[Afird Splitax]

The End of a WS Game:
Once all tiles are gone from the bag and a single player has placed all of their tiles, the game will end and the player with the highest score wins.

Tallying WS Scores:
When the game ends, each player will count all points that are remaining on their tiles that have not been played. This amount will be deducted from the final score.

An added bonus is awarded to the player that ended the game and has no remaining tiles. The tile values of all remaining players will be added to the score of the player who is out of tiles to produce the final score for the game. The WS player with the highest score after all final scores are tallied wins.

UPDATE
Fuin Elda and Moriel - 127 FINAL SCORE
*R R R A U A T*
Tarawen and Lailyn - 349 FINAL SCORE
**
Pele Alarion and Prometherion - 244 FINAL SCORE
*Q V *

Congratulations to team @Tarawen and Lailyn, who by playing their last two letters demonstrated their WS skill and prowess, and scored the winning game!

Thank you @Fuin Elda @Moriel @Pele Alarion @Sorceress for playing!

NPF: thank you for a wonderful job running this game!