Ages of Arda IV: Mantle of Darkness - Historical RPG OOC Thread & Sign-ups

[Moriel]

Anyone I will hint that it's specifically a Martin the Warrior reference, so no shame for anyone who hasn't read that one not catching it

[Moriel]

And I COMPLETELY forgot to tag @Call of Bearthulhu and @Nessa Saelind to say thank you, thank you- I had a blast writing it and I’m so glad you enjoyed it

[Moriel]

@Tharmáras as requested:

[Tharmáras]

Thank you for all the lovely icons, @Moriel ! I've edited the Itánoeva one in my recent post already !

The Canon Character List has been updated for now, folks.

[Baphởmet]

I suppose now that you've updated it would be the perfect time to go ahead and request taking on Uldor to help streamline the Easterling story arc and officially taking Ungoliant?

[Tharmáras]

I think you need me to post the demon next, right? But you can have Uldor son, yes! Ungoliant is officially yours as we plotted in Discord!

[Baphởmet]

I do, and I am waiting patiently but once you are able to get that post taken care of, I want to be able to use both Ulfang and Uldor for differing perspectives and a wider range of storytelling and to be able to progress the Easterling story arc

[Tharmáras]

Okay, I'm excited to get them to Beleriand. Thanks for being patient! I have a lot to update but it's coming. Presently I'm writing Annael and co. for Cassie to get the Hithlum War Council progressing and Amrod for Annúnfalas & Moriel to get the East Beleriand Bragollach PoV underway, so those will be my next two posts .

I have you marked down for Uldor now and I've noted that I'm taking Ulwarth so that way I can be in both Good and Antihero camps . I'm also taking Gelmir (not Gwindor’s brother) and Arminas. Borlach, Borthand's brother, as well.

[Baphởmet]

I look forward to plotting all sorts of deviousness and duplicity with you this will also give me something to do with them potentially whilst waiting patiently for your next post

In the meantime... perhaps now you will all understand why Fleeg Phlegmson is such a disappointment to his forebearers and see that the OG Fleeg is a dangerous creature

[Nessa Saelind]

@Call of Bearthulhu for a moment, when you mentioned Fleeg, I thought you found an egg in the AoA thread alas no cigar, yet

[Baphởmet]

I’ve checked, no luck there

[Moriel]

FLEEG! FLEEG! FLEEG! FLEEG!

*Swiltang struggling not to look proud in the background*

[Baphởmet]

I can't imagine anyone having any any issues but I wanted to ask to make sure and make it official. I would loooooooooooove to play Figwit. I know his canonicity is questionable, to put it mildly, and there's basically no information about him, but I think he could be a welcome component to AoA

[Tharmáras]

I have Erestor as Fingolfin's chief counselor then serves Fingon and escapes Hithlum into the Wild after the Nirnaeth but eventually settles at the Havens then later Balar. He serves as chief counselor to Gil-galad then Elrond. I use this actor in The Last Homely House thread.

Figwit you could use in AoA but I'm not sure how you would like to write him, friend. I'll probably have to use another actor unless it's okay if we use the same one like we do with Jason Momoa.

[Baphởmet]

If you want, ping me on Discord when you aren't too busy and I'm sure we can work out the kinks. A cursory internet search reveals basically nothing about Figwit (apart for some interesting names). I might throw him into Doriath at first, dunno why but it seems to make a modicum of sense to have him at least start off there. But all that's up for debate

[Tharmáras]

I'll message you sometime today!

There's also this picture to use. I'd prefer you use it so I don't have to go through posts in the Last Homely House RP to change the images and also the banner image:

Doriath would be good! We need more PoV characters there.

I'll be returning after my next Arpies post to write adult Amrod for Annúnfalas and Moriel which will set up the twins meeting the Thargelion folks and Caranthir when you and Moriel are ready for Annie and I to join you, Frost.

After that, Himring for Celebrin and Laita. Serech and Pass of Sirion for Annie, Fuin, Moriel, Celebrin, and Cassie. Then battleground Dorthonion for Annie, Fuin, Tarawen, Moriel, and Frost. Then everything else I previously mentioned .

Attention all, @Annúnfalas is now Lúthien Tinúviel!

[Nessa Saelind]

@Moriel @Sorceress I didn't have time to read your recent AoA posts in detail, apologies, RL work is a wee birch. I skimmed through them, but I will read them on the weekend. However, from what I've managed to read they look awesome and you guys are singlehandedly keeping Thargelion alive and kicking. Erm the story, not necessarily the place I'm tired, I'll throw myself out the door, no need to help

[Moriel]

@Nessa Saelind Can't wait for you to have time to read them thoroughly! FOR THARGELION!!!

[Nessa Saelind]

It took me half the day, because I kept being interrupted (how rude! ), but I've finally read FOR THARGELION!!! (yes I this how I'm calling this instalment, all caps and 3 exclamations included). I keep saying this, but it has to be said over and over again: @Moriel and @Sorceress you are absolutely brilliant partners and storytellers. It's a joy to see and read how well you work together and how in sync your posts are Each of you has a distinctive writing style, but when you read what you worked on together I only realise it's 2 people writing because of the character(s) POV. This is a great thing. If you 2 ever want to write a novel I'll throw money at you, no problem.

Details that I really liked from the posts:

But as they crossed the threshold of the ballroom on their way, a mass of orcs exploded into it in a cacophony of shattered glass and gibbering howls. (...) Herugon split another orc from groin to gizzard and surged forward along the same path he had been pursuing.

Love this description here, and the orc kill is just specific goals

“I’m sorry,” Þando gasped, and his eyes were rolling as his body convulsed in Herugon’s arms, “My son- tell my son- tell him- tell him-“

All of the feels! Such a beautiful and sad scene.

but what sort of fool makes a promise to kill a man when they’re both about to be swarmed and stomped into the ground?

Both can be achieved

“We have to get out.” He said flatly, looked the black haired, blood soaked nér in the eyes. “We have to. You know that. You know that. I don’t care how you do it, I don’t care if you have to make bloody daisy chains. Get. Them. Out!”

I really loved the banter here, the daisy chains are chef's kiss.

Another favourite thing in your post, Frost, is how you always managed to remind the reader of the location - the library and Finnbarr's care and love for the books and how the books and shelves are being destroyed to preserve life... There's a quote I particularly liked, lemme find it...

She was standing next to a bookshelf, with a store of ammunition that seemed endless. She threw book after book, each sacred page sacrificed to bring them more time, to give he and Verco more time, more space. (...) Delynna was still by the bookshelf and books were still flying with deadly precision. He could see tears glistening in her eyes. This library had been her life and now she was having to sacrifice it, the works of centuries, to stay alive.

This was really heartbreaking. You made me cry. I hate you. Congratulations! You're both awesome and very amaze

[Baphởmet]

I'm glad you liked it. There was a lot of coordination and "you are doing this thing, right? Okay then I will have characters X, Y, and Z over here doing this and then they can meet up after event 1 or 2, which ever works with the narrative. Oh is it okay if I use character X come over here and say this? I can rework if that's not what you had in mind.

In the end, I think you are right, it turned out quite well. And it's not done yet

[Ercassie]

I have a Doriath update currently competing with an Ospiel flashback to be my next post, but I just realised that said Ospiel flashback involves her witnessing the Balrogs rush to Melkor’s aid against Ungoliant, just after they get to Lammoth and spectacularly fall out after eating trees/killing kings. Okay, one king.

So umm anyway, @The Elf Imperishable @Enchantress, just a heads up, here really, as Melkor and Ungoliant are your characters in this RPG, I didn’t want it to be a shock when it shows up. My plan is to rely very heavily on direct quotes from the Silmarillion, when managing her frightened observations of this skirmish. Because of course I don’t want to godmode or assume your assigned characters.

Anyway, as a failsafe, if either of you wants me to send you a draft of the parts of my post which refer to Ospiel observing your canon character doing their canon thing, do let me know. Then you can make sure you’re happy with it before I post it. Honestly I’m not intending to personalise either of the epic combatants in this spectacle the poor young Sinda is witnessing. But this is just about trying to be as careful as I possibly can about this.

Any concerns or questions or ideas, please poke me. In the meantime, it looks like Thingol and Mallosel may sneak in past the finished line first while Ospiels thing is getting worked out.

Why am I wasting aoa time on an Ospiel flashback when we’re focusing on the Bragollach right now, you may (very fairly) ask ? Well it’s not only to set up Ospiel to then face the impending Balrogs attack on Hithlum during the Bragollach, but also to do some dimensional work on my own original Balrog, Konrauko. Before he remembers he is meant to be setting some wood on fire somewhere, also during the Bragollach.

So I guess this is my disclaimer or sorts, and invitation type thing. Concerns, ideas, questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. It may be that I need to rethink the entire way I had started doing this. Thanks.

[Baphởmet]

Thank you for the head's up @Ercassie! I trust that you can do justice to Ungoliant without my approval though, I don't want to get too futz over other people's mentioning/recalling/etc of a character I'm borrowing for Tolkien. Please feel free to use her however you need. I look forward to seeing what you write.

[Ercassie]

Thankyou for your input on this. It has been a somewhat unusual situation for me to consider, since normally I’d just respond to the post(s) written by yourselves of that canon character in that event. But because this is a flashback, it refers to an event that occurred way back in the rpg before either of you were actually even assigned the involved characters. Which left me unsure how to approach it. So just making sure I’m not crossing lines is all.

[Baphởmet]

It's a unique situation, but you wouldn't be crossing any lines. No worries! Even in this RPG I don't feel a sort of "no touchie" in regards to the canon characters as long as the portrayals aren't wildly differing from how I've started to characterize them. In regards to Ungoliant it's "She's big, nasty, hates light and wants to eat everything" I have a feeling you aren't gonna stray too far from that

[The Elf Imperishable]

@Ercassie humiliate Melkor as much as possible

[Ercassie]

Thankyou for your generosity @The Elf Imperishable, but my plan is only in so much as Tolkien’s quote says Melkor’s crying out was .. significant. Particularly to a young Elf who never had seen ‘monsters’ before all this.

Have to make sure my lazy Balrog still maintains respect for his Big Bad Boss, after all.

[Fane Mordagnir]

Hi all,

Just a quick note that I’ve just posted on the story all set in Gondolin. The post is a bit short mainly because there weren’t many interactions but I’m more than happy for people to interact with either Fane or Manar so please feel free to join in on either.

I think I’m up to speed with when we’re set but if I’ve misread any pieces just let me know and I can amend.

[Ercassie]

Nice to see some more Gondolindrim @Fane Mordagnir. I don’t believe we’ve met before but welcome. I shall be sending my elves from the House of Swallow to gate duty soon. While Rog and Maeglin head for Turgon’s council.

One teeny thing I would say is that we’re only at The Dagor Bragollach so far, so the seventh gate hasn’t actually been created yet. Those lazy Moles don’t get around to it until after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, in about twenty years time. But I do believe Hatholdir is meant to be causing a commotion at the gates when @Tharmáras next posts there. So you’re very welcome to join what we had plotted. Should be with you in just a while. If you would like to plot in the meantime do feel free to poke me. Gondolin is my favourite part of the Silmarillion.

[Tharmáras]

I loved your descriptive post, @Fane Mordagnir !! Gave me my first smile of the day. @Ercassie is correct that the 7th Gate, the one of Steel which Maeglin and the Moles build, isn't constructed yet because of the FA 455 timelines. Could you amend your post a small bit so that Fane is going to the Golden Gate? We will have tense action there soon with you and me and Cassie; Hatholdir, Maeglin’s right hand, is the enemy of the Mordagnirs and still troubles them in the modern day (TA 3014 here in the Imladris Forum) so this would be Fane's first interaction with the Mole there. Also Manar could be alarmed by the fiery, smoking skies and can head to the Tower of the King where there will be an emergency council, the one Cassie mentioned in her post, that I'll write soon.

The 7th Gate can be written for in the Beyond Free RP though and I'd enjoy writing with you there! I'll reply back to you on Facebook Messenger tonight on my work break, mate! I'll talk more about Hatholdir, too. He doesn't have a bio yet but I speak of him plenty in my Rivendell character submissions for Aigronding, my Lindon submissions for Earenolwë, and my Archive post about Mole Island.

[Fane Mordagnir]

@Ercassie no I don’t think we have been but I’m not surprised seen as I’m only just back after a long hiatus but it’s good to meet!

@Tharmáras I've edited the post quickly and removed all the references to the seventh gate I think so look forward to more action in the next post. I’m also going to edit a bit for Manar noticing the smoke tomorrow!

[Tharmáras]

My thoughts for the emergency council in Gondolin (with the King, princess, prince, Chieftains, and their lieutenants) and the commotion with Hatholdir are forming as you know from our ooc talks these recent days, @Ercassie @Fane Mordagnir ! I'm moving up a few AoA posts up my Imladris list and starting to write for there tonight feeling a longing to write immediately there. Gondolin and Dorthonion, Pass of Sirion/Serech and East Beleriand updates coming for all involved in those places.

I am following your posts with Fuin, Fain, in Valley of Rivendell RP and enjoying them very much. I am anticipating Aigronding's friendship with Manar and Fane depicted early during AoA now. It's epic to see what Fane, Aig, and Fuin are all doing though in different places and how a their paths will intersect one day in this series.

[Tharmáras]

Since Aerlinn remains unavailable again for an extended while and presently not replying to messages I've been trying to send on Discord since December, I've made a GM decision to pass Celebrimbor to @Moriel who did receive a message from Linny ages ago about taking Celembrimbor at a latter time; now Moriel will have him earlier than expected, we've agreed together .

Moriel, i am working on the Gondolin update presently but just so you know I'll tag you and Tara when I'm ready to update Aglon for Celegorm, Huan, Curufin, and Celembrimbor. Where Tolkien said the combat of the Bragollach is the fiercest ⚔. Also, I hope to see you write Eöl soon as you can *crosses fingers* !

[Rillewen]

hi everyone, planning to join you, just a little unsure how to hop in so i'm consulting with a couple of you awesome people to help me get started :D but i wanted to say hi

[Tharmáras]

I rejoice you're here, @Rillewen ! We always need more writers.

"Haleth only brought her people through it with hardship and loss, constraining them to go forward by the strength of her will. At last they crossed over the Brithiach, and many bitterly repented of their journey; but there was now no returning. Therefore in new lands they went back to their old life as best they could; and they dwelt in free homesteads in the woods of Talath Dirnen beyond Teiglin, and some wandered far into the realm of Nargothrond." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: The Coming of Men into the West

"Thus ended the Siege of Angband; and the foes of Morgoth were scattered and sundered one from another. The most part of the Grey-elves fled south and forsook the northern war; many were received into Doriath, and the kingdom and strength of Thingol grew greater in that time, for the power of Melian the queen was woven about his borders and evil could not yet enter that hidden realm. Others took refuge in the fortresses by the sea, and in Nargothrond." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Fingolfin and Fall of Fingolfin

We've determined your mortal family is descended from Haladin ancestors who didn't live in Brethil but settled amongst the human homesteads of Talarh Dirnen and that the patriarch has gone with Finrod's force to the Fen of Serech and can begin fighting the Orcs there.

Right now West Beleriand where Nargothrond is established is not presently endangered until the fall of Minas Tirith later on in the RPG. You can have the wife present herself to Lord Guilin (me) in Nargothrond, asking permission to help guard Talath Dirnen with her bow just in case the Pass of Sirion is forced currently.

You can have your scribe Elf ask Lord Guilin if he can help in any way. I'll have Guilin tell him to write letters to elven settlements of West Beleriand assuring communities that any refugees can find homes in Nargothrond.

Sounds good? Lord Guilin you can say is in King Finrod's throneroom while Finrod is gone to war now.

[Rillewen]

Awesome! That sounds good, and gives me a good starting point to posting. Be prepared for more questions when I actually start writing, though. Lol

[Tharmáras]

Standing by as always, old friend .