December 25, 2011 Sunday Meeting
5pm EDT (GMT - 5)
AIM: Valar Guild Meetingplace
Back to News
Transcript work by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (5)
AriehnV,
ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1
Before-meeting:
Meeting begins
Membership:
Web
New story by Mirabella-(V)
RP forum title voting completed on the forum. Title chosen.
Gaming:
BroodWar
puzzle game including url
LotRO (news swaps back and forth with the WoW section)
WoW
Lord of the Rings: War in the North review by Arien-(Valar)
Tolkien:
Hobbit movie trailer with a better link
RP forum story sequel title has been chosen, so we moved to the plot line discussion. Thread set up during the meeting and old story threads
closed to further posting unless called for by the writing group to
correct the plot.
After-meeting:
WoW: members have been busy all holiday and kept going...
top
Before-meeting:
You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
VardaValar1 has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya to Ar-Pharazon the Golden, and Merry Christmas. :-)
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
ArPharazonV: WoW came through for me this Christmas... got my lovely
blue bug Tol'vir mount on Thursday, after 97 solves, just before I was
about to quit (because I'd just reached 102 fossil solves and I told
myself I'd stop for a while after reaching 100 solves on a race)
VardaValar1: Woot! A very nice present!
VardaValar1: That's a lot of fossil solving.
ArPharazonV: Yeah, well, I needed to do Tol'vir. So I needed to archeo
Kalimdor. So naturally I had to dig up a lot of fossils :P
VardaValar1: But of course!
VardaValar1: Forgive me, brb.
Eonwe Valar has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Heya :}
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
Eonwe Valar: Looks like it's meeting time, and we're the only three who
had a chance to pull ourselves away from festivities for a few seconds
:}
VardaValar1: back
Eonwe Valar: WB :}
VardaValar1: Thanks and hi!
Eonwe Valar: Merry Christmas :}
Eonwe Valar: To both of you :}
ArPharazonV: Just fishing a bit in WoW, working on my achievements for food
VardaValar1: Food. A familiar word today. ;-)
ArPharazonV: Oh yes. *pats full stomach*
Eonwe Valar: :}
VardaValar1: I was halfway through getting a ham ready for the oven, but everyone's still full of turkey etc, so no rush.
VardaValar1: Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
Eonwe Valar: Hehe, aye, I'm quite well-fed myself for right now :}
VardaValar1: hehe
VardaValar1: Thanks for being here, you two. :-)
ArPharazonV: Well, it's already late evening here. So the main mealtimes are over :-)
VardaValar1: Then there are the all night gaming snacks. ^^
VardaValar1: I haven't been gaming but the guys here are.
VardaValar1: Membership:
VardaValar1: We're already talking membership, so might as well say the title!
Eonwe Valar: :}
VardaValar1: Meriadoc-(V) is visiting at my house and is in WoW even as
we speak with Bilbo and Sauron. Sauron is doomed, two hobbits.
Eonwe Valar: hehe
VardaValar1: (Yes, we had lots of mushrooms today with more stashed to come.)
VardaValar1: To all Valarites, all our friends, and to all: Merry Christmas!
VardaValar1: Any other member news you guys would like to share?
Eonwe Valar: Nothing jumping to mind that should be or can only be placed in Membership.
VardaValar1: okies
VardaValar1: Phar?
ArPharazonV: And happy New Year because we'll meet again in January?
VardaValar1: Aye!
Eonwe Valar: Aye, Happy New Year :}
VardaValar1: The drought has lessened with all this rain, so they're talking about low flight fireworks being ok.
VardaValar1: Web:
VardaValar1: Stories:
VardaValar1: We have a new short story online by Mirabella-(V): The Oliphaunt's Tale
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authors/Mirabella/TheOliphaunt%27sTale.htm
VardaValar1: Enjoy :-)
VardaValar1: Eonwe, you had some Web news?
Eonwe Valar: Aye :}
Eonwe Valar: We've quite quickly decided and voted on the name for the next arc of the RP.
Eonwe Valar: With 4 votes, the winner is Angmar Bound.
VardaValar1: Interesting. Arien should be especially tickled since she suggested it. : )
ArPharazonV: Interesting enough, since my plans for Calaron don't exactly include... binding.
Eonwe Valar: Runners-up were The "Derelict Realm" and "Stirring in the North" with 3 votes each.
VardaValar1: It's hard to pick a truly appropriate title when we don't
know how we're handling the main plot problems. But we can give it a
try.
Eonwe Valar: There's other wordplay that could be had with the name,
such as peoples or organizations that are bound to Angmar, by oath or
as their homeland, that kind of thing.
VardaValar1: Calaron is currently bound to Angmar. We're heading to Angmar.
Eonwe Valar: Not necessarily only "good" peoples or organizations, hehe.
VardaValar1: Not even likely to be mostly good groups, aye. : )
Eonwe Valar: Or *good* rather. Trying to add emphasis rather than questionability.
VardaValar1: Even though they're probably a questionable lot. ;-)
Eonwe Valar: hehe
ArPharazonV: I could give several spoilers as to what my plans are.
But... I'd rather we start without them being generally known :-)
Eonwe Valar: Anyway, the new board has been made, the new discussion
thread is available, and I'm in the process of setting up the Archive
Board to move Scouting Ahead into.
VardaValar1: The rest of us don't have to know more than what we find
out in-game. You can let us know what can be gleaned from the research
at Rivendell.
VardaValar1: Huzzah!
VardaValar1: Don't forget that the staff is supposed to be very
important, and the orc weapon should have some significance since we
put so much writing time on it.
Eonwe Valar: Since it is an archive board, posting will be disabled.
VardaValar1: Makes sense.
Eonwe Valar: My news is complete for now :}
ArPharazonV: Here's hoping no edits will be necessary for continuity.
VardaValar1: If they are, we can re-open for special requirements temporarily.
ArPharazonV: I'd be terrible at webcomics/novels. Always the urge to go back to previously released pages.
VardaValar1: Then you'd have to complete it before publishing. : )
ArPharazonV: Well, that's what I mean with webcomics/novels.
ArPharazonV: Things that get released page for page.
VardaValar1: Be moving on to new stories.
VardaValar1: but aye, very hard not to go back when you know more about where it's going.
Eonwe Valar: I prefer to consider it done once it's published. Saves me
alot of work, even though there are some stories I'm not quite so
satisfied with any more :}
VardaValar1: If JRRT could, he'd revisit The Hobbit and The Silmarillion for sure! Probably LotR.
VardaValar1: Time to write new ones! And I feel the same way about mine.
VardaValar1: I especially like to see hole-filler stories. Plenty of room in the mythos for that.
VardaValar1: Gaming:
VardaValar1: Any non-WoW, non-LotRO news?
VardaValar1: BroodWar for Fangorn, Sauron, and myself earlier this week.
ArPharazonV: Hmm, more flashgames. I was going through one of my main sites again, and found some gems I'd not seen before.
ArPharazonV: I'll link an interesting puzzly game.
VardaValar1: Thanks!
VardaValar1: A Christmas present for those reading this transcript.
ArPharazonV: http://www.king.com/games/sponsored-games/neon-maze/?language=en *seems* to be the original link, though it can be found on a bunch more websites like the one I usually use.
ArPharazonV: And that's pretty much it, non-wow, for me.
VardaValar1: Thanks, Phar. :-)
Eonwe Valar: RP Archive Board now up :}
VardaValar1: I should have mentioned during Membership: Fangorn and I
had a wonderful 38th anniversary this last week on the 22nd.
VardaValar1: Thanks Eonwe! Fast work. : )
VardaValar1: LotRO:
Eonwe Valar: MP and Happy Anniversary :}
VardaValar1: Thanks :-)
ArPharazonV: congratulations!
AriehnV has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Monday we got together and ran a couple of 12-mans, pugging a few for the second spot.
ArPharazonV: If you don't mind me asking, why did you get married a few days before Christmas?
AriehnV: a somewhat belated merry chrismas everyone :-)
VardaValar1: Aiya Arien! Your title, Angmar Bound, won. :-)
Eonwe Valar: Heya Arien and Merry Christmas :}
VardaValar1: That's when we had time off from college. We were both
taking 21 hour loads with labs, and that was when family could come.
VardaValar1: Christmas holidays allowed it.
AriehnV: nice one and happy anniversary
ArPharazonV: Ahh.
VardaValar1: For us, today is Christmas, so exactly on time! Merry Christmas to you too, Sunshine. :-)
karakedi25 has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya Indis :-)
karakedi25: Aiya
AriehnV: aiya indis :-)
VardaValar1: Merry Christmas!
Eonwe Valar: Heya Indis and Merry Christmas :}
karakedi25: At in-laws' place, so will be in and out
karakedi25: And greetings of the season to you all.
ArPharazonV: Merry Christmas to all I've not wished a Merry Christmas to yet!
VardaValar1: The Monday LotRO
run was of two 12-mans: Prancing Pony (9 Valarites ran and completed
it), and Breaching the Necromancer's Gate with 7 Valarites pugging for
a full 12, some of the puggers being friends already and some welcome
to run with us again.
VardaValar1: Yule Festival started Dec 20, much fun to be had.
VardaValar1: Wednesday we
completed two 12-man skirmishs (still no symbol drops) of "Battle for
the Tower" and "Ringwraith's Lair" for story continuity.
VardaValar1: I missed out Saturday, it being Christmas Eve and much cooking going on, plus guests.
karakedi25: As far as i know there was no Saturday run.
VardaValar1: Indis, if you're there, do you know what happened Saturday? (Last Sat they ran 3-mans)
VardaValar1: Ok, thanks.
VardaValar1: Any further LotRO news?
Eonwe Valar: Yes :}
VardaValar1: Go ahead, Eonwe
karakedi25: A publisher's letter just came out, in which they promise a lot more content in 2012.
karakedi25: http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/1678-producers-letter-december-2011
VardaValar1: Thanks, Indis
Eonwe Valar: In short, if you've logged in on any character (level 15
or above) within the guild branch on LotRO within the month of
December, I HOPE you check his stocking/mailbox soon :}
karakedi25: This is still up: Win with Celebrimbor's Gift Lotteries! Symbol of Celebrimbor (lvl65-70), Worn Symbol (lvl71-75). Holiday Lottery level 7-64!
karakedi25: If you're a lotro player, enter to win--it's a good one.
Eonwe Valar: You'll see what I did there when you do, hehe :}
Eonwe Valar: That's all I have for LotRO :}
karakedi25: I did log in earlier, but I won't spoil the surprise.
VardaValar1: ok, thanks. Then I won't either. :-)
VardaValar1: WoW:
VardaValar1: Phar, you had blue news? : )
ArPharazonV: The archeology thing you mean?
VardaValar1: mount and whatever you want to tell.
ArPharazonV: I got my blue bug mount this week! Nearly a hundred
archeology solves for the Tol'vir race, and the last night after at
least 1-2 months before I was ready to take a lengthy break from
archeology.
ArPharazonV: So it was quite last moment :-)
Eonwe Valar: Congrats :}
ArPharazonV: WoW's christmas gift to me, as I see it.
Eonwe Valar: I've already been taking a break from Archaeology. Perhaps I should start back in on it :}
VardaValar1: Good blue news. :-)
ArPharazonV: So now I"m focusing on other projectses again, like finishing some lesser achievements. And of course all the Winter Veil stuff!
ArPharazonV: If you play WoW, the gifts under the tree have arrived, in Ironforge and Orgrimmar.
ArPharazonV: And in true personal tradition, I brought all 10 of my characters to Ironforge to load them up on gifts.
ArPharazonV: As little as I play most of them, I'll never deny them their Winter Veil!
Eonwe Valar: :}
VardaValar1: (Link for Eonwe's LotRO news and why you should log on in LotRO on the 25th:
VardaValar1: http://www.lotro.com/component/content/article/76-launcher-news/1682-a-yuletime-surprise-sunday-december-25th-2011
VardaValar1: )
ArPharazonV: And yeah. That's it, really. I could talk about how I
finally made a small effort to level up my rogue, how I'm nearly
exalted with the Firelands faction, and all sorts of trivia, but I
think I'll pass the floor :-)
ArPharazonV: Oh! A bit of Tolkien news, but that can wait. And you've got half of it on the news site anyway.
Eonwe Valar: For clarity, the above link is not related to my earlier
LotRO news, but is something LotRO people might be interested in anyway.
VardaValar1: And Eonwe says that link wasn't what he was talking about,
but any character that logged in during December should log in again.
:-)
VardaValar1: WoW news:
VardaValar1: continued,
VardaValar1: Eonwe, you had some WoW news?
Eonwe Valar: Aye :}
Eonwe Valar: First, I would like to tell everyone who has a lvl 85
character in the guild branch on Lothar that they need to log in on
said character and check their mailbox/stocking as well :}
Eonwe Valar: Well, anyone who has logged in on it within December, that is :}
AriehnV: and not to mention you hired my rogue for bumping up your Ravenholdt reputation :_)
Eonwe Valar: Oh, did you rejoin us on Lothar? :}
AriehnV: hehe dont know how many mobs i pickpocketed and killed (kill
them after else you wont find anything to pickpocket) sorry no that was
ad for Cala aka Phara , sorry :
Eonwe Valar: Ah, ok :}
ArPharazonV: Oh! Yes. That I did.
AriehnV: i was bit not scrolled down for a while during a quick cheese and biscuit lunch thing
ArPharazonV: I knew I forgot something.
Eonwe Valar: On with the WoW reports then :}
Eonwe Valar: Sunday:
Eonwe Valar: Attending: Fangorn, Varda, BIlbo, Elwing, Eowyn, Eonwė, Sauron
Eonwe Valar: First, everyone but Sauron cleared Molten Core to further
our rep and get closer to guild credit for exalted with the Hydraxian
Waterlords.
Eonwe Valar: Then, Sauron joined us as we went into Obsidian Sanctum. Varda won the Black Drake :}
VardaValar1: /bow
Eonwe Valar: Then we went into Icecrown Citadel and cleared out 5
bosses before getting stuck on Professor Putricide and needing to call
it a night. Eonwe hit Revered with the Ashen Verdict on Auros.
VardaValar1: Grats :-)
Eonwe Valar: Thanks :}
ArPharazonV: Grats both :-)
Eonwe Valar: Friday:
Eonwe Valar: We had a free day, as there weren't many on, and Fangorn
had to head back to work that night, so he, Varda, and Elwing were
working on their lower-level characters together.
VardaValar1: We moved along at a pretty good clip. :-)
Eonwe Valar: Today is a free
day in WoW, since it's Christmas. People can get up to whatever they
want, or spend their time with family outside of the game :}
Eonwe Valar: Next Sunday is New Year's Day, and so will also be a free day.
Eonwe Valar: Thus concludes my reports :}
VardaValar1: Thank you, Eonwe :-)
ArPharazonV: Hah. Yes. Free day. What we had too, tonight. Ended up
doing the old Wrath of the Lich King dungeon achievements for everyone
involved.
VardaValar1: Any further gaming, business, comments, or suggestions? :-)
ArPharazonV: and finished up with killing the 3 Wintergraps bosses in
one minute from each other to get that once-tough achievement as well
:-)
ArPharazonV: Well, I've got some Tolkien news.
ArPharazonV: *Wintergrasp, sorry
top
VardaValar1: Tolkien:
VardaValar1: Fire away, Phar. :-)
ArPharazonV: Well, first, you already mentioned in the news that the Hobbit movie now has an official trailer.
ArPharazonV: Unfortunately, the link you gave was marked as private.
Personally I found it through another website, let me see if that one
still works.
karakedi25: afk for a bit
VardaValar1: oops
VardaValar1: Thank you Phar. That should help others as well.
ArPharazonV: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/thehobbit/ still works, though since the page is apple/itunes related, I'm not sure for how long you can still watch it for free.
VardaValar1: Thanks :-)
ArPharazonV: I'm sure by that time people will have duplicated the trailer enough times on youtube for you to find one :-)
ArPharazonV: Second! Related news.
VardaValar1: I expect it'll be on YouTube
AriehnV: oh i ve got some Tolkien related oowow and LotrO gaming news
ArPharazonV: The Hobbit's facebook, which I check regularly, and which
gave me this link for the trailer, also came up with the fifth
production video!
AriehnV: shall i save it for next week?
ArPharazonV: This one focusing on the logistics for location-shooting
(crews of 500 people and 140 vehicles back and forth across New
Zealand, quite a sight) but, more interesting perhaps, the second half
of the video gives us a very good look at Hobbiton, which has now been
established permanently for future tours, instead of the plastic
contraptions that were taken down after Lord of the Rings :-)
VardaValar1: Today is fine, Arien, after Phar is done.
ArPharazonV: Searching for link.
ArPharazonV: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150554790416807
ArPharazonV: No Facebook account needed to view it.
ArPharazonV: And that's all from me!
VardaValar1: Thanks Phar :-)
VardaValar1: Arien, go ahead
VardaValar1: (Sounds good for tourism for New Zealand and the movie company.)
AriehnV: all right i got for chrismas a new game : Lord of the Rings: War in the North
AriehnV: and spent a few hours on it today ^
AriehnV: have you heard of it ?
Eonwe Valar: Aye :}
VardaValar1: How was it? And feel free to email a review to Eonwe by email too. :-)
AriehnV: i love the story behind it to start with :-)
AriehnV: a party of dwarf , elf of Rivendell and a Ranger are sent to
Fornost to distract enemy forces and their evil leader Agadaur
VardaValar1: Thought it was going to be a joke for a sec. :-)
ArPharazonV: A dwarf, an elf and a ranger walk into a bar...
AriehnV: you can play it either single mode or multiplayer where
friends can take the two other player characters or the computer takes
the two others
AriehnV: so there is a single player campaign
AriehnV: its on platform called steam
AriehnV: if that tells you something ^^, bit like battle net
AriehnV: graphics are really nice , very impressed with fornost and the combat action
AriehnV: not very impressed with the controls tho , alas since they are somewhat different from what i am used to in wow
AriehnV: movement is asdw
Eonwe Valar: War in the North is also for the major consoles as well,
so their multiplayer will use the console's proprietary servers.
ArPharazonV: that's also WoW movement ;-)
Eonwe Valar: (just wanted to note that for those who might be interested in the game :})
AriehnV: camera is controlled purely by mouse movement and combat
actions are mouse clicks , left or right , ranged is numeric key 1 and
you can interact with things like mountable turrets by pressing E or
enter
AriehnV: not very good if you want to save a game .. you have to get to
the end of an area or have to start at the last saved area< , i also
miss that you cant select the same actions for all party members , so
for example you cant pull a heavy leaver with all three characters at
the same time
AriehnV: (i am stuck at that at the moment just before getting to
Agadaur) but still despite these things that i critisized up there its
quite fun :-)
AriehnV: If anyone has to add something or can give me a hint for that one your welcome :-D i hope i havent spoiled too much
VardaValar1: How was it as far as Tolkien lore?
AriehnV: Very Good i found , it starts off in Bree when three get to
Aragorn to report of an attack ... , 3 or 4 days before the Hobbits
reach the inn
AriehnV: the game is made in cooperation with Buenavista .. the company who published and produced the LotrO films
AriehnV: and Cinemaline i think as well
AriehnV: you get to interact with the Great Eagles (i wont tell how ,
that would be telling too much), also quite impressed with the
representation of the enemy forces
AriehnV: Fornost itself very eery and crumbly and full of chests and hidden runes that hold various goodies ..
AriehnV: lore tolkien trustable i think
AriehnV: but i am only in Book 1, chapter 14 .. so not exactly that far
AriehnV: eer sorry chapet 13
Eonwe Valar: Alot of the reviews I read said Tolkien fans would find
problems with it in the area of story. I haven't tried it myself, so I
can't judge first hand.
AriehnV: I dont see a problem with it
AriehnV: it sais at the beginning that there are many stories during the war of the rings which werent told
AriehnV: only the ones of the ringbearers and great heroes are known ..
ArPharazonV: What I saw was mostly about details, inconsistencies with naming and how elves etc would react to things.
ArPharazonV: The eagles were also overdone, and used for the most trivial of transports while they should be more reserved
ArPharazonV: But personally I think you need to account for gameplay in
those cases :-) Probably can't get it all right and still make an
interesting game.
Eonwe Valar: Let's not spoil too much for Arien :}
ArPharazonV: I thought she said she was nearly done, and all that she'd already seen?
AriehnV: aye i ve just told you things from what i ve seen
AriehnV: i can actually understand the problem with the eagles .. seem a bit too jovial
AriehnV: if you can call it that
AriehnV: but doesnt hurt the game as such
AriehnV: the controls and the non ability to switch characters during
or select the whole group make more trouble with the game play
AriehnV: thats it as far as i go :-)
VardaValar1: Thanks for the reports, Arien and Phar. :-)
ArPharazonV: Aye, but I was talking about complaints about lore-implementation, not the actual gameplay.
ArPharazonV: and I've not actually seen or played the game, just saying what I saw in a review
VardaValar1: Pardon, go ahead if you like.
ArPharazonV: No, go ahead.
VardaValar1: Sounds as if Arien's the only one who's seen it in here.
VardaValar1: Should be an upcoming review of it on our gaming site, not long from now.
AriehnV: (there are several scenes on you tube if you are nosy)
VardaValar1: Thanks :-)
VardaValar1: Tolkien continued:
VardaValar1: We now have a new thread for the forum story, the sequel name vote came up with "Angmar Bound".
VardaValar1: What info can we locate at Rivendell that will help our quest?
VardaValar1: We need to keep the Rivendell part fairly short for pacing.
VardaValar1: Phar, we'll need your help on what we can find out in Riv.
VardaValar1: Some stuff that may seem trivial might not be, and vice versa.
VardaValar1: This is where Indis should shine, learn stuff, maybe stuff we don't actually mention in detail.
VardaValar1: Auros would lead us in for the initial contact, whether or not we show it.
Eonwe Valar: We have books and maps a-plenty available to us in Rivendell.
VardaValar1: Then we can break off into our respective missions.
VardaValar1: Aye, good point. Scouts will want to pore over those too.
ArPharazonV: To be fair, I haven't exactly mapped out Angmar. I have a
pretty good idea about how the confrontation ends with Calaron, but
further details aren't in there. I have still to fit in the staff.
ArPharazonV: Perhaps he's after it. Perhaps he's found it. Perhaps we
have to face it as well as him, and when we deal with him the staff is
ours to deal with.
ArPharazonV: What we should probably find in Rivendell is not a clue to
him, but to the staff. Whereabouts in Angmar it might be located, how
to get through Angmar, what to expect there besides Calaron's forces
(which are plenty again, whatever he could find in the mountains as he
traveled to Angmar).
ArPharazonV: After all, anything we do find is likely to be outdated, so can only contain general knowledge.
Eonwe Valar: I'm not sure, from an in-character perspective, we'd find
much about Calaron and his current situation in Elrond's library
anyway. Maybe some vague references, but I can't imagine off the top of
my head it's a frequent enough event to have exhaustive studies.
ArPharazonV: The possession? Perhaps. It is likely a well kept trade
secret among Sauron's sorcerous "officers". Or maybe it's a relatively
new experimental plan.
karakedi25: We'd be more likely to find history and information about magic/sorcerous items
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
ArPharazonV: Such as the staff, or the lesser Rings, since I think it was a lesser one we've employed.
Eonwe Valar: Since Elves themselves have had the ability to imbue items
with certian properties, i.e., swords glowing when orcs are near, it's
something that's likely to have more information on it available,
whether the actual art itself has been lost or not.
VardaValar1: The staff may have something to do with the possession. It
gives a way past the usual defense of an elf maybe, to let this very
strong evil being use the seeming and physicality?
VardaValar1: We don't have dozens of the possessed .Maybe because
there's only one staff and only one strong enough to use it and do a
possession?
VardaValar1: Long-lived elf body, strong, looks good. Natural target.
ArPharazonV: Perhaps. But if we've established that it's a ring, and,
for that matter, a minor Maia, it would not be very common in the first
place, with or without staff required.
ArPharazonV: But if you want the staff to be involved, that's fine with me :-)
VardaValar1: The staff was mentioned in the story as part of what's
going on. Trying to tie things together. If you have an idea, cool. :-)
ArPharazonV: Well, it *is* indeed possible that the staff was used as
part of a ritual to prepare for possession, or to grant the possessor
enough power to do so. But then why would it still be in Angmar, and
not in the guy's possession already?
VardaValar1: It is in his possession. And he went back to Angmar.
ArPharazonV: Instead, maybe, he is looking for the staff himself, with
his own forces to accompany him (he'd have the home advantage) in order
to sustain/strengthen his hold.
ArPharazonV: On Calaron, taht is.
VardaValar1: Maybe so. The hold can't be permanent without it?
ArPharazonV: Maybe so. Or maybe Calaron is still resisting somewhat, and he wants to drown it out.
VardaValar1: The wizard staves seemed potent, like a link back to their
power source. Maybe this one is also a power source link, but not
necessarily to Valinor. Maybe some culty thing in Angmar?
ArPharazonV: You're saying he possesses the staff, but wants to return to Angmar to replenish it?
karakedi25: That would seem more likely
ArPharazonV: Or it *needs* to remain in Angmar to work properly?
Eonwe Valar: The Ring grew more powerful as it grew closer to its forging-place.
ArPharazonV: So he's returning *with* the staff to Angmar in order to
strengthen it. Maybe in order to stamp out what's left of Calaron.
Eonwe Valar: If we're assumign this staff is in a similar but lesser
vein (as such would be made by Saruman with his incomplete knowledge of
the process used to forge the Rings of Power) it could indeed be much
less powerful elsewhere than near where it was forged/created.
VardaValar1: Aye, possibly. In which case we need to get there fast.
VardaValar1: Aye, I had the lower level staff idea in mind, like Saruman's rings.
Eonwe Valar: Since Angmar itself wasn't invaded by the Free Peoples
that I recall, it seems somewhat reasonable there may be artifacts of
power created in Angmar that did not get captured and dealt with after
the Witch King fled.
ArPharazonV: Perhaps it is more than just proximity to the power
source/creation point. Perhaps there are special locations, special
rituals to get a clearer "connection" between staff and source.
ArPharazonV: Perhaps the staff is bound to or led by a stationary
artefact that's in Angmar and needs to be found before it can be
strengthened.
ArPharazonV: Some sort of amplification device.
AriehnV: hmm i wonder .. if a "local" ally with a personal interest to
diminish the dark power in angmar was to wanting to join the company
and offer his or her services
Eonwe Valar: I would venture maybe the staff itself is bound to the
Maia possessing Calaron, but that might be too similar to Sauron/The
Ring for us to be using.
ArPharazonV: That would give us a goal and a deadline to reach before he does.
VardaValar1: We really have enough characters to keep track of already.
ArPharazonV: I'm worried that if it's just the proximation to some
point in Angmar that counts, Calaron will be in Angmar long before we
get there, and we'll be too late to stop whatever it is he's trying to
do. Which works well enough for what I have in mind, but it would
rather take the timing pressure off us.
AriehnV: you maybe .. but sure all as you prefer
karakedi25: Arien, does someone want to join the RP?
ArPharazonV: If he actually has to locate a device, it might give us
some time, and it would be a way to slip some route information to us
in Rivendell if what we're actually looking for is not the staff, but
the other device, which might be stationary and more easily found. And
harder to be outdated than a mobile staff.
AriehnV: no, but was thinking of a second character, bit of a murkier
but reliable and loyal character , one with a bit of a more interesting
story and more freedom to act than Frali has
Eonwe Valar: Well, not to borrow heavily from D2, but the staff could easily require a headpiece or something.
AriehnV: with a more interesting background .., but i guess it wont fit anyway
ArPharazonV: Being one who has controlled at least 2 characters in his
time, I can't complain about you wanting to take on another character,
but do note that actually having both *in the party* can cause some
complications.
ArPharazonV: *at least 3
ArPharazonV: So at your own risk :-)
ArPharazonV: And yes, Eonwe, that could work.
AriehnV: he wouldnt be quite in :-) , but on the margin
AriehnV: maybe a she .. why not , chuckle but then i dont think she is wanted anyway
Eonwe Valar: On the margin, like Gollum was "on the margin" following
the Fellowship around? :} Seems that would cause problems for our group
if we just let some random person follow us around :}
VardaValar1: After running tabletop games, I've found it a good idea to limit each player to one actual playing character.
AriehnV: all right then it remains one
ArPharazonV: Another reason why Auros wasn't happy about me taking the wolf along ;-)
VardaValar1: Maybe Frali could grow in what he can do while in Rivendell?
Eonwe Valar: I do think Frali has plenty of room to do things though.
AriehnV: he is not a "leader" character, he is a "follower" and soldier through and through
VardaValar1: Figure what it is you want your character more capable of.
VardaValar1: You want him to be another leader?
ArPharazonV: There we go. We can't decide whether Auros or Calion is the leader.. so we'll put Frali in charge.
AriehnV: dont know .. he just seems too shy , too young to inexperienced
VardaValar1: hehehe
AriehnV: too much on the margin since he is a dwarf
VardaValar1: Youngsters grow up, especially in these situations. One reason he would be sent.
AriehnV: well too excluded
ArPharazonV: Ah. You're regretting the racial decision?
Eonwe Valar: Even Sam spent some time blushing and muttering inaudibly, hehe. I'd say he could rise to the occassion though.
VardaValar1: Ruins and mountains will be more in his range than in the wood elves'.
AriehnV: probably
AriehnV: then we better make our way there ^^
ArPharazonV: Oh yes. We can have Frali tapping rocks and stones and saying "Yes, this way, this way.."
AriehnV: very funny :-P
ArPharazonV: Sorry, but you know what I mean :-) You could be an excellent guide in there.
AriehnV: hmm i dont know , he could also just stay behind or try to get back to Erebor
karakedi25: afk for a bit again
AriehnV: whatever ..i ll read about your decision next week , i ll do
whatever is required , Frali is not decisive for the storyline , hes
just a young outlandish warrior.
AriehnV: Namarie for now :-) and enjoy the rest of the chrismas dos with family and friends
Eonwe Valar: What would you like Frali to do in the story line?
ArPharazonV: And I'm sure we could use one of those. Fresh perspective and all that. A bit of variation to the party.
ArPharazonV: But it's ultimately your choice whether you want to continue with Frali.
Eonwe Valar: Sleep well Arien and Merry Christmas :}
ArPharazonV: Merry Christmas!
AriehnV: Merry chrismas
AriehnV has left the room.
VardaValar1: Merry Christmas!
VardaValar1: Frali can be developed and would be more at home where we're going than the elves, seems to me.
Eonwe Valar: I say Merry and Pippin didn't seem too decisive in the
story line either, and we saw how that ended up :} So there's room for
work if Arien would like to continue with Frali.
ArPharazonV: Oh yes. I'm sure there'd be a lot of potential for Frali, especially in the ruins.
Eonwe Valar: Merry and Pippin weren't even considered for the
Fellowship until Gandalf insisted. They were just going to be sent home
with a "hey guys, trouble's coming" message for the Shire.
ArPharazonV: Which is, as a trivia, the old role of Fatty Bolger :-)
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: This is probably a good spot to bang the gavel :}
Eonwe Valar: *bangs gavel*
VardaValar1: Adds a second gavel for a duet.
Eonwe Valar: Merry Christmas, be free to go about your celebrating :}
ArPharazonV: Merry Christmas :-)
VardaValar1: Thanks for coming and on such a day, all!
VardaValar1: Merry Christmas and Namarie!
VardaValar1 has left the room.
ArPharazonV: Eh, pc in the living room, and all that, family's not far away
Eonwe Valar: :}
karakedi25: namarie
karakedi25 has left the room.
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
Eonwe Valar has entered the room.
ArPharazonV: Saving and sending transcript
top