Preparing to Sail

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Elenwe felt the need for haste after the time spent collecting the fish,  cleaning them, and gathering other things to sustain them on their journey. She still needed to prepare her own bundle for travel, and lend assistance to King Olwe in order for him to go aboard the swan ship as easily as possible. Elenwe hurries to prepare the few things she will needs. Her sword, Vanima, always close at hand, is the main thing she will need. She walks through the palace toward the King's chambers, wondering what to arrange for Lord Olwe's comfort and health on the ship.

Apakenwe has finished hauling down to the ship the baskets of food that Elenwe set out.  "Oh, there you are, Elenwe!  I left them all on board, but I didn't know where to pack them. Is there anything else to take down?"

Nole makes sure that all of the necessary charts and navigational instruments were on board. He goes back into the palace to try to find his friends.

"Apakenwe, thank you for your assistance.  I do hope your brother will be able to help in final preparations. I was going to gather things to help King Olwe be as comfortable as possible, wherever our voyage takes us."

Apakenwe says "My brother ... yes ... well ... It would have been easier if he were helping."  She looks down, uncertain what to say. "That is ... he is helping ... I'm sure he is ... but not with the packing"

Elenwe says, "Indeed. Well, we will do what we can until he is finished with his... what did you say it was he was doing?"

"Um, yes ... He is ..." She shifts uncomfortably, from one foot to the other.

Elenwe says, "Will you come with me to gather things for King Olwe? We'll need rainment for him, and any medical supplies."

"He ... he was so distressed by the King's condition that he is ... meditating. .... Trying to communicate with the Lady Este, the Healer." Apakenwe brightens at the chance to do anything other than discuss her brother.  "Oh yes, of course.  Whatever I can do to help!"

"Oh yes," Elenwe replies as she leads the way along the corridor. "I do hope he was able to communicate with the Healer."

Nole comes into the room with Apakenwe and Elenwe. "There you are! I have been looking for you."

��

Apakenwe says, "If anyone can, he can!  She has always been his favorite.  It in not for naught he is named 'Estelin'."

Elenwe nods at Apakenwe's statement about her brother, as she catches sight of Nole. "My friend, I was looking for you as well. You are more familiar with the things Olwe would need for his comfort on this journey. What should we pack?"

Nole says, "He would need medication to help him on the journey. And also lots of clothes to try to steady him as he sleeps."

Apakenwe asks "Perhaps cushions?  and extra linens?  He ... seems to get blood on everything ..."

Elenwe nods in agreement as she carefully enters the outer chambers of the King. She begins selecting things for the journey. "Nole, do you have any more idea of the desitnation?"

Apakenwe gathers some sturdy-looking cushions off the chairs, stacking them near the door.

"None." Nole says, shaking his head. "I stowed all my charts on board, as I have no idea where we are heading."

Apakenwe asks, "He didn't say where he wanted to go?"

"It is odd that we would set out without having any idea where the journey will take you." Elenwe gathers clothing for her King, extra in case of anymore bloody incidents.

Nole replies, "No, he said simply to prepare to sail. He seemed to be determined to leave quickly."

Elenwe responds, "Yes, I know we need to make haste. Will we need to assist Olwe in getting onboard the swan ship?"

Nole answers, "I think that is a good idea."

Apakenwe says, "Can the three of us move him?  You two, at least, look strong."

Elenwe asks, "Apakenwe, we can take these things down to the ship and stow them in the King's quarters. Nole, can you see if Olwe is feeling up to moving onboard? We can help when we return to the palace."

Apakenwe answers, "Yes, of course."  She scoops up an armful of clothing, trying to keep it all folded, and heads for the door.

Nole nods. "Yes, I will go see to Olwe. I think he will need both of our help to get to the ship."

Elenwe turns at the chamber door, her arms filled with Olwe's clothing.  "We will return as soon as we have stowed everything, my friend. Apakenwe, let us hurry to the ship."

> Next     

The Disappearance of Nimros

 < Previous    

Cinnamon Raymaker and AelKennyr Rhiano

Elwing awakens as the bird song impinges on her dreams, although it is still dark. As she stirs she looks around and sees the fire still blazing close by, and the shadowy figures of her two new elven friends rise and fall gently with their breathing. She rises silently and moves to the edge of the skylet, taking in a last lingering look at the island below - this place of contrast, beauty and danger, flourishing golden shining plants and silvery moonlight. Sadly she wonders what has befallen the fae princess who so openly welcomed her to her realm. Elwing knows that one day she will return to Vana - there is some deep connection here for her. Vana is the last place she felt any contact with her beloved Earendil before the disappearance of the morning star he so valiantly carries with him in Vingilot, day after day, season after season, year after year.

 Nimros rouses from sleep in which he was back at home, sleeping in the bed upstairs, the familar sounds and smells comforting him and lulling him into a belief that THIS were the illusion, that he was still in the Swanhaven, and in the distance, he could hear the complaints of the birds for which the realm was named, hungry for their breakfast, too.

Slowly, he blinks and yawns, and comes to the grim realization of where he is-- far away from that bed he now craves as he puts a hand on his lower back and twists and turns to work out the kinks. Rising, he slides off the mushroom, looks around, and spies Elwing the White. Making sure his footsteps are heard, he joins her.

 Elwing hears the rustling of the grass close by and is awakened from her reverie, turning, she smiles and greets Nimros. "Good morrow Nimros, I trust you slept well!"

"Good morn, my Lady." He sits down beside her.

Elwing smiles again at the young elf. "Methinks we will have much to do to lie alseep and dream half this day away, Nimros. I suspect the two of us should begin foraging for supplies."

Nimros nods, looking about the skyline and peering up into the sky.  A rumble from his stomach caused him to flush bright red and put a hand over his stomach.  "If we hurry and gather well, then we can make the morning tide, I am sure, " he said.

Elwing taps her finger on her chin, stifling a chuckle at the grumbling stomach of her companion. "I think we should start with the apple trees close to the mountain path. They have been fruiting well since I arrived here. Oh, and you might like to try one of the fae cookies by the campfire up here before we make our way down to the forest floor. Here, let me show you." Elwing makes her way to the cookies at the campfire.

Nimros flushes a bit redder at her words but then casts her a rueful grin, his eyes boyishly sparkling.  Jumping up he follows her steps.

"You may find these a trifle sweet, but they are filling."

Nimros looks at the cookies, the smell rising up and teasing his hungry stomach.  Reaching for one, he bites into it and finds it warm.  "Where ....who...I haven't seen anyone bring them?"  he asks, his words clear despite the mouth full of cookie.

Elwing chuckles. "My dear Nimros, I question not the bounty of our hostess, Princess Fur. She sings to provide for all who reside here."

Nimros looks at Elwing, his eyes round.  "Sings?  She sings these into existence? "

Elwing gances back to the young elf. "I am not sure how she does it, Nimros. I just know that she has a natural magic which is of benefit to all."

Nimros nods and helps himself to another cookie.  "I wish my  mother could 'sing' cookies like these." He devoured the cookie and dusted the crumbs from his hands and shirt.  "Is the Lady Echuir still abed?"

Elwing glances around at the shadowy bundle lying in the grass close by and holds a finger to her lips, "Shhhh, indeed she is, Nimros. Let's scribble her a note that we have gone to collect provisions and that we will meet her at the White Swallow for the coming tide."

Nimros looks over where Elwing indicates and sees the queen's sleeping form.  Nodding, he lowers his voice and responds, "Do you have vellum, quill and ink, or should we find a thin bark  of tree and  a bit of bloodstone? I have seen both here."

"No need Nimros, Princess Fur has a few items stored in the treehouse over there." With that Elwing ducks into the treehouse on the skylet and finds parchment and quill. Shescribbles a short note to Lady Echuir. Leaving it beside the sleeping elven queen, she turns and beckons to Nimros, glancing at the red stone on which the tree house sits.

All seriousness now, the young elf nods and scans their little encampment.  "This has been a most accommodating place, my Lady."

"Aye, Nimros, I shall miss being here but my concern for my uncle and my husband overshadows any lingering happiness. My guess is that I shall return here anon." Elwing descends to the tree fort below the skylet.

Nimros nods, his face growing soft with sadness. Moving up next to her, he spoke with a wistful voice. "I, too, miss my home, and I wish to hold my mother and let my father scold me once more for my lousy fishing net knots.  And I am troubled for my King, your uncle."  Watching her, he, too descends.

Continuing, Elwing climbs down the ladder and continues on her way to the forest floor, beckoning to Nimros to follow her.  Nimros looks about the wooden structure.  "I remember this from yestereve," he said.

Elwing nods. "Indeed, Nimros, I see you have an eye for detail."

Nimros beams with pride at the praise, but remains observant, and carefully follows close behind the Lady.  It has struck him, deeply in whose presence he is in, and the tales he had heard of her heroic rescue of the simaril was the stuff of his dreams as a young elfling.  The scent of her perfume mingles in the breeze with the scent of the blooming buds of the trees, and now, as they descent into the lower levels, remembers her cautions from before and tries to be ever watchful.

Elwing looks at the young fisher elf beside her and remembers something she had not yet explained to him. "Nimros, you must promise me that you do not stray from the forest and the paths when we are foraging. There are places on this isle where there have been strange occurrences - I know not what - I just know that something terrible once lived in the deep mountains and something still beckons to the unwary from deep within the bowels of the earth. You must promise me you will take great care!"

Nimros nods absently, the warning sounding much like the ones she gave last night.  The forest was strange to him, and the land.  Even the birds sounded different.  He was far from home, and for all he has been travelling, landfall as been sporadic and confined to beaches and areas close to shore.  But his mind was on a million things: the direction of the breeze, the low lying clouds, the rumbling of his belly, the question of how, still, to manage the trip home, the questions  that come with thinking of home.  Suddenly realizing she was waiting for a response, he answers, "Of course, Lady Elwing."

Satisfied with the reply from the young elf, she nods and continues on her way to the forest floor.
Deflty, Nimros silently follows her down.  Elwing reaches the bottom of the rope and heads for the beach to see the White Swallow still moored close by. Nimros catches up to her and follows.

Elwing climbs the rise to wander past the small stone tavern. "If you are still hungry,Nimros, please take more food. I think it will be hard work for all of us this day."

Although his stomach is complaining, he shakes his head.  "I think, my Lady, we should collect all the food we can...both prepared, and those nature gives us as soon as we may.  The sooner we are on board, the easier I would feel."  He blushes at confessing his impatience. "If we miss the morning tide, we would have to wait until sunset, and considering the coastline, I should rather to avoid that, begging your pardon."  He swipes a bit of bread, however, blushing and offering half to Elwing."  However, Lady, if you need to eat, of course," he finishes a bit abashed.

Elwing picks up some bread and flops an egg inside. She savours each bite as she walks up the mountain path looking for the apple trees she knows are fruiting. "I know you are right Nimros," she smiles, "I can't abide those cookies, however." She finishes as she eats the last morsel of her hurriedly constructed breakfast.
Sensing the young elf's haste, Elwing hurries up the path ahead of him, searching for the trees she knows are fruiting.

Nimros pockets the rest of the bread  in a small pouch and runs after Elwing.  Catching up to her, he matches his stride to her own, peering ahead curiously.  As she climbs up the mountain path she remembers the eerie feeling of what she found inside the earth, feels the chill run down her spine and the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She hurries on down the hillside to the trees near the stream below.

Nimros looks ahead and spies an apple tree, laden with fruit.  He swiftly moves forward to collect the fruit, his mind bent upon the task i his mind.  Later he would reflect that he neglected to tell Elwing where he was going and even worse, he allowed himself to become distracted and parted from the Bearer of the Similarils, a mistake he would come to rue bittterly in days ahead.

As she hurries onward, Elwing the White suddenly feels a change in the atmosphere around her. All goes silent until the screeching of the seabirds forces her to look up.

Pushing ahead, Nimros draws close to the tree and pulls down an apple.  He bites into it, experiementally.  A little tart, but edible.Quickly scanning the area and finding nothing to use as a container, he peels off his jacket and makes a make-shift sling, in which to collect the fruit.  Keeping the apple he bit into in his mouth, he reaches up and plucks all the apples within his reach.  Another time he would climb the tree, but the hours are fleeing quickly, and he dare not waste a moment.

Dimly, he slowly comes to realize he feels a chill in the air that he had not felt before., but he waved it away as an umfamilarity with the area. Ahead he thinks he spotted other apple trees and perhaps berries.  He sniffs the air, catching the salt of the sea, the perfume of flowering trees, the lazy aroma of pears, fallen and overripe somewhere ahead.

But as he gathers the fruit, he slowly began to feel anxious, apprehensive, the little hair on the back of his neck, exposed by his hastily done ponytail, standing up.  Somewhere, in the distance, he marks the racuous call of  seagulls and suddenly notices  that the area he was in was quiet...too quiet.  He stopps and looks around.  Where was Elwing?  Nimros  looks abouts and calls softly, "Elwing?"

Nothing...Nimros whirls about. There is no sign of Lady Elwing.  Nimros carefully takes the sling off his shoulder and set down the bundle of apples.  Cautiously now, he moves ahead, sweeping his eyes from side to side.  Surely she would not go back the way they came, with fruit and nuts avaiable here.   With a blush, he moves forward.  She must have gone on ahead, and he was oblivous to it.  He quickens his pace, and rushes ahead, look around.  "Elwing?" he calls again, more urgently.  "I did not mean to fall beh---" Suddenly a darkness, unnatural and sudden, envelopes the young Teleri.  And when it cleared, all that marked his presence was his abandoned jacket, full of apples.

Elwing turns and notices that Nimros is no longer following her. She quickly retraces her steps along the mountain path, a darkness descending on everything around her, the screeches of the seabirds louder and louder assailing her sensitive ears.  Seeing the dark tunnel which she feared and the scattered apples lying wrapped in the discarded jacket of the young Teleri elf upon the cold grey stone ground in front of her, she realises the horrible truth. The young Teleri has somehow vanished.

 With the prompts from her friends, the seabirds, and fearing for her sanity and the safety of Lady Echuir, Elwing runs as fast as her legs can carry her back down the mountain path, her lungs near to bursting from exertion.  Reaching the enormous tree, she scrambles up the rope and races up the system of wooden ramps to the tree fort, then hurries to the fae skylet.

> Next Nimros     

What is the Fourth Age?

 AelKennyr Rhiano

The One Ring has been destroyed.

Sauron has fallen below the point of ever recovering.

Morgoth, long ago defeated and dethroned by Eönwë, had been cast out beyond the Walls of Night, yet his presence remains as a pervasive corruption of the world.  Indeed, shortly after the fall of Sauron, Gandalf himself warned, "Other evils there are that may come, for Sauron is himself but a servant or emissary."

And yet there are whispers of a Prophecy. A  prophecy of the Dago Dagorath – the Battle of Battles, in which Melkor will discover how to break the Door of the Night and will destroy the Sun and the Moon. A prophecy that tells how all the Free Peoples of Middle Earth, Elves, Men and Dwarves alike shall battle side by side with the forces of the Valar. A prophecy that speaks of  the rekindling of the Light of the Two Trees. A prophecy that tells of the end and renewal of Arda’s existence. A prophecy of change to come…

The One Ring has been Destroyed. And in his fabled palace constructed of every precious jewel of Middle Earth, Olwe, King of the Teleri, Lord of Alqualonde and Tol Eressea, begins to dream.  Creatures...places, he has never seen before in his life has plagued his dreams and left him with a disquiet that will not leave him. Then before the quiet, and faithful King, appears Lord Irmo, the Vala of Vision with a simple command: "You must again ride the swanships...seek the lost clans of elves...walk the paths of the world and learn of men. Great change is upon the world, and a darkness is awakening."

Then, in one second of time, while Olwe was away, the entire Teleri people in Alqualonde ... disappeared. Olwe is a king without a people, embarking upon a quest against great odds, in which the fate of the mortal world hangs in the balance.

It is the Dawn of the 4th Age. And everything is about to change....


The Fellowship of the 4th Age is an intersim alliance of both Tolkien based and fantasy sims.  The "Dawn of the 4th Age" is a fantasy inclusive, Tolkien-themed intersim roleplay that has been in existence since October 2009 and steadily gaining both in popularity and in avid roleplayers ever since.  The structure of the rp is simple. It can be the local role play of a sim, as it is in the headquarters of the Fellowship, Alqualonde the Swanhaven, interwoven  through the local rp, as it has been done in realms like Sylvahara, or can be a new thread introduced and running alongside current local roleplay, as it has in Vana.

Because of this flexibility and the strong relationship between the leaderships of the allied sims involved in the roleplay, the styles employed are varied and are chosen with the needs of the local sim as well as the needs of the individual roleplayer in mind. We have a mixture of solo roleplays, smaller real time roleplays between two people, scripted roleplays (think rituals and ceremonies) and large, group, realtime roleplays. Over all the "Dawn of the 4th Age" is basically a linear, narrative, and semi- structured. roleplay.  Small, one-on-one combat encounters follow the custom of the sim on which they take place, as to whether a meter is used.  However, for larger combat situation, the spellfire meter is used. 

The dress required to participate is one which would be appropriate to a medieval, fantasy, high elven or Tolkien sim.  Tolkienesque roleplayers are asked to wear a repeat chat titler. We have well defined roleplay rules and limits. Those are always available, as are all the roleplay notecards, application, and other information, on the docks in Alqualonde.... http://slurl.com/secondlife/Alqualonde%20the%20Swanhaven/210/95/23.   We also have a blog... http://fellowshipfourthage.blogspot.com/2009/01/roleplay-1-in-alqualonde.html

All of the characters you would expect to find in Tolkien's world are welcomed races in the 4th Age roleplay, even the villains.  In addition to these well known races -- elves, dwarves, Valar, Ainur, Ents, Orcs, Dragons-- there are also races not described in Tolkiens' works...races who evolved in the mortal world over the passage of time: fairies, satyrs, centaurs, for example.  Anyone who is interested in the roleplay and in a particular race or character's suitability for the 4th Age can contact AelKennyr Rhiano.

The World of the 4th Age is a world of great beauty and great danger.  The challenge and the biggest draw for our most dedicated roleplayers is the ability to tell their character's story in their way against the backdrop of the sweeping saga.  Each allied sim has the ability to create from the storyline their own place and their own unique "destiny", but so does each individual roleplayer.  Against this epic tale, this classic struggle of light against shadow, good against evil, plays out several individual stories of valor, of hope, of loss, of defeat, of perseverance.  Every roleplayer has the potential to be a villain or a hero, and be as large a part of this unfolding tale as they desire. 

Do they survive and live to take the field on that day of final batte?  Does their sword prove mighty? Their resolve firm, their will unbending?  When the daystar no longer journeys across the sky but gives way to the night...who will stand?  who will fail? Will we see the banishment of darkness, once and for all?  Hear the voices of the Teleri once more in song?  Fall into the arms of lovers, friends, brothers, mothers?  

The tale remains yet unwritten.  Who will pick up the quill and put ink to vellum.....it remains blank and unknowable. The end cannot be seen until the journey is made.

After all, it is but the Dawn of the 4th Age...and everything has changed.

A Wave Comes Ashore in Alqualondë - Part 1

< Previous     < The Wave    

Shawn Daysleeper, Carleen Luckstone, and Lihan Taifun

Nole prepares the ship to depart while his friend Elenwe returns to the palace to help Olwe get ready to depart to... wherever they are going. Nole is thoughtful, wondering at his king's sudden command for departure. Suddenly, he feels the ship rocking in the harbour. Looking over the side, he sees a large wave coming ashore. This wave was laden with fish, lots of fish. Wide-eyed, Nole jumps ashore as the wave passes around the pilings, casting fish ashore. Frantically, Nole runs inland, towards the palace.

Entering the palace, Nole steals a look back to sea: the fish were covering the shore line. Nole has never seen anything like this before. He runs inside, and almost immediately bumps into Elenwe.

Elenwe is surprised to see Nole, usually so calm, running into the palace, a look of near-panic on his face. Grasping her friend by the shoulders to prevent his running into her, she asks, "My friend, what has happened?"

Nole points towards the harbour. "A... a wave has come ashore," He stammers.

"Yes, waves do that. But you are not usually concerened with waves." She waits, knowing there must be more.

Nole grins a little despite his panic. "Yes, waves do that, but this one is different. This one has lots of fish. There are lots of fish washing ashore."

Apakenwe is walking on an upstairs balcony, overlooking the front hall of the palace.  She hears excited voices, and leans over the railing to see what is going on.

"Fish?" Elenwe echoes Nole's words. She thinks about what might cause an abundance of fish to come ashore all at once. Casting an eye to the sky, she looks for evidence of a storm, but sees none.

"All of these fish, you mentioned you could cook while on our journey. We should get some of these fish. We could get the musicians to help us," Nole adds.

"Show me, Nole," Elenwe entreats, then notices Apakenwe above them. "Apakenwe, please come see this strange happening. We can make great quantities of soup if we can collect the fish."

"Yes, of course."  Apakenwe moves as fast as she can, which is not very fast on the stairs, and makes her way down to meet Elenwe and Nole.

Elenwe adds, "Your brother Estelin can help us."

Nole turns towards Apakenwe. "Yes, where is your brother, Estelin?"

Apakenwe looks back upstairs.  "No, he can't help us today.  He is busy."

Elenwe asks, "Might he be able to come? More are needed to help collect the fish."

Nole looks hopefully to Apakenwe. "There are a lot of fish!"

Apakenwe frowns worriedly.  "No, really he can't be disturbed."

Elenwe looks at Nole, wondering what he could possibly be doing in the palace that he could not be disturbed.

Nole notices Elenwe looking at him."Let's go collect what we can. There are plenty of fish. Maybe he will come later."

Apakenwe excalims, "Yes, yes, let us collect fish!"

Elenwe remarks "We'll need something to hold them. Nole, know you of large baskets to hold the fish?"

Nole responds, "I believe there are baskets near the harbour, ones that we use to yake the fish from the ship to the market. Those would work."

Elenwe says, "Good, let us make haste."

Apakenwe picks up her skirts gracelessly, as she tries to hurry after Nole and Elenwe, down the road from the palace toward the harbor.


Nole leads the group to the shoreline. The beach is covered with many types of fish.

Apakenwe exclaims, "Oh, so many fish! Are they all good to eat?  Why are they here?"

"When you said abundance, I had pictured fifty fish. There must be hundreds!" exclaims Elenwe, surveyiing the scene. To Apakenwe, she answers, "Sometimes fish will wash ashore following a storm at sea. I see no signs of storms."

Apakenwe reaches down toward a fish --  any fish, the nearest fish --
 and grabs it.  Immediately she squeals and lets it go again.  "It's wet!"

Nole nods. "There are many species, all are good to eat." He picks up a couple baskets and hands them to his friends.

Apakenwe shrieks. "And cold.  And -- it wiggles!"
Apakenwe takes a basket, while cautiously stepping around the fish piled on the shore.

Taking a basket from Nole, Elenwe begins to gather fish. She hears Apakenwe's exclamation, and smiles a little. Apakenwe must have led a life far from the sea, she thinks.

Nole watches Apakenwe, giggling a little."Yes, fish are cold and wet: they come from the ocean after all."

Apakenwe hurriedly replies, "Oh, um, yes, of course."

Elenwe quickly fills all the baskets at hand, her experience in the fishing ports in lands apart from Alqualonde rendering her faster than her companions.

Apakenwe sets down the basket, the better to grab a fish with two hands.  This time she is more prepared, and holds onto the flopping fish. Gritting her teeth, Apakenwe put it into the basket.  Nole watches Elenwe, smiling. He looks at Apakenwe, struggling with her fish as he picks up fish and puts them in baskets. Encouraged by her success, Apakenwe picks up a second fish.  The coarse scales scratch her hands uncomfortably, but she makes the effort to carry this one to the basket as well.

Elenwe looks around at the remaining fish. "Are there other baskets, or will we leave fish on shore?"

Nole looks around at the hundreds of fish on the shore. "Three baskets should be enough to last for the journey. Yes, we can throw them back, but we will have to hurry. They cannot breathe air" he starts throwing fish back into the sea.

Elenwe says, "With this many, trying to put them back is useless. Without the ocean to cover them, they will soon die."

Apakenwe makes a shooing motion with her hands.  "Back to the sea, fishes.  Go on, go home."  The fish continue to lie on the shore, gasping.

"I believe our time would be better served getting these fish cleaned and prepared for the soup pot," Elenwe says,  stifling a laugh

Apakenwe 's eyes grow round with panic.  "Go on, fishes!  You can't stay here!" She then calls out, "Oh, Ulmo!  Osse!  Uinen!  Your fish are dying!"

Elenwe says, "Apakenwe, they cannot hear, and cannot move out of the water. Help me carry the basket, please."

Apakenwe grabs a fish and heaves it back to the water.  Elenwe is right: there is no way to get this many fish into the water in time.  Stifling a sob, Apakenwe takes the basket from Elenwe.

Elenwe asks, "Nole, is there a place onboard to store the baskets for a time, until I can clean the fish?"

Nole helps carry the basket. There will not be much time to get all these fish cleaned and ready for their journey. "We could put the baskets on the ship."

Elenwe looks at Apakenwe, and sees the sadness on the Teleri's face. "You found the noodles in the garden, did you not? Could you get more to bring aboard? I will prepare more soup like you and your brother helped with before. I could use your assistance with the soup again," Elenwe says, hoping to bring a smile  to Apakenwe's face.

"Yes," she says tearfully.  "I can do that."  Apakenwe looks back sadly at the fish, as she goes.

>  Next    

Less than two weeks later, the same thing happened in Real Life! 

Fireside Chat -- Emoting, clarified

< Previous     


Present:

AelKennyr Rhiano 

Shawn Daysleeper 

Lihan Taifun           

Zryonotralionxus   

Summary:

A trick to use when your viewer is having trouble displaying avatars: Go to Advanced > rendering> wire frame....click on that and allow the whole screen to go wireframe...then change back.

AvataRPlay Magazine wants to do an article on Fellowship of the Fourth Age, in their April issue. They are particularly impressed with the quality of our storyline and our emoting.

“Let me back up and clarify a few things...I don't a misconception created. There is a difference between a narrative disclosure of what is going on inside a rp character... and a rper depending upon constantly using certain ....words...to convey what would better be described in actions.”

Other players cannot react to the thoughts in your head. They can react to your body language.

Don't fall into the trap of knowing, in-character, things that you have no way of knowing in-character. (This definitely includes other people's thoughts and other people's future actions, as well as miraculously helpful information.)

The purposes of emoting are:

1. to respond

2. to allow others to respond to you

3. to show action

4. to show emotion

5. to move the rp story

There is another category of descriptive writing, not technically “emoting”, whose purpose is character development. This is detailed descriptions of your character's thoughts and memories. Many of the solo roleplays use a lot of this kind of character development.

The target audience for the character development is the story reader, not your fellow roleplayers. It is good to give them some body language, otherwise they will have nothing at all to react to.

Used to excess, writing character development can distract a player from paying attention to the action and the other players.

“I think that you will find two very large camps of rpers in sl...those who favor one or two lines of conversation and heavy dependency upon a rp or combat hud.. and then text based rpers. And we are somewhere in the middle with heavy leanings toward text based rp.” The most extreme “text based” camp is the “paragraph” role-play.

Some groups use a strict round-robin rotation to give each player a chance to speak. That can become stilted and restrictive. The important thing is to pay attention to the pace of the roleplay, and be sure everyone is getting a chance to post. You can politely ask, out of character, that people slow down for you.

Let me give you some points to consider for emoting.

1. Slow down. Take your time and respond in a way that helps the rp.
2. Emotes are not always grammatically correct. Don't be afraid of using dashes, commas, or run on sentences. It should, however, make sense.
3. Try to stick to one pronoun usage.....for example:
Use either "Olwe picks up his sword and prepares to do battle." 
 or "I pick up my sword and prepare to do battle."
NOT
"Olwe picks up my sword and prepares to do battle."
Unless Olwe is actually another character picking up your sword, and then you are godmodding.
4. Emote only what can be perceived...seen, heard,, touched...tasted.

5. Use descriptives of what your body parts. Don't be afraid to clap, whistle, curl your lips, stomp your feet.

6. Adjectives, adverbs and verbs are your friends.

7. and final one...Speak for yourself, and only for yourself. Anything else is godmodding.

Lihan Taifun:            um, hi, Phoenix-viewer doesn't believe Ael is here

Shawn Daysleeper:  he is grey to me

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Oh, great!

AelKennyr Rhiano kicks the viewer.

Lihan Taifun:            I can hear him, but he is a cloud to me

Shawn Daysleeper kicks the viewer too

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok....let me show you a trick that sometimes work...

Lihan Taifun:            woo, worked that time!

Shawn Daysleeper:  I see you now

AelKennyr Rhiano:  oh...yay! Go to Advanced > rendering> wire frame....click on that and allow the whole screen to go wireframe...then change back. Sometimes,. that will get things sorted, too

Shawn Daysleeper:  wow cool

Lihan Taifun:            but why you going to wireframe should affect other people's viewers -- that is mysterious, not that I am going to argue with sucess

Shawn Daysleeper:  unless it is Ael's avi that is messed up

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I meant for you to...to sort out your viewer...not mine.

Lihan Taifun:            so what did you do this time to sort out our viewers?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I rebaked...5 times

Lihan Taifun:            erm, well, ok

AelKennyr Rhiano:  There have been a lot of viewer issues lately....I have been hearing a lot of chatter from other groups on it.

{AelKennyr Rhiano gave you avataRPlay Magazine - Feb 2011.}

Zryonotralionxus:    Uhm, what is the magazine thing?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Before we get started...this is an issue of avataRPlay Magazine. They want to do an article with pictures on the Fellowship of hte 4th Age and our rp.

Shawn Daysleeper:  we wear it

Zryonotralionxus:    oh. . .

Shawn Daysleeper:  yay :)

AelKennyr Rhiano:  They are a very large magazine with a big circulation, and I have just been talking to one of their writers...We were highly commended for our rp style, storyline, creativity, and the quality of our rp. I just wanted to start tonight sharing that with you.

Shawn Daysleeper:  smiles

AelKennyr Rhiano:  This is a way to start off this discussion tonight by stressing that what you do, how you act in rp...it really does matter.

Zryonotralionxus Resident nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  That our rp, which is very small compared to so many out there, can get such notice...that is a true testament to the quality of our rp and our rpers.

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes it does!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It means that fundamentally you all do something very very RIGHT! Would you like to guess what we were complimented most about? AelKennyr Rhiano smiles

Lihan Taifun:            what?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Story and emoting.

Shawn Daysleeper:  awesome :)

Zryonotralionxus:    Uhm, story

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes :)

Zryonotralionxus:    darn lag

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol

Zryonotralionxus:    And I was this close to winning!

Shawn Daysleeper:  ‚ú¶‚úßHaHaHa‚ú¶‚úß

AelKennyr Rhiano:  heh heh heh

AelKennyr Rhiano:  So...my compliments to you three. Certainly, Shawn and Lihan work very hard on the 4th Age, and so these compliments go to them especially.

Shawn Daysleeper blushes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  But indeed, all should take pride and share in the praise. We are all part of the rp.

Lihan Taifun:            yeah, but I'm the one who doesn't believe in the emoting :)

Shawn Daysleeper:  my complements to all of you too

AelKennyr Rhiano:  You don't?

Zryonotralionxus:    Well, I am not in it though I do hope to make the cut soon. But those who are I have enjoyed reading the story thus far

AelKennyr Rhiano:  You do realize that you are a very good emoter, right?

Lihan Taifun:            no! I believe telling what is going on in your character's mind is good writing! I was taught that it was good roleplay, and I haven't heard a convincing argument against it

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Ok....I think we are falling into semantics...let me back up and clarify a few things...I don't a misconception created.

Let's stop.

There is a difference between a narrative disclosure of what is going on inside a rp character... and a rper depending upon constantly using certain ....words...to convey what would better be described in actions. So let me explain this carefully and I will try to give many examples. Because this is important, and I want to be clear.

Lihan Taifun:            please do

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Shawn, I am going to pick on you, ok?

Zryonotralionxus Resident listens

Shawn Daysleeper:  ok

Shawn Daysleeper:  ‚ú¶‚úßHaHaHa‚ú¶‚úß

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok

AelKennyr Rhiano:  First...let us go back and remember what emoting is supposed to do. What are the purposes? 1. to respond 2. to allow others to respond to you 3. to show action 4. to show emotion 5. to move the rp story.

If Shawn is here, with us and we are all rping... And all Shawn does in the rp is the Following.....

Shawn listens to the conversation that Ael is having and thinks that it is very boring.

Shawn thinks to himself that he already knows by sensing that Ael is going to talk more about emoting and he knows that Lihan will disagree.

Shawn realizes instantly that Zyron will die a horrible death because he has seen it suddenly.

Exactly WHAT has he given the rest of us to rp with?

Shawn Daysleeper:  nothing

AelKennyr Rhiano:  nothing

Shawn Daysleeper:  I have controlled the rp

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Can we react to it? Can we interact with him? Does it move the story along?

Zryonotralionxus:    Well, it can be reacted to, though very hard and can get annoying after a while

AelKennyr Rhiano:  How? How can you react to it?

Zryonotralionxus:    Hmm, been a while, but had attempted RP with ones who post very little if anything to work with, so I tend to post something to hopefully restart the RP or hold the others hand through it. But I guess it is not reacting to it I would be doing as it would be just trying to move it forward out of the rut

AelKennyr Rhiano smiles and nods.

Zryonotralionxus:    but after three times of doing that, I would eventually draw blanks

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Didn't mean to seem to put you on the spot, Zyron. But I am so glad you said that.

Zryonotralionxus:    Nah, I put myself there in a way =P

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Thank you for doing so!

Lihan Taifun:            so in that case your "reaction" would not really be to what meta-Shawn had just posted, but more like trying to work around it?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes, exactly, Lihan. You would have to work around it.

Zryonotralionxus:    Yes, and often with even one line posters, us who para post tend to have to do that allot to make things to keep the RP going

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now, to get a little finely tuned...here is what often you see in rp...tell me if this sounds familar...

Let us say we are in rp and we are discussing the threat of the Nightmare Tear's in Aman...and we are trying to find a solution.

Shawn posts.... "Shawn suddenly has a vision of how this can be done. He thinks to himself that Ulmo has given him the vision he needs, and all he has to do is now go and slay the evil Drow Matron.”

How many times have you been in a rp and someone thinks to themselves or sense something they really, in truth, have no busy being able to sense or to know?

Zryonotralionxus:    I see that issue allot in D&D rps

AelKennyr Rhiano:  So there are two things that sometimes work hand-in-hand with "thoughts" or rp expressions that others cannot act upon.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  1. If a rper is constantly doing this, they are making themselves unavailable to be rp with...

Zryonotralionxus:    and being Shawns post was all thoughts, the only post that could be made to it would be, "Zryono sits and stairs at the quiet elf in boredom."

AelKennyr Rhiano:  2. the possibility of godmodding and metagaming dramatically increases.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Precisely...because Zryon...a good rper cannot respond to his thoughts.

Lihan Taifun:            Zryon has a point there

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes, he has a very good point.

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

Zryonotralionxus:    Or I could ponder just eating him and ending the painful ordeal!

Shawn Daysleeper:  eep

Zryonotralionxus Resident grins. And truly, by the time I would have to post that, the RP would be pretty dead if not beyond

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now, that is a far cry from the kind of rp you are talking about Lihan. You are talking about something more complex and it does add to the rp. Even if what you are doing, again, is not necessary something that lends to rp with another person.

You are talking about character development.

This is the difference, if I may....

"Shawn sits and watched the fire as he listens to Ael drone on and on. He allows his eyes to become unfocused and thinks, 'Why are we going over this again? Haven't we gone over this again and again?' But he draws a sigh. 'I guess it is better than doing my laundry. Gods, and I have a ton of it too.' Then he thinks about the last time he rped with Lihan and smiles."

Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe

Zryonotralionxus Resident really considers eating the mute elf

Shawn Daysleeper:  oh I am learning lol. Shawn Daysleeper points at Ael "he is saying all of this"

Lihan Taifun:            you are learning, but you are starting to pick up Ael-like language. I've never heard the real Shawn say "Gods"

Zryonotralionxus:    Uhm, I did not hear any one speaking =P

AelKennyr Rhiano:  oops

Shawn Daysleeper:  oh ya right. I thought all of that. you guys don't know what i am thinking

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol ok, ok... But is there a difference in what is now going on? You still cannot respond to his thoughts...but what is different?

Zryonotralionxus:    Nope, all I know is if one is not going to talk and amuse us dragons, the next course is dinner!

Lihan Taifun:            Now he is getting glassy-eyed, and showing some physical symptoms

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes

Zryonotralionxus:    Well, he smiled at least so one can wonder what he is smiling about?

Lihan Taifun:            and Zryon has good cause to consider eating the quiet one

Shawn Daysleeper:  hey!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Also, when you read back over the rp...you will see he is starting to also show you more about his character.

You cannot act on it...but it is the basis of character development. The solo rps we see? Those are often very good studies in character development.

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes they are

Zryonotralionxus:    And being he is smiling, he is probably thinking my scales look funny and I should eat him just for thinking such things!

Lihan Taifun:            oooh, miscommunication! always a good ploy!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes! See...this is much better. We still don't know what he is thinking. But we do have something to react to. and later...we get to see a little of who Shawn is in the rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    Nope, just can only assume or guess ourselves which than can vary from one player to the other

AelKennyr Rhiano:  That is much, much different....than...simply an ineffective way to rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    Uhm, that is if he makes it to later!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Pardon me one moment...coughing...need a glass of water..brb..

Lihan Taifun:            oh dear, ok

Zryonotralionxus:    Is he coughing in laughter?

Lihan Taifun:            I'm now looking forward to reading about Shawn being dragged out of his pleasant daydream by an irate dragon accusing him of laughing at the dragon

Shawn Daysleeper sighs

Zryonotralionxus:    Oh yes, never laugh at a live dragon ;) Ten points to who kows who said that famous phrase!

Shawn Daysleeper:  Tolkein? I don't know

AelKennyr Rhiano:  back sorry

Shawn Daysleeper:  np dear friend

Zryonotralionxus Resident playes the Jeopardy them music. Well, one of his characters

Shawn Daysleeper:  Bilbo

Zryonotralionxus:    Yes!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes...sorry...change in weather....:(

Shawn Daysleeper:  he dealt with the dragon

Shawn Daysleeper:  ok, cool

Zryonotralionxus:    My favorite part of the story!

Shawn Daysleeper wants his points ✦✧HaHaHa✦✧

Zryonotralionxus:    Yes, and Welcome back Ael!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ty :)

Zryonotralionxus Resident wonders if shawn wants his points since he didn't speak of them. =P

Lihan Taifun can hardly breathe for laughing

Shawn Daysleeper:  ummm Zry, where are my points?

AelKennyr Rhiano shakes his head and sips his water.

Zryonotralionxus Resident grins, "I will jot them all down latter in some fashion!"

AelKennyr Rhiano:  There is one thing we have to remember... even when we cannot respond to a thing in the rp...once it is put out there, in any form, we have been exposed to it.

Zryonotralionxus:    exposed sounds sooo, icky

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I think, Lihan, you are referring to getting inside the character's head to see more of who they are, what motivates, what is behind their actions...am I right?

Shawn Daysleeper:  yay :)

Lihan Taifun:            yes

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  That is a lot different than using "thinks to himself," "senses," "knows," "suddenly realizes." etc,. etc, to take the place of emoting. in the rp. Is that all any clearer?

Lihan Taifun:            it is for me

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes thank you

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And what you are talking about...that is good rp...so long as it does not take the place of emoting but is used to augment and refine the way you are rping.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Does everyone see the difference? It is a very important one.

Zryonotralionxus:    I think I do

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Shawn and I last night were talking about a rper. And here is what happens when you are in a scene with them...

Ael looks down, his eyes avert, a red flush to his cheeks. His voice is quiet when he speaks and his words barely carry throughout the hallway. A tear rolls down his cheek.

"X" senses somehow he is sad.

"Sense?" Gee, you can't tell by looking? :P

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

Zryonotralionxus:    Well. . . . He could have stumped a toe?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  This rper spends more time "knowing" things and "sensing" things than paying attention to the fellow rpers, so obvious cues are missing the mark.

Lihan Taifun:            does he ever get around to doing something with poor sad Ael?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Nope

Shawn Daysleeper:  poor Ael

AelKennyr Rhiano:  he only responds to statements and then only haphazardly because he is locked into "sensing" and into what he is going to say next. That is the other trap when you are using those kind of self reflective statements. It creates a mindset where you are spending more time thinking about what you are doing to say or do next than trying responding to those around you.

Zryonotralionxus:    true

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  A good emote for that situation? "X" watched the tear roll down Ael's cheek. just that is perfect.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Under 10 words and you have engaged your fellow rper and responded and can be responded to.

Zryonotralionxus:    True, shows he is paying attention and seeing the picture the other posted

Lihan Taifun:            Who in this conversation is being tempted to do too much thinking about his next line?

Zryonotralionxus:    Though still, "X" is still quiet like that mute laughing elf!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It should be Ael or another person in the rp.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Alot of times we resort to revealing our emotions or thoughts in bald statements that do not allow others to respond because we feel rushed. Slow down. Rp is about quality and fun. For thing, when you slow down, you allow others the chance to respond to you.

Zryonotralionxus:    ok, that brings up a thought/question I have been pondering

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok

Zryonotralionxus:    Me being a para post type RPer at times, the Rpes I always find to work best is ones which the players stick to a response in turn setting, where once all those involve had posted their first post, they stay in that order through the rp.

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. I am familiar with that convention, yes.

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

Zryonotralionxus:    Often, when trying to RP with ones who post one line or so and everyone is posting randomly, it does tend to get a bit hard for one to follow or keep their post in tune with everyones posts, especially when it takes more time to replay to several characters

AelKennyr Rhiano nods again. The convention of which you speak was very popular in the early days of internet rp when things were very text based. It was a way to establish order and to allow everyone a chance to post, and there are very distinct advantages.

Zryonotralionxus:    so which is the norm here for SL? Or is this depending on the group or those involved in the RP?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  However it has some distinct disadvantages, too...It can create very stilted and artifically sounding rp at time. It really depends upon the group, Zyron..and that is a good question, btw.

Koni Lanzius is Offline

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Overall, you will find that most groups do not follow that round robin typ of text based rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    I ask cause I tend to like to make some reply to everyones post, even if it be a simple nod to their words or statement. but I do know some people bore with para rpers

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I think that you will find two very large camps of rpers in sl...those who favor one or two lines of conversation and heavy dependency upon a rp or combat hud.. and then text based rpers.

Zryonotralionxus Resident nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And we are somewhere in the middle with heavy leanings toward text based rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    even in D&D, I always seemed to lean toward the heavy text RPG over the combat

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Actually, when I get comments about "boring" I often hear that in reference to one line rp than to text based rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    and even in combat, I still made large posts with my actions

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And I do make a distinction between para rp which means "paragraph" and text based rp.

Zryonotralionxus:    how so?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  A common para rp response in sl would be anyway from 10 to over 50 words in length. A text based rp can be anywhere from 5 to 25, on the average.

Zryonotralionxus:    hmm

Zryonotralionxus:    I do believe I am new to the text based term then

Lihan Taifun:            if you tried to make each of those "nods" into a true paragraph, it might make for very slow reading

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes. Most of what you see in our rp is much shorter text than people who call themselves para rpers would do. And our text based rp recognizes that sometimes...one word does the trick.

Zryonotralionxus:    oh, so then it can flex depending on what is available to post to?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Emoting should ALWAYS be in response to the situation, not some rule. Unless you are godmodding or metagaming or violating RP limits.

If saying, "Ael laughs." is what is appropriate, don't take 85 words to tell us. However, if all you do is one or two word responses, then what are you adding to the rp?

As you are beginning to rp...make it a habit, now, of slowing down and responding to someone, not to yourself. You should gage your response not to what you THINK someone will do or say but to what they actually do and say. And the only way to do that is to let them have their say. Some people type their responses first on notecards so they can see it all clearly, especially if English is hard for them.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And, as I have said before...if you are among a group of rpers who insist on rping at breakneck speed do one of the following:

1. Tell them, OOC, that the pace is too fast for you. You can do this and be polite. ((I am very sorry, but I cannot keep up with this pace. Please, may we slow down.))

2. Continue on with your post and then, after you have done so, give them time to respond to you.

3, Cease the rp. If they will not slow down for you. They are not rping WITH you, but AT you.

Zryonotralionxus:    With us who para, I am often typing my next post right after making one, cause with a para rp, you replay to everything you can to make your post

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I do not agree, with all due respect, Zyron. If you are constantly typing your response before you know the response of others, you are not truly rping WITH them but AT them.

Zryonotralionxus:    No, not meant was that, meaning that when in turn, after the next posts I am already starting to reply to their post then continuing as others go in sync

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Ahhhh I see. ok...I understand now.

Zryonotralionxus:    it is a method picked up to prevent others from waiting for a para post. you in a way are pretty much ready to post come your turn cause you have been replying as others post

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Again, yes, that is a matter of style and each style has a reason and purpose. For large groups, the style that Zyron is referring to works very well. yes, I got it now..ty for clarifying it. :)

Zryonotralionxus:    but it does not work well when you are amongst many one line posters, because often you can not reply efficiently to all so quickly

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Often they won't let you.

Zryonotralionxus:    yes, buy the time I am ready to hit enter, most of my post is ancient history already

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I know I promise we would have fun and games tonight, but it was very important to make sure that we had a clear understanding of what we were talking about. Perhaps we can have the games next time. I confess, I do get very frustrated with people who insist in rping over me rather than allowing me to rp with them.

May I leave us with some pointers on emoting and we pick this up next week? And please, first...has any of this helped?

Shawn Daysleeper:  thank you Ael

Lihan Taifun:            I appreciated getting this clarified tonight

Shawn Daysleeper:  oh yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  oh, no, I am glad for the chance to clarify myself...please, I am no good to you, if I leave things unclear.

Zryonotralionxus:    I as always have gotten much from the meeting

AelKennyr Rhiano blushes and smiles Let me give you some points to consider for emoting.

1. Slow down. Take your time and respond in a way that helps the rp.

2. Emotes are not always grammatically correct. Don't be afraid of using dashes, commas, or run on sentences. It should, however, make sense.

3. Try to stick to one pronoun usage.....for example:

Use either "Olwe picks up his sword and prepares to do battle."

or "I pick up my sword and prepares to do battle."

NOT

"Olwe picks up my sword and prepares to do battle."

Unless Olwe is actually another character picking up your sword, and then you are godmodding.

4. Emote only what can be perceived...seen, heard,, touched...tasted.

5. Use descriptives of what your body parts. Don't be afraid to clap, whistle, curl your lips, stomp your feet.

6. Adjectives, adverbs and verbs are your friends.

7. and final one...Speak for yourself, and only for yourself. Anything else is godmodding.

Zryonotralionxus:    and thanks much for your time and help

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Thank you You all are what makes the 4th age rp fun!

Shawn Daysleeper smiles yay :)

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I am glad I helped, Lihan. You do great emotes, and you express your rp characters very well.

Zryonotralionxus:    I can not wait to be a part of it if things so go as such

AelKennyr Rhiano:  WE cannot wait for you to be a part of things. :P

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes

Lihan Taifun:            that is good to hear, because after last week I was worried I was doing it all wrong

AelKennyr Rhiano:  nope, you are doing it VERY right.

Zryonotralionxus:    I am working on it, just got way too many irons in the fire it seems besides making sure I keep things inline

AelKennyr Rhiano:  We just needed to slow down, look at it all carefully and I needed to give better examples I think.

Lihan Taifun:            I'm looking forward to having Zryon's character in the story, too

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes!

Shawn Daysleeper:  me too

Zryonotralionxus:    I hit a small mental block so need to sit and work through that

A Few RP Points

AelKennyr Rhiano

Just a few things to bear in mind, please, as you engage in the Dawn of the 4th Age rp.

1. All rp notecards should be labeled, please, "Dawn of the 4th Age."  They are getting lost in my inventory otherwise, and I have to spend time hunting for them.

2. There is NO excuse for lack of good manners at any time!  Rude behavior, inappropriate language or disrespect of your fellow rpers will get you banned from the rp.  Also,  if the local sim rp rules have rpers wear a rp meter, please comply.  DO NOT argue with the sim owner over this.

3. The word "smile" is a verb. However, it is not a substitute for verbs that carry the action of dialogue.  You cannot "smile" a question, you ask it.  You do not "smile" a statement, you state it.  Do not overuse or misuse "smile."

4.  When using quotations, the ending punctuation mark is inside the quotes: "See what I mean?"

5. Periods are  your friends. Please use them at the end of sentences. Sometimes, they are the only ways I have of knowing that one thing has ended and another has begun.

6. A few cautions about using translated phrases:
a. The proper way to use a phrase which is to be translated is as follows: "Mae govannen (Well met.)."
b. If you use such phrases, then you are indicating to rpers you are speaking that language, and if they do not speak it, their proper response is not understand you.
c. You must indicate that you are switching to another language in this case, so that your fellow rpers know you are now speaking a language that they would recognize.

7. Do not rp people in who may stumble into the area of rp into the scene without their permission.  Speak to them OOC using (( )), and make sure if they are willing to rp, they understand what is taking place.

8.  SLOW DOWN!  Not everyone types or responds as fast as you.  Please DO NOT rp over others because they are not responding as fast as you THINK they should. I cannot, cannot stress this enough!!!!  Allow other rpers the time they need to respond. I know that I myself have been in rp situations where I couldn't possibly respond in the time I was given, and it is a very dis-satisfying feeling.  Courtesy costs nothing, yet it brings a great reward.

After saying all this, allow me to say that the quality of the rp continues to be quite high, and I am continually pleased by the complexity and the content of each and every rp.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Ael

Irmo Seeks Out Ulmo

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Shawn Daysleeper and AelKennyr Rhiano

Irmo, Lord of Dreams and Spirits, takes leave of his wife in his Garden of Lorien. She would prepare the plants for their long absence while the two Vala were in Alqualonde. Irmo, now alone, thought it would be wise to take council with one of his kin while in the Shining Lands. He decided he would visit Ulmo, Lord of the Sea in his palace of Ulmonan.

Ulmo, Lord of the Waters of Aman, swan from his palace; in motion like the waters of the world.  His brow was furrowed in thought at the events in the realms of the Children of Illuvatar, and his thoughts traveled, like the currents of the sea, to thoughts of his brother Vala, Irmo.  Almost as thought his thought summoned the Lord of Dreams, Irmo became aware of his Brother Vala's approaching presence and beckoned the Vala of Visions to speak with him in his watery realm. "Brother," greets Ulmo.  "Few honor me so."

Lord Ulmo

Irmo nods to the Lord of Sea. "Indeed, it has been many passings of Arien since I have been in your home."

Ulmo bows his head in gracious acknowledgment.  "I am unused to being sought out, Brother.  My ways are solitary.  Yet you are most welcome.  Please, I have set out a bench for you to take your ease."

Irmo looks at the bench curiously, then remembers his bodily functions. "Ah yes." he takes a seat on the bench.  Ulmo waits for Irmo to sit, watching the Lord of Dreams carefully.  "How have you adjusted in your guise as one of the Children?" he asks, with  a slight smile.


"I admit, I am still adjusting,"  he answers, returning Ulmo's smile. "My sister and I have tried to serve the Teleri King by offering some soup we ... cooked. Yes, I think cooked was the word the Teleri woman used."

"You 'cooked?'  Actually prepared food as they do.  I would like one day to hear more of this.  Often I see their cookfires from the shorelines...smelled the burning of the animal flesh as they prepare their meals.  It escapes me the need to do this to their nourishment, but seems to help them to thrive."

"Oh yes, it was a very difficult task. They seem to cook their food before eating it. The process looks quite complex. But I am afraid I will have to wait and explain the nature of these actions to you later."

Ulmo nods. "I did not think the Lord of Visions came to strike tender to a cookfire beneath the waves of the seas," Ulmo says with a rare, deep laugh.  "In true, I see worry wrinkle your brow."

Irmo smiles and gives a short laugh. He then looked around his surroundings. The magnificence of the palace was rarely exceeded anywhere else on Arda. He stops looking for a moment before speaking. "I fear Olwe, Teleri King's situation is much more grim than I have realised. The sight I witnessed, is unimaginably painful."

Irmo Tells of Olwë's Suffering

Ulmo bows his mighty head and gives one short nod.  "I was afraid, from the snippets of speech carried to me upon the waves of the world. How bad ?"

Irmo turns to Ulmo. "He is seemingly possessed by a Voice. By carefully listening to his dialogue, I believe this Voice seeks to alter his mind. Perhaps being controlled." Irmo wrinkles his brow.

Ulmo looks up, his gaze sweeps across the garden of coral and rests upon Irmo's face, taking in the expression of his brother Vala.  "Olwe's heart and mind has always been open to the thoughts of us, eagerly and with great reverence.  From the very start, when he was newly awoken, he hearkened to the sea, the call of the waves, and I grew fond of him and of his Teleri.  Now, where there were once songs of love and praise for Eru, for joy in creation of his world, there is silence.  Where once there was the bright and abiding love and service of the Teleri Lord, there is emptiness.  I cannot feel the mind of Olwe nor his heart.  This is a thing I could not believe possible,  Brother."

Irmo sighs deeply at Ulmo's words. "He spoke of the Valar leaving him. His words would be filled with anger, with wroth. But then... then he would speak of defiance to this... entity within him. He would shout that it would not have him. But I fear that the situation worsens daily. I have already noticed worsening situation with him since our arrival in Alqualonde." Irmo stops speaking a moment as in thought. "But that is not all, brother. This also carries physical symptoms as well."

Irmo and Ulmo in Conversation

Ulmo's eyes widen for a moment and then narrow, intense as he listens.  "Physical?" he asks.  "Manifestations?"

Irmo does not answer immediately, but nods his head. His eyes intense as well. Shifting his position on the bench, Irmo speaks. "Yes, the Teleri King's stature was magnificent. Strong and impressive. But now, he has become gaunt and he no longer maintains his physical appearance. His hair is wild and his eyes sunken. And... and his skin is broken by crevaces, from which blood freely pours. His kin are constantly treating these injuries, but they return often without hindrance."

Ulmo shifts on the bench beside the Lord of Visions, and the waters of the seas shift and grow still as he himself grows still.  A soft moan of sorrow tumbles from the Lord of the Sea's mouth, and all the fish about flit and swim away quickly.  "It sounds as though his very life is being drained from him," murmurs Ulmo.  "Can you reach him when he sleeps?  Can he hear any of us?"

 Irmo shakes his head. "I am afraid I have not seen Lord Olwe follow the Olore Malle, the Path of Dreams, for many a night. I have not been able to reach him. His defiance will fade, we must try to reach him... or... we will lose him."

The Spot Made Barren by Melkor's Evil

Ulmo nods in agreement, his face a grim visage of worry and sadness.  "We must not lose Olwe.  He is the hope of the Children"  He looked out beyond the circle of sea life surrounding them. "Those barren rocks beyond us were once as full of life as this.  Then Melkor reached out with his hate and destroyed much of Eru's wondrous creation.  In all the seas, I repaired much, but this spot, devoid of beauty and life, I kept nearby, that I may never forget what he did. "  He looks over at Irmo.  "Whatever holds Olwe, it trails back to Melkor and his evil twisted machinations.  Even from his prison..."  Ulmo takes in a deep breath, though air nor water he needs not.  "What now, has he devised, imprisoned and incorporeal as he is?  How do we help Olwe when we are bidden not to intervene in the fate of the Children?"

Irmo considers Ulmo's question for a moment. He reaches his hand into his cloak and pulls out  of one of the deep pockets a crystal vial, carefully stoppered shut to protect the gleaming liquid within. Irmo holds it up to his friend. "Perhaps I should speak briefly of my errand in the Shining Lands. I think this will be our help to Olwe."

Ulmo's gaze is caught by the motion of Irmo's hand and he looks at the vial, nodding.  "Yes," said Ulmo, the one word conveying more than simple speech as the grief at all that  Melkor, once second in might only to Manwe himself, has wrought upon the creation of Eru.

Irmo straightens himself on the bench before beginning. "My witness of Lord Olwe's attack led me to think that there are none that can ease his suffering more than my wife, Este. And so i departed Lord Olwe's lands, and arrived in Murmuran, on the shores of Lorellin in Lorien. There I found my wife, I explained to her what I witnessed as I did to you. She fell into sorrow, and offered this vial of water from her pools of healing. While I was grateful for this gift to the Teleri King, i pleaded that she come as well to Alqualonde. She will depart when the Garden has been prepared for our absence. I am grateful that she will come to Olwe, in the disguise of a Teleri."

Ulmo claps a hand upon the shoulder of the Lord of Dreams.  "Well done, " he murmurs, eying the vial. "Well, well done. You are most wise, Irmo, to seek out your lady wife's aid in this, and her succour would be of great comfort to gentle Olwe.  Know you that his near kin, Comet, too, fights off a great evil, as the source of her strength and protection was taken from her land, and even now as we speak, a terrible struggle there ensues to win it back and restore the balance of light and shadow. " He drops his hand from Irmo's shoulder.

Irmo smiles a little at his brother's praise. He returns the vial to his pocket. "Thank you brother," he says as his smile fades from his lips. "But there is still a great task before us, all of us that seeks to protect Olwe from the wrath of Melkor."

Ulmo nods once, and looks into the face of the Lord of Dreams.  "You speak of this....thing...the Children are set upon to do, in order to restore him.  Do they realize, think you, the grave battle that you describe is continuously being waged within him?"

Irmo looks down for a moment. "I... I do not know for certain. There are times when he is calm, but then other times he is battling his inner foe. I would say that it is not continuous, but do not know for sure."

Ulmo nods, his tone when he speaks reflective.  "We must lend all aid we can to this....ritual.  No doubt those among them who weave...'magic'...maybe most capable, but this is far beyond, I fear, what they are able to fathom.  The Children see but a little into the Song of Creation.  We see but a bit more, and Manwe, among us all, sees futhest.  Yet, even the Lord of Arda knows now how this will end for Olwe.  Two Sindar elves, kin to Olwe, seek to aid the Teleri King.  One is Elwing the White, now bereft of husband since the disappearance of the morning star.  The second, of the line of Elmo, reckoned a queen among her kin.  Perhaps it is time I drew my hand across the waves and brought them unto the Haven of the Swans.  What think you?"

Irmo nods. "Yes, I agree. Perhaps you could deliver my words to Lord Manwe. He needs to be aware of Olwe's health and it's decline. I also agree that all of his allies and friends should be present at the ritual. Speeding them on to Alqualonde would facilitate their journeys across the seas. Perhaps we should maintain a vigilance on Olwe's Lands as well, they are weak against a possible hostile force."

"I can and will deliver your words until Manwe. I am in agreement he should be made aware of the turn of events.  I shall bid Osse to keep near the shores of Alqualonde and to make himself available to thy call, upon your need, should have you any.  Upon the land of Vana, in the mortal world, rests Elwing and the one called Echuir.  I shall speedily bring them to Alqualonde.  Lady Unien, I shall speed to Sylvahara's shores, to learn of the struggle there and the welfare of Comet, for she bears the blood of Eldar elves in her veins, and next to Olwe is in great danger for her kinship."  He stops a moment.  Then he speaks slowly.  "The Great Deciever in his prison must be questioned regarding his role, and I wish also to ask Manwe his wisdom, since Tilion is yet kept apart from Olwe."

"I shall look to word from you, should Manwe question the Great Deceiver. I would be most interested in his responses. I will also look for the coming of Elwing and Elcuir to Alqualonde and assist in their preparations. If there is anything else I can assist you, contact me as you wish."

Ulmo rose from the bench, and the waters of the world swirled and came into motion at his movement.  Ancient, knowing eyes gaged the sorrow in Irmo's expression, and he offered the Lord of Dreams a grim smile.  "You return again to Alqualonde, disguised as one of the children?"  he asks.

Irmo nods. "I will depart soon for the Swanhaven and hope my disguise will hold a little longer. My sister is covering for my absence, I hope my presence has not been missed."

"Among the Children are those who seek from the waters of the world food and bountious is the sea indeed.  They throw out nets and harvest much they use as food.  To aid you in providing sustenance, I shall cause Osse to herd to the shoreline and cast upon the banks, such as the Teleri oft use as food." Ulmo adds, as an afterthought. "I know no more of this 'cooking' than from the smell they seek to burn the things they devour, truly charred."

Irmo smiles a little. "Yes, having all of that seafood come ashore would make for...  interesting events. Cooking is... very difficult. We cooked with fish and some noodles we found in Olwe's garden. I was at a loss as to why this deed had to be performed, but I think my disguise is still holding."

Ulmo nods.  "Surely if the Children do it, it grows easier with the repeating of the task.  They appear to do it with regularity."

"Thank you, brother, for your council. I feel we have accomplished much. I will continue on to Alqualonde." Rising, the Lord of Dreams took his leave of Lord Ulmo, feeling a little better prepared to confront the coming challenges with his brethren Vala.

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