The Billowing Flame

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Leonardo Rainfall

Long ago, when the Balrog's flame burned at it's strongest...


Miraculous.

The flames engulfed his body as he felt his energy surge to greater heights. Raw power and strength coursed through veins, the rising dominance over his enemies intoxicating. His hands were trembling. The muscles in his large, masculine body were tightened around his bone as the adrenaline made everything clear.

His eyes held a glimmer and a confidence sadistic and cruel. The Balrog reached to his back, clenching his hand as the fire that encased his body dedicated a portion of the lively flame to a hilt, then a blade. He pulled his hand away from his body, the blade drawn from an endless sheath.

He twirled the blade, seizing the hilt again as he brought the weapon smashing to the ground. The earth cracked beneath the power of the blade as it dug into the crust, lighting the surrounding grass aflame. With the power of his will alone, the Balrog  influenced the flames. Balrog spoke in silent, brutal sounding rhymes in his deep rumbling voice as the fire spread farther and farther.  The flames crawled over his enemies, encasing them violently in the fire, which lashed out at the air with unrestrained strength.

The blaze was a part of the Balrog. It was an entity that coexisted with him, like blood within a person. It was not meant to be used as a weapon, but through training and many years of research, Balrog had discovered ways beyond forging weapons to utilize his fire in war. Perhaps it was fate, then, that would dethrone the Balrog.

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Fireside Chat -- Text-Based Combat – Breaking Down the Action

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Present:

Gwindolyn Spiritor  (teaching)

Beralai Levee            (teaching aid)

Rhûn Darkmoon      (zu.dragoone)

Lihan Taifun            

Shawn Daysleeper  

AelKennyr Rhiano  

Belenos the Bad       (belenosstormchaser.magic)

Summary:

The general pattern is to acknowledge the previous character's move, and describe how it affects your character and how you react.

Consider how strong/weak your character is at the moment. Consider your limitations and strengths. Consider what is physically possible. Consider where everyone in the room is positioned.

The effects of adrenaline are more complex than we are going to get into at this stage. At the simplest level, everyone would be feeling equal effects of adrenaline, so no one would gain an advantage from it. A more nuanced evaluation is postponed to a later class.

Each emote should cover only as much action as can be done without another character reacting. Break up the action into small enough chunks to give other players time to react. For example, some groups have a rule that “freeing yourself from ropes” requires at least 3 emotes, since it is something that would take time, and your captors would likely notice and try to stop you.

Remember that if you are “tied up” you have probably been searched (with greater or lesser thoroughness, depending on the rp that actually happened). Any items that escaped the search may be out of your reach until after you have gotten untied.

An example of getting out of ropes by abrading the ropes against a rough stone:

   Emote #1: Looking around for a suitable stone.

   Emote #2: Moving to the stone. (If you are in an unguarded cell, this could possibly be combined with the previous emote, since no one is around to notice you looking around. On the other hand, if you are injured, weak, or firmly tied, just moving could be a difficult process requiring several emotes, and likely making noise and/or hurting yourself further.)

   Emotes #3 & 4: Rubbing the ropes against the stone. (This is a slow process, and would take at least two emotes.)

In a real RP, this would be enlivened with the comments and body-language appropriate to your character.

The basic pattern here is:

   setting up for a future action (looking for the stone)

   starting the long-term action (moving to the stone)

   the ability to godmode or avoid it (appropriate breaks to allow other characters to react – not assuming other characters' actions or lack of action)

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Welcome to everyone. Now, we wanted to revisit the discussion on damage in RP.... Welcome Beralai. When you rez, there are seats around, you are welcome to take one.

Beralai Levee sighs, not sure exactly how well he is dressed for such a quick change. I will stand with you.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ael, a quick reminder, where did we leave off last week?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   talking about how to determine damage in text based combat

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol. Any position more specific, Ael?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   actually, no?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, then. Let us start with an emote and break it down for possible damage options.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Ummmm...that is what got everyone confused last week. Can we please start with basics?

Beralai Levee:            That is the basics....

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  That is hard to do as there are a myriad of options to play though. Let us talk first about the basics of a combat emote then.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes, please

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  How to think through what is happening.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   that would be a great help...thank you :)

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  When in a combat, someone makes a move. Let us say, running for a dropped knife. The next person has to acknowledge the move and how it affects them. So perhaps I'm closer, but too weak. I might try to reach for it and fail. When thinking of combat, you need to take into account, what is happening. How strong/weak you are. Your limitations and strengths. And what is possible.

Beralai Levee:            Your position in relation to everything else.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  If I have bled three quarts of blood, I would be dizzy and weak. So to race someone who has not bled across the room, I would not likely make it. Adrenaline can give you a boost from time to time, but both sides would have that same adrenaline going for them - making it a moot point.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   But to say it is moot is an oversimplification of what happens with adrenaline.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  However, sometimes you can use it to make things more interesting. I once almost bled myself to death as adrenaline kept me from realizing how hurt I was until I slowed down and collapsed from blood loss.

This is true, Ael. However, with going over the basics, I don't want to delve too deeply into details yet. I think that is how we truly got lost last week.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   ok We did get lost last week...nod, nod, nod.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So let us leave adrenaline as a moot point for now. We can revisit it when we are more advanced in thought.

Also, with combat, you want to keep to only what you would be able to do without a response from another player.

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  If you are doing something, such as trying to free yourself of ropes binding your wrists, that is something that takes time. And has plenty of chance for the other person to catch you in reality.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   And it shouldn't necessarily be accomplished in one emote...correct?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So you would want that to go over multiple emotes. Correct, Ael.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes, what you said :P

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Gor has a good guide on that - a three emote minimum.

Lihan Taifun:             freeing yourself from ropes is a three-emote minimum?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Well Lihan, let us think this through. What would you use to free yourself?

Lihan Taifun:             I was just asking whether that minimum applied specifically to freeing from ropes, or whether that applied to some category?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It is just a good guide. But learning how to think about it might help to answer that question.

Lihan Taifun:             ok

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So if you are tied up, likely, you have been searched. Do you carry any hidden items? Something less likely to be found?

Beralai Levee:            How thorough were they with the search?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Since we aren't emoting this, we will go with decently.

Beralai Levee:            So a knife hidden inside the boots may have made it through, or something tucked away inside the bra or on the inside of the thigh.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  They would have found the boot, that is obvious hiding place.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Does decently mean they were thorough, or that they did not strip search you?

Lihan Taifun:             and could you actually reach wherever your item is stashed. You probably aren't going to pull a knife out of your boot with your teeth

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Right Lihan. Now you are thinking.

Beralai Levee:            Not if your feet smell hideous....

AelKennyr Rhiano:   they could still find it but just want to burn it and the boot later. and disinfect their hands

Beralai Levee chuckles," Point taken."

Gwindolyn Spiritor throws a look at Beralai and continues. "So for the sake of moving forward, let us say they found all but a knife on the inside of your thigh. After all, a dwarven thigh is too short for a blade in most people's minds."

AelKennyr Rhiano:   I wouldn't search a dwarf's thigh.

Beralai Levee:            I wouldn't capture a dwarf.

Lihan Taifun:             since this knife is apparently inside my pants, it wouldn't be simple to get out, even if I had my hands free

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  This is true. So what option do you have next?

Beralai Levee laughs," That depends on the fabric of your pants and if you want to keep them in tact."

Belenos the Bad (belenosstormchaser.magic): And how baggy your pants are, for if they were closefitting, surely a knife within would show?

Beralai Levee:            Depends on the type of blade. A simple razor secured with a thin leather strap wouldn't show except perhaps in latex.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Somehow, there is something so wrong about a dwarf in latex. I think it would not improve their disposition.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  O.o

Shawn Daysleeper:   lol

Lihan Taifun:             very wrong

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Eeew! Ok... Not getting side tracked.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Although, fair Lady Dwarf may be quite fetching in such attire...smiles at Lihan.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Lihan, you are a dwarf with a small blade inside your pants, on your inner thigh. Your hands are bound behind your back. You need to get free, what do you do?

Lihan Taifun tries several contortions, on the other side of the computer, trying to figure out what is possible

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  What is your environment? Are there any sharp objects around you?

Lihan Taifun:             good question. sharp objects -- rough metal edges, would be a big help

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  we live in a world where most things are made of wood or stone.

Lihan Taifun:             stone edges might be abrasive enough

AelKennyr Rhiano:   but time consuming.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Good. Yes, but now you have an action you are working towards. It would take quite a few emotes to do this one, wouldn't it?

Lihan Taifun:             that would certainly be time consuming, yes

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  One would be seeing looking around for the right stone. Another would be moving to it. I mean, a decent captor would be watching you or would have you in a cage or cell.

Lihan Taifun:             likely, yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:   But the number of emotes would also depend on the overall action, yes?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes. Let's say Lihan is in a cell and no one is there. She can spy the stone and move to it in one emote. But could not go further in case someone was close enough to 'hear something.' She might even pause to listen to be sure no one heard anything. But if she went further without pausing, that would take any options away from another player, making it godmoding.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   right.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So let us say the other player heard nothing and emoted picking their teeth out of boredom.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   lol

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Then Lihan could begin to scratch her way out of the ropes. I would make that at least two emotes long. Allowing the other players a chance to 'hear something' and react.

Lihan Taifun:             yes, abrading a rope is a fairly slow process, and I am doing it behind my back, which won't be the most efficient

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  But the player she is against is really an underpaid draftee who could care less. Now he is messing with his hair, thinking of his date tonight. Then Lihan could choose to give honor to the tedious task she is at and give it a third emote or just move along the story and find her ropes fall apart during the second. Perhaps they were old ropes?

but in this scene, you can see the basics of setting up for a future action (looking for the stone).

The start of a long term action (moving to the stone)

the ability to godmode or avoid it (appropriate stops and starts)

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes, there can be so much more put into this scene. but for the sake of setting up thought, I kept it simple. Lihan, you have shown great humor and sense of character in our short spurts of emoting. Could you see how to put those things into removing your bindings?

Lihan Taifun:             how to write that scene, and include some character?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes. Can you see the possibilities?

Lihan Taifun:             do I get to mutter under my breath, or is that too much like "thinking"?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  That would be very much what a dwarf would do. And it might disguise other noises, like shuffling across the stones.

Lihan Taifun:             stomping very very quietly

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol. Thank you Lihan for letting me use you during this example. You make a great teaching aid.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Yay, Lihan! She has a great character

Lihan Taifun:             um, thank you, I guess

Shawn Daysleeper smiles

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  But now, I want you to think about one more aspect in this scene. Let us say you were not too brutalized in being tied. Perhaps they got you in a drunken stupor. So they just tied you up and took you away. But you are on the cold ground without food, water or bladder relief for how long? with your arms behind your back. how does that affect your ability to move, supposing dwarves don't have hangovers.

Lihan Taifun:             that would certainly have an effect

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Right. This is where we get really thinking about 'damage'. The ropes would have cut into your wrists. You would be dry mouthed and thirsty. Your stomach would compete with your mouth for grumbling.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   and hung over

Gwindolyn Spiritor points Ael to the part where she supposed dwarves don't get hangovers.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  And your bladder would be making a fuss too.

Lihan Taifun:             muscles are cramping up from being in an awkward position

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Good.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   even if you didn't get the headache, it does take a toll on the body. the body still feels the effect.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes, Ael, it would. So Lihan hasn't even been beat upon and yet, she has damage to consider as she makes her moves.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   So, the muscles would be "hung over." Sorry I didn't make that a complete sentence a moment ago.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So let's say, that the lightheadedness from the drinking and the lack of food and drink coupled with the urgency to find a bathroom make Lihan less then careful as she moves to her desired target. What might happen?

Lihan Taifun:             (nobody else is talking?) I might make a lot of noise, or trip and hurt myself

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Right.

Rhûn Darkmoon blushes, (("My apologies, my Lady but I find this enthralling'))

AelKennyr Rhiano blushes...or she could soil herself.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Rhun, let us give Lihan a break. Let us pick on you a bit. Given the same scene. You are hungover though. As you move along and fall. Tell me about the outcome of that.

Shawn Daysleeper:   which would make a stench

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ael, very good point. And very real.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   and be uncomfortable

Shawn Daysleeper:   and be noticed

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Not right away Shawn. If you have babies around in RL, you know it takes a bit of time for that to be smelly.

Lihan Taifun:             but the guard might then be more careful how he grabs me

AelKennyr Rhiano:   But if she had a lot to drink...depending on what she drank... It could prove aromatic?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol. Ok, now we are picking on details we would have to actually RP to get.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   lol

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  but yes, those are things that could be picked out.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Back to Rhun....

Rhûn Darkmoon thinks a moment

AelKennyr Rhiano:   back to Rhun...

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Rhun, let us give Lihan a break. Let us pick on you a bit. Given the same scene. You are hungover though. As you move along and fall. Tell me about the outcome of that.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      'If I were to stumble and fall, I would be hard put to not cry out, I would think for the floor would be hard and I would be unable to break my fall with my hands. I might also scrap skin, swear at that."

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  What about bruising? Soreness beyond the moment? Perhaps a limp?

Rhûn Darkmoon:      "these are all things that could reveal my actions to the jailors, so I'd have to pause in the emoting to allow them to respond.'

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Very good.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      "As the scene is in the 'now' rather than say half an hour, or an hour's time, then the bruising would not be immediately apparent, although the pain, as expressed by my cry, grunt, swearing or whatever I choose to do, would express that pain'

Rhûn Darkmoon looks up at you, 'Do you require any more?'

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Often in a remote, you can hint at later. Such as "falls and bangs her knee hard to the floor. She is hard pressed not to cry out loudly. She manages to keep it at some quietly expressed colorful phrases. Her knee throbs and she knows already she will have a bruise. She prays she can walk without a limp."

Rhûn Darkmoon:      'With respect, I prefer not to speculate or 'know' things that may or may not occur in the future, during a scene. But we all have our own role play style, no doubt. "

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  In real life, do you not ever know you will bruise?

Rhûn Darkmoon:      At the time I do not think it, in truth. If I hurt myself I am too busy swearing to think 'oh, that might bruise'.. *chuckles ruefully*

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Um...I just got an IM by the person doing the photoshoot of us tonight....if we could stop here for the class tonight...she would like to take pictures of you all for an article on the Fellowship's rp

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok. This is a good spot to stop for tonight.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Thank you, Gwindolyn, for an excellent class!

Shawn Daysleeper:   thank you Gwindolyn

The Dwarven Tome

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AelKennyr Rhiano

Slowly Nimros stretches his arm, his hand finding the depression in the bedding where her body had lain.  He opens his eyes, blinking blearily as he begins yet another day alone.  He rolls onto his back, rubbing the sleep from his forest green eyes. Rising into a sitting position, he does not notice the bedding falling away to reveal the smooth of his chest,  marred only by long scratches that start at his shoulder blades and disappear into the sheets pooled around his waist and lap. 

Nimros tosses the sheets aside and rises, naked, from the bed, padding on bare feet across the room to the tray of food waiting for him on the table.  Thoughtfully, she had left him breakfast, as always.  He runs his hands through the tangles of his long, silky silver hair and pulls it back from his face.  He pours himself a cup of a bitter liquid from a pitcher.  The flavor still defies description for him, but it slakes his thirst. As he tears about the hard bread and pops a bite into his mouth, he looks about the room, his green eyes picking out his clothes, scattered on the floor about the room, and the thought crosses his mind, how much he had changed, is changing from the shy elf who once, by accident, sent the Teleri king flying off his father's fishing vessel through a careless slip of his hand. The openness his face once displayed was replaced with harder, sharper features; eyes that narrow with suspicion, lips that compress with resentment when denied a desired thing, ears that strain to hear all the levels of emotion and complexity in every word spoken to him. 

The face of his parents were blurry in his memory. They seem...simple, now, common and unremarkable.  Looking back at all those times, the King of the Teleri would favor the fisherelf of Alqualonde with visits, he sees in Olwe's kind smile, a smirk of disdain; in his kind gaze, a haughtiness; in his gentle words arrogant superiority.  How could a king regard such mean and lowly occupations like fishing the seas as other than beneath him? 

Finishing the bread, he collects the discard clothing. As he does so, he spies the book he had been reading, lying discarded.  Dropping his clothes in a pile on the bed, he picks up the tome and opens it up to the place he had left off reading.  Why had he lied to her?  He flipped the page, his eyes narrowing as he stares at the cramped handwriting.  He drops the book onto the desk with a thud and walks over to where a stack of clean clothes were neatly folded upon the edge of the bed and shrugs into them.  Once he was dressed, he picks up the book and leans against the table as he read. 

"Dark elvenfolk these be," 

began the writer,

"cruel, hateful and vengeful.  Not for them the lure of bright metal nor the gleam of facet jewels. No, they be twisted abominations who once were elvenfolk."  

Nimros pauses in midchew, drops the rest of the food onto the plate and grabs the book with both hands, angling it to catch the scant light better.

"Do not, young dwarf, be deceived by honeyed words from their females, who are spindly, voracious and completely hideous creatures.  Their menfolk allow them to grow unnatural powers and they seek to entrap strong dwarf males to do their bidding, knowing of our prowess and our endurance.  If elven folk be strange in their ways, the drow, they be pure evil in their intent.  There can be no reason with the black-skinned creatures; just death and destruction. Either you die, or they die."

"You shall never hear their footsteps. You shall never hear their whispered commands. You shall never know what is about to befall you..until you see the flash of their eyes, hear the scream of their battle cry, and are cut in twain by the sharp steel of their poisoned blades. They are that quick, that sharp, that battle-trained. Of all the races, they are the most to be watched against, for they breed like rats and like a pestilence they sweep away all in their path."

A noise beyond the room's door caught Nimros' attention, and he hurriedly tears the next several pages from the tome, slams it shut, and tosses it back upon the bed.  Quickly the elf folds up the torn sheets and stuffs them inside his shirt for later review.

So, he thinks, as footsteps near his door. An enemy even dwarves fear.  What power and strength they must possess.  He picks up the forgotten bit of meat and pops it into his mouth.  Why be a fisher among elves when he could be a warrior among such a mighty force?

He gives a smile that contorts his face.  Why, indeed?

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The Sword is Returned

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Dominique Darkwatch and AelKennyr Rhiano

Dominique

Dominique Darkwatch makes her way wearily back to the cleric hall, her staff heavy in her hands. Her hair is matted, and her clothes and skin splattered in blood after yet another skirmish with rogue dragons and their Torgan allies.

There were so many that needed healing; all the while she had to keep running for her own life. But in the end, the brave warriors and rangers prevailed and either killed or drove the enemy away. All is well again...for the time being.  She is looking forward to perhaps a hot bath and some rest. It has been a long day. She is thankful things look quiet in the vicinity of the cleric hall, as this had been a site of several attacks as well as the queen's castle and the warrior's hall nearby. She stops by the perch of the guild's hawk who greets her by a happy flap of wings. "Hello Voronwe!" She pats his head before turning to the door.  She grabs an entire loaf of bread, and notices her hands. "Eew!" She sets down her staff and quickly washes as best she can while changing from her bloody clothes.  Dominque feels the water refresh her a bit. She ties her hair back and goes to get more food in the main part of the hall, before starting her evening prayers.

Eönwë

Eonwe had discarded the physical form he wore, waiting patiently as spirit in the upper level of the cleric's hall.  Time moved for everyone and everything around him, but for the Herald of Manwe, one moment was very much like the rest. He waits, watchful, observant, neither moved to impatience by time's passing nor discontent that he should be in this one spot without purpose other than to wait.  After long moments, movement down below tells him that his wait is at an end.

Dominique Darkwatch climbs the narrow winding stairs leading to the area where the altars are and opens the door to the upper level sanctuary. Footsteps climbing the stairs, coming nearer tells Eonwe that the Herald was to have company.  He remains quiet and incorporeal, waiting patiently to make sure that, indeed, this cleric serve Eru and no other.  His eyes focus upon the slender form that emerges and crosses to the center of the room.

Dominique  makes her way to the central elven star. She looks around at all the other altars and sighs as she prepares to kneel down and offer her evening prayer. Drawn by her motions, Eonwe watches the slender elven female knee and waits. She orients herself to the west, bows her head and offers her prayer "Oh, Lord and great Eru, whose songs and designs created the Arda and all that dwell within, I thank you for another day where you have bless your children with light and life. I offer my humble thanks for the gifts you have given me so that I may help others and show your light and your mercy in healing broken bodies and broken spirits...."

Eonwe nods to himself.  This is the cleric Nienna had spoken of.  Slowly, so as to not frighten her, Eonwe gathers about himself the physical matter needed to form a body. Dominique Darkwatch continues her prayer, her eyes closed in deep concentration, feeling the presence and pleasure of Iluvatar as she continues. "Oh, Lord, I humbly offer thanks, and beseech you to continue to grant me peace and strength so that I may continue to serve you and carry forth your message of light to your children, even in the darkest of times.  I pray offer myself to your gracious service and pray for the grace of the Valar in all that I may do."  Dominique Darkwatch continues to kneel silently for a brief amount of time, revelling in the peace that she feels. She often feels a weariness when she begins to pray, but always feels better for having done it in the end.

Eonwe slowly steps forward, visible now, and greets the cleric, his voice low and calm.  "Hail, Cleric of Eru, The Father's blessings upon you."

As she begins to open her eyes, she is a bit startles at the voice she hears and stand and blinks, her eyes wide, not entirely sure of who or what she is seeing. "Umm...ahh...Vedui, M'lord!"

Eonwe gives a bow as his eyes study the cleric before him, her slender form, her open expression, the light of Eru's grace and blessings light and peaceful upon her features. "Be thou the cleric of Eru called Domininque?" he asks.

Dominique Darkwatch peers at the impressive figure before her, very tall, dark and mysterious and blinks again and nods. "Aye...I am the cleric of Iluvatar."

Eonwe's blue eyes calmly regard her as he steps forward, arms out to the side to show he bears no weapon. "Greetings, I am Eonwe, Herald of Manwe, sent by his permission at the request of Lady Nienna, Vala of Compassion."

Dominique Darkwatch 's eyes widen, her earlier weariness completely forgotten. She feels a part of herself wish to fluster but yet another part of her is somehow comforted and calmed in the presence of this being and steps forward and bows reverently. "Lord Eonwe...you do me a great, great honor, as does the Lord Manwe and Lady Nienna!"

Eonwe steps forward, his face neither soft with compassion, such as Nienna would show, nor stern and frowing at the Lord of the Sea.  Calm and sure of his commission and dispassionate as is required of the Herald of Manwe, he bows his head and answer her, his deep voice smooth and tranquil. "Lady Nienna brought to me a blade." He reaches into the folds of his cloak and draws out her sword.  "Be this yours, Cleric of Eru?"

Dominique Darkwatch eyes open wide again and gaze upon the blade that she had entrusted to the Vala of Compassion. "It is indeed, Lord Eonwe! This be the blade, forged and given to me by a surface drow of these lands."

Eonwe looks from the blade to the Cleric's face.  "Drow?" he repeats, sounding out the foreign word, his brow knitted a little in puzzlement.  "What means drow?"

Dominique Darkwatch tilts her head, remembering some of the confusion Nienna had exhibited when she tried to explain. "M'lord, the drow are a special race of dark elves. Some, like my friend are very friendly, even kind. And others....well they can be very cruel."

Eonwe nods.  He knew of dark elves but knew not that they have survived the long passage of time. perhaps even thrived. "And a drow bestowed this well crafted blade to you?"

Dominique Darkwatch nods and smiles. "Aye, Lord Mityka is a most gifted weaponsmaster of these lands and has even given me some training in its use!"

"So this ....Mityka...he is not an enemy?" He looks up at her  as he asks.

Dominique Darkwatch shakes her head as her hand goes to her cheek.  She remembers an encounter with an entirely different sort of drow. "No, M'lord, he serves Queen Comet here in Sylvhara: he is definitely a friend."

Eonwe digests this, nodding absently.  "The world has greatly changed, Lady Dominque.  The turning of the ages have perhaps seen those once enemies friends."  He extends the blade to her, hilt first.

Dominique Darkwatch smiles now, taking the sword by the handle and holding it, feeling it as her hands grip the hilt. She feels its weight and heft and balance. Eonwe nods as she takes in with a measure of skill.  "You have had training." He states it as fact.

"Aye...Lord Mit is an excellent trainer, as are several others in this realm."

Dominique gazes at the blade and then slowly lets it cut through the air, mindful not to slice the Herald of Manwe. Eonwe notes the pride in her voice and considering her handling of the sword, as well as its craftsmanship and balance, he sees the truth in her words. "But why would a cleric need a blade?"

Dominique Darkwatch 's face darkens slightly. "M'lord, as I said, not all elves are either.light or dark nor are they all kind and of the light. We have enemies all around u,s and some would enjoy making one of us a prisoner."

Eonwe tilts his head and gives a measuring look. "Surely your warriors would defend a cleric of the Most High Eru?"

Dominique places the sword in its sheath, which she places on her back, adjusting the straps so that it fits properly and can be easily accessed. "Aye, you are correct, M'lord, and in a proper battle this is true. But sometimes the enemy may send a spy or someone who may attempt an abduction, to steal one of us." She touches her cheek again, and she can actually feel a residual burn in remembrance of her own ordeal.

"Lord Manwe granted me permission to come unto you this day, to give you this sword.  Such power as I can give it, I have.  The blade shall never break so long as the wielder's heart remains true to its purpose and alive with the Flame Imperishable. The hand  upon the hilt shall not know weariness, nor can an enemy wrest the steel from you save but from your death."

Dominique smiles and actually feels the life in it as she touches the hilt. "You have my deepest thanks, Lord Eonwe. I have much faith in the weapons master for the Valar!"

Eonwe bows his head in acknowledgment. "I like not the thought of one who serves Eru being forcing to defend herself by steel."

Dominique nods. "It is an unfortunate reality of the times in which we live, M'lord. There is a darkness that lives which does not sleep. Everyone must be diligent, even a cleric of Iluvatar."

"Truly there is," answers Eonwe.  "There is a Great Shadow about to descend upon Eru's Creation.  It is the time for all the Children to gather and hold strong." He pauses. "Mawne wishes to know about the state of the Realm of Sylvahara's Queen?" He takes a breath finishes with, "The Lady Nienna mentioned...war."

Dominique looks quizzically and then nods as she remembers Nienna's interest in the conflicts here. "Yes M'lord, Sylvhara has two main enemies: one in the south and one in the north from which attacks may be launched."

"Who threatens these lands?"

"We have the kingdom in the north, called the Torgan Empire ruled by a dark empress and an orc-dragon. These are Sylvhara's principle enemies. But the land in the south is ruled by a tyrant necromancer named Gage who seems to be quite mad and is always a threat."

Eonwe nods, but  there is a tightness about his eyes.  With a warrior's calculation, he asks, "How stands the defense of the realm, Eru's own?"

Dominique Darkwatch sighs. "We are actually quite strong, but you can appreciate the difficulty of facing two threats on opposite sides."

"I can," the Maia says, simply. "It is tactically an undesirable position in which to be."

Dominique  tries to remember the stories she had read of Eonwe and seeing him here she has a bit of an idea. "Perhaps I could show you. You can see for yourself the manner of the threat we face, if you would be interested"

"Please, Lady Dominique. " he bows his head in thanks. "I would be most grateful to see these things first hand."

Dominique smiles. "Well then, follow me downstairs and outside. I have to call my ride." She giggles and winks as she walks to the door, down the stairs and to the outside of the cleric hall.

As he is bidden, he follows the cleric down the stairs and out into the grounds of the hall. The Cleric smiles and gives a low and soft whistle, and then waits until with a whoosh of air, Luthien her giant swan gently descends before settling down in front of her. Eonwe hears the flapping of wings, and looks up to see a large swan descend and land close by the cleric. Dominique smiles and pats the swan's neck affectionately. "Greetings Lu! This is Lord Eonwe. No nipping at him now!" She giggles teasingly.

Eonwe eyes's widened just a little at her admonishment, and notes the lighthearted and familiar warm tone she takes.  Then, as she mounts. He spring up behind her, his hands resting lightly upon her waist. Dominique feels the Maia settle in behind her and smiles. "Hang on! " She then beckons Lu with a squeeze of her knees, and she begins to gently fly aloft and turn South. Eonwe looks out over her shoulder, the whole of the sylvan lands spread out like a expanse of expensive cloth beneath them.

Dominique flies and point down below. "This is the sight of the moon temple, a very sacred place to many of the inhabitants of Sylvhara and even peoples of the surrounding lands."

"Dedicated to the Steersman of the moon?" He asks, thinking of his comrade in arms, Tilion.

Dominique Darkwatch giggles, remembering Nienna's reaction. "Aye, not so much him but the light of Tilion's burden does seem to inspire many here."


Eonwe nods, taking note. "The Lady Nienna said that Tilion is reverenced but as a maiden among the peoples here?" His voice held the hint of disbelief and mirth mingled.

Dominique laughs. "Tilion is revered in many forms here...and yes, sometimes as a sword maiden!"

"I am sure the Guardian of the Moon will be most gratified to know he is remembered in some fashion." He looks about the clear sky and then leans over enough to scan the ground over which they soar.

Eonwe watches as they land. The air is heavier here, the smells in the wind neither pleasant nor appealing.  Dominique dismounts.  "Wait here, Lu."

She motions for the Maia to follow her. He leaps gracefully from the swan, swivelling his head to take in the surroundings before following the cleric as she leads him onward.  Dominique crosses the bridge and stops before a giant statue that she points to. She stops before the giant statue but sees the Maia walking up the hill toward the fortress and she runs up behind him, her breathing heavily with slight panic. As they ascend the hills side path, Eonwe takes in the lay of the land, the feel of the earth, the smells and the sounds. "There is the taint of Melkor here," he says, his voice approaching a growl, and a hand tucking into a fold of his cloak.

Dominique Darkwatch nods, her eyes looking to and fro, knowing all to well what dangers may lurk here. "M'lord, this is a land of many beings, including demons and and other creatures bent on darkness."

Eonwe meets her eyes with a grim expression. "Lady Cleric, Olwe is the hope of the Valar. sent from the Undying Lands to reunited elven kind and draw together the forces of Light."  His nostrils flare as the evil of the place rises as a stench to him.  "What Comet, Fair Kin to Olwe, faces from this tainted, twisted land is but a taste of what is to come." His blue eyes meet her calmly, thought with a touch of sorrow.

Dominique steps close to the maia, almost protectively, her hand ready on the hilt of her sword as she looks around nervously. "M'Lord, I can feel it also, but I would not linger here overly long."

"No," he says, nodding. "Eru's cleric must not linger here. "He nods at her hand. "Stay your hand, skilled as it may be, and let us get you to safer environs.  I am Maia and cannot be touched by any here." He stares up at the embattlements.  "Come, please let us go."

Dominique Darkwatch smiles wanly, understanding now how ridiculous she must look, thinking she might protect the Valar's champion swordmaster. "Aye, and I worry about Lu. Follow me back across the bridge, and I will show you the other threat we face."

Dominique Darkwatch jumps on Lu's back and hugs her, comforted by her softness as she feels Eonwe settle again behind her and with a gentle word urges the swan skyward and northward.  Eonwe follows her back, and leaps up gracefully upon the swan's back when they arrive to where the great bird awaits. She turns Lu west and over the mountains and past the great tower of Sylvhara, lingering briefly before continuing toward the other border and the dangers that lurk there. Dominique lands Lu near a grove of trees, this time patting her on the neck and beckoning her to find a safe place to hide until the swan should hear Dominque's call. Eowne hops off the great swan and lands gracefully upon his feet. Here the air is sweeter, cleaner, and the palpable evil does not cling to this flesh of his.  Dominique watches how Manwe's herald moves so gracefully and easily and gestures around her "This is still Sylvharan territory...but we do stand near the border and other..ummmm....evils. Follow me."

Dominique looks up the hill. Eonwe bows his head and silently follows her.  His eyes warily look in the direction of her gaze. Dominique stops before the structure and she points to it soberly "Within there lies the evil of the Nightmare's Tears, that which nearly stole King Olwe's life"

Atop the hill, Eonwe feels the pulsation, a dark and twisted beating that throbs like an open pustule.  He listens to the words of the cleric and see the warning signs posted. "Nightmare tears," he repeats, and closes his eyes, his very essence stilling to feel the malevence which pulses from behind that roughly hewn wall. "What means that?" he asks.

Dominique Darkwatch feels the darkness emanating from this place that she usually takes great pains to avoid. "It means that any who enter there may face death, or worse, for it is said that the dark flowers are a portal for a dark abyssal lord, one who may be a servant of the one once known as Morgoth."

His hand itches for the sword at his back, the dagger at his waist, but this is not an evil defeated by steel or warrior's craft. This is a more insidious evil, and in its presence, the Herald begins to comprehend, even more, that which held Olwe in its grasp.  Death, yes, the cleric speaks truly. "Or worse," he repeats. "Such did Olwe of Alqualonde face. Such may others." He whirls around, and his eye fixes upon her."An Abyssal lord, " he asks." An old servant of the Evil one, yes, that is likely, though I can assure you Melkor is still within the void. Thus assures the Lord of the Winds of Arda."

Dominique Darkwatch nods. "Surely, M'lord, I would expect you to be much more aware of such things than I. But it seems as though he has been servants who remain and wield considerable power to do great damage. In fact, the Empress who dwells across the river serves such an abyssal lord."

Dominique Darkwatch looks to the village on the other side.
Eonwe turns and looks in the direction of the river.  "Yes, Lady Dominque, you are correct. Those who serve the Dark One may have gone to ground after he was defeated, but they remain.  If such power they display, then the Children must look for the source  of that power.  Great damage can the followers of the Dark Lord visit upon the Children, much pain and death and suffering.  All that I have see, know I will relay to Lord Manwe, that he in his wisdom, may reflect upon these things and discern the Will of Eru and direct our hands.  In his knowledge shall the Will of the Valar reflect the wishes and mind of our Father." He bows his head in reference to Illuvatar. Then he looks upon the cleric of Eru, her bright eyes, her shining countenance, her determination, wisdom and bravery. "One thing further is bestowed upon you so long as you carry that blade, Lady Dominque.  For if you have great need, I myself have imparted a bit of my will into it, so connected it is to me and shall remain.  Through it, you may call out to me, and by Manwe's blessing, I shall come and render such aid as it may be permitted me to do."

Dominique Darkwatch flushes slghtly. "M'lord! This IS a great boon you have offered me! I am pleased if what you have seen helps the Valar better understand what we face here everyday and how important is the work I do and is the mission of King Olwe."

"Thus must you be protected, Lady Dominque." he answers gently.

Dominique Darkwatch smiles. "I feel much protected. For this I give you and Lord Eru thanks. I may now, in my turn, protect others, for that is what I feel Eru has called me to do."

The Herald regards her quietly with his intense blue eyes. "You are, indeed, called, Cleric of Iluvatar, and you shall not be found wanting." He looks back over across the river.  "And now, Lady Dominque, I can tarry no longer, but must be about my Lord Manwe's affairs. Be  well, Lady Dominque: trust in the Love of  Eru.  May the Will of the Valar be done." He clenches a fist and brings it up to his chest over his heart, taking leave of Dominque and Sylvahara.

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Eönwë in Sylvahara

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AelKennyr Rhiano

Sylvamir Plaza was quiet as the sun rose.  Eonwe turns and regards Arien's fiery vessel as it climbed slowly higher into the sky.  His eyes waters, staring in to the sun, and automatically, Eonwe raises a hand to protect them.  He blinks a few times to clear his sight.  It had been many ages since he was last in corporeal form, and he was still adjusting to the "heaviness" of this physical body.  He lowers his arm and drops the hand to his belt, casting his gaze about the silent plaza. Somewhere in the distance, a horse whickers and stamps a hoof against a wooden floor. Eonwe draws in a deep breath, the sweetness of morning dew mingled with the smell of bread baking and the metallic salt from the sea.


The sound of his boots rang out across the empty plaza as Eonwe circles the expanse, studying each building in turn, his blue eyes intent on memorizing every detail. Here in the pale dawn, there was nothing about the silent structures that hinted at the dire situation the Lady Nienna, Vala of Compassion, described to Lord Manwe.  There were no embattlements that he could see, no tall, rough hewn keeps such as he remembered in earlier ages.  The buildings were more finished, more detailed, more ornate.

He regards each one with a soldier's eye as he weaves his way through the sleep elven citadel, taking in everything.  Is war truly coming to the realm of the Sylvan elves?  Would this all be in danger of being destroyed?  Up ahead was a building set apart from all others. Eonwe quickens his pace, and comes upon the temple.  Scanning it he looks for any symbols or signs that would confirm it was, indeed, a temple to Eru himself. But although he scours the exterior, he finds nothing to identify it as a place in which to offer prayers to Father of All.  Cautiously, the Herald of Manwe enters the building and looks around.   The first floor was clean, the sweet aroma of fragrant herbs everywhere, the floor polished to a high shine, the furnishings well cared, polished, clean.  Eonwe moves from one part of the room to the next, and then he carefully makes his way to the next floor. 

There were several small altars, each with its own pillow set in front for the devotee.  His eyes sweep the room. "So many, " he murmurs, moving up to the first one.  "Who is this maiden with a sword?" he asks himself, peering closely. 

It was not like any depiction of any Vala he was used to. He then walks over to the next altar, where the image hanging over the altar looks more lik a dragon.  He frowns, a puzzled look on his face. 

Slowly, he crosses from one to the other and then stops in the center of the room.  Turning around, he asks himself. "Where is the altar of Eru?  Can it be that the Children have forgotten?" he asks, and his voice betrays a tone of surprise and disbelief, uncharacteristic for the Herald of Manwe.  He cannot but help to wonder what shall become of the Children if Darkness falls again. If they know not the Light, shall they recognize the shadow?  Then he quietly takes himself to a part of the room and allows the physical form to fade away, patiently waiting for Eru's sole cleric to hopefully provide answers.

> Next     

Linfëa Reflects

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Fifi Wickentower

Far far from any land known to the Children,  Linfea Nensule rests and reflects on recent happenings: the mysterious disappearance of the Evening Star;  Olwe and the Ritual that brought him to the very gates of the Halls of Mandos.  She has not been near the Swan Haven since that memorable day.

She recalls, looking back, what now seems to be the beginning . . . the moment when the blight first appeared in the Garden . . .   none would grow ere the oddly colored flowers had been and naught would stop their flourishing.  Why, the remembrance of Vana swooning and falling to the ground as if dead herself,  unable to hear Nienna and later bringing to the Council the poor blackened stunted evidence of death in the very  heart of the Eternal Spring garden of the Undying Lands, was beyond anything she had ever seen. 

There is, in spite of the seemingly successful outcome of Olwe's recovery,  a darkness, a heaviness that no matter how the wind blows is not completely dispelled.  Voices carry on the winds from all the quarters of the known world and those whispers carry a commonality of un-ease, of strife just below the surface, of nightmares and waking visions of shadows.  There are scents on the wind that have rarely been perceived out of their normal realm: earthy,musty, scents of rot and decay, hot scents of blood and a cloying sweetness, as though a rich bounty of fruit had been left unharvested.  This is reflected by a restlessness that she has not felt since the bad old days when the rogue of the Valar created such chaos as to rip the very fabric of Creation apart.

There is also a different scent and vibration on the currents of air that she is so familiar with, an intimation of a larger creature of flight . .  .  . greater than even the great eagles of the Pelori's . . . the currents indicate a great wing span .  . . for Linfea is aware of each eddy and flow, each updraft and downdraft . . . each one a report of all those passing whether it be by air or sea: each sail and bird, each fish that jumps from the sea and each child that runs with a kite, every ship that sails and every swan that plays in the wake of a sailing ship.

Perhaps most unusual of all is the increased activity between the Undying Lands and Arda itself.  Never have the Valar been so active . . the travel between Realms is unprecedented . . . . . not only Irmo and Nienna , which is  strange enough to contemplate ( lost in the mystery of 'noodles' and 'kookin'  whatever that may be) if this continues Ulmo himself may be found to move from the depths of the deepest seas where he normally resides. 

As she sits and considers all that has gone before, the dulcet tones of the  North Wind wafts on the gentle currents, tickling and soothing her to the very core of her being, and creating a sense of yearning for the company of her sister wind and the counsel and company of Manwe Sulimo,  for it has always been within the safety of her home on the sacred mountain of Tanequital that she has found a moments peace and rest.  It is the place she calls home. 

> Next    

Fireside Chat -- Text-Based Combat – Taking Damage

< Previous     

Present:

Gwindolyn Spiritor  (teaching)

Rhûn Darkmoon (zu.dragoone)

AelKennyr Rhiano  

Lihan Taifun             

Belenos the Bad (belenosstormchaser.magic)

Summary:

In text-based combat, it is essential for all players to be fair and honest in accepting damage.  A player who hates to have his character get hurt becomes a general problem.

It can be difficult when the players are not familiar with each other's characters' abilities.  In that case, you may spend a lot of time in IM, discussing what is the most likely result of some action.  This would include the characters' skills, abilities, endurance, strength, resistance to magic or poison.  This process could be descibed as “thinking out loud” or “negotiation”.  In text-based roleplay you do not have a meter keeping track of these things for you.

(Example:   The fight between Gwindolyn and Nimros was short, but there was an extensive IM discussion going on behind the scenes.)  Much of it was of the form:  How would this action affect a “normal” person?  Knowing that, how would it specifically affect this character in this situation?)

A rather confusing section about magical abilities.  I think the overall conclusion was that magical abilities need to be cleared with the gamemaster (in Fourth Age, Sakura Easterwood) in advance, and cannot simply be agreed upon by the players at the time of the conflict.  Such abilities also need to make sense for the character's race, background, and training.  And magic must have commensurate weaknesses, and costs for the user.  All abilities and limits should be listed on your character card.

The example of “taking damage” turned into an example of debating the plausibility of a reaction.  (Perhaps also an example of why putting deliberately misleading information into your emotes doesn't always work.)

Explicitly stating what your character is thinking is a symptom of inexperienced roleplaying or of godmodding.

There is a difference between a character believing (perhaps incorrectly) that she is superior, and a player believing (without justification) that her character is superior.  The first is “character with personality.” The second is godmodding.  The difference should be expressed in the roleplay, although it was not specified how.

Lihan Taifun:              we'll see if my internet connection can stay on for an hour. It would make a nice change

AelKennyr Rhiano:   You have had a rough time of it lately :(

Lihan Taifun:              the connection has been terrible lately

Belenos the Bad staples lihan to her seat

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I hope you can stay, Lihan. your dwarf is just too much fun.

Lihan Taifun grins

AelKennyr Rhiano was going to offer, but not many people let him play with staple guns

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol@ Ael

Belenos the Bad grins.. I know.. that's why I did it for you

AelKennyr Rhiano:   thank you :)

Gwindolyn Spiritor adds superglue to the staples.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   I'm not allowed power tools...blushes

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So, with respect to Lihan's connection, let's get to business. Damage in combat.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      By all means.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  When it is on text, there is a lot of reliance on the other player to be honest and fair in accepting damage. This can be painful if you have someone who just hates to be hurt.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It can also be a bit tricky when you get to Rpers together who are not familiar with the other's abilities. Ael and I did a lot of negotiating and discussing in IM when Gwindolyn and Nimros fought.

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  The battle on NC may have been short, but the discussions were long. Just us talking between us to figure out proper reactions.

{Belanos and Rhûn crash, as do a number of people on Ael's friend list.}

AelKennyr Rhiano:   erm...you may want to stop a moment.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Hmmm. Belenos crashed. Gwindolyn Spiritor nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:   A lot of people just crashed on my friends list

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  The glue and staples worked though. *looks at Lihan still here*

AelKennyr Rhiano:   So I am not sure but if sl is having major issues

Lihan Taifun:              When Belanos gets back, we staple her down, too

AelKennyr Rhiano:   And Rhun

Lihan Taifun:              eeep, I didn't notice Rhun! that was half the class in one stroke

{Rhûn relogs.}

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Wb :)

Lihan Taifun:              wb

AelKennyr Rhiano:   It was weird watching several people crash like that from different places in sl

Rhûn Darkmoon coughs.. 'Thank you'

AelKennyr Rhiano looks over the top of the vase of ...dead? ....roses and nods in Rhun's direction.."Need velcro?"

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It must have been your friendlist, Ael. I only lost Belenos off mine.

Lihan Taifun:              superglue seems to work well

Gwindolyn Spiritor smiles to Lihan

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Well, Fox, Rhun, and Belenos went first...then a whole bunch of others.

Rhûn Darkmoon blushes... 'If it happens again I may need tying down, I thnk.'

AelKennyr Rhiano:   "Don't let it happen again. I think that is the topic of next week's class."

Lihan Taifun bites her lip.

AelKennyr Rhiano looks at Rhun with a serious expression.

Gwindolyn Spiritor grins "I've gotten pretty good describing ropework. And in rather .... uhm.... intimate ways."

Rhûn Darkmoon looks up startled... 'What'?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   "I think that would be for the ...erm...more advanced class..."

{Belenos relogs.}

AelKennyr Rhiano:   WB :)

Lihan Taifun:              wb, Bel

AelKennyr Rhiano reaches for the staple gun and walks towards Belenos

Belenos the Bad:        EEEE!

Gwindolyn Spiritor stands back and watches. She is evil enough to enjoy, but not dumb enough to be close.

AelKennyr Rhiano blinks, assuming a innocent expression.

Belenos the Bad:        oh no you don't.. I know ALLL about you and staple guns

AelKennyr Rhiano:   What? I am sure I can get it right this time.

Gwindolyn Spiritor roars with laughter.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   It's been a long time since I have stapled my shoe to the floor.

Belenos the Bad:        umm... I'm sure you could.. practice it on someone else first.. :P

AelKennyr Rhiano looks around the floor, his gaze settling on Rhun.

Rhûn Darkmoon casts a glance over at the instructress... 'I, trust my gift and apology are acceptible?'

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Rhun, your address of me today is acceptable on its own. But dead flowers is a nice touch. Thank you.

Rhûn Darkmoon smiles shyly... "I put much thought into what may appeal."

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I will also take this break to apologize for my own behavior last week. I did not handle things as they ought to have been handled and they will be done differently if such an occassions ever arises again.

Belenos the Bad wonders just how much it's costing a certain young elf to not finish his sentences in his usual manner and grins

Rhûn Darkmoon looks daggers at the Dragon Queen

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Thank you to you both. This ability to recognize and admit when things go wrong is what makes this group a community that works together.

Rhûn Darkmoon blushes

AelKennyr Rhiano passes the staple gun to Belenos. "Just in case Rhun needs help staying in his seat."

Belenos the Bad:        oh.. I thought you'd given it to me in case I had to staple that cheeky mouth closed.. *grins*

Rhûn Darkmoon feels his lips twitch as he blushes even more

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, so I will back up a little bit as I'm not sure where people crashed.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   please

Belenos the Bad:        I got the first bit and lost it after that

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  When Nimros and Gwindolyn fought, the notecard was not very long. However, the discussion in IM was quite lengthy.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   That was my first text based fight.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  We had to discuss things like our character's ability level, tolerances and skills. I don't know much about the type of elf Nimros is. So I too had to be taught.

Belenos the Bad:        as I remarked before I crashed although it didn't go through, with text based it does not have the advantage of a meter registering hits and damage.. so it must be agreed between the protagonists

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  We would talk about how things would affect 'normal' and then how it might affect ours. We would decide together how things went. precisely, Belenos. With two decently honest and fair players, this is more a talking out loud with a sounding board, than it is negotiations. But not everyone is so capable of reason. Gwindolyn Spiritor grins "We can all think of players that can't reason their way out of a wet paper bag."

AelKennyr Rhiano gets out the short list

Rhûn Darkmoon:      It is my experience that pride and ego can sometimes falter fair negotiations of this type also, yes?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes, Rhun, they can often kill a good RP. So if I were to walk over to Ael, and he allowed me through several pretty emotes, and I scratched his arm with my nails, who can think of possible results?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   You'll break a nail?

Belenos the Bad:        he'd go 'ow'?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Did your nails pierce the fabric?

Lihan Taifun:              if your nails were poisoned -- which knowing you they might be -- you might have poisoned him. right, also she might have damaged your nice white shirt

AelKennyr Rhiano:   nod nod nod

Belenos the Bad:        I'd have him sectioned for letting a dangerous drow get so close?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Good question Ael and very good thinking Lihan. ROFL Love the humor, Belenos, but I'm looking for more immediate.

Belenos the Bad:        Then I'd go with what they said.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  These are the sorts of things you would look for in my emote. If they were not there, you would have to ask in IM and work it into your emote.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   It would depend upon whether he was wearing anything underneath the white shirt

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Very good Ael. I was looking for that thought too. I very narrowly managed to not become mince drow once due to my metal sheaths in my boots that hold my throwing knives.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      And you'd both have to work within the limits of what a normal drow is capable of?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Rhun, you have to work within the limits of your character. I am a high priestess and quite favored by my Goddess. So I get little perks that can cost me quite dearly later.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   However, Rhun has a point.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  My Goddess has been known to grant reanimation with complete mind/memories in tact but then cost that person anything and everything they held dear.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      What is the later cost? Why is it a later cost when normally in combat the use of a weapon costs immediately?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   If your character is demonstrating abilities outside of your race and not given to your class, it needs to be logically explained?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  precisely Ael.

Belenos the Bad:        so you are unkillable?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  it depends on what it is granted compared to what it is costing.

Belenos the Bad:        I think Rhun has a point about the timing of the cost.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  if my Goddess granted me some boon, the cost would have to be visible immediately. Give me some weakness to it. Something to exploit. Even if that were just a minor portion of the overall.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Wait, wait, wait...before you would go using that in a rp, wouldn't you run that past the gamemaster?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It would be negotiated.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   negotiated?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It would not be 'dropped' without prior conversation in an emote. That would be fully godmoding. negotiated, would be talking it out with those involved ahead or in IM.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   wait, wait...I think I am very confused.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Such as Olwe's redemption was.

Belenos the Bad:        I'm wondering if it might not be useful for role play that not only when we submit our character background etc, we also submit a detailed list of their abilities and limits. So unless agreed later, these are what our character must work within

Rhûn Darkmoon:      Well I'm grateful that I'm not the only confused one.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Belenos, we have RoE character cards for just that, to be handed out as we start to see more combat.

Gwindolyn Spiritor nods "most places require that Belenos. I keep my on hand always. Keeps me standardized and saves godmoding."

Lihan Taifun:              I was just thinking that such a list was on our character cards

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Do I understand you right? That you would use that ability in a roleplay without first clearing it with the gamemaster or admins first?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ael, if a roleplay went somewhere unusual and i wanted to do something beyond my capabilities, I would stop and call any who needed contacting to discuss the possibilities.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   ok I was getting very confused for a moment.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  That is also a good way to keep an objective idea of 'cost' for it. That is part of 'negotiated'.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes, that was going to be my second part...Something of that magnitude needs to be cleared and set with admins...not other rpers

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I have stopped mid RP to IM someone and say "hey, wouldn't it be cool for the story if....." But usually anything of that magnitude is pre-planned.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes, but if in the middle of RP, I im Belenos and said, "Wouldn't it be cool if you roast Olwe to cinders, then it rains, and he springs up fully formed." I hope that first she would smack me...then she would call in Sakura.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  ROFL

Belenos the Bad:        yes.. cool story, fun.. but not within acceptable or expected limits

AelKennyr Rhiano:   heh heh right

Belenos the Bad:        I'd actually wonder what you'd been drinking

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  no, things have to remain logical.

Rhûn Darkmoon ducks his head to hide a grin

AelKennyr Rhiano:   and then you would roast me, look up and said, "Wow, not a cloud in the sky."

Belenos the Bad:        hahaha yes!

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Olwe was saved from death once. but it was with much discussion and negiations.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   and it was part of a major rp thread...not part of an individual's rp.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  And it was inline with the story.

Belenos the Bad:        so just what can kill a drow? Even one with goddess protection

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I'm mortal flesh and blood

Belenos the Bad:        so you would have the limits of mortal flesh and blood?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Daggers in the lung do quite normal death deals. I have abilities to heal as a cleric of chaos. But that has its limits and costs too. So though I can heal, I can't heal constantly forever.

Belenos the Bad:        Does healing take time? Or is it instantaneous?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I am highranked and well taught. Mostly, it is like your healing. One emote to cast and one to effect.

Belenos the Bad:        And how long after that before you may heal again?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I cast on Ael and it affects him in his response

Rhûn Darkmoon listens with interest

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Being that healing is like a level 2 spell and I'm a level 9 caster, I do have quite a few before cost really kicks in. But then I need to do my daily prayers and sacrifices. And often my sacrifice is my own blood. So deprive me of my rituals and weaken me.

AelKennyr Rhiano blinks. But that sounds like D&D

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  D&D is just RP in another format, Ael.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   We don't have level spells and character levels in 4th Age.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  it just gives an idea of ability. Skill. teaching, training. My teacher did teach me to cast using D&D levels and spell allowances. I had to work my way up through my levels in SL. I had tests to pass.

Belenos the Bad:        But wouldn't healing cost depend on severity of the wound? Say, a knife to the lung would be much more draining to heal than a broken finger, I would imagine?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  yes. The first time I knit together bone, I left myself standing in such a weakened state, I couldn't walk a step. I could only stand and sway unsteadily. I did mange to put up a forcefield, but that was all.

Belenos the Bad:        wait.. you could not walk, but you could put up a force field?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It took my last vestiges of energy to put up that field.

Belenos the Bad:        odd.. from all I know of that sort of thing, if you did not have the energy to walk, how could you have the energy to cast a force field, which is something that must be maintained. Or am I getting this wrong?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Belenos, I chose the protection over the escape. And had any tested that field, they wouldn't have found it strong. but none had tested it. Gwindolyn Spiritor grins "Sometimes a bluff works."

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Can we stick to relating these things as they would unfold in the 4th Age, please, instead of another system. I hate to say it, but I must admit all this serves to confuse me instead of help.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  now, we have gotten terribly off track.

Rhûn Darkmoon makes notes that drows bluff and grins

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, now Belenos, dear, give me a good emote that attacks me. Godmoding is allowed as I want the damage not the story.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Wait, please.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Yes, Ael?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   I may be dense tonight, but I think we lost me a long time back. I need some solid background that would put this in the 4th Age context.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  damage is about negotiating what has happened and what will happen. that is both within and beyond the context of the 4th age. It is just a universal skill.

Belenos the Bad:        oh no.. *laughs*.. I do not role play any more, my sweet.... choose a regular role player for that please.. *Smiles*

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  This is not about a story, please. I just need a blade or a claw against my flesh so I can show systematically how to decide damage.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   But there are different ways to do it and different practices.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  yes, Ael, I need an emote and Belenos seems shy. Do me the honor, please?

AelKennyr Rhiano looks over at Belenos and blinks. "Belenos...shy?" His hand reaches down to the top of his boot, his fingers tucking into the top of the leather. "I have never known the lady to be shy." With the swiftness of an one of the three great clans of elves, he withdraws an dagger and sends it flying with the precision taught him by Tulkas himself. "I think you are mistaken, " he said, as the blade whistles, three inches of mithril heading for the Drow's head. "DROW!"

Belenos the Bad grins at my protector

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, I need to ask a few questions as I don't know the references. All know elves are quick and nimble, but is the three great clans more quick and nimble than most elves?

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. I would say they are the equal of any Drow. and more than equal for the average one.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, and Tulkas is *THE* archer/ranger?

Lihan Taifun:              no, Tulkas is the wrestler :P Orome is the archer

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Tulkas (Quenya Tengwar: full spelling 1UjaE8 or vowel-abbreviated spelling 1Uja8; IPA: [Ààtulkas]) was the most warlike of the Valar and the last of them to descend into Arda, coming to the aid of the others when he heard of their war with Melkor. Melkor fled before him, and the Spring of Arda was begun.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  But does that mean he can aim?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Tulkas is described as delighting in wrestling and contests of strength. He wields no weapon, and rides no steed. As he cares little about either past or future, he is not a good councillor, but nonetheless a very hardy friend. He is described as being slow to wrath, but also slow to forgive‚ for that reason, he was one of the Valar that opposed the release of Melkor.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   heh heh...very good....you caught me out :P

Gwindolyn Spiritor grins. That would normally be in IM

AelKennyr Rhiano:   actually there are two pieces of misinformation. Tulkas is a warrior, and he is strong and skilled, but not with weapons. If I had cited Eonwe, that would have been an "uh-oh" moment.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I would then consider he is faster than I expect him to be. So I'm caught off guard. But then as he points out, he was taught to throw by someone who had no claim to knowing how to throw.

Gwindolyn Spiritor watches as the dagger whizzes past her shoulder. Her face shows her surprise and appreciation for his speed, but it turns quizzical as the dagger misses so completely. She bursts out laughing.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  _Sorry, I hit enter too soon-

Belenos the Bad:        and what happens if while the drow is busy laughing a further attack follows..

Lihan Taifun grins

AelKennyr Rhiano:   So, he catches her off guard, with a dagger aimed at her head, she can both duck and laugh?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  She realizes that had he any skill with aim, she might be wearing that dagger in the middle of a very important muscle, the one that moves her throwing and casting arm.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I did not duck. His aim was atrocious.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   The dagger misses so completely? I see..

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  He was taught to throw by someone who doesn't use daggers. But now, I'm vulnerable as I'm doubled over laughing. Ael, you said yourself, "That would have been an 'uh-oh' moment"

AelKennyr Rhiano:   hmmmm... I think the aim being atrocious may be a little close to godmodding. I could buy it if she sidestepped it, because she has abilities too. But to have it just miss when he has abilities and skills of his own...idk... I would debate that. and while being taught by Tulkas doesn't make him formidable by default...that should be called on by the other rper... it does not mean his aim is crap...just that it is not better for being taught by Tulkas.

Belenos the Bad:        I must say I agree, Ael.. Elves are hardly useless as humans often are to begin with. They tend to have more athletic ability naturally do they not?

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ok, ok, it doesn't. and good catch. Just because his teacher didn't have any skill to speak of, doesn't mean he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   The emote I did had two common flaws in it...it was an emote someone who knows a little about Tolkien might do

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  So next week, we will talk a bit about rectifying a mistake.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   How likely is it that I would have been taught by Tulkas, and why would he talk to me about daggers? and second...why is the blade made of mithrill?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I wondered that mithril part, but I'm really trying to get hit here. But for now, Ael, I'm doubled over in laughter, take advantage of it and do something to cause some damage?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   ummmm...will throwing a boot count? You missed my dagger :P

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol. Ok, then I will back it up and redo my post so that you hit me.

Belenos the Bad:        are you going to tell me you only have one dagger on you, Ael.. Have I taught you nothing?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   lol Sorry, I don't have any other logical weapons on me. atm Rhun was supposed to be guarding me.

Rhûn Darkmoon looks up startled. Me? No one told me this.

Rhûn Darkmoon throws a vial of rose-scented perfume at the drow

Rhûn Darkmoon:      Does perfume burn their skin like holy water does for vampires?

Belenos the Bad:        lol

Gwindolyn Spiritor was not expecting the elf to move so quickly. Afterall, she normally out maneuvers the surface elves. She had noted earlier this one was not quite as the others she had tortured, but his speed still caught her off guard. A hand reflexively pops up before she can even rationally respond to the thrown missle. The blade sinks deep into her palm. The point shining on the other side of her instantly stretching fingers. A scream hurls from her dark lips as she stares in wonder at the pale being before her.

Lihan Taifun:              (That is an amended reply to Ael's dagger?)

AelKennyr Rhiano:   (( yes ))

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  yes She could not sidestep fast enough to his speed. However, reflexes are faster than thought.

Rhûn Darkmoon:      ((wipes his brow, tucks his perfume away))

AelKennyr Rhiano:   What is the purpose to this line: She had noted earlier this one was not quite as the others she had tortured,

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Just expanding on her surprise.

Belenos the Bad:        it tends to give the impression though, that she is stronger than the elves, as she regularly tortures them

AelKennyr Rhiano:   there is a reason I ask this. I notice that when people do this alot, they are doing it to cover up either a lack of experience in emoting or they move from those types of statements to godmodding. I think Belenos is touching upon the same tendency? Have you seen it before, Belenos?

Gwindolyn Spiritor smiles "Drow don't fight fair. We fight to win. We raid when elves would be most vulnerable."

Belenos the Bad:        yes. ..we had to watch it in the role play in Oiolaire

Lihan Taifun:              when you say "when they do this ..." what exactly are they doing?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  A bit more mental workings, Lihan. what am i thinking instead of just doing.

Belenos the Bad:        In their emoting they imply superiority, without it having been shown in the actual role play. It paves the way for then a superior response in this scene

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes. always, stronger, faster, better, smarter...

Lihan Taifun:              wait ... "mental workings" is different from "superiority"

AelKennyr Rhiano:   I don't call it mental workings. They may think themselves so, but when two characters are rpng, then they need to demonstrate their abilities, not preach the party line, so to speak

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Drow think themselves superior whether they are or are not. They believe themselves to be the best race going on the surface lands.

Belenos the Bad:        but if that were so, why do they not rule the surface lands?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Too much infighting

Belenos the Bad:        Dragons often suffer from the same fault. They find it hard to concede they are not invincible.. and we had to be careful of that in our role play

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Their society is tribal in nature. With the most powerful ruling. To gain in power is to gain in everything. So they will war against themselves in order to gain, only to lose overall.

Lihan Taifun:              there is a big difference between a character who believes herself superior, and a player who believes her character superior

AelKennyr Rhiano:   but if that is not coming through clearly in the rp, that, then becomes a problem. Especially if the rper herself cannot distinguish.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It is her attitude. The whole way she carries herself. She was caught off guard and takes damage for it.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   No, no I appreciate she took the damage. Most whom I see rely heavily upon those statements normally do not take any damage or miminal.

Belenos the Bad:        So you are saying Gwin, that there is a difference between what she thinks she can do, from what she can actually do?

{Gwindolyn crashes and relogs.}

AelKennyr Rhiano looks for the staple gun..

Gwindolyn Spiritor smiles to Ael "no need for the gun, I just lost battery power."

Belenos the Bad:        run Gwin.. RUN

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Thank you all.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   lol No, if she just holds...still...approaches with the gun and a shaky hand.

Belenos the Bad:        and just don't EVER stick around if he gets the nail gun out

AelKennyr Rhiano blushes

Belenos the Bad:        all I can say is, thank god you are better with the daggers than you are with the power tools

AelKennyr Rhiano:   heh heh

Rhûn Darkmoon ducks his head and grins

AelKennyr Rhiano:   They don't let me play with power tools when i help with Habitat for Humanity houses...blushes.

Gwindolyn Spiritor winces as she slowly pulls the dagger from her hand. Her teeth clenched tight as even one who pierces her flesh regularly still feels such a pain. She looks to Ael as she says "you want this back?" her tight, clenched grin with maniacally sparkling eyes might suggest less than a sweet offering of handing it back safely.

Belenos the Bad:        I was going to say though, in regards to what we were discussing, it makes a difference as to the motive for the statements, I would imagine?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   But it was only the shirt I nailed to the wall. The guy wasn't hurt. And everyone else ducked.

Rhûn Darkmoon lets out a snort as he tries hard not to laugh

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol. Ael, when I say I love you in red, I mean your blushing, not your bleeding..... Though ICly, I might enjoy that rather well too.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   eep Can we continue this next week?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I was just typing that. You seem to be on all my cues tonight, Ael

AelKennyr Rhiano:   heh heh Well, I have renter who has a problem with swans invading his home.....looks over at Rhun

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  I think we got off track a few times tonight. I would like to revisit damage in RP.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes. me too

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  But I would like to do it next week. When we all have had a chance to clear our minds.

Belenos the Bad:        Yes, although I think there were some good points discussed, there's still a lot more to hear.. *smiles*

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. It seems very tricky.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  yes.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   thank you, Gwindolyn

Lihan Taifun:              yes, thank you

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Thank you for your help as always.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   We must have seem argumentative, but it was because we want to get it right and teach our rpers to do it right, too

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Understood.

Belenos the Bad:        i believe it's called 'picking the instructors brains'.. *grins*

AelKennyr Rhiano:   nod nod nod. I was doing it the hard way...with a dagger!

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  The questions were more advanced than I had hoped to look at this week, but they showed intelligence and experience in RP

Lihan Taifun:              I want to know why you can't make knives out of mithril. Does it not hold an edge?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   You can, but mithril would be an expensive choice.

Belenos the Bad:        expense and rarity of the metal might be one reason?

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  it just isn't common, lihan.

AelKennyr Rhiano:   and a bit over the top for the circumstance.

Belenos the Bad:        and the lightness.. would be hard to get the balance right

AelKennyr Rhiano:   I would ask the rper questions to satisfy myself that they knew what mithril was, were I Gwin.

Lihan Taifun:              heh heh, the lightness would make a strange projectile

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  It was a coveted treasure to have a shirt of mithril. not common as the cost of the materials was so high.

Lihan Taifun:              oh, I know that

Rhûn Darkmoon eyes Belenos warily in view of her knowledge of blades

Lihan Taifun:              also that Olwe COULD own a mithril knife, he has pearls and jewels on the beach

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Yes, he could and it would not be out of the question for him to know and use one. But an average rper, I might would question...just to be sure they knew their stuff.

Lihan Taifun:              also, that if Olwe did train under the Valar, it was 6000 years ago

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes. so unless he practiced, he might be rusty enough that only her hand was pierced and not her head. no matter who taught him the blade. See, the thing is the assumption that the student is only as good and as precise as the teacher. If you take that line of reason, it is very faulty.

Belenos the Bad:        and not only that, but does he regularly practice the skill he learned?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   Even with an average teacher, or a subpar one, if the rper has the prerequisite abilities and skills, he could make up for the deficiency of the teacher by his own right. -- Right Belenos.

Lihan Taifun:              " with the precision taught him by Tulkas"

AelKennyr Rhiano:   If Olwe is out practicing knife throwing daily, and is good at it...then that his teacher is Tulkas...that should be questioned as really important to the rp. AelKennyr Rhiano nods. yes, in that wording, I would question the rper, Lihan

Lihan Taifun:              you were the one who introduced Tulkas as the measure of precision

AelKennyr Rhiano:   yes, I did. It could also be that in the heat of rp, the rper mistakenly typed in Tulkas when he meant Eonwe.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Ael, I thought you had a swan party to get to?

AelKennyr Rhiano:   lol oops...sorry, yes

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  lol.

Gwindolyn Spiritor:  Careful, or I might have to come over there and turn your face red.

Belenos the Bad:        a swan party??

Lihan Taifun:             get that knife back, it is valuable

AelKennyr Rhiano:   hahahahaha! yeah, where IS my knife?

Belenos the Bad:        yeah, you gotta watch those drow with your shinies

AelKennyr Rhiano:   nod nod nod AelKennyr Rhiano frowns. Hey you, I paid good money for that!

Gwindolyn Spiritor blows Ael a kiss. "Come get it later, love."

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