Dark Desires

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AelKennyr Rhiano

He reached up, above his head, and his hand once more rubbed the polished stone abdomen of the statue of Lloth, the Lady of Spiders, the Mother of Lusts.  His forest green eyes watched the faint reflections of the muted torches play across the dark marble surface, picking up flecks of gold within the stone as his hand continued to travel across the underside of the abdomen.  Then, with the grace given to elves, he pivoted around on a heel, reaching up with his other hand even as that one dropped by his side, and slowly ran his hand over the leg closest to him, feeling where the stone mason had perfectly replicated each groove, each curve, and bump. He had counted, and found that each leg had seven segments, as well it should, and each leg had three small claws at the tip. Below the pedicel, the waist, she was truly spider, but above, she was every male’s desire; hips that cried out to be grasped, full round breasts, and shapely arms that beckon a lover into her embrace. Every night, when she came to him, gave her body to him and aroused and took his passion, it was the ruby eyes of Lloth he saw. It was the Goddess of the Underdark, he surrendered his desire to. He burned within. He drowned in the flames of his lust and need for the Drow Matron, took and was taken, but never was sated. Never was the desire sated. So he coupled with her until exhausted dropped into dark sleep filled with dreams of Lloth, and woke again with a need in his loins.

That night, in her throne room, with so many drow packed that their dark skins made it look like the walls of the cavernous room had some alive. What few torches there were produced a smoky, barely discernible light, yet the young Teleri had lifted his chin as he was marched up the center of the pressing bodies, which cleared the path for him, muttering in their own harsh tongue, the words too guttural for him to clearly understand, nor had he a large vocabulary…just a smattering of phrases and words he picked up from the sword-master during the course of his training.  As he moved closer to her throne, hot words of defiance rose to his mind, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the male drow. As their eyes met, the old swordsman gave a brisk shake of his head, as though he knew what Nimros planned, and so the young Teleri bit back his words, and at another small prompting from the drow, he bent kneel to her.

But here, here was the one to whom he gave himself, his essence, his desire, his needs. His hand continued to caress the leg of the statute, a faraway, unfocused look in his eyes.  There was a sudden noise outside the temple, in the corridor, and Nimros froze, catching his breath and waiting. It would not do for him to be caught here like this. She still thought he did not know his way around this large, multi-layer complex called the Underdark, and for the most part, it was true. But he pleaded with the Old drow who taught him the sword and how to fight, and the swordsman had shown him the way here from his bedchamber down a little used and discarded set of corridors.  The male had seen the naked lust in Nimros’ green eyes.

The sound outside grew faint, and gradually died away. With one last loving stroke of his hand, Nimros gave a heavy breath and crossed the expanse of the room, treading lightly. He paused at the doorway, opened the heavy door once he was sure no one would be in the corridor and made his way back to his room to wait for the drow Matron. She would come tonight, he knew. She always comes to him after she and a group of the warriors went to the surface. With a mad gleam in her eyes, she always came to him, and the passion was wild, and ruthless, and he would wake bruised and scratched and bitten.

And always, always, longing for the day it would be she who was left bruised and battered, and, what was most pleasing of all to him, utter subjugated to his every whim.

> Next    

Fireside Chat -- Large Groups, continued

 Present:

AelKennyr Rhiano 

Rhûn Darkmoon    (zu.dragoone)

Sil Varnea                (lamilliara) Maybe she was using the identity of “Almara” this evening, but I am not positive.

Belenos                     (belenosstormchaser.magic)

Lihan Taifun           

Shawn Daysleeper 

Summary:

It would be theoretically possible to do a large-group roleplay entirely by passing notecards back and forth, rather than real-time – for example, if there were serious time-zone issues.

In Fellowship of the Fourth Age, we have sometimes done complex large group scenes (for example: Olwë's healing ritual, and the Balrog attack on Alqualondë) partially by notecard, by having individual players pre-write segments, or small groups of players roleplay in advance certain parts of the scene. It requires a large amount of planning and organization. In both those examples, it allowed a very large, complex scene to be played efficiently and smoothly in one sitting, as only parts of the scene had to be played real-time by the entire group. It does require there be at least an outline of what will happen in the scene, and it does limit spontaneity; it would not work in totally free-form roleplay. This prewriting was very helpful when one player had two or more characters in the scene. The prewritten notecards are limiting in that they require deciding in advance which characters are interacting at that given moment.

It is not practical or realistic for a character to respond to everything that is going on in a large group. In real life, people don't and can't listen to every conversation in a large room, nor notice everything that happens in a crowd.

In a fast-paced style of group roleplay, “body language” may be reduced to one or two words. * grins *

When one player is eager to move the plot along quickly, there is a danger that not all other players will have time to respond to events. This sometimes happened when not enough time has been scheduled for a roleplay session. Scheduling plenty of time allows everyone to have time to post, usually results in higher quality writing, and allows time to resolve any problems that occur in the course of the session.

The focus of the individual players will have a strong influence on the dynamics of the group. A group where each player is focused on the group and the quality of roleplay will be quite different from a group where each player has their own agenda.

We did an exercise where each player was given their own agenda: one moving the plot forward quickly, one concerned only with his own character, one doing long paragraph posts, one typing quickly and carelessly, one godmodding and metagaming, and one responding to every other player. The scene quickly degenerated into a chaotic brawl.

We repeated the same sample scenerio, using our own normal good roleplay habits, and specifically posting in round-robin rotation. The roleplay stayed on track, much more was accomplished, and the dialog was more interesting. The round-robin style did discourage back-and-forth banter between pairs of players (which might be a good or a bad effect). There is a strong tendency to respond to the player who posts immediately before you. It would be possible for a pair of players to respond only to each other, but that would require a lot of concentration.

Fourth Age does not typically use the formal round-robin style. We do a lot of ((out of character)) communication, such as asking whether anyone else has something to add before the action moves ahead.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Well. let's get started?
Rhûn Darkmoon smiles, 'Yes please.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  :)
Sil Varnea:                 What was the topic for today?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...the topic is rping within a group in rt. Actually, I should say that was the focus...doing it in realtime.
Belenos:                      as opposed to?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  If we were all rping as a group, with different time zones, and were using notecards... snap!
Lihan Taifun:            ewww, that might be even harder!
Rhûn Darkmoon grins
AelKennyr Rhiano:  That could work, but you can imagine some of the difficulties. oh, yes...
Belenos:                      so best to stick to what we will actually be doing.. :)
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Shawn, you and Carleen...didn't you two rp that way before?
Shawn Daysleeper:  We did not make it to that point. we never got around to doing that
AelKennyr Rhiano:  oh ok, Well, if you think about it, those of us in the room rping in the 4th Age done group rp by notecard... It was not the entire rp done entirely by notecard,however. Remember when the balrog and the dragon attacked?
Belenos:                      do you mean when we pre-wrote scenes for the attack?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  yep
Belenos:                      lol.. snap again
Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'I remember that being planned at the time.'
AelKennyr Rhiano nods. So..in a way, it can be handy and it can work...but man, it does take coordination.
Belenos nods nods nods
AelKennyr Rhiano:  And it does take alot of spontaneity out of it.
Belenos:                      I remember that well.. it took a lot of work
Lihan Taifun:            and in a way, we wern't all reacting to each other all the time
AelKennyr Rhiano:  And while on one hand it would be harder, as Lihan pointed out, on the other, doing some of the rp that way, made the realtime rp go smoother.
Belenos:                      it did. for the size of the scene it took surprisingly little time
Sil Varnea:                 To give me a point of reference since I've never RP'd through notecards before... is it similar to RPing through a forums?
Shawn Daysleeper:  ya prewriting some of the scenes that involve one or two characters helped move along the group rp that involved more characters
Lihan Taifun:            it could be similar, Almara. what Shawn and Carleen were planning would have been that style
Belenos:                      i've never rp'd via forums, so I'm sorry I can't say
Rhûn Darkmoon shakes his head, 'Me either.'
Lihan Taifun:            that is where I first learned
Sil Varnea:                 I imagined it would be, but don't let me derail the topic.
Lihan Taifun:            during the balrog attack, however, some people (especially those who had two characters in the scene) pre-wrote some of their responses
AelKennyr Rhiano:  no, no, this is a discussion. Questions are welcomed. :)
Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'Or else how are you to be sure what we are talking about. Questions are always good for clarifying things that may confuse.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now. there was something Lihan said that is a good discussion point...She mentioned that with using notecards that you cannot react to everyone. But in realtime, do you react to everyone in the group during the rp?
Belenos:                      I would think not?.. it's rather like RL isn't it?.. we respond to one, maybe two people at a time.. but never the whole group
AelKennyr Rhiano nods
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'We might respond to what the group is doing, like running away from the dragon, but we'd rarely address remarks to each member of the group, would we?'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  I know we talked a little about that last time too. I think, and please, Lihan, give me feedback, but what is really lacking is the spontaneous choice of TO WHOM we would respond? Sorry for singling your remark out, but it was a very good one, I thought :P
Lihan Taifun:            yes, that would be what is lacking
Sil Varnea:                 I imagine that somewhere there is a manic goblin or something that talks incredibly fast to respond to everything said. If anyone could do that I would be impressed.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  And yes, I have met that manic goblin:P
Rhûn Darkmoon grins, 'Or six.'
Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe
AelKennyr Rhiano:  In the rp exercise we did last time, where it was a "free-for-all" of one liners, you had only seconds to decide to whom you would respond.
Lihan Taifun:            and it could and did change, during the conversation
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Sooo....while it being in real time left you free to choose with whom to interact...yes, exactly...the environment of real time also creates limitations.
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'And that is true to life, is it not? One can be speaking and something will catch one's attention, but we are limited as to just how many conversations and actions we can observe at once.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Right
Belenos:                      so pros and cons of both forms of RP
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Very little is more bothersome than a rper who constantly notices everything in a group rp.
Shawn Daysleeper:  nods
Lihan Taifun:            in real life, our body language doesn't usually slow down the conversation, whereas describing body language takes time to type
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Oh, good point! Now, with a one-line rp style...the advantage is that most rpers don't even bother to emote body language, but rather uses a more telegraphic way of conveying things.
Belenos:                      which gets us back to what we were talking about recently about allowing time for others to respond and not typing over them
AelKennyr Rhiano:  nodnodnod
Lihan Taifun:            what did you mean, "telegraphic"?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Often, in a fast paced rp using such short delivery, you will get    *smiles*   *grins*   *shows teeth*   one word that has to stand in for several

*looks at Rhun* You have a spot on your shirt *laughs*

Sil Varnea:                 I had an RP leader a few years ago who would always type short posts that would try to move the story forward faster and I'd have to constantly retype my post because I'd have to respond to different things that were being done.
Rhûn Darkmoon grins, 'I see your point.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Yes, that is something I think most of us have experienced. Too often, they do it without thought to the others of the group.
Belenos:                      or to the quality of the scene
Sil Varnea:                 It was understandable sine he had a tight schedule and a lot to do, but still quite frustrating at times and not condusive to quality RP.
Belenos:                      Exactly, Sil
AelKennyr Rhiano nods. So there is a trade-off there, too.
Lihan Taifun:            it would be hard to do quality RP in a large group on a tight time schedule
Belenos:                      i think that actually touches on a point we encountered recently.. to allow sufficient time for the RP scene
AelKennyr Rhiano:  It would be...but it can be done. But the whole group has to be focused.
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Rushing the RP doesn't allow for the possiblity of a problem arising either. Sometimes it takes time to discuss and resolve an issue with a post.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  For example, take the time we did the ritual rp. It was a HUGE rp...yet...we broke down into part that were prewritten, parts that were written afterward, and what was rping that night.
I agree, Rhun.
But, the trend among the majority of rpers seems to be RP, RP now, and we don't need no stinking story :P
Rhûn Darkmoon nods sadly, 'Alas you are right. We don't need no stinking story and we don't care of we RP ourselves into a corner because we'll just godmod ourselves out of it.'
Shawn Daysleeper:  :(
Lihan Taifun giggles a bit at that plan
Rhûn Darkmoon grins back
AelKennyr Rhiano:  I mention this because to know where the focus is of your other rpers helps you to know the focus of your group. If you have people with that goal...the rp first, then their approach will be different.
Belenos:                      so it really does need to be a group effort... rather than a lot of individuals with their own agenda
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Precisely. And forgive me if I sound like was bashing anyone. I wasn't . It makes a big difference.
Want to do an exercise? :)
Belenos:                      uh oh
Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe
Belenos:                      what is the exercise? Belenos looks at you suspiciously
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...let's do a group rp
Rhûn Darkmoon grins
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Hey, you had fun last time
Lihan Taifun:            you did
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...hmmmmm....
Belenos grins.. I did
Shawn Daysleeper:  Manwe serves more beers lol
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Sil, may I ask you to be the rper who only cares with moving the rp story along...
Sil Varnea:                 Maybe. Do I have to come up with a story or am I just meant to post really fast?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  I will give us the plotline, but how you drive the story is at your discretion.
Sil Varnea:                 Fine with me.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Rhun...You are the rper who cares only about rping...Who needs the story anyway?
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Oh my. Ok'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Belenos, you are the person who is used to long para posts.
Belenos:                      'Oh gods, ok.' Belenos looks at Rhun and Sil and knows she won't get a word in edgewise and grins'
Lihan Taifun:            sure you will, Bel, but it will be 15 minutes late in the action
Sil Varnea:                 Don't worry, it won't be that bad.
Belenos grins, 'I wasn't worried about you so much, Sil, as this rogue next to me.'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Lihan, you are the rper who has to respond to everyone
Lihan Taifun:            uh huh, ok
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Shawn, is the rper who godmods and metagames
Shawn Daysleeper:  wow lol
Sil Varnea:                 Is this still a fireside discussion or a clinic for the RP insane?
AelKennyr Rhiano grins evilly
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'OMG,'.. grins at Shawn
AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol
Shawn Daysleeper:  I'll try hehe
Lihan Taifun:            I want to see whether Shawn even knows how to godmod
Belenos nods nods nods.. me too
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...the story... We are all thieves meeting in our lair, planning how to steal the Queen's gold tomorrow, as it passes through the town on its way to the docks to be loaded onto the royal ships bound for the treasury.
oh...I will be the rper who types fast and is careless, never looking at what I write before I post :)
Sil Varnea snickers.
Lihan Taifun:            with a sticky W key
Belenos:                      you know, you are going to break our brains making us do this....lol
AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol!
Lihan Taifun:            he is
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Let's let Sil start?
Sil Varnea:                 We all know who to blame when it happens then!
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Rhun! roflmao
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Hey!'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  *grins*
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'You are going to get a poke for that later!'
Belenos:                      and well deserved to!... :P and yes.. Sil starts?
Rhûn Darkmoon smiles, 'Please.'

Sil Varnea brings out a large map and points to specific spots. "The queen's storage is here, and we will be coming in through here at the kitcen here and make our wa to the storage here."

{Belenos crashes}

Lihan Taifun: Betsy leans over the table to look at the map

Shawn Daysleeper: Oh that is just silly, my plan is the only plan, just attack them here

Rhûn Darkmoon: The rogue growls, 'Why do we have to do it that way? I say make a bold strike!'

AelKennyr Rhiano: heyyy wzaat do I do?

Rhûn Darkmoon: 'I've always been at my best in a straight up fight. Damn this sneaking around rubbish.'

Rhûn Darkmoon:     ((oops, lost Belenos))

AelKennyr Rhiano: *llokes* sebce whan?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((she crashed :())

Rhûn Darkmoon snarls at Ael, 'Since long before you last found your way out of a bottle.'

Lihan Taifun:            ((realistic! ))
Sil Varnea:                 ((Taking her role to a new level.))

AelKennyr Rhiano: *humps** hear naw, u

Lihan Taifun: Betsy looks from one companion to the next, to the next. "Will you boys shut up a minute and listen?"

Shawn Daysleeper: takes the map and throws it on the floor. "I said we attack them this way and follow my plan."

Sil Varnea: "You can all die with your plans for all I care. If we don't strike soon our chance will be lost."

Rhûn Darkmoon clouts Ael across the ear, 'Don't you 'hear now' me, you sot. Who do you think you are talking to, huh?'... swaggers a little

AelKennyr Rhiano: *reaaches ober and pickes Sahwn's pocket*

Shawn Daysleeper: "Hey" he calls forth super lightning and strikes Ael dead.

Rhûn Darkmoon:     (DIES!!)

Lihan Taifun grabs the map off the floor, and glares at Rhun. "He's only our best swordsman!"

Sil Varnea:                 ((*dies of laughter*))

AelKennyr Rhiano: *dies misspelling as he breathes his last*

Rhûn Darkmoon: "Ha! Who are you talking to, wench! Since when is HE the only good swordsman? I can take on six men at once, up front, just like that!'.. snaps his fingers

Lihan Taifun whacks Rhun over the head with the map. "Look what you did now! Are you going to clean up that mess?"

Rhûn Darkmoon:     ((Oh gods, how am I to think when you do that!))

Sil Varnea: "Are you all done arguing over twigs or are we going to go? The more time we waste here the more time we lose."

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((ROFLMAO))

Lihan Taifun: "that's not a twig, that's a dead body!"

Shawn Daysleeper: "Hey there is only one way to do this. I know exactly where the gold is and just follow me."

Rhûn Darkmoon leans forward and picks up the wench and bundles her over his shoulder before delivering three sound whacks to her bottom and then setting her down on the table amidst the tankards, 'You be minding who you are striking there, woman!'

Shawn Daysleeper: "Or I will smite you"

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ummm...ok....before we kill each other.

Rhûn Darkmoon turns from the woman to Shawn, 'Oh you will, will you? You and whose army?'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  well, more of us

Lihan Taifun kicks Rhun in the ribs, while shouting at Shawn ...

AelKennyr Rhiano:  LOL
Shawn Daysleeper:  poor Ael
Lihan Taifun:            rofl ... that is too hard!
Rhûn Darkmoon grins and snorts with laughter, 'Omg, I can't believe I did all that!'
AelKennyr Rhiano:  I know...omg... lol
Shawn Daysleeper:  that was hard
Sil Varnea:                 Ow.... I laughed too hard. x.x
Rhûn Darkmoon nods nods nods
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Exaggerated, I know, but when you look at the group dynamics...what did you find?
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Laughing does not help when one is trying to RP badly.'
Lihan Taifun:            Belenos, if she were here,might have gotten one post in?
Sil Varnea:                 I spent more time laughing than RPing.
Shawn Daysleeper:  no one would want to read that rp
AelKennyr Rhiano:  One post, if she were lucky
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'And how relevent would it have been with how fast the scene moved?'
Lihan Taifun:            it might have been the one post of saying "hello"
AelKennyr Rhiano:  right. Now, I would like to redo the scene, with a few modifications. same plot, but now we are ourselves, good rpers.
Rhûn Darkmoon listens with interest
AelKennyr Rhiano:  And I would like to do the rp in a "round robin" style. This is quite common approach in a group rp. This time I will ask Lihan to start us off, and we will move in a clockwise fashion. This does not limit, btw, who you choose to respond to. It just sets the order of who responds when.

Lihan Taifun: Betsy flounces into the den, only a few minutes late, and sees that everyone else is already here. "Hey, guys," she pouts, "what's the plan?"

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((not pushing...just pointing out Sil would be next, then Rhun, etc.))

Sil Varnea Keanna looks over at Betsy from her spot, sitting on a wooden chair on the edge of the room. "We've not discussed it yet." She waves her arm, gesturing the woman in. "Shall we begin, then" Her eyes move to the others questioningly.

Rhûn Darkmoon: 'Oh what is there to discuss? I say we just attack, up front, in a good clean fight. I want some action and I want it now!'

AelKennyr Rhiano glances up as the woman enters the room, marking her entrance. "As if you are going to do any of the heavy work." His eyes flick over, briefly, to the Rogue. "And you, pup? Go ahead! The last fool who had such an 'elaborate' plan wore his noose very tightly."

{Belenos returns. Greetings.}
Rhûn Darkmoon:     ((Hey, wasn't Ael supposed to be typing and not checking what he typed? ))
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((no? You are supposed to be yourself))

Shawn Daysleeper: looks around between Ael and the others "lets just calm down, a well laid plan is easier to act on than a rushed one. I'd rather have some cash than have a noose."

Rhûn Darkmoon:     (('Ohhhh.. *penny drops*))
AelKennyr Rhiano:  [20:02] You: Now, I would like to redo the scene, with a few modifications.
[20:02] You: same plot, but now we are ourselves, good rpers.
[20:03] Rhûn Darkmoon (zu.dragoone) listens with interest
[20:03] You: And I would like to do the rp in a "round robin" style.
[20:03] You: This is quite common approach in a group rp.
Rhûn Darkmoon:     ((*blushes and grins sheepishly*.. 'Oops'))
Sil Varnea:                 ((Don't worry, I was hopeful he would do it again too...))

Lihan Taifun: Betsy grabs a mug of beer off the counter, before plopping into her chair. "Yeah, cash sounds a whole lot better than a noose. But why is this so hard? We know where the gold is, don't we? Can't we just sneak in an get it now? Um, we do know, don't we?"

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((it is ok :) ))
Shawn Daysleeper:  (oops? )
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((hahaha))

Sil Varnea Keanna shakes her head softly. "No, I imagine the bigger problem is how the group of us will go by unnoticed without drawing attention from any guards or patrols. We're a small group so it will be easy on the outside, but inside it will be harder to stay unnoticed if we stay together."

Rhûn Darkmoon smiles insolently and leans against the wall, his ankles crossed, 'I vote that Ael creates a diversion, so the rest of us can do the serious work, unnoticed.'

AelKennyr Rhiano looks up at Rhun and sneers, "Be happy, to, Boy. Then you can see a real professional at work." He leans back in his chair, a wild gleam in his eyes.

Belenos:                      ((*giggles like mad*))
Sil Varnea:                 ((Was Belenos not going to join us in this?))
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((OOPS!))
Belenos:                      ((no, I'm out of it.. missed the first round and now am giggling too much to type))
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((smacks h((Let's stop after Shawn's post, please.))

Shawn Daysleeper: laughs at Ael's claims "Of course, you can go first on this venture. I'll cover your escape route if your actions are not up to your boasts" he laughs again.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((oops again)) Great! So...first...you notice how much smoother the rp went?
Shawn Daysleeper:  yes, it was much easier to follow
Lihan Taifun:            nobody's dead
{Ael goes afk for a bit.}
Lihan Taifun:            and here I had plans for what my character was going to say next -- which I guess is a good sign that we had a story going
Sil Varnea:                 Well, we were developing a plan, unlike the other attempt where it was all, "I wanna do things my way, nyah!"
Belenos:                      it was harder for one person to derail or take control of it all too
Lihan Taifun:            everyone got to contribute
Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'And as you said, harder for there to be bloodshed because others intervened.'
Shawn Daysleeper:  yes
Lihan Taifun:            and less bloodshed because we were focusing on the story
Sil Varnea:                 I laughed a little too much when Shawn used his force lightning. Should have gotten a darkside point for it at the very least.
Belenos nods... yes instant back and forth snarling wasn't able to happen
Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'So again, there was better control over the scene even though some may have wanted to derail it.'
{Shawn needs to leave. Farewells.}

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...so...let's stop here for tonight.. Do we need one more discussion on this, or move onto something else?
Belenos:                      I think we've covered it mostly?
Lihan Taifun:            I think so
Sil Varnea:                 I wasn't here for the last one so I don't know if this was discussed, but I have to admit that the Round Robin style does limit interactions a bit.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  I wanted to remark that with round robin, the tendency is to respond to the person who spoke ahead of you.
Belenos:                      it's not a style we use normally, Sil
AelKennyr Rhiano:  oh, no, it is not. Normally, we do try to be aware and let everyone have their say.
Belenos:                      when we did the attack we did a lot of communicating..
AelKennyr Rhiano:  nod nodnod
Belenos:                      I remember a few times lihan and I did the '(does anyone else want to respond before we post next')) thing
AelKennyr Rhiano:  Do you all have any suggestions for discussion next week?
Sil Varnea:                 I would suggest that if there is something that if there is an action like what happened between Rhun and Ael earlier... Where Rhun taunted Ael and he retorted, then the turn order could be skipped ahead and then continue on with the person who normally would have responded next.
Belenos:                      but then it prevents someone else from stepping in.. so again, communication is the thing... asking if others want to respond before you do
Sil Varnea:                 Then I suppose an OOC request to step ahead would suffice.
Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'That is what the (( )) is about.'
Echuir of Ithildor (harumi.oanomochi) is Online
AelKennyr Rhiano:  But an OOC requrest to whom? Everyone in the group? And once you go out of order, you could cause problems. Look at how I skipped Belenos because I was used to going after Rhun.
Belenos tries to pout at being skipped and fails
AelKennyr Rhiano:  :P
Sil Varnea:                 I'd imagine that after you took your turn it would go back to Belenos and then to Shawn after her.
Belenos:                      but yes... in a group it IS a group RP, and so action between two players really shouldn't take it over
Lihan Taifun:            it would take a lot of concentration to carry on a conversation between two people, during a round robin, but you could do it
AelKennyr Rhiano:  When a group is concentrating on rp like we were, the smallest thing can throw us off our game sometimes.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  oh yes, you could. And remember something, too... the more times you rp with a group of people, the more effective your communication should get.
Sil Varnea:                 Small things are the bane of many people. Especially if they are shiny.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  The more at ease you become, the more you know the other's style and preferences. :)
Belenos:                      so the more you rp together the smoother it becomes
AelKennyr Rhiano:  So...ideas for next week?
Sil Varnea:                 Battles in RP?
AelKennyr Rhiano:  any particular area of that topic? A few months back, we talked about combat, quite a bit. It is in our archives. :)
Belenos nods nods nods.. it is
AelKennyr Rhiano:  But you may be thinking of something we have not covered.
Sil Varnea:                 Well, the different ways to go about it. I've found three ways to do it myself. Dice, etc. Or just how to handle a fight against something like the Balrog that has been mentioned quite a bit.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  What about the rest of you ?
Sil Varnea:                 Or multiple fights all at once.
Belenos squirms a little... well.. as Ael said, it was just done recently...and I'd find redoing it so soon rather repetitive... *blushes*
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Have you read the role play of the attack on Alqualonde, Sil?'
Sil Varnea:                 I haven't. I'm distracted with a lot of things. I don't even come onto SL anymore other than for this.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  wow... so you are not rping in SL?
Sil Varnea:                 Nope. I have been doing an online table-top-esque RP with some friends.
Belenos:                      gods.. i did that in high school... lol
AelKennyr Rhiano:  We could talk about going up against Bigger foes. if you all wanted to. how to make that more realistic?
Lihan Taifun:            Bigger Foes ... yes, that would be relevant
Rhûn Darkmoon:     'I think foes would be good. BIgger and how to guage who is stronger? And yes, how to make it realistic.'
Sil Varnea:                 I like the idea of how to make them more realistic.
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok done :)
Belenos:                      now considering Suraumo, yes, that would be a good topic
Lihan Taifun:            and how to handle uneven matches of strength, and still have fun
AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...well, thank you, everyone. I hope this helps.

Nolë Goes to Olwë

< Previous  

Shawn Daysleeper and AelKennyrRhiano

Shadows fell across the throne of Olwe, King of the Teleri elves, Lord of Alqualonde and Tol Eressea. As the Lord of the Swanhaven descended the spiral staircase, his blue eyes fell upon the throne and lingered. A small smile played about his lips for a moment as he recalls how Earwen, his daughter, had sent him a new cushion a handspan of years before with a note in her tight, elegant hand. She had remembered how worn the old one was, and being the dear daughter she was, she made him a new one, Swanhaven blue with tiny seed pearls and accented with gold. Now, drawn to the empty seat, Olwe crosses the throne room and mounts the raised dias. Reaching out, he touches the cushioned back of the throne with outstretched fingers. "Strength through unity."  His brow knitted as he read the words.  "We are one short now," he murmurs, and his hand drops back down to his side.

Flustered by suspicion, the Teleri sailor ascends the hill towards the palace. The pearl covered walls coated with blackened char, left over from the attack of the dragon and balrog some time ago. He pauses to look at the market below, now in shambles where not long ago he swept out his old stall where he sold his foreign wares. Much has happened since. He has lost a dear friend, loss that left a hole in him. He also doubts another. He needed answers: he has to go see his king. He ascends resolutely up to the palace.

Olwe turned from the throne  of silver, his eyes sweeping over the room.  It has rained, unceasingly it feels like, every day since the funeral of the swordmaiden, and during that time, a silence has descended upon the Swanhaven. Deep it was, and expectant, waiting. For what, Olwe knew not. And so the sounds of footsteps upon the throneroom floor startled him.  Looking toward the doorway of the palace, Olwe saw the merchant Nole, framed against the morning's watery grey light. Glancing up, Olwe could see the dark clouds gathering again. Dropping his gaze, he looks into the eyes of the Teleri sailor and studies the face of his friend.  Stepping down to the lower part of the dais, Olwe greets him. "Good morrow, Nole. I think rain will be our lot again this day."

Nole approaches his king. Nodding, he says, "Yes, it seems that the rains of the world weep at our loss." He stands before his king. "I hope this morning finds you well." His resolute attitude falters some, now that he is here by his king. With a deep breath he posits his concern. "I wish to speak about the Musician Estelin."

Olwe watches Nole's face carefully, unable to read the emotions that flit across it, so quickly. At the merchant's last statement, Olwe feels a small lurch. Stepping down off the dais, his foot rests upon the soft, thick carpet that ran the length of the throne room in one direction, directly in line with the doorway. Keeping his voice even, Olwe nods and answers, "Of course, my friend. What about Estelin?"

He bows his head, hoping he did not sound too accusing. "I went to see him this morning and show gratitude for his assisting Elenwe, but when I spoke of the other musician Apakenwe, he... he did not seem to know how to respond. He seems..." He shows restless body language, as if not sure what to say. He is unsure how he should say what was really on his mind and choosing the right words is difficult.

Olwe bows his head, his eyes seeming to study a pattern on the ground, his head nodding as Nole speaks. As the younger Teleri pauses, Olwe glances up, his blue eyes intense. The small laugh lines around  Olwe's mouth are pronounced as he prods the younger elf, both not wanting Nole to proceed, but also unable to avoid what was surely to come, in Olwe's mind.

"I.. I think he is not what he seems.He did not seem too concerned his sister is missing." He thinks back to when he wanted to form a search party soon after the dwarf mother,  Aztryd, arrived with her baby. With all the recent events, having Apakenwe nearby seemed most logical. "My king, I would like to go look for Apakenwe. Should we not form a search party?"

Outside the skies were the color of old metal, and large drops of rain began to pelt the ground. Just without, on the veranda, the sound of the drops hitting the floor was loud. For a moment Olwe turned his head toward the sound. "And so, here is our rain," Olwe said softly, and with a soft sigh, he turns his head back to the waiting Nole. The ever patient, ever faithful. Clasping his hands behind his back, he moves a step closer, so that the two might hear each other easily.  "When you say that he is not what he seems, Nole, what do you mean? He is but a musician and a fine one, to be sure."

"Yes, but..." Nole begins to doubt himself somewhat before his kind king, but he had to tell him his thoughts. "His regard for his sister seems somewhat missing. He does not seem too concerned for her absence. I find it odd they suddenly appeared here one evening, and... he or his sister can't cook at all!" He pauses for a moment before voicing his final concern. "While we have found some missing Teleri abroad, how was it that the two of them found their way here if our land had indeed moved to the mortal world when the rest of our kin vanished?"

Olwe pats one hand against the other as they remain clasped behind his back. Tilting his head, he nods absently, standing still only a hand's breadth from the sailor. "They do strike one as a a curious pair, " he begins slowly.  Outside lightning weaves a jagged line across the sky.  A few seconds later, thunder shakes the floor beneath then. His eyes flick to the view of the sky just over Nole's head. "I am glad I sail not during this storm," he says to Nole.  His eyes glance over at Nole, to see if the merchant can be swayed a little from the conversation.

Nole turns around so he can see the sky where Olwe is looking. The seas beyond the harbour are very rough. "I do remember we were out there last winter, when I brought you home from Queen Comet's realm. The aurora dancing across the northern sky, and your failing health. It seems so long ago when that happened."

Reaching out, Olwe claps a hand to Nole's shoulder and gives a reassuring squeeze. "Yes," he says softly. "It does. I should not have come through that dark time without you, Nole. Your loyalty, your calm and thoughtful deliberation, your friendship and love. I would not be here this day, I think me, if not for you." He pauses and takes another step to stand level with Nole as they both, now, look outside. "Nole, one thing is clear. We must take leave of Alqualonde for a time. We must determine what has become of our kin in this world, where they are, who survived, and what allies they have. A Balrog and a dragon found our shores, too. If we do not see our allies, I am convinced our enemies will seek us out."

 Nole smiles at Olwe's proposal. "Yes, I would like to find more of our kin, there are many unanswered questions we need to pursue. I can prepare our ship whenever you are ready, my king."

Olwe nods, breathing a little easier now. "Consult your maps and journals, my friend. Once this rain eases, and the swan I dispatched to Sylvhara has returned, we shall set sail and leave our beloved home safe in the hands of Lord Ulmo." He pauses and adds, gently. "I am sorry, Nole. Apakenwe went off on her own without my permission or my knowledge. If she has not returned by now, I am certain that to search for her would be a fruitless venture. They are both musicians, and odd in their ways, but I know not of the customs of the world now. I have been in Aman for these turns of the ages. I have allowed myself to have the trust that Estelin knows his sister, and would sound an alarm, if he thought the need." He looks over at Nole and holds his breath, hopeful that this will satisfy the trustworthy sailor.

 Nole:lets out a sigh. If his king trusts Estelin, then he acknowledged he should as well. Nodding, he bows. "I will consult my charts and prepare for our departure my king." He turns to leave, already his mind filled with tasks he had to see to before departure.

Olwe watches the sailor turn and leave, no word of farewell falling from Nole's lips. There are no courty bows, no flowery phrases of parting. Just like that, Nole's mind turns to the task at hand, and, for the moment, the matter of Estelin and his missing sister is put to rest.

For the moment.

> Next Olwë     > Next Nolë    

My Heart Aches

< Previous    

AelKennyr Rhiano

"Unto my fair and most loved Cousin, Queen of Sylvhara, Comet, comes warmest greetings from Olwe of Alqualonde

"I hunger for news of you, my Sweet Cousin, and this morn, especially, my heart aches to know you are safe within your realm, attended well by your court. Here I sit, as Arien takes her vessel upon its oft repeated journey, yet this morn the shadows that linger, waiting to be dispelled by daystar's light, are in my heart, not easily dismissed by glow of that vessel's light..."

He dips the tip of the quill into the inkwell and deftly extracts it. His precise, neat handwriting belied the disquiet deep inside him this morning. In silence Olwe recounted all that has transpired in the Swanhaven since last he saw the fair Queen: the arrival the dwarf mother, Aztryd; the arrival and departure of the dragon Dometis; the attack upon his beloved Alqualonde; and finally, the demise of the swordmaiden. As he recounts the last, his hand trembles slightly. 

"My Much Loved Comet, I must not delay longer in what it is I am to do. Obvious it was that both dragon and balrog sought not only to reduce Alqualonde to a charred and burnt, barren island, but to take my life. I cannot but wonder if I bear responsibility for the death of Elenwe. For if I have not been here, would they  have found Alqualonde and wrought such destruction?

I must seek such as our kin as are still here, and those who are allied with our kin. I cannot do accomplish remaining here in Alqualonde. But, Comet, even after spending two full turns of the seasons here in the world, I know no more of our kin than I did when Ulmo himself removed the Swanhaven from Aman and placed us but a short sailing from your shores.

Beloved, again I must turn to you, for consultation and for advice. But above all else, my Cousin, I long once more to see your bright face, to hold you once more, and take comfort for myself that you are safe in Sylvhara. It will brace my heart to assure me you are safe within your realm as I become, not Olwe, Lord of the Teleri, but Olwe of Alqualonde, for I cannot be so foolish as to expect our kin to cast care or remembrance for those of us who journeyed West. The span of time as one age has flowed into another has rendered us, at best, tales elders recount as threads of fantasy to sleepy children fighting Irmo's blessings."

Olwe looked up from his missive and out the window close by.  The rain had started again, and the clouds hung angry and grey in the sky. Morning has come, Arien's vessel sailing steadily higher in the sky.  Rising from his chair, he continued to stare at the window for several moments before shaking his head a little and turning back to seal the letter.

> Next Olwë    

Nolë Doubts Estelin

< Previous Estelin     < Previous Nolë    

Shawn Daysleeper

Failure has characterised Lorien’s performance since he arrived in Alqualonde with his sister. Not only has he failed to keep at bay forces of darkness with the recent attack of the dragon, he has also lost touch with his sister, placing his mission at risk of success. His actions were being suspected by the inquisitive, and he had failed to save one of the Teleri from death.

Recalling the words of Olwe, Lord of the Teleri, he could not regain contact with his sister through mental communication. It is as if the Ainur have forsaken him in the mortal world. Even Este has not confided in him since her departure following the administration of the Elixir of the Valar. And now, there is blood on his hands: the Teleri maiden who could not be saved.

“The missive of Manwe,” he thought aloud. “I can not use my Valar powers. Have I not strived to stay within that course?” He thought of Ulmo and his actions to protect the king. “We both have been involved,” he thought silently.

He is seated at a table at home, in the house the Teleri Lord provided to both him and his sister. The same home where Olwe inquired of his sister, where Irmo reassured him that their true form would not be revealed. On the table, a magical globe rotated, depicting the lands of the mortal world and the tiny isle of Alqualonde amid the seas, easily lost amid the chaos of many countries and lands that the Lord of Dreams rarely visited.

A knock at the door brought him to his senses, and Nole the sailor captain entered, his face red with sorrow. He had found out about the passing of his friend. Rising, Estelin looked upon him, wondering at the tense moment before them.

“My King told me of her passing, and how you brought her from the ruins. You tried to heal her, for that I am grateful, but she is now gone.” He said sadly.

A tear comes to the Lord of Dream’s eyes. “I could not help her: her wounds were too great,” Estelin replied. “It was beyond my skill.” Had not Este been here? He questioned himself.

Nole was clearly distraught, and was not thinking in his normal rational self. Looking around the house he asked, “Is she still away picking mushrooms?” He was upset, becoming angry at either losing his friend, or the missing Apakenwe, perhaps both.

“She… she is still away, I do not know what has become of her,” Estelin hastily replied, hoping that would quell the sailor’s anger. Nole’s face flashed, as if the flame of fervour itself raged within.

“It is so strange, that you and her appeared one night on our shores,” Nole spoke, “when all the rest of our kin have vanished. You cannot cook, nor did you allow me to search for her when she first went missing! I feel that you are deceiving me somehow.” He backs towards the door as he speaks. “I now go to my king to inquire of this!”

Estelin bows his head, his heart troubled ever more as the sailor leaves, and he descends the path towards the castle. He thinks for an instant of simply vanishing from the mortal world, returning to his quiet garden and his beloved Este, and lying in his garden amid the lake of Lorellin. Watching the stars wheel overhead and the flowers bloom in the everspring.

But he remains on the Swanhaven, his love of the Children keeps him here, regardless of the events to come.

> Next     

Elwing Reflects

< Previous    

Cinnamon Raymaker

Emerging from a cocoon of exhausted sleep, Elwing stretches the kinks from her muscles and looks around her, taking in the sweet smell of fragrant flowers which someone has thoughtfully left in a pretty arrangement close to her bedside. The morning light streams in weakly, but the sound of pouring rain is easing. Smiling to herself, Elwing gently pulls back the soft bed coverings and eases to a sitting position, straining to hear any sounds from within the palace that might indicate others abroad. Hearing nothing, she carefully swings herself to the edge of the bed and drops her legs to the side. Noting the fresh water in the washbowl nearby, she carefully stands up, wobbling slightly on as yet unsteady legs, and slowly makes her way to the basin to refresh her face, ready to face this new day.

Gently patting her face dry with the soft towel laying by the side of the basin, she turns once again to locate the gown she had removed before clambering into her bed the evening before. She brushes a hand across the soft luxurious material, remembering the kind fae princess who had stored this gown away in case of the arrival of elvenkind on her island realm. Shaking her head to remove the thoughts about to enter her mind, and the sadness that always accompanied them, she takes up the gown and carefully pulls it over her head, letting it drop into place and fastening it with fumbling fingers. Spying a hairbrush nearby, she wanders across to the mirror and table and picks up the brush to begin brushing the knots from her hair. Once finished and noting the paleness in her cheeks, she decides it is time to refresh her memory of her uncle's realm, the part that is undamaged by the fall of the tower of Tilion. Finding her soft boots, she pulls them over her feet and takes a cloak from the hook near the door of her chamber. Fastening the warm cloak around herself, she quietly opens the chamber door and slips out slowly, taking her time so as not to lose her balance and stumble.

Making her way quietly and carefully down the ramps and steps of the palace is rather tiring, and Elwing rests after each two or three steps to catch her breath. Her resolve wins out, however, and her legs obey her iron will and carry her to the bottom and to the palace entrance. Stopping in the huge doorway, she looks across this haven she now knows as home. The harbour to the east, mountains and hills surrounding the palace to the north and an array of buildings surrounding the palace as if protecting it from an unseen enemy. Though, she muses, it would seem that Lord Ulmo holds all at Alqualonde in a special place in his heart - which she feels is only right considering most of those who had resided here over the ages were of the Teleri or close kin, the seafaring elves; therefore protection from all may often be called upon in the hour of greatest need.

With this in mind, Elwing heads for her favourite place, the harbour, the place she holds most dear to her heart, the place she feels most in touch with both her beloved and her benefactor. She draws close to the banks of the harbour and sits on the shore, oblivious to the light drizzle which is gradually receding from the sky. The swans in the harbour bob around on the tide, and she becomes mesmerised watching the ebb and flow of the currents as they wash in against this last bastion, the Swanhaven.

Elwing reflects back on the last few days with an observer's stance - trying to play back in her memory the events which have unfolded. Try as she may she can only vaguely remember what happened during her foray into the outer realms after she left Aztryd's grandmother's home. She knows in her heart she had seen the balrog but she can only bear witness to the devastation it had caused. This in itself causes her heart to ice over in terror - dark times are ahead - of this she is sure. Though what form the dark will take can not be guessed at this point in time. The inhabitants of the Swanhaven, including her uncle, Aztryd and her baby Nizl and the rest of the loyal Teleri, have already witnessed evil in several different forms - one can only guess what form it might take next and from whence it will come.

With these thoughts in mind, Elwing resolves to get herself back into better health as quickly as possible so that she can support her uncle and her new friends in any way she can.

It Begins With Blood

< Previous   

AelKennyr Rhiano

Outside the wind gusted, catching up hundreds of leaves off the ground and spinning them upwards, higher and higher, scraping across each other, colliding, twirling upon the wind, only to drop, lifeless, back to the ground. There was a sharp, tangy, chill to the early morning air as Olwe of Alqualonde wearily sank into his desk chair, his thumb and middle finger pinching the bridge of his nose.  The chair creaked in protest to his body’s weight, and as it did, the Lord of the Teleri plucked a sheet of vellum off a pile neatly stacked to his left, on the desk.  Drawing in a deep breath, he ran a hand gingerly across the surface of the desk, around the edge of the blank page. There was a sharp prick and Olwe looked down to see a thin line of blood across the pad of one finger, where the edge of the vellum sliced the flesh.  Turning his palm upward, the Lord of Alqualonde and Tol Eressea watched the blood bead up before running his thumb across the cut, smearing the blood. In the quiet between night and morning, when pink fingers stretch across the indigo sky, and Arien’s vessel prepares for its daily journey, the beat of his own heart was loud to his ears.  Slowly he lifted the bloodied hand and placed it over his chest, feeling the pounding as the muscle works to supply his body with the life giving blood.

He bows his head, looking down at the long, tapering fingers. Outside, the sky was growing discernible lighter, and the wind died down, only to pick up again, the swooshing of leaves as they danced upon the air an undercurrent to the heartbeat. Olwe shivered for a moment, the chill of the night air settling into his bones. Or was it the familiar chill of having lost a cherished one?  Over in another tower, in a chamber, Elenwe’s body lays cold and still, her soul, her fëa in exile, houseless. Olwe drew in a breath. She cradled his head, more than once, as he lay helpless, trapped by that Voice, that disembodied evil. She tended his wounds, wrapped him in blankets, saw him broken and spent, a husk, a shell. Still, she called him, “my king.”  He could see her as she was when first she came of Alqualonde. Her eyes, shining, the first time she took up sword and shield and practiced with him, a fierce joy upon her face. Her quiet shyness the day she spoke to Nole and him by the waterfall. That sweet voice, those bright eyes, that sure and steady hand…now there is but a husk.

I must tell the others, come morning, he thought. The dwarf mother, Aztryd, Nole, Elwing. So weak and still recovering, his neice, how will this affect her? He lowered the hand that rested over his heart and stared at the dried rust colored blood. Then his eyes slowly take in the vellum. There on the edge where he had been cut, there was blood, too.

He reached across the desk and with a flick of his thumb, opened the inkwell. Picking up the quill where it rested upon the desk, he deftly dabbed the tip into the well, and then brought it to bear upon the vellum.  The wind outside died down, and in the chamber, the scratching of the tip of the quill upon the vellum carried to every part of the room.

“Unto my fair and most loved Cousin, Queen of Sylvhara, Comet, comes warmest greetings from Olwe of Alqualonde…” he begins, and as he writes, the blood dries to a rusty brown along the edge of the missive.

> Next     

A Sleepless Night

< Previous    

Rhûn Darkmoon

The fire burns low in the hearth of the great chamber.  The hour is late, although none could tell in the chamber for so deep is it underground that the light of day never touches its walls.   Nor really is the light of day here in Aman ever more than a gentle twilight.  Yet mortal bodies have their cycles and needs, and while most are well asleep at this time of night, one stirs restlessly.

Here in this chamber, where a slight form rests beneath the silken covers of the bed, the tall, muscular person of Aulë Talka Marda paces restlessly.  He pauses in his pacing and glances to the sleeping form on the bed, so small as to almost be lost among the covers of so large a bed as he required.  "Nienna," he breathes her name softly, so as not to disturb her. 

How long had they been here together now?  The furrow in his brow deepened as he tried to recall.  It seemed so long ago now since they had met by chance upon the road to Valimar.   Since he had brought her to this chamber his world had shrunk to the limits of these rough stone walls.   He lifted his eyes and let his gaze wander over them lovingly.  Here was sanctuary.  Away from doubt and disloyalty.  Away from constantly having to prove himself worthy.  Away from lies and treachery. 

His feet resume their relentless pacing as his thoughts turn to the outside world again.  Had he not served the Lord of the West loyally all these Ages?  Had he not laboured to build the world as they knew it?   What had he ever done that his integrity would be questioned so?  Who indeed were they to question him at all!

He raises a hand to his brow, rubbing it unthinkingly, as though trying to dispel the thoughts that swirled within.  No.  No, he must not dwell on outside, on "them." Again he glanced around the chamber, as though reaffirming faith with a lover.  Here is where he belonged.  This was his life now.  This chamber was home, and the woman in the bed was his.  Sweet, trusting and guileless, Nienna was all that he needed now.

He paused a moment and stared into the fire, his arms crossed.  So why then was he awake when all the world slept?  "Because you remember, don't you?" the words whispered through his mind.  "Because you remember there was once a life more than this, but now you are mine and shall know the life that I knew."  The words trailed off in a roar of malicious laughter.  Aulë started from his reverie and looked around the room for the speaker, but no one was there.  The desultory crackle of the dying fire was all that could be heard in the room.  Nienna had not stirred.

Aulë  shook his head to clear it. "You are going mad in your old age, Maker," he muttered to himself, rubbing his brow again.  He padded to the bed, his bare feet making no sound upon the soft carpets that surrounded it.  Perhaps sleep would help dispel his mood, and later, later there would be Nienna.   The creases around his eyes softened a little at the thought.   He eased his body onto the bed beside her.  Careful not to disturb her slumbers, he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her warm and soft against him.  In time, he slept.  If his dreams echoed with malicious laughter, who was to say if it were dream or reality. 

> Next    

Fireside Chat -- Large Groups

 Present:

AelKennyr Rhiano 

Belenos                     (belenosstormchaser.magic)

Shawn Daysleeper 

Lihan Taifun           

Rhûn Darkmoon    (zu.dragoone)

Rajani                       (rajani.milton)

Leo                            (leonardo.rainfall)

Summary:

Entering and leaving a group roleplay:

If you need to leave, generally you would make an Out-Of-Character comment to the group, something along the lines of: ((Sorry, rl is calling. I have to go.)) You would make a similar OOC comment if you have a temporary interruption, like a phone call.

Generally, if someone crashes, the remaining players continue on, if that is possible in the scene. If the crashed player is important to the action, everyone may have to wait to see whether that person returns, and if they don't get back online, reschedule the scene.

Players may make other arrangements: “if I crash, say that my character ....”. You would only say something about what an absent character is doing if the character's player had made specific arrangements in advance.

Likewise, if you are joining a roleplay, always either ask Out-of-Character or IM one of the players. This is polite.

- •:||:• -

Timing – when is it your turn to post next – is an important issue, and gets more difficult the more players are in the scene. The group's style (one-line posts vs. paragraphs) makes a difference in how timing is handled.

With one-line style, the posts in a large group can come in very quickly and chaotically. There is a danger that slower posters (whether because of slow computer, slow internet, slow typing, or non-native speakers of the language) will be left behind.

Good group dynamics and good roleplay manners help to insure that everyone has a chance to post. Groups may develop guidelines relating to the order of posting. Some examples of guidelines:

1. Everyone who walks into the rp is allowed to identify themselves with a greetings upon arrival.

2. Anyone directly spoken to by one rp er is allowed to answer before anyone else posts.

3. Creation of a round robin rp...In which each rper is allowed one post in an agreed upon order...perhaps clockwise around a room, for example.

The details would depend on the specific group, and what works for them.

We tried a sample of one-line, free-for-all roleplay.

We found it fast-paced and confusing. Several conversations were happening at once, and it was difficult to remember who was talking to whom. People frequently "missed" a chance to respond to something, and sometimes didn't notice important pieces of the action.

The sample was less chaotic than it might have been. Everyone was an experienced good roleplayer. Many of the post were longer than "one-liners", though much shorter than the paragraphs we usually do. We included a lot of body language, and generally gave the other players things to respond to.

The conversations started out in small groups (in this case mostly pairs), and then people began to respond to other people who had interacted with them. This is typical of ordinary human social interactions. A crowded room will break up into smaller conversational groups. You won't reply to everything that is said in the room. In general, it is hard to interact with more than two people at once. Don't try to respond to everything that is being said in the roleplay.

Some well-mannered people in the group deliberately waited for other people to respond to what they had posted. Some others were limited, not by how fast we could type but by how fast we could read what everyone else was posting. At least we were reading what had been posted, which is more courteous than going off in one's own direction regardless of everyone else.

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...so we were going to talk tonight about rping as a group.

Lihan Taifun:            yes

Shawn Daysleeper:  ok

Belenos:                      that will be useful

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And we will start with the discussion talking about in real time. May I ask for from feedback from each of you about what you may want to discuss tonight in specific?

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Timing, I think.'

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Shawn Daysleeper:  timing is a good place to start

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'As in, when do you know when you should next post.'

Lihan Taifun:            That is an important issue

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It is.

Belenos:                      i agree

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...well, let's look at that. It is very important, and somewhat tricky. The more people, the more complicated it can get.

Lihan Taifun:            maybe something about how to join and leave, if not everyone is one the same schedule -- ooops

AelKennyr Rhiano nods...That is important, too.

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  In general, when someone has to leave a rp...say they have to go to rl...they usually will make an OOC comment...

((Sorry, rl is calling. I have to go.))

Like that. Or if they have to answer the door, or the phone, or let their pushy pooches out...they will tell everyone OOCly

Belenos grins

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes

Lihan Taifun:            yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  In general, if someone crashes, then everyone plays on, and IC, no remarks are made about their sudden departure, unless all were in agreement to do so before hand.

For example....let's say we are all rping together, and Lihan is aware that there is a bad storm that may knock out her internet connection, so she warns us all. We may agree that should that happen, and she not come back within a specified amount of time, we will explain her absence in the rp IC with some agreed upon explanation.

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'That would make sense.'

Lihan Taifun:            so there might be a contingency plan

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Yes. But notice that you never do that to another character without their permission.

Lihan Taifun:            right

Shawn Daysleeper:  right

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now, say like with Shawn and I...we have rped together a long time. We can actually give each other permission to do that. And that is fine. But we would never do it without the other's permission.

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

Lihan Taifun:            if we lost a critical player -- the dragon in the middle of the attack -- we might have to wait, or reschedule

Belenos:                      so it's all about communicating OOC.. either about expected issues beforehand, or an issue that arises immediately

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. And yes,you are right, Lihan. In that case, we would pause the rp and see if Belenos came back. And communication is vital in rping in groups.

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'That is the impression I have gotten when I observe them.'

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  With regards to "timing"....communication is critical. Now, there the difference between those who do one-liners and those who do text-based rp really stands out. The group rp is those who do one-liners has a very fast, sometimes frantic pace.

Belenos:                      and the faster typers can literally hijack a scene

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And do, at times.

Lihan Taifun:            and it is often confusing, because of chat lag

AelKennyr Rhiano:  How many of you have been in that kind of rp?

{Rajani arrives. Greetings}

Belenos:                      i have

Shawn Daysleeper:  I have

Rajani:                        what kind of RP?

Lihan Taifun:            I have

AelKennyr Rhiano:  one-liner rp, Rajani.

Rajani:                        hmm, like one line back and forth as if you're in a chat like this?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes, more or less.

Rajani:                        I've done that once or twice

AelKennyr Rhiano:  In that kind of setting, the group dynamics is very important. Because otherwise, you can sit there most of the rp and never get to type a thing.

Belenos:                      i've actually spoken to a rper i was with once in im asking him to please wait for my replies. he had rocket fingers when it came to typing

Shawn Daysleeper:  ugh, I do not type very fast and have to read the lines carefully sometimes before I respond

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'And that has to be allowed for.' 'Even in casual conversation like now.'.. smiles

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. This is where employing rp manners is very important.

{Leo arrives. Greetings.}

Rajani:                        nodnod

AelKennyr Rhiano:  A lot of group will create some guidelines to follow ... let me give you some common ones?

Shawn Daysleeper:  ok :)

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'yes please.'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  1. Everyone who walks into the rp is allowed to identify themselves with a greetings upon arrival.

2. Anyone directly spoken to by one rp er is allowed to answer before anyone else posts.

3. Creation of a round robin rp...In which each rper is allowed one post in an agreed upon order...perhaps clockwise around a room, for example.

4. Order? We don't need no stinking order...Good luck! Free for all!! :P

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'I suppose it all depends on what is agreed upon between all the players beforehand?'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And very much upon what they are used to doing in that rp. Shawn and I have been together in a rp where...omg...we could not get in a word, and our characters were central to the rp.

Belenos:                      really?

Shawn Daysleeper:  I don't like choice 4 hehe

AelKennyr Rhiano nods. It was frustrating.

Shawn Daysleeper:  ya I remember that rp

Leo gets frustrated just thinkin about it

Rajani:                        wow

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now...recently, Belenos, Rajani, and I were rping, and someone dropped in out of the blue.

Rajani:                        yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Immediately the person started rping with us, without any warning or greeting.

Leo:                             Was it a noob?

Belenos:                      nope

AelKennyr Rhiano:  In a group...if you want to join into the rp, you should ALWAYS either im someone in the rp or ask OOC if you can join.

Lihan Taifun:            but is that common on that sim? what are the local conventions?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Oh, no, I talked with her. She knew she was being rude.

Lihan Taifun:            oh my

Belenos:                      my sims are NOT official RP sims at all Lihan. some people may choose to RP between themselves and that's fine....

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It is a matter of general curtesy to ask someone before you just join in.

Belenos:                      and that person knew it too.. and admitted to Ael later she knew she was being rude..

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Now, we have had people show up in Alqualonde, be noobs to the rp, and if I know them, and know they really didn't know better, and we can rp with them, I don't mind.

Lihan Taifun shakes her head

AelKennyr Rhiano:  She told me it had been a week since she had last rped, and she knew she should ask, but she thought if she barged in, she might get lucky.

Shawn Daysleeper:  ya but it is not a new idea how to be courteous

AelKennyr Rhiano:  THEN she informed me that she could not be bothered to fill out a rp application, although she wanted to rp, and yes, she saw teh blog, but didn't really want to take time to read it.

Belenos:                      see, again it is the common flaw with many rp'ers.. the need for instant gratification and attention regardless of storyline or others

AelKennyr Rhiano:  "Thank you for your interest...move along."

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'Exactly.'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Group rp works best when everyone is respectful of each other.

Lihan Taifun:            I guess that tells us everything we need to know about her application

AelKennyr Rhiano:  her "non" application.

Lihan Taifun:            yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Let's do an exercise.

Belenos:                      this should be interesting.. :)

Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe

AelKennyr Rhiano:  We are all at the drunken swan. You can be whatever rp character you want. Let's try one-liner rp. And Leo can start :)

Belenos grins

Rajani:                        hee

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Poor Leo.'

Rajani:                        do we say who we are? ((ooops))

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Up to you.

Rajani:                        ((ok))

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Probably would be kinda helpful.

Rajani:                        clockwise or counterclockwise?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  heh heh...ahhh...but we didn't make any agreements on that, did we?

Belenos:                      I was just going to ask that.. are we going to do it politely or the who needs any rules bit?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  opps...brb...pardon...puppy puking...

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Uh oh.'

Shawn Daysleeper:  lol

Lihan Taifun:            or random *grins wickedly* 'cause I can type fast

Belenos:                      lol; i was rp'ing once trying to give tiger codliver oil for hairballs.. the only reason I succeeded is that i could type faster.. :D

Rhûn Darkmoon grins

Lihan Taifun:            eeeep

Belenos:                      hehehe... hey.. she deserved it; she kept doing these 'coughcoughbullshitcoughcough' comments.. *grins* so I said she had hairballs and needed some codliver oil.

Lihan Taifun:            you really wouldn't want that tiger coughing up hairballs all over the sim

Belenos:                      oh trust me.. it fixed the coughing.. :D

Rhûn Darkmoon grins, 'So just how much of that stuff did you get down it's throat?'

Belenos:                      oh... i'd say about half a bottle?

Rajani:                        hee -- wait are we rping now or just waiting on Ael?

Belenos:                      I'd say waiting for Ael... and Leo who seems to have gone afk without mentioning it... *throws a stick at him*

Lihan Taifun:            I thought we were waiting

{Conversation goes even more off topic while waiting}

{Ael comes back. Greetings again.}

Lihan Taifun:            another question -- are we being Tolkien RP characters, or anyone?

Rajani:                        yes good question

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok..are we ready?

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'So the rules of it are?'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  none

Rajani:                        oh dear, now I'm nervous

elenos (belenosstormchaser.magic): so we are at the drunken swan, one liners and we start with Leo.. ?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yep

Rhûn Darkmoon grins, 'Ok'

Leo is catching up real quick

Belenos:                      we are doing an exercise in one line RP. ... no rules.. setting as I stated above.. and you start..

Leo:                             A one line at the bar as my Balrog? oh boy...

AelKennyr Rhiano:  nope

Rajani:                        hee

Belenos:                      no no no

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ANY character

Belenos:                      it doesn't have to be your current character

Rajani:                        but it should probably be the same character from line to line :P each time you type

Leo:                             lol, alright

Belenos:                      lol.. well yes

Rajani:                        :P

AelKennyr Rhiano:  unless you want people to smack you..yes. :p

Rhûn Darkmoon grins at Ael

Rajani:                        eyes assembled worthies....nope, not saying a single word!

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Leo?

Leo: Gabriel swoops cockily into the bar, half plastered and his eyes scanning for entertainment of any kind be it a barfight or flirting with a lady

Rajani: "Hmph, kids these days." Naury thumps her drink on the bar and flicks a ragged ear in annoyance.

Rhûn Darkmoon: Mort sits nursing his Ale in a far corner, warily watching the carryings on of the other occupants of the bar

Lihan Taifun: "Bah, you said, it, Naury!"

AelKennyr Rhiano looks up from his drink and eyes the stranger. "How be you?" he growls.

Shawn Daysleeper: Manwe, Lord of the West, serves Moosehead Beer from behind the counter "Free beers from the Breath of Arda himself!"

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ((CHOKES))

Belenos:                      ((Giggles))

Rajani: "And who are you? Smart enough to leave those silly boys alone, are you?"

Leo jumps at the growl. "I'm...uh...goooooooood." He laughs

Rajani:                        ((LOL Manwe's beer!))

AelKennyr Rhiano curls his lips and rubs a thumb along a long, nasty scar on the side of his face. "That a fact?"

Belenos: Fanny the barmaid eyes the stranger who seems determined to take over her job tonight. Tossing her hair over her shoulder saucily she decides he's handsome enough and reaches out to grope his behind, leering drunkenly at him as she does so

Rajani: Naury eyes the drunk newcomer. "Gonna get his ears off shortly," she murmurs to her neighbour

Rhûn Darkmoon:     Morts eyes dart to the newcomver, narrowing warily

Leo stumbles forward, barely catching himself on a stool. "I heard free beer..."

Lihan Taifun: "He is," the captain whispers back to Naury. "Silly boy"

AelKennyr Rhiano's eyes flick to Fanny, and he reaches out and snags her wrist. "What do you think yer doing, woman?"

Rajani: Naury snags a claw in the edge of Manwe's robe as it goes by. "A beer for the Captain and me, if you please."

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...laughs..we can stop now...Thank you.

Shawn Daysleeper: Manwe, intent on getting everyone drunk, he leans up against Ael. "Here you are you handsome Champion of the Children, have a beer on me!"

Belenos: Fanny snarls angrily at having her wrist grabbed so roughly, 'Me's just having some fun. Who're you to say different?' she slurs drunkenly

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol! AelKennyr Rhiano claps. Excellent job.

Shawn Daysleeper:  ✦✧HaHaHa✦✧

Rajani: "Fancy a fight, sister?" Naury raises her eyebrow at the captain

Leo collapses fully to the ground, face first. He simply laughs in his intoxication, finding something or other funny

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Thank you.

Leo:                             lol

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...

Rajani:                        hee

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Tell me please...your impression of how the group rp worked.

Leo:                             A tad confusing...

AelKennyr Rhiano:  How so?

Leo:                             Unorganized *nods*

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Fast paced. I had to concentrate a lot more.'

Rajani:                        Would help if everyone was in costume, heh, yes, quite fast

Shawn Daysleeper:  it was pretty chaotic, I couldn't respond to all the people wanting beer and also do what I wanted to do

Rajani:                        yes

AelKennyr Rhiano nods

Rajani:                        haven't doen "live" RP like that in a while

Lihan Taifun:            and about 5 conversations going at once

Belenos:                      yes.. fast paced enough Manwe didn't even notice the barmaid grope his butt

Rajani:                        yes--though that was very bar-like. I thought the barmaid groped Leo's butt!

Leo:                             My butt?

Belenos:                      no no.. the one intent on taking her job

Rajani:                        oh! LOL

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Did you find that you "missed" some opportunities to say something at times.

Rajani:                        yes

Belenos:                      manwe.. giving out free beers

Rajani:                        ohhhh

Belenos:                      geeez.. lol

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Cheeky Lord of the West.

Rajani:                        it went by too fast, LOL

Belenos:                      oh yes.. definitely did... it went so fast

Rajani:                        hee

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...let me point out some things you may have missed?

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'And I had to stop and think who was saying what to whom.'

Rajani:                        yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Actually this was alot less chaotic than I thought it would be.

Shawn Daysleeper:  sorry hehe

AelKennyr Rhiano:  For one thing...you are good rpers.

Shawn Daysleeper:  smiles. ya everyone did well

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Ok...most of us didn't stick with one lines, although our rp was considerably shorter than we usually do. But...even out of disorder, you all created order.

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Maybe because we didn't stick to one lines? That little bit more helped?'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Quite possibly. It gave others something to act upon easier. Also, when Leo came in the bar..people fell into groups.

Rajani:                        yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  There was Rajani and Lihan, who apparently were friends. There was Manwe and the barmaid Fanny. I responded to Leo. Rhun watched.

Rajani:                        yes, those where characters we have played together before, I wonder if that was obvious?

Belenos:                      so you were both 'AT' the bar

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It was.

Rajani:                        things going by too fast to connect with the other characters I didn't know, but would have if the RP had kept going. the clumping of characters reminded me of actual social scenes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  but notice, too...after the initial "pairing " up, you started to respond to those who responded to you. Exactly.

Rajani:                        yes

[20:15] AelKennyr Rhiano:  And so here is what alot of people forget...even in totally freeform situations, we are social animals, and we tend to try to break down the group into smaller units, where possible.

In my case...first I responded to Leo. then I responded to Fanny. but I didn't try to respond to both at the same time.

Belenos:                      and I responded to manwe and then to you

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Part of that was the pace of the rp, but also part of it is our social nature.

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'Well, we don't usually, do we, even in ordinary conversation?'

Rajani:                        nodnod

AelKennyr Rhiano:  In general, as a general rule of thumb, people have trouble responding to more than two other people at the same time. And in this case responding means engage socially.

Belenos:                      are you talking one liner or text chat here?

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Either. Think of your real life social situations. Say you are at a party...a big one...how many people do you try to engage at one time?

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'It's not something we do usually in life is it? We may notice the words or actions of others but we only repond to one or two.'

Rajani:                        depends how noisy it is :D

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Right

Rhûn Darkmoon blushes, 'Snap.'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Right again.

Rajani:                        but yeah

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And that is true with rp.

Rajani:                        yes

AelKennyr Rhiano:  the noise in our case here is the chat from the others.

Lihan Taifun:            it usually breaks up into little circle of 3-6 people

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Exactly, but seldom are all speaking at the same time. Unless it is a mob, and that may be bad for you.

Belenos nods a lot.. mobs are usually bad

AelKennyr Rhiano:  The reason I point this out is because some rpers try to respond to every single person in the group rp. It's not feasible.

Rhûn Darkmoon:     'They would not be able to respond well if they tried that, and it would clutter up the Rp and rob others of their chances to speak, wouldn't it?

Rajani:                        I feel back when I am only responding to one or two people...but that is a good point. Yes, I've seen people try that and it comes across clumsy and floods the chat

AelKennyr Rhiano:  it does, it truly does, Rajani and Rhun.

Now in our little rp, you all still seem to pause and give a few moments to see if another would respond. Is that what happened?

Rajani:                        I did

Leo:                             Yup

Belenos:                      it took me that long to read what others posted after I did and then think how to reply

AelKennyr Rhiano:  So you were a group of well mannered rpers. :) Unfortunately, not everyone will be as well mannered.

Lihan Taifun:            yes, same as Belenos -- I couldn't read any faster

Belenos:                      <--- nearly bit the hand that grabbed fanny.. *grins*

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol I nearly died when Manwe started serving drinks. omg...too funny.

Rhûn Darkmoon grins

Belenos:                      so it's not how fast we can type, but how fast we can read

AelKennyr Rhiano:  It is both.

Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe

AelKennyr Rhiano:  But honestly...there are alot of rpers out there that all they do is type one rp post after another. They don't read what you wrote.

Lihan Taifun:            at least we were trying to read what everyone else wrote

AelKennyr Rhiano:  snap!

Rhûn Darkmoon nods, 'They have their own bus they are driving and really aren't interested in yours.'

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Exactly.

Rajani:                        yeah, that is annoying

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And common.

Rajani:                        isn't the point of RP to *interact*?

Shawn Daysleeper:  nods

AelKennyr Rhiano:  I have always thought so, but some people get so wrapped up in rping their lines, they forget the others.

Want to stop here and pickup next week?

Rajani:                        tends to go along with "I am great all-powered winged Jedi from the future with a mystical talking sword and a pet rhino, in my SPACE SHIP" school of RP

AelKennyr Rhiano:  yes!

Lihan Taifun:            I remember him. not his pet rhino, but the rest of it :P

Rajani:                        yes I thought you would :D

Shawn Daysleeper:  hehe

Belenos nods.. I think it's a good time to break it

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Fear me! I am King of all the elves in Middle Earth! And I know Legolas personally!

Rajani:                        hee

AelKennyr Rhiano:  Oh...and I am on first name basis with Manwe! I call him "Manny!" :p

Belenos:                      LOL

Lihan Taifun:            only once

Belenos:                      and I squeezed his butt

Shawn Daysleeper:  ✦✧HaHaHa✦✧

AelKennyr Rhiano:  lol

Shawn Daysleeper:  yay

AelKennyr Rhiano:  ok...we will continue next week.

Rhûn Darkmoon smiles, ' I think this was awesome.'

Shawn Daysleeper:  thank you everyone

Lihan Taifun:            this was fun

Rajani:                        yes, this was fantastic :D

AelKennyr Rhiano smiles. I am so glad.

Shawn Daysleeper:  yes this was fun

Rajani:                        Naury claps Belenos on the back in congratulation, hopes Belenos has hands left :D

AelKennyr Rhiano:  And you were all great!