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

[Eriol]

I have so many... now that I'm off of work and home, I need to decide to make NPC roster or do another Earenolwe bio segment, or reply to Rivvy's Bragollach update... my posting list is huge.

Are you using your Lindon Elves and Brona or more, @Tarawen ?

[Zôrzimril]

@Aigronding Mordagnir - Both! Plotting to do some more backstory development for Rilyanis and Calindo, and of course Brona will reappear whenever needed. :smiley8:

[Rivvy Elf]

Alright, I posted as the orc commander besieging the Haladin. Hopefully you all understand the Orcish dialect :P. Tomorrow will be Earcolante's flight.

[Eriol]

Let me know if you need help, @Tarawen ! I know too much .

@Dwarrow Elf , that "eat yo copses" part makes me wanna cry stinging tears of laughter right now . That made my day and it's only 1:49 AM for me .

[Laintaen]

I'm so excited this RPG has started!

@Aigronding Mordagnir, can I ask where you envision Beleg is right now? If he's not involved in the confrontation with Aredhel, I assume he's close by.

[Ercassie]

@Laintaen Aig’s post did mention other marchwardens stealing out of the shadows to support Silandhas and Mallosel who have noted Aredhel and co. You are very welcome for one of these to be Beleg.

In fact, given how extremely rude my Mallosel NPC is turning out to be in the post in writing, would you like Beleg to be the one who delivers the actual directions to Aredhel’s party, as quoted in the Silmarilion ? Because I am fairly sure Mallosel is not going to tell them ‘where to go’ in the best way to have them on their way.

A prompt will also be delivered for Doriath folk regarding the Council of Lords that @Aigronding Mordagnir mentuoned. Thingol does not want to support Fingolfin in any direct assault on Melkor, although the Sindar kings nephews are in fact in very real threat, in Dorthonion. My thoughts were for Thingol to call upon his most trusted of folks to confer with them that the Noldor might be kicking a hornets nest soon, and Doriath must be ready for the consequences, even if we do not aid our foolish kin. The Bragollach is going to effectively take out Dorthonion and the aforementioned Noldor nephews, and Doriath is going to face an awful lot of Sindarin refugees flooding in soon .. so it’s good to have everyone prepared for that. Obviously Beleg shall be welcomed in this Sindarin discussion, along with Mablung, Melian, Celeborn and Galadriel, etc ...

Does that/either of those sound like something you would be interested in ? I should have my post up today.

[Celebrin]

I think proper titling is more essential than colors. Everyone likes to personalize with their colors. With the year, the location and name of the story line, even a blurb of what the post is about is better. @Dwarrow Elf's posts are a good example. Even the way he divided up his Melkor post. Maybe I like making my posts stand out more than others but I think I speak for most lol

edit: also Aig is color blind apparently XD and anyone can use Ctrl+F to search for a title and skip though the posts pertaining to that story

[Laintaen]

@Ercassie - Both those ideas sound good. I like the idea of Beleg coming in and smoothing out tensions, so if you're willing to let Beleg do that, I can have a post up in the next day or so. However, my copy of The Silmarillion is currently elsewhere so I would thank you profusely if you could post the quote here.

[Eriol]

I'm glad you're excited, @Laintaen !!! Been too long since we RP'ed together here. Yes, you can use Beleg, our tactful captain, to smooth out tensions. I'll wait to post again as Sillandhas after you post. In that one, I'll give a GM update that gets The Elf-lords and Aredhel on the road again and this time being attacked by spiders. I'll have Aredhel lost in the shadows after two rounds of spider-fighting for me and Rivvy and get the Elf-lords sadly back to Gondolin to tell Turgon the unhappy news while bringing the princess to Himlad.

Okay, @Celebrin . We'll throw out the Color Codes altogether, Cassie and I decided together. If there's confusion we'll address the topic again but yeah for now, we'll do the usual post titling and location and year and icons (if wanted) as usual. I'll re-edit my post tonight for titling and right now I'll remove the rule from the OP.

I'm working on the Council of Lord prompt which takes place before the Bragollach in FA 455 and I'm also devising a Dorthonion response to @Dwarrow Elf 's rivers of flame; I'll have my Finarfin-loyal characters freaking out but I'm waiting for Cassie to attack their fort. I have to work most of the day again but I have an NPC list in the making since last evening.

I'll take Gothmog!

Color Codes removed from the OP.

[Ercassie]

... I'll have my Finarfin-loyal characters freaking out but I'm waiting for Cassie to attack their fort.

My Balrog is attacking Dorthonion only as part of the group under the command of Sauron’s group, Aig. I’m not leading any minions. Just throwing one of each of mine into each group.

@Laintaen Thankyou for taking on that quote for me. I can definitely post it here for you. Looking forward to working with Beleg

[Eriol]

I know, Cassie . While you're attacking my fort, Sauron and Thuri could assault Angrod and Aegnor.

[Winddancer]

No clue if you have these links: http://web.archive.org/web/201503231816 ... n-of-Endor
http://web.archive.org/web/201712052013 ... post664744

[Silky Gooseness]

@Celebrin i am on mobile almost exclusively so cannot use CTRL+F, alas; but clear titling should help: perhaps an icon for each story??

[Ercassie]

We have the use of some beautiful icons to distinguish between writing for Sindar/Noldor/Men/Dwarves/Orcs and I vaguely remember that at one point we had icons for the different kingdoms of Beleriand. So identifying the posts of others RPing where you were, was sort of like recognising your company’s banners across a crazy battlefield !

Something like that might be useful. I mean, we do have a lot of character icons too but faces (especially this many) can be hard to remember.

[Eriol]

Thanks, @Winddancer ! We'd be honored if you join us! I'd give you Gothmog...

@Ercassie , want us to make location banners? Use pics of places with the names put on in Imgur?

[Winddancer]

Nooo thanks! Way too daunting! <3

[Rivvy Elf]

If there were some way someone could find page 11 of that AoA main RPG thread or something...

[Zôrzimril]

Here are my NPCs. @Aigronding Mordagnir let me know if there's more information needed to submit them to the character list.

Ages of Arda IV: Mantle of Darkness
Tarawen's NPCs

Brona - Maedhros' herald (this is all I remember as of now. )
Rilyanis Nenalassë - Noldorin elf; currently (as of the RPG's timeline) living in Nargothrond. Calindo's older sister.
Calindo Hórëon - Noldorin elf; currently living in Nargothrond. Rilyanis' younger brother.
Tindo - Noldorin elf; follower of Finrod; father of Rilyanis and Calindo.
Rilye - Noldorin elf; mother of Calindo and Rilyanis; wife of Tindo.

[Eriol]

Aw, okay, @Winddancer ❤!

@Dwarrow Elf , wish we could see all of them, too . Feeling so nostalgic now. Though we can't see anymore, I'll put both links in the OP.

@Tarawen , short and sweet is good ! I'll put the NPC List in the Archives tonight even if my group isn't finished !

[Ercassie]

Ok well. My Mallosel rant is *finally* posted. My apologies to those of you unfamiliar with a certain hot-headed Sinda. Posting as Thingol may almost seem reasonable after that ! Anyone of Doriath IC/canon who wishes to throw a shot at the Gondolindrim, this is your chance ! The meeting at Menegroth shall be up very soon for further Sindar/Doriath opportunities. But no more tonight I'm afraid. Sleep required.

@Laintaen - Here is your quote from the Silmarillion. In the 'Of Maeglin' Chapter:

'Therefore the march-wardens said to Aredhel: 'To the land of Celegorm for which you seek, Lady, you may by no means pass through the realm of King Thingol; you must ride beyond the Girdle of Melian, to the south or to the north. The speediest way is by the paths that lead east from the Brithiach through Dimbar and along the north-march of this kingdom, until you pass the Bridge of Esgalduin and the Fords of Aros, and come to the lands that lie behind the Hill of Himring. There dwell, as we believe, Celegorm and Curufin, and it may be that you will find them; but the road is perilous.'

If you can have Beleg throw that in somewhere in your post, that would be fantastic *g*

[Tari]

Let me know if you need help, @Tarawen ! I know too much .

@Dwarrow Elf , that "eat yo copses" part makes me wanna cry stinging tears of laughter right now . That made my day and it's only 1:49 AM for me .

Plaza is telling me I am tagged in this post @Aigronding Mordagnir, but I am not seeing myself and I am so confused.

[Eriol]

@Ercassie your Mallosel post is hysterical! Sillandhas and Mal are going to have a funtime in this RPG, it may be their finest hour in Ages of Arda !

@Laintaen , you could write Beleg next! React in a tactful way to diffuse the situation and by the end of your post please say the marchwarden lines Tolkien used in The Silmarillion which Cassie provided.

@Tari , I'm so sorry ! Cassie told me on Facebook Messenger today that I had accidentally tagged you instead of Tarawen. I edited my post for Tarawen hours ago but I suppose I wasn't quick enough . But, you know (shameless self-advertisement here), since you're here...wanna play with us?

@Dwarrow Elf , can I have a character that is one of the few men (a mortal) who goes back with Earcolante?

[Aerlinn]

@Aigronding Mordagnir @Ercassie I was thinking earlier that location banners might be helpful and threw this together as a sample. Though...now that you mention it, by kingdom/faction might work better? I do remember those Sindar/Noldor/etc. icons.




But anyways, I wanted to try something long and narrow (but not too long for small screens, mobile!), with a clear color scheme (er, sorry Aig) that's easy to see at a glance but doesn't take up too much space. Whether by location or lordship or story...

edit: in retrospect that photo is too forest-y, but I was trying to find a wide image to go with the purple flower meadows in the archive locations

[Eriol]

It's okay, @Aerlinn ! If we're going with location banners, I love this one :D ! I know there's a lack of flowers but it is a time of winter in the RPG. Hate to ask you to change it though, . Is there a field of snow by a river (Could be one of the tributaries of the Gelion) which you could find? Beause of all the fire from Morgoth and Glaurung and the Orcs, the snow would be gone, I'm thinking right now. Is that purple for the font, dare I ask? Technically there's no other word for Maglor's Kingdom but the Gap so that's okay. When you say 'faction' do you mean putting "House Feanor, House Finarfin, House Fingolf, House of Beor" et cetera on the banners?

[Aerlinn]

So identifying the posts of others RPing where you were, was sort of like recognising your company’s banners across a crazy battlefield !

@Aigronding Mordagnir Heh, after I posted this I started thinking I liked this idea and it allusion to actual battlefield banners. Also, it would make me sense for the minions, instead of having orcs using purple flower banners while they're invading us

I'm on my phone so I don't want to attempt to list everyone out right now, but I could start working on them tonight...have to decide how to divide everyone. Do the Feanorians get different banners to help divide things by location too or is everyone House of Feanor? etc. Could probably do an overarching color for Noldor/Sindar/men/etc. and then divide by house...

Please anyone who wants to attempt a sorted list

[Rivvy Elf]

@Ercassie Well those are some verbal gauntlets and retorts Mallosel is throwing about. Hopefully Beleg comes in or I fear Aredhel's going to get a broken jaw. I like how you called them eunuchs, very funny. We'll see how Glorfindel and Ecthelion retorts to that.

The first part of my flight from ard-galen post is about 40% complete. I should be done writing the first part by tomorrow and you should expect to see it. I'll be posting the flight from Ard-galen in multiple parts (3 I believe), in order to maximize the drama, give the rest of y'all time, and to incrementally show the downfall of Fingolfin's cavalry in the Ard-Galen.

[Silky Gooseness]

Speaking again as a mobile user: that banner is lovely, @Aerlinn, and I would prefer less division than more: perhaps the same banner graphics by location, but a different strip of colour at the bottom by faction??

[Laintaen]

First post is up. That was fun! Thanks for the quote, @Ercassie.

[Ercassie]

*bounces* Ahem. But that was brilliant, @Laintaen I love it ! And you are very welcome on the quote. I often use an online version of The Silmarillion for convenience. If you like, I shall hunt out the link for you.

[Laintaen]

That would be helpful. I really should get my copy of The Silm back. I think I lent it to my boss before I was supposed to go on leave. But COVID cancelled my holiday and now I literally have nothing to read.

[Eriol]

Before I update the Aredhel storyline, taking @Dwarrow Elf and myself (that rhymed) into Nan Dungortheb where the lords and princess will get separated by the spawn of Ungoliant in the shadows, is there anyone who wants to RP the spiders attacking us?

[Aerlinn]

@Sil I don't do much writing on mobile, but I definitely read on my phone. So yeah, anything to make it easier to figure out what's going on and find things again. I'll check the format of these on my phone as soon as I post.

Current thought--why choose between story/location/faction when you can have everything? Sort of. I figure some things are better suited towards one than the other, so there's no need to force everything into the same format. Story banners for Aredhel and Luthien, since they're traveling throughout a continuous narrative. Location banners for places like Gondolin and Doriath. And faction banners for everyone Rivvy is trying to murder in the Dagor Bragollach (but with universal fire), which can also include location. Something like...






(my attempt at color coding: the Noldor can be different shades of blue, men can be shades of green, etc.)



[*prettpicture Gondolin prettypicture*]

Does that seem usable and make sense to anyone but me?

(Note: Trying to use open source photos as much as I can instead of Random Internet Art. Other than that, font/design suggestions are welcome.)

[Nurbor]

Will pop in tonight after work and dnd to at least get Fingolfin out there and moving. Sorry for the delays, work has not slowed down at all despite expectations.

After fingolfin isn’t on my plate I’ll look at getting into them is with others!

[Silky Gooseness]

@Aerlinn those banners are gorgeous on my mobile and I love them - I’ll let others weigh in though! I might have to beg you to make me some icons when it’s my turn to post

[Ercassie]

@Aerlinn I agree with Sil. Those banners look incredible ! A very effective (and attractive) way to find particular posts, once the thread become full of them !

@Laintaen - here is that link for you (and for anyone else who wishes to make use of the easy reference)
http://www.ae-lib.org.ua/texts-c/tolkie ... on__en.htm

I am aiming to get a Gondolin prompt up tonight. In the 'while Aredhel is elsewhere' sort of timeset. Looking at Aig’s game plan, it is going to be mostly a Free RP situation for Turgon's people until the obstinate princess returns in 400 FA, and then later, when we get a gift-wrapped body drop from the Eagles in 456 FA, after the Bragollach is done. I'm sure we'll be able to amuse ourselves well enough In the meantime.

For Doriath, I'll wait for @Aigronding Mordagnir post up that there IS a meeting, before Thingol refuses to attend. But there will be plenty of little missions and things available to get the kingdom ready for worst case scenario. Just because we're not going to war, doesn't mean we're ignoring the threat of war. Not unlike Gondolin, Free RP is going to make up the most of it. :smiley10:

And with that I think my little midland responsibilities are in hand .. *throws NPCs at the Bragollach*

[Eriol]

I'm finishing break. Got Kindle on new phone. Council of Lords up. @Nurbor , do your thing! And those playing lords and kings. I'll be back later tonight.

[Tari]

Bwahaha @Aigronding Mordagnir Nu plaza must save original tags and keep them in notifications even if they've been edited out. That said, I thank you kindly for the invite, but I am a terrible serious RP person and I honestly know nothing about what's being RPed here so I feel I'd basically be in the way. :smiley8:

[Celebrin]

@Aigronding Mordagnir What message did we receive from Fingolfin to gather? And is Cirdan among these? Or just Noldorin leaders?

[Eriol]

@Celebrin , he sent a message to them saying he wants to discuss the state of the war.

Yes, Cirdan will be there, leaving Galdar from Fellowship of the Ring to rule in his stead, a reverse of what we read in FotR. He'll think it's important enough and we can't forget his presence. Have fun!

[Taethowen]

@Aigronding Mordagnir sorry to kind of drop off the face of the earth, the past few days have been riddled with migraines. I need to get the Miss Meduseld competition kicked off this week for the Edoras Summer Festival, but can start Gorlim/Eilinel RP stuff this weekend, whenever you want. :)

[Eriol]

I hope your migraines swiftly pass away, @Taethowen ! I would enjoy if if you are able to post Eilinel this weekend ! Take your time! I've been having long hours of essential work so there's a bazillion posts I need to make for members and myself. Happy to get plenty done with Thursday and Friday coming up off🖋.

Nearly finished with my NPC list them I'll make a post for those submissions I've recieved here in the Archives.

[Turin Ringhûn]

Is Hador to be at that meeting? I know he was a follower of Fingolfin, and he was granted lordship of Dor-lómin for his services. So by that it seems, he would, but how the post reads, it seems like it's mostly the elf lords.

[Eriol]

@Turin Ringhûn you can bring Hador and Halmir (present Haladin Lord if you want him)! I'll bring Barahir as well. One of the main reasons why Fingolfin wanted the strike at Angband because Men were going to help them: " and that the Men allied to them were many and valiant." @Ercassie and I think it's a good ideas to have the mortal perspective.[

Also, anyone who are high-ranking soldiers like Earcolante and Mablung are invited to give their thoughts. I'll make a GM note./color]

[Rivvy Elf]

Part 1 of my Flight from Ard-Galen Roleplay has been posted! TLDR: Watch-man gets roasted twice, Cavalry General announces massive retreat, and I kill 4 named OC (original character) elves in one post.

If you have any characters who would be apart of the cavalry at this moment in time, please have them flee ahead of Earcolante unless you would like to RP with combusting horses and incoming volcanic lightning, noxious gases, and the flames of course.

[Eriol]

' "AAAARGH" screamed Aratauco'


I love it when authors write "AAAARGH!" in their writing, @Dwarrow Elf , you pulled a JK Rowling and it's great ! I'll follow your lead with the banners! I'll be one of the crisp-free survivors, yes .

Hey, @Aerlinn , post the finished banners you're making here for me to post in the Archives or would you like to? Just write an 'Ages of Arda' heading in the post.

I just realized that I DID in fact make an NPC list in the Archives and I just have to update it with the new submissions and my own which is nearly done .

[Ercassie]

Also, anyone who are high-ranking soldiers like Earcolante and Mablung are invited to give their thoughts. I'll make a GM note.

Yes, It is probably a good idea for Beleg or Mablung, and even any marchwardens etc who want to go along/something to do can show up at the High King’s court and let him know Thingol isn’t willing to attend a squabbling of children. Maybe a touch more diplomatic than that. Then bring back news to Doriath on what they decide.

@Dwarrow Elf I’m excited ! Very excited ! but also late with Idril *gets back to that first* :smiley10:

[Eriol]

NPC List is updated in the Archives.

[Moriel]

Hey all, planning on getting a post up tomorrow (Thursday- if you read Friday before I edited this it's because it's after midnight and I can't read a clock apparently)! I've just been knocking things off my to do list as quickly as possible while also keeping tabs/catching up here til now Aig, do you still need attack spideys?

[The Good Hunter]

I, too, promise to get up my Sauron post today. It's been stewing and building in the back of my mind making sure I don't screw his debut up but I think it's finally ready.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Tarawen and I are planning to introduce / get our NPCs in Nargothrond caught up to the present day - there's no problem if we go back in time slightly to do this and get them set up for later events (e.g. events of Beren & Luthien, etc.)? Will of course label everything with dates, so it should be clear what's happening.