Shadow Over Rhudaur Planning Thread

[Odaragariel of Mitheithel]

Ah, thats the Mitheithel fort I've been voting for! I did miss a lot of these Planning posts.... So, i'm trying to understand this plot-hole you're discussing... Gimilbeth has reverted to the Broggha side by now, right? And we're worried Tarnendur will be worried about her and not accept Gimilbeth's with the girls?

I'm still not entirely sure, but I do have a few ideas... If you are showing Odare from the ramparts, then what you need, of course, is Gimilbeth there as well. Since she isnt there in person, you either need someone well-disguised... it won't matter all that much seeing as he won't be able to see her face clearly, right? Or, if we really can't come up with plausible plotting, we can always take refuge in magic and have bloody illusions of Gimilbeth popping up all over the place.

Or some kind of letter in her handwriting, or containing things that only she knew. Maybe a fake messenger informing Tarnendur that Gimilbeth has returned to Cameth Brin. By the time he catches on, he's already retreated.

I hope I am addressing the right problem... still a bit confused about the scenario re:Gimilbeth. Hope my ideas help.

[Gordis]

odaragariel said:

Gimilbeth has reverted to the Broggha side by now, right? And we're worried Tarnendur will be worried about her and not accept Gimilbeth's with the girls?

No, she didn't revert to Broggha's side - she was kidnapped the same way as the other girls but sent further to Carn-Dum, while Broggha was besieged in the "Imlad" fortress with Odare and Tarniel. And yes, the problem is that Broggha can't show her from the rampart.

I'm still not entirely sure, but I do have a few ideas... If you are showing Odare from the ramparts, then what you need, of course, is Gimilbeth there as well. Since she isnt there in person, you either need someone well-disguised... it won't matter all that much seeing as he won't be able to see her face clearly, right? Or, if we really can't come up with plausible plotting, we can always take refuge in magic and have bloody illusions of Gimilbeth popping up all over the place.

Ha-ha! great idea, Serenoli! I am sure the Witch-King could help with the "bloody illusions". But I think Aewen or Malaneth dressed in Gimilbeth's dress would do- especially if "Gimilbeth" is not allowed to talk.

And Broggha confiscating Gimilbeth's dress before sending her to Carn-Dum would be fun!

[Eärniel]

... which shows that a simple solution is often the best. It would seem like you solved our problem, Serenoli. Very usuable idea.

[Valandil]

Just want to map out major occurrences of Nov 5 & 6 - so we can all weave our minor ones into them. Amend as necessary:

November 5:

am: Gimilbeth's party joins Dwarf + Elf Party
late afternoon: Merendil's messenger reaches Cameth Brin
late afternoon / early evening: Orc attack on combined party
evening: King sends word for Council to assemble the next morning/noon? Also meets with his young advisors and asks them to return to him the following evening - after the Council Meeting.
late evening/night (by moonlight): Merendil reaches the site of the Orc attack. Meanwhile, survivors of attack reach outpost at Last Bridge.

November 6:
am: Gimilbeth's remaining party gets an early start for Amon Sul *
mid-morn/noon: Council meets
noon: Merendil reaches Last Bridge - finds out whatever happened.
evening: King meets with advisors

* Gordis - this assumes Gimilbeth is not captured by the Orcs - but that could happen instead. Only... do you want her to go through two different capture sequences? Captured / rescued / captured? Is she to be released once actually brought to Carn Dum?

[Gordis]

Val, I am not yet sure about the capture of Gimilbeth.

On the one hand, the orcs may not stop the assault before they get her. She is the reason of all the expedition - Carn-Dum wants her.

On the other hand, I realise two capture scenes per one character might be too much, but that first one may last only a couple of hours.
The small orcs will have to carry her on their backs - and she is not exactly a feather . That will slow them. And then they will run into 50 men that Merendil sent to follow their trail.

As for the other capture scene far in the future - I guess it will look different and Gimilbeth will go to Carn-Dum - then maybe temporary released to bring doom on her brothers.

What do the others think?

[Rian]

This "other" thinks she needs a bit of a recap

I know that this isn't like the Wraiths rpg, in that we already have the end planned out. Could you please briefly recap what's going to happen? G is headed to Amon Sul, but at this point, the WK wants her captured, right? Will she make it to Amon Sul, after a failed capture attempt, and then get captured on the way home? She's going to end up with the WK, right? Then is she going back to C Brin? And what's happening with Tarniel, Broggha, the king, etc?

[Gordis]

A brief recap for Rian

Gimilbeth goes to Amon Sul. The WK sends orcs to capture her, but the orc's mission will FAIL. Gimilbeth WILL arrive to Amon Sul maybe only a day later than planned and with only half of her entourage.

Now within this general plotline there maybe some variations:

Either:
1. The orcs are repelled by the Dunedain, the Dwarves and 2 Elves and retreat after killing half the party but without Gimilbeth. The problem here is that orcs are still more numerous than Gimilbeth's party and should be stronger.
or:
2. The orcs attack, kill maybe 1/3 of the party and capture Gimilbeth. They retreat because their GOAL is fulfilled. But then while they are carrying her away she is recaptured the same night by the 50 Dunedain that Merendil sent after them along their trail. So Gimilbeth's captivity lasts only 2-5 hours, not more.

You see GENERAL Plotline-wise it doesn't change much. Gimilbeth still comes to Amon Sul.

That is for the immediate future.

Rian:'and then get captured on the way home? She's going to end up with the WK, right? Then is she going back to C Brin? And what's happening with Tarniel, Broggha, the king, etc? "
No, she won't be captured on her way home, I think. She will return from Amon Sul to Cameth Brin in March 1348. Then they all will live happily... till in summer Broggha kidnaps Tarniel+Odare+Gimilbeth and maybe also Wilwarin and Arynia.
Those who want to be captured, please submit applications in due time. ;)The number of vacancies is restricted. ;D

[Rian]

*gets out her application form*


thanks for the recap - as far as capturing G or not, either way seems fine to me. As far as the problem with the #1 option, it seems that you could just throw in some orc squabbling, as in LOTR (didn't Sam say something like "hey, they did our work for us!" ? ) before they get to Gimilbeth - maybe over when and where to attack - and that will solve the problem.

[Gordis]

I think we will leave this to the orcs - I mean to Angmar their Master.

[Witch-king of Angmar]

gordis said:

I think we will leave this to the orcs - I mean to Angmar their Master.

Gordis and Val, thanks for the recaps. Now for an update on current orc numbers, and a few comments.

Originally a company of 200 Angmarian orcs.

12 orcs near a hanging tree
Started fighting, 7 were killed
Leaving 193

(Durbûrz, who was killed by Boshok, and 6 unnamed orcs)

A troop of orcs is composed of ten men and one officer, a corporal. With no reinforcements expected, Boshok's troop is down to only one "effective" man - Saakaf. Boshok and three of the other men are wounded.

Actually, I don't like to fall back on the quarrel system to get rid of orcs. It becomes old after a while. Just fighting them to the death is more interesting.