Writing the Prologue

[Witch-king of Angmar]

Val, great to see you back on the forum. When you are able, we would all like to see you back posting. In the meantime, avail yourself of this forum to put up anything you might wish - your history from which this RP is taken, your Dunedain material, etc. We would like to see it all here.

[Valandil]

OK - I read the prologue this morning. Actually - I had read the first part before, and only scanned the second. But this morning I sat for a bit and read it all through straight.

Comments:

1. I definitely think we're giving away too much. This has two problems: (1) it throws too much information at the reader and could overwhelm them - and (2) it takes away too much of the suspense that reading the rest of the story will otherwise generate (they know how everyone is going to die, etc). I think the goals should be to (1) pull them in - and (2) give them a sense of how this part of Middle Earth history connects with the parts they know - if they've read LOTR - and especially if they've already delved a bit deeper.

2. I'm also not sure about saying Tarniel was "betrothed" to Beleg - firstly, because we're talking about someone else's wife - and second, because we really haven't worked up all those details. And I think Gandalf would be very well acquainted with all the parties - especially those in Arthedain, maybe even those in Cardolan and Rhudaur as well.

3. Some of it... is just stylistic. I may just paste it all into a Word document, try a mark-up and submit a modified version - would that be alright? (see #5 below)

4. Gordis - I'm still holding to my "gorge" theory. For one, I'm rather hard-headed. Also - I think when Aragorn and the hobbits spot the Mitheithel - and Bruinen beyond - they must be further downstream. The land is clearly falling off sharply as the river descends - and it rises sharply just north of the road after it crosses the bridge. Mostly though - I think I'm just guilty of forming this impression and clinging tightly to it. I'll try to be a little ambiguous and leave it "open-ended" when I take another stab at it.

5. I should not end without saying... there is a LOT of GREAT stuff in there already! It's always much easier to react to something and suggest "improvements" - than it is to actually come up with something from nothing in the first place. Once again, it's a wonderful concept that Gandalf is telling this to the hobbits on their return from Rivendell to the Shire - and a lot of the content is excellent as well. So... don't think you haven't done a great job already Gordis - even if I want to try a few things a little differently.

[Valandil]

PS: Also - Gandalf's narrative does not match with my history, in regard to the Kings of Rhudaur. Since so much is based on this, I could probably re-work mine to get Tarnendur to Gondor at the right time - but I didn't have the one King mentioned (Emergil??) - anyway, I have some ideas on how to modify the history, but I wouldn't put such specifics in my version of the prologue anyway - then we won't have to worry about contradictions there.

[Gordis]

Val,

Yes, better not to mention Ermigil. It was Celebrimbor's name (taken from his fic) and he is nor among our authors - great pity. Either you call the murdered King something else (if you rewrite your story) - or leave him unnamed.

As for the rest - mush of what you say is true.
Now please, post YOUR version of the Prologue and I shall critisize. ;D

[Gordis]

VAL, PLEEEASE, post your corrections to the Prologue!!!

It is high time to start posting the story!

[Valandil]

Spare moments have been rare lately - and short.

I'm very hopeful about the next few days though. And I keep it with me always. Have it partially marked up - so I'm under way.

Sorry to be a hold-up.

[Valandil]

Since I've kept you all waiting - let me give you a report:

When I printed off what was written so far, I got a bit over 7 1/2 pages. As of right now - I have edited all but about 1 1/2 pages. That is the part that goes into detail about the nature of the political situation in Rhudaur from 1306 to 1348. I plan to re-write that part and make it a little more vague for a couple reasons: (1) to keep the whole thing simpler, and maybe easier on those who don't have much knowledge of the setting Tolkien gives us - and (2) to keep the history ambiguous enough to fit into other versions - for instance, the history of Rhudaur that I had worked up before.

Can't promise - but I'm hoping to wrap it up this evening. Maybe within 14-16 hours of this posting.

[Valandil]

By the way - I think I'll add a timeline at the end - showing major events peripheral to the storyline of Arnor.

Gordis - you have done so many already - but could you perhaps prepare a nice map of all Eriador - and maybe even enough past the Misty Mountains to show all Angmar? Then outline all Arnor in one color, show how it was divided into Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur in another color - then show Angmar's boundaries in a third color?

I think a nice timeline and a good map may help people understand our setting much better - especially as far as how it fits into Tolkien's world.

[Gordis]

I think the best idea is to search for such a map on the web. I have surely seen some maps much like you describe, but I can't remember where

Maybe the others can help? My internet connection is quite slow - difficult to look through pictures.

Help, please!

I

[Gordis]

Well, I have colored some maps. It was a lot of fun - like we used to do in school. ;D

northernkingdom.proboards98.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=rules&thread=1174862256

I am uploading the maps now. Note: I colored them only by memory, so there might be some mistakes.