In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 46):

I'm fine with starting this weekend.

I prefer swords over axes, perhaps I spent to much time among humans.
And I use a short bow rather than a crossbow :)

That's perfectly fine, Thrir, dwarves use swords, of course they do, they make the finest swords in Middle earth, it would be down right stupid of them not to make use of them :)

Short bow for a short dwarf, makes sense to me :) Cross bows are better for battles in confined spaces, such as underground tunnels and shafts, but certainly a short bow is a very handy range weapon, good choice.  Amy other weapons you need statistics for: two handed war mattock, weighted chain, maul (two handed hammer pole weapon) I'll find it if I don't know it already.

I think you are ready, Thrir son of Thrur.  Any last minute questions for me just ask.

Good night everyone.  I'll post the promised list of languages tomorrow.  Anything else just let me know, I'm sure I've forgotten something.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Fri 11 Aug 2017.

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 48):

Did you finish the languages, could you direct me to where they are listed ? Cheers.

In reply to Evia daughter of Dwalin (msg # 49):

He said he'd post tomorrow.

I'm a pretty good weaponsmith :), certainly better than the average human weaponsmith :) (and even average dwarf considering my intelligence is above average).

In fact he's probably wielding swords he made and probably made his mace too, short bow probably bought or traded for or 'found'.

Phew, okay that took longer than expected, I'm too much of a stickler for detail.  The language thread is up now for your perusal.  If there is a language you are interested in that is not up there let me know.  The list is by no means exhaustive.

I will have the beginning post up by Sunday, or at least that is my intention.  I think, except for a few details, everyone has their character written and ready.  Consider, for those who do not have the details in their background, what you are doing in Erebor, if you are not a native, and what do you do to make a living.  Do any of your characters know each other at all, other than Evia and Kronin?

I intend to give you each one more small tidbit for role playing purposes.  I intend to give each one of you a secret, to share with others, or not as you will.  Feel free to use it as you see fit.  Nothing Middle-earth shattering, but after all, what are the dwarves without secrets to keep from the rest of the world?

More tomorrow.  Goodnight everyone.

Sorry everyone.  I know I promised the first post today, but it's been a crazy day and I'm just now home.  I apologize but I'll have to delay one more day.  You deserve my best effort so, my word of honor, it will be up tomorrow.   Sincerest apologies and thank you for your patience.

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 52):

Aye it happens :), just when you can :)

Take your time - ive been putting my character together piece by piece each day...Almost done - just have to dot a few I's and cross T's here and there on the sheet.

Thanks everyone for the responses, they are excellent.  I'm on vacation this week so I can post a bit more than usual.

Btw do I need to put up a list of the Sindarin names for the months of the year?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Tue 15 Aug 2017.

That would be helpful I think.

Ask and you shall receive ;-)

We are starting in Hithui or "Misty" which roughly corresponds to October.  On the 19th of October is the Dwarvish New Year,  Durin's Day!  That's just a little over two weeks from our start date.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:40, Sat 19 Aug 2017.

I should get time for another post this evening.  Meanwhile thanks everyone, I'm very much enjoying all of your posts and the complex personalities of the various characters.  Its interesting actually, I had thought we'd end up with at least one non dwarf in our group, but it does make a great deal more sense, at least begin with, for the party to be all dwarves.  I'm thrilled with our diverse group.

I did, initially, have one applicant who wanted to play a Noldor Artificer/Paladin (wait...what?)  I informed him/her that combination wasn't possible, and that the Noldor are incredibly scarce in Middle-earth in the Fourth Age.  I wasn't ruling out having a Noldor character in the game, but there had to be some concrete reasons why they would just suddenly be traveling with a large group of dwarves on a dwarvish quest.  Oddly, I actually did think of a good reason for an Elda to be with you, but I wanted to see what the player would think of, to tell me something about themselves.

Alas, they never replied to my reply, so I suppose they weren't happy with my response :/  I would have worked with them of course, I always want to help players create a character they really like, otherwise what's the point of playing them?  As much as I stretch the boundaries of Tolkien, however, I do have some standards to which I adhere.  Elves can't be paladins (I would actually consider breaking this rule, if the character made sense) paladins can't multi-class and neither can Artificers.  If they ever reply to me I'll do my best to collaborate with them, if not I have no worries.  I have five great players already :D

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 58):

I hope we are victorious :)

I hope you are too Thrir.  I'm an old school DM though, and I'm going to make you work for it.  I'm not afraid to test my players, challenge them, even kill them if the situation is that dire (though I'll do my very best to keep you around).  For a dwarf the important thing isn't that you died; the question is, did you die for something, did your death have meaning?  I will do everything I can to make this the best game I've ever run.  The fights will be hard, the traps will be dangerous, the mysteries devious and you'll have to struggle and work together to survive.  The rewards, I promise, will be well worth it.   A dwarf wouldn't want it any other way :-).

I'll post tomorrow night after work.  Night everyone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:59, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 60):

Those types of games are hard to find on Rpol, so I am glad I did.

I agree Evia, that's one of the reasons I wanted to run one.  Very glad to have each and every one of you along for the ride.  I hope it will be a memorable one.

I just posted and my sincere apologies for its lateness.  Yesterday I returned to work from a week of vacation and walked into one of the worst days I've had there in a very long while.  It ended up being a twelve hour day for me, sans lunch, so when I got home I was exhausted.  I tried to write this post last night, but I admit I could not focus, and I always want to give you my best.  I do hope it was worth the wait.

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 62):

Did we know: Frálin son of Gálin Wide Blade

Evia and Kronin did.  I think Thrir would probably have heard he came with an envoy this morning from the Ered Luin (blue mountains west of the shire) to speak with King Thorin :-). Thrir would also know he was the son of the King of the Broadbeams.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Sun 27 Aug 2017.

I think we are off to a good start, I do hope so far it's been entertaining.  I know I am very much enjoying your posts, each character approaches the situation differently which is, for me, half the fun.  What do you think so far?  Comments?  Concerns?  Anything confusing or perhaps need clarification?

We've barely begun, but already I've laid the seeds to a number of plots, opportunities, and mysteries for you to uncover as you progress.  I have some very astute and clever players and I'm really excited about that.  It pushes me to write scenarios that intrigue and challenge you.  Including you five, there are nine other NPCs (so far) for a total of fourteen.  An auspicious number for dwarves who can be superstitious about such things :-).

Dwain One-eye son of Balin
Bofri son of Brogur
Brogur son of Bofur
Bosi son of Bifur
Óli son of Ôrn
Rali and Nali
Vifur son of Vofur
Nos daughter of Nori

All have their own reasons for coming and each has at least one secret of their own.

Thank you for such an extraordinary start.  I am eager for the journey.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:17, Sun 27 Aug 2017.

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 65):

One thing I have wondered over the last couple of posts was the relationship any children of the original company who reclaimed Erebor would have with the other members of said company ? I was thinking along the lines of uncles ? I was thinking that all of these company members would have played a prominent role in all the young dwarves lives ?

In reply to Evia daughter of Dwalin (msg # 66):

A good question, and one to which I have actually given some thought myself.  I would say overall that the survivors of Thorin's Company and their children were close to one another.  The company had shared something no one else could truly understand and it kept them united over the years and thus their children would have grown up knowing one another.  Indeed some of them are actually related!

Balin's sons: Dwain and Noin (who is a PC btw) and Evia are cousins...for Evia, Balin was her Uncle, and for Noin, Dwalin is his.

Gloin's son: Gimli is also more distantly related to Dwalin, and thus to Evia and Noin as well.  I'd say perhaps third cousins.  I can research this if necessary, but the kinship is there, and for dwarves that is enough.

Nori's daughter is likely also a distant relation, although Tolkien says only that the brothers are remotely related to Thorin.  As above any kinship makes you family in a dwarf's eyes :-)

Brogur and Bosi are not directly related to Evia or Noin, but they would have known one another and, when Bofur and Bifur were alive, they would surely have called them Uncles as both Balin and Dwalin considered them as close as kin.  Bombur would be an uncle as well.   Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur, as well as their children COULD be distantly related to Kronin or even Thrir however, since they were not of Durin's Folk.  I believe they were of Dwálin's Folk and thus Broadbeams!

Bofri is Brogur's son and Bofur's grandson.  Evia and Noin might look upon him as a nephew of sorts, though he is not related by blood.  Again he could be related to Thrir or Kronin.

So even those who were not related would have considered one another to be brothers, uncles, and cousins.  They would meet periodically for dinner to catch up and such, and have some of the same acquaintances and friends.  And yet, as decades went by they also probably drifted apart some, even as most human families do.  They all had their own interests to pursue, as evidenced by Balin's decision to go to Moria.  Some of his kinsman accompanied him, but not everyone.

I would say that both Noin and Evia know the above mentioned children and their parents as well, and that they were a part of one another's lives growing up, but now they only see each other occasionally.  This is especially true of Balin's son Dwain, who grew very introverted upon the death of his father.

So I will place this out there for any who would like to add a relationship with the children of the Companions:

Dwain - proud of his family name, charismatic (CHR 15!) passionate, courageous, clever, bad tempered, overly protective of his brother, brooding.  He takes being a warrior and a member of the King's Stone-guard as a vocation.  He has not been the same since news of his father's death finally reached him.

Gimli - do I really need to say anything here?  No I didn't think so :)

Nos - quiet, contemplative, patient, friendly, intelligent, insecure, naive (sheltered from the outside world as most dwarf maids are) loves children.  She is a toymaker, like her father.

Brogur - Stoic, adventurous, trusting, loyal, irresponsible, impatient (at times reckless).  Like his father, he is an expert miner, and this has left him with an adventurous spirit and excellent knowledge of geology.

Bosi - Quick witted, cautious/careful, knowledgeable, logical (to the point of being annoyingly so) stubborn, suspicious.  A trader, like Bifur, he has been all around Wilderland and knows much of the people who live there.  He can be cynical at times, believing that most people have ulterior motives.

Bofri - Very much like his father, cheerful, loves to sing, loyal, bold, trusting (too much so) gregarious, optimistic and a little superstitious.  Fortunately he is a bit wiser than his father and has learned a bit more restraint.  Like Dwain, he takes immense pride in being a member of the Stone-guard.

ANY of these dwarves may be friends of any of the players, related or not.  Come up with a past or current relationship with them and we'll consider it canon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:46, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

Sorry exhausted tonight.  More to come tomorrow.  Good night my friends :)

In reply to Eru Illuvatar (msg # 68):

Are we all suppose to go to the King's hall, I thought only those that knew him?

You are correct Thrir, the King has only commanded the presence of those who traveled with or knew Frálin.  Thrir is free to do as he pleases for the next day, including preparation for his trip or spending time with his Mother or other friends.  However, if Thrir wishes to find out more about what is happening he might be able to ask around or even sneak into the hall (I don't recommend that, but I've had players try similar actions).

Right now there are more dwarves there than the King has summoned, mainly because a lot of the common dwarves have heard the news and want answers, its a big deal when the son of a King is murdered in your own realm so they are understandably concerned; equal parts frightened and angry I'd expect.  They are waiting for an address from their King, but he is trying to gather all the facts first, as any wise leader would do.

Btw, Dwain responds positively to Thrir's earlier question and says he will reimburse Thrir for the price of a mount, if he will find and buy one to his liking. :-)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Tue 29 Aug 2017.

I'm not sure whether Noin would know Fralin, or if not whether he could have gained admittance to the hall (through the main entrance, not sneaking around)?