Hm. Let's see what Marthine says...

In reply to Olewyn (msg # 20):

As an elven scholar visiting the human enclave of Laketown, Aubree would be famous, or at least slightly notorious and gossip worthy.

In reply to The GM (msg # 21):

I'm cool with a wait, or start, although if I had to pick I'd choose the Game Master (Loremaster?)'s decision -- start, and then add the fourth ingredient!  To a recipe for adventure<strike>, not some hidden dragon's treats</strike>.

Meeting and then adventuring might be nice... And, I like everyone else's "hooks".  If it helps any, Marthine was a rat-catcher around Lake-town, and had an awful lot of cats... and never let anyone watch her work... She'd also occasionally hire out as a "whisperer", talking to the critters.  Whether or not anyone's seen her Mountain Lion form is up to them, if they've met her!

As an elven mystic, it might be assumed that Aubree would be more open minded to shapeshifters and such, but it's your decision if you want to let her in on your secret.

Aubree comes into Laketown every now and then to get supplies, and would probably love cats.  She'd always pause to skritch their little heads and sometimes even have treats now and then

In reply to Aubree Farwalker (msg # 24):

Marthine would probably have some sort of a "tell" that maybe only an Elf like Aubree could perceive.  In describing her personality, with the fake-ish testimonials, I attempted a more affable house cat's personality!  Maybe all that time away from her fellows, combined with local cats "domesticating" her (as domestic cats have domesticated humans), resulted in that... odd, gven that her critter form is that of a Mountain Lion.
Anyone who's nice to her kitties scores points with her, that's for sure.  I don't think that they would have survived Smaug's temper tantrum, unless she hurried them into a sort of crate and hopped into a boat... or there were reports of a very big cat booking it out of Lake-town, with "that quiet rat-catcher lady's cats" clinging to them.

Marthine has a gun in her possession.  She'll say she confiscated it from an ill-behaved Dwarf!  Being able to change shape like she is she shouldn't need weapons, but it's not always a good idea to go broadcasting to others that you're outside-of-human... and while she's not overly fond of the thing, well, it's got its uses...

In reply to Marthine (msg # 25):

There definitely would have been many feline casualties after Smaug's attack, but I have no doubt that many cats would have survived, just be virtue of being small and quick, and leaping onto boats and debris whenever they could.

Aubree might certainly have figured out that Marthine was 'special' in some way, and being an explorer and a lover of new things, especially the strange and unusual, that would definitely draw her to the "human".

I'm starting things off with all of you-- or EACH of you-- stopping to listen to singing in Lake Town.

It's up to each of YOU to say, in-game, if you already know each other or not.

Once that's settled, then I'll introduce a quest...

That works for me.  Thank you.  :)

In reply to Aubree Farwalker (msg # 28):

Yeah, I like that!

In reply to The GM (msg # 27):

I'm stoked. Will wait until the others have posted to give myself time to get a feel for what I want to do with it.

I always enjoy a good "opening post", but I'll admit that I got a little carried away this time.  My apologies if this is a bit much.

In reply to Aubree Farwalker (msg # 31):

Well, now I'm overwhelmed by the quality of your post, and the fear that I'm not going to live up to that standard.  I'm going to work on a post so much, and doctor it and then get so sidetracked, that I'm not going to post at all!   :'D

I feel like the length and quality of your post is testament to the Loremaster Game Master's skill at setting a scene!  While I do try, even at my most laconic, to at least establish something in a post, well, an introductory post like that isn't a bad thing by any means...

We might be short as many heads as Bilbo had accompanying him, but we'll definitely be having our own memorable adventures!

Your post was wonderful as well.  :)   It was very dramatic and touching

Okay I'm digging the vibe we're starting to set up.

I definitely agree

Oh dear. I'm probably going to end up dropping the ball then. Hi, and nice to meet you all.

In reply to Anna (msg # 36):

Welcome! You'll be great! We just barely have gotten started so this is the perfect time to join. I'm sure our GM has thoughts on how to do that.

Welcome, Anna.   It's delightful to meet you

In reply to Anna (msg # 36):

Anna: did you see the last private message I sent you? We have a couple more steps before you're done making your character and are ready to post

In reply to Anna (msg # 36):

Dropping the ball?  That's my job, you're alright!

 sometimes they're made of twine and Marthine is just too tempted to not play with them, and sometimes they're horizontally dropped and come from a flintlock pistol along with smoke and loud noises

EDITED FOR ADDENDUM: I'm fairly familiar with feline body language and signals, at least in domesticated cats, and am incorporating a little bit of it into her human form's behaviors.  The "burbling" is sort of that "mrrp!" noise a cat makes when they're stirred from a nap in sunlight.
Jeez, I better take notes on this all.
"Drums fingers on drinking vessels so the water is moving and she can see it.", "Tucks her head in and looks away when disinterested.", "Extends hand with palm facing upward when meeting new people.", "Shrieks and begs for cooked fish or fowl, sniffs it when offered, and then walks away.", "Vomits when she doesn't get her way.", "Interposes herself between others and tasks in an effort to 'help'."...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:55, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

Update: changed the rules about Companions (you're about to get one in the form of Lachriel):



Because it just didn't make sense to me that if you ask a Companion to try to do something at which the Companion is skilled, that they would be MORE likely than not to fail. This change on my part makes it so they're just less likely to succeed than a PC with similar skills/traits.

"Where to discuss"

1: I suggest a bakery nearby with stools and little tables for outdoor sitting and munching. Bakery name: Lakeview Bakery

Also, the internet confirms my memory that coffee apparently exists:

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Coffee

2. If you don't like option one, feel free to make up your own discussing-place. Perhaps the middle of a long fishing-pier? (The actual end of the pier will be taken up by people actually fishing)

Go ahead and arrive at the Lakeview Bakery.

The bakers are a human couple (basically picture the couple in the bakery from Kiki's Delivery Service).

You have enough money on you to buy whatever you want. As long as you don't try to buy the bakery itself, you're good for whatever for now.

Um, Marthine hasn't checked in since Thursday, so maybe you two should keep discussing amongst yourselves a bit more...?

In reply to The GM (msg # 44):

I can nudge them.