OOC: A WARRIOR'S MEMORIAL (Read first post please.)

[SmaugsBane]

This is the invitation for all friends, family, and comrades-in-arms to gather in Laketown to pay final respects to Dirk the Daring of Esgaroth.

Soon, I will start the thread and anyone who has ever participated in an RP or Guild thread with Dirk may feel free to participate. Timelines and locations will be suspended. Dirk's life was incongruous, and I expect his funeral will be, too.

So start thinking about how your character received the news of the young dark Knight's untimely demise as well as your journey to and arrival in Laketown for the services.

Stay tuned for more information.

EDIT: Alright folks, here it is. The general gist of it is that Dirk's foster family will take custody of his remains, prep him and hold a wake at their Inn, the Golden Dragon. After that, he will be taken north of the city and buried according to Esgaroth/Dale men's tradition. (In a mound, similar to Rohan. Sorry to dissapoint if you were looking for a burning ship.) Folks will be allowed to eulogize Dirk either over a toast during the wake, or graveside. The manner of how your character chooses mourn is entirely up to you. There are no rules as far as timerframe, because Dirk was featured in stories that spanned several. Anyone and everyone is welcome to post, but I'd like any elaborate eulogies to be confined to just those who knew Dirk. Thanks!

[Leoba]

Well I for one am watching the Mithril Knights thread. Until Dirk's fellow warriors have had their big battle and found the body and all that malarky, one can only conjecture as to how the world at large will find out. For what it's worth, Leoba and Bardy are in contact (may save someone looking for another address). My writing head is gearing up and I have had some thoughts which I will no doubt share with you at some point, 'cause I'm nice like that.

Missed posting with you.

[Parador~J]

Leoba!!

I need to work on a post too....boy...I'm going to miss Dirk, SB

I remember when I was Dirk's Mentor for MK...I really enjoyed that

"Until Dirk's fellow warriors have had their big battle and found the body and all that malarky"

[Bardhwyn]

As Leoba describes both RL Bardy and Leoba are in contact and I think the characters are, too. Lovely to ~have the old RP gears whirring again.

Hope to see other former members of the Bowmen at the memorial.

~B

[Leoba]

Hope to see other former members of the Bowmen at the memorial.

I have Lady Canamarth on Facebook. I have no idea if she'd be interested but I can always give her a nudge in due course.

[Bardhwyn]

Ah, as do I ; I wonder if she's even aware?

Perhaps nudging is appropriate.

[SmaugsBane]

Malarky? Really? Hey Bardy, maybe there can be an after party at the MBOD guildhouse?

[Leoba]

Ok guys, what's so funny about the word 'malarky'?! Maybe I should have used shenanigans instead.

A party? Isn't a post-funeral shin-dig more properly called a wake. In civilised families one drinks tea and coffee and eats cornish pasties (or maybe that's just my lot) - in the north west you get drunk and have a fight.

[Bardhwyn]

Dale is 'north-west of somewhere'; I vote for getting drunk and the fighting.

Yes, let's, SB!

( I guess it's 'north-east', really...)

[Cock-Robin]

I am going to miss Dirk as well. The scenes we did between Meneldor and Dirk were real touching to me. The end of an eventful story, the story of Dirk was, and he will be missed.

[Dindraug]

I will also miss Dirk, but I am a lousy shot

But seriously, I know Din only travelled with SB for a small tiime in Redemption and if I remember right left SB on the far side of a ravine swarming with orcs in the middle of a burning wood, while he ran off with your girlfriend, he does have a soft spot and would love to come along for the party.

I can see him finding out when sitting in some nameless inn in a barely known village when whispers in the wind and on the sweet tongues of birds tell of the death of smaugsbane. He would smile a sweet bitter smile, finish his drink, and start walking towards distant Dale.

(and Dale is North West of Rhun your Bardy, tsk, these humans and their geography....)

[Leoba]

I will also miss Dirk, but I am a lousy shot

Liar. Last time Leoba saw that tricksy Avari Elf, he had just knocked Dirk out cold with a smack to the jaw. For some never discernable reason, he did not seem to like the Laketowner. And.... for your information (you should know - you wrote it ), Leoba went back to find Mat and Dirk; how could she do otherwise?!

[Bardhwyn]

I wasn't wrong then; I said Dale was northwest of somewhere...

Sketching out a nice scene or two for Bardy; the feeling then the learning. I imagine they'll go in here at some point.

[Leoba]

I stumbled across this rather lovely little Tolkien Society essay about funerary rites in Tolkien's world (read it over breakfast this morning, as you do):
http://www.tolkiensociety.co.uk/ed/death.html There's some useful stuff to muse over in there. I realise that as usual I am probably overthinking this.

I'm still having fun sketching out the gap in the year since Leoba and Dirk parted. Actually, fun is not quite the right term, if I wish to be sensitive to my character's feelings.

[Bardhwyn]

I'm working up a '...and meanwhile back in Minas Tirith'...

So, I'm writing to check and make sure I understand that the battle in which Dirk's just kicked the ole bucket ISN'T near Minas Tirith - am I correct?
I have been reading it and I am a tidgy bit ashamed to say I couldn't place the action.

So, really two things; that point above and where should I post it?

[Leoba]

Bardy, Dirk died in Carn-dûm, if I have read this a-right. The battle is taking place outside the mountain fortress. So they are a fair old way from Minas Tirith (and Esgaroth). I do hope they have decent embalmers to hand!

I am writing what I want to write on wordpress and will linky here when I'm done. I will probably then draw on that in writing in this RP thread (assuming it does actually happen). Scriptorium is another option I guess - or have some opening posts with flashback looks at 'where B was when..'?

Any help?

[SmaugsBane]

You are correct, Leoba.

[erinhue]

I remember waaaay back in the day you wrote some stuff about Dirk wanting/hoping to change his life direction more towards the light, more towards Erinhue. I remember when Dirk thought that dream was impossible and left the Inn for the last time and said good bye to the bard. Now ya know something like that would just be honey to a ego like mine. I would be honored to come honor Sir Dirk.

[erinhue]

Leoba, darlin' if it's of any help to ya, I don't plan on having The Bard find out about this the same way that he does in the MK thread. That could get a little messy considering The Bard's nature. I'm gonna take the Boss up on his incongruity bid and just pluck this bit right out of time. In fact I'm kinda thinking Tempest's Wedding, if anyone remembers that now.

[Leoba]

Erinhue darlin' you have always been a help to me. I will run with whatever you guys throw at me (and hopefully throw a bit back).

I am thinking that Leoba will possibly travel up north with her brothers, Carandil (with whom she's been lodging in Pelargir) and Culanir (whom you may remember of old). However I am thinking this should be post-'Hunt for the Bride', in which if I ever get round to writing in it, I had always envisaged Culanir and the Bard reaching some sort of workable resolution in the interests of the greater good. Although actually, I will talk to Lurea on facebook about whether she wants to be involved in this, as I'm havin tentative thoughts about something.... either way Culanir won't be reprising his wedding behaviour.

[Bardhwyn]

Can Bardy travel with you, Leoba - as it were?

[Leoba]

I think she should. I had imagined that Leoba would pick both Bardy and Culanir up in Minas Tirith. Not that Bardhwyn needs an escort but I'm sure she wouldn't say no to having two experienced Gondorian soldiers (one city guard, one ranger) in tow. And considering what Leoba's family think of Dirk (see wordpress writing to come - think they're only going to the funeral to ensure he's really dead), I suspect she'd be glad to see a friendly face!

Edited to add: how long to get from Pelargir to Esgaroth? 6 weeks? (5 from Minas Tirith?)

[Hobbituk]

I don't believe Hobbi and Dirk ever really had much contact beyond the early days in The Lucky Fortune Inn, but it's nice to see you all here in the midst of plotting and I'll be reading along

[Guruthostirn]

I'll be there...probably one of the folks bringing the body to where ever we decide to throw the party.

Yes, I'm voting for a wild night of festivities and celebration. I hate funerals. Celebrate, don't mourn!

[erinhue]

Thank you for that link, Leoba. Most interesting indeed.

[erinhue]

Working on an initial post. This is gonna be good, I can feel it.

[erinhue]

Just a heads up to all interested parties.... the battle is winding down and we'll be getting on with the aftermath. @SB- Boss if ya got any preferences send up a smoke signal so we can have the MK thread ending dovetail (somewhat) with the start of this one. I'm just sayin'

[erinhue]

Waiting.... absolutly. Patiently...not so much

[Guruthostirn]

Anyone know who we are waiting on? SB?

[erinhue]

Good guess, buddy. Guess we'll just have to keep waiting, patiently or otherwise. Even my ego would not persume to open The Boss' thread for him