OOC: Wynter's Rose

[Amethyst Jade]

Hello, hello. It has been my pleasure to be here for a while, and I thought it'd be the right time to start up a thread. I do remember my first being a total letdown, soley upon the purpose that I was young and naive. Alas, here I stand ready for a new adventure and a new take on Middle Earth.

Alright, contrary to what I stated before, I am accepting new players at this time, and I quite encourage you to join, whether noob or veteran. Posting here in this thread will be plenty warning for those of us still here.

EDIT: I'd like to stick with canon characters as much as possible [aka no wizards, mages, werewolves, undead, elementals, etc].

EDIT: Plot has been fixed for more geographically and chronologically correct play.

The Storyline

It is the year1430 Shire Reckoning (Fourth Age), nearly ten years after the War of the Ring has ended. Shadow is still being scraped from the lands of Middle Earth. There is word of a large and growing rebellious legion in south-eastern Middle Earth near Belfalas. Not once have they been seen, Wynter's Rose is a faction formed while Sauron was still active, and the only connection passed through the generations from parent to child. They are human, but barely. They train, they hunt, they kill. There is no stopping the destructive force that they so rightfully claim. With a new leader who is strong, willful, and malevolent, the goal of Wynter’s Rose is to see the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan end. Mordarias has long governed the union of Sauron’s followers, ruling with much austerity and dignity in his company, stopping at nothing to see his will done.

Oriana Silverleaf is one of the last remaining Elves of Middle Earth. Though long wished by her father to accompany him to the Grey Havens, she has desired for a much more adventurous life. She wishes to investigate the mystery surrounding Wynter’s Rose, her mortal mother telling her tales of the supposed valiant crew of mobsters. While her mother idolized the alliance, Oriana thought otherwise. Why did they oppose King Elessar and his rule? What was so wrong with King Eomer? With these questions in mind, Oriana pleaded her mother for the location, to no avail. With her mother deceased of old age and her father traveling to the Undying Lands, she sets out, only currently seeking knowledge that will lead her to an unknowing and ultimately active part in the destruction of Wynter’s Rose.

Oriana will begin in Lorien with her father’s final council, and continue down the great river, to Edoras, where her father has arranged council with King Eomer himself to speak of this uprising. From Edoras, she will travel on the North-South Road to Minas Tirith to speak with King Elessar. After council with him, Oriana may do one of two things: 1) travel south around the mountains as best as possible to make it to Belfalas, or 2) backtrack and travel due west through the mountains.

[It is roughly 300 miles from Lorien to Edoras, and the same from Edoras to Minas Tirith. In reference, Boromir traveled alone from Minas Tirith to Rivendell, a total of roughly 700 miles, in 3 months. 300 miles for one individual rider should take a little less than a month.

Now, any and all of these plans may change due to character intervention and sub-plots. Any and all are welcome, however, do keep in mind all the circumstances of the Fourth Age and the geography. I’m no Tolkien master, but merely having a copy of the books with maps and appendices is extremely helpful.


Character Bios


Amethyst Jade

Name: Oriana Silverleaf
Date of Birth: 2850 TA [making her roughly 180 yrs old]
Gender: Female
Race: Half-Elf
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Traveler [at the moment]
Alliance: Undecided

Appearance: It is often said that half-elves look more mortal than anything, and so said is true of Oriana, save for her pale green eyes, a trait common of her father’s line. Her skin is fair, slightly on the pale side, and iridescent in some instances of moonlight. She mainly wears a crimson cloak, and dark gold and green tunics. High dark brown boots are her only shoes, besides her few formal garments in other locations, such as Rivendell and Lorien. She has long, straight dark chestnut hair that falls elegantly to her mid-back when down all of the way. However, Oriana prefers it be tied up in a ponytail as best as she can manage. Some bangs obscure her vision, falling just below her cheek bones. She is not short nor tall, nimble, and sure-footed. She stands tall and confident, a trait her father taught her.

Personality: Oriana is not a quiet character; however she tries to keep her poise when around strangers. She dislikes immaturity, but loves to have fun. She’s definitely adventurous, but prefers to keep her business to herself and her companions. She can hold her tongue at times, and most times holds it when it is most needed to be let loose. Needless to say she is somewhat shy. She voices her opinion rarely, but will take charge when in a (rare) necessary situation.

Weapons: Oriana prefers the bow, as most elves, and an extensive staff she found in the wilderness off Lorien. Dropped by a visitor no doubt, Oriana begged her father to teach her to use it. Because he loves his only daughter so much, he caved, allowing her a private weapon tutor. She learned, as she is a fast learner, and picked up a new love. A sword, at best, is for another being. She prefers not to use them, just for the sake of her using only one hand. She prefers using both hands as equalizers when fighting. Daggers are hidden throughout her garb, used only when needed.

History: Oriana was born to a mortal mother, Andromithur, and elven father, Elibryn. She was raised mostly in the woods of Lorien, and traveled between there and Rivendell. She disliked the War of the Ring, and refused to play any part in it, however now she realizes her mistake. She has lived a near uneventful life, save for her meeting of Aragorn when they passed through Rivendell. The most she would offer were her wishes of safe travel. She met Bilbo also in her travels, finding him interesting and very wise, and visited him often while he stayed in Rivendell. Before her 47th birthday she does not remember much. Her father said there was an accident, but she has never pursued the question. Now it is on her mind constantly. The history she knows of is quite unimportant, however what she does not know is what she plans to find on this journey.

Horse: Akita is a charcoal Friesian mare and is quite in tune with Oriana's feelings. The Friesian is a heavy bodied, black, up-headed horse with an expressive face, high-set neck and outstanding crest. Their manes and tails are luxuriant and long and they have feathering from the knees down. They are intelligent, sweet natured and willing. Their powerful elastic gait, grace and agility make them excellent at dressage, driving and jousting.

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Arail Fordorthien

Name: Faril, ”huntress”
Nickname: Draug,”wolf”
Race: Human (Dale)
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Marital status: Widow, now unattached.
Occupation: Tracker, hunter.
Height/Weight: 5’7”, 140 pounds

Appearance: Tall and slim with a rather straight figure, toned and slender muscles. She is not very fair, but that does not bother her in the slightest, as she seldom, if ever, cares about her looks. She has a roundish face with prominent cheekbones, sharp and almond shaped brown eyes and black, shoulder length hair that she keeps tied back at all times. She has scars on several places on her body, even though many are so old that they are barely visible against the relative paleness of her skin; the most visible is a very fine white scar crossing her right cheek. It is an old one, and does not affect any of her facial muscles.

Outfit: Brown tunic and leggings underneath a green leather coat and a hooded cloak, well-worn leather boots.

Means of travel: She prefers walking but still owns a rather nondescript bay gelding.

Personality: She’s a loner really, keeps to herself as much as possible. A nasty temper once provoked, and may at times snap at the oddest things. She deeply despises overly feminine women. Her sense of humour leans rather heavily to the sarcastic side.

Weapon: A yew longbow and two knives, of which one really is more like a shortsword. She also carries a rather special crossbow. It is small enough to fire with one hand and hang from the belt, a composite bow made from yew and horn dyed black, limbs are recurved and it has two tracks, so the bow can have two bolts cocked and release them in rapid succession. It is probably a one of a kind piece, at least the elf who made it for her had never heard of another like it. (I got the idea to this weapon mostly from David Gemmell's novel "Waylander", but also in part from the small, handheld crossbows used by the Drow in the books by R. A. Salvatore...I always liked the idea )

Past bio: Born in Dale, she spent most of her time out in the woods, truly more comfortable with the wild and its birds and beasts than with the people around her. She got married at 18 to a rather brusque and harsh man, for reasons she can’t quite seem to remember. None the less they lived a rather peaceful life, in a relationship not exactly built on great love, but rather a kind of affection and understanding. The one thing they could never see eye to eye on was the fact that he wanted her to be more feminine and “house-wify”, something that she absolutely detested. They never had any children and he died when she was 27; she doesn’t particularly mourn him. After that she once again returned to the wild, occasionally offering her services as a tracker of criminals to one lord or another. She has travelled quite extensively throughout the lands on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, but for some reason Rohan has found a special part in her heart. At the moment she is hard on the trail of a murderer, having pursued him through what is now called East Lórien, but as he has eluded her for so long and thrown a couple of less than enjoyable surprises her way she is far from cheerful at the moment...
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Erinhue

Leander: half elven, undetermined age, but appears to be 30-35, tall, lean athletic build, pale skin, honey colored eyes long silver hair and silver fingernails - Dresses in a form fit black leather battlesuit, wears 8 serpent tooth daggers strapped to his arms and legs, carries a double edged broadsword, Tanglorn- when not wearing the battlesuit, he wears a hooded cloak, tunic, trousers and low top boots of a non descript brown that seems to blend with the surroundings.

Blood born member of the El Al'Loth, a secret society dedicated to rooting out dark forces and preventing the spread of evil (as they see it) that remains in the world after the destruction of the One Ring. Each has a medallion which(among other things possibly) focuses and enhances the one true talent they all share. The Osaril is the most powerful of these medalions.

Still working on that 'one true talent' thing - I am borrowing from Silverbergs' Lords of Light and Darkness here. The talent allows him to alter his relative position to time and space. helps him move unseen in a crowd or super quick and when pressed in battle or seriously outnumbered, he can perform a Temporal Fugue

He's a hard as steel/heart of gold/ man of few words type who is pretty darned hard to defeat in battle. He is an assassin by trade and is more likely to pull a covert opperation rather than a full on charge, but charge he will if it comes to it.
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Andalion{/b]

[b]Name: Andalion.
Nickname: The Silent Man.
Race: Grey Man.
Gender: Male.
Age: 111.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 166 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown.
Eye Color: Sea-green.
Marital Status: Unmarried.

Appearance: He appears quite rugged to most, and the fact that he does not indulge himself in enjoying the trivial things available to him while in “civilized” society does not help that appearance. His hair is actually quite fine and thin as it falls about his head, roughly to the jaw at the shortest length, perhaps to the mid-neck at the longest tip. A bit of scruff along the cheeks, jaw and chin give that ruggedness more to add to the table, though it’s evident that he keeps his neck clean, when he can. He has quite a toned body, with leathery skin that is weathered in color and hard, wiry muscles that aren’t quite noticeable beneath the leather of his clothes, except for in his overall stature. There are several dozen scars all along his body. From within his weathered visage shine two eyes of a color that is defined by the word “absent”. They are colorful enough, an intriguing sea-green that some have found captivating in his time, but the absence comes from the general solemnity one finds within these two orbs. Beneath the rugged exterior is a handsome enough man, to be sure, but he likes to think that the land finds him more appealing as he is.

Build: Tall, lean musculature as if hewn from stone.

Profession: Generally speaking, he has no profession. He calls himself a "man of nature", which is basically just his way of saying he's a woodsman, although there's no denying that he's more than a simple woodsman.

Outfit: As per his travels, Andal’s outfit is subject to quite a bit of change, and yet it all normally comes down to rudimentary clothing that usually consists of leather and cloth. For instance, in his most recent travels, he has worn a green cloth tunic, belted to let the lag fall to nearly his knees over dark leather breeches tucked into very worn and weathered brown leather boots that reach to just under the knee. He also typically wears a cloak, commonly of gray color. The only long-standing item is the clasp of whatever cloak he is wearing, which is of white-gold and shaped in an oval ring, with the middle hollowed out; it is the sigil of the Grey Men.

Means of Travel: Andal can always find food for himself, but some of the places he travels are not fit in that sense for a steed, and so he travels primarily on his own two feet unless he plans ahead or certain situations make a steed necessary. He has his greatest ally in nature, and nature speeds him on his way.

Personality: He seems to be a rather quiet man, not prone to throwing himself at things emotionally. There is a solemnity to his character, a kind of melancholy, though most make the mistake of thinking he’s an unsociable person. It's hard to truly define him as a man from another point of view because of his reserved nature, which is all most people get to know about him.

Skills Include: Andalion has a variety of skills, his queerest and most complicated being a sort of empathic bond he has with nature and its animals. He can’t truly…talk to them, but in a sense, he can in fact communicate with them. The trees “speak” to him; the rocks “move” in his eyes. Animals seem to know what he’s thinking, and he them, almost at random. He’s been noted to carry a longbow of rather heavy draw weight, suggesting skill with the weapon, as well as a sword of rather unique characteristics, although just how talented he is with it isn’t widely known.

Weapons of Choice: Andal carries a handmade bow. His house traded with elves on a common basis…and somehow got their hands on a bit of mallorn wood. Not wanting to see it go to waste in building some stupid hut for one of his clansmen, he took a bit and crafted himself a fine bow, as high as his shoulder. He carries the necessary quiver and arrow supply, and a battle-tested short blade on his left hip. Over his back, the handle jutting past his right shoulder, he carries the pearlescent long sword named Hiril , meaning “Lady” in Sindarin.
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Lithtaur16

Original Name: Ledenna Fionnich
Road Name: Lithtaur
Race: Human
Heritage: Rohirrim, Gondor/Southern(?)
Age: 20-25
Gender: Female
Martial Status: Single
Occupation: Shield maiden, housekeeper and essentially farm hand at her father's house, she is forced to become a wanderer and eventually a Ranger later in life.
Skills: A master Blacksmith and farrier, enough skill in sword and bowcraft to keep her and her companions alive, rudimentary healing skills with add up to improvizing field dressings. Master Bard much later in life.

Description: Tall (about 5 feet 8inches, give or take an inch) and strong even at this early age from mucking stalls and baling hay.
A lightly tanned complexion with deep brown eyes and brown hair usually tied back in a tail that hangs to her waist.

Equipment: A map as well as an ash flatbow, knife and a longsword with a black leather grip and iron pommel. A small "R" is enhraved into the right side of the blade near to the hilt. A flint and tinder and a flute accompany her later.

Personality: Though friendly and usually polite, Lith is somewhat reserved and often nervous (flighty?) at large formal gatherings. She is patient and does not anger easily but she strikes quickly when she is. She has a very strong feeling of kinship with friends.

Family: Father and House- Roedan Fionnich served as a King's Rider and all the family on his side are Rohirrim.
Mother- Lenna- Her father was Rohir and her mother was said to be Gondorian (Lithtaur got her dark hair from her mother's mother). There is Westernesse blood somewhere in Lenna's line but there have been some questions.

Usual Companions: A sturdy, middle-sized buckskin stallion named Spirit and a large gray-white (female) wolfhound called Anaiu.

History: Refusing to surrender with the downfall of Sauron, brigands and outlaws have made it their solemn duty to ravage the border farms and villages of Rohan for their own gain as well as revenge until the land is theirs or until they are dead. Living but a few leagues from the river and far from help, only hurried news and her aged father's foresight saved Ledenna and her mother from the initial onslaught when the raiders came upon the settlement with their blades and flaming brands. Ledenna reached safety and found help from a cousin several days ride away, only to return to a smouldering house, a scattered herd and a hundred other horrors waiting for her. Only later did she learn that by the worst luck her mother had been taken on the road as well. With the help of her cousin and his men she proved her paternity in the days that followed but eventually Ledenna found that, without her father and her house to speak for her, she had no more station in the land which she had loved and would always call home. Doubt had been on her unlucky mother for years and, though the women who knew the truth intervened for her, in time Ledenna was gently turned away by the men of her people. They would help her as her father's daughter but she would live alone or leave as long as her name was remembered.
She left, journeyed to Gondor and there found her mother's family in Pelargir. Knowing their bloodlines best, and loving her granddaughter's grit, the matriarch made persuasive arguements for Ledenna to join the ranks of the Rangers and become Lithtaur. An old sword of worth she was allowed to keep but Lith was made to give up all other personal oddments for the King's service. The old woman's only gifts were a flatbow, a long knife, a map and her blessing with orders to spend several year wandering in hardship before returning for directions to where Lith would find the one she was to call teacher for a great part of her life. Anaiu and Spirit would follow of their own will.

Lith has followed the river's western shore northward for several months with a solid heart for proving herself. Perhaps she will follow it to its very tributaries. But what of the other roads? Would she leave the fastest road back, to a family which would have been happy to have her and say that the old woman was outlandish even for them, just to see all the rest of the world from map corner to map corner? Or beyond?
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Elerrina_narloth

Name: Fallasse
Gender Female
Race: Human (Dol Amroth)
Age: 20
Marital Status: Single
Family: A brother and two sisters.

Occupation: Librarian and healer in training, but adventures from her books tend to pull her more than she would admit, she learned the sword a long way back just because it is like dancing and swords are pretty

Weapons: A lovely engraved short sword, a bow if she needed to

Height: 5' 3"
Weight: 120 lbs
Hair: dark blonde and very curly and almost to her waist
Eyes: brown

Personality: Somewhat quiet, she is after all a librarian, she also is quite amiable and can talk to most anyone, though she is not always comfortable with strangers. She is brave at need, though she doesn't know it, and she can be cowardly when she is very scared. She is fiercely loyal, a good friend and she loves to laugh and loves a good joke. She is very compassionate and loves to be there for people....but don't touch her temper...

History: She was born in Minas Tirith to silversmith and his wife, and she often enough saw Elessar and the royal family and they have a tight space in her young heart. She once saw King Eomer and thought he was quite splendid. She loved to listen to the old tales, especially those about Aragorn and Eomer. She and her siblings moved to Dol Amroth for its beauty and their grand respect for Prince Imrahil. Their mother was raised in Dol Amroth, and Fallasse always wanted to return to her mother's hom and see the places and people her mother saw. And of course, when she got there, the beauty did not disappoint her

Clothing: She usually dresses in long gowns of grey or blue, often with slits to the thigh and leggings beneath. She’s sure to look lovely and feminine at her work at the library, with most of her hair down. When she is with her patients she ties it all back in knot on the back of her head. She has a specific brown gown and apron for this job. She goes barefoot as often as she can, but she loves her knee-high soft leather boots for riding and traveling.

Specific Skills: She is quite a lore master in her own right and has a good knowledge of the geography of Middle-Earth and its heroes and tales. She is a skilled swordsman, even if she has never killed anyone in a real fight. Her skill as a healer is very good, especially in the matter of stitches.
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Cock-Robin

Name: Meneldor
Nickname: The Swift
Race: Eagles of the North
Location: Mindolluin
Age: Unknown

History: Meneldor is one of the legendary brothers of Gwaihir the Windlord. He played a small part in the War of the Ring, helping his brothers to rescue Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Orodruin when the Ring was destroyed and Sauron fell. He later was the messenger who announced to Minas Tirith of the downfall of Sauron and the coming of King Elessar.

When the War ended, he returned with his brothers to the Misty Mountains, but a growing restlessness forbade him to settle down there. With the approval of Gwaihir, he struck out south to find a place he could call home. Surprisingly, he found it at the top of Mount Mindolluin, the mountain under which Minas Tirith was established. He set up his eyrie there and was soon befriended by King Elessar.

In return for the privelege of setting up his eyrie on Mindolluin, he agreed to be a "watchman" for Gondor. Little escaped his sharp eagle-eyes while he was on watch. He was often used as a swift messenger between Gondor and Rohan, and had borne messages between Elessar and Eomer, and to Faramir in Ithilien.

Appearance: He is a large brown eagle with bright eyes. He wears a golden collar, a gift from Elessar, and a sign of his office of watch-eagle.

Personality: He is loyal to a fault, but is not a kindly bird, as most eagles are wont to be. He makes friends slowly, but when one befriends him, he is a friend for life. He can be quite fierce, and has a temper which is as swift as his flight. So, he is called "The Swift" for more than one reason.
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Nienor-niniel

Name: Hades (original name is long forgotten)
Race: he was human once, of Numenorean origin
Age: born in Numenor, about fifty years before its downfall
Gender: male

Appearance: very tall, about 1m95 (no idea in feet), so skinny that he looks almost like a walking skeleton. Usually entirely clad in black - with a long, cloak that covers him entirely. A huge hood covers his face, which is not easy to guess. When he uncovers it, scars ravage the face - it has strictly no expression at all. His features are so torn and stretched that it is impossible to guess how he has looked like in his youth, when he was still human. He will only uncover himself when it is inevitable. Until now nobody who has seen Hades face uncovered has lived to tell afterwards.

Equipment: through the ages, several black horses, all those, which have agreed to bare him. Always in black boots made of heavy, shining leather, with metal soles. Nothing but by look he could almost be taken for a Nazgûl, but he does not spread the same feeling of despair around him and he does not have the dreadful screaming voice of the ringwraiths.

A long Numenorean sword with a black grip and a long steel blade, sharpened on both sides. If he draws it, and decides to fight, he can move to quickly to be seen. His hands could strangle any enemy, even an ork or an elf. His physical strength can bruise bones by his bare hands too. Spreading fear, darkness and cold are yet his main weapons.

Skills: He can read minds to a certain extend, but not deeper and happier thoughts. In the same time, he can direct the thoughts and action of his victims, spreading despair in their hearts, suffocating all happiness around him. His presence will be felt like a shadow, and those who are unprepared to meet an ancient servant of the Dark Lord will be in danger of being overtaken, influenced, slaves to his will. He will sometimes submit someone to his will just for the pleasure of seeing this person despair or act foolishly.
Hades enjoys torture, both physically and mentally.
His main weakness is a deep disinterest for all living creatures. He hates them all, and most of all, he hates himself. He does not understand the idea of hope, love, friendship or loyalty and is unable to foresee many actions of humans or elves if they are motivated by feelings he does not conceive.

Biography: Originally, Hades was born as one of the sons of a Numenorean notable on the court of Al Pharazon. His family was a strong supporter of the king, hating the elves and preoccupied with the question of immortality, worshiping Sauron in his form. Being good-looking, noble and intelligent he was chosen to become a spy among the faithful among the Numenoreans and pretended to be an elf-friend to be the friend of Isildur and Elendil. Yet, treachery at this time was not natural for him - he really did believe in Sauron as ruler of the world and wanted to express his support openly. But the promised reward was immortality for him and his wife, given by the Dark Lord. The only creature that Hades has loved in all his life was his wife, who was even more ambitious than him, and stayed with him to gain the promised immortality only. Hades hoped to become the holder of one of the Rings of Power of which Sauron had spoken and he carried one for a while. As he lusted for power, he accepted the mission of treason. His hatred of the elves was very real and it was difficult for him to fulfil his mission as a spy. So, it was not astonishing that the faithful never fully trusted him.

After the fall of Numenor, Sauron punished him by taking the Ring he had carried and ever since Hades heart is darker than the deepest night. He hates the Valar and Eru who have made perished his home country, he hates the elves because of their immortality, he hated men because of their weakness, he hates the Dark Lord because he has taken away from him what he desired most, he hates the Nazgùl.

But most of all he hates himself. For, if Hades has survived the downfall of Numenor by the power of Sauron, he was completely disfigured. And like many other servants of the Dark side he was betrayed, for the only person he cared for, his wife Asyraya died. She cursed him before the waves closed over her - holding his failure responsible for her death. Failed as a traitor, he was of no use no more to Sauron who rejected him. Hades understood that he would never be a powerful servant of the darkness, never a Lord among men, alone forever. As his power is not given by birth, nor fully on the Ring (he has not carried it long enough for that), it is not subdued to the Valar. He has survived his own death, one reason for his powers, he has survived a punishment of the Valar, and so they cannot destroy him any more.

This is also why Hades becomes stronger when Sauron has been defeated and can unleash his power fully in the Forth Age only. Another time for him would thus have been after the victory of the Last Alliance.

He loathes his life and the only pleasure that is left for him is in torturing others, so that his pain becomes the pain of others.

In Middle Earth since the fall of Numenor, he has learned all that there is to know about it and followed all servants of the Darkness that have accepted his presence. Thus he has learned his skills of domination over the mind and used them in every way he could imagine.

After the victory of the Last Alliance, for a first time Hades could use his powers as Sauron was defeated and the power of the Rings weakened. He chose then the Easterlings and through his power of controlling weaker minds has inspired them a worship of a dark God, in fact himself. Hades enjoyed ceremonies with torturing initiations and human sacrifices... Later when the power in Dol Guldur roses again, he had to abandon his little realm, but from this time dates his encounter with an ancestor of Alandriel and his interest in her.

The fall of Sauron has rejoiced him, setting his powers free once more. He hopes now to be able to be considered as an enemy of the elves, to gain hatred if it is the only thing he can gain. Even though he would never tell so silently he hopes to find the failure in his immortality and to meet the opponent who could kill him. He wants to be the next Dark Lord or nothing at all and he will do everything to stretch out his domination.


=D

[Amethyst Jade]

Alrighty then: all bios are to be posted in this thread. An IC will be started when there are more people. This thread/story does not have to be fast paced, as I will be returning to school starting Monday [with more time on my hands, thank Eru].

So please, enjoy. =]

[erinhue]

Your mention of Belfalas drew my attention and I think I'd like to come play in your backyard if I may.

I am uncertain if I would post here as The Bard( Erinhue in RP mode) or if this is the tale and time to bring back Leander, a half elven assassin and member of a 4th Age secret alliance . Lemmy think this over and I'll get back with a bio.

Ooo Ooo I could be Erinhue's brother, Beliran, currant Captain of the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth. OOOOOO Im getting goose bumps again

[Amethyst Jade]

Well welcome aboard! Thanks for the interest! Any of those characters are certainly welcome, and they sound quite interesting. Haha, YAY. Goosebumps are good. =]

[erinhue]

Hmmmmm Never been the bad guy, might be fun. OK ok I will make up my mind

[Arail Fordorthien]

This does sound like it might be a interesting RP, and I'd like to join in if you'll have me... I have two characters that might work, both human, either Faril, a tracker/hunter from Dale, or Dínen, a sailor and warrior from Dol Amroth. I've never tried to write a male character before, so that might be interesting.

Besides, couldn't pass on the chance to get to write with the great Erinhue, now, could I?

[Amethyst Jade]

Of course, of course. All are welcome. =] Either one works just fine for the story. And I do look forward to RPing with erinhue, trust me.

And here's the bio for Oriana.

Name: Oriana Silverleaf
Date of Birth: 2850 TA [making her roughly 180 yrs old]
Gender: Female
Race: Half-Elf
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Traveler [at the moment]
Alliance: Undecided

Appearance: It is often said that half-elves look more mortal than anything, and so said is true of Oriana, save for her pale green eyes, a trait common of her father’s line. Her skin is fair, slightly on the pale side, and iridescent in some instances of moonlight. She mainly wears a crimson cloak, and dark gold and green tunics. High dark brown boots are her only shoes, besides her few formal garments in other locations, such as Rivendell and Lorien. She has long, straight dark chestnut hair that falls elegantly to her mid-back when down all of the way. However, Oriana prefers it be tied up in a ponytail as best as she can manage. Some bangs obscure her vision, falling just below her cheek bones. She is not short nor tall, nimble, and sure-footed. She stands tall and confident, a trait her father taught her.

Personality: Oriana is not a quiet character; however she tries to keep her poise when around strangers. She dislikes immaturity, but loves to have fun. She’s definitely adventurous, but prefers to keep her business to herself and her companions. She can hold her tongue at times, and most times holds it when it is most needed to be let loose. Needless to say she is somewhat shy. She voices her opinion rarely, but will take charge when in a (rare) necessary situation.

Weapons: Oriana prefers the bow, as most elves, and an extensive staff she found in the wilderness off Lorien. Dropped by a visitor no doubt, Oriana begged her father to teach her to use it. Because he loves his only daughter so much, he caved, allowing her a private weapon tutor. She learned, as she is a fast learner, and picked up a new love. A sword, at best, is for another being. She prefers not to use them, just for the sake of her using only one hand. She prefers using both hands as equalizers when fighting. Daggers are hidden throughout her garb, used only when needed.

History: Oriana was born to a mortal mother, Andromithur, and elven father, Elibryn. She was raised mostly in the woods of Lorien, and traveled between there and Rivendell. She disliked the War of the Ring, and refused to play any part in it, however now she realizes her mistake. She has lived a near uneventful life, save for her meeting of Aragorn when they passed through Rivendell. The most she would offer were her wishes of safe travel. She met Bilbo also in her travels, finding him interesting and very wise, and visited him often while he stayed in Rivendell. Before her 47th birthday she does not remember much. Her father said there was an accident, but she has never pursued the question. Now it is on her mind constantly. The history she knows of is quite unimportant, however what she does not know is what she plans to find on this journey.



By the way, bios don't have to be that way. They can be however you wish to set yours up.


=]

[Arail Fordorthien]

Hmm, I would have liked to try my hand on Dínen, but seeing as I know next to nothing about sailing and ships and he is supposed to be a sailor, I think I'll go with my second option for now. Here's her bio:

Name: Faril, ”huntress”

Nickname: Draug,”wolf”

Race: Human (Dale)

Gender: Female

Age: 30

Height/Weight: 5’7”, 140 pounds

Appearance: Tall and slim with a rather straight figure, toned and slender muscles. She is not very fair, but that does not bother her in the slightest, as she seldom, if ever, cares about her looks. She has a roundish face with prominent cheekbones, sharp and almond shaped brown eyes and black, shoulder length hair that she keeps tied back at all times. She has scars on several places on her body, even though many are so old that they are barely visible against the relative paleness of her skin; the most visible is a very fine white scar crossing her right cheek. It is an old one, and does not affect any of her facial muscles.

Marital status: Widow, now unattached.

Occupation: Tracker, hunter.

Outfit: Brown tunic and leggings underneath a green leather coat and a hooded cloak, well-worn leather boots.

Means of travel: She prefers walking but still owns a rather nondescript bay gelding.

Personality: She’s a loner really, keeps to herself as much as possible. A nasty temper once provoked, and may at times snap at the oddest things. She deeply despises overly feminine women. Her sense of humour leans rather heavily to the sarcastic side.

Weapon: A yew longbow and two knives, of which one really is more like a shortsword. She also carries a rather special crossbow. It is small enough to fire with one hand and hang from the belt, a composite bow made from yew and horn dyed black, limbs are recurved and it has two tracks, so the bow can have two bolts cocked and release them in rapid succession. It is probably a one of a kind piece, at least the elf who made it for her had never heard of another like it. (I got the idea to this weapon mostly from David Gemmell's novel "Waylander", but also in part from the small, handheld crossbows used by the Drow in the books by R. A. Salvatore...I always liked the idea )

Past bio: Born in Dale, she spent most of her time out in the woods, truly more comfortable with the wild and its birds and beasts than with the people around her. She got married at 18 to a rather brusque and harsh man, for reasons she can’t quite seem to remember. None the less they lived a rather peaceful life, in a relationship not exactly built on great love, but rather a kind of affection and understanding. The one thing they could never see eye to eye on was the fact that he wanted her to be more feminine and “house-wify”, something that she absolutely detested. They never had any children and he died when she was 27; she doesn’t particularly mourn him. After that she once again returned to the wild, occasionally offering her services as a tracker of criminals to one lord or another. She has travelled quite extensively throughout the lands on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, but for some reason Rohan has found a special part in her heart. At the moment she is hard on the trail of a murderer, having pursued him through what is now called East Lórien, but as he has eluded her for so long and thrown a couple of less than enjoyable surprises her way she is far from cheerful at the moment...


I do think that the "misfit loner who shuns human interaction" might be just a wee bit overdone, but I'll try it out anyway...might make some changes later on.

[erinhue]

I think the Bard has too much baggage, history that I would have to be bound by and then there is the matter of the harp. I just don't see the old worm fitting into this one and since a bard does not travel without his instrument I think I will go another route.

Leander: half elven, undetermined age, but appears to be 30-35, tall, lean athletic build, pale skin, honey colored eyes long silver hair and silver fingernails - Dresses in a form fit black leather battlesuit, wears 8 serpent tooth daggers strapped to his arms and legs, carries a double edged broadsword, Tanglorn- when not wearing the battlesuit, he wears a hooded cloak, tunic, trousers and low top boots of a non descript brown that seems to blend with the surroundings.

Blood born member of the El Al'Loth, a secret society dedicated to rooting out dark forces and preventing the spread of evil (as they see it) that remains in the world after the destruction of the One Ring. Each has a medallion which(among other things possibly) focuses and enhances the one true talent they all share. The Osaril is the most powerful of these medalions.

Still working on that 'one true talent' thing - I am borrowing from Silverbergs' Lords of Light and Darkness here. The talent allows him to alter his relative position to time and space. helps him move unseen in a crowd or super quick and when pressed in battle or seriously outnumbered, he can perform a Temporal Fugue

He's a hard as steel/heart of gold/ man of few words type who is pretty darned hard to defeat in battle. He is an assassin by trade and is more likely to pull a covert opperation rather than a full on charge, but charge he will if it comes to it.

I have only used Leander in one other RP, the legendary last of the old school threads, Ocean Voyage. I think starting with a more fresh character will give me the freedom of going with the flow of this tale without having to work within the confines of The Bard character. Im real comfortable in his skin, so maybe I need to try something different., If we get to Dol Amroth I might toss Beliran into the mix if him and the boys are needed story wise.

Ya said something about leaving a sample? An audition huh? not a bad idea, we do it in the Mithril Knights. OK I'll do a backstory bit on Leander soon as I get a minute.

Oh I must warn you have a conference April 4-7 so I will be away at that time and I won't be much use until then what with work and getting ready and oh yeah I do have the Danimal to take care of in the meanwhile. Looking muchly forward, ladies, I will enjoy writing with you

[Amethyst Jade]

Good bios both of you. Exensive and deep. I like it. This is definately going to be a fun RP.

Erinhue, the sample was only if someone wanted to write for Mordiarias. Also, can you explain the Temporal Fugue as I don't quite follow you. No worries about the conference and other ties, as I have school starting back Monday. As long as the thread doesn't die I will be happy. =]

Arail, great bio. I used to do alot of 'misfit loner who shuns human interaction' kind of characters. They're just fun to play and develop. Oh, and I'm excited to learn about this murder Faril is solving.

Again thanks. I'm sure looking forward to it.

[Amethyst Jade]

Well, you guys, I guess we could start posting so some people can get a feel for what we're going for. I shall try to get a post up here soon. I've been writing one on and off, and have actually gone back and edited it, so it should be up in the next day or so.

=]

[erinhue]

That would help, you are the one with the story.

[nienor-niniel]

I have a bad guy. He is an amazing bad guy - ask Erinhue, he might remember...

But he is not called Mordarias and I would not like to write him under another name but his ID.

If you think you might be interested in my Darkling I can post a link to an RP once started and to a bit of his poetry to give you the flavor of the character. I assure you, he is quite something.

Besides that, I think that at the current moment your story lacks men... how about a young Rohirrim?

An ancient RP, where you can find both characters of which I am thinking: Hades and Haleth: http://forums.theonering.com/viewtopic.php?t=79190.

Remember Erinhue? (in other words, I miss writing)

[erinhue]

Oh yeah buddy do I remember. She does a REAL good bad guy

[Andalion]

This looks incredibly interesting, and I always love the RP's that stretch the hundreds of miles of traveling. Mordarias sounds fiendishly awesome, as well. I'd like to pitch in my main man, as he's certainly old enough and all of that, and I want to develop him more. This one's happening about the same time in the Fourth Age as Thuringwethil, but no worries about continuity sake, so long as he works for your taste.

Name: Andalion.
Nickname: The Silent Man.
Race: Grey Man.
Gender: Male.
Age: 61.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 166 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown.
Eye Color: Sea-green.
Appearance: He appears quite rugged to most, and the fact that he does not indulge himself in enjoying the trivial things available to him while in “civilized” society does not help that appearance. His hair is actually quite fine and thin as it falls about his head, roughly to the jaw at the shortest length, perhaps to the mid-neck at the longest tip. A bit of scruff along the cheeks, jaw and chin give that ruggedness more to add to the table, though it’s evident that he keeps his neck clean, when he can. He has quite a toned body, with leathery skin that is weathered in color and hard, wiry muscles that aren’t quite noticeable beneath the leather of his clothes, except for in his overall stature. There are several dozen scars all along his body. From within his weathered visage shine two eyes of a color that is defined by the word “absent”. They are colorful enough, an intriguing sea-green that some have found captivating in his time, but the absence comes from the general solemnity one finds within these two orbs. Beneath the rugged exterior is a handsome enough man, to be sure, but he likes to think that the land finds him more appealing as he is.
Build: Tall, lean musculature as if hewn from stone.
Marital Status: Unmarried.
Profession: Generally speaking, he has no profession. He calls himself a "man of nature", which is basically just his way of saying he's a woodsman, although there's no denying that he's more than a simple woodsman.
Outfit: As per his travels, Andal’s outfit is subject to quite a bit of change, and yet it all normally comes down to rudimentary clothing that usually consists of leather and cloth. For instance, in his most recent travels, he has worn a green cloth tunic, belted to let the lag fall to nearly his knees over dark leather breeches tucked into very worn and weathered brown leather boots that reach to just under the knee. He also typically wears a cloak, commonly of gray color. The only long-standing item is the clasp of whatever cloak he is wearing, which is of white-gold and shaped in an oval ring, with the middle hollowed out; it is the sigil of the Grey Men.
Means of Travel: Andal can always find food for himself, but some of the places he travels are not fit in that sense for a steed, and so he travels primarily on his own two feet unless he plans ahead or certain situations make a steed necessary. He has his greatest ally in nature, and nature speeds him on his way.
Personality: He seems to be a rather quiet man, not prone to throwing himself at things emotionally. There is a solemnity to his character, a kind of melancholy, though most make the mistake of thinking he’s an unsociable person. It's hard to truly define him as a man from another point of view because of his reserved nature, which is all most people get to know about him.
Skills Include: Andalion has a variety of skills, his queerest and most complicated being a sort of empathic bond he has with nature and its animals. He can’t truly…talk to them, but in a sense, he can in fact communicate with them. The trees “speak” to him; the rocks “move” in his eyes. Animals seem to know what he’s thinking, and he them, almost at random. He’s been noted to carry a longbow of rather heavy draw weight, suggesting skill with the weapon, as well as a sword of rather unique characteristics, although just how talented he is with it isn’t widely known.
Weapons of Choice: Andal carries a handmade bow. His house traded with elves on a common basis…and somehow got their hands on a bit of mallorn wood. Not wanting to see it go to waste in building some stupid hut for one of his clansmen, he took a bit and crafted himself a fine bow, as high as his shoulder. He carries the necessary quiver and arrow supply, and a battle-tested short blade on his left hip. Over his back, the handle jutting past his right shoulder, he carries the pearlescent longsword named Hiril, meaning “Lady” in Sindarin.

[Amethyst Jade]

Andalion, the bio looks great. I already like your style of writing. =]

Nienor-niniel - can I call you NN? - Sure thing. I do love a good bad guy. Can you post a bio in this thread, though? Thanks. =]


And everyone, I've actually already written a bio for Mordarius, as I came up with something just the other night. Sorry about not posting yet, RL got a bit of me. Figures. But I will get it up tommorrow.

[Lithtaur16]

Hi Amethyst Jade! Good to meet you.
I'm interested if you have room for a very green Ranger. This period of strife would be just about the time Lith's life also became very... complicated. She's been well worked in her later years but her roving and training have only ever been a summary.
Angmar Rising is a good example of her, later on, to start with: http://forums.theonering.com/viewtopic.php?t=69310

Original Name: Ledenna Fionnich
Road Name: Lithtaur
Race:Human
Heritage: Rohirrim, Gondor/Southern(?)
Age: 20-25
Gender:Female
Occupation:Shield maiden, housekeeper and essentially farm hand at her father's house, she is forced to become a wanderer and eventually a Ranger later in life.
Skills: A master Blacksmith and farrier, enough skill in sword and bowcraft to keep her and her companions alive, rudimentary healing skills with add up to improvizing field dressings. Master Bard much later in life.
Description: Tall (about 5 feet 8inches, give or take an inch) and strong even at this early age from mucking stalls and baling hay.
A lightly tanned complexion with deep brown eyes and brown hair usually tied back in a tail that hangs to her waist.
Equipment: A map as well as an ash flatbow, knife and a longsword with a black leather grip and iron pommel. A small "R" is enhraved into the right side of the blade near to the hilt. A flint and tinder and a flute accompany her later.
Personality: Though friendly and usually polite, Lith is somewhat reserved and often nervous (flighty?) at large formal gatherings. She is patient and does not anger easily but she strikes quickly when she is. She has a very strong feeling of kinship with friends.
Martial Status: Single
Family:
Father and House- Roedan Fionnich served as a King's Rider and all the family on his side are Rohirrim.
Mother- Lenna- Her father was Rohir and her mother was said to be Gondorian (Lithtaur got her dark hair from her mother's mother). There is Westernesse blood somewhere in Lenna's line but there have been some questions.
Usual Companions:A sturdy, middle-sized buckskin stallion named Spirit and a large gray-white (female) wolfhound called Anaiu.
History: Refusing to surrender with the downfall of Sauron, brigands and outlaws have made it their solemn duty to ravage the border farms and villages of Rohan for their own gain as well as revenge until the land is theirs or until they are dead. Living but a few leagues from the river and far from help, only hurried news and her aged father's foresight saved Ledenna and her mother from the initial onslaught when the raiders came upon the settlement with their blades and flaming brands. Ledenna reached safety and found help from a cousin several days ride away, only to return to a smouldering house, a scattered herd and a hundred other horrors waiting for her. Only later did she learn that by the worst luck her mother had been taken on the road as well. With the help of her cousin and his men she proved her paternity in the days that followed but eventually Ledenna found that, without her father and her house to speak for her, she had no more station in the land which she had loved and would always call home. Doubt had been on her unlucky mother for years and, though the women who knew the truth intervened for her, in time Ledenna was gently turned away by the men of her people. They would help her as her father's daughter but she would live alone or leave as long as her name was remembered.
She left, journeyed to Gondor and there found her mother's family in Pelargir. Knowing their bloodlines best, and loving her granddaughter's grit, the matriarch made persuasive arguements for Ledenna to join the ranks of the Rangers and become Lithtaur. An old sword of worth she was allowed to keep but Lith was made to give up all other personal oddments for the King's service. The old woman's only gifts were a flatbow, a long knife, a map and her blessing with orders to spend several year wandering in hardship before returning for directions to where Lith would find the one she was to call teacher for a great part of her life. Anaiu and Spirit would follow of their own will.

Lith has followed the river's western shore northward for several months with a solid heart for proving herself. Perhaps she will follow it to its very tributaries. But what of the other roads? Would she leave the fastest road back, to a family which would have been happy to have her and say that the old woman was outlandish even for them, just to see all the rest of the world from map corner to map corner? Or beyond?

[elerrina_narloth]

hello!

It's nice to see a new role play up and running here! this looks like an awesome story and I totally want to join.....I am just going to warn that RL can catch up with me sometimes I may go weeks without posting....but I shall try to avoid such leaves!

I have a half-elf character for this time period, but I think I shall write human girl, since I so rarely do

Name- Fallasse

Gender- Female

Race- Human (Dol Amroth)

Age- 20

Marital Status- Single

Family- A brother and two sisters.

Occupation- Librarian and healer in training, but adventures from her books tend to pull her more than she would admit, she learned the sword a long way back just because it is like dancing and swords are pretty

Weapons- A lovely engraved short sword, a bow if she needed to

Height- 5' 3"

Weight- 120 lbs

Hair- dark blonde and very curly and almost to her waist

Eyes- brown

Personality- Somewhat quiet, she is after all a librarian, she also is quite amiable and can talk to most anyone, though she is not always comfortable with strangers. She is brave at need, though she doesn't know it, and she can be cowardly when she is very scared. She is fiercely loyal, a good friend and she loves to laugh and loves a good joke. She is very compassionate and loves to be there for people....but don't touch her temper...

History- She was born in Minas Tirith to silversmith and his wife, and she often enough saw Elessar and the royal family and they have a tight space in her young heart. She once saw King Eomer and thought he was quite splendid. She loved to listen to the old tales, especially those about Aragorn and Eomer. She and her siblings moved to Dol Amroth for its beauty and their grand respect for Prince Imrahil. Their mother was raised in Dol Amroth, and Fallasse always wanted to return to her mother's hom and see the places and people her mother saw. And of course, when she got there, the beauty did not disappoint her

Clothing- She usually dresses in long gowns of grey or blue, often with slits to the thigh and leggings beneath. She sure to look lovely and feminine at her work at the library, with most of her hair down. When she is with her patients she ties it all back in knot on the back of her head. She has a specific brown gown and apron for this job. She goes barefoot as often as she can, but she loves her kneehigh soft leather boots for riding and traveling.

Specific Skills- She is quite a loremaster in her own right and has a good knowledge of the geography of Middle-Earth and its heroes and tales. She is a skilled swordsman, even if she has never killed anyone in a real fight. Her skill as a healer is very good, especially in the matter of stitches.

I hope this is the kind of character you are looking for!

[Cock-Robin]

I hope this character is all right with you. In other RPG's elsewhere, I really get into non-human characters, and this was a minor character in LOTR, but will become a major one here.

Name: Meneldor

Nickname: The Swift

Race: Eagles of the North

Location: Mindolluin

Age: Unknown

History: Meneldor is one of the legendary brothers of Gwaihir the Windlord. He played a small part in the War of the Ring, helping his brothers to rescue Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Orodruin when the Ring was destroyed and Sauron fell. He later was the messenger who announced to Minas Tirith of the downfall of Sauron and the coming of King Elessar.

When the War ended, he returned with his brothers to the Misty Mountains, but a growing restlessness forbade him to settle down there. With the approval of Gwaihir, he struck out south to find a place he could call home. Surprisingly, he found it at the top of Mount Mindolluin, the mountain under which Minas Tirith was established. He set up his eyrie there and was soon befriended by King Elessar.

In return for the privelege of setting up his eyrie on Mindolluin, he agreed to be a "watchman" for Gondor. Little escaped his sharp eagle-eyes while he was on watch. He was often used as a swift messenger between Gondor and Rohan, and had borne messages between Elessar and Eomer, and to Faramir in Ithilien.

Appearance: He is a large brown eagle with bright eyes. He wears a golden collar, a gift from Elessar, and a sign of his office of watch-eagle.

Personality: He is loyal to a fault, but is not a kindly bird, as most eagles are wont to be. He makes friends slowly, but when one befriends him, he is a friend for life. He can be quite fierce, and has a temper which is as swift as his flight. So, he is called "The Swift" for more than one reason.


As I play him, I will develop this character more fully. Please let me know if this is sufficient.

[Amethyst Jade]

Woah. I never thought there'd be this much interest. Thanks everyone. You make me happy. Haha

Well, Robin, I really look forward to seeing how Meneldor plays in this story.

Elerrina, Falma looks good. I sure hope she can fight a company of evil, unhuman-like... things.

Lith, Great bio. I seem to have a special place in my heart for Rohirrim. ^_^


Well, seeing as it's 6:45 in the morning, and I have to leave for school here in a few minutes, I will definately finish editing that post and get it up tonight.

[nienor-niniel]

Hi Amethyst,

you can call me Nin, everybody used to do so, when I was still psting often on TORC.

Now for my bad guy: did you have a look at the RP link I posted in here? This RP, named Darkness Rising starts with a post from my bad guy, Hades. I'm very sorry if you have written a bio for Mordarias, I woudl really like to play my character under his name as a bad guy - you were not yet on TORC to remember him, but he is a really bad guy. I am very keen on the name of Hades for a specific reason, explained later.

Here is the bio: (warning very long)

Name: Hades (original name is long forgotten)

Race: he was human once, of Numenorean origin

Age: born in Numenor, about fifty years before its downfall

Gender: male

Appearance: very tall, about 1m95 (no idea in feet), so skinny that he looks almost like a walking skeleton. Usually entirely clad in black - with a long, cloak that covers him entirely. A huge hood covers his face, which is not easy to guess. When he uncovers it, scars ravage the face - it has strictly no expression at all. His features are so torn and stretched that it is impossible to guess how he has looked like in his youth, when he was still human. He will only uncover himself when it is inevitable. Until now nobody who has seen Hades face uncovered has lived to tell afterwards.

Equipment: through the ages, several black horses, all those, which have agreed to bare him. Always in black boots made of heavy, shining leather, with metal soles. Nothing but by look he could almost be taken for a Nazgûl, but he does not spread the same feeling of despair around him and he does not have the dreadful screaming voice of the ringwraiths.
A long Numenorean sword with a black grip and a long steel blade, sharpened on both sides. If he draws it, and decides to fight, he can move to quickly to be seen. His hands could strangle any enemy, even an ork or an elf. His physical strength can bruise bones by his bare hands too. Spreading fear, darkness and cold are yet his main weapons.

Skills: He can read minds to a certain extend, but not deeper and happier thoughts. In the same time, he can direct the thoughts and action of his victims, spreading despair in their hearts, suffocating all happiness around him. His presence will be felt like a shadow, and those who are unprepared to meet an ancient servant of the Dark Lord will be in danger of being overtaken, influenced, slaves to his will. He will sometimes submit someone to his will just for the pleasure of seeing this person despair or act foolishly.
Hades enjoys torture, both physically and mentally.
His main weakness is a deep disinterest for all living creatures. He hates them all, and most of all, he hates himself. He does not understand the idea of hope, love, friendship or loyalty and is unable to foresee many actions of humans or elves if they are motivated by feelings he does not conceive.

Biography: Originally, Hades was born as one of the sons of a Numenorean notable on the court of Al Pharazon. His family was a strong supporter of the king, hating the elves and preoccupied with the question of immortality, worshiping Sauron in his form. Being good-looking, noble and intelligent he was chosen to become a spy among the faithful among the Numenoreans and pretended to be an elf-friend to be the friend of Isildur and Elendil. Yet, treachery at this time was not natural for him - he really did believe in Sauron as ruler of the world and wanted to express his support openly. But the promised reward was immortality for him and his wife, given by the Dark Lord. The only creature that Hades has loved in all his life was his wife, who was even more ambitious than him, and stayed with him to gain the promised immortality only. Hades hoped to become the holder of one of the Rings of Power of which Sauron had spoken and he carried one for a while. As he lusted for power, he accepted the mission of treason. His hatred of the elves was very real and it was difficult for him to fulfil his mission as a spy. So, it was not astonishing that the faithful never fully trusted him.

After the fall of Numenor, Sauron punished him by taking the Ring he had carried and ever since Hades heart is darker than the deepest night. He hates the Valar and Eru who have made perished his home country, he hates the elves because of their immortality, he hated men because of their weakness, he hates the Dark Lord because he has taken away from him what he desired most, he hates the Nazgùl.

But most of all he hates himself. For, if Hades has survived the downfall of Numenor by the power of Sauron, he was completely disfigured. And like many other servants of the Dark side he was betrayed, for the only person he cared for, his wife Asyraya died. She cursed him before the waves closed over her - holding his failure responsible for her death. Failed as a traitor, he was of no use no more to Sauron who rejected him. Hades understood that he would never be a powerful servant of the darkness, never a Lord among men, alone forever. As his power is not given by birth, nor fully on the Ring (he has not carried it long enough for that), it is not subdued to the Valar. He has survived his own death, one reason for his powers, he has survived a punishment of the Valar, and so they cannot destroy him any more.

This is also why Hades becomes stronger when Sauron has been defeated and can unleash his power fully in the Forth Age only. Another time for him would thus have been after the victory of the Last Alliance.

He loathes his life and the only pleasure that is left for him is in torturing others, so that his pain becomes the pain of others.

In Middle Earth since the fall of Numenor, he has learned all that there is to know about it and followed all servants of the Darkness that have accepted his presence. Thus he has learned his skills of domination over the mind and used them in every way he could imagine.

After the victory of the Last Alliance, for a first time Hades could use his powers as Sauron was defeated and the power of the Rings weakened. He chose then the Easterlings and through his power of controlling weaker minds has inspired them a worship of a dark God, in fact himself. Hades enjoyed ceremonies with torturing initiations and human sacrifices... Later when the power in Dol Guldur roses again, he had to abandon his little realm, but from this time dates his encounter with an ancestor of Alandriel and his interest in her.

The fall of Sauron has rejoiced him, setting his powers free once more. He hopes now to be able to be considered as an enemy of the elves, to gain hatred if it is the only thing he can gain. Even though he would never tell so silently he hopes to find the failure in his immortality and to meet the opponent who could kill him. He wants to be the next Dark Lord or nothing at all and he will do everything to stretch out his domination.


Some further explanation:
First for the choice of name: First I wanted to register the user-name of Thanatos (greek word for death), but it was taken. The idea behind the two choices was yet the same: Tolkien has said many times that in his opinion under every myth lies a profound truth. And he settles his Middle Earth before the known beginning of European civilisation. In this optic, I decided that what comes after the War of the Rings is to become the start of European civilisation, as we know it by myth until today: the Greco-roman civilisation. So Hades is indeed the same who will become the Greek God of the Underworld and will be remembered in another myth, whereas he is a descendant of Numenor and had also transmitted the memory of his sunken homeland under the other form of this myth: Atlantis… This is where for me the two mythological worlds come together again. Okay, this information is of strictly no practical use, but I still wanted to share it.

The second question is the issue of walking unseen: Hades is not like the Nazgûl a wraith: he has a physical body and will always have one, although his powers now outpass what a human body could naturally offer him. (I am currently thinking about the question weather he actually needs to eat or not – and if he eats what it would be etc – any input is welcome ) Yet, he can walk unseen: in fact with his power of controlling minds people who actually see him, prefer to think that it was something else: A little cloud, a cold wind, a shadow in a corner, a flicker of their imagination. Hades uses this denial, but someone with a very strong will would still be able to see him – I think…. However, when he decides to show himself openly, no denial of his presence is possible.


To get a feeling for his character the best is to follow the link in the first post, I also have smaples of other RP posts in his shape.

I swear you he is an excellent bad guy. Very bad, very scary, very evil. But I understand if you are fixed on Mordarias character.

Another thing: i am not a native speaker of English.

[erinhue]

For what its worth, she's good folks.

Cock Robin. I dunno about anyone else but I'd love the idea of getting ta work with one of the Eagles. Leander would have worked with them before so maybe they might know each other somewhat.

One thing, If I slip into Bard mode someone kick me back in to half elven gear

[Cock-Robin]

Thanks, Erin! I look forward to playing Meneldor. And I purposely chose him, who is only mentioned by name in ROTK:

The North Wind blows, but we shall outfly it.' said Gwaihir. And he lifted up Gandalf and sped away south, and with him went Landroval, and Meneldor young and swift.

And,

Side by side they lay, and down swept Gwaihir, and down came Landroval and Meneldor the swift; and in a dream, not knowing what fate had befallen them, the wanderers were lifted up and borne far away out of the darkness and the fire.

Because that way, I have a lot of leeway in how I play this character. I added the part where he was the messenger who gave the news to Minas Tirith of Sauron's fall and Elessar's coming. And it is very possible that he and Leander know each other, but it may have been some time since they've met. The last of the descendants of Thorondor of old, and one of the greatest. Though he's not as well known as the others.

And Nin, what can I say but WOW! I don't think I'm going to sleep nights after reading the description of your character. Even the Nazgul weren't so chilling.

[Amethyst Jade]

Well, Nin, if Hades wishes to be leader of Wynter's Rose, he needs to worship Sauron. However, I do believe we can work something out where it's Mordarias vs Hades vs everyone else. Haha. That'd actually be pretty great. My plan for Mordarias, who is Oriana's twin brother , is that he's the leader of Wynter's Rose [obviously ] who, once he is reunited with his sister, ponders which side is thus aligned. Oriana's fate holds that same course. haha. I'm so excited, but obviously that won't happen for a long while. Therefore, Dar and Hades can work together, against each other, or thus unbeknownst to each other. Any way is fine. =]

Everyone, I am typing that post as I type [er... sort of].

[Cock-Robin]

Great! I can hardly wait to see it and start this. I'll be looking for the IC thread.

[erinhue]

I am gonna be out of town this weekend and not back home until Monday late. I can't wait to get this started Sounds like its gonna be a grand ride.

I know what you mean about tying a character to The Story. Erinhue was apprenticed to the bard that wrote Frodo of the Nine Fingers that was sung at the end of the War of the One Ring.

Yeah this is gonna be a good one, I can feel it.

[elerrina_narloth]

*bounces up and down in chair*

I'm excited! this is going to be interesting......

quick note, I am changing Falma's name to Fallasse.....and I do believe that she will find her courage.....

[nienor-niniel]

Amethyst, my idea would then be the following: Hades meets the Wynter's Rose and their leader Mordarias. He wants to prevent Sauron from rising again, so he will act agaisnt his rise - but he also wants to have as many followers, slaves, call them however you want, as possible. So he wil apparently join Mordarias and let the Wynter's Rose benefit from his strength, but in secrecy prepare to take them over and to rise them against Sauron so that we could have treachery within the baddies at some point. (Right now I can imagine Oriana being kid-napped and wel.... treated... by Hades to put Mordarias under pressure... but I also know that ideas for RP come in the writing.)

What say you?

I swear he is really scary.

[erinhue]

Hmmmmm this is interesting. I shall think on it while I am away this weekend but I might have had a change of heart. If Hades is here, I might wanna be The Bard. If he really gets worked up, we might need the Champion of the Light to even the odds. I don't know.

See its like this with me I need ta see something. I learned to RP way back when they did not have OOC threads. Planning was frown upon then someone posted the beginnings of a story and you wrote yourself in. The story could be going along one way and someone would toss something into the mix and shift everything and ya had to pick it up on the fly and think fast on your feet. it was fun but it made ya work for it.

In this day of more planned out stories I find I could get a much better feel for this tale if I had a starting point in the story. Some places feel one way, some times feel another. Description is nice but I work off the movie in my head and I need the words to crank the camera. I can't see anything ya know. Once there is an actuall opening post I can better tell what character is gonna fit in with how I feel the story world works

[Arail Fordorthien]

With all the different characters trickling in this is getting even more interesting, even though I have to admit that Hades seems like the kind of char that will scare the living daylights out of me once we get rolling Can hardly wait to see where this will go once the IC is up...