Moria Forgotten

[feawen]

This all sounds very interesting. If it was a blab to a book id be buying it! Anyway it seems to me that for a trip of this kind you would need a medical team or at least someone who knows first aid. Maybe act as a non combatant, radio operator type?
I was wondering if its a1930 depression or early period are you thinking lawless western or a bit of both? Pre or post equal right, female movement? Since at the moment there are a lot of girls! Not that empowered women are a bad thing!

[Earniel]

Oooh, a doctor, didn't think of that! Yes, I reckon that will be useful indeed. Good idea.

I'm not sure if we'd need a radio operator, I suppose that would depend on how hush-hush the whole operation is.

We haven't discussed the time-line in detail yet, but going on what has been discussed I think we'd be a little more earlier than 1930. And if it was up to me, I'd hold off any comparisons to or timing for equal right movements. I always liked that in LoTR women had agency and were capable enough on their own, so I don't think we ought to deviate from that for the sake of some modern-world analogy.

[Mari]

I think I'd like to join in.
Perhaps as an expert on mythril, working a desk job at the company who has all her knowledge from books and has never even seen a cave before? Her job would be to assess if the source found is actually a viable source.

[Tessar]

Sorry I have not been around, this has been the last two weeks from hell.

Hopefully things will calm down this weekend and I can get around to replying/posting some more information!

[Earniel]

I know how you feel, May has been particularly demanding this year.

[Midge]

I would like in if it's still available... I'll read more posts in depth, but I really like the idea of playing a historian of some kind - I imagine it'd be someone who specializes in Dwarven history, since they're going to Moria.

Edit: Shucks! I didn't see that Varna had claimed the historian type role when I volunteered for it. Are we going for just one of each type, or would there be a place for a couple of the same types, like with slightly different specialties (other than miners, obviously we'll need more than one of those)...

[Midge]

Oh, and can you please have the Shire evolve into a monastic community which has the central city of Habbiton?

[Midge]

What if we had a historian who was based in "fact" and a historian who was based in "myth" and they didn't always agree?

After more consideration, I would be okay rp-ing a Chief Miner, who is almost 100% Dwarf or something. We'll make up a crew of miners with 5 or 6 names we can just throw out, and if anyone wants to they can pick up a miner.

So, for anyone else wanting a summary, basically right now it looks like:

Tess: Admin dude
Earn: Local guide
Varna: Elven historian
Feawen: Medical Doctor or Radio Operator?
Mari: Mithril Expert
Midge: Dwarven Historian and/or Chief Miner
Acally: Unknown

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Midge

What if we had a historian who was based in "fact" and a historian who was based in "myth" and they didn't always agree?

My historian would happily specialise in Hobbit and Elven myths, so if yours is into solid Dwarven fact-based history, that could create some interesting situations

Even a Chief Miner - of Dwarven descent - could have strong opinions on Dwarven fact-based history as opposed to Elven legends

[Midge]

I feel like of all the old races, obviously Men are most numerous, then dwarves or people who have dwarven blood. Elves have left and Hobbits and Ents have just sort of disappeared. In this case, dwarven history would more be considered "fact" than Elvish or Hobbitish histories indeed.

And I was thinking the chief miner being mostly dwarfish just made sense. Surely there would be colonies of mostly dwarfs where, even if they have lost a lot of the craft secrets of old, they are still darn better miners than anyone else.

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

Even a Chief Miner - of Dwarven descent - could have strong opinions on Dwarven fact-based history as opposed to Elven legends

Oooh, that would be cool. Could be an interesting juxaposition with Varna's character who's into lore, and mine who knows all the local, often wrongly-amended stories.

It would make sense something Dwarfish is most likely to survive and be passed on in practical things rather than more theoretical as in writing. If the Dwarves didn't write stuff down the way the Elves loved to do, there are not going to be much facts from their history left in current knowledge in the era this game takes place it.

[Midge]

"Fact" Historian: Belord, Man
Age: 44
Occupation: Well-respected Dwarven Scholar at the Minas Tirith* university
Appearance: Thicker build, shorter stature (5'5"ish). Moderate arm strength (from carrying books and such) but not a swordsman, marksman, fighter, or any other physical sort of skills.

Background: His father was a nobleman in Gondor, and when Belord was young, he was sent to school in Minas Tirith. He found he enjoyed study and continued on at University, where he discovered he was fascinated by Dwarven history and culture. In his twenties and early thirties, he visited both the Glittering Caves and the Lonely Mountain several times for "exchange program" type of studies. He's even made it to the Ered Luin once.

When he became what he considered "too old" for such journeys (approximately 10ish years before), he settled down at his school to start recording what he had learned on his trips. He has written several volumes of what is considered the authority on the Dwarves, from culture to customs to history to artifacts and more.

Because his job is rather sedentary, he makes a huge effort to remain in fair shape, taking brisk walks every day and forgoing the wine and pasties the research labs usually have tucked away by all the researchers and assistants. He has always enjoyed the feeling of being healthy, and prefers to keep it up as long as he can.

Personality: Being a scholar, Belord is a fairly large introvert, but he worked well enough with teams on his previous journeys. He is curious and can tend to be slightly fanatical when he gets excited about things. His main motivation is finding the truth and thus, he is very straightforward and logically minded when it comes to philosophizing.

Connection to the Company: Many of his first Dwarven excursions in his younger days were sponsored by or as an intern to this Company. Belord became well acquainted with many of the executives as these trips and internships were highly-sought-after opportunities which required applications and interviews. As he got older and distinguished himself as a Dwarven scholar, he often got invites to these excursions, as a consultant, or a mentor to other interns, or even in a supervisory capacity because of his previous experience. Since he has turned down several invites, the Company calls on him consult locally, at their offices in Minas Tirith, occasionally.

He is the first choice of the execs to head this up for that reason, and they don't think he will turn down an invite to visit the legendary Dwarven realm of Moria. They are right.

(*All references to locations here are subject to whatever maps we come up with. The references to names are specific to the corresponding locations, so if we decide it's evolved to "Minastirithia", then that's where his university is located)

[Midge]

Chief Miner desc coming soon.

[Varnafindë]

I guess I should write up a proper description for Primula, too.

[Midge]

I feel like I need a little more information on society's views of Dwarves - Are they "protected" or are they patronized? Are they common or do they keep to themselves enough for it to be considered "rare" to see a Dwarf?

[Midge]

A few details - I'll get into the background stuff later, after my questions are answered.

Name: Mulrin
Age: 38
Originating location: Erebor
Occupation: Master Metalworker

As a Master Metalworker, Mulrin often gets requests for highly specialized pieces and prefers to mine the metal he requires personally to ensure the highest quality for his pieces. There are a few highly treasured Dwarven mithril artifacts still in the Lonely Mountain, and his occupation and skill have allowed him to get to touch them and study them, although admittedly only a few times in his life, and then for not very long. He is regarded very highly in his profession.

Appearance: Having Dwarf blood, he is about 5'4" with a very strong build. Due to vermin in the mines, he is useful with a rifle, and adequate with a bow, but his real skill is in mining and metalworking. He has a red leather jerkin that he wears most of the time. It is emblazoned with insignia denoting his profession and skill level. His dark red hair and beard are tightly braided, and he wears a pair of rough hide gloves most of the time (except to eat). He wears a belt with a peculiar bronze-and-pewter buckle around his waist.

I guess I have a little more background than I thought, but I still need to come up with something for his connection to the Moria quest.

Edit: Changing his info from "Dwarf-race" to "Having Dwarf-blood", including age, race and a couple of other things.

[Nerwen]

I wanna be an archeologist? Is there room for one?

Susie

[Earniel]

Hey Nerwen, lovely of you to come and join us.

Originally Posted by Midge

I feel like I need a little more information on society's views of Dwarves - Are they "protected" or are they patronized? Are they common or do they keep to themselves enough for it to be considered "rare" to see a Dwarf?

I think we were going with them being extinct in this period, rather. They were never very numerous and I think Tolkien established the wars with the Orks in the Third Aera depleted their numbers to levels they never truly recovered from. So considering the long time passed since then for the period in which this game takes place, extinct seems likely. But we discussed how it was possible that humans could still have some dwarven blood even if the culture and their inate skills had been long lost.

[Midge]

Okay. I'll update the bio for Mulrin and edit the "dwarf" parts.

Edit: I decided that having him originate from Erebor was still plausible. As the Dwarf numbers dwindled, I'm sure that the men of the Long Lake began moving into the mountain. Let me know if there's some problem with something else in Mulrin's bio.

[Tessar]

Sorry gang, went through an unexpected split with my fiancé... but I'm gettin' back on my feet and will be updating here veeeery soooon.