Other Worlds Than These (Discussion Thread)

[Aikanáro]

Even where Rivailen comes from, most people's instincts would be a lot more like Beryn's than hers! Rivailen's a bit of an outlier. She has got the excuse, though, that she's still coming to terms with the fact that dragons actually exist and aren't just the talk of crazy people and old stories.

Besides, if it talks, that's different. She'd have an interesting time in in Narnia with all the talking animals.

[Midge]

Oh, yes, I was going to mention (and maybe you all have this worked out already) that the dragon doesn't have to actually be evil. In Perelandra, there are beasts which look like dragons but behave like dogs - following humans around like shadows, nuzzling legs and hands, and sleeping very heavily. They mean nobody any harm.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Also - if we're taking Narnia into account, we must be sure that it is not a human-turned-dragon!

Edit: That's what I get for skimming, instead of reading - you all were way ahead of me with that one.

[Aikanáro]

Well, I will say that both Rivailen and Beryn have made certain assumptions about the dragon which may turn out not to be true.

Earniel, it's up to you whether or not Beryn's close enough to hear Rivailen at this point, depending if there's anything you particularly want to respond to or not.

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Midge

Oh, yes, I was going to mention (and maybe you all have this worked out already) that the dragon doesn't have to actually be evil. In Perelandra, there are beasts which look like dragons but behave like dogs - following humans around like shadows, nuzzling legs and hands, and sleeping very heavily. They mean nobody any harm.

I'm getting visions of Beryn sneaking up on the dragonlet, ready to kill it, only for it to turn around, lick her face with a big pink tongue excitably and wanting her to toss a stick to play fetch next.

Originally Posted by Aikanáro

Well, I will say that both Rivailen and Beryn have made certain assumptions about the dragon which may turn out not to be true.

Undoubtedly. But that's the fun of it when other worlds get tossed in the mix, what you think is true about your world, is not necessarily so, but often not at all applicable on other worlds.

I wonder if Beryn has taken into account that it even might be Anahera's pet.

Earniel, it's up to you whether or not Beryn's close enough to hear Rivailen at this point, depending if there's anything you particularly want to respond to or not.

Yeah, I was planning on one closing comment before sending her off. Will do that tonight. Planning and packing for the holidays is a bit hectic and I still have to find those dratted Entwives tonight too.

[feawen]

i was thinking of a connection with the dragon and anahera! i think she could do with a pet right now, she's a little in shock!

[Varnafindë]

I didn't plan to have Nightshade's post quite as long as that - but I guess it doesn't hurt either

It's more backstory for her, and it also shows that she is aware of there being more than one world ...

[Midge]

Oh, Varna! I loved the shout-out to Tumnus! The line I WISH made it into the movie - "Goodness gracious me!"

You're my hero.

[Varnafindë]

It was such a very Narnian shout of surprise. I just had to use it.

Glad you liked it.

[Aikanáro]

I love the Nightshade-Aerin strand of the story.

Although I can't help picturing this for after Nightshade has met a few more Middle-Earth folk and gotten used to their reactions.

- You're a badger!
- You people have no imagination.

As it's a possible link-up point for later, do we actually have any characters who can write in Westron?

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Aikanáro

I love the Nightshade-Aerin strand of the story.

Although I can't help picturing this for after Nightshade has met a few more Middle-Earth folk and gotten used to their reactions.

- You're a badger!
- You people have no imagination.

I hope she finds something else to answer, too ...
What about "no, I'm actually a kitten ".

As it's a possible link-up point for later, do we actually have any characters who can write in Westron?

Baru is a scholar and can read and write in Quenya, Sindarin and Westron. She mostly uses Tengwar, but can do the Angerthas as well - and whatever script is more commonly used for other purposes.

[Aikanáro]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

I hope she finds something else to answer, too ...
What about "no, I'm actually a kitten ".

Brilliant.

Baru is a scholar and can read and write in Quenya, Sindarin and Westron. She mostly uses Tengwar, but can do the Angerthas as well - and whatever script is more commonly used for other purposes.

Heh, I should have known. Of course she can, she's a Noldo. It looks like Elspeth's already found a way to get her letter written, but that's good to know for later.

Poor Ashkaio would be horrified if he knew Elspeth just assumed he was illiterate.

[feawen]

well elspeth doesnt know about the others yet she has to think of something and Anahera is of no help to her self at the moment let alone writing a letter, which she cant do!

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by feawen

i was thinking of a connection with the dragon and anahera! i think she could do with a pet right now, she's a little in shock!

Maybe Anahera's people could use the little dragons to help them hunt, a bit like dogs in our world?

Originally Posted by Aikanáro

As it's a possible link-up point for later, do we actually have any characters who can write in Westron?

Beryn can write a little although her spelling of more complicated words is bordering on atrocious. Indigo will no doubt be able to write well and even do some calligraphy. But since I'll be gone tomorrow neither of my characters will be of use for that for now.

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

I hope she finds something else to answer, too ...
What about "no, I'm actually a kitten "

Or: "Of course I can't talk, whoever heard of talking badgers? It's all in your imagination. You probably stood in the sun too long, you might want to go home and have a lie-down."

[Midge]

Originally Posted by Aikanáro

As it's a possible link-up point for later, do we actually have any characters who can write in Westron?

Aerin can write in Westron - it was part of her training as a Messenger of the Lady. Gotta be able to read the addresses, even when they come from people who don't speak the same language as you.

Lur and Lantie won't really be able to write. I haven't researched it much, but I get the feeling their family is mostly oral - especially since they don't really die of old age...

I'm quite enjoying the Aerin-Nightshade story too...

[Midge]

Oh, I didn't see that question. Hum... like, a dark brown color. I kind of pictured her with a similar coloring to Liv Tyler.

[Aikanáro]

I hope you don't mind, Varna, but I'd like to skip ahead a little with Rivailen and Baru and have them ride to the inn and get settled there in my next post, basically because we've got a few timing issues I need to sort out. (They should really have arrived before Anahera, who is on foot...)

Would that be okay?

[Midge]

I did some exploring through old LLL discussion threads - Feawen suggested once that after we find the Entwives, we go searching for other things like Palantiri, Blue Wizards, Dwarven Rings, etc...

Wonder how old we'd be (IRL) by the time our company found EVERYTHING there is hidden in Middle Earth...

[Aikanáro]

Well, if we average four years per quest...

This RP is different in that we start by finding something and then have to figure out what to do about it!

Edit: Feawen, where's your new signature from?

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Midge

Oh, I didn't see that question. Hum... like, a dark brown color. I kind of pictured her with a similar coloring to Liv Tyler.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Aikanáro

I hope you don't mind, Varna, but I'd like to skip ahead a little with Rivailen and Baru and have them ride to the inn and get settled there in my next post, basically because we've got a few timing issues I need to sort out. (They should really have arrived before Anahera, who is on foot...)

Would that be okay?

Yes, that's fine with me! They are ready to leave now, there's nothing more they need to develop storywise where they are. So they can leave and skip the details and settle at the inn in the next post.

The falling through of Ashkaio and his whole exchange with Elspeth must have happened considerably later than the falling through of Anahera, then. And we have no indication of when Nightshade fell through - it can be earlier or later as we wish.

[Midge]

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

Thank you!

Was that to make sure she looked like the description of Queen Susan?

One of the things that bothers me about LOTR (and even more now, since I'm planning on incorporating Perelandra into this) is the lack of an English equivalent to the word hnau. Hnau is a word that Lewis made up to mean "any creature with a soul" or "a sentient creature" (I'm not sure those are interchangeable, but if not, I'm sure he meant the former), because in one of his books, he had three sentient species all on one planet. And there are LOTS of hnau in Middle Earth: Elves, Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Ents... Maiar, Ainur... I don't know if you could count things like Dragons, Orcs, Wargs, Trolls, because they're evil, and just copies of original creations, but they definitely have an independence about them. Selfish, yes, but they are not robots...

Anyway I feel awkward saying things like "the languages of men" (which is a lovely short and succinct way of expressing it), because that seems like it leaves out the other species in Middle Earth since one of the races is called Men specifically...

Anyway, I can't wait for Lur and Lantie to get there. They know the word "hnau" even though it isn't applicable on their planet because their family is the only sentient species. It will be interesting to them to be able to see other hnau, instead of only hearing of them from Maleldil.