Renee has some ideas on the dilemma, “I think I should shadow Ghân most of the time and leave Deor free to move around. Fang will know where we are, if we are near and Ghân can develop some hand signals to have Fang points us out to him. When we are horsed, it is no issue. As soon as Deor attacks, he will turn visible. Missy, can and will take care of herself. She will even be able to warn me if Deor very is close or any other invisibles for that matter. I have no ranged attacks, in fact I have no attacks accept against the restless dead. So, if I stay near a party member or at least Fang and avoid the enemies as I plan to, I should stay out of the way of friendly fire. I think it is important to remember I am a nearly complete non-combatant.
On the ten day journey, Ghân cast 3 Goodberry spells. Renee lent her help with a small song to Estë as Ghân cast. The first spell produced five magic berries, the second made six, and the third made seven for 18 berries.
The following night, together they made 21 berries and 21 every night thereafter for 207 berries.
The night you spent near the labor camp, she requested that Ghân load and then cast a Plant Growth to start the growth of a large variety of healing herbs and a dozen lemon trees for the health of the prisoners and guards. She also healed 15 of the workers and 1 guard. She used mainly healing knowledge and herbs but also three of her cure lights.
On this day we plan to separate, Caramir asks a boon of Ghân, “Could you possible provide us with the 21 freshest Goodberries? They should last 4 days for us and be of great help.”
Brin will listen intently to Starharp’s lessons on hand signals…for the first hour. He will offer the signals he’s used previously in his duty with the Dale Guard. After about an hour of the Elf’s lesson, his mind will start to wander off to thoughts of home and worries that he might never make it back.
You do know Starharp will be leading the discussion? The introductions alone will take half an hour, and that is just because we already know each other.
True. That’s why I said half an hour versus half a day. Mal should back second breakfast, lunch, and second lunch. Besides, Brin still doesn’t believe Ents (nor Tom Bombadil should his name ever come up) exist.
An hour? From prior experience, anything a Human hasn’t grasped in five minutes is probably not worth persisting with. Besides, he has to allow for the fact that most Humans can’t tell a sparrow from a finch a hundred yards off.
The pleasure is all mine. Such moments of peace and pleasant society should be enjoyed and enhanced however possible.
On the first evening when our party is camping by itself, Gil-Gandel retunes his harp and plays some gentle arpeggios reminiscent of the bells in the high towers of Minas Tirith. If Thoroncir has any ear for music, he may notice that the notes interweave as in change-ringing between one verse and the next of the following:
Hear thou, Eternal Kindler[sup]1[/sup] of the Stars
Who ever dwellst in hallowed courts of light -
The home of hope for every elven heart
Beyond the furthest shores of endless sea -
Gone is the flame of Arien[sup]2[/sup] from the world
And earthly souls compose themselves to rest.
Grant us, we pray, a night’s refreshing rest
Who here look on thy white eternal stars
That shine in pity on the troubled world
And wash it in their cool redeeming light
From mountain tall to ever-changing sea;
From desert strand to forest’s verdant heart.
Ease doubts and cares that daunt the weary heart;
Courage but grant, and we will do the rest
To serve this land - still fair - beyond the Sea
Where woke the Elves of old beneath thy stars
To seek (yet knew not what they sought!) the Light
Of Trees that grew beyond the mortal world.
Those Trees, forever gone from all the world!
Of sadness how to sing that fills my heart?
For never now shall I behold that light
Which graced the Valar’s blessed land of rest;
Living yet only in the Evening Star[sup]3[/sup] -
Earendil’s ship upon his heavenly Sea.
But there are many lights we yet may see
That bring your joy and promise to the world;
Great deeds of hope and faith, which like the stars
Strengthen the will and glad the sorrowed heart;
For which we now prepare to take our rest,
So on the morrow we may serve the Light.
Come, blessed one! until the day’s new light
Calm you our thoughts, reposeless like the sea;
Grant unto care-worn minds and hands that rest
Dreams of thy land all fair beyond the world;
Banish our gloom, console the sick at heart,
And let us sleep in bliss beneath thy stars.
So ever send thy light upon the world;
In realms beyond the sea thy loving heart
Be moved to grant us rest, Queen of the Stars.
[sup]1[/sup]Elbereth, or Varda in Quenya: the Vala of the Stars
[sup]2[/sup]The Maia who drives the Sun; hence, the Sun itself, personified.
[sup]3[/sup]After the Two Trees were destroyed by Morgoth and Ungoliant, their light survived only in the Silmarils, which at the end of the First Age were sundered, and so remain: one lost in the bowels of the Earth, one in the deeps of the Sea, and one upon Earendil’s ship Vingilot which still sails the skies as the Evening Star, and therefore shines with the last trace of the Light that was before the Sun and the Moon.
Thoroncir has an ear for music, but no particular skill at producing it. By the flickering light of the campfire, as the sweet chords die away, he quietly says, “Many thanks again, Gil-Gandel, good friend and gallant captain. That was beautiful. May we all accomplish ‘great deeds of hope and faith.’”
Sorry, but this doesn’t make sense - now we have no idea where you are, e.g. what happens if our Fighters are firing missiles?
How does your Fighter buddy know where you are?
How do we tell the difference between you and an [COLOR=Blue]Invisible opponent?[/COLOR]
Fang is supposed to be watching Ghân and protecting the other casters. He can hopefully spot anyone sneaking up on us.
It is not a good idea to have Fang trying to keep track of Deor and Renee, then have Ghân watch Fang to see where the two invisible people are, then presumably have Ghân notify the party of where they are.
Deor will only turn visible if he casts [COLOR=Blue]Sleep.
Missy is another Invisible wandering around?
Can she Detect Invisible? Can she tell the difference between Deor and a hostile Invisible? How does she warn the party?
We understand Renee is largely defensive - so is Deor.
There are still complications from having two (or three) Invisible members of the party, and the benefits seem unclear. Isn’t Renee protected both by her cloak and her class ability?[/COLOR]
Renee is now confused, “What is the difference between one or two being invisible with you argument. Your argument is for none to be invisible.”
She says, “Don’t worry about Missy, she can’t tell us much, but she will know where I am or if someone else is sneaking up on her. She will take care of herself quite well. If you are that worried about it being two of us invisible though, it is fine is Deor does not cast one on me.”
Could we trust the animal familiars to keep us apprised of at least the general locations of their two invisible spellcaster companions?
As far as riding versus marching goes, I’m normally very much in favor of being mounted as often as possible (keep your jokes to yourselves), but I think going on foot will be safer and more prudent in this case. That, and I’d like an orc or two to feel the bite of this lovely sword.
Ghân explains cheerfully: "If precisely one of us is Invisible, then they can also see every other member of the party, and avoid bumping into them.
They can give us their intended location (e.g. two paces to Ghân’s left) and we know where to expect them. If we have to run, there’s only one Invisible to worry about.
If we see a second Invisible person, we know it’s an enemy.
Your kind offer to rely on your cloak and ability is most welcome."
He adds “I didn’t consider this before, but if there is a spare Invisibilty, it could go on Brownie the Owl. He stays on my back asleep during the day, and will be a fine Guard at night.”
The problem with relying on familiars is that we set up a long chain of communication:
Folca tells Ghân where Deor is
Missy tells Ghân where Renee is
Ghân tells everyone where Deor is
Ghân tells everyone where Renee is
As for riding, I think it is more prudent to have horses available if we hit trouble. Do you want to carry a Fighter and his gear on your shoulder? :eek:
If a teammate needs delivery from the field of combat, I will do everything I can to see to it. Remember, the person saying this is a tall (tallest of the group, I think), gangly kid. If you hadn’t learned better, you might think he’d be more a danger to himself wielding his weapons.
Brownie can certainly be Invisible. I’ll get right on that.
As to the issue of Invisible party members: I’m not as worried. Renee can stay two paces to your left, I’ll stay ten to the right. I’m not going to be fighting much more than Renee will.
I appreciate the help for Brownie, but please reread everything I wrote why you and Renee should not both be invisible.
The ‘two paces’ comment was just an illustration of how precisely one invisible person can work with a party.
Please think about how the party and two or more Invisible people are supposed to cope when:
we are marching in the open
we are trying to hide
we are under missile fire and are firing back
we are under spell attack and are trying to spread out
we are under melee attack and are trying to defend the casters
