PURPOSE: The following write-up is presented as potential background information which might facilitate a unified kinship role-playing theme, and from which to meet and loosely build our characters around. It is not a prerequisite of members role-playing together, but is offered as a thematic story-line which runs parallel with liberties already afforded by the game itself, and something which characters can find immediate access to and commonality in (i.e. as members of Thaldirith) without being overly burdened by excessive meet-and-greet rp sessions. Emphasis is placed upon individual character development, and this write-up is presented in the hopes of affording members the liberty to explore such, while also having their characters exist as a part of something larger and greater than themselves.
Of special significance to role-players will be that participation in the write-up presupposes: (1) That characters were either present at the Council of Erestor or have at least a loose working knowledge about the Council of Erestor, resulting in their affiliation with the Company or Order called The Dauntless Vigil (Thaldirith). (2) That as a result of the aforementioned, characters have at least some knowledge about the Fellowship of the Ring and its purpose. What this means is that, in addition to individual biographies, characters can be role-played however a player wants, provided the general atmosphere of Middle-earth at the time is taken into consideration and that anything and everything is secondary to any rumors or dealings pertaining to the Fellowship's plight.
* Denotes points of suggested backdated RP sub-plots or potential character development.
THE COUNCIL OF ELROND & THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING:
On 25 October 3018 of the Third Age, Elrond Half-elven (son of Eärendil and Elwing, and great-grandson of Lúthien) called a Council to order in Imladris, the elven outpost of which he was Lord on the edge of the Misty Mountains and easternmost edge of Eriador. The main purpose of the Council was to discuss what was to be done with the One Ring, which was then presented to the Council by the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins. The One Ring was the most powerful artifact in all of Middle-Earth, and was created by the Dark Lord Sauron in the Second Age for the purpose of ruling over all the Free peoples. After much debate and deliberation, the Fellowship of the Ring was established, whose purpose was to take the One Ring back to Mordor where it could be destroyed.
As a result of the findings made by the Council, it was also then proposed that an additional though no less important second group might be founded, to coincide with the Fellowship's own path. Aragorn, heir of Isildur and Chieftain of the Dunedain in the North, suggested that such a group might offer much needed hope at some opportune and yet unforseen moment. Looking upon Aragorn (who was formerly called Estel before his true name and heritage were revealed to him), Erestor, chief counsellor of Elrond's household (whose earlier proposal to give the Ring to Tom Bombadil had been rejected), stated plainly that it would be a blood-stained hope, and one resulting in a Dauntless Vigil. To that remark, Aragorn returned a half smile. Glóin, son of Gróin, and father of Gimli, gave a thoughtful nod. Lord Elrond narrowed his brow and the Council fell silent for a time. The general mood was somber. Then, after much additional discussion, this second group's mandate was deemed agreeable, proper, and fitting to all.
The purpose was stated and set:
To ensure for the safe departure of the Fellowship, feather out any initial traces of the Fellowship's movements, and to ultimately fan out along the far reaches of the Fellowship's course while taking part in what was to come.
THE COUNCIL OF ERESTOR & THE DAUNTLESS VIGIL:
And so it was that the primary objective of Lord Elrond's meeting was entrusted and communicated to select individuals from throughout Middle-earth. *A second council, lead by Erestor, served this function. And going forth in the ensuing weeks and months, many lives were lost and hope indeed stained by their blood.
*Betrayals also surfaced during that time. The world was changing, and there existed an ever-present, and immediate sense of impending danger. *Rumors of strange tidings abounded. Unexplained sightings caused nervousness. Despair was even beginning to set in. The party was afforded much needed haste and volition as a result, however, and before long it became known as Thaldirith (The Company, or Order, of the Dauntless Vigil).
