Herald in Valimar

I was delighted last week when the Sheridenne, the role-playing leader and coach at Builders of Valimar chose my write up of Aulë, my role in that Second Life group and sim, as an example of how to write up a character.

Due to privacy considerations of other players and workers there, that Google Group is going to be made private, most likely. But, I want to share this openly, to avoid a catch-22: Can't be in the group till you have a role, can't have a role till you are in the group.

Below my siganture, here is today's http://groups.google.com/group/builders-of-valmar/web/the-nine-questions

Sheridennes able blog is http://ladysheridannekelley.blogspot.com/, and you can e-mail her from there. She or I would be delighted to hear from you.

Love, Arth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Nine Questions

Here are Nine Questions. They are used to help us all get a better understanding of the characters. As a start, consider your own character and see how many of these you can answer.

Just make a copy of the table, paste it into Word and then add your answers. Once completed, please email it to me or Rajani through this site.

To stimulate your thinking, here are the Nine Questions completed for Aulë

Thank you, Sheri

Question	Answer
1. Name of person assigned to play the part.	Arth Karas
2. The formal name used regularly by the character.	Aulë ("Inventor" in Elvish) Curumo (the Smith), Aratar (Exalted) Lord of the Valar (Powers), of the race of the immortal Ainur (Holy Ones), offspring of the thought of Eru Illúvatar (The One Father of All)
3. Additional names and/or titles used for the character	Aĥûlêz(Ancient Valarin: Invention), Mâlon ni Noldor (Elf-Friend of the Noldor), Mahal Khazâd (Dwarvish: Dwarf-Maker), Patriarch of House Aulë in Valimar.
4. A one or two sentence description of their role	Older than time, the fifth most powerful being in all Eä (Creation), Lord over all substances of which Arda (Earth) is made. Gifted in & delighting in workers & works of skill & invention, arts & crafts, magic & science, stone & mineral. While Arda exists, Aulë will inhabit & sustain it with other Valar.
5. Their habitat – where they typically would choose to live, play, work	In the Timless Realm, Aulë dwelt with other Ainur & Eru Illúvatar, singing his part of The Song of Creation. He was near & saw clearly the first Vision of the World, of what was, is, & is to come. Aulë willingly left the Timleless Realm to aid in the building of Arda (Earth) in preparation of the Coming of the Children of Illúvatar (Elves and Men). In the First Ages, Aulë MADE & fashioned all lands & habitats of Arda, in fellowship with the host of Valar & Maiar & despite the meddling of Melkor. He is comfortable & is found ANYWHERE: day, night, air, mountains, underground, earth, water, ice or fire. In later ages, he is usually in & around his Forge in Valimar (City of Valar) in company of his family, peers, protégés, students & friends. His palatial home, crafted of webs of light, is very near the city. While easily found in their chosen domain, the remote & oft hidden continent of Aman (the Undying Lands), he & the other Valar might travel to Middle-Earth as invisible spirit or may take some other unassuming living form there. In the final ages, Aulë's role is undetermined.
6. Their relationships with others (spouse, children & how they get on with other races, individuals or groups of characters)	Aulë works & plays well with others: The other Valar assist, admire & rely on his work & willingness. Openly & genuinely friendly & admiring of creativity & skill wherever he finds it, & often found learning & teaching, Aulë has little love for incompetence, but will patiently assist the willing. He wearies of repairing the mischief of the hated Melkor (Mighty) & his misguided Balrogs (terrors), Orcs (monsters) and minions, who seek to mar & destroy, imprison & subjugate. He is not a willing battler, but the tools, builds, weapons & defences he makes are legendary. Particularly fond of the crafty Noldor Elves & Dwarves (his secret creation, ultimately approved & adopted by The One), & of his many proteges, vassals & aides among the Maiar (Makers) of the Ainur (Holy Ones), Aulë loves (even though he often neglects them for his work) his family: his Wife & Valier (Valar Queen) Yavanna (Giver of Fruits) Kementári (Earth Mother), their son Oromë, (Trumpeter), their daughter Nessa (Youth), & their houses.
7. Their key vision and values	"Of the fabric of Earth has Aulë thought, to whom Ilúvatar had given skill & knowledge scarce less than to Melkor; but the delight & pride of Aulë is in the deed of making & in the thing made, & neither in possession nor in his own mastery; wherefore he gives & hoards not, & is free from care, passing ever on to some new work." ~~ The Silmarillion, Ainulindalë, by JRR Tolkien
8. Their key motivators	Enabling of creation, creativity, craft, skill & education thereof, & sharing works of all types, whether of beauty, of utility, of protection or offence, or of any cleverness & cunning.
9. Their typical behaviours	Making stuff. Helping others make stuff. Fixing stuff. Help others fix stuff. Giving stuff. Helping others give stuff. Delighting in well-done stuff. He is carefree (rarely insisting on ceremony or protocol or formality), quick with words (he invented at leat two languages), a fast friend (even if he chooses his friends & protégés poorly), he seeks & gives good counsel & aid, especially in the arts & crafts, magics & sciences.
References	references: JRR Tolkien: The Aulindalë, The Valaquenta, The Silmarillion, The Book of Lost Tales. http://www.glyphweb.com/Arda/default.asp?url=http://www.glyphweb.com/Arda/a/aule.html http://home.netcom.com/~heensle/lang/elvish/elvish.html http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/valarin.htm