I was working a late shift, so I had to miss the first part of tonight's session. As soon as I have the chance, I'll watch the video on Twitch and make notes on what I missed. For now, here's what I have:
EDIT: I went back and added the notes on what I missed.
SilmFilm Session 5-09: Storylines pt. 5
Compression of timelines should come in the front half of the timelines. The House of Beor can live in Nargothrond for about half of Beor's life then leave about 50 years after his death. Boron and Baran will live and die offstage. Andreth is four generations removed from Beor and born after he dies. This gives the sense that Beor is ancient history to Andreth and Barahir and introduces a gap. Andreth is kind of in a parallel position to Beor because she is leading her people to a different place.
Why is Andreth the leader so young? The concept that 20-year-olds are immature is relatively modern. Andreth would have been considered an adult for many years already. Andreth's story will be breaking several tropes because she is a young woman who leads with her mind.
Andreth’s leadership would fit with the culture of the House of Bëor. They will not be led by a warrior leader, but by a council of wise people.
Andreth should be a prodigy in the House of Bëor and have been groomed for leadership from a young age. She is smarter and more eloquent than everyone else. When she meets Aegnor, she will be in a different position.
There could be resistance to Andreth's ideas, but she would win the debate. Most people are not resistant to Andreth’s arguments. She will articulate the what the majority of her people desire and become their spokesperson to Finrod. She has to convince Finrod that the House of Bëor should leave.
Adanel can be alive when Bëor is alive in order for us to introduce her. She can be present for Bëor’s death. She can be in a position of leadership after the death of Bëor. The leadership position does not need to be official; Adanel is just the one that people come to for advice. It can become more official later on, and she might get a sign of office that she passes to Andreth. Perhaps a stole or cape. She should change it into something else when passing it to Barahir. Maybe a banner. It can have serpent designs like the Ring of Barahir.
Genealogies
We need lots of named characters to die in the Dagor Bragollach.
Haleth and Andreth will be contemporaries. We could have them meet to show their different positions their houses tale on living with Elves. Andreth would initially admire Haleth but realize that the Haladin are too extreme. We don’t want the final scene of Haleth to portray her negatively. There could be disagreement between Haleth and Andreth, but Haleth would still be satisfied with her way of life. There would be a lot of mutual respect, and some obvious parallels because they are both young women who lead their people.
Andreth and Aegnor relationship
Andreth should not meet Aegnor until the House of Bëor moves to Dorthonion because there should be no implication that Andreth moved her people just so she could be close to Aegnor. Their relationship can be ironic, but Andreth should not look hypocritical.
What do Andreth and Aegnor see in each other? Aegnor would be attracted to Andreth for her wisdom. She would be a very fast learner. Andreth can be pretty but she does not need to be super attractive. Andreth meets Aegnor when he comes to visit the House of Bëor. Finrod would tell his brothers to welcome to Dorthonion, and Aegnor might live with them for a few years.
Andreth may not fall in love with Aegnor right away. She would admire Aegnor’s dedication to fighting Morgoth. Aegnor could be really funny and different from Finrod. Andreth enjoys Aegnor’s company and slowly realizes that she is in love with him and he is in love with her. Elven and Human perspectives will seem alien to each other. The differences in perspectives will be part of what attracts Aegnor and Andreth, but it will also be what means they cannot be together. This will cause Andreth to become bitter towards Elves later in her life.
Aegnor recognizes that the Long Peace is ending. He is one of the main spokespeople in favor of attacking Angband. He tells Andreth that Elves do not marry in times of war, but she does not get it. She sees this as a reason not to wait. Maybe Andreth wants a child.
Andreth will pass leadership on to Barahir when she recognizes that the House of Bëor needs an active leader. Why does Barahir become leader instead of Bregor? He needs to get screen time before he rescues Finrod. We can come up with plenty of reasons that leadership passes over Bregor. He might be incapable or unwilling. He could suggest that Barahir become leader instead.
It is not just about individual named characters that die in the Dagor Bragollach. Almost the entire house of Bëor will be destroyed.
Andreth and Aegnor’s relationship would not be a secret. They would seem close, but most people would not realize their relationship is romantic. Finrod would perceive the romance.
Aegnor would talk to Angrod about his feelings for Andreth. Angrod would oppose the relationship. He knows how it feels to lose one’s spouse and recognizes the inevitable tragedy of marrying a mortal, even if Andreth and Aegnor had a child. If the child were an Elf, the mother would not live to see him/her grow up. The Gift of Men would also be an issue.
Andreth does not need a confidant among her own house. Her conversation with Finrod is the first time she opens up about her relationship with Aegnor.
