Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-26149161-20161124183554

"The Shadows where the Mewlips dwell,

Are dark and wet as ink,

And slow and softly rings their bell,

As in the slime you sink."

So begins one of the most haunting poems in all of Tolkien's writings. Often dismissed as a Hobbit legend to scare naughty children, the Mewlips could be an interesting and fun addition to the mod. They would be hostile to all players, and be rather like the Barrow-wights in terms of gameplay function.

Location: 

​In the poem, the Mewlips are secribed as living "Beyond the Merlock Mountains, a long and lonely road,  through the spider-shadows and the marsh of Tode,  and through the wood of hanging trees and gallows-weed "

I've interpereted the Merlock Mountains as the Montains of Mirkwood, and of course the Spider-Shadows is the Forest itself. So what area fits beyond these two locations? I believe I've found a suitable location. In the book, marshes are shown as existing here. These could be the home of the creatures.



The biome itself would be similar to the Long Marshes as a base, but far spookier. Fog and smoke cloud the player's vision, and grey willows and Mirk-oaks dominate the area. Quagmire is incredibly abundant. And everywhere the Gorcrows fly, croaking in their sleep. The water is black as ink.

No invasions occur in this biome, nor do any mobs spawn, save the birds of doom and the demons of the swamp. The moon and sun cannot be seen for the fog.

Structures:

The Mewlips dwell in rotting, ruined towers. Made of rotten wood and stone, these dank buildings would be entered through an iron gate and have no light inside. Cobwebs string abut. The stairs inside descend far down into a room with a single torch lit. Water drips from the ceiling, and gargoyles stare down from the tower dripping water from their mouths.

From tunnels behind the walls eyes watch you, and as you approach the candle you notice a chest, and gold piled along the floor. You move towards it, and from behind the wall Mewlips leap, and devour you.

The Mewlips:

The Mewlips themselves would be found deep in the cellars and dungeons of the towers, behind the walls and watching you. Occasionally you hear their squishing footsteps as you descend through a tower. Whe you are inside, perhaps when you approach the gold or open the chest, a group of them will swarm from the walls. Only the most skilled and armored players can defend against their poison bites and grasping claws.

The Mewlips would look rather like a large, black Gollum with red eyes, long hands, and large feet.

If you do manage to slay one, they drop gold, bones, coins, and pouches filled with bones. Rarely they will drop a Mithril item or the gear of some unlucky traveler. The chest will usually contain the same.

When you slay one, you earn the achievement: [The Mewlips Feed]

When one kills you, it says: "[Player] was devoured by Mewlips."

Thank you for reading my suggestion! Any comments, kudos, and constructive critiscism is gladly accepted.

Ithilion, Discussions Moderator (Auta i lome) 18:35, November 24, 2016 (UTC) 