2015 News Archive

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Art (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Eowyn is one of the characters often mentioned by readers that I've met as a favorite character. What does she do in the books, and what makes her interesting?
After-meeting:
    Arien's gaming news
    Ar-Pharazon: gaming news including flashgaming reviews.

Merry Christmas!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
  Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Elladan-(V)/scott92027, LenweV/perseid28, PallandoValar, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Before-meeting
    Membership
    Chat about Cirdan and the Grey Havens.
    Mounts in LotRO, including links.
Membership:
    Vacations
    Elladan-V
Web:
    New Artwork from:
       The Bohemian Weasel-(T)
       Marigold-(V)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:
       Paths of the Dead, that we were just seeing pictures of, was treated differently in the movies than the books. Can you think of any differences? I'm trying to think why they even made a number of the changes, can see why for a few.
After-meeting:
    Ar-Pharazon: gaming news including flashgaming reviews.

From Frelorn:
We have fixed an issue that could cause The Defence of Minas Tirith instance to either not complete, complete early, not award credit, or not unlock Hammer of the Underworld.
Hammer of the Underworld – We have resolved an issue that was causing the instance to get stuck at 73.3%, with Grond at the gate.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
  Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, LenweV/perseid28, PallandoValar, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Before-meeting
    Lively chat
Membership:
    Ar-Pharazon
    Elladan
    Nimrodel
Web:
    Art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) See above.
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topics: 
       Topic 1: What was that battering ram named in honor of by those of Mordor?
       Topic 2:  Pippin had a surprising lot of use, even beyond the ent march, which was huge. In Gondor, how did he change things? At the Black Gate?
After-meeting:
    Ar-Pharazon: gaming news including flashgaming reviews.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
  Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, PallandoValar, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Art (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  In Shelob's lair, Frodo brings out the phial of Galadriel and calls out in Quenya, ‘Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!’
  At this point, he brings on a battle between very high level forces, all with one item in the hand of a hobbit. What's going on? To him, it's not much more than a really good torch to worry back a huge spider.
  Is there anything more than that on either side?
After-meeting:
    Arien: a friend's artwork showing their WoW characters.
    Ar-Pharazon: gaming news including flashgaming reviews.
    Arien: gaming news.

    "A mortal life" Aragorn sees Arwen in the palantir, an attempt by Sauron to demoralize him.
    "Aragorn surveys the battlefield"  Aragorn surveys the battlefield at the Pelennor Fields.
    "Mumak" Oliphaunt aka mumak in the the Battle of Pelennor Fields in Gondor.
    ‘Éowyn!’ Éomer finds his sister, Éowyn, by the fallen body of his uncle Théoden.
    "Sam carries Frodo" Sam
    "Glad to be with you" Sam and Frodo
    "At the end of all things" Sam and Frodo

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Lenwe-(V)/perseid28, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Thanksgiving
    RenFaire
Web:
    Art
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  In the books, a character or even a people may have to reach the absolute end of the rope before receiving help. Where do we see this?
After-meeting:
    Tolkien chat continues.
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Eruhantalë!

    "The Ring is taken to Rivendell" reworked version. Rivendell, Frodo
    "The Ring is taken to Rivendell" framed version. Rivendell, Frodo
    "Shire Bridge" framed version. The Shire, Frodo, Sam
    "Treebeard sketch". Fangorn
    "You bow to no-one". at Aragorn's coronation. Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Arwen, Gondor.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Farmer Maggot-(V)/thesirg3, Lenwe-(V)/perseid28, PallandoValar, and VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Lenwe's "few words"
Web:
    Art (see above for Tolkien Site)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  The first of the LotR books is called "The Fellowship of the Ring". What is meant by a fellowship, especially as referred to here?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.
    Samwise's being a batman, discussed in a couple of spots.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV, Farmer Maggot-(V)/thesirg3
Membership:
    Varda is traveling
Web:
    Poetry by Marigold-(V)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Hobbit Poems in LotR either written by Hobbits or referring to them
After-meeting:
    Continues the Tolkien topic and includes several poems.
    Tolkien-related YouTubes and images.
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.

"We're aware of issues with logging into forums on several forums. We're currently working to fix the issue causing this and will let you know within this thread as soon as it's resolved.
Apologies for the inconvenience in the meantime."

"We're also aware that forums are intermittently becoming slow or inaccessible and are working to resolve that issue alongside the aforementioned login issues."

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien's pictures of Comiccon in Belfast
    Memorial for Indis-(V) done.
    One new member this week: Marigold-(V).
Web:
    Poem
    Art
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Grey characters.
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.

Kin mail sent in LotRO for the Valar Guild, please pardon typo:

Aiya
Indis died of cancer Oct 24, 2015. After beating it once, it came back.
She was in more than one kin, so we joining for the memorial
Nov 7
11:45 am /servertime EST start from Duillond stable on a slow ride, wearing dark clothes on dark horses or dark caparisons
Ride to Celondim statues 29.4 S - 92.7 W Up the Hill south of the docks
Music and memory speeches.
Go to Celondim docks, see the orange cat unofficially named Alasse. Stable or port to go to W. Gate of Bree.
Slow ride to the cat-lady's house. Play Amazing Grace, hoist a drink.

Email from the kin, Remnant, where Indis was an officer named Alasse;

Music by The Remediators

11:45 - Slow walk to Celondim from Duillond bring your in-game cat, dark
clothing
12:00 - Start Memorial- 29.4 S - 92.7 W Up the Hill south of the docks.
        • Starting song - Last Good Bye
        • words from kin leaders and Longstride
        • Rhovanael song with info IC about Alasse's character
        • Band music 10-12 mins
        • anyone else wanting to speak
        • Longstride - Trivia 5 questions
        • Final song: Into the West
After go to the cat lady house in Bree and have a drink- Amazing Grace
song (doesn't have to be the band)

Suzia

Attending: (4)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, ArPharazonV, Falco-V/CM Anderso or cmanderso, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien
    Memorial for Indis-(V) planned.
    One new member this week: Haldir-(V). He finished his test during the After-meeting.
Web
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Some say a major theme of the Lord of the Rings is death, as in how it's faced, and what happens to various beings afterwards.
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Falco-V/cmanderso, Farmer Maggot-(V)/thesirg3, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Three new members this week (see Oct 24)
Web:
    New art (above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Neo-Sindarin YouTube that can help pronunciations.
    Map with annotations by JRRT discovered and being sold.
    Entry question suggestions.
    Discussion topic:  What are some of the ancient evils in the deep places of the earth?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Arien for SWTOR, and from Ar-Pharazon including flashgaming reviews.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AnarionV/Anarion House of Elendil, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Three new members this week: Anarion, Bregalad, and Cirdan
Web:
    New art including a new page. (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  In the LotR times, life was rough and scary. But some folk continued looking forward to a future and tried to build that future. Can we think of any of those examples?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon, including flashgaming reviews.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, Gwaihir Valar, PallandoValar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Before-meeting:
    Tail end of the chat marathon.
Membership
Web
Gaming:
    LotRO:
        From Gorlim-(V) came the suggestion that we players should be doing some special saving, as he learned from the Bullroarer test server:
           U17 Beta 2: Anfalas Scrolls of Empowerment and Star-lit Crystals have been added to the Merit Commitee barter NPCs for 75 and 150 Star
Tolkien:
    Tolkien Moments concerning interactions of the Valar with the beings of Middle-earth. Discussed: sub-creation, Time, Rings, Bombadil.
After-meeting:
    We just couldn't leave.

Cave of the Bohemian Weasel-(T):
    "The Burden Grows"  Frodo: "I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know why I said that."
    "A Gardener's Concern"  Sam: "It's the Ring."
    "Aragorn Entombed"  Aragorn: ‘..an image of the splendour of the kings of men, in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.’
    "A Vision of Barad-dûr"  in Mordor
    "Gollum Takes the Ring"  Smeagol on his way to becoming Gollum after killing Deagol for the One Ring. ‘…My Prrrreciousss…!’
    "Minas Tirith, City of Kings" in Gondor
    "The White Tree" withered in the courtyard of Minas Tirith of Gondor.

        Ugluk, Sauron, Nerdanel, Pharazon, Miriel (responding also for Irmo), Gelmir, Fladrif, Celebrian (responding also for Elrond), Bofur, Arien, Pallando, Fangorn, Varda, Mirabella (responding also for Nar), Scatha, Gil-Galad (via forward from Varda)

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    18th Anniversary of the Valar Guild today!
    Personal nifty news from Arien during the After-meeting.
Web:
    Artwork from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Quality is a comment made fairly often in the LotR, even if not the exact word. Quality in people. What might be some spots that point that out?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Arien and Ar-Pharazon, including the ever-popular flashgaming reviews.
    WoW Pony cross-over art.
    LotRO Anniversary Event report right after it completed.
    The chat marathon continues into next Sunday's meeting, although not put in a transcript.

 

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, Varda Valar
Web:
    Art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Gandalf comments that sending even a great elf-lord along on the Fellowship wouldn't help. Why did they say that and why did they take an elf-prince?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from  Arien and Ar-Pharazon, including flashgaming reviews.
    Amusing gaming art link.
    Super-moon lunar eclipse info including comments by Ar-Pharazon who was watching it live.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Varda Valar
Membership:
    Bert-(V), new member (see last weekend)!
    Falco-(V), new member today (see above)!
Gaming:
    More info on the Games Site from members' emails. Thank you!
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Is Tom's singing and dancing an indicator of being a bit crazy? (suggestion from Falco-V)
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon, including the ever-popular flashgaming reviews.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    Aragorn, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Pallando Valar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Responding to Eonwe-(Valar)'s GSMU (Games Site Mass Update) is enough for the yearly contact requirement to keep your Full Member name. A cc to Varda is helpful for this as she handles Community/Membership.
    Didn't get the email? Here's the letter. Please send an email to Eonwe at NOSPAMdeneltir (AT) hotmail (dot) com
Bert-(V) joined during After-meeting in LotRO.
Attending: (5)
    Aragorn, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Pallando Valar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Web:
    Art:
       From the Bohemian Weasel-(T), posted here today:
          "Annatar and Celebrimbor at the forge" Sauron in his fair form as Annatar, giver of gifts, teaching Celebrimbor to make Rings of Power that just happen to have that added back door for the One Ring.
          New page made for Celebrimbor including the above art.
Tolkien:
    Tolkien Moments by Varda and Arien.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, Pallando Valar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Web:
    Art:
       The Bohemian Weasel-(T) aka Soni Alcorn-Hender's art will be in the "Evil in the Shining Light" Tolkien art exhibition at the "Opening Up the Book" festival in Sheffield September 2 - 26. Here's her name in the list of participating artists.
       Art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T):
    Games Site:
       GSMU mails are planned to go out this week. Acronym is for the "Games Site Mass Update". Please reply to Eonwe's mail or send him one if you don't receive the mail; cc to Varda is helpful but not
         required.
Gaming News
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Villains and potential pictures of them.
After-meeting:
    More villainy
    More gaming news from Arien, Ar-Pharazon, and Varda
    Art put online during this time, links are above under Web/Art.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Varda Valar (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site / Art:
       Cave of the Bohemian Weasel-(T):
            Haldir:
               "Allegiance"  ‘Men and Elves once fought and died together’
               "No mercy"  'Show them no mercy, for you shall receive none.'
    Tolkien Site / Book List and Reviews for Tolkien Subjects:
       The Search Everything by Arveleg-(V), who handles the Book Review page, is now working from this part of the Tolkien Site (top right), covering large sections of our Tolkien Site rather than just the articles.              Arveleg's email has changed, updated on the Book Review site. Please feel free to email to Arveleg with your review of a Tolkien book, adding a cc to Varda so we may mention it on this News page.
        The Search for Articles by Eonwe-(Valar) is unchanged, doing fine, and is completely unrelated.
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  What did the normal people of various races see during the War of the Ring?

    Arwen:
       "Take her to the Grey Havens" (movie)
       "Arwen's Choice" (movie)
       "Foresight" (movie). Arwen suspects Elrond of not telling her the whole vision.
       "A long-awaited reunion".  Arwen and Aragorn.
    Éowyn:
       "The men have found their Captain" ‘The men have found their Captain… ..they will follow you into battle, even to death.’
       "Courage, Merry" "Courage, Merry. Courage for our friends."
    Galadriel:
        "Namárië" This artwork was not yet uploaded by error from July, now up.
    Faramir:
       "My son!"  Denethor laments the loss of his first son, and the failings of the second. Boromir and Faramir
       "In his stead" ‘Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead.’
       "Already burning" ‘The house of his spirit crumbles.. He is burning. Already burning!’
       "Under shadow" ‘You and I have both passed under the wings of the Shadow..’ Faramir and Éowyn at the Houses of Healing.
    Gandalf:
        "‘As poison is drawn from a wound.’"
    Théoden: new page. The new art placed here is:
       "The sickness of Théoden"  "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!"
       "‘Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword..’"
       "‘Hail the victorious dead!’"
       "The mustering of Rohan"  ‘Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow’

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien  (more in Before-meeting). Welcome back from four weeks in the hospital!
Web:
    Tolkien Site: New art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic:  Romances in Middle-earth
After-meeting:
    LotR Project link
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon

Good Adventurer,

New comrades (and fearsome foes) are coming to this world!

The new transfer process is now available via the game launcher. A number of other worlds will be closing and their inhabitants will be moving to the worlds that will remain, including this one. At the same time, the servers that power our worlds are moving and being upgraded. As a result, the remaining worlds will be able to host more players with improved performance.

We hope that you will extend a warm welcome to the newcomers and help them feel at home here. Some small gifts have been placed in your inventory in thanks for your patience during this transition.

While no action is required of you during the server consolidation, all transfers are free during the event. If you wish to transfer your account:
1. Detach any items from your in-game mail that you wish to keep
2. Choose a remaining world or worlds for your move (see the list below)
3. Open the game launcher and click the drop-down arrow at the top right of the window
4. Follow the instructions in the transfer wizard.

For more updates and information, please visit the Lord of the Rings Online website and follow us on social media.

Here is the list of worlds that will remain after the server consolidation is complete.

US:
Brandywine
Gladden
Landroval
Crickhollow
Arkenstone

EU:
Laurelin
Gwaihir
Sirannon
Evernight
Belegaer

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: New art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T). See above.
    Leithian project: new work from Pallando-(Valar)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Several topics discussed during Before-meeting.
    Discussion topic:  In the books, some people (any race) give discouraging words (sometimes professionally) and others give encouraging words (sometimes professionally). Can we come up with some examples?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien: traveling.
Web:
    Article updates, see above.
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic: Easy to forget that the Valar did indeed deal directly with Middle-earth at times. Ulmo's warning to Nargothrond, and his warning to Gondolin.
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien and Indis: traveling.
Web:
    New art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic: "What service could a Hobbit offer such a great lord of men?"
After-meeting:
    A lot more on the above Tolkien topic. What indeed!
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar,  GwaihirValar,  PallandoValar, Varda Valar (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien and Indis: traveling.
Web:
    New art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see July 25)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic: Elf dwarf relationships, not just whether they would have had romantic types.
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon and Pallando

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    ArPharazonV, Farmer Maggot-(V)/thesirg3, Varda Valar (presiding)
Web:
    Art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see July 18)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Discussion topic: Eomer's role in the Lord of the Rings
    Forum rp
    Book
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon
    Review of The Witcher 3 by Farmer

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (2)
    AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV
Membership:
    Arien: LARP weekend for her next weekend.
Web:
    Games Site
Gaming News
Tolkien:
    Trivia game.
    1. AriehnV: Before Bilbo went on his second final adventure to leave Bag End he planned something special for his party .. why was this party so special and what things in the organnisation of the party made it clear that it was special indeed?
    2. ArPharazonV: Name 5 hobbit families mentioned in Bilbo's speech as he addressed them!
    3. AriehnV: why did Strider tell Frodo to stop Merry and Pippin tellling stories in the Prancing Pony and how did he do that exacty :-)?
    4. ArPharazonV: Related question again; what four names did the hobbits give to Butterbur as they checked in?
    5. AriehnV: what Pipeweed was found amongst Sarumans flotsam?
    6. ArPharazonV: My bonus question, under what circumstances did one of the hobbits give their pipeweed up to another person? :-) [Note: Question slightly altered here; original in the transcript. Tolkien Moment given as well.]
After-meeting:
    More gaming news.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien's having problems with her internet connection.
    Indis will be on her laptop from the West Coast for the next two weeks.
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
       The art generated Tolkien discussion.
    Games Site: news
Gaming
Tolkien:
    LotROCon IV
    Forum rp
    Most of the Tolkien chat happened during Web.
After-meeting:
    More on the rp
    Gaming
    Farmer Maggot-(V) came on very late and chatted.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
    Games Site: news
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: What happened in the 4th Age, after Aragorn became High King and Elrond left Middle-earth?
After-meeting:
    More on the Tolkien topic
    Gaming

Happy Father's Day!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Arien: new job (After-meeting)
    Varda: new internet  (After-meeting)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
    Games Site: news
Gaming:
    WoW: If you haven't logged in in a while, your character name may be in jeopardy. Name reclamation is coming.
Tolkien:
    Tolkien Moment 1: What is a fell beast?
    Tolkien Moment 2: Sauron's form after the Ring hit the lava.
    Tolkien Moment 3: How Samwise says he's feeling fine.
    Tolkien Moment 4: Legolas telling in the main text about his plans for Ithilien.
After-meeting:
    An unauthorized new Tolkien biography
    Gaming (including flashgaming links, Heroes of the Storm's Abathur the Evolutionist video guide)

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
    Games Site: new review for Heroes of the Storm; news for games
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Christopher Lee aka Saruman in the movies.
    Topic 2: Tolkien Site trivia FAQ. A few comments by us.
    Discussion Topic: The rise and fall of Saruman.
After-meeting:
    Gaming

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    News from both Arien and Ar-Pharazon
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T). See above the Sunday Meeting title for today.
    Games Site news for games
Gaming:
    News from Eonwe and our attendees.
Tolkien:
    Topic: There are those that argue about whether the Hero's Journey is an actual thing that happens in myths, folklore, or major storytelling.
    Tangent topic: Legality of having the One Ring
    Extra: YouTube of JRRT reciting "Namarie"
After-meeting:
    Gaming news from Ar-Pharazon and Arien

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
    Games Site: news for games
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Perseverence in the LotR
After-meeting:
    Gaming

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Fladrif sighting
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
    Games Site news for games, updates for player tables
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Authors influenced by Tolkien
After-meeting:
    More authors influenced by Tolkien
    Gaming

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming
    LotRO: Includes tips for the new instances from Indis-(V).
Tolkien:
    Topic: In the LotR, what leadership styles do we see?
After-meeting:
    More Tolkien and gaming, including flashgaming, Heroes of the Storm

        Middle Earth is coming to Italy next December. From 5^th to 7^th the first Italian Convention on Tolkien’s world will take place; it will be possible to meet some of the actors of both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and to live Middle Earth through exhibitions, display of “tolkienian” dresses, elfish writing workshops, conferences from renowned Italian scholars and much more.

Happy Mother's Day!

Arwen, the Evenstar of her people.
Artist: The Bohemian Weasel-(T)

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Birthdays: Ar-Pharazon has just turned 30 this last week, and Fladrif's birthday is today.
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from the Bohemian Weasel-(T)  (see above)
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming:
    Also included LotRO's Update 16 comments.
Tolkien:
    Topic: We tried to name female characters according to the books starting with the Hobbit, then LotR, then Sil and beyond.
    RP discussion
After-meeting:
    Among other news:
       flashgaming: Decision 3, a zombie game

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Pallando Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art from DeepGroover-(T)
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Corsairs of Umbar. What do we know about them from the books?
After-meeting:
    More gaming news
    Heroes of the Storm: comments from Pallando who tried the beta.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25
    Varda comes in late.
Membership:
    Arien will be absent next meeting.
Web:
    Games Site news
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Tolkien Moment: travel song
    Topic: The Old Forest
After-meeting:
    More gaming news from both Arien and Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Pallando Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding).
Web:
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming:
    Games Site news
    During After-meeting, some new games:
      Schlock Mercenary game link
       flashgaming link (more about these games in the transcript in After-meeting):
          Glow Path on One More Level or on Kongregate
          Kill the Plumber on Kongregate
          Treadmillasaurus on Kongregate
Tolkien:
    Topic 1: Movie Hobbit 2: The Desolation of Smaug
    Topic 2: How magic can affect the nature of warfare. Shows up in Middle-earth!
After-meeting:
    Gaming reports from Pharazon and Pallando
    Arien installs EVE Online and joins up with Pallando Valar

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, karakedi25/Indis-(V), VardaValar1 (presiding).
Membership
Web:
    Tolkien Site: Art
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming
Tolkien:
    RP
    Topic: Aragorn's names, why he had those.
After-meeting:
    Gaming, comics, and more Tolkien.

Happy Easter!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Iryenth/Gilraen-(V), VardaValar1 (presiding).
Membership:
    Easter, so quite a few people are away from the games enjoying family and friends.
Web:
    Games Site news for games, see Gaming
Gaming:
Tolkien:
    RP
    Topic: Earendil, what is significant about him?
    Topic: Warcries:
        Elendil
        Grond
        Elbereth
    Born of Hope fan video movie comments, You Tube link.
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued.
       Flashgames links on Kongregate, reviews: Reactance, Crush the Castle, Brain Builder
       SWTOR: guild branch gaming time was set today for 3:30pm Tuesdays Republic, server The Ebon Hawke, other days about the same time when fortunate. (update, Monday got together too). From Republic, the group can then switch to Empire if they want to do the jump together.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Iryenth/Gilraen-(V), Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Pallando Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding).
Membership:
    Frodo and Melilot will be traveling next week, reason they will not be available.
Web:
    News: dwarf info from Meriadoc-(V)
    Tolkien Site: new art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
Gaming:
Tolkien:
    Forum group story aka rp discussion. (keeps mixing in during the topic below)
    Topic: Elrond's role in the overall storyline of Middle-earth.
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

    Here we have, from ‘Myths of the Norsemen’ by H.A. Gruber, circa 1909:

    “To support the heavenly vault, the gods stationed the strong dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, Westri, at its four corners, bidding them sustain it upon their shoulders, and from them the four points of the compass received their present names of North, South, East, and West.”

    And now you know – when heading one direction or another, you’re heading towards those strong Dwarves.    Evidence suggest that they’re still standing strong, since the cardinal directions haven’t changed since then.
    And now you know – the First of the Story!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding).
Membership:
    New Full Member: Melilot Brandybuck
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Forum group story aka rp discussion.
    Topic: What made Bree an unusual town even for Middle-earth?
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, GwaihirValar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding).
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T)
Gaming
Other Comments:
    Sir Terry Pratchett (see also: March 12, 2015)
Tolkien:
    Forum group story aka rp discussion.
    Topic: We've had some folks wondering about our guild name. How would you answer them when they ask about what the Valar Guild name means, and who the Valar are in the books?
    Topic: Sam said that he and Frodo had plenty of chances to turn back. Was this true, or only for Sam, perhaps?
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    New members this week:
       Gil-galad-(V)
       Frodo-(V)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Forum group story aka rp discussion.
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (3):
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: new art by the Bohemian Weasel-(T). See above.
Gaming:
Tolkien:
    Trivia game
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    AriehnV(presiding), ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, ArPharazonV, VardaValar1
Membership:
    Report: Ar-Pharazon's report on the first official Dutch MLP convention: Hearth's Warming Convention
Web
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Tolkien loved the countryside. How did that affect his writing?
After-meeting:
    Gaming continued

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending (2):
    AriehnV(presiding), ArPharazonV
Membership:
    Ar-Pharazon
    Arien
    Varda
    Menelvagor
Web:
Gaming:
Tolkien:
    Trivia game:
       1. Frodo and Bilbo had several things in common. Can you name them?
       2. Among the free peoples, I can think of 2 races where we expressly don't see females from. Which are they, and why is that for each of the races?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Elladan-(V), Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    New member: Beregond-(V)
Web:
    Tolkien Site: art
    Games Site: news
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Frodo is sensitive to things happening on the other side because he wears the One Ring. What other things does Frodo sense or do that shows he's not the ordinary, home-brewed Hobbit?
    RP forum story
After-meeting:
    More gaming news

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (4)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    New member: Finglas-(V) aka Leaflock
Web:
    Games Site news
    Tolkien Site: art (see above)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: During Membership: Do the dwarves seem at all Scottish in the books or movies? Asked of Arien-(Valar) who lives in Scotland.
    RP forum story
    Topic: What do we think folks in Middle-earth did for fun? And let's not leave out Valinor.
After-meeting:
    More gaming news
    More on the RP.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Games Site news
    Tolkien Site: art, link
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Heroism
After-meeting:
    More gaming news

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Games Site news
    Tolkien Site: art (see above: Isildur art)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Topic: Sometimes in Middle-earth, someone backs away when he has the chance to the heroic thing for whatever reason. We saw an example in the picture of Isildur, when he could have destroyed the One Ring. Did anyone else that you can think of miss his/her/its chance for heroism?
After-meeting:
    Gaming news continued.
    Hearthstone YouTube video guide url.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Web:
    Games Site
    Tolkien Site: art, story
Tolkien:
    Topic: Hope: How is this idea handled in Tolkien's stories? There's a lot of fading and war and sadness, but there's always hope in there. Topic also available on the Forum for comments.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Elladan-(V)/Scott92027, Hamson-(V)/HamsonV/Hamson Gamgee, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Arwen-(V) emailed
Web:
    Games Site
    Tolkien Site: Art for earlier this week and today. (Today's are listed above the meeting notes on this News page)
Gaming:
    WoW
    LotRO
    D3
    SC2
    Dragon Age: Inquisition
    SW:TOR
Tolkien:
    Topic 1: J.R.R. Tolkien's Birthday
    Topic 2: Why didn't the eagles fly the One Ring to Mordor?
    Topic 3: Whose are the five armies in the Battle of the Five Armies?
After-meeting:
    Free chat
    WoW
    Hearthstone
    flashgaming
    War in the North
    other mentions