2009 News Archives

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eomer-(V)/IWF519, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Please let Varda know by email if you would like to remain associated with the Valar Guild for the upcoming year 2010. (Erase NOSPAM)
Web:
    Membership Page 2010 in progress.
Gaming:
    Dragon Age: Origins
    Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal
    World of WarCraft (WoW): servers Argent Dawn (Europe on Alliance), Lothar (Americas on Alliance), Uldaman (Americas on Horde).
    Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO): server Landroval
Tolkien:
    Round-robin on the Valar Guild Forum RP: Forum/Lord of the Rings Online/Role-play story "Scouting Ahead"/Part 6: "The Road to Rivendell", (or Will We Ever Get Past that River?).

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV (presiding), fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (late)
Membership:
    Christmas vacation has started for many.
    AriehnV: Nollaig Chridheil bho Alba dhuibh a h-uile duine :-)  [Scottish Gaidhlig (Gaelic) meaning "Merry Chrismas from Scotland to everyone"]
    Ar-Pharazon-(V): PC upgrade, thanks to Fladrif-(V).
    Menelvagor-(Valar): may be reactivating WoW soon, and has pre-ordered the Cataclysm expansion.
    Meriadoc-(V) (news not in the meeting): as a small plane pilot with his own business, Merry today reached the 1,000 hours of flying mark. He is now flying his way to 5 digits. :)
Web:
    Art:
         "Viking" by DeepGroover-(V)
Gaming
Tolkien:
    Arien-(Valar): "The Man in the Moon"

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV (presiding), ArPharazonV, fladrifv, GwaihirValar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, TulkasValar61, VardaValar1
 Membership:
    Tulkas will be back on board ship for a month with a connection unable to work with LotRO, but he plans to be in Diablo 1.
Tolkien:
    Arien's topic: Parallels between Lord of the Rings, Ashbringer, and others.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
   AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Diacritical marks
       Helpful url for these: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html
    We are seeing long-lost members thanks to the LotRO Mirkwood expansion.
    Arien-(Valar) has a new pc.
Web
Gaming:
    Question to the group: When we discuss Gaming, what should we restrict it to so that it doesn't run overlong?
    WoW
    LotRO:
       Mirkwood expansion
       Helpful url's for locating places in LotRO are on our forum and mentioned again here:
          http://dynmap.ruslotro.com/
          http://www.thebrasse.com/lotro/
    Miscellaneous:
       StarCraft/BroodWar
       Guild Wars
Tolkien:
    Varda's topic: How were the members of the Fellowship chosen?
After-meeting:
    WoW graphic novel
    Forum Role-play discussion.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Boromhir, Eonwe Valar (presiding business), fladrifv, Indis V/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding Tolkien)
Membership:
    The name of Boromir-(V) passes to a worthy successor.
    New Full Member: Elemmírë-(V)
    Indis-(V) is visiting family in California, irregular game times.
    Fladrif-(V) is having internet problems.
    Menelvagor-(Valar) has now been in the guild for 10 years and gave a speech. :)
Web:
    Article: The First Conflict of the Battles of Beleriand by Varda-(Valar)
Gaming:
    WoW: much gaming on the Lothar server during Thanksgiving holidays.
    LotRO: Dec 1 Mirkwood expansion
    Miscellaneous:
       StarCraft
       Heroes of Might and Magic
Tolkien:
    New book: "The History of The Hobbit"
    RP catching up, RP posting together. Mixed in chat about the books and games.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (9)
   AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Boromhir/drpepper3945@hotmail.com, Eonwe Valar(presiding starting in Gaming), fladrifv, Indis V/karakedi25, pallandovalar, TulkasValar61, VardaValar1(presiding first part)
Membership:
    New Full Member: Gloin-(V)
    Boromir-(V)'s name. Voted to give the current Boromir one more week to respond.
    Boromhir's Few Words
    Making screen names
    Pallando-(Valar) is moving to Texas this week, not sure when he'll have internet hooked up.
    Indis-(V) is visiting family in in California so she's on PST until Dec 1, irregular play times.
    Annual inactivity Sweep (removal) check beginning.
Web
    Inactivity Sweep work beginning. Contact Varda in-game, by email, by AIM, or on the Forum for membership for next year.
Gaming
Tolkien:
    RP posts made
    Tulkas's topic: Enmity between dwarves and elves.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar
Tolkien: trivia game

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, GwaihirValar, pallandovalar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Tolkien chat:
    Power and corruption.

Happy Halloween!

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Web:
    Stories page: "Reunion: A Story of Finwe and Indis" by Indis-(V)
Gaming:
    Eve Online
    Second Life
    WoW
    LotRO
Tolkien:
    Forum rp tabled mostly until next week.
After-meeting:
    Arien arrives, LotRO discussion of burglars and of the Book system.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1
Gaming reports:
    WoW
    LotRO
    StarCraft/BroodWar
    Battle for Middle-earth 1 and 2
    Guild Wars
    Second Life
    Atlantica Laytonrim, Atlantica Arien
Tolkien:
    Discussion: What animals existed in Middle-earth that we no longer see that we are aware of and what role did they play in the storyline?
       Mentioned with overlapping discussions and not necessarily in this order: Fastitocalon (great turtle), Great Eagles and more birds (including swans, thrushes, ravens, crebain), dragons( including Smaug, Ancalagon, cold-drakes, and locations), Fell Beasts, Trolls as a side-comment relating to breeding, Orcs as a side comment relating to breeding, Wargs and Wolves and Werewolves, Were-bears, cats and Tevildo, dogs and Huan later, spiders (including Ungoliant, Shelob, Mirkwoodians), elephants, apes, and horses (including Mearas, elf-horses, Nahar, and Felarof)
    Eonwe Valar: Homework assignment: Everyone go find out more about Harad :}
After-meeting:
    Forum role-play: posting by Eonwe.

The Siege of Mirkwood trailer is now available in HD on YouTube! Click here to check it out!

Free game time, extra experience Oct 15-21:

During The Lord of the Rings Online™ Welcome Back Week from October 15th through October 21st, you can play your old characters for free and get a +25% XP Bonus. Plus, if you come back now and renew your subscription to LOTRO with any 3-, 6-, or 12-month $9.99/month* subscription plan by October 31st, we’ll give you The Lord of the Rings Online™: Siege of Mirkwood™ digital expansion for free! (Click here) for full details!

Harvestmath:
Oct 13, 2009 04:00 EST When the days shorten and the nights begin to cool, it’s time to celebrate the bounty of the harvest. This year, in addition to the Harvestmath events in game, you can also participate in our Pumpkin Carving Contest! There's 10 Gold up for grabs for the winning carving!

It's official now. WoW accounts must be merged to Battle.net Accounts by November 11th.
Doing so gives you a penguin pet.
 
To read the post:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=20433765714&sid=1&pageNo=1

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, GwaihirValar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Tolkien Chat:
    Forum role-play discussion.

Heya Varda,
 
I have those images from the Anniversary capital run on Lothar up now. I had to create a new stylesheet for it, and boy was that "fun," heh. Out of the screenshots I took, I picked (what I thought were) the best ones to put up. We have at least one of every city.
 
You can see the images by going to the Games Page, selecting the Guild Branches Menu, and then through either the Lothar or Uldaman submenus, select "Events." It's directly accessed through that right now, but in the future (probably not soon) it will be on an "Events" page.

Take care.
Eonwë

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (11)
    Ancalagon-(V)/Ancbeard/Joldahks, AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eomer-(V)/IWF519, fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Luthien-(T)/luthienathariel/luthien@vfemail.net, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar, TulkasValar61, VardaValar1 (presiding)

Somewhat new Eve trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08hmqyejCYU
Alliance Tournament 7 finals:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CCPGAMES#play/user/10838E1219A2EC16
If anyone is interested, as usual contact me somehow. I haven't much
time to be ingame recently, but I have plenty of isk(money) and
experience to share.

Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eomer-(V)/IWF519, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, pallandovalar, VardaValar1
Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, and Varda
Tolkien chat:
    Bilbo and Frodo's joint birthday was not shown in the movies, but JRRT considered it important, why?
Marathon begins! At the end of the main chat, Eonwe kept the room open starting the anniversary chat room marathon! Everyone come help keep the room open til the end of October 4 next Sunday for the bits of time that you can aid. Our time zone spread is wide!

Saturday, September 19th is International Talk like a Pirate Day and we’re celebrating all weekend long! Players should visit the banks of the Brandywine River and learn all about the Tale of the Shipwrecked Mariner !

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Membership happenings:
    Games Page Mass Update should be in your email.
    12th Anniversary planning
Web:
    Stories:
       Jay of Lasgalen's Rainbow Drabbles posted today:
        (Yellow) "Torchlight" March 8, 3019
        (Orange) "Beacons" March 8, 3019
        (Indigo) "The Dawnless Day" March 9, 3019
        (Blue) "A Wind From the South" March 14, 3019
        (Violet) "Banners Before the Gate" March 25, 3019
        (Rainbow) "At the End of All Things" March 25, 3019
        (Green) "The Wood of Greenleaves" April 6, 3019
        (Red) "On Pelennor Fields the Poppies Blow" March 15, 3020
Tolkien:
    Rivendell, Mirkwood.

The Lord of the Rings Online™: Siege of Mirkwood™ launches this fall!
Sep 04, 2009 09:37 EST Siege of Mirkwood will expand the online world of Middle-earth where players will join forces to press further eastward into the dark, foreboding and treacherous forest of Mirkwood and take part in the epic conclusion to Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. (Click Here) For the Press Release!

[Part of the Press Release] Siege of Mirkwood will be available as a digital download this Fall with an increased level cap, a new region including the legendary evil fortress of Dol Goldur, major enhancements to combat and Legendary Items and the introduction of Skirmishes, a new system where players will train customizable soldiers and take them into battle as part of the War of the Ring.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (10)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar, Varda Valar
Membership happenings:
    Rosie-(V), new Full Member
    Elwing-(V)
    Ar-Pharazon-(V)
Web:
    Stories:
       "A Cat in King Elessar's Court" by Alcardilme-(T).
       Third chapter added to Jay of Lasgalen's "Till Death Us Do Part"
    Games page: color additions
    Article:
       Dwarves by Eonwe-(Valar)
Gaming:
    WoW Cataclysm expansion discussion
    LotRO
    Red Alert 3
    Battle for Middle-earth
    Eve Online (during After Meeting)
Tolkien:
    Linguistics conference report by Luthien-(T)
    Short RP talk
    Pallando the Blue Wizard
After-meeting:
    A word for "please" in any Elvish language, found a workaround, pronunciation.
       URL's for linquistics scattered throughout Tolkien and the After-meeting.
    EVE Online
    RP talk more in-depth

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar
Tolkien:
    The character of Menelvagor

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (12)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eomer-(V)/IWF519, Eonwe Valar (presiding), Finrod-(V)/TH0R0NGIL, fladrifv, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Lungorthin-(Valar)/sauronjag, luthienathariel, pallandovalar, Thror-(V)/Chugin Chub, VardaValar1
Membership happenings:
    Ar-Pharazon will be starting a week of vacation with no internet.
    Khamul-(T): trying to join as a writer, Tolkien-only.
    Arien's mom is back home from the hospital.
Web:
    Links page:
       Webcomics addition
    Games Site rebuild progress now showing.
Gaming:
    WoW:
        General: patch 3.2
        Servers for Valar branches:
            Argent Dawn
            Lothar
            Uldaman
       Other servers with members, be sure to also make the friend channel to find each other:
             Thunderhoof: Thror-(V)
             Shattered Hand: Gwaihir-(Valar) much less now.
             several: Eomer-(V)
    Middle-earth mod for Diablo 2 expansion
    Diablo 3
    LotRO: official server Landroval
    XBox
    Deadspace
    Eve Online
    Ghostbusters
Tolkien:
   Each of us is named for a particular character. How does that character show something about what traits Tolkien values?
    Arien
    Ar-Pharazon
    Eomer
    Eonwe: Maia version given this time. Vala version may be given at the next meeting.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (6)
    Members: ArPharazonV, fladrifv, GwaihirValar, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, VardaValar1 (presiding)
    Guest: betulamoon
Membership happenings:
    Meriadoc visiting
    Eomer new game: WoW
    Pallando will be on duty for the next 5 weeks during meeting time.
Web:
    Stories by Jay of Lasgalen
    Art links repair progressing
    Gwaihir, Gilraen and friend's game reviews
    Humor: Things Ents are totally incapable of and why by Fladrif-(V)
Gaming:
    D&D tabletop
    Tales of Monkey Island review given jointly by Ar-Pharazon and Fladrif.
       Monkey Island site link
    Chess
    StarCraft/BroodWar
    WoW: servers Argent Dawn, Lothar, Uldaman
    LotRO: server Landroval
Tolkien:
    Forum role-play discussion
    Beorn in The Hobbit
After-meeting:
    Ways of starting a Tolkien discussion.
    Spelling "namárië"
    Irish mythology 

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Membership:
    Tulkas-(Valar) bought LotRO and the expansions, now loading them.
Web:
    Tolkien Site / Stories:
       "Shelter from the Storm" by Jay of Lasgalen added to the site today.
Gaming:
    StarCraft 1 gaming together planned for tomorrow. Find each other in AIM (contact Fladrifv, ArPharazonV, or AriehnV). Those interested at the meeting were in Europe and considering their morning and perhaps afternoon, so theirs is probably the realm in which the gaming will be held. Usual friend channel name.
Tolkien:
    Ending the RP thread for "Return to Mirkwood" in "Scouting Ahead" with the preparations in the rain. We are about to start the next part of "Scouting Ahead" as we try to take the bad report back to Elrond in Rivendell concerning the Fellowship's using our route.
    Gollum's learning of Bilbo's origin.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (10)
    Members: AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, FladrifV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Luthien-(T)/luthienathariel, pallandovalar, TulkasValar61, VardaValar1 (presiding)
    Guest: betulamoon
Tolkien:
    Marriage in Middle-earth

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV (presided over Tolkien), ArPharazonV, FladrifV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, luthienathariel, pallandovalar, VardaValar1 (presided over business meeting)
Tolkien:
    Being caught between two worlds in LotR.

Meeting Transcript by the fabulous Ar-Pharazon, Menelvagor, and Varda
Attending: (9)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar (presiding), FladrifV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Luthien-(T)/luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar, VardaValar1
Membership:
    Gwaihir chatted in a side window, re-formatting his computer. Everytime he reloaded Internet Explorer, a host of viruses hit.
    Menelvagor plans to throw a party in the Valar Guild November 29, 2009 for his 10th guild anniversary, which comes on a Sunday. It's also his 5th anniversary as a Maia. He's the one who started up our current Forum and handled the Humor page. He is a regular at meetings and plays with the guild on WoW and has started gaming with the guild in LotRO. He has been playing Warhammer lately.
    Valar Guild 12th Anniversary party in October: suggestions being taken.
    Fladrif is back home to the Netherlands after being in Germany, has internet again.
    Ar-Pharazon's cat, Frodo, turned out to be male after all.
    Birthdays last week: Earendil and Scatha.
Web:
    Our guild files visibly moved to the new server with no connection to the old one now. Thanks to Alatar for the new server, the old server, and continuing the domain name!
       Aid in catching link and missing file problems for Games (email Eonwe), Community and Tolkien Sites (email Varda). Some of the links are twisted between the two main web workers, so a cc is a good idea.
    A new LotR Hammerfall band YouTube located by Arien concerning sacrifice for victory and being torn between two worlds.
Gaming:
    World of WarCraft:
       General: Info on the upcoming 3.2 patch: Call of the Crusade., and 3.3. Info on upcoming new battleground: Isle of Conquest.
        Lothar server
       Uldaman server. Discussion of the changing place where power comes from for Horde priests and paladins.
    Lord of the Rings Online: We have enough level 60 people to run instances and do 12-man raids and need to start doing them more frequently. Let's also work on helping folks whose mains are lower level to raise up. Crafters for raid and instance packages needed, please put materials in the kinshouse or, if full, send directly to people that you know need them or to the bank overflow character: Gilmacariel.
    Eve Online: progress on Valar Corp. Email or AIM Pallando Valar for info on getting in the game free or cheaply for a while.
    Chess: how to get together with each other in chess online. Site. Fladrif-(V)'s name there is torenpaardloper (meaning tower/rook/castle, knight, bishop). Email or AIM to Fladrifv.
Iran news in real life from Pallando, who is in the military and therefore watching the situation more closely than some. During Tolkien chat, more news. Links given:
        http://iran.twazzup.com/
        http://twitter.com/persiankiwi
        http://twitter.com/change_for_iran
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QueD9nORuY
Tolkien:
    Podcasts concerning happenings in Tolkien's works using LotRO gaming as a way to approach the subjects.
    iPhone application that has a Quenya dictionary, a course, and a Tolkienian calendar in it.
    Sindarin dictionary program being developed by Luthien-(T) building on Didier's 8-year old Hisweloke idea with his permission and suggestions.
        New language information being made available by the Tolkien Estate.
    Discussion: Sacrifice to bring victory. What sacrifices were made to destroy the One Ring?
    Discussion: Stability and stagnation - the difference between them. Elvish stagnation.
After-meeting:
    Webwork
    Honors: Maia and Vala.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Indis-V/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar/orodrethV/oessala, VardaValar1
Gaming:
    WoW:
       General news: Bosstiary; new cat-forms. Bear-forms were shown last week, links in last week's transcript.
        Lothar server: Tulca rank implemented, means "steadfast", for gamers who show commitment to that branch.
    EVE Online:
        Pallando said:
            another way to get in contact with me (and my main will see it too, in case I don't log onto pallando for a few days) is to join the eve ingame mailing list "Eru's List"
        Will this drawing that Pallando showed us scare you away or make you laugh and join him?  :)
        New forum posting to help members get together on Eve Online for our branch there.
Tolkien:
    The Hobbit: Main meetings that Thorin's Company had in The Hobbit.
    Hobbit movie
    Forum role-play round robin live posting.

    As I planned, I have implemented a new rank of Tulca on Lothar. "Tulca" means "Steadfast" (you will notice the similarity to the name of the Vala Tulkas) and is to honor regular members who have shown commitment to our guild branch (with consideration also given to activity within the Valar Guild as a whole). This rank is strictly an honor within the guild branch, but will be no less deserved by those who earn it.
    Given that they have, throughout our four years on Lothar, been the most regularly active "regular" members within our guild branch, and stuck it out with us for those four years, I am pleased to announce that Eowyn and Elwing have been thus honored as our first Tulcar.

Hail!
 
long time no see old friend!! how have things been with you? i am/was Thror-V  tho it has been some time since i have talked to or seen any of the valar i still play wow from time to time but not on the guild servers i am on thrunderhorn or is it thunderhoof? i think its thunderhorn but in any case that is where i am on wow most of the time (if i am on) i am also on msn im a lot!! i have beed good for the most part and i am 22!! be 23 in october >_<" makes me feel old  anywho hope to hear from you!!
 
you forgotten friend
 
Chubz (aka Thror-V)
 To email Thror-(V), use

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, FladrifV, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar (presiding)
Gaming:
    Members planning to join together for Red Alert 3: Ar-Pharazon-(V), Fladrif-(V), Menelvagor-(Valar)
Tolkien:
    Sam Gamgee: quote, and the deleted epilogue
    Shakespeare kidding around, and a useful link from Ar-Pharazon-(V):
       http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/
    Opensim Valinor project by Luthien-(T) progressing well, links:
       http://img.skitch.com/20090524-ptnin341m3pkn3k9d1c6sndph2.png
       http://img.skitch.com/20090524-girieeue86d9mg9qynt1hm1yc1.png
       http://img.skitch.com/20090524-tpy479uccxdecj6m1wj2syijn3.png
       http://img.skitch.com/20090524-max4y3kwnucm6xpa9c6212dhqi.png

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Membership:
    Today is Eonwe's birthday
Web:
    Games page
    Tolkien Site: Stories "Cell Number Eight" by Cassia-(T) and Siobhan-(T)
    Gnostic Society has some lectures on Tolkien. Brought to our attention by Luthien-(T).
    Department of Defense blocks our web page
    Mead
    Mountain Dew has an area to register in to collect WoW tokens and a new pet, to advertise their new gaming flavors.
    Arthas: Rise of the Lich King made it onto the NY Times best Seller list.
Gaming:
    WoW
    LotRO
    Chess: Fladrif is still in the tourney
    Eve Online: contact Pallando-(Valar) to join into Valar Corps.
Tolkien:
    Fladrif's topic: the world of Middle-earth started with melodies
    Forum RP
    Cuivienen

    There is a 'contest' out there in cyberspace for Tolkien fanfic writers. I've been blessed to have been nominated for the last couple of yours.

    This year - I am a promoter - which means I send out a notice to a group I belong to - I'd like to send out notices about the MEFA's to 'our' group at the Guild - perhaps in the Forum section - What do you think?  You don't have to be a member to see the stories - just login as a guest - no name or password needed.

    There are no prizes - but nice banners for winners, nominations, all kinds of stuff.... It's a 'family' type group - slash only is not accepted - but NC-17's are.

    Here's their link.... Let me know what you think.

 

    Blessings,

    Alcardilme

    http://www.mefawards.net/

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    Arien-(V), Ar-Pharazon-(V), Fladrif-(V), Indis-(V), Varda-(Valar) (presiding)
    Eonwe-(Valar) had to work during the meeting.
Membership:
    New Full Member Indis-(V). She said her few words, which moved into discussion of Tolkien, Latin, and a comic book series called Asterix.
       Fladrif-(V) suggested using Pidgin to speak in AIM (and other chat programs) but get around some of the problems.
Web:
    Tolkien Site:
       Poetry given to the guild during the meeting by Indis-(V) posted after the meeting and listed above.
       You Tube improved version of Beren and Luthien by Luthien-(T) given to the guild at the meeting. She also sent links to another of her You Tube productions and to Sindarin poetry that will all be added to the site:
          HD version of Beren and Luthien Corrected link April 30, 2009.
          The Song of Earendil - multi-language subtitles. Sung by Nick Keir of the Tolkien Ensemble
Gaming:
    Chess: Fladrif-(V) is still progressing with wins in the Chess Tournament!
    WoW reports
    LotRO reports are on the News page
Tolkien:
    Indis-(V) is considering joining our text rp, and is offering the starter of a Silmarillion rp that she had begun elsewhere before, but the site went down. We may offer it on our forum, under consideration.
    Discussion of Luthien-(V)'s Middle-earth Valinor simulation, which set off more Tolkien discussion.
       Sim-related links:
          Hippo OpenSim Viewer (a modified Second Life viewer)
          Article on Open Simulator
          Greetings from Valinor by luthienathariel. At the foot of Tuna looking east, the Calacirya.
          Instruction video pilot for the library using Open Sim by Luthien-(T)

Welcome Back Week!
It’s our birthday, it is! Come celebrate our 2nd anniversary! We'd like to welcome you back for an extended week of free gameplay from April 24th - April 30th, 2009*. In addition, there is a +25% bonus experience boost on mob kills for everyone playing on those days!**
    Play your old characters for free!
    Get a 25% experience bonus all week long**
    Defeat monsters throughout Middle-earth that will drop rare items when defeated. Exchange these items for a special gift box that will reward you with a variety of in-game items to aid you in your adventures.
    Plus! Take advantage of the special anniversary subscription offer and enjoy preciousss savings! Play LOTRO for $9.99 per month!***
Need to re-download the LOTRO client? Get the latest version here:

   Standard-resolution version

   High-resolution version

 

* Offer available only to former players of LOTRO with a paid online subscription in good standing at the time the subscription expired.
** The bonus XP stacks with rest XP as well!
***Terms & Conditions Apply

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5) +2
    ArPharazonV, Fladrifv, Eonwe Valar (presidiing), luthienathariel, VardaValar1
    Side window contributors: Arien-(Valar), Eomer-(V)
Membership:
    New Full Members this week:
       Imrahil-(V) from Indonesia, excellent with Tolkien lore, picked his name in record time.
       Gildor-(V) picked his name at last, so he is no longer a LotRO initiate but a Full Member.
    Ar-Pharazon finished exams, hopes to have more time for his Tolkien research project.
    Elwing is visiting Varda's family, playing WoW with most of them during the meeting.
    Brand is working a lot but found time to show up in LotRO to play for a bit again.
Web:
    Tolkien Site: Stories
       "Primary Sources" by Jay of Lasgalen, put on our site today. "Young Eldarion has a new history tutor – who has a great deal to learn about his pupil’s heritage."
    Games Site:
       Programming on the new site, noticeably visible changes there.
Gaming:
    WoW:
       General: 3.1 patch implemented, comments
       Uldaur cinematic trailer link
       Lothar server
       Uldaman server
       Argent Dawn server: Fladrif!
    LotRO: our major Valarite activity
    Chess
    StarCraft II battle report: link
Tolkien:
    What would an elf coming to Valinor see?
       Luthien-(T) started a Valinor sim so a person could walk around in Valinor during the time of the Two Trees, and we discussed the subject..

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, Fladrifv, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Many today were involved in Easter activities, and we kept the meeting short.
    Initiate Gwennair in LotRO who passed his test is still considering his guild name, gaming with us meanwhile.
Web:
    Eonwe and Varda continue to keep their work updated on both old and new servers, keeping prepared for the day when the domain name is pointed to the new server without losing anything for anyone on the old server.
    New article: "Festivals after the War of the Ring" by Varda-(Valar).
Gaming:
    Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
    Armor Games website
    Chess
    Armadillo Run
    World of Goo
    New game upcoming called Aion: The Tower of Eternity.
    WoW: 3.1 patch is being awaited. Much guild group activity on Uldaman server this past week (Go Horde!), some on Lothar (Go Alliance!). Individual activity on Argent Dawn.
    LotRO: the majority of guild activity was here in groups, individual activity, and crafting.
Tolkien:
    Bilbo and Frodo's birthday, special observed day in Middle-earth.
    After the War of the Ring:
        RotK App. D "The Calendars" p.1085: In the Reunited Kingdom by the New Reckoning that was a return to the King's Reckoning, Yavannie 30, corresponding to the former September 22, was made a festival in honor of Frodo's birthday. The leap year was provided for by doubling this feast, called Cormare or Ringday. (Only the Shire continued with Shire Reckoning, a form of the King's Reckoning adapted to their own customs, retained even when the Stewards changed the calendar p.1082.)
        The Reunited Kingdom, except for the Shire, commemorated the new year, previously March 25, for the fall of Sauron and the deeds of the Ringbearers.
        The Shire, after the War of the Ring, did not commemorate September 22 nor March 25. The hobbits of the Westfarthing, especially in the country around Hobbiton Hill, did celebrate April 6 with a holiday including dancing in the Party Field, when weather permitted. Some said it was old Sam Gardner's birthday, some that it was the day the Golden Tree first flowered in 1420, and some said it was the Elves' New Year.
        In the Buckland the Horn of the Mark was blown at sundown every November 2, followed by bonfires and feastings, in honor of the first blowing of that horn in the Shire in 3019.
    The suggestion was made by Varda and seconded by Arien that we need a section on Middle-earth holidays in our Tolkien Site, for the usual scholarly reasons and to aid in event planning in our games. Send in your information from Tolkien's books on any holiday to be added to this project. A start on this project includes the information from today's chat for "Festivals after the War of the Ring" by Varda-(Valar), written after the meeting..

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eomer-(V)/IWF519, Eonwe Valar (presiding), Fladrifv, VardaValar1
Membership:
    New Full Member: Thorin-(V)
    Two initiates, one in LotRO
    Gimli and Sauron
Web:
    Links section
    Games Site
    Stories Site 
Gaming:
    WoW:
       April Fools
       Upcoming patch
       Lothar server branch
       Uldaman server branch
       Argent Dawn server branch
    LotRO: Landroval server branch
    StarCraft/BroodWar
    Warhammer tabletop
    Armadillo Run
Tolkien:
   To help come up with Tolkien topics, what do you think of starting near the beginning of the Fellowship and working our way to the end of the LotR?
   Navigation helpers for the Fellowship.This session became playful, although still truthful. We seem to have left out Meriadoc's studying of maps made available at the house of Elrond.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Membership:
    Happy birthday, Luthien-(T)!
Web today:
    Files are being rearranged and updated prior to the move to the new website server for most of the Tolkien Site and Games Site. Links may go strange here and there meanwhile, then work again.
    The Humor Site is now "Tolkien, Lite" (blame Varda). Middle-earth Vacation is in a new area. A couple of the incomplete Middle-earth vacation spots are visible and yes, we know they're incomplete.
Tolkien:
    Origin of Orcs
    Trivia game for LotR: "Who am I?" Two clues to start, one more clue if people are stumped.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (8)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, ForlongV, luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Three new Full Members this week:
        Lothiriel-(V)
        Forlong-(V)  Forlong came and said his few words.
        Eomer-(V)
    Happy birthday to Menelvagor-(V)!
    Barahir is not able to come to meetings for a while, but is keeping in contact by email and sending in his latest chapter.
Web:
    Gaming Site:
        Changes becoming visible. Suggestions taken.
    Tolkien Site:
       Stories: "Battle of Erui" new chapter added by Barahir-(V), "Beside the Grey Waters"..
Gaming:
    AoC (Age of Conan) Wiccana server
    Eve Online
    Armadillo Run
    WoW:
       General news: Blizzard is setting up a new form of Battle.net that works between all it's new games including WoW, that will become the new mandatory way of entering the games.
       Lothar server
       Uldaman server
       Argent Dawn server
    LotRO: Landroval server
Tolkien:
    Ar-Pharazon's topic: What do we know of the trolls or the regions they live in? We may go into trolls again next week.
After-meeting:
    Luthen-(T)'s translation to Sindarin of the Song of Beren and Luthien, now updated and on her university blog.
    Forum RP discussion
    LotRO gaming: Full party of six Valarites aided Caranthir-(V) in his champion class quest in Urugarth. Broke up as people had to sleep, some joined up for Lorien questing, or did the enforced solo Book 7 questing.

Just thought I'd let you know my background work is finally starting to come to fruition. I've updated the way my Gaming news is handled, as well as switching to a gregorian year as opposed to going from GPMU to GPMU (which concludes right before each Anniversary, so perhaps the term "Valian year" is appropriate to describe this measure of time from GPMU to GPMU :}). This means I'm less likely to shun adding news to the Games Page for fear of major Games Page changes :}
 
The next set of changes will include some improvements to the menu, as well as some organizational changes on the back end that should facilitate easier code changes/additions by me.
 
Updates to player tables will be coming soon after that, even though I haven't transferred them to the new format yet. That'll have to come afterwards with the next set of updates.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eonwe Valar (presiding), luthienathariel, pallandovalar,VardaValar1
Membership:
    New Full Members:
       Pippin-(V)
       Brand-(V)
Web: 
    Forum: Ballad of Maedhroc Thornhollow, to the tune of "Bilbo Baggins" the Leonard Nimoy video.
    Tolkien Site:
        Art:
             Cave of DeepGroover-(TV)
        Stories:
            "Honor is Life", by Varda-(Valar). Beregond's choice. Written for the Valar Guild drabble challenge: a heroic act.
           "The Third Bow", by Jay of Lasgalen. Can be read as a stand-alone, and is the epilogue to "With Friends Like These". Chapter illustration taken from the movie added by Varda.
    Gaming Site
Gaming:
    Eve Online
    Prince of Persia
    LotR Conquest
    WoW:
        Lothar: Beat the dragon Onyxia with three of us. Going after Onyxia again next Friday 6pm EST
        Uldaman
    LotRO:
        Transcript of a chat with the Developers of the game concerning the first big free content update to Mines of Moria: Volume 2, Book 7 "Leaves of Lorien"
Tolkien:
    RP
    Tolkien word-association game invented today by Eonwe-(Valar).
        Beleg and Maedhros tried to participate from LotRO in this new Tolkien game. Next time we play such a game in the meeting, those wanting to play from a game could be included in the alphabetical list of players. This time was our first try and we had a lot of crashing, including of Eonwe who made up the game and needed to referee. Now that we have an idea of what we're doing, it should go faster, especially if we can keep from going afk or crashing. :)
       Word-chain:
            Anduril - Aragorn - Roheryn - Elessar/Elfstone - Estel - Beren - Luthien - Doriath - Menegroth - Nauglamir - Elendilmir - Earendil - Earendil - Elros - Maedhros - Alqualonde - Grey Havens - Ringbearer - barrelrider - Mirkwood - Thranduil - Legolas - Gimli - Gloin - Nanduhirion - Dimrill Dale - Weathertop - Kheled-zaram - orcs

To all my Valar Friends,

This is something I have been hoping and trying to work around for a long time.  I have been trying to raid informally with friends I have met in game, but it just isn't working out.  Guilds raid regularly, friend's groups do ocassionaly at best.  Some of the people I have played a lot with over the last several months have formed a raiding guild and have been trying to recruit me  for weeks, even before my comp troubles.  Anyway, it boils down to me removing Niequi from Valar to join them.  I am not leaving Valar.  All of my alts are staying.  But it is time for me to commit to a raiding kinship so that I can enjoy the high end part of the game.  I hope all will understand. 

Sincerely, Ulmo

    Heya,
    Congrats to our new Pippin.
     A correction on a news item from the meeting synopsis: I will still be coming to meetings.
      Right now, my current job wants me to work one Sunday a month. Last Sunday was just that for March.
So, minus one Sunday a month, I'll still be coming to meetings for the undetermined future :}
     Take care and will likely see you at the meeting Sunday :}
    Eonwë

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (5)
    ArPharazonV, arwenv1, fladrifv, Menelvagor Valar (after-meeting), VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Happy birthday, Aragorn-(V)!
    Eonwe will not be coming to meetings for the undetermined future since work now goes across that time-slot. [this only happens one time a month.]
    Chairperson: We now need someone willing to be gaveler #3, to take over when Varda can't make it to meetings. Volunteer is preferred. Otherwise the roster is highest-honor person present takes the gavel. If no officers are present, Full Member ArPharazon is the chairperson, since he has more experience with meetings than most officers.
Web:
    Stories by Jay of Lasgalen (updates listed on the News Feb. 29, 2009) including drabbles.
Gaming:
    Drakensang
    StarCraft/BroodWar
    Diablo 2X
    WoW
    LotRO
Tolkien:
    Heroic acts:
        Beregond defies all the great ones of his world to save Faramir.
        The forging of the rings.
        Writing lotr.
        Bilbo facing the spiders in Mirkwood to free his Dwarven companions.
    Challenge to the guild: Write a drabble about any action in Tolkien's books that you consider heroic, to show why it is heroic. A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words. If a partnership or team works together to make a drabble, all should be credited. Email to Varda. These will be shown online, and hopefully will go into the guild's Stories site.
    Ended the meeting early for those who said they wouldn't have time later in the week to write a drabble, to give them writing time.
After-meeting:
    Menelvagor dropped by.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (9)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, CaranthirV, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, GwaihirValar, Farmer Maggot-(V)/thesirg3, VardaValar1 (presiding)
    Gilraen-(V) over-the-shoulder
Web:
    Art:
       Cave of Maedhros-(V): "Unimpressed". LotRO humor.
    Stories:
       Both by Jay of Lasgalen:
          "The Road Not Taken"
          "Messengers From the West"
Gaming:
    World of Goo
    Day of Defeat: Source
    Wheels of Salvation
    Lord of the Rings Online
    World of Warcraft: servers Lothar, Uldaman, Argent Dawn
    Favorite classes in games
Tolkien:
    Tolkien rp
    Choice of the Half-elven and how it affected Elrond's children.
    Meetings that might be possible in the Halls of Mandos.
    Equipment
After-meeting:
    LotRO: Caranthir and Varda met up in LotRO with others.
    WoW: Eonwe went in, may have seen Eowyn

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Membership:
    Fangorn and Varda left Saturday to visit Meriadoc in central Texas, returning from the trip just at the beginning of the Tolkien part of the meeting.
Web:
    Dwarves: Information from the Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings by Eonwe-(Valar)
Gaming:
    WoW
    LotRO
    World of Goo
Tolkien:
    Discussion on dwarves using Eonwe-(Valar)'s article listed above under "Web". Another dwarf article will be coming later based on other books. There was an amazingly varied amount of dwarf information presented in these two books scattered over a large area, brought together in an easily studied form by Eonwe-(Valar).
After-meeting:
    Disagreement with forum rules and her feeling of general dissatisfaction with the chats lead to Luthien-(T)'s quitting the overall guild in an email after the meeting.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eonwe Valar, fladrifv, luthienathariel, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Luthien-(T) attended a concert by the Tolkien Ensemble and told about it.
    Ar-Pharazon-(V): schedule change
    Gorlim-(V) had his 20th marriage Anniversary on Feb. 4. Congrats!
    Ariehn-(Valar)'s birthday was Jan 30 and she got Spore as a birthday present. Schedule change.
    Europeans need the meetings to finish earlier as they start work and school early again. America's need the meeting to start later. We'll do our best.
Web:
    Community:
        Membership 2009 roster page is now online
    Tolkien Site:
       Art by Turgon-(V)
       Story by Jay of Lasgalen
Gaming:
    Various games:
       SC/BW
       Left 4 Dead
       Spore: review by Arien-(Valar)
    LotRO podcast up
    WoW
Tolkien:
    Tolkien Moment:
        Quote from Return of the King as they go to the Grey Havens.
After-meeting:
    Elwing, Eonwe, Sauron, and Varda got together after the meeting in World of Warcraft, Uldaman server as Horde.

Hello, everyone!

My name is Moormur and I play on the Silverlode server of Lord of the
Rings Online. I have recently begun a podcast (I believe it is the
first LOTRO Podcast ever) to cover all things LOTRO related. You can
find it at LOTROCast.blogspot.com. As a regular segment of my show, I
have a rundown of the different servers. I have visited many of your
kinship's websites to try and find events to include in the broadcast
but I realized it would be much less effort to have kinships let me
know what's going on in their servers than me spend hours trolling the
Internet for a few nuggets to include.

If your kinship, server, group, friends, WHATEVER is putting on an
event, I highly encourage you contact me at this email address so I
can include it in subsequent episodes of LOTROCast.

And stay tuned to LOTROCast for the latest news, information, and
commentary about the game we all know and love. If you have someone in
you kin who would like to contribute, encourage them to contact me and
we can work it out!

Thank you so much!

Moormur

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (7)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Finrod-(V)/TH0R0NGIL, fladrifv, luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Membership:
    Eonwe's working during this meeting, hoped to come in late.
Web:
    Art: Bohemian Weasel-(T)
    Book List and Reviews: Franco Manni-(T)
Gaming reports:
    Other: SC/BW
    LotRO server branch: Landroval
    WoW server branches: Uldaman (Americas, Horde), Lothar (Americas, Alliance), Argent Dawn (Europe, Alliance).
Tolkien:
    Some critics said the characters were too black and white in the evil and good sense. I would like to have us mention some of these main characters and show that they were more complex than those critics claim.
       Bad guys:
           Sauron
           Black Riders
        Good guys:
           Non-Fellowship:
                Faramir
           Fellowship: (Did not complete this. Pick it up again sometime.)
                Boromir and Frodo
                Legolas and Gimli
                Frodo
                Pippin
    Digression into movie changes and comparing some to book quotes.
    Digression into DM of the Rings

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (11)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, CaranthirV, Elladan-(V)/Bior the Ythling, Eonwe Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Luthien-(T)/luthienathariel, Menelvagor Valar, pallandovalar/orodrethv/oessala, VardaValar1
Membership:
    Recruiting work for Valar is going on in WoW Argent Dawn server and LotRO Landroval server.
    The end of February is when the 2009 page for Membership will be set with uncontactable members dropped.
Web:
    Article/Book Review written by Franco Manni-(T): "Tom Shippey, Roots and Branches, Walking Tree Publishers, Zollikofen (Switzerland), 2007, pp. 416".
    Star Wars two outside links to be added to our Links page:
       Star Wars as told by someone who hasn't seen it suggested by Eowyn-(V)
       Star Wars in ASCII animation suggested by Luthien-(T).
Gaming:
    WoW: connection issues for some after the last patch.
Tolkien:
    The topic was on the  palantiri, brought up by Menelvagor-(Valar)
    "The Song of Earendil" was uploaded to YouTube during the meeting, put together and uploaded by Luthien-(T). This link will go in her Valar author's page.

Meeting Transcript by Ar-Pharazon and Varda
Attending: (6)
    AriehnV, ArPharazonV, arwenv1, Eonwe Valar (presiding), Luthien-(T)/luthienathariel, VardaValar1
Before-meeting
    WoW general and Argent Dawn
Membership:
    Bilbo-(V) needs characters re-invited to the WoW Lothar branch after remaking his account.
    Morwe-(V) is ill.
    Meriadoc-(V) is getting better.
    Activity check:
        Arveleg-(V) emailed that he is still with us.
        Franco Manni-(T) emailed a meaty Book Review as his 2009 contribution to the Tolkien Site.
Web:
    Art by the Bohemian Weasel
    Poem by Maedhros
Gaming:
    Other: (beginning and ending of gaming talk)
       Prince of Persia (review intended)
       Lord of the Rings: Conquest (review intended)
       Left 4 Dead
       Diablo 2 Expansion
       Red Alert 2
       WarCraft3
       Chess
    LotRO
    WoW:
          General
          Lothar
          Uldaman
          Argent Dawn (also general)
Tolkien:
    RP
    Upcoming new video from Luthien-(T)
    What was Earendil's role in the Silmarillion storyline?
After-meeting:
    Plans for several to go into the same game after the meeting, picked LotRO.
    Working with a potential recruit in Europe.

Happy New Year!