2020 News Archive

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (8)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Ciaran (Before), Elrond (Before), Eonwe, Frodo/Twisted Elm, Irmo, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Overwatch,  Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Celebrations in Tolkien's world.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (9)
            Discord: Arien  Valar, Ar-Pharazon-V, Eonwë Valar, Falco, Ioreth, Irmo, Miriel/Maha, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
        Membership news:
            Falco's SpaceX news
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft,  Lord of the Rings Online, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, more LotRO
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Tolkien Moment from Varda. As Ar-pharazon puts it: If you're gonna die, make it count.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (8)
            Discord: Anarion, Arien  Valar, Ar-Pharazon-V, Celebrian, Elrond, Eonwë Valar, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft,  Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic: The nature of Huorns.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo, Varda (presiding)
        Membership news:
        Web:
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft,  Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online; Starcraft 2 during After-meeting
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1: Link to the project to save Tolkien's house and convert it into a literary center.
            Topic 2 from Irmo: the different treatments of Elrond and Faramir between the books and movies.
            Topic 3 from Irmo: the relationship between Boromir and Faramir.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (10)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Celebrian, Elrond, Eonwe, Falco, Ioreth, Irmo, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
        Membership news:
            Grats to Shelob on the high grades!
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, Lord of the Rings Online, Hammerting
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1 from Varda: changes during separation may slow recognition: Sam and Frodo return from Mt. Doom and see Strider in a Tolkien Moment quote.
            Topic 2 from Shelob: choosing mortality. The afterlife.
        After-meeting:
            WoW afterlife. Choices of how to proceed through the game life.
            Book of Lost Tales 1
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (6)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
            Shelob (Before)
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft,  Overwatch, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft II
        Tolkien:
            Tolkien game
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwë (Before-meeting), Irmo, Varda (presiding)
        Web:
            Story by Arien (see Nov 10 news for when it was put online).
                "Turning Tides" by Arien-(Valar). A Corsair captain takes his boat where he must.
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1: comments on Arien's new story
            Topic 2 started by Varda: disguises of Saruman, and tangents.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwë, Ioreth, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, Eve Online, more LotRO
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1 from Varda: Tolkien Moment and discussion about Sam vs the Watchers.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (6)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwë, Irmo, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports:  Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Cookie Clicker, Zork; WoW more, LotRO more
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1 from Varda: Tolkien Moment and discussion about the Entwives and hope.
            Topic 2 from Eonwe: How did the Dwarves come to Bilbo's door?
        After-meeting:
            WoW chat
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
                In 2020, Windows will forcibly remove flash. However, a number of these sorts of game are moving to a form of HTML.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (7)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo, Pallando, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic from Varda: Some people (outside kin) say Beorn was the only one that could change into bear-form during the time of the Hobbit book. What does our group think?
            Topic tangent: listing the five armies of the Battle of Five Armies.
        After-meeting:
            More Tolkien chat
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
  Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Pallando, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
    Web News:
        Tolkien Site / Stories:
        "A Vignette on the Vingilot" by Elwing-(V). Short story in which which a sailor overhears Earendil talking to Elwing. Written for the 23rd Anniversary.
    Gaming:
        General reports: Eve Online,  World of Warcraft, more Eve Online, StarCraft 2,  Overwatch, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online
    Tolkien:
        Topic from Shelob: Shelob
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
  Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (7)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (presiding), Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Shelob, Varda
    Web:
        Screenies from the in-game anniversary events are on the anniversary page.
    Gaming:
        General reports:  World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Lord of the Rings Online
    Tolkien:
        RP forum story has a new post this last week.
        Topic: from Shelob-(V): The Doom of the Valar upon the Noldor, how it came about and how it shaped their perception as well as the perception of others on them in Middle Earth?
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon-V, Eonwe, Fangorn/Treebeard (Before-meeting), Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Pallando-Valar, Varda (presiding)
    Before-meeting:
        LotRO anniversary ride and fireworks etc.
    Web:
        Anniversary Website updated with new stuff including for today. Screenies to be posted.
        Forum thread to say what you like about the anniversary.
        Games Site updated.
        Tolkien Site:
            Art:
                New cave for Irmo-(Valar)
                    New art screenshot: "carrock" ship. He took around 8 months to craft this in Black Desert Online.
            Stories:
                New stories by Eonwe-(Valar):
                    "Black Sails"
                    "Losgar"
            Poetry:
                    New poem by Varda-(Valar) (still in rough state but up anyway)
                        "Ships that Sail"
    Gaming:
        General reports on: Eve Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Diablo 4, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, Starcraft 2
    Tolkien:
        Topic from Irmo: Why were the ships able to sail to Valinor on the straight path? Was it the ship, the maker, both, or something else? Who were some of the passengers that we know of? Why could Legolas make and sail such a ship?
    After-meeting:
        Lots of chat
        Tolkien quotes adding to the topic above.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Ioreth, Irmo, Pallando, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
    Membership news
    Web:
        The Games Site Mass Update and Anniversary page need your help.
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Lord of the Rings Online, Starcraft 2
    Tolkien:
        Topic: On the boat theme, who was called a sea-king? Or more than one?
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
        and a taste of the marathon chat.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (Before and After-meeting), Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Pallando (After-meeting), Shelob, Varda (presiding)
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Overwatch, Eve Online, Lord of the Rings Online.
    Tolkien:
        Forum *RP story
        Topic: Interactions between the Valar.
    After-meeting:
        Get-together for LotRO: Osgiliath questing.
        Questions about LotRO on dual monitors; info on LotRO subs and expansions.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
        Quote about Ungoliant from the Silmarillion.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon-V, Eonwë, Falco, Irmo, Pallando, Shelob, Varda (presiding)
    Membership news:
        GSMU (Games Site Mass Update) emails went out. A copy is available at the bottom of the News page.
    Web:
        23rd Anniversary Page: new screenie under Theme. The anniversary pages may be found at the bottom of the News page.
        Games Site Mass Update email copy (available at the bottom of the News page and on the 23rd Anniversary page).
    Gaming:
        Tolkien topic 1 (instant tangent when we started on LotRO news): ancient spiders
    Gaming (reboot):
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Lord of the Rings Online, Hearthstone, Eve Online
    Tolkien:
        Topic 1: During Gaming section: Spiders: including Ungoliant, Shelob, Mirkwood spiders, Angband spiders.
        Topic 2: Topic for next time mentioned and became a topic this time: Epic events in Tolkien's works.
    After-meeting:
        Chat continued (we were on a roll today)
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript:
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (7)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon-V, Eonwë, Ioreth (After-meeting), Pallando (After-meeting), Shelob (After-meeting), Varda (presiding)
        LotRO: Lenwë
    (The Contents with detailed links are at the top of the Meeting Transcript.)
    Gaming:
        General reports:
         GSMU emails going out this week. (After-meeting)
    Tolkien:
        Topic 1: Making things that are Tolkienesque, including tapestries.
        Topic 2: Since we got onto the topic of boats and water, who are Ulmo, Ossë, and Uinen? And what is her hair?
        Adding folktale elements to stories.
        Forum RP discussion and posting.
    After-meeting:
        Fuel for Aulë.
        *RP post with Arien's Frali. (broken across other chat)
        *RP storage problem if bareback for the characters. Discussion. Aid from Ioreth.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
        WoW box-gaming report by Ioreth
        Pannier to aid our storage problem in the RP. More on riding bareback.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Anarion, Arien/Urwendi, Ar-Pharazon/Tar-Calion, Eonwe/Fionwë, Eowyn/Cenedra, Menelvagor/Shelob, Pallando-Valar, Varda (presiding)
        (We kept jumping names at one point but the program decided to retrofit so all the names showed as whatever we were after the meeting was over and a copy being made.)
    Membership news:
        Menelvagor changed name to Shelob, still Maia Honor.
    Web:
        Anniversary page, for our 23rd guild anniversary.
        GSMU (Games Site Mass Update) planned to be done for the Anniversary of Oct 4.
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, Eve
     Tolkien:
        Topic: Why did the Elves leave Middle-earth?
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
Attending (and spoke): (6)
    Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (Before-meeting), Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo,  Varda (presiding)
Gaming:
    General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, ...
 Tolkien:
    Topic 1: Why did Sauron try and convince Pharazon to attack Valinor knowing that was pointless, instead of turning his attention on Middle Earth?
    Topic 2: How did Numenor beat Sauron wearing and using the one ring?
Gaming, the Reboot:
    General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone
After-meeting:
    PTR for WoW by Ioreth
    Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (6)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
    Membership news:
        23rd Anniversary of the Valar Guild coming in October. During this meeting, we picked the theme of "boats".
    Gaming:
        General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, Starcraft 2, World of Warcraft
        Request by Arien for aid in LotRO for Minas Tirith Besieged, due to vertigo problems.
        Pallando reports on Eve: 1st mention; Report.
     Tolkien:
        Forum * RP: brief comments and plans.
        Topic: What were the Silmarils? Why were they important?
    After-meeting:
        Music to go with our tale of the Silmarils. Night by Blind Guardian.
        Music for dwarves that mine. "Diggy Diggy Hole" with animation and lyrics.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
        Another YouTube but with dwarf fighters.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (6+1)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Falco, Irmo, Varda
        Eve report handed in earlier by Pallando who could not be present.
    Gaming:
        General reports: WoW, LotRO, SC2, Diablo Immortal, Hearthstone. Eve.
     Tolkien:
        Topic: forum role-play group story round of postings.
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (7)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Ioreth, Irmo, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft 2, Game of Thrones (get your dragon now)
     Tolkien:
        Topic: Discussion: What brought the various members of the Fellowship to the Council of Elrond? (Includes quotes; video.)
    After-meeting:
         More chat on the topic.
        World of Warcraft chat.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (6)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo, Pallando (After-meeting), Varda (presiding)
    Gaming:
        General reports: LotRO, WoW, SC2, Hearthstone, Overwatch, (Eve in After-meeting)
    Tolkien:
        Topic: Tolkien Moment with Sam in the Green Dragon.
    After-meeting:
         A bit more chat on the Tolkien subject.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
        Eve Online by Pallando

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (5)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (Before-meeting), Falco, Varda (presiding)
    Membership news:
    Web
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online
     Tolkien:
        Topic: Tolkien Moment telling of the Arda after this one.
    After-meeting:
        More chat on the Tolkien topic.
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon. Badges still coming in.

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (6)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo, Pallando (After-meeting), Varda (presiding)
    Membership News
    Web News:
        Tolkien Site / Art:
            Treebeard "It must stop" by the Bohemian Weasel-(T) (preview, not yet linked into the main site, but online)
    Gaming News:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Diablo 3, Eve (during After-meeting)
    Tolkien:
        Link
        Topic: Thranduil had been to Mordor. When? Did it affect his world-view?
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon
        Eve Online news by Pallando

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (4)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Varda (presiding)   
    Membership News
    Web News:
        "The Fall of Sauron" by Dunadan went up Thursday.
    Gaming News:
        General gaming: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Diablo 2, Overwatch, World of Warcraft (continued), Kongregate.
            Kongregate was bought out and is changing; report by Ar-Pharazon
    Tolkien:
        Topic: barrel riders
    More gaming:
        World of Warcraft, Small World of Warcraft boardgaming
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Happy Independence Day, U.S.A!

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (6)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Falco, Irmo, Varda (presiding)   
    Membership news:
        Falco performed at a museum.
        Irmo was quoted in an article that hit the national news.
        Dis
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Diablo 3, Heroes of the Storm, more Lord of the Rings Online and a request, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone
    Tolkien:
        Tolkien Moment: When Merry started the scouring of the Shire.
    After-meeting:
        Arien brought a new burglar into our LotRO kin branch on the Ithil legendary server. Things we can do thanks to meetings!
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (5)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Lenwe, Varda (presiding)
    Membership news:
        Father's Day
    Web:
        Tolkien Site / Stories:
            One story put up today:
                "The Bat-Fell of Thuringwethil" by Dunadan
    Gaming:
        General reports: Lord of the Rings Online (including a report on the Tournament of the Twins), World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone. More WoW chat.
    Tolkien:
        Topic 1: Ian Holm
        Topic 2: Thuringwethil
        Topic 3: Fathers in Tolkien's works.
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

    Namarie, Ian Holm. We loved your acting of Bilbo in the Lord of the Rings movies, among your other fine work.

Sunday Meeting:

    When: 5 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time.) (LotRO /servertime 5:00 p.m.)
    Where: The meeting is in the Discord Valar Guild channel under text channel "meeting_place".

Meeting Transcript
Summary of the meeting:
    Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Celebrian, Elrond, Eonwe, Irmo (Irm), Pallando, Varda (presiding)
    Before-meeting
        WoW
        *ping*
    Membership news:
        Fladrif, Helm, Imrahil sightings in WoW.
        Chat about WoW turtles.
    Web:
        Two stories this past week:
            "Just a Dare" by Arien-(Valar)
            "The Black Council" by Dunadan
    Gaming:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft Classic. (Eve in After-meeting)
    Tolkien:
        Tolkien Moment: Sam throws an apple.
    After-meeting:
        Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon
        Eve Online by Pallando

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (6)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo (Irm), Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting:
            Learning how to "ping" all of us at once to be a meeting alarm clock.
        Web News:
            Coding and upcoming stories.
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Heroes of the Storm, Eve Online (see after-meeting for more!), WoW continued.
        Tolkien:
            *RP discussion 1
            Tolkien Moment (plus discussion): the first time the Three Hunters see Shadowfax.
        After-meeting:
            EVE Online with details and comments
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
            *RP discussion continued.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
      Attending (and spoke): (8)
        Discord: Aranuir (Aarfon), Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Celebrian, Eonwe, Irmo (Irm), Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Overwatch, more LotRO, EVE, more EVE.
        Tolkien:
            Fun Tolkien-related YouTubes and help with the Silmarillion for those having trouble reading it.
        After-meeting:
            Much chat. : )
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (6)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Falco, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports:  World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Starcraft II, Warcraft III: Reforged, Diablo III. More WoW, LotRO, and SC. Tabletop.
        Tolkien:
            RP
            Topic: Some say writers that went through the wars find it therapeutic to write, to help them past the experiences. Did this seem at least partly true for JRRT as well?
        After-meeting:
            More chat on the Tolkien topic.
            More chat on the *RP.
            Gaming chat mixed in.
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (7)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Elrond, Eonwe, Ioreth, Irmo/Irm, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting:
            RP group story discussion. Link to a map of Middle-earth.
        Website News:
            Two stories by Eonwe-(Valar) online May 12: "Narn I Auros" series.
        Gaming general news:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo III, Hearthstone.
        Tolkien:
            Link for comparative sizes of cities in Middle-earth, found by Ioreth-(V).
            Tolkien Moment: comparison/contrast of Aule and Melkor. Plus discussion
            *RP group story on the forum discussion.
        After-meeting:
            More group story discussion (hardly noticing that we shifted to After-meeting).
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
            Blizzard games; Total Annihilation by Ar-Pharazon.
            On writing stories.

Quick note for Hearthstone players: Nemsy Necrofizzle, the warlock hero who is generally only available through fireside gatherings only, is now available for free in a time when the gatherings are unadvised because of corona.
But only from may 12 to 19, so if you want the hero, get to the ingame shop right away!
Feel free to drop it on the news as well.
(cute gnomess!)

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Irmo/Irm, Varda (presiding)
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Heroes of the Storm
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1: The Hobbit read by Andy Serkis
            Topic 2: Tolkien Moment--The Valar: "Yet some things there are that they cannot see"
        After-meeting:
            More Tolkien chat
            Forum story that we call the *RP story.
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
            More *RP

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Irmo/Irm, Lenwe, Varda (presiding)
        Web News:
            Tolkien Site / Stories: (2 posted here today)
                "Keep the Home Fires Burning" by Shirebound. "It�s time at last for Glo�n to leave Rivendell and return home." 1 chapter.
                "The Breaking Point" by Shirebound. "Ten days out from Rivendell, Frodo has finally had enough of the bickering between Legolas and Gimli." The first fanfiction ever written by Shirebound. 3 chapters
                Another posted April 28 by new author: Dunadan. "Servant of Darkness"
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic: A wizard is never late.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (8)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Elrond, Eonwe, Fangorn/Treebeard,  Ioreth (After-meeting), Irmo/Irm, Varda (presiding)
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Articles:
                New article: "Gundabad" by Irmo-(Valar). (Online yesterday.)
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic: The beginning of the Dwarves
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Lenwe, Varda (presiding)
        Web News:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "A Matter of Time" by Shirebound, posted here today. "Why did Elrond choose Legolas and Gimli to accompany Frodo and Sam on their journey south? And what influenced his decision to let Pippin go with them? Merry gets a surprising answer."
                    Aragorn, Arwen, Elrond, Faramir, Frodo, Gandalf, Legolas, Merry, Pippin, Sam.
                    4 chapters
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm
        Tolkien:
            Topic 1: As the Valar Guild, sometimes we needed reminded of who the Valar were.
            Topic 2: Gandalf could have flown to Mordor on an eagle and dropped it from the air directly into Mount Doom from the air but for some reasons this did not happen the easy way
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
            Blizzard gaming, plus Total Annihilation, WoW discussion.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (8)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (Before and After-meeting), Falco, Ioreth, Irmo (Irm), Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Web News:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "The Middle of Middle-earth" by Shirebound. "There are a few important details missing from Elrond's map." Elrond, Merry, Pippin. 1 chapter.
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and Eve Online (special report from Pallando)
        Tolkien:
            Topic: The idea of the Return of the King seems quite fitting today. We had more than one king returning or trying to return. Who were they? Side tangent of renaming the book title for some of them.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
                Blizzard gaming, plus Total Annihilation, Game of Thrones, and more WoW.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (7)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Arwen (After-meeting), Eonwe (Before-meeting), Falco, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "The Lord of Gifts" by Shirebound. "Aragorn encounters Frodo in Elrond's library, and is surprised to learn what the hobbit is researching." 1 chapter. Posted here today.
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Where did those rings come from for the Dwarves and the Nine? (plus a Tolkien Moment concerning the subject).
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Arwen, Gorlim, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting:
            Chat including the game "Satisfactory"
        Meeting begins
        Membership news:
            We are together on Daylight Savings Times across the continents.
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                New story posted today: "Holding Back the Flood" by Shirebound. (Note: posted after-After-meeting) 19 chapters.
                    "Frodo is safe in Rivendell, or is he? When one of the Nazg�l makes a last attempt to reach him, Sam, Legolas, and Gimli are also caught in his snare... and Elrond�s powers are tested to the limit."
                    "Book-verse AU, h/c, and plenty of hobbityness (of course). The canon timeline has been altered to allow Aragorn to play a major role."
        Gaming:
            General reports: Satisfactory, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft 2
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Did Sauron hold the rings of the nine ringwraiths or did they?
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Kana Warrior that helps the player learn Japanese.

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (10)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Arwen, Elrond, Eonwe, Lenwe, Miriel (Maha), Nar, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting:
            Draigoch run for LotRO Friday 9pm EDT (/servertime).
        Membership news:
            Next week, our Daylight Savings Times across the continents should align.
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "And the Halfling Forth Shall Stand" by Shirebound. Posted to our site today. "In Rivendell, Frodo thinks about who might have volunteered to be the Ring-bearer had he died of his wound." Frodo. 1 chapter.
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft 2, Diablo 3, Hearthstone, Overwatch, (more Hearthstone), Heroes of the Storm, Conan Exiles
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Tolkien Moment:  it's easy to be misled into thinking Frodo was no fighter, until one reads such items as this one.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Falco, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Web news:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                Posted here today: "A Blessed Journey" by Shirebound.  "A small but significant moment during the Fellowship's final day in Rivendell." Aragorn, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam. 1 chapter
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of WarCraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Eve Online, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft II, Hearthstone
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Tolkien Moment: the ents are avenged upon the orcs.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript:
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (4)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting
            World of Warcraft
        Membership news:
            Daylight Savings Time begins today for Eastern time, which is Valar time.
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "A Sense of Wonder" by Shirebound, posted on our story site today. "While in Rivendell, the discovery of one of Aragorn�s childhood toys gives Pippin an idea." Aragorn, Frodo, Pippin. 1 chapter.
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Overwatch. More LotRO. StarCraft 2.
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Tolkien Moment and discussion of it, about the changing relationship of the smiths of Eregion with Sauron.
                Tangent: Forum group story. Tangents from that relating a particular character from our group story to some in other games and stories, rapidly going from serious discussion to, well, not.
        After-meeting:
            More fun chat.
            WoW: Blackrock Depths.
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon
                Pixoji
                Hook
                Duck, think outside the flock

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Arwen, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Varda (presiding)
        Before-meeting:
            Chat. WoW Classic servers we're on:
                Kurrinaxx horde side
                Hydraxian Waterlords, in Europe. Alliance and Horde.
                Windseeker
                Westfall
                Bloodsail Buccaneers
        Membership news:
            New member Imrahil-(V) scouted and tested by Arien-(Valar) Feb. 26, 2020.
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                "In the Mind's Eye" by Shirebound, posted here today. "The Morgul knife blade used at Weathertop to wound Frodo was enspelled by the Nazg�l, as was the hilt that Aragorn carried with him to Rivendell. At the Ford of Bruinen, the wraith-sorcerer has one chance to activate the spell woven into the hilt, and influence its bearer." Aragorn, Arwen, Elrond, Frodo, Gandalf, Glorfindel, Merry, Pippin, Sam. 12 chapters.
            Mini-Tolkien chat about the morgul dagger.
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, World of Warcraft Classic, Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, Diablo 4, more WoW, Lord of the Rings Online, tabletop, Cookie Clicker.
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Magic weapons. The enemy had them and the free people had them. Not common but could be a real problem. Which ones can we come up with? Any book is fair game.
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (4)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (co-chair), Varda (co-chair)
        Gaming:
            General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Starcraft II,
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Could the One Ring have been carried on a horse or by Bill the Pony, such as in the saddlebags? Or perhaps some other animal such as a dog or goat?
        After-meeting:
           Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (4)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (presiding), Fingolfin
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone, StarCraft
        Tolkien:
            Trivia game:
                1. Frodo , Sam, Merry , Pippin and Aragorn  had a major assault by  .. what , where and how was the response?
                2. Where are the 8(!) known palantiri at the time of the start of the War of the Ring?
                3. Who was Mayor of Michel Delving before Sam?
                3. bonus question: After Will Whitfoot, and Before Will Whitfoot, who was acting Mayor of Michel Delving?
        After-meeting:
           Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (4)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (presiding), Varda
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone
        Tolkien:
            Link sent by Arwen-(V): "Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold"
            Orson Bean, in memorium. ABC news report, link from Eonwe.
            Topic 1: comments on the animated movies.
            Topic 2: A question raised by the animated movies: why the Elves sail West, and what it takes to be permitted as a mortal to sail West
        After-meeting:
           Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (5)
            Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Fladrif, Varda (presiding)
        Web:
            Art by Deepgroover-(T), posted yesterday: "Thorin".
            Story by Shirebound, posted yesterday: "The Magic of a Wizard's Song".
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft,
        Tolkien:
            Link of YouTube music sent by Meriadoc-(V): "Luthien's Lament"
            Topic: What interactions can we think of between Valar and people of Middle-earth?
        After-meeting:
           Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke) (9):
            Discord: Anarion, Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Celebrian, Elrond, Eonwe, Fladrif, Pallando, Varda (presiding)       
        Web:
            Tolkien Site: story by Shirebound yesterday "Where Many Paths and Errands Meet".
        Gaming:
            EVE Online: major report by Pallando
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Lord of the Rings Online.
                Starcraft 2. More on Heroes of the Storm. Dirt Rally 2, Chess
        Tolkien:
            Link
            Topic: LotR: a goal-directed pursuit that led to altered characters, situations, and relationships.       
        After-meeting:
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (6)
            Discord: Anarion, Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Elrond, Eonwe, Varda (presiding)
        Web:
            Story by Shirebound: "Spellbound" posted Jan 18.
        Gaming:
            General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Warcraft 3: Reforged, LotRO (more)
        Tolkien:
            Christopher Tolkien has left Arda.
        After-meeting:
            More chat.
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon 

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (8)
            Discord: Arien,  Arwen, Celebrian, Elrond, Eonwe, Falco, Ioreth, Varda (presiding)
        Membership News:
            Hobbit birthday gift link to the guild from Meriadoc-V.
        Web:
            Games Site:
                New section: World of WarCraft Basics as of the Shadowlands Expansion (So Far) .
                    Besides that handy link, this can also be found by going to the Games Site > Game Info > World of Warcraft > World of Warcraft Basics. Thank you, Eonwe!
            General News page:
                Question to the membership:
                    Would you personally prefer that the general News page to show the whole year, instead of the current attempt to move previous months into the archive listed at the bottom? Or no opinion?
                    Please type your vote: whole thing; short; no opinion. This vote can be given at the meeting, in our Discord, by email, or in-game in LotRO.
    Gaming News:
        General reports: World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, EVE Online
    Tolkien Site / Stories:
        "Humble Gifts" by Shirebound. "The way to a man�s � or elf�s -- stomach is through a hobbit�s kitchen." 1 chapter. Posted here today.
    Votes so far:
        News page:
            No opinion as either way is fine: 1
            Whole thing: 1
        LotRO kin chest requests:
            Crafting materials: 2

Meeting Transcript
    Summary of the meeting:
        Attending (and spoke): (7)
            Discord: Arien,  Eonwe, Falco, Fingolfin, Ioreth, Pallando, Varda (presiding)
        Membership:
            Fingolfin-(V) made it to the Discord meeting for the first time and said his few words of introduction, as well as joining in the chat.
        Web:
            Tolkien Site / Stories:
                Story posted today: "Master of Bag End" by Shirebound".  "After Bilbo vanishes from the Birthday Party, and Gandalf leaves, Frodo tries to comprehend how his life has so suddenly changed. Over one memorable year, Merry, Pippin, and Sam help Frodo adjust to his role as Master of Bag End. 8 chapters.
        Gaming:
            General reports: Diablo 3 and its mini-game, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online
        Tolkien:
            Topic: Tolkien has a lot of contrasting ideas throughout his books. Can we come up with any contrast examples? Any of his books are fair game.
        After-meeting:
            More chat.
            Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon (things to do while stuck in hole in the ground in Valinor)