Valar Guild

5pm EST (GMT - 5); (GMT = 22:00)
AIM: Valar Guild Meetingplace

You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
VardaValar1 (4:47:06 PM) has entered the room.
ArPharazonV (4:49:46 PM) has entered the room.
ArPharazonV (4:50:26 PM): Aiya!
ArPharazonV: in wsg right now, but it'll be my last :-)
VardaValar1: Aiya :-)
VardaValar1: I show 10 minutes yet, np.
Eonwe Valar has entered the room.
Star of Phaet has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Guten Tag.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Gilraen. Been a while :}
Star of Phaet: Hey there. It has.
Eonwe Valar: How are you and Gwaihir doing?
VardaValar1: Aiya :-)
Star of Phaet: we're good. we moved house a couple of weeks ago, so we're still settling in and stuff.
Eonwe Valar: Cool and congrats :}
VardaValar1: That is major for you two!
VardaValar1: Great that you have internet now. : )
Eonwe Valar: Pardon, afk for a moment.
VardaValar1: Menelvagor safely away and on the next leg of his trip?
VardaValar1: Sure, haven't started yet.
Star of Phaet: I believe so
VardaValar1: Ok, starting invites. I put out the call in LotRO, and they can pass on comments through me.
VardaValar1: Not as good as being here, but kind of a Bridge. :-)
arwenv1 has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya Arwen. : )
arwenv1: Aiya :-)
ArPharazonV: hmm, only need to retrieve our flag and we win... nearly done!
VardaValar1: Go Phar!
Eonwe Valar: Back
VardaValar1: Aiyata
Eonwe Valar: Hantal
ArPharazonV: ahh, finally..
ArPharazonV: ok, ready for meeting!
VardaValar1: Good to hear. Who is present now?
Eonwe Valar: I am.
VardaValar1: 25 minutes past starting time, so this is probably it for now.
Star of Phaet: Me too. but it is almost dinner time, so I will probably be scrolling shortly
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VardaValar1: Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
ArPharazonV: Fladrif was online earlier tonight, but not at the moment
VardaValar1: Membership:
VardaValar1: Currently we stand at 140 total members of all kinds.
VardaValar1: 118 are gamers.
VardaValar1: 22 are Tolkien-onlies.
VardaValar1: Gorlim, Beleg, and Lindir are currently online in LotRO.
VardaValar1: Fangorn, Bilbo, Elwing, and Eowyn are currently online in WoW, as is Arwen who is also here. Thanks Arwen. : )
VardaValar1: We need to work on adding more members.
VardaValar1: Please remember that everyone is a scout, and a representative of the Valar Guild.
VardaValar1: Don't expect all recruiting for the whole guild to be done by only one person. It doesn't work well.
VardaValar1: Potential members are courteous and have read LotRO or in the process.
VardaValar1: They can be invited to the friend channels and meetings, given our site for enjoying Tolkien fun stuff and any gaming help we have up.
VardaValar1: If you aren't a tester, you can call on one in-game or at an AIM meeting.
VardaValar1: We can cut a lot of slack in the test if you recommend the person as true Valar material.
Eonwe Valar: Aye, and the reason we meet on AIM is to give our members a chance to meet and get together no matter what game world they hail from.
VardaValar1: Including those who are strictly Tolkien-only.
Eonwe Valar: That was the hope when we moved here from battle.net.
VardaValar1: We also hold meetings on AIM with officers present so that anyone may approach us weekly to voice concerns and suggestions.
VardaValar1: Any comments?
VardaValar1: I still don't take "Frodo is an orc." :-)
VardaValar1: But if they can show they read it, that is good.
Eonwe Valar: And hopefully get a few key elements right.
ArPharazonV: pff
VardaValar1: Right.
Eonwe Valar: I think we've usually been fairly generous during Tolkien tests.
ArPharazonV: everyone knows Frodo is an ent
VardaValar1: hehe - just ask Fladrif.
VardaValar1: If they obviously haven't read it, but claim they have, that is of course a moral thing and tells us we don't really want them.
VardaValar1: If they are just rusty, they can pick it up.
VardaValar1: If there are no further comments,
VardaValar1: on to Web:
Eonwe Valar: Oh
VardaValar1: Go ahead, Eonwe.
Eonwe Valar: Make sure we get some sort of contact info from these members too, of course. We'd like them to know they are and be part of the Valar Guild as a whole.
Eonwe Valar: They can't get important Guild mails if we don't have an e-mail to contact them.
VardaValar1: That is for when they are members and should go on a recruiting report.
VardaValar1: Scouts are our first line of both contact and defense.
VardaValar1: We don't want someone coming in just to loot the vault, kinhouse chest, for instance.
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VardaValar1: On to Web:
VardaValar1: We need more input from actual Valarites, rather than picking up reprints from outside.
VardaValar1: Also, some groups use the forum so members can put up stories and articles without going through someone else. Seems to work pretty well.
VardaValar1: The stories and articles can then be picked up and cleaned up for the main website. I would do that part, most likely.
VardaValar1: If this is an idea that our people would like, let me know and we'll put up a section for it in the forum.
VardaValar1: Also, I need to know how to find out how much space we have on the forum.
VardaValar1: Any further comment?
VardaValar1: Eonwe had to step away a moment. : )
VardaValar1: We also need to help Eonwe keep the Games page updated so that it can be relevant and useful.
VardaValar1: Whatever we want to see in a Games page, we need to mention and help out with.
VardaValar1: Would we rather keep most of such info on the Forum?
VardaValar1: Email responses to Varda and Eonwe are welcome. Email addresses are on the Membership page.
VardaValar1: We also need to make better use of the Forum for sign-ups for instance runs.
VardaValar1: People who sign up will have preference.
VardaValar1: People can mention if they are on standby, especially if they have trouble knowing schedules ahead of time.
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VardaValar1: On to Gaming:
VardaValar1: Has anyone played anything besides WoW or LotRO this week?
ArPharazonV: yep
VardaValar1: Go ahead, Phar. : )
ArPharazonV: I finally got my hands on the expansion to Total Annihilation: Kingdoms, called The Iron Plague
ArPharazonV: TA:K has always been one of my favorite RTSes, and so far the experience is turning into a very welcome blast from the past with a few twists: the missions are already much harder, and the new race is challenging to play with :-)
ArPharazonV: oh, and I've done some Guild Wars too, but nothing very substantial, after all, I only returned friday evening from vacation
ArPharazonV: and that concludes my report!
VardaValar1: Thank you, Phar! That sounds like a lot for just returning.
ArPharazonV: :-) well, I've done some unpacking etc too, of course ;-)
VardaValar1: You and Gilraen both. : )
VardaValar1: WoW news:
VardaValar1: Phar, have you seen any other Valar since you came back Friday? Doubt you had much time. :-)
VardaValar1: Arien says she plans to schedule at least two times a week on Argent Dawn, so you should be seeing here there as well as on Bloodhoof.
ArPharazonV: hmm, don't think so
VardaValar1: Valandil may need help with AIM problems, if you see him.
ArPharazonV: allright
VardaValar1: Has anyone seen Menelvagor? He may still be in Ohio, and I don't know if he has computer access.
Eonwe Valar: I was under the impression he'd be on his way home by now, but I may have misunderstodd.
Eonwe Valar: *misunderstood
VardaValar1: Glad you made it back ok, Phar. :-)
VardaValar1: He may be. I've lost track of his time schedule.
VardaValar1: He intends to be back on Argent Dawn, as the American servers are terrible for him for raid times.
ArPharazonV: okidoki
VardaValar1: Eonwe, do you have a WoW report?
Lothar server:
Eonwe Valar: I'm afraid I was kept away from my computer this Friday. I know we had a trip into Ramparts and then the Blood Furnace done earlier in the week..
Eonwe Valar: by Sauron, Bilbo, Fangorn, Elwing, and possibly a fifth.
VardaValar1: Eowyn
Eonwe Valar: I had hoped to be that fifth, then upon seeing lag spikes decided not to subject the group to chances of a wipe.
VardaValar1: I'm happy to report that Eowyn has indeed been gaming and on the Ramparts runs, and others.
VardaValar1: She is better enough to be able to sit up to the computer now, for which we are very grateful.
ArPharazonV: good, good
ArPharazonV: grateful that she's able to sit up or that she's able to join you gaming? :-)
VardaValar1: Both.
VardaValar1: She also plays LotRO. : )
VardaValar1: The recent hurricane downgraded to a tropical storm and has been giving some problems to some companies, maybe to Eonwe's as well.
VardaValar1: Uldaman server for Horde had some activity, can't think of which days, from Elwing, Varda, and Eowyn.
VardaValar1: LotRO:
VardaValar1: We now have the uber trophy in our kinship house's front yard, the blade of the balrog.
VardaValar1: It's too big to fit inside our halls. Looks great. : )
ArPharazonV: grats
VardaValar1: Thanks
VardaValar1: Eonwe also popped into Uldaman, pardon. : )
VardaValar1: In LotRO, we have made some revisions in our setup.
VardaValar1: The kinhouse chests up to this weekend were mostly for crafting, leveling-up items.
VardaValar1: Now we are shifting the emphasis to aids for instance and raid runs.
VardaValar1: A number of Grand Master crafters have already added a collection of wonderful items including potions and tokens and stat foods.
VardaValar1: Thank you's go to Irmo and Miriel, Beleg, and Meriadoc. : )
VardaValar1: More things come in all the time, but I don't always know the contributors.
VardaValar1: We are working with another group so that we can run the Rift raids weekly, probably starting Fridays and going into Saturdays.
VardaValar1: We have enough people now so that we can run the 6-mans, and are good enough to run some 6-mans with three. : )
VardaValar1: I've also instituted the title of Warlord for members in LotRO who are willing to help organize people into group runs of all sorts.
VardaValar1: Currently Ancalagon and Beleg have that title.
VardaValar1: This is not to be confused with Honor titles which are guild-wide, in all games and places, such as Maia and Vala.
VardaValar1: This is for one game branch only. Outside, they are still regular Full Members.
VardaValar1: We also have a nice-sized crowd in our friend channel, and nearly all have top level characters.
VardaValar1: Any additions to the gaming report from anyone?
VardaValar1: comments?
VardaValar1: On to Tolkien.
VardaValar1: one sec
VardaValar1: Report in from Beleg in LotRO
VardaValar1: Only 9k to go on Ring-lore to open the world event. :-)
VardaValar1: We could expect it to open today or tomorrow.
VardaValar1: I plan to run my 3 characters later today to help with it.
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VardaValar1: On to Tolkien:
VardaValar1: In Tolkien's notes, a huge amount of space is devoted to Elves.
VardaValar1: Yet they are mainly background and lesser characters in his books: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
VardaValar1: How did he retain some of the elf note background in those two books?
ArPharazonV: elf.. note.. background?
VardaValar1: The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and Histories of Middle-earth were just his notes.
ArPharazonV: so... references to those "notes" in the other 2 books, or am I misunderstanding you?
VardaValar1: Yes.
VardaValar1: The others are notes of JRRT's compiled by his son.
ArPharazonV: well, there are references to Varda/Elbereth in their songs and sayings
ArPharazonV: or wait, we're talking elf-background... nevermind
VardaValar1: Be a bit forward of me to bring up that topic, eh, Phar? : )
VardaValar1: How about Elrond's refuge?
ArPharazonV: while prominent in both books, Elrond's refuge doesn't, I think, give much information about the other books
ArPharazonV: best guess would be the songs, like the one about Earendil.. del... I never know how it's spelled
VardaValar1: Aye, like most of the stuff, it's background use.
Eonwe Valar: Elrond tells of the the Last Alliance and the War against Sauron.
VardaValar1: Later version is Earendil, earlier version is Earendel.
Eonwe Valar: He also mentions he's lived through two ages of the world, giving a sense of history that goes beyond the current tale.
VardaValar1: Galadriel's Lothlorien too, shows a far-back time.
VardaValar1: Ok, open it up to any use of the "notes" or history, not just elvish.
ArPharazonV: Aragorn's song about Beren and Luthien?
VardaValar1: Aragorn's warcry of "Earendil" such as Phar mentioned.
VardaValar1: Aye, Phar. : )
VardaValar1: I need to start cooking supper for company.
VardaValar1: It appears everyone's mind is elsewhere, so I'll call it here.
ArPharazonV: I believe there was a character with a dream about a wall of water drowning the land which looks back to the Akallabeth but I'm not sure if it's Faramir or Eowyn..
VardaValar1: *bangs gavel*
VardaValar1: Namarie
Eonwe Valar: Take care Varda.
ArPharazonV: Namarie!
ArPharazonV: enjoy your meal
VardaValar1: :-)
VardaValar1 has left the room.
Eonwe Valar: Ok, now it's time to start reciting Tolkien poetry off the top of our heads... And no cheating using the "all that is gold does not glitter.." once. That's too easy :}
Eonwe Valar: once = one
Eonwe Valar: Gil-Galad was an Elven-King.
Eonwe Valar: Of him the Harpers sadly sing.
Eonwe Valar: The last whose realm was fair and free
ArPharazonV: where's that from?
Eonwe Valar: between the Mountains and the Sea.
Eonwe Valar: His spear was long and his lance was keen.
Eonwe Valar: Hmm, Fellowship of the Ring I know for certain. Trying to think of what chapter.
Eonwe Valar: *Might* be "Shadow of the Past" or "Many Meetings."
ArPharazonV: hmmm
Eonwe Valar: I was wrong..
Eonwe Valar: "A Knife in the Dark"
ArPharazonV: well, it's still Fellowship!
Eonwe Valar: Aye :}
Eonwe Valar: For some reason, my memory always get stuck after the first line of the second verse.
Eonwe Valar: I also for some reason remember it being longer.
ArPharazonV: hehe
Eonwe Valar: Maybe it gets stuck there because of a differing version in HoME or something.
Eonwe Valar: I also for some reason remember the rhyme scheme changing in the second verse, but oh well. Just means I need to read LotR yet again.
Eonwe Valar: Or maybe for some reason The Fall of GIl-Galad is getting mixed in with Frodo's Ode to Gandalf.
Eonwe Valar: Time to defrag my brain if that's the case :}
Eonwe Valar: Anyway, someone else's turn to quote some Tolkien poetry from memory! Any volunteers?:}
Eonwe Valar: Aw, you're no fun :}
ArPharazonV: ehrr.... well, apart from the "all that is gold does not glitter"/"Three Rings for Elven Kings Under the sky"/"seek the sword that was broken" poems...
ArPharazonV: I don't know that many
Eonwe Valar: Heh, I knew I'd forgotten to rule out a poem (The Rings one) :}
Eonwe Valar: You could've got away with it too until you mentioned it :}
ArPharazonV: hehe
Eonwe Valar: Go with the sword that was broken one.
ArPharazonV: hmm, how did that one go again...
Eonwe Valar: Hehe, that's what you're supposed to be telling us :}
ArPharazonV: you know, it's been too long, I'll just listen to your poetry
Eonwe Valar: Hehe
ArPharazonV: I'm too much into Discworld these days to remember much details from Tolkien, but I'll be coming back to it after I've caught up on Discworld no doubt ;-)
Eonwe Valar: Ok, let's see if I remember the sword that was broken one.
Eonwe Valar: hehe
ArPharazonV: go for it!
Eonwe Valar: Seek for the sword that was broken.
Eonwe Valar: In Imladris it dwells.
Eonwe Valar: There councils will be taken.
Eonwe Valar: More powerful than morgul-spells.
ArPharazonV: (there shall be counsels taken stronger than morgul-spells)
ArPharazonV: (but close!)
Eonwe Valar: I thought it was stronger, but doubted myself at the last moment because it sounded awkward.
ArPharazonV: :-)
Eonwe Valar: I didn't even remember there was a second half until I looked in the book to check myself, so that's as far as I can get there :}
ArPharazonV: something with... isildur's bane.... and the halfing forth shall stand...
Eonwe Valar: Ash nazg durbatuluk
Eonwe Valar: Ash nazg gimbatul
ArPharazonV: there shall be shown a token
ArPharazonV: that doom is near at hand
Eonwe Valar: Ash nazg thrakatuluk, ag burzum ishi krimpatul.
ArPharazonV: for isildur's bane shall waken...
ArPharazonV: and the halfling forth shall stand
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: Ok, one second, and we'll see if I can remember this next one.
Eonwe Valar: Ok, here's a fun one.
Eonwe Valar: When evening in the Shire was grey, his footsteps on the hill were heard.
Eonwe Valar: Before the dawn he went away on journey long without a word.
Eonwe Valar: From Wilderland to Western shore, from Northern waste to southern hill
Eonwe Valar: through dragon-lair and hidden door and darkling woods he walked at will.
Eonwe Valar: With Dwarves and Hobbits, Elves, and Men, with mortal and immortal folk,
Eonwe Valar: with bird on bow and beast in den, in their own secret tongues he spoke.
Eonwe Valar: A deadly sword, a healing hand, a back that bent beneath its load.
Eonwe Valar: A trumpet voice, a burning brand, a weary pilgrim on the road.
Eonwe Valar: A lord of wisdom throned he sat, quick to anger, swift to laugh.
Eonwe Valar: an old man in a battered hat who leaned upon a thorny staff.
Eonwe Valar: He stood upon the bridge alone and Fire and Shadow both defied
Eonwe Valar: His staff was broken on the stone. In Khazad-Dum his wisdom died.
Eonwe Valar: And I think I'll leave the poetry at that. :}
ArPharazonV: definitely a poem about Gandalf but otherwise I can't place it
ArPharazonV: did Frodo write it, you said?
Eonwe Valar: Frodo wrote it, aye.
Eonwe Valar: In Lothlorien, chapter "The Mirror of Galadriel."
ArPharazonV: hmmm
Eonwe Valar: For 5 Tolkien Points, everyone better know who wrote the optional last part...
Eonwe Valar: "Finest rockets every seens, they burst in stars of blue and green..." :}
Eonwe Valar: *ever seen
ArPharazonV: hmm, I remember it from the movie as belonging to Sam but I can't be sure it was him in the book :-)
Eonwe Valar: It was, of course :}
Eonwe Valar: Don't recall that being in the movies myself :}
ArPharazonV: oh, I do... I remember his voice saying the lines :-)
ArPharazonV: I just didn't know it was in the books as well!
arwenv1 has left the room.
ArPharazonV: well, I'll be off
ArPharazonV: saving and sending