Valar Guild

You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
Eonwe Valar has entered the room.
FladrifV has entered the room.
FladrifV: Aiya
ArPharazonV: Aiya
ArPharazonV: hang on, Dalaran has been loading on me for the last 6 minutes
Eonwe Valar: Heya
Eonwe Valar: That doesn't sound good.
Eonwe Valar: If you see anyone on who isn't in here, send them an invite please. Already got invite to Gwaihir, Bombur, Pallando, and Aerandir.
ArPharazonV: someone who was here last week asked me earlier how to get into the meeting room...
ArPharazonV: Indis? Idril? not sure, something like that
Eonwe Valar: Don't think we have an Idril right now,....
ArPharazonV: then it's the other one
pallandovalar has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Oh, we do have an Idril, but questionable whether she's still with us. More likely Indis though.
ArPharazonV: probably
ArPharazonV: don't appear to have her in my buddylist though, so if you see her, get her in
Eonwe Valar: Membership page says her AIm name is karakedi25
ArPharazonV: that would be it, yes
ArPharazonV: that's her
ArPharazonV: she asked me about inviting herself or getting her invited about... 2 and a half hours ago
ArPharazonV: wasn't sure anymore how it's done, I've got a shortcut to the meeting room on my desktop, so referred her to the site and told her the starting time of the meeting
Eonwe Valar: She can invite herself.
ArPharazonV: she had no idea how when she asked me, not sure if she knows now
ArPharazonV: so if you see her....
Eonwe Valar: Invited.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Pallando.
Eonwe Valar: OK, let's go ahead and get started.
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Eonwe Valar: Elen sila lumenn omentielvo!
Eonwe Valar: Membership:
Eonwe Valar: Happy Mother's Day to the mothers of the Valar Guild!
Eonwe Valar: Varda is out with family seeing the new Star Trek movie.
ArPharazonV: heard good things about it
Eonwe Valar: I saw it last night. It was a good movie, but... I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who haven't seen it yet and plan to :}
Eonwe Valar: Dis was moving to a new state for a new job this week, and may already be back online. [Note: she made it back online in LotRO Friday.]
Eonwe Valar: Any other member news?
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Eonwe Valar: Web:
Story, How to invite yourself to a chat room,
ArPharazonV: Indis says she's not getting invites
AriehnV has entered the room.
karakedi25 has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: New story "Glorfindel of Gondolin" by Jay of Lasgalen.
ArPharazonV: oh, here we go :-)
Eonwe Valar: There she is :}
karakedi25: hello and thanks for the initation
AriehnV: Aiya there :-)
Eonwe Valar: MP :}
karakedi25: Aiya!
ArPharazonV: Aiya to both newcomers :-)
Eonwe Valar: We're in Web news now.
karakedi25: Varda showed me how to invite myself, but I've forgotten how.
karakedi25: ok
Eonwe Valar: If you know how to invite others, it's like that, only you put your name in the invitation box instead of others' :}
karakedi25: alas, I don't know how to do that from this room
Eonwe Valar: If you're not inviting others, you can go about it this way in AIM v6:
Eonwe Valar: Click on the Actions button on your buddy list, select Chat, click on Buddy Chat.
karakedi25: ok so far
Eonwe Valar: Enter the chatroom name (Valar Guild Meetingplace) in that appropriate space, and put who you want to invite (in this case, yourself) in the invite space.
karakedi25: let me try
karakedi25 has left the room.
karakedi25 has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Welcome back :}
karakedi25: ok, that seems to have worked, and thanks
ArPharazonV: :-)
Eonwe Valar: MP ;}
Eonwe Valar: And now the instructions are in this week's meeting minutes for anyone else who needs them :}
Eonwe Valar: Seems I missed a vital piece of Member News.
Eonwe Valar: Today is Fladrif's birthday :}
Eonwe Valar: Happy Birthday Fladrif :}
ArPharazonV: congratulations Fladrif :-)
karakedi25: happy birthday :-)
Eonwe Valar: That seems to be all for Web news for now.
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Eonwe Valar: Gaming News:
SC2 Beta, Blizzcon, WoW, LotRO, Chess, Gruntz, EVE, Valinor Sim
Eonwe Valar: Star Craft 2 Beta Opt-ins
Eonwe Valar: They're coming up, so those wanting to get in on this keep an eye out :}
Eonwe Valar: Seems you have to have a Battle.net account set up though.
AriehnV: Happy congrats ent :-)
ArPharazonV: I never really care for betas myself, would rather immerse myself in a game when it's done
Eonwe Valar: Some people enjoy it though, so good luck to those trying to get in :} Also, let us know when you're allowed if you got in :}
Eonwe Valar: I've only tried for a couple of betas. Got into one: the LotRO beta :}
ArPharazonV: though I do appreciate any good beta tidbits and changes and improvements and secret released info ;-)
Eonwe Valar: Hehe
Eonwe Valar: Just don't get in trouble, hehe :}
Eonwe Valar: Also perhaps of some small interest is that Blizzcon tickets go on sale May 16th.
Eonwe Valar: Most of us probably can't go to Blizzcon for one reason or another, not the least of which is living in a different country, but thought I'd mention it anyway :}
AriehnV: hehe i think its a bit far away ;-)
Eonwe Valar: WoW:
Eonwe Valar: Children's Week ended, but if you've still got an orphan you can still do some of the achievements while you have that orphan.
Eonwe Valar: Don't miss your shot.
Eonwe Valar: :}
ArPharazonV: completed them all anyway, but I refreshed my orphan's whistle on thursday evening about half an hour before the event ended
AriehnV: oops didnt know that
ArPharazonV: so now I've got the orphan with me for another week ;-)
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: Lothar:
Eonwe Valar: I completed all of the valiant's quests and reluctantly became a valiant of the last Alliance faction, thuse removing an easy 4 dailies from my list.
Eonwe Valar: I'm referring to the Argent Tourney, pardon.
ArPharazonV: hmmz, I need one more day :-)
ArPharazonV: will get it tomorrow

TulkasValar61 has entered the room.
TulkasValar61: Wow found it
Eonwe Valar: On the upside, I have a new title for being exalted with all of those factions and with my personal favorite group, the Argent Crusade (they're Paladins and I'm a Paladin :})
Eonwe Valar: Tulkas? Is that you?
TulkasValar61: Yep it's me
Eonwe Valar: I'm going to need to see ID :}
ArPharazonV: Crusader!
TulkasValar61: formally Gandalf V before that Bilbo v
Eonwe Valar: (I kid :})
ArPharazonV: Aiya lord Tulkas :-)
AriehnV: aiya Sir *bows graciously*
Eonwe Valar: Long time no see mellon :}
TulkasValar61: It took me 45 minutes to get this
TulkasValar61: Yep Ive been busy. and havent gamed in a long time
TulkasValar61: but at least I'm still breathing...as is the guild which is good to see
Eonwe Valar: Aye,. working toward year 12 :}
Eonwe Valar: I'm glad to see you're still kicking too :}
karakedi25: That's remarkable!
TulkasValar61: I joined in the first year :-)
Eonwe Valar: Well, Varda's about to come in, so she'll be thrilled :}
TulkasValar61: the 61 is my birth year
Eonwe Valar: Ah :}
Eonwe Valar: That explains that :}
VardaValar1 has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Varda :}
VardaValar1: Aiya
VardaValar1: Tulkas!
Eonwe Valar: That makes three Valar this meeting :}
TulkasValar61: Aiya Varda
AriehnV: Aiya Varda :-)
ArPharazonV: Aiya Varda :-)
VardaValar1: Heya, kids just brought me home from the movies, shooed me out while they cook neat stuff. :-)
Eonwe Valar: :}
karakedi25: nice :-)
TulkasValar61: So what game is most active these days? anything without a monthly subscription :/
Eonwe Valar: Afraid our most active is LotRO :}
VardaValar1: LotRO, I'm on a lifetime subscription.
ArPharazonV: hmm.... LotRO and WoW, but both with subscriptions...
VardaValar1: Means you don't have to pay monthly.
ArPharazonV: what's number 3?
Eonwe Valar: Id' say we could check the Games Page, but the current server's Games Page stuff isn't working right, and I'm still working on the new server's stuff.
VardaValar1: A one-time payment on LotRO, means the only pay after is for major expansions.
Eonwe Valar: We have quite a chunk over on LotRo though.
Eonwe Valar: Varda's our Valie on the ground there.
VardaValar1: Most of our activity is LotRO. After all, we're a Tolkien fan club. :-)
VardaValar1: Eonwe and Arien are there too.
VardaValar1: Pallando runs the Eve Online mmo group
karakedi25: and me :-)  [Note: LotRO gamer]
Eonwe Valar: karakedi is Indis, one of our newer members :}
TulkasValar61: I've been really wrapped up in law suits for the last three years...the light is at the end of the tunnel and I may be able to afford a new game soon
VardaValar1: There you go. LotRO has representation. :-)
karakedi25: (can't get my nick changed to Indis-V)
VardaValar1: LotRO recently had a free trial, has them now and then.
Eonwe Valar: Sorry to hear that Tulkas, but glad you can see an end to it.
TulkasValar61: Is Aule still active?
Eonwe Valar: Haven't heard from Aulë in a while myself.
VardaValar1: Aule was last seen in EQ.
VardaValar1: Osse said that Aule is the world's worst at answering emails after he went into EQ.
TulkasValar61: how about my old buddy Melkor?
Eonwe Valar: Melkor's in LotRO :}
VardaValar1: He's very active in LotRO, nearly daily.
VardaValar1: Plus all his family. :-)
TulkasValar61: :-)
luthienathariel has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: I should probably get the meeting moving again :} You can hear about how we're doing there in LotRo shortly :}
VardaValar1: Orome, Angrod (was Haleth), the kids (grown a lot).
VardaValar1: Aiya Luthien : )
Eonwe Valar: It'll be part of the Gaming report :}
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
luthienathariel: Aiya :-)
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: o no, the Eonwe crashes have begun.
ArPharazonV: aiya Luthien
TulkasValar61: I'll try to figure that out
ArPharazonV: and yep.. Eonwe's gone again.. I believe he was still busy with reporting

VardaValar1: Ok, I'm late. He was in Gaming/Lothar?
ArPharazonV: he was indeed!
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: My family has been somewhat active in Lothar server, WoW, along with some by Eonwe and a lot by Elwing.
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: WoW Uldaman server has been the main focus though.
VardaValar1: We have our bank up, trying to get the Veteran rank going under the name of Tulcar.
VardaValar1: Sound familiar?
VardaValar1: Means Steadfast.
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: Does WoW Argent Dawn server have any tales to tell? Arien?
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: If Arien is afk, how about you, Phar?
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
AriehnV: Nothing on Argent Dawn from me Varda
VardaValar1: Thanks.
AriehnV: sorry for the delay lol am just saying good night to my happy splatters grin
VardaValar1: hehe
VardaValar1: Phar, do you have anything?
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
ArPharazonV: nothing Valar-related but I'm one day away from a few achievements
ArPharazonV: passed 600 achievements now, and going on steadily... this week I intend to finally get my leatherworking maxed out :-)
VardaValar1: Good luck! Hard to hit that top.
ArPharazonV: *nod*
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
ArPharazonV: well, I guess that's my small report-ish thingy :-)
VardaValar1: Thank you, much appreciated. : )
VardaValar1: I saw little notes saying Arien and Tulkas were typing, but I don't see anything yet. : )
AriehnV: hehe no i wasnt typing :-)
TulkasValar61: I was just wrestling with this aim thingy
VardaValar1: You seem to be winning. : )
VardaValar1: LotRO has been very busy all week.
VardaValar1: We did a fantastic job on the Nornuan Turtle run, 12-man, the latest and highest level dungeon.
VardaValar1: It's in the Waterworks of Moria.
VardaValar1: We completed it in under 5 minutes (speed is very important due to damage over time).
ArPharazonV: grats :-)
VardaValar1: Valar came out with two major armor set pieces and the trophy head of Nornuan fo rour kinhouse. Come see it smoking green in there. : )
Eonwe Valar has left the room.
VardaValar1: We also picked up a 2nd Age Champion's spear.
TulkasValar61: Good night everyone.. time for my supper..I'll be seeing you soon as I get a game going
ArPharazonV: they seem to be doing a lot with Moria, then?
ArPharazonV: namarie Tulkas!
VardaValar1: Namarie, Tulkas!
TulkasValar61 has left the room.
VardaValar1: That is the main high level area, but
AriehnV: NN Tulkas Namarie ! great to see u
VardaValar1: mostly this past week we've been doing group runs in Angmar.
ArPharazonV: well, I mean, turtles? you don't see them much in Lotr....
AriehnV: (*waves into the room with a golden ray to wish goodnight - earlies tomorrow )
VardaValar1: We've worked a good sized group of us through Angmar book quests as well as local quests.
VardaValar1: Waterworks of Moria, can expect a turtle in there. :-)
ArPharazonV: sounds to me like they've taken that area which basically has most of it still uncharted and put a lot of extra thingies in
ArPharazonV: which have no actual base in lore but still fit nicely :-)
VardaValar1: When Tolkien says "Ancient Evils" were there, leaves a lot of room.
VardaValar1: He did that on purpose. : )
ArPharazonV: indeed... but a turtle, I didn't expect that ;-)
VardaValar1: We also ran Helgorod which is in the Misty Mountains, a 24-man, using 9 people, and won.
VardaValar1: No one did, made it a cool surprise. : )
VardaValar1: We also went through quests in the ruins of Carn Dum.
AriehnV: Namarie all :-) cu next week
ArPharazonV: wait, you did a 24-man with 9 people? isn't that like.... much harder than a reasonable run should ever be? :-)
ArPharazonV: namarie Arien!
AriehnV has left the room.
VardaValar1: It was originally for level 50's. We took level 60's or near that.
ArPharazonV: ah, right, higher levels, that would explain it :-)
VardaValar1: We run it to get the Hope Buff so we can do the Vile Maw, tackle the Watcher.
VardaValar1: Mondays are for the Watcher or the Turtle, or both.
ArPharazonV: nice
VardaValar1: We do a ton of crafting: farm (literally, like potatoes), make stat food for runs.
VardaValar1: We have scholars make scrolls of warding or battle lore.
VardaValar1: We have jewelers make hope tokens.
VardaValar1: Then we can stuff the kinhouse chests with them and do spontaneous group runs as well as planned ones.
VardaValar1: We have runs from very low level, to mid, to high. Lots of variety.
VardaValar1: We keep finding new members and potential members.
VardaValar1: We have a big friend channel too.
VardaValar1: We usually don't lack for people.
VardaValar1: End report for now.
VardaValar1: Do we have any non-WoW and non-LotRO gaming to report? Fladrif?
FladrifV: *bows*
FladrifV: Chess ongoing as usual
FladrifV: playing with opensim
FladrifV: currently is luthien working on updates of the envirioment
FladrifV: and that was it for this week
luthienathariel: want some screenshots?
FladrifV: stay tuned for next week
ArPharazonV: did some Gruntz myself, but nothing as exciting as what these two are doing probably ;-)
FladrifV: I think that would be a good idea luth
luthienathariel: k, coming right up
VardaValar1: Pallando, how is Eve Online coming? You were lost in space last I heard.
ArPharazonV: *grin* sounds like a science fiction drama, following the adventures of Pallando... in space!
VardaValar1: Post screenies when ready, Luthien
VardaValar1: Right, hehe
VardaValar1: Pallando says he's only vaguely here, whatever that means.
pallandovalar: Not lost, exactly.
pallandovalar: Very confused that I had no assets.
pallandovalar: but not *lost*.
VardaValar1: Did you get shot down? What happened?
pallandovalar: Yeah, i got shot down before that account when into hibernation and just forgot.
VardaValar1: ouch
VardaValar1: Did you get to start building up again?
luthienathariel: here's some screen shots
Valinor Sim:
luthienathariel: http://img.skitch.com/20090510-fbebu8mcu14eqcpyy92iiwurw2.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20090510-da4pn35kqn6ftniiia8mkmr6sy.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20090510-r73 unpyf5yi5643jgjcmqce37i.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20090510-1bi7ih3eq6pdabrectj8tygcgm.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20090510-quph2pckukdaum6qffnfb9dyty.jpg
http://img.skitch.com/20090510-kw6i35y7jixe7dtun9bjcruk22.jpg
VardaValar1: Wow, Luthien! Thanks!
luthienathariel: glassen *bows*
VardaValar1: I like the sunlight on the water. Interesting walkways
VardaValar1: Improvement on the clothing. : )
ArPharazonV: what's that last one about? some sort of building?
VardaValar1: Aye, what place has the banners there?
luthienathariel: that is the first part of Tirion
VardaValar1: So we're at the top of a hill there?
luthienathariel: sort of, but it will probably end up being higher
luthienathariel: I am looking at that picture by Nasmith
VardaValar1: Tirion is on the hill of Tuna, is why I asked. Hard to tell from that picture if it's on a hill.
luthienathariel: oh. Well yes it is
VardaValar1: That tower on the left, is that the Mindon Eldalieva?
luthienathariel: that pic was taken on the highest platform
luthienathariel: yes
VardaValar1: Cool
VardaValar1: So the white tree at it's base would not be visible from here, I guess?
VardaValar1: Galathilion.
VardaValar1: Protected I guess.
luthienathariel: no, because I still have no idea how to build a white tree :$
luthienathariel: there is only a limited range of trees available
VardaValar1: Can you take one of those trees and remove the color?
luthienathariel: and the makers of the software made the unimaginable and unforgivable error of not including white Trees, or even Telperion or Laurelin models!!
VardaValar1: No!
luthienathariel: no, that is rather hard.
luthienathariel: I became a member of the users mailing list and asked that today, actually
luthienathariel: Hi Lúthien,Trees in SL are a special object made from a simple algorithm and a  special texture. I am not sure if these can be changed without  altering the viewer.Might be possible to change the texture.
luthienathariel: If that were possible, it would already be very useful (except for the  Laburnum which should have lots of flowers :-).
luthienathariel: I don't believe it is possible, but I'm not 100% certain of that.Also, those "Linden" trees are client-side effects, so even if youcould make a change you'd see that new version in all regions, andnobody else would see your texture unless they modded their viewer thesame.
luthienathariel: (today's message)
VardaValar1: So we need to mod our viewer at some point. Ok, not unusual for us to use mods.
FladrifV: you will need to model it with prims
FladrifV: or blander prims
VardaValar1: Blender?
FladrifV: blender that is
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VardaValar1: If I may mention two bits of Tolkien-related news. I am pressed for time.
New book by Tolkien, Story-writing contest, Orchestra, Scouting Ahead RP.
VardaValar1: The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by Tolkien, now available. Thank you, Eonwe, for the link.
VardaValar1: http://tolkien.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
luthienathariel: (re. Blender, yes, I actually did that today)
VardaValar1: There's a Tolkien story writing contest, Alcardilme-(T) invited us to join in. We can nominate stories too.
luthienathariel: (made a strange head in Blender and made a sculpted prim, and altered it to look like a bronze casting) http://img.skitch.com/20090510-cjjxu9td3n7txecbukj7ebgrfs.jpg
VardaValar1: http://www.mefawards.net/
VardaValar1: One more mention of the live concert orchestra doing the complete Howard Shore score while playing for a giant screen version of The Fellowship of the Ring movie:
VardaValar1: http://www.theradiocitylotrconcert.com/
VardaValar1: Our Alcardilme-(T) is one of the promoters for that.
luthienathariel: wow that must be great
VardaValar1: sorry, she's a promoter for the stories, not the concert
VardaValar1: Trying to tell too much too fast.
VardaValar1: Ok, Luthien, I kind of stepped on your toes there.
luthienathariel: np
luthienathariel: :-)
VardaValar1: Did you and Fladrif have more you'd like to add?
luthienathariel: not me for now
VardaValar1: Indis was considering joining us in the RP on our Forum.
VardaValar1: She's read the whole thing, impressive. : )
VardaValar1: We'll try to get together and talk over her intro when we can get more of us on.
karakedi25: if no one would object, that is
VardaValar1: We could use new blood. *rubs hands together*
ArPharazonV: nah, that's fine, fresh blood is always good incentive for a new burst of posting :-)
VardaValar1: Menel and Auros got their joint post up on the sparring match
VardaValar1: Arien, who left earlier, does the dwarf, Frali, who has just shown up.
VardaValar1: This is a kind of gathering time, good spot for intros.
karakedi25: *nods*
karakedi25: I'm ready pretty much any time to start in when you're ready for me
VardaValar1: I really hoped we could intro you today with our group, but AIM had other ideas.
VardaValar1: Arien has left for the night.
VardaValar1: Eonwe has crashed, said something about maybe reinstalling AIM.
VardaValar1: I just missed having our mother's day supper together, as they brought it to me in here, but I'm leaving to join them for dessert.
VardaValar1: Maybe we can do more next meeting. : )
karakedi25: Do we wait for the next meeting, then?
VardaValar1: It's very hard to do today. Mother's Day, crashes.
luthienathariel: oh gee yes - happy mother's day to all to whom it applies! :-)
ArPharazonV: indeed, Varda, happy mother's day :-)
VardaValar1: /curtseys
VardaValar1: And all of you who still have mothers. : )
karakedi25: :-)
VardaValar1: Eonwe may be back shortly if lucky.
VardaValar1: He can speak for me on decisions in the rp, and I'll help make it work. : )
VardaValar1: We already have a strong understanding between us on what we are ok with, so np.
VardaValar1: And we can always edit our posts at need. ;-)
VardaValar1: Does anyone have further business?
VardaValar1: Of any kind. : )
VardaValar1: Some of you may want to drop into Luthien's sim of Valinor if it's ready for visitors today?
VardaValar1: Flad, Luth? Is the sim ready for visitors today?
luthienathariel: ah
luthienathariel: sry
luthienathariel: no, mine cannot because i have a router that does not allow loopback
luthienathariel: but Flad's one might
luthienathariel: yep, he says so
luthienathariel: uri == fladrif.homedns.org:9000
VardaValar1: Thank you, both!
luthienathariel: I just sent him my database and terrain map so he's up to date
VardaValar1: Great teamwork. : )
luthienathariel: yep, scp is our friend these days
luthienathariel: plus virtualbox
VardaValar1: hehe
VardaValar1: Good to know
VardaValar1: A bit of rp talk right quick
VardaValar1: Phar and Indis and me.
VardaValar1: We are hashing out our races currently.
karakedi25: ok
VardaValar1: Apparently all three of us are Silvan elves of Mirkwood.
VardaValar1: Calion and Calaron are of the aristocratic Silvans.
VardaValar1: Fainan is a commoner.
karakedi25: I can be a Sinda, but as Varda and I have discussed, it might be better for my character to be Silvan
VardaValar1: Your character appears to be a Silvan teacher, with a specialty in things like Angmarin ruins.
VardaValar1: Menelvagor's Estarion is an Avar, not mixed with those who at least tried to set out on the journey to Valinor.
VardaValar1: Auros is a Noldo, but not from way back times. : )
karakedi25: which would be a congenial vocation for me
VardaValar1: Fainan has been acting as an archer, sentry, guide for others, reason she is helping Auros.
ArPharazonV: would be a good reason to come with us in any case... but has it been officially decided for us to go to Angmar yet? in the RP itself? maybe I should reread the recent posts about the meeting with Thranduil
VardaValar1: We are going after that staff in Angmar.
ArPharazonV: hmm
VardaValar1: Auros has his own reasons for going to the ruins.
VardaValar1: Something to do with his people's being attacked.
VardaValar1: All of us Silvans in the group know that the darkness that is extra ghastly now is being influenced by something from the ruins in Angmar.
ArPharazonV: anyway, Calion has been helping Auros as well, originally ordered so by king and court, but for now he has his own reason to come along with Auros to the west, and perhaps Angmar
VardaValar1: Thranduil's advisors suspect the staff has something to do with it.
karakedi25: in that case, I'd think it wouldn't take much armtwisting on my part for Thranduil to send me
VardaValar1: Right, he probably planned to send you anyway. ;-)
karakedi25: and she will, of course, hope to continue to Imladris and its incomparable library :-)
VardaValar1: Always best to order people to do what they want, better chance of it's happening.
karakedi25: heh--
VardaValar1: Imladris is the stop before we go to Angmar.
ArPharazonV: *grin* should remember that, as king...
karakedi25: I'll let her backstory emerge as the narrative continues
VardaValar1: Best way. We try to bring ours out the same way.
VardaValar1: Auros was a scout sent from Rivendell to see if the Mirkwood route is safe for the Fellowship to travel out on.
karakedi25: just because I'm a linguist by trade (the player, that is), I'll probably have her take an interest in any languages she comes across, including whatever Khuzdul she can glean
VardaValar1: He has scouted it and must report to Elrond. Then he can go on to Angmar for the sequel. : )
karakedi25: yes, and of course the silvans will want to do anything they can to stop the enemy that's encroaching on them
VardaValar1: Scouting Ahead is the first story. Then we move to a sequel about Angmar.
VardaValar1: Correct.
VardaValar1: This is also a threat, less immediate, to everyone else.
karakedi25: ok. We'll need to keep it from being too fantastic, I'd gthink
VardaValar1: Mirkwood has no Ring to protect it, relies on it's people.
ArPharazonV: so we've been going with Auros to help him fulfill his original mission, and then aid him in going to Angmar and sorting out the next threat :-)
Eonwe Valar has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Eonwe!
ArPharazonV: it's Auros himself!
VardaValar1: Rats, you just missed a big chunk of rp talk. : )
karakedi25: much as I like lotro, there are a few things that seem to go beyond Tolkien, and I'd like to stay somewhat purist if possible
karakedi25: hello Eonwe
VardaValar1: We also prefer that.
Eonwe Valar: Well, seems I deleted my copy of AIM6, so I grabbed the newerest (yes, you heard me :}) version of AIM: 6.9. We'll see how this goes.
VardaValar1: First off, you made it in, so we already have an improvement.
ArPharazonV: hehe
VardaValar1: So Auros, what's your take on our RP storyline in one paragraph or less? ;-)
Eonwe Valar: Interesting.
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: I could elaborate if that helps? :}
karakedi25: it would, I'd think
Eonwe Valar: Considering that at the time it began we were trying to create an RP background to our little group on LotRO coming together, and the main danger at the time was Angmar, pointing our characters in the Rp in the direction of Angmar made sense.
Eonwe Valar: (main danger in the game, that is)
Eonwe Valar: Actually, the game hand't come out yet when we started the RP, so I guess the primary danger was only "intended" to be Angmar :}
VardaValar1: LotrO wasn't out yet when we started the rp.
Eonwe Valar: Aye, that's what I said :}
ArPharazonV: the rp has been going for an awfully long time hasn't it? :-)
VardaValar1: We made a try to go by what they said and stick to the books.
VardaValar1: Aye, Phar
VardaValar1: We don't post nearly often enough
VardaValar1: So our characters were supposed to be relatively young and non-uber.
Eonwe Valar: Aye, we've done a fairly good job of keeping out the more lore-breaking stuff in my opinion.
ArPharazonV: *grin* I must admit I've introduced a few lore-breaking elements
VardaValar1: Well quit it. : )
karakedi25: who is your character?
ArPharazonV: but we've fitted them in as good as can be expected from them ;-)
ArPharazonV: I play Calion and Calaron
Eonwe Valar: Aye. Auros is a Noldo, but I went with a late Second Age birth for him, so as not to seem too powerful.
ArPharazonV: and everything that's been happening to Calaron and the wolf has been my doing
karakedi25: ah, well, they're not too bad from a lore point of view
VardaValar1: We started with the idea of the scouts that Elrond sent from Rivendell to see which paths might be safe for the Fellowship to take.
Eonwe Valar: Aye
VardaValar1: While doing that, Auros learned about this problem in Angmar, most noticeable as it is hitting Mirkwood first and he is there.
VardaValar1: He will report back to Elrond, then we go see what we can do about the problem.
ArPharazonV: since then we get black squirrels, armies of orcs overtaking the western part of Mirkwood, an odd sorcerer/spirit thing with possessive abilities and... did I introduce the ring yet?
VardaValar1: Black squirrels are lore. : )
VardaValar1: Orcs too.
karakedi25: orcs in Mirkwood are too
ArPharazonV: *grin* perhaps, but I can't recall them being this victorious
VardaValar1: We need to remember the spiders are an intelligent race in Mirkwood, not just animals.
karakedi25: the sorcerer is more iffy; even the tame wolf can be justified
Eonwe Valar: The possession thing is a fair stretch concerning an elf, as we discussed at a time.
Eonwe Valar: *at the time.
ArPharazonV: *nod* a stretch indeed
karakedi25: yes very much so
VardaValar1: He should indeed be able to throw off the possession as he did enough to keep from killing the girl.
VardaValar1: I'm sneaking off for cake, will scroll.
Eonwe Valar: Enjoy :}
VardaValar1: Sauron made a cake. Eowyn made dinner. Should be good. :-)0
ArPharazonV: and yet with every victory the posses...see? makes, Calaron's will is breaking.. he doesn't have much control now
Eonwe Valar: and Happy Mother's day :}
ArPharazonV: happy mother's day, enjoy the cake!
Eonwe Valar: Careful, or you may become a cake-wraith! :}
Eonwe Valar: Gotta suspect anything the Dark Lord puts his hand to :}
Eonwe Valar: One of the more prominent lore departures is that we're getting into fights at a time when everything was supposed to be laying low, but I suppose a story full of talking and riding would get dull, hehe.
karakedi25: not necessarily, but it depends on taste, I guess
karakedi25: and certainly there were menacing things in Mirkwood even at that time
ArPharazonV: the same fights all over again could be boring too :-)
ArPharazonV: *wonders why he plays WoW again*
Eonwe Valar: hehe
karakedi25: I'd favor something more tactical in the sequel
Eonwe Valar: I'd favoran MMO with controls akin to an action or a fighting game :}
ArPharazonV: I wouldn't mind a helmet that interfaced your own movements into a game character for fighting stuff in an mmo ;-)
Eonwe Valar: hehe
karakedi25: (tactical in the usual sense, not the lotro one)
Eonwe Valar: When my favored event happens, you're will likely not be far behind :}
karakedi25: sorry, don't quite understand that
Eonwe Valar: When a person is in direct control of the success or failure of their character, as in a fighting or action game, as opposed to relying on RNG, an auto-swing, and accumulating as much of X stat as possible,..
Eonwe Valar: Using tactics to win a fight will become more necessary.
karakedi25: all I'm suggesting is that the party could do that in Angmar, rather than only direct battle
karakedi25: afk for a few minutes
Eonwe Valar: Oh, pardon, I thought you were referring to an MMO, since Phar mentioned WoW and what you said seemed to match that.
ArPharazonV: I think the Elder Scrolls Series is a step in the right direction from what I've seen... it's still based on stats for spellpower and health and the damage you do, but there's more aiming involved and you have to click to swing by yourself
ArPharazonV: you're also responsible for your own dodging by making the character move
VardaValar1: Sounds like you guys got off topic fast. :-)
ArPharazonV: at least, that's my experience from Morrowind
ArPharazonV: so it's a step in the right direction, Eonwe :-)
Eonwe Valar: My fault. Phar mentioned WoW in an aside and I thought Indis was building on that.
VardaValar1: Anyway, we need to get the new Silvan character into the rp. Intro time.
ArPharazonV: I brought in WoW because I said somethingn about the boredom of all fights being the same in an rp :P
VardaValar1: Indis plays LotRO. ;-)
ArPharazonV: same would go for Lotro then too
VardaValar1: Then we will make them different.
VardaValar1: Please remember intelligent spiders while we are doing your other story.
karakedi25: back
Eonwe Valar: Welcome back.
VardaValar1: They could cause a complication for both sides, could be amusing and eeky too.
VardaValar1: Welcome back
VardaValar1: I
VardaValar1: am back and forth.
VardaValar1: Mirkwood was not peaceful at the time, just the ringwraiths who used Dol Guldur were not home - off chasing some Ring.
Eonwe Valar: I wouldn't say that our combat in the RP has been completely without tactic. Sure, we're not doing a pincers formation to trap our enemies, but basic tactics would be to keep your ranged compatriots safe from incoming melee so they can continue to be ranged. :}
karakedi25: their minions were working mischief in their absence
VardaValar1: Right and right
VardaValar1: We have mounted combat possibilities too.
karakedi25: I didn't mean to imply that you weren't, but if we're hunting around in cobwebby old ruins, we probably won't want to have pitched battles without considerable preparation
ArPharazonV: oh, that sounds like an interesting thought
VardaValar1: Your character name is Meren in the rp, Indis?
karakedi25: that was my thought
ArPharazonV: shooting with bow and arrow from horseback
ArPharazonV: you'd think we were Mongolian or something :-)
Eonwe Valar: More talk about battles before we imploement them in the RP wouldn't hurt, aye.
VardaValar1: And you are being sent to Auros as an Angmar ruin scholar and to check what can be done about the problem in Angmar.
Eonwe Valar: *implement
karakedi25: aren't we going to spend time in rather close quarters?
karakedi25: not the best place for 'Mongolian' tactics
VardaValar1: Camping, using horses.
VardaValar1: Aye, we're traveling a narrow safe path in heavy woods.
VardaValar1: If we stray from the path, we are in danger.
VardaValar1: Things will try to make us want to leave that path.
karakedi25: anyway, yes, Meren is a scholar, but she can fight, and she can add some 'tactical' touches like herblore
Eonwe Valar: Being sent to Auros? Considering that all the scouts were sent out a few weeks ago RP-time, and they should be trickling back into Imladris in a week or two RP-time, sending people out to meet scouts doesn't seem feasible.
karakedi25: now I'm lost. Who is being sent out to meet Auros, other than Meren?
Eonwe Valar: Apparently Meren, but again, she's being sent out to meet someone she only has a vague idea of where he might be?
Eonwe Valar: The scouts have already been sent. No one *should* be going out looking for them.
karakedi25: not according to Varda. They're still in the general vicinity of Thranduil's halls, so she could just come out to them there
Eonwe Valar: Yes, but no one in Rivendell would no that.
karakedi25: maybe she should speak for herself
ArPharazonV: is she coming from Rivendell or Thranduil's halls?
karakedi25: Meren will meet Auros and the party before they leave and go with them
karakedi25: Thranduil
karakedi25: he's sending her
ArPharazonV: Right. I think someone is confused on that part ;-)
karakedi25: (to assist the party with the Angmar problem)
Eonwe Valar: The "sent to Auros" threw me a bit, aye.
karakedi25: She's sent to help the party as a whole. Thranduil has an interest in finding out what's behind the increasing troubles in Mirkwood.
karakedi25: He won't send one of the Sinda teachers, as they're needed, but he will send one of his own
karakedi25: (Silvans that is)
Eonwe Valar: Ok, so Meren is a Silvan Elf of Mirkwood.
karakedi25: that's what we discussed
karakedi25: didn't Varda send my write-up?
Eonwe Valar: She did, and I read it.
Eonwe Valar: That's part of what threw me too.
karakedi25: is it clearer now?
Eonwe Valar: Yes, so far.
Eonwe Valar: So Meren is joining us before we depart Thranduil's Halls.
karakedi25: that was the idea
karakedi25: makes things much easier all the way around
Eonwe Valar: I guess my next question is how she learned about the ruins of Angmar :}
karakedi25: haven't they been mentioned in Thranduil's discussions with your party?
karakedi25: or do you mean how she gained her knowledge
Eonwe Valar: The latter.
karakedi25: I would say that it's more an interest in history in general, and though she's a relatively young elf, she has still lived a long time relative to human life spans...
karakedi25: and so has developed some interest in the ruins of the Second Age as well as the Third
karakedi25: Varda's view was that she had been trained by the Sindar teachers, and that under their dirction, she's also a teacher of the silvans
karakedi25: it would help if she were here
luthienathariel: namarie all ... (it's elf sleep time :-) )
ArPharazonV: namarie Luthien!
karakedi25: goodnight luthien
luthienathariel has left the room.
Eonwe Valar: Sleep well Luthien, belatedly :}
FladrifV: *moves a branch up and down* namarie / novaer
karakedi25: namarie, FladrifV
Eonwe Valar: Sleep well Fladrif, but be not treeish overlong :}
ArPharazonV: namarie Flad
ArPharazonV: hope you had a good birthday!
FladrifV: *tries not to root*
FladrifV: I did had some very fine ent draught
VardaValar1: Pardon, Thranduil is sending Meren to Auros
karakedi25: welcome back
VardaValar1: Mara mesta Luthien
VardaValar1: back and forth, hiya
karakedi25: I'll need to go afk shortly, and eventually log out. I'm staying with a friend in California, and we are invited to her mother's place for dinner.
Eonwe Valar: I'm somewhat curious how the scholars of Mirkwood would acquire a working knowledge of Angmar's ruins.
karakedi25: Perhaps the reason she wants to go is that she *doesn't* have a working knowledge of the ruins
Eonwe Valar: The armies that retook Fornost and crushed Angmar were from Gondor, the Havens, Arnor, and Rivendell.
karakedi25: though she knows quite a bit about the history
karakedi25: but it's not first person yet
ArPharazonV: could be that she's already had contact with Rivendell
FladrifV has left the room.
ArPharazonV: perhaps already made the trip in more peaceful times?
karakedi25: she might well be in correspondence with Rivendell
karakedi25: possible
Eonwe Valar: I don't imagine Angmar would be a safe place to go even in "peaceful times" :}
ArPharazonV: I meant the trip to Rivendell :-)
karakedi25: no she might have been to Rivendell is what I think he meant
Eonwe Valar: That she might want to gain a better knoweldge of the ruins is interesting, though.
Eonwe Valar: Oh, ok :}
Eonwe Valar: Overall I think it's a good start.
karakedi25: kind of you to say so
Eonwe Valar: Reason to join us is reasonable.
Eonwe Valar: You're not killing Balrogs by pointing at them :}
karakedi25: do you want another player in the RP?
Eonwe Valar: Besides you?
karakedi25: no, just me
ArPharazonV: I think the plan was to have more than the current players in them from the start, and players have come and gone... the more the merrier I'd say
ArPharazonV: the more people we have, the more chance we'll have someone who forces us to update a bit quicker ;-)
Eonwe Valar: Or the more chance there's something that will inspire us, hehe
Eonwe Valar: Something we see and can say "Ooh! I've got something I can add to that :}"
ArPharazonV: hehe
karakedi25: I doubt I'll initiate much at least at the beginning, until Meren is integrated and has something of an independent role. After all, she will need to begin by getting to know the party.
karakedi25: and then she will kill balrogs by pointing at them :p
Eonwe Valar: Well, being an Elf of Mirkwood, perhaps she has already met Calion and/or Fainan.
ArPharazonV: oh look, a balrog *throws a knife and one-shots the balrog*
Eonwe Valar: hehe
ArPharazonV: critical hit!
karakedi25: yes, she will know them, but perhaps not well, as they seem more oriented to scouting, whereas her interests are elsewhere
Eonwe Valar: Calion at least is supposed to be part of Thranduil's court if memory serves?
karakedi25: so part of the mission will be for them to get to know them better
ArPharazonV: correct, I'm quite familiar with the court, as are my brother and parents ;-)
karakedi25: I would say that Meren is not part of the court, though she is known to some because of her work with the Sinda teachers
ArPharazonV: Calaron has been a scout for years, and has recently come back from a mission to the north, I'm sure that if Meren specialized in Angmar and other northern places, he'll have contacted her at some point
ArPharazonV: to be well prepared
karakedi25: I think she will not have a deep specialty, but she will have explored what is known in Mirkwood as part of her historical studies, and so she would be able to share what she knows with Calaron when he asks her for information
ArPharazonV: Calaron is not part of our party at the moment, but I meant somewhere in the past :-)
karakedi25: as Eonwe pointed out, she is not physically located in a good place to specialize deeply in Angmarian archeology
ArPharazonV: that is true
karakedi25: that's what I mean, too
ArPharazonV: but the northern reaches of Mirkwood, and perhaps a bit about those mountains, could fall among her interests if she's interested in Angmar
ArPharazonV: not that I'm trying to force you into anything
ArPharazonV: but it would be an excuse for knowing each other
karakedi25: yes, and she might have trekked there in less diffilcult times
karakedi25: I doubt the Mirkwood community is so large that anyone is entirely unknown in it
karakedi25: especially over the many years that its members live
ArPharazonV: heh, especially around the court and the main settlements....
karakedi25: but some will be better known than others, and those with occupational or other affinitiess will know each other better
ArPharazonV: might be something like "Hey, I think I've seen that girl walk around here from time to time.."
karakedi25: or I've heard her name somewhere, or whatever
ArPharazonV: indeed
karakedi25: Meren will have heard of the Cal- brothers
ArPharazonV: quite possibly
Eonwe Valar: The Cal brothers,.. hehe
karakedi25: and possibly might have run into Fainan at some function or other--possibly her military training
ArPharazonV: anyway, it's getting late over here, I'll be going to bed soon, will leave you to discuss things further
karakedi25: alas, I will have to leave as well---I have to go out, but thanks for the useful discussion
Eonwe Valar: I think we've covered what we need to for an entry post. Was an interesting discussion :}
Eonwe Valar: I'll have to read the huge chunk Imissed :}
karakedi25: I look forward to further discussion--this could w4ell become very interesting and informative
karakedi25: :-)
karakedi25: ok, I'll be available for discussion at mutual convenience
karakedi25: (am traveling, so my schedule is not entirely predictable)
Eonwe Valar: We also have an RP discussion thread in the forum.
karakedi25: take care all, and thanks for the good conversation
ArPharazonV: but of course, direct chat is often more efficient
Eonwe Valar: If there's something you want to discuss immediately rather than waiting for a Sunday, for instance, feel free to post it there.
ArPharazonV: and from time to time the meeting tangents into RP-discussion
karakedi25: Namarie! (and yes it is)
Eonwe Valar: Aye, I like direct chat too.
karakedi25: ok...later!
ArPharazonV: Namarie!
Eonwe Valar: Take care :}
karakedi25 has left the room.
VardaValar1: heya
ArPharazonV: Aiyata :-)
ArPharazonV: saving and sending
VardaValar1: heh, I should just say good night :-)
VardaValar1: Thanks Phar
VardaValar1: Eonwe seems stable :-)
ArPharazonV (7:45:14 PM): saved
Eonwe Valar (7:45:15 PM): Has Menel been in WoW recently?
Eonwe Valar (7:45:17 PM): :}
ArPharazonV (7:45:42 PM): have not seen him in the last week or so, but he's occasionally there in our custom channel
Eonwe Valar (7:46:10 PM): I'm probably going to post a call for a RP discussion after next week's meeting just to brain storm and talk about where we are, where we're going and call for all posters to show up :}
Eonwe Valar (7:46:39 PM): Menel's the only one who hasn't been to a meeting in a while.
ArPharazonV (7:47:51 PM): have not seen him in MSN a lot either
ArPharazonV (7:48:08 PM): but if I see him in the channel or in msn (or perhaps even AIM though I don't check that much)
ArPharazonV (7:48:21 PM): I'll let him know to show his face from time to time and watch out for your call :)
Eonwe Valar (7:48:30 PM): :}
Eonwe Valar (7:48:50 PM): I think I'll make that call right now actually :}
ArPharazonV (7:49:02 PM): *grin* I wont'see it until tomorrow
Eonwe Valar (7:49:47 PM): Wow, we've been doing this RP for just over 5 years.
Eonwe Valar (7:50:00 PM): Varda kicked it off March 18th, 2004.
VardaValar1 (7:50:01 PM): back
VardaValar1 (7:50:09 PM): I am a real kicker. : )
Eonwe Valar (7:50:12 PM): :}
ArPharazonV (7:50:17 PM): oh, wow, I wasn't even in the guild for half a year back then
VardaValar1 (7:50:20 PM): I think Menel's been working?
VardaValar1 (7:50:27 PM): Newbie ;-)
ArPharazonV (7:50:28 PM): on my way to 6 years now
ArPharazonV (7:50:46 PM): pch, half the guild's lifespan is not too bad for a youngster like me ;)
ArPharazonV (7:51:06 PM): at least I've been regular!
Eonwe Valar (7:51:07 PM): This November will be a decade for me. I can stop measuring in years and start in on decades :}
Eonwe Valar (7:51:16 PM): :}
ArPharazonV (7:51:18 PM): 0.6 decades for me!
VardaValar1 (7:51:56 PM): That's a big thing, Phar. You've been a meeting regular, a rare bird.
Eonwe Valar (7:52:07 PM): Aye
ArPharazonV (7:52:22 PM): what can I say, I like it
Eonwe Valar (7:52:27 PM): I think the only people who have been regularly coming to meetings longer than you at this point are me and Varda.
ArPharazonV (7:52:41 PM): I mayhave not read the books in a year, and I may have never sent in an article
ArPharazonV (7:52:48 PM): and I'm not even in LotrO
Eonwe Valar (7:52:58 PM): That's ok, we forgive you :}
ArPharazonV (7:52:58 PM): but these meetings... gotta love'm
Eonwe Valar (7:53:15 PM): For not coming to LotRo :} We expect you to have an article ready for us in 60 seconds :}
ArPharazonV (7:53:19 PM): haha
ArPharazonV (7:53:51 PM): well, I have a few pages left in my last Discworld book, then I'm going to hop over to the Hobbit and start my Tolkien-reading all over again
ArPharazonV (7:54:05 PM): jotting down details and page references to anything concerning the second age
ArPharazonV (7:54:16 PM): and when I've worked through all the books I have in that way...
ArPharazonV (7:54:22 PM): who knows what results might come :)
Eonwe Valar (7:54:35 PM): Most of my Tolkien reading this year so far  has been in the form of research, particularly for the Dwarves article I still have a second half to submit of.
Eonwe Valar (7:54:46 PM): :}
VardaValar1 (7:55:07 PM): I have so much to do that it makes me want to run the other way sometimes. :-)
Eonwe Valar (7:55:19 PM): hehe
VardaValar1 (7:55:19 PM): Not bored at least. :-)
Eonwe Valar (7:55:22 PM): :}
VardaValar1 (7:55:31 PM): Tulkas came today! man, that is great
Eonwe Valar (7:55:41 PM): That is. At least I got to say hi :}
VardaValar1 (7:55:50 PM): You're still in here too.
Eonwe Valar (7:55:54 PM): I hope he enjoyed the time he spent in here :}
VardaValar1 (7:56:11 PM): Just getting to touch base with old friends is always good.
Eonwe Valar (7:56:20 PM): Aye
VardaValar1 (7:56:34 PM): I think he was hoping we were still in D2X or a similar
Eonwe Valar (7:56:50 PM): D3's a couple years away.
VardaValar1 (7:56:50 PM): For a long time a lot of us refused to join any monthly pay game.
ArPharazonV (7:56:56 PM): *nod* he seems averse to games with monthly pays
Eonwe Valar (7:57:01 PM): Aye. WoW was what got me.
ArPharazonV (7:57:15 PM): *shrug* if I hadn't been a Warcraft fan...
VardaValar1 (7:57:20 PM): WoW got a lot of us started. I was waiting for Middle-earth Online.
Eonwe Valar (7:57:21 PM): Niether EQ nor DAoC had a world I was interested in.
ArPharazonV (7:57:27 PM): well, if I hadn't been a Warcraft fan I might not even have found you people
VardaValar1 (7:57:30 PM): EQ had elves in flets. : )
Eonwe Valar (7:57:33 PM): hehe
VardaValar1 (7:57:53 PM): DAoC sounded like it was pvp big time. I couldn't develop an interest.
VardaValar1 (7:58:08 PM): EQ was incredibly slow.
ArPharazonV (7:58:20 PM): I would've liked to go to LotrO, but WoW has still my heart captured
ArPharazonV (7:58:22 PM): sent, btw
ArPharazonV (7:58:31 PM): and I just can't afford the time to play 2 MMOs
VardaValar1 (7:58:38 PM): LotrO really cares about Tolkien's world, and yes it does have some over the top stuff. :-)
VardaValar1 (7:58:48 PM): I can't either, mostly in LotRO.
VardaValar1 (7:59:03 PM): Eonwe puts one day for LotRO, rest elsewhere like WoW.
Eonwe Valar (7:59:13 PM): Monday is my LotRO day. I've only got a lvl 41ish Auros of Rivendell :}
VardaValar1 (7:59:16 PM): LotrO's lifetime membership setup was a huge help.
ArPharazonV (7:59:21 PM): if I tried to do both I'd end up losing out on one anyway, or not doing either of them enough
Eonwe Valar (7:59:31 PM): Wait, he isn't a class? :}
VardaValar1 (7:59:32 PM): We have people younger than you on their mains, Eonwe :-)
VardaValar1 (8:00:01 PM): Auros is a class, now we know.
ArPharazonV (8:00:07 PM): I've still got a Guild Wars account to go to that I have not spent any time on in half a year..
ArPharazonV (8:00:25 PM): honestly, I'd just prepare myself for disappointment in both areas if I tried to do LotrO on the side
VardaValar1 (8:00:37 PM): Not expecting you to.
VardaValar1 (8:00:46 PM): If WoW ever gets old, you know where we are.
Eonwe Valar (8:00:47 PM): I unfortunately lost my D2 Realm chars the moment I decided not to update D2 in order to keep the ME mod.
ArPharazonV (8:00:59 PM): WoW will probably never get old for me, invested too much in it
VardaValar1 (8:01:08 PM): It's hard on the Europeans to come to LotRO, but I wish they would try to pick the same time and hang together.
ArPharazonV (8:01:09 PM): in Calaron the feral druid :)
VardaValar1 (8:01:21 PM): I'm sorry, Eonwe
ArPharazonV (8:01:36 PM): but if WoW should fail at any time, if the servers should die...
VardaValar1 (8:01:48 PM): Every weekly maintenance? :-)
ArPharazonV (8:01:50 PM): who knows, I might poke my nose into LotrO
ArPharazonV (8:01:54 PM): I mean permanently :)
VardaValar1 (8:01:57 PM): Get the one for Turbine
Eonwe Valar (8:01:58 PM): Aye. How did we manage to have Europeans gaming with eachother in D2?
VardaValar1 (8:02:10 PM): I don't think WoW is going down anytime soon. :-)
ArPharazonV (8:02:14 PM): and honestly, with WoW's success, that won't happen in yeeaaars
ArPharazonV (8:02:17 PM): aye
VardaValar1 (8:02:35 PM): We had 24/7 gaming. : )
Eonwe Valar (8:02:38 PM): :}
VardaValar1 (8:02:38 PM): D1
ArPharazonV (8:02:46 PM): hmm, I'll make you a promise
VardaValar1 (8:02:46 PM): Diablo 1 was what did it.
VardaValar1 (8:02:50 PM): Don't
VardaValar1 (8:02:58 PM): Don't promise.
VardaValar1 (8:03:04 PM): Just something you're thinking about.
ArPharazonV (8:03:08 PM): if LotrO survives WoW and still has the potential at that time to survive another year
ArPharazonV (8:03:12 PM): I'll come look you up :)
Eonwe Valar (8:03:20 PM): Hehe
VardaValar1 (8:03:44 PM): If there's nothing better around, you'll drop by during a 1 week free trial? : )
ArPharazonV (8:03:51 PM): that at least ;)
VardaValar1 (8:03:57 PM): Fladrif didn't seem interested
ArPharazonV (8:04:00 PM): if I like it, I'll make myself an account
ArPharazonV (8:04:12 PM): aye, but Fladrif lost interest in WoW too
ArPharazonV (8:04:21 PM): I don't think  he'll be in to any MMO any time soon
VardaValar1 (8:04:26 PM): Try to judge WoW as a lowbie in that time too.
ArPharazonV (8:05:15 PM): *grin* well, I can say I had good times as a lowbie
pallandovalar (8:05:17 PM) has left the room.
ArPharazonV (8:05:19 PM): seeing the world for the first time
ArPharazonV (8:05:39 PM): lot of fine memories
ArPharazonV (8:05:50 PM): anyway, it's 3 am here
ArPharazonV (8:05:52 PM): Namarie all
VardaValar1 (8:05:53 PM): On the rp, Calaron says the girl is
VardaValar1 (8:05:59 PM): his secret and unrealized love.
VardaValar1 (8:06:10 PM): And Fainan knows : )
ArPharazonV (8:06:13 PM): *snicker* sounds like something I'd say
VardaValar1 (8:06:22 PM): Bet he's been making mooneyes at her and not realizing.
Eonwe Valar (8:06:31 PM): :}
VardaValar1 (8:06:40 PM): Recognizing the injured elleth as she was raised on a cloth litter, Fainan put a hand over her own mouth in horror. Once composed, she whispered to Calion, "Isn't that your brother Calaron's sweetheart?"
ArPharazonV (8:07:01 PM): let's not discuss this now :)
VardaValar1 (8:07:04 PM): This is neat. :-)
VardaValar1 (8:07:06 PM): Bye bye!
Eonwe Valar (8:07:10 PM): :}
ArPharazonV (8:07:13 PM): the subject of love is one I could talk about for hours
VardaValar1 (8:07:19 PM): Cool :-)
Eonwe Valar (8:07:19 PM): Sleep well Phar :}
ArPharazonV (8:07:22 PM): and it's way too late to take it seriously
VardaValar1 (8:07:22 PM): Another time then
ArPharazonV (8:07:38 PM): and you don't want to hear me talk about it for hours, I assure you!
Eonwe Valar (8:07:39 PM): Thanks, now you've made me think of a song.. :}
Eonwe Valar (8:07:44 PM): "What is love?" :}
ArPharazonV (8:07:57 PM): I know that one
Eonwe Valar (8:08:03 PM): Don't remember who sang it off the top of my head, but it's the theme song for Night at the Roxbury :}
ArPharazonV (8:08:06 PM): not a bad song
VardaValar1 (8:08:15 PM): Go to bed, Phar. :-)
ArPharazonV (8:08:16 PM): Haddaway or something?
Eonwe Valar (8:08:22 PM): Sounds about right.
ArPharazonV (8:08:33 PM): *retires*
ArPharazonV (8:08:35 PM) has left the room.
Eonwe Valar (8:08:37 PM): Fly you fool! :}
VardaValar1 (8:08:38 PM): Thranduil sat back in his carved throne, looking out across pillars carved in honor of the trees and of ancient Menegroth. "We shall watch more closely for this new enemy and his special attacks now that we know the source. Also, we must send folk to infiltrate the depths of the Angmarin ruins to find the controlling staff. These people must be good with going underground and with stealth."
He looked straight at Auros. "Will you and your party aid against this threat, even if only by sending word to Lord Elrond?"
VardaValar1 (8:08:44 PM): hehe Eonwe
Eonwe Valar (8:09:07 PM): That one Gandalf quote is useful in about any situation :}
VardaValar1 (8:09:14 PM): Truth. : )
VardaValar1 (8:09:34 PM): Tried to give us a mission statement.
VardaValar1 (8:10:04 PM): Just before that:
VardaValar1 (8:10:06 PM): "After we learned of the strange movements of the enemy, a party checked towards the mountains northwest of here and overheard a group of orcs and humans. They were grumbling that the Witch-king had sent orders to his old minions, long-hidden deep in their old haunts of Angmar, to come out with morgul-knowledge and add to the horrors in Mirkwood. The woods were to be retaken by strange morgul-works that would include a fear and a slow lethalness into the creeping darkness. These would be controlled from a deepset Angmarin ruin by an artifact to which they referred to as what translates to 'the crooked staff', and in ancient times was called "the staff of unlight"
VardaValar1 (8:11:29 PM): Naturally our guys think in terms of Mirkwood, but Mirkwood would probably just be the handy dandy testing ground before turning to other places.
Eonwe Valar (8:12:16 PM): True.
VardaValar1 (8:12:25 PM): As the excitement settled down and Thranduil asked Auros whether they could pass on the message of the attack and the threat connected to it to Master Elrond in Imladris,
VardaValar1 (8:12:49 PM): Auros is headed to Rivendell anyway, so it's not much to ask.
Eonwe Valar (8:13:02 PM): Aye.
VardaValar1 (8:13:40 PM): Auros has his own thing he wants to do connected to Angmar. Don't think you ever really said what, connected to old friends, Noldor likely.
Eonwe Valar (8:13:53 PM): Did I say that much?
VardaValar1 (8:14:15 PM): If I know, then yes. : )  At least in narration but not aloud.
Eonwe Valar (8:14:20 PM): I thought I'd kept that under wraps more than that.
VardaValar1 (8:14:28 PM): Hey, it's me. : )
Eonwe Valar (8:14:37 PM): I had to have mentioned it to you :} It hasn't entered the story yet :}
Eonwe Valar (8:14:40 PM): True :}
VardaValar1 (8:15:00 PM): Going to make me find it. It's in there. I found it interesting, hoped for more. : )
VardaValar1 (8:15:24 PM): One of his musings to himself, as I remember.
Eonwe Valar (8:15:42 PM): Oh, there are the scouts taking a pass through the mountains near Gundabad..
Eonwe Valar (8:16:11 PM): I suppose that does foreshadow to some extent his reasons for heading to Angmar.
VardaValar1 (8:16:22 PM): Calion knows Calaron's arrow shot Elmire.
VardaValar1 (8:16:43 PM): His old friends must have gone that way, probably Auros with them.
Eonwe Valar (8:17:08 PM): As he waited, his thoughts turned to those scouts taking the northern pass near Mount Gundabad. He turned to face the northwest, as if he sought to traverse the many miles between them with his eyes. They have at least two days on me. They should reach Imladris before I do, if they have travelled as hard as I have. Still, I cannot shake this feeling...
Eonwe Valar (8:17:46 PM): My second post in part 5.
VardaValar1 (8:19:13 PM): I see it.
Eonwe Valar (8:19:15 PM): What's really bad is that I have 3 related stories for the Stories page just short of being put to type, but they can't go up until we reach Rivendell :}
VardaValar1 (8:19:27 PM): oh no.
VardaValar1 (8:19:34 PM): I fear that will be quite a while.
Eonwe Valar (8:19:53 PM): Probably, aye.
VardaValar1 (8:19:53 PM): Phar has his big story.
VardaValar1 (8:20:03 PM): I don't want to miss the chance of the intelligent spiders.
VardaValar1 (8:20:15 PM): I'd love to see the spiders crossing up both sides. : )
VardaValar1 (8:20:25 PM): What a tangled web we weave.
Eonwe Valar (8:20:37 PM): We need to use up some time anyway, so I think we have a spare week or something that we need to make up in the story.
VardaValar1 (8:20:41 PM): Mirkwood is home to the spiders too.
Eonwe Valar (8:20:42 PM): hehe
VardaValar1 (8:21:19 PM): The spiders wouldn't mind being sole masters of Mirkwood, but they like big lunches available.
VardaValar1 (8:21:34 PM): orc, human, elf, dwarf, hobbit. All lunches.
Eonwe Valar (8:21:49 PM): That's an interesting thing about the nature of evil.
VardaValar1 (8:21:55 PM): They don't want the forest destroyed by a darkness killing their habitat.
VardaValar1 (8:22:06 PM): Self-serving. So it tangles.
Eonwe Valar (8:22:18 PM): Something I was reflecting on between the Wheel of Time series and Tolkien's works.
VardaValar1 (8:22:51 PM): It's the good ones you have to watch out for. - Pirates of the Caribbean.
Eonwe Valar (8:23:04 PM): hehe
VardaValar1 (8:23:42 PM): You never know when they're going to do something stupid. (stupid=heroic, non-self-serving, for the greater good, for others).
VardaValar1 (8:24:13 PM): Bad guys are more predictable if you know what they want.
Eonwe Valar (8:24:25 PM): It's not so much explicit in Tolkien's works, though it's obvious it happens to some degree, but in WoT, the Dark One encourages all of his servants right up to the top to try to one-up eachother, take eachother out etc through cunning and subtly, weaving tangled webs of deceit.
VardaValar1 (8:25:05 PM): In Tolkien, they were all supposed to be more or less unthinking hands of the master's will.
VardaValar1 (8:25:21 PM): Ones that were independently powerful were tricked into it.
VardaValar1 (8:25:33 PM): Smaug, the Balrog of Moria.
Eonwe Valar (8:25:34 PM): In Ea, that happens among the lower echelons, but among the Maiar at least, they seem to know who's the boss and at least as far as I recall seem to follow the pecking order.
VardaValar1 (8:26:27 PM): Morgoth seduced them as the one with the greatest power, and he shared it with them to make them more powerful.
VardaValar1 (8:26:34 PM): Spread himself too thin.
Eonwe Valar (8:26:37 PM): Aye.
VardaValar1 (8:26:59 PM): Sauron was more tricksy. : )
VardaValar1 (8:27:37 PM): Here, I'll teach you these great crafts. Of course I'll teach you to program in the One Ring will rule them.
Eonwe Valar (8:27:49 PM): Hehe
VardaValar1 (8:28:00 PM): But why mention that tiny detail?
VardaValar1 (8:28:37 PM): Sorry I was not around much earlier, it was quite lively around here. Went back and forth a lot.
VardaValar1 (8:28:46 PM): Looky, you're still stable.  :-)