Valar Guild

June 23, 2013 Sunday Meeting

5pm EDT (UTC - 5)
AIM: Valar Guild Meetingplace

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Transcript work by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.

Attending: (3)
    ArPharazonV, farmermaggotv, VardaValar1 (presiding)

Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership:
Web:
Gaming:
Tolkien:
    LotR trivia quiz results
    Tolkien chat topic from Farmer Maggot-(V): Council of Elrond is like a small book.

Before-meeting
You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
VardaValar1: Aiya Phar :-)
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
farmermaggotv has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya Farmer :-)
farmermaggotv: aiya
ArPharazonV: aiya!
VardaValar1: Good to see you! Did we catch you in the middle of things? : )
farmermaggotv: Me? No, actually in between things at worst.
VardaValar1: Oh good :-)
VardaValar1: Most folks seem to be late today or not answering their group chat invite, so we'll let them catch up when they get here. : )
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VardaValar1: Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
VardaValar1: Membership:
VardaValar1: We had some folks express interest in joining, but so far no new people actually in.
VardaValar1: Fangorn should be back tomorrow night. : )
VardaValar1: Any membership news from either of you?
farmermaggotv: Not from me.
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VardaValar1: Web:
VardaValar1: Most of the interesting stuff happened on the forum, with the LotR quiz.
VardaValar1: More on that in the Tolkien section.
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VardaValar1: Gaming:
VardaValar1: What non-WoW, non-LotRO games have we played this past week? : )
VardaValar1: Oh, and in Membership, happy birthday to Malva-(V) on the 19th.
ArPharazonV: Ohh, more flashgames mostly.
VardaValar1: Sounds fun
farmermaggotv: I played "fix bugs for work".
VardaValar1: Hope you managed to stomp plenty of those!
farmermaggotv: and "watch 2.1 days worth of video from a technical conference"
VardaValar1: I've been proofreading and revising, sort of similar but less miserable.
VardaValar1: ewwww
ArPharazonV: That's a lot of video.
farmermaggotv: I must say that the ability to play videos at 2x is quite helpful.
VardaValar1: hehehe
VardaValar1: The higher pitched voices might make it more entertaining too?
ArPharazonV: Can you even hear what they say when you do that?
ArPharazonV: heh
farmermaggotv: It depends on the presenter. Some of them have to be watched at 1.5x, or 1.0 if it's important enough to me
VardaValar1: (All the presenters cross their fingers hoping they got the 1.0.)
ArPharazonV: Could just mean they talk too fast or use too complicated language.
VardaValar1: True too
farmermaggotv: Accents mostly.
VardaValar1: Transcripts might be nice to have with those.
farmermaggotv: They all have slides, which are helpful to know what's important :-).
ArPharazonV: If you have transcripts, you might not even have to bother with the videos.
VardaValar1: Slide-transcripts. ^^
VardaValar1: Grats to Phar for his new MLP book that came in! How's the quality?
ArPharazonV: 's good! With that nice fresh hardcover-book smell ;-) Summaries of all the episodes from seasons 1 to 3, all the lyrics to all the songs, character descriptions, interviews, some new art, some new official names for background characters... and a ton of background information about the entire world of the show.
ArPharazonV: Glad I got it.
VardaValar1: Huzzah!
VardaValar1: Our D&D group (actually Pathfinder) is going to have to move from Saturday to Sunday. The main play time is guess when, right at the guild meeting time.
VardaValar1: I've offered to let the GM use my character as a non-player character, so she can return to the game in the furtue.
ArPharazonV: With all her gear vendored, all the wrong choices for skills, and a couple of embarassing tattoos?
VardaValar1: I might also be able to work around the meeting time.
VardaValar1: ooops!
VardaValar1: She might go npc during the meeting and back to player around the meeting time. The game is held at my house, so it's more possible than it sounds.
VardaValar1: The Friday game for another group (overlapping players) had to move to our time of Saturday due to work shift changes, moving our Saturday group to Sunday. We don't know how long the shift changes will last.
VardaValar1: But Valar was here first, so this gets priority. : )
VardaValar1: We said we'd try to make at least one officer available to anyone in the guild at these meetings, no matter what game they play or if they are Tolkien Site contributors only.
VardaValar1: So no worries.
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VardaValar1: Tolkien:
VardaValar1: This past week on our forum, Eonwe's been running a trivia quiz game over LotR.
VardaValar1: The quiz ended Saturday midnight, and Eonwe checked over all the quizes and sent the info in this morning.
VardaValar1: His email was dated 4:30am.
VardaValar1: He would like to be here, but since he now has shift work at this time, this is one way he has of still contributing. Thank you, Eonwe, for a lot of work!
VardaValar1: Here's the quiz:
ArPharazonV: Thanks Eonwe!
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=trivia&action=display&thread=1289&page=1#1371372279
VardaValar1: He sent a chunk of letter to show you all here. Now copy-pasting:

Hail one and all!

Thank you to those of you who participated in the Tolkien Trivia this week! The scores were fairly close for this one. Good job to all!

When scoring, in some ways I was strict, and in others I was rather forgiving. In cases where actual names, items, or numbers were asked for, there was no room given if the answer itself was wrong. In cases where the question involved a description of an event, if the idea was there strong enough (though it needed to be there pretty strong), I gave credit. Partial credit was given for answers that involved a list. The point was of course to test one's memory of Lord of the Rings in a fun way, though I did give everyone ample warning before the trivia began to allow review.

The winners are as follows:
Overall:
1st Place: Varda - 8 right
2nd Place - Indis - 6 1/3 right
3rd Place - Pharazon - 6 right

LotRO for prize eligibility:
1st Place - Varda
2nd Place - Indis
3rd Place - Ancalagon - 5 2/3 right

WoW for Prize Eligibility:
1st Place - Varda

Of course, Varda being in both branches, must choose which branch she wants the prize in :}

No one got the Bonus question right, although 3 got close. I say close, because one tried to give me both the right and the wrong answer at the same time, and two were on the right track in a similarly worded question. The Bonus question was of course meant to be a little trickier than a standard question.

I hope to have another one of these in the not-too-distant future, so here is warning to all of you to brush up on your Tolkien!

Take care :}
Eonwë

VardaValar1: Back to my own words now.
ArPharazonV: Hah. That both right and wrong might've been me.
VardaValar1: We were discussion dropping my name from the prizes you see up there, because we usually say Valar Honor is not eligible, which would move the rest of you up a spot. :-) [Note: This was agreed to, Varda chose to not be eligible.]
VardaValar1: hehe Phar
VardaValar1: I recommend reading the questions and checking for bonus questions, which is where I messed up. By now you'd think I'd know how to take a test!
VardaValar1: One thing we've also noticed on these quizes over the years is that our group doesn't seem especially motivated by prizes, but more by just enjoying the quiz.
VardaValar1: Anyone who came to the meeting and took the quiz is eligible to hear what correct answers were given in a side window, but the actual answers can be looked up in the books now. Welcome back to open books!
VardaValar1: And that list went to Ar-Pharazon. Thank you very much for participating and grats on winning third in the guild overall. :-)
VardaValar1: Another quiz is planned by Eonwe in the not too distant future.
ArPharazonV: Thanks :-)
VardaValar1: So if you missed out this time or think you could do better or would just like to do it for fun, keep an eye out!
VardaValar1: Bilbo-(V) just walked by. Hi!

VardaValar1: We had a comment on the chapter about the Council of Elrond's being like a small book.
VardaValar1: It might be fun to take a peek at that chapter and see what stories it has in it!
VardaValar1: Anyone want to do that now, or we can do it on our own if we like.
ArPharazonV: Could do that. I'd have to fish out the book from somewhere though.
VardaValar1: Make a movie or two out of material in that chapter.
ArPharazonV: They did put some of it in, like a bit of Gandalf's story.
VardaValar1: True
farmermaggotv: It made my eyes glaze over when I was reading it for the first time, though I was somewhat young at the time.
VardaValar1: lol - tough on the young.
VardaValar1: I just saw it as a group of short stories.
VardaValar1: all related.
ArPharazonV: It was one of my favorite parts when I first read it, for the reason that it was several summarized stories patched together cozily.
ArPharazonV: Always was a story fan.
ArPharazonV: Gollum's story was nice, I can still picture him sitting in that tree with several Elves trying to get him out.
VardaValar1: I liked the reaction everyone gave Bilbo when he said it was all his fault and he'd go handle the Ring himself, such a bother. Boromir wanted to laugh and saw everyone else react entirely differently.
VardaValar1: Gave him a new perspective on hobbits, seeing that.
farmermaggotv: I wonder how far BIlbo could have gotten
ArPharazonV: At his age?
farmermaggotv: or if he could have given the ring up again
ArPharazonV: Well, perhaps the Ring could've "rejuvenated" him to an extent.
VardaValar1: He was getting pretty old, and the Ring had been with him a long time. I'll bet he'd have gotten help and gone a fair distance, at least to the mountains. That's as far as Gimli and Legolas were intending to go.
VardaValar1: At the Council, we get introduced to the whole Fellowship, learn some backstories.
VardaValar1: This is one of the few times we hear that Legolas is son of Thranduil, and that Thranduil is the name of the Elven-king from the Hobbit.
VardaValar1: Only other time Legolas is referred to as the sone of the Elf-king is in Lothlorien.
farmermaggotv: Yeah, he was tough but certainly old. I guess I more just wonder about his ability to give up the ring for a second time. Frodo wasn't even able to do it once, as far as I can remember (though is part of that due to Sauron being more powerful and the ring having more impact?).
VardaValar1: Incognito sort.
VardaValar1: Bilbo could not have given up the Ring. But neither did Frodo. They both would have to have help there.
VardaValar1: Right, at the place of its forging, the Ring was at its greatest power.
ArPharazonV: I was thrown a bit by Legolas' introduction Rohan, though that may just have been the movie.
ArPharazonV: Aragorn son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Gloin, and Legolas of the woodland realm. Like Legolas' dad was nobody worth naming.
VardaValar1: According to the Letters, Frodo was going to lay claim to the Ring. But he knew Sauron had the power to take it from him, so he was going to go over the cliff. Gollum actually saved Frodo.
farmermaggotv: Even at Sauron's weakest, would it have still been as formidable? or is it more a mixture of the two? Isuldor was unable to destroy it, but he was human
ArPharazonV: *introduction in
VardaValar1: That was odd, aye, Phar. But Legolas did it all through the book, acting as if he was just one of the regular elves from Mirkwood.
VardaValar1: Maybe Legolas was trying to prevent his being used for ransom vs Mirkwood.
ArPharazonV: My dad? Oh, he's nobody special. Just king of a large part of Mirkwood. I'm just an ordinary elf, really.
VardaValar1: The only way anyone was going to destroy that Ring that had it was by accident or like Frodo's plan, die with it.
ArPharazonV: Sam was able to give it up to Frodo in Mordor, and wasn't easily swayed by its persuasions. Would he have been able to let it go?
VardaValar1: Pardon, that source was "The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien"
VardaValar1: Sam had it a short time, and was used to Frodo having authority over him. Yet he was already finding it hard to let go with all he knew and had seen.
ArPharazonV: Accident, or die with it. Well, someone did die with it.
ArPharazonV: ..by accident.
farmermaggotv: Or, one could say, what was left of someone
VardaValar1: True - Gollum was seriously stretched by then.
ArPharazonV: And overexcited when he got it.
VardaValar1: One reason he was in as good a shape as he was, was that in the dark under the goblins he didn't need it to be invisible.
ArPharazonV: Oh yes. Permanent invisibility would've made him a wraith in that time.
VardaValar1: A hobbit wraith. That would have been seriously sneaky.
VardaValar1: Boromir is the real newbie in the Fellowship at the Council of Elrond.
VardaValar1: He would have met Gandalf in Gondor, but mostly it was Faramir working with Gandalf.
VardaValar1: Gimli at least could visit with his father, Gloin, rather than try to decipher weird poetry to get there.
ArPharazonV: Most of the Hobbits were new there, though at least they didn't have to come alone.
ArPharazonV: Boromir must've felt quite out of place.
VardaValar1: Aye, might have been part of his problem
VardaValar1: Sorry, seem to have wound up typing in a window instead of chat. : )
VardaValar1: Gloin tells the first story, and he had a hairy one.
ArPharazonV: That was the one with the Black Rider coming to Erebor, right?
VardaValar1: Aye. First he told about Balin going to Moria over 30 years ago, progress, then silence from Moria.
VardaValar1: Then a year ago a messenger came to Dain from Mordor, not Moria. He'd trade rings for a small token of friendship, just give him the thief and this little ring, least of rings that he stole.
VardaValar1: He'd trade three great rings of the dwarves and lasting friendship. Otherwise, things will not seem so well.
VardaValar1: Talk about a suspiciuos offer!
VardaValar1: So they stalled him and went to Elrond for advice.
ArPharazonV: Not very good at bluffing, that Rider.
ArPharazonV: or messenger.
VardaValar1: He would have sweetened his voice if he could. heheheh
VardaValar1: Gloin was sent by Dain to warn Bilbo that he was being sought by the Enemy. They knew what was going on, full well.
VardaValar1: He said messengers had also gone to King Brand.
VardaValar1: War was gathering by Dale and they feared making no answer could start that war.
VardaValar1: There's a book or movie just right here. : )
ArPharazonV: Indeed!
VardaValar1: Gloin kicks off the purpose of the whole story. What are we to do with the Ring, the least of rings, the trifle that Sauron fancies?
ArPharazonV: Something about the northern wars would be quite interesting. No wonder they got a successful Battle for Middle Earth II out of it.
VardaValar1: True : )
VardaValar1: The next tale is by Elrond, telling of the Rings of Power.
VardaValar1: This is the rare time when the full tale is told, something most knew only in part.
ArPharazonV: Quite odd, I'd think, since people who know part of the story might be interested in finding out more about it.
ArPharazonV: But then this is not the time of the internet ;-)
VardaValar1: They were interested in finding out the full story, and this was their chance. They learned right there from Elrond.
VardaValar1: Boromir gets to do some input from the Gondorian side there. : )
VardaValar1: Looks as if Isildur ignored more than Elrond's advice.
VardaValar1: The news about the Ring mainly went north, so those of the south missed out on a lot of info.
ArPharazonV: Well, communication between them might have lessened a bit.
VardaValar1: Only three came back from Isildur's death.
ArPharazonV: And they came to Rivendell, right?
VardaValar1: Ohtar, esquire of Isildur bringing the shards of Narsil to Valandil the heir who was only a child.
ArPharazonV: Was Isildur also king of Gondor at the time, or just Arnor? I thought Anarion's son was in charge of Gondor.
VardaValar1: Isildur was helping out in Gondor and was on his way back to the North-kingdom, since the south was doing fine.
ArPharazonV: Then there would be little reason for the continuing story of Isildur's line and the Ring to make it back south, would there?
VardaValar1: Hey, he was leaving, all is fine, didn't expect him back this way anytime soon. Yep, all good.
VardaValar1: Elrond stops at the point that the One Ring is found again.
ArPharazonV: By whom?
VardaValar1: Elrond gets interrupted by Boromir, who tells about the Nameless Enemy rising again, loss of Osgiliath, coming to Elrond for advice rather than weapons.
farmermaggotv has left the room.
ArPharazonV: I meant by who the Ring was found when Elrond stops.
VardaValar1: Farmer had to get moving. Time pulled a sneaky on him.
ArPharazonV: Ah.
VardaValar1: Elrond does a cliffhanger and doesn't say. ;-)
VardaValar1: Boromir tells the poem from the vision, and Aragorn starts in with explaining it, showing the Sword that was Broken.
VardaValar1: Then Frodo thinks the Ring belongs to Aragorn as Isildur's heir, he says not to either of them, and we speak of Isildur's Bane. Then the story becomes a group story instead of one monologue. Aragorn is good about encouraging the others to contribute.
VardaValar1: Bilbo tells his own poem about Aragorn. : )
VardaValar1: Aragorn explains what the rangers have been doing. That would make for some good fan fic tales right there.
VardaValar1: Then Bilbo tells the tale of the Hobbit, with an apology to Gloin for not having told him the truth before.
ArPharazonV: Short stories, at least. Though you could probably write whole series about some settings.
VardaValar1: Short fan fic, aye. : )
VardaValar1: Aragorn says he's having the sword reforged.
VardaValar1: Bilbo's tale was to help prove that's the real One Ring.
VardaValar1: But then Galdor asks how about Saruman with his ring-lore helping to see about a Ring matter.
VardaValar1: Each story leads into the next.
VardaValar1: Saruman lulled the others into thinking the One Ring had rolled down the Anduin into the Sea.
VardaValar1: Seeing Bilbo's Ring made Gandalf wonder how Gollum got it, so he researched.
ArPharazonV: Pah. They should know their fiction. Nothing's lost unless you see it go lost, and nobody's dead until you see the body.
VardaValar1: Too right! hehe
VardaValar1: Gandalf and Aragorn hunted together for Gollum. Then Gandalf realized he could do a test of Bilbo's Ring to see if it had maker's marks. It did.
VardaValar1: But Gandalf went by Gondor first checking scrolls for what he should look for.
VardaValar1: There's so much here. I'm not going to type it all down. Let folks read it. Take your time, look it over, because there's a Silmarillion of story going on. : )
VardaValar1: Phar, thank you for your patience and for being here!
ArPharazonV: Sure :-) You did all the work!
VardaValar1: Feel free to jump in and help make comments!
ArPharazonV: I did make some comments!
VardaValar1: Yes you did, and all good ones. : )
VardaValar1: O my, look at this shiny hammer.
VardaValar1: *tinnnnng*\
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VardaValar1: After-meeting!
VardaValar1: Ahh, so that's what it does.
ArPharazonV: You've got a whole arsenal of gavels, don't you?
VardaValar1: *eyes the shelves of gavels and ones on hooks on the wall and ones standing on their own*
VardaValar1: Could be.
VardaValar1: Aule keeps cranking them out for fun.
ArPharazonV: A man's gotta have a hobby.
VardaValar1: No wonder the dwarves like him. : )
ArPharazonV: Saving and sending transcript.
VardaValar1: Thank you. :-)
ArPharazon-V: saved
ArPharazon-V: sent
ArPharazon-V: Namarie!
VardaValar1: Namarie!
VardaValar1: Hope you see your moon.
ArPharazon-V: Haha, maybe next night ;)
VardaValar1: /wave
ArPharazon-V (ArPharazonV) has left the room.

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