July 24, 2016 Transcript of the Sunday Meeting of the Valar Guild

ArPharazon-V
Not very ambitious lad when it came to personal reward, meant it was very difficult for the Ring to get a hold on him.

ArPharazon-V

And he was fiercely loyal to Frodo.

Varda Valar
The Ring tried to grab Sam. It showed Sam as making the whole world into his garden, and all others would be aiding him.
But he would not be able to tend such a large garden with his own hands!

Varda Valar
    Any other suggestions to add to that?
    Bregalad in LotRO comments:
        a testimony to the surprising resilience of hobbits
    Just being a hobbit was part of why Sam could do that.

ArPharazon-V
Very true.

Varda Valar
Fangorn-(Valar) commented that he didn't want Gandalf to turn him into a frog. ;-)

ArPharazon-V
And he did not have it for very long. He also took it out of loyalty to the cause alone, and used it as an instrument of bravery for as long as he had it.
haha

Varda Valar
Right. It was a short time. Not the long time that Bilbo, Gollum, and Frodo had for being taken over.
How about the way that Sam was raised?

ArPharazon-V
Hence the lack of ambition for personal power.

ArPharazon-V

His dad would probably be very upset if he became an immortal tyrant ;-)

Varda Valar
    Aye to that too. :-)
    Just thinking that it was a bad thing helped.
    How about his family's relationship with Frodo's family?

ArPharazon-V
Very good, very loyal to each other.

Varda Valar
How about their stations? Not just buddies and neighbors, which they were.

ArPharazon-V
I've always thought of that as a bit awkward, honestly.
It's not like Frodo was actually better than Sam.

Varda Valar
    We don't have that now. But the friendship across their stations would be one reason for the eventual change in a number of countries from the belief in born privilege.
    Some places still have it.
    JRRT wanted to show that even though he too was an officer with a yeoman, he often felt his yeoman was the better man.

ArPharazon-V
That's very good :-)

Varda Valar
In Frodo's time, they had a monarchy, classes. Kings etc.
Kings pretty well had to be killed out of office. Not a comfortable situation on either side.

Varda Valar

    JRRT did a similar thing with Eowyn, showing that women could have the heart and ability to do things that they were not allowed to do.
    He did a lot of sideways comments in the relationships. Very gentle.
    He also showed that a very good man as a monarch could do immense good. And the reverse.

Varda Valar

    Sam was in the Conspiracy. After being caught, he felt guilt and that added to his being even more loyal to Frodo vs other friends.
    Sam's father had been working for Bilbo. This had gone on for a long time previous to Sam's ever meeting Frodo. It was the Way Things Were.
    Then Sam was entrusted by the greats of his world to aid Frodo, at Rivendell.

Varda Valar
    That's pretty much all I can think of right now. :-)
    It's an interesting subject. Sam has a lot of factors going into his makeup.
    Any other comments, suggestions, plans to make a forum rp post? :-)

Varda Valar
Oh, and the forum has shoutbox for our running chat for fun.

ArPharazon-V
Plans, sure, always plans.

Varda Valar
*the hammerpad flexes its little arms and rolls onto the table.*

ArPharazon-V
But as a last goodbuy to Indis it'll take some thinking.
..goodbye

Varda Valar
    Aye.
    *clunk, it goes as it settles into place. "Bring it on, hammers! Dare ya!"
    *A bit uncertain, I pick up the nearest hammer going by on the conveyor belt*

Varda Valar

    *Thwafffff!*
    *lights dance all around the room, gently poofing away as if they were bubbles when they touch something*
    *We may need a new hammerpad for a proper thunking sound.*
top

    After-meeting!
    Free chat!

Varda Valar
It started to raiin just now, yay! Cool it down.
Only 97F at the moment. Not as bad as, say, Arizona.

ArPharazon-V
Still too hot for me.
And it's cooler here, but still too hot :-)

Varda Valar
Hey, that's summer for you. Beats permafrost.

ArPharazon-V
I suppose that's true!

ArPharazon-V
Right. Personal gaming report!
For flashgaming, 3 platformers of different sorts!

ArPharazon-V
http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/aztecs_totems is more a puzzle game where you have to jump into and use totems of different sorts to reach the end of the level, collecting coins in the process.

ArPharazon-V
http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/shword is the second game, simpler and more silly, where you have to throw your sword and then teleport to it, to reach the exit.

Valar Guild

July 24, 2016 Sunday Meeting