Valar Guild

December 27, 2020 Sunday Meeting

5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Discord: Valar Guild/meeting_place

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Transcript work by
Varda.
[times are Central Time from Varda's Discord. Add one hour for Eastern.]
["slight smile" is the same as we are used to using as a regular smiley]

Attending (and spoke): (8)
    Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Ciaran (Before), Elrond (Before), Eonwe, Frodo/Twisted Elm, Irmo, Varda (presiding)

Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Gaming:
    General reports: World of Warcraft, OverwatchLord of the Rings Online
Tolkien:
    Topic: Celebrations in Tolkien's world.
After-meeting:
    Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
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Before-meeting
Eonwë Valar12/24/2020
Merry Christmas Eve all.
[2:20 AM]
Auros on LotRO is now at lvl 16 Wit. He's getting wittier by the day :}
December 25, 2020

Elrond12/25/2020
Merry Christmas everyone!

Eonwë Valar12/25/2020
Merry Christmas :}
December 26, 2020

VardaYesterday at 2:43 PM
Merry Christmas, and grats on the Wittiness. : )

CiaranYesterday at 4:21 PM
hi wachya doing tooday
December 27, 2020

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:01 PM
Aiya, and happy winter veil!
[4:01 PM]
or... winter solstice
[4:01 PM]
Yuletide?

VardaToday at 4:02 PM
Aiya!

IrmoToday at 4:02 PM
Hey all

VardaToday at 4:02 PM
Aiya Phar and Irmo : )
[4:03 PM]
Soo many gaming events for this time of year. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:03 PM
ah yes, http://www.cotclassic.com/comic/1999-12-25/ is what I was looking for
    COTC Classic
    Jamie Robertson
    1999-12-25
    Visit the post for more.

[4:03 PM]
wow, 21 years old already

VardaToday at 4:04 PM
hehe, there you go.
[4:05 PM]
Yule Festival in LotRO. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:06 PM
Seems less inventive than winter veil

VardaToday at 4:06 PM
Aye : )
[4:06 PM]

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Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:06 PM]

Membership:
[4:06 PM]
Here's hoping you all had a wonderful time this week!
[4:07 PM]
And we're looking forward to New Year's festivities
[4:07 PM]
Much boom and smoke. : )
[4:07 PM]
Gaming events : )

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:07 PM
No fireworks in RL here
[4:08 PM]
also, Arien poked

VardaToday at 4:08 PM
Plenty virtually!

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:08 PM
True!

VardaToday at 4:09 PM
I have to make a quick run to say bye to Elwing

FrodoToday at 4:09 PM [Note: Shows to the group at this stage as Twisted Elm.]
Hello!

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:09 PM
Aiya!

FrodoToday at 4:12 PM
stopping playing games for a long while but I wanted to find an MMO that my 6 year old boy and I could enjoy
[4:12 PM]
Lotro is very friendly so it seemed like a good choice
[4:12 PM]
We're really enjoying exploring and playing together

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:13 PM
The joys of being a gamer dad

FrodoToday at 4:13 PM
It's lovely to be able to re-enjoy things with the family without having it being a distraction but instead a bonding activity

Arien  ValarToday at 4:14 PM
Aiya  Glaedelig Jul

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:14 PM
Aiya!

FrodoToday at 4:15 PM
I think he'd really enjoy some instances but I need to find some people that are willing to tolerate someone with the mechanical skills of a 6 year old!

Arien  ValarToday at 4:15 PM
Welcome to the Valar guild new Brother or sister

FrodoToday at 4:15 PM
Hello hello!

VardaToday at 4:16 PM
Aiya Frodo!

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:16 PM
...Ah.
[4:16 PM]
My cat's name is Frodo. Is this going to be weird?

VardaToday at 4:16 PM
Click on your name to change the nickname just for this channel to Frodo.

FrodoToday at 4:16 PM
Ahaha

IrmoToday at 4:17 PM
You will have found the armor you requested in your mailbox Frodo

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:17 PM
Is it a mithril vest?

VardaToday at 4:17 PM
Good job on the nicknaming and the armor!

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:17 PM
K, enough name jokes.

FrodoToday at 4:17 PM
That is so kind of you. I'll make sure we get some little present in the mail back to you as a thank you.

VardaToday at 4:17 PM
Elwing says bye, she's driving home now.

IrmoToday at 4:17 PM
No need really....

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:17 PM
Namarie Elwing!

VardaToday at 4:18 PM
Fangorn says hi and bye as he heads for some short time of working.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:18 PM
and to Fangorn!

FrodoToday at 4:18 PM
6 year olds are also excellent at farming / grinding because he could happily just shoot things all day.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:19 PM
I knew I needed kids for something.. even if it's just skinning raptors.

1

VardaToday at 4:20 PM
Very practical. : )
[4:20 PM]

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:20 PM
I believe fishing (in WoW) is also quite popular

VardaToday at 4:21 PM
Fishing in LotRO is also good for cooking and for some quests.
[4:21 PM]

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Web:
[4:21 PM]
We need your art, articles, stories, poems. Email Varda when ready to get them popped into the site. : )
[4:21 PM]

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Gaming:
[4:23 PM]
I don't see Eonwe so you get me quoting Eonwe. Feel free to add in extras!
[4:23 PM]

World of WarCraft:
[4:23 PM]
This week's bonus event: Pet Battles.
[4:23 PM]
Check out the latest hotfixes.
[4:23 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23580183/hotfixes-december-22-2020
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: December 22, 2020 - WoW
    Here you will find a list of hotfixes that address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Shadowlands and WoW Classic.

[4:24 PM]
Any other WoW news?

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:24 PM
Presents now under the tree for winter veil!

VardaToday at 4:24 PM
Yay!
[4:24 PM]
Still have quests offered there?

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:24 PM
Yep, but they're same as always
[4:25 PM]
Also, blizzard store sales for in-game!
[4:25 PM]
Including the Woof Pack, a dog-variation of last year's Cat Pack.

VardaToday at 4:26 PM
heh

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:26 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HyNwnKBu0g
    YouTube
    World of Warcraft
    World of Warcraft Holiday Sale

VardaToday at 4:26 PM

Overwatch:
[4:26 PM]
I see some people playing it right now. : )
[4:26 PM]
A new blog is out: Snow Much Fun: Behind Penguin Mei and Toybot Zenyatta.
[4:27 PM]
https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23595154/snow-much-fun-behind-penguin-mei-and-toybot-zenyatta/
    Overwatch
    Snow Much Fun: Behind Penguin Mei and Toybot Zenyatta
    The artists behind Penguin Mei and Toybot Zenyatta talk tin robots, changing faces, and Antarctic wildlife.


Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:27 PM
(never trust a penguin)

VardaToday at 4:27 PM
: )
[4:28 PM]
All the games have their versions of quest fun for this time of year. Here's hoping you all had the chance to enjoy it!

Lord of the Rings Online:
[4:28 PM]
In LotRO, we even had some crossover with the new Elderslade area for missions, scaled to the character's level.
[4:29 PM]
New horse and other goodies available. (I grabbed the new horse of course.)
[4:29 PM]
We've had a number of folks coming in that haven't been around for a while. We hope they have a good time and stick around!
[4:30 PM]
This past week's members that came into the kin branches:
[4:30 PM]
Landroval server:
Arien
Celebrian
Dis
Elwing
Eonwe
Fangorn
Frodo
Irmo
Lenwe
Meriadoc
Miriel
Nar
Varda

Ithil server:
Dis
Eonwe
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Anor server:
Fangorn
Varda

Arien  ValarToday at 4:30 PM
ah Frodo

VardaToday at 4:30 PM
Take a look at that mass in Landroval. : )

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:30 PM
Heya all.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:30 PM
's many!
[4:31 PM]
Aiya!

VardaToday at 4:31 PM
Aiya Eonwe and Arien : )
[4:31 PM]
Frodo has been with us since 2015, so we're delighted to see him back. : )
[4:32 PM]
Any other mentions folks would like to make about their game, including Lord of the Rings Online? : )

Arien  ValarToday at 4:33 PM
nothing new here else
[4:33 PM]
just the old trot

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:33 PM
Level 60 \o/ further details to be given post-meeting

VardaToday at 4:34 PM
Huzzah Phar!
[4:35 PM]
Ready for...
[4:35 PM]

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Tolkien!
[4:35 PM]
Can we name any festivals or celebratory traditions from Tolkien's books? Most will be from LotR, but there are others.
[4:35 PM]
It's ok to look them up!
[4:36 PM]
This is not a test. : )

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:36 PM
Yule :}

VardaToday at 4:38 PM
heh
[4:38 PM]
There was a tradition in Gondor before meals

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:38 PM
It is on the calendar as days outside the normal months.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:40 PM
I prefer Friday the First.
[4:40 PM]
...which for us is actually next week

VardaToday at 4:42 PM
Yule days or Yuletide was the name in the Shire

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:42 PM
Right.. there's also Lithe, I think?

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:42 PM
Sounds right. Don't have my book in front of me right now.

VardaToday at 4:43 PM
Rohirrim and Gondor celebrated Yule
[4:43 PM]
Durin's Day is the first day of the year, so that would correspond with our New Year's about to come up.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:44 PM
Didn't the 25th of march become the first day of the new year?

VardaToday at 4:45 PM
Lithe days if I remember correctly was for the elves

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:46 PM
I remember Lithe being on the Hobbit calendar as well.
[4:47 PM]
One sec, I have to dig for my books.

VardaToday at 4:48 PM
There's a "first fruits" ceremony mentioned in the Akkalabeth of the Silmarillion.

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:48 PM
Is that the one on the Meneltarma?

VardaToday at 4:48 PM
in “Aldarion and Erendis” we learn about the specially consecrated boughs of Oiolairë that the wives of ship-captains used to bless their  vessels, incurring the protection of the Valar.
[4:49 PM]
The above is a quote from
[4:49 PM]
https://middle-earth.xenite.org/religions-middle-earth/

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:50 PM
OK, got my books, Quoting Appendix D:

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:51 PM
Throw the book at us!

Eonwë ValarToday at 4:51 PM
"(Hobbits') months were all equal and had 30 days each; but they had 3 Summmerdays, called in the Shire the Lithe or the Lithedays, between June and July.

VardaToday at 4:52 PM
moment of standing silence in a cavern behind the falls of Henneth Annûn;
“‘So we always do,’ (Faramir) said, as they sat down: ‘we look towards Númenor that was, and beyond to Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond Elvenhome and will ever be…'”
Eonwë ValarToday at 4:52 PM
The last day of the year and the first of the next year were called the Yuledays.
[4:53 PM]
The Yuledays and Lithedays remained outside the months, so that January 1 was the second and not the first day of the year. Every fourth year, except in the last year of the century, there were four Lithedays. The Lithedays and the Yuledays were the chief holidays and time of feasting.(edited)
[4:54 PM]
The additional Litheday was added after Mid-year's Day, and so the 184th day of the Leapyears was called Overlithe and was a day of special merrymaking.
In full the Yuletide was six days long, including the last three days and first three days of each year."
[4:59 PM]
Above that it talks about the Steward's Reckoning, also with 5 days outside the months, treated as holidays, and given the names: yestarë, tuilerë, loëndëm yavierë, and mettarë.
[4:59 PM]
King's Reckoning before it had 3.
[5:01 PM]
Elves had 3 days outside the normal calendar every twelfth year, but it doesn't say if they celebrated them as anything special or not.
[5:01 PM]
*3 extra

VardaToday at 5:02 PM
The elves did celebrate the rising of Valacirca at night.

Eonwë ValarToday at 5:03 PM
and 3 "middle days" between yavië and quellë (autumn and 'fading' in their 'months')
[5:08 PM]
That seems to be the most relavent to the topic.

VardaToday at 5:09 PM
Thank you, Eonwe. : )
[5:09 PM]
We have arrived at the hour. Seems fast!
[5:10 PM]
May you all have a wonderful rest of the year!
[5:10 PM]
gavels make sparks off the newly metallic hammerpad
[5:10 PM]
the hammerpad adds colors
[5:10 PM]

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After-meeting!
[5:10 PM]
Free chat. : )

IrmoToday at 5:11 PM
Happy rest or 2020 and may 2021 be a better year for all of us

VardaToday at 5:11 PM
Yay! : )

Arien  ValarToday at 5:14 PM
Agree fulloy with that and see you next year Irmo (or  before in game  )

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:15 PM
Sorry for bit of afkness, apparently our dishwasher's got problems.

Eonwë ValarToday at 5:18 PM
On a side-note of gaming: I'm pleased by how easy it was to get my alts on WoW through the Shadowlands intro so they can get working on their professions. Actually had enough stuff from my main to get my Tailor, Enchanter, and Jewelcrafter up to the 50+ range of skills, so for the first time in a long time, I have enchants and socketed jewels in my gear this early in the expansion, hehehe.

VardaToday at 5:18 PM
Nice, Eonwe. : )
[5:19 PM]
Hope that dishwasher problem was an easy fix, Phar. As if. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:21 PM
It's not, we might need to get a mechanic.

Arien  ValarToday at 6:02 PM
:/
[6:02 PM]
grats Eonwe
[6:03 PM]
time for the sun to go down .. eh up
[6:03 PM]
Namarie all  and i ll see you next year  stay safe and probably catch you here at some point

Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 6:03 PM
namarie!

Eonwë ValarToday at 6:06 PM
Sleep well Arien :}

VardaToday at 6:35 PM
Namarie Arien : )

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Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 7:07 PM
Personal gaming report!
[7:07 PM]
For flashgaming.. 2 old, 1 new.
[7:08 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/synapticon/spellstone is the first game; I really play it multiple times a day and have done for years, but it came up as a badge this week, so I might as well put it in the spotlight
    Kongregate
    Spellstone
    Spellstone is a fantasy card game with beautiful hand-drawn art and rich lore! Collect hundreds of striking cards to battle through a compelling story to unrav...

[7:08 PM]
Multiplayer cardgame, fantasy, with some hearthstone inspirations, but rather different gameplay.
[7:09 PM]
Build a deck of 15 cards, all you have to do each turn is pick one card out of 3 from the 15 to add to your board.
[7:10 PM]
They will then automatically buff and debuff and attack the opposing card, attacking the enemy hero instead if there's no card there. So build up your forces, but try not to fall behind because things can snowball
[7:11 PM]
Comes with different heroes, factions, tribes, a story campaign, collectible champions to level up, arena, weekend events... might not be for everyone, but I like collecting and I like the story, so it's nice for me
[7:12 PM]

https://www.kongregate.com/games/ArmorGames/i-love-traffic is the second game! A time management game where you have to control the traffic lights in order to let enough cars through without crashing into each other or letting them queue up too far.
    Kongregate
    I Love Traffic
    I am a cursed human being. When I drive my car I end up hitting a large majority of traffic lights and end up waiting a long time. One day while waiting at an...

[7:13 PM]
Gets more complicated as  you get through the 20 levels

https://www.kongregate.com/games/VasantJ/medieval-cop-how-the-grump-stole-christmas is the last game, new to me! A christmas special in the point and click puzzle Medieval series I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. In a replay (with a twist!) of the Grinch story, you play the Grump, who has to steal presents from several houses. Each present comes with a minigame or riddle to solve, and failing one reduces your health, which resets with each house.. you may want to save often.
    Kongregate
    Medieval Cop - How the Grump Stole Christmas!
    The Grump, a grouchy, solitary creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town in Rightia...

Despite the vagueness of the riddles/questions, still a fun few minutes for Christmas.

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Blizzard gaming:
[7:19 PM]
Heroes of the Storm:
2 levels got, up to 439! Got two of my tanks to level 8, Sonya and Stitches.
[7:24 PM]
Hearthstone:
to level 38 on the reward track now
[7:24 PM]
Still doing my quests, too!
[7:26 PM]
Weekly brawl is Wacky Waxy Winter Veil, where Greatfather Kobold has put wrapped up strong minions on the board; releasing them from the opponent gets them in your hand to use. Was a bit lost at how to handle this, but found a shaman deck that lets you evolve your minions a lot, removing that deathrattle and setting you up with a nice board from the start.

WoW:
[7:30 PM]
Completed Ardenweald, alongside the quest dungeon there. Made it from 58 to 60 along the way!
[7:30 PM]
Still love the place, and there are some amazing quests near the end.
[7:31 PM]
While much of the endgame is still out of reach due to not having completed Revendreth yet, I was able to do the weekly brawl again, as well as the pet weekly.
[7:32 PM]
During the latter, reached 5000 pet battles total, which was completely unexpected
[7:35 PM]
And while poking the Uldum invasion, because I still haven't gotten all paragon rewards there, I got a new toy, the hell-bent bracers. Gives you a cosmetic buff about flexing and arm power while showing you topless with bracers. Bit weird, but hey, it adds to the collection.
[7:40 PM]
Had a bit less time this week because of Christmas-related shenanigans, so didn't get too much done otherwise, though I did do some more Winter Veil stuff. Turns out you do get a different present from the Greench quest at 60, which can contain extra stuff. Haven't gotten the Flames yet though.
[7:41 PM]
But have opened my gifts, getting a new pet raptor called Jingles, and a new toy called a Wreath-A-Rang, which is basically a wreath you can throw at someone and they'll throw it back.
[7:42 PM]
Like the football and other items.
[7:43 PM]
And after that it was time to get a whole bunch of alts to Ironforge as well, to get them their gifts
[7:43 PM]
15 characters done so far, will do the last 5 tomorrow. Always nice to visit the alts.
[7:43 PM]
Though I have 3 that dropped under level 10 since the scaling change, making them ineligible for several of the gifts. I'll have to correct that during the next year.
[7:44 PM]
And that's it! Next week I'll get to Revendreth, hopefully complete it, get my covenant etc going... and maybe even raid!
[7:45 PM]
Thus concludes my report for the week

VardaToday at 7:55 PM
Thank you, Phar : )

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