Valar Guild

March 6, 2022 Sunday Meeting

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

Back to News
Transcript work by Varda.
[times are Central Time from Varda's Discord. Add one hour for Eastern.]


Attending (and typed): (5)
    Discord: Arien
, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Sandalf13, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:

Gaming:
    World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Hearthstone
Tolkien:
    Topic: Ioreth found a group (and invited Varda) that chats about the Silmarillion in LotRO Landroval server on Sundays (Note: correction, on Saturdays) 8pm EST in Rivendell, the Last Homely House, The Hall of Fire for about an hour and a half. Also setting up Discord. Others can come join in.
    Topic: Do we want to try again to go chapter by chapter (maybe chapter the first half and free-wheeling tangents into other books last half?). If we do, which book should we start with?
        Hobbit 2 votes. LotR suggested.
    Topic: Smith of Wooton Major
After-meeting:
    (non)Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.
top

Before-meeting

Varda — 02/28/2022
On the question of why Ar-Pharazon-(V) took his name, one big reason was to repair the name after a previous Ar-Pharazon had to be kicked out of the Valar Guild for horrible behavior. The name had a bad taste to us all, until our Phar redeemed it. Thank you!
[8:46 PM]
We prefer that those who use the villain names are very good people who can play the name with a touch of humor and help make gaming and text role-play fun.


March 6, 2022

Sandalf13 — Today at 3:56 PM
Aiya all!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 3:56 PM
Aiya, I'm on time

Sandalf13 — Today at 3:57 PM
Wow! What a pleasure to see that you can join us for ther whole meeiing today! How are you?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 3:57 PM
Experimenting a bit with getting the health thing under control.
[3:57 PM]
If it backfires it'll probably hit me tonight or tomorrow, but that's fine
[3:57 PM]
Also meant I was able to attend our WoW raidnight, as we've started up sunday raids again.

Sandalf13 — Today at 3:58 PM
It is good that you are being proactive. You alone are responsible for your health...no one else, and you probably know best what is good for you

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 3:58 PM
Heh, it's taken me years to even out what's wrong through several medical specialists, so I don't know abut that  But cutting down the time spent has been advised, and this should be a good step.

Sandalf13 — Today at 3:59 PM
That sounds wonderful!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 3:59 PM
If it works
[3:59 PM]
I was actually feeling somewhat nauseated as I got online today.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:00 PM
I shall keep my fingers "crossed," and keep you in my thoughts. Good luck and sei gesund! And I mean it! BTW - do you know what "sei gesund" means?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:00 PM
be healthy?
It's close enough to Dutch, really.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:00 PM
Close!!! It means "May you be healthy"...the subjunctive form gives it a sense of possibility, not assurrity.
[4:01 PM]
It is the same in German and Yiddish. My grandparents used to use it all the time as a greeting or a farewell....even to me, as a child.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:01 PM
Ah, yes. Similarity doesn't help with grammar.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:03 PM
Other Yiddish phrases I grew up with include "Oy Weh!", or "verstehst?"

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:03 PM
the latter does sound German

Varda — Today at 4:03 PM
Aiya

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:04 PM
Aiya!

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:04 PM
It is the 2nd person (familiar) form of verstehen...to understand. So: "verstehst" means "Do you understand?" as opposed to the formal Verstehen Sie?"
[4:04 PM]
Aiya Varda!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:04 PM
nod "Verstaan" is the verb in Dutch

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:04 PM
Understand in Engllish....not far apart.

Varda — Today at 4:05 PM
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:05 PM]

Membership:

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:05 PM
Heya all.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:05 PM
Actually in Dutch it specifically refers to understanding what someone says. It might be more general in German, but in Dutch that would be "begrijpen" or "snappen".
[4:05 PM]
Aiya Eonwe

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:06 PM
Aiya Eonwe!

Varda — Today at 4:06 PM
Sorry for being late. Had to finish some exercises that I should've started sooner. Hope not to goof up like that again. : )

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:06 PM
No apology needed! We used the time productively!

Varda — Today at 4:06 PM
Aiya Eonwe, Ar-Pharazon, and Sandalf : )
[4:06 PM]
A language lesson. JRRT would have approved. : )
[4:06 PM]
Membership:
[4:07 PM]
Great to see you, and especially to see Phar able to make it!

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:07 PM
Aiya all

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:07 PM
Yes! Happy to be here

Varda — Today at 4:07 PM
Aiya Sunshine!

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:07 PM
Aiya Arien!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:07 PM
Aiya Arien!

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:07 PM
Aiya Sandalf, Varda and Ar Pharazon

Varda — Today at 4:07 PM
Ioreth is doing better, able to use the computer and a bit more able to walk after all the chemo and stuff.
[4:08 PM]
Any other membership news?

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:08 PM
glad to hear , got another week of work and trhen other 2 weeks of holiday  L()
[4:08 PM]

Varda — Today at 4:08 PM
Good to know.
[4:08 PM]

top

Web:

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:09 PM
Apparently I need 2 wisdom teeth pulled.
[4:09 PM]
(that's my news)

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:09 PM
Oy Weh!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:09 PM
Oh, actual member news, ran into Fladrif in Hearthstone a few nights ago, we had a match and observed as well.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:09 PM
Both at once?

Varda — Today at 4:09 PM
I have more or less stopped bringing in stuff from outside, so we have not had as much for the web as before, which had been pretty much weekly. May have to start doing that again.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:09 PM
I suppose, still need to make the appointment, but would be good to have it done with.

Varda — Today at 4:10 PM
Amazing you kept your wisdom teeth this long, Phar. Good luck with that!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:10 PM
Thanks

Varda — Today at 4:10 PM
Yay for the Fladrif sighting!

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:10 PM
You are a glutton for punishment. One at a time would probably hurt a whole lot less.

Varda — Today at 4:10 PM
Or 4 at a time, heh.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:10 PM
And yeah, we took new pictures, it had been 2 years since last ones, so various cavities showed up at once.

Varda — Today at 4:10 PM
Two years! Long time between.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:11 PM
Myep.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:11 PM
I get a dental checkup once per year.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:11 PM
Need two fillings elsewhere as well.
[4:11 PM]
Oh, I go twice a year. But we hadn't had new pictures in 2 years and the new ones were hidden.

Varda — Today at 4:11 PM
Any other membership sightings for Europe especially? I have a tough time being able to spot those. : )
[4:11 PM]
Helm? Aragorn? Others?
[4:12 PM]
Hello to Eowyn and Fangorn/Treebeard over there in StarCraft 2 and our chat channel. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:12 PM
waves

top

Varda — Today at 4:12 PM

Gaming:

[4:13 PM]
and the well-trained gavel hops to Eonwe's side of our gigantic and well-polished table

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:14 PM

World of Warcraft:

This week's Bonus Event: Mists of Pandaria Timewalking.

The PvP Brawl: Temple of Hotmogu runs through Tuesday, March 8th.

The Darkmoon Faire is going this week.
[4:14 PM]
Now live: WoW Classic Season of Mastery: Zul'Gurub. --- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23780549/wow-classic-season-of-mastery-zulgurub-now-live
    World of Warcraft
    WoW Classic Season of Mastery: Zul'Gurub Now Live! - WoW
    Within the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale, distant drums beat in an ancient ritual, calling forth the Blood God, Hakkar to the ancient troll city of Zul’Gurub.

[4:14 PM]
Shadowlands Season 3 is live. --- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23778647/shadowlands-season-3-now-live
    World of Warcraft
    Shadowlands Season 3—Now Live! - WoW
    It’s time for the stouthearted to prepare for combat—the third season of Shadowlands is here.

[4:14 PM]
Sepulcher of the First Ones Normal and Heroic are live. --- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23774003/sepulcher-of-the-first-ones-normal-and-heroic-now-live
    World of Warcraft
    Sepulcher of the First Ones Normal and Heroic Now Live! - WoW
    Get an early look at the new Sepulcher of the First Ones raid, coming in Eternity's End with Season 3 of Shadowlands.

[4:15 PM]
Check out the latest hotfixes. --- https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23770463/hotfixes-march-4-2022
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: March 4, 2022 - WoW
    Here you will find a list of hotfixes that address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, Burning Crusade Classic, and WoW Classic.

[4:15 PM]

Lord of the Rings Online:

Update 32.0.2 came out this week. --- https://www.lotro.com/update-notes/lotro-update-32-0-2-release-notes-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    Update 32.0.2 Release Notes
    Here are the release notes for Update 32.0.2, released on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:15 PM
New raid yeah! Looking quite interesting and outdoorsy for a change.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:15 PM

Hearthstone:

Patch 22.4.3 is out. --- https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/news/23765274/22-4-3-patch-notes
    22.4.3 Patch Notes
    Patch 22.4.3 brings balance changes to Battlegrounds and Standard.

[4:15 PM]
That's it from me.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:15 PM
(first 3 bosses down on normal for us ;))

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:15 PM
Honestly, I have never been so disinterested in a WoW content patch as I am with this one.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:16 PM
While the story isn't that good, the raid's fun. The aesthetics of Zereth Mortis look great too, and I definitely want to do that Cypher thing, and I love the robotic animals...
[4:17 PM]
But I haven't actually set foot in the zone yet other than the raid for reasons explained in previous weeks, it's just from what I remember from previews so far, and pets friends of mine manage to gather
[4:18 PM]
It's an important story patch, anyway, especially the raid, wrapping up a lot of stuff, but I know people don't really like the way it's being done.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:18 PM
I tried the new zone, and I almost immediately was ready to log out, heh.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:18 PM
Hah.

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:18 PM
i just don t feel it is wow anymore .. shadowlands as well to be honest
[4:18 PM]
it i mean

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:19 PM
Well, next expansion should be smaller scale, anyway. Various hints to the dragon isles have been dropped or found. Even the new Exploring Kalimdor book (which arrived at my doorstep yesterday) has a reference to the place.

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:19 PM
and the out come is so disappointing .. i have seen the cinematic of the raid and .. you shouldn t deal with like that with mone of the most interesting , most complicated and most iconic characters blizz managed to create

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:20 PM
I've seen the cinematic for the first part of the raid, ending with Anduin. So I imagine I know who you're talking about.
[4:20 PM]
The actual ending cinematic though, with the Jailer.. I'm curious what it'll lead to.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:22 PM
"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to." That's the theme of alot of stuff these days. Like a few years ago around the time of Wrath of the Lich King, the big theme in entertainment seemed to be: "People can't handle the truth. Lie to them."

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:23 PM
Sounds like Russia these days.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:24 PM
Well, actually I guess WotLK would've been about a decade ago at this point.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:24 PM
2008 as I recall.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:25 PM
Anyway, I'm done with my gaming news. I relinquish the floor back to Varda.

Varda — Today at 4:25 PM
Thank you.
[4:25 PM]
I have a little more on Lord of the Rings Online.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:25 PM
I'd apologize for the tangent but that's how we roll here

Varda — Today at 4:26 PM
That was gaming, not a tangent, no worries. : )

LotRO:
The stables around the Trollshaws and Rivendell were updated and need to be found again by your characters.
Angle of Mitheithel stables in the Trollshaws are now available.
The Angle is for levels around 40 to 45.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:26 PM
My High Elf didn't fall into another 3000-year coma to forget where they were, did he? (lol)

Varda — Today at 4:27 PM
It appears mostly human and has fog patches.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:27 PM
The supposed home of the Dunedain Rangers.

Varda — Today at 4:27 PM
Some small roads don't appear on the large map but are on the radar.
Traveling the area on a light warhorse, my seriously overlevel 140 crashed to desktop in a fog patch and an instance door (Abandoned Burrow) on a side road.
Also a crash going down the ramp from Thorenhad.
[4:28 PM]
Changing from warhorse to regular mount may have helped, as the crashes stopped.
And no, Eonwe, here's hoping your High Elf skipped another coma.
Every so often new low level areas are added.
We had one not long ago for Wilderland.
[4:29 PM]
Elven area stable mounts have changed to elk.
Why elk?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:29 PM
Why not elk?

Varda — Today at 4:29 PM
This hopefully adds to the feeling that we are no longer in human or dwarf lands and makes a group of vocal players happy.
[4:30 PM]
Well, elk is movie, not book, and the game mostly has adhered to the book.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:30 PM
Fair.
But still, it's elk!

Varda — Today at 4:30 PM
But it's popular to have elk. I enjoy them too, lore-nut that I am.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:31 PM
Elk do NOT like being ridden, in the real world

Varda — Today at 4:31 PM
Aye - reindeer might make more sense, but the movie had Thranduil on an elk and looked fantastic.
O well.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:31 PM
We saw one Elf from the Moriquendian kingdom of Mirkwood ride an elk. What was Elrond, a High Elf, riding when he came back from slaughtering goblins in the movie? Not an elk.
But anyways...

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:31 PM
it was a horse with horns bound to the head anyway which it probably didnt like much anyway

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:32 PM
I could definitely see a reindeer...but not an antelope or a regular deer.

Varda — Today at 4:32 PM
No antelope or regular deer used, too small.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:32 PM
Indeed.

Varda — Today at 4:32 PM
I have one of those horses with a horned headstall in game. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:32 PM
How about a moose?

Varda — Today at 4:32 PM
That would be plenty big enough, but no excuse for it. : )

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:33 PM
Could be...but Moose can be ANGRY at times. Avoid a moose in the wild. S/he might CHARGE!

Varda — Today at 4:33 PM
Maintenance plus Update 32.0.2 took a long time.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:33 PM
I'm reminded of the movie Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, with the guy trying to get antlers on the mouse's head.

Varda — Today at 4:33 PM
And if a moose hits you, you may be only a smear on the ground.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:33 PM
Yes.

Varda — Today at 4:33 PM
https://www.lotro.com/update-notes/lotro-update-32-0-2-release-notes-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    Update 32.0.2 Release Notes
    Here are the release notes for Update 32.0.2, released on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022.

[4:34 PM]
March 3:

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:34 PM
Free after Rabbie Burns "To a Moose* ~

Varda — Today at 4:34 PM
We had good news for our Shadowfax server folks.
Players on the Legendary Server of Shadowfax can now progress into the realms of Rohan and Wildermore, with a new level cap of 85

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:34 PM
"The best laid plans of mice and men oft gang aglay," or something like that as I recall.

Varda — Today at 4:34 PM
Enjoy  : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:34 PM
moose and men?

Varda — Today at 4:35 PM
gang aft a gley? Aye, something like that.
[4:35 PM]
Or the best laid plans don't survive first engagement? : )
Anyway:

Lord of the Rings players in kin this past week:
Landroval server:
Eonwe
Erkenbrand
Fangorn
Ioreth
Irmo
Nar
Nimrodel
Varda

Anor server:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Varda

Shadowfax server:
Varda

Treebeard server:
Varda

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:35 PM
sorry for that .. hides in the corner]

Varda — Today at 4:36 PM
Arien, it went right over my head. Will have to look it up. : )

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:36 PM
Got it!
The most famous line of "To a Mouse" is this: “The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley.”

Varda — Today at 4:36 PM
There you go. Thanks for looking it up.

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:36 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZGkYW4b5I0
    YouTube
    MarcoMalo1
    I hate meeces to pieces.

Varda — Today at 4:36 PM
I mangled mine pretty thoroughly.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:37 PM
I live where the deer and the antelope playt (or used to, at least), but NOT the moose.

Varda — Today at 4:37 PM
Thanks? : )
[4:38 PM]
First time I hiked up from the university I had just entered and went over a hill, there was a small herd of pronghorn looking back at me before running off. That was when I was absolutely sure this was the right place for me. ; )

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:38 PM
Where was that, Varda?

Varda — Today at 4:38 PM
Any other gaming news?
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.
[4:39 PM]
I was there for a Wildlife degree.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:39 PM
Sul Ross used to sponsor a really GOOD geology field camp for post-Junior year geology majors.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:39 PM
good start, then!

Eonwλ Valar — Today at 4:39 PM
Just one of many old cartoons that dance around in my head from time to time, hehe. The discussion of Mooses (Meese) and Mice (Meese) brought it to mind, heh.

Varda — Today at 4:39 PM
My brother, Meriadoc, was working towards his Geology. Incredible place.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:40 PM
I hope you will ask him to review my Chapter Three.

Varda — Today at 4:40 PM
Funny what sticks in our heads, Eonwe. : )
[4:40 PM]
I believe you already had a geologist checking it? : )  But he would probably enjoy taking a look.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:41 PM
Yes. But more reviews are better than one reviewer.

Varda — Today at 4:41 PM
When he gets a few minutes free someday. ; )
Agreed.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:41 PM
OK then.

Varda — Today at 4:41 PM
Any further gaming news?
I know Valarites play a ton of other games.  : )
[4:42 PM]
On to

top

Tolkien!

[4:42 PM]
A nifty thing Ioreth let me join into in LotRO is
a group that chats about the Silmarillion in-game on Saturdays.
[4:43 PM]
It's on Saturday evenings, 8pm EST (servertime is EST), in the Hall of Fire in the Last Homely House in Rivendell.
They go chapter by chapter.
[4:44 PM]
I don't think it's been going long since they had just hit chapter 2 of Aule and Yavanna, but it was fun.
It lasted about an hour and a half.
[4:45 PM]
We attempted a chapter by chapter way of handling chats quite some years back, starting with the Hobbit.
That didn't work well for us. : )
[4:45 PM]
We are very into tangents.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:46 PM
Tangents are what make the world go 'round....ha ha.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:46 PM
I don't know, forcing myself to read a chapter every week would be a nice way of keeping up...

Varda — Today at 4:46 PM
On another note, Arien found a story by Tolkien, not Middle-earth but has familiar elements.
[4:47 PM]
A point, Phar!
Before the gavel goes to Arien, how many would be interested in ttrying to do a chapter by chapter, at least for the first half hour? It could be a bit constraining.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:48 PM
Of what book?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:48 PM
In a hole in the ground...

Varda — Today at 4:48 PM
We require our Full Members to have read the LotR but no others are required.
[4:49 PM]
My knee-jerk was to start with the Hobbit, but we should probably do the LotR.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:49 PM
Hobbit would be best but only if we all agree.

Varda — Today at 4:49 PM
A lot of us are big Silmarillion fans.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:49 PM
i really need to get started on LoTRO, once  finish Chp 3.

Varda — Today at 4:49 PM
Thus any of the books are a big restraint on some of us.
[4:50 PM]
So maybe the first half of Tolkien for a chapter, then freewheel or tangent?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:50 PM
Hobbit, LotR, Silm, UT, History, you name it...

Varda — Today at 4:50 PM
Aye, most here have read a crazy number of books.
[4:51 PM]
Any one book is a bit of a straitjacket, so we're open to comments.
We could try it and see if it goes better than last time?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:51 PM
Of course rereads would be needed, so if someone happened to just not have his/her Hobbit copy available, for example, they could only try to pitch in by memory.
I know we've had people mention lost books (Lost Tales?  ) before.

Varda — Today at 4:51 PM
We have all of HoMe that we refer to also.
[4:52 PM]
So we could start with the chapter and then consider how it was affected or relates to our other reading?

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:52 PM
There are TWO "Lost Tales," I and II.

Varda — Today at 4:52 PM
Yes, there are.
and some that are outside HoME as well.
[4:52 PM]
UT is considered outside, for instance.
[4:53 PM]
Would we want to start with the Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings?
[4:54 PM]
We might mention the main points and how they affect the overall story?

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:54 PM
Storywise and chronologically, Hobbit makes sense to me. But it depends. If people prefer LotR because they're more into that... as you said, Hobbit is not required reading.

Varda — Today at 4:55 PM
Then there are stories that aren't in the Middle-earth run at all.

Sandalf13 — Today at 4:55 PM
The Battle of Maldon, e.g.

Varda — Today at 4:55 PM
The Tolkien Reader has a stack of them.
[4:55 PM]
One that Arien was looking at recently is what she'd like to mention before the hour hits us.

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:56 PM
Like Smith of Wooton Major
[4:56 PM]
oNE strory I was fascinated about and can recommend for everyone

Varda — Today at 4:56 PM
(Digging right now. I have a book with that in it somewhere. rummage rummage)
Go ahead, Arien. : )
[4:57 PM]
The Zombie Survival Guide That's not it.
[4:58 PM]
Arien, go ahead. : )

Arien  Valar — Today at 4:58 PM
IT is a story about a circlet baked into a cake that gets into the hand of the title smith

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 4:59 PM
Looking for it, I just came across a title called Tales from the Perilous Realm.
[5:00 PM]
It has Smith among the stories too

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:00 PM
The story reveales where the circlet comes from and how it affects the smith . I don t want to reveal too much not to spoil  the story but as I listened to it I found some familiar parallels to other themesz and items we know from more familiar stories

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:00 PM
I believe that Tolkien was not above recycling successful themes for inclusion in other works...

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:02 PM
It sounded indeed like he worked those elements from Middlearth in some form into that story indeed . Take the circlet in itself .l it reminds us of for example of the circlet with the Silmaril

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:03 PM
Or the circle of a ring...

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:03 PM
or a necklace of the dwarves...

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:04 PM
or that at the end of the story the Smith returns the circlet to its  maker who is very surprised that somebody returned it willingly

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:04 PM
Or the cyclicity of the LoTR as a whole...the hobbits leave the Shire, and come full circle back to it, creating a cycle of thoughts, emotions, events, etc.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:04 PM
I wouldn't quite go that abstract, but sure

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:05 PM
anyways I thought I d mentioln it in case you  fancy some other Tokien story for a cold niight

Varda — Today at 5:06 PM
Found the book my copy is in to help others look it up: "Smith of Wooton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham"

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:06 PM
That's what I'm saying about this Tales of the Perilous Realm. I had not heard of it before, but I did just find it on my webshop, and it contains Roverandom, Giles, Smith, Tom Bombadil and Leaf by Niggle.
[5:07 PM]
Not bad for 23 euros. I think I'll nab it.

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:07 PM
23 Euros? ouch.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:07 PM
And that's the paperback.. the hardback is 53.

Varda — Today at 5:08 PM
If you have little kids to read to, they might enjoy "Bilbo's Last Song (At the Grey Havens)". Broken up with illustrations by Pauline Baynes but has the words.
[5:08 PM]
"The Tolkien Reader" has a nice stack of stories, poems, and an essay by JRRT.
[5:09 PM]
It's a good place to blow away money, rather than many other things we might spend it on. : )

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:10 PM
I have read

Varda — Today at 5:10 PM
We have reached the hour.

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:10 PM
"Leaf by Niggle" many times, and am always struck by the sadness in it.

Varda — Today at 5:10 PM
No real decision on if we want to do the chapter by chapter thing.
It is sad and yet with hope ringing out at the end.
A try to show the eucatastrophe.
[5:11 PM]
Hope, one of the major themes in his works.

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:11 PM
It probably reflects Tolkien's Catholic aesthetic.
Estel is in ALL of Tolkien....that is why I love his writings so much.

Varda — Today at 5:11 PM
I have heard many things as what may have influenced JRRT, including Wizard of Oz. : )
[5:12 PM]
But whatever the influences, he cooked up the ingredients to make something new and wonderful.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:12 PM
His works are obviously based on Dungeons and Dragons.

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:12 PM
Now I have to look that one up, as I being my Introduction, Varda!

Varda — Today at 5:12 PM
And that's why we're all here!
heh
[5:13 PM]
It's on our website. It's supposed to be serious, but I found it entertaining to think of it.
I did not write it!

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:13 PM
I believe that Tolkien's final thoughts on "estel" appear in the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen...when it is revealed that, upon his death, Aragorn actually appeared just like an Elf...his youth, maturity, and his wisdom of old age were melded into his resting form...he looked ageless, like an Elf. Eru's reward for a life well lived?

Varda — Today at 5:14 PM
Everything a writer hears, sees, or senses can go into the work, consciously or unconsciously. It's the finished pie that matters most, rather than the flour, but we still want the ingredient list!
All three stages coming together in one perfection at the end, aye.
Not necessarily elf, but certainly hope.

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:15 PM
Inspirations for a work are like metaphors and meanings in the work. People can speculate about a million of em, most of them things that the author himself had probably never thought of

Varda — Today at 5:15 PM
the gavel hops around the table, attempting a bow to each participant
thonk thonk thonk thonk thonk

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After-meeting!

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:15 PM
I don't know. I think that in Tolkien's mind, he was making a comment about how Eru regards estel AND Estel...hope is a good thing, and is rewarded.

Varda — Today at 5:16 PM
Free chat : )  Including continuing Tolkien chat if desired.
Possible
[5:17 PM]
We can also expect Aragorn to go to the place Eru has for humans and soon after to meet Arwen there. Both being outside the circles of time and with Eru.
So maybe, outside of time, no waiting even. : )

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:18 PM
I think Tolkien may have been remembering the old German expression: "Die Hoffnung ist der Wanderstam von der Wiege zum Grab." "Hope is the walking stick from the cradle to the Grave." My great-grandmother handstitched that onto a large cloth...embroidered?...and my Mom had it framed and mounted. It will hang in my house again, one day.
[5:19 PM]
Wanderstab....sorry.

Varda — Today at 5:19 PM
That's a beauty.
I need to go do supper for five. Hope to be back later. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:19 PM
Good luck

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:20 PM
enjoy your supper

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:20 PM
Me too. I will return when I get back to the Eisely Library. I have to head home for supper, then go back to the library to continue work on Chapter Three...it is a Sunday, after all.  Namarie to all! I shall return.

Varda — Today at 5:20 PM
I plan a fish fry. : )
Namarie!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:20 PM
namarie!

Varda — Today at 5:20 PM
Happy writing!

Sandalf13 — Today at 5:20 PM
Thanks! Namarie!

Varda — Today at 5:20 PM
And Phar, you know I read your stuff at the end. : )
[5:21 PM]
Yay transcripts!

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:21 PM
I know
Will start that when I complete my Hearthstone bounties for today. Good thing about being online earlier, not so much to do after midnight

Arien  Valar — Today at 5:22 PM
Right i found you a plot summary for the Smith of Wooton Major
[5:22 PM]
copied from the Wikipedia
[5:22 PM]
The village of Wootton Major was well known around the countryside for its annual festivals, which were particularly famous for their culinary delights. The biggest festival of all was the Feast of Good Children. This festival was celebrated only once every twenty-four years: twenty-four children of the village were invited to a party, and the highlight of the party was the Great Cake, a career milestone by which Master Cooks were judged. In the year the story begins, the Master Cook was Nokes, who had landed the position more or less by default; he delegated much of the creative work to his apprentice Alf. Nokes crowned his Great Cake with a little doll jokingly representing the Queen of Faery. Various trinkets were hidden in the cake for the children to find; one of these was a star the Cook discovered in the old spice box.

The star was not found at the Feast, but was swallowed by a blacksmith's son. The boy did not feel its magical properties at once, but on the morning of his tenth birthday the star fixed itself on his forehead, and became his passport to Faery. The boy grew up to be a blacksmith like his father, but in his free time he roamed the Land of Faery. The star on his forehead protected him from many of the dangers threatening mortals in that land, and the Folk of Faery called him "Starbrow". The book describes his many travels in Faery, until at last he meets the true Queen of Faery. The identity of the King is also revealed.

The time came for another Feast of Good Children. Smith had possessed his gift for most of his life, and the time had come to pass it on to some other child. So he regretfully surrendered the star to Alf, and with it his adventures into Faery. Alf, who had become Master Cook long before, baked it into the festive cake once again for another child to find. After the feast, Alf retired and left the village; and Smith returned to his forge to teach his craft to his now-grown son.
[5:29 PM]
well its time for bed for me anyway
Namarie L(

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:29 PM
namarie!

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Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:52 PM
Perrrrsonal gaming report.
[5:56 PM]
(non)flashgaming: An old one today. https://www.kongregate.com/games/RawEgg/encaged is a simple-ish platformer wherein you have to pick up the flags in each level, and the twist is that for each flag you pick up, you lose a movement ability of your choice, such as walking left, right, or jumping.
    Kongregate
    Encaged
    Encaged is a soothing puzzle platform game where you have to sacrifice your mechanics in order to progress.
    This game was initially made in a Game Jam. The the...

[5:57 PM]
Choose your order wisely
[5:58 PM]
Of special note is the atmosphere of the game. The music, the graphics, the relaxing wintery feel... the gameplay is simple but it makes it so enjoyable.
So have fun

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[5:59 PM]
Blizzard gaming:
[6:01 PM]
Hearthstone:
Made it to level 125 on the reward track. Got enough gold to buy a card back along the way, and went for Molten Core, the old Blackrock Mountain prepurchase cardback.
[6:01 PM]
Let my collection grow!
[6:02 PM]
While I haven't reached the next honor rank yet, the honor grind has gotten me yet another level for the Demon Hunter, who is now 53!
[6:03 PM]
Tavern brawl is Randomonium. Choose a class, get random cards, each card in your hand gets a randomized cost each turn.
[6:04 PM]
I went for the druid myself, who's known to have some expensive cards in the repertoire, though it didn't help me out too much. A few matches I won handily, but to get to all wins I needed, a bit more luck was required
[6:05 PM]
For mercenaries, got a whole bunch of levels on various mercs, though no new max levels.
[6:06 PM]
Got the first merc-specific task 16, at which point I also had decided to do story task 16 done. Just feels neater
[6:07 PM]
So I took a few fire mercs, even though they were lower level, put them on the backrow while I went through the Ahune bounty in Winterspring, getting them a couple more levels along the way, and finally having them face Ahune the frost boss with their fire abilities, which worked great
[6:08 PM]
Chapter 16 done, free mercenary pack gained. Next story chapters will take me to Blackrock Mountain, but no rush.
From random coins and said mercenary pack, I got a total of 4 new mercs this week.
[6:09 PM]
Lokholar, Yu'lon and Niuzao are new heroes, included with the Alterac Valley bounties and the Lunar Festival event, while Velen is an older merc I just happened to get enough coins for.
So a good few new additions!
[6:10 PM]
Oh, and apparently I got Cariel's abilities all maxed through coins now. She's one of the first mercs you get, so kinda fitting. They don't have a system for excess coins yet though, which is a shame.
[6:10 PM]
WoW:
[6:11 PM]
The raid is here! We dove into the Sepulcher on thursday, and luckily I was able to be summoned in there because I don't have access yet otherwise
[6:14 PM]
Cleared the first 3 bosses, the Vigilant Guardian, Skolex and Xy'mox, on normal. We've also been trying Halondrus, which is basically a giant Protoss Dragoon but Warcraft style, and the last boss of the wing Skolex and Xy'mox are in. But it's listed as 7th in the journal so it might be a bit too much for us yet. We're getting a grip on the mechanics, but dps lags behind.
[6:15 PM]
Got my first few pieces of new loot as well, a ring from the first boss, and a cloak from the Timewalking weekly quest. As well as some conduit upgrades, which are always nice.
[6:16 PM]
Another soulshape from Torghast! The bat. Gotta collect em all!
[6:18 PM]
Finally, alt! Continued on the mage, finishing Bloodmyst Isle to clear the questlog and then going back to complete Azsuna. That got her from 39 to 43, almost enough to resume the class campaign.
She's now ready to start Stormheim and get her last 2 levels needed
[6:19 PM]
And that's my report for the week!

Sandalf13 — Today at 6:45 PM
Is anyone still here?

Varda — Today at 6:56 PM
Thank you, Phar : )
[6:56 PM]
I came on just now [Note: side chat with Sandalf]

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 7:05 PM
Oh, back from afk a bit
[7:08 PM]
Anyway, should be off
[7:08 PM]
No need to make it as late as the last few weeks.

Varda — Today at 7:09 PM
Be well

Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 7:10 PM
Thanks
Namarie!

Varda — Today at 7:24 PM
Namarie, Phar

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