September 25, 2022
Sunday Meeting
5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings
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, Pallando,
Sandalf13, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Games Site Mass Update taking info through
Friday, before it goes into the State of Valar Gaming report and
updating the Games Site. Please email Eonwe or message on
Discord.
Anniversary Page started. Send your additions
to Varda to be placed on the page.
Tolkien Site and Anniversary page story: "We
Won!"
Gaming:
Games Site Mass Update (GSMU) emails are out.
Please send in your gaming info by September 30th to
Eonwe-(Valar).
World of Warcraft, Diablo 2:
Resurrected, Overwatch,
Hearthstone, Diablo Immortal,
Lord
of the Rings Online, Eve
Online
Tolkien:
Topic:
How secret was Aragorn's identity among the Wise?
After-meeting:
(non)Flashgaming
Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.
top
Before-meeting
Varda 09/25/2022
Aiya!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Aiya!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Hallo! I am here! Hope everyone is fine and rarin' to go for
another exciting adventure at the Valar Guild.
Varda 09/25/2022
@Bounder Yay! Time to join up to chat Tolkien and gaming and just
say hi. Or even lurk with the Valar Guild!
[4:01 PM]
We do have many forms of adventure. : )
[4:02 PM]
These chats, our Tolkien Site, Games Site, and our many games.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgOt3gTUSQU
YouTube
LucasW180
"I'm Going on an Adventure!"
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
aiya all
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Aiya!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Aiya Arien!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
(someone had to!)
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Aiya Ar!
Varda 09/25/2022
Fun video, thanks, Phar : )
[4:03 PM]
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Aiya Sandalf!
Varda 09/25/2022
Membership:
[4:03 PM]
Aiya Arien, Ar-Pharazon, and Sandalf!
[4:04 PM]
Eonwe is at work at the moment but sends his greetings and has
gaming news for us. : )
Don't forget to check the Games Site now and then, send in
Reviews, and send him news to put on the Games Site for everyone.
[4:05 PM]
Sauron-(Valar)'s birthday is Tuesday and Elwing will be coming
over. We expect she'll be showing up in our LotRO Landroval
branch, so if you want to say hi, that's the time. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Happy birthday!
Varda 09/25/2022
Any other membership news you'd like to mention?
[4:06 PM]
And Eonwe reminds me that the GSMU deadline is coming up! Be sure
your info is in.
Friday is the deadline.
Thanks, Phar : )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
GSMU?
Varda 09/25/2022
Games Site Mass Update.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Ah. sounds like a WMD.
Varda 09/25/2022
The info is used to give the State of Valar Gaming, and to update
the Games Site which will be wiped to put in the new info.
[4:07 PM]
All of this is intended to be ready for the 25th Anniversary of
the Valar Guild, which is Oct 4th.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
I'm sure we do play some Games of Mass Destruction...
Varda 09/25/2022
May-be
[4:08 PM]
top
Web:
[4:08 PM]
The Games
Site of course needs your help with the updated info.
[4:09 PM]
Direct info of course, and checking the games that we are in
personally. We can use help for the games in which Eonwe and I are
not in. (Strange to say that, but it is true these days.)
[4:10 PM]
For Anniversary # 25 Oct 4, our Anniversary
page is up and awaits whatever you may send for it.
It already has one story well ahead and is ready for more.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I hope to have "The Healing of Frodo" ready for the Anniversary.
Varda 09/25/2022
This year's theme is "Rings of Power" (any kind of ring with some
sort of power: wedding ring, bindstones in LotRO, etc).
[4:11 PM]
That would be great, Sandalf. : )
We also take stuff all through October.
Just mark that it is intended for the Anniversary, and that will
be added to the item.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
I've got a Paint artpiece in mind, though I still have to find
time for it
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
:)
Varda 09/25/2022
We can use a piece of art or cool screenshot or photo for the
Anniversary image section and one for the top of the page.
[4:13 PM]
Phar has shared art for the top of the page before! We are eager
to see what you come up with this year. : )
top
Gaming:
[4:14 PM]
The first batch of gaming news is from Eonwe's Games Site.
[4:15 PM]
Feel free to break in with your own general news for that game, if
we missed something!
World of Warcraft:
[4:15 PM]
This week's Bonus Event: Battlegrounds.
The PvP Brawl: Arathi Blizzard runs through Tuesday, September
27th.
Brewfest is running through October 6th.
[4:16 PM]
Check out the Warcraft News and Development Notes.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23859022/world-of-warcraft-news-and-development-updates
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft News and Development Updates
- WoW
Catch up on the latest World of Warcraft
release dates, news, hotfixes, and more.
[4:17 PM]
Check out the latest hotfixes.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23800887/hotfixes-september-23-2022
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: September 23, 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.
[4:17 PM]
Diablo 2: Resurrected:
Patch 2.5 is live.
[4:18 PM]
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo2/23827590/diablo-ii-resurrected-patch-2-5-now-live
Diablo II: Resurrected Patch 2.5 Now Live
Terror Zones are now live in Diablo II:
Resurrected! Experience this new feature in all expansion-enabled
online games now and on October 6 when Ladder Season Two begins.
[4:18 PM]
Overwatch:
[4:18 PM]
Two blogs are out for Overwatch:
[4:18 PM]
Overwatch 2 Developer Blog: Tuning Hero Balance For Launch
[4:19 PM]
https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23824005/overwatch-2-developer-blog-tuning-hero-balance-for-launch/
Overwatch
Overwatch 2 Developer Blog: Tuning Hero Balance
for Launch
October 4th is on the horizon and lets take
some time to talk about Hero Balance for launch day
[4:19 PM]
Let The Kitsune Guide You: A First Look At Kiriko's Concept And
Playstyle
[4:19 PM]
https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23841483/let-the-kitsune-guide-you-a-first-look-at-kiriko-s-concept-and-playstyle/
Overwatch
Let the Kitsune guide you: A first look at
Kiriko's concept and pla...
Kiriko is staged to join the support roster as
Overwatchs 35th hero, and were excited to share more about her
personality, toolkit, and gameplay!
[4:20 PM]
Hearthstone:
[4:20 PM]
A miniset is coming: The Maw and Disorder.
[4:20 PM]
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23852688/next-on-the-docket-the-maw-and-disorder-mini-set
Next on the Docket: The Maw and Disorder
Mini-Set!
After the Murder at Castle Nathria, Sylvanas
has been brought before the Jailer to answer for her crimes.
What crimes, you ask? Well, there have been
many. Watch the trial unfold in the all-new Maw and Disorder
Mini-Set!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
(a pun on Law and Order, for those unaware)
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
I see not Law and Order but Maw and disorder
Varda 09/25/2022
Aye - thanks for pointing that out. : )
[4:21 PM]
Diablo Immortal:
A content update is coming: Forgotten Nightmares.
[4:21 PM]
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo-immortal/23827589/explore-a-new-piece-of-sanctuary-in-forgotten-nightmares
Explore a New Piece of Sanctuary in Forgotten
Nightmares
Forgotten Nightmares, the first Major Update
for Diablo Immortalbegins to go live on September 27! Dive into
the details behind our first new dungeon Silent Monastery, and
more.
[4:22 PM]
Lord of the Rings
Online:
Update 33.2 is out.
[4:22 PM]
https://www.lotro.com/update-notes/lotro-update-33-2-release-notes-en
The Lord of the Rings Online
Update 33.2 Release Notes
Here are the release notes for Update 33.2,
released on Wednesday, September, 21, 2022.
[4:22 PM]
There's also a blog describing the upcoming delving system.
[4:23 PM]
https://www.lotro.com/guides/lotro-guide-to-delvings-en
The Lord of the Rings Online
An Introduction to the Delving System
They delved too greedily and too deep
[4:23 PM]
"Before the Shadow" now available for pre-purchase. The adventures
of Boromir on the way to Rivendell.
[4:24 PM]
https://www.lotro.com/news/lotro-before-the-shadow-now-available-en
The Lord of the Rings Online
Before the Shadow is now available to
pre-purchase!
Learn more about the mysteries of the One Ring,
travel with Boromir and more in our upcoming min-expansion Before
the Shadow!
[4:24 PM]
Arien, were you trying to say something?
[4:25 PM]
Lord of the Rings Online kin branches:
Landroval:
Dis
Eonwe
Fangorn
Nar
Varda
Crickhollow:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Varda
Shadowfax:
Arien
Varda
Treebeard:
Varda
[4:25 PM]
Arien and Varda both picked up the titles in Shadowfax.
[4:26 PM]
Any other gaming news?
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
I decided not to continue to the next title .. no more firebombs
and airstrikes ^^
Varda 09/25/2022
I quite understand.
[4:27 PM]
Here's hoping to see more of you on the main server: Landroval!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Airstrikes? Is that an eagle thing?
Varda 09/25/2022
Sauron bombs from above. It's lore unfriendly, not my favorite
thing.
[4:29 PM]
The increased difficulty is ok, although embarrassing to be killed
by vale-flies. But the lore-breaker is not my cup of Earl Grey.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Now picturing the Nazgul flying around with pumpkin bombs like the
Green Goblin.
#
Varda 09/25/2022
That would be more acceptable in some ways! There is nothing
visible doing the bombing.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
by the way .. talking about lorebreaking .. apparently some of the
lore cringes on the amazon series are due to lack of rights on the
books
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Not too surprising, if they only have rights to some of the lore.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
yep
Varda 09/25/2022
Arien, right. They bit off more than they could chew.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
yeah i am watchin
[4:37 PM]
some analysis of the series on you tube and they are quite good ..
they are actually pointing out what tolkien really wrote
and what he didn ' t write at all dry
Varda 09/25/2022
On Web, I neglected to put up the Anniversary link, correcting
that now:
[4:37 PM]
http://valarguild.org/varda/guild/NewsArchives/extras/2022/anniv25th.htm
25th Anniversary of the Valar Guild
Year 2022, 25th Anniversary celebration of the
Valar
Guild Tolkien fan club and gamers' group.
Pardon the interruption
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Can you provide any links for some of the Youtube conversations,
Arien?
Varda 09/25/2022
Calling this Tolkien now : )
[4:37 PM]
top
Tolkien:
[4:38 PM]
Maybe a favorite one. A search will bring up an awful lot on the
new series.
[4:39 PM]
Also the story on the Anniversary page:
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authors/Varda/stories/WeWon.htm
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
The guys doing these analysis are called "Mythen aus Westernis" if
you want to test or brush up your Germany Sandalf
[4:41 PM]
probably there are some english ones too but i havent found them
yet
Varda 09/25/2022
(maybe an English one you like for us non-German speakers
sometime?)
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Ich werde sehen!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
ah there is "The Nerd of the ring"
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Yes. He is quite good, I believe.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
he is doing the english analysis
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I wonder if "The Men of the West" has a review...I will have to
check and see.
Varda 09/25/2022
So who is still watching Rings of Power that are here?
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
i am
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I watched the first two in full, and part of the third...I sort of
lost interest.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
i ll try it as an audiobook the next time so i don't see the
visuals
[4:44 PM]
and see what different that makes
Varda 09/25/2022
I lost interest too, sorry.
[4:45 PM]
I got as far as Elrond and Durin in a rock-breaking contest, that
episode, and haven't watched since, sorry. [Note: 2nd episode]
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
its all right Varda ^^
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
https://www.youtube.com/c/MenoftheWest/membership
YouTube
Men of the West
Mae govannen! My name is Yoystan and I have the
honor to talk about Tolkien's Legendarium and Middle-earth lore
with you all! Thank you!
All content falls under fair use: any copying
of copyrighted material is done for a limited, educational and
transformative purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or
parody a copyrighted work. Such us...
[4:47 PM]
Yes. Men of the West has a review(s) of the Ring of Power.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
I ll see how far i get with it ... not sure whether I make it
through series one
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
Aiya
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Heh, sounds amusing enough.. I'll have to track it down somewhere
at some point.
[4:47 PM]
Aiya Pallando!
Varda 09/25/2022
Aiya Pallando!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
aiya Pallando
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Aiya Pallando!
Varda 09/25/2022
Pallando, did you have any news you wanted to pass along before we
bring up Sandalf's Tolkien topic?
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
LEt's see
[4:50 PM]
EVE news is that a new expansion is coming in november,
tentatively titled "Uprising".
It's going to be focused heavily on a rework of faction warfare,
but will also have some audio and graphical updates.
[4:51 PM]
As part of the lead up to this, a new event is starting this week
that will involved hacking and mining in various FW locations as
different factions race to complete tasks.
More details to come when the events start
Varda 09/25/2022
Makes sense.
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
(fight the slavers fight for minmatar!)
[4:52 PM]
In more personal news, my alliance will be in the Alliance
Tournament feeders this weekend.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
I like a pc game that encourages hacking.
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
I posted the details in harbor earlier this week
@Ar-Pharazon-V
I like a pc game that encourages hacking.
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
we need more EUTZ pilots, any time you want...
Varda 09/25/2022
Pallando-Valar 09/20/2022
My team will be competing in the feeder tournament for Eve Online
Alliance Tournament XVIII Saturday, October 1 @ 16:20 UTC/12:20PM
EDT and 20:40 UTC/4:40PM EDT. Matches start at 15:00 UTC/11:00AM
EDT and will all be streamed on https://twitch.tv/ccp. If we do
well, we'll be back the next weekend on the 8th (match times TBD).
Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform
and community for gamers.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
It was a pun
Varda 09/25/2022
Thank you, Pallando. Sounds as if you and your folk will be very
busy. : )
Pallando-Valar 09/25/2022
Think that's it. Next sunday will probably have more details about
the event leading up to Uprising and the AT.
[4:55 PM]
Hopefully I can report back a 2-0 record.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
See the little angels rise up, rise up ♪
Varda 09/25/2022
on to
[4:56 PM]
Sandalf's Tolkien topic : )
[4:57 PM]
Sandalf, go ahead!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Do you mean you want me to write the topic up?
Varda 09/25/2022
If you'd rather, I'll copy paste your topic here?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I think I can type it up again, maybe better this time.
Varda 09/25/2022
Here it is copied:
[4:58 PM]
It has to do with some apparent contradictions OR lack of clarity
on the part of Tolkien. In Appendix A, Tolkien states that the
White Council was aware that Sauron was searching for the Heir of
Isildur. If this is so, would Elrond have kept the fact that Estel
was living with him in Imladris, and that furthermore, Elrond was
raising him as a son of his own? Surely the White Council should
have known about Aragorn/Estel living in Imladris. App A also says
that Gandalf did not meet Aragorn until years after he had left
Imladris...but that implies that he "got to know him " at that
point. Might he still have seen Estel in Imladris at some point
earlier? There is a lot left unsaid in Appendix A,
[4:59 PM]
Sure, go ahead. : )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I Here is the direct quote from "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen,"
App. A.:
[5:01 PM]
"Elrond took the place of
his father, and came to love him as a son of his own. But he was
called Estel, that is 'Hope,' and his true name and lineage were
kept secret at the bidding of Elrond; for the wise knew the that
the Enemy was seeking to discover the Heir of Isildur..."
[5:03 PM]
This presents a couple of issues...If the Wise KNEW that Sauron
was out looking for the Heir of Isildur, is it probable that
Elrond would have kept the other members of the White Council in
the dark about Estel, seeing as his mere existence held such
import for the affairs of Middle-earth? There is a lot of
fanfiction our there that deals with this issue...some good, some
bad, and some inbetween. I think that Tolkien created an issue
that he never completely resolved in his writings, if all the
above is true
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Is it not wisdom to know that not everyone needs to know
everything, even among trusted?
Varda 09/25/2022
Those that knew what the Rangers were, such as Gandalf, would have
a strong clue, but would also have understood the need for
secrecy. Thus a Council member did know if the subject became
necessary for the whole Council. More not needed.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Let us approach it from this direction. "Estel" means "hope." If
the Wise thought that the line of Elendil was no more, it might
have affected their strategy for dealing with Sauron. Galadriel in
particular, as well as Gandalf, were always cognizant of Sauron's
mission...and Saruman was already on a treacherous path.
Varda 09/25/2022
Elrond was also on the Council.
[5:07 PM]
Galadriel may have known, due to relationships.
[5:07 PM]
So that left Saruman in the dark.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
If Elrond did not let the council know that Estel was alive and
doing well, it could have adversely affected the "hope" (no pun
intended) of the White Council.
Varda 09/25/2022
If the only one that did not know was Saruman, that might not have
been a problem.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Pretty convenient, in this case.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Yes. Perhaps Elrond was selective in whom he confided? There is
evidence that Galadriel and Gandalf were already somewhat
suspicious of Saruman.
Varda 09/25/2022
A need to know, basis, maybe.
[5:10 PM]
Gandalf did not seem suspicious until being stuck on top of the
Tower of Orthanc.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Also wondering, was taking the upcoming chieftain as a ward of
Rivendell a tradition for Elrond?
[5:10 PM]
I mean, Aragorn was not the first heir to live in exile, nor would
he necessarily have been the last.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
even if Estel had been a son of Elrond he d have been a prince of
Imladris and probably quite well versed in lore and of some
influence within Rivendell and maybe would have had a place in the
council or at least be informed of important events or decisions
Varda 09/25/2022
Yes, it was a tradition.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
According to what I have seen in the literature, it was
traditional for the adolescent-aged Heirs of Isildur to spend some
time in Imladris, learning from ELrond...buy they arrived as young
men, and already knew their destiny. Aragorn arrived as a
two-year-old and was the only Heir of Isildur actually reared by
Elrond...who came, as noted, to love him as a son of his own.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
If it was a tradition, that makes it more likely for the Council
to have known about it after so many years.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
even as such . i think Saruman might have seen him as threaT
Varda 09/25/2022
Elrond took in the child of the Ranger Chieftain every time for
education, because they were what he had left of his brother,
Elros. He also took them in if they became very old.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
But yes, Aragorn was somewhat as an exception. Because his parents
died early, I guess? I don't remember.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Plus: Galadriel had the Mirror....would she not have seen some of
this going on, especially in the home of her son-in-law?
Varda 09/25/2022
Aragorn's father died early, but not his mother, Gilraen, who also
lived in Imladris and is generally left out of fan fic. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Right.
Varda 09/25/2022
So the only one in the dark was probably Saruman. Valar design
there? : )
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
But I assume the reason for Elrond taking him in was because his
father's death, and not because of some predestined stuff about
him specifically making it to be king.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Exactly. So that is the probem, as I see it.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
And if Elrond has been educating/fostering heirs since ye olden
days, there would be less reason for Saruman not to know about it.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
That is an excellent point, Varda! The Valar, especially Ulmo, do
indeed work in strange ways.
[5:15 PM]
That is also a great point, Ar!
Varda 09/25/2022
Saruman may not have cared about the Heir of Isildur, as he was
looking for the One Ring. He knew the Heir would not have it.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
So he might as well have known.
Varda 09/25/2022
And why not keep the info from Sauron, whom he hoped to supplant?
[5:16 PM]
So it is probable that the Council knew.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
But I tthink that Arien's point from earlier is a good one: Even
without the Ring, Saruman would have seen the Heir as a threat.
Varda 09/25/2022
But since Aragorn was taken in so early due to the early death,
Saruman may not have known during the time of the early childhood
at least.
[5:18 PM]
How would the Heir of Isildur be a threat, if Saruman grabbed up
the One Ring first? He shared no info on what he was learning
about it except to tell the others that the Ring probably washed
into the Sea out of reach of anyone.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Interesting, that. 2500 years and it was still alongside Mirkwood.
[5:20 PM]
It would've taken a long time to wash out to sea at that rate.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
If the Heir, through his lineage, could have successfully inspired
Men, Elves, and Dwarves to fight Sauron, he could be seen as a
threat to Saruman if Saruman managed to somehow get the Ring...or
if he didn't, Saruman might have used the Heir as a
part-time ally, and then got rid of him later.
[5:21 PM]
In Chapter Three of my book, I discuss the ungeologic reality of
Saruman's claim that the Ring would have washed to the sea! Gold
DOES NOT roll along the bottom of even a mighty river...it sinks
to the bottom, and stays there as a "lag deposit."
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
Estel couold have tried to find out of his own accord what the
White Council was after and had he known it was the one ring he
could have tried to capture it for himself of course with good
intention that as we know would not have come to ripeness since
everything is turned to evil by that ring
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I am glad that Aragorn so staunchly refused the Ring when it was
right there in front of him, in the Inn at Bree. What a wonderful
scene!
[5:23 PM]
He was well-raised by Elrond.
Varda 09/25/2022
The Heir could collect all the helpers he wanted, but the Ring
would negate them all. And Saruman could throw the Heir off with
his Voice from being a problem to him. Let the Heir and Sauron
fight, then both are weakened and Saruman can sail in with the
Ring and take over.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Plausible, too.
Varda 09/25/2022
Destroying the Ring seemed so unlikely - people that held it could
not do it. Others would want the power of it. Ridiculous notion.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
*let foolishness be our weapon 2
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Give it to someone else and push em over!
[5:27 PM]
...Which is how they got rid of it in Bored of the Rings,
actually. Throw it over Gollum's neck then push him into a tarpit
acting as an anchor.
Varda 09/25/2022
: )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I just thought of something new (for me!)...If Saruman knew that
the Ring was lost by the Gladden Fields, when it fell off the hand
of Isildur, then he would have been geologically knowledgeable,
and he misled the rest of the White Council with his words that
the Ring rolled to the Sea...so in a certain sense, if the rest of
the White Council believed his words, then they - not Saruman -
were the geologic ninnyheads. Saruman was still searching by the
Gladden Fields in the hope of finding the Ring...so he suspected
it was still there.
Varda 09/25/2022
Yes. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
"Who knew gold was this heavy?"
Varda 09/25/2022
They believed Saruman knew better than they on that subject. Why
would he mislead them? Unless some did know a bit and therefore
mistrusted him.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Was not Saruman more inclined to the arts of Aule and metalcraft
in his earlier days? If so...he would have known about gold...
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Enough to know that it sinks?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
And Stays put!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
but even geologically speaking or geograpically speaking that is
foolishness .. we know that the ground is moving and water is
flowing .. so why should something that sank a 1000 years ago
(geographically speaking not that long either) still be on the
same spot?
[5:31 PM]
if its not a standing water
[5:31 PM]
or rock
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Sedimentation!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Some of the best lag deposits that contain gold, such as those in
Alaska, occur in rivers that are (or were) very swiftly flowing.
Gold is simply too dense to be moved by flowing water in any
natura river system. Trust me on this...PG 1842 Wyoming, and
G-0049 Nebraska,
Varda 09/25/2022
A fish picked up the shiny lure and swam off with it! heh
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
It would have to be a pretty big river fish to gobble up a ring
made of gold.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
ah salmons can be quite big
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Salmon and other migrating fish are too small when they are
traveling downstream, and if a larger fish ate a ring on the way
to the spawning grounds, it would have stayed there...as the
salmon die after mating in the upper reaches of their home river.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
all right
Varda 09/25/2022
Pike? Sturgeon?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
They are all homebodies.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
I think pikes and trouts are generally the pickerupper of sunken
jewelry in most stories.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
There is a huge folk-tradition about that.
Varda 09/25/2022
Moved the Ring just enough to throw Saruman off. ; )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Now that could be...
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
But they do tend to be caught around the place the jewelry was
dropped in those stories, yes.
Varda 09/25/2022
Deagol got it fishing.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Skipped the fishy medium, though
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
he was pulled in the river by a large fish wan't he?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
But he saw it lying on the river bed when he went diving in for
his fish.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
In place of a dark lord, you would have a fish, scaly and terrible
as the dawn...
Varda 09/25/2022
hehehehe
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
ha ha ha!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
giggles(
Varda 09/25/2022
Man what a fan fic. : )
[5:38 PM]
And then it chokes. Short story.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Could be a good... what are those 100-word stories called again/
[5:38 PM]
? [Note: Drabble]
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
"thE Dark Trout trying to turn whole middlearth into a vast ocean
filled with plankton and chasing away all those on two legs*
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
drabble?
[5:39 PM]
hehe
Varda 09/25/2022
FotR "The Shadow of the Past"
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
wow. We really rolled off-topic with that one...I believe that
Galadriel, Gandalf, Celeborn, Glorfindel, Erestor at a minimum
knew about Estel. I think that those folks kept that information
from Saruman, as at least Galadriel (and probably Celeborn) were
somewhat suspicious of Saruman by then...So: as a personal note,
my reading of some of the fan fiction about Estel led me to this
wonderful group of people - YOU all - when I wrote "Das Buch" as a
follow-on to a wonderful story about Bilbo meeting Estel in
Imladris on his way to Erebor. Varda agreed to post my story, and
now you are stuck with me.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Good fortune for us
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
sorry Sandalf mea culpa ^^ but was amusing
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
No need to ever apologize to me. I am a former Naval Person. I can
handle it.
Varda 09/25/2022
"He had a friend called Deagol, of similar sort, sharper-eyed but
not so quick and strong. On a time they took a boat and went down
to the Gladden Fields, where there were great beds of iris and
flowering reeds. There Smeagol got out and went nosing about the
banks but Deagol sat in the boat and fished. Suddenly a great fish
took his hook, and before he knew where he was, he was dragged out
and and down into the water, to the bottom. Then he let go of his
line, for he thought he saw something shining in the river-bed;
and holding his breath he grabbed at it."
[5:45 PM]
Politeness is part of our DNA, required during the test to join.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
You folks are all fantastic and welcoming... I am so glad
that I have gotten to know you, at least online, and in
person, in the case of Varda and Fangorn. What a wonderful group
of people you all are!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
:d
[5:45 PM]
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
BTW - for those who might not have noticed...Winston Churchill
referred to himself as a "former Naval Person..." I couldn't
resist.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
well have another welcoming item awaiting me eagerly i think
Varda 09/25/2022
and you also in person met Sauron and Gimli, just not in the
channel right now.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
True...and thank you for correcting me!
Varda 09/25/2022
A good reference.
[5:47 PM]
Just adding in a good memory, not a correction since you spoke
correctly.
[5:47 PM]
It is well past the hour.
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
maybe some day , sandalf we might meet as well in person
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I sure hope so! We must have estel!
Varda 09/25/2022
the gavel leaps in a swan-dive off of the shelf
[5:48 PM]
since it's falling short, the hammerpad rolls frantically in that
direction
[5:48 PM]
another hammer gives a boosting push
[5:48 PM]
thonk!
[5:49 PM]
The power of fellowship
[5:49 PM]
top
After-meeting!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
And if I get to see you in Scotland, then Ar had better be
ready for a visit as well....
Varda 09/25/2022
The sun is in need of setting, as we have passed the Autumn
Equinox in at least my part of the world. : )
[5:49 PM]
Drag in Fladrif!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
But ents are heavy!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
there might be a ferry again from scotland to europe by 2023
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
And yet, still float better than a golden ring.
[5:50 PM]
I wonder how many former ents I had in my fleet.
Varda 09/25/2022
Paddle over on an entish raft like a very large Gollum?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Speaking of the Equinox, it was a record 103 degrees F in Nebraska
last Tuesday, but Wednesday the high was only 65 degrees F, with
an overnight low in the high 40s. Strange weather we are having
(from the Wizard of Oz).
Varda 09/25/2022
Tar-Calion would have told the loggers to chase that tree down!
[5:51 PM]
: )
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Catch that tree!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
i shall try
[5:52 PM]
on that note .. nAMArie
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Namarie
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Namarie, Arien!
Varda 09/25/2022
Namarie!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Thanks for your wonderful insight tonight!
Arien Valar 09/25/2022
Namarie 1
Varda 09/25/2022
Thanks for a fun topic. : )
[5:53 PM]
I wonder if Ulmo sent that exceptional fish to Deagol.
[5:53 PM]
It was time to move the Ring to a hobbit.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Now that is the start of a great fanfiction story...
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Hmm, interesting thought. Grab a hobbit, bring him to the Ring.
Varda 09/25/2022
Somebody grab one or two of these prompts and send in an
Anniversary story. : )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Good for the history of the Ring, but not so good for poor Deagol.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
And just when the Ring finally made its escape some 500 years
later.
[5:54 PM]
Oh look, another hobbit!
Varda 09/25/2022
Deagol had the bad luck that Smeagol saw it.
[5:54 PM]
Another hobbit. Very suspicious.
[5:55 PM]
The Stoor hobbits were closer to Mt. Doom too.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Ah, yes, but the Nazgul went there first.
[5:55 PM]
...Then again, that was 500 years later again.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I am in the process of preparing a spreadsheet of all the Estel
fanfiction stories that I have read. When I am done with it, I
will send it to Varda for potential posting on the website.
[5:57 PM]
My list is not exhaustive, but it is pretty good. I believe in the
80/20 rule...based upon my Naval experience.
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
I did have a website bookmarked a lifetime ago, with lotr
fanfiction.
[5:57 PM]
I remember a Friends parody in particular.
Varda 09/25/2022
Why, Sandalf?
[5:58 PM]
You want those stories posted here, you mean?
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Do you mean why am I preparing a spreadsheet? I do not know...just
a thought that took me....NO! They are already posted. I just
wanted to be able to reference them for my own reading pleasure.
[5:59 PM]
I will only send you the spreadsheet, to see if it is of interest
to our reading public.
Varda 09/25/2022
That is what bookmarks in your browser are for. : )
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Ah. OK. I take it you do not think it is a good idea. I am OK with
that. I will just keep it for my personal use.
Varda 09/25/2022
I am not sure what you want us to do with it.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Neither am I! Bad idea.
Varda 09/25/2022
A generous thought is never a bad idea.
[6:02 PM]
Just unsure of how it would help anything.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Some of the authors that I have read, including Karen Robinson,
who started me on reading fanfiction about the LoTR, are really,
really goo, and have moved me to tears (or other strong emotions).
It takes a lot to do so....
[6:03 PM]
goo (not goo)
good...not goo.
Got to find those keys...
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
gooy tears...
Varda 09/25/2022
We did post one of her stories.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Yes...after I got her permission to post my follow on story....she
was very generous about the whole thing.
Varda 09/25/2022
Aye. We've reposted a pretty fair number of stories. Doesn't have
to be the first time, and always by permission.
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
And yes, Ar, tears are indeed gooey...
[6:06 PM]
At least a little!
Varda 09/25/2022
I need to go start a fish fry for supper now. : )
[6:06 PM]
Y'all have a great evening/morning!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Enjoy!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
I need to go the Telegraph Mill for some work on
Tolkien...Namarie, all, and as always, sei gesund! I will check in
on Ar's personal gaming report later this evening.
Varda 09/25/2022
Sounds like a plan. : )
[6:07 PM]
Namarie for now!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Namarie!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
And while the old site with fanfiction I mentioned, actually
specializing in "what if LotR had been written by someone else",
has since gone offline, I do seem to have found a partial archive
for it.
[6:08 PM]
https://www.goldmark.org/mirrors/lotr.html
[6:09 PM]
Depending on your literary knowledge, you'll surely enjoy a few of
em
[6:10 PM]
or
https://web.archive.org/web/20040402031230/http://www.teemings.com/extras/lotr/index.html
for the one that's now offline
top
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Oh, and namarie Sandalf
[6:29 PM]
Perrrsonal gaming report!
For (non)flashgaming, of the older badges this week, I'll give you
https://www.kongregate.com/games/nyunesu/unnamed-chick-game
Kongregate
Unnamed Chick Game
Unnamed Chick Game, a puzzle platformer!
Play as a chick stuck in a pointy egg-shell,
but be careful, everytime you land it hurts you.
Can you manage to comp...
[6:30 PM]
You play as a chick half-stuck in your eggshell, trying to find
your way to your nest, and picking up the corn at the end of each
level.
[6:31 PM]
But every time you fall, or land from a jump, you'll take damage!
So plan your jumps well
Not a long game, but fun music and a good timewaster for a few
minutes.
[6:36 PM]
Blizzard gaming:
[6:37 PM]
Hearthstone:
Made it to level 80 on the reward track. Seems really slow, but at
this rate I'll need a month to go for level 100 and the next
expansion hasnt'been announced yet, so should be fine.
[6:38 PM]
The next mini-set will come out soon, though, and since I haven't
spent gold in a while, I'll be able to buy the whole thing right
away.
[6:39 PM]
Brawl is Randomonium, where you choose a class, get random cards,
and every turn your cards' costs are randomized (though never
higher than the original price, as far as I've seen).
[6:40 PM]
Had some good fortune with the priest, as heals tend to go well
with pretty much anything random. A good hint is to mulligan for
an expensive and powerful opening hand, since you never know when
you'll get to play something really strong early on.
[6:42 PM]
Indeed, at one point I started off with a 3-mana spell in my hand
to destroy 3 mana crystals while giving every minion in my deck
2/2 extra stats. Was allowed to play the spell on my first turn,
losing only 1 mana crystal so not being that far behind, and
getting a ton of powered up minions which I was able to play even
more cheaply than usual. That was a fun match
[6:45 PM]
WoW:
[6:47 PM]
Good raiding progress. We cleared several bosses in heroic fated
Nathria for the first time, and on thursday we smacked down 9 out
of 10 bosses in normal fated Sanctum, for people to fill the gaps
in their normal fated achievements. Just Sylvie remaining on
tuesday
I did not get the tank trinket I wanted from one of the bosses we
killed, but we've got enough bosses down to unlock 3 vault slots,
so one of them might still hold it. There's always hope!
[6:49 PM]
Weekly is battlegrounds, which went quite smoothly, winning most
of the matches to get to 4 wins. Also got to honor level 102 in
the process.
[6:53 PM]
Finally, more alting. Completed Maldraxxus and sent the rogue
onward to Ardenweald, where he made it from level 56 to 58. Still
going strong, and had little trouble with, for example, an elite
fight that a friend's rogue alt has a lot more trouble with. So
I'm not too worried
[6:54 PM]
Some goings on with a local faire here in town this week, so not
as much questing done as I'd planned, but hopefully finishing
Ardenweald shouldn't take more than the next week.
[6:56 PM]
And that's my report for the week!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Sorry I missed you! I had a productive evening at the Tel
Mill...beautiful evening, cool Fall-like weather, and am
glad to snuggle in at home. Hope you have a wonderful week and sei
gesund!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Ah, good timing, just came back from watching something on tv, and
will be going to sleep soon
[8:29 PM]
You have a wonderful week as well!
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Thank you so much! That really was good timing... I just got up to
grab something to drink, and my laptop let me know that you wrote!
Perfekt!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
hehe
Sandalf13 09/25/2022
Namarie, again!
Ar-Pharazon-V 09/25/2022
Namarie
top