August 27, 2023
Sunday Meeting
5:00 P.M. Eastern 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, which is Valar time and LotRO /servertime.]
Attending (and typed): (6)
Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Pallando, Sandalf, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Gaming:
World of
Warcraft, Diablo
4, Overwatch,
Diablo 3, Diablo
Immortal, Hearthstone, Starcraft 2,
Lord
of the Rings Online, Eve Online
Tolkien:
Topic:
Nature in Tolkien's legendarium.
After-meeting:
(non)
Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard
games afterwards.
top
Before-meeting
Varda — Yesterday at 3:59 PM
Aiya : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 3:59 PM
Aiya!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:04 PM
Hiya Phar : )
[4:04 PM]
@Bounder @Guild-friend Valar Guild meeting time! Come say hi or lurk
or chat about gaming and Tolkien!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:07 PM
Aiya all!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:07 PM
Aiya Sandalf : )
[4:07 PM]
top
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:07 PM]
Membership:
[4:08 PM]
Great time to pass along our news, like moving, jumping in a new
creek, etc. : )
Fangorn and Sauron just dropped by the computer in real life,
hello's from them. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:08 PM
Aiya Sandalf!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:08 PM
Eowyn and family are traveling and doing cool stuff.
[4:09 PM]
I meant to ask her if I could share a pic but forgot. They were on a
ship leaving Norway.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:09 PM
Blur their faces and it'll be fine
Varda — Yesterday at 4:09 PM
heh
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:10 PM
On Friday, I took my next door neighbors for a ride over Loveland
Pass. The temperature dropped 26 degress over a 7,000 foot climb.
After the Pass, we sat in a hot tub at Swan Mountain after driving
through Breckenridge, Frisco, and Dillon. They hadn't been that way
in a while, so I thought it would be a nice things to take them up
there. We all had a good timne.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1145465489783541811/20230825_102150.jpg
[4:11 PM]
Definitely two hands on the wheel at all times driving up and down
U.S. 6.
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:12 PM
A short wave and flashy sunbeam from the Suncarrier
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:12 PM
Aiya Arien!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:13 PM
Aiya arien!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:14 PM
Aiya Arien : )
Cool shot, Sandalf!
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:14 PM
sorry for being late was posting some pictures from an usb stick
onto facebook which prooved quite tricky
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:14 PM
Will we see some?
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:15 PM
not until you are into saltires and stuff ^^ I think they are
not really suitable for posting here
Varda — Yesterday at 4:15 PM
If you have her Facebook? : )
[4:16 PM]
Maybe a side message with an url?
[4:18 PM]
Ok, here's a "blurred" face so to speak. : )
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/Eowyn/martial-Eowyn-in-Norway.jpg
Eowyn-(V) in Norway.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:19 PM
She is no man!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:19 PM
For sure. : )
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:19 PM
But she sure is a woman!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:19 PM
I have another shot where her face and blonde hair show, plus her
son also equipped with sword.
[4:20 PM]
But this one will be pushing it enough for now!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:20 PM
Eowyn is your daughter, correct?
Varda — Yesterday at 4:22 PM
Correct
Her son is our grandson. : )
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:22 PM
Wonderful picture! I assumed so.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:22 PM
Ok, I can't resist. Or rather, I could, but it's too amusing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbgI3J59ZZc
YouTube
MJ Edwards
You are correct Sir!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:23 PM
hehe, yep, that's a belting out of You are correct, Sir!
[4:24 PM]
Any other news? Been interesting so far. : )
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:25 PM
Nothing from me.
There, now silence isn't the only answer :}
Varda — Yesterday at 4:26 PM
hehe
You gave us the video!
On to
top
Web:
Stuff is happening, just not all that visible.
Found out today our Music files are having a problem with the new
format, so that is now under repair.
[4:27 PM]
Please feel free to tell us when you find something not working!
Tell me, I can fix or pass it to someone who can fix (hopefully).
On to
top
Gaming!
[4:28 PM]
Eonwe, would you like this shiny, hoppy gavel? It's already been fed
and ready to go.
(Gavels. Who knew they ate?)
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:28 PM
Sure.
Varda — Yesterday at 4:28 PM
gavel hops to Eonwe
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:30 PM
World of Warcraft:
[4:30 PM]
This week's bonus events: Battlegrounds.
The PvP Brawl: Arathi Blizzard is going
through Tuesday, August 29th.
Classic Hardcore Realms are live. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23991792/classic-hardcore-realms-now-live
World of Warcraft
Classic Hardcore Realms Now Live! - WoW
Face Azeroth’s dangers in WoW Classic’s
Hardcore realms and see just how far you can go.
You only have one life to live, and the Spirit
Healers won’t be there to send you back out into the world of the
living when you die.
Death is permanent, and once you’ve been bested
by the environment (or even other players), you’ll need to dust
yourself off...
[4:31 PM]
Check out the WoW Classic 1.14.4 Patch Notes. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23987544/world-of-warcraft-classic-era-1144-update-notes
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft Classic Era 1.14.4 Update
Notes - WoW
New Classic Era Hardcore realms will open at
3:00 p.m. PDT on August 24. Learn more about these realms and
other updates right here.
Coming with the Fury Incarnate Content Update: Dawn of the
Infinite Dungeon Heroic Difficulty. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23987545/dawn-of-the-infinite-heroic-difficulty-coming-in-fury-incarnate
World of Warcraft
Dawn of the Infinite Heroic Difficulty Coming
in Fury Incarnate - WoW
Gather your party and preserve the timeline in
Heroic Difficulty Dawn of the Infinite mega-dungeon with the
release of Fury Incarnate.
[4:31 PM]
Check out This Week in WoW. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23991796/this-week-in-wow-august-21-2023
World of Warcraft
This Week in WoW: August 21, 2023 - WoW
Each week we’ll look ahead to what’s in store
for World of Warcraft, share the latest news, and keep you in the
know byte by byte. Are you ready to get hard-core? Classic
Hardcore realms go live August 24 at 3:00 p.m. PDT!
[4:31 PM]
Check out Blues News. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23999603/blues-news-august-25-2023
World of Warcraft
Blues News: August 25, 2023 - WoW
Stay up to date with World of Warcraft when you
join us each week as we round up some of the latest top blue posts
and discussions.
[4:32 PM]
Check out this week's hotfixes. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973739/hotfixes-august-24-2023
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: August 24, 2023 - WoW
Here you will find a list of hotfixes that
address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Dragonflight,
Wrath of the Lich King Classic, Burning Crusade Classic, and WoW
Classic.
Diablo 4:
[4:32 PM]
Patch 1.1.3 will be out August 29th. ---
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4/23964909/diablo-iv-patch-notes
Diablo IV Patch Notes
We will continually update this article with
all patches the development team implements for Diablo IV.
[4:32 PM]
Season of Blood begins October 17th. ---
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4/23989476/season-of-blood-is-dripping-into-sanctuary
Season of Blood is Dripping into Sanctuary
At Gamescom: Opening Night Live, we announced
the release date for Diablo IV’s Season of Blood and gave a
bite-sized look at its crimson-covered theme in a new trailer.
[4:33 PM]
Overwatch:
Check out the blog on the new Player Progression System that came
with the recent update. ---
https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23991794/show-off-your-playstyle-with-the-new-player-progression-system/
Overwatch
Show Off Your Playstyle with the New Player
Progression System
Show off your best stats for heroes and other
achievements with the new Player Progression feature in Overwatch
2
[4:34 PM]
Diablo 3:
There's been updates to the PTR. The PTR is available through
August 29th. ---
https://us.diablo3.blizzard.com/en-us/blog/23987087/diablo-iii-ptr-276-now-live-8-23-2023
Diablo III
Diablo III PTR 2.7.6 - Now Live
The Diablo III 2.7.6 PTR begins on August 16
and lasts two weeks. Join us in testing the new Solo Self Found
feature, Visions of Enmity Season theme, and more.
Diablo Immortal:
Check out the latest bug fixes. ---
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo-immortal/23826549/diablo-immortal-bug-fixes-and-patch-notes-for-all-platforms
Diablo Immortal Bug Fixes and Patch Notes for
All Platforms
We will continually update this blog with all
bug fixes and patches the team implements for Diablo Immortal on
all platforms.
Hearthstone:
Coming August 31st is a new expansion: Caverns of Time. It will be
Hearthstone's first direct-to-Wild expansion. ---
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23987538/come-explore-the-caverns-of-time
Come Explore the Caverns of Time
Set your watches, it’s nearly time for Caverns
of Time, Hearthstone’s first-ever direct-to-Wild set!
[4:35 PM]
Starcraft 2:
A hotfix came out this week. ---
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/starcraft2/23987086/starcraft-ii-5-0-11-hotfix-2-patch-notes
StarCraft II 5.0.11 Hotfix 2 Patch Notes
Patch 5.0.11 Hotfix 2 has been released with
various bug fixes. Check out the detail!
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
right i have to run already i fear since it is an early start
tomorrw and i have a ltitlew thing to do before bed
Varda — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
Namarie, Sunshine : )
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
sorry for being such a short flyby tonight
Varda — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
Thanks for dropping by!
Arien Valar — Yesterday at 4:35 PM
:)
[4:36 PM]
Namarie all :)
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:36 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln8sW9ts2uU
YouTube
TimeandMonotony
The Outer Limits OST-Control Voice Sign Off
[4:36 PM]
Varda's floor again.
Take care Arien.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 4:36 PM
NAmaire!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:36 PM
Namarie, Arien!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:39 PM
floor sparkles in the starlight
Lord of the Rings
Online:
Farmers' Faire continues through September 7
[4:40 PM]
You can still get special drops from a Tier 2 Thrang group run,
pugs abound right now. Storvagun the Giant has some excellent
drops.
Valarites showing up in the kin branches this past week:
[4:41 PM]
Landroval kin branch:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Nar
Pengolodh
Varda
Crickhollow kin branch:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Varda
Treebeard kin branch:
Varda
Any other gaming news or other news or
requests for anything in a game or the website?
[4:42 PM]
On to
Tolkien!
[4:43 PM]
Before I get going like a steamroller, did anyone else have
a subject you'd like to bring up?
[4:44 PM]
Oh, I should ask Pallando!
Varda — Yesterday at 4:49 PM
Pallando is responding. : )
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:51 PM
This week in Eve, a whole slew of new videos were
released. They tied in to a puzzle that the community spent 3
feverish days solving, resulting in finding the location of 4
ancient gates.
There seems to be more mysteries yet to discover, with a number of
the clues from the puzzle seemingly unused
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:52 PM
ancient gates, hmm...
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:53 PM
You can see all of the completed videos that preset the puzzle
here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJaOUsjCBAF3guSCaiZ3BDwB91EqiChak
YouTube
EVE Online YC125 Epiphany event
Deathless Circle Data Fragments stitched
together into clue videos for the Jovian stargate hunt event.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:53 PM
Goa'uld, Ori, Dominion, Cthulhu, maybe some Warhammer races...
what could be behind those gates?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
Protoss?
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:54 PM
Of course, this is all leading up to Fanfest, but what exactly is
on the other side of the gates, who put them there, and who
exactly the Deathless is all still to be revealed.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
That's what I find when I open my gateways and warpgates,
but that may just be me.
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
There was already a Doctor Who crossover that was very
poorly received. ;)
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
hehehe.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
Protoss, Zerg, the Higher Synthetics...
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
What was that Star Trek race that built those waygates? Ionians or
something like that?
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
I personally spent far too long staring at numbers and listening
to strange tones
Varda — Yesterday at 4:55 PM
Hey, David Tennant or Matt Smith as the cross-over, auto-like.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:56 PM
Ahh yes... Iconians, I believe.
@Varda
Hey, David Tennant or Matt Smith as the cross-over,
auto-like.
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 4:56 PM
It was the Daleks. Though there was a scarf a fez and a bowtie
items, I think? I was mad they were doing it and avoided it
completely. (edited)
I like to pretend it never happened.
Varda — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Should be a side thing, not in-game so much.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Wraiths, Prophets...
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
Crossovers can be a bit iffy to do. References/ shout-outs not so
bad.
Varda — Yesterday at 4:57 PM
So the community managed to find all the gates! Well done!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 4:58 PM
gasp The Snarl, perhaps!
[Note on the Snarl: https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0273.html]
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:00 PM
So Fanfest ought to be interesting then.
[5:01 PM]
Are they going to reveal the answers to those mysteries there, or
do you think they're going to tease them there and introduce an
expansion to answer them?
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 5:03 PM
50/50
I think it'll be Fanfest we find out how to open the gates, and
then doing so will be part of the winter expansion
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:04 PM
Hehe, fair enough.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:04 PM
Oh look. Just push...
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:05 PM
“The Departure Aria, a very important and romantic song -
This damn door sticks,
This damn door sticks
It sticks no matter what I do.
It is marked 'pull' and indeed I am pulling
Perhaps it should be marked 'push'?”
Pallando-Valar — Yesterday at 5:05 PM
That's it for now.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:05 PM
Thank you, Pallando!
blesses the edit button
[5:06 PM]
On to
top
Tolkien!
[5:06 PM]
JRRT loved nature, taking hikes through it and disturbed by harm
to it from the industrial revolution and war. Does that show in
his writing?
[5:07 PM]
(They wonder if this is a trick question. No, just a wide open
door.)
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:07 PM
He certainly was keen on his descriptions in the wild :)
Varda — Yesterday at 5:07 PM
Almost to overboarding them, heh.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:07 PM
Of course, the Scouring of the Shire is an obvious open door as
well, with industry taking over, green hobbit holes being dug up
and brick houses being put in their place.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:07 PM
True
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:08 PM
Portrayed quite graphically in Galadriel's mirror in the movie.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:11 PM
And quite textually in the Scouring of the Shire in the book.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:11 PM
JRRT's writing inspired a botanist to write this book:
[5:12 PM]
https://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/547491042/tolkiens-passion-for-plants-moves-botantist-to-create-guide-to-middle-earth
He found a huge amount to work with. : )
Plants, also called the olvar. We have a little on our site, could
use additions:
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:12 PM
A bit like Sandalf, but with botany rather than geology
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:13 PM
141 species. Sounde about right :}
Varda — Yesterday at 5:13 PM
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/plants.htm
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:13 PM
about 93 of which are types of pipeweed?
Varda — Yesterday at 5:13 PM
So we should have that many entries in our site. : )
About that!
Animals, the kelvar:
[5:14 PM]
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/animals.htm
Animals of Arda: Kelvar
Articles on animals in Tolkien's Middle-earth
Might not have been as many of the kelvar, but that was where a
lot of the fantasy had a chance to jump in.
Do we want to count the natural world around us?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:15 PM
I don't know. Has any zoologist written "The Fauna of
Middle-Earth" to be a companion to the botonist's "The Flora of
Middle-Earth"? (edited)
Varda — Yesterday at 5:15 PM
One of us should do that!
Stars:
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/stars.html
Stars
Articles on the Stars in the sky of Tolkien's
Middle-earth
[5:16 PM]
We could include a lot of landscape features. O wait, the Geology
of Middle-earth by Sandalf!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:16 PM
Could be an interesting theme for a global reread. Naming all
animals in all Middle-earth related works.
I know there's dancing bears in Numenor!
Varda — Yesterday at 5:16 PM
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/papers/Sandalf13/3GeologyofMiddle-earth.htm
[5:17 PM]
Good point, Phar. More on those in "The Nature of Middle-earth"
of HoMe
"Of the Land and Beasts of Numenor".
[5:18 PM]
"The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor".
[5:19 PM]
JRRT even added various protectors of nature.
I'll bet y'all can name some. : )
[5:20 PM]
Type fast!
Yavanna, who cares for plants and animals.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:20 PM
Ent
Varda — Yesterday at 5:20 PM
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/y/Yavanna/Yavanna.htm
Good one, Sandalf
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/ents.html
Ents
Articles on Ents in Tolkien's works.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:20 PM
Bombadil perhaps? He did have some measure of power over the Old
Forest.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:21 PM
Good! He protected his entire region.
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/b/Bombadil/Bombadil.htm
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:21 PM
Galadriel
Varda — Yesterday at 5:21 PM
With her Ring of Adamant, preservationist. : )
[5:22 PM]
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/g/Galadriel/GaladrielI/Galadriel1.htm
Galadriel, p. 1: Lineage
Middle-earth article: Galadriel
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/g/Galadriel/Galadriel.htm
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:23 PM
The Laiquendi in the SIlmarillion.
[5:24 PM]
They didn't like the Atani because they were "hewers and trees and
hunters of beasts".
Varda — Yesterday at 5:24 PM
Ahh, good one.
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/e/elves/elftypes.htm#Laiquendi
Elf Types
Article on types of elves caused by their
journey from Middle-earth towards Valinor, in the Sundering of the
Elves.
And for Sandalf:
[5:25 PM]
Radagast, Istar of the animals especially including birds, and of
the plants.
[5:26 PM]
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/r/Radagast/Radagast.htm
Radagast
Articles on Radagast written for the Valar
Guild Tolkien Encyclopedia.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:26 PM
Ah, of course.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:26 PM
: )
Should we consider Manwe's Great Eagles? He was working with
Yavanna there.
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/m/Manwe/Manwe.htm
[5:27 PM]
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/e/eagleindex.htm
Eagles Index
Articles: Eagles in Tolkien's Middle-earth
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:27 PM
As guardians of nature?
Varda — Yesterday at 5:29 PM
Should we count non-human intelligences as nature, such as the
Great Eagles? Where do we draw the line when considering
protectors and what they protect?
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:29 PM
How about the Rangers? Were they mostly protecting human(oid)s, or
also a bit of nature?
Varda — Yesterday at 5:29 PM
Interesting. They had to live in nature so they would have a lot
of oneness with it, for food, shelter, et cetera.
[5:31 PM]
What about creatures dangerous to humanoids? Should they be
protected? What if they're intelligent? Let them fend for
themselves then?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:31 PM
Well, that would depend on why they're dangerous.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:31 PM
I imagine it's hard to actively protect trolls without them
turning on you.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:32 PM
MIght not feel the need to protect dragons, but are they
endangered? : ) Do we hope they are?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:32 PM
Are they purposely causing problems, like dragons or the
intelligent giant spiders of Mirkwood, or are they just saying
"hey, keep you're distance" like your standard wild animal?
Varda — Yesterday at 5:32 PM
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/d/dragonindex.htm
Or don't keep your distance and let me eat you?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:33 PM
Some creatures are dangerous enough to have a "live and let live"
policy: don't fight dragons unless dragons pick a fight, for
example.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:33 PM
I believe that the whole concept of protecting
people/things/animals weaker than oneself is a recurring theme in
Tolkien
Tolkien's worlk.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:38 PM
Good comment, Sandalf.
Talking spiders, wargs, werewolves. Might leave them out.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:39 PM
Crebain, fel beasts.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:39 PM
Ok, well over time here by over 30 minutes.
Hmm crebain.
Then there are the talking thrushes (to Dwarves) and what was it,
ravens?
[5:40 PM]
a thrush flies overhead carrying a worried gavel
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:40 PM
Wargs/werewolves are possibly incarnate Maiar or the descendants
thereof. (or so I remember reading something suggesting that
somewhere in HoME). Definitely a chance at malicious intent with
them.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:40 PM
phlompf!
the gavel fell on the hammerpad
top
After-meeting!
[5:40 PM]
Chat continues unabated. : )
[5:41 PM]
The Maiar corrupted by Morgoth and later working with or for
Sauron had to be in fair numbers.
[5:42 PM]
We also know some of the Maiar of the uncorrupted were also
present, such as Melian.
Maybe Great Eagles in that category, as protectors (unless sheep).
[5:43 PM]
The strong defending the weaker, as Sandalf said. That is a big
thing going on.
Sometimes the apparently weaker, such as hobbits, defending the
world. : )
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:43 PM
Mercy is a virtue of the strong. I would also note that Frodo
showed mercy.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:44 PM
Frodo was strong. Not like a warrior like Boromir, but powerful in
his fea, in Pity.
[5:45 PM]
Nienna, Pity, was one of those Valar that Gandalf the Maia worked
with. He did not just work with one.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:47 PM
For Biblical inspiration, and Tolkien was highly knowledgeable re:
the Bible, consider the words of the Micah:
"It hath been told thee, O
Man, what is good, and what the Lord doth require of thee: only
to DO JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY WITH THY LORD.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:47 PM
Aye.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:47 PM
i.e., Pity. among many other things.
[5:48 PM]
I would say that Frodo was a strong advocate of the "love
mercy" part of things...
Varda — Yesterday at 5:48 PM
Aye
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:48 PM
As was Gandalf ("I pity even his slaves")
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:49 PM
And both their attitudes towards Gollum.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:49 PM
He could see they were slaves, not just evil beings.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:50 PM
And of course Aragorn, after the fall of Sauron, giving the slaves
of Sauron the lands around the Sea of Nurnen and Rhun the land....
Varda — Yesterday at 5:50 PM
A place to go and be productive, a chance to live.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:51 PM
Very Biblical, and very Tolkien.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:55 PM
Since we're in Aftermeeting and I need to see about food, I must go.
Before I do, I leave the following.
Varda — Yesterday at 5:55 PM
Hobbits approve food.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:56 PM
Reminds me of the ending dialogue from the game Total
Annihilation: Kingdoms, which I happened to watch again
recently...
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 5:56 PM
Are you going with take-out/take-home tonight?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:56 PM
It's a song from the game Alan Wake, and while I've no personal
experience with the game, I thought this was a sad but catchy and
beautifully sung song by Poets of the Fall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZiYFFDGoh0
YouTube
agusacro
Poets of the Fall ~ The Poet and the Muse //
Lyrics
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 5:57 PM
Taros is now called 'Taros free land'. Its survivng
people, scattered by war and calamity, begin to return. Life would
be never be soft in this harsh, forbidding land, but with the
Shadow of Lokken lifted and his demonic minions fled, the land
will heal, life begins anew...
Just replace "Taros" by Mordor, "Lokken" by Sauron and "demonic" by
Orcish ;)
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:57 PM
And for those who might enjoy a female cover, I thought this one was
beautiful as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bYJO61bgDM
YouTube
Alina Gingertail
Alan Wake - The Poet and the Muse (Gingertail
Cover)
@Sandalf13
Are you going with take-out/take-home tonight?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 5:58 PM
More than likely. Just have to check some things first.
[5:59 PM]
So with those now for you to listen to, I bid a good evening, for
now.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:01 PM
Namarie! Enjoy your dinner. I too must soon seek some sustenance
(wow...a quadruple alliteration!)
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:01 PM
Namarie
Varda — Yesterday at 6:01 PM
: )
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:01 PM
Must be that old Anglo-Saxon heritage, huh?
Varda — Yesterday at 6:01 PM
The poetic music is reaching us!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 6:02 PM
Sei gesund till later!
Varda — Yesterday at 6:02 PM
Namarie until it be morrow.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 6:10 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWgc2u8y11A
"on the morrow"
YouTube
SP343
South Park - Kenny's Letter
[6:10 PM]
(be warned, some bad language)
Varda — Yesterday at 7:09 PM
I made broiled chicken with asparagus and corn and stuff.
Varda — Yesterday at 7:18 PM
corn on the cob : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:30 PM
Sounds good!
[7:31 PM]
And now, personal gaming report
[7:32 PM]
For (non)flashgaming this week, I've got an older puzzle game which
I must've linked before, but hey, it cropped up again and it's fun
logic.
[7:34 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/danielnora/cardinal-chains
is a puzzle game - or well, the 100-level demo version of a
full game of 500 levels, but still enough to keep you busy - where
you have to fill up the grid in each level, by making chains from
the starting points, the x-es, and linking up numbers in a
non-decreasing order. So from each number, equal or higher.
Kongregate
Cardinal Chains
Cardinal Chains is a minimalist puzzle game
centering on the concept of non-decreasing sequences. This is the
demo version containing the first 100 puzzles.
T...
[7:35 PM]
Will take some interesting snaking and testing, reminding me of the
beautiful 3D Logic game series, but simpler and in 2D
So good luck!
[7:37 PM]
Blizzard gaming:
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:40 PM
Diablo 4:
Got a bit of that done, working on Renown in the Kehjistan region.
Started off with getting a new horse armor dropped from a random
mob, the Traveling Merchant's Tack. Always nice as a collector!
[7:40 PM]
I then proceeded to clear two fortresses, the Altar of Ruin and
Omath's Redoubt, making Kehjistan the first region where I've
completed all 3 fortresses, which are usually the toughest
objectives in each region.
[7:41 PM]
Which got me to Renown level 2 for the region
[7:42 PM]
Along the way I got to level 50.5, gaining another paragon point,
and looting a powerful legendary axe that boosts my ultimate bear
ability, Grizzly Rage. That should definitely help me out!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:48 PM
Hearthstone:
Level 49 on the reward track now, getting a few more rewards. Also
got the Death Knight to level 33 along the way, as well as hitting
100 wins with that class, unlocking a few golden death knight cards.
Some are cards I use in my death knight decks, so always fun to
upgrade
[7:49 PM]
I also opened a bunch more packs, getting me one new legendary,
Solarian. A powerful mage legendary minion, useful in many
situations
[7:50 PM]
The tavern brawl is Just A Hallucination. Pick a class, get a few
class spells and a whole bunch of Hallucinations, cards which allow
you to discover cards from your opponent's class.
[7:51 PM]
Since most of the cards depend on your opponent's class, it's kinda
random. But it helps to pick a class with spells and/or hero power
that can benefit the most cards.
WoW:
[7:52 PM]
More raiding. We went back up to heroic Sarkareth, and actually
managed to one-shot the guy this week, getting a few more of our
players his achievement.
[7:54 PM]
Our gearing seems to be nearing completion as well, with me getting
away with a few feral/offspec upgrades and even a transmog.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:56 PM
Personally I still need a few megadungeon runs for Aspects' Crests
to get all the gear upgraded/maxed out in ilevel, but overall,
between gearing and farming, it wouldn't surprise me if people will
start to get burned out a bit and waiting for the new raid, though
that's still a couple of patches away. We'll see how long we last in
here
[7:57 PM]
Weekly quest is battlegrounds, which went pretty well, getting my
honor level up to 114.
[8:00 PM]
And between that and several other objectives, I had more than
trading post objectives completed to max out the currency for
August. So I got the Bones of the Bloodhunter transmog set - which
fits strangely well with my blood DK panda - as the reward, as well
as using the currency to buy the new mount, the Ancestral Clefthoof,
and the new toy, the Ethereal Transmogrifier. Which won't be helpful
most of the time, since I've got the transmogrify mount, but hey, a
toy's a toy
[8:02 PM]
I also noticed the duplicates are showing up more in the trading
post, as well as mounts and pets available from other (previous)
sources, which meant I ended up with 7 items in this month's
available list already in my possession. That bodes well for the
future, as I'll be able to spend more on the smaller items if this
keeps up. Though the next 4 months will be the class sets, so I
can't guarantee that
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:05 PM
And finally, alts!
[8:07 PM]
Got my mage into Darkhaven in Revendreth, and from there into a side
questline starring Nadjia the Mistblade, and her confrontation with
Matyas the Taskmaster. I've done all the preceding quests in the
line, and we're about ready for the duel, which shall happen next
week!
[8:08 PM]
And for Project Horde, I also played the blood elf paladin a bit
more, leveling her to 7 and finishing the blood elf starting
experience on Sunstrider Isle. Including, yes, the quest from last
week's mentioned carbot video, which I attempted to reproduce in my
gameplay as much as I could
[8:10 PM]
She's now entered the Eversong Woods, specifically the ruined
section of Silvermoon, preparing for her push to level 10. When I
first entered the zone and checked the map, all the quest
exclamation marks were quite overwhelming, since Eversong was never
updated to the streamlined storylines of Cataclysm. But I'm sure
things will be fine if we take it bit by bit
[8:11 PM]
And that's my report for the week!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:12 PM
Aiya all! And Namarie, Ar!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:12 PM
Aiya
And namarie!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:12 PM
Great report, wie immer.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:13 PM
Bit earlier than the last few weeks, but I'm tired, so figured I'd
skip the tv-watching for tonight
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:15 PM
Sounds like a good plan. I too had a very quiet day today...didn't
run, didn't bike, didn't swim....just weeded a big patch on a
friend's lawn who is unable to do it for himself. It was warm, but
the weather is really turning here....every night is now in the
upper 50s. I just hope my Tomatepflanzen will actually produce
some tomatoes!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:16 PM
Good luck with the tomatoes, then!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:17 PM
Thanks. We will have to see what happens....it is a footrace with
time, now....ripening tomatoes need about 90+F to really come to
fruition...no pun intended. We might get a couple more days of 90
degree F weather later this week...but the clouds come in more
frequently, the nights are getting cooler, and I mahy be stuck with
a lot of green tomatoes. Damn that hail back in May that really set
me back about three weeks!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:18 PM
Such is life on the farm! Or in the garden, in this case.
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:18 PM
You got that right, Digger!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:18 PM
Goodnight!
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:19 PM
Namarie! Have a wonderful week ahead! Sei gesund!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:19 PM
You too :)
Sandalf13 — Yesterday at 8:19 PM
:)
@Sandalf13
Must be that old Anglo-Saxon heritage, huh?
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 8:28 PM
Maybe. It reminds me of an old German poem about a Hessian soldier.
When he doesn't come back from war, his betrothed apparently mourns
him for too long, until one night he comes to get her and take her
to their "marriage bed." Long poem short he's dead and he takes her
to his grave, both literally and figuratively. (edited)
August 28, 2023
Sandalf13 — Today at 10:16 AM
Oy. That is a sad one. Sounds very northern-European-dreary to me.
Varda — Today at 12:32 PM
Delta Dawn, what's that flower you've got on? ♪
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