Valar Guild

January 15, 2022 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.]

Attending (and typed): (4)

    Discord: 
A
rien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (After-meeting), Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:

Gaming:
    World of Warcraft, Overwatch 2, Diablo Immortal, Lord of the Rings Online
Tolkien:
    Topic: 3 Tolkien Moments brought up for discussion:
        Moment 1. Life finds a way, even in Mordor.
        Moment 2. Where Ungoliant went after Morgoth's scream calling in the Balrogs against her.
        Moment 3. The Valar were unmoving and silent but they were very busy in the spirit world.
After-meeting:
    (non)Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.

    RP has a new post.
 
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Before-meeting

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya!

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:06 PM
@Bounder Aiya! Enjoy chatting with old friends to say hi, talk about the fun of games and our mutual interest in Tolkien's ideas.
[4:06 PM]

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

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:06 PM
aIYA

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:06 PM
Aiya Sunshine : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:06 PM
Aiya

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:07 PM
We have Arien, Phar, and a hopping gavel...  runs to catch it

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:07 PM
boing boing boing

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:07 PM
grabs
[4:07 PM]
puff Ok, onwards!

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:08 PM
huffing and puffing

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:08 PM
Any membership news you'd like to pass along? : )

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:08 PM
like a teapot .. i think thats what tom bombadil said to Frodo and Sam

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:08 PM
holds gavel in place as it tries to hop towards a laughing hammerpad
[4:09 PM]
Ahh, good one, puffing teapot!
[4:09 PM]
looks around for coffee, but it's too late in the day. Looks forward to tomorrow

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:09 PM
Fladrif seen, currently online it seems.

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:09 PM
Hi to Fladrif!
[4:10 PM]

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Web:
[4:10 PM]
Thank you to Eonwe for his work on the Games Site, so he's here even when he's at work!
[4:10 PM]

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Gaming:
[4:11 PM]
http://valarguild.org/gaming
The Valar Guild Games Site
Valar Guild Games Site

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:11 PM
hello back from Flad

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:11 PM
awww : )
[4:11 PM]
May his gaming go well and his bark be tough!
[4:11 PM]

World of Warcraft:
[4:12 PM]
This week's bonus events: Pet Battles and Arena Skirmishes.
[4:12 PM]
The PvP Brawl: Shado-Pan Showdown is going until Tuesday, January 17th.

Patch 10.0.5 is coming January 24th.
[4:12 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23901946/the-dragonflight-1005-content-update-arrives-january-24
World of Warcraft
The Dragonflight 10.0.5 Content Update Arrives January 24 - WoW
Learn more about changes such as the new Trading Post feature, a new in-game event, and more ways to add to your Appearances.


Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:13 PM
Trading post yay! Many collectibles to collect!

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:13 PM
hehe - nice
[4:13 PM]
With the launch of the Trading Post in 10.0.5, players with the Dragonflight expansion will be getting some bonus Trader's Tender, the new currency for said trading post.
[4:13 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23885941/hotfixes-january-13-2023
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: January 13, 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.

[4:13 PM]
Ulduar will be opening in WoW Classic on January 19th.
[4:14 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23885941/hotfixes-january-13-2023
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: January 13, 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.

[4:14 PM]
Check out this week's hotfixes.
[4:14 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23885941/hotfixes-january-13-2023
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: January 13, 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.

[4:14 PM]

Overwatch 2:
[4:15 PM]
A new blog is out: Creating Visual Effects For A God With The Junker Queen Mythic Skin.
[4:15 PM]
https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23899162/
[4:16 PM]
Hearthstone:
[4:16 PM]
Battlegrounds Season 3 will be starting January 17th.
[4:16 PM]
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23892224/announcing-battlegrounds-season-3
Announcing Battlegrounds Season 3!
Battlegrounds Season 3 brings with it new Undead and dual-type minions!

[4:16 PM]

Diablo Immortal:
[4:17 PM]
A new event is going: Tong-Shi's Renewal.
[4:17 PM]
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo-immortal/23893115/discover-good-fortune-in-tong-shi-s-renewal
Discover Good Fortune in Tong-Shi's Renewal
We invite you to celebrate the Lunar New Year with us in Sanctuary! Complete the Tong-Shi’s Renewal event to kick off the year with lunar-laced blessings.

[4:17 PM]
Check out the latest bug fixes.
[4:17 PM]
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.

[4:18 PM]

Lord of the Rings Online:

Update 34.1.2 came out this week.  It had a lot of hotfixes, thank you!
[4:18 PM]
Landroval branch:
Arien
Bregalad
Dis
Eonwe
Fangorn
Nar
Thranduil
Varda

Crickhollow branch:
Arien
Eonwe
Fangorn
Varda

Shadowfax branch:
Varda

Treebeard branch:
Varda
[4:19 PM]
Yes, we have Valarites actually gaming in LotRO. : )

Starcraft 2 has the usual suspects that I am personally aware of gaming together: Fangorn, Eowyn, Faramir, and RealFloppa. : )

[4:20 PM]
Any others y'all would like to mention? Do we still see Helm? Aragorn?
[4:20 PM]
Sorry I've gotten to where I really just play one game, so others need to tell about their Valarite gaming. : )
[4:21 PM]
Any other comments, requests?
[4:21 PM]
Fangorn just brought another character into Crickhollow. : )
[4:21 PM]
(We run out of Landroval character slots or LotRO points for more such slots way too soon!)
[4:22 PM]
Yet they keep making new types and combos!
[4:22 PM]
If we want to try them out, see how we like them, Crickhollow is very useful. : )

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:22 PM
I havent seen Helm online in a while i fear
[4:22 PM]
at least in game

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:23 PM
I hope he's ok. So much craziness out there.

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:23 PM
I hope so as well

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:23 PM
It's a jungle out there ♪

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:24 PM
Phar's comment at a previous meeting about how we need to have folks who can come in and let us know if something is happening, like a computer went out, is a good comment.
[4:24 PM]
Phar song!
[4:24 PM]
So, we are caught up on invites for now? : )
[4:25 PM]

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Tolkien:

[4:25 PM]
I overachieved, collected three Tolkien Moments.
[4:25 PM]
We'll see how far we get today. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:25 PM
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBdF3E2NVI8 also the theme for Monk tv show)
    YouTube
    Randy Newman
    Randy Newman - It's a Jungle out There (Official Audio)

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:27 PM
Want to dance now...
[4:27 PM]
Thanks, Phar : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:27 PM
Gotta give the credit

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:28 PM
Right-o : )
[4:28 PM]
Let's us find more to enjoy!
[4:29 PM]
Here's a thought I got reading about Frodo and Sam in Mordor, Jurassic Park for credit. : )
[4:29 PM]
Jeff Goldblum line.
[4:29 PM]
"Life will find a way. "
[4:29 PM]
RotK "The Land of Shadow"

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:29 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTydA2h7BsQ
    YouTube
    Clamavi De Profundis
    Song of the Caverns - Clamavi De Profundis

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:29 PM
Thanks, Arien. : )
[4:30 PM]
The atmosphere is scary yet includes a strong element of hope and fighting back. Check out the word choice of adjective, adverb, verb. Type of item that fights back. It's all carefully chosen.
[4:30 PM]
Another thing to see is the sign of experimentation by Sauron or his minions with some of the life-forms.
[4:30 PM]
Now for the actual quote:

Now for the actual quote:
[4:30 PM]
.
[4:30 PM]
RotK "The Land of Shadow"
[4:31 PM]
To their surprise they came upon dark pools fed by threads of water trickling down from some source higher up the valley.
Upon its outer marges under the westward mountains Mordor was a dying land, but it was not yet dead.
And here things still grew, harsh, twisted, bitter, struggling for life.
In the glens of the Morgai on the other side of the valley low scrubby trees lurked and clung, course grey grass-tussocks fought with the stones, and withered mosses crawled on them; and everywhere great writhing, tangled brambles sprawled.
Some had long stabbing thorns, some hooked barbs that rent like knives.
The sullen shriveled leaves of a past year hung on them, grating and rattling in the sad airs, but their maggot-ridden buds were only just opening. Flies, dun or grey, or black, marked like orcs with a red eye-shaped blotch, burned and stung; and above the briar-thickets clouds of hungry midges danced and reeled..
[4:32 PM]
End quote
[4:33 PM]
Flies with the mark of Sauron stamped on them like trademarks!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:33 PM
Hah, yes. Like the decals you see in RTSes (Starcraft comes to mind). Gotta mark your troops.
[4:34 PM]
Even the little ones.

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:34 PM
Aye : )

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:36 PM
I remem ber another passage probably not far from there . Frodo and Sam have to run on the orc way for a bit and when they hear some orcs approaching they jump sideways down a slope and their fall is halted by some thorny bushes .. Sam laughs because he didnt expect it , but if he would have expected vegetation there it would have been exactly that
[4:37 PM]
does my memory server me right, varda?

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:38 PM
That sounds like something that might have happened. : )
[4:38 PM]
Mordor was a dying land, but it was not yet dead.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:39 PM
Usually, having bushes to soften your fall are a good thing...

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:39 PM
Even after all that time, life still kept going.
[4:40 PM]
The atmosphere is strongly set by word choice, and a scary place it is, yet still has hope and fight in the life that's still there.
[4:40 PM]
One day, the elves would return to help them out. And it was so.
[4:40 PM]
All they had to do was hang on and fight!
[4:41 PM]
In another spot, I was reminded of us wondering about where Ungoliant went after her argument with Melkor.
[4:41 PM]
They heard the cry even in Beleriand. The Balrogs may have needed hearing aids after that, since they were closer.
[4:42 PM]
Anyway, it mentions where she went:
[4:42 PM]
.
[4:42 PM]
Silmarillion Ch. 10 "Of the Sindar"
[4:42 PM]
(Oh, this is before the walling off by the Girdle of Melian)
[4:43 PM]
Soon afterwards Ungoliant fled from the north and came into the realm of King Thingol,
and a terror of darkness was about her;
but by the power of Melian she was stayed, and entered not into Neldoreth, but abode long time under the shadows of the precipices in which Dorthonion fell southward.
And they became known as Ered Gorgoroth, the Mountains of Terror, and none dared go thither, or pass nigh them; there life and light were strangled, and there all waters were poisoned.
.
[4:43 PM]
End quote.
[4:44 PM]
By the power of Melian she was stayed!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:44 PM
I think Beren went through there at some point, though?

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:44 PM
Now we know why it was so bad. : )
[4:45 PM]
He couldn't find food and water there, and this shows why.
[4:46 PM]
It says she abode long time, but that means she moved on or something happened to her.
[4:46 PM]
Anyway, excellent comment, Phar. : )

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:47 PM
Maybe it was he who happenened ? He had a reputation as warrior and foe of Morogoth and  the reputation when before him

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:48 PM
That could have used a story of its own if that happened! (Where's fan fic when you need it?)
[4:48 PM]
She might have moved on at his coming, not realizing he was alone.
[4:49 PM]
And then there was this elven presence that came near him, as if not alone.

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:49 PM
what not is can be shrugs maybe at some point? still musing about a ring of power story alas

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:50 PM
We can have several stories all in our plate. Some move forward when others are still brewing. : )

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:50 PM


Varda — 01/15/2023 4:50 PM
On another note, one we may have played here before I know, but not sure how recently it was,
[4:51 PM]
the Valar are accused of just sitting there. But it might be only an appearance.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:51 PM
They are, in fact, lying down!

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:51 PM
They were constrained by their own rules, but that didn't mean they were not considering things.
[4:51 PM]
hehehe
[4:52 PM]
Also, Feanor gets a bad rap a lot of times (by me, for one).

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:52 PM
Ulmo did actually appear to people ..at least once

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:53 PM
And just before this quote was quite a bit of Orome running about, quite visibly.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:53 PM
And Manwe had a web of spies. His "little birds" to use a Game of Thrones expression

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:53 PM
True.
[4:54 PM]
Manwe and Varda saw and heard a great deal, with Ulmo aware of anything by the water.

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:54 PM
Tulkas must have conferred with the Noldo if they learned such a lot of metal work and jewel crafting of him
[4:54 PM]
eerr aule

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:54 PM
Aule?

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 4:54 PM
pardon me aye

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:54 PM
We all mistype, you caught it fast!
[4:55 PM]
The Noldo picked up a  lot of that from Aule in Valinor. But aye, maybe some of his folk went into Middle-earth, as we know others did.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 4:55 PM
Sauron, for one

Varda — 01/15/2023 4:55 PM
So here's a spot where it appears the Valar do nothing to the outward eye (and it fits into how we can talk while gaming):
[4:56 PM]
True. : )
[4:56 PM]

Silmarillion Ch. 11 "Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"
.
It is told that after the flight of Melkor the Valar sat long unmoved upon their thrones in the Ring of Doom;
but they were not idle, as Feanor declared in the folly of his heart.
For the Valar may work many things with thought rather than with hands, and without voices in silence they may hold council with one another.
Thus they held vigil in the night of Valinor, and their thought passed back beyond Ea and forth to the End;
yet neither power nor wisdom assuaged their grief, and the knowing of evil in the hour of its being.
And they mourned not more for the Trees than for the marring of Feanor:
of the works of Melkor one of the most evil.
For Feanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind, in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and in subtlety alike, of all the Children of Iluvatar, and a bright flame was in him.
.
[4:57 PM]
End quote.

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:05 PM
Guess I pre-made the comments in introducing this quote, pardon.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:06 PM
Heh, yes, concerning the Valar and Feanor... still, if he was a master of subtlety as well, he should've guessed they were thinking of something

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:06 PM
That was part of Morgoth's bending his mind to think ill of the Valar, probably?
[5:07 PM]
Thinking ill of Morgoth also helped think ill of the others of his kind. Smeared with a wide brush.

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 5:10 PM
That s how it works i fear .. dangerous to brush everyone and everything over one comb ..  that is i mean to conclude from one to all

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:10 PM
Aye

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 5:10 PM
if that makes sense

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:10 PM
It does. : )
[5:12 PM]
We have reached the hour and a little over.
[5:13 PM]
Thank you for letting me post not one but three Tolkien Moments and looking each one over!
[5:14 PM]
the gavel catches the light, sending off rainbows about it with micro-gold dust fog
[5:14 PM]
the hammerpad is completely mesmerized
[5:14 PM]
thonnnk!
[5:14 PM]
After-meeting!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:14 PM
we love the moments!

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:14 PM
awww
[5:14 PM]
We all love Tolkien, aye!
[5:15 PM]
So much variety all so well told, covering nearly any topic we can think of. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:15 PM
Keeps us busy for decades of sundays

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:15 PM
True
[5:16 PM]
And before that we had as many as three Tolkien chats a week. : )
[5:16 PM]
Beren had one mid-week for a time that was really excellent.
[5:16 PM]
We had another one on Saturdays
[5:16 PM]
but we always had Sundays. : )
[5:17 PM]
Anyone remember those? I lose track sometimes how long it's been.
[5:17 PM]
Fifteen years of Valar Guild, going by in a flash of light.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:17 PM
I was there for part of the battle.net meetings, but I don't remember more than sundays.

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:18 PM
Those were all on battle.net, very good!
[5:18 PM]
A lot of times ;people caught the chats by accident as they came out of games into the middle of them, and would join in. : )
[5:21 PM]
Dreamlord did the Satuday one, more in a lecture style, but input could be made too. : )
[5:21 PM]
Beren had a strict time he had to set, one hour, but it was very well done. Focus probably helped!
[5:22 PM]
He only had that much time available to be there and made the most of it.
[5:22 PM]
We also called him Lord of Lag, as his connection had to fight polar storms. : )
[5:22 PM]
And yet he managed, despite everything, to do fantastic work.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:23 PM
Like fighting Ungoliant!

Varda — 01/15/2023 5:23 PM
The Quenya thing he did.
[5:23 PM]
heh, maybe so. : )
[5:23 PM]
which is still up:
[5:23 PM]
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/lang/tranQ/translations/BerensQ/wordlist.html
Quettaparma Quenyanna: English to Quenya
English to Quenya Elvish word-list by Beren-(Valar).
[5:24 PM]
Super-scholarly work. He made full Valar pretty fast. : )
[5:25 PM]
It may feel as if everything's already been done, but, be of good cheer, there is always more to do!
[5:25 PM]
Looking at that tells me there is much more that I could be doing too! : )
[5:26 PM]
So many things all of you have done. I'm proud of you all.
[5:26 PM]
Thank you two for making these meetings a success, even making them possible!
[5:26 PM]
Glorfindel came up with the music, something we had not even imagined in the early days. : )
[5:27 PM]
ahh well, rambling in old memories, like a Valie or some such. ; )
[5:27 PM]
Namarie for now!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 5:29 PM
namarie

Arien  Valar — 01/15/2023 5:35 PM
23 Valar years but i have been there for 15 or 16 ? something like that
[5:36 PM]
Namarie

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Ar-Pharazon-V — 01/15/2023 9:23 PM
Personal gaming report!
[9:24 PM]
For (non)flashgaming, an oldie but a goody which is hard to resist in any week it comes up
[9:27 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/FractalSunrise/knight-errant is a chess/puzzle game where you move your knight across a world of chess-squares using only the knight's move, to take down the entire white set of enemy pieces and free your fallen king's daughter.
Kongregate
Knight-errant
A chess knight#39s little adventure.

[9:27 PM]
Good fun, nice music too
[9:30 PM]
Blizzard gaming:
[9:32 PM]
Hearthstone: 71 on the reward track now, things slowing down.
[9:33 PM]
No new death knight levels, but I did get my 1000th total reward track level, unlocking a choice of the tier 2 set skins. I chose Uther's Judgement set for paladin, looked nice, though I'm not using it right now
[9:35 PM]
Brawl is a fun one: Choose 2 cards, get a deck filled with em. I went for warlock, with a card that does damage but also discards a card, and a card that deals damage to a random enemy when discarded. Makes for a pretty good combination, although it faces some trouble against decks that use multiple minions, since they might draw the random damage.
[9:35 PM]
Got a decent win ratio though!
[9:36 PM]
WoW:
[9:37 PM]
Still not raiding yet, as I've gotten 67 this week and close to 68, which is not 70 yet... though my raidgroup appears to have cleared normal Raszageth, and I'm looking forward to joining them on future kills  At least it seems less horribly difficult than some of the Shadowlands final bosses
[9:41 PM]
For questing, I continued questing throughout Maruukai, then further southwest to prepare for the war against the Nokhud, as they captured Ohn'ahra and launched a suspiciously Game of Thrones-like attack with a ballista bolt on some green dragons.
[9:41 PM]
But we came to the rescue, and they brought me home to the Emerald Gardens, which I then proceeded to explore a bit. Very nice place, with dryads and treants and stuff.
[9:42 PM]
But I've also done some sidequesting, including an adventure with a bored young mystic initiate, and a marriage proposal, for which I got a cake recipe for cooking, and a bouquet toy.
[9:45 PM]
One of the Maruukai quests also got me a cooking recipe, which required 25 skill, so I also spent some time gathering meat and other stuff to learn recipes and get my skill up. Turned out it would've been faster to just get a herbalism ingredient from the AH to get all the way up to 25 rather than farming meat, but I did use the stuff to get the last few points.
[9:45 PM]
Next week I'll work for the green dragons a bit more, and get my second dragonriding mount  Based on the model, I might prefer it over the first one. But we'll see.
[9:46 PM]
And hopefully get a few more levels!
[9:47 PM]
Oh, and poke the Nokhud Offensive instance, as I've gotten 2 quests there through side questlines and will have one more by the end of the green dragon questline. Should be fun!
[9:47 PM]
And that's my report for the week!
[9:47 PM]
Namarie


January 16, 2023

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 7:39 PM
Heya. Sorry I missed the meeting. Life is like that sometimes.

Varda — Yesterday at 7:53 PM
Way it goes. RL
[7:53 PM]
Glad we can have a transcript for you.

Eonwλ Valar — Yesterday at 8:06 PM
:}
[8:06 PM]
Anyone notice the small blurb on the RP? :}


January 17, 2023

Varda — Today at 7:19 PM
Thanks for letting us know,  and well done. Reply made.

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