Valar Guild

July 2, 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): (5)

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

Gaming:
    Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, Overwatch 2, Hearthstone, Starcraft 2
Tolkien:
    Topic: Why did Grima Wormtongue kill Saruman?
After-meeting:
    (non) Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games afterwards.

 
top

Before-meeting

Sandalf13 — 06/27/2023 8:29 PM
Aiya All! To the "Group" - I did a little more research on the Mummy Range today, after I attended a meeting of the Rocky Mountain Section of the SEPM. Here it is. Which interpretation do you prefer?
[8:30 PM]
Please take a look at the above!
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1123425107159830659/Mummy_Range_Interpretation_II.jpg

Eonwë Valar — 06/27/2023 9:35 PM
Well isn't this just hilarious:
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973733/get-hot-summer-rewards-in-the-july-trading-post
Notice Tyrael's charger is in that list. Tyrael's Charger was a random drop from the Treasure goblin event that just happened. That ought to make some unlucky people very happy and some other people who got it long ago very angry.
    World of Warcraft
    Get Hot Summer Rewards in the July Trading Post - WoW
    The skies are alight in July with FIZZ! and POP! of fireworks fast on the heels of spectacular new offerings at the Trading Post.
    But, that’s not all the Trading Post has to offer.
    To whet your appetite for fantastical new items for your collections, we’re also upping the ante and expanding the number of items available in the months of July and...


June 28, 2023

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/28/2023 3:43 PM
And some people who already have it from either event quite happy that people who failed to get it in either event, still have a chance to get it, and likely in the future as well.
[3:43 PM]
Especially those who know they were lucky by getting it from a goblin, like me

Eonwë Valar — 06/28/2023 9:31 PM
To be clear, I happen to agree. I'm glad people who didn't get it the first time, and didn't get lucky enough to get it the second time, have a third, guaranteed, opportunity to get it.


June 29, 2023

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/29/2023 11:00 AM
Tolkien topic addendum: I read through Aldarion and Erendis this afternoon, and a bit of Nature of Middle-Earth. Can confirm Aldarion had blond hair, no mention of his daughter other than her being "fair", and Aldarion seeing himself in her.
[11:02 AM]
Nature indeed states that the Numenoreans were mostly made up of Beorians - dark hair - and Hador - mostly fair-haired - and that the Line of Kings was counted as the House of Hador, but that's more a matter of lineage than appearance; it doesn't say they were blond, but we can be sure that it at least appeared along the line.
Oh, actually, I also recall Aldarion got his blond hair from his mother, so it's not necessarily recessive.
[11:03 AM]
Oh, and as a bonus, Nature also states that Elven characteristics would stick in the human line for a long time; as such, Aragorn nor any of his male ancestors had beards, and neither would Pharazon or any in the line of kings.

Sandalf13 — 06/29/2023 9:52 PM
You are spot on, as I have noted several times in the past on this channel....why do artists insist on showing High Numenoreans with beards? It is obvious that they did not have, nor could they grow a beard...such is the legacy of the descendants of Luthien and Beren.

[9:58 PM]
Oops..I meant to attach the picture I just pasted into a conversation with VArda into the Harbor page. A friend sent this to me....it is way funny, I think....I said "Placement is everything, right?" and Varda responded "Location, location."
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1124172039616479353/352711483_6327847430601592_5886913674735567906_n.jpg

Eonwë Valar — 06/29/2023 10:04 PM
Quick comment: it was only the line of Elros that had Elven blood, so no reason Numenoreans outside of the royal lineage couldn't have beards.

Sandalf13 — 06/29/2023 10:11 PM
I am sure that there was significant inter-breeding among the line of Elros. Not all the members of that lineage could be kings or queens, some of the had to marry into other "high" families of the Numenoreans, so is it not possible that this trait began to appear more requently in/among the greater Numenorean population?
[10:12 PM]
For example, in much later times, we know that both Ivorwen and Dirhael were descendants of Aranarth, as well as the Chieftains of the Dunedain. This type of genetic relationship probably happened quite often and quite regularly, I beliee.
believe.


June 30, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 06/30/2023 6:48 AM
The thing about royal/noble blood is that if everyone has it, it's not quite so special. Or to put it another way:
https://youtu.be/GYmHYQPaHaw?t=46. So among the nobility? Perhaps. Among the general population? Well, if they had noble/royal blood, they wouldn't really be the "general population", now would they? :} (Fast forward clip to 46 seconds for the effect or open it from the link. Discord just doesn't want to move it forward to the right spot for some reason.)
    YouTube
    TheBlindSp0t
    When Everyone's Super...


July 1, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 07/01/2023 11:45 PM
Ok, murloc past is funny.
July 2, 2023

Varda — 07/02/2023 3:58 PM
Thanks for looking these things up, gang. Interesting.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:02 PM
Hallo All! Aiya!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:02 PM
Aiya!

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:02 PM
Aiya Ar!
Aiya Varda@
!

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:02 PM
Aiya Sandalf and Phar
[4:04 PM]
Pardon - got hit with phone calls. All clear now. : )

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:04 PM
Aiya Arien!

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:04 PM
Aiya Arien : )

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 4:04 PM
Aiya you two )

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:05 PM
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:05 PM]

Membership:

[4:05 PM]
Feel free to chat about goings ons, or if you met someone that might be interested in our little group.
[4:06 PM]
July 4th, Independence Day holidays, are hitting in the USA, so schedules are all over the place with people traveling.
Elwing and Meriadoc will hopefully be here for the 4th, so we can stay home for a bit!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:06 PM
As someone who doesn't travel much, I always see holidays as days to be more online than usual, not less

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:07 PM
That is a good thing : )

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 4:07 PM
I ve got holidays as well :) two weeks

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:07 PM
For major holidays, my house tends to be the destination. For most other things, we tend to travel.
Yay Arien!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:07 PM
Grats Arien :)

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:11 PM
Good news on the drought front for the Colorado and Wyoming Front Range: with all the rain - and hail! - that we have been getting, the western Great Plains are pretty much out of the drought. Not so on the eastern Great Plains (eastern South Dakota and eastern Nebraska) where the drought is still severe! The map says it all. It is amazing how quickly the drought conditions can change in only 450 miles.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1125172015578480721/Drought_Monitor_Map_1_July_23.png

[4:13 PM]
And also central and eastern Kansas....wow. The National Drought Monitoring Office is located in Lincoln, and they have said this is the worst drought on record for eastern Nebraska since monitoring began. At least the Platte River has water in it, due to all the rain here.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:15 PM
Eonwe seems to be away at the moment.
[4:16 PM]
heh, Discord disappeard on me for a bit there. Pardon

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:16 PM
Things happen.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:16 PM
Oh, I missed it.. Aiya Arien

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:17 PM
Hiya : )
[4:17 PM]

top

Web:

[4:18 PM]
Nothing new visible at the moment. Just behind the scenes stuff. : )
Hello to Sauron who just made it home from work. : )

top

Gaming:

[4:19 PM]
Thank you to Eonwe for putting up the gaming news!
I'm starting with LotRO  in case he shows up shortly.

My own news.
[4:20 PM]

Lord of the Rings Online:
Tues June 27, 2023: Update 36.0.2. Release notes:
https://www.lotro.com/update-notes/lotro-update-36-0-2-release-notes-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    Update 36.0.2 Release Notes
    Here are the release notes for Update 36.0.2, released on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023.

[4:20 PM]
Landroval roleplay-encouraged kin branch:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Ioreth
Nar
Pengolodh
Varda

Crickhollow regular server kin branch:
Arien
Eonwe
Fangorn
Varda

Treebeard legendary server kin branch:
Varda
[4:21 PM]
Sorry to have missed seeing Ioreth and Pengolodh, but good to see they made it on. : )

From Eonwe:
[4:22 PM]

World of Warcraft:
[4:22 PM]
This week's bonus event: World Quests.
The PvP Brawl: Shado-Pan Showdown is going through Tuesday, July 4th.
The Darkmoon Faire is going through Saturday, July 8th.
Now up: Trading Post Rewards for July.
[4:23 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973733/get-hot-summer-rewards-in-the-july-trading-post
    World of Warcraft
    Get Hot Summer Rewards in the July Trading Post - WoW
    The skies are alight in July with FIZZ! and POP! of fireworks fast on the heels of spectacular new offerings at the Trading Post.
    But, that’s not all the Trading Post has to offer.
    To whet your appetite for fantastical new items for your collections, we’re also upping the ante and expanding the number of items available in the months of July and...

With the next content update coming out July 11th,
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973736/the-fractures-in-time-content-update-goes-live-july-11
    World of Warcraft
    The Fractures in Time Content Update Goes Live July 11 - WoW
    Venture into time itself to push back the encroaching chaos from other timelines and ensure the preservation of the future in the Fractures in Time content update.
    You’ll also be able to tend whelps in the Ruby Lifeshrine, embrace the way of the Warlock as the class expands to all races, specialize as the new dracthyr Augmentation Evoker, and mo...

check out these blogs:
Help Wanted: Inquire at the Whelp Daycare
[4:24 PM]
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23970951/help-wanted-inquire-at-the-whelp-daycare
    World of Warcraft
    Help Wanted: Inquire at the Whelp Daycare - WoW
    The dragons have more eggs than they can manage and need a little help teaching their hatchling dragon whelps to learn and grow.

Preserve the Timeline: Dawn of the Infinite Mega-Dungeon
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23976337/preserve-the-timeline-dawn-of-the-infinite-mega-dungeon
    World of Warcraft
    Preserve the Timeline: Dawn of the Infinite Mega-Dungeon - WoW
    In the Fractures in Time update, the champions of Azeroth must venture into time itself to ensure that the future remains a bright one in the Dawn of the Infinite mega-dungeon.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:24 PM

Level-Up Your Warlock and Pets
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973735/level-up-your-warlock-and-pets
    World of Warcraft
    Level-Up Your Warlock and Pets - WoW
    In the Fractures in Time content update, the Warlock Class expands to new races.
    You’ll also be able to undertake a new Warlock-specific questline and use the Barbershop to customize your pets.

[4:25 PM]
Specialize with the new Augmentation Evoker
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23952478/specialize-with-the-new-augmentation-evoker
    World of Warcraft
    Specialize with the new Augmentation Evoker - WoW
    Imbue your allies with the power of the Black dragonflight and twist fate in their favor with Bronze magic as the new Augmentation Specialization, coming in the Fractures in Time Update.

[4:25 PM]
Coming to WoW Classic: Hardcore Realms.
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973734/rules-of-engagement-classic-hardcore-is-coming-to-world-of-warcraft
    World of Warcraft
    Rules of Engagement: Classic Hardcore is Coming to World of Warcraf...
    It’s official, Hardcore realms are coming to World of Warcraft.
    Players will have the opportunity to show if they have the edge, the grit, the very will— to engage with Azeroth, its denizens, and their fellow players… to survive.

[4:26 PM]
Check out This Week in WoW.
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973731/this-week-in-wow-june-26-2023
    World of Warcraft
    This Week in WoW: June 26, 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.
    Time is fleeting, and it won’t be long until the Fractures in Time content goes live on July 11.
    We’ve got more information to share on what’s to come.

Check out Blues News.
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23970952/blues-news-june-30-2023
    World of Warcraft
    Blues News: June 30, 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.

[4:27 PM]
Check out this week's hotfixes.
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23948562/hotfixes-june-28-2023
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: June 28, 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.

(Even if we don't play WoW, the pictures are fun.)
[4:28 PM]
Feel free to add in your own news about the games, general stuff. Even if a tad late.
or a big tadpole or even a bullfrog late.

Diablo 4:
[4:28 PM]
A new patch is out.
[4:29 PM]
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.

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.

Overwatch 2:
Two new blogs:
[4:30 PM]
Director's Take - Flashpoint, Cinematics, and the Dawn of a New Hero
https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23968777/
    Overwatch
    Director’s Take – Flashpoint, Cinematics, & the Dawn of a New Hero
    Aaron Keller is back with a new blog, shining the light on what’s coming for Overwatch 2: Invasion

Building an Epic Boss Fight in Defeat the Demon Lord
https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23968778/
    Overwatch
    Building an Epic Boss Fight in Defeat the Demon Lord
    We spent some time with Workshop creator CactusPuppy to find out his inspiration for building the new Defeat the Demon Lord mode.

[4:31 PM]
Updates are coming for competitive play.
https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973730/
    Overwatch
    Competitive Play Update – Teaming up for better matches
    With Season 5 now underway, we have some improvements going into Competitive Play starting this season

Hearthstone:
[4:32 PM]
The next expansion has been announced: The Lore of the Titans.
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973116/the-lore-of-the-titans
    The Lore of the Titans
    Meet your makers with this lore blog, all about the Titans, the Titan card reveal schedule, and a fun upcoming community event!

Patch 26.6 is out.
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23973115/26-6-patch-notes
    26.6 Patch Notes
    Prepare for Hearthstone’s next expansion: TITANS!

Any other gaming news?

Starcraft 2:
[4:33 PM]
The usual suspects that I'm aware of. Please feel free to pipe up if you also played it this past week:
Fangorn, Eowyn, Faramir, Real Floppa.

[4:35 PM]
Any more mentions of membership, gaming? Requests? Invites needed?

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:38 PM
On to

top

Tolkien!

[4:39 PM]
I have a topic for you. If you have one to mention, let us know!
If anyone is here, please type Manwe
Manwe

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:40 PM
Manwe

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:40 PM
Hiya Sandalf : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:41 PM
Manwe

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:41 PM
Hiya Phar : )

Topic: Why did Grima Wormtongue kill Saruman?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:41 PM
And after last week I suppose we've got a backlog of topics

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:41 PM
You'd think!
We could hit more than one.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:41 PM
He simply had enough being kicked around, and maybe finally realized how miserably he screwed up his own life by becoming Sauron's lapdog.
[4:42 PM]
literally.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:42 PM
Saruman's lapdog?
Saruman was a bit of a lapdog for Sauron, too.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:42 PM
lapdog
noun
lap·​dog ˈlap-ˌdȯg
Synonyms of lapdog
1
: a small dog that may be held in the lap
2
: a servile dependent or follower
[4:43 PM]
Definition number 2 fits Grima, I believe.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:43 PM
Aye
I just figured you meant to type Saruman rather than Sauron.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
Yup. My bad. Thinking too fast for my fingers.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
yay fast thinks!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
Not to mention that at that exact moment, as I recall, Frodo wanted to give him a chance at redemption, on which Saruman brought up his lowest more recent deeds, showed him quite clearly what a miserable creature he thought Wormtongue was, and taking away Wormtongue's possible chance at getting out the path they were on.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
Agreed, Phar

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
At least I still remember what I ate for breakfast this morning, and where my carkeys are. Not quite senile...yet.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
Didn't he also kick him as they left?

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:44 PM
Yes he did.
He also fed him like a dog.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:45 PM
A man's gotta have respec' nods

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Anyway, to show you're both right on target:

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Heya all.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Aiya Eonwe : )

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Sorry I'm late, had errands to run.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Aiya Eonwe.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
Happens! Glad you could come at all!

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:46 PM
on a Sunday?

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:47 PM
One runs errands when one can, heh.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:47 PM
Not only did Grima realize he'd never had any loyalty or respect or appreciation from Saruman, he also realized Saruman had just made sure he wouldn't get it elsewhere either. And the way Saruman treated him... as if Saruman was so much better in his ways... made him snap.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:47 PM
Errands come all the time. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:47 PM
Aya Eonwe :)

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:47 PM
Tell  me about it. I was so busy running errands...for other folks!...this morning, that I had no time for my garden until early afternoon....in the heat of the day.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:48 PM
Aye, Grima had a chance for a better life just to have it snatched away, along with any hope of rebuilding his reputation.
Don't get heat stroke!
RotK "The Scouring of the Shire"

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:48 PM
We are not as bad off as Texas, fortunately.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:48 PM
After Saruman starts to leave the Shire:
(Texas is big. Some parts have problems, some don't.)
[4:49 PM]
Quote:
Wormtongue hesitated, and then followed his master.
"Wormtongue!" called Frodo. "You need not follow him. I know of no evil you have done to me. You can have rest and food here for a while, until you are stronger and can go your own ways."
Wormtongue halted and looked back at him, half prepared to stay. Saruman turned. "No evil?" he cackled. "Oh no. Even when he sneaks out at night it is only to look at the stars. But did I hear someone ask where poor Lotho is hiding? You know, don't you, Worm? Will you tell them?"
Wormtongue cowered down and whimpered: "No, no!"
"Then I will," said Saruman. "Worm killed your chief, poor little fellow, your nice little Boss. Didn't you, Worm? Stabbed him in his sleep, I believe. Buried him, I hope, though Worm has been very hungry lately. No, Worm is not really nice. You had better leave him to me."
A look of wild hatred came into Wormtongue's red eyes. "You told me to; you made me do it," he hissed.
Saruman laughed. "You do what Sharkey says, always, don't you, Worm? Well now he says: Follow!" He kicked Wormtongue in the face as he grovelled, and turned and made off.
But at that something snapped: suddenly Wormtongue rose up, drawing a hidden knife, and then with a snarl like a dog he sprang on Saruman's back, jerked his head back, cut his throat, and with a yell ran off down the lane
Before Frodo could recover or speak a word, three hobbit-bows twanged and Wormtongue fell dead.
End quote.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:51 PM
That one line... "Buried him, I hope, though Worm has been very hungry lately." It's always stuck with me.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:51 PM
Same. ewww

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:51 PM
Full depths of his depravity.. which he might not even actually have done.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:52 PM
Destroyed any hope of friendship with the hobbits in one line.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:52 PM
Treating him like a dog, indeed.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:52 PM
How could he possibly prove he had not done it? Rough.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:52 PM
shrug dig him up?
[4:53 PM]
I mean, the killing itself was surely true, it's just that extra bit about the eating that really drove him down.

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:53 PM
Depends on how long he'd been dead. Don't imagine much was done to preserve the body, so if he's all bones by then, about the only "proof" would be the lack of tooth marks on the bones. (edited)

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:53 PM
And something else might have been eating on the body. Maybe he could prove it didn't match his teeth.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:54 PM
True.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:54 PM
But hungry dogs have been known to eat people....alive and dead.

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:54 PM
Heh, Varda and me thinking the same thing again.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:54 PM
Aye, Sandalf. And it could have been wild creatures too.
[4:55 PM]
Anyway, I was surprised how many people didn't know this. Just remembered the movie, which is actually a tad milder.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:56 PM
Ah yes, I remember Peter Jackson's commentary talking about the idea that wizards need to die 3 times

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:56 PM
There was a case in Philadelphia a few years back where a  rather stupid young mother...and I am being generous with the term...left her one year old baby at home along with a dog that had not been fed for five days the mother said. When she returned to the home with some dog food,, she found the dog, but not the baby....or much of it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:56 PM
So he had Saruman stabbed, impaled and drowned!

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:57 PM
ick, Sandalf.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:57 PM
Yes ick. How dumb can one be?

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 4:57 PM
The words to describe my feelings about that are inadequate.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 4:57 PM
Man's best friend...
[4:58 PM]
Maybe not quite when not fed.
Eck, reminds me of Ramsay's dogs in GoT.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:58 PM
Darwin award. Cutting off the genetic line there.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 4:59 PM
Should have been the mother, thought...not the baby.

Varda — 07/02/2023 4:59 PM
Are there any other comments on the topic?
Note Grima did not get off without punishment either.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 5:00 PM
"Do not mess in the affairs of wizards...."

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:01 PM
heh

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:01 PM
"My hounds will never harm me." "You haven't fed them in 7 days, you said it yourself." "They're loyal beasts." "They were. Now they're starving."...

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:01 PM
Even if Grima had lived, Grima didn't exactly get rewarded for his service to Saruman either.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:02 PM
Yeah, staying with him wouldn't have done him much good.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 5:02 PM
Sometimes discretion is the better part or valor, as the Bard said, and sometimes it is better to simply walk away. Grima should have known that at the beginning of his association with Saruman.

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:03 PM
Grima felt as if he had no choice until Frodo spoke up. A second of hope. Hope, the big theme of the books. : ) [Note: at the beginning, Grima was blinded by the offer of Eowyn for himself.]

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 5:03 PM
Yuppers.
Tolkien was a very hopeful person. He had to be.

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:03 PM
Agreed.
We have reached the hour. Feel free to keep chatting in After-meeting.
[5:04 PM]
the gavel sparkles with firework sparks all the way across the table

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 5:04 PM
I am going to head out for my Sunday dinner, and return to the channel later, to catch up with everyone and read Ar's report. Namarie for now! Sei gesund!

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:04 PM
the hammerpad yells BOOM!

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:04 PM
Have to be? Or Choose to be? heh.

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:05 PM
the gavel jumps up startled and lands on the hammerpad
Thonkitty!

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After-meeting!

[5:05 PM]
Enjoy dinner!
[5:05 PM]
I'm thinking stir-fry tonight.

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:05 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztABYog5x3o
    YouTube
    TheGrishark
    Why, Mr. Anderson? [HQ]

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 5:05 PM
In parting, I think that anyone who survived the Battle of the Somme had to be a hopeful person.

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:06 PM
Some people just don't know how to quit. It's not in them. Like this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmFjzmvwmYw
    YouTube
    philgidd
    Ernest - I'm not one to quit!

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:06 PM
Namarie ) emkpu

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:07 PM
Never give up. Never surrender. : )

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:07 PM
Namarie ) enjoy

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:07 PM
So now that I just yanked the mood I set up from stoic to complete tomfoolery... :}

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:07 PM
Yay! : )

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:08 PM
ooohm varda do we have on Lotro still a  collection of class items O
[5:08 PM]
on crickhollow?

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:08 PM
That is a question for Eonwe. And we should help him out with updates.
Oh
In the kin vault?
[5:09 PM]
Need something in particular?

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:09 PM
i am lacking one rottesd barghest paw and 13 grisly bat wings

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:10 PM
I don't know - will have to check.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:10 PM
Hah, I still remembered the last bit from that second video, Eonwe, with him getting smacked in the back of the head.

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:11 PM
else i have to do it the old fashioned way but  they are placed a bit funny

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:16 PM
Could just use the search feature.
[5:17 PM]
Save yourself the hunt.
[5:18 PM]
Just because: Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai menu!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C0RooN5N1XA
    YouTube
    Shadiversity
    REAL battle-axes are DIFFERENT!

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:29 PM
o goody. We're having another storm.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:29 PM
Coming in from Mordor?

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:30 PM
Helcaraxe maybe.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:30 PM
Thangorodrim?

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:31 PM
Power flickering on and off.

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:34 PM
Came across this, thought it was funny:
https://images7.memedroid.com/images/UPLOADED877/644889233c6d9.webp

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:35 PM
heh
Arien, did you mean Crickhollow? I don't see you there.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:36 PM
To be fair, he also kept adding to the lore up to 20 years after LotR

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:36 PM
And there went the power.
True, that. : )
But the main world was made before the Hobbit came out
[5:38 PM]
Power completely out. Now on a battery.
[5:39 PM]
See y'all later. : )

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:39 PM
aye crickhollow

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:39 PM
Didn't see you there.

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:40 PM
arienrod

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:40 PM
Did you need an invite?
ok, coming back in on Fainan, then must leave due to power problem.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 5:40 PM
Alright, good luck then, Varda! I hope it's stable again soon.
[5:41 PM]
I've got no movie tonight, so will probably play some D4 instead, so I'll be able to see when people talk.

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 5:41 PM
oh yeah she is one of the migrants and isnt invited yet
oops

Varda — 07/02/2023 5:44 PM
Still stably off. : )
Arien is now in kin : )
We may have a bunch in that predicament
[5:46 PM]
Any Crickhollow people who are able might help with Arien's class items. I'll see about adding more later when things a bit better on power.
Namarie!

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 5:50 PM
Take care.

Arien  Valar — 07/02/2023 6:00 PM
Namarie )

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 6:30 PM
Having too much fun looking at LotRO memes, heh.
I think she'd be a keeper, lol:
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/178/614/40b.jpg

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:39 PM
There is a pun there about eating a donut and "in the darkness binding"...
[6:40 PM]
Roit, let's hit up some D4, will give report later

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 6:40 PM
Have fun :}
I just unlocked world quests yesterday in WoW while working on the 30 quest trading post goal. So I could do some world quests if I want to now. Yay I guess? heh.
[6:41 PM]
Oh, you noticed this month it's 1400, not 1000?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:42 PM
Yes. They'd announced 1200, weirdly enough. 200 extra in each of these 2 months.
Should be enough to get the cub and the scorpion
And maybe Gul'dan's staff. I could see my orc lock with something like that.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:43 PM
Aiya!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:44 PM
Aiya!

Eonwë Valar — 07/02/2023 6:45 PM
Wb Sandalf.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:45 PM
I'm back,
[6:47 PM]
Wb = welcome back?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:47 PM
Yes
Also "Aiyata"!

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:47 PM
Ah. I am gl;ad I figured it out. Another sign of non-dementia.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:48 PM
Hmm, I know occasionally an abbrevation still comes up in some chat that everyone seems to know but me, and I have to google it
Last week I had to look up "istg".

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:48 PM
Yes?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:49 PM
Turns out it's "I swear to god"

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:49 PM
I see the goal?
Oh. Not a bad guess, though, I suppose.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:49 PM
As in preceding some conclusion or observation.
Yes, I could see that bit in a different contest
*be it

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:50 PM
Any progress on your work with your job coach?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:51 PM
Yes. It was actually tonight, like an hour ago, that I finished the "homework" he gave me, writing concepts for a CV update and application letter for the tax company

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:52 PM
Wonderful news! I bet you feel a sense of accomplishment having finished that "homework" up.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:52 PM
With my history of procrastination, oh yes. He gave me the assignment 12 days ago, to be due 2 days from now, but I kept mulling it over

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:54 PM
It is sometimes good to spend the time turning something over in your mind before setting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, perhaps. It gives one the chance to reflect on what is going to be said, and in the end, the finished product is better for it. You should really be proud of your work!
And good luck, once again!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 6:54 PM
Thanks
[6:55 PM]
And sure, sometimes it's good, but in my experience... it seldom helps anyway. I can plan and think, usually come up with nothing, and the moment I sit down to actually do it, all the pieces come together.
...Today was not much of an exception

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 6:56 PM
I found an article in the New York Times that  I am going to find and see if I can give you the  article. Very apropos of your discussion.
[7:02 PM]
No  luck. I cannot locate the article...I will keep looking this week. I know I have it somewhere!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 7:03 PM
Sure, no rush

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 7:35 PM
What movie are you watching this evening, or are you playing a game?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 7:42 PM
No movie recorded right now, playing Diablo 4

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:07 PM
enjoy!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:25 PM
Personal gaming report!

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:25 PM
Ich bin noch hier!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:26 PM
For (non)flashgaming, one new badge this week, but for a game I'd probably already mentioned a few weeks ago... and the website is buggy so I can't really see what all the badges were... but I do have an old badge that was for today, https://www.kongregate.com/games/KekGames/unpuzzler
    Kongregate
    UnpuzzleR
    Clear levels piece by piece (now with new game mode)
    Do you like relaxing games? Download UnpuzzleR with 250 free levels on
    quotGoogle Playquot:https://play.google.c...

[8:27 PM]
A puzzle game! Or unpuzzle game, part of a series which I've also mentioned in the more distant past. But I can't resist playing them whenever they come up.
[8:28 PM]
Clear a bunch of levels by disassembling a jigsaw piece by piece, looking at how they are locked into each other. Starts simple, but more mechanics show up as you go, including arrows, connections, explosive tiles, and more!
[8:29 PM]
And if you can't get enough, there's 3 others in the series as well with different obstacles
Oh, and good, relaxing music as well!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:37 PM

Blizzard gaming:
[8:40 PM]
Diablo 4:
Made it from level 30 to 34, unlocking the final talent node, the Key Passive talents. Being a bear-focusing druid, I got the bear key passive, increasing health in bearform, as well as doing 30% more damage when above 80% health. And since I have a bit of a percentage-based healing build, it's working quite fine
[8:41 PM]
From here on, all my talent points will be going into upgrading talent abilities I've already chosen, as well as relevant passives. So the foundation is in place, and now we get to build up the stats

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:41 PM
I tried to download UnpuzzleR, and I logged in OK, but it only said at the end, "Unpuzzler will be installed soon." Exactly what that means, or when it will happen,  I am not sure.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:41 PM
Strange. You should be able to just play it at that link, no download needed.
[8:42 PM]
Oh, you tried to download the full version rather than the smaller one on the website

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:42 PM
Knowing me, I probably missed something obvious or failed to pay attention!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:42 PM
's what I'm guessing
[8:43 PM]
The flashgame on kongregate comes with a loading screen that links a fuller game of 250 levels, but if you just let it load you get the free version on the site.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:44 PM
I shall try again. July 4th is TUESDAY, usually holiday weekends are three days. I suspect tomorrow will be a very quiet day work-wise...the New York Stock Exchange closes early, at 1300 EST, for example, and Tuesday is a Federal Holiday, so everything is closed. I should have some time to work on the game tomorrow. I also have my usual gardening work and garage emptying work to do.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:44 PM
Anyway, continuing into act 2, Scosglen, where I've unlocked renown 1 along the way. I guess it helped that I did the required stronghold for druid spirit boons, which gives 100 renown points.
[8:45 PM]
Ah, sure, good luck
[8:46 PM]
Been chasing Lilith some more through the region, searching for 2 legendary druids who played a role in sealing away Astaroth. Alas, Lilith got to them first, and now has what she needs to release the demon. So our next goal is to intercept that!
[8:48 PM]
Oh, and decided to craft an elixir for an achievement, unlocking the Bubbly Brewer title, and since you can separate prefixes and suffixes, I'm now a Bubbly Beast
[8:49 PM]
Hearthstone:
Made it to level 107 on the reward track. Good thing too, as the next expansion has already been announced!
[8:50 PM]
Level 100 gave me one more tier one hero skin, the 8th out of 9 for me, and I chose the Anduin of Prophecy priest skin, with just the paladin to go.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:51 PM
You do know who Lilith actually was, nicht wahr?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:51 PM
Expansion announcement came with a new free card on log-in, as well, Prison of Yogg-Saron, a neutral Location card. Seems fun and random.
Hmm, supposedly the first wife of Adam, seduced away by the devil or something?

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:52 PM
You got it, Digger!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:52 PM
In the Diablo-verse she is the daughter of one of the Prime Evils, and Mother of Sanctuary - she created the world as a refuge from the eternal war between heaven and hell together with Inarius, an angel, and together with their followers they gave birth to the human race.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:53 PM
She was exiled from Gan Eden for not being submissive to Adam. I guess she could be the first woman libber.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:53 PM
So that covers both sides of the mythology - part of the origin of the human race, and a demonic background.
[8:54 PM]
Heh, the Ur-feminist.

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 8:54 PM
Yessir.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 8:55 PM
A fascinating character. In one webcomic I used to read, she was the mother of all vampires.
[8:59 PM]
Right. Hearthstone.
The brawl this week is the same as last week, Battle of the Bands, the 8-boss dungeon to be done with a pre-set deck for the class of your choice.
[9:00 PM]
After doing last reset's with the warrior deck, I looked around a bit more online, and found out that the hunter is pretty doable as well, perhaps even more so than the warrior. So that's what I've been doing this time around
[9:01 PM]
Fun deck, with beasts, including rush and charge. May take a bit to build up, but after about 4 of 5 mana things can shift your way quite fast!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 9:04 PM
And a new quest event is coming this week as well, as introduction to the new Twist game mode, where you get new rules to make decks every month. I'll mostly be sticking to wild anyway, since I don't like building decks, but for the quest event I'll certain give it a go
[9:05 PM]
WoW:
[9:06 PM]
Raiding continues! Still working on 8th boss on heroic, Echo of Neltharion. Not too much more difficult than the normal version, but things get out of hand fast in phase 3, as the adds do more and more damage. Our best attempt so far has been 4%.
[9:08 PM]
Got a heroic tier headpiece from the vault, and started upgrading stuff with crests and flightstones. I hadn't bothered with it much since I was under the impression that you needed crests from a higher tier to upgrade current tier, so raiding would always take care of itself, but as it appears, you can still give them some extra upgrade levels with current tier crests as well.
So I've thrown some upgrades on my weapon, chest, helm, and a tanky trinket I got. Should help nicely!
[9:10 PM]
Weekly is world quests. Unlike Eonwe I've not actually unlocked them yet, since I'm focusing on alts, so had some more free time this week
[9:11 PM]
And the new Trading Post for this month is up, but I'll collect the currency passively throughout the month as I usually do. No rush!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 9:12 PM
Midsummer Festival is also going on, and I visited enough bonfires to buy the new toy, Flamin' Ring of Flashiness! Use it to throw fireworks into the air: a spiral climbing up for a few seconds before exploding. Looks fun, but with a 1-hour cooldown it's a bit underwhelming
[9:14 PM]
As part of midsummer, I bought the Couture Collection from the shop. I already had most of the outfits and the toy, so I got a major discount on top of the summer sale, and ended up with the Waveborne Diplomat's Regalia set, and the 3 murloc cloaks, Flrrgl's Shaking Shell, Grrgl's Spotted Shell, Mrrgl's Shiny Shell.
[9:15 PM]
The red one actually sits pretty nicely in my tier feathery dragon wings, like a little nest
[9:18 PM]
And finally, alting! With another grindy new kongregate badge to do I once again had less time to alt than I wanted, but I did send the fire mage into Revendreth. There she made her introductions, got lost with the Lord Chamberlain down in the Endmire, got back out, and helped some dredgers at the Dredger Pool to create a big dredger and take out the attacking Devourers. Next week, back to the Lord Chamberlain's quests and onward to the next town
[9:19 PM]
And after that I poked my new blood elf paladin a bit, doing some starter quests and getting her to level 4. Levels are certainly coming fast with the experience buff for Diablo 4 launch!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 07/02/2023 9:20 PM
The music and starting quests do remind me of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPmfgaFweA8 video by Carbot, to the point that I've decided to use the same chauffeur mount to drive me around
    YouTube
    CarbotAnimations
    WowCraft Ep 28 Eversong Woods

[9:21 PM]
One of the most beautiful, haunting video's he's made, to be sure.
[9:23 PM]
So yeah, let's see if my pally can make it to level 10 in the next week!
And do the quest featured in the video along the way
[9:24 PM]
And that's my report for the week!
[9:25 PM]
Namarie :)

Sandalf13 — 07/02/2023 10:06 PM
Sorry! I was called away! Namarie!


July 6, 2023

Pengolodh — 07/06/2023 2:05 PM
Hi all. Hope everyone has been doing good. been off the grid RL stuff


July 7, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 07/07/2023 10:25 PM
Guten Abend.

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