Valar Guild

June 25, 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: 
A
rien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Pallando, Sandalf, Varda
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:

    Article:

        "Concerning Estel: Who Foretold What, When; or The Strange Case of Foresight's First Formulation" by Sandalf
Gaming:
    World of Warcraft, Diablo Immortal, Overwatch 2, Hearthstone, Eve Online, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft 2 
Tolkien:
    Topics: Several suggestions including: Unions between Elf and Man; Is LotR a Western; What do Numenoreans look like?
After-meeting:
    More Tolkien: some funny and some serious, some continuing from above suggestions.
    Demo Reviews by Pallando.
    (non) Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games afterwards.

 
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Before-meeting

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 3:59 PM
Aiya all!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 3:59 PM
Aiya!

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya : )

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya Ar!
[4:00 PM]
Aiya Varda!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya Varda!

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:00 PM
(brb - pardon)

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:02 PM
Salutations.
[4:03 PM]
Just finished watching 3:10 to Yuma. Forgot what a good movie that was.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:03 PM
Aiya!

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:03 PM
back
[4:04 PM]
@Bounder @Guild-friend Valar Guild meeting time! Come lurk, say hi, chat about gaming and Tolkien's legendarium!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:04 PM
It is an excellent movie...I have seen it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:04 PM
Haven't seen that, but I did watch The African Queen yesterday. Interesting classic.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:04 PM
New one or old one? Still been meaning to watch the old one. I was watching the new one with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

Arien  Valar — 06/25/2023 4:04 PM
aiya all

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
Old one. Bogart and Hepburn.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
Aiya Arien! Yes...especially pulling that boat through leech infested waters.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
Unless.. you meant the other movie :)

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
I meant 3:10 to Yuma, pardon.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
Hah, yes.. the leeches..

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
The old one, of course.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
shudder

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:05 PM
The Original.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:06 PM
Yeah, need to find it, but the new one is a good, solid movie.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:06 PM
Guess they should have collected the leeches to sell to doctors. ; )
[4:07 PM]

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Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!

Membership:

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:07 PM
Or in the words of Magtheridon.. "Leeches! Take my blood and choke on it!"

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:07 PM
Since we were in membership already, chatting about movies.
[4:07 PM]
hah! : )

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:08 PM
And now I have a book to look for as well, heh.: Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:11 PM
What book?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:11 PM
We had a terrible hail storm come through Wednesday evening. On tghe left is a picture of part of my garden before....and the morning after the hailstorm. All that work! We need a vegetable, we go to the market and get it, forgetting just how hard it is to actually grow them. We need to be thankful.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122635249793384598/20230611_192947.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122635250212810872/20230622_114133.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122635250695151706/20230622_115843.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122635251521437776/20230622_115846.jpg

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:11 PM
Any book that'll have that short story in it, hehe. Looks like there ought to be one called "Three-ten to Yuma and other short stories".

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:12 PM
Worked on a farm. Lucky to make ends meet most years, so many things can go wrong.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:13 PM
You know, then, what it feels like.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:13 PM
Eonwe, maybe we can just look up the author's name and dig around the internet. Not going to go surf right now, though. : )

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:14 PM
I gave the author: Elmore Leonard.
That's the guy who wrote the short story.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:15 PM
Aye. But not going surfing right now. I'll let someone else dig. ; )

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:15 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-Ten_to_Yuma
    Three-Ten to Yuma
    "Three-Ten to Yuma" is a short story written by Elmore Leonard that was first published in Dime Western Magazine, a 1950s pulp magazine, in March 1953.
    It is one of the very few Western stories to have been adapted to the screen twice, in 1957 and in 2007.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:15 PM
Nice.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:15 PM
And here's the original movie:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3%3A10_to_Yuma_(1957_film)
    3:10 to Yuma (1957 film)
    3:10 to Yuma is a 1957 American Western film directed by Delmer Daves, starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin.
    Based on a 1953 short story by Elmore Leonard, it is about a drought-impoverished rancher who takes on the risky job of escorting a notorious outlaw to justice.
    In 2012, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Re...

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:16 PM
Wonder if it's on Gutenberg. May be old enough.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:16 PM
And here's the one I just watched:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3:10_to_Yuma_(2007_film)
    3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)
    3:10 to Yuma is a 2007 American western action drama film directed by James Mangold and produced by Cathy Konrad, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in the lead roles
    with supporting performances by Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, and Logan Lerman.
    It is about a drought-impoverished rancher...

[4:16 PM]
The short story was written in 1953.
First movie came out in 1957, second 50 years later in 2007.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:18 PM
Any other membership news?
Fangorn and I are back home. : )

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:19 PM
Welcome Home :}

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:19 PM
Thanks

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:19 PM
Aiyata

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Varda — 06/25/2023 4:19 PM

Web:

We have an article up by Sandalf. : )
He will be going back over it with a fine-toothed comb, but you'll be able to read it as it is now.
[4:21 PM]

"Concerning Estel: Who Foretold What, When; or The Strange Case of Foresight's First Formulation"
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/papers/Sandalf13/6ForetellingEstel.htm

You can bet he'll be interested in any comments you have to make, when you can, here in Discord. : )
[4:23 PM]
Any other membership or web news?

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:23 PM
Web news maybe soon.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:24 PM
I find the length of that article terrifying. I couldn't even manage writing those things in my study, let alone when it comes to a more casual hobby.
One of the biggest reasons I failed the course and left academics behind me.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:25 PM
It's also one reason web articles are often broken up in smaller chunks for easier reading.
[4:25 PM]
This one could be broken up according to the content subjects onto different pages, for instance.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:26 PM
I have another quick picture to share. I was just chatting about a geologic publication with Varda, about the Mummy Range in Colorado. It really does resemble a Mummy, espcially from the distance...here goes:

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:26 PM
Oh, reading it can be done, if I had a good while and could alternate it with something else. But writing it.. eesh.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:26 PM
Good point. Tons and tons of work!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:26 PM
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122639017436000459/Mummywinterpano-HT.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122639073199259678/Untitled.jpg

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:27 PM
Ah, now I see it. Glad it has the explanation on it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:27 PM
mummy with a beer belly

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:28 PM
On to
[4:28 PM]

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Gaming!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:28 PM
Yup.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:28 PM
tosses gavel to Eonwe

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:29 PM
Catches gavel

Gaming:

World of Warcraft:
This week's bonus event: Arena Skirmishes.

The PvP Brawl: Deepwind Dunk is going through Tuesday, June 27th.

The Midsummer Fire Festival is goinng through July 5th.
[4:30 PM]
The Fractures in Time content update will be out July 11th. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23951678/in-development-fractures-in-time

Aberrus LFR Wing 4 is now available. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23935246/aberrus-the-shadowed-crucible-raid-finder-wing-4-now-live
    World of Warcraft
    Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible Raid Finder Wing 4 Now Live! - WoW
    Breach Neltharion’s secret laboratory hidden within Zaralek Cavern.
    It is here that he created the dracthyr and ultimately succumbed to the whispers of the Old Gods and their corruption.
    Learn more about the upcoming new raid arriving with the start of Dragonfight Season 2.

For Wrath of the Lich King Classic, the Trial of the Crusader/Grand Crusader and Onyxia raids are open. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23969410/heed-the-call-of-the-crusade-update-raid-dungeons-now-live

[4:31 PM]
Check out This Week in WoW. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23969413/this-week-in-wow-june-20-2023
    World of Warcraft
    This Week in WoW: June 20, 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.
    This week, heed the Call of the Crusade in Wrath of the Lich King Classic™ beginning on June 20 and culminating in the release of the Trial of the Crusader, Trial of the Grand Crusader, and level 80 Onyxia’s Lair on ...

Check out Blues News. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23970950/blues-news-june-23-2023
    World of Warcraft
    Blues News: June 23, 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.

[4:31 PM]
Check out this week's hotfixes. ---
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23948562/hotfixes-june-23-2023
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: June 23, 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.

[4:31 PM]
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.

[4:32 PM]

Overwatch 2:
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:
A new game mode is coming with patch 26.6: Twist. ---
https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/23968054/introducing-hearthstone-s-new-mode-twist
    Introducing Hearthstone’s New Mode: Twist!
    Take your first look at Hearthstone’s new Mode, Twist, a fun new way to play with card pools and rules that get twisted up throughout the year.

[4:32 PM]
Thus ends my gaming news.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:32 PM
Thank you, Eonwe.
[4:33 PM]
Aiya Pallando : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:33 PM
Thus spoke Eonwe.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:33 PM
: )

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 4:33 PM
In Eve, the biggest news is that the Tranquility Trading Tower has died, ending an era. This comes after CCP made a surprise move to disallow the anchoring of XL structures in highsec last week. There's been some accusations of CSM members leaking the news, but I think it's bunk.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:34 PM
Something about Zarathustra?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:34 PM
nods

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:35 PM
Ouch, Pallando

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 4:35 PM
Homefront operations have been tweaked a bit to reduce their multibox potential, but otherwise seem tob e recieved well. I haven't had the chance to do them yet, but if some new player wants to check them out with me to learn the ropes, just let me know.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:36 PM
What are homefront operations?

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 4:36 PM
The AT feeder weekend has been happening this week, but I haven't had the chance to follow it yet.
[4:37 PM]
Homefront operations are a new type of permanent site that was introduced in the Veridian expansion this month. They're a newbie focused site, with the intent that several new players, possibly with one or two more veteran friends, work through them together.
[4:38 PM]
They require multiple people and use some mechanics not otherwise seen in PvE sites.
I think that's it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:39 PM
Newbie cooperation. Yep, regardless of which game it is, I can see the multibox potential.

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 4:40 PM
Yeah. They're trying to strike a fine balance of "worth it for newbs and the vets that teach them" without it being "worth it for one dude to multibox", which is a hard thing to do, esp in eve.
[4:41 PM]
I'll also have a personal gaming report of sorts to rival Ar-Pharazon's. This last week has been Steam Next Fest and I've tried 30 different demos and have a short writeup on all of them for after the meeting.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:41 PM
Should be fun. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:42 PM
Sounds good

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:42 PM
Personals are welcome in After-meeting. Feel free then!
[4:42 PM]

Lord of the Rings Online:
Landroval kin branch (main):
Eonwe
Nar
Pengolodh
Varda

Crickhollow kin branch:
Eonwe
Falco
Varda

Treebeard legendary server kin branch:
Varda
[4:42 PM]
LotRO is running the Midsummer Festival with the quests for Aragorn and Arwen's wedding.
[4:43 PM]

Starcraft 2:
[4:44 PM]
Fangorn, Eowyn, Faramir, Real Floppa have been gaming together. Others of you have too, so feel free to mention if you like.
July 4th is coming up, so Elwing and Meriadoc may be coming to my house and jumping into LotRO. : )
Any other news?
[4:46 PM]
On to

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Tolkien!

[4:47 PM]
I regret to say I forgot the topic intended for tonight. Feel free to suggest your own! (always like to hear).

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:48 PM
Does blue taste like more like seven or aquamarine?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:49 PM
the Legendarium refers to three unions between Elves and Men: Beren/Luthien, Tuor/Idril, and Aragorn/Arwen. Yet there are mentions of a FOURTH union...Nimrodel and a man from Gondor (?). Also, there is the love story of Andreth and Aegnor. Why the discrepancy?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:49 PM
Ehh, I've got a possibly small one that popped into my head when I was trying to design my very future upcoming belf DH named Calrazon...

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:49 PM
Is LotR a western? I mean, Aragorn and Sauron had a showdown and only one walked away.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
High Noon in the Palantir!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
What did Pharazon look like? What do Numenoreans look like? Blond or dark hair? I know Aragorn had dark hair in the movie...

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
I can imagine Dimitri Tiomkin writing the music score for that one...

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
Apparently Numenoreans had dark hair and grey eyes. Tall. Just in general.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
Fair skin, sea-grey eyes seems to be the standard as I recall.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:50 PM
See, I thought that, but apparently there's a lot of Hador in them as well.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:51 PM
They had fair skin, somewhat darker than some other humans. Tanning? Mediteranean olive? hmm

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:51 PM
Just like the Noldor...and the House of Beor was most beloved by the Elves because of their resemblance, but also because the folk of that House were slow to anger, and would rather pity than laugh.

Varda — 06/25/2023 4:51 PM
That does sound worthy of love.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:52 PM
And I also read somewhere that Erendis, being more of Beornan than Hadoran origin, had dark hair that seemed to be rare in the house of kings...
[4:53 PM]
I like the idea of mediterranenean skintones after 3000 years on their island.
Ehr. With correct spelling.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:54 PM
"The Men of that House (Beor) were dark or brown of hair, with grey eyes,; and most of all Men they were most like to the Noldor and mopst loved by them; for they were eager of mind, cunning-handed, swift in understanding, long in memory, and they were moved sooner to pity than to laughter." From "Of the Coming of Men Into the West," The Sil.
[4:56 PM]
Note the subtle use of "cunning," so typical of Tolkien. There are two words in modern English that go back to the days of Old English/A.S.: cunning and ken, e.g., it is beyond my ken (beyond my understanding), and "she is a cunning person," but cognate with "kennen" in modern German, "to know."
[4:57 PM]
And after 3,000 years +/- in Middle-earth, they probably got back to some lighter skin tones?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 4:58 PM
Depends on climate and natural selection, I suppose. Those whose skin can withstand the temperatures will be more prosperous
[4:59 PM]
Numenor always seemed rather warm to me. Good weather. Good sun.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 4:59 PM
Like Sicily, without Mt. Etna.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:00 PM
Right! Medi

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:01 PM
Numenoreans were also quite tall.
Long-lived.
[5:02 PM]
Ok, this is an interesting article including the background of the Numenoreans. Needs checked with the books but nifty read:
[5:03 PM]
https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/N%C3%BAmen%C3%B3reans
    The One Wiki to Rule Them All
    Númenóreans
    The Númenóreans were a scion of the Edain, the most noble race of Men in the First Age. This people was given the island of Númenor at the beginning of the Second Age by the Valar. The Dúnedain...

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:03 PM
"Most of Númenor was settled by Edain of the House of Hador, who were golden-haired and tall, with fair skin and blue eyes, while the North-western regions of the island were settled mostly by the people of the House of Bëor, who were generally dark-haired with grey or brown eyes."

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:03 PM
Says it used Peoples of Middle-earth for the above info. Thanks Phar

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:04 PM
That explains why the house of Elendil has dark hair, including Aragorn. But Pharazon could very well be blond.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:04 PM
Not sure where I saw the bit about the slightly darker skin, read in a mass of stuff in the books yesterday.
So I can't back that one up.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:05 PM
" Elendil himself bearing the nickname Elendil the Tall for being nearly eight feet high."
Eesh, that's like WoW NPC high

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:05 PM
The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
Nearly a giant. : )

Arien  Valar — 06/25/2023 5:05 PM
and i have sadly to retire myself for the night .. early shift tomorr

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
It is past the hour!

the gavel dances to the hammerpad

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
Namarie Arien

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
tosses a garland of flowers on it
thwippity!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
NAmarie Arien!

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
SNEEEZE

Arien  Valar — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
Namarie valarite and wonderful gavel

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:06 PM
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After-meeting

[5:07 PM]
the gavel bows towards the disappearing sunlight

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:07 PM
"The People of Haleth lived in Dublindor and had red hair."
Heh, thank you internet.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:07 PM
Dublin, heh.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:07 PM
Is that in Ireland? A suburb of Dublin?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:07 PM
Irish part of Numenor!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:09 PM
I heard that James Joyce had another book in mind as a follow-up to "Dubliners:" "Dublindoreans"
[5:10 PM]
Exiles from the West who settled in Ireland after they were discovered byt St. Brendan.
Sort of a reverse Irish migration.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:10 PM
Regration?
[5:11 PM]
Remigration?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:11 PM
Retrogradation

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:11 PM
Remission?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:11 PM
Someone shoot me, please.
he he

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:12 PM
Ricochetion?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:13 PM
These people had short, curly hair, and were only 6 to 7 inches tall. They like pots of gold.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:14 PM
Hiding them at the ends of rainbows?

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:14 PM
You got it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:15 PM
"Tolkien describes the early Numenoreans being so often blond/blue" I wish I had a source for this.
[5:16 PM]
Looks like Tar-Aldarion was blond as well.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:19 PM
That sets up a problem. The Lords of Andunie, in the Northwest of Numenor, were descendants of Silmarien, the first child of the 4th (?) King of Numenor. IF what you are saying is true, then she would have had blond hair and blue eyes....yet the descendants of that line (Elendil, et al) had dark or brown hair and gray eyes...just like the House of Beor. How did this happen?

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:19 PM
Try Peoples of Middle-earth?
If blond is recessive, and they had even one or two dark-haired in the mix, that could darken the hair.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:19 PM
From what I can tell, the Northwest of Numenor had a lot of Beor's folk, so Silmarien's line to Elendil would probably have intermixed quite a lot more than the main line in the East.
[5:20 PM]
Indeed, Varda.
Of course is blond is recessive, everyone from Tar-Ancalime onwards might have been dark-haired/

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:20 PM
That would explain it, I think, yet it is not to be forgotten that Elendil, and thus his heirs, were direct descendants in the right line of Elros.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:21 PM
A direct descendant can still have folk marrying into the line.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:21 PM
I am recessive, as is my family. We all had blond hair and blue eyes....picked it up in Germany somehwere in the 1000s, I think...

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:22 PM
Interestingly, if blond was prominent in the House, and the Black Numenoreans had mostly blond hair, there might even be some blond amongst the Corsairs of Umbar...

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:22 PM
Elros as Elrond's twin would be dark-haired, if they were identical twins.

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 5:24 PM
Ooooopsssss...got to run. Be back in a bit, after dinner. Namarie and sei gesund, y'all!
That is for you, Varda.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:24 PM
Namarie, Sandalf : )
hehe

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:24 PM
Namarie

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:24 PM
Y'all is of course the plural of you.
[5:25 PM]
Sounds better than "you guys"?
Shorter at least.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:25 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-CinHxHd3A
    YouTube
    Executor Nral
    Y'all have a real good day now, y'hear?

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:25 PM
hehe

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:26 PM
Good old General Duke.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:27 PM
https://www.lotro.com/news/lotro-mtgo-coupon-en
    The Lord of the Rings Online
    Celebrate Magic Meeting Middle-earth™!
    Get a Coupon Code here for in-game gifts, available to redeem until 1:00 PM Eastern (-4 GMT) on July 5th in The Lord of the Rings Online!

[5:28 PM]
LIke Phar suspected before, that code was for a meeting of Magic the Gathering Online and Lord of the Rings Online. : )

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 5:29 PM
Heh, got lost starting to read "The  Heirs of Elendil" in Peoples of Middle-Earth.

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:30 PM
Go ahead! We're in After-meeting.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 5:32 PM
Just came across a spot that says Amroth was Celeborn's brother. Other versions have Amroth as Galadriel and Celeborn's son as I recall, and some mention no relation.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:33 PM
Indeed. And going back on one of the suggested topics, related, I think it wasn't Nimrodel who ended up with a human at Dol Amroth, but one of her servants.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 5:33 PM
Mithrellas
Aye.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:33 PM
Thank you

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 5:33 PM
MP :}

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:38 PM
Right, her handmaiden, not Nimrodel herself
and she left the guy after a time.
[5:39 PM]
He was needed for defense. But they had children. He was human, so the elven thing of forever didn't work there.

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 5:48 PM
Or at least she didn't feel like it did. Wonder if she waited until the kids were full grown.

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Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 5:53 PM
Okay, here's all the demos I played and some quick thoughts on each.

* Defender's Quest II: Mists of Ruin -- it's an okay TD. Very "we can't make Flash games anymore" feel. Writing is.. (sigh) passable. Gameplay is okay? Nothing special. Didn't finish the demo cause they swapped your heroes out and I didn't care enough to continue.

* Gord -- Very dark, very pretty colony sim/management sort of game. The animations of the (pretty detailed) models are a little over-exaggerated and fall into uncanny valley/unintentional comedy in the cutscenes. Not really my thing but seems very competent.

* SlavicPunk -- A twinstick that is far too punk for me. I restarted the tutorial easily two dozen times. The tutorial includes at least 3 murder arenas where you're dispatching quite a number of very angry people. Well, I say you dispatch them. Mostly I got dispatched. Seems okay other than some wonkiness with melee actions, but I have no idea about the overall quality or if it falls down later.

* Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master -- It's Dungeon Keeper, but with French humor. Demo was a little too short to see if I vibed with it. UX was a little wonky. Felt kinda empty but it is a pre-release demo, and I greatly enjoyed the same studio's previous outing (which was a very funny traditional RPG in the same setting). I'll keep an eye on it and see if I like later development.

* En Garde -- Puss in Boots meets Arkham Asylum. Good writing, responsive gameplay. Worried about the depth. Keeping an eye on it but very much waiting for reviews.

* Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew -- It's a stealth tactics RPG thing. It does everything right that I saw so far. Variety of abilities, some good features, controls are responsive, it looks good, the writing is above-average. Worth getting on release.

[5:53 PM]
There's some very good ones in there

Varda — 06/25/2023 5:53 PM
(The Search on our Tolkien Site works again!)
(Thanks, Eonwe!)

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 5:55 PM
Highlights include Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, En Garde!, Dicefolk, Let's! Revolution!, Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles, Thronefall, and Cataclismo.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 5:59 PM
Thanks

Varda — 06/25/2023 6:01 PM
That's a lot of great info. : )

Varda — 06/25/2023 6:13 PM
Thank you, Pallando : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 6:15 PM
Hmm, looking at the channel of that Duke quote I gave you earlier... this guy's got a lot of funny videos of edits, mostly dialogue-wise, of Starcraft and Warcraft 3. Something to check out
https://www.youtube.com/@executornral3030
    YouTube
    Executor Nral
    As far as we are concerned, killing high-born Templar is an act of righteous justice! Let the rulers of Aiur feel what it's like to be hunted and driven from their homes! Let them suffer as we Dark Templar have suffered at their hands!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 6:37 PM
Movie time, back later
When I'll give my own report!

Pallando-Valar — 06/25/2023 9:02 PM
I just ran across this on a different discord server totally unrelated to your video, Ar:
https://youtu.be/T4Ox2t5c4As
    YouTube
    FoxMaster
    Starcraft Pylon Tribute! - Epic Remix

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:06 PM
Oh, yes, I remember that one  It's good.
[9:07 PM]
Anyway, back from movie.
Personal gaming report time!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:07 PM
Aiya! I am almost done editing my Chapter Six for Varda. I will keep my eyes on this site, however.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:07 PM
Aiya  It's late here, so I'll get right to it

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:07 PM
Gotcha, Digger.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:09 PM
Alright, for (non)flashgaming on the Kongregate site, there were 2 new badges this week, for larger rpg/idle games, which is normally not a genre I single out. But one of the two,  https://www.kongregate.com/games/HolydayStudios/firestone actually has a kind of fantasy/anime charm to it, so why not!
    Kongregate
    Firestone Idle RPG
    Firestone is an Idle RPG set in the Fantasy world of Alandria, where Undead and Orc forces have gathered for the first time in millennia to bring chaos and dis...

[9:12 PM]
An idle/incremental game where you control a guardian, initially a fairy, recruiting a team of heroes, to fight wave after wave of enemies, upgrading all of them as you go with gold you earn. The heroes fight by themselves, hence the idle part, but the fairy is under your control for some manual boosting.
[9:13 PM]
You can do prestige resets to increase your gold income through firestones.
Other than that, there's more permanent upgrades, such as your account/character level, talents, researches, and all sorts of stuff like that for additional currencies or even just time.
[9:14 PM]
Lots of stuff to unlock
So if you're looking for a cutesy fantasy/idle game for the long term, to play in the background, this might be a fun option for you!
[9:15 PM]

Blizzard gaming:
[9:16 PM]
Diablo 4:
Leveling slowing down, as I made it from level 26 to 30 on the druid.
Part of that might be because I'm skipping side quests now and focusing on main quests, though I may still do the events I come across.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:17 PM
Talents are coming along nicely, Spirit Boons are all acquired, and I even got several legendary items, including through the final main quests of Act 1. Including 2 amulets and an axe. Legendary weapon, always good
[9:19 PM]
Started Act 2 as well, into Scosglen, where I hit level 30, unlocking the level 30 health potion upgrade as well. Though for that, I had to take some time out of the questing and travel into the northeast of Scosglen, since the potion upgrade required some rare reagents, and some googling told me that there was a regularly respawning elite up there that guaranteed to drop the reagents. But it worked, and now it's back to Act 2, as we chase Lilith once again and try to stop her from resurrecting a demon called Astaroth.
[9:21 PM]
Hearthstone:
Level 98 on the reward track! Should be a few days away to 100 and the next hero skin

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:22 PM
I am still here!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:23 PM
Brawl is Battle of the Bands: A dungeon-like brawl where you choose a class as a version of the protagonist for this little storyline, get a pre-set deck for that class, and have to defeat all 8 bosses, all musicians/entertainers for this expansion.
[9:23 PM]
Some classes/decks are better than others for these fights, and after looking for some online advice I chose a warrior deck, filled with rush minions. It works pretty well, as I've defeated 6 out of 8 now.
[9:24 PM]
And if you fail, you don't get reset, but simply get to try the current boss again. Still, if your preset deck's just not right for it.. there's always an option to retire and try a different class.
[9:25 PM]
Each fight counts separately for the weekly brawl quest, so it's carried me through the week, but to get the pack reward you need all 8. So still got a few fights to do this reset
And it got me credit for some other daily quests as well, so that's nice!
WoW:
[9:27 PM]
Raiding continues on heroic, as we've taken down 2 more bosses  2 to go! We still need a few more runs to really get these under control, though. Got a few heroic rewards as well, including the tier chestpiece from the vault. Very nice!
[9:28 PM]
Weekly is arena skirmishes, which is going nicely again even as tank, and I made it to honor level 111 along the way.
Bilbo'd be proud

Varda — 06/25/2023 9:29 PM
Yay : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:30 PM
Finally, alting! Didn't have too much time for it, between those kongregate badges, Diablo 4 and just dealing with the heatwave of this week. But I did make good progress!
[9:31 PM]
The mage completed the battle of Hibernal Hollow and escorted Ysera's Wildseed to the Winter Queen. That quest still brings tears to my eyes, despite it being the 4th character I've done it on
[9:32 PM]
She's completed Ardenweald now, and has headed back to Oribos to prepare for the fourth zone, Revendreth. And after that, finally new content as I'll be ready for the covenant campaigns
[9:33 PM]
Project Horde is progressing as well!
[9:34 PM]
Got Calgitha, the orc warlock to level 10 by attacking some Northwatch soldiers near Razor Hill. I then put her in Affliction spec and gave her some green witchy transmog, as seen at https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-gb/character/eu/argent-dawn/calgitha though her inventory of mogs isn't that big. Maybe something more suitable will come up in the future but this'll work for now
    World of Warcraft
    Calgitha - Character - WoW
    Calgitha (Argent Dawn) ❮Innovation❯ - 10 Orc Affliction Warlock, 6 ilvl

[9:35 PM]
Oh and she got her second demon, a voidwalker called Zangmon.
Sounds a bit like a troll name!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:37 PM
It  would have been great if two of the trolls in "The Hobbit" were Bert and Ernie.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:38 PM
And with githa at level 10, I made horde alt nr 5! The idea was a blood elf paladin with a black and gold contrast, with a backstory of having fallen into the Sunwell when she was a child (Obelix style, for those who know the name!) leaving her with a dark skin but golden shine.
So meet Calclypsia :)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122717469929373816/Calclypsia.jpg
[9:39 PM]
Looking forward to getting her to level 10 next!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:39 PM
They sort of look like Trolls, nicht wahr!
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/98425690877104128/1122717640708849775/th.jfif

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:39 PM
Haha, yes, but not the Warcraft trolls
[9:40 PM]
Anyway, that's my report for the week  Next week, Revendreth and Clypsy!

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:41 PM
Wonderful report! Have a great week ahead, Ar! I did get my corrections for Chapter Six to Varda completed and sent off via E-Mail.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:41 PM
Great! I'm sure she'll update it soon

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:41 PM
Whenever she has the time. Not a rush, in my thinking.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 06/25/2023 9:41 PM
Indeed.
Well, namarie

Sandalf13 — 06/25/2023 9:41 PM
Namarie and sei gesund!

Eonwë Valar — 06/25/2023 9:42 PM
Sleep well.

Varda — 06/25/2023 9:57 PM
Thanks, Sandalf

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