As we have already exposed all the known details about his great work the Silly Marillion, today we’re gonna read more about this peculiar author so renowned. Maybe you think you know one thing or two about him (or three or eleven or thirty-six hundred things) but get ready for the unbeknownst knowledge taken from Internet!
Who is Tolkien?
Famous director, author, dictator, actor, politician, biologist and hockey player(as well as frequent mentor to Batman’s younger cousin Manbat), J.R.R.R.A.B.C.D.E.F.X.Y.Z. (John Ronald Rootytoot Reagan Ass-Bitch Chix Don’t Even Frickin’ Xylophone Yurie Zauron) Tolkien is the historian who discovered that the true history of the earth was being covered up by the world’s governments, who did not want the general population to know of the existence of dragons, elves, hobbits, magic, etc, in order to maintain control over their people.
Tolkien’s greatest invention was the fantasy industry. Without his influence online collaborative games would all be about spies or snowboarding or something and goths would have to dress in pastel casuals. But thanks to Tolkien, gamers, goths, hippies, occultists and heavy metal bands have a rich reference-iconography of dark overlords, wizards, orcs, funny lettering, dungeons, bad fashion and awesome films to smoke dope to, allowing contact with the real world to be minimized.
Biography
Tolkien was born in 1066 to a hobbit awkwardly named Tolkien’s mom. He was given birth to in a chopshop amid the sprawling grasslands of central New Jersey. A prophecy told of his birth as the fruits of an Inuit and yet another hobbit. His legitimate mother found this odd as she was never married to an Inuit. The prophecy also said that within 5 hours of his birth he would successfully fight for hobbit rights among the population of New Jersey, and he did. A precocious child, he also learned to speak Welsh, Japanese, French, and Klingon within twenty minutes of his birth. He would go on to master the Inuit language, and is personally responsible for forty-seven of their eighty-two words describing snow.
Craving for more? Really? You got a strange taste, mate! It’s ok anyway. Sometimes, we all need to laugh a bit and not take things too seriously. So, the good, the bad and the ugly (jokes) you can find not here, nor here and neither here. It’s right…..there!
Are you a fan of Lord of the Rings? Are you a fan of board games? If both answers are yes, then War Of The Ring was made for you! I bought my copy of the first edition in 2006 and had had excellent long matches with my nephew. Oh, I remember too well. Great games they were. But I have a word of caution for you. If you don’t like long games, you won’t enjoy this one! You need to be prepared if you wanna embark in such gaming experience and adventure. Below a summary about how the game works, if it’s good for you and some photos to help you decide if you wanna give it a shot.
“In War of the Ring, one player takes control of the Free Peoples (FP), the other player controls Shadow Armies (SA).
Initially, the Free People Nations are reluctant to take arms against Sauron, so they must be attacked by Sauron or persuaded by Gandalf or other Companions, before they start to fight properly: this is represented by the Political Track, which shows if a Nation is ready to fight in the War of the Ring or not.
The game can be won by a military victory, if Sauron conquers a certain number of Free People cities and strongholds or vice-versa. But the true hope of the Free Peoples lies with the quest of the Ringbearer: while the armies clash across Middle Earth, the Fellowship of the Ring is trying to get secretly to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Sauron is not aware of the real intention of his enemies but is looking across Middle Earth for the precious Ring, so that the Fellowship is going to face numerous dangers, represented by the rules of The Hunt for the Ring. But the Companions can spur the Free Peoples to the fight against Sauron, so the Free People player must balance the need to protect the Ringbearer from harm, against the attempt to raise a proper defense against the armies of the Shadow, so that they do not overrun Middle Earth before the Ringbearer completes his quest.
Each game turn revolves around the roll of Action Dice: each die corresponds to an action that a player can do during a turn. Depending on the face rolled on each die, different actions are possible (moving armies, characters, recruiting troops, advancing a Political Track).
Action dice can also be used to draw or play Event Cards. Event Cards are played to represent specific events from the story (or events that could possibly have happened) that cannot be portrayed through normal gameplay. Each Event Card can also create an unexpected turn in the game, allowing special actions or altering the course of a battle.”
The game is well structure and it respects a lot the theme. Basically, if you’re the Shadow Armies, you’ll use your full force to hammer all Free cities, conquer them as fast as you can. Hunting for the Ring is definitely something you should do too. The Nazgûl are awesome with the ability to fly, pretty useful. If you’re the Free Peoples…run! Run, Forrest, Run! You gotta be quick and cautious with the Fellowship. It’s hard to balance that but there’s where the golden ticket lies. Frodo must be protected at all costs and meanwhile, you gotta resist as best as you can all the attacks from the armies of Sauron.
Well, if you have already played this game, you know what I mean and all the electricity that flows within the game. I’m a lover of board games! I’m really into them when I’m playing and I don’t care if one match’s gonna take 30 minutes or 8 hours! I go for it!
War of the Ring is THE ultimate experience if you wanna relive all the action of Lord of the Rings, but not only that….you can interfere, you’re the one who’s changing the fate of Middle-Earth depending on our strategies and actions. Cool game, awesome fun! DO TRY IT!
This article was created thanks to boardgamegeek.com
Here comes another chapter of the series of several mysteries that Professor Tolkien, all throughout his work, left unexplained. Now we are to discuss whether Balrogs have wings, as lots have done before us.
As always, there’s no definite answer to the question, and that the reason we can discuss about it, isn’t it? One thing is certain: Balrogs look much more scary if the do have wings! Peter Jackson put wings on them, and it looked pretty awesome. But, as we can’t base a conclusion in the scariness of them, further discussion is needed. Let us begin.
First of all, lets take a look at the relevant quotes from The Lord of the Rings that originated all this:
His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. (LOTR, Book II, Chapter 5 The Bridge of Khazad-dûm)
Here we clearly see, by the use of the word ‘like’, that the mention of wings is merely figurative. But the problem arises with the following phrase, very close to the previous one in the same chapter:
…suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall… (LOTR, Book II, Chapter 5 The Bridge of Khazad-dûm)
Similarly, though it is in a non-published draft of the Silmarillion, there is this phrase regarding Morgoth’s Balrogs in Beleriand:
Swiftly they arose, and they passed with winged speed over Hithlum, and they came to Lammoth as a tempest of fire. (The History of Middle-earth, Vol. X: Morgoth’s Ring, The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Rape of the Silmarils)
In favor of wings
There’s not much to tell about why so many support the pro-wings theory. ‘Its wings were spread from wall’ and ‘with winged speed’ arguments are the core of it. Simply take the above phrases literally, specially the 2nd and 3rd, and you have your case built.
The good thing of these arguments is their simplicity. Short, concise and clear, with not much complication, and that’s it.
The bad thing, this only works if you previously assume that Balrogs have wings, and are seeking for evidence that supports your assumption. In that case, the two arguments work perfectly. But should we have to assume that? Not necessarily…
In favor of no wings
This side argues that these phrases shouldn’t be taken literally, and that the wings in the 2nd phrase refer to the figurative ones mentioned in the 1st one. They stand over the fact that many other phrases in LOTR can’t be seen literally. For instance, in that very same chapter we read that ‘Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company’, and it is certain that Gandalf does not fly.
Indeed, in the Prophecy of Malbeth, in the Return of the King, we see that the very same word ‘wings’ is used as metaphor:
Over the land there lies a long shadow, westward reaching wings of darkness.
More strong argument is the fact that, if ‘its wings were spread from wall to wall’ is literal, the body of the Balrog would be too big to be true. The room where the bridge of Khazad-dûm is located was between 23 and 30 meters wide, then the wingspan of the Balrog must be near that size, almost as much as a big plane!
To carry such wings, a HUGE body would be needed, near the size of a house! And what’s the issue with that? Well, the fact that the Balrog was able to enter the Chamber of Mazarbul through the same door in which the orcs clustered during the battle there. So this door must be a fairly narrow opening, through which such gigantic Balrog would never be able to pass.
Another objection claimed is that its not likely that Balrogs have wings if they don’t fly. Their inability to fly is clear enough. If they did, it wouldn’t have fallen with Gandalf into the abyss nor from the top of Celebdil to its death; nor the one that fell in a fight with Glorfindel from a high pinnacle, as told in the Silmarillion. They don’t even fly in battles when it would be a huge advantage for them. So, if they fly they have wings; but as they probably don’t fly, we cannot say the have.
Remember that the anti-wing theory does not assume the presence of wings, but the contrary: by default, the races of Middle-earth don’t have wings unless specified explicitly. If not, Elves may have had wings, because Tolkien never said ‘they don’t have’.
Summary
Much more is talked than what I told you here. But to sum up, nothing is certain. It would seem that anti-wings have a larger number of arguments, but recall that sometimes the smaller army may win the battle. I leave it for you to judge which ones are stronger, and express your opinion in the poll and comments. I’m really interested in what you think of this matter!
‘Pro-wings’ vs. ‘Anti-wings’… let the game begin!
If you wanna read more extensive analysis of both theories, check this article (under the heading ‘… And Whether Balrogs Have Wings’)
Well, today is a celebration day. It’s the 2-year anniversary of the poetic translation made by Ondo Carniliono of the mot famous of all Tolkien poems! “Not all those who wander are lost” is simply the utmost poetic contribution for the human and elvishkind made by Father, the one who brought all that universe into existence. Not that Tolkien didn’t write other poems, far from that…but “Not all those who wander are lost” is the most cited, the most requested, the most looked for, it’s everywhere in the internet. It makes sense to all four corners of the world and constantly I’m asked about how it’s written in Quenya, in different Tengwar fonts, what certain term means, why that one is used there…phewww. Too many people! I really hope that with this commemorative post, they will be satisfied with all the answers right here in one place only! So behold…..Not all those who wander are lost in Quenya!
All that is gold does not glitter
All that is gold does not glitter
Ilya i laurëa ná, mirilya lá,
Ilya = n. & pron. “all, whole, each, every” i = def. art. “the” laurëa = adj. gold, golden ná = vb. to be mirilya = vb. to glitter lá = adv. no, not
Not all those who wander are lost
Queni ya ranya ullumë vanwë umir,
Queni = quén+[i] = n. person, one+[plural marker] ya = rel. pron. “that, which, who” ranya = vb. to wander ullumë = adv. never vanwë = vanwa+[ë] = adj. lost, gone, departed+[plural marker] umir = umë+[r] = neg. vb. “not to be, not to do”+[plural marker]
The old that is strong does not wither
I yára ya tulca ná, hesta lá
I = def. art. “the” yára = adj. old, ancient ya = rel. pron. “that, which, who” tulca = adj. strong, firm, steadfast ná = vb. to be hesta = vb. to wither lá = adv. no, not
Deep roots are not reached by the frost
Tumnë talmar rahtainë nixenen umir
Tumnë = tumna+[ë] = adj. lowlying, deep, low+[plural marker] talmar = talma+[r] = n. foundation, root, base+[plural marker] rahtainë = rahta+{ina}+[ë] = vb. to reach+{passive participle suffix}+[plural marker] nixenen = nixë+[nen] = n. frost+[instrumental case suffix] umir = umë+[r] = neg. vb. “not to be, not to do”+[plural marker]
From the ashes a fire shall be woken
From the ashes a fire shall be woken
Yúlallo nárë nauva coivaina,
Yúlallo = yúla+[llo] = n. ember, smouldering wood, ashes+[ablative case suffix] nárë = n. flame, fire nauva = ná+[uva] = vb. to be+[future suffix] coivaina = coiva+[ina] = vb. to wake+[passive participle suffix]
A light from the shadows shall spring
Cálë lómillon tuiuva,
Cálë = n. light lómillon = lómë+{i}+[llon] = n. shadow+{plural marker}+[ablative case suffix] tuiuva = tuia+[uva] = vb. to spring+[future suffix]
Renewed shall be blade that was broken
Ceura nauva hyanda ya né rácina,
Ceura = adj. renewed nauva = ná+[uva] = vb. to be+[future suffix] hyanda = n. blade, sword blade ya = rel. pron. “that, which, who” né = past tense of vb. to be rácina = adj. broken
The crownless again shall be king
I ríelóra ata aran nauva.
I = def. art. “the” ríelóra = ríë+[-lóra] = n. crown+[-less suffix] ata = adv. “again” aran = n. king nauva = ná+[uva] = vb. to be+[future suffix]
Annatar, Lord of Gifts, is back in business, and business is good. I have distributed all 16 of my Rings of Power, and now I’m just waiting for the payoff.
The Dwarves were the easiest to trick — no surprise there, anything created by Aulë is going to be dumb as a post, just like its creator. All I had to do was hint to my Dwarven contacts that some magic rings were available, and the poor stupid bastards came to me.
First I got a delegation from Khazad-dûm, demanding magic rings from me — their king, Durin the Umpteenth, claimed that the rings were made with Moria-gold, and so were rightfully his. So I pretended for a while I didn’t want to give up any rings, and then “caved” to the pressure. The Khazad-dûm Dwarves got three rings, and then I gave another two to the Dwarves of Belegost and another two to Nogrod. Anyway, as long as these stumpy morons take care of their rings (and don’t let them get eaten by dragons), I will soon rule the Dwarven race!
Men have been more difficult to ensnare, as any King of Men with the power and intelligence to be worth ensaring tends to have friends amongst the accursed Elves and their Númenórean allies. But I have managed to find nine who will make useful servants — three of them are Númenórean Sea-Kings, so-called “Black Númenóreans,” whose fear of death led them to accept my rings; and one was even a woman. The first to accept a ring, El-Murazor, is now over 500 years old, and just beginning to feel “thin” and “stretched.” He can’t see it, but he’s beginning to get permanently transparent — within 50 years he’ll be a full-blown wraith. Then he’s all mine.
And when I have total control over nine Kings of Men and seven Kings of the Dwarves, the Elves will have lost all their allies in Middle-Earth. Then all I have to worry about is the damned Númenóreans, and I have a few ideas on that front. Yes, I do.
Bwa ha ha. BWA HA HA. BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!
Well, dinner is ready, gotta go. Later tonight I’m gonna spend a few hours polishing my Ring — it’s precious to me, and I like to spend time with it. No, that’s not weird. It’s mine, my own… my precious.
___________________
Mordor Financial Controller comments: “Did you get receipts for those rings? We can write them off as marketing expense.”
Ghost of one of your orcs says: “Well, things finally seem sorted out. I mean, what are the chances that a dragon could get into a dwarven city? I mean, a giant flying lizard going underground? Those rings are safe.”
Ashi points out: “Gift-giving is good Karma, I see this paying off in the end.”
Taken from the excellent spirited Sauron’s Blog! Creative derivative stuff with a pinch of humor and it adds flavor for those who enjoy the bad guys too! Check: http://www.sauronsblog.com/
It looks like, but this post is not about religion! Nor doctrines nor dogmas nor anything related to it. Actually, it’s a piece of artistic gallery about how a church (the building itself) would look like in Middle-Earth.
Middle Ages left us a rich story behind. Sure, there are the ugly parts where the Catholic Church killed them all; but artistically the Church was the main power and propeller of the beauties of that time. Sculptures, paintings, everything flourished and there’s a vast and unique collection attributed to this troubled times.
Even glass was used for art. The glass of everyday life, a substance for utilities, changed into art. Stained glass is art to the nth degree and why not decorating our fictional Middle-Earth Church with some of it, illustrating the “saints” of our time and their deeds of fame and glory? THAT is what this post is about!
Close your eyes, open your mind, see with your imagination. The story of our land through stained glass!
(Click in each one to open a large and detailed view!)
What a beautiful work! Unfortunately I stumbled upon this through Sociedad Tolkien Paraguay Facebook Page and that’s as far as I can go giving credits to those images. If someone knows more about them, please tell me!
Anyway, they are fantastic designs for stained glass and it’d be breathtaking to see some of them for real in the windows of some Church….of Middle-Earth!
historian who discovered that the true history of the earth was being covered up by the world’s governments, who did not want the general population to know of the existence of dragons, elves, hobbits, magic, etc, in order to maintain control over their people.
There’s not much to tell about why so many support the pro-wings theory. ‘Its wings were spread from wall’ and ‘with winged speed’ arguments are the core of it. Simply take the above phrases literally, specially the 2nd and 3rd, and you have your case built.
