The Middle Earth Messenger



November 2004








Message from Valinor Index

Well, here we are deep in Autumn. At least on this side of the Planet! Happy Spring Australia! The Plaza is still going through some changes and most of you seem happy with them. Aside from some references to "puke green" which made Peeg sad, we've been enjoying the fruits of Mo. Yavanna must be rubbing off on him. Can't quite get used to the idea of Morgoth 'creating'.

The Halloween icons went off smoothly and with very little grumbling. Even the Dwarves were happy! Maybe I'll give them babies again next year. Then all with be right with the world.

Welp! Peeg is gonna keep it short and sweet this month and wrap it up with a nod to Gwai and her amazing staff.

Be excellent to each other and keep the dream alive.

Protoguy


Valinor coming and goings Index

This month, we said farewell to two of the Maiar from the Plaza's unofficial "10th kingdom", the Poetry Corner and the Art and Fan Fiction forums. Araweth and Minstrell stepped down within two days of each other, both being caught by RL. Best of wishes to them both! Eäranna was welcomed as Goldberry, along with her new flowery icon. It looks very nice if I do say so myself. Fëawen has also become more actively the "patron admin" of the PC and the AFF, taking a more vigorous role in management of these two very busy forums. November has thankfully been another month with very few R/A changes, and hopefully we'll continue to see the stability that the Plaza has been enjoying.

By Elanesse


The Plaza Library
 Index
The month of November has been a busy month in the Library and Newsletter Forum with plenty of new and interesting contributions in all of its varied dimensions. The librarian Andér is doing an awesome job collecting all the material and uploading it on to the Fanatics Site. So let's take a quick peek at what's going on in there!

First of all to begin with we take a look at the most recent articles that have been uploaded onto the site. At present they are working on the Third Age of Middle Earth, which includes a huge range of diverse topics. Anyone may sign up here and write up an article on the given topic and submit it. Some of the more recently uploaded pages include:The Story of Aragorn and Arwen that tells the famous tale of the third marriage between an Elf and a Mortal man, the division of Arnor which provides a helpful description of the geography of the land of Arnor, and a whole new section on the Dwarves which includes information on the Dwarves in the Third Age, the alliance between Dwarves and Men in the many ages of Arda and a handy reference material the Dwarven Chronological Table! Above and beyond all that wonderful work there has been a spectacular contribution from Saranna, an article written how the loss of his mother affected Tolkien's life and writings. Be sure to read Maternal Deprivation and the Quest! If you'd like to contribute to the library's many articles then be sure to visit The Third Age Part III .

Next we take a look at Illustrating Arda, headed by Istâréndil. Here many talented and creative artists contribute their artwork to the Plaza's Library. These illustrations give that special finishing touch to in-depth articles that the library contains. For this month the three major contributors were Tabi, Kemenor, and Gladberry. They have worked hard and produced beautiful artwork depicting Luthien Tinuviel ,The Silmarils of Fëanor and of the race of Elves of Middle Earth. . These illustrations not only make the articles look more appealing but they also bring out the true creativity of the plaza members! If you're an artist and would like to help the library out (and receive a little tribute too) then check out Illustrating Arda thread.

Finally, we take a look at the Maps. The world that Tolkien created is so huge and complex that it is hard to comprehend much of its geography without a map. The Master himself drew many and the Plaza's library is working on developing a section just for the maps of Middle Earth. Istâréndil too oversees this part and this month saw an update on the Maps of the land of the Hobbits, The Shire!Take a look at the huge amounts of work that have gone into making these maps both beautiful and easy to us. Want to try your hand at Map -making? Then please check out the Artists Still Wanted for the Library thread in the Library and Newsletter Forum.

All contributions to the library are rewarded with tribute points from Andér but the artists and writers claim that undoubtedly the most satisfactory part of it is seeing their work on the site. Do check out the wealth of information available on the site sometime and be sure to contribute to the Fanatics Library!

By Silver Leaf


The first Supporting Member
 Index

I’ve been a Tolkien fan for well over 20 years! One day my daughter came home from school and told me about a website her friend had shared with her. We went together to look and ended up joining. It was the Plaza and it was on March 16, 2002. We both chose to be elves. We loved Tolkien’s elves. I loved the discussions about the books! I loved the discussions about the Fellowship of the Ring movie! I spent hours each day surrounded by my books discussing, discovering and making friends with others that loved the Master like I did! It was such an amazing time! After four months in those forums I ventured into the Kingdoms and found fast and wonderful friends in Minas Tirith. In July 2002 I changed into black and began to enjoy the plaza’s other offering… role play. I’ve been on the plaza almost every day for some period of time since joining. It has never lost its magic. When I moved from Japan to Germany I had the security of “home” on the plaza as I journeyed around the world. I’ve made friends from all over the world; real friends that share a love of Tolkien and care about me on a personal level.

I have had the honor of serving the plaza as a ruler since November 2002. It has been a lot of work, but a labor of love. When we realized that the growth of the plaza would place added demands financially and technically I was prepared to help any way I could. I’m honored also to be the plaza’s first Supporting Member. I tested the system with Eru and joined at the same time. I’ve never regretted it. I support the plaza because of the way it has enriched my life and because I’m fortunate to be able to do so. I’ve also supported the plaza by purchasing a gift membership for a friend. I’d encourage all that enjoy the plaza and can afford become a Supporting Member to do so. I’m very excited by Eru’s new plan for the future and those Admin. he has chosen to help him with these plans. I believe we are on the right track to insure the Plaza is around for a very long time!

By Laielinwen


Inter Kingdom Competitions
 Index
Many things have been happening in IK Competitions recently. Notably, the Junior Debate League recently had their second round, between the Light sabers and the Rebels. MeaghanB judged the debate. Excellent arguments were to be heard from both sides, and the Light sabers were declared the winner. Congrats to both of the teams for such an excellent debate! Other than the Jr. Debates, planning for many activities has continued, for activities such as the IK Racing League, IK Debates, and the Drill Team League. I eagerly look forward to seeing what new activities spring up in the IK Competitions forum, and what new creativity we'll see from Plazonians.

By Elanesse


Advanced Lore
 Index
Upon the stairs of Cirith Ungol, Sam says to Frodo "Still, I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We're in one of course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards." But could that book that Sam mentions really be based on a book that really exists? In Advance Lore thread Malory and the Red Book of Westmarch, Halfir takes the time to let us know of a paper that was presented at the end of October by leading Tolkien scholar Professor Verlyn Flieger at a conference at Marquette University that argues that the book that Sam talks about is actually a particular copy of Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory which was discovered in 1934 at Winchester College. Flieger also argues that Sam's phrase "years and years afterwards" is reminiscent of Arthurian tradition and that this manuscript found its way into the Tolkien mythology as the Red Book of Westmarch. Other thoughts were brought forth saying that Malory's Le Morte D'Arther may not have been the only Arthurian book that may have influence Tolkien. The Red Book of Hergest, together with the White Book of Rhydderch, makes up an important part of Arthurian legend, though Tolkien was known to have an aversion to known Arthurian canon. One poster introduced another article brought up an article that addresses the fact that authors may use imaginary texts to base their work upon, such as HP Lovecraft and the Necronomicon and Tolkien and the Red Book. The poster also sights Laurie R. King as a more recent author to do this. The author of the article claims that the library holds a copy of a manuscript that whose content bears a striking resemblance to the book Lovecraft calls the Necronomicon. This book was also written in black and red letters. Tolkien's connection to Malory also extends towards Tolkien's style. At one point in the thread it is mentioned that both Tolkien and Malory tended to begin sentences and paragraphs with the word 'and.' Tolkien was not happy with the existing versions of the Arthurian legend. Indeed at one point he attempts to write a long poem entitled "The Fall of Arthur" though it was never finished. In the end, whether or not the Red book of Westmarch is actually related to Malory's manuscript of Le Morte D'Arthur, in can be said that Arthurian legend had an influence on Tolkien's work.

Other Lore threads of Interest:

Frodo's Prophecy - When Gollum attacks Frodo, Frodo says to him "you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom" As this comes true it can be viewed as a prophecy that came true.

Another look of Boromir~ Greatness Revealed - In contrast to many of the threads that portray Boromir as the worse of the two brothers, this thread attempts to defend Boromir and his actions.

Gondor / The Riddermark-The political relationship - This thread sets out to discuss the political relationship between Gondor and Rohan and whether it was a military alliance or vassalage

By Nylara


Interview Roulette
 Index
I bring to you, oh readers of the best newsletter out there, the second edition of the coolest interview section that can be found around the plaza. That's right; it's time for interview roulette! This month I searched deeply through my acquaintances and finally came up with Min-Hiddêth. I have been lurking into the Life of Mordor's Shadiest of Members. She is the most fought over woman in Mordor; it is true, just try asking any sane, male minion, they'll corroborate my boasts! But enough of my boasting about Minny.

So, without any further blathering, I present this month's plaza interviewee, the evilest of the evil, the hottest of the hot - Min-Hiddêth of Mordor.

How and when did you discover the Plaza?
It was a dreary day in October, 2003. I finally bought a computer to replace the 10 year old one I had thrown out a few years before, and eager for LOTR news before the release of TTT, I stumbled onto the site through a search...Never left it since!

Which Kingdom did you join and why?
I joined the good dwarves of KD, because of the wonderful humor and openness that I felt through my nervous newbie senses. Narsi and others in the old newbie thread- the teasing and boasting of beards- you should look it up and put it on the Kingdom pages- too funny!

Have you ever switched kingdoms and why?
I have! Most know that Scoutsol is gone...I don't know if she'll ever make it back from that harem she was sold to. Min-Hiddêth is a completely new character, and I felt the need for a new challenge after almost a year in Khazad-Dum...Being bad is fun!v

What forums are you most active in and why?
Only Mordor. I am a stay at home minion for the most part. I have lots to do there, although I at least scan news from other lands.

What activities are you involved in on the Plaza?
All sorts of animal games- racing, fighting. I participate in other little kingdom competitions, and RP when I understand the plot...I like the interaction of friends in a relaxed setting, and working at the Breeding Centre here in Mordor- got to pay the bills, after all!

Are you a member of any houses?
Yes- the Hockey Hut in KD- poor NHL! And own the Breeding Centre house 'Spawn of the Underworld', and am a member of Darkness and Shadow and the House of Ill-Repute~ All in Mordor.

What are your short-term Plaza goals?
To finish the Olympics with as little stress and mistakes as possible so that I can begin work on new games.

Similarly, what are your long-term goals?
To help Mordor become the greatest land in all of Middle Earth, to be the envy of all the other kingdoms.

Thank you so much for your time, anything else you'd like to add?
Yes! Stop by sometime, I hear your fingers are still around Mordor somewhere!

By Mithriltears


From the Land of Poetry
Index
The Poetry forum just gets bigger and better everyday. A few new threads and faces appeared in there this month. Arawreth stepped down as a Poetry Maia, and Eäranna was appointed to the position of Goldberry. Since there were still three Maia, Fëawen has currently made up our fourth Maia until another is appointed. The Poetry Maia also have a new email address, they can be contacted at poetrymaiar@yahoo.co.uk And with the coming of new things, a Suggestion Box was opened in the Poetry Corner where folk can put forward, you guessed it, suggestions!

Finding poems to share is a difficult task as there is so much talent on the plaza. I have chosen two pieces for this month; the first is from Túor of Lothlórien.

Wings

Love can bear you wings,
And yet tear them off as well.
But wings you can receive from evil as well,
Though in ways moral men may not think....
You can rise through treachery,
You can rise through sin,
Though will you be proud?
Will it have been worth it?
On the other hand, you can rise through love,
You can rise through gratuity,
And will this make you proud?
Does it give you your pleasure?
Or do you not notice the line between the two?
Do you see them in the same light?
Where can the line be made?
Or does that line present to you fright?
Wings of malice,
Wings of giving;
Do you know the difference?
Which ones are yours?

Túor's current thread can be found here.

I spoke to Túor about the piece, and about writing in general:
I was inspired by the constant conflicts going on in life today, and the impacts they have on society I wanted to place some of the 'boundaries' of good and evil out in front of the reader, and let them decide for themselves which ones were real (to them at least). The "Wings" were used as metaphors for those rising in society, but the paths they could have chosen are shown piece by piece in this poem, ending with some questions to make them think which route the chose or will choose. I have been writing (in RL, not plaza) for probably about 3 or 4 years now, and I do so because it is an easy way for me to get my thoughts and feelings out in ways conveyed easily to others.

The second piece comes from Mithriltears of Khazad-dûm, and is untitled.

Darkened Dastardly Dreams,
Craven Capricious Chimeras,
Plague my vivid imagination,
They won't leave me alone.
This is my 30th depressing verse,
Filled with blood, lust, and death.
They stem from my sleeping head,
These necrosis encrusted dreams...
Why can't I rid my thoughts of grimness?
It's about time to shake this depression,
But now it's clinging like a barnacle,
Deep inside a tormented soul;
Sometimes I think of exsanguination,
Through my slim radial veins,
just to be rid of these haunting poems,
just to be rid of these disturbing dreams.
I've tried time and again to betroth my paradox,
but it's time to let it all go,
I can't marry my heaven to my hell;
excommunicate or exorcise me,
whichever suits,
But, please, let me be rid of this death.


Mithriltears' current thread can be found here.

Here is what the poet herself had to say when I asked her what inspired her to write this poem:
This is kind of silly, but I was watching a movie and it had a corpse in it, then that just made me think about stuff like that and then the poem kind of popped into my head. I kind of wanted it to come off as a prayer, but at the same time I wasn't really thinking about readers when I wrote it. I've been writing for about a year now... I write because I can't help it. I can't really explain it, but I just need to write out my thoughts, or they continue to plague me.

The Poetry Corner is full of talent, and is definitely worth a look for an inspiring read.

By Caewýn Sharrasi


Pigskin
 Index
There was a lot of controversy concerning what would be happening when the semi final between the Khazad Dhum Rock Krushers and the Isengard Eagles ended normal and stoppage time in a tie. There was a furious debate between the referee of the match and the Krushers star striker Narguzir. This is because the referee was unsure whether to go for two extra time halves of 15 minutes each or to go straight onto penalties. A decision was finally reached to play extra time against the Krushers wishes because they wished to go straight onto penalty kicks. However, the decision was made with the Krushers dominating both halves and winning comfortably to move onto the finals against Gondor Gale.

There was not much sight of the teams on the practice pitch beforehand. Only two Khazad players were seen practicing in anticipation for the match whiles the others, were busy calculating plays and how to beat the other side. The two players seen working on their skills were Narguzir who was always busy working on his shooting skills and Kwedeth practicing some hard tackles. And that was all we saw of the teams before the game while excitement grew in the White City. Finally, the day of the final came and a loud cheer erupted on the fields of pelennor as the two favourites came out to play out this final in true style. Both line-ups stayed relatively the same as most of the other matches apart from one change in defence with Lau replacing Mel in her position.

The game started with a Krushers kick off by Narguzir who along with PeLaie were together in the running for the mithril boot. Before the game, Narguzir had scored 10 goals while PeLaie had scored 8. Also in contention were the two best goalies in the pigskin tournament, the pink wall Arteris and Dis. It was going to be an interesting match indeed. There was a blistering first attack by the Krushers with both sides playing the same kind of game. Both sides played fast and furious pigskin relying on speed surprise their opponents by taking a shot before they would have time to react. But the pink wall stood firm as the Gale goalkeeper Arteris clasped his gloved fingers around the ball preventing an early goal for the Krushers. Now it was Gales turn for a fast play. And fast it was indeed but as the ball headed towards PeLaie, Narguzir came in for the tackle and there was some furious tangoing on the pitch until PeLaie finally came out on top and sent the ball flying into the back of the Krushers net scoring the first goal of the final in true PeLaie style.

Once again, the dwarves stormed down the pitch with renewed energy and unleashed a deadly strike at goal but once again, the pink wall stood firm and prevented an equalizing goal. Gale certainly seemed to be in control as Arteris booted the ball out into Krushers territory and there was some furious running done by both sides to claim the ball but PeLaie was the first one there and was met immediately by a tackle by Narguzir. Once again, PeLaie manage to wriggle her way out of the tackle and take another shot at goal and once again, she scored just as the whistle blew for the end of the first half! Now Gale were 2-0 up after the first 45 minutes and now PeLaie had scored the same amount of goals as Narguzir which meant if she scored one more goal and the Pink Wall was able to stand firm and prevent any volleys from the Krushers star striker then PeLaie would have a mithril boot to go with her one white glove.

As the teams came out from their changing rooms it was clear to see that Gale were in brighter moods than the Krushers and they were determined that they had won this match. PeLaie kicked the second half off and once again believe it or not scored the first goal of the second half! She had now scored a hat trick and was one goal ahead of Narguzir in contention for the Mithril boot with 11 goals over Narguzir's 10. Again, the dwarves storm down the field hoping to sneak the ball past the pink wall but still Arteris stood firm and prevented a goal. But as Gale stormed down the field for another attack Dis seemed to have found her goalie gloves as she was able to make her first save of the game against the Gale forward Dirion. But Dis still had more surprises up her sleeve. All of a sudden she left the goal like she had done in a few matches before and it was herself leading the Krushers down the field towards the opposing goal and with a magnificent kick she managed to find a weakness in the pink wall and score the Krushers first goal of the match. The score was now 3-1 to Gale.

The Gale players now seemed to look up at the clock and realised that there were a few minutes remaining. They seemed to have had a play worked out earlier and as they took the kick off the pink wall left the goal, it seemed as if to the crowds that Arteris was trying to mimic what Queen Dis had just done. But no it was not so. It looked as though that was what was about to happen but as Arteris reached the goal line he suddenly stopped running and didn't shoot, instead he stuck his hand out to shake the opposing goalies hand and congratulated Queen Dis on an excellent final. And the whistle blew for the end of the match and it was decided…Gondor Gale had won the first ever white tree championship. PeLaie was also awarded her mithril boot and looked quite the fashion item with her one white glove and her mithril boot. There was much celebrating afterwards as both teams left the pitch after swapping shirts in true pigskin style and until next year Gondor would be the White Tree Champions, and rightfully so.

Afterwards I was able to catch up with Arteris and ask him about the little stunt he pulled at the end of the game and this is what he had to say: During the game, it felt like we had offended Dis with some of our game play and comments, so I figured it would be a good way to close out the game. They were strong opponents and it was indeed a great pleasure to play against them in the finals.

By Shayleyla


Needling through with Feawen
 Index
I first signed up for this report with no clear idea of whom I would like to interview. Then one day in a moment of brilliance (If I say so myself) - I decided that I was going to chat to Feawen. Sure, I had done it plenty of times over IM but there is something rather different to getting down and actually interviewing someone. Most of you know her as the loveable Vaire but to many of us she is Wee Fea, Foo-Foo Vaire or Feakins.

She has built a huge reputation around the plaza with her cunning smile and thoughtful ways. Making a difference in the P&FF and A&FF forums and lending newbie's a welcoming hand. For those of you who know, I don't need to tell you, that she is one of the sweetest admins on the plaza. So sweet that she even has her own fan thread dedicated to her! Without further ado, here’s getting to know the lady in Orange: Feawen.

How did you come around the plaza?
Well, I had a friend who was a long time member here, and he showed me the place. After a few days looking around, I decided to sign up for a membership, and the rest is history.

Which kingdom did you chose first and why?
I chose the Mark right of the bat, and I've never left, to some extent. I chose it because I've always felt as if I were to be a real person in Tolkien's world I would have been a Rider.

No need to be ebil?
No, I've never really wanted to be Ebil, though I do tend to have quite a few ebil friends, like Ears, Rohanna, Loke and you of course. And there is MO... He's the ebilst of them all...

How does it feel to have made orange into a foo-foo color?
Wait a second... when did orange become a foo foo color? I didn't get the memo? Did you get the memo? Maybe I accidentally wove it into one of my tapestries... oh yes, here it is! It's the one where Lord Orome fought the Balororog... Wait? When was orange foo foo?

Since you started using it, *grins* Do you think you are foo?
Hrm... Am I foo? Well maybe when I'm just off and playing with members, I can be a bit silly... but in the Mark, we don't have foo we have Phoo...(as Lail the wise once told me) So I'm a little bit serious when I'm role-playing Feawen, and a little bit Phoo when playing with the Keepers of the Foo...

What do you feel is the most important aspect about the plaza?
I don't think we can say that there is one thing about the Plaza that is most important because there are so many important components that add to the wonderment of this place. If I had to peg down one thing to mention, it would be the people and the way we all play and enjoy each others company that makes me so very proud to be a part of this place.

Do you think your plaza hubby looks like Russel Crowe? *innocent smile*
Hrm.. do you mean Hoth/Mandos? Why sure! Of course he does, why he is the most handsome man on The Plaza, and quite the charmer too, I might add! Oh, you mean, Peeg? I don't know, I've never really thought he did look like Russel Crowe much, but Peeg is quite handsome simply being Peeg.

True, he is rather fetching... *cough cough* What do you like do around the plaza? Any particular threads?
Most of the time I spend greeting newbie's, or working on helping the Maiar in the PFF. I also play in Meduseld when I have the chance, it is still my home away from Valinor.

Is it true that you have a obsessive dwarf who follows you everywhere by the name of Oro?
Ahh, yes... Oro (Ander's Bane) He is a sweet dwarf, but obsessed? Hrm... I.m not sure, I'll leave that up to you other members to decide. I do my best to keep him from getting into trouble, but he is, well, as stubborn as a dwarf, and if he wants to be obsessed with me and continue to worship Vairk, who I am to stop him.

Who is the foo-est person on the plaza?
You are definitely the foo-ie-st dwarf I have *ever* met, and Mithy is a close second as far as dwarfs goo, but I'd have to say the foo-fooiest person i know is Lail, the Foo Foo Confetti Queen..

What are your plaza goals for the future?
Well, I suppose they would be to keep doing what I'm doing, assisting members and keeping the Plaza a safe playground for Tolkien Lovers across the world.

Any last words to all of your fans out there?
Thank you all for making this such a magical place to play! Take care, and keep the dream alive!

By Star Flower


Book of Plaza History Index
The plaza's history is one of great myth, legend and excitement. Since its birth in 2002 it has held many worthy events in the forming of its history. But, as the plaza grows and more members come and go, some of these events are all too easily slipping into the mists of time, to be forgotten about and never spoken of again. No longer, will the tale of Thomas-2000 be recounted by the fireside of Imladris or the legend of Mordor being painted pink is used to delight young plaza members.

However, thanks to an elite group of plaza members, headed by our very own Wedgie and Eouwen, we have an answer which will solve this problem. It is called the Book of Plaza History. This is an initiative for all the plaza's members to post a story or tale which they think should be going down in the plaza's history books.

Like any plaza idea this big and important, the newly erected sign up thread in LOTR Library & Newsletter forum was soon swamped with people posting things like "Can I post my tale" or "Oooh, I've got a fab tale to tell, d'you wanna hear it" and soon we were inundated with articles and stories about every plaza activity imaginable which left Wedgie and Eouwen with a lot of headaches and thoughts such as "What were we thinking!"

However, this project is open for oldies and newbies, regardless of rank or plaza experience. In fact, I was in the thread just last week and I saw Seregon, no sorry, Sere Fëataurie (bloomin' Valie keeps changing her name!) *sees Sere looking daggers at him* "no no. Sere, stay back with that pancake mix. That's it, nice Sere. Good Sere." Anyways. I saw her in there furrowing her eyebrows with her little sparrow frantically trying to finish a particularly interesting article which will no doubt be seen sometime in the near future.

Himlithion wrote one about the Companions of the Palantir, an RPG that was ongoing in Lothlorien.

COMPANIONS OF THE PALANTÍR
September 12, 2004, by Himlithion

"Companions of the Palantír" is the name of a new RPG in Lothlórien. It was started by Aidan Flame and Eressë. The very first thread was opened on August 24 2004, and was made to recruit members. The RPG itself did not start before August 28. By then a lot of members had signed up, and were eager to start on the great adventure that waited before them. And we can obviously see that the activity is running pretty well. By now, the role-playing game has reached six threads, and people post there as if they could never get enough of it. Shortly, the RPG is about a Palantír which has been found in Harad by a Gondorian. Rumors reached Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien, and a large team of Galadhrim, the Companions of the Palantír, has been sent south to find the seeing-stone and bring it to the Golden Wood. And not only Galadhrim participate. People of other races of Middle-Earth take part in this adventure. There are horse masters of Rohan, and Hobbits, Periain, of the Shire in the far west. And there are Elves from Rivendell and men from Gondor as well. Aidan Flame and Eressë have worked a lot with the RPG, creating a meticulous storyline and good guidelines for everybody, so that both experienced members and new members can enjoy the activity as much as possible. A map is present in each thread, where the road to follow has been marked by a blue line, to help everyone understanding exactly where they are going. Another thing the game masters do to make the RPG more attractive, is giving the threads interesting name like "An Early Departure", "So it begins...", "We're leaving!" and "Into the World". The current thread's name, "Ravens far away", may give a little hint about what is going to happen, but most people are oblivious to that. Elves and others do not travel to Harad with peace and relax. They know that danger awaits in the very southern parts of Middle-Earth. Along the coasts of Umbar and in the desert wastelands of Harad are many enemies. Haradrim. And all travelers go with weapons: Bows, short swords, longs words, spears. And they bring their horses, many of them, and others walk. But the huge, army-like fellowship is going to stick together, because only together they can fight the evil of Harad and find the lost Palantír which is hidden there. Now we must just ask ourselves whether they will make it...

By Tari Boffin


Out of Middle Earth Index

As the big world of the plaza ever expands bigger and bigger, it comes to show that even different nationalities of people all share some common goals. On the 11th hour of the 11th day, people from all over the plaza have come together to create a special tribute thread to those who gave their lives fighting for the freedom of many countries. This thread is known as We WILL remember them
Onto some more fun business, the Person Above me has reached its 115th thread! As one of the most loved OOME activities, this reporter couldn't resist taking a peek inside. These crazy people who like researching franticly about people, and always telling people to read the rules do not, as some people think have an un-crazy side. Take for example Caewyn Sharrasi, she is so crazy that she even started posting to herself!

The usual equally as crazy activities still go on, such as To Much Time on Our Hands, wreaking havoc all over the plaza, driving people so crazy that they end up posting questions such as Why did my dad ask me to make him a cup of coffee? And if answering crazy questions is not your thing, why not stop in at AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 3 Where you can scream about anything and everything that annoys you. Even some admins are joining in the fun so why don't you!

Equally as crazy is You know you've spent too much time on the plaza when….. Where you can share your wackiest things that have happened in RL, about the plaza, and people won't think you're a complete idiot, because they probably have something wackier than you that they have done. I myself are guilty as charged for doing over half of the crazy things that people post there, so why don't you get out your diaries and start searching for whacky things that you've done to try and have the most wackiest plaza experience!

By laniel


Kingdom Reports



 *K.R*Index
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*K.R*Index
Khazad-Dûm's stony little corridors have been a flurry of activity this month with dwarves running to and fro and visitors scampering around as well. We kicked off the month in a somber mood with the resignation of Athaira, kapon of the Anghak's axe unit. She had led the group of axe wielding maniacs since the establishment of the Anghak, way back in October of 2003. Truly a dwarven legend, both Athaira and her thoughtful leadership will be missed in the dwarven army, keenly so among the axedwarves.

It was midnight in the Throne Room when the deed of the month was attempted. A murder perhaps you're thinking? Oh no, nothing that serious. It was only Star Flower and Alameda Larkeye with their squizzles, Spam and Foo, taking a stab at accomplishing the most serious of foo activities: the squizzle wedding. It was a beautiful sight, with Spam in his little orange and pink tuxedo and foo in her white ruffled dress… it brought a tear to my eye, but then the unthinkable happened. They were discovered! The anti-foo movement in Khazad-Dûm had caught wind of the union and burst in to put a cease to it. Even the officiator of the ceremony, Fëawen, had some trouble fending them off. Thankfully everything was settled with the help of the queens without bodily harm, but Foo and Spam still remain unwed.

After the wheedling of a few newer dwarves, an ent, an old geezer dwarf, and a lothlorien elf the queens have decided to re-open the Moria Health and Beauty Spa! It will be functioning on a new system of three managers for the different shifts: Mithriltears, Thom Greenleaf, and Aeoromírë. The Spa is hiring a staff of workers right now, so if you are interested in working there, drop on by and talk to Thom, Mithy, or Aeo!!

Last but not least, towards the end of this month Khazad-Dum has started two new activities that focus on those around us. Opened first was the, "Dwarven Legends" thread that is still open. In this thread you are invited to nominate those members of our little rocky kingdom that have been there for some time and have made an impact on you. The point behind the thread is that a Kingdom Page will be dedicated to those decided as worthy. The second thread is called, "Annals of Appreciation". It's a place to go and tell people why you think they're wonderful, and to thank them. Based on Fangorn's, "Entish Blessings", Annals of Appreciation is already a big hit. Make sure to drop by and tell everyone why you think that special dwarf is the best!

By Mithriltears

*K.R*Index
The stout creatures that some would call hobbits have been quite busy once again this month. Sign-ups and reopening are starting up for everything. One of the biggest sign-ups that will be open soon is going to be for the Scouring of the Shire RPG. This activity will follow that chapter in Return of the King and will be open to all hobbits and only a limited amount of humans. The Amazing Race Contest will also be open soon. Foreigners are invited to contact the Mayors if they'd like to help out in any way.

Among the new activities, The Shire and Pipeweed Association has finally reopened and is looking for members in cultivation, pipe-woodworking, ring blowing, and runes. Foreigners are also welcome in this activity. Led by the Head Meister, Baragunde, this group will learn many things and will also be filling orders for pipes from their customers. The Ivy Bush Cooking Guild has also finally unlocked its doors, keeping with their promise. Many revisions have taken place and it is now open only to hobbits. The offer of catering still stands to anyone who might need it though, as the hobbit chefs will need something to work on!

One of the oldest RPG threads, The Shire Clinic, has also decided on revisiting its staff lists and reorganizing the system. It has been temporarily closed and is now hiring new doctors; the positions are open only to hobbits. However, it should reopen shortly with a new staff and a new outlook, ready to heal anyone coming through their doors.

Still a very new activity, The Shire Watch has also finally got its feet firmly planted on the ground. The Shirriffs and Bounders have taken to training in the Teaching Grounds. These groups play a key part in keeping the Shire and its borders safe. Soon they'll be up and running fully again, ready to take requests on any incidents that have happened.

Snow Elf and the Seven Hobbits, has been ongoing in the Shire for awhile now. However, The Shire Players are almost finished with it and should be opening a new play very soon. They're still making decisions on the upcoming performance though. These talented actors and crew will be starring and producing the set, props, and costuming for each of their productions. Don't be a stranger to stop in and watch!

"Who Am I?" is one of the Shire's newest games, open to all. It's a fun guessing game where anyone can guess characters of Middle Earth by receiving clues. Among the many games, The Shire's Jeopardy game is on it's second round as well. Only two teams will advance to the next round. Jeopardy is quite like the Drill Team, though the Drill Team competes with foreigners. In fact, The Shire Drill Team is preparing itself for a match against the dwarves soon. So while the Shire's Hobbits remain busy and fulfilled with the games and activities, don't be afraid to stop by and join in!

By Tari Boffin

*K.R*Index
It was that time of year again and the wizzies of the tower sat in anticipation of what icons this year would be bestowed upon them. It seemed rather apt then that Peeg decided this year to give them personas to match their looney wizard personalities. The Looney Tunes characters of Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny, to name but a few were brought to life by those cookie, crazy wizards as they bought all their ACME supplies, blew up bridges, hunted down carrot eating rabbits looking for the doc and generally caused mayhem.

This month saw the end of the first of the revised word sleuth games held in Orthanc which was hotly contested by the SPUDS and the Bnonymous teams with the SPUDS taking the first game. Game two is now underway but there's still plenty of spaces on both teams if you want to come along and have a go. Don't worry if you haven't played before, you'll soon learn the ropes. The hotly contested King of Karaoke Competition reached the finals stage with Grey Pilgrim, Teleria, Gwai, ShEru and Caran Aracyll all reaching the finals. Teleria, Gwai and Caran all took to the stage without any coaxing from the three headed judge Peeg or the competition moderator Missy but Grey Pilgrim and ShEru had to be enticed, bribed and finally forced onto the stage only to find they had chosen the same song with very entertaining results. The winner is still to be announced as Peeg's three heads can't make up the one mind they share between them. (Editor's note: Winners have been announced and Telaria was crowned as the King od Karaoke. Sadly the Three headed judge ate the crown and the crowd.)

The wizards have reacted warmly and positively to their newly named kingdom of Isengard and await the new artwork with great anticipation. Also this month Olympic fever has hit the tower with a vengeance as teams are formed, practice games organised and even the café has been transformed to suit even the most discerning Olympian. Why not stop by and brag…I mean tell us about your Olympic triumphs or failures. Finally this month the wizards of Isengard, in anticipation of the upcoming festive season are getting in the mood with the latest Wizard Gift Exchange. New and older members are being paired up and have to research each other and come up with a Tolkien/ME related gift for their partner. Once the gifts are exchanged everybody will get to choose a gift or forfeit for their partner. So far some of the gifts have been very inventive, why not stop by and see if you get any inspiration for your gift ideas.

By Moneta

*K.R*Index
The past month has seen the White City in a state of constant activity. From Pigskin tournaments to trade runs to sexy British secret agents, there was always something going on. But the biggest news to come from Minas Tirith this month was the two-year anniversary of Laielinwen's taking the throne as Queen Arwen Evenstar. This milestone has been celebrated in a wide variety of ways, befitting of a queen who has impacted the culture of the White City in every way imaginable.

The Celebration of the Queen began in the Great Hall, where guests were invited to deposit their gifts before making their way to the various other activities. From there, guests could stop to share a memory of Laielinwen from the Plaza's past in the Golden Memories thread or to address the Queen in their own words on the Speaker's Box on their way to the Great Feast taking place in our Queen's honor. But guests were not limited to sharing their memories and fond wishes with the Queen. In truly regal fashion, the Rulers provided entertainment for their guests in the form of a Croquet Match and a Circus! The festivities are still going on, so feel free to stop by the White City and wish our Queen well as she enters her third glorious year.

Meanwhile, Minas Tirith witnessed the further expansion of its trade routes with the inclusion of Pelargir. Needless to say, the large seaport in the south is providing Gondorians with opportunities to buy goods from a wide range of sources while giving them a chance to sell things in a whole new market. The route to Pelargir is quite a bit longer than to the other existing trading partner, Osgiliath. Two and three-day journeys are the norm, but the rewards are many for those shopkeepers who are willing to send their apprentices or to make the trip themselves. With thriving trade to Pelargir and Osgiliath underway, merchants are eager to see what other routes will be developing in the near future!

The inaugural White Tree Championship recently came to a close, ending the first Pelennor Pigskin contest between the Kingdoms of Middle Earth. The Khazad-Dum Krushers and the Gondor Gale were both undefeated heading into this final contest, and the competition was fierce! In the end, the Gale emerged victorious, but both teams were quick to congratulate each other for a tournament well fought. Most Valuable Player honors were taken by Dis, the Queen of the Dwarves, and the tourney's leading scorer was Minas Tirith's own PeLaie, who took home the Mithril Boot for her accomplishment. With the tournament finished, it is only a matter of time before the Pelennorship, a league featuring players from all over Middle Earth, gets underway. Will we see you there?

And the month began with the Plaza's annual Halloween hi-jinks. This year, Minas Tirith became the center of an evil empire. Led by Doctor Evil and Frau Farbissina, the group was dedicated to wreaking havoc across Middle Earth, with henchman like Scott Evil, Fat B. (you know the rest), Patty O'Brien, Mini-Me, and Vanessa Kensington contending against Austin Powers, his father Nigel Powers, Foxxy Cleopatra, and Felicity Shagwell. No one is quite sure what the Mayor from the Nightmare Before Christmas and David Hasselhof had to do with Dr. Evil's diabolical plan, but we can be sure it was evil! Muwahahaha!!! Muwahahaha!! Muwaha! Heh…ha…hoo!

By Hoyamir

*K.R*Index
Ah, Lothlorien in the winter. I doubt that a finer place to be in the month of Hithui (November) exists in all the lands of this world. The golden leaves and flowers high in the boughs of trees are contrast by the stunning white of an surprise snowfall in the realm of the Galadhrim, and this most interesting weather phenomenon is celebrated in the “Unexpected Storm of Sparkling White Gems”, where Elves gather to frolic with one another in the powder. Yet, there are still areas that have received no snowfall, and go on much as they normally do, if a bit colder. The Gardens of Lorien is one of these, and there many beings from across the lands of Middle Earth are gathering even as I write, bringing in the last of the harvests from the fields and orchards. Another of the areas unhindered by the white flakes is the Lawn of Lorien. The lush green slope at the foot of the dwelling of the Lord and Lady of Lorien. Here Elves, Men, Hobbits and Wizards gather to rejoice in each others company, to make new friends and continue relations with those of old. As is the way with Lend Tri, the traditional journey through the forest that serves to acquaint those new to the Golden Wood with their surroundings.

From the ground right up to the heavens themselves the winter is glorious in the land of Laurelindorinan, and the stars, highly revered by Elves do not go uncelebrated either. In one of the most lofty talans in all of the land next to Caras Galadhon sits that of the Stargazers, a group which gathers to view the works of Elbereth, among which Menelmacar, Wilwarin, and Valacirca shine brightest this time of year. They inspire awe in the Elves who look upon them these days as they have for thousands of years since the awakening. From our Forges to our Maze, to Brethad: Dagor an Ennor, our game of global conquest Lothlorien is a marvelous place to be, standing tall and proud, as beautiful as ever. It might also be noted that Lorien has done rather well in the Olympic games being held in Mordor, having received one bronze medal to date. Why would one want to be anywhere else?!

Links to the activities mentioned

Unexpected Storm of Sparkling White Gems ~
Gardens of Lorien ~
Lawn of Lorien ~
Lend Tri Lothlorien ~
Stargazers ~
Forges of the Forest ~
Lothlorien Maze ~
Brethad: Dagor an Ennor ~

By Firien Echui

*K.R*Index
This month has been an exciting one for The Riddermark! Yes, The Riddermark! As many kingdoms were given the choice to change names, a majority of the riders voted to change from Meduseld to the Riddermarket. As well as the name change, the greens in the background have been deepened, and Eleowyn, Lady Eowyn of the Mark, has alluded to more changes as Ele and herself experiment with new options.

Halloween, Halloween! It may be over in RL, but the Plaza is still basking in the joys of being silly. All the kingdoms have new icons for a while, and the Riddermark was bestowed with the theme of Monty Python and The Search for the Holy Grail! The icons are hilarious, with beloved Eleo as Dingo and beloved Ele as the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog! For SCRs, only one was awarded this month, a special Halloween SCR. And none other then our own Pelly fit the silly character of Gonzo better! Pelzo, as he is now called, has a special RPG, were all the Muppets can be seen roaming about! Congrats Pelly!

The pubs just keep coming up with original ideas, which never seem to cease! In "Ældsell Inn: Rats of Rohan", the racing rats of Rohan have been set loose in the pub! And Getale and Cnith want them gone, not knowing just how special they are! In "Ældsel Inn: Getale's nightmare: Halloween Icons", everyone had a chance to play around with their Halloween icons in the nightmare of Getale.

In Cavalry news, the RPG in Gondor still runs strong, the Cavalry is headed to Pelargir. Sadly members have left, and will always be remembered *Hugs Star and Culfy*. However, two new Haelends are being trained to fill positions, making more healers available! Also, Gypsy and Snowwolf have been promoted to Maegisterwigend! But one of the most shocking announcements was the departure of Sic, our beloved First Marshal. Whilst he has returned for some time, it is not permanent, and he will most likely leave the Plaza as well as the Cavalry. We'll all miss you Sic!

The Rohirrim have had a very good year, and thus planned on having a Fall Festival in order to celebrate Rohirric life and the end of the harvest. On a cold yet clear morning, the Lady Éowyn declared open the Fall Festival, which six different events animate. First of all, a Harvest festival can't be held without a Produce Competition. The contest, held in the Riddermarket, is open to all races, which are invited to present a vegetable, a fruit or a baked good, describe it and explain what makes it so special. A A Limerick Contest is also held, in which contestants are asked to sum up in a limerick a historical event allocated by Fëawen… or is it Bëorn? But what could be a Fall Festival in the Riddermark without an Ego Contest? Contestants from all races are invited to boast as much as they want about their tales and adventures (keeping them in the boundaries of realism, of course); the judge for this contest is none less then Protoguy himself! In the purest of Rohirric traditions, a Badger Chase is being held as well, in which 10 Riders and 10 strangers chase a badger released from the gates of Edoras. For the occasion, horses have been lent to those who don't own one; after the end of this first race, the top four chasers will participate in a final. One rule is to be respected at all time: the badger is not to be eaten! A Masquerade Ball has been organized so that the free peoples of Middle-Earth can get to know each other better: couples arriving at the ball must reinvent themselves, disguise as another race, and change their name… The organizers have also found a way to make partners change throughout the evening: jumping lighted candles will determine which couples are asked to find other partners, so that at the end of the ball, everybody will have met someone new! Finally, a Miss Meduseld Contest will help choose who represents best Meduseld among selected contestants.

In the Olympics…:

Though she was the first Rohir eliminated from Vicious Victory (Mondorian Animal Fighting), Gemætancwén managed to realise the first knockout of the competition, at her first move. Twin Demon managed to make it to the semis. In Skulldudgery (Capture the Skull), both Rohirrim teams have lost their first match. However, in Bloody Barges, the Rohirrim won against the elves and wizzies, advancing to the Gold Medal round against the Gondorians! Rohan has also made it to the semi-finals of Blackened Beach Ball, against KD! Two Rohirrim have also made it to the final climb in Splat Staircase, good luck Silformona and Celinawyn!

What else is new? Check out our current Readboda!

By Gemætancwén and Twin Demon

*K.R*Index
Hoom, harum!! Welcome to another unhastily scribbled report on Fangorn for the month of November. This has been a rather busy month, which started off with everyone changing into odd creatures, which didn't resemble trees at all. It took some people some time to figure out exactly what had happened but once they did they all went over to see what the others had turned into! In other words, all of us were thrilled with our Halloween costumes; we were all dressed up as characters from the movie - Space balls. Though many of us hadn't seen the movies, our rulers' enthusiasm about it was contagious and we all thoroughly enjoyed it! We would like to officially state our thanks to Peeg for all his time and effort to make this Halloween an enjoyable one.

After the excitement of Halloween died down we were already up to our chins in the Olympic Games. Huge populations of Fangorn's active members are running in and around Mordors' many arenas trying to figure precisely what they should be doing and getting injured in the process. Those evil minions seem to delight in torturing us to the maximum. We are progressing well in the Splat Staircase, Vicious Victory, and the Bloody Barges and in the Gauntlet.

This month we have reopened a couple of threads in and around Fangorn, which had been temporarily closed due to renovations. The Entish Crafting Guild had died down after its head left us for the dark land of Mordor. The deputy chief Ríner is now heading the guild and is doing a splendid job keeping things interesting. The Architecture Guild had been closed ever since its head migrated to Khazad- dum. However now in the capable hands of Munchikinka and Lavinia, two wonderful Role-players and leaders, it is now flourishing. The Ents are having great fun trying to figure how exactly how to design buildings and structures while maintaining the beauty of the forest. Come join us here , if you have any spectacular ideas or would like to learn how. And then the Catering Company, which was so far restricted to Ents only. Now you can learn to cook like an Ent, (and let me tell you, no one can cook like an Ent) from an Ent and have heaps of fun at the same time. Join us here.

Our rulers have decided to Update the Kingdom pages and have selected Yucaliel and Silver Leaf to be the two editors. The entire kingdom is contributing to the kingdom pages with plenty of creativity and hard work. The Guardians of the Olvar and the Kelvar is having an interesting procedure going on. The Ents are now judging cases between members of the Olvar (plants) and the Kelvar (Animals). How do you decide who is right - the wolf or the lamb? Try your hand (rather head) at it and see how good you are!

That's all for this month from the bark side! May your leaves not wither in the winter and may your roots find rest from toil.

Silver Leaf

*K.R*Index
This is it. Mordor has officially been inundated by hoards of the free folk. Much to the disgruntlement of residents who have all been forced into learning manners and some new rules.
1. Do not kill the free people.
2. Free people may not be friends, but they are not food.
3. Obey rules 1 and 2 or die.
Though there are some that would rather die than be polite. They have found new homes in shallow graves somewhere out of view.

The Olympic opening ceremony was going off with a back when suddenly the Witchking panicked upon realizing that there was an abundance of fire in the arena. In fear that his robes might catch on fire, he summoned his trust fell beast, Spot, to rescue him from his plight. Sauron simply over saw the whole event while letting off many silent, but deadly, bursts of wind. Overall the opening went really well with so many of the free folk trapped together inside the arena. Pity that there were only minimal killings involved.

Mordor has fielded teams and individuals for every game available on offer. The games have been a wonderful opportunity for many minions to show the world what they are made of. With displays of brilliant writing and role-play ability in most events as well as teamwork and luck, the minions are putting on a great show.

The first Skullduggery game was a real bloody battle with injuries galore. The stunning move made by Isil Mornungol, as she secured the skull enabled Mordor to win their first match. Currently, the team is in the grips of its second game, this time against the Hobbits of The Shire.

Another fight to the finish was Bloody Barges. The females of this team really showed themselves as they fought to remain afloat and sink the opposition when both males were sunk. Varda Banba demonstrated good aim as she landed a good many hits on the opposition. They are currently playing off for the bronze medal against Fangorn.

Blackened Beach Boggleball is proving to be a popular Races, especially amongst the Mordorian team who is fortunate enough to all be an 8 or a 9. This has given the team a good advantage, but the Hobbits of The Shire really put up a fight during the first round game. Finally the minions overcome the short folk with great words found by Jess.

Everyone knows that Minions love a fight, Byg Sci perhaps more than most. Being the only minion to survive the first round of Vicious Victory, we hope that the skills and deviousness of this cheeky lad is enough to keep him alive in his current Round 2 fight.

Likewise, Jabbz is the sole evil one still climbing the stairs. This crazy coot has really made a name for himself as being a bit of a heart throb of the game if the posts made by the Gondorian lass, Taranuen, and the lass from Isengard, Anadriewen, are anything to go by. Will our lovesick climber make it to the top? Only time will tell.

The Horrible Heptathlon team secured the Gold Medal, the team was made up of Byg Sci, Isil Mornungol, Rohanna and Winddancer. Borrarz competed early on but unfortunately this minion died in the attempt and was subbed out after his demise.

Earanna was crowned the winner of the Utumno Pub Challenge after she drank everyone else under the table. Her singing was said to have deafened the judges and her dart tossing blinded more than one spectator.

The team competing for Mordor in the Gauntlet event sure has their work cut out for them. They are in a good position so far, but the end is not nigh yet. They have had to swim through shark-infested water and fight off attacks during the hand over of the Elven bone stages. A tough event this one is turning out to be, but the minions are more than up for the challenge.

Doomed in Mount Doom is proving to be a real test for the competitors as they have to write themselves building a flying contraption and flying the thing away from Mount Doom. Sure it would not be a problem should one of the free folk fly backwards into the fires, the minions certainly would stand and cheer for providing them with some action.

In other news, Borrarz was named Minion of the Month, as a reward he was the official flag bearer of the Mordorian team in the march during the opening ceremony. He did this with pride and showed the world that the Mordorian team certainly is made up of the best.

Halloween SCR's went to Loke and Firefly. The Blues Brother theme worked a treat in Mordor with all the minions living it up amid the quizzes and blues music that could be heard throughout the lands.

It is a shame that we have lost Earanna who has been taken back to live eternity in Valinor. She will now dwell forever in the land of eternal flowers and Spam. We wish her well, though all minions know that though it may look like she had turned over a new petal, there will never be one as devious and cunning as she is. Good luck as the new P&FF Maia.

By Fire Fly



Rohirric Ramblings in Retrospect
 Index
A Journey Through the Plaza Archives, November 2002

My search through the plaza archives brought me to Rohan this month, or the Riddermark as it's now known. Meduseld was the name then, but to me Rohan is just too short, sweet, and simple not to use, regardless of the era.

What news of the Mark in November of 2002 you ask? The most famoustist of things would be the very first issue of that wonderful Rohirric rag, the Rædboda. The very first editor was a Rider known as Blædtunge or perhaps better known to current plaza members as Wamba the Fool, recent ruler of the green plains. Catching my immediate attention was Minion Manners, an article written by Amhran, and Sauron's current vendetta against "the street" and his recent rampage beheading Big Bird turned my attention to an article comparing Jim Henson and Tolkien by the same writer.

A couple of snippets from the very first Rædboda:

MINION MANNERS
by Amhran

  • " If you bump into someone, say "excuse me" BEFORE gutting them.
  • " Try not to belch after drinking the blood of your enemies. That's just gross.

  • " If you are going to remove all personal items from a Halfling, make sure you let him keep his underwear. It's only polite.
  • " Chew with your mouth open. Others can then see what delicious thing you are eating and order the same thing from the cook. Share, share, share!
  • " Never bathe. As everyone knows, the smell of flowery soap is sickening and does not attract the chicks.
  • " Be respectful to Sauron. Even if he calls you a weak link and decimates you, do not get angry. He is bigger and stronger than you. Be nice to big strong people; it's smart.
  • " Above all, if you break any of these rules, apologize immediately to whoever you have just offended. Then slice his whiny head off.


    • TOLKIEN AND HENSON: IN LEAGUE?

    by Amhran
  • " Ernie is obviously a Hobbit that shaves. Except he's orange. I still haven't figured that out, but it may have something to do with copyright infringement.
  • " Elmo is without a doubt related to Gollum, if not the creature in fact. Look at him! What obviously happened is that Gollum wised up and realized the muddy look wasn't in, so he bought some Rogaine and Kool-aid mix and grew a wonderful crop of bright red hair all over himself. If you shaved Elmo and rolled him in manure you would have Gollum.
  • " The count aged and grew a beard. Tada! Saruman!

    • Need I say more? I could go on, but your snoring is disturbing my thought pattern. Even if I have not convinced you that Jim Henson and J.R.R. Tolkien are related, at least you will agree with me that Henson was not the more learned clone.

    This delightful look at the plaza of two years ago has been brought to you by the Mordorian Olympic Committee - Kill (MOCK) because being a minion means never having to say you're sorry for enslavement...

    By Rohanna


    Junior Debate League Index
    After a tense wait for the fledgling debaters who signed up in the "Junior Debate League Sign Up" thread, the result for the opening debate was announced by Acabar on November 2nd. The judgement was delightfully detailed - and despite the fact that the Ewoks of Eriador won the day by 59 points to 48, I am sure that the Wookies of Westernesse would join them in saying that the debate was rewarding and enlightening. The standard of argument was unquestionably high, with Acabar noting the depth of engagement with the subject matter, and the originality found on both sides. After such an illustrious start, our debaters' appetites had been whetted, and a second match for the two teams was organised - on whether Hobbits were the most versatile race in Middle Earth. Unfortunately, the debate had to be cancelled due to sad news in RL for one of the Wookie team, and other issues.


    All was not lost however, as a new debate had already begun on November 11th - this time between the Lightsabers and the Rebels. The motion of choice is that "Bilbo should not have kept the Arkenstone" - with the Lightsabers in proposition and the Rebels opposing. MeghanB is judging the debate at the moment - and as always, the results are eagerly anticipated!

    For those not currently involved in a debate, or who are - curious to find out more about the league -the Head Quarters are a veritable mine of information - with team threads, announcements and rules easy to find - along with a practice thread for members to suggest new motions All in all, the Jr. Debate League is a well-organised and structured way to try your hand at this most noble and ancient of pursuits! It is a superb way to begin your plaza-debating career in an unintimidating environment - learning a lot. It's non-kingdom aligned structure means that there are no delays waiting for sign ups, and it is one of the best ways to make friends from all over the plaza. Fing, Elk and Eoarod must be given great credit for the thoughtful way in which this idea has been executed. The rules are clear and concise, and not so numerous as to frighten the weak-hearted - with the emphasis always on fun! Congratulations on a job well done!

    So jump into the Jr. Debate League Sign Ups III thread, and give it a go - at best, you find a skill you never knew you had, and at worst, you make a few new friends… you can't say fairer than that!

    By Curunina


    IK Drill Team& Races Index

    This month, has been, like many such months for other IK Racess, a time of planning and preparation while the Olympics rage in Mordor.

    Inside the Central HeadQuarters of the Drill Team League, there has been much intense discussion about the correct phrasing of questions, how and when different rules should be brought into effect - even from an objective viewpoint, it can be said that the Council Members are truly doing a great job in their management of the League - and hopefully the sense of fun will be magnified throughout the various matches which have yet to be played.

    As far as Scoring is currently going, several new match results have come in during November, with the various officiants sending in the results to the council - with the excellent scoreboard below by Biki, we can clearly see the positions;

    Drill Team Standings
    Season Three
    Team Played Won Lost Points
    Lorien 2 2 0 4
    Gondor 2 2 0 2
    Fangorn 2 1 1 2
    Riddermark 1 1 1 2
    Isengard 1 1 1 2
    Imladris 1 1 0 2
    Khazad-dum 1 0 1 0
    Shire 1 0 1 0
    Mordor 2 0 2 0


    Good luck to all players when the season continues after the Olympics!

    In the IK Races League, much planning has been continuing as well - a definitive guide to how to moderate a Race has been produced, and the specialised "B-Rolls" which cause the Racer and their Plaza Member to do a specific action are all being revamped and are likely to be released soon.

    With the advent of a new Season dawning, it was decided, with the Season of Yule and Midwinter, plus the Olympics, that the first Season of the Third Year of IK Races would begin in January 2005 - with a schedule to be published within the last few days of November, as worked on in hiding by several Moderators and Kingdom Captains.

    Many people it seems this month, have been asking questions in the Planning Places of the Kingdom Racers - not the least is the continuing question, do you ride your Racer? The answer is - … - as much of a mystery as the nature of Tom Bombadil. However, speaking from a Fangorn Viewpoint, I can say that they do not ride on their Squizzles - instead they stand at the starting line and shout to their plucky squizzles as they run up the track - but off course, like many things, this changes from kingdom to kingdom.

    By Thom

    Through the Keyhole Index

    Welcome to this months edition of through the keyhole! This month, this little rider will be peeping into The Multicoloured Mongoose Mansion , and the House of the 4th age.

    To start off with, how about we look through the huge keyhole of the House of the 4th age? They are a mansion located in the 4th age of the world, where instead of living in the middle earth we know, you are in a place of the Future, where there are no elves, only dwarves and men. You can become an Archer of Isengard , learn to heal wounds and just be yourself and have fun in one of the many pubs and games it offers. So whatever your taste in the fourth age, you are bound to find something to satisfy your fancy here!

    Moving onto our second house of the day, this reporter as she reaches the front door was forced into a bright magenta outfit as she walked in! The Multicoloured Mongoose Mansion is a place where even the craziest people can find something to satisfy their needs! Here You Leave Middle Earth And Enter The World Of Sadirls, Cyan And Insanity! It is a house of family threads, and some of the most insane discussions you could imagine, such as How Do You Tune Two Tubas? , and the Longest Post contest . So even the craziest Sadirl or Rizzo clan member will find their hearts desire in this truly multicoloured mansion that is Riki Tiki Tavi's house!

    So until next time, this reporter bids you farewell, as she takes off her insanely bright coloured sunglasses and places them in her box of memento's, she begs you to let your hair down and visit some of these crazy houses!

    By Laniel


    Hurry Up and Wait Index
    After two hard-fought weeks of competition, the Drill Team League is enjoying a break for the month of November, in deference to the Plaza-wide Olympics being hosted in Mordor. But the second week of competitions provided us with plenty more excitement to whet our appetites for the Return of the Drill in December.

    Once again, four competitions took place, with Khazad-Dum taking advantage of a "bye" week to regroup after their loss to Fangorn in Week One. Week Two saw Ents in Minas Tirith, Minions in Rohan, Lorien's Elves in the Shire, and the Istari in Imladris. And what were the results of these contests? Did the 'home team curse' that plagued Week One's hosts continue?

    With 5 points to 4, Lorien seemed only too happy to keep the streak alive, defeating the Hobbits on their home turf. This was a very impressive match, with both sides showing the kind of tenacity that they will need to go the distance and make the playoffs, which are still a long way ahead.

    But the Curse of the Home Teams was not to last. In quick succession, Rohan and Minas Tirith both claimed victories, sending Mordor and Fangorn back to their homes with losses. For Rohan, the 6-4 victory over Mordor was especially sweet, as they were one of the host teams that suffered a loss in the first week. Minas Tirith survived a grueling match against Fangorn to claim a 3-2 victory and improve to 2-0, sharing the overall lead with Lorien with two weeks played.

    The final match of the week, featuring the White Council and Rivendell, resulted in another inconclusive conclusion after questions were raised regarding the acceptability of an answer. Both teams agreed to a rematch later in the season, which means that neither team is yet on the scoreboard (Imladris had the 'bye' in Week One and the White Council will also be replaying the Shire after their unfinished match from Week One).

    As December approaches and brings Week Three with it, you can be sure that the action will continue to heat up for the Drill Team League. Be sure to check it out, and remember to cheer your team on to victory. Better yet, join them and help make it happen!

    By Hoyamir


    Who Watches the Watchers? Index
    I spy, with Sauron's flaming eye... sneaky little admins playing evil jokes. Yes, that's right, the Valinoreans are using scare tactics to attempt to teach the mere mortals of the plaza not to go poking their noses where they're not allowed - and its working! If you've managed to avoid the massive outbreak of heart attacks among the plazaites and have no idea what I'm talking about, click here and you'll get a taste of the reward for nosiness.

    Now that you've gone and gotten all worked up and had a heart attack of your own, you're probably wondering who exactly is to blame for such a joke. Who else would have done that other than Mo? He hasn't always been evil though, as hard as that may be to believe. He revealed his true angelic self in Behind the Clouds II. Although it looks like he's wearing a dress, remember to call it a gown when he's within earshot because he ain't an innocent little baby anymore and I can't guarantee he won't hurt you.

    In that same thread we also discover that Andér wasn't always the self-proclaimed plaza stud he is now. In fact, it appears our very own librarian had a day job as playing Mark from Step by Step! He's probably too embarrassed to sign any autographs, so - wait, what am I saying? Just tell him it's because you think he's hot, he'll sign anything for you!

    Picture threads sure do reveal a lot about our wacky admins - in the first Behind the Clouds thread we find out that Arlo is planning to smush us all with his oversized feet, Sere is going to turn us all into roadkill, and Ally is very dangerous when in pajamas. The Doom Mandos is really just a joke as Hoth is a gentle old teddy bear and Ea and Naith might actually be from Middle Earth! Peeg obviously leads a double life as Russell Crowe and Pip is just a kid at heart who has a thing for prawn crackers. Kinda makes you curious about what they do when the camera's not there...

    Sometimes rulers will do anything to get attention - and you have to wonder what exactly Roh is doing in the house thread Roh's Room when you see how many visitors she's had! The number is nearing 60000 now; one has to wonder when it'll hit a million! Or maybe it's not Roh who's doing anything, but her sister and owner of the house, Eäranna, our new Goldberry, who's up to something. We know Ears likes to get drunk anyhow, she is after all Mordor's Olympic Drinking Champion! She obviously likes that new title, too, she's gone and put it in her signature so she can flaunt it about shamelessly everywhere she posts... who knew Goldberry was so immodest?

    Last issue I told you about Hrive's marriage troubles. It appears they were never solved as she is still single, guess that's what you get when you live life as a short bearded creature! Another ruler, the feared Mandallah, had a similar scenario occur in the Throne Room. A simple subject of his proposed, but he knows how much everyone adores him and how crushed they would be, so unfortunately no wedding bells will be ringing for Sauron. Claiming he is too loved to tie the knot, Mandallah declined and sent the minion to be punished. Will Sauron ever give in to love? We shall see...

    By Jess


    Plaza Halloween Index
    Halloween is a time of candy, pranks and ghosts. The Plaza was no exception…well except for the candy that is. But there were certainly ghosts and spooky faces about! Peeg made about 200 icons just for Halloween, and they were very beautiful! Well, there was the Undead Mokey icon... But they were all wonderfully made, and gave us Plaza-ites quite a pleasant surprise when we saw our icons replaced with icons from Pirates of The Caribbean, Star Trek and even Austin Powers! The chaos and hilarity lasted for about two weeks before we sadly had to part with out icons that we quickly grew to love. So what exactly did happen? For all those who missed out on the Halloween fun (how could you have?), here's a little review.:

    To start of Halloween with a bang, our beloved candles were suddenly extinguished as all newbies were dubbed with the title of Dead Soul. That must have confused newbies who had never seen Halloween on the Plaza, and I suspect we may have scared a few people away from clicking the register now button. But that's just the risk you take I guess! Of course, there were several threads asking what happened to the candles, and plenty of confused newbies wandering about.

    The elves of Imladris woke up to a pleasant surprise as they found themselves characters from the hilarious movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. The normal ranks were replaced with Undead Pirate, Jack the Monkey. Murtogg, Mulroy, Gibbs, Anamaria, Pintel, Ragetti, Cotton, Captain Barbossa, Captain Jack Sparrow, Governor Swann, Koehler, Commodore Norrington, and bo-sun. Laebeth sprouted long brown hair and became Will Turner, accompanied by Tara as the beautiful Elizabeth Swann. For the special Halloween SCRs, there was Undead Captain Barbossa and Undead Jack the Monkey. Because of the popularity of the icons, members all over could be seen pondering about switching to Rivvy for the duration of the Halloween icons! "Hang the rules! They're more like guidelines anway!" The voice of Elizabeth Swann proclaimed as you entered the Rivvy forum for the past week or so. And before that, Jack Sparrow could be heard welcoming you "to the Caribbean." All the regular threads were renamed to match the theme, such as the Captain Contest of Drunked Pirates, which, oddly enough, did not have a PoTC related picture as I'd assumed it would. The Caribbean Treasue Hunt was a challenging activity which ended with Tinw in first place, Pathlaniel in second and JRRLegolas in third. Tortuga Tavern and Battle At Sea were other fun RPGs.

    The dwarves of KD woke up to find that characters from the X-men had replaced their normal axes! The normal ranks were replaced with Toad, Blob, Spyke, Sabertooth, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Avalanche, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Quicksilver, Angel, Juggernaut and Apocalypse. Dis wore the icon of the wise Victor Xavier, while Hrive became Kitty Pride. The two SCRs were Magneto and Mystique. For Halloween, the rulers opened up "X-men:evelution done KD style", an RPG that gave all the dwarves a chance to play around with their icons for the duration for the Halloween fun.

    Gondorians woke up to a Shagadellic surprise on October 31st. That's right, Gondor was invaded by the cast of Austin Powers! The normal ranks were replaced with Mr. Bigglesworth, Patty O'Brien, Ivana, Alotta, Number Three, Basil Exposition, Fat B., Nigel Powers, Felicity, Scott Evil, Foxxy Cleopatra, Vanessa Kensington, Austin Powers, Number Two, and Mini Me. Naith awoke his evil side to become Dr. Evil with his partner in crime Laie as Frau Farbissina. The SCRs were Mayor, Mustafa and Fembot. In Gondor, The Shagadellic pub was opened, the first post in lime green, magenta, and orange. Upon opening the thread, "SHAG" in funky pink and orange greeted your eyes. After paying Dr. Evil and Frau upon entering, even minions could be seen dancing to a list of silly songs such as Y.M.C.A. Dr. Evil's Secret Mountain Lair was the perfect place for Gondorians to reveal their evilest deeds and RP as a henchman of Dr. Evil.

    The horse-loving Rohirrim found that their horsey icons had been discarded for icons from Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail! The normal ranks were replaced by Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Film, Robin's Minstrell, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot, Sir Bedevere, Dennis, French Soldier, Black Knight, Knight of Ni, The Witch, Tim the Enchanter, King Arthur, The Black Beast of Arrrgh!, Bridgekeepr, and The Holy Grail. Ele became The (Killer) Rabbit of Caernannog and Eleowyn wore the headdress of Dingo. The special SCR was Gonzo from the Muppets, awarded to none other than Pelly!

    The hobbits woke up to find that their pipes had been cast away. Instead, faces from Star Trek peered back at them. The normal ranks were replaced by Naomi, Alexander, Wolf, Quark, Ambassador Sarek, Borg Drone, Captain James T. Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Seven of Nine, Doctor, Montgomery Scott, Doctor 'Bones' McCoy, Captain Benjamin Sisko, B'elanna Torres and Tribble. Eamila was transformed into Captain Kathryn Janeway and Brandybuck became Mr. Spock. The SCRs were Data awarded to Prisca Sharassi and Q awarded to Rings. The Star Trek RPG, which Racesed a lovely picture in the opening post, was a chance for hobbits to play around with their new identities. The Scary Campfire Story Contest was a chance for talented writers to come up with spooky stories to tell, and those presented are sure to send shivers down your back! Something Wicked This Pub Has was right! The Halloween pub contained a special menu with items suck as Pippin's Puke and Bloody Merry's.

    The wizzies found out that they were not their usual wise, riddling selves when they logged on. Instead, the crazy cast of Looney Toons took over Isengard! The normal ranks were replaced by Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe le Pew, Speedy Gonzalez, Tasmanian Devil, Tweety, Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Granny, Porky Pig, Marvin Martian, Mighigan J. Frog, Roadrunner, and Henry Hawk. Grey Pilgrim as Daffy Duck and Arwe Thereyet as Bugs Bunny ruled Isengard. Hippity Hopper became the SCR for the month. Spooky Times in Looney Toontown was altogether looney, yet that goes without saying. Wizzies all over could be seen performing the Dance of Death! And lastly, all plaza members got a chance to Send a Trick or Treat to others, each trick or treat delivered on Halloween.

    The elves of Lothlórien found themselves as relatives of the Shire as they woke up to the surprise of being transformed into Star Wars characters. Their ranks were replaced with Ewok, Stromtrooper, Tuskan Raider, Rebel Trooper, Boba Fett, Biggs Darklighter, Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Landa Calrissian, Jawa, and Grand Moff Tarkin. Ecaps became the green Yoda and Imfalas became Princess Leia Organa. The two special SCRs were Jabba awarded to Haladin and Darth Vader awarded to Firien Echui. The Door of Night was a special Halloween adventure for elves who had to find their way out of the creepy happenings to return home. The Galaxy From Far Away Costume Ball held three spooky activities; Bobbing For Apples, Pumpkin Carving, and The Black Cauldron of Doom. The Jedi School Of Knowledge held puzzles and riddles related to Star Wars for the elves to solve. Two special caption contests were opened, A Chilling and Hair-Raising Caption Contest and Special Edition Star Wars Caption Contest. The Mos Eisley Cantina contained special drinks to format to the Star Wars theme.

    The Ents woke up to becoming Spaceballs characters. Their ranks were replaced by Spaceball Guard, Major, Skroove's Secretary, Dink, Prince Valium, Minister, King Roland, Dot Matrix, Vinny, Pizza the Hutt, Princess Vespa, Barf, Lone Star, Colonel Sandurz and President Skroove. Masterofjesters became Dark Helmet and Morim became Yogurt. The special SCR was Alien. Are Ghosts Our FriENTS allowed ents to either become a ghost or a ghostbuster!

    Mordorians tossed away their eye icons for the Blues Brothers! The ranks were replaced by Mrs. Murphy, Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, Mr. Fabulous, Tucker McElroy, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper, Murph, 'Blue Lou' Marini, Mystery Woman, Curtis, Burton Mercer, Ray, Reverend Cleophus James, Sister Mary Stigmata, and Willie 'Too Big' Hall. Mandallah became Jake Blues with Rohanna as Elwood Blues. The SCRs were Tom 'Bones' Malone awarded to Firefly and Mighty Mack McTeer awarded to Loke. The Ringwraith Blues Review held all Halloween or Blues Brothers questions to ask of the minions, such as, "No I didn't. Honest... I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD. " - Which Jake excuse would you use when you left someone at the alter?" Let me tell you, the answers that came up were pretty funny.

    Of course, the Admins had to be something special too! Eru became bigfoot, Peeg was Inigo Montoya, Sere was Serepire the Vampire eating her birdie, Mo was The Man in Black (like he always is), Pip was Estë the Healë AKA the band aid, Fëawen was Kim Possible, Luthy was Buttercup, Endy was the Jolly Green Giant, Beal was Puss in Boots, Arlo was King Triton, Hoth was Miracle Max, Achoo was Glove and Ally was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Does this mean she was supposed to kill Serepire? The Poetry Admins were also blessed with new icons, Rhia being Pinky the Minstrell, Ears becoming Audrey II proclaiming "FEED ME!", and Ish becoming Guinness Harp. Of course, Andér got a new icon to, and instead of deadly looking Fëanor, he Racesed the equally deadly looking Goku icon.

    Admin Tribute Ranks were also quite special this month. Oro was awarded Fëa's #1 Fan from Fëawen, RedEye was awarded Grover from Andér, Eithil was given Ariel the Mermaid from Arlo, Samu was given the Mad Cow from Sere, Six was given The Void from Hoth, Kilane was given Faith from Ally, Uruloki was given Gromit from Luthy, Hoyamir was given David Hasselhoff from Mo, Thom Greenleaf was awarded Inspector Clouseau from BB, and Munin Audoin was awarded Elphaba from Peeg.

    Sadly, two weeks into the madness, the icons were whisked away. And while there were those who were happy, for they had opened threads demanding to know why the site had Halloween icons and how they hated them, the majority of Plaza members were sad. And while some didn't appreciate the hard work the R/A's put into Halloween, many do, including me. Thanks R/A's for making this a wonderful Halloween! What will you have in store next year?


    Aaaaw..Come here little kitty kitty...


    By Twin Demon

    A Debate almost on a Plate Index

    Tensions can be felt in the air as the start of the fifth season of plaza Debating is approaching. The start has been postponed many times now because of various reasons. But this time everything points that the final date of the start shall be December, maybe even the middle of it. The DGMs; masterofjesters and Aralomiël; have been working on the finalization of the new rules. Much has been discussed over the past few months about the nature of the rules. And it seems that we shall be debating in the season V in a rather different manner. Also, since only Fingolfín posted some Debate topics in the last few weeks the request for more topics has been once more repeated. So, if you have a topic you would like share please do so in the official IK Debate HQ. Remember that your topic might be debated and thoroughly discussed if it is chosen. In any case, it's worth a shot.

    Although the new season is very close practice debates are still being held. Thus, Meduseld shall come to Lothlorien on the 29th November and they will debate whether 'Turin is a hero or villain' in history. Such practice debates are a source of invaluable experience for the new debaters. And truly there are many new faces among the ranks of IK debaters. Much of the last season has now changed. Many of our best debaters have left not only IK Debates but also plaza entirely. Real Life has always been tampering with IK Debates especially because Debates take a good portion of everyone's time. But even thought it does take time from all of us, we have not yet seen a soul who said that the time he spent on IK debating was a waste. Everyone who ever participated in a real IK debate has positive remarks about it. There are few things on the plaza that can provide the thrill of debating, the anxiety before the debate judgment. And although debates are a tremendous learning tool it all comes down to this; great FUN!

    You are, of course, always welcomed to try out for your Kingdom's debate team. Just seek out the Debate thread in your kingdom and apply. If you are a little afraid before the challenges of IK debating you can always start with JR debates and learn everything you need to know for the big IKs. But hurry if you want to make it for the first few IK matches. From everything we have seen during these few months of waiting and discussing we can predict that Season V could be one of the most exciting season till now. There are many new faces which will definitely bring a lot to the upcoming debates. Again I say: I hope that next Debate article shall inform you of the official IK Debates start and how it all went!

    By Fingolfín

    Truth or Dare Index


    For this month, as Roh was busy with the Olympics, the Witchking himself asked the questions of the sniveling masses that called themselves free people. In disgust, he read the question aloud in a screeching voice:
    Have you ever written a love song/poem, and to whom? Can you give us a sample lyric?


     Firien of Lorien: Indeed I have. In fact I have written many, but the one I will give now was to my ex-wife, who departed for the West not too long ago.Here is a sample:
    What beauty is that which is unmatched by any
    Achieved by only one, though attempted by many
    The sun shines upon us life of new days
    The star's light rains down in its beaming ways
    Yet these seem to pale to her, these words true


    Eithil of Imladris: Afraid not, I don't tend to write poetry, although many elves do. I write as well as a minion of Mordor, and anyway, I haven't found someone to write love songs/poems *for* yet...

    Ranlindë of Khazad-Dûm: *is horrified at this question* Love song?? From a dwarf?? You've been eating at Mordor pubs again? Oooh, you are a Mordorian. Pardon me. Well there's only one true song among the Dwarven kind and its about Gold. Lyrics? Well ya know... Gold, gold, gold, gold.

    Hoyamir of Gondor: I have written quite a few poems in my time, as the Royal Bard of Minas Tirith. But I must admit that I have not yet attempted to woo a woman with song. My songs tend to be of a simpler cast, focusing on daily life in the White City and speaking of current events with a lyrical air. When I am ready to woo, however, I hope that my verses will not fail me and that I will be able to find the words to sing of her beauty.

    Tari Boffin of the Shire: Nope, never written a love song or poem to someone, but I have written a poem about my love for mushrooms. It'll go a bit like this...
    Meaty or earthy, dried or fried,
    Fresh and Potent,
    I surely sighed!
    A gift from Eru, mushrooms were sent!


    Éoarod of the Riddermark: Yes, to Feorheonon, though whether or not his ears shall ever hear it is unknown to me…
    Feorheonon min heorte
    Min magister, min bewitan
    An ic eom in cearu
    Buton ge þurh min healf


    Ultchuk of Isengard: Mmm, this is tricky... I did and I do, I sing a lot of them in the Karoake Bar and many pubs throughout, but I think one of the most beautiful songs would have been the one I sang when the Gardens of Lorien where opened.
    We'll remember you
    When the west wind moves
    Upon these fields of Gold
    You can tell the sun
    In his jealous sky
    When we will walk in fields of gold
    D'una volta in terre d'oru
    When we will walk in fields of gold


    Bùrzbag of Mordor: No I can't say that I have, I've always had a little problem with the whole thing of rhyming, but I know a great song.
    Roh Roh Roh your boat
    Gently down the stream
    If you see the Witchking, don't forget to scream!


    Munchikinka of Fangorn: Unfortunately I am not much of a writer, and never have been.

    Is it no surprise that the elf has written a love poem? Well one elf anyway, there must be something wrong with that Rivendweller, that or she's just lying. Those elvsies love their falsehoods and untruthfulness almost as much as they love their hairbrushes! However, I won't complain, as by not answering my question this round both the Imladris elf (already spending her eternity in the Barrow Downs anyway) and the Ent of Fangorn can just hang around trapped in the wraithworld with me. Yes, I'll admit I've been lonely of late...

    By Rohanna

    Learn to Draw III Index


    Tabi Geinin's advice on how to become an artist
    Junior lessons #3a


    During the previous lesson, we learned how to use basic figures to make our picture look 'alive.' In this lesson, you will learn to use shading and shadows. Since this is a large topic, I will 'split' this lesson in half.

    Shading give character to your pictures - in some cases, it can show different feelings (especially while drawing a face).

    First of all, draw your picture using pencil (0,7 mm is the best for that). For example: a face, a blade or a wall. Do NOT shade it during sketching. After the basic lines are prepared, think about which angle the light will fall onto your picture from (front, back, left, right, up etc.). When you decide from where the light will 'shine' onto your picture, it's time to imagine your work as a 3-dimensional sketch. If you are drawing a building, it will be helpful to draw a few other sketches onto other pieces of paper (from different angles). That will help you see all the shades that are important as well as those that should not be drawn.



    Clue#1
    During shading, it's important to draw the shades before the basic lines of your picture.

    Clue#2
    A picture without shades is 'flat', but you should try not to use too many of them, since it will only spoil the general look.

    Clue#3
    Shades can take difrent shapes. It depends on the shape of what is throwing the shadow. A triangle, for example, can throw a different shadow than a circle. Try not to forget that while drawing the picture (see example above).

    Clue#4
    In general, your shadow should have the same length as your picture's height (If the source of your light is high, the shadow will be shorter. If the source of your light is low, the shadow will be longer. NO MATTER WHERE YOUR SOURCE OF LIGHT IS PLACED, YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW THE SHADOW WILL FALL ON YOUR OBJECT).

    Clue#5
    Shades can have different intensities within your picture. They should not all be black, and they should not all be grey (see example above).

    To be continued…

    By Tabi Geinin


    The Southern Storm and Northern Wind RPG Index

    It all began with the sudden death of a Dunlend in the Aethelmund and a strange chilling Northern wind…and from there, it only got worse. Movements from the East alerted the Cavalry, and rumors of war quickly spread. A stranger was mysteriously killed in the streets of the Riddermarket. The rumors of war came true as the Cavalry of Rohan rode out to meet the enemies from the East. Then to Gondor they traveled, after receiving word of trouble from their ally. After a fierce battle in Minas Tirith, the Cavalry rode out again, bound for Pelargir, which lays South of Minas Tirith on the Anduin River…

    The Southern Storm and Northern Wind RPG is a combined RPG between the riders of the Mark and the Gondorians. Starting in Rohan, the RPG progressed to Gondor, where Gondorians and Rohirrim alike continue the RPG. This expansive RPG began on Wednesday, May 12th, when the First Marshal Sicilius NPC'd a hooded Dunlend who entered the famous Cavalry pub. The Dunlend was approached by Feldmarshal Eléowyn and Second Marshal Malorn. The man was chanting a strange message, "Ash-huddard...Inrai wicar Thokast y-itario...y-itario...Thokast y-itario....", a message in a tongue unknown. The Dunlend's eyes glowed a fierce red and he smelled of death as he pulled Feldmarshal Eléowyn close to him and proclaimed, "Beware the wind....the cold brings a plague upon your people...." These strange words were followed by sudden convulsions and death, leaving the young and old Wigends of the Cavalry quite shocked. First Marshal Sicilius strode onto the scene, and he ordered the body taken away.

    Slowly, everyone began to recover from the shock of that fateful night, yet as the nights wore on, the biting Northern wind grew worse. Everyone was tense about what had happened, and though they were ordered not to speak of it, some Wigends could not help but ponder what had befallen Rohan. Yet the uneasy silence did not last long, as the Wigends soon learned that the man was apparently healthy, and had died of heart failure. One Haelend of the Mark even went so far to say that he died of fright! But more disturbing news came, as the Marshals received reports of Easterlings near the Anduin. Though this possibility made little sense considering the Easterlings' recent defeat, the patrols on the Eastmark were doubled and the guards at Aldburg were put on high alert. But what was most confusing was how a Dunlend managed to travel through the Westfold and enter Edoras without any trouble. Although the Marshals hoped to keep these new findings between them for the time being, a Wigend overheard, and soon the news spread through the Aethelmund.

    But soon the mystery turned to the Riddermarket, where a cloaked stranger frightened one of the workers at The Rohirric Stables. In order to catch him, the Riddermarket gates were locked, allowing only Cavalry members to leave or enter. The stranger was found in Pen and Ink, where he held Vanya hostage. The stranger slowly came out still holding Vanya, and he revealed his name to be Toraiph. He revealed that he hailed from the Northern Kingdom of Arnor and brought word that Rohan and Gondor were under threat. However, an arrow pierced the man before he could finish, and his dying words were "It is too late for me, but hopefully not for you...beware the wind, it brings him....beware...the...." Whoever loosed the arrow was never discovered, and what was left behind were those strange words and a feeling of dread.

    The Cavalry gathered, and the Paethfindians were sent to scout ahead. More Wigends were sent to reinforce Aldburg. The rest of the Cavalry rode to Aldburg the next day, whilst the Eastmark flanked the Easterlings during the night. However, during the ride, rain poured down, stopping the Cavalry from some while. The First Marshal fell ill during this period, passing the chain of command on to The Second Marshal, Malorn. Coming to the aid of the others who had ridden ahead, the Cavalry surged forth in battle. During battle, however, Second Marshal Malorn was injured, and his horse took off with him upon its back. Then a miraculous thing occurred, First Marshal Sicilius awoke and rode into battle, renewing the vigor of the Cavalry. To the Rohirrim's surprise, the enemy retreated northwards, yet it was but a decoy. The enemy returned in greater force, archers and wainriders, leading to a diced battle that ended with the enemy's retreat. However, Sicilius fell ill once again. Though this was a grievous loss, the Cavalry celebrate their victory in battle.

    Three days later, the beacons of Gondor were light. So, with all their speed, the Cavalry gathered together and rode forth. The Cavalry moved through the land of Anorien and on the fifth day of their march, the reached the White Mountains. The Cavalry then crossed the lands Pukel-men as a short cut, after receiving an urgent message from a messenger of Gondor that they were already in battle. Aft