Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Hall of Fire This Saturday, January 15
- Tookish @ 22:19 PST
Hullo! Come one come all to the next Hall of Fire! Bring your favorite Tolkien books or memories as we delve into this weekend's topic: Highlights: Your Favorite Moments From The Lord of the Rings Was it the Bridge of Khazad-Dum? Gandalf's return in the eaves of Fangorn forest? Grond smashing the gates of Minas Tirith? Pluck a few gems from the epic tale, or another of Tolkien's works. Time: 3:30 EST
Place: The Hall of Fire
Directions: Come to our site chat, Barliman's, then type in /join #thehalloffire. Directions to joining Barliman's can be found above.
Attire: casual (bare feet and pointy ears ok)
Saturday, January 08, 2000
A Song Inspired by Barliman's
- Jincey @ 23:14 PST
Our good dwarf Kili has been doing a bit of writing... a story in the making. He showed me the first chapter, which included a song! So, with his permission, I am posting this song for all to read and enjoy. Kili, keep up the great work on the story! “Though you be tall and strong of will,
and far over land you go to kill,
if you let the dark inside,
it will use your heart to hide,
leave all worries at the door and you will feel fear no more,
let the rain fall on the roof and do not think of silent hoof,
find a chair or even bed and they will make sure you are fed,
they will tend your hurts and woes for you may still have far to go,
stay and drink your favourite beer or even water fine and clear,
for if you fall asleep this night you will not feel a fatal bite,
and if you ever wander near,
the folk of Barlimans will bring you cheer.”
Monday, January 03, 2000
Hall of Fire - The Power of the Ring
- Balin @ 22:45 PST
Here is a little something to stir the pot for our next Hall of Fire discussion. The Power of the One Ring The destruction of the Ring is a central plot theme in The Lord of the Rings. This most potent of talismans is the ultimate evil machine. A thing created to usurp the will and dominate the thought of all people in Middle Earth. What then can it do that makes it so powerful that inspires fear in Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel? In LOTR, the One ring is never invoked. The true central power for which it was designed is never used. Yet it is considered the most potent and dreadful artifact in the world of ME. We only get rumor of its actual power. Only its secondary and automatic powers are invoked. I will draw directly from the writings of JRR Tolkien for my descriptions and hope my interpretations will be sound. I invite everyone to find their own evidence for an accurate summary of the powers of the Ring. Long Life Invisibility The Powers of all the Other Rings To Enhance the Native Power of the Wearer Domination of the Other Rings Enflame the Lust of the Wearer for Power and for the Ring Itself The Domination of People I have tried to give my views on the powers of the One Ring with some documentation. There is more but this is enough to begin our discussion. If you want to dispute my ramblings bring your documentation to Hall of Fire. If you have corroborating documentation bring that. If you feel the Ring has other powers bring your evidence to put before us in the Hall of Fire. If you can I suggest you read the Letters I quoted from. There is much more in them pertaining to the Ring and Tolkien’s views. This includes a statement about how Sauron maintained his power without the Ring and what would happen if another challenged him for mastery of the Ruling Ring.
We will begin by listing the known powers.
1. Long life
2. Invisibility
3. The powers of all the other rings
4. To enhance the native power of the wearer
5. Domination of the other rings
6. Inflame the lust of the wearer for power and for the Ring itself.
7. The domination of people.
That the Ring gave long life has been established by the fact that Gollum possessed the Ring for some 500 years according to the “Tale of Years” in the appendices of LOTR. This in itself should be sufficient proof.
That both Bilbo and Gollum used this power is well documented throughout both The Hobbit and LOTR.
In a letter to Milton Waldman, Tolkien gives a great deal of information about the Rings of Power and the One Ring in particular. (The Letters of JRR Tolkien selected and edited by Humphrey Carpenter, Letter 131) Tolkien states: “But secretly in the subterranean Fire, in his own Black Land, Sauron made One Ring, the Ruling Ring that contained the powers of all the others....” So it would seem that the One Ring could do whatever any of the other rings could do.
In the same letter Tolkien says: “ The chief power (of all the rings alike) was the prevention or slowing of decay (i.e. ‘change’ viewed as a regrettable thing), the preservation of what is desired or loved, or its semblance - this is more or less an Elvish motive. But they enhanced the natural powers of a possessor...” This quote works only if you accept that the One Ring mirrored the powers of all the others.
To continue the passage cited above: “... that contained the powers of all the others, and controlled them, so the wearer could see the thoughts of all those that used the lesser rings, could govern all that they did, and in the end could utterly enslave them.” This is at the heart of the power of the Ring. This will be touched on again later.
The same letter states: “... thus approaching ‘magic’, a motive easily corruptible into evil, a lust for domination.” Later on the letter says: “Also so great was the Ring’s power of lust, that anyone who used it became mastered by it; it was beyond the strength of any will (even his own) to injure it, cast it away, or neglect it. So he thought.” The Ring took care of itself by becoming an obsession. Even Sauron was not immune to this.
In a letter to Rhona Beare (The Letters of JRR Tolkien selected and edited by Humphrey Carpenter, Letter 211)Tolkien says: “ Sauron’s personal ‘surrender’ was voluntary and cunning: he got free transport to Numenor! He naturally had the One Ring, so very soon dominated the minds and wills of most of the Numenoreans.” The Ring could help dominate others. Now that could actually be part of enhancing existing power in the wearer but in reality the whole purpose of creating the One ring was for domination. Sauron wanted to dominate all of Middle Earth.
Thursday, December 23, 1999
Hall of Fire Closed for the Holidays, Set to Reopen Saturday, January 8, 2000
- Tookish @ 22:12 PST
Joyous Yoohoos!
Well, we pride ourselves in being a site, "...forged by and for FANS," and as a die-hard Tolkien nut myself I can attest to this truth. Due to response from YOU, we have decided to postpone the next Hall of Fire meeting. This will give you plenty of time to research some good references for our chat, so hit those books elf-friends! Much joy and good cheer to you and yours.
Topic: The Power of the One Ring
New Time: Saturday, January 8, 2000 @3:30 EST
Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Hall of Fire Ready
- Tookish @ 01:23 PST
Hail Tolkien fans! Balin and I have put tinder and flint together to come up with this weekend's Hall of Fire topic. It's sure to send up a few sparks! Come in from the cold and enjoy the fireside glow of The Hall as we kick around our thoughts and citations. Special thanks to Barliman chatters Pippin Took, Gil-Estel, Eldarion, and Pippin Skywalker for their feedback.
Topic: The Power of the One Ring
What was the nature of the power of the One Ring? With as much 'factual' information you can dig up in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other texts, what can we deduce about the Ruling Ring? To what extent was the Ring influenced by its wearer, or vice versa? How is it that some individuals were able to overcome the Ring, but others succumbed easily? Did the Ring posses powers of its own? These and other questions will be asked....do you have an answer?
Time: Postponed to Saturday, 1/8/00
Place: #thehalloffire; come to Barliman's and type /join #thehalloffire in your message window
References: strongly encouraged
Dress: casual
Mathoms: optional
If you have suggestions for a future Hall of Fire topic, please email them to Gamgee, Gandalf, or me. Also, your feedback on Hall of Fire events is important to us, so please let us know what you think! Email your comments to Tookish@theonering.net. Namarie!
Sunday, December 12, 1999
Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Hall of Fire open again on Saturday, December 18!
- Tookish @ 22:47 PST
Hullo Ringer fans! Gandalf tells me they've conjured up another great topic for discussion at The Hall of Fire this next Saturday. Come along, join the throng, and see what it's all about.
Topic: Could there have been an easier way to get the Ring to the Cracks of Doom?
Why send a little hobbit on foot to destroy the Ring? Why not send Gwaihir the Windlord, or something faster and easier? If you were at the Council of Elrond, what would you have recommended?
Place: after entering Barliman's, type in /join #thehalloffire
Time: Saturday, December 18, 3:30 EST
Sunday, November 21, 1999
Sounds Instructions
- Balin @ 07:03 PST
Update to the update! The instructions for setting up your mIRC program to use sounds are here. Enjoy!