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My country, O, my country...
Jun. 24th, 2016 07:10A black day for the world, considering the effect of Farage's lot's win is likely to be on a par with the crumbling of the League of Nations. Hopefully this will be enough for Alba to break her chains.
So apparently the minor routine disruption/stressful stranger interaction of a house-visiting charity guy (he was funny and professional, but Hell no I am not direct debiting any charity) around new moon is enough to a) cause me to curl in a ball and fight not to cry from the stress spike afterwards b) give me trouble going downstairs again to make supper, because Irrational Brain has identified downstairs as an area of vulnerability.
What the hell, nervous system? Telling y'all mostly in casepublic shaming makes the Illogic vanish rationalising enough to word helps, but suggestions to help in convincing my instincts that randoms aren't going to interrupt/take food away from me from folk with anxiety disorders that pull this kind of stupid welcome.
What the hell, nervous system? Telling y'all mostly in case
XV - Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
Yet another thing oft forgotten by those that criticise Tolkien for the acts of his imitators was that there was a time when the Dark Lord won.
( Not for lack of opposition. )
( Nor without exception. )
Orcs are eating everything. Dark days settle in, and even the "outlaws" left in the worst-hit areas are whittled down to one man, called Beren.
~
...another long-long post: this one should probably have been two, but it would have messed with my numbering. Hopefully it makes sense, since between this cold and very little sleep of late I'm not sure I do.
Yet another thing oft forgotten by those that criticise Tolkien for the acts of his imitators was that there was a time when the Dark Lord won.
( Not for lack of opposition. )
( Nor without exception. )
Orcs are eating everything. Dark days settle in, and even the "outlaws" left in the worst-hit areas are whittled down to one man, called Beren.
~
...another long-long post: this one should probably have been two, but it would have messed with my numbering. Hopefully it makes sense, since between this cold and very little sleep of late I'm not sure I do.
Of the Coming of Men Into the West - Rumours of Witchcraft
In which Tolkien explains how the sort-of-Scandinavians got there.
( They walked! )
Oh, and mention of orcs habitually "devouring" humans killed in battle. Poor bastards must be hungry...with the lack of much evidence for orcish agriculture in this era, it seems constant hunger would have been a defining orcish trait. Some begottery follows, with a mythological precedent for the name 'Boromir' - that is some deep worldbuilding there.
Amusingly, humans' occasional restlessness under their Noldor masters is attributed by the scribe (of an elf-centric document, never forget) to the Curse's effect of causing factioning.
In which Tolkien explains how the sort-of-Scandinavians got there.
( They walked! )
Oh, and mention of orcs habitually "devouring" humans killed in battle. Poor bastards must be hungry...with the lack of much evidence for orcish agriculture in this era, it seems constant hunger would have been a defining orcish trait. Some begottery follows, with a mythological precedent for the name 'Boromir' - that is some deep worldbuilding there.
Amusingly, humans' occasional restlessness under their Noldor masters is attributed by the scribe (of an elf-centric document, never forget) to the Curse's effect of causing factioning.
XIII - Of Maeglin - Child of Darkness
Ah, Maeglin. My second-favourite skinny elven traitor with a black sword. He wasn't always that way, though, which is why the Sil devotes an entire chapter to his screwed-up upbringing.
( Of Maeglin's Parents )
The last few paragraphs note how damn hard Maeglin struggled to ignore the curse in reaching adulthood and working for Gondolin, doing his best to gain all he set his hopes on and avoid even the faint temptation of treason. That and how his incestuous heart was a seed of evil within the City of White Trees.
Long post is long. I didn't even get onto thoughtspeak and Maeglin's verbalising issues...
Ah, Maeglin. My second-favourite skinny elven traitor with a black sword. He wasn't always that way, though, which is why the Sil devotes an entire chapter to his screwed-up upbringing.
( Of Maeglin's Parents )
The last few paragraphs note how damn hard Maeglin struggled to ignore the curse in reaching adulthood and working for Gondolin, doing his best to gain all he set his hopes on and avoid even the faint temptation of treason. That and how his incestuous heart was a seed of evil within the City of White Trees.
Long post is long. I didn't even get onto thoughtspeak and Maeglin's verbalising issues...
XII - Of the Noldor in Beleriand - A Forbidden Tongue
Turgon starts building his city in the secret Good Place in the mountains. He calls it Ondolindë, 'singing-water-rock-place' because of the sound of the cataracts through the canyons at its lower approach, and it promptly enters Sindarin legends as the supposedly mythical Gondolin ('a hidden rock').
( Bilingual puns aside... )
Finrod is doing well with his tunnel city, too, though when Galadriel comes over to help (/avoid Thingol) and asks her eldest brother if he plans to marry now he has a home the scribe casts his negative reply as a foreboding that this place too will pass.
Oddly enough, the same line is used to mention the Noldor's losses amidst their gains and city-founding: the girl Finrod would have asked, if they came of age together, was a Vanyar and never left the Light.
Turgon starts building his city in the secret Good Place in the mountains. He calls it Ondolindë, 'singing-water-rock-place' because of the sound of the cataracts through the canyons at its lower approach, and it promptly enters Sindarin legends as the supposedly mythical Gondolin ('a hidden rock').
( Bilingual puns aside... )
Finrod is doing well with his tunnel city, too, though when Galadriel comes over to help (/avoid Thingol) and asks her eldest brother if he plans to marry now he has a home the scribe casts his negative reply as a foreboding that this place too will pass.
Oddly enough, the same line is used to mention the Noldor's losses amidst their gains and city-founding: the girl Finrod would have asked, if they came of age together, was a Vanyar and never left the Light.
XI - Of Beleriand and its Realms - Wood and Pasture
This is one of those chapters where Tolkien pretty much tells you to draw a map. Someday, I would actually like to go over it with copies of his drawings and a map of pre-Flood northwest Europe, though I'm sure such work has been done far better elsewhere. At any rate, unless you have cartographic equipment to hand it's best to read lightly over this chapter rather than memorising precise directions until the brain squeaks.
( Some general impressions )
Mention is also made of the possibility of wandering across the entirety of Ossiriand without seeing any of the resident Laiquendi, something I've always loved about the Green-Elves. They're there all right, but they feel no social pressure to interact or even clump together outside of festivals. Or be nice to dwarves.
This is one of those chapters where Tolkien pretty much tells you to draw a map. Someday, I would actually like to go over it with copies of his drawings and a map of pre-Flood northwest Europe, though I'm sure such work has been done far better elsewhere. At any rate, unless you have cartographic equipment to hand it's best to read lightly over this chapter rather than memorising precise directions until the brain squeaks.
( Some general impressions )
Mention is also made of the possibility of wandering across the entirety of Ossiriand without seeing any of the resident Laiquendi, something I've always loved about the Green-Elves. They're there all right, but they feel no social pressure to interact or even clump together outside of festivals. Or be nice to dwarves.
X - Of the Return of the Noldor - Kindred Reunited
Morgoth hears a bunch of Noldor have arrived from over the sea (quite literally, as they landed in the Echo Hills where all loud noises pick up the ghost of his scream).
( He's not too concerned )
The Noldor get tips on crops and share new technology. Dubious relationships with local dwarves are established. People start observing festivals once more, with the nobility briefly gathering in one place now and then. Things are quiet again, in a way that can't last.
*it's noted later in the chapter that those raised in the Blessed Lands tend to be bigger, stronger and incidentally tend to darker colouration than the dark elves bred in the star-forests...not what Morgoth's dark-bred orcs were expecting at all.
Morgoth hears a bunch of Noldor have arrived from over the sea (quite literally, as they landed in the Echo Hills where all loud noises pick up the ghost of his scream).
( He's not too concerned )
The Noldor get tips on crops and share new technology. Dubious relationships with local dwarves are established. People start observing festivals once more, with the nobility briefly gathering in one place now and then. Things are quiet again, in a way that can't last.
*it's noted later in the chapter that those raised in the Blessed Lands tend to be bigger, stronger and incidentally tend to darker colouration than the dark elves bred in the star-forests...not what Morgoth's dark-bred orcs were expecting at all.
Public notice
Aug. 30th, 2015 18:43I will not have any internets in my new place 'til at least the 15th; inbox bailing and online presence in general will be even more sporadic until that's done.
Gaps in the Media
Jun. 6th, 2015 17:47So there was a Christian terrorist attack on a mosque in Phoenix, Arizona Friday before last - buncha neo-Nazis with guns blockading worshippers in whilst the police took pictures - and it apparently hasn't had any international coverage. I think this is the sort of thing that shouldn't be ignored, so...now you know.
Silmarillion post IX: Smoke
May. 31st, 2015 17:48IX - Of The Sindar - Meanwhile by Starlight
Some mention of what the elves of the darkened young world have been doing in the long-by-mythtime-standards gap between their relations heading West and the fall of the Trees.
( About what you'd expect )
( Of The Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor )
( Of Men )
The first mention of mortal dominance in days to come is entered here, bringing the 'sickly', prey-like attributes of the first humans encountered by elves, and the sharp-edged vigour of the ancient elves into starker contrast.
Some mention of what the elves of the darkened young world have been doing in the long-by-mythtime-standards gap between their relations heading West and the fall of the Trees.
( About what you'd expect )
( Of The Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor )
( Of Men )
The first mention of mortal dominance in days to come is entered here, bringing the 'sickly', prey-like attributes of the first humans encountered by elves, and the sharp-edged vigour of the ancient elves into starker contrast.
VIII - Of The Flight of the Noldor - Swearing Bloody Murder
It takes a while for the Dark to clear a little, leaving plain old darkness in its wake. The First Light now exists in only one place: Fëanor's Shinies.
( Uh oh. )
Back over the water, Fingolfin realises his elder brother has ditched the lot of them and grinds his teeth on his oath of loyalty for a bit before ordering his kith and kin, the remnant of the rebel Noldor, into a nigh-suicidal march across the Great Ice. He stamps along at the head of the column, nominally to test the ice, but presumably in fact due to the strangth of his cold-burning desire to catch up with Fëanor and throttle him.
It takes a while for the Dark to clear a little, leaving plain old darkness in its wake. The First Light now exists in only one place: Fëanor's Shinies.
( Uh oh. )
Back over the water, Fingolfin realises his elder brother has ditched the lot of them and grinds his teeth on his oath of loyalty for a bit before ordering his kith and kin, the remnant of the rebel Noldor, into a nigh-suicidal march across the Great Ice. He stamps along at the head of the column, nominally to test the ice, but presumably in fact due to the strangth of his cold-burning desire to catch up with Fëanor and throttle him.
VII. Of the Darkening of Valinor - A Devouring Shadow
Doubling back to throw off pursuit by the enforcer-Valar who assume he's heading for his old haunts, Melkor heads southeast out into the dark, and digs out Ungoliant, the All-Devourer.
( Read more... )
The scribe tantalisingly mentions some (non-existent in RL) texts lamenting the first shock of Tree-loss...and it would be a major trauma to immortals, so much life and beauty gone at once, for the first time. By the time everyone's stopped panicking/stort-circuiting from routine-loss after long adaptation, the villians are long gone in a cloud of Dark.
Doubling back to throw off pursuit by the enforcer-Valar who assume he's heading for his old haunts, Melkor heads southeast out into the dark, and digs out Ungoliant, the All-Devourer.
( Read more... )
The scribe tantalisingly mentions some (non-existent in RL) texts lamenting the first shock of Tree-loss...and it would be a major trauma to immortals, so much life and beauty gone at once, for the first time. By the time everyone's stopped panicking/stort-circuiting from routine-loss after long adaptation, the villians are long gone in a cloud of Dark.
R.I.P. Sir Pterry and Blackpuss, would that I had words for ye.
Silmarillion Post VI: Sparks
Mar. 1st, 2015 22:15VI. - Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor - Viper in the Empty Den
Estranged from and no longer restrained by Nerdanel, Fëanor turned that star-burning soul and ferocious talent of his to making shiny things.
( Enter the Silmarils )
Everyone knows he'll be back, however; so ended the age of innocence in Aman.
Gosh, that was a lot for a tiny chapter.
Estranged from and no longer restrained by Nerdanel, Fëanor turned that star-burning soul and ferocious talent of his to making shiny things.
( Enter the Silmarils )
Everyone knows he'll be back, however; so ended the age of innocence in Aman.
Gosh, that was a lot for a tiny chapter.
Silmarillion Post V: Kindling
Feb. 8th, 2015 20:30V. Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor - A Flame and a Shadow
Once upon a time, there was a boy whose father wanted to call him Finwë's-Skill and whose mother, dying of the effort of bringing him forth, named Spirit-of-Fire, and he was forevermore known as the latter, because it was true.
( Spirit of Fire )
Seven sons. With the inalienable ability to build trebuchets. Much as the Fëanorians' confidence in their self-sufficiency later cost the Noldor, I can see why Nerdanel and/or the inhabitants of Tirion apparently sent them off camping as far away as possible with great regularity.
Once upon a time, there was a boy whose father wanted to call him Finwë's-Skill and whose mother, dying of the effort of bringing him forth, named Spirit-of-Fire, and he was forevermore known as the latter, because it was true.
( Spirit of Fire )
Seven sons. With the inalienable ability to build trebuchets. Much as the Fëanorians' confidence in their self-sufficiency later cost the Noldor, I can see why Nerdanel and/or the inhabitants of Tirion apparently sent them off camping as far away as possible with great regularity.
IV - Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië - Named Elves Settling
More on transposed islands, geneologies and the vital importance of shiny things.
( Read more... )
More on transposed islands, geneologies and the vital importance of shiny things.
( Read more... )
III. - Of The Beginning of Days: An Unshaped World
This post actually covers from the above chapter through to Of Thingol and Melian, containing a lot of worldbuilding ramble.
( Of The Beginning of Days )
( Of and Aulë and Yavanna )
( Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor )
( Of Thingol and Melian )
*this is the first time we see song as world-shaping magic whilst within the world: the necessary shamanic counterweight to smith-worship tends to be underplayed, but it's there.
This post actually covers from the above chapter through to Of Thingol and Melian, containing a lot of worldbuilding ramble.
( Of The Beginning of Days )
( Of and Aulë and Yavanna )
( Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor )
( Of Thingol and Melian )
*this is the first time we see song as world-shaping magic whilst within the world: the necessary shamanic counterweight to smith-worship tends to be underplayed, but it's there.
