Námo

Just a reminder ...

 

... this is the sort of commentary we need these days:

 

 

"Being offended doesn't work anymore. Throwing insults doesn't work anymore."

@Elvenlord:

 

Please note, that the rule was implemented in the last dayes of the Obama Admininistration (Dates: This final rule will be effective on January 18, 2017. However, compliance is not required until December 19, 2017. [your reference]). Hence, it has NOT come into effect YET.

 

Thus, the H. J. 40 (which has now been approved i House of Representatives) will - when approved in the Senate - just revert the federal legislation back to normal. As it is just a REPEAL of some very recent legislation, it cannot ADD some new legislation. This means that:

 

1) NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) will still be functioning as before. Background checks is still required for all, who wants purchase a firearm.

 

2) SSA (Social Security Administration) will NOT be a second, additional agency for control on puchase of firearms. This would be discriminatory to all disabled persons, regardless of what disability they might have.

 

Which in essence was what the article on Breitbart News said - and contrary to the claims concerning background checks in The Independent and Politico.

 

Some arguments for the repeal can be found here: https://waysandmeans...e.gov/hj-res40/

Some small notes, probably only of interest for mappers:

 

 

 

Cirith Forn en Andrath, the high-climbing pass of the North

In "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields" it is said, that "when he [Isildur, the son and heir of Elendil] at last felt free to return to his own realm he was in haste, and he wished to go first to Imladris; for he had left his wife and youngest son there, and he had moreover an urgent need for the counsel of Elrond. He therefore determined to make his way north from Osgiliath up the Vales of Anduin to Cirith Forn en Andrath, the high-climbing pass of the North, that led down to Imladris. He knew the land well, for he had journeyed there often before the War of the Alliance, and had marched that way to the war with men of eastern Arnor in the company of Elrond."

 

Note: Cirith Forn is the sindarin name for "The High-climbing Pass of the North," also known as "The High Pass" and "The Pass of Imladris" - Andrath is the sindarin name for the stairs leading up to the pass. The name is also sometimes used for the steep climb south of Bree in Eriador.


The Gladden Fields: Loeg Ningloron

In the Elder Days, when the Silvan Elves first settled there, they were a lake formed in a deep depression into which the Anduin poured from the North down the swiftest part of its course, a long descent of some seventy miles, and there mingled with the torrent of the Gladden River (Sîr Ninglor) hastening from the Mountains. The lake had been wider west of Anduin, for the eastern side of the valley was steeper; but on the east it probably reached as far as the feet of the long slopes down from the Forest (then still wooded), its reedy borders being marked by the gentler slope, just below the path that Isildur was following. The lake had become a great marsh, through which the river wandered in a wilderness of islets, and wide beds of reed and rush, and armies of yellow iris that grew taller than a man and gave their name to all the region and to the river from the Mountains about whose lower course they grew most thickly. But the marsh had receded to the east, and from the foot of the lower slopes there were now wide flats, grown with grass and small rushes on which men would walk.


The Gondorian forts on Anduin, north of Sarn Gebir

In later days Gondor built a bridge over the upper Limlight, and often occupied the narrow land between the lower Limlight and Anduin as part of its
eastern fences, since the great loops of the Anduin (where it came down swiftly past Lórien and entered low flat lands before its descent again into the chasm of the Emyn Muil) had many shallows and wide shoals over which a determined and well-equipped enemy could force a crossing by rafts or pontoons, especially in the two westward bends, known as the North and South Undeeps. It was to this land that the name Parth Celebrant was applied in Gondor; hence its use in defining the ancient northern boundary.

The wide lands south of Mirkwood, from the Brown Lands to the Sea of Rhûn, which offered no obstacle to invaders from the East until they came to Anduin, were a chief source of concern and unease to the rulers of Gondor. At the end of the second millennium the forts upon the line of the Anduin north of Sarn Gebir that had been built by Narmacil I were still in repair, and manned by sufficient soldiers from Calenardhon to prevent any attempt of an enemy to cross the river at the Undeeps.

But during the Watchful Peace the forts along the Anduin, especially on the west shore of the Undeeps, had been unmanned and neglected. After that time Gondor had neither men nor opportunity for manning the line of Anduin north of the Emyn Muil. When Cirion became Steward of Gondor in the year 2489, and Gondor was threatened by the Balchoths, he was only able to put a few men into the old forts to keep watch on the Undeeps, and to send out scouts and spies into the lands between Mirkwood and Dagorlad.

 

Note: Although the fords were ruins at the end og the Third Age, they might still be of interest for mappers. There might also be some ruins in the eastern part of Mirkwood, where the remnants of The Old Dwarf Road (in days of old probably leading right to The Iron Mountains) did cross Celduin.

 

Something that has always bothered me is who those mysterious Men were who traded with Laketown in The Hobbit. They lived south of the Long Lake and were apparently Northmen, but where did they live? If there were men still living along Celduin (the Running River, which arose in Erebor), why didn't they settle at the point where the Old Forest Road met the river? Or perhaps they had at one time lived there but had been driven off?
 

My answer was just based on a quick search of "The History of Middle-earth Index" (which is very extensive, very accurate, and very reliable) as well as searches of the indexes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. No big deal, but also no other hits than those mentioned.

 

Mim never used some "Ward of Protection" (a somewhat dubious terminology, by the way) in Tolkiens works. Not even in Narn I Chîn Húrin, which was written by Christopher Tolkien, based on his fathers works.

 

 

Someone with a better knowledge of his works would know ...

 

Oh yeah, sure. You might just be the man for that job. If you find any, please post it here, and I'll give you a "FreeBeerUpgrade" at the Blue Parrot. Go ahead, make my day ... ;-)

"Wards" simply means "Guardians" or "Protectors."

 

In plural Tolkien only used it once, in relation to the Sindar (greyelves) of Beleriand, who among other names were called "Wards of Melian."

 

In singular, you'll find "Warden of the City" and "Warden of the Keys," both titles used only i Gondolin, and Gondor had its "Warden of the House of Healing."

 

Otherwise, Tolkien himself did not use the term in any other connection.

 

 

 

BTW: concerning runes, there's a norwegian band called Wardruna, here performing "The Way to Hell"

 

#Notes on the Index of Nazgûl Names:

Comments and notes on the entries in above post.

• Disclaimer:
  
  The 'names'/titles given above are primarily for modding purposes.
  
  From a lore perspective they are not that interesting, though they might be seen as 'applied lore' ... i.e. the 'names'/titles and other facts used for differentiating the Nazgûl are based on Tolkien's lore, and not fiction. In cases where certain aspects are difficult to attribute to particular Nazgûl (shown like [Quality] or [Quality?]) this will be explained in notes, either in this post or later.
  
  Some generalization might occur, but within reasonable limits.
  
  
• Guidelines:
  
  

  ... names should comply to all of the following criteria:
  
  

  • The names should be in the form of titles, and should not be proper names.
  • The titles should be in accordance with the writings of Tolkien, especially with respect to all his linguistic works.
  • The etymology should be rather 'vague' because that's the way Tolkien portrayed them, more a 'class of beings' than 'individuals' ...
  • The names should be rather short and easy to recognize as Nazgûl (for reasons of gameplay)

  Still valid.
  
  Naming the Nazgûl should not diminish their basic characteristic of being just wraiths, i.e. without any individual human personality left. Although this may differentiate them, it should only be as different hues of Darkness ... shades of Shadows.
  
  
   
• Template (generic example): 
  
  
  • ## Ulairë Xxx:

  • 

  • Nazgûl

  • Black Rider, Thrall of the One

  • 'Name': Nazgûl, Black Rider.
    Titles: Ringwraith, (Shadow).
    Weapon: Nazgûl Sword.
    Powers: Fear (passive), Black Breath.
    Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water, (Senses confused by daylight).
    

  • Note: Just one of "The Nine" (Generic Nazgûl).
  • Leadership of army: Ad hoc.
  ------------
  
• Template (explanation):
  
  
  • Decipher's Name (Quenya numeral) - used as ID.
  • LotR TCG card - used as visual identifier. Just a picture, though the subtitles may be interesting.
  • Preferred 'name'/title.
  • Alternative naming: other useful titles.
  • All available info from the lore, put in one box:
    
    
    • 'Name': Names given by Tolkien (shown in bold letters), or if such does not exist, names taken titles.
    • Titles: Titles used by Tolkien (shown in bold letters), or if such does not exist, titles deducted from lore.
    • Weapon: From the lore, or assumed [*weapon*?]
    • Powers: Powers, spells and abilities according to lore - might be 'passive' or 'active'. If deducted or assumed, this will be marked as [*power*]. Specific explanation in the notes.
    • Weakness: According to the lore. Further explanation in the notes.
  • Notes related to the Nazgûl in question.
  • Assumed command of forces, War of the Ring.
  
   
• Notes:
  
  
  • POWERS:
    
    
    • Fear, and the Shadow of Fear: For a more detailed account of these powers, see this post.
    • Black Breath: This was probably a spell.
    • Blasting Spell: The Nazgûl did have a nasty habit of blasting doors and gates to get through. One example is the gates of Bree (twice), another Frodo's house in Breeland: two soft blows, followed by the command "Open in the name of Mordor" and the doors did burst.
      
      At the Gates of Minas Tirith the Witchking "cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone." Thrice, (and three strokes by Grond on the gates) ... then "as if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder."
      
      As this spell was common [also used by the Balrog in the Chamber of Mazarbul], it is attributed to all the Nazgûl.
    The powers of the Nazgûl were greatly enhanced in darkness.
  • WEAKNESS:
    
    
    • Calaquendi, [Elves]: The Elves did not fear the Úlairi like mortal Men did - but the Ringwraiths did fear the Elves, and especially the Calaquendi ['the Elves of Light'], i.e. those of the Noldor who had been in Aman, and had seen the light of the Trees. The Ringwraiths could not endure the light in their eyes.
    • The Witch-kings weakness for women: Glorfindel's prophecy that "not by the hand of man will he fall".
    • Water: Most of the Nazgûl had an unexplained fear of water, the known exceptions being The Witchking and Khamûl:
      
      

      From the Thain's Book:
      
      The Witch-king led Khamul and another Nazgul into the river despite their hatred of moving water ... the other Nazgul were driven into the river by Glorfindel - who revealed his full power and appeared to glow with a white light - and by Aragorn and the others bearing torches.
      

      The third one is arbitrary choosen to be the Lieutenant of Morgul, being the most powerful of the other Nazgûl.
• Fiction:
  
  Of the info listed for the Nazgûl, only the options given for their weapons are fiction: (Morgul Blade?), (Guldur Blade?) etc.; we actually know next to nothing about their physical weapons, except in the case of the Witchking ... however, to give them generic swords from their place of dwelling would not be contradictory to lore.

#Index of Nazgûl Names:

INDEX OF NAZGÛL NAMES/TITLES:
Including references to their Powers, Weapon, Leadership, etc.

•  
• Chief Nazgûl: 
  #1 Ulairë Minya:
  

  
  
  The Witch-king
  The Black Captain, Witch-king of Morgul, Lord of the Nazgûl

  'Name': The Witch-king, ... [many other names used by Tolkien].
  Titles: The Witch-king, Chief of The Nine, The Black Captain, Lord of The Nazgûl, Lord of Angmar, Lord of Morgul ...
  Weapon: The Pale Blade (> Flaming Sword), Morgul Knife, Mace.
  Powers: FEAR (passive), 'The Shadow of Fear' (spell), Black Breath, Blasting Spell (/Ancient Spell), [Flaming Sword?], Summon Wraiths.
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Women.
  

  Note: According to a note by Tolkien, The Witch-king is assumed to be of the race of the Black Númenoreans. He can be visually distinguished from the remaining Nazgûl by being taller than those, by his crown, and by his weapons.
  
  Leadership of army: All other Nazgûl, All forces at the Siege of Gondor / Battle of the Pelennor Fields:
  All Morgul forces (Men and Orcs), Reinforcments from Morannon incl. Allies (Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings and Axe-men), All forces from Harad (Variags, Mumakil, Black Men, Southrons, Haradrim and Corsairs).
  
  
  #2 Ulairë Attëa:
  

  
  
  Keeper of Dol Guldur
  Khamûl The Easterling, Shadow of the East

  'Name': Khamûl, The Black Easterling, The Shadow of the East.
  Titles: The Second Chief, Keeper of Dol Guldur, Shadow of the East.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword (Easterling Sword?).
  Powers: FEAR (passive), ['The Shadow of Fear' (spell)], Black Breath, Blasting Spell, [Summon Wraiths?].
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Senses confused by daylight.
  

  Note: Of the race of Easterlings. It is said that Khamûl was the most ready of all the Nazgûl, after the Black Captain himself, to perceive the presence of the Ring, but also the one whose power was most confused and diminished by daylight.
  
  Leadership of army: All forces from Dol Guldur, Northern army of Easterlings.
  
  
   
• Senior Nazgûl: 
  #3 Ulairë Nelya:
  

  
  
  Lieutenant of Morgul

  'Name': The Lieutenant of Morgul, [Gothmog?!]
  Titles: Lieutenant of Morgul.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword (Morgul Blade?).
  Powers: FEAR (passive), ['The Shadow of Fear' (spell)], Black Breath, Blasting Spell.
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves].
  

  Note: Based on linguistic evidence, "Gothmog the Lieutenant of Morgul" can only be a Nazgûl, and a former king (warlord) of one of the realms of the Black Númenoreans; thus, this Nazgûl will be the third most important of the Nine. (see [*to be posted later*])
  However, the name Gothmog will NOT be used as a Nazgûl name.
  
  Leadership of army: (Siege of Gondor) All Morgul forces - (Battle of the Pelennor Fields) All of Mordor's forces, incl. allies.
  
  
  #4 Ulairë Cantëa:
  

  
  
  Lieutenant of Dol Guldur

  'Name': The Lieutenant of Dol Guldur.
  Titles: Lieutenant of Dol Guldur.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword (Guldur Blade?).
  Powers: FEAR (passive), ['The Shadow of Fear' (spell)], Black Breath, Blasting Spell.
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Leadership of army: Orc-forces from Dol Guldur.
  
  
  #5 Ulairë Lemenya:
  

  
  
  Lieutenant of Mordor
  Chief Messenger of Sauron

  'Name': Chief Messenger of Sauron.
  Titles: Lieutenant of Mordor, Chief Messenger of Sauron.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword (Mordor Blade?).
  Powers: FEAR (passive), ['The Shadow of Fear' (spell)], Black Breath, Blasting Spell.
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Leadership of army: None and/or (Battle of Morannon) All Mordor forces.
  
  
   
• Junior Nazgûl: 
  
• SHADOWS:
  
  #6 Ulairë Enquëa:
  

  
  
  Shadow of the South

  'Name': The Shadow of the South.
  Titles: Lieutenant of Morgul.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword.
  Powers: FEAR (passive), Black Breath, [Blasting Spell].
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Note: The 'name'/titles suggests, that this Nazgûl was of the race of the Black Númenoreans.
  
  Leadership of army: (Siege of Gondor) All forces from Harad (Variags, Mumakil, Black Men, Southrons, Haradrim and Corsairs).
  
  
  #7 Ulairë Otsëa:
  

  
  
  Shadow of the North

  'Name': The Shadow of the North.
  Titles: Lieutenant of Morgul.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword.
  Powers: FEAR (passive), Black Breath, [Blasting Spell].
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Note: The 'name'/titles suggests, that this Nazgûl most likely was of the race of the Northmen, or one of the Easterling conquerors of Rhovanion.
  
  Leadership of army: (Siege of Gondor) Reinforcments from Morannon incl. Allies (Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings and Axe-men).
  
  
• MESSENGERS:
  
  #8 Ulairë Toldëa:
  

  
  
  Messenger of Morgul

  'Name': The Messenger of Morgul.
  Titles: Messenger of Morgul.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword.
  Powers: FEAR (passive), Black Breath, [Blasting Spell].
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Leadership of army: None.
  
  
  #9 Ulairë Nertëa:
  

  
  
  Messenger of Dol Guldur

  'Name': The Messenger of Dol Guldur.
  Titles: Messenger of Dol Guldur.
  Weapon: Nazgûl Sword.
  Powers: FEAR (passive), Black Breath, [Blasting Spell].
  Weakness: Calaquendi, [Elves], Water.
  

  Leadership of army: None.

[If anything is missing or incorrect, please let me know]

Abolish the Fed, no more income tax.

wup:

some short comments on the architecture of the Hornburg (Helm's Deep)

on the vertical scale:

comparing these two pics:

it is clear that there are a very significant difference in the vertical scale - IMO Rob's model is much better than the one from New Line (movie version) for two reasons:

• Gameplay would suffer from walls twice as high in scale (viewing/selecting units behind the walls etc.) unless the floor between the outer and inner wall was raised significantly, but that I guess would give problems in the area of the gate.
• Rob's model is much closer (in vertical scale) to the original concept art by J.R.R.Tolkien, shown below

J.R.R.Tolkien's vision of Hornburg:

bd

note on the *tower* (the high sculpture with some pipes running down the sides): from an architect's point of view it is rather ugly (sorry, New Line) - it don't seem very useful as defense structure, and the sound of that horn? Guess it will not work, being made in stone (just a guess, a town planner/eco-architect is not exactly an expert on acoustics)

I think a proper rear gate/ramp would be much better in the area now occupied by that tower. That might also solve the problem of the outer and inner walls converging in a very sharp angle, wasting a lot of space.

bd

some other original concept art - J.R.R.Tolkien's vision of Helm's Deep:

the reason for showing this:

The biggest flaw in EA's map called Helm's Deep
is the complete absence of HELM'S DEEP itself.

because:

HELM'S DEEP is in fact the long narrow gorge from the mouth of Aglarond (the caves) to the Hornrock. The point where the stream passed from the Deep was called HELM'S GATE, fortified by the Deeping Wall and the Hornburg. This entire refuge is often called Helm's Deep, but then the ravine and the caves must be included as well.

I think it would give some extra options in the gameplay, if the beginning of the ravine were somehow included in the map!