The Middle Earth Popularity Cup

[Aganzir]

++Galadriel

[skip spence]

I shudder to think that Galadriel is still around at the time of LotR, given her history. The things she must've seen and done throughout the long years, always with the memory of the paradise that was Valinor in the light of the Trees... Gandalf is a more developed character though and gets much more exposure. In the end, the choice is easy:

++Gandalf

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

++Gandalf
++Mithrandir
++Tharkun
++Incanus
++Olorin
++Lathspell

Did I miss any? :D

[skip spence]

Think so, but hey, that still counts as one. Lathspell is new to me, who called him that?

[Morthoron]

Think so, but hey, that still counts as one. Lathspell is new to me, who called him that?

Grima called him that. Lathspell = ill news.

[Lalwendë]

I like Galadriel, she's probably the best and most complex female character in the whole thing (apart from Ungoliant), but I'm afraid old Grandalf must take my vote here.

The crusty old pipe-smoking hippy with a sharp tongue and a knack for fireworks, he's just excellent. No wonder the flower power generation wanted him for President - we can only dream what the world might have been like had he taken up office. Man.

I mean, he's an Odinic Wanderer, how utterly cool is that? Maybe if Galadriel had left the house now and then...

Tolkien did about as good a job as is possible in conjouring up the spirit of Merlin Himself for his story, and for all we joke about him uncloaking he's an elemental being and straight from the ancient real world - a 'magic elf' as the name translates in Old Norse.

:cool:

++Gandalf

:smokin:

[Nogrod]

Oh my! We were so close! And now it becomes the safe LotR-run for all the fun-girls and -boys... :mad:

Andsigil and Aganzir, I'll promise to vote against your favourites from now on incessantly. And will call for others to do the same. That was a disgrace.

Party-spoilers... :rolleyes: :D

Hah, if you happen to disagree on a vote? Hmm... a tough one... I'll vote for the less cute or handsome or well-known or emotionally charged...

[the phantom]

Oh my! We were so close! And now it becomes the safe LotR-run for all the fun-girls and -boys...
Oh, I don't know about that. Beleg is still in this. So is Turin. Actually, that would be an extremely interesting match- best friends forced to do battle.

[Andsigil]

Well, Nogorod, you have your choice now, as I'm going opposite Aganzir this time and voting for ++Gandalf.

Unlike Lalwendë, I don't see any hippie characteristics in Gandalf, other than the fact that he has no visible means of support and always seems to live at other peoples' residences.

If I did see him as a hippie, I'd be voting for the Lady of Lorien, instead.

[Morthoron]

Unlike Lalwendë, I don't see any hippie characteristics in Gandalf, other than the fact that he has no visible means of support and always seems to live at other peoples' residences.

If I did see him as a hippie, I'd be voting for the Lady of Lorien, instead.

Gandalf might not have been a hippie, but he certainly put Hippie-ish thoughts into the impressionable minds of teenagers in the 1970's. After reading the smoke ring sequence with Gandalf and Bilbo, I went out and purchased a churchwarden pipe...

http://vegassmokes.com/churchwarden_pipes.htm

I still have it, proudly displayed in an oaken Bronzeworth barrister bookcase. I haven't smoked...ummm...anything from it in decades, but since everyone in my house is carping about my cigarettes, perhaps I'll go to Churchill's Tobacconists and buy some vanilla black Cavendish, which, if I remember correctly, had a great aroma.

[Thinlómien]

Aieeeeeeee you voted Boromir instead of Maedhros despite what morm and skip said about chicks digging him? Tsk tsk! :p Well, at least I don't have to decide between any of my three favourites in the finals now (now that evil skippy has matched Gandalf and Galadriel against each other). Speaking of which, I'm thinking about abstaining this round... I'd like to vote Galadriel to get less popular characters into the finals, and Gandalf because he's probably the only one who can prevent Sam from winning the whole competition...

[Nerwen]

++Galadriel

as usual.

[Lalwendë]

Unlike Lalwendë, I don't see any hippie characteristics in Gandalf, other than the fact that he has no visible means of support and always seems to live at other peoples' residences.


That's enough for me to call him a hippie :D I mean, he's not a benefit scrounger because there's nowhere in Middle-earth to sign on, and he's not a New Age Traveller because he hasn't got a caravan, nor is he a tramp because he hasn't got a dog-on-a-rope. So, hippie it is ;)

Nothing wrong with an old fashioned style hippie anyway, they're cool.

I sniff a thread idea...

[Tuor in Gondolin]

++ Galadriel

[Groin Redbeard]

Gandalf might not have been a hippie, but he certainly put Hippie-ish thoughts into the impressionable minds of teenagers in the 1970's. After reading the smoke ring sequence with Gandalf and Bilbo, I went out and purchased a churchwarden pipe...That is the weirdest thing I have ever heard about Gandalf. That's like saying I'm a soldier because I shoot guns.

Gandalf represents more of a prophet than a hippie (I don't know where get the idea that he's a hippie). After all it was the task of the Istari to help the peoples of Arda in the fight against Sauron, Gandalf was the only one of the Istari that stuck to the task which made him a "voice in the wilderness", "a stone doomed to rolling." I just love the way he stirs up the hearts of rulers to fight and spreads the news of what is happening. I do wish that Tolkien would have written a book purely on the travels of Gandalf!:D


++Gandalf

[mormegil]

Honestly, this is a tough one for me as I like both characters quite a bit. If I were to look at the movie, these are some of my favorite portrayls too. However, Gandalf gets the edge and only slightly in the long run. I wish we heard more about Galadriel's adventures.

++Gandalf

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

This is a difficult one. . . . I like both Galadriel and Gandalf, but right now I think most fondly about Galadriel.

++Galadriel

[Aganzir]

Oh my! We were so close! And now it becomes the safe LotR-run for all the fun-girls and -boys... :mad:

Andsigil and Aganzir, I'll promise to vote against your favourites from now on incessantly. And will call for others to do the same. That was a disgrace.
Haha! :p But you see, when Boromir is in question I regress to the fangurl level. Now Maedhros? Who cares about him? Ha!

[Morthoron]

That is the weirdest thing I have ever heard about Gandalf. That's like saying I'm a soldier because I shoot guns.

Bad analogy there Groin. Everyone knows that reading Lord of the Rings leads straight to any number of addictions (particularly pipeweed), and even worse, bouts of sanctimoniousness.:D

Gandalf represents more of a prophet than a hippie (I don't know where get the idea that he's a hippie). After all it was the task of the Istari to help the peoples of Arda in the fight against Sauron, Gandalf was the only one of the Istari that stuck to the task which made him a "voice in the wilderness", "a stone doomed to rolling." I just love the way he stirs up the hearts of rulers to fight and spreads the news of what is happening. I do wish that Tolkien would have written a book purely on the travels of Gandalf!:Df[/B]

You said it yourself, Gandalf is the original Rolling Stoner, and he exhibits many primary traits of a hippie, as already pointed out by Lal, who perhaps fit in well with the Carnaby Street crowd at one point in time. ;)

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I'd like to vote Galadriel to get less popular characters into the finals
What??? Galadriel is supposed to be less popular?

If it is so, the masses, as usually, have horrible taste - even for characters.

Although by part, it is proven by this thread a bit, look for example at where Saruman is ;) I think I may well even feel a bit of satisfaction if the one who wins is going to be some totally silly character...


...like Sam.
and Gandalf because he's probably the only one who can prevent Sam from winning the whole competition...

I haven't been around for the few days before, but Sam? Winning? Nonsense. That cannot be. Just look how narrowly he escaped some of these, well, whoever it was. What does that tell us? We vote out the characters we like, because we have to choose only one of them, but that is going to bump into people who like the different character. Thus, people will start to vote in favor of the opposite character, and in the end we end up only with the characters nobody likes.

Okay, I see this clearly. But anyway, for now,

++Galadriel

I like Gandalf too, but if I have to choose... he still isn't as brilliant, yes, that's the word.

[Ilya]

++Gandalf

Because he has more names.

[Thinlómien]

Gandalf 7
Galadriel 6

++Galadriel

If there's a tie, they both get through, don't they, skippy? :p;):Merisu:

[Andsigil]

Bad analogy there Groin. Everyone knows that reading Lord of the Rings leads straight to any number of addictions (particularly pipeweed), and even worse, bouts of sanctimoniousness.:D



You said it yourself, Gandalf is the original Rolling Stoner, and he exhibits many primary traits of a hippie, as already pointed out by Lal, who perhaps fit in well with the Carnaby Street crowd at one point in time. ;)

I still disagree. Unlike hippies, Gandalf actually had something important to do and proved to be productive in counsel wherever he went.

[skip spence]

Gandalf has powered his way into the semi-finals, defeating Galadriel 7 votes to 6.

Quarter Final 4:
Sam in the second favourite to win the Popularity Cup now having impressed so far. In the first round he eased past Legolas and then managed to overcome the strong Aragron in the second round. His opponent today is almost his diametrical opposite and this is a clash between genres as much as it is a clash between characters.

Sam - Túrin

[skip spence]

Gandalf 7
Galadriel 6

++Galadriel

If there's a tie, they both get through, don't they, skippy? :p;):Merisu:

No they don't, dear. And it isn't a tie unless I'm mistaken. Your vote was late and in any case Gandalf had 8 votes already.

Edit: Sorry, I was. Ilya's vote was also late. Gandalf still wins though.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

++Túrin

Sam is nice, but we need some good (ahem... but actually, yes, why not?) interesting (that's better in any case) character to be there, since most of the really good characters are off (of course besides Gandalf now, but still). Although, unless I am mistaken, there is also some Boromir in there... (in which case, though, the characters we come up with are rather of the same sort - Túrin, Boromir...).

[mormegil]

*sigh* I have dreaded this round for a long time now. However I must say that despite my name Sam is probably my favorite. So it is with a great deal of difficulty that I cast my vote. I really had hoped that these two would meet in the final round.

++Samwise

[Strongbow]

++Túrin

I like the First Age, for some reason.

[Thinlómien]

Skippy, because you're Swedish, you're supposed to call people "älskling" not "dear". It's a much funnier word. ;)

Anyway,

++Túrin

His story is very dark and beautiful, and however jerkish Túrin himself is, he can be understood, and it's not really his fault.

I still have my (momentary?) grudge against Sam going on, so I won't praise him here like I normally would. *:rolleyes: at self* :D

[Tuor in Gondolin]

+ + Sam

Outside of a few Beleriand elves
is Turin "popular" with anyone?

And who would you rather have a Green Dragon
ale with? :D

[Eönwë]

++Sam

I feel sorry for Turin, find him interesting, but I don't really like him.

[Andsigil]

+ + Sam

Outside of a few Beleriand elves
is Turin "popular" with anyone?

And who would you rather have a Green Dragon
ale with? :D

Heck, who would you really rather have on your side? Turin might slay a few dozen enemies, but he'd doom your entire army with his myriad of salient flaws.

I'd rather have Samwise with me as a simple paige or aide-de-camp than Turin as a general.

++Samwise

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Hmm, this is a tough one. Turin depresses me, and Sam annoys me (well, he annoyed Tolkien, too, sometimes). Time to pull out the coin again.... *flip*

++Turin

I can live with that, I think. If the Silmarillion had been published before Michael Moorcock's writings, I would've suspected Turin was the inspiration for Elric of Melnibone, and though I find him depressing, too, I also think he's interesting. In small doses. :D

[Lalwendë]

davem needs the Mac, so this is quick, but...

++Sam

You know this makes sense. He's no fly-by-night, nor is he stuck-up and full of himself. And he mostly does no wrong at all. There's no justice of Turin beats him.

Plus Turin is a stupid name for a character. There, I've said it ;)

[Nogrod]

There's no justice of Turin beats him.Except for the poetic justice!

++ Túrin


Gosh! Had I been able to peak in earlier we could have dropped Gandalf out! :confused:

That would have been something indeed!

[skip spence]

Skippy, because you're Swedish, you're supposed to call people "älskling" not "dear". It's a much funnier word.

Alright, älskling. I had a few crunchy and delicious Finn Crisps and some Vino just now and thought about you guys. Not because they're crunchy and delicious like you, but because they're Finnish like you.

Outside of a few Beleriand elves is Turin "popular" with anyone?
Are you kidding? Túrin's Mr. Popular. He comes to Doriath as a teenager and soon befriends its two greatest captains and becomes an important and well respected Man. Then, after his flight, he is captured by outlaws and soon enough becomes their captain. In Nargothrond his immense popularity makes him, a mortal man and outsider, the informal leader whose will even the king yields to. Findulias, sister of the king, falls in love with the strapping lad. The same story is repeated in Bretil when he soon has the whole country almost worshipping him.

Hm. I can't decide who to vote for though. I was leaning towards Túrin but I also like Sam. Hm...

++Turin

Because he's a more interesting in a literary sense.

[Eönwë]

Time to pull out the coin again.... *flip*

Which side was which, I wonder.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

++Turin

[Lalwendë]

Except for the poetic justice!



Pht.

If you call that 'poetic justice' then it's Vogon poetry :D

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Pht.

If you call that 'poetic justice' then it's Vogon poetry

Now there's a thought. Perhaps the Valar should have
threatened Feanor to several hours of Vogon poetry if
he wouldn't turn over the silmarils.

[Lalwendë]

Now there's a thought. Perhaps the Valar should have
threatened Feanor to several hours of Vogon poetry if
he wouldn't turn over the silmarils.

I reckon Gandalf could have had the beaten Saruman under control in half the time if he'd just brought along his Big Book Of Vogon Verse to Orthanc ;)

[the phantom]

Are you kidding? Túrin's Mr. Popular. He comes to Doriath as a teenager and soon befriends its two greatest captains and becomes an important and well respected Man. Then, after his flight, he is captured by outlaws and soon enough becomes their captain. In Nargothrond his immense popularity makes him, a mortal man and outsider, the informal leader whose will even the king yields to. Findulias, sister of the king, falls in love with the strapping lad. The same story is repeated in Bretil when he soon has the whole country almost worshipping him.
Excellent points. I hadn't even thought of it from that angle. Turin does indeed seem to be quite the popular one.

++ Turin

[Gollum the Great]

Two of my favorites. Sam... Turin...

Landslide victory!!!

++The Mormegil

[mormegil]

You are all bigots!!!

Just because Sam is smaller than you that doesn't mean you have to hate him. Geez I may just have to leave the downs after such a demonstraton of unbridled prejudism and hatred...for shame!!!

[the phantom]

You voted against your own screen name, morm.

I've lost all respect for you. Your words no longer have any sway with me.

[mormegil]

You voted against your own screen name, morm.

I've lost all respect for you. Your words no longer have any sway with me.


Have they ever had sway?

[the phantom]

Oh yes. One time you convinced me Firefoot was bad. ;)

[Morthoron]

I still disagree. Unlike hippies, Gandalf actually had something important to do and proved to be productive in counsel wherever he went.

And hippies did not have something important to do and weren't productive? Pffft!

*Glares indignantly*

Actually, there are alot of things hippies and Gandalf had in common:

1) Gandalf sparred verbally with Wormtongue; hippies had words with Tricky Dick.

2) Gandalf smoked pipeweed; hippies had weed-pipes.

3) Gandalf hung around with Dwarves and Hobbits; hippies hung out with Eric Burdon of the Animals, who described himself as 'an over-fed, long-haired leaping gnome'.

4) Gandalf was long-haired, bearded and disheveled; hippies were like that too, only younger.

5) Gandalf once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs; hippies were...ummm...forgetful too.

6) Gandalf took hikes; hippies hitchhiked.

7) Gandalf burned pinecones; hippies burned draft cards.

8) Gandalf helped end the War of the Ring; hippies helped end the Vietnam war.

9) Gandalf was considered a troublemaker and disturber of the peace; hippies? ditto.

10) Gandalf was called Stormcrow by Theoden; Stormcrow? Man, like, what an awesome name for a band!

Oh and I vote for ++Samwise

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Which side was which, I wonder.

I'll never tell. :D

[Andsigil]

Nice list. :cool: I'll have a go at fisking it.

1) Gandalf sparred verbally with Wormtongue; hippies had words with Tricky Dick.

Wormtongue was a fifth-columnist. Gandalf sided against him.

2) Gandalf smoked pipeweed; hippies had weed-pipes.

But it would only be conjecture to say that Gandalf's pipeweed had any hallucinogenic qualities.

3) Gandalf hung around with Dwarves and Hobbits; hippies hung out with Eric Burdon of the Animals, who described himself as 'an over-fed, long-haired leaping gnome'.

But would Gandalf have spilled the wine or taken the pearl?

4) Gandalf was long-haired, bearded and disheveled; hippies were like that too, only younger.

Only in the gray days. When he went to Gandalf the White, he was quite well cleaned up.

5) Gandalf once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs; hippies were...ummm...forgetful too.

No argument there!

6) Gandalf took hikes; hippies hitchhiked.

Hiking has more character than bumming rides. As does riding Shadowfax (the Rolls Royce of horses).

7) Gandalf burned pinecones; hippies burned draft cards.

Gandalf used those pinecones as weapons. Perhaps molotov cocktails would be a better comparison?

8) Gandalf helped end the War of the Ring; hippies helped end the Vietnam war.

But Gandalf ended the War of the Ring by fighting in it and winning.

9) Gandalf was considered a troublemaker and disturber of the peace; hippies? ditto.

I would venture that his disturbing and troublemaking had a slightly more noble purpose than, say, Woodstock.

10) Gandalf was called Stormcrow by Theoden; Stormcrow? Man, like, what an awesome name for a band!

Seek and ye shall find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7_VoGPPNXo
I'm not sure if this actually qualifies as hippie music, though. Hippies did make some decent music. I'm really not fond of this group.

Oh and I vote for ++Samwise

Good choice, although I think we're behind in this round.

By the way, positive rep inbound to you for coming up with this list. :smokin:

[Morthoron]

Wormtongue was a fifth-columnist. Gandalf sided against him.

Hmmm...the term fifth columnist is appropriate, I guess, as Saruman was rather fascist (he did share the love of overblown oratory with Mussolini and Hitler).

But it would only be conjecture to say that Gandalf's pipeweed had any hallucinogenic qualities.

But didin't Saruman tell Gandalf something to the effect that the Hobbit's weed had addled his wits? I think perhaps the Hobbits were closet hippies (the suburban kids with the long hair and Che Guevara posters driving about in their parent's Porsches), as in addition to pipeweed they were fond of 'shrooms.

But would Gandalf have spilled the wine or taken the pearl?

Not sure about that, but in the same song Burdon refers to the 'Hall of the Mountain King'. Very suspect if you ask me.

Only in the gray days. When he went to Gandalf the White, he was quite well cleaned up.

Well, hippies also bundled up their ideals, subversiveness and patchouli oil in well-worn steamer trunks and became well-heeled stock brokers and manufacturing reps. *shrugs*

No argument there!

Ummm...what were we talking about again?

Hiking has more character than bumming rides. As does riding Shadowfax (the Rolls Royce of horses).

John Lennon had a Rolls Royce.

Gandalf used those pinecones as weapons. Perhaps molotov cocktails would be a better comparison?

It was more an analogy to fighting evil, but your comparison is applicable, particularly at the '68 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

But Gandalf ended the War of the Ring by fighting in it and winning.

Make love, not war. But the counterculture protests of the '60's did do a lot for civil rights, the anti-war movement and women's lib. They were also cool places to meet chicks.;)

I would venture that his disturbing and troublemaking had a slightly more noble purpose than, say, Woodstock.

Woodstock had its elements of nobility. One just had to look under the mud.

Seek and ye shall find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7_VoGPPNXo
I'm not sure if this actually qualifies as hippie music, though. Hippies did make some decent music. I'm really not fond of this group.

Wow, that was dreadful! And no, that would not be what anyone was listening to during the Summer of Love (or anyone should listen to presently). That doesn't rank up there with The Beatles, The Doors or even The Mothers of Invention.

Sorry for the digression. Back to tallying the votes!

[Lalwendë]

But didin't Saruman tell Gandalf something to the effect that the Hobbit's weed had addled his wits? I think perhaps the Hobbits were closet hippies (the suburban kids with the long hair and Che Guevara posters driving about in their parent's Porsches), as in addition to pipeweed they were fond of 'shrooms.

Well, seeing as the nicotine found in tobacco is a well known stimulant and would do anything but 'addle your wits', your guess is as good as mine as to what exactly pipe-weed might have been, but it might have been something quite interesting.... :smokin:

Hobbits...they are like Swampy and his mates - living in holes and going bonkers for shrooms and pipeweed....;)

[Aganzir]

++Túrin

Right now I feel more like liking Túrin than Sam.

[Nogrod]

Gah! I already voted for Túrin so I have no way to retract it now even if I should for principle's sake do that... :mad: :D

[Aganzir]

But Andsigil voted Sam. :p

Besides aren't you just happy that hopefully at least one Sil hero will now make it to the finals? ;)

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Besides aren't you just happy that hopefully at least one Sil hero will now make it to the finals? ;)

If I were to choose a Sil hero I'd like to see in the finals, it would be Finrod or Earendil. Maybe even Cirdan. But I find Turin marginally less annoying than Sam (and the coin flip went his way, anyhow). ;)

Hmm, perhaps this could've been split into two contests, one for the Third Age and one for the First (maybe even one for the Second). There wouldn't've been the issue of divided loyalties, then (nor some of the amusing banter, alas :)).

[skip spence]

A rather lacklustre performance by Samwise, but take nothing against Túrin who came out firing on all cylinders when it mattered the most and made the upset happen. 10-6 it finished. The semifinals will begin tomorrow if I got more time on my hands than I did today. Maybe then Gandalf's hippie credentials and the contents of his pipe will be cleared up once and for all?

[mormegil]

You are all monsters! You eliminated the best character ever.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

You are all monsters! You eliminated the best character ever.

I've been called worse. And by my own mother. :D

[the phantom]

Beleg-Boromir-Gandalf-Turin

The final four are all awesome. A Boromir-Gandalf clash would be great, as we could argue who had the better approach to the Ring. But a Beleg-Turin deathmatch would be great as well- friends forced to do battle.

Or perhaps a cross-age championship? Silmarillion versus LotR? Fun, fun, fun.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Beleg-Boromir is intriguing, but Gandalf has
to be a humongous favorite and with Gollum and
Frodo gone it's doubtful the final is really competitive.

As they say in sports (like the ncaa basketball
tournament) it's all a matter of matchups.

[Strongbow]

As they say in sports (like the ncaa basketball
tournament) it's all a matter of matchups.

Beleg is Middle Earth's Davidson! And Boromir is Xavier! :D

[Groin Redbeard]

Bad analogy there Groin. Everyone knows that reading Lord of the Rings leads straight to any number of addictions (particularly pipeweed), and even worse, bouts of sanctimoniousness.:D
You said it yourself, Gandalf is the original Rolling Stoner, and he exhibits many primary traits of a hippie, as already pointed out by Lal, who perhaps fit in well with the Carnaby Street crowd at one point in time. ;) You infuriate me with your lack of seriousness in the matter, and making a mockery of the subject in the process!

[Morthoron]

You infuriate me with your lack of seriousness in the matter, and making a mockery of the subject in the process!

Groin, please read the header of this forum. It is 'Middle-earth Mirth'. Mirth, by definition, indicates amusement, humor and wit. Please be indignant on a forum where such priggishness is more acceptable.

Oh, and Lord of the Rings is a book of fiction, not a holy text of biblical proportions. Take a deep breath, and...smoke some pipeweed for relaxation's sake.

[skip spence]

Semi-finals:

Eight has become four and now we are entering the late stages of the Cup. Soon we will know is worthy of the crown and who will have to go home empty-handed without the spoils.

The Players (Odds are from Betberry):

Beleg
Odds to reach final: 5/1
Odds to win final: 25/1
Previous matches: Maggot 5-4, Frodo 8-7, Sauron 8-6

Boromir
Odds to reach final: 5/4
Odds to win: 25/8
Previous matches: Beren 9-4, Saruman 8-7, Maedhros 8-6

Gandalf
Odds to reach final: 6/5
Odds to win: 2/1
Previous matches: Bombadil 10-8, Elrond 14-1, Galadriel 7-6

Túrin
Odds to reach final: 6/1
Odds to win: 12/1
Previous matches: Gimli 8-8, Beorn 10-7, Samwise 10-6

[skip spence]

Semifinal 1:
Boromir enters this bout as the strong favourite against Beleg Strongbow, the real surprise-package of the tournament. Can the great archer cause an upset once again?

Boromir vs. Beleg

Deadline is set at 12.00 Am tomorrow board-time.

[Morthoron]

Semifinal 1:
Boromir enters this bout as the strong favourite against Beleg Strongbow, the real surprise-package of the tournament. Can the great archer cause an upset once again?

Boromir vs. Beleg

Deadline is set at 12.00 Am tomorrow board-time.

++Boromir, who exhibits all the characteristics of a flawed hero of a Greek tragedy.

[Groin Redbeard]

Groin, please read the header of this forum. It is 'Middle-earth Mirth'. Mirth, by definition, indicates amusement, humor and wit. Please be indignant on a forum where such priggishness is more acceptable.Call it the dwarf in me, but I dislike the way you raise serious subjects and than dismiss them in a shroud of annoying silliness like some elf.

Oh, and Lord of the Rings is a book of fiction, not a holy text of biblical proportions. Take a deep breath, and...smoke some pipeweed for relaxation's sake. A holy book it might not be, but it is certainly not a hippie book. As for the pipeweed smoking I'll leave that up to for you to do.


++Boromir

He may not be as loyal or ethical as Beleg was, but he was dutiful and took pride in his deeds. :)

[Strongbow]

++Beleg

[mormegil]

++Beleg

Boromir is so boorish and banal.

[Andsigil]

++Boromir

I think he was as ethical as anyone. His problem was that he was like the vast majority of us. It takes a Gandalf, a Galadriel, or a Faramir to resist the call of The Ring. Had the overwhelming majority of anyone in ME been in Boromir's shoes, they'd have taken it, as well.

I'm one who thoroughly believes that mercy to the wolf is cruelty to the sheep. But I'd still accept the Temporary Insanity defense from Boromir's lawyer if he were on trial.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

++ Beleg

[Morthoron]

Call it the dwarf in me, but I dislike the way you raise serious subjects and than dismiss them in a shroud of annoying silliness like some elf.

Nonsense! I haven't shown the slightest bit of seriousness in this whole thread! The nerve that I should be subject to such insinuation!

But as this is the holiday season, I shall ignore your prattle. In the immortal words of Foghorn Leghorn, "I come to bury the hatchet, but not in your pointed head."

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Hm. Both characters are not among my favorites, and I don't want to wear out the coin, so let's see if I can come up with another means of choosing.

Beleg: guy who sticks by a friend, gets mistaken for an orc by said friend and is killed; said friend repents only because he drinks Ulmo-blessed water and regains his grief-stricken insanity.

Boromir: guy who tries to stick it to a friend to grab the Ring, repents, and gets killed by orcs while defending relatively defenseless hobbits.

Tough call.

*flip*

++Beleg

[skip spence]

As much as I love the story of Túrin and Beleg I'm going with ++Boromir who is a more interesting character than his opponent.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

++Boromir

is the more interesting personality of those two. Besides, of all the remaining characters, he is probably the closest to poor old Saruman :)

Oh, and P.S.

Call it the dwarf in me, but I dislike the way you raise serious subjects and than dismiss them in a shroud of annoying silliness like some elf.


Groin, one more word about Elves from you and I am going to neg-rep you ;)

[Lalwendë]

Beleg is nice and everything, but Boromir is much more interesting, and maybe the fact that he isn't all that nice and has this bad streak is exactly what makes him that little bit more interesting?

++Boromir

[the phantom]

I like both of them.

But because I identify with him, I shall choose-

++ Boromir

[A Little Green]

Honestly, this is way too hard since I love them both, but I'm going to go for

++ Beleg

if not for anything else than making the game slightly more even. Besides, though Boromir is lovely, Beleg is maybe even more so. Boromir's death moves me but Beleg's almost makes me cry. Enough said...

[Aganzir]

++BOROMIR

Boromir is one of the characters who are not ultimately perfect. He didn't believe Gandalf and others right away when they claimed the Ring could not be used for anything good but questioned their judgement, which was actually quite a sensible thing to do - why should you believe something a random wizard says when you don't see any sense in it? A bit like Greenie and phantom in WW.

Boromir is sweet. He's proud. He's funny. He's human. He's grumpy. He's honest - he has the guts to admit he has been wrong, which is a quality too few possess.

The bad thing with having a certain most favouritest character ever is, I've talked about his superiority so much that I forget to mention about half the reasons why I like him as to me they are so self-evident nowadays.

[Nerwen]

++Boromir

for reasons already expressed by others before me.

Although I do like Beleg... and he's certainly had an amazing winning streak so far.

[Nerwen]

Nonsense! I haven't shown the slightest bit of seriousness in this whole thread!

Oh, but you should, Morth. You've been too dazzled by the bright lights to notice the seedy underbelly of the so-called Middle Earth Popularity Cup. If ever a cup could be said to possess an underbelly, this cup does. Don't you think it a little strange when a rank outsider like the so-called Beleg keeps beating the favourites? What do you know of the money that's changed hands... the bribery and intimidation... the organised crime syndicates behind bookmakers like the so-called Bêthberry? Not to mention the fact that it's run by notorious underworld kingpin skip "Shady" spence?

It's rotten, I tell you! Rotten to the core!:mad:

[Nogrod]

Darn it!

That's just what I feared! When the going gets tough the LotR-idols will prevail... :mad:

Well one must try and hope for some kind of a miracle; in Middle-Earth things have been accomplished in the last moments before as well!

++ Beleg

So a final between Gandalf and Boromir... That's just an anticlimax! Like this was some movie-fansite! ... Oh, sorry... it would have been Legolas and Frodo then... :D

Maybe I'll just have to forgive you your conventionality. :rolleyes:

[skip spence]

Alas, Beleg has finally run out of miracles and is eliminated by the score of 8 votes to 6.

It's rotten, I tell you! Rotten to the core!
Hey now, that's a half-truth at best.

Don't you think it a little strange when a rank outsider like the so-called Beleg keeps beating the favourites? The fact that Beleg is now out proves conclusively that you are wrong.
What do you know of the money that's changed hands... the bribery and intimidation... the organised crime syndicates behind bookmakers like the so-called Bêthberry? Not to mention the fact that it's run by notorious underworld kingpin skip "Shady" spence?
My unseemly wealth and affilation to organized crime has little or nothing to do with the results of the of the past month or the fair and generous odds provided by Betberry. Since your post contains libelous statements without any factual support, I advice you to delete it immidiately for everyone's best benefit (not least your own).

Semifinal 2:
Gandalf vs. Túrin

[Andsigil]

++Gandalf

I both like Gandalf and still dislike Turin.

I just don't understand all of the fascination with someone who poisons everything he touches, and then tries to rectify this by touching and poisoning more things. Oh, and feeling a lot of anguish about it.

[Nogrod]

I just don't understand all of the fascination with someone who poisons everything he touches, and then tries to rectify this by touching and poisoning more things. Oh, and feeling a lot of anguish about it.That's called tragedy, a honourable literatury genre indeed which quite a many people have actually found quite fascinating... And a tragic hero carrying the curse of the gods and trying to fight against his fate beats a never-erring hero who's the favourite of the gods anyday! :)

++ Túrin

[the phantom]

That's just what I feared! When the going gets tough the LotR-idols will prevail...
It hasn't been finalized yet, Nog. There's still hope for a Silmarillion versus LotR final. First Age versus Third Age. Boromir versus Turin.

Here's my vote for it.

++ Turin

First off, he really is a decent chap deep down. Look at his boyhood friendship with Sador. He had all the makings of a good, wise, and kindly man at that time. And he took a band of no-good ruffians and turned them into a force against Angband. And he showed compassion to Mim when he lost his son. With the life that he lived it is a wonder he still had goodness within him, yet we can see that he obviously did.

He tried so hard, but everything turned out terribly for him. And whenever he thought things were going well, that's when disaster always struck him. Of all the things Morgoth did, his curse upon Hurin and his family was one of the worst.

I say that we vote Turin the victory. Through our actions, the curse of Morgoth can be defeated! He thinks he can doom someone to forever be a loser? I think not. We Barrow-Downers can undo Morgoth's dark curse! Vote Turin!

edit: xpost, good going Nog!

[mormegil]

Boromir in the finals? What an awful taste this has left in my mouth. Boro should have been eliminated in the first round.

++Turin

[Strongbow]

++Túrin

Because now I have a vendetta against popular characters.

Alas Beleg.

[Groin Redbeard]

++Gandalf

Possibly the best out of all Tolkien's characters.

[Andsigil]

That's called tragedy, a honourable literatury genre indeed which quite a many people have actually found quite fascinating... And a tragic hero carrying the curse of the gods and trying to fight against his fate beats a never-erring hero who's the favourite of the gods anyday! :)

++ Túrin

Look, there is tragedy, and then there is melodramatic self-sabotage. Turin shows too much of the latter.

[Gollum the Great]

++Turin

[Lalwendë]

++Gandalf

He's iconic, whereas Turin is just another guy with a sword.

He has a great name with an Old Norse heritage, whereas Turin is named after some Italian city and you feel like a plonker just saying his wispy name out loud, but saying the rich, meaty word 'gandalf' makes you feel all robust and manly...even if you are not a man :D

He's an Odinic Wanderer and an enigma, whereas Turin likes to abandon people. And kill them.

He doesn't let you down, whereas Turin is like the Frank Spencer of Middle-earth.

He's a hippy, and he can blow really cool smoke-rings. :smokin:

[Gollum the Great]

Turin is just another guy with a sword.

That's bull. Turin is a dragon-slayer, a tragedy, and one of the most elite fighters in Middle-Earth. All rolled into one. And that's only for starters.


He has a great name with an Old Norse heritage, whereas Turin is named after some Italian city and you feel like a plonker just saying his wispy name out loud, but saying the rich, meaty word 'gandalf' makes you feel all robust and manly...even if you are not a man :D

What possible evidence have you that Tolkien based Turin's name off of that city? Even if he did- I haven't yet read all of the published Tolkien writings- what's wrong with it??? And about the origin of Gandalf's name, ever heard of castle Gandalfo? I imagine that the name "Gandalf" did come from old Norse, but what makes makes you think he wasn't just thinking of the castle in the first place?

He's an Odinic Wanderer and an enigma, whereas Turin likes to abandon people. And kill them.

Who has taught you these lies? Never in the CoH is it mentioned that Turin enjoys leaving behind his friends (or anyone else). He didn't want to forsake Finduilas or kill Beleg, destroy Nargothrond or let Gwindor down (except after Gwindor let his name out, but you can't blame him for that).

[Lalwendë]

That's bull. Turin is a dragon-slayer, a tragedy, and one of the most elite fighters in Middle-Earth. All rolled into one. And that's only for starters.

Come on, how many boys with swords are there in fiction? He's nothing special. ;)

[Tuor in Gondolin]

+ + Gandalf

Gandalf overcame great temptations, wheareas
Turin's arrogance, as much as the curse, caused
him to fail.

[Morthoron]

++Gandalf, my favorite hippie. Party on, Gandyman!

[Eönwë]

++Good ol' Gandy

I can't back down on him now.

[Nogrod]

Gandalf overcame great temptations, wheareas
Turin's arrogance, as much as the curse, caused him to fail.C'mon. Gandalf was the fondling of the gods - possibly even that of Eru - and when he failed he was granted a second go with it with added powers! Now that's pathetic! Like you save your videogame before you die and then cheat yourself new abilities before continuing the game! :rolleyes:

What would have happened if Túrin would have gotten a second chance after killing Glaurung? With added abilities (like redeeming him from the curse or someting)?

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

++Gandalf

Wouldn't even need to know who he's up against, and the answer would be the same. We never get over our childhood "crushes." :D

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

++Gandalf

He is very entertaining in The Hobbit

[Thinlómien]

++Gandalf

is one of my favouritest characters ever.

Nog, cool down. :p It's not such a Sil-LotR battle - if it was, I'd be voting Túrin, probably. The problem is just that we've picked the wrong Sil characters and the right LotR characters to the semifinals...

[Nerwen]

My unseemly wealth and affilation to organized crime has little or nothing to do with the results of the of the past month or the fair and generous odds provided by Betberry. Since your post contains libelous statements without any factual support, I advice you to delete it immidiately for everyone's best benefit (not least your own).

All right, all right, Shady, I take it all back! Please don't send me to the bottom of the Bay of Belfalas in cement shoes! :eek:

He's an Odinic Wanderer and an enigma, whereas Turin likes to abandon people. And kill them.

And eat them... no wait, that was Gandalf.

[Aganzir]

++Túrin

He isn't perfect. He doesn't know what to do and makes wrong choices at times. Compared to him, Gandalf is boring.

[Nerwen]

At times?

But yes, Túrin is cool... nevertheless I'm going to vote

++Gandalf

because I like him better.

[Aganzir]

At times?
He made also right choices at times. ;) He could have suffered much more.

[Lalwendë]

++Gandalf, my favorite hippie. Party on, Gandyman!

How much more entertaining it would have been if only Christina Aguilera had sung about the Gandyman instead :D

[Elmo]

++Turin Lovely city.

[skip spence]

++Túrin

He's a made man.

The score is currently 10-8 to Gandalf.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

That means, not much need to, but

++Gandalf

He is far, far, far more interesting and far, far, far nicer person than Túrin (however I started to like that one a bit more too after the CoH).

Although to be honest, I hoped for a more "interesting" (read: unusual) victor. But ah well.

[skip spence]

Gandalf has defeated Túrin Turambar. The old wizard was rattled for a while but showed his character in the end, coming back from a 2-5 deficit to win by 11 votes to 8. Túrin will have to change name once again to hide his shame.

The final between Gandalf and Boromir will commense tomorrow.

[Aganzir]

I could get Boromir's victory for birthday present from you all, couldn't I? :Merisu:

[skip spence]

Finally we've come to the climax of the tournament, the moment all have been waiting for with great excitement, the final of the Middle Earth Popularity Cup. Throughout the tournament we've seen many outsiders win fame and glory by beating the big stars. In the end however, as it should be, the final pairing is two players who were among the favourites before the start of the Cup, two of the real heavy-hitters of Middle Earth. Gandalf, perhaps Tolkien's most famous creation, faces Boromir, the good-hearted but flawed hero who evokes so much sympathy. He is no wizard's pupil, according to his father, but is he strong enough to compete with the Grey Pilgrim? Whatever the outcome, when Gandalf is come, the party is on.

The Final:

Gandalf vs. Boromir

As this is the final I'm extending the deadline until Sunday 12.00 PM board time.

[Strongbow]

++Gandalf

Because I'm not vindictive enough not to pick Mithrandir, who practically won the War of the Ring.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

No doubt here:

++Gandalf

Boromir is interesting, but not inspiring. And if resisting the pull of the Ring was difficult for a human who only imagined that he could use it, how much worse would it be for a Maia who could use it, and was worn from two thousand years of trying to make the peoples of Middle-earth understand the peril posed by It and Its Master?

[Tuor in Gondolin]

A bit of an unexpected party final (Boromir making
it over Saruman, Gollum, Frdo, etc.). Let's see,
Sean Bean or Gandalf...

++ Mithrandir

[Morthoron]

++Gandalf...

An inspiration to the post-Kerouac/Ginsberg/Keynes literatti who are not existential enough for Sartre or Camus, but deplore the Bellow/Cheever-style novel moderne (or would that be novelle novel?), and yet are counterculture enough to pass on NRA memberships and actively propogate industrial/military complex conspiracy theories, while maintaining a faith in humanity, but without religious trappings, and blow smoke rings of diverse and marvelous shapes, but unfortunately not on par with the masterpieces wafted into the sunny blue skies of Hobbiton in the days of yore.

Ummm...have I mentioned I drank too much coffee this morning?

[Aganzir]

++BOROMIR

What's the fun with an old wizard who knows everything and is always there at the right time to save everyone? I vote for the less perfect, who also happens to be awesome.

[Eönwë]

++Gandalf

He is, simply put, the best. He always was my favourite, after Tom Bombadil.

[Lalwendë]

G G G G Grandalf, as Arkwright might have attempted to say as he quickly pulled his fingers out of the way of the dodgy cash drawer on his till and went out to see if he could chat up Nurse Gladys Emanuel before she went off into the murky Doncaster morning in her Morris Minor.

Oh wait.

We aren't talking about 1970s British sit-coms are we?

Oh. Well then.

++Gandalf.

[Ilya]

++Gandalf

[Groin Redbeard]

Boromir is interesting, but not inspiring. And if resisting the pull of the Ring was difficult for a human who only imagined that he could use it, how much worse would it be for a Maia who could use it, and was worn from two thousand years of trying to make the peoples of Middle-earth understand the peril posed by It and Its Master?
Exactly, Gandalf is the best of Tolkien's characters!:) Whenever I think of Lord of the Rings the first figure that pops into my mind is Gandalf with his long grey beard and pointy hat. I like Boromir's character, but even with a flawless character like him there are those who are just better. Sorry Aganzir.

++Gandalf

[Nogrod]

*Yawns*

:rolleyes:

[Andsigil]

I'm going to fall on my sword here and side with Aganzir.

++Boromir

[the phantom]

So, you're going to vote off the most rational person in the books, huh?

Let's examine Gandalf's Ring plot.

Frodo barely even made it out of the Shire. He had quite a bit of luck helping him out. And luck again in the Old Forest. And again at Bree. And let's not even talk about when he was captured passing into Mordor. An entire fortress kills its own population?! I mean- honestly! The Cirith Ungol incident was ridiculous luck. And then again he and Sam get herded into a pack of Orcs, and they aren't recognized, and even escape?

And then of course when it came down to it Frodo failed. He couldn't throw the Ring into the fire. Hardly a surprise since Gandalf had witnessed first-hand at the beginning of the book that Frodo was not capable of risking harm to the Ring (the cooking fire, remember, Frodo couldn't throw it into his own cooking fire for Eru's sake!).

What I'm saying is, Gandalf chose a path that was guaranteed to fail! I find it silly that he is actually rewarded for his silly decision, and people think he was somehow more wise than Boromir because he chose the path of suicide.

Boromir's reaction was much smarter. Gandalf acted like it was a given that the Ring would corrupt the user. How did he know that? Where was the scientific proof? Yeah, sure, we know from the author telling us, but the characters in the story knew nothing about that. They didn't have access to Tolkien's writings. Given the knowledge that they did possess, it was rather wrong of them to state that the Ring would for sure corrupt the wielder, as if it was some sort of proven fact.

It wasn't.

From the perspective of the reader, Boromir's choice was wrong, because we can see everything. But please remember, the characters within the book were not omniscient. They had limited knowledge. And given what they did know, Gandalf's Ring decision was absolutely dumb, and Boromir's was sensible.

Try putting yourself within the story for once. Then you will see people for what they really are.

++ Boromir

PS I forgot my most important point. Aganzir wants a Boromir victory for her birthday. That ought to be enough for anyone.

[skip spence]

^What he said (that was awesome The Phantom!).

++Boromir

This ain't over folks! You don't want to ruin the lovely Aganzir's birthday, do you? Pm all your friends and ask for their support. If that ain't enough, sign in with alternate log-in names and vote Boro.

That last part is a joke by the way. Or is it? *shifty eyes*.

[Aganzir]

Finally some gentlemen!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

From the perspective of the reader, Boromir's choice was wrong, because we can see everything. But please remember, the characters within the book were not omniscient. They had limited knowledge. And given what they did know, Gandalf's Ring decision was absolutely dumb, and Boromir's was sensible.

Well, I always thought it is obvious that Boromir's choice was the one most of people would choose. Because it makes sense and has more chance of succeeding. That's the whole point of LotR, so you are not saying anything new (and I think it was not even the point anyway). But who made what choices plays no part in picking a character to vote for. I like Boromir, but not as much as Gandalf (and not because of how "right" their choices were). Simple as that.

++Gandalf

And I would second Nogrod. Well, we picked it ourselves.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

++Lynch Boromir88

....Oh, wait....

Darn. Guess I have to rephrase.

++Boromir

Purely because it's Agan's birthday coming up.

Lynch him! He's a wolf I tell you!

[Mithalwen]

LOL Shasta ... such is the power of the Downs that I tend to think of our Boro first... but book Boromir is one of Tolkien's more interesting and complex characters and one that is appealing for those of us who are also fallible mortals.

++Boromir

[mormegil]

++Gandalf

I didn't want to pull out the heavy ammo but you've forced my hand. I know from direct experience that Boromir has a bed-wetting problem. Popular kids never have that, ergo how can he be the most popular?

[Durelin]

Lol (I hope I may lol without being loled at)...thanks phantom.

Heck yeah,

++Boromir

I'm not that fond of Gandalf. Not fond of the old wizard type. Many of you will hate me for referencing Harry Potter, but I must say I was quite pleased when it was revealed (gradually) that Dumbledore was, overall, more of a jerk than most people saw. Excluding me, of course. (Unfortunately my Dumbledore-is-evil theory didn't play out, but ah well. Snape was good.)

Gandalf...not Dumbledore, I know. But really, there's a case for that. I mean, he didn't give Frodo any options. He goes missing whenever he's needed. And he expects everyone to listen to him. Also there's the respective candy and pipeweed addictions. Tsk tsk.

Boromir had the best reasons of anyone for his desire for the ring. And he's not only a hunky fighting machine but doubles as a snow plow and hobbit-carrier.

[Oddwen]

Tragic hero, tortured soul, redeemed rusher, power hungry, proud fallen, broad shouldered, disco king?

Yah. He tarries, and I grieve.

++BOROMIR

[Durelin]

Because I'm not vindictive enough not to pick Mithrandir, who practically won the War of the Ring.

He got lucky.

[Lalwendë]

Boromir is fascinating but Gandalf is truly iconic.

When non-Tolkienistas think of LotR they think of Gandalf. In fact when anyone thinks of a wizard now, they think of Gandalf. Not even the mighty Harry Potter can beat Gandalf in the public imagination. Gandalf has everything that a wizard ought to have: a staff, a cape, a pointy hat, an old man's face, yet great strength, wisdom, and most of all...magic.

Gandalf is the culmination of wizardry throughout history, a great coming together of Merlin, Odin and Cernunnos. And he's more than just some old hippy with a nifty line in making fireworks, for all our jokes, he's the Servant of the Secret Fire. :cool:

And the final point of coolness about Gandalf, the Wand-Elf, is that despite his sheer power and incredible status, he would laugh his cloak off if you called him an old hippy ;)

[Nerwen]

What she said.

++Gandalf

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

He goes missing whenever he's needed.
But that was one thing that was great about him. He was always having some "other business" to manage elsewhere, the best it is actually in The Hobbit. Oh, and now I remembered all the cool things he did there, like mimicking the trolls or (very D&D-ishly, but on the other hand very un-D&D-ishly at the very same time) casting lightning bolts at the Orcs or making himself invisible.

And he expects everyone to listen to him. Also there's the respective candy and pipeweed addictions.

Just a few more reasons why he is so great character :)

[Lalwendë]

Exactly. One of the reasons Gandalf (and the Hobbits for that matter) is such a great character is he's not some horrible anodyne, vanilla 'hero' dreamt up by a focus group to be perfect and conform to the agenda of the modern world. So he smokes and probably drinks, and he's sarcastic? So much the better!

:smokin:

Watch modern films and TV and it seems any smokers/drinkers are automatically evil because this is lazy writers' shorthand for 'bad guy', tut tut. :rolleyes: Gandalf isn't 'PC' and that's good!

[skip spence]

The score now is 11-8 to Gandalf. The deadline won't pass until 12.00 Pm so this contest is still on.

[Gollum the Great]

++Boromir

He's awesome.

[Durelin]

People took me seriously about the pipeweed addiction? When it was paired with a 'candy addiction'? Hmm.

...vanilla 'hero' dreamt up by a focus group to be perfect and conform to the agenda of the modern world. So he smokes and probably drinks, and he's sarcastic?

Yes, that certainly makes him sound interesting, but he's not to me. I also have no idea what a 'vanilla' hero is in the modern world. I actually think the modern obsession is with the sort of anti-hero. Unfortunately what that normally means is that they make a anti-hero just a piece of trash and expect people to like them because they're, uh, interesting. True, smoking and drinking is suddenly evil, but having no respect for any person or thing around you (or yourself) isn't. Thus we have reality shows.

But then, I don't even think of Gandalf as a 'hero'. Gandalf is more an entity than a character to me. He just manipulates and does. Maybe it's that he's...plot driven, himself like a plot device. Boromir's personality and motives are among the most interesting and well-defined, in my opinion, even though he only makes it through FotR. I guess any character whose purpose is to be there so all the other characters do what they need to just kinda annoys me.

And iconic Gandalf may be, but I'm not into the type of character/legendary figure he represents.

I think I would like him better if he had stayed dead. :p

[satansaloser2005]

++Boromir


For our lovely Agan's birthday. :D

[skip spence]

The Cup is over and Gandalf is the champion winning 11 votes to 10.

Boromir came within a whisker of overtaking the old wizard but that matters not anymore, he must now return to the White Tower with scorn and nothing to show for the trip.

The glory is all Gandalf's, but alas, in time for the price ceremony the old wizard could not be found. He was seen partying and drinking with his posse for some time, but then went missing, suddenly and mysteriously. Had other business to attend too, it is assumed.


This is the last known photo of the champion, taken by a fan shortly before his disappearance:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/skip_spence/Santa_Claus.jpg

Thanks to all of you for participating, It's been fun!

[Morthoron]

Hmmm...Gandalf has gained some weight in his retirement. I've heard that is only natural, seeing as the workload decreases and folks become more sedentary. I've heard he still hangs out with Elves though.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

People took me seriously about the pipeweed addiction? When it was paired with a 'candy addiction'?

By Peter Jackson, in (IMHO) a rather lame attempt to get rid of the pipe as a bad influence on kiddies, which obviously did not make it into his final script.

Although the "when last seen picture" above might explain something of it. :)