Always happy to see new members around.
Enjoy your death,Ceveneth!

It took me awhile to work up the nerve to make a new post; I wondered whether Marroc Underhill deserved to be woken from his 6 year slumber. In the end, I felt he'd slept long enough.

It's been awhile since I ventured onto the Downs. But, nostalgia struck me, and I couldn't resist checking out the site I was crazy about back in 2003. I couldn't even remember my username; I had to reactivate a few of my old email addresses and had to go on a great hunt, with only the knowledge that I posted in a thread about eagles back in 2003 as the only clue to finding my old identity. In the end, it all worked out, and Marroc is awake.

I know, I know: big opener for someone who only made 58 posts almost 7 years ago. But, it's very nice to see that this forum is still inhabited by incredibly intelligent users; that's one thing I always associated with the Downs, and, looking back, I feel embarrassed by my old posts, with their nonsense and poor grammar and such. I was 14 though.

On with my real introduction. My name is Eric.

Like many in my generation, I watched the movies before I read the books, but, like many, I quickly became enchanted by Tolkien's world and immersed myself in his stories. This was probably 2002. During the lonely summer of 2003, I stumbled upon the Barrow-Downs, and for months it was my favorite site. After exhausting the main site, I ventured into the forums. I was probably overwhelmed by the vast knowledge of the users, and the incredible discussions here were wowing and mind-boggling to say the least. But, I read, and read, and read. Every now and then I would post, enthusiastic about the community, but still lowly feeling - But I didn't care. It was great.

Over the next few months I lingered, but as I felt I had nothing to contribute to the community, I slowly drifted away. For the longest time, I had forgotten about the Downs (but most definitely not LotR). It was only the chance, stumbling mention (by me, strangely) that piqued my interest once again. As detailed above, driven by nostalgia and memories of this and other (long-dead) communities, I went on my little mission, and after some ghostly lingering, here I am.

I cannot tell you how great it is to see that the forum is still up and running - and hardly changed at all layout-wise. That's the most exciting part for me; if it weren't for the time-stamps, I could swear it was 2003 all over again. The icons are still awesome looking; that familiar green theme is great; even the randomized quotes at the top are still there! Even my dusty old posts are still lying about. This is great, to say the least.

From the oldest, dustiest bones lying around, to the newly interred, I thank you all for keeping this community alive after all these years. It may be hard for some people to understand, but these forums hold a lot of great memories for me.

Thank you.

Re-risen,
Marroc Underhill

Welcome back, Marroc!

As I recall, I wasn't all that active here myself during 2003, so I unfortunately don't remember you.
You're right though, in that as far as intelligent discussion and general fun are concerned, the old place is the same as ever.
Here's to your comeback!

Once a Downer, forever a Downer...
Hi Marroc! I think your previous period of activity must have been around the time I first came to the Downs as an occasional silent lurker (with no regular internet access at the time, it took me years to register), and although I can't remember whether or not I noticed you back then, it's always a pleasure to see one of the shades who haunted this place before me returning from the Halls of Mandos. So welcome back, and well met!

Thanks for the warm welcome!

This forum is most definitely a must-visit for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Tolkien's work, and is a veritable treasure trove of knowledge, with pages and pages of article-quality posts written by the obviously talented writers who have come, gone, or stayed over the last 10 years.

I'm definitely going to enjoy my second stay on the Downs!

Welcome again!
 

Welcome for a second time, Marroc!:D

Hello! I'm starofthedunedain, I found this place through Loslote's linky in her sig. I know her from CoE. ;)

What's up with the Newly Deceased title? :confused::eek:

Welcome, starofthedunedain!

'Newly Deceased' is just a nod to the theme of the forum: you're another decaying addition to our Barrow. ;)
Over time, those statuses will change to reflect your increasing post count.

*glomps* Starod! So glad you made your way over here! :D

Welcome!
 

Welcome to the Downs, starofthedunedain!:)

Hi!!
 

Hi Starod! I'm Emeraldstar on COE. Welcome to the Downs!!

I can never get beyond here it seems
 

I am still an old member, and I can never seem to get around to any of the other parts of the forum. I blame my school, Real life, and Millways.

>.> I'm back!

Hi, from Shadowfax
 

H,

I'm new on this forum so will just say hi.

I'm using the name Shadowfax as I had that name on different others forums in the past and this establishes some continuity.

Is there anybody here who remembers me from the White Council? Must be 10 years ago about. maybe we can re-hash some of our conversations from back then :mad:

I've grown a bit older since then, but not any wiser.

About myself, as you can gather from my signature, I'm involved with the Walking Tree publishers. This is a volunteer run publisher. We do it all in our free time and for free. You can visit our webiste here : http://www.walking-tree.org

Using this opportunity, I'd ike to divert your attention to our lastest book, Beowulf and The Dragon http://www.walking-tree.org/books/be...the_dragon.php illustarted by Anke Eissmann and printed as a high quality art book. We're very proud of having done this.

A bit more about myself. i've penned various hsort bits of fan lit over the yaers but haven't had much time recently. You can check out some of my work here: http://www.proaktiva.ch/shadowfax/tolkien/aglared/. Some of it is better than other bits, and I'd like one day to do some more ...

My favourite so far is my poem, Elven Passing http://www.proaktiva.ch/shadowfax/to...enPassing.html.

Okay, that's my introduction for a start. I'm sure 've missed a lot of important stuff and can add that later.

Welcome!
 

Welcome to the Downs, shadowfax!:) I've already replied to one of your posts.

:) Hello Shadowfax, how nice to meet you here on the Barrow-Downs!
You will probably not recognize me under my nick here, but we know each other from the late Eredain. ;)

Hi

I'm Jaci (said like jackie...) I'm not quite sure how I found this. (And it was only a few minutes ago! Ha!) Found it. On another forum a the book War of Thorns come up and I wanted to see what it was about and who wrote it, instead I found this. I love LotR (And need to finish the books) and now that I found this, would like to learn more!



PS On the other forum I'm know as Metal Fan.

Enjoy being dead and buried
 

Welcome, Blind Guardian! You're named after a very good band with which I should acquaint myself much more. ;)

PS. Also warm and belated (re)welcomes Ceveneth, Marroc, starofthedunedain, Annalaliath and shadowfax! :)

Yes, thank you. I do love Blind Guardian.

I'm sorry, I just have to say this...
ENJOY BEING DEAD! Muahahaha...

Sorry :p

Hello.

I'm newly registered here, though a Tolkien fan for years.

I have in my possesion the LoTR, Hobbit, Unfinished Tales, Silmarillion, full the HoME series and the the Atlas of Middle Earth of Fonstad.

Apart frim LoTR, I'm interested in modding, and here are some examples of my work

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=353006
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=323812



regards,

Welcome Beorn of Carrock! Hope you are going to feel at home here. Apart from that, looks like you're a creative spirit indeed. I can partly relate to that, I don't have personal experience with Total War or such, but in my youth (read: a few years back) I have commited several similar crimes (although on a far smaller scale).

Anyway, enjoy your stay!

thanks, mate.
Dunno how active shall I be here, but it seems the right place to discuss Tolkien properly ;)

Nice mods. I know what I'll be downloading next time I boot up in windows.

thanks, sir!

Hi everyone. My name is Ecthelion (after my favorite elf) and been a Tolkien fan for about six years. THis is my first Tolkien forum so I'm really excited.:)

But it is really nice to meet hardcore Tolkkien fans like myself for once.:D

Welcome to the Downs,ecthelion!Searching for hardcore Tolkien fans you said?For sure of that you will find here!

Greetings also to Beorn of Carrock!Very nice job,indeed!And from where Troa comes?;)

Anyway,both of you enjoy being dead!

Hello there! My screen name, Lastande Took, is a combination of my name in Quenya (hope that website was right :) ) and one of my favourite Hobbit family names. I read LotR for the first time a couple months ago, got through the trilogy and The Hobbit in a week, and have not seen the movies. Ummm...I'm a total horse nut, I'm also a Sherlock Holmes, Star Wars, and Isaac Asimov fan. My name on Fanfiction.net is Karm Starkiller, and I've written two Star Wars fanfics, one of which is still in progress, a Holmes/War of the Worlds crossover that I'm going very slowly on, and a Holmes/LotR crossover parody.

My favourite LotR characters are, in no particular order; Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Shadowfax and all other horses, Eowyn - she's totally awesome, all the other Hobbits, Faramir, and Gandalf - who has some very Sherlock Holmesian overtones, if you ask me.

Welcome to the Downs. You've come to the right place for intelligent Tolkien conversation.

Welcome!
 

Welcome to the Downs, Lastande Took! I must check out your fanfics.:cool:

Thanks! And please read my fics. I always like reviews. :)

hey
 

Just registered here today.

Welcome, morwen!

Welcome to the Downs, morwen! Enjoy your death. :)

Greetings Blind Guardian! I should check this more often, seeing as I have already seem you about on the Downs. Also a warm welcome to Beorn of Carrock, ecthelion, Lastande Took, and morwen edhelwen! I hope your deaths were not as painful as mine. :p

Hello hello hello! :)


My death was not painful at all, just secret, since my parents don't like me to get involved in fantasy. :) On a similar note, I recently joined the Council of Elrond site. I'm Lastande Took there as well.

Me too, I'm known as Metal Fan though. (ugh...) hello everyone! Hope you enjoy being dead as much as I do!!

I've seen you around - I'm Loslote there, too. :)

Hi Loslote and Lastande!- Morwen

Hello Everbody
 

Hello Everbody and nice to be part of this forum

Welcome.