A Downer Fellowship

[Child of the 7th Age]

Fordim,

"Boromir?" Ack! Now you've gone and done it. What a dreadful fate!

Are the persons honored allowed to register formal complaints? Child as Boromir ....."thanks to her formidable presence on the thread, and the fact that I'm not entirely sure about her motives......" (By the way, what do you mean when you refer to "the thread"? And I won't even ask about my motives...)

Many people are intrigued by Boromir and the theme of repentance, especially as depicted in the movies, but I am not among among their number. If truth be told, I have been one of Faramir's "fangirls" for endless years and could sense very early that a tiny piece of the author lay at the heart of that character. Tolkien tells us Faramir "had a 'bossy' brother." I can be accused of a lengthy list of shortcomings, but being bossy isn't one of them.

However, please do not change your designation. I will save the post in my scrapbook of cherished memories.

I wonder if there are any others who will quail when they see their name in this spot?

**************************

Now, on to the real purpose of this thread. Here is my take on the characters. You haven't said that we can't include ourselves in this list, so I am going to do that. And I just can't narrow my choices to one: the talent here is too rich, so I am going to "cheat".

Gandalf - BW certainly would be excellent in this spot, but I will make another suggestion: that of Fordim . He puts forward good ideas (usually ). He waves his staff and folk appear, helping him to achieve his goal by offering interesting ideas on the threads he's started.

Merry - Heren Istarion is one of the most helpful and fun people on the Downs and often comes up with insights out of nowhere that show, underneath that friendly exterior, quiet thoughts run deep.

Pippin - Bird is long retired from the site but her older posts still make me laugh more than any others. For a current poster, and for similar reasons although with a different style of humor, I would pick Lush .

Samwise - Me -- Child I am definitely a Hobbit. I was born a Harfoot and, despite many changes in my life, I am still a Harfoot. I admire the Frodos of the world with all my heart, but can never be one myself. I am stubbornly loyal to those I care for, to the point where I will toss everything out the window to fulfill my obligations to them.

Legolas - I am in a terrible quandry here because I have a three-way tie: Littlemanpoet , Davem , or Bethberry . The quality of their creative endeavor is such that I am sure they must be Elves.

Gimli - Regin Hardhammer All you have to do is look at his avatar.

Aragorn - Another tie: Esty and Pio . I am in awe how both of them handle their forums with grace and finesse, keeping things rolling while respecting the independence of those who come within their demesne. If I had to choose a ruler/leader, I would pick one of them.

Finally, Boromir - I hereby decline this honor for myself and reserve the spot for the Inktomi Slurp spider. I never know what he is up to and he seems to be everywhere at once.

*****************************

You assume Frodo is a given, but I would select Lyta Underhill , Mark 12_30 , or Nurumaiel . Underneath their polite exteriors, I am convinced there are reflections aplenty: both sweet and sad intermingled, and a longing for something that lies beyond the shores of Middle-earth.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fordim, you amaze me. It seems like all of my favorite 'new' threads are your doings. My fellowship would have to be...

Gandalf: Keeper of Dol Goldur (don't let him know I said this ). He is extremely intelligent, is also 'street smart' and can work his way out of interesting situations, and his advice is constantly invaluable to me.

Aragorn: Mithalwen, I suppose. PM discussions with her are highly educational, not to mention amusing, and she tends to convey a slight aura of hidden power.

Legolas: Esty. Don't ask why, because I'm not entirely sure. She just seems right for the part.

Gimli: Burrahobbit! Burra's got a bit of a Dwarf-like habit of speaking bluntly, but his intelligence and steadfastness would be quite good to have along.

Boromir: The hardest of all the choices, and reserved for last. I tend to gloss over the fact that he tried to get the Ring in my mind, and see only his good qualities (loyalty, friendship, strength, intelligence, etc) and so I'm thinking that maybe Elennar Starfire should get this role.

Sam: I'll agree with Fordim on this one... Saucie's got Sam.

Merry: Amanaduial the Archer: she's always on top of things, and quick to let you know that you're on the right track (or to give suggestions on what the right track actually is).

Pippen: Morsul the Dark [chocolate chip]. Or Eomer of the Rohirrim. Both widely known for their senses of humor. Eomer also because of the accent.

Wow... that was tough.

Fea

[mark12_30]

Boromir Earnest, driven, valiant, always one of the first into the fray; strong with strong opinions, occasionally retracted; -- davem.

Gandalf: Hidden and too-easily-overlooked reserves of power, wisdom, and insight? Mister Underhill.

Aragorn: Quiet, authoritative, knowledgeable, and steady: Mithadan.

Legolas: Soft tread, sure aim, far sight, gentle humor, skilled storytelling. littlemanpoet.

Gimli: Dependable, hardworking, stout, reliable, and not one to back down from a quarrel: Imladris.

Merry: If he can organize a quest as well as he can organize his thoughts, we're all set. Fordim

Pippin: Energetic, affable, courageous, surprisingly resourceful, and unquenchably cheerful-- Heren-Istarion.

Sam: Sharon. She said it best.

Frodo: I'll agree with Sharon on this, too.

[Bêthberry]

A mirthful thread indeed, Mr. Hedgethistle. And at my back I now must hear the panting breaths of fangirls hurrying near?

But what is this? Something uncanonical! Women in the Fellowship? Who allows such cross dressing? Not I. I shall limit my selection to male members of the Downs and left the disstaff side be representd on another thread for the female characters, perhaps set up by a gentleman as gracious and mirthful as Heren Istarion.

Placing my finger aside my nose, my nominees are these:

Frodo: Son of Númenor, for his serious side, and also because I suspect he would not look askance at the chance to relieve Farmer Maggot of a few mushrooms.

Sam: davem, for his persistence and dedication and also for his knowledge of folklore, or perhaps Essex.

Merry: Heren Istarion, for his cheerful dedication to learning English as the Professor would want us to.

Pippin: Rimbaud, the boy who won't grow up (although I agree that Perky would be a good choice as well).

Legolas: Envinyatar, whose ears may be pointy or not but whose pen is as straight and true as an elven arrow and who is more far-sighted than many realise.

Gimli: SaucepanMan, for his fascination with the implements of metal works. And because sitting at the dock of the bay is one way to describe Gimli's sailing west.

Boromir: none other than Fordim Hedgethistle himself, for the temptation of the Canonicity thread.

Aragorn: Kransha, for his eye to military traditions

Gandalf the Grey: Mr. Underhill, whose courtesy and wit abounds and whose magic with the wands of programming has helped BW maintain the site

Gandalf the White: Squatter of Amon Rûdh, who has been know to post with a bite such as The White is allowed, and whose own programming skills helped complete the site's move to new and better programming.

(Well, okay, this last one is fudging things a bit, but that's what mirth is for, right?)

scampishly submitted,
hey dol merry dol

[Kransha]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Aragorn: Kransha, for his eye to military traditions

O fair Bethberry, I know not what to say! When I first saw the purpose of this thread, I though 'pity that this applies only to Fellowship members, for I shall never be picked.' I fancy I'm more like Erestor of Barliman Butterbur, with my semi-intelligent pretentiousness. Never had I dreamed of being equated with such a pivotal and crucial role. Many, many thanks *wonders what I would look like with a broken sword and a much greasier beard*.

For my ideal Fellowship...erm...

Gandalf: Guess who...yes, that's right: Fordim Hedgethistle Esq.. His reputations record-breaking prowess is proof enough. He has the intelligence and good-naturedness of Gandalf the Grey, perhaps not cranky or decrepit enough to be Gandalf the White, but the right amount of canonical righteousness.

Aragorn: Estelyn Telcontar. Trust me, folks, I have my reasons.

Legolas: Just like everyone else, I must, despite the gender barrier, choose Bethberry. She has a sage-like but sunny Elvishness running through her veins, as best as I can tell, and brings the reserved, peaceful humor of Legolas to many threads, though she has been known to go further into the realm of unadulterated mirth.

Boromir: I haven't the foggiest.

Gimli: Kurahuran (did I spell that right?). I mean, he IS a dwarf, is he not?

Frodo: Oddly enough, Son of Numenor always struck me as a very apt Frodo. I'm not sure why, but he just did. Sort of quiet, but resolute and knowledgeable in his own way, with a gentle authority too.

Sam: The Saucepan Man, for penultimate reasons. There is also a certain jollity in ol' Saucie (excuse my nicknaming ineptitude) that makes me feel that he is the perfect Samwise Gamgee. I am convinced that Tolkien had The Saucepan Man in mind when he created Sam, or was at least inspired by the foresighted knowledge of him.

Merry: Rimbaud. Yes, I'm switching the ideals here, but I've never formally met Mr. Rimbaud, though I've read his posts in awe. He seems to have the playful seriousness that Merry had, more serious than, perhaps, Pippin, but still vigorous and energetic in a refreshing way...sort of like vodka on a hot day...or pipe-weed...

Pippin: The Perky Ent. I mean, it's obvious to me. Perky's a bit of a prankster, comical to Pippin's extent, with the same youthful verve...Plus, I think I'm having deja vu about writing this reason, so it must be some trite contrivance of divine intervention...at least remotely involved...I suppose...

I wonder, though, perhaps this should be 'A Downer LotR. As said, I thought originally that I could never be thought to resemble a Fellowship member, but perhaps another member of the cast. What other characters could be replaced by Downers?

I mean, who better to replace Eomer than Eomer of the Rohirrim. It's as if there was no difference. And, I can think of a good many reasons why Morsul the Dark would be a better Dark Lord than Sauron. I, of course, would be lucky to get away with Grima Wormtongue.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ack Child, me goof -- I meant to say that you have a formidable presence in this forum (although your post to the thread has made me an honest man in my error).

And, au contraire, I did not 'neglect' Frodo. The initial post says that if you were Frodo, who would you replace with whom in the Fellowship. This also would seemingly preclude having yourself in there twice. . .

Bethberry, shame on you for raising the canonicity topic. Go to the back of the room and write out "I will be a good Downer" five hundred times.

Finally, Kransha, ah my oldest Downer friend, I did lament the fact that there was no place for you in the Fellowship. You are, not to put too fine a point upon it, too evil! However, in the interests of fairness, I shall amend the purpose of this thread somewhat. . .

Decide either whom from the Downs you would see in the Fellowship with you (if you were Frodo) or whom from the Downs you would have as your allies if you were Sauron. To begin:

The Witch-King of Angmar: Pio as she is a leader whom you do not want to cross!

The Balrog: The Wight himself, because sometimes he just scares the living bejeesus out of me ("Ai, Ai!").

Saruman: davem because I fear he may know more than is good for him.

Shelob: A very tricky one indeed, but I shall have to say Mithalwen for I have learned how dangerous it is to cross her.

The Watcher in the Water: Son of Numenor, as he's always lurking, alway ready to pounce, and always able to go right after the most important part of any discussion; also, no matter how many tentacles you cut off, there's always more (OK, I don't really know what that last part means. . .)

Assorted orcs: Well, Kransha, obviously.

Here's to some more silliness!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

‘Me, sir! Me be Aragorn and all! Hooray!’ Esty shouted, and then burst into tears.

Is it the name that gives a tiny hint to my particular partiality to Strider/Aragorn/Elessar?! I can’t see any particular similarity of personality, but I am very flattered, of course, to be compared to him! As a walker, I am a strider myself, so that I do have that in common with him.

Choosing a Fellowship is a difficult task, for this is such a wonderful group of people that I don’t know where to start leaving away all but nine! I decided to create:

The Fellowship of the Mods/Admins

Gandalf: The War against Sauron was his primary task, so it can only be The Barrow-Wight, whose creation this site is, in that role.

Aragorn: None other than Mister Underhill, who mentored and guided me, showing me the ropes when I started moderating, and still gives the technical help I need when I get lost in the wilderness of the internet.

Frodo: Adhering to the original rules of this thread, that is supposed to be me.

Sam: The one person who has been close to me for much of this journey, Bêthberry.

Merry: The organizer, humorous and intelligent, Mithadan.

Pippin: Giving us the entertaining aspect of the forum, in a double role, piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age.

Legolas: Well, Legolas is the obvious choice, of course, but I think perhaps it should be another double team, lindil and Aiwendil, since they are the ones who are responsible for the lore of the Legendarium in the ‘Translations from the Elvish’ forum.

Gimli: The metal (pots and pans), the skilled craftsmanship (Q&Q), the gentle humour – this has to be The Saucepan Man!

Boromir: All those who on occasion die heroic deaths, only to return in the next movie – Rimbaud, Thenamir, and Gilthalion.

One important addition, since there is one last admin who is by no means least in my estimation: Saruman the White: Sharkû, who knows so much and is always worth consulting on difficult matters! He combines the wisdom of an aged man with the skills and energy of an immortal being!

[Amanaduial the archer]

Merry: Amanaduial the Archer: she's always on top of things, and quick to let you know that you're on the right track (or to give suggestions on what the right track actually is).

Aww.

Hmm, if I was Frodo...

Sam - well, I'm caught: I think probably Bethberry would be my Sam. Quietly responsible, you can rest assured that even if she doesn't seem to say much, she is always there, and will listen to whatever you need to say; and that whatever she says will be well worth listening to. A steadying prescence and very good friend.

Gandalph - Well, who else could play- sorry, represent, the mithterious and wise white wizard? Who else but the Downs very own pet enigma, Mithadan. Not so often seen, maybe it sometimes seems that Mith has left you, as Gandalph left the fellowship (and the dwarves in The Hobbit), you find out later that actually, he was quite aware of what he was doing all the time, and it was for the best, working behind the scenes. But Mithadan is not all mystery: he is a pleasure to talk to, and is full of little surprises that will get revealed in conversation. Incredibly smart and, yes, powerful, as well as being amusing, Mithadan also knows when to draw a line and can be rather stern when need be. The perfect Gandalph.

Merry - Incredibly organised while seeming relaxed, Piosenniel fits the bill. Her posts on the Green Dragon have often made me smile or laugh, and she is as witty in self as she is in her characters. She is not invulnerable though, and does not seem a transcendant, distant prescence: Pio is very much human. And also, she has always reminded me of a hobbit, although why I'm not entirely sure.

Pippin - Aylwen Dreamsong, actually. Now, there are aspects of this, one of my favourite gamers, which would maybe fit Aragorn better (and here I dithered!), but Pippin it is. Maybe it is because her characters, whatever darkness you place them in, always seem to have that lighter, 'fairer' side: for examples, Haven in 'Escape from Nurn', or Ehan in 'Bloodstained Elanor' - but it is not a side that undermines them: it makes them more admirable. And the same goes for Aylwen, if that makes any sense - she is a pleasure to be around, has that lighter side, and, like Pio, makes me smile. But she has her struggles, and a serious side as well - a side that will stand up for what it wants and believes is right, just like Pippin (for example when he pledged himself to Gondor). And her posts are always worthwhile.

Now, I'm aware I haven't even done half the fellowship, but very soon the HTML limit is going to run out on me, and besides, I don't seem to have quite got the hang of punctuation this morning...