How far could you go? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elennar Starfire · 07-22-2004, 11:14 AM

Well, my fighting skills are practically non-existant, so I'd most likely be dead pretty quick. But if somehow I survived...

Shelob's lair- I'd be gone. I could handle the spiderwebs, but by the time Shelob actually showed up, I'd be close to a nervous breakdown already, from all the webs brushing my face and such. I'd probably die of fright at the sight of a giant spider. The little ones, I can deal with, though they creep me out and I usually have to get someone else to squish 'em, but a spider bigger than me...

Cracks of Doom- wouldn't be so bad, but of course I'd never get there, since I'd have to go through Shelob's lair. I don't mind hot rocky emptiness.

Moria- I don't mind caves, I once went into one without a flashlight, following another group with flashlights, and almost fell too far behind coming out. It wasn't a very big one, just a long tunnely thing. (old lava tube, actually) So Moria wouldn't be so bad, at least until the orcs showed up. The bridge of Khazad-dum would be very scary, as it's high up and not very wide.

Paths of the Dead- Like I said, I don't mind caves, but when the caves are haunted, it might be very different. I don't know how scary that would be for me.

Any battle- Which end of this thing do I hold on to again? HEEEELLLP M---

Fordim Hedgethistle · 07-22-2004, 11:45 AM

I'd get to the road outside Rivendell then look back and see what I was leaving behind then think ahead to what was coming, then run like heck back into the Elvish realm and hide under Bilbo's bed until it was all over.

Lalwendë · 07-22-2004, 12:27 PM

I'd have gone into Moria, because I find caves quite interesting, but as soon as I got to the bridge of Khazad-dum that would have been it. I can picture myself backing away from it going "No. No way. I'll just go back the way we came and I'll see you fellas later". Gandalf would have to threaten to put his staff where the sun doesn't shine and that might force me across. If I got that far, then I'd be the same at the stairs of Cirith Ungol.

If I didn't know about Shelob in advance, then her cave wouldn't bother me. I like spiders, but if I saw one that size coming for me I'd run like bejeesus. And as for the Paths of the Dead, I'd be the first one volunteering.

Mithalwen · 07-22-2004, 12:36 PM

I have travelled alone around a fair chunk of the globe, admittedly relatively safe parts and there is no way I would have got further than Bree without major league motivation..I don't think I would have volunteered like Frodo but if you are in a situation you can't avoid you just have to get on with it or die.....and sometimes you surprise yourself

I mean I had a brief teaching career in a "sink" school with a lot of very troubled and difficult kids (until shortly before 50% would have been in special schools because of the level of learning, behavioural and emoptional problems) and basically I couldn't control them at all - absolutely bouncing off the walls. The one day I had them utterly in hand was when there was a bomb scare and I knew and they didn't and in order to protect their safety I had to keep them in control and ignorant of the truth... because if they panicked...it could have been life and death....and somehow despite the fact they could see a stream of police, fire, ambulance and army vehicles entering the school grounds I kept them contained until we could be evacuated safely....

So unless bound by oath, or duty, or the need to protect someone I loved or my own skin... I wouldn't go at all "A coward's soul is mine!"

Lady Snickerdoodle · 07-22-2004, 03:29 PM

Wow, Mithalwen, that's a really inspiring story... And not at all reflecting someone cowardly.

Morsul the Dark · 07-23-2004, 09:39 AM

well I'm the person who carries on especially if bad things happen I think I would end up losing the ring to the nazgul but I would keep walking to pretend I had it and then blame Merry and Pippin when Sauron takes over.

Mithalwen · 07-23-2004, 12:12 PM

Nah.... I know I will take easy ways out if possible but I do have a conscience....and while I can't describe how much grief these kids gave me other than to say I was still suffering stress related problems 2 years later...there is a basic human instinct to protect rather than abandon younger human beings even if said younger human beings are driving you to a breakdown...... more of a case of being trained to do the right thing rather than genuine courage or goodness... So mine's a seat in the hall of fire unless I am given a major guilt trip and would have to suffer Elrond's disapproving glances all the time ..... and I hate to say it but I think all that roughing it would turn me into a grouchy bunny...they would probably have fed me to the watcher in the water...

Mind you of all the perils they faced I think it is just as well the 2 attempts at cooking attempted in the wilderness were stamped out..... botulism due to eating 2 week old sausages would be a dismal end to the quest.. :P

Lady Snickerdoodle · 07-23-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Mind you of all the perils they faced I think it is just as well the 2 attempts at cooking attempted in the wilderness were stamped out..... botulism due to eating 2 week old sausages would be a dismal end to the quest.. :P

LOL omg! I never thought of that!!!

07-22-2004, 11:14 AM	#1
Elennar Starfire Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2003 Location: Nowhere...now here Posts: 952	Well, my fighting skills are practically non-existant, so I'd most likely be dead pretty quick. But if somehow I survived... Shelob's lair- I'd be gone. I could handle the spiderwebs, but by the time Shelob actually showed up, I'd be close to a nervous breakdown already, from all the webs brushing my face and such. I'd probably die of fright at the sight of a giant spider. The little ones, I can deal with, though they creep me out and I usually have to get someone else to squish 'em, but a spider bigger than me... Cracks of Doom- wouldn't be so bad, but of course I'd never get there, since I'd have to go through Shelob's lair. I don't mind hot rocky emptiness. Moria- I don't mind caves, I once went into one without a flashlight, following another group with flashlights, and almost fell too far behind coming out. It wasn't a very big one, just a long tunnely thing. (old lava tube, actually) So Moria wouldn't be so bad, at least until the orcs showed up. The bridge of Khazad-dum would be very scary, as it's high up and not very wide. Paths of the Dead- Like I said, I don't mind caves, but when the caves are haunted, it might be very different. I don't know how scary that would be for me. Any battle- Which end of this thing do I hold on to again? HEEEELLLP M--- __________________ Don't let me die!

07-22-2004, 12:36 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I have travelled alone around a fair chunk of the globe, admittedly relatively safe parts and there is no way I would have got further than Bree without major league motivation..I don't think I would have volunteered like Frodo but if you are in a situation you can't avoid you just have to get on with it or die.....and sometimes you surprise yourself I mean I had a brief teaching career in a "sink" school with a lot of very troubled and difficult kids (until shortly before 50% would have been in special schools because of the level of learning, behavioural and emoptional problems) and basically I couldn't control them at all - absolutely bouncing off the walls. The one day I had them utterly in hand was when there was a bomb scare and I knew and they didn't and in order to protect their safety I had to keep them in control and ignorant of the truth... because if they panicked...it could have been life and death....and somehow despite the fact they could see a stream of police, fire, ambulance and army vehicles entering the school grounds I kept them contained until we could be evacuated safely.... So unless bound by oath, or duty, or the need to protect someone I loved or my own skin... I wouldn't go at all "A coward's soul is mine!" __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

07-22-2004, 03:29 PM	#5
Lady Snickerdoodle Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: in the cookie jar Posts: 256	Wow, Mithalwen, that's a really inspiring story... And not at all reflecting someone cowardly. __________________ "Let me handle this, I'm British." ~hitchhikers guide

07-23-2004, 09:39 AM	#6
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	well I'm the person who carries on especially if bad things happen I think I would end up losing the ring to the nazgul but I would keep walking to pretend I had it and then blame Merry and Pippin when Sauron takes over. __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

07-23-2004, 12:12 PM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Nah.... I know I will take easy ways out if possible but I do have a conscience....and while I can't describe how much grief these kids gave me other than to say I was still suffering stress related problems 2 years later...there is a basic human instinct to protect rather than abandon younger human beings even if said younger human beings are driving you to a breakdown...... more of a case of being trained to do the right thing rather than genuine courage or goodness... So mine's a seat in the hall of fire unless I am given a major guilt trip and would have to suffer Elrond's disapproving glances all the time ..... and I hate to say it but I think all that roughing it would turn me into a grouchy bunny...they would probably have fed me to the watcher in the water... Mind you of all the perils they faced I think it is just as well the 2 attempts at cooking attempted in the wilderness were stamped out..... botulism due to eating 2 week old sausages would be a dismal end to the quest.. :P __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

07-22-2004, 11:45 AM	#2
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	I'd get to the road outside Rivendell then look back and see what I was leaving behind then think ahead to what was coming, then run like heck back into the Elvish realm and hide under Bilbo's bed until it was all over.

07-22-2004, 12:27 PM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I'd have gone into Moria, because I find caves quite interesting, but as soon as I got to the bridge of Khazad-dum that would have been it. I can picture myself backing away from it going "No. No way. I'll just go back the way we came and I'll see you fellas later". Gandalf would have to threaten to put his staff where the sun doesn't shine and that might force me across. If I got that far, then I'd be the same at the stairs of Cirith Ungol. If I didn't know about Shelob in advance, then her cave wouldn't bother me. I like spiders, but if I saw one that size coming for me I'd run like bejeesus. And as for the Paths of the Dead, I'd be the first one volunteering.