Taters to Taters - II - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 10-09-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boromir88

And come to think of it, from a message (although about one of the different people) the point was made, that most outsiders would probably find the characters and Tolkien's story as an "absurd story."

More like the fans were absurd for liking the story to begin with, and then horror of horrors, discussing it on the internet with like minded strangers!

Boromir88 · 10-10-2012, 05:59 PM

Tally

Menel - 1 (Absurd)

----

ROUND 2

Greenie...best of luck trying to judge this round. Woah quite a nice variety and many ways to go...

Cirdan
Maedhros
Thuringwethil
Yavanna
Eorl the Young
Gimli
Formenos
Ugluk
Isildur's Bane
Anduril
Blades of Westernesse

----

Galadriel55 · 10-10-2012, 07:55 PM

Honestly, I think that Isildur's Bane and Anduril are the finalists. Eorl and Ugluk are funny, but they don't match the first two. And between them, Isildur's Bane wins. Anduril can sure be helpful, but have you thought about all the times when the Ring has come in handy (though sometimes only for a short time)?

Isildur's near-escape. Gollum's hunting. Bilbo's escape from Gollum. Bilbo's escape from the Spiders. Being invisible to Smaug. Giving the Arkenstone to Bard. Seeing the Sackville-Bagginses come near and thankfully finding the Ring in your pocket. Making a dramatic disappearance, for Eru's sake.

And that's just some of the "handiness". I didn't mention Frodo and Sam at all, and they too had their times of finding the Ring "handy" when the moment arose.

the phantom · 10-10-2012, 08:03 PM

I'm sure these folks are useful in certain situations, but they don't have that special something-
Cirdan
Eorl
Gimli
Ugluk
Thuringwethil- Messengers are handy I suppose, but not the winner.
Formenos- I get the Feanor association, but I don't think I'd pick it.
Isildur's Bane- Very handy for disappearing, and for establishing evil empires.
Anduril- Was pretty darn useful, but not to the extent of the Ring I'd say.
Blades of Westernesse- Same as above.
Maedhros- Without a doubt my favorite. I'd choose it. The pun is just too delicious.

Galadriel55 · 10-10-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the phantom

Maedhros- Without a doubt my favorite. I'd choose it. The pun is just too delicious.

Ah! I get it now. I was like "why would you play Maedhros? What does he have to do with it?" But I get the pun. It's a good one. But I still think the Ring trumps him.

Oddwen · 10-10-2012, 08:28 PM

Cirdan - Handed the red ring over to Gandalf

Maedhros - Less handy than some on this list

Thuringwethil - A handy disguise

Yavanna - Certainly a green thumb

Eorl the Young - Quite handy

Gimli - Quite a contrary handfull, if Tom Shippey is to be believed.

Formenos - Certainly it was handy for Morgoth to have the Silmarils underguarded here

Ugluk - Servant of the White Hand: the Hand that gave him man-flesh to eat.

Isildur's Bane - Could slip off a finger unexpectedly, not so handy for that reason. Though fingers are usually attached to the hand...y. It is also a sign that doom is near at hand.

Anduril - Forged by hand, wielded by hand, broken on a hand, re-forged and re-wielded by a hand.

Blades of Westernesse - Their particular virtues made them quite handy in their assigned places.

I'd have a hard time choosing between Maedhros and Ugluk, personally.

Rune Son of Bjarne · 10-11-2012, 10:20 AM

I am not a big fan of puns, so I would probably go for "Blades of Westernesse" or "Thuringwethil".

The first is very obviously handy, in fact I think everything could be made better with a blade of westernesse, and Thuringwethil is both handy as a messenger and later as a disguise.

Eorl the Young and Anduril could be outsiders for me, but they seem to have very specific application. Anduril was handy for Aragorn, but I doubt that anybody else could have used the sword to the same effect.
These things doesn't really matter, but it weird thinking like this that would determine my decision.

A Little Green · 10-11-2012, 10:54 AM

Excellent choices, buddies. Hmm. I appreciate both Thuringwethil and Maedhros, and Isildur's Bane certainly. My initial favourite though was Eorl the Young, because for all his leadership and heroism and the rest of that, the poor bloke is still pretty much only handy - an instrument for someone or something else. That puts him in the same category with Anduril and the Blades of Westernesse and all of those, except that poor Eorl was actually a person. Makes me sad, kind of.

That said, I haven't made my mind up yet so keep argumenting!

Nogrod · 10-11-2012, 11:10 AM

I can see the point behind offering a person as someone who is handy to have around to do something for you, but then again persons are a lot more than that besides their handiness. And by gods, calling Yavanna "handy" nears blasphemy!

Of the rest I'd say Formenos doesn't hit well enough. Yeah, you could say any stronghold you build is handy for you, but in the end Formenos didn't serve Fëanor & co that well.

Isildur's Bane I have hard times calling "handy". It's something akin to calling Yavanna handy. You don't call the vessel of the doom of the whole world "handy"...

One could argue that Anduril came in handy to Aragorn as a mark to prove his lineage - although having a possession of someone else's sword is not actually "The Proof" of anything. It did take part in some great deeds, but also at defeat (it broke the moment you needed it) - and Aragorn didn't seem to have made any outstanding heroics with it's help either.

The Blades of Westernesse could be handy as well, especially as it is in plural, like "these handy things one should have especially if you happen to stumble upon any wights or wraiths like the Nazgûl"...

Hmm... hard to say.

Let me leave with a kind of "take back what I said" -option. Thuringwethil. If anyone, then Sauron is able to regard others as things or utensils - and thus coming handy to him.

A Little Green · 10-11-2012, 01:00 PM

Bwah. Gave Thuringwethil some serious consideration but decided to go with my first hunch after all. So -

++ Eorl the Young

Poor devil.

Boromir88 · 10-11-2012, 02:57 PM

And a nice little streak that Menel has going...

2 for 2.

I could not have predicted Eorl, I thought for sure it would be one of the blades or Maedhros. But Eorl certainly was used (and handy) by many.

10-10-2012, 05:59 PM	#2
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	Tally Menel - 1 (Absurd) ---- ROUND 2 Greenie...best of luck trying to judge this round. Woah quite a nice variety and many ways to go... Cirdan Maedhros Thuringwethil Yavanna Eorl the Young Gimli Formenos Ugluk Isildur's Bane Anduril Blades of Westernesse ---- __________________ Fenris Penguin

10-10-2012, 07:55 PM	#3
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,515	Honestly, I think that Isildur's Bane and Anduril are the finalists. Eorl and Ugluk are funny, but they don't match the first two. And between them, Isildur's Bane wins. Anduril can sure be helpful, but have you thought about all the times when the Ring has come in handy (though sometimes only for a short time)? Isildur's near-escape. Gollum's hunting. Bilbo's escape from Gollum. Bilbo's escape from the Spiders. Being invisible to Smaug. Giving the Arkenstone to Bard. Seeing the Sackville-Bagginses come near and thankfully finding the Ring in your pocket. Making a dramatic disappearance, for Eru's sake. And that's just some of the "handiness". I didn't mention Frodo and Sam at all, and they too had their times of finding the Ring "handy" when the moment arose. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

10-10-2012, 08:03 PM	#4
the phantom Beloved Shadow Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Stadium Posts: 5,971	I'm sure these folks are useful in certain situations, but they don't have that special something- Cirdan Eorl Gimli Ugluk Thuringwethil- Messengers are handy I suppose, but not the winner. Formenos- I get the Feanor association, but I don't think I'd pick it. Isildur's Bane- Very handy for disappearing, and for establishing evil empires. Anduril- Was pretty darn useful, but not to the extent of the Ring I'd say. Blades of Westernesse- Same as above. Maedhros- Without a doubt my favorite. I'd choose it. The pun is just too delicious. __________________ the phantom has posted. This thread is now important.

10-10-2012, 08:28 PM	#6
Oddwen Drummer in the Deep Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Next Sunday A.D. Posts: 2,145	Cirdan - Handed the red ring over to Gandalf Maedhros - Less handy than some on this list Thuringwethil - A handy disguise Yavanna - Certainly a green thumb Eorl the Young - Quite handy Gimli - Quite a contrary handfull, if Tom Shippey is to be believed. Formenos - Certainly it was handy for Morgoth to have the Silmarils underguarded here Ugluk - Servant of the White Hand: the Hand that gave him man-flesh to eat. Isildur's Bane - Could slip off a finger unexpectedly, not so handy for that reason. Though fingers are usually attached to the hand...y. It is also a sign that doom is near at hand. Anduril - Forged by hand, wielded by hand, broken on a hand, re-forged and re-wielded by a hand. Blades of Westernesse - Their particular virtues made them quite handy in their assigned places. I'd have a hard time choosing between Maedhros and Ugluk, personally. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before I listen for returning feet and voices at the door

10-11-2012, 10:54 AM	#8
A Little Green Leaf-clad Lady Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,571	Excellent choices, buddies. Hmm. I appreciate both Thuringwethil and Maedhros, and Isildur's Bane certainly. My initial favourite though was Eorl the Young, because for all his leadership and heroism and the rest of that, the poor bloke is still pretty much only handy - an instrument for someone or something else. That puts him in the same category with Anduril and the Blades of Westernesse and all of those, except that poor Eorl was actually a person. Makes me sad, kind of. That said, I haven't made my mind up yet so keep argumenting! __________________ "But some stories, small, simple ones about setting out on adventures or people doing wonders, tales of miracles and monsters, have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in which they were created."

10-11-2012, 11:10 AM	#9
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	I can see the point behind offering a person as someone who is handy to have around to do something for you, but then again persons are a lot more than that besides their handiness. And by gods, calling Yavanna "handy" nears blasphemy! Of the rest I'd say Formenos doesn't hit well enough. Yeah, you could say any stronghold you build is handy for you, but in the end Formenos didn't serve Fëanor & co that well. Isildur's Bane I have hard times calling "handy". It's something akin to calling Yavanna handy. You don't call the vessel of the doom of the whole world "handy"... One could argue that Anduril came in handy to Aragorn as a mark to prove his lineage - although having a possession of someone else's sword is not actually "The Proof" of anything. It did take part in some great deeds, but also at defeat (it broke the moment you needed it) - and Aragorn didn't seem to have made any outstanding heroics with it's help either. The Blades of Westernesse could be handy as well, especially as it is in plural, like "these handy things one should have especially if you happen to stumble upon any wights or wraiths like the Nazgûl"... Hmm... hard to say. Let me leave with a kind of "take back what I said" -option. Thuringwethil. If anyone, then Sauron is able to regard others as things or utensils - and thus coming handy to him. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet... Last edited by Nogrod; 10-11-2012 at 11:13 AM.

10-11-2012, 01:00 PM	#10
A Little Green Leaf-clad Lady Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,571	Bwah. Gave Thuringwethil some serious consideration but decided to go with my first hunch after all. So - ++ Eorl the Young Poor devil. __________________ "But some stories, small, simple ones about setting out on adventures or people doing wonders, tales of miracles and monsters, have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in which they were created."

10-11-2012, 02:57 PM	#11
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	And a nice little streak that Menel has going... 2 for 2. I could not have predicted Eorl, I thought for sure it would be one of the blades or Maedhros. But Eorl certainly was used (and handy) by many. __________________ Fenris Penguin