The New Hobbit Hole

[Corin Stormhands]

I decided to re-read all the books, starting with The Silmarillion and moving forward

Well, I skipped The Hobbit and have re-read The Fellowship of the Ring, I'll read The Two Towers again this summer. I'll pay attention here, but The Silmarillion will have to wait, 'cause I'm not going up into the attic and search for it in 90 degree weather...

[ksen]

Can't let an hour go by without a post.

[g'nad]

I gotta admit, in the prologue of FOTR, I was impressed by the swords the Elves were armed with. Heavy cutting blade, with a substantial grip, not unlike a Katana, only with a heavier blade and no handguard to speak of. With the relatively short blade and long two-handed grip, these blades would be light, agile, and lethal like you would expect from Elvish weapons:

I knew I had seen variations of this blade design before. Below is a Cossack design, but made for one-handed use(from horseback)...it's a simpler design; the blade does not have swell in width toward the end, and lacks a blood groove.

I was looking for a good example of a heavy Tulwar or Falcion, which the Elvish swords strongly resemble. The only thing I could come up with was this primitive example:

This should in no way be construed to be an apology for my Elf-bashing...I just know a good blade/weapon when I see it...

Don't even get me started on their girly-armor...

[Overtaxed]

"No apology taken!"

[ksen]

Don't even get me started on their girly-armor...

Wasn't the armor of the elves in the First Age, made by the dwarves?

[Corin Stormhands]

Wasn't the armor of the elves in the First Age, made by the dwarves?

Gee Kevin, surely your not saying you have to be girly to appreciate girly things. Are you?

[g'nad]

Wasn't the armor of the elves in the First Age, made by the dwarves?

Yes, quite a bit of it was...One of the Elven Kings hired dwarves from the Blue Mountains to mount some or all of the Silmarils. The dwarves killed him when they were finished, as they were so enamored with their work...The Elf probably tried to short change 'em...NEVER trust an Elf...

Somebody want to fill in the names please?

[ksen]

Gee Kevin, surely your not saying you have to be girly to appreciate girly things. Are you?

Nope, I'm not. I don't think g'nad meant the "girly armor" comment in an appreciative way. So I just pointed out that it was probably the dwarves that made the armor for the elves.

Personally I believe the dwarves did it as a practical joke.

Elf: I'm here to pick up my armor.
Dwarf: Here you are. *snicker* Try it on to see if it fits.
Elf puts armor on. Dwarf suppresses laughter.
E: There, what do you think?
D: You look great! *snicker* When you take the field you will put your enemy to flight by the fierceness of your countenance. *chuckle*
E: Are you sure?
D: Oh, I'm sure. Your enemy will have not seen anything quite like it before. *snicker snicker*
E: Thank you good master Dwarf. Please make 10,000 more suits. I will send someone by in a few weeks to pick them up.
D: Certainly. *giggle*
Elf departs.
Dwarf is joined by his companions.
Group of dwarves: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Or something like that. ;^)

[ksen]

Somebody want to fill in the names please?

The elven king that hired dwarves to make armor and weapons for his people was Thingol. I don't know who may have wanted the Silmarils put on some armor because in my reading Morgoth still has them in an iron crown.

[g'nad]

The elven king that hired dwarves to make armor and weapons for his people was Thingol. I don't know who may have wanted the Silmarils put on some armor because in my reading Morgoth still has them in an iron crown.

You're right about Thingol. Thanks for jarring my memory... that thick dwarvish skull, yuh know?...

From The Encyclopedia of Arda:

Thingol's doom came upon him when Beren brought him a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown as the bride-price of his daughter Lúthien. He summoned Dwarves from the Blue Mountains to set the jewel in the necklace Nauglamír, and the Dwarves became so enamoured of their work that they slew Thingol in his own treasury.

So it was Thingol what tried to stiff the Dwarves...Bad Thingol...

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

You're right about Thingol. Thanks for jarring my memory

Well, darn, that's what I get for not paying attention. Was just going to post a long synopsis of the Silmaril and the Nauglamir, but g'nad beat me to it.

Thingol had to hire the Dwarves to make armor for the Sindar, but the Noldor, being the great smiths they were, always made their own.

[Corin Stormhands]

Aaargghhh! My eyes! My eyes!

Remind me not to even go over to the religious wars even when I'm pinged there...(I haven't posted there since last Friday and it's amazing how liberating that is!)

BTW, I'm sure my ancestors would never laugh at an elf (snort!)

[Overtaxed]

Hmmm....I haven't seen much of an Elf prescence here today. Did we scare them all off?

[ksen]

Remind me not to even go over to the religious wars even when I'm pinged there...

Be strong Corin! Do not turn to the dark side!

You're safe back in our comfy little hobbit hole. Here sit down in this easy chair. Warm your feet by the fire. I'll get you a pint and some of OT's wings.

There, isn't that better?

[Corin Stormhands]

mmmm...pints and wings....mmmm (slurp)....much better. Thanks.

[g'nad]

Personally I believe the dwarves did it as a practical joke.

My sentiments exactly...sneak...

[Overtaxed]

Do you think that armour makes them look fat?

[Corin Stormhands]

Do you think that armour makes them look fat?

You know there's no correct answer for that question. Let's just say they shouldn't try to fly Southwest.

[JenB]

How do you read that as trying to stiff the Dwarves? They're the ones who wanted the Silmarils as well as their pay!

Hullo, friends, checking in between works. Today I did something useful! I am happy about that. I'm still exhausted - is it the weekend yet? At least on Saturday I only have to work six hours.... drat, my sister wants the card. See you later!

[g'nad]

How do you read that as trying to stiff the Dwarves? They're the ones who wanted the Silmarils as well as their pay!

Can't be dwarf's fault...dwarves good!!!

I've acquired the secret transcript of the event in question that shows beyond a shadow of a doubt the Elven treachery...

Dwarves: "You Like?
Thingol: "Yes, very much. Here you go..."jingle jingle
Dwarves: "Hey! We say 1000 gold pieces, you gave us 600!"
Thingol: "Ahh, get lost! That's all I'm payin yuh..."
Dwarves: "Oh Yeah?"

SPLAT!!!

See...the dwarves were just keepin' Thingol honest...That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...