From my understanding, both Sauron and Balrog were somehow equals, serving under Melkor/Morgoth. But whilst Sauron spent the time after the defeat of the first dark lord, regaining his power, Balrog just hid in Moria undisturbed. For what reason you think this was? Was he actually hiding from something or just "resting" away from any disturbance?

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/robert_zigo_crocorax?cplk=NXZ5MGwwcmpuMDFu

I loved the detail that he seems to remember the balrogs, the fall of Doriath and rest of the tragedies of the first age in his reaction

"Incorrect. The battle where Greece defeated Persia was the battle of Plataea. Your answer, the Battle of Pelennor Fields, was when the host of Rohan defeated the armies of Mordor at the siege of Minas Tirith. Half credit."

Shot by https://www.instagram.com/ameliacarvellphotography

A few friends are coming over next month for a full LOTR extended edition marathon.

I’m hosting this time, so I’ve been sorting out food, drinks, extra chairs and when we actually need to start if we want to finish at a reasonable hour.

I also replaced my old TV recently to a 75" Hisense, so this will be the first proper movie marathon on the new setup.

For people who’ve done all 3 extended editions in one day, what do you usually prepare? Food, breaks, anything you wish you’d planned better?

Another one of my favorite creature/monster designs

A mix of books, movies, and memorabilia.

I saw a post a bit ago about the LotR deluxe illustrated box set being found at Ollie's, so I had been keeping my eye out. Today I hit the jackpot! They had the deluxe LotR for $50, the deluxe Hobbit for $20, and the Great Tales box set for $15. They had about 5 of each in stock. I hope that some other fans find the rest, instead of them being scooped up by resellers!

So I am huge gamer and last year got into RPG games like Baldur's Gate and Dark Souls. The fantasy world was genuinely breathtakingly beautiful. There is something in fantasy that can't be captured by any other genre. So I looked up to see if there were any fantasy movies or series other than Harry Potter. Watched the LOTR's first installment (although I have forgotten the plot completely as it has been a year since I watched it) and I LOVED IT. The movie completely captured the feeling of fantasy it was amazing and then after a little digging, I found out about the books. And made a decision to read the books and not movies to get a better understanding of this foreign yet beautiful world.

I had bought two books, atomic habits and how to think like a monk, because self improv books are really famous in our country, so I could show off and shit. But I genuinely hated reading even a single page of those books. But this time, it was different, as I felt that Tolkien series might attract me alot as I am a huge beginner fantasy lover. And till this moment i have not told any of my friends about this book because that would defeat the whole purpose of reading this book and fantasy ain't that cool or famous in here too. And I am seriously not lying, as opposed to Atomic Habit and How to...monk, I am loving every second of this book, and I realised maybe self improv wee never meant for me. I am only at the part where the second dwarf Dalin got into Baggin's house and yet I genuinely loving it. One of the best decisions I have probably made, thank you guys for recommending this book.

The nursery is coming along nicely. Hand painted by me as we wait for our precious. The bottom section will be bushes and meadow flowers when I have the energy.

Húrin and Huor are Carried to Gondolin by Alan Lee.

I have just watched TFOTR again, and this scene struck me in a different way for the first time.

Bilbo is the ONLY character in all the books and movies who simply discards the Ring and walks away.

Many other characters hold it and give it to someone else, but they always GIVE it to someone. That, in turn, means they know where The Ring resides and with whom.

I know Tom Bombadil, Sam, Faramir, Boromir, Gandalf, Gollum and more hold it and pass it to another person.

However, ONLY Bilbo drops it on the floor and WALKS AWAY, unaware of its fate. Yes, he knows Gandalf will be the next to hold it....but he walks away. Bombadil is essentially a god, and he walks away, but he gives it back to Frodo.

EVERYONE else is consumed by the Ring just by being near it. From the most powerful beings in the universe to the weakest. Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, Sauron, Saruman, Nazgûl, Aragorn, Frodo, Gollum, Sam, Isildur, etc.

Most refuse to hold it; everyone is lured by it, and the rest refuse to give it away.

Gollum, I think, is a close 2nd, as he has it for 500 years and never comes close to taking it to Sauron.

BUT BILBO....he has it for 60 years and never takes it to Sauron and is the ONLY person to simply discard it onto the ground.

Can anyone think of an act more powerful?

EVENTS

- They continue their pursuit to reach rivendell, after accidentally coming too north because they could not find a way through hills that were higher and steeper.

- After turning south-east, they faced a ridged steepy hill, with chipped edge at the top. Because of the climb, Frodo was obliged to dismount and struggle on foot.

- After reaching to a narrow saddle( which i dont know what is, in the mountain and hills terminology), Frodo threw himself down due to exhaustion, shivering and going icy cold.

- Merry and Sam, being concerned about frodo, asked Strider about anything he can help, regretfully denied. But advised to not despair.

- Creating a half-hidden fire in an old pine, they sat huddled together. Frodo gets some dreamy visions of Fell beasts and Ringwraiths.

PASSAGES

BEGINS, pg 204, Flight to the Ford

> In the morning he woke to find that the rain had stopped.

The clouds were still thick, but they were breaking, and pale

strips of blue appeared between them. The wind was shifting

again.

ENDS, pg 205, Flight to the Ford

> Frodo lay half in a dream, imagining

that endless dark wings were sweeping by above him, and

that on the wings rode pursuers that sought him in all the

hollows of the hills.

HIGHLIGHTS

> Night was cold up on the high ridge. They lit a small fire

down under the gnarled roots of an old pine, that hung over

a shallow pit: it looked as if stone had once been quarried

there.

This seems hints about the abode of Trolls, or those three which bilbo encountered. Perhaps one of them once sat here and it resulted in creating a soulless pit.

Or maybe it hints that another Troll was here, and the company escaped them by chance.

Art by: Robert Goldsmith

I created this using Blender nodes, without using AI.🙂

Not seen this shared yet and thought the community might enjoy it.

The Lord of the Rings books featured as a specialist subject on the long running BBC quiz show Mastermind this week. Surprised it's not a banned topic tbh (they don't allow the most frequently chosen specialist topics for obvious reasons).

Strange design aside... who is J.J Tolkien?