I would say that Melkor caused Mithril to form in the Misty Mountains because that is literally the only place where it is found naturally, meaning that the metal formed as a by-product of the creation of the mountains, unintentionally by Melkor, who likely took advantage of it. The Mithril is likely the good thing that came out of Melkor’s evil, just as Eru claimed would happen. Melkor would just simply unintentionally create some good things that he never himself imagined. Mithril would definitely fit under Eru’s claim.
Also, given that the Misty Mountains are connected to Forodwraith, it is possible that the Forodwraith mountains contained some Mithril as well. We may never know because no character has ever found out.
GorthangTheCruel, everything had its origins in the Ainulindale and Eru Illuvatar. Even Melkor and his discord. You are right, there is no question about that. I was simply pondering the origin of Mithril as a substance within Middle-earth when it first came into being rather than when the existence of it came into being.
I have a theory as to the origin of Mithril. I believe that it likely originated as a by-product of when Melkor raised up the Misty Mountains. Every Mithril object in the mod originates from Mithril mined from the Misty Mountains. Who knows, maybe the reason why Melkor was so powerful in the First Age was because of Mithril. Perhaps the Second Age and the Third Age are redemption stories of Mithril.
Thoughts? Counter-theories?
Um. There were only seven of them that existed in Middle-earth. Unless the one that was added is one of the two that are at the bottom of Forochel Bay.
Maybe this is the story of Gondorian Renegades.
My purpose in proposing this idea is to highlight how Hobbits are more than just good at hiding from the world. Some of their written poems are actually really good. The best one in my mind is “The Sea -bell,” a poem written by an unknown Hobbit observing Frodo in his last years in the Shire.
I actually have a theory that Farmer Cotton, Rosie’s father, is the author of “The Sea-Bell.” My reasoning is that before leaving to the Gray Havens, Frodo wears a sort of white gem and occasionally clutches it in a way reminiscent of the one ring. Farmer Cotton walks in on him during on of those moments. I do not believe that Tolkien is someone who who would put a seemingly random scene in just to have a scene. Obviously, the scene is an example of Frodo’s trauma of the one ring. However, Tolkien must have had a reason for having a seemingly minor character like Farmer Tom Cotton find him in this state rather than someone like Sam.
I believe that this is evidence that Tom Cotton is the unknown Hobbit poet who wrote the sea bell poem in the adventures of Tom Bombadil.
What I am about to suggest leans into the canonicity of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. Many of the poems in the book were known to Hobbits before the War of The Ring. My suggestion relies on one poem in particular: Bilbo Baggin’s Errentry. It is mentioned in canon that Bilbo wrote the poem shortly after he returned to the Shire from Erebor. It is also mentioned that the poem was a huge hit in entertainment in the Shire. I propose that a few new Shire speechblanks should be added to play off of this. Perhaps a hobbit could say this: “The only contribution that Mad Baggins ever did for Hobbiton was write that nonsensical poem, Errentry.”
Just a small nod to the Adventures of Tom Bombadil.
Also, perhaps there could be a speechblank in Buckland of a Hobbit maybe referencing the title of the “Bombadil Goes Boating,” poem. After all, while the many made up creatures in the whole book are noncanon, they are canon in that they were parts of the fantasy poetic literature of the Shire.
I actually meant only to post once. This second one could be deleted.
I just reported my own double post so that it will hopefully be deleted.
The Nature of Middle-earth has a section in it that details the entire journey the elves took from their awakening place to Aman. It states the distance between the Misty Mountains and the Orocarnari is equivalent to the distance between the Misty Mountains and the Blue Mountains. It also states the distance between Aman and the Orocarnari.
I believe that the Middle-earth map should be more like the map that Tolkien lays out in numbers in The Nature of Middle-earth. After all, Tolkien literally gives in that book, notes on the scale of the continent relative to the distances between the Orocarnari and the “Undying” Lands. While there is no physical map in that book, the book does paint a more accurate version of Middle-earth than the Mod.
I believe that the Middle-earth map should be more like the map that Tolkien lays out in numbers in The Nature of Middle-earth. After all, Tolkien literally gives in that book, notes on the scale of the continent relative to the distances between the Orocarnari and the “Undying” Lands. While there is no physical map in that book, the book does paint a more accurate version of Middle-earth than the Mod.
<pre style="white-space:pre-wrap; word-wrap:break-word;">
#author:Orgol
#title:Personal Journal of Orgol
#types:lindon,woodland_realm,lothlorien
Foreword By Lord Celeborn
Foreword
When Orgol first came to Doriath, he rose up the ranks at a quickened pace. At first was he easily looked up to, for he had attained the friendship of Daeron.
Orgol had but one flaw, such was his unusual brand of japes and jokes. We all knew he never meant them, for his tone was clear to us Elves. That was where the trouble started. For you see, Orgol never saw the need to make known that he never meant his insults, for as I said before and say again, his tone made it clear.
Alas, such was his undoing, for when King Thingol arranged for Turin, son of Hurin, to be fostered in his realm, it lead to the humiliation and the death of poor misunderstood Orgol.
Now I present to you the personal journal of the never serious prideful Orgol, written after Turin struck him with a goblet yet before his ill-fatal ambush the next day.
#New Page
Here now begins the entry:
Nothing I knew of him when first I saw him. Had I known of his lack thereof self-control before the royal dinner, never would I had made the comment. I knew there was a fey look floating always upon his gaze. The gaze of one touched by the shadow, and yet the man had the audacity to strike me. Me! The great jester of Menegroth! All for one comment on the Men of Hithlum! Hmm, what should I do to get back at him? What would give a man of Turin’s status such a fright so as to run and hide behind a tree.
Maybe perhaps an ambush? Yes, that would work nicely. Oh, Turin, you had best be watching behind your behind, for I will give you such a scare that would send you running like a deer!
#Any thoughts and comments? I am open to taking any suggestions and feedback as well as giving credit when due. How was my portrayal of Lord Celeborn and Orgol? What feedback do you have?
Edit:The reason I changed Saeros to Orgol is because I wanted to reflect Tolkien’s later writings in that he changed Saeros’s name to Orgol.
</pre><pre style="white-space:pre-wrap; word-wrap:break-word;">
#author:Unknown
#title:Lifeless Immortal
#types:rivendell,eregion,dunland,gundabad,angmar,isengard,
Here now begins my sad tale:
You can probably tell already that my tale was not a happy one. Far from it, to state the obvious. You can probably tell already that I was “supposed” to die. To die alone in dark. Alone amid the creeping things in the dark.
If you are still reading this, you are probably wondering who I am, where I am from, and most importantly, how I ended up where I am now. The truth of the matter is that I well and truly do not know. Sorry to disappoint you, my readers, but I really have forgotten, for I have lived and seen three ages of the world and more before then even. All those for whom I care of are now all gone from the circles of the world. Those who remain are forever and more beyond my grasp. No longer can I even play my music, for my voice died long ago though I did not. I kept on going, forever against my desire to die. Some would say I was blessed, but my own kind knows the truth, yet even they reject me. When I encroached upon them, they fled before me and my forever fey eyes.
#Any thoughts and comments? I plan on updating this later. I am open to taking any suggestions and feedback as well as giving credit when due.
#The narrator is supposed to be Maglor, the last son of Feanor. The end result will be a story by and about Maglor with a touch of existentialist philosophy in it.
</pre><pre style="white-space:pre-wrap; word-wrap:break-word;">
#author:Brandir of Brethil
#title:Personal Journal of Brandir of Brethil
#types:ruins,lindon
F.A. 467:
My fourth cousin, Hunthor, is born.
F.A. 469:
My cousin, Manthor, is born. An accident befell me. My leg is now lame.
F.A. 495:
Today was a day of grief and mourning as today was the day my father, Handir, was disgustingly slaughtered by Orcs. Why did they do it? I now stay awake at night pondering this question. No time had I to mourn, as his burden and duty was thrust upon me unwillingly.
#New Page
F.A. 495:
Today was a sad day. One ill event after another. Orcs raid my land, holding good folk captive. Alas when I had my men strike forth to free the Elves held captive, the Orcs killed their captives on sight. In memory of those senselessly slaughtered, I name the burial sight thus:Haudh-en-Elleth.
#New Page
F.A. 496:
Today, some of my men were saved from Orcs by a tall man bearing an unnatural black blade. When put to the question, he said his name was Wildman son of Wildman, though he did eventually reveal his name to be Turambar, the master of doom. From whenever I looked upon him, I knew something was off as a shadow shrouded him at times, but I tended to his wounds as I would any good and sane person.
#Thus, this is the end of the first part of the journal of Brandir. I will edit this more before it is done. I also plan to do journals for Mim as well as Niniel and maybe possibly Celegorm and Feanor.
#Any thoughts and comments? I am open to taking any suggestions and feedback as well as giving credit when due. How was my portrayal of the pacifist, Brandir of Brethil, and Turin Turambar? What feedback do you have?
</pre><pre style="white-space:pre-wrap; word-wrap:break-word;">
#author:Saeros
#title:Personal Journal of Saeros
#types:lindon,woodland_realm,lothlorien
Foreword By Lord Celeborn
Foreword
When Saeros first came to Doriath, he rose up the ranks at a quickened pace. At first was he easily looked up to, for he had attained the friendship of Daeron.
Saeros had but one flaw, such was his unusual brand of japes and jokes. We all knew he never meant them, for his tone was clear to us Elves. That was where the trouble started. For you see, Saeros never saw the need to make known that he never meant his insults, for as I said before and say again, his tone made it clear.
Alas, such was his undoing, for when King Thingol arranged for Turin, son of Hurin, to be fostered in his realm, it lead to the humiliation and the death of poor misunderstood Saeros.
Now I present to you the personal journal of the never serious Saeros, written after Turin struck him with a goblet yet before his ill-fatal ambush the next day.
#New Page
Here now begins the entry:
Nothing I knew of him when first I saw him. Had I known of his lack thereof self-control before the royal dinner, never would I had made the comment. I knew there was a fey look floating always upon his gaze. The gaze of one touched by the shadow, and yet the man had the audacity to strike me. Me! The great jester of Menegroth! All for one comment on the Men of Hithlum! Hmm, what should I do to get back at him? What would give a man of Turin’s status such a fright so as to run and hide behind a tree.
Maybe perhaps an ambush? Yes, that would work nicely. Oh, Turin, you had best be watching behind your behind, for I will give you such a scare that would send you running like a deer!
#Any thoughts and comments? I am open to taking any suggestions and feedback as well as giving credit when due. How was my portrayal of Lord Celeborn and Saeros? What feedback do you have?
</pre>Here is an interesting analysis of The Mewlips from the Adventures of Tom Bombadil that changed my perspective of the poem:
I think that Gorcrows should be removed from the mod. While the poems themselves found in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil are canon poems written by Middle Earth writers, the characters, creatures, and locations found within them are not real within Middle Earth. Their names are real as fictional ideas that the in-universe writers came up with, but they really are not real in Middle Earth. The red book is more like an ancient historical text. Middle Earth Orcs and Trolls are fictional to us, but real in Middle Earth and may have inspired things like the Mewlips. Not every thing mentioned in Middle Earth is real. Sometimes things are made up by their fictional writers. We see this in real life. Tolkien made his fictional universe truly believable with the Adventures of Tom Bombadil as the book gives us an insight into the literary culture and history of the Shire.
In the first two poems, it is clear that the hobbits of Buckland know folklore of Tom Bombadil dwelling in the Old Forest.
Were-worms also should not be added to the mod as they were only mentioned in the Hobbit, which really should not be taken seriously because of Bilbo’s unreliability as a narrator. He could have made them up along with the last desert as we all know what his poems are like (Errantry). The last desert should remain as it appeared in a Middle Earth map.
Also, the three trolls and the talking purse are likely Bilbo embellishing certain details for humor. After all, those are the only three trolls in Tolkien’s Legendarium that actually speak. Though we see two other talking trolls in the adventures of Tom Bombadil, but they, like the trolls in the hobbit, are also products of a Hobbit’s imagination.
To add this literary culture into the mod, I suggest that maybe some Hobbits could maybe quote lines from these poems or even make comments about them, maybe even review them.
Speaking of reviews, this would open up the possibility of lore-books being added to the mod where the author reviews and critiques these poems or analyzes them. I would certainly enjoy reading things like that. Maybe certain lore books could be retellings of some of these poems similar to how in real life people retell fairy tales in different ways.
This is a great idea since presumably not all elves made it peacefully to the west. Don’t forget that the Numenoreans controlled the seas in the late second age while corrupted by Sauron.
OldForest, I am not simply proposing for food to just simply replace coins. Obviously the current trading system with Dwarves would be a lot different to reflect how common food is. Maybe Dwarf traders would have their wares be extra expensive to reflect different commonalities of food. I think that it makes sense. Also, this is likely how the dwarves are in canon since how often do we see an actual dwarf trade deal opposed to hearing about it? The only reason we even know that this is how their economy was is because their relationship with Dale worked so well as they both depended on each other. Dale got exclusive blacksmith deals and Erebor got exclusive food deals. This is why they are extremely close allies; because the Dwarven economy depended on positive relationships with their neighbors. As I mentioned in my original post, they even tried to have a positive relationship with the Elves of Doriath, though that was destroyed by the Dwarves desiring the necklace that they made which the elves foolishly and stupidly put a Silmaril in.
I might make another post on the Shire economy.
Basically dwarves should no longer sell food and should use buy food from players.
I came to this reasoning due to some things To
Thorin says in The Hobbit.
The dwarves traded their work: swords, armor, and trinkets, for food. This was the relationship between Erebor and Dale. The dwarf economy was based on establishing positive trade relationships with their neighbors. Even when Durin’s Folk is exiles in the Blue Mountains, they worked various blacksmithing jobs for food. Food was their currency.
In the mod, dwarves should not buy coins or any non-edible thing.
Also in Middle Earth, there is no evidence of them farming. All the dwarves did was mine, make things, and trade.
Even in the first age, the dwarves who built Thingol’s cavernous city were paid in food rather than in gems and coins.
Just this one change in the mod would really make the dwarf economy more accurate.
![“The Shadows Where the Mewlips [really] dwell” – Mapping the road to Mordor?](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)