A story performed in Lotro: Beren and Luthien

I hope everyone has a truly good day. Is weekend, and is soon summer-vacation for my sake and that means more playing in Lotro and more musicmaking. 😉

In this blog I will show a little video made in the game that shows a chapter from Silmarillion.

I believe everyone has heard about the two characters Beren and Luthien. The love story between the fair elven maiden Luthien and the mortal man Beren. But I also assume many have not read the whole story and know exactly what they went through, and what happened to them. This will be a visualising of one of the most popular chapters in Silmarillion performed in Lotro and with ABC music.

The video is made by a very good friend of mine called Whiteberry, she has done all the editing and also is the narrator in this video. The music is from Shades/myself, you will in this video hear: “Numenor” and “Nightingale” (which is a song about Beren and Luthien, Beren called Luthien for Nightingale) and “When night falls”. More credits you will find after the video. The characters are mostly people from “The Shadows” and “Extraordinary adventure league”

Hopefully you will enjoy this video, and perhaps motivate you to read more about this story in Silmarillion. I also hope for more cooperation projects like this with Berry. It was really enjoyable, and knit many things together. Like storytelling, art, music and fun in the game. So if anyone have any ideas please poke me

 

Evening Twilight.

 

In Sindarin there is a word, – Aduial. (The name means “second uial” = evening twilight, in contrast to minuial which means “first uial”, referring to the morning twilight.) So when I looked up that word, I instantly thought “Evening twilight” would be a suitable name for the song.

I love to role-play my elven characters, I find them both interesting/mystical and quite a challenge to Roleplay. The more I get a grip of the Lore, I find the elves far more interesting than the stereotypical ones we see in for example the movies. When it comes to their languages, I do not feel the urge to “alienize” myself and speak a language no one understand (Sindarin) But I like to color the English with some elvish now and then. (in a logical manner though) This is something I do to create my elves as close to Lore as possible and to immerse into them as far as I can. The more background and details I know about the elves, the easier it is to understand and develop them. I am a part of a Kin called Loth i Lonnath which is first and formost a Martial kinship located near the borders of Lindon (we are located in Falathlorn ingame). Some of their tasks is to patrol and protect the lands near Grey Havens, but also join assaults with their allies to get a wider understanding of the enemies. Regards to Patrols,  I often image their lonely journeys and watches could be sometime a lonesome task sometimes. So therefore this song was shaped..

Evening twilight is a very subtle title, and since it this is an instrumental song, some are asking me what the song is about. But I do not always know the answer myself.  I try to make a certain mood in the song sometimes with suitable title. My friend Hwethlenn (a fellow kin-friend- in Loth-I-Lonnath) made a text to the song. So beneath is her interpretation of the song lyric-wise. I find it excellent and suitable for the song.

The screenshot is made by Erihael/Istuir (Shades and Loth i Lonnath). I love the way he creates screenshots, you see a lot of movements/dynamic in the pictures,  and he has his own way to capture the mood in them. They are very artistic, even if it’s screenies from Lotro I think. I also found them very suitable for the song, and he was kind to give me the permission to use them.

Hwethlenn’s Lyrics

Evening Twilight

He is my all mystery
Harbinger of the moonless obscurity
Neither golden augustly nor silvery

I come to see him clandestine
The hope’s idol sublime
My golden hair graced by thyme

I stand before thee grand
The darksome kiss at hand
Quenching the nightingale’s chant

And the bleakness grows

Thus Evening Twilight overcometh me
As on thy deaf ears falls my plea
I would have given myself to thee
A love in vain that has gone sere

He now haunts my fears
Unrecognized the land aged in years
A silent inkling spears

His kisses auguring sweet
But every word outspoken venomous deceit
Within gloaming where is naught but lie and cheat

And the bleakness grows

Thus Evening Twilight overcometh me
As on thy deaf ears falls my plea
I would have given myself to thee
A love in vain that has gone sere

Nightfall – Why have you forgotten what you swore?
Dawn – A princess I was in the days of yore

I will love one day again like I was never hurt before
Over the rim I surrender in dance
You cannot hurt me anymore

Some of Istuir/Erihael’s screenshot: (More is to be seen in the video)

 

 

Escaping for Ales & Tales

There I was, face to face with a drooling growling Warg scout, eyes blood shot red with anger. I was so close that the condensation of his hot breath collected on the sleek sheen of my lute. With a swift stroke of my strings, I released a resounding series of notes as my ballad drove the terror of the Lone Lands kneeling to the ground. With a swipe of my Herald’s strike, the final bit of life left the ferocious fiend as it laid crumpled upon the Great East Road. Yet again, the roads are safe for travel for any riders heading towards the Misty Mountains. But, this is enough stress to befuddle the tunes of any Bard!

To relieve the tension of such a fight, Ales & TalesI made my way to Bree. For a Hobbit, who is used to the grassy rolling knolls of the Green Hill Country, Bree is full of just so much more, and everything is just….bigger! So, there I was strolling through market stalls I could barely reach up to as I followed the road from the West Gate of Bree till I turned left just before the Inn Gate. Heading north I followed the trail as it led up the nearby Bree Hill as it wound around the slope as I passed a few Hobbit holes, that was surprisingly planted on the hill of a land known for the race of Man. Continuing, the path lead around the slope as I found my way to a bit of crumbled ruins that looked to be the remains of a watch tower. But, tour guide aside, the reason I made my way to this point was for the gathering of so many people. Standing and dancing about were peoples from all parts of Middle-Earth. There were Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and Man alike all gathered together!

Ales & TalesStanding proudly, against the nearby walls of the ruin stood the rag tag band of the talented musicians “Runic Knights Orchestra.” As their music reverberated through the rocks, others danced and cheered in appreciation. This is just part of what one might expect at Ales & Tales.

What is Ales & Tales you ask? It is a weekly get together of people to enjoy the pleasures of the drink, a bit of food, the performance of music, the telling of tales whether they are true or not, and the reciting of poetry all by the audience itself! As the website states, “Its a great place to unwind after a hard day of fighting the shadow, as you kick back with a mug of ale and socialize with your fellow adventurers.”

So, if you find yourself caked in the grimy filth of your recent adventures, and are in need of a visit to the public baths of your local town, keep an ear out for the local herald for where the next gathering of Ales & Tales.

Every Monday night, starting at 9:30pm EST on the Landroval server, The Lonely Mountain Band hosts Ales & Tales, and  finds its self at a different location. So, if it’s a Monday night and your in the mood for a bit of relaxing with such a spirited bunch, be sure to /joinchannel alesandtales. The location will be announced in the channel each Monday.

You can now follow @alesandtales to keep up with the latest news on this event. Pictures and names of performers are live-tweeted during the show. In addition, names of the MC and Stage Manager for the evening will be announced ahead of time in the Twitter feed, so that you know whom to tell if you wish to perform an act during Ales and Tales. You can contact the Stage Manager in game or sign up for the program by directing a tweet to @alesandtales.

Want a story written about your music concert, rp tavern, or other happenings in the LOTRO music community on your specific server?
Send an email to fortemaestro@gmail.com.

Busting the floor at the Trapdoor

Trapdoor TavernFinding myself once again trekking along, I wound up hearing about the Grand Opening of the Trapdoor Tavern in celebration of Saturday’s Ministock concert. Now immediately, one may be wary about potential death and entrapment just from the very look and name of the place, but I bucked up and decided to check it out! Located at 2 Highspire Street, Vetbrak neighborhood of Thorin’s Hall Homesteads. The walk to get there is in the mountain, a bit dark and dismal, but only until you get inside!

I was immediately greeted by the lovely Trapdoor Tavernhostess Mirinaeth. Being the grand opening, the first 10 customers were awarded with door prizes, that included 100s, a housing decoration, and clothing dye! Who does that better, but the Trapdoor Tavern.

This isn’t like any other tavern I have visited so far. She hands you their house menu and lets you choose from a over 100 different foods included non-alcoholic and food from many places through out Middle-Earth, as well as different seasonal selections. Tonight they included their special which was their Keg and Egg special: Two drinks of your choice comes with two servings of eggs and one serving of bacon for only 5s!

Trapdoor TavernNot only was it a place to eat and sleep, but also to dance and hear great music. Tonight we heard various music from the open mic which included Anricwulf Anredson (Music Mead and Mischief), Griffin (Caveat Angmarim), Roselinde Fairholm (Concerning Hobbits), Fryerstad (FEET), Tourmalien Bracegiirdle (Concerning Hobbits) actually did play a bit of Lady Gaga! Oh my!, Fionah Fairskin and Fryerstad from the band TOE JAM, oh I mean FEET.

If you have any questions, wish to book your band for music, or schedule an event at the Trapdoor Tavern, you can contact Mirinaeth, Codella, or Chastine in-game or preferably, mirinaeth@gmail.com, or visit the Tavern on Facebook.

Trapdoor Tavern
The House Band takes time away from their hostessing duties and play “The Cantina Band” for the crowd
Trapdoor Tavern
Grand Opening Fireworks

Want a story written about your music concert, rp tavern, or other happenings in the LOTRO music community on your specific server?
Send an email to fortemaestro@gmail.com.

A Dancing thrill with the Green Hill

Just like many other moments when one is off doing their part in protecting the lands from the encroaching darkness, all fight and no play makes a completely unforgettably and irresistible Bard, par boiled and with out joy.

Green Hill Music SocietyToday I found myself returning to the lands of my birth, the green hills of the Shire. Nestled comfortably outside the Bird and Baby Inn in the north quarter of Michel Delving, the talented Green Hill Music Society gathered for their weekly concert.

With the sun setting beyond in the western sky, the sky was awash with a cascading orange sunset as the vibrant color beamed down upon the gathered dancers and onlookers as they enjoyed soft soothing music that would calm any rabid Warg. To bad they couldn’t follow me into Evendim! Imagine that, a pocket band on demand! Oh well. Guess I’ll have to settle with giving myself an excuse to return to the civilized cobble streets of the Delving and enjoy some drink as I listen to music Green Hill Music Societyfinding some beautiful miss to cast a wink! With the sun disappearing beneath the horizon, the moon drifted as softly as the music in the air as it rose and danced with the stars beyond it. And rising slowly over head as the ballads of the bardic whom caressed the ears of the audience, the Scorpion appeared.

My night was not all enjoying the beautiful music of others, and taking Quill and Ink to paper as a bard of old. I took the opportunity to step forward and, just like my love affair with my harp I played my favorite piece, “Set Fire to the Rain.” As a grand treat, the harmonious voice of Melinor Melui of the Elven folk granted us the honor of singing the lyrics.

Every Tuesday at 9pm Servertime/EST, the Green Hill Music Society gathers outside the Bird and Baby Inn to perform their unique series of music for the public.

Want a story written about your music concert, rp tavern, or other happenings in the LOTRO music community on your specific server?
Send an email to fortemaestro@gmail.com

Green Hill Music Society

Green Hill Music Society

Green Hill Music Society