29. B2:C2 pt2 - The Council of Elrond - Gandalf's Tale & the Purpose of the Council - [LoTR Read-Along]

Green Dragon Live

The Nicks fall into a meme-hole, discuss the doings of Gandalf and Saruman, and finally get down to brass tacks to decide what is to be the fate of this Council... and The Ring.

THIS JUST IN! A COUNCIL HAS GATHERED….TO COUNCIL....

ELVES, DWARVES, MEN, AND HALFLINGS TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF!

DELIBERATIONS ENSUE AND STORIES ARE TOLD -- INCLUDING BILBO’S!

ISILDUR’S BANE REVEALED!

WHY ARE WE HERE?

CAN ONE SIMPLY WALK INTO MORDOR, AND WHAT IS GANDALF’S STORY?

Maps

Map of Middle-earth

LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!

Notes for this episode

Use the Force Harry

Vader Brita

Saruman Trololo

Trolling Saruman Part 2

Trolling Saruman Part 3

Other fandom trolling memes:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

The story in this chapter

• Gandalf's Tale:
  • Gandalf has the longest part to tell - but he has done the most to understand the enemy, the Ring, and to set in motion the tale we now read.
  • Saruman
    • The Rings and their jewels or lack thereof
  • Hunting for Gollum
  • Saruman knew of writing upon the Ring - but what is the source of his knowledge
    • Who else but Sauron held the Ring? Isildur
      • That means Minas Tirith might hold a clue
  • Abandoning the chase to go to Gondor!
    • Denethor not very welcoming
  • The scroll of Isildur describing the “fire writing” unknown language - but eleven letters
  • Gandalf HAS tested the Ring
  • Speaking the words of Mordor - of the Ring
  • Gollum did go to Mordor
    • He was forced to spill his guts about the Ring
    • The servants of the enemy have been to the Shire, and now know - perhaps the enemy already knows - that the Ring is in Rivendell
  • Gollum imprisoned with the Wood Elves
    • Definitely still full of mischief
  • Legolas speaks up in distress
    • Gollum has escaped
    • How so? Was it coordinated? Did he have help? Or was he just being opportunistic?
    • Gollum is cunning, escapes the skill of the elves to track
    • Heading to Dol Guldor
    • Gandalf - Gollum may have a part to play yet - Tolkien keeps insisting on this - it must mean something
  • What of Saruman?
    • Drawn to Orthanc by the message of Radagast (taken advantage of my Saruman) - Tells of Nazgul
    • The Nazgul keep asking for the Shire
    • Saruman summons Gandalf to give him “aide”
    • Radagast to send messages
    • Bree - stopped at the Prancing Pony (when was all of this?)
    • To Isengard - Orthanc - Built by Numenor - At the Gap of Rohan
    • Fear fell on him inside Isengard
    • Saruman the White or…. Many Colors
    • Saruman feels that Gandalf has been hiding information in the Shire
    • Saruman has contempt for Radagast … and Gandalf… and their colors
    • “Saruman the Wise” “Saruman ring maker” “Saruman of many colors”
    • White - can be broken - or - is perfect
      • Leaving the path of wisdom
    • A choice
      • The world of men which we must rule
      • We need power
      • “WE”
      • “There is no help in elves or dying Numenor”
      • Join with that power - there is hope that way - and rich reward
      • Join the evil way despising the many evil things biding their time to come to their true purpose.
      • Knowledge, Rule, Order
      • No change in designs - only in our means
    • The Ruling Ring - “If WE could command that, then the power would pass to US.”
    • Gandalf a prisoner of Orthanc - on the pinnacle
    • A narrow stair of many thousand steps.
      • In Letter 210 - Tolkien tells us that Orthanc is 500 feet tall
      • In modern American building terms that is about 29 stories.
      • Not huge - but massive for the surrounding area
      • To take the stairs literally then - 500 feet divided by “many thousand” (5000?) works out to be approximately 1000 steps per hundred feet. - 100 steps per 10 feet or 10 steps per foot.
    • Pits and forges, wolves, and orcs - Saruman is building an army - to rival Sauron
      • How was this kept hidden from Gandalf when he got there? Or did it happen while he was there?
    • Frodo calls back to a dream! (REVISIT PIN)
      • It was late
    • Radagast was true and trustworthy
    • The Eagles - Gwaihir
  • Rohan
  • Tribute of horses - tribute of horses and many to Mordor
    • It’s a lie
  • Evil at work
  • Shadowfax
    • Tireless, swift as the flowing wind, silver by day, shade by night, light footfall, unridden, untamed,
    • Gandalf reached the Shire when Frodo was in the Barrow Downs though they left the same day (Rohan, Hobbiton)
  • Gaffer - changes for the worst (Needs a pin?)
    • Changes already started?
    • Has Saruman already started to tear it apart looking for the Ring?
  • Crickhollow
    • Broken into - Hope left Gandalf
  • To Bree - Butterbur
    • Good news - renewed hope!
    • A night’s rest.
  • The Nazgul’s movements
    • 2 Nazgul in Bree
    • 4 in the Shire
    • 2 at Crickhollow
    • Captain in secret south of Bree
  • After the attack on Bree/Crickhollow
    • Some across country Eastward
    • The Captain and others along the Road
    • 2 days out from Bree - Gandalf beset in the Ring of Amon Sul - Weathertop
    • The Wraiths were already there.
    • Closed around at night - Light and Flame!
    • Gandalf fled to the North - then toward Rivendell
  • Gandalf nearly 14 days to Rivendell
    • Only 3 days before Frodo
  • End of tale
• THE PURPOSE! - What shall we do with the Ring
  • The old forest used to stretch from where it is to the other side of Isengard (Fangorn even?)
  • Can we obtain help from Tom Bombadil? Send the Ring to him for safe keeping?
    • The Ring has no power over him. He would forget it and throw it away
    • Also, even the enemy could be held off - his country would be besieged and ultimately overthrown
  • The Ring cannot be kept away by strength only 2 options
    • Send it over the Sea
      • They would not receive it - it belongs to Middle-earth
    • Destroy it
      • We have no craft that can unmake it.
    • OR cast it into the deeps - where it could not be recovered.
      • Only a delay tactic
  • Gandalf wants to make an end of Sauron - not delay
  • Sauron - would expect the Westward option (in or over the sea)
    • He would March up the coast to the Grey Havens
  • Westward road seems easiest - and therefore must be avoided
    • It will be watched
  • That leaves only the option to undo the Ring
    • The only hope - to take the Ring to Mordor - to the fire
    • Frodo felt a dead darkness in his heart
  • Boromir
    • Why hide and destroy?
    • What if it has come to us in our great moment of need?
    • Why not wield it?
    • Valor needs first strength, and then a weapon.
    • The Ring can be our weapon.
  • Elrond
    • We cannot use it
    • It was made by Sauron and is his alone
    • it cannot be wielded by any except those with great power of their own.
    • But for them, the desire of it corrupts their heart
      • Like Saruman - corrupted by the thought alone
    • It is evil and dangerous
    • Nothing is evil in the beginning - even Sauron.
  • Boromir
    • So be it Gondor will fight on
    • Perhaps the sword that was broken can help
      • “If the hand who wields it holds more than an heirloom but also the sinews of the kings of men”
    • May the day not be delayed
    • It would comfort us to know others fought also
  • Gloin
    • More power if the people's join together
    • What of the three rings of the elves?
    • They were made by the dark lord long ago
      • Do they remain?
      • Are they idle?
  • Elrond
    • We cannot speak of them
    • They are not idle, but they also are not weapons
    • But if Sauron regains the One all their strength would be turned to destruction
    • If the One is destroyed
      • Perhaps they will be freed, and be able to heal the hurts of the world
      • Or perhaps they will fail and many things will fade and be forgotten
  • Glorfindel
    • But all the Elves are willing to take this chance!
  • Back to the destruction of the Ring
    • What strength have we for the finding of the fire?
    • That is the path of Despair! Or Folly!
  • Gandalf
    • Despair
      • Is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt
    • Wisdom to recognize necessity when all other courses have been weighed
    • Folly
      • It may appear to those who cling to false hope.
      • Let folly be our cloak/veil before the eyes of the enemy
    • The only measure Sauron knows is Desire, “the desire for power and so he judges all hearts.”
      • He does not think that anyone can refuse it, and therefore follow through with destroying it
      • If we seek to destroy it - we shall put him out of reckoning
        • AKA - he won’t see it coming - it’s not a possibility he thinks would ever happen
  • “This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong.”
    • Small hands do them because they must
    • While the eyes of the great are elsewhere
    • (THIS IS THE CRUX OF THE PLAN!)
  • Bilbo - It’s plain enough what you’re pointing at
    • I started it, and I must finish it.
    • Boromir nearly laughs at Bilbo
    • Elrond - your part is ended
    • What do you mean by “they”
  • The messengers who are sent with the Ring
    • Bilbo - “Exactly, and who are they to be?”
    • That seems to be the only thing this Council needs to decide
    • Let’s get some names together
  • No one spoke - looking downcast - in deep thought
    • Frodo - felt a dread or doom on him
      • And an overwhelming desire to rest in peace with Bilbo in Rivendell
      • “At last with an effort, he spoke and wondered to hear his words, as if some other will was using his small voice. ‘I will take the Ring.’
        • [NJ - DEFINITION OF BRAVERY - the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. -- speaking up in spite of deep desires because it is the thing that must be done, or the right thing to do.]
    • Elrond
      • I think that this task is appointed for you, and if you do not find a way no one will.
      • But it is a heavy burden
        • I do not lay it on you but if you take it freely I would say that your choice is right.
        • And though all the mighty elf-friends of old, Hador, Hurin, Turin, and Beren, you shall be seated among them.
    • SAM! [Again eavesdropping] -- But you won’t send him off alone!
      • No indeed - You at least shall go with him.
      • A nice pickle we’ve landed ourselves in, Mr. Frodo.

New Characters:

• Denethor - Steward of Gondor
• Saruman the White/Many Colored - Istari, Leader of the White Council
• Gollum (makes an appearance)
• Theoden - King of Rohan
• Shadowfax? - Lord of Horses
• Radagast the Brown - Istari, part of the White Council

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"Five Armies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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