My LOTRO Adventures

And it gets more terrifying when you realize that one of the strongest powers of the Ring is to turn people against each other, and that even if it didn’t, the Ring and the Quest still put Frodo in a psychological state where he can barely keep himself sane, let alone love anyone or anything other than the Ring. In fact, I’m fairly sure the Ring tried to persuade Frodo to kill Sam far more often than the books shows - the Ring tends to encourage murder, from what we see. Instead of listening to the Ring, Frodo somehow manages to keep in the back of his mind that he can trust Sam more than he can trust himself, and I have no idea how Frodo can resist the temptation to think his trust is misplaced.

And sure, one could say, “Oh, but Sam has to understand it, so it’s not all that bad” but you have to remember Sam is a plain, non-Tookish hobbit with no inclination or skills for adventuring around and yet he has to become the entire Fellowship. Name one thing the Fellowship did for Frodo that Sam doesn’t also do. He has to advise, guide and protect him as well as keep his hope alive and remind him of who he is. The amount of pressure he’s under is incredible, and unlike, say, Aragorn, he has no experience to draw from. Plus, Merry and Pippin tend to rely on each other, while Frodo relies on Sam, but Sam himself hardly seems to have anyone to turn to for strength. I’m not saying Frodo doesn’t support him as well as he’s able - actually, Frodo is remarkably consistent about taking care of Sam from Book I to Book VI. But what Frodo is capable to offer (see the paragraph above) is far from being all that Sam needs. And actually, in the last stages of the Quest, Sam is basically living a one-sided relationship under the worst possible conditions, and that his devotion doesn’t even waver despite that just blows my mind.

That the Quest was successful is one of the most incredible and beautiful things that Tolkien wrote. Frodo and Sam walked straight into the Land where no love can exist and managed to become closer to each other than they had been. It’s the biggest fuck you Sauron probably ever got. No, seriously. Frodo and Sam beat a Maia basically by cuddling a lot and talking about food. Like, what the fuck??? I mean, if I told you someone could write a 1000 pages novel in which a pacifist and his gardener beat a minor god via supporting each other emotionally, would you believe me? 

Go to the LOTRO store and redeem the code MORDORMITHRIL for 50 Mithril coins. You have until 10/22.

Sometimes, I hear a lot of people complain about the “mediocrity” and relative lack of importance of the numerous tasks our characters are assigned in Middle Earth. Sometimes, it seems a waste to spend our talents far away from where they seem to be the most needed.

(And, let us face it - sometimes the endless fetch quests common of any and all MMORPGs gets a bit tedious.) 

However, this message Elrond gives your character after the Fellowship of the Ring departs from Rivendell always stuck with me. Specifically, this part:

“We must stand tall against the Shadow and keep its attention focused upon us, far away from those who can do it the greatest harm.” 

He’s right, you know. We are not Frodo. We’re not even a part of the Fellowship - but we are strong, good hearted people who want to see Sauron defeated and the Free People prevail. 

We are dealt a similar reminder in Edoras, when we are tasked with cheering up (and schooling) a snarky, irritable minstrel who has been spewing negativity everywhere. He mocks your character for collecting supplies for an old, arthritis-riddled woman on a cart to ease her pain and provide materials for her to sew. However, when he sees her response - moved to tears by the kindness of someone going out of their way to help someone so small and insignificant - he gets it.

Atwald: “I am heartily ashamed of myself! I will write a new song, one of hope, of survival, of kind deeds and the goodness inherent in people, and I will sing it to all. Thank you, for showing me the meaning of heroism.”

Being a hero doesn’t always mean you have to be on the front lines basking in glory. Nor does it mean that you need or deserve constant recognition and praise. It means that you do what you can to help people in need, even if it seems small.