Hidden Nuggets we see all the time...

[Berephon]

Interesting... Wonder if we could get a bit more info on this. Which screen? Cause when I look at the Witch King's helm I see these runes:




Which I translate as Sindarin for "King of the Dead"...

BTW I've made it a bit of a hobby of mine of translating the stuff I find in game, Here's a thread at my kinships forums where I go through and do a bit. This reminds me I need to update it...

Hrm, they changed it on me. Oh well, it was better before. Originally what you could see visibly was just part of the line from the Verse of the Rings (it wrapped around).

Er, wait, I just finished translating the cirth (straight out of the Appendices). . . .

Erain firin meain (Lords mortal ?) I definitely can't make King of the Dead out of that, but it definitely looks like it has been totally screwed up. Erain is the plural of Aran (Lord), firin means mortal, but meain is untranslatable, as far as I can tell. It's a plural form, but the only singular forms it could revert to would be Maan (non-existent), Mean (non-existant), and Moan (non-existant). Fern and Gorth are the words for Dead People, Dead is Fern, Gorth, or Gwann.

Adan, fair, and firion are mortal man

All I can come up with is "Lords of mortal <something>", which is completely off the wall. I should bug that.

I'm sincerely curious, Judiah, what roots did you come up with?

[Judiah]

Hrm, they changed it on me. Oh well, it was better before. Originally what you could see visibly was just part of the line from the Verse of the Rings (it wrapped around).

Er, wait, I just finished translating the cirth (straight out of the Appendices). . . .

Erain firin meain (Lords mortal ?) I definitely can't make King of the Dead out of that, but it definitely looks like it has been totally screwed up. Erain is the plural of Aran (Lord), firin means mortal, but meain is untranslatable, as far as I can tell. It's a plural form, but the only singular forms it could revert to would be Maan (non-existent), Mean (non-existant), and Moan (non-existant). Fern and Gorth are the words for Dead People, Dead is Fern, Gorth, or Gwann.

Adan, fair, and firion are mortal man

All I can come up with is "Lords of mortal <something>", which is completely off the wall. I should bug that.

I'm sincerely curious, Judiah, what roots did you come up with?

Well I got the same translation you did: erain firin meain

However, I assumed that it was just a simple mistake for the plural to be used for aran (or it was being spelled phonetically), firin I interpreted to probably be firn which is the plural of "dead", and meain is mein or "first". So what was literally erain firin meain I massaged into aran firn mein. I assume that was what was meant, as the literal translation doesn't make much sense, as you can see. Unless it's Quenya, didn't look in that direction at all...

[Tairii]

Though it's been mentioned before, I absolutely love the way the NPCs talk and carry on conversations or thank you when you run by or ask you about the quest you're on for them.
I think my favorite is the hobbit couple in Overhill, the one where they get engaged. So cute.

[Berephon]

Well I got the same translation you did: erain firin meain

However, I assumed that it was just a simple mistake for the plural to be used for aran (or it was being spelled phonetically), firin I interpreted to probably be firn which is the plural of "dead", and meain is mein or "first". So what was literally erain firin meain I massaged into aran firn mein. I assume that was what was meant, as the literal translation doesn't make much sense, as you can see. Unless it's Quenya, didn't look in that direction at all...

Hmm, no, I took a glance at Quenya, too, and couldn't come up with anything any more reasonable. It's definitely exploded. Unfortunately, I doubt we can get that fixed now (as easy as it may seem, it's really not.)

[Berephon]

Personally, I would like a quest or something that would allow me to put a hurtin' on the loan sharks trying to shake down the farmer in the Prancing Pony, or at least to turn them over to the guard or something. I hate those guys.

Hehe, yeah, that's one I was surprised to find was actually in the Pony, but it demonstrates the influence the brigands are beginning to have.

Back on the topic, I was showing my brother and nephew around parts of Eriador last night. They loved it.

So, did you convince them to subscribe?

[Judiah]

Hmm, no, I took a glance at Quenya, too, and couldn't come up with anything any more reasonable. It's definitely exploded. Unfortunately, I doubt we can get that fixed now (as easy as it may seem, it's really not.)

Well, feel free to use my explanation as the "official version"

Like I said, I've been poking around the stuff in game in the link I posted. I like how the targeting circle says "The One That Is Chosen."

Which is a "hidden nugget" I suppose.

[House_of_Dexter]

has the picture changed since June?

Because I remember translating the last part as Merain

[Palenen]

Oh, Bilbo's stone trolls are a classic- one small correction though. He did not have the Ring at the time of this. He got the Ring from Gollum in the Misty Mountains, so it's still a bit early for that. The trolls were actually arguing over him and how to eat the "burrahobbit"

doh! how could have i missed that. heh ah well.

[House_of_Dexter]

ahhh found this nugget...the original artwork it was based off of...by Jeff Murchie

It is Merain
http://bp0.blogger.com/_d-N1ING5g6M/...Witch+King.jpg

so part that we ca see: Erain Firin Mera (Merain?)

[Berephon]

ahhh found this nugget...the original artwork it was based off of...by Jeff Murchie

It is Merain
http://bp0.blogger.com/_d-N1ING5g6M/...Witch+King.jpg

so part of it is: Erain Firin Merain

One of my favorites. Unfortunately, I'm still not getting a translation. I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't just a porton of a compound now.

Also, it's beginning to make sense as to where I was getting the original translation from. The mirrored portion in the bolluxed image I referred to translated as "for mortal/mortal for" (read backwards.) Well, goes to show where assumptions lead. However, that text still doesn't translate King of the Dead . . . well, still doesn't translate completely at all.

If someone figures out Merain, let me know.

[Judiah]

I left a comment on Jeff's blog asking what his intent was...hopefully that might help clear things up.

[House_of_Dexter]

One of my favorites. Unfortunately, I'm still not getting a translation. I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't just a porton of a compound now.

Also, it's beginning to make sense as to where I was getting the original translation from. The mirrored portion in the bolluxed image I referred to translated as "for mortal/mortal for" (read backwards.) Well, goes to show where assumptions lead. However, that text still doesn't translate King of the Dead . . . well, still doesn't translate completely at all.

If someone figures out Merain, let me know.

I'm wondering if instead of firin we should have firion...which would give us mortal...

[MistDragon]

One of my favorites. Unfortunately, I'm still not getting a translation. I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't just a porton of a compound now.

Also, it's beginning to make sense as to where I was getting the original translation from. The mirrored portion in the bolluxed image I referred to translated as "for mortal/mortal for" (read backwards.) Well, goes to show where assumptions lead. However, that text still doesn't translate King of the Dead . . . well, still doesn't translate completely at all.

If someone figures out Merain, let me know.

Sorry that this is off-topic but...

Jonathan Rudder (just noticed your name)... I appologize if I am wrong, but did you write The Milhavior Chronicles? If so, I got it as a gift a week ago... I loved it. Is it true this was your first book? Because that book looked like it was written by a seasoned author! Good job!

If anyone in this forum has not read this book yet I HIGHLY recommend it... you will not be disappointed!

[Berephon]

Sorry that this is off-topic but...

Jonathan Rudder (just noticed your name)... I appologize if I am wrong, but did you write The Milhavior Chronicles? If so, I got it as a gift a week ago... I loved it. Is it true this was your first book? Because that book looked like it was written by a seasoned author! Good job!

If anyone in this forum has not read this book yet I HIGHLY recommend it... you will not be disappointed!

*blush* Yep, that would be me . . . show up at Gen Con, and I'll sign it.

[Silverlocket]

So, did you convince them to subscribe?

They would love to, but neither of them has a rig that would run it. I might still buy them a copy and see if they could get it to run on their old wood-burning boxes.

SL

[MistDragon]

*blush* Yep, that would be me . . . show up at Gen Con, and I'll sign it.

Amazing! Dont know if I will be able to make it, but I wish you big crowds and the best of success! Cant wait to read your second!

[Berephon]

They would love to, but neither of them has a rig that would run it. I might still buy them a copy and see if they could get it to run on their old wood-burning boxes.

SL

Ah, the bane of the old crate. I know it well.

[Silverlocket]

Ah, the bane of the old crate. I know it well.

That could be an interesting in-game title: "Overachiever" or "Miracle Worker" for those people who are running LOTRO on old, underpowered boxes.

SL

[Berephon]

That could be an interesting in-game title: "Overachiever" or "Miracle Worker" for those people who are running LOTRO on old, underpowered boxes.

SL

Lol, if only we could.

[Judiah]

I left a comment on Jeff's blog asking what his intent was...hopefully that might help clear things up.

Well, Jeff replied to me, it is suppose to be:

"Nine for mortal men doomed to die."

He's going to see if he still has the word for word translation laying around. . .

[steelsnake]

Btw, what other little (not necessarily lore-related) "easter eggs" are there in-game? I know the snowman in Ered Luin, the lead figure quest and the sand castle in Evendim.

Oh and I swear I saw a bog lurker fight a toad or somesuch a little southeast of Meluinen a week or two ago. Fellows saw it too... first time I saw critters fighting each other. Neither was winning btw, one fellow decided to kill them both

[Berephon]

Well, Jeff replied to me, it is suppose to be:

"Nine for mortal men doomed to die."

He's going to see if he still has the word for word translation laying around. . .

Woohoo! One for the lore-monkey!

So, see, my lore-nugget really was! (I'm still not sure it was translated right, though some of the weird linguistic nuances are beyond me . . . that's our language expert's domain. I just craft names for him to correct.)

[Berephon]

Btw, what other little (not necessarily lore-related) "easter eggs" are there in-game? I know the snowman in Ered Luin, the lead figure quest and the sand castle in Evendim.

Oh and I swear I saw a bog lurker fight a toad or somesuch a little southeast of Meluinen a week or two ago. Fellows saw it too... first time I saw critters fighting each other. Neither was winning btw, one fellow decided to kill them both

I've not heard of that one myself, but it was possible that it was a scripted drama (neither ever would win, just there for show . . . though usually they wouldn't be attackable.)

[gildhur]

Oh and I swear I saw a bog lurker fight a toad or somesuch a little southeast of Meluinen a week or two ago. Fellows saw it too... first time I saw critters fighting each other. Neither was winning btw, one fellow decided to kill them both

One of the quests out of Lin Giliath results in 3-4 Bog Guardians (lurkers) spawning and fanning out through Meluinen. If they come across something that aggros them, they fight each other (and almost always lose). It's a fun mechanic that's also used in a couple other locations that I know of (see Rampage in East Angmar). Very cool to see otherwise AI creatures go at each other like that.

[Judiah]

Woohoo! One for the lore-monkey!

So, see, my lore-nugget really was! (I'm still not sure it was translated right, though some of the weird linguistic nuances are beyond me . . . that's our language expert's domain. I just craft names for him to correct.)

Ah but intention and reality can be two very different things We'll see what the source phrase really was (hopefully).

If I translate "Nine for mortal men, doomed to die" into Sindarin I come up with:

neder an firion menedh gwannar

Looking at our (agreeing transcription) of "erain firin meain" my guess would be that this is what we're seeing:

neder an firion menedh gwannar

where the bold is what runes are visible on the front.

But I'll await the final answer from the source