Hall of Fire Chats for August 4th and 5th
- Strider @ 16:39 PST

A new month, a new Hall of Fire chat, a new Book in oru Fellowship of the Ring Discussions! This weekend, we arrive at Rivendell, House of Elrond and discuss the chapter that saw the forging of the Fellowship:

Book II, Chapter I: Many Meetings

Awaking from his sickly sleep, Frodo arises to find himself in a place of safety. But a shadow treathens to cast itself over the serenity of Rivendell, as the rumour of the Enemy causes one of the most important meetings of the Third Age.

Only in dire times would such a parly of Elves, Men, Dwarves and Istari be called, and these are dire times indeed. The ringbearer from the Halfling home named the Shire has come from the West, and with him the possible key to the Enemy's defeat. Should it be destroyed? Should it be used as a tool against Sauron? Or should it be cast back into the deepest sea, and beyond the reach of any member of Middle-Earth?

These were the decisions faced by the Council of Elrond, and it is these decisions along with many others that we hope to discuss with you this weekend! Do you believe that Boromir was right to wield the ring? Or Gimli to destroy it? Was the decision of Gandalf to have Frodo bear it into Mordor foolhardy?

Whether you share one of these opinions or none at all, we want to hear from you this weekend! And don't forget, we are giving you three opportunities to join in this great debate.

Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .

Saturday Chat: 7:00 pm ET (19:00) [also 12:00 am Sunday (0:00) BST and 9:00 am Sunday (09:00) AET]

Sunday Chat: 8:00 pm (20:00) AET [also 11:00 am (11:00) BST and 6:00 am (06:00) ET]

Sunday Chat: 6:00 pm (18:00) BST [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 3:00 am (03:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
BST = British Summer Time, GMT +1 hour
AET = Australian Eastern Time, Australia’s East Coast

Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.