The Snowmen of Forochel

Post by **Alatar** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:23 pm

The Lord of the Rings Online game has announced a new free update based around the Lossoth of Forochel. But what I found really cool was the inclusion of a "Very Secret Diary" in the press release:

The Lossoth

The survivors of the Forodwaith, the ancient people from whom the northern lands of Middle-earth took their name. The Lossoth lived mainly along the northern shores of the Icebay of Forochel, but also explored the lands around its southern rim. They had a culture well adapted to their icy existence, constructing houses out of snow (apparently similar in principle to igloos), and travelling on sleds and bone skates.
The Lossoth entered history near the end of the second millennium of the Third Age, when they gave aid to Arvedui, last King of Arthedain, who had fled into the north to escape his kingdom's destruction. When an elven-ship came to rescue him, he rewarded the Lossoth for their friendship with the Ring of Barahir. His hosts sensed approaching disaster, and warned Arvedui not to board the ship. Against their advice, he did so, but a great storm overwhelmed the ship and last King of Arthedain was lost in the cold waters of the far north.

** The Very Secret Diary of Arvedui Last-king
With love to Cassandra Claire

- Day One

Unhappy. Witch-king came over uninvited; didn’t want to play board games. Decided to leave, should have brought more snacks.

- Day Ten

Cold. Should have brought long underwear. Only company is whining Dúnadan. Maybe Dwarf-mines have cable?

- Day Fourteen

Very bored. Palantíri couldn’t get signal in Dwarf-mines. Snack supply drastically thin. Might go watch the ice skating championships these Northerners keep raving about.

- Day Thirty

New Years Day; Disenfranchised. Círdan hasn’t come to visit me yet even though I keep writing. Ice skating not as boring as I first thought. Ice beds colder than I thought.

- Day Ninety

Haven’t heard from Círdan in months. He couldn’t even bother to come find me himself? Palantíri ominously silent; northern lights must be muddling their signal, tin foil antenna woefully ineffective.

- Day Ninety One

Ship finally arrived. Ice Skaters think I should stay with them; very worried. Maybe Palantíri will get a better signal on the ship?

Gotta love the internet!

Post by **Pearly Di** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:25 pm

Al ... you know the other Secret Diaries by Cassie Claire, right?

They are truly legendary.

Post by **Inanna** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:26 pm

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:38 pm

I don't have a link to the originals, but anyone who does, please post it! No one who loves LotR should miss the Very Secret Diaries, quick and hilarious reads every one of them.

Post by **River** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:54 pm

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:02 pm

I found them!

http://www.ealasaid.com/misc/vsd/

(And discovered on the way that the VSD have their very own Wikipedia article. . . .)

Post by **Inanna** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:50 am

Thanks Prim.

Loved this one from Gandalf's VSD:

Day Twelve:

Went to Saruman for advice about Ring but he had become evil. Nobody tells me anything. Apparently there was a memo. Radagast the Brown probably stealing paper out of my inbox again.

Post by **Alatar** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:02 am

Sorry, I guess I didn't make that clear in the past. Yeah I remember the Secret Diaries, thats what I found so cool. That a commercial entity like Codemasters/Turbine would tap into the fan psyche so well.

Nice touch!

Post by **Primula Baggins** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:28 pm

It is a nice touch.

I certainly never thought you didn't know about the VSD, but I thought other people might not have heard of them or read them.

"Still not king."

"Sam will probably kill me."

Post by **Old_Tom_Bombadil** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:04 am

I created a tongue-in-cheek in-character travelogue for LOTRO's Forochel. Some of it is serious, but much of it is silly. You'll find it at http://my.lotro.com/user-247731/2010/07 ... -forochel/.