Month: December 2015

onehandedly:

Then again consider the Noldor developing shape-memory alloys in Beleriand with two way memory effects so to safely transport keys/signets.
(Two way memory effect means, very roughly, that the object in question, if heated to a certain temperature, can configure itself in a different shape while remembering some elements of the previous shape, all such effects are lost if the object is heated too much because then its configuration just changes its phase and the crystalline structure itself changes ).

Thus bringing us to Noldor knowing full well how to use electrolysis, Noldor having developed the technology to use galvanic and electrolytic cells.

A “magnetic trap” keeping the silmarilli safe and Ungoliant using her spider-form to “weave” field lines out of the way.

please keep your magnets far, far away from Sauron; he has enough trouble with fractals

“Ji! Get me a boat.”

ji-indur:

masteroftheseas:

Ossë dove to the very depths of the sea to place his gift in his home for safe-keeping. That completed, he had actual work to be done. Sauron could amuse himself with Children’s toys if he desired, but it would not distract him any longer. There were tides to tend, seas to stir, bergs to ice and bays to balance. And while many were tasks he had been assigned by Ulluboz in ages past, it was pleasant work. It was good to have a purpose in this world.

And it was good to keep busy to avoid obsessing over idiotic and suspiciously self-assured cousins.

@ji-indur

With every word Sauron spoke Ji Indur grew more confused. Surely this had to be some sort of jest? After all his master would not expect to catch the Master of the Seas with a simple net or a fishing lure? What would he even use to lure him out of the depths with? A bottle of rum? A pearl necklace? ….Himself? The mere thought of that made the wraith almost burst out into laughter but he did not dare, too wary and confused to give in to the humor of the situation either way. “Everything will be brought on board as you command, my Lord. As for moving the ship alone…” 

That would be a much trickier task to accomplish. As long as the sea was calm he could move the ship a few miles if he stood at the helm but if the weather would change he’d need help to take down the sails and secure everything. After all the Kraken was not a rowboat. “I will do my best.” he finally offered, wincing at the firm pat on his shoulder, strong enough to almost go down on one knee, while his eyes met Sauron’s, his confusion still apparent. “And of course you may, my Lord. I am at your command.” There was nothing else for him to add to his words. He’d have his crew watch the ship from afar, boats ready to join them in case the sea would not permit the Dark Lord on it for long. 

That he was told he had free will in this sounded…ridiculous to his ears as he was sure that denying to do as Sauron wished would not bode well for him as he stepped on the rowboat with the Maia to bring him on board of the Kraken. It would be a very strange…adventure, that much was given. 

@misbehavingmaiar

As the vessel pushed off from the pier the maia struck a jaunty pose. “Good! We should make sail as soon as you’re able. I sense my Cousin has grown tired of my baiting him… he’s gone afield somewhere distant, his presence is muted. This is excellent timing; it means we will have the sea to ourselves, for a little while at least.”

 The waves and tug of oars rocked the boat beneath his feet, spoiling the galant pose as he jerked to catch his balance. Sauron promptly sat, chin held high, regally trimmed beard proudly aloft, though his hands gradually sought the sides of the boat and gripped them pale-knuckled, eyes flicking between Ji and the dappled rise of the waves. 

As they drew near the Kraken’s mooring the boat pitched slightly in the waves, and the dark lord grew rigid as statue. He cleared his throat, perhaps to disguise a nervous swallow. He looked distinctly relieved to climb aboard a sturdier craft. 

Between the distrustful glances at the water, his face betrayed his excitement as he looked over the ship’s railing; wonder at a wholly new element, and a glint of almost childish mischief at being somewhere he was not supposed to be. 

Mulling over the ropes and baubles he’d requested be brought aboard, his grin widened. It wasn’t every century he got to try something entirely new. 

@ji-indur

Pirate and a Shipwright | Ji-Indur

ji-indur:

theshipwright:

“My people are mariners; fishermen and merchants alike.  You are a mariner as well even though you do not work for your wares but claim them from others but you are not the first nor the last to do so,” he admitted with a sigh.  He poured a glass of rum for the both of them – even if Ji could not drink it, it was polite manners and he wanted him to feel included and welcomed – but he also poured a glass of tea for the each of them.  

He sat down rather heavily, adjusting the drape of fabric across his arms and chest as he did.  He had to repeat the gestures after he leaned forward to grab his glass of rum, but he found himself a comfortable position amid the pillows and the gentle breeze blowing through the open window.  

“Your master, he has long since feared the Oceans and those upon it.  His master, Morgoth, he feared when my fleet would arrive to strike upon the shore.  It will remain one of my proudest moments.  We hardly had an army and our forces had been driven back to the shores but there we thrived and our ships were swift and strong and while Ossë was not to intervene, it seemed the currents were always in our favor to send us where we needed to go in the timeliest manner,” he grinned.  

It was funny to think that they had their pride in their ships but also the unspoken competition as to whom the master of the seas favored.  Círdan believed he had won that favor whole heartedly and without question or doubt. An errant chuckle escaped him, only to be muffled by the glass as he took a gulp of the rum that tingled on his tongue and warmed his teeth before he swallowed.  

“I do not know, my people are known as the Singers for good reason.  Not Elves, just the Teleri.  I am not certain what the Falmari have done but they live in luxury on white shores but for the Falathrim here upon the grey shores, we still sing and ride upon the foam.  Have you ever attempted such a feat?” 

The mere fact that he too had been offered both tea and a glass of rum filled Ji Indur with that sense of being welcomed that he had not felt in a very long time. Of course he knew they connected over their love for the ocean and their ships but still, Círdan had no reason to treat him as a guest even though he had not entered the Harbor with ill intent. Usually he was met with distrust and emotions even darker than that and he had started to grow accustomed to it which was really sad thinking about it for longer. But what else could he do? For being a pirate he would not apologize and for the things he had done during his imprisonment of the One Ring he could feel regret but he could not make them undone. 

Lifting the tea to his face he inhaled the scent, feeling the heat of the liquid seep through the cup and into his hands. It was a good feeling, as it reminded him of home. In Umbar a guest would be treated with the utmost respect and would usually be offered something to drink- be it a tea or a kahve- and something to eat. As a symbolic gesture it’d be bread and salt but if the guest was to stay for a meal he would receive the best bites. While the hospitality of a corsair could be deemed questionable he had always treated guests on his ships with said respect. So if Círdan would ever entertain such a thought he’d be welcomed any time, especially after the way he had treated the proud captain of the Kraken. 

As for their unspoken competition- Ji Indur was aware he could only lose it but he still enjoyed the thought of being Osse’s favorite /pirate/ which all in all was quite enough for him. And the blessing that engulfed his ship was another detail that added to this pride. “I have been singing at the helm during a storm if that is what you mean. And I sang when I threw myself at the Kraken that tried to break our ship apart. Even though the events are usually exaggerated by my crew.” He chuckled, trying to imagine the shipwright as he stood proudly on his own vessel, singing a calm elvish song about the sea while a storm would rage around him. It would fit the way Ji Indur still saw the elves. So thinking of Círdan as a wild sailor was a hard thing to do. “Maybe you’d feel like demonstrating it to me some day?”

@theshipwright

“Ji! Get me a boat.”

masteroftheseas:

misbehavingmaiar:

ji-indur:

Of course Ji Indur had felt his master approach but when he did finally turn, the wraith’s eyes widened considerably while his jaw dropped. After all his lamenting about how much more regal the Nine and the Dark Lord would have looked in Umbarian garb, he had never thought he’d see the day when the mighty One would actually choose such an outfit. 

Stammering something he then hurried towards him, bowing his head, just to stare again. “You..you look splendid, my Lord.” he muttered in a mixture of awe and utter confusion before he gestured to the shore where the Kraken was gently rocking in the waves in the deeper waters. “My..my ship is waiting and ready for you. May I ask what kind of fish you’re after? I’m not exactly well versed in the art of fishing I fear.” 

“Excellent! Bring nets! And line! And the longest rope you have, and several glass buoys…”  The maia tapped his lips, “…and if it be possible to man the ship yourself without crew, it would be best if we were alone.” He looked to the pale horizon with a crooked grin. “Take me past the reefs to the open sea… be prepared to make a swift getaway; if my mere presence on the water be enough to rouse Lord Ulmo from the depths in wrath, then the Kraken may be put to the test. I am counting on your good relations with my aquatic brethren to buy us enough leeway for my purposes… May I count on you, Ji?” He clapped the wraith on his shoulder, meeting his eyes. “In this I will not force you, but I would much prefer to have you by my side.” 

Ossë dove to the very depths of the sea to place his gift in his home for safe-keeping. That completed, he had actual work to be done. Sauron could amuse himself with Children’s toys if he desired, but it would not distract him any longer. There were tides to tend, seas to stir, bergs to ice and bays to balance. And while many were tasks he had been assigned by Ulluboz in ages past, it was pleasant work. It was good to have a purpose in this world.

And it was good to keep busy to avoid obsessing over idiotic and suspiciously self-assured cousins.

@ji-indur

“Ji! Get me a boat.”

ji-indur:

masteroftheseas:

misbehavingmaiar:

@ji-indur​ @masteroftheseas​ 

“We are going fishing.”

Ossë stops mid-flee and peers back up towards the surface. Wait… multiple layers of clothes, socks and shoes, colors like flames… While all are fairly attractive on his cousin, absolutely none of it appeals to him.

What, has his cousin given up on luring him in? Or is he planning on catching him in a simple fishing net?

Ha! This challenge is not so challenging after all!

Of course Ji Indur had felt his master approach but when he did finally turn, the wraith’s eyes widened considerably while his jaw dropped. After all his lamenting about how much more regal the Nine and the Dark Lord would have looked in Umbarian garb, he had never thought he’d see the day when the mighty One would actually choose such an outfit. 

Stammering something he then hurried towards him, bowing his head, just to stare again. “You..you look splendid, my Lord.” he muttered in a mixture of awe and utter confusion before he gestured to the shore where the Kraken was gently rocking in the waves in the deeper waters. “My..my ship is waiting and ready for you. May I ask what kind of fish you’re after? I’m not exactly well versed in the art of fishing I fear.” 

“Excellent! Bring nets! And line! And the longest rope you have, and several glass buoys…”  The maia tapped his lips, “…and if it be possible to man the ship yourself without crew, it would be best if we were alone.” He looked to the pale horizon with a crooked grin. “Take me past the reefs to the open sea… be prepared to make a swift getaway; if my mere presence on the water be enough to rouse Lord Ulmo from the depths in wrath, then the Kraken may be put to the test. I am counting on your good relations with my aquatic brethren to buy us enough leeway for my purposes… May I count on you, Ji?” He clapped the wraith on his shoulder, meeting his eyes. “In this I will not force you, but I would much prefer to have you by my side.” 

*Stands at the brink of the pier*

masteroftheseas:

misbehavingmaiar:

Sauron laughs. 
“Beautiful creature, how unkind you are! Would I might dive after you and share the world of lithe freedom you tease me with. Had I but the form and leave to enter… Ah! An idea.”  

And with that, he splashes the water blithely and leaves the pier.  

Oh, no.

image

*Stands at the brink of the pier*

masteroftheseas:

misbehavingmaiar:

“Do you think, Ošošai, that one such as I could ever brave his opposing element, and see the alarming miracles of the deep? I do not think, in all my years, that I ever dove beneath the surface of the sea.  What is it like, below? I have spied such colors and abundance of form in what is brought up in the nets of men– yet the sun filters weakly past the shallows, and creatures make their own fey lights to see by. You have such secrets… and I fear them, for their shapes and ways are utterly foreign to me, yet I know they must be beautiful beyond compare. I could learn much from a look into your realm. How lucky you are!” 

Oh, how rude. That is no song, that is a clever entreaty to beg a reply! He knows Ossë too well – sing, recite poetry, give a gift, compliment his spouses, and now express awe at his home. Which, truly, is not so surprising – who would not be mesmerized and enchanted by the sea?

Pride and narcissism war against paranoia and nerves. He is already in his deep-sea fana, all scales and bioluminescence and sleek fins and sharp fangs. Cautiously he slides up, into trickles of light that cannot outshine his own glow, past silvery pale fish that reflect the sun and the surface is in sight. With one agile thrust he leaps from the water–
     Then regains his senses and twists, diving back down. It is no more than a brief display, a solitary show for mere seconds, and he is gone again.

Sauron laughs. 
“Beautiful creature, how unkind you are! Would I might dive after you and share the world of lithe freedom you tease me with. Had I but the form and leave to enter… Ah! An idea.”  

And with that, he splashes the water blithely and leaves the pier.  

misbehavingmaiar:

To: Sauron
From: Tar-Míriel

Fire is red,

Númenor is decadent.

You gave my people death and destruction,

How kind of you to share in our present.

WHEN I SAID WE SHOULD HAVE A “ROMANTIC HOLIDAY BY THE SEA” THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND. 

THE SEA IS FEATURING VERY MUCH MORE PROMINENTLY IN THIS SCENARIO THAN I HAD ENVISIONED.

bringing this back

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