Training Elves (Players)

What I'd considered to be "a few classes and seminars here and there" in Tirion regions of Second life, dedicated player and video archivist Fëafelmë shows to be an extensive, perhaps even definitive, curriculum in this video in her series titled



Tirion Bedtime Stories Part 11: "Training & Education" 

Magic

In early versions of the legendarium, (the Book of Lost Tales, specifically) Aulë's house, situated in the outskirts of Valmar near its bordering open vale, contains a great court, "filled with magic webs woven of the light of Laurelin and the sheen of Silpion and the glint of stars"; still other webs were woven of gold, silver, iron, and bronze. Here also, per The Shilmarillion, Aulë laboured long while making "many beautiful and shapely works both openly and in secret", creating both the tools and the lore of the craftsmen.

This suggests a level of magic and craftsmanship not seen elsewhere in Tolkien's world.  Aule and his people likely have constructive and magical abilities surpassing Suaron, Gandalf, balrogs, the peoples of Rivendell, and even (the oft overlooked) Tom Bombadil.

To that end, I made a few effects for myself. More importantly, though I borrow and use others' work.  Here are credits to creators who helped shape Aule's magic in SL:

Mystical Cookie's Mystitool HUD:  

 

I first got this tool-rich device as a SL Mentor-only gift, and to date, I've still found nothing quite like it.  One can purchase the full version cheaply, but the basic HUD is a freebie 

Abranimations Couples HUD

 While I don't use the item pictured with 77 animations, ask me, and I can share the freebie version with 16 poses that isn't for sale, only by transfer.  I've emulated the scripts in this for all sort of other things, too.

Jopsy Pendragon's Particle Lab

While not a HUD or device I wear, most of my own created effects owe a nod to this excellent free full perm script- and tutorial-packed  sim.  If you go to Teal Sim (it's been there forever, and still evolves), do tip.

 

 

Aaron Cerveau's SpellFire 1.8

Aaron's since gone on to version 2, 3 and Azora and Omega meters with similar goals and usage.  It's a good system and a gold standard in SL combat systems.

 

Blackdog Ashbourne's "Empower Magic" 

You could spend months just seeing what's in the spendy Empower Magick HUD.   It's infinitely modifiable with great service, free updates for life, and a helpful community.  Here is an interview with BDA about a new RP HUD he's developing.  

Torley Linden's VidTuts

This enthusiastic fellow invented SL Vidtuts, creating items on nearly any subject you can name in SL. While now growing outdated, Torley's Video Tutorials still teach basic usage and creative techniques like no other.

 Thank you, each.

 

Thou, Thine, Thy, Thine, and Ye

I like seeing "thee" and "thou", "thy" and "thine" being used in these olden days.  Understandably, flaws and errors in their use are common because few of us (none of us?) learned these words as any part of a spoken, living language.

One using language incorrectly appears pretentious or unschooled.  That might be wholly in character.  Thus, best it is that others do react in their own character.  The educated will, with varying degrees of indulgence, compassion and skill, wish to correct bad grammar and usage, but they might appear snooty, pedantic, or parental in doing so. 

Therefore, taking the risk of appearing EXTREMELY snooty, pedantic and parental, I shall set the example.  While there are many books and grammars that give hows and wherefores, they often demand a grasp of grammar that most (mono-lingual Americans) simply do not have.  Instead, we start start with:

YE* CHART 

Read this aloud:
speaker:
                   I am   mine,   as me, my thing,   mine end.  
speakers:
                  We are  ours,  as us, our thing,   our end.     
one male:
                   He is     his,   as him,  his thing,    his end.  
one female:  
                    She is  hers,  as her, her thing,   her end. 
one whatever:
                   It is   its,         as it,      its thing,    its end.
a group:
             They are theirs,   as them, their thing, their end.
one listener:      
                 Thou art thine, as thee, thy thing,  thine end.   
listeners:
                 Ye* are   yours, as you,  your thing, your end. 


Whatever way you want to use one of these words, something in the above chart will guide you thus.

"am", "are", "is", and "art" stand in for any action or being word (verb).
"as" stands in for any relational word. (preposition)
"thing" stands in a word starting with a consonant.(noun)
"end" stands in for a word starting with a vowel.(noun)

[rant] I'd argue that this distinction between nouns beginning with vowels or not affecting "my" to "mine" and the pronunciation of "the" is evidence of linguistic gender in Modern English, but most linguists ignore or discount this. [end rant]

* "Ye" is especially confusing.. "Ye" sometimes substitutes for "the", since an old y-like letter  " þ " called "thorn" for the "th" sound got often confused for "y".  Why "thorn" disappeared from the alphabet is a whole epic, but it left "y" and "th" to fill in for it while it's gone.  Further, "ye" as "you-all" shifted to being "you" much earlier than "thee" and "thou" did.  Thou mayst use "You are" instead of "ye" correctly in even the oldest of ages, but only when speaking of several listeners.  Thus, "ye" is rarely ever the best choice of word, but use it anyway if so moved.

THEE or THOU

"Thou hast", "Thou art", and "thou dost"  are correct;
"Thee hast" and  "thee dost" are not.
"To thee". "For thee", and "of thee" are correct.
 "To thou", "of thou", or "to I" are not..
"Thee" and "Thou" replace "you" as when talking of one person,
"Thy" and "Thine" replace "your" and "yours" when talking of one person

Use "thine" or "mine" before a vowel:  "mine eyes".  "thine anger"
Use "thy" or "my" before a consonant:  "my stars", "thy grief"
"Thine" and "mine" can stand alone, "thy" and "my" cannot:  "My heart is thine."

One quick test for these:  change the idea to talking about one's self:

• Thou <=> I
• Thee <=> Me
• Thy <=> My
• Thine <=> Mine

Nicely for memory, these even mostly rhyme.  "I gave my love a cherry".  <=>  "Thou gavest thy love a cherry". It's not always perfect, especially if thine own grasp of  the difference between "I" and "me" is weak in the first place, but even so, thou wilt hit right on often. 

NOTE:  "-st", "-th", "-en" verb endings were undergoing huge changes in usage during the "Early Modern English" period, from about 1500 when all this "thee" stuff was still happening even to today.  Just about anything thou canst dream up for them was written by some reliable sources sometime or another when used with "thou", "thee", and "you".  Even the "Great Bible" of 1538 and Shakespeare (b1564, d 1616), the best known example of the Early Modern English writer himself, inconsistently used these endings.  However, those endings were became old-fashioned and ceremonial by 1780, giving up to the simpler, more modern forms we now enjoy.  Art thou old-fashioned and ceremonial?  Useth thou these forms, then.

UNCHANGED

"I", "we", "he", "she", "it", and "they", and the rules that govern them are unchanged thru Modern English since about 1500.  Your modern ear will guide you correctly.  Parts of "you" are still the same:

• Your superiors, even only one of them,  are always called "you", never "ye", "thee" or "thou".  
• This "you" is the other side of "Royal We"  "We are not amused." "Your Majesty is not."
• For your social equals, the obsolete rules above for "thee", "thou", "thine", and "thine" apply.
• If you love "ye", then use "ye", unless you are talking to your betters:  
• When talking of many listeners, use "you", "your" or "yours", with the rules you know...

"Hear Ye!  These lessons, dear friends, are yours. You may have and hold them."


All this is good old English, but not good Old English, or even good Middle English,
The elvish is much more complex.

Customs about Aulë

Since my first post, I've imagined a few things I like to play about Aulë:

Home Life

Aulë is fond eating. While Aulë is not a strict vegan, like Yavanna, nor even a vegetarian, since he is the inventor of husbandry, he prefers to dine on cleverly prepared dishes from fresh ingredients where no plant nor animal met an early death in the making.  Wines and distillations are a special favorite and a recurring topic of his own experimentation. Some experiments are most delicious and healthful; others are not palatable.

"Live and Learn."

"Make good"

Yes, Ainu can breed. So can Dwarves. No, you do not need details.  

Gift Giving

If Aulë comes to visit you, you will certainly receive a gift from him. When you visit him, it is good manners to bring a gift of your own, preferably something you had some hand in the making. Edibles that can be shared are always appropriate.  If you give Aulë a gift, he will give you one also.

Things you have made are intensely interesting. One should vocally admire cleverness.

Weaponry

Since they too easily cause disaster, avoid sharpened edges or explosive or poisonous charges on tools or weaponry. When they must be used, learn extreme respect and caution.

"Make armory with a heavy heart: regret what those creations will cause."

"I do not teach others to make the most destructive devices invented: there is no merciful cause for their use."

A Vala cannot reasonably expect others to sanctify his symbols utterly to peaceful purposes in a dangerous world. Those who worshipfully use a hammer in battle receive a hesitant blessing. Those who seek a non-destructive end to battle receive a joyous blessing.

The hammer shape of "T" resembles the second tengwar letter of the name "Aulë" (the "L") .

Battle
 

Ever since Eru Ilúvatar prevented his deadly hammer from slaying newly forged dwarves, Aulë uses the hammer against no living thing. Further, he shuns deadly violence to ANY thinking creature since The One allowed such mercy to his dwarves.  Aulë considers the living creations of The One and Yavanna superior to his attempt in this area, but he is still proud of his Dwarves.

Aulë will not violently battle in the presence of elves. Even his physical attacks and defenses damage nearby elves too easily.  Even chanting phrases of the Ainulindalë that form every part of existence can create a profound magical effects. Since some elves are terrified and dismayed by the powers wielded, Aulë is cautious about invocations.   Thus, in active conflict, he may help arm his allies, but absents himself or takes takes the role of healer.   He will help clean up and repair the battle-space.

Others naturally must be free to act as predator and executioner. Aulë's nearest kin are among the fiercest combatants in all creation. That is how The One made them.

Aulë's preferred tactics:

• Inventive, non-destructive solutions
• Enchant sleep
• Restrain with cages, webs, chains, or earth.
• Find where then enemy belongs and get them there.
• Arm then heal allies already present and engaged. 
• If all foes are mindless, throw boulders.
• Bring Oromë or Tulkas there

Education

Aulë main purpose is "To Teach", all else he does is to help make the world a place where learning can happen.  Building for himself is secondary, sharing is primary.  

Aulë will attempt to teach anything to anyone who asks.  He prefers to refer a question to an existing reference or an advanced student: it teaches the questioner how to research (a most basic study skill) or solidifies the advanced student's knowledge by codifying it for another.

Without skill and practice, talent cannot express.  Skill can be taught: Talent cannot. One can be skilled without much talent yet be productive in any craft.  Not all have the ear, voice or will for music, chanting, or magic. Not all have the eye, mind or strength for stone, metal, earth and wood work; nor have all the touch, heart, or artistry for writing, drafting and design, yet anyone can do these things with some success. 

"Gain skill. Talent may follow."

Criticize another's work only on invitation. It's better to ask what the student finds improvable in his own work, then agree with guidance or disagree with examples. It's bad form to criticize a beginner for failing to create a master-work.  Offering a work up for sale is an invitation to criticism. Selling instead of gifting or donation is also a reasonable act: it's good for the soul that the receiver give something in exchange for work for able hands.

"Eggs cannot harmonize."

Damaging a student or letting a student damage himself is an abomination, no matter what the provocation, circumstance or device. When a student is a likely danger to himself or others, touch or restrain him to get his full attention.  Only in safety and respect can correction and instruction occur.

Incognito in Last Ages

In later ages, long after the events of the Lord of the Rings, Aulë travels as an humble itinerant tinker  "from a large and diverse family from Almaren" crafting, repairing, selling and gifting doodads, gadgets, and knickknacks using one of his many names.  (( This is merely to open up role playing possibilities, since he likely stayed in Aman til the wide world ends))  He will teach crafts should students and need appear.  ((If we role play this, Aule will really teach you something of Second Life  content creation as the scene warrants.))

He'll stay a while, set things better, then move on. Repeat for many, many years.   As this kind, magical, and generous fellow gains a fondness of mortals, he may become a mysterious yet legendary jolly old elf of fable, considered a saint even.   We'll see how that plays.