Friday, September 13, 2013

Announcements!

Yeah, we’ve been a little inactive these past few weeks, sorry about that! In an effort to rectify this, have two exciting announcements!

1. Flock of Smeagols is finally back, Free Peoples! This Friday night, September 13th, at 10pm EST on the Scholar’s Stair Stage.

 
Come for the booze, stay for the music! (Or is it the other way around…?) Either way, it’ll be wild, it’ll be crazy, it might even be pretty on occasion...but don’t worry, that won’t last too long! Hope to see you all there!

2. So, you know how things have been a little dead around the Trapdoor Tavern lately? Well, things are about to get…
 
...Deader?

 Well, yeah. But in a more lively way! With a special Halloween Spooktacular, the tavern will come alive in a...more dead way. *sigh* You know what I mean.

Miri: Okay, that’s enough Forsaken Cider.
Coda: *whimpers*

Anyway! This isn’t just your average tavern night, however. Expect all sorts of games, contests, and prizes, from musical chairs (using spooky music, of course) to ghost stories around a campfire all the way to the obligatory costume contest!

The house band will also be playing a few sets and putting on something of a skit, but there will be an opportunity for open mic, so bring those bagpipes and pibgorns and get your most terrifying tunes ready!

A breakdown of the event, for those organizationally inclined:

Who: Flock of Smeagols, featuring Chalse and Codella Mosstoes and Mirinaeth Galadhlin
What: Halloween Spooktacular of Epic Proportions!
When: Friday, October 25th, 10pm EST--???
Where: The Trapdoor Tavern: 5 Stonemirk Street, Skimsby, Thorin’s Hall Homesteads (from the entrance, just hang a right and keep walking)
Why: Erm…
How: Okay, this seems a little unnecessary...

Schedule of Events:

Haunted Tavern Tour: See the demonic origins of the tavern and its adornments up close and personal with a narrated tour featuring your 3 lovely tour guides. Beginning at the street entrance at 10pm sharp. (Relatively sharp. Not quite dull… Kind of like a slightly rusty steak knife. Rather than one that’s been rusting in the bottom of a lake for a century or two. We have some of those actually, if anyone would like-- *gets knocked out by Miri*)



Flock of Smeagols Musical Interlude #1: Featuring all your Halloween favorites and maybe some you’re not quite as familiar with…



Open Mic and Main Dinner: Enjoy the talents of your fellow patrons as you take advantage of the tavern’s extensive menu and the kindness of your wonderful hostesses. Halloween recommendations: [drinks] Forsaken Cider, Blind Troll Stout, Toad’s Tongue Ale, [vittles] Bubble and Squeak, Spiced Apple Pie, [smokes] Muddy Foot.



Costume Contest: Everyone is welcome to participate, so don’t be shy! Step onto the stage and give it your all! After all, there are 3 separate prizes…
 
GO GO POWER CHAMPIONS! Dun-dun-dun-dun-da...

-First Prize: 2 gold, 6 black dye, 6 orange dye
-Second Prize: 1 gold, 4 black dye, 4 orange dye
-Third Prize: 500 silver, 2 black dye, 2 orange dye
-Rules:
1. May enter as an individual or a group. (If entering as a group, please have a leader who will receive your prize to divvy up among you.)
2. Only one entry per person.
3. Must have a clear costume theme or idea. (Character titles and emotes are optional, but are considered in the judging.)
4. Winners are decided by total vote of audience members and staff members; contestants cannot vote.
5. If you would like to be announced, please send a tell to either Chalse, Codella, or Mirinaeth and the member you chose will recite your blurb word for word...with maybe a few emote-ish embellishments.

Musical Chairs: All interactive furniture counts for this one, so grab an armchair, a bench, or a stool and come join the fun! Listen carefully as Miri plays a short (but spooky!) song then grab a seat as soon as the music ends! Good luck to everyone, because the winner will be taking home a very special piece of furniture indeed.
 
So special.

Flock of Smeagols Musical Interlude #2: Now that Miri’s all warmed up, it’s time for a second set of creepy music that’s sure to send the chills down your spine...

Short Ghost Stories Contest: For this event, we’ll be trekking back outside to huddle around a campfire and tell stories specifically designed to creep out all your friends! But where does the contest part come in? Oh yeah…
 
“And the two little hobbits were never heard from again…”

-Staff vote prize: 2 gold, Wintertusk trophy, 1 black wall paint, 1 pumpkin-orange wall paint
-Audience vote prize: 1 gold, 50 dirty skulls, 1 black wall paint, 1 pumpkin-orange wall paint
-Rules:
1. Stories must be told in 2 sentences or less.
2. Content restrictions...there are no content restrictions. Go crazy! The scarier the story the better, because the winner (of the staff vote prize anyway, I can’t speak for the audience) will be the reason we can’t sleep for a week.

Halloween Skit: Featuring the…“talents” of your lovely staff members, sit back and enjoy a short production. You’ll scream! You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You might even sneeze violently! (Well, you probably won’t sneeze. At least we hope not.)
 
You’re just lucky we don’t have a fourth band member…YET.

Open Mic and Last Call for Dinner: Missed the earlier open mic? Still craving that last midnight snack? Not a problem! Get on that stage and rock the house as your 3 hostesses return to being tavern wenches for a little while longer. (Not to worry though, the booze will always be flowing as long as there’s a need for it!)
Final Flock of Smeagols Musical Interlude: The house band is back and ready to shake it down til the end of the night! If you made it this far, congratulations! We’ll keep playing as long as there’s people who want to hear us...and maybe even beyond that.

That’s all folks! Hope to see you at some of these events and stay tuned for more entertainment!
 
...As soon as we figure out where our pants went.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Fashion of the Freeps: Special Giveaway Edition!

Hello Freeps!!

Miri here with a Special Giveaway Edition of Fashion of the Freeps!  I have created for you an outfit that can be worn not too long after completing the intro (Minimum level: 12, actually).  Here’s your chance to scrap that basic n00b gear and don something with style!

The outfit we have for this week is...The Wayfaring Scholar!




In this photo we can see our model, Gwennuial, sporting an ensemble fit for a traveling scholar!  She is wearing [Scholar’s Vestments], in a rich ered luin blue that is accented with [Quilted Shoes] and a [Tattered Hat], both dyed crimson.  On her shoulders, you will see the [Rough Cloth Shoulder Guards] in a deep burgundy to match the shift layer of her robe.  The outfit is completed with the essential [Map-maker’s Travel Pack] in black, which has room to spare for all of the scrolls and books you will need for your journey.


Gwennuial examining maps in the Scholar's Stair...in style, of course!



Here are some models of other races showing off their new look!


Aldrearic trying to impress the ladies with his extensive knowledge of cartography.

Corelinde Brandyflask trying to figure out where she took that wrong turn out of the Shire.


Durrann Duran scouting locations for the next Flock of Smeagols concert.


So here’s the part I’m sure you’ve been waiting for...the GIVEAWAY!

For this giveaway, we are only able to accommodate players on Landroval server.  However, if you are from another server and would like some help creating an outfit, just send me an email and I will get back to you!

In order to win this full look, all you have to do is be the first person to email me with the answer to this trivia question:

“In LOTRO, Lake Evendim is lovingly referred to by what other name?”

In your email, please include the name of the toon on which you would like to receive the outfit and a toon name or username you would like to have credited if you win.

Once a winner has been chosen, I will reply with an email notification and send the outfit along via in-game mail.




Thank you all for joining in the fun of this Special Giveaway Edition of Fashion of the Freeps.

Good Luck!!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day...31?

31. The Outtakes - We knew you couldn’t stand the thought of our challenge being over after only 30 days, so we decided to throw at you one last day worth of awesomeness!
You’ll thank us later...


Oh man... That can’t possibly be a good thing.


Geez, Gwindeth...sorry I asked.  No need to go all water spirit crazy on me.



Everyone say hello to Bottomless, the newest addition to the Flock of Smeagols family.


The Possession of Miri G. - Yeah, probably should've taken a lesson from Pippin and not touched the big shiny mysterious marble-thing.


The Exorcism of Miri G. - Uh, Chalse...how many times have you done this again??


Too close, TOO CLOSE!!


You know when you’re scouting a location and you just have to stop and mock the NĂºmenĂ³rean statues? ...No? Okay, maybe that’s just me.


Do not ask me to explain the physics of this...


...or this, for that matter.


...I’m preeeetty sure there should only be one moon in the sky. (Ah, the Spring Fest.)


And that’s all she wrote, folks! Back to your regularly scheduled Sunday posts soon!



Codella and Mirinaeth, signing out.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 30

30. The Faithful Follower - Show us that soldier, animal, herald, anyone that follows you faithfully through the game and makes you feel safe. (You guys and gals are mine!)
 
 
My most trusted Hobbit friend, Codella...never leaves me hanging in a performance. *Cheers Mate!*

Knickknack (Knick for short) is one of Codella’s most reliable mounts, and certainly the most stylish.
Though of course, Miri will always be number one. Here’s to many more adventures together!  

Monday, July 29, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 29

29. The biggest Mob you ever did see - Let’s see who can come up with the biggest opponent they’ve ever had to take down!
What in the name of Elbereth is THAT!?


Take down in the deadly art of dance, I think you mean! I’m sure you will all be relieved to know Codella did win the battle...even against a tambourin the size of her entire body.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 28

28. I see a dragon! - Cloud watching, because let’s be honest, we’ve all seen a unicorn or two.

Have you ever tried looking for shapes in the negative space of clouds? Because I totally see a dragon there!



How about cloud-gazing in a reflection? Picture taken at the nameless fishing hole in French Hobbiton (aka Maur Tulhau, Enedwaith).


Saturday, July 27, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 27

27. Weather the Weather - Middle Earth isn’t always the sunniest place. How about a picture of your toon experiencing some inclement weather.

Hobbits don’t care if it’s raining.  It’s almost time for dinner! 

Best pals do everything together, even farm in the rain. 

Though I wouldn’t call this inclement (more like, heart-stoppingly beautiful), this is perhaps the coldest Codella has ever been.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 26

26. The Redemption - Whew!  The Nightmare is over, and if I may say, that outfit is perfect!



Ah, that’s better. ...What do you mean, dwarf cleavage? (Sexy dwarf...sexy dwarf.)


I’m pretty sure the point we’re trying to make here is that *anything* is better than the [Silken Robe of Golden Splendour].


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 25

25. Costumer’s Nightmare - A day that maybe you should have had help dressing yourself before going out.
Flying purple people-eaters, anyone? (Of the one-eyed, one-horned variety, that is.)

The [Silken Robe of Golden Splendour].  Seriously?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 24

24. Third Time’s the Charm - An Instance/battle that took you multiple tries before finally winning.

The lovely Drake Matron found in southern Angmar. Four tries before Codella finally admitted defeat...then sought the help of an experienced runekeeper to beat the beastie into the ground.


Miri’s Bane:  I have *never* uttered more swear words at a helpless NPC than I did at Lalia in my early years.  Actually, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure that I still curse her name every time I enter her Evil Shop of Temptation.


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Lotro(geek's) 30-Day Picture Challenge: Day 23

23. Rubbish and Ruins - The most majestic looking…. ruin.
Don’t Tempt Me Frodo gets silly at the majestic ruined city of AnnĂºminas.

Weathertop, of course! Though the ruins around Celondim (AKA Tham Gelair) are a close second.
See?