wandering in Middle-earth

Hi there, I'm Kathrin. My main art blog is @kathrins-sketchbook, this one is just for my other fandom activities. I am mostly obsessed with Tolkien stuff, but you might find other assorted nerd-stuff here.

[vulcanette-deactivated20260506]

the new dj crazytimes song … now that’s what I call music!

[vedajuno]

[allthestarscantfillalifetime]

The over-pronunciation of every word is so spot on lol

[hasufin]

I believe a crucial component to this is the complete lack of chemistry between Horny Wolf Guy and any of the women. They will pretend they are fucking. They will *claim* they are fucking. But it is not plausible; you can tell they have never seen each other so much as topless.

[verbnounadjective]

theres a full version of the song now btw

[hugh-lauries-bald-spot]

whats a stereotype for your country that you absolutely do. mine is that i unironically go "eh" and apologize a lot and i often drink maple syrup straight

[catilinas]

google search. tengwar sans serif

[catilinas]

scream.

[sewn-with-lilies-fair]

wait til OP discovers Quenya Comic Sans and cursive Tengwar

[emeraldskulblaka]

... which can be found here (thank you, @pachelbelsheadcanon!):

Post by @pachelbelsheadcanon · 6 links

💬 3  🔁 65  ❤️ 138 · TengwarSansGeneral1-Regular.otf · please... do you have a tengwar comic sans font that is downloadable... in fact, i ha

[catilinas]

google search. tengwar sans serif

[catilinas]

scream.

[a-mountain-hobbit]

Tolkien musicals marathon announcement: 25 years of Falešné společenstvo!

Falešné společenstvo at the dress rehearsal of Zrada! Smrt! Láska! (Betrayal! Death! Love!) in January 2025

Hi everyone! The Last Homely Server is hosting a series of Tolkien musical streams this August, in celebration of the 25 year anniversary of Falešné společenstvo. They are a group of czech Tolkien fans that have been writing and performing Tolkien songs, and later full musicals, since 2001.

So whether you are a fan of their works who wants to catch the rarer pokémons watch the more obscure shows or as of yet uninitiated to the rabbit hole that are Tolkien musicals (or anything in between) come join us to watch some Tolkien musicals in good company! If you have any questions about the musicals, how to take part, or which musical is best for you, ask us in the comments :)

Watchparty location: Cytube (no account required)

Cytube link: https://cytu.be/r/FS_25th_anniversary

password: tolkien

Schedule (All times in CEST)

Video links below included just fyi, not for the watchparty.

August 2nd, 10:00 CET: Fall of Gondolin (2011) & Numenor (2013) fragments. no subtitles. ca. 1h

August 2nd, 19:00 CET: The Rohirrim (2015) english subtitles, 1.5h

August 5th, 19:00: "Velmi smutná balada o zlatém hřebenu a dobrém úmyslu" (2019); or, a Children of Hurin puppet play (as far as we can tell xD) no subtitles, 20 mins.

August 7th, 19:00: Aredhel 2.0 (2017) no subtitles, ca. 1.5h

August 8th, 19:00: Fëanor and his sons (2018) english subtitles, ca. 2h

August 9th, 19:00: The Children of Hurin (2019) english subtitles, ca. 3h

August 10th, 18:00: The Hobbit (2020) no subtitles, ca. 2.5h

August 11th, 19:00: The Fall of Doriath (2022) english subtitles, ca. 3h

August 12th, 19:00: Aredhel 1.0 (2008) no subtitles, ca 1h

with anniversary toast afterwards

August 13th, 18:00: Beren & Luthien (2023) no subtitles, ca. 2.5h

August 14th, 19:00: Eärendil's journey (2024) english subtitles, ca. 3h

August 15th, 10:00: Betrayal! Death! Love! (2025) (a pre-war of wrath retrospective) english subtitles, ca. 1.5h

August 15th, 19:00: War of Wrath (2026) part I english subtitles, ca. 1.5h+

August 16th, 19:00: War of Wrath (2026) part II english subtitles, ca. 1.5h+

Durations include the necessary breaks, of course :)

While this marathon is still not exhaustive of FS' work over the last quarter century (!), it covers every musical at least once (where we have recordings). In the first two streams you can see a representation of the earlier era of more song-cycle/concert shows ("the classroom era") represented, while starting from 2017, the shows transform into the staged, choreographed musicals they are today.

In any case, enough yapping, we'd love to see you there! And if you have any questions, please ask!

[useless-finlandfacts]

samtaims ai vonder if inglis spiiking piipöl aar eiböl tu riölais thät ai äm äksöli vraiting in inglish rait nau bat tsast vith veri finnish spelling

sou if juu spiik inglish bat not finnish kän juu pliis reblog änd liiv ö komment on tis post tänk juu veri mats

[psychokonfetti]

Sammteims ei wonda iff inglisch schbieking pipel ahr ebel tu rieleis set ei ehm ecktschuli reiting in inglisch reit nauh batt schast wiss währi tschörmen schbelling

So iff ju schbiek inglisch batt nott tschörmen kenn ju plies riplock end lief eh kommänt on dies pust senk ju wäri matsch

[useless-finlandfacts]

tänk juu for joor tsörman kontribjuusson, ai äpprishieit it veri mats. änd it oolsou helps mii tu gräsp tö essens of tsörman äksent

[uselessslovakiafacts]

Samtajms aj vonder if ingliš spíking pípl ár ejbl tu rielajz det aj em ekšuely rajting in ingliš rajt náv bat džast vit veri slovak speling. Sou if jú spík ingliš bat not slovak ken jú plís riblog end lív en koment on tiz poust tenk jú veri mač

[viohra]

Самтаймз ай вондр иф иньглиш спикинь пийпль ар эйбль ту риэлайз дзят ай эм экшуалий райтинь ин иньглиш райт нау бат джаст виць вейрий рашин спеллинь. Со иф ю спик иньглиш бат нот рашин кэн ю плиз риблог энд лив э комент ан дзис пост цянк ю вейрий мач

[sprachtraeume]

Samtæms æ wonda if ínglis spíking pípl ar eybel tú ríalæs ðet æ em ektsuali ræting in ínglis ræt ná bat dsast við veri æslendik speling

so if jú spík ínglis bat nott æslendik ken jú plís ríblog end líf a komment on ðis post þenk jú veri mats

[langsandlit]

Samtaims ai uonder if inglisc spiching pipol ar eibol tu rialais det i em acscualli raiting in inglisc rait nau bat dez uid veri italian spelling. sou if iu spic inglisc bat not italian chen iu plis riblog end liv a comment on dis post tenk iu veri macc’. 

[awelshpolyglot-deactivated20260]

sumtaimes ai wundère eef angliche peepole ar ébl tu rayolize zat i am actualie ritin en angliche rite nau bat dees iz veri french spélling. sau if u speec angliche bat nut french plis cun u reeblog end leev a commant en deez post tank u veri muche

[chaotischkladblok]

somtajms ai wonde if inglisj spieking piepel ar ebel toe riëlais det ai em eksjelie wraiting in inglisj rait nau but djust wif verrie dutsj spelling

so if joe spiek inglisj but not dutsj ken joe plies rieblok ent lief uh komment on dis poost tenk joe verrie mutsj

[rewordfully]

Samtajms aj łonder if inglisz spikink pipul ar ejbul tu rielajs dat aj em akczueli rajtink in inglisz rajt nał bat dżast łif weri połlisz spelink

Soł if ju spik inglisz bat not połlisz ken ju plis riblok ent lif a koment on dis połst fenk ju weri macz

[seductive-celery]

somtaghms aigh bhondar iobh iunglois spíocang píopal ár éabal ta ríalaghs dat aigh eim aicsiúlaí raghtuing in iunglois raght nadh bot diost bhot bhéirí aighris spoiling

sómh iobh dhiú spíoc iunglois bot nát aighris cean dhiú plíos ríoblág eand líomh a camoint án dus póst taenc dhiú bhéirí moit

[allthingslinguistic]

sʌmtaɪmz aɪ wʌndɚ ɪf ɪnglɪʃ spikɪŋ pipl ɚ eɪbl̩ tə ɹilaɪs ðæt aɪ æm ækʃəli ɹaɪɾɪŋ ɪn ɪnglɪʃ ɹaɪt naʊ bʌt dʒʌst ɪn ði ɪntɚnæʃʌnl̩ foʊnɛɾɪk ælfəbɛt

soʊ ɪf ju spik ɪnglɪʃ bʌt nɑt aɪ pi eɪ kæn ju pliz ɹiblɑg ænd liv ə kɑmənt ɑn ðɪs post θænk ju vɚɹi mʌtʃ

[dedalvs]

[the-symphony-of-lydia-brown]

samtájmz áj uandr uedr ingliš spíking pípl ár ejbl to rijeláz det áj em ekšuely rájtink in ingliš rájt nau bat džast uid veri ček spelink. áj ólsou uandr uedr it iz pasibl tu diferenšiejt det it iz ček spelink end not slouvek sou if jú hev samtink tu sej on det metr ájd bí vry hepi to hir it

[a-mountain-hobbit]

samteims ei wandär iff inglisch spiking piipl aar eybl tu riäleis dät ei äm äktschüälli reiting in inglisch reit nau bat dschast wif wäri suissedschörmän spelling. in dä seym weyn of dä priifiös pouschtär, ei olsou wondär if piipl kän diffärentschiäit bitwiin dschörmän änd suissedschörmän fonetigg inglisch spelling (or rekogneis wat it is). Änd tu änser prefs kwestschön, ei sink dät in slowak där is meybi nou ě? änd du dey häv ä difränt l? bat sinz jur tränskriptschön dasnt häv dous, ei dount sink ei kuld täll.

Wäri inträstäd to hiir äwriwans feif sents, riiblog änd komänt, sänks ä lott :)

[quenta-narsilion]

In the Forest, Dancing

This photo was taken back in 2024, in Switzerland, yet remains one of my favorite photos of this costume to date.

Finrod’s outfit is based on the latest stage costume of Finrod in the Russian rock opera Lay of Leithian / Легенда о Берене и Лютиень: Лэ о Лэйтиан

Finrod: @curiouselleth

🪡 @curiouselleth

📸 @kathrins-sketchbook

[laisrinel]

Morgoth's new crown for the heat. Never forget to put your silmarils on it to shine in all circumstances.

The white part is supposed to shine in the dark. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[merawyn]

I just realised that the song Zrušení zapovědi (Válka hněvu) is based Konfrontace (Feanor a jeho synové) 😃

The shift in the music from tense and dramatic to peaceful and joyous is so gorgeous and also the change in the lyrics. It's like the wheel turns full circle. The Exilement began with Konfrontace and ended with Zrušení zapovědi.

This is so beautiful. I might be about to cry🥹

[civil-defense-system]

accidentally let slip "you will be buried in my pyramid when I die" to a coworker last week btw

[mundart-ch]

ha letscht woche uusferseeè zomene metarbäiter "du wersch i minere püramiide beäärdiget weni schteerbe" usegloo öbrigens

[a-mountain-hobbit]

It sounds like I'm having a bit of a boomer moment but hear me out. There is a child in the neighbourhood who has picked up a vocal stim where he yells "oh hell naw" in a very specific cadence over and over at any and all occasions, be they worthy of it or no. (He's also not an english speaker so he's probably just picked it up from some kind of influencer/streamer that uses aave colourned internet slang(tm), but it doesn't help with the cringe levels rip)

I respect his right and duty to be an annoying tween and from sports teaching I am used to this age group clumsily picking up internet slang but I think it's mostly the sheer repetitiveness and frequence. I am begging whichever internet personality that has caused this to introduce some new vocab. Can we have a second button on the soundboard pleaaaseee

[quixoticanarchy]

"i asked chatgpt--" well i went to the elves for counsel, and they said both no and yes. so we're all fucked

[parakeet]

[theoppositeofprofound]

We really forget the fact that Pippin’s older sister committed the Hobbit version of a compensated political assassination sometimes. 

[edgar-allan-possum]

Wait, what?

[theoppositeofprofound]

you heard me

[emeraldskulblaka]

Tolkien Stage Adaptations - Performance Calendar

~ April 2026 ~

The Hobbit (play; Lima, OH, USA)

10-12

adaptation by Patricia Gray

The Hobbit (play; Racine, WI, USA)

10-12, 17-19

adaptation by Patricia Gray

Parody of the Rings (parody play; UK)

11 (Salford), 15 (Lichfield), 16 (Hull), 18 (Watford)

Финрод (rock opera; St Petersburg, Russia)

19

The Hobbit (play; Stratford, ON, Canada)

21, 22, 27, 30

adaptation by Kim Selody

Performance dates and times are subject to change; please check the theatres' websites and social media for up-to-date information!

For a general overview of Tolkien stage adaptations, see this post.

[emeraldskulblaka]

Válka hněvu (The War of Wrath) - 24 January 2026 - Review

“The War of Wrath” suggests battlefield spectacle on stage – rousing speeches, epic fight and dance numbers, and perhaps the death of a beloved character or two (or a hundred?!). Spanning more than four decades, this war constitutes the climactic chapter of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Quenta Silmarillion, but poses several challenges for anyone attempting an adaptation: crafting a coherent narrative from only a handful of key events described by the author, and shaping a recognisable ensemble from dozens of named characters who are relevant to the plot, but whose personalities remain largely undefined. The Czech Tolkien group Falešné společenstvo, however, rose to the challenge and created a three-act musical based on the War of Wrath. It premiered, as is their tradition, in an elementary school gym in Prague, Czechia, as part of TolkienCon 2026 – and it met, exceeded and transformed the expectations of seasoned Tolkien fans in equal measure.

Please find my review under the cut.

Please note: I am not a professional theatre critic; I wrote this review to express my thoughts on the show in a more formal and coherent manner than usual. This review does not include any spoilers for those familiar with the events of The Silmarillion.

Válka hněvu picks up where last year’s Zrada! Smrt! Láska! (Betrayal! Death! Love!) left off: prompted by Eärendil and Elwing’s pleas, the Valar resolve to send aid to the ailing Peoples of Middle-earth to free them from Morgoth’s Shadow. The armies of the West under the leadership of Eönwë, Ingwion and Finarfin eventually join the remnants of the Free Peoples, led by Círdan and Gil-galad. Rather than achieving their goal in a single decisive confrontation with the Enemy, however, they are confined to skirmishes and to years upon years of waiting for Something, until the Valar finally intervene directly by reshaping the continent, which at last leads to Morgoth’s downfall and the recovery of the Silmarils. What should feel like a true victory is not savoured by any of the Peoples: with their homelands drowned, their spirits broken by centuries of hardship, and their families sundered, the survivors grapple with what it means to be free from thralldom, oaths and bans. Choices are made, continents raised, and creations cast aside. The show ends with the final words of the Quenta Silmarillion and thus covers the entirety of the War of Wrath and the end of the First Age.

All in all, the show runs about three hours and ten minutes across three acts, yet it never feels overlong. It is very well paced, leaving room for reflection while steadily moving through the decades, and it is evenly balanced, allowing for deep emotions as well as light-hearted, almost comedic elements, both of which are typical of Falešné společenstvo’s musicals. This is achieved by fleshing out textually under-developed characters, filling in the blanks between “canonical” events, and simultaneously reflecting on the absurdity of life in a war of that scale.

A prominent example of successful characterisation is Elros (brilliantly portrayed by Isilien), who develops from a Fëanorian protégé into a “super-facilitator” between the Peoples and ultimately, makes the Choice that would sunder his and his twin Elrond’s Fates forever. From his first song with Elrond and Maglor, “Hlasitě mlčme” (“The Loud Silence”), to his final plea to Eru (the contents of which I shall not reveal), the strong book, together with Isilien’s presence and vocals (particularly striking in tandem with Filoména’s Elrond in the aforementioned number) make Elros a standout character among kings, lords, and other fan favourites. Silmarillion connoisseurs will also appreciate the wealth of recognisable figures populating the background, who are never named explicitly, but are instantly identifiable, like for example Nerdanel. Additionally, many original characters are given the spotlight (and names) as well, among them Men, who speak in many different accents (beautifully rendered in the English subtitles), and Orcs.

Before moving on to the comedic elements, I would like to note a few other outstanding performances: Tani as Maedhros and Elsa as Maglor, reprising their roles, continue their characters’ arcs from earlier musicals with masterful vocals and unparallelled acting finesse; Polly as Morgoth, full of malice and trickery, impressively conveys this through body language and movements; and Aredhel as Círdan and Jana as Finarfin give performances in which facial expressions tell the story as clearly as their lines, particularly during their first meeting, when Finarfin learns of his relatives’ gruesome deaths.

Between the many emotionally wrenching moments, however, there are plenty of scenes that lighten the mood without tipping the show into farce: among them, the landing of the Valinorian army, during which the soldiers’ frantic marching in circles is accompanied by a deadpan train-announcer voice; the tribulations of the Orcs, forced to report the flooding and loss of Beleriand to an increasingly exasperated Morgoth; and the ordeal of one of Maedhros and Maglor’s last loyal followers, who has to maintain order amid falling rocks and despairing lords in a world coming apart at the seams.

The excellent writing and stunning performances are supplemented by clever stagecraft such as projections, puppets and miniatures (which conjure scale that the stage cannot), lovingly crafted costumes (Finarfin’s overcoat is especially gorgeous), meaningful and sometimes silly set pieces and props (respect to all involved in creating the Silmarils and binding the scrolls), expressive dance choreography (oh, that moment with the Silmaril!) and beautifully played live music. Noteworthy songs include “Vanyalindë I–III”, “Sirotci” and “Tak jsi to chtěl”, distinguished by clear dramaturgical functions (such as: to give the audience goosebumps, to rip the audience members’ hearts out, etc.), and instantly memorable (memorability being a bonus, not an expectation).

★★★★★+ masterpiece

Overall, Válka hněvu succeeds by choosing intimacy over spectacle. In that tiny gym, it delivers a Silmarillion rooted in inner lives – oaths weighed, mercies debated, victories measured by their costs. It is not grandiose. It does not involve stunts or battle scenes. Rather, it finds power in voices, glances and choices. Do not even let the long runtime deter you, for it is well worth your time. The passion everyone involved has for Tolkien’s works is evident in every note, and the miracle that is the creation of a thoroughly coherent piece of theatre by so many contributors is well worth beholding.

If you can fully understand and appreciate the show if you are not familiar with The Silmarillion, though, I cannot tell. In any case, you will miss out on countless references and allusions.

A special mention goes to those responsible for recording, and then editing, translating and subtitling the show. Although I attended the premiere in January, I also watched the recording to avoid misremembering scenes or misattributing performances. The video is available here; check the comments for timestamps to navigate quickly between scenes and songs.

[emeraldskulblaka]

In this house we love and appreciate Falešné společenstvo!