Whittier Strong
7 mins · 

So last night I downloaded and started playing a free-to-play game I saw advertised on Facebook. Ordinarily, this wouldn't bode well, as some of these games are just not up to snuff. But this wonderful little game is different.
Occupy White Walls is like The Sims as an MMO, combined with a college course in art history. You build an art museum, with lots of architectural options, and select the art you want to hang--as I understand it, they're digitized versions of works from the Met. As you select pieces, the game steers you to other pieces you might like, and each one has a ton of information about the artist and the work. Other players can visit your museum and comment on it, as well as on the artwork. Every hour, whether you're in game or not, you earn money from visitors to your museum, both other players and NPCs, which you can use to expand your museum.
It's very much an "ungame," and so far, the players have been so friendly. The whole setting is rather peaceful. The game is still in alpha, so they're getting feedback and working out bugs. I have the occasional capacity to crash when I go to another player's museum, but beyond that, no major issues thus far.
As an art lover and a Sims building fanatic, I can't recommend it enough.

Yesterday you all Stepped up... well done to @dax_aussie_boy for being a #RingDestroyer , Cal and Teknomancer you are not far away at all.. just a few more steps needed to destroy the ring and gain another SWC!
Cai and Ted have reached home!! congrats.. can you go a little extra and sail off from Grey Havens?
a lot of you are making your way home and are nearly there... push a bit extra today.. its the last day of the challenge!

congrats to @gravity @midnighttlc and @sixgunsound for doing the bonus step challenge and becoming Emortal!

The weekend is here and you all have done amazing so far (check the map on the 1st page for your positions), most of you have already destroyed your Rings and are making your way home... the route from Isengard Back to Rivendell may look long on the map.. but its not that far... Some of you are really close to Destroying the ring... you just need a few extra steps a day.. jogging on the spot, walking up and down the stairs may help you.


Well done to @ambulancedrivermb (Trek911) for destroing his ring today #RingDestroyer

Also a Massive Well done to Joogoo @traull For Reaching the Bonus stage of Grey Havens, He has sailed off to the Magical Elvish lands to Live forever and become a god!
Well done Joogoo, you have more than completed the Challenge!!

Our journey has come to a close. Our stay in Minas Tirith was short yet joyous. Our kinsmen awoke at daybreak and with enough food and drink in their stomachs to last several weeks felt the need to traverse home as much of the dwellers of Rivendell and Hobbiton do. We were asked to stay for another day but we graciously declined as we were all very ready to return back to our respective beds. There is a power or calling that only ones home has on them, it is a constant reminder in the ever changing world that there is a special space reserved for you, and you alone. 
Some of us have that power drive us back home for our families and friends stronger than others. While some, have other plans. We assembled shortly before mid morning and set out. I remember strapping my sheath to my back, and feeling it a bit lighter than normal. At first I thought that maybe it was the pull home was greater than the weight on my shoulders but it stayed light through our journey back through Rivendell. 
We were greeted home by a releasing of white flowers into the canyon zephyr. The sky was filled with floating lilies and ranunculus. They drifted aimlessly and lightly as if they were held up by magic. The elders were festooned in white flowing robed with etched mithril trims. They honored us in collars of sage and silver. They laid them across our chests careful to not cover our highest honor from the King of Gondor. They asked us to participate in a lighting of the lanterns ceremony. 
We each lit a candle and affixed it to a paper lantern, and when asked we let them sail over from the seat of the Elders and into the ravine below. They gently drifted down the gulley across the falls and were merged by a releasing of hundreds more. Each lantern illuminated as one among hundreds in a sea of light. 
It was the first time that the elders had spoken to me since I was bequeathed the Sword of the Ancients. One whom I had known since a child, whispered that I had finally earned its right to wear it. He smiled and gripped my arm and pointed to the bay at the end of the falls. He let me know that my journey does not end here. I asked him what he meant when another Elder came to take his attention. He nodded to me and winked before he turned away. 
Later that evening a hobbit came to me and asked if I could escort their group tonight back to hobbiton. I obliged and set off. 
Our journey was quick and only lasted a few hours. After ensuring that they were safely in their homes I turned back for Rivendell, but I could not help but feel pause as I stood at a fork in the road. One pointed home and the other pointed to the Gulf of Lune. I couldn’t help but feel the curiosity fo the Elders words. Even though this journey would mean I walk through the night to Grey Havens without sleep, I began on the path down to the bay. 
I arrived early morning, the sun just cusping the waters edge. 
I found a sea side inn that had chairs and tables outside on the dockyard, a man tending bar told me that they were not serving breakfast yet, but I was welcome to stay. I thanked him for his generosity as I let my feet rest. I stared out to the bay, the large narrow ships rocked gently in the harbor. I looked up from the waters edge to the chasm above me. Even with squinting I barely made out the council of Elders seats from which I was told to go here. After staring longly at home a turned back to the bay where a familiar face stood quietly in front of me. It was my Elder who told me to come here. 
“Azreath,” he called to me I’m familiar yet strange Elfish dialect. I told him I had never heard my name spoken so beautifully. He began to explain. 
When I was born a Valar came to him and spoke my name. The same as the person who watched over him and the people before him. This was a sign that when he heard the name spoken aloud that he would need to keep an eye on me and ensure that I was pointed in the right direction. He asked if I knew who had the sword before myself and I said no, he informed me that it was a Maiar like myself, who journeyed on to the path to Lindon. The key to my entry was the sword and the lock was the epic I faced, battling Maiar who aligned with Sauron. As my trials were over I was to go to Lindon and join the ranks of Maiar, like the ones before me. I asked how I was not aware of this. He said, that I was to be born into the Elf Kingdom unaware of my powers. One in many are to be born this way ever since many were corrupted by power greater than themselves. 
I abstained from it and defeated the evil king with my journeymen. 
I stood shocked, as if time had stopped. Things I knew about myself were becoming true. Unfounded feelings from deep inside of me were finally fitting into the puzzle. It became clearer. And as a ship reached port adorning a figurehead guild in a shimmering mithril, I knew this was for me. The skipper called down for me, I nodded and began to unsheathe my sword and as I did the Elder stopped me and said, this is also the path of the sword. 

I refastened the straps. Nodded again and boarded the ship to Lindon. As we set sail the sky almost appeared as it was stitched to the sea. I looked out and felt that I was finally truly heading home. 

With the temptation of the ring gone, kierixs mind is once again freed, and they were able to take in the raw power of mount doom... The size of it, the ferocity of the lava and the power emitted from the magma underground.

The laylines here are strong, no wonder the rings forged here were so powerful, it's such a shame this place is one of evil, otherwise so much could be done, as he turned to leave, he snagged a couple of volcanic rocks of the ground, partly momentoes, partly for magical purposes. 

They have more than just a raw beauty to then these rocks they feel like low Levels of magical energy industry of them...

"Hmmm, I could use these to hell my fellow adventurers on their treks!" 

Opening the make shift book of spells kierix scrolled to the pages on enchantment and began to infuse the stones with magic...

"ut lapides isti in praesidium amicis auxilio opportuno, obsecro superos..." The elementalist chanted feeling his palms grow warm and flow with magical energy.

After they finished enchanting all the stones they began to fasten them to pieces of string to form make shift necklaces, in the hopes of handing them out to those who passed the elementalist.

For it was a long trek back to Hobbiton...

Thursday Saw 6 fellowship members throw their ring into Mount Doom in Mordor!! Congrats to @tlara @caijamin @suigetsu @midnighttlc
@Voleron and @georgiadawg83 , the rest of you arnt far behind at all!!
You can do it, youll be suprised how fast you go, and with the weekend coming.... you may have more time!
This isnt a competition remember.. there is no winner here, its a challenge.

We do have Someone who has reached Home!! @traull has made it back safe and sound to Hobbiton!! ... but can he go the extra steps and reach grey Havens to be Eternal??

Also..... Francis has made it... past Hobbiton and Sailed off to Elvish magical lands to live Eternaly!!
Congrats To Francis on making it ALL the way and hitting bonus steps.

Wow we have Some Wednesday Warriors among us, 4 of you have managed to throw your Ring into the lava filled Mount Doom when you reached Mordor, and some of you ran straight out of there onto the next locations! Congrats to @gravity , @crashcart9 , @mstfrancis and @sixgunsound for being a #RingDestroyer
Not many of you are far behind at all! Can we get more Ring Destroyers tomorrow??
(see the first posts map for your locations & updates)

So far you have all Walked a cumulative total of 260 Miles / 418 Km this week!!
(Thats Like Walking on a direct path up Mount Everest 45 times.
Or, Riding on "the Beast" Rollar coaster in Ohio 200 times.

Wednesday's Top 5 Travlers


1st Place @mstfrancis - 9.68 Miles
2nd Place @traull - 8.00 Miles
3rd Place @midnighttlc - 7.18 Miles
4th Place @crashcart9 - 6.84 Miles
5th Place @gravity - 6.08 Miles

#walktomordor

It is done. The ring has been destroyed! 
Tonight’s victory does not go unnoticed as the city of Minas Tirith was erupting with cheer as we stopped to celebrate. It is shocking to see that a city just the day previous was under siege by an army of Orcs 600 column deep, is ablaze in a cacophony of celebration. The Orc pyres are burning brighter as people run the streets with mead and ciders in hand singing of victory. 
It was a welcome sight and for a moment the weight of my blade on my back was unnoticed. We stopped at a few local inns by guests wanting to share in their jubilee. Our troop sat with guests as they wove wonderfully elaborate tales bigger than any tapestry in town. I gladly imbibed as I sat next to a dwarf I have come to enjoy, his mastery of word play as he spun his story was so clever as to scholars should take a few notes. 
We eventually made our way to the citadel atop the hill, where we were honored by the newly crowned king himself. Highest honor was bestowed upon our shoulders in the form of a mithril pin that lays nicely on my lapel. First men of Gondor it states. I was so proud in what we have done. I felt as large as the exaggerated tales being told earlier in the day. As we should, even though the tales were big, there was much truth in the feats we pulled. Modor was more taxing than any of us could have imagined. The altitude alone made the air so thin that the deepest of breaths made for little air. The heat of the volcano was as oppressive as a hundred summers days in one afternoon. The armies of men we fought were as proficient in pummeling us as if they were born to fight. Each swing of their mallets and chains leaving death or scars where they fell. The hardest of all was watching our hobbit companion fall to the power of the ring before casting it into the magma below. I watched as the young man full of hope become twisted as power unknown to us enveloped him, it was as if the hopeful glow in him went dark for an instant. But alas the good prevailed as the ring fell and was consumed by the molten rock. 
I will not forget our friends sacrifice of self to wear that burden. I wish he could be with us here to be honored. The king himself appeared to notice his absence. The ceremony as short and the honored guests including myself were asked to dine and rest with the new royal court.  We happily obliged as I was starving and hadn’t had a good meal in three days. I needed something other than long grain, grasses and the sulfur rich waters we traversed. 

At the end of this entry I sit thinking of the deeds of my fellow companions and look forward to the remaining journey home tomorrow. I, like my comrades, will be happy to sleep in their own beds soon. Rest easy men, you deserve it. 

Quote by GXV3

@balduranne id keep your phone on you until the end of the day.. even walking arounf the house will mark your steps up... walking to the bathroom, to the fridge etc.
but if you want me to use the above, I can

I would, if it would comfortably fit in my pocket. Stupid girl clothes!

@balduranne id keep your phone on you until the end of the day.. even walking arounf the house will mark your steps up... walking to the bathroom, to the fridge etc.
but if you want me to use the above, I can

These apps suck at bicycle measuring

Tuesday Has turned out to be a very active day for all the fellowship! Reaching checkpoints we thought were impossible, but you did it!
Many of you have earned an SWC now, and many are just on the cusp of gaining one!
you all should be proud of yoursElves.
(see the first posts map for your locations & updates)

So far you have all Walked 176.9 Miles / 281 Km this week!!
(Thats Like Swimming from England To France.. 2 and a Half times.
Or, Walking Up and Down the Las Vegas Strip 42 Times)

More great Diary entries from Voleron and Francis which are lovely to read.. why not emurse yourself like they have and write one out.. maye an extra SWC thrown in for the efforts!

However!!.... We have one Ring Destroyer among us already!! @traull  (Joogoo) has reached the mouth of Mount doom in Mordor avoiding Saurons eye.. and dropped the ring into the fiery lava Destroying it!!!

Congrats to Joogoo... #RingDestroyer you now have to make your way back home safely!
The rest of you still have your Rings to Destroy, so keep stepping your way to Mount Doom in Mordor!


Tuesdays Top 5 Travlers

1st Place @traull -10.67 miles
2nd Place @sixgunsound - 9.71 miles
3rd Place @mstfrancis - 8.97 miles
4th Place @tlara - 6.69 miles
5th Place @crashcart9 - 6.26 miles

#walktomordor

Elves, hobbits and dwarfs. More like hopeful idiots and condescending fools. How I got roped into this merry band of fools is beyond me. I think my services were ultimately rendered because I couldn’t resist a helpless cause. Ever since the Blade of the Ancients was bestowed upon me, I have had heard the cry of the journey in front of me. This resonates stronger than ever before as I sit below the base of Mount Doom. 
I am having trouble getting rest, my body is electric. The anticipation of fighting the dark king and his army of Orcs is unnervingly real. I look out to the men gathered in tents who are wrapped in large leaves as beds, and some celebrating the last vertical leg of their journey, I can’t but help think that I could not have done it alone. Their spirits are up for what is to come. I wish I could share their hope, it’s a bit hard too while the sulfurous scent of the underworld flicks my nostrils. I force a smile as I prop myself up against my blade. 

I can’t help but think on the eve of our battle that we are in all this for a piece of jewelry. How could a piece of forced steel be that powerful? I say that knowing exactly what my blade can do. I’m not oblivious to how powerful magic and a gift from the gods can be. But a bit of Reingold, how could it, in such a small package, be a gift of that much power? It must be destroyed. I rarely pray these days, but if there is a god that has not turned a blind eye to us, look upon these hopeful journeyman and guide us to victory. 

Gareth update meeeee. I sent you photos on discord.

Captian's log... err, I mean, Sir Voleron's Knightly log, supplemental;

I woke up this morning after a long restful night in the forest to @Balduranne the huntress, tip-toeing past me while stalking her prey: a sparrow.  The many steps she put in yesterday must have caused a great hunger within her, as she pounced upon on the foul with impressive cat like reflexes.  While she was devouring her prey, I set out on my excursion, dead-set upon surpassing pretty much everyone who'd passed me yesterday, save @Dax_aussie_boy, who must still have been distracted by the waterfall wrestling males just outside of Hobbiton, the poor sod.  I jaunted merrily past @Midnighttlc, whose progress was severely slowed as he wrote the script for his new foundry mission as he walked.  

In spite of me making excellent progress today, I was hindered by my indiscretions.  Just past mid-sun, I stopped by "Yee Olde Tavern" along the trail past Rivendell with my fellow country-man, @Mstfrancis, where we drank and commented upon the asses of the hot adventurers that were traveling by.  (Donkeys, you fools... not the bois).  After a few ale, weeeeeee reeeeaallllly staaaarted talking about liiiiiife and then may have passed right out. 

More details to follow on tomorrow's adventure.

All hail the Elf King or whatever...

Voleron.

The Fellowship Set out From Hobbiton and made some great progress on there first days journey toward Mordor.
A lot flew past the first check point of Rivendell,
Some only making it to the cusp of the Elvish citys gates... but fear not, there are plenty more days left in this week to catch up.

All of you have traveled a combined 83 miles / 133 Km
(thats like running the New York City Marathon, THREE TIMES in one day)

Congrats to you all.. there is still a long journet ahead, Go out on your lunch breaks and walk around,
go to the park, walk the dog, walk up and down the stairs a few times, that will help in getting the extra steps in.... and will make you feel good too!!
With lovely stories Submitted From Voleron and Francis (see above this post) its made this little challenge quite exciting!

the top 5 travlers on Monday


1st Place - @Traull = 9.87 miles
2nd Place - @Mstfrancis = 8.43 miles
3rd Place - @Gr_vity = 7.78 miles
4th Place - @suigetsu = 6.63 miles
5th Place - @Crashcart9 = 6.51 miles


#walktomordor

It’s raining in Rivendell. It’s soft and soothing, as if it were whispering messages in code as the droplets tapped against the tent I have managed to prop up. At least it’s drowning the snoring of some of our companions on this trek to Modor. Today, I am prepared to leave my ancestral forest to head through Lothlorien and on to Rauros, if I can keep my stride. This is a journey that many of my people have not done, it is uncommon for and Elf to journey past it’s home, where it’s strength is strongest. I look up to the Misty Mountains with wide eyed wonder like many times before. I feel the land calling me to not continue, or perhaps it is the weight of my legs that is saying, one more day of rest. But alas we must forge on. 


I can’t seem to calculate to myself if the hardest part has been the 8 mile walk or the fact I turned from my people when they asked for assistance in guarding our gates. I do not know, but I can say that as I put pen to paper I feel that this is my path I am to take. It outweighs everything before it. Unless our hobbit companions are successful, Rivendell will fall eventually to the powers stirring in Modor. I cannot let that happen. Hopefully spirits and my hope will guide me through this.

This  is why I always  travel  alone, and told you to take  the magical  zealot class' in knight school.

Sir Voleron's Knightly log on this, the twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Elvish Lord, 2018;

Today I have trekked a modest 8,582 steps as I set out from Hobbiton, en-route to my majestic home of Rivendell.  The journey thus far has been fraught with many a aggravation.  First off, I spent the night in a Hobbit sized bed at the Wee Hobbit Inn, which was utterly unaccommodating to my Elivsh stature.  I called for Gareth, the Hobbit Inn-keep to at least come fluff my pillow part way through the night, but he rudely refused this, as well as my wake-up call request, claiming that his Hobbit foot hair required an urgent trim.  I could barely catch five minutes of sleep with @Gravity conjuring up spells in the room next to me all night.  As if any spell he cast could produce him a boyfriend, but this did nay keep him from trying, bless his empty, black heart.  The few minutes of sleep that I did enjoy, required me to sleep with one eye open, as @Calx, that rascally thief, had rented the room two down from mine.  I'd seen his thieving eyes admiring my golden knight armor at the pub and his flirtatious winks and waves were undoubtedly an effort to have me lower my guard and massive sword just log enough for him to steal my horned helmet.  This unsatisfactory lodging experience shall be captured in my Yelp review, soon to follow.

Due to the lack of wake-up call I, of course overslept and was awoken only by Kieran @suigetsu, loudly engaged in conjuring up some sort of Warlockian energy drink spell, the rancid smell of which was putrid enough to make me gag.  I watched in disgust as he downed the entire batch of home-brew that he'd named "Red Bull" or something similarly ridiculous.  He then clicked his heels three times while cackling ever loudly, before bouncing off like a hare pursuing carrot-nip and I haven't seen him since.  Sure, he's making miles, but he's not carrying the armor or mighty sword that I am.

Although I've stopped short of Rivendell tonight, the accommodations in the forest are far superior than what I endured at the Wee @GXV3 Hobbit Inn, and I for one, will be happy to be free of the many distractions of this rag-tag group of other adventurers.

All hail the Elf King and praise be unto him!
Voleron

Quote by GXV3

Sure you can join in @Teknomancer !! Ill add you to the spreadsheet now and make up a role real quick!

Since I main a Ferengi, I should probably be some sort of merchant or mercenary. :P