Re: (TFT) Gandalf Falls

["Charles Gadda" <cgadda@earthlink.net>]

Possibly, though Gandalf was in the guise of an aged man, and as such did
have some of the same limitations thereof. As for the wings, it is hotly
debated (amazingly so) as to whether or not Balrogs had wings - the
description in LOTR only states something to the effect of having vast
shadows *like* wings. Similarly, descriptions in Silmarillion sometimes use
words implying flight, but at the same time could merely be an expression of
speed (and rightly so - consider Gandalf's last words before being pulled
into the abyss "Fly you fools!". I do not think he intended the remaining
members of the fellowship to flap their arms and fly all the way to
Lorien...)

I doubt Tolkien intended his balrogs to be flying, as such, and it was
probably an ill considered oversight on his part.


----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Rogers <epilgrim@optonline.net>
To: <tft@brainiac.com>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: (TFT) Gandalf Falls


> As I remember the book (and the movie rendition) I was under the
impression
> that the Balrog (w/its wings) slowed their descent. The nature of their
> survival and epic combat was due their both being eon-old supernatural,
> magical creatures that are not subject to the rules reserved for mortals.
>
> Sort of a greater daemon vs. a Cidrian Mnoren ?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles Gadda" <cgadda@earthlink.net>
> To: <tft@brainiac.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 7:22 PM
> Subject: Re: (TFT) Gandalf Falls
>
>
> > I rather thought he survived simply because there was water at the
bottom,
> > as opposed to granite...
> >
> > While hitting water can be every bit as bad if you "belly flop" it is
> > possible to "dive" in even from great height - that is what cliff divers
> do,
> > as I recall.
> >
> > Flight spell does not seem to be needed here.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David Michael Grouchy II <david_michael_grouchy_ii@hotmail.com>
> > To: <tft@brainiac.com>
> > Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 3:54 AM
> > Subject: (TFT) Gandalf Falls
> >
> >
> > >      I was watching the Two Towers again and something occured to me.
> > > Gandalf falls from the bridge.  I remebered a bit of D&D logic that I
> had
> > > all but forgotten.  The feather fall spell always seemed to answer how
> > > Gandalf survived the fall.  And the implied reason he didn't use it
when
> > > trapped on the tower by Sauroman (according to D&D) is that he didn't
> have
> > > feather fall memorized at the time.
> > >      Well... needless to say, I'm not endorsing D&D logic here.  I
> prefer
> > > the TFT interpretaions that fit these two events.  Gandalf used a
> > 'calling'
> > > spell to get a ride from his old friend the eagle.  And while TFT
> doesn't
> > > have a feather fall spell per se, it does offer this little tidbit.
> > >
> > >     FLIGHT
> > >     ....
> > >     A creature using the Flight spell automatically lands (not a crash
> > > landing) at the instant the Flight spell ceases to be powered.
> > >         - MOVEMENT Advanced Melee, page 4
> > >
> > >    It doesn't strike me as too much of a stretch to use the flight
spell
> > to
> > > intentionally create a feather fall ability.  Cast it for one turn at
3
> > > fatigue.  Don't maintain it and just glide on down.  And as long as
I'm
> > > rationalizing...  The reason Gandalf didn't fly off the tower is that
he
> > > couldn't maintain it long enough to make it clear of the orc
> encampments.
> > >
> > >     David Michael Grouchy II
> > >
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