User Profile

Welcome to Gorlim's user lookup! Entries in this journal pertinent to the Middle Earth Sock Puppet Theatre, mespt, are to be considered not even REMOTELY canon. This character also takes part in almost_ithilien, prancingdragon (both branches of MESPT but not directly involved in the game),the theatrical_muse community, diomasach, and is currently most active in milliways_bar. Feel free to contact me or Gorlim on AIM, E-Mail, or via comments in either LJ. Gorlim is a very dynamic character and is open to RP or conversing with ANYONE, regardless of whether you are a character or a mun, or what game you belong to. The mun is also almost always up for random chatting. So sit back, relax, and get to know us!

Standard Disclaimer:
Gorlim is from The Silmarillion and The Lay of Leithian, and is the property of JRR Tolkien's copyright holders. He appears here solely for the purpose of role-playing and character development. I am not making a wooden nickel from this, so don't sue me.


Props of note:
~a knife
~an ornate double-handed highland sword
~the Ring of Barahir
~a simple wedding band
~a key on a chain around his neck -- it goes to Room 321, formerly resided in by Don Andres Bejarano Aldana, now empty. Almost.
~a mithril earring in his left ear

Physical Description:
Height: Gorlim is actually 6'4", but there is a special note attatched to this. Of all the races of Men in Tolkien's world, Gorlim's is the first, and described to have been the tallest. Gorlim, after so long, no longer carries his height well, and is so skinny he sometimes SEEMS much smaller than he is. He slouches and curls up and frequently stands behind things, or beneath much larger things. The same way some people radiate height (particularly moral philosophy teachers who then turn out to be only five feet tall), Gorlim radiates a kind of smallness (the mun who prompted this description to be written estimated him at 5'2"). The fact that he IS so tall and so underweight lends to the impression that he is stretched out of proportion. He also has a tendency to wear clothing that is much too large for him, to hide the scars that usually mar his skin.
Weight: He varies, but is usually noticably underweight and wraithlike.
Hair: Dark brown, slightly longer than shoulder-length, wavy, rarely brushed, unevenly cut. "Rat's nest"

Note: Gorlim's face may presently resemble Constantine Maroulis. HIS VOICE DOES NOT. Gorlim sounds heavily Scottish and sings on key, kthx.



~*~*~*~

"I know more than anybody that Love needs no reasons. It makes its own reasons; whether or not they are consistent with reality is another matter entirely."

~*~*~*~

Of the Men of the House of Bëor:
The Men of that house were dark or brown of hair, with grey eyes; and of all Men they were most like to the Noldor and most loved by them; for they were eager of mind, cunning-handed, swift in understanding, long in memory, and they were moved sooner to pity than to laughter. Like to them were the woodland folk of Haleth, but they were of lesser stature, and less eager for lore.


The story of Gorlim the Unhappy:
[Note: There are actually three seperate published versions of Gorlim's story. The transcript that follows is from the Second Draft of the Lay of Leithian, with some lines cut from the beginning and middle which refer to Gorlim only indirectly. It roughly coincides with the abbreviated counterpart in the Silmarillion.

Prior to June/July 2005 -- that is, for all of Gorlim's time in the Middle Earth Sock Puppet Theatre, this character was played according to the canon below.

HOWEVER. From that time on, in Milliways Bar, Gorlim's "true" backstory includes elements of all three versions. All three will be copied in their entirety (including lines of background and indirect refrence) and linked to from this lookup soon. Be advised that it has not yet been divulged in-game which events in which version are true to this character's interpretation, and that information is shared only on a need-to-know basis. And you don't need to know.

Furthermore, since the Lay of Leithian is an actual historic poem that exists in Tolkien's world and is referred to multiple times by characters in The Lord of the Rings, it HAS been established that the version below is the version known by the general population of Middle-Earth. Thus, the published draft, which resembles the events below only at the most basic skeletal level, is taken into consideration only for purposes of character development. At this point, only two active characters in Milliways know that the truth is different, and both are Valar.

If your character comes from some version of Earth after 1994 when the Lays were first compiled, annotated, and published by Christopher Tolkien, I do not object to them being aware of two vastly different versions, or wondering which one is true to Gorlim. However, I would appreciate it if you would speak to me about it before they refer to it or question him about it in-game. Thankee kindly!]


orlim Unhappy, Angrim's son,
as this tale tells, of these was one
most fierce and hopeless. He to wife,
while fair was the fortune of his life,
took the white maiden Eilinel:
dear love they had ere evil fell.
To war he rode; from war returned
to find his fields and homestead burned,
his house forsaken roofless stood,
empty amid the leafless wood;
and Eilinel, white Eilinel,
was taken whither none could tell,
to death or thraldom far away.
Black was the shadow of that day
for ever on his heart, and doubt
still gnawed him as he went about
in wilderness wandering, or at night
oft sleepless, thinking that she might
ere evil came have timely fled
into the woods: she was not dead,
she lived, she would return again
to seek him, and would deem him slain.
Therefore at whiles he left the lair,
and secretly, alone, would peril dare,
and come to his old house at night,
broken and cold, without fire or light,
and naught but grief renewed would gain,
watching and waiting there in vain.

In vain, or worse -- for many spies
had Morgoth, many lurking eyes
well used to pierce the deepest dark;
and Gorlim's coming they would mark
and would report. There came a day
when once more Gorlim crept that way,
down the deserted weedy lane
at dusk of autumn sad with rain
and cold wind whining. Lo! a light
at window fluttering in the night
amazed he saw; and drawing near,
between faint hope and sudden fear,
he looked within. 'Twas Eilinel!
Though changed she was, he knew her well.
With grief and hunger she was worn,
her tresses tangled, rainment torn;
her gentle eyes with tears were dim,
as soft she wept: 'Gorlim! Gorlim!
Thou canst not have forsaken me.
Then slain, alas! thou slain must be!
And I must linger cold, alone,
and loveless as a barren stone!'

One cry he gave -- and then the light
blew out, and in the wind of night
wolves howled; and on his shoulder fell
suddenly the gripping hands of hell.
There Morgoth's servants fast him caught
and he was cruelly bound, and brought
to Sauron captain of the host,
the lord of werewolf and of ghost,
most foul and fell of all who knelt
at Morgoth's throne. In might he dwelt
on Gaurhoth Isle; but now had ridden
with strength abroad, by Morgoth bidden
to find the rebel Barahir.
He sat in dark encampment near,
and thither his butchers dragged their prey.
There now in anguish Gorlim lay:
with bond on neck, on hand and foot,
to bitter torment he was put,
to break his will and him constrain
to buy with treason end of pain.
But naught to them would he reveal
of Barahir, nor break the seal
of faith that on his tongue was laid;
until at last a pause was made,
and one came softly to his stake,
a darkling form that stooped, and spake
to him of Eilinel his wife.

'Wouldst thou,' he said, 'forsake thy life,
who with few words might win release
for her, and thee, and go in peace,
and dwell together far from war,
friends of the King? What wouldst thou more?'
And Gorlim, now long worn with pain,
yearning to see his wife again
(whom well he weened was also caught
in Sauron's net), allowed the thought
to grow, and faltered in his troth.
Then, half willing and half loath,
they brought him to the seat of stone
where Sauron sat. He stood alone
before that dark and dreadful face,
and Sauron said: 'Come, mortal base!
What do I hear? That thou wouldst dare
to barter with me? Well, speak fair!
What is thy price?' And Gorlim low
bowed down his head, and with great woe,
word on slow word, at last implored
that merciless and faithless lord
that he might free depart, and might
again find Eilinel the White,
and dwell with her, and cease from war
against the King. He craved no more.
Then Sauron smiled and said: 'Thou thrall!
The price thou askest is but small
for treachery and shame so great!
I grant it surely! Well, I wait:
Come! Speak now swiftly and speak true!'
Then Gorlim wavered, and he drew
half back; but Sauron's daunting eye
there held him, and he dared not lie:
as he began, so must he wend
from first false step to faithless end:
he all must answer as he could,
betray his lord and brotherhood,
and cease, and fall upon his face.

Then Sauron laughed aloud. "Thou base,
thou cringing worm! Stand up,
and hear me! And now drink the cup
that I have sweetly blent for thee!
Thou fool: a phantom thou didst see
that I, I Sauron, made to snare
thy lovesick wits. Naught else was there.
Cold 'tis with Sauron's wraiths to wed!
Thy Eilinel! She is long since dead,
dead, food for worms less low than thou.
And yet thy boon I grant thee now:
to Eilinel thou soon shalt go,
and lie in her bed, no more to know
or war -- or manhood. Have thy pay!"

And Gorlim then they dragged away,
and cruelly slew him; and at last
in the dank mould his body cast,
where Eilinel long since had lain
in the burned woods by butchers slain.

Thus Gorlim died an evil death,
and cursed himself with dying breath,
and Barahir at last was caught
In Morgoth's snare; for set at naught
by treason was the ancient grace
that guarded long that lonely place,
Tarn Aeluin: now all laid bare
were secret paths and hidden lair.

[Here is a passage in which Barahir sends his son Beren out to seek food for the outcasts of Dorthonion, to gather what news he can of the enemy, and to look for Gorlim. Beren wanders as far as Sauron's camp and finally he sleeps, and dreams...]

He shuddered, struggling thence to crawl
through winding weeds, when far away
he saw a shadow faint and grey
gliding across the dreary lake.
Slowly it came, and softly spake:
'Gorlim I was, but now a wraith
of will defeated, broken faith,
traitor betrayed. Go! Stay not here!
Awaken, son of Barahir,
and haste! For Morgoth's fingers close
upon thy father's throat. He knows
your trysts, your paths, your secret lair.'
Then he revealed the devil's snare
in which he fell, and failed; at last
begging forgiveness, wept, and passed
out into darkness.......

***


Note on language: Gorlim's canon language is Taliska, of which only about five words are known from Tolkien's (published) writings. I have therefor substituted Scottish Gaelic for the unknown language (though some Irish Gaelic is substituted when the proper words cannot be found), and that is what I have him yammering in if ever you should come across an instance of him speaking his own native tongue. If anyone ever is inspired to have a character talk back at him in his own language, I'm not going to get picky if you use Irish Gaelic, which seems to be easier to find translations of online. But translate it for me somewhere because I can't actually speak a word of either one. e.e


---

001.	Millitime.	002.	Paradox.	003.	Violence.	004.	Business.	005.	Nudity.	006.	Bound.
007.	Plot.	008.	Crack.	009.	Woe.	010.	Doom.	011.	Glitter.	012.	Tea.
013.	Coffee.	014.	Waffles.	015.	Kitten.	016.	Future.	017.	Past.	018.	Young.
019.	Old.	020.	Security.	021.	Tending.	022.	Waiting.	023.	Kitchen.	024.	Lake.
025.	Landlord.	026.	Wedding.	027.	Rats.	028.	Evil.	029.	Curse.	030.	Gunslinger.
031.	Endless.	032.	Dead.	033.	Undead	034.	Alive.	035.	Immortal.	036.	Human.
037.	Party.	038.	Dreaming.	039.	Garden.	040.	Magic.	041.	Bar.	042.	Fucking Milliways.

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