Pack your bags and go!
 

If you had to go on a journey through ME, but you could only take with you 5 items, what would they be and why?

F.G.

Let's see...

Rope: never can have too much rope.

Lembas: food gets expensive when you travel.

Elven cloak: It's a tent, it's a blanky, it's a towel, and it goes well with everything, dressy or casual.

Sindarian-Westron dictionary: "OK, 'sit down'...how do you say "sit down'? Oh, here it is...'Take a bath!'

What else? Oh, yeah...Ring of Power.

All packed. Let's go!

ibuprofen

-réd

Boy, I've been waiting for someone to ask this one! I'd bring...

20 lbs of chocolate

2 lbs of coffee

a 357 magnum (I'm a small elf and really need a powerful weapon)

My toothbrush & toothpaste

And a pair of those little walkie-talkie radios.

Anything else I need I can get when I reach Middle Earth. Where are we all meeting? Rivendel?

Are you sure I can bring only 5 things? I really need to bring tylenol and super-glue but I'd hate to leave the coffee and chocolate to include them.

Last summer I went camping and Super-glue saved my life!

1. A Bible (oh, that's right, this is pre-Bible)

Okay then,
1. Rope
2. Sword
3. Water bottle
4. Knife
5. Change of Clothes

Firladion, can we bring anachronistic stuff? I'm assuming we can from previous posts but want to make sure (also, if we can, Joy would be able to bring her Bible [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]).

I used to think a good bit about this question when I was younger, only in those days I wanted to time-travel back to the middle ages (not that ME is really so different). Here they are:

A bottle of antibiotics

A gun, along with quite a few clips. Sorry about this one, but if you're going to a world like that it's definitely one of those don't-leave-home-without-it items. Wouldn't do much against Nazgul or Wizards, but a few shots in the air would work wonders for fending off Sharkey's men and (if NOT shooting in the air) possibly even Orcs.

A toothbrush.

A Westron-English/English-Westron dictionary, if obtainable. If not, a Sindarin-English dictionary.

Some gold coins or precious stones; once I got there I could sell them for a sackful of silver pennies and buy rope, appropriate clothes, food and so forth.

Hmmm, a map of ME could be extremely useful too, not sure which item I'd jettison in order to bring it though. With any luck my dictionary would have a basic map in it. Maybe "Fodor's Five-Star Guide to Middle-Earth" would be a better choice because of the maps, although the "useful phrases" section would probably be even worse than guidebook phrase sections usually are. (Two pages of phrases for ordering different varieties of beer in the Four Farthings, no phrases for "Please excuse me, Your Majesty The Witch-King, but I think you have me confused with someone else.")

Gotta have a solar-powered generator to run my Espresso Stand... I'd make a killing! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Raefindel, that is so good! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Hmmmm....I wouldn't take anything modern, as they wouldn't be very helpfull, cept maybe the meds.
1.Meds.
2.Something to trade for money
3.possibly something to make me for comfortable for being so far away from home.

The Balrog appears on the bridge, doing fancy whip tricks and laughing menacingly.

Raefindel and Kalimac sigh, roll their eyes, draw their Elf gats and blow the Balrog away.

Fellowship cheers wildly.

-A sword, I'd probably definitly need a sword.
-Rope, cause it really worked out for Sam.
-Food, I can't depend on running into friends along the road to give me food all the time.
-An Elvish dictionary, they really seem to like it when you can speak their language (I want to be an 'elf-friend')
-Last, but not least, A horse! I'd get really tired walking everywhere.

Way to go, Kalimac! We're heros! We can use that to boost business, ya know! What shall we call our Espresso stand? Oh here! How about this... TWO SHOTS! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Oh lord, I can't make puns at this time of the morning [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] . How about SureFire Espresso? Maybe we could have a sideline of tea as well, though (I love the smell of coffee but can't stand drinking it. Don't ask me why). The tea stand could be called the Second Round - or actually maybe that would be a better name if we were selling alcohol. Sound good? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Tea's great too, and we wouldn't have to bring it with us. Do you figure we could get coffee anywhere in ME?

Mmm...don't know. This is starting to sound like that thread with the debate over whether hobbits could get rice for rice pudding or not [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. If hobbits can get tea, hypothetically they could probably get coffee since they're both grown in very warm climates, and New World/Old World stuff wouldn't really apply since hobbits have already been shown to have access to plants from both (taters, anyone?). Maybe the Southrons export it? So on the balance I'd yes, they have could it in ME but I'd still bring along a few bags just in case. In other words, I'll sit firmly on the fence [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img].

OK, If we can get coffee and tea we must be able to get chocolate too! Great! now I don't have to bring it with me. Let me revise my list...

Ductape and superglue for sure, you can build a house with ductape and superglue. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] My red trippy sunglasses (don't ask). Toilet paper (self explainitory). And my LotR books, you always have time to read on an adventure. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]


And if we can't bring any modern stuff.
1. A mace (not the spray, like the one Sauron had in the movie) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] I like smashing and crushing weapons.

2. Handkerchiefs (spelling?) If Bilbo needed them, I would too. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

3. My bow and arrows.

4. Extra clothes. Never know when I might get dirty. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

5. Annnnndddd, hmmm, ah! I know. A ranger. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[ March 10, 2002: Message edited by: Gorin Icearms ]

ahhh this is a good question! here, lets see:

1. elven cloke (need to keep hidden, and warm)
2. lembas (nothing keeps u on ur feet like it!)
3. a water bottle (u cant live long with out water!)
4. a weapon of my choice (depending on which race i was of middle earth uc)
5. and finally... a fellowship (hey, i cant go all that way alone can i!!)

TOILET PAPER! You wusses! Haven't you ever heard of the plant Lamb's Tongue? (Or as we called it when we were kids, "Indian toilet paper".)

You think Aragorn said: "Let's go hunt some Orcs. Who's bringing the Charmin?" [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

That's what the Ranger is for Birdland, I'd most likely use some type of poison oak. Hehe, eww. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Oh Yeah? Lamb's tongue? Someone's gonna have to point it out for me! I reccognize poison Ivy and Poison oak when I see it. If I had to make a serious list of what to bring from my life now to ME I would bring...

A really good first aid kit with Ibuprofen and a good medical book.

My toothbrush and toothpaste
.
I can't live without my sweats, I just get too cold. (Don't ask me why I live in Seattle)

a flashlight.

and my little hiking stove.

As for a Weapon I guess when I get there I'll have to ask Legolas to give me archery lessons, OH WHAT A SHAME! [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

[ March 10, 2002: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

Five things to bring with me, eh? Hmmm I'll have to think about this one...
Let's see...
1. Lembas (always a good thing)
2. Weapon of somesort..you know, in case any Orcs are lurking around.
3. I'm gonna have to agree with everyone about the whole coffee thing...coffee would be good.
4. Definately something that I can barter with to get maybe some more food.
5. Sindarian-English dictionary [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
So when are we leaving? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

I think I'd STILL bring chocolate! It's the most effective bargaining tool you could have! I'd have that Lembas recipe outta Galadriel in no time! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[ March 10, 2002: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

I think I would have to bring 1) a map of Middle Earth, 2)Rope, 3)lembas, 4)elven cloak, and 5)a weapon like a bow and arrow.
Those are the essentials in my opinion. If I had enough lembas, I could last until I found someone who would give me some food. If I could bring one more thing, it would definately be duct tape, duct tape will fix anything!

Everybody loves ductape. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I can't live without Super-glue. I glued my thumb back together when I was camping. I'll never be without it again!

I would take:

My bow and all my arrows, plus quiver, bracer and tab.

Stuff to barter with for food, clothing, more arrows, rope, etc.

A map

All the necessary dictionaries.

A hairbrush - hey! how else did all the elves keep they're hair so tangle free?!
No really my story - with so much going on around me I would have to write it down somewhere, and it would be something to do.

Or maybe matches, you never know when you'll need them!

I think it'd be...

1)A Map
2)A lamp
3)A sword
4)Food
5)The Ring

Matches, those are good - can't believe I forgot those the first time. Or better yet a cigarette lighter. (Nothing like scrape, scrape, scraping a match and then having it fizzle out before you can light anything).

Toilet paper...always good stuff to have along, especially in countries where the bathroom consists of a hole in the ground, and much easier on the skin than plant-leaves to the unaccustomed. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like the many wonderful features of Hobbition included indoor plumbing.

Matches! Have you guys ever made a fire with flint stones or by rubbing sticks together?? That's the way a real ranger would do it. Though I would hope somebody on the journey would think of it [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Actually I have started a fire by rubbing sticks together, and it's no fun - you wear your arms out and if you slow down even for a second you have to start all over again. It can take you an hour to get one started, and if I'm hungry (or see Nazgul behind me) I'd rather not wait that long. Haven't tried flint stones, though. Granted, Aragorn can probably get fire started with one piece of damp wood and no help of any kind in ten seconds flat, but I can't count on always having him with me, nice as that would be [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. No, matches or lighter for me.

BTW one thing I've always wondered about; in The Hobbit and LOTR, they use tinder-boxes to start fires. What is a tinder-box exactly? (I hide my head in shame at my ignorance, but I really don't know). Is it just a box with flint in it or is there something else to it?

[ March 10, 2002: Message edited by: Kalimac ]

Fyi Kalimac a tinder box is just that, a box with tinder in it (stuff to make a fire) added to it are a steel (small metal thing) and a flint...Et voila, fire.

I meant to add earlier, that all the stuff you bring, you have to carry yourself....
So whoever said "a horse", NO (unless of course you are very strong!)
Also you are fully clothed in whatever takes your fancy, weather permitting.

I will allow you to take one extra thing, but it has to be a book (and yes, Bibles are allowed)

Being a Ranger myself this could work out very embarrassing if I do not choose well.
So this is my 5 and book.

1)Good Sword (guns are no good if you run out of ammunition, even if they do appear useful against a Balrog.
2)Small knife (poss swiss army style, good for all the little jobs)
3)Tinder box (matches suck when they get wet, and you can run out of them)
4)First aid kit (there may be no plants available)
5)Mess tin (army type eating/cooking/drinking vessel) These are invaluable

Book)Tom Brown book of survival (i forget things as i get older)

I think that covers everything......just.

Meet you all soon.
F.G.

One last question.

Can I bring Aragorn??? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Tom Brown! Now there's someone I'd take along if I had to go into Mordor.

For one thing; HE'D know what Lamb's Tongue looks like. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Hmmmm...ya suppose that's really Tom "Bombadil" Brown?

LOL,Can You carry Him, Joy? (Did you see "Everafter"?) [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[ March 10, 2002: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

Hey Joy I'll help you carry Aragorn! Lol! He sure could come in handy! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

this is interesting [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]....

I'd bring:

1) Gandalf (that covers fire, protection, a guide, & any language probs)
2) Lembas
3) A Lorien cloak
4) A horse
5) Janeen and Hannah [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]hehehe

As you can see by the picture on the left, I am far more handsome than Aragorn.

And as I said before, if you can`t carry it, you ain`t taking it....... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]