[The Saucepan Man]

+ + THORONDOR

As the least interesting of the remaining contestants.

Some of these misconceptions about Chrysophylax Dives are really rather startling on what is supposed to be a Tolkien forum.

Let's face it, Dragons are cool in any circumstances and Tolkien's Dragons are particularly cool. We really get to know the likes of Smaug, Glaurung and Chrysophylax. Their great scaly frames are fleshed out, so to speak. They are given personality. OK, so that doesn't apply so much to Scatha and Ancalagon, but they're not the issue here. The other three have character in spades.

What sets Chys out from other Dragons, though, is that his immediate reaction to a problem is not to blunder about spouting fire everywhere and causing mass slaughter. He is no Puff the Magic Dragon, and gobbles up his fair share of Knights when the occasion demands it. But he is also able to think his way out of adversity where necessary. He is cunning and calculating. He has style. He does not fly into a rage at every opportunity and end up getting himself killed. As such, he is a true Survivor. At the very least, he deserves to be in the final.

I can understand why those who know nothing of him might wish to vote him off, but I would suggest that the proper reaction is instead to listen to those who actually know something about this character and/or go off and read about him yourself. I would venture to suggest that few who have actually read about Chrys would label him a dull or inconsequential character. On the contrary, he is complex and fascinating - perhaps one of the most interesting Dragons ever to have graced the pages of a novel.

Don't show your ignorance. Either listen to those who know or read about him yourself and make up your own mind.