Why destroy Laketown's bridge?

[Morthoron]

To sum things up, I'd like to offer a recitation from Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy album:

I'm just trying to find the bridge...

Has anybody seen the bridge?

Have you seen the bridge?

I ain't seen the bridge!

Where's that confounded bridge?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

So Alatar, lets say the watcher is unhappy with the number of dwarves he can eat at the gates of Moria. . . what does he do? For me it seems that these kind of creatures has a very limited habitat and no great possibilities of migrating.

It attacks Frodo first, but you and I know that the orcs of Moria had no idea the fellowship was comming therefor they could not tell the watcher what to look out for.

How do you suppose the master would keep it from everybody else that a humongous creature was living under the town? How would he "reason" with it and not reveal it? Anyways it needed not be bad for buisness if there was a Watcher that could be reasoned with, that would only increase the safty of Esgaroth and make it a better place for trading.

I appologise for not having quoted you in my reply, but it seemed like an awful work. . . . anyways In Conclusion: I am correct and win!

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

Anyways it needed not be bad for buisness if there was a Watcher that could be reasoned with, that would only increase the safty of Esgaroth and make it a better place for trading.

In fact it could become a tourist attraction...

[skip spence]

Not so sure about that.

I can see trouble with the whole arrangement too. Just imagine the watcher grabbing some kid with a toy ring and hoisting him up the air while his mother on the bridge cries: "Try to reason with it, dear!"

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Not so sure about that.

I can see trouble with the whole arrangement too. Just imagine the watcher grabbing some kid with a toy ring and hoisting him up the air while his mother on the bridge cries: "Try to reason with it, dear!"

but if the watcher graps a child like that then it surely cannot be reasoned with. . . and Alatar's idea based on the assumption that it can be reasoned with.

[skip spence]

But that's faulty logic my friend. People can be reasoned with (sometimes) but do occationally grab kids nonetheless.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by skip spence

But that's faulty logic my friend. People can be reasoned with (sometimes) but do occationally grab kids nonetheless.

not faulty logic at all, just a question of perspektive and definition. . .Anyays I can see on your location that you cannot be reasoned with

[Nazgûl-king]

Perhaps it was a common protocol when dealing with dragons to get rid of the bridge, after what happened at Nargothrond with Glaurung. Perhaps they just felt a little safer knowing that the dragon could not come at them from that way.

[Nazgûl-king]

It says in The Hobbit, that:

Amid shrieks and wailing and the shouts of Men he [Smaug] came over them, swept towards the bridges and was foiled! The bridge was gone, and his enemies were on an island in deep water - too deep and dark for his liking. If he plunged into it, a vapor and a steam would arise enough to cover all the land with a mist for days; but the lake was mightier then he, it would quench him before he could pass through.

So it seems to me from this that they destroyed the bridge to force the dragon in the air, denying him access to the bridge. Perhaps they hoped that they could knock him out of the sky into the water perhaps hoping that such a fall would be enough to harm the dragon.

[Nerwen]

Obviously, tourists would have to sign an indemnity waiver. Like this:

INDEMNITY/WAIVER

Acknowlegement of Risk and Release of Liability by Participants in respect of Tour Activities provided by Watcher Tours, Esgaroth.

The following waiver of all claims, release from all liability, assumption of all risks, agreement not to sue and other terms of agreement are entered into by me ( the “participant”) with and for the benefit of WATCHER TOURS, its owner(s), employees, volunteers, business operators and agents (the “Host”).

I the undersigned
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Having carefully read and understood this waiver before participating in Tour Activities, hereby declare:

1. I am aware that there are inherent dangers, hazards and risks ( “Risks” ) associated with Tour Activities ( “Tour Activities” ) and injuries resulting from the “Risks” are a common occurrence. I am aware that the “Risks” of “Tour Activities” mean those dangerous conditions which are an integral part of “Tour Activities”, including but not limited to:

A. The propensity of the Watcher to behave in ways thet may result in injury, harm or death to persons, other animals or objects;
B. The unpredictability of the Watcher’s reaction to such things as sounds, sudden movement, tremors, vibrations, unfamiliar objects, persons or other animals;
C. The inherent danger that the Watcher poses for persons, other animals and objects;
D. The potential for other participants and other persons to behave in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to themselves or others (inc. casting stones into the water in the vicinity of the Watcher).

2. I freely accept and fully assume all responsibility for all “Risks” and possibilities of any or all personal injury, death, dismemberment, damage to property (inc. sliming of garments) or loss resulting from my participation in “Tour Activities”.

3. I agree to release and forever discharge WATCHER TOURS ( the "Host" ) from all liability for personal injury, death, dismemberment damage to
property, or loss resulting from my participation in “Tour Activities” due to any cause.

4. I agree that this waiver and all terms contained herein are governed exclusively and in all respects by the laws of the Town of Esgaroth in which the “Tour Activities” are provided by the “Host”. I hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Town of Esgaroth and I agree that no other court, whether of Men, Elves, Dwarves or Hobbits can exercise jurisdiction over the terms and claims referred to herein. Any litigation to enforce this waiver will be instituted in the Town of Esgaroth in which the “Tour Activities” are provided by the “Host”.

4. I confirm that I have reached the age of majority for my species.

THUS DONE AND SIGNED AT _______________ THIS_______________ DAY
OF_________________


______________________ _____________________ _____________________
PARTICIPANT ( Client ) PARTICIPANT ( observer ) HOST ( Witness )




I, the undersigned, (Full names)
__________________________________________________ ________________________________

In my capacity as parent/legal guardian* of the above participant, agree to the said minor participant taking part in Watcher Viewing, on the above mentioned dates and agree that the said minor shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this indemnity.

________________________________
PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN
(* Delete which is not applicable)