Which Male Valar is your favorite? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 11-20-2007, 07:06 PM

Since there are so many Valar, it is necessary to separate them out in some way, so I have chosen to do so by gender and primacy. Please see the "sister thread" to this one for primary Female Valar. Perhaps I will do a poll thread on the Ainur soon.

Feel free to describe what it is that you like about your favorite Vala, and if possible, what characteristics you feel you share with him.

Sorry, you must pick one Vala for the poll. But feel free to name close seconds and thirds, etc.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 11-20-2007, 08:44 PM

Easy choice. For the same reason I like reading Paradise Lost.

Nerwen · 11-20-2007, 10:19 PM

You chose... Melkor???

Aulë for me. I make things.

Edit: Ulmo would be my second choice. I love the sea.

Bêthberry · 11-20-2007, 10:46 PM

Orome, because of his love of trees and Middle-earth and because he had a thing for creatures that go bump in the night.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 11-21-2007, 03:15 AM

For me, it's obvious at first sight. Ulmo. He is the most wonderful of all the Valar, I liked him waaay back. It may be something to do with how I loved water, sea in particular, I could always identify myself with "many of the Children of Ilúvatar who hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen", not speaking of the feeling of mystery when you have the chance to take a peek into the world underwater... But even then Ulmo is just fantastic as a character, the "secret voice that gainsayeth" and how he helps the Eldar even in exile, not speaking about Men (Tuor and Elwing and Eärendil and all this stuff).

Macalaure · 11-21-2007, 04:34 AM

Well, I picked the name of a Noldo as my screen name, so this choice is probably not all that surprising.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 11-21-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

You chose... Melkor???

Without the dark of night we cannot see the stars.

Gwathagor · 11-21-2007, 12:28 PM

Orome, the Huntsman of the Valar! He rides through the night on a white horse destroying monsters of all shapes, sizes, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds. No compromise! Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out. What's not to like?

Elmo · 11-21-2007, 01:31 PM

sugar, i went and voted for Ulmo without realising they'd put Melkor in the list

littlemanpoet · 11-22-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Without the dark of night we cannot see the stars.

Ah but Melkor did not bring night; he made it evil and full of fear.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 11-22-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRR

And Iluvatar spoke to Ulmo, and said: ‘Seest thou not how here in this little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor hath made war upon thy province? He hath bethought him of bitter cold immoderate, and yet hath not destroyed the beauty of thy fountains, nor of thy clear pools. Behold the snow, and the cunning work of frost! Melkor hath devised heats and fire without restraint, and hath not dried up thy desire nor utterly quelled the music of the sea. Behold rather the height and glory of the clouds, and the everchanging mists; and listen to the fall of rain upon the Earth! And in these clouds thou art drawn nearer to Manwe, thy friend, whom thou lovest.’

Then Ulmo answered: ‘Truly, Water is become now fairer than my heart imagined, neither had my secret thought conceived the snowflake, nor in all my music was contained the falling of the rain.'

I can't say it better than Ulmo and Illuvatar.

Gwathagor · 01-11-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Without the dark of night we cannot see the stars.

And yet the stars remain regardless.

Inziladun · 01-11-2009, 10:04 PM

Without question, Ulmo.
Though second in power among the Valar, he has an unswerving humility and never deviates from the part given him by Eru. I have to admire such devotion to duty.

Quote:

"But behold!"said (Ulmo). "in the armour of Fate (as the Children of Earth name it) there is ever a rift, and in the walls of Doom, a breach, until the full-making, which ye call the End."

And how can you not like someone who makes speeches like that?

littlemanpoet · 11-22-2007, 12:02 PM

At first I considered voting for Oromë, but realized that Huntsman is not really what draws me most. Then I considered Ulmo because of his character and how much I love the sea and the rivers and streams and waterfalls. But Mandos I find the most intriguing and interesting. He says just mysterious things, has such fascinating foreknowledge. He's just the most intriguing to me.

Galadriel · 01-03-2011, 07:13 AM

Wow! Tough decision. In chronological order:

1. Manwë and Mandos. Can't choose between the two.
2. Oromë. Just because.
3. Irmo. Because he loves nature. I love nature. Nature is cool. Have I freaked you out yet?

Galadriel55 · 01-03-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel

Have I freaked you out yet?

No, not yet, you can keep going.

Ozban · 01-05-2011, 06:48 AM

Voted Ulmo. Water is my choice and always shall be. His character I consider best among Valar. Strongwilled, independent, helping eventhough he was told not to.

Orome would be second, followed by Mandos. I find that doom-spokesman person intriguing.

Galadriel · 01-10-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

No, not yet, you can keep going.

Ohhh yay! I can freak you out more! But, er...ok. Now I have no idea what to freak you out with. Next time, perhaps

View Poll Results: Which Male Valar is your favorite?
Manwë	7	14.29%
Melkor	5	10.20%
Ulmo	16	32.65%
Aulë	5	10.20%
Mandos	5	10.20%
Lórien	2	4.08%
Tulkas	4	8.16%
Oromë	5	10.20%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

11-20-2007, 07:06 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Which Male Valar is your favorite? Since there are so many Valar, it is necessary to separate them out in some way, so I have chosen to do so by gender and primacy. Please see the "sister thread" to this one for primary Female Valar. Perhaps I will do a poll thread on the Ainur soon. Feel free to describe what it is that you like about your favorite Vala, and if possible, what characteristics you feel you share with him. Sorry, you must pick one Vala for the poll. But feel free to name close seconds and thirds, etc.

11-20-2007, 08:44 PM	#2
Feanor of the Peredhil La Belle Dame sans Merci Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: perpetual uncertainty Posts: 5,517	Easy choice. For the same reason I like reading Paradise Lost. __________________ peace

11-20-2007, 10:19 PM	#3
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	You chose... Melkor??? Aulë for me. I make things. Edit: Ulmo would be my second choice. I love the sea. Last edited by Nerwen; 11-21-2007 at 10:24 AM. Reason: adding a comment

11-20-2007, 10:46 PM	#4
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,977	Orome, because of his love of trees and Middle-earth and because he had a thing for creatures that go bump in the night. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

11-21-2007, 03:15 AM	#5
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	For me, it's obvious at first sight. Ulmo. He is the most wonderful of all the Valar, I liked him waaay back. It may be something to do with how I loved water, sea in particular, I could always identify myself with "many of the Children of Ilúvatar who hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen", not speaking of the feeling of mystery when you have the chance to take a peek into the world underwater... But even then Ulmo is just fantastic as a character, the "secret voice that gainsayeth" and how he helps the Eldar even in exile, not speaking about Men (Tuor and Elwing and Eärendil and all this stuff). __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

11-21-2007, 04:34 AM	#6
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	Aulë Well, I picked the name of a Noldo as my screen name, so this choice is probably not all that surprising.

11-21-2007, 12:28 PM	#8
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Orome, the Huntsman of the Valar! He rides through the night on a white horse destroying monsters of all shapes, sizes, sexual orientations, and ethnic backgrounds. No compromise! Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out. What's not to like? __________________ Stories and songs.

11-21-2007, 01:31 PM	#9
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	sugar, i went and voted for Ulmo without realising they'd put Melkor in the list __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

11-22-2007, 12:02 PM	#14
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	At first I considered voting for Oromë, but realized that Huntsman is not really what draws me most. Then I considered Ulmo because of his character and how much I love the sea and the rivers and streams and waterfalls. But Mandos I find the most intriguing and interesting. He says just mysterious things, has such fascinating foreknowledge. He's just the most intriguing to me.

01-03-2011, 07:13 AM	#15
Galadriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion Posts: 551	Wow! Tough decision. In chronological order: 1. Manwë and Mandos. Can't choose between the two. 2. Oromë. Just because. 3. Irmo. Because he loves nature. I love nature. Nature is cool. Have I freaked you out yet? __________________ "Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?" – Tom Bombadil

01-05-2011, 06:48 AM	#17
Ozban Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the road, again... Posts: 73	Voted Ulmo. Water is my choice and always shall be. His character I consider best among Valar. Strongwilled, independent, helping eventhough he was told not to. Orome would be second, followed by Mandos. I find that doom-spokesman person intriguing. __________________ Let us sit upon the ground, and tell sad stories of the death of kings. - Shakespeare (Richard II)