Calling all Aussie and Kiwi Tolkien Fans, Hern Ennorath is once again challenging you to fire up your Middle-earth geekery and delve deep into your “great vats” of knowledge on all things Tolkien at their annual Middle-earth Quiz.

This enjoyable evening is coming to you on Thursday 28th September 2023, and is organised and co-ordinated by Quiz-Istari Ambra. The questions will range from “dreadfully easy” to those “a bit more difficult and more unpleasant”. Some of the questions you will answer without “putting on your thinking cap”, while others will have you yelling “Give me more time!”

The quiz format is “sacred and of immense antiquity” using the Kahoot app to receive and answer questions. It is suggested that anyone planning on attending make an account and have the Kahoot app on your phone or iPad. You can find the app at https://kahoot.it

Hern Ennorath Annual Middle-earth Quiz is on Thursday 28th September 2023.

Australian and New Zealand Times

7:30pm NSW, Qld, Vic, Tas, ACT
7:00pm SA, NT
5:30pm WA
9:30pm NZ

For Zoom details contact the Melbourne Tolkien Fellowship at melbournetolkienfellowship@yahoo.com

So come along and join in the fun, they look forward to your company on Thursday 28th September.

The annual TORn event in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park is slated to take place on Saturday, September 23, starting at 11:30 a.m. in the Mineral Wells location we’ve been using for years.

One note for those driving in from the Valley. The North entrance to the park from the 134 freeway, past Forest Lawn and the Travel Town Railroad has major closures, so make sure to drive around to the 5 freeway, head south, and follow the directions into the park. The FB event page has directions, just visit the event page https://www.facebook.com/events/795815945664608 Simply click on the About button, then See More at the bottom of the brief description to see the full description, and driving directions.

We don’t quite know what the weather will be like, but there is usually lots of sunshine, so a popup tent, sunscreen, a hat, etc. is always a good idea. The Potluck is back, so read through the description on the FB event page for more details. If everyone brings at least enough food and drink for their party, and maybe to share with at least 3-4 other people, we should have more than enough food. But it doesn’t stop at food and drink, we will also want a supply of paper plates and cups, ice chests with ice in them, trash bags, plastic utensils, and paper towels. Beverages should be in bottles, if possible, in the case of yellowjackets, cans just can’t keep your beverage safe. There will be fun and games, as usual, with trivia and possibly some Golfimbul fun to be had. Costumes are welcome, and we will be doing the Middle-earth-themed Cake and Cupcake contest, so start considering your epic design and yumminess factor. There will be prizes for many of the games, cakes, and costumes.

To RSVP and let us know what food or supply items you intend to bring, please post on the facebook event page linked above, or email Garfeimao@TheOneRing.net.

The exclusive The Lord of The Rings™ Roleplaying game live event for Extra Life, a charity uniting thousands of gamers around the world in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals — Only at LA Comic Con 

For every Middle-earth fan attending L.A. Comic Con, this Roleplaying live event is the perfect way to end your Saturday evening. There will be an All-Star group of gamers and actors playing the game, all for charity, and you can be there to watch it live.

LIVE EVENT DETAILS: How: Redeem your free ticket at the Legion M booth (booth 1015) starting at 11 am PST on Sat, December 3rd, 2022 When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 Where: Only at Los Angeles Comic Con in room 301AB Time: Doors open 6 pm | Show starts 7 pm PT Donate to Extra Life at: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/lostodyssey 

The full press release is below:

LOS ANGELES, Ca., Nov. 29 — One charity campaign to unite fans of fantasy and gaming alike. ‘From the mind of Kate Welch’, Lost Odyssey: The Red Scribe will see a fellowship of heroes come together in the World Premiere of the brand new The Lord of the Rings™ Roleplaying Game, in a spectacular, never-before-heard tale from Middle Earth. The game will kick off a first-of-its-kind digital marketplace, hosted by eBay, where both fans and companies can buy and sell products to benefit Extra Life, a program that’s raised over $100 million to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services across the nation.

Join game master Kate Welch (Acquisitions Incorporated), alongside an all-star cast of players including Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood, Daredevil), Reggie Watts (The Late Late Show with James Corden), TJ Storm (Godzilla, Deadpool), Luke Gygax (GaryCon, GaxxWorx), and The Dark Lord Sauron himself, Sala Baker (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy), for a tabletop roleplaying experience like no other. Free to attend for any LACC Saturday badge holder, the star-studded celebrity gaming series Lost Odyssey returns to a physical table after two years of webcam games for an incredible cause. People coming together and telling stories to help one another—gathering around the proverbial campfire, and telling a story as one. Be the first to get your free ticket at the Legion M booth starting at 11 am PST on December 3rd – A limited number of tickets are available! Attendees will receive exclusive Comic-Con giveaways like minis, dice, and more… they may even have a role to play in the onstage story itself!

Lost Odyssey: The Red Scribe is presented by The Lord of the Rings™: Rise to War (an officially licensed mobile strategy game based on the iconic trilogy of books by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by NetEase Games), and brought to you from sponsors including Free League Publishing (Creators of hit TTRPGs like ALIEN The Roleplaying Game, Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game, The One Ring™, and of course the new The Lord of the Rings™ Roleplaying Game), Legion M (the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company), Magpie Games (Avatar: Legends, Root The Roleplaying Game, and Urban Shadows), Spidermind Games (creator of the new technologically advanced, Dragon Eye Dice), Miniature Market (the online gaming superstore), DUST (a diverse platform for visionaries across the sci-fi community), GaxxWorx (veteran-owned company focused on creating well-designed and fun games and gaming accessories for everyone), and Syrinscape (the app that brings immersive sound effects and music to your tabletop roleplaying games, offering unique soundscapes that will elevate your game at home the same way you’ll see at-play in Lost Odyssey: The Red Scribe).

Stay tuned for more game details at: lostodysseyevents.com

Follow along on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/TikTok: @LostOdysseyLive

About LOST ODYSSEY EVENTS: From the production company INSIGNIS PICTURES, LOST ODYSSEY EVENTS is a TTRPG event series created by Douglisio DiMuccio and Rob D. Miller, a narrative multiverse bringing together the organizations and personalities of the TTRPG community behind common causes. Story saves.

About EXTRA LIFE: Extra Life is a charity uniting thousands of gamers around the world to play games in support of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised over $100 million to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services across the nation. For Lost Odyssey Events: inquiries@insignispictures.com 

Here is the Trailer for the gaming event

https://youtu.be/Jvzofy_SFSc

The Los Angeles Comic Con Octopus

Due to some technical issues, there has been some realignment to the programming schedule at LACC and TheOneRing.net has a slight change in our programming slot.

Our ‘Dispatches from Middle-earth: The return to Middle-earth’ panel is still in room 303 AB on Saturday, December 3, but now our start time is at 5:30 PM and ending at 7:00 PM, giving us nearly a full 90-minute panel. Join us as we talk about all things Tolkien, past, present, and future. And remember, we love seeing Middle-earth themed cosplay, and this is the weekend to really bring it.

But wait, there’s more Middle-earth goodness to be had. Elijah Wood and Sean Astin will be on the Main Stage on Saturday, December 3 from 3:00 PM to 3:50 PM. Both will be doing autographs and photo ops on Saturday as well, check the L.A. ComicCon App for details. 

Elijah Wood and Sean Astin

There is one more surprise coming tomorrow for cool, geeky Middle-earth-themed fun happening at LACC, so check back tomorrow morning.

The rollout of the Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series has re-energized Middle-earth fandom, and one thing is clear, we all love to get together, online, at conventions, and at the theater and talk Tolkien.

Reading The Hobbit during the Baggins Birthday Bash

The Baggins Birthday Bash, coming to Los Angeles at 11:30am on September 24 at Griffith Park’s Mineral Wells picnic area is the perfect way for SoCal Tolkien fans to gather and party like Hobbits. There will be games, there will be food, there will be plenty of Tolkien discussion going on, and I’m sure we can fit some fun in there somewhere.

Regarding food, in the before times it was a big buffet, and last year, we decided to ask everyone to just bring enough food and drink for their own party. This year, it will probably end up being a bit of a hybrid. Some will just bring what they want to eat, and a few will bring shareable dishes, and we’ll let the food and drink sort itself out. It would be nice if some folks bring extra picnic plates and cups, maybe some paper towels, and of course, everyone should bring a portable chair or blanket and a popup if you have it.

We would like to bring back the Cake or Cupcake contest for the best Middle-earth designed desserts. We’ve had some really creative and beautiful designs in the past, so start contemplating now on how to wow your fellow fans this year. Costumes are welcome, as usual, especially any new 2nd Age costumes. If we do trivia, there is a decent chance it will include some references to the Rings of Power show, since the 5th episode will have screened just 2 days before the picnic.

Please do RSVP on our Facebook Event page, located at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1271178800320132/ and read through the About Details, including selecting ‘see more’ to access the directions for those driving from different sections of Southern California in order to get to Griffith Park and the Mineral Wells section of the park.

We are finally going back to Middle-earth and we get to see so many more places than we’ve ever been able to visit before on Tolkien’s map.

Juan Antonio ‘J.A.’ Bayona (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

Amazon Prime has finally released the full airing schedule, as shown below. Start marking your calendars to remind you when you can watch the show.

The first two episodes will drop together, and these are the episodes directed by J.A. Bayona. Because they drop together, it is important to note that the first episode is entitled “Shadow of the Past” so that you start off with the correct episode. These will become available on Amazon Prime on Thursday, September 1 starting at 6 pm PT, 9 pm ET and 2 am UK time early Friday, September 2. You will want to sync this info up with your own time zone.

The remaining episodes will drop once a week afterward, starting with Episode 3 on Thursday, September 8 at 9 pm PT, Midnight ET, and 5 am UK time on Friday, September 9, and continue on that same schedule. The 8th episode finale will air on Thursday, October 13 at 9 pm PT, Midnight ET and 5 am UK Time on Friday, October 14. The full schedule is posted below!

Global release occurs on either September 1, 2022 or September 2, 2022 depending on your location

  • The first TWO episodes will debut together on release night.
  • Release night timing is the following: September 1, 2022 at 6 PM PT which is 2 AM UK Time on September 2, 2022.
  • Both Episode 1 and 2 will be available immidiately. Amazon Studios suggests you ensure you first choose Episode 1 titled “SHADOW OF THE PAST” for the best viewing experience. Don’t choose the second episode first by accident!
  • Episodes 3 to 8 will be singular weekly releases. That is, one episode per week. These episodes will air at 9 PM PT each Thursday. This corresponds to 5 AM UK Time Friday.

The week-by-week Rings of Power schedule

Week 1: Episode 1+2

Episode 1+2 will be available at 6 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on September 1, 2022. This is equal to 2 AM UK Time on FRIDAY MORNING, September 2, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 1.00pm Friday; Sydney: 11.00am Friday; Tokyo: 10.00am Friday; Singapore: 9.00am Friday; Mumbai: 6.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 3.00am Friday; London: 2.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 10.00pm Thursday; New York: 9.00pm Thursday; Chicago: 8.00pm Thursday.

Week 2: Episode 3

Episode 3 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on September 8, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time on FRIDAY MORNING, September 9, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Week 3: Episode 4

Episode 4 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on September 15, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time FRIDAY MORNING, September 16, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Week 4: Episode 5

Episode 5 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on September 22, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time FRIDAY MORNING, September 23, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Week 5: Episode 6

Episode 6 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on September 29, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time FRIDAY MORNING, September 30, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Week 6: Episode 7

Episode 7 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on October 6, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time FRIDAY MORNING, October 7th, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Week 7: Episode 8

Episode 8 will be available at 9 PM PT THURSDAY NIGHT on October 13, 2022. This is equal to 5 AM UK Time FRIDAY MORNING, October 14th, 2022.

Other location conversions:

Auckland: 4.00pm Friday; Sydney: 2.00pm Friday; Tokyo: 1.00pm Friday; Singapore: 12.00 NOON Friday; Mumbai: 9.30am Friday; Cairo/Paris: 6.00am Friday; London: 5.00am Friday; Rio de Janeiro: 1.00am Friday; New York: 12.00 MIDNIGHT Friday; Chicago: 11.00pm Thursday.

Viewing plans

With this schedule, you should be able to plan a Viewing Party or two, for Debut night and Finale night, if not all 7 weeks. If you choose to do so, please do share in the fun with our Twitter/Facebook/Discord social channel of choice and let us know your thoughts. There will also be some live posting, especially in our Discord on show nights, so come play along during the show, or directly afterward for a discussion on what you have just seen.