🚀 go-pugleaf

Elbereth is the name we use for Varda Starkindler.  Indeed, that
is what the name means: `el' star + `bereth' maker.  Varda is one
of the Maiar, or more specifically, the Valar.  But no doubt that
is not what you meant.  In the game `hack', `E'ngraving the name
Elbereth on the floor keeps monsters at bay.  But beware; words
written in dust may fade away, in time.  As for the vault guard,
try giving the name Croesus.
-- 
Lindor, alias Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 1415)
UUCP:	seismo!umcp-cs!chris
CSNet:	chris@umcp-cs		ARPA:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu

In article <3060@ut-ngp.UUCP> dlnash@ut-ngp.UUCP (Donald L. Nash) writes:
>I'm relatively new to hack.  I've heard people say something about
>Elbereth and I've read a fortune cookie about naming your sword
>Elbereth, but I really don't know what it all means.  I would be most
>grateful for an explanation.
>
>Also, when you get teleported into the bank vault and the guard asks you
>who you are, is there any name which you can give him to make him let
>you go?
>
>					Don Nash
>

Firstly, name *only* a single two-handed sword:  Orcrist (it means 
"Orc Cleaver" in Sindarin).
Elbereth ("Star-Queen", Sindarin) is the short form of what the Grey Elves
called this being, her full name being, in their language: Elbereth
Gilthoniel ("Star-Queen, Kindler (of Stars)).  She was one of the greatest
forces for good on Middle-Earth and was worshiped as a goddess by both
elves and men.  All that was Evil feared her.  She was one of the Valar,
who helped the One create the Universe, after which she and the other
Valar and the Maiar (a less powerful group) came to Middle-Earth to
live, though they live apart from men.
The name you should give to the Vault Guardian is:  Croesus.  (
(get the joke?)
Be seeing you...

-- 
					The Phoenix
					(Neither Bright, Dark, nor Young)


---"A man should live forever...or die trying."
---"There is no substitute for good manners...except fast reflexes."
---"Never appeal to a man's "better nature".  He may not have one.
    Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage."

> The name you should give to the Vault Guardian is:  Croesus.  (
> (get the joke?)

  I must be really dumb, because everyone is acting like this is so obvious,
but no, I don't get the joke.

--Greg

In article <2027@hao.UUCP>, woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) writes:
>   I must be really dumb, because everyone is acting like this is so obvious,
> but no, I don't get the joke.
> 
> --Greg

Croesus was the King of Lydia, and got lots of free press from
Herodotus.  He was famous mostly for his wealth, which is where the
cliche "rich as Croesus" and the joke in HACK come from.
-- 

	Robert Plamondon
	UUCP: {turtlevax, cae780}!weitek!robert
	FidoNet: 143/12 robert plamondon

	"How about a little fire, Scarecrow?"

> > The name you should give to the Vault Guardian is:  Croesus.  (
> > (get the joke?)
> 
>   I must be really dumb, because everyone is acting like this is so obvious,
> but no, I don't get the joke.

There is an expression common to certain parts of the country,
	"Rich as Croesus"
(pronounced usually "kreesis")
He was a tyrant in ancient Greece who was extremely wealthy and very proud of it.  Find a copy of Plutarch's Lives (Plutarch was a Roman biographer).  I believe
Croesus was mentioned in reference to the life of Solon, but an index will probably tell you.  Basically, he was the example of pride going before the fall.
He eventually lost everything and grovelled pathetically.
Life's tough for greek tyrants.

	Jon King
	Harvard University Department of Trivia
	My opinions are not necessarily my own.

In article <2027@hao.UUCP> woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) writes:
>> The name you should give to the Vault Guardian is:  Croesus.  (
>> (get the joke?)
>
>  I must be really dumb, because everyone is acting like this is so obvious,
>but no, I don't get the joke.
>
>--Greg

Croesus (or Kroisos) was the last King of Lydia around 550 BC.  His wealth
was proverbial.  He was a client of the Oracle at Delphi, where a number of
his gifts to the Oracle were seen by Herodotus.  Fragments of columns from
the temple of Artemis at Ephesus have upon them a dedication by Croesus in
Greek.  He is a historical personage, not a mythic one, so digging out a
Greek mythology book will not help you much.  It is thought that Aesop (as
in Aesop's Fables) worked for Croesus, as well.
-- 
					The Phoenix
					(Neither Bright, Dark, nor Young)


---"A man should live forever...or die trying."
---"There is no substitute for good manners...except fast reflexes."
---"Never appeal to a man's "better nature".  He may not have one.
    Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage."