The Beanstalk

[Chrysophylax Dives]

A member of the Shire Defence Squad, while on gardening duty in Mordor, has grown a magic beanstalk that has broken the crystal ceiling and come up in the Lore Post Office.

Now we must decide if we keep the beanstalk.

Legal disclaimer: The results of this poll have no bearing whatsoever on what action is taken by the plaza administration on the beanstalk, beyond expressing the will of about three members.

[VelvetineZone]

This got me scuttling off to look up the origins of the beanstalk story, so I've just been skim reading about what I guess you would call the beanstalk's roots (love a good, or even terrible, pun).

I like this: "The ascent to the upper world by means of a tree is one of the many universal folktale motifs in Jack and the Beanstalk which ensure its enduring appeal and announce that we have entered a realm of enchantment and wonder."

[Chrysophylax Dives]

@VelvetineZone. The beanstalk story touches on my professional interest with Elvish stairs. Basically, to an Elf a tree is a tower, and once you admit trees it is hard to limit the vertical forms. The key Tolkien story is the First Age story of Lúthien, who falls in love with a mortal man and becomes mortal to share his fate. Her father imprisons her in a tree and she enchants her hair and uses it to escape. So we have Rapunzel as well as Jack and the beanstalk.

[VelvetineZone]

Ooh I know the dancing Lúthien story but not the imprisoned in a tree bit.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

In angry love and half in fear Thingol took counsel his most dear to guard and keep. He would not bind in cavems deep and intertwined sweet Lúthien, his lovely maid, who robbed of air must wane and fade, who ever must look upon the sky and see the sun and moon go by.

Thither at whiles they climbed and brought all things she needed or besought; but death was his, whoso should dare a ladder leave, or creeping there should set one by the tree at night; a guard was held from dusk to light about the grey feet of Hirilom and Lúthien in prison and forlom.

And here is the enchantment that Lúthien does on her hair:

And all names of things
tallest and longest on earth she sings:
the locks of the Longbeard dwarves; the tail
of Draugluin the werewolf pale;
the body of Glómund the great snake;
the vast upsoaring peaks that quake
above the fires in Angband’s gloom;
the chain Angainor that ere Doom
for Morgoth shall by Gods be wrought
of steel and torment. Names she sought,
and sang of Glend the sword of Nan;
of Gilim the giant of Eruman;
and last and longest named she then
the endless hair of Uinen,
the Lady of the Sea, that lies
through all the waters under skies.

Snippets from 'The Lay of Leithian' (HoMe III)

[VelvetineZone]

Peak helicopter parenting.

Love the hair enchantment. Might give it a go