Forgive the lame title, <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0> but indeed, my name is *E* and I am here to help you settle into Tolkien Online and to make sure your stay is as pleasant as possible.<BR><BR>Whether you've been a member for a few hours, days, or weeks, I am sure you have noticed how huge this site is. It is more than easy to be overwhelmed with all this new information, and that is why I would like to help you. Tolkien Online is very much like a small city, and therefore you can think of this thread as a small family. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> During your time here, you will make friends and meet many new people. I hope that you will enjoy yourself here, because in my six months, I have had a ball. I look forward to many more months ahead of me. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>I'd like to give you a short run-down of this site and a few links to threads that contain valuable information. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>First off, you are now a TORCer. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0> The old address for this site was theonering.com, and even though we have a new address, the name still sticks. So, welcome to TORC. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>You may be wondering what are all those swords and shields sitting underneath everyone's username. They are used to show people's post count. Here is what each symbol represents:<BR><UL><BR><li>sword = 10 posts<BR><li>diamond = 50 posts<BR><li>red shield = 100 posts<BR><li>green Rohan shield = 500 posts<BR><li>black Gondor shield = 1,000 posts<BR><li>blue Mariners shield = 5,000 posts<BR><li>the One Ring = 10,000 posts<BR></UL><BR>Also, certain amounts of posts get you certain titles:<BR><UL><BR><li>0 = Petitioner to the Council<BR><li>20 = Citizen of Imladris<BR><li>100 = Shield Bearer<BR><li>500 = Rider of the Mark<BR><li>1,000 = Ranger of the North<BR><li>5,000 = Mariner<BR><li>10,000 = Ringbearer<BR></UL><BR>One of my favorite things to use when posting are the emoticons. They include cute little smiley faces, devils, winks, and many other emotions. They can really help sometimes - if you are joking around, use the wink, if you say something naughty, use the devil, if you make a mistake, use the embarrassed emoticon, etc. Here's the gang, and what their code is: (without the spaces, of course)<BR><UL><BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif"border=0> (embarrassment) = : o<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0> (big grin) = : D<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif"border=0> (mad) = : |<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif"border=0> (frown) = : (<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif"border=0> (shocked) = : Q<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> (smile) = : )<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0> (wink) = ; )<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif"border=0> (tongue) = : P<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-devil.gif"border=0> (devil) = = : )<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif"border=0> (confused) = % (<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-crying.gif"border=0> (crying) = : ' (<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif"border=0> (cool) = 8 ^<BR><li><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-rolleyes.gif"border=0> (rolling eyes) = B ^<BR></UL><BR>Now, those are just the very basics that only take a minute to learn. For a complete introduction to Tolkien Online, it is important for you to visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tolkienonline.com/thewhitecouncil/messageview.cfm?catid=30&threadid=23795"]this thread[/l]. Almost everything you need to know about this site is in there. I even try to visit every once in a while, just to brush up. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> It would be beneficial to drop by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tolkienonline.com/thewhitecouncil/messageview.cfm?catid=30&threadid=44204"]the Guidelines of Conduct[/l]. Most of it is common sense but you should still make yourself familiar with it. You don't want to be trolling and not know it. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif"border=0><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0> Which brings me to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tolkienonline.com/thewhitecouncil/tos.cfm"]Terms of Service[/l]. These are the rules we abide by at TORC. It is a short and sweet list of the kinds of things we encourage, and what we dissuade. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>However, there is so much information your head might be spinning. That's where I come in. I'll break down anything you need an explanation to. You are more than free to ask questions. When I first joined, I was too shy. Please, don't be like that. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> Speak right up and I'll answer to the best of my ability. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>Well, if you've read this far, and are thinking you would like to be adopted, perhaps you would like to know a few things about this mysterious monosyllabic adopter? <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0><img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0> As you can see, my name is quite long, and I don't expect anyone to type it out, so you may call me *E*, Evenstar, Evie, or whatever comes to mind. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0> I am 18 years old and a proud graduate of the class of 2002. I live in Atlantic Canada and my life's passion is movies. I'm not sure what I want to do with my life - there is so much I'm interested in it's hard to narrow it down to one career. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0> I enjoy reading, cooking, telling jokes, and being on TORC.<BR><BR>I am here all the time, and love to hang out with everyone, so you can be sure I will update this thread whenever needed. I frequent pretty much all of the forums. I may post more often in Movies, but you can also find me in the Guilds, Tom's House, Events, Bird and the Baby, and a few others.<BR><BR>I don't want to heap too much in your lap at once, so I'll end this here. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> Enjoy yourself at TORC - I can't wait to meet ya. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0><BR><BR>*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*~*+*~*=*<BR><BR>We've got ourselves a nice lil' family going here. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0><BR><BR><b><u>Adoptees</u></b>:<BR><BR>brambleroseGamgee<BR>cherbarina<BR>Elirranel<BR>VioletEyesofDianthelle<BR>Elendilofdark<BR>NightMistress<BR>*~Legolas~TrUe~lOvE~*<BR>Angathol<BR>*~MormiR~* <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0><BR>BiggestLilEvil<BR>Woman~of~the~Waves<BR>Guru88<BR>Laurelad<BR>Talyn<BR>ringbearer888<BR>ElvenWanderer<BR>K.Greenleaf<BR>Káeion<BR>Eldalië<BR>Celebrian<BR>Lúthien_Tinúviel<BR>el nishball (If I spelled your name wrong let me know because I can't see it!) <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0><BR>Eruntale_Ellenendu<BR>Marie<BR>grumpy-dwarf-mom<BR>IceQueen<BR>Incanus<BR>ArwenUndomiel<BR>anti-chocolate<BR>Nymoue/~*verruct~madchen*~<BR>lady_of_the_teleri<BR>The_pointy_hat_trick<BR>Maeglin_Helyanwe<BR>Hildeleoma<BR>lady_of_the_riddermark<BR>Nyx<BR>~Altano~<BR>ccmsOrlilvr<BR>idril_celebrimbal<BR>Twilight~Enchantress<BR>Turinova<BR>FairGoldberry<BR>oldtook<BR>Théowyn<BR><BR><b><u>Friends of our thread</u></b>:<BR><BR>alandriel<BR>Eärwen<BR>eLwEnaReDhEl<BR>dawnamira<BR>sugaplum<BR>troysie<BR>satchmo <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif"border=0><BR><BR>You can join these folks and many others in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tolkienonline.com/thewhitecouncil/messageview.cfm?catid=24&threadid=57746"]A r*E*tarded chat thread[/l]. Come and meet some of the great folks that post here while you get used to the site yourself. <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif"border=0> Anything goes in the r*E*tarded chat thread! <img src="http://www.tolkienonline.com/mb/i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif"border=0><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>*E*