Today's Tolkien Times
Today's Tolkien Times is a daily short-format podcast hosted by Alan Sisto, the creator of the award-winning Prancing Pony Podcast. Each day of the week features a different theme: Mailbag Mondays, Tolkien Tuesdays, Word-nerd Wednesdays, Third Age Thursdays, Fandom Fridays, and Silmarillion Saturdays. The podcast offers listeners a daily dose of Tolkien lore, language, and community engagement. It is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Episodes
Week 120 - Friendship Friday: Above All the Jewels
What Fëanor didn’t get after begging three times, a Dwarf gets at first asking. Join The Man of the West as Gimli leaves Lothlórien with three golden hairs and an unexpected wound.
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Week 120 - Third Age Thursday: Till Éomer Comes
Two wolfriders, a two-mile charge, and a horn in the dark. Join The Man of the West as Elfhelm reaches the Fords of Isen, and the Prince of the Mark speaks his last words.
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Week 120 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Full Power
Join The Man of the West for a black fence, a shadow that argued with itself, a mountain that watched the wrong way — and the Latin word Tolkien used to describe Gandalf.
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Week 120 - Tolkien Tuesday: Where Shall I Find Rest?
Join The Man of the West as we continue letter 246, where Tolkien turns from Frodo’s blame to Frodo’s wounds — and the question Gandalf wouldn’t answer.
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Week 120 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Climbs Backwards-Like
Join The Man of the West (who climbs forward, if at all) as we follow Sam in, and up, the Tower of Cirith Ungol on his quest to find Frodo.
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Week 119 - Silmarillion Saturday: Dark Fruit
Join The Man of the West as the last two sons of Fëanor wish they’d ordered oven mitts, and the Quenta Silmarillion comes to its end.
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Week 119 - Friendship Friday: I Need You Both
Two peoples, three Ages of grievance, and one wizard who refuses to give judgment. Join The Man of the West as we begin our look at An Unexpected Friendship.
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Week 119 - Third Age Thursday: Too Late
Join The Man of the West as Saruman’s trap closes around Théodred at the Fords of Isen — and Grimbold proves his worth.
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Week 119 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Through the Cenedril, and What Gimli Found There
That would be a very different book, Mr. Carroll. Join The Man of the West for a look at a river and a lake, six names, and a 1971 BBC interview with Tolkien
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Week 119 - Tolkien Tuesday: He Did That
Join The Man of the West as we begin a four-episode read-through of letter 246 — in which Tolkien defends Frodo, demolishes simple-minded heroism, and gives us the entire argument in three words.
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Week 119 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Boom. Clang.
Join The Man of the West as we approach the Tower of Cirith Ungol with Sam — from leaving Frodo’s body behind, to the Two Watchers at the gate.
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Week 118 - Silmarillion Saturday: Who Shall Release Us?
Join The Man of the West as the two surviving sons of Fëanor argue the theology of an oath sworn to Ilúvatar, with one simply asking: can we just do a little less evil?
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Week 118 - Friendship Friday: Two Is Enough
Four episodes, two cousins, and one Man with a regrettable attitude. Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our time with Merry and Pippin, from the road home to their beds set beside the great king.
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Week 118 - Third Age Thursday: Five Days
Join The Man of the West as we shift gears on Third Age Thursday and being a series-long read through of The Battles of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales: and learn just how close Saruman came to winning the war.
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Week 118 - Word-nerd Wednesday: To Have and To Holdwine
Join The Man of the West for a pair of Sindarin words from Shelob’s Lair, and three Old English words from the open horse-lands of Rohan.
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Week 118 - Tolkien Tuesday: Crabbed and Not Too Legible
Tolkien’s writing, not mine — though my writing is rarely legible. Join The Man of the West as Tolkien, developing his ambidexterity, answers a reader's questions about runes and the gift of death.
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Week 118 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Filth Unnameable
No, not the latest hotel review from The Man of the West. Join us as we open Series 16 in the dark, fragrant comfort of Shelob’s Lair.
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Week 117 - Silmarillion Saturday: And Yet Unvaliant
Join The Man of the West — to whom this episode’s title does not refer… usually — as we read the climax of the War of Wrath, and Morgoth finally gets what’s coming to him.
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Week 117 - Friendship Friday: I Am Lonely
No, not me — I’m fine; it’s Pippin you should worry about. Join The Man of the West as we examine Merry & Pippin’s friendship during their time apart, and enjoy their warm reunion.
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Week 117 - Third Age Thursday: It Is Difficult to Keep Awake Here
Look, I’m trying to keep things exciting, but… oh, that wasn’t about the show. Join The Man of the West as we conclude our study of the Elves of Rivendell.
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Week 117 - Word-nerd Wednesday: His Children’s Joy
Join The Man of the West as this week’s linguistic deep dive includes a look at Estel, and a reminder of the Old English inspiration behind the beginning of the legendarium.
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Week 117 - Tolkien Tuesday: Petty Fencing
Join The Man of the West as he discovers Petty Fencing isn’t what you build when you just want to get even with your neighbor, and Tolkien gives a reader a fierce defense of Faramir, Éowyn, and their love.
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Week 117 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Just a Few More Little Steps
Sure, Gollum, sure. Join The Man of the West as we continue our journey with Frodo and Sam, climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Are you sure there isn’t an elevator somewhere, Gollum?
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Week 116 - Silmarillion Saturday: Glittering and Bright
Clearly not The Man of the West, today’s title describes the sight of Eärendil’s ship, Vingilot, as it sails into the heavens — freeing the Elves from despair, while filling Morgoth with doubt.
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Week 116 - Friendship Friday: Brush Up My Toes
Join The Man of the West as Merry acknowledges he has some work to do to catch up to Pippin as we continue our (now) four-episode look at their friendship.
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Week 116 - Third Age Thursday: Long It Endured
Join The Man of the West as we begin a two-part look at the Elves of Rivendell: this time featuring the tra-la-lally Elves.
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Week 116 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not One Star; All the Stars
Break out your Quenya and Sindarin dictionaries as The Man of the West does his usual mid-week deep dive into the names of some familiar places.
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Week 116 - Tolkien Tuesday: Never Mind the Critics
As though Tolkien ever took them too seriously to begin with. Join The Man of the West as he looks at two letters closing out 1962, including how a neighbor literally influenced the shape of Tolkien’s world.
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Week 116 - Middle-earth Map Monday: A Shapeless Fear
Join The Man of the West as he continues his anti-bucket list of places to visit in Middle-earth with a trip through history to view the city known both as Minas Ithil and Minas Morgul.
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Week 115 - Silmarillion Saturday: And His Prayer Was Granted
Join The Man of the West as Eärendil wanders the lonely streets of Tirion, and Eönwë has a sense of dramatic timing.
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Week 115 - Friendship Friday: Good Old Merry!
Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at another friendship in the legendarium: everyone’s favorite troublemakers, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
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Week 115 - Third Age Thursday: That What Should Be Shall Be
Galadriel takes the high road when faced with a no-win scenario, as The Man of the West completes a three-episode look at the Elves of Lórien.
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Week 115 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Any Excuse At All, Really
Join The Man of the West as he finds a reason to read a line from Galadriel’s Lament because… well, see above. Also: which of these words is not like the others?
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Week 115 - Tolkien Tuesday: Blow Me Up
Three short letters in the Revised and Expanded edition provide the usual combination of insight, wit, and kindness that characterize Tolkien’s letters.
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Week 115 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Corpse Candles and Carne Asada?
Join The Man of the West as we continue our itinerary of Places No One Wants to Visit: this time, looking at the lovely and refreshing Morgul Vale.
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Week 114 - Silmarillion Saturday: Move Their Hearts to Pity
We’ve been building up to this for a few series now, and it’s finally time to begin Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath.
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Week 114 - Friendship Friday: Not Yet Anyway
Join The Man of the West as we wrap up our four-episode look at the friendship of Frodo and Sam, from certain death on the slopes of Mount Doom, to their farewell at the Grey Havens.
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Week 114 - Third Age Thursday: An Island Amid Many Perils
We continue our look at the Elves of Lórien as the Fellowship encounter Haldir and make their way towards Caras Galadhon itself.
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Week 114 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Steep Streets
Join The Man of the West as we look at a few words from our visit to the darkness on Middle-earth Map Monday… and visit a golden river for a palate cleanse.
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Week 114 - Tolkien Tuesday: With Tears As I Wrote
We reach the second half of Letter 241 as Tolkien gives his Aunt Jane (and us) the story behind his work, Leaf by Niggle.
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Week 114 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Despair… Postponed
Join The Man of the West as we continue our travel journeys to only the worst places, this time to the Black Gate itself.
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Week 113 - Silmarillion Saturday: The Fairest of All the Children of the World
As if I need to tell you that today’s episode title has nothing whatsoever to do with The Man of the West. We conclude the tragic chapter Of the Ruin of Doriath with the loss of Beren and Lúthien, some unwelcome guests, and even more death.
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Week 113 - Friendship Friday: As Our Strength Lessens
Join The Man of the West as the friendship of Frodo and Sam grows stronger even in the most challenging circumstances.
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Week 113 - Third Age Thursday: Valiant and Wise
Clearly not referring to The Man of the West, today’s episode title actually speaks of Amroth, the King of Lórien, as we move west from Mirkwood to look at yet another of the Elven Kingdoms of the Third Age.
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Week 113 - Word-nerd Wednesday: On Top of Old Wet Head
Today’s Word-nerd Wednesday looks at several words from our Silmarillion Saturday readings, some of which are more noble sounding than others.
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Week 113 - Tolkien Tuesday: Now I Want a Grilled Cheese
Join The Man of the West as we begin another of the Professor’s letters to his Aunt Jane Neave: today, it’s all about the Welsh!
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Week 113 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Diseased Beyond All Healing
No, really, it’s just a mild cold… oh, the text? That’s a different story. Join The Man of the West as we follow Frodo and Sam’s miserable itinerary through the Dagorlad and the wastes before the Black Gate.
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Week 112 - Silmarillion Saturday: With a Different Voice
Join The Man of the West as we continue in The Ruin of Doriath, standing beside Melian in her grief. Mablung meets his end fulfilling his duty, and Beren rescues the stolen Nauglamír.
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Week 112 - Friendship Friday: I Was Serious
Join The Man of the West as we turn our 2-part look at Frodo and Sam’s friendship into four episodes instead: today, from Parth Galen to Cirith Ungol.
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Week 112 - Third Age Thursday: Good People… Mostly
Whether today’s title also applies to The Man of the West is up to you. Today, we take a look at the Elves of Mirkwood in (mostly) the Third Age, as we continue our look at the free peoples of Middle-earth.
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Week 112 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Frings — Not What you Thought
The Man of the West takes a deep dive into a few words from last week’s Silmarillion Saturday, including one that, it turns out, is long overdue.
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Week 112 - Tolkien Tuesday: Peacocks are Out
Well, yes — but I thought everyone knew that. Join The Man of the West as we look at another letter from the Professor to his illustrator on The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Pauline Baynes.
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Week 112 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Always Creeping
Today’s stop on our journey is not on The Man of the West’s bucket list, nor is it likely on yours. Come visit the charming wetlands known as the Dead Marshes.
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Week 111 - Silmarillion Saturday: Be Gone Unrequited
The Man of the West may be used to hearing those words, but today they’re meant for the Dwarves of Nogrod that are haughtily dismissed by Thingol, unaware of the danger he faces.
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Week 111 - Friendship Friday: Jump Down a Dragon’s Throat
We begin an all-new thing for Fridays, as we study friendships in Middle-earth, starting with perhaps the best-known example with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.
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Week 111 - Third Age Thursday: He Dwells There Still
Join The Man of the West as we begin a look at more people in the Third Age; having done a deep dive into all the different Men for two series, it’s time to visit the Elves, beginning in Lindon.
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Week 111 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Not Your Average Garden Gnome
Join The Man of the West for a Word-nerd Wednesday deep dive into Tolkien’s early name for the Elves we now know as the Noldor, and learn why he could use it Gnome-Or (just say it out loud… no more).
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Week 111 - Tolkien Tuesday: I Am Not Satisfied with ‘Hobbits’
It’s time for another out-of-context quote as episode title, as we begin another TTT series spending Tolkien Tuesdays in the Revised and Expanded edition of the Letters. Today, it’s more gripes about translations; anyone else not surprised?
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Week 111 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Twisted Knot of Hills
Join The Man of the West as he begins Series 15 of Today’s Tolkien Times with a Middle-earth Map Monday on the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil.
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Week 110 - Silmarillion Saturday: All Things Crooked
Húrin’s anger leads him to Doriath, where he throws jewelry at the King and finds himself gently reminded of the truth by Melian.
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Week 110 - First Age Friday: She Was Not Conquered
Join The Man of the West as we begin our time in Of the Ruin of Doriath, watching as Húrin is all-too-briefly reunited with Morwen before his heart turns to “stone within him”.
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Week 110 - Third Age Thursday: Riders Tall and Fair
We finish our look at Men of the Third Age as The Man of the West reviews the history of the Éothéod, their steadfast alliance with Gondor, and their move to the northern vales.
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Week 110 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Surf’s Up!
Join The Man of the West for another — this time more thorough — look at the name of Gondor’s hottest surf spot, Belfalas, along with other places we’ve encountered in our journey through Gondor.
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Week 110 - Tolkien Tuesday: Insoluble Metrical Problems
Tolkien admits to a bit of poetic masochism in a letter to his aunt Jane, as The Man of the West continues his look through the Revised and Expanded edition of Tolkien’s Letters.
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Week 110 - Middle-earth Map Monday: The End of Gondor
Join The Man of the West as we reach the far shores and conclude our 21-week journey through the regions of Gondor.
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Week 109 - Silmarillion Saturday: The First Evil
Join The Man of the West as we accompany a now-free Húrin from Angband to his homelands and then on as he looks for mercy from Turgon.
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Week 109 - First Age Friday: You Lie
Not you, sorry — Morgoth. At least that’s Húrin’s opinion as he continues his defiance of the Dark Lord in this week’s First Age Friday.
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Week 109 - Third Age Thursday: A Bulwark of Gondor
We continue our study of the Men of Middle-earth, this time looking at the ancestors of the Rohirrim, known early on as the Northmen.
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Week 109 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Ló and Behold
Join The Man of the West as he looks at the etymology of a few more of the rivers and towns in Gondor, continuing our journey west through the land.
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Week 109 - Tolkien Tuesday: The ‘Fan Mail’ Keeps On Coming In
And now you know the title isn’t a reference to The Man of the West! Join Alan as he begins a two-part look at another letter Tolkien wrote to his aunt, Jane Neave.
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Week 109 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Angbor the Fearless
Join The Man of the West as he continues his journey through Gondor, looking at Lamedon, the Morthond Vale, and the uniquely-named ridge that separates the two.
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Week 108 - Silmarillion Saturday: Hardly Better Than Orcs
Famously not what The Man of the West says about people who don’t listen to the PPP or TTT. Instead, it’s Húrin’s opinion of the Men new to his part of the world.
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Week 108 - First Age Friday: Time That Yet Lay Hidden
Join The Man of the West as we finish Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and begin to pull all the strings together to lead us to Eärendil and the War of Wrath.
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Week 108 - Third Age Thursday: Middle Man, Not Middle Management
Anyone can be a mid-level supervisor; it takes someone special to be a Middle Man — or does it? Join The Man of the West as he takes a closer look at Men of the Twilight (no vampires or werewolves involved).
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Week 108 - Word-nerd Wednesday: Let x Be the Number of Rivers in a Land
Join The Man of the West as we visit yet another land named solely after the number of rivers within it on this week’s Word-nerd Wednesday!
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Week 108 - Tolkien Tuesday: At Least as Capacious as Mine
The size of your waste paper basket doesn’t really matter; after all, you know you’re not throwing away a letter from Tolkien, even if it is long and pedantic.
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Week 108 - Middle-earth Map Monday: Independent ‘Traditions’
Join The Man of the West in his journeys…um, west… through the southern fiefs of Gondor, as he looks more closely at the home of Imrahil known as Dol Amroth.
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Week 107 - Silmarillion Saturday: Bereft of Their Power and Glory
Some might say it’s a tragedy; others might say it’s about time. We look at the aftermath of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and begin to tie this story together with the months-long journey we took with Tuor.
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Week 107 - First Age Friday: Aurë entuluva! Day Shall Come Again!
The Battle of Unnumbered Tears lives up to its name in spectacular fashion as Fingon meets his gruesome end and the Men of Dor-lómin lay down their lives to protect the secrecy of Gondolin.
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Week 107 - Third Age Thursday: Fierce Folk When Roused
The Man of the West finishes his long look at the Men of Darkness with the Dunlendings, a group of Men that might be better called Middle Men gone wrong.
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