Thread: Greetings, from Strayhold

Originally Posted by Silvas_Ilcanjaro

Spec and Blackhawk

OK, well, Spec was at my house IRL when we made that screenshot. A lot of luck in avatar placement and expressions lended a lot of gravitas to the final pic.

The two of us laughed - really hard - until we had tears in our eyes over that. It still makes me laugh.

to explain BH's SS. Basically he had some "compromising" pictures with a little hobbit burglar, and asked our kin to caption it. What followed was one of the most hilarious threads we've had in a long time. I think we are all supreme master innuendists (?!). And if I made that word up, it's all part of my strategery.

Originally Posted by Jukemaster

And if I made that word up, it's all part of my strategery.

Put that wordination into your lockbox!

For the LFF-curious:

Strayhold Caption Contest

We have a new header image. Oooo! Ahhhh!

Originally Posted by TheStormKing

We have a new header image. Oooo! Ahhhh!

Isn't that the same thing Spec once said?

Originally Posted by Hollyimp

Isn't that the same thing Spec once said?

I do not know this Spec you speak of. *innocent*

/fresh bump

Strayhold is a great kin! We have a very active forum (http://kinship.strayhold.com) with players throughout all levels. We also grill hobbits and serve them with grits for those who like that kind of thing. I have yet to attend.

Originally Posted by Jukemaster

We also grill hobbits and serve them with grits for those who like that kind of thing.

"What would you like sir?"

"I'll try the special."

"Excellent choice. Toast or Pancakes?"

"Pancakes."

"Hobbits or Grits?"

"Hobbits of course. Please make mincemeat out of them."

"Anything else?"

"I would like that pan-seared."

Strayhold is looking for a few good people.

We are tackling DN right now, radiance being what it is, and are doing other instances and skirmishes, while waiting for the game's new direction. If you would like to join, now is a good time. We are in it for the long haul, as all of our officers are on Lifetime membership, and most are friends IRL.

Any class is welcome, prefer 65s for content-crushing, but ALL are considered. All Alts are welcome in too.

If you would like to see what we are all about, visit our forums at http://kinship.strayhold.com where we have quite a few hilarious discussions and threads at all times.

At the top you will find an "Events" link. That is how we sign up for posted events. Keeps us organized.

At the top you will also find an "Offline Roster" link. This is our entire guild membership, tied to the forum accounts so it's much easier seeing who belongs to whom. There are sorting tools for levels, epic progress, crafting, virtues, traits, PVP tracking, classes, biographies, theme songs, avatar portrait for the daily random Featured Stray, lots of other things like that. It will give you an idea of how you just might fit in. This is all custom for Strayhold, provided by our resident programmer in the kinship (that would be me ).

There is also an online "Chat". It's fun.

We use vent to voicechat while grouping/raiding/nothing-ing, not required of course.

Browse around, and have some fun.

Contact me (Blackhawk) or anyone else in Strayhold if you would like more information.

Thus endeth your wall of text. I hope to see you on our msg board, if not for applying, then for the fun. Seriously, you will probably LOL (and not the fake LOL you get ingame, either ).

Seeya there!

I've been with Strayhold for two years this month and can't imagine being anywhere else. The members are light years beyond fantastic and are all very helpful, giving, caring and (above all) hilariously funny. Their sense of humor ranges from subtle to completely outrageous and we all have a great time picking on our poor Fearless Leader unmercifully. Sometimes I almost feel sorry for him, but then I reconsider and join in the picking whole-heartedly.

All of us have become at least friends with each other, if not family. I consider each one part of my extended family and intend to be there for them, as they have been for me through some really tough times. I've been amazed at just how much their moral support has helped and how much harder it would have been without them.

I suggest that if you're looking for a kinship, that you check out our forums. In fact, I suggest just going there to laugh and enjoy. Everyone is welcome and a good time can be had by all.

~Isil

Howdy y'all! I'm one of this year's recruits and I'm required (upon pain of death) to say that Strayhold is a great and splenderful place, where you will have lots of adventure (adventure means 'die often') and Happy Sparkle Good Times (Happy Sparkle Good Times is available in only one color: the red haze of your own blood). The leader of this merry brigade, Blackhawk (aka - that dude who will be the only one left standing while u bleed 2 death), is a very nice guy (meaning: he'll get his LULZ as he throws a bandage or two down at your wounded self). I can not speak highly enough of the fellow. Laugh a minute. Really.

Everyone else has been lovely. We're apparently very much united under the Strayhold banner (in a pixelized death-pact). And hey, there's a very nicely decorated kinhouse too (or Insane Asylum, whatever). Furthermore, if you happen to see me in-game? Then I can suggest several fun things to do while we wait for the wonders of F2P to kick in. Things like riding your horse off very tall cliffs into incredibly shallow water, and I'll try to talk you into taking on elite critters without gear or weapons, et cetera. You know, "fun" things that you know you secretly want to do, but never dared to actually try. If all else fails, you've got that guy.... *points over toward BH* ...you can follow him and see if you fare as well as the rest of us have.

Riding off a tall cliff or following Lord Blackhawk...hmm...decisions, decisions....

Thus ends this testimonial. Pat on the back, wink wink, nudge nudge. *paints fingernails & drama-sighs* You know where to send me my advertising fee, BH. Srsly. Don't be a cheapskate. n_n

Actual Testimonial: In all seriousness? Strayhold's been great, wonderful, splendidly quirky, and metric tons of fun from day 1. Its a very enjoyable and knowledgeable group of people who somehow seem to put up with me, and I'd highly recommend other fun people to join...so you too can somehow maybe put up with me. More the merrier, ha ha!

<3, Naa.

Originally Posted by Umbrael

(adventure means 'die often') and Happy Sparkle Good Times (Happy Sparkle Good Times is available in only one color: the red haze of your own blood)

Choose STRAYHOLD: All Bleeding Stops Eventually.

Kneeling on the floor bleeding to death is okay with me, it gives me time to think of how to poke fun at BH as he merrily leads my kinmates to their deaths, one by one...

I've been in Strayhold for almost 2 years, and the kin still amazes me. The leaders of the fellowships are really patient, and take the time to explain an instance to someone who's doing it for the first time - they never seem to tire of teaching different people. Nobody seems to mind the slower pace as we progress, it seems to give people time to joke around and relax, it really is a lot of fun. However, if everyone in the group has done the instance before, they can cut through the mobs like a hot knife through butter, but still taking the time to joke around a bit.

If you need help with a quest (Tomb of Elendil, anyone? How about Fornost?) it's pretty easy to get people to help you get through it. Many of the people have alts of varying levels so often several members of the kin can benefit - but even if you don't benefit, you do it just because it's fun, and just because it's a kinmate. There's NO pressure to join a raid or group, however. Everybody plays at their own pace, and that's okay.

Others have mentioned the humor - I can't say enough about that, it's wonderful to laugh so much. The first thing I do every morning is start making coffee, then go to the Strayhold forums. Such a wealth of information and humor to be found, whether it's game stuff, computer geeky stuff, real life highlights or just being goofy, it's a delightful way to start the day.

I've been in a few kins, with some very good people. Yet as a member of Strayhold, I don't wish to be anywhere else.

Hi, I have decided to transfer my Level 47 hunter, Quiverring from Elendilmir to Silverlode and would like to apply to Strayhold. I went ahead and registered for the web site yesterday.

Originally Posted by PsychloneofSolidE

Hi, I have decided to transfer my Level 47 hunter, Quiverring from Elendilmir to Silverlode and would like to apply to Strayhold. I went ahead and registered for the web site yesterday.

Very neat, welcome to Silverlode. Since you have already registered on our forums, just follow the link, it's the place to be.

http://kinship.strayhold.com/index.php?board=2.0

Howdy, I have grouped with a few of your Kin, and like that yall group together.
I have talked to them about joining Strayhold, and they mentioned yalls forum, witch I have applied at, and to talk to Blackhawk, keep missing you.
So if you don't mind i will send ya an in-game letter.
Toons name is Isingrim lvl 64 (and a half) Mini

Originally Posted by Zaenon

Howdy, I have grouped with a few of your Kin, and like that yall group together.
I have talked to them about joining Strayhold, and they mentioned yalls forum, witch I have applied at, and to talk to Blackhawk, keep missing you.
So if you don't mind i will send ya an in-game letter.
Toons name is Isingrim lvl 64 (and a half) Mini

Welcome to Silverlode. You seem like a nice, sensible and decent individual, rationally deducing which kinship might be your best fit. I'm sorry, but this kind of chicanery will not be tolerated. Strike one.

Please make your way to our forums where your thoughts, feelings, emotions and hunger pangs will be analyzed and laid bare as they relate to Hobbits, grits and goats. Strikes 2-4 await you. It is likely you will be mocked and ridiculed, and left a sobbing, emo mess. However, only the worst are forced to group with me. You have been warned.

We have been roasting Hobbits with abandon and sealing cracks in our Elven homestead with grits - the proper and best sealant.

Nearly all of our raids are Open, in that any who wish to join simply have to sign up. First come, first served, always - if you are on the sign up sheet, you won't be bumped, Stray or non-Stray alike. Don't be late though.

Check out our forums, they are quite active and most of our members are serious forum trolls - er, I mean, Forum Observationists and Valued Contributory Members.

Registered to your web site forums today under the name of Zarion. Hope to hear from you soon

You folks are nuts! (compliment ) Was good seeing you guys messing around in chat tonight in the shire - fun stuff.

Thanks - we were just being silly all night. The ghost hand smackdown is hysterical.

An enjoyable group for sure! Even if you aren't looking for a kin, swing by the forums and enjoy some "quality" threads!

We just completed another escorted run to Rivendell for 5 people on the chicken quests - 100% survival rate!

Aside from that, we offer nightly grouping, and kinchat worthy of a belly laugh each night.

Our kinship forums are just as fun: usually numerous threads are going at once to tickle your funny bone. No not that one. The other one. The one that makes you laugh.

Anyway, come say hello, apply, or just make fun of the Strays. The sun never sets on Strayhold.

We are still accepting applications. Might never close 'em. Just so you know.

We have a widely varied group of individuals, who all share a common goal of Making Strayhold Fun. We generally succeed.

Check out our forums as http://kinship.strayhold.com to see what we are about. Even if you don't join, it's worth a visit to the best LotRO Kinship website on this planet or any other.

And now, and now -

*wait for it*

We have a printable version of the Offline Roster. So you scalawags who hate the internets can print a nice one sheet roster to peruse, when you are wondering "who is that? is that an alt? is it a hobbit? Does it taste delicious?"

http://kinship.strayhold.com/rosterPrint.php

Greetings again, from your Flealess Leader. Or, if you are not in Strayhold, just this random captain saying "Hail".

We are still accepting applications; we do have a lot to offer. I imagine that once the next patch hits, we will shut down applications for a few months at the least, so now is the time to Strayify if ever you wanted to.

High-end fellowship maneuvers and flexibility with avatars to attend raids has always been a main focus of Raiding in Strayhold. For us, raiding has always been a priority, but it has been backburnered for a long while (too long?) due to Radiance.

With the next patch, and its associated Death of Radiance, no longer.

We will again be able to fill raids without the need to burnout on rad grinding. FMs will again scale to 65 (and have some new effects too). In essence, what made raiding GREAT in Strayhold, is being made relevant again after the patch "Echoes of the Dead".

We don't just raid, though. There is a lot more to being Stray than that. We PVP, skirmish, group, instance-own, and craft. We freeze tag and horse race. We forum troll our own boards, which are among the most active in all of LotRO. Our message board is unique across all of LotRO. You won't find what we have anywhere else.

So, even if you have zero desire to join, come visit. Zillions of hysterical threads await you for your enjoyment. You will find that just hanging out with us is fun; joining is even fun...ner? Stupid English.

I am seeing a lot of new players on Silverlode. Welcome!

Strayhold is accepting applications for membership. We have a very stable membership and officer corp - most officers have been around since Beta, and most are also lifetime subscribers. This is not a fly-by-night operation.

Well, perhaps it is by the late hours we play sometimes. Heh. The sun never sets on the Strayhold Empire.

Give us a look at http://kinship.strayhold.com where you will find a vibrant community of players, in and out of kinship, and a wealth of fun even if you never join. You won't be sad you did! We offer things no other kinship offers in all of LotRO. Come check us out, or find us in game. Always ready to do a group.

I've been a Strayholdian since 2008, and I'd strongly encourage folks looking for a gaming home on Silverlode server to check us out. We've got a very impressively stable long-term core in the kin, many of whom have been around since launch or shortly thereafter.

There's all sorts in the Kingdom o' Strayhold, from very dedicated players with multiple 65s to casual players. We group a lot in-kin, and run all sorts of different stuff. I actually moved all my toons to Silverlode from another server in order to join the kin, and have never regretted it. A more fun, laid back, and funny group of folks you'd be hard pressed to find in any group of players in any MMO, period.

So if you're looking for a kin, I'd encourage you to check out our kin website, maybe join in a group or two. Enjoy your travels in Middle-Earth!

I too have been a Stray since 2008, Im proud to be one and could not be happier with them. Although I am on a unexpected life break from Lotro, I can't wait to return to my fellow strays.

I've been a Stray since 2007 and am glad of it. I've been MMORPGing for many years, belonging to all kinds of guilds, from insanely high achievers (WoW), to devout role players (I, a guy, successfully played a woman in a Lesbian guild in AO: you could do that in the era before headsets), to casual social guilds. Strayhold is the best of the lot, if camaraderie, teamwork, and light-hearted fun is what you want. You can always find a mate to help you finish that quest or chalk up that otherwise boring deed, or boost you to the next level of craftsmanship. We occasionally take on a difficult boss, staying with it for weeks until we master the encounter. You can probably find what you want playing with us.

Our leader is so good we don't mind his getting us killed regularly: besides, in a raid, he often pays our repair costs, which is only fair, considering. Seriously, he makes good things happen.

Check us out!

Hi, I'm normally called Isil, but also Isi; Izzy and Hey You! I've been with Strayhold for well over four years now and would not even consider changing. These folks have been there for the good times (and there have been plenty of those largely due to fellow Strays) and through the tough times (most of us have had RL problems crop up and it was very helpful to know that our friends in Strayhold were there for us, offering sympathy or advice or just an ear). I consider each member as part of my extended family and fervently hope we can continue for a long time to come. Come visit our website and view the chaos!

~Isil

(psst, hey Fearless Leader, do I get my cookie now?)

Originally Posted by Isil0320

(psst, hey Fearless Leader, do I get my cookie now?)

Yes you can haz cookie. But I eated it.

We are still accepting new members. Feel free to check us out, even if you don't wish to join; most of our events are open, so anyone can sign up (you just have to have a forum account on our msg board). I virtually guarantee you will have a good time!*

Seeya soon.




*Virtually since this is a virtual game.

Crafting Orders are Live. Come take a look! Strays can create Crafting Orders for in game, and Strays can take them to completion.

Ranks right up there with the Offline Roster on the coolmeter.

Soon, we'll let the Teeming Millions create Crafting Orders for Strays to complete. But for now... you have to be in the Kinship to benefit. But, all can still take a look!

http://kinship.strayhold.com/CO.php

Five Years, Today. Hello Silverlode!

Strayhold holds most of our raids as Open: anyone can join, as long as you sign up on our EVENTS sign up link at the top of our forum. It is way easy to do. Simply register at our msg board, and you can sign up.

For these open events/raids, we do not kick people in favor of kinmates either, ever: if you sign up, you get to go, as long as you are on-time. (i.e. 1 minute late, and you can be replaced... That goes for me too, as kinleader!).

Feel free to stop by and register: you will find a plethora of interesting stuff. Some of the stuff we offer is unique to Strayhold, even as compared to all other kinships across worlds.

Oh, and the members are cool too.

Stop by, register, and have a bit of fun at our expense. We don't mind.

Choose STRAYHOLD: what we lack in quality, we make up in quantity!

Strayhold has implemented a new Raid: The Vanguard™ as we call it. It isn't a STATIC raid, and it's not FLUID... The best way to describe it is, maybe, viscous. What we implemented was the result of many hours of deliberation of the Officers, to make sure it will be fun for everyone... Even the people who aren't in it.

We really have done the impossible: we made a static raid that isn't elitist, which is the death knell of any family-oriented kinship.

It's a beautiful site too, and looks great on mobile.

Feel free to check it out: http://kinship.strayhold.com/Vanguard.php

It is something to behold

I have a pretty sweet van in need of guarding. Where do I go on the site to hire you guys?

We have an extremely cool new landing page. Check it out:

http://kinship.strayhold.com

Thanks to Tornwyn for the graphic design work, and Heilxx for the amazing video. Looks good on mobile too.

Neat-o!

"....I can see the light in the distance trembling in the dark cloak of night..."

Awesome.

Joined this Kin back in May, and I have enjoyed my time with everyone so far, looking forward to many more months raiding, crafting, and having fun with everyone!

This is Kilarus btw, haven't updated my Signature :P