Discovery

August 2018 SWG challenge Discovery banner with a white Polynesian ship on a blue background with constellations

Every year in August, we give special attention to the Second Age and stories set during this time. In the spirit of the Númenórean taste for seafaring and discovery, our challenge theme for this month is Discovery and prompts this month will come from two songs from Moana, a film inspired by the Polynesian wayfinders, possibly the greatest seafarers in the history of Modern-earth.

You can use any aspect of either video as your prompt: the lyrics to or a line from the song, an image from the video, a theme relative to the video such as courage or discovering one's cultural identity, historical details of canoe-building and wayfinding in Oceania--whatever inspires you! Fanworks do not have to be set during the Second Age or concern seafaring.

If you're interested in learning more about Polynesian wayfinding, check out this TEDEd video on Polynesia navigation; PBS has a companion website for their documentary on wayfinding; and the Polynesian Voyaging Society (who still sail the world using traditional methods, by the way) have resources on wayfinding, the star compass, and more.

This challenge opened in .

Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts

"How Far I'll Go" by Auli'i Cravalho

Lyrics to "How Far I'll Go"

"We Know the Way" by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa'i

Lyrics to "We Know the Way"

Fanworks Tagged with Discovery

This is a Writing fanwork

HIS SONS by bluehair

What happens after the battle at the Havens of Sirion, when Ambarussa die, when Nerdanel feels their death.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Dust in Desert Winds by Raiyana

Gondor after the death of Isildur is weak, ripe for the pickings - but what stirs among her neighbours is not what Elrond feared, and Erestor’s talents are put to a wholly different test than either expected when he and Glorfindel head into the desert to explore the sentiments of the region post the fall of Barad-dûr.

 

Written for the Tolkin Reverse Summer Bang 2018

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This is a Writing fanwork

Come So Far by Tyelca

Nerdanel sails to Middle-Earth in search of her last surviving son.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

We Know Some Things (But Not All) by LadyBrooke

Celebrimbor is seeking something, though Maeglin does not know what.

Celebrimbor sees too much of his family's mistakes in Maeglin.

Together, they dig a tunnel.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

How Far I'll Go by Grundy

Elros muses on his future as he sails to the island that will be the new home of his people.

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This is a Writing fanwork

There, Not Back Again by eris_of_imladris

Primula Brandybuck Baggins is faced with the toughest decision of her life after a near-fatal accident in the Brandywine River. While deciding her destiny, she shares a meal with an ancient elf whose own experiences will influence Primula’s fate, and the world’s.

Written for TRSB18!

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This is a Writing fanwork

West we will return by Failisse

For those mariners Turgon sent west, but of whom only Voronwë returned. A short story for August's Discovery Challenge

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This is a Writing fanwork

A Halt in a Long Voyage by Himring

Tuor and Idril must go on voyaging on Earrame forever.

But their friends on Tol Eressea find a way to help them deal with it.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Name Every Star by StarSpray

After Doriath's fall, Nellas heads east, with Dior's sons in tow.

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This is a Writing fanwork

Most Bright by Lyra

A collection of short ficlets about Princess Ancalimë, who will become the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.
Newly added: "Exit, Pursued", for B2MeM and the Hidden Figures challenge.

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