The Fangorn Owl

The Fangorn Owl is a project born in December 2024, conceived by two anonymous fans of professor J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. The name “Fangorn Owl” comes from the amalgamation of one author’s favourite Middle-Earth place and Earth living being, inspired and supported by their life-companion, artist and developer known as the Rohan Wildcat.

 

 

The first phase of this project is called “A Middle-Earth Apothecary”. Too often, we find ourselves filled with nostalgia, sadness, and a sense of powerlessness—stuck in jobs that do not suit us, surrounded by people we barely know nor like. Lost in earthly life, we instead wish to live in Middle-Earth. We have noticed that the only way to brighten our spirits is by connecting with people who share our passions, attending dedicated conventions, and briefly escaping into the comfort of our shared fantasies where we can rediscover our true selves. A Middle-Earth Apothecary is dearest to us, and its main purpose is to create a space where we can freely share poems, letters, illustrations, short stories, adventures, fantasy-inspired recipes, brews, experiences, and ideas—all aimed at healing the souls of those who, like us, hold Middle-Earth deep within their hearts. We intend to nurture the Fangorn Owl community with a weekly newsletter, offering dedicated remedies to illuminate our and your paths. In essence, we aim to nourish consciences and to guide fellow astray travellers back toward Middle-Earth.

 

 

In its second phase, the Fangorn Owl will expand to welcome the rest of Middle-Earth’s living beings. Our goal is to build a thriving community through an open blog and chat platform, where fellow adventurers can freely and safely share their stories, creations, ideas, and opinions on two separate channels.“The Fangorn Owl Market”, will serve as a space for artists to showcase their Middle-Earth-inspired works. As small artists ourselves, traveling on horseback between conventions, countries, and fantasy lands to make a living, meet new people, and pursue our dream life, we understand the need for such a space. We intend to provide a supportive environment where artists can share their creations, sell and purchase art, and connect with a growing network of Middle-Earth enthusiasts. On the other hand, “The Fangorn Owl Reading Room” will take a different approach. Too often, misunderstandings arise regarding professor J. R. R. Tolkien’s literature and its deeper background. In this space, we aim to provide concise explanations of complex topics, examine places and analyse mythology, as well as to clarify differing interpretations and adaptations of Tolkien’s world. Like many fantasy and sci-fi fans, we are avid Dungeons & Dragons players. One of the author’s is deeply immersed in studying Tolkien’s legendarium as part of building their own fantasy world. Through the Reaading Room, we wish to share these insights with other players, eventually developing a Middle-Earth-inspired Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition campaign. On this platform, we intend to upload explanatory videos, host active discussions about Tolkien’s works, and organize virtual AD&D 2e campaigns. By doing so, we hope to enrich our and your understanding of Middle-Earth, and to bring its spirit to life in imaginative and engaging ways.

 

 

Finally, the last phase of the Fangorn Owl is, at this time, the most ambitious and fantastical. It has long been our dream to create a real-life village, a small county dedicated to all the beings of Middle-Earth. This project will take years of effort, funding, and time, but the challenge does not deter us; if anything, it inspires us. We dream of purchasing our own land, and to build a self-sufficient settlement for ourselves and our families in a remote natural setting, a place that feels as though it belongs in a fantasy world. Here, we envision crafting real-life Hobbit holes, Elven flets, Dwarven caves, and perhaps rustic wooden buildings to house Men in the shadow of a ruined stone castle. We want our land to be a wonderland, an essential destination for all who cherish Middle-Earth. Our vision is to welcome people of all kinds, fostering a community of diverse species and kindred souls. In an even grander vision, we dream of organizing and hosting our own dedicated events, public conventions, a space where we can celebrate and share our love for Middle-Earth with the entirety of Arda.