Trivia II

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

continuation of this thread (http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?t=1863)

looks like this thread needs reviving, how did we ever let it die?

so to restart:
where did beorn put the warg skin after he had "despatched" it and the orc?

[Count Comfect]

On his fencepost?

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

On his fencepost?
yes, your go

[Count Comfect]

Oops, that makes it MY turn, doesn't it. Sorry about the delay.

How did Thorin, Thrain, and Thror escape the wreck of Erebor when Smaug attacked?

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

thorin was already out, he was with some other dwarves somewhere when smaug came, thrain and thror used the secret tunnel

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

this has to be the slowest game on the board :p

[Count Comfect]

And it's all my fault :eek: :o Anyway, riddling is slower.

You're right, btw. Your turn.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

let me see, what colour was balin's hood?

[Count Comfect]

green, just for a guess?

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

green, just for a guess?
nope :p, green t'wasn't

[Count Comfect]

Red perchance?

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

'tis red, 'tis! :D

[Count Comfect]

:D

I'll have to find my Hobbit then... it'll be probably about 24 hours before I can post. Just warning you. If anyone else wants to go in that interval, they can.

[Count Comfect]

K then, here we go

What does Thorin value the Arkenstone above, according to Bilbo?

[Radagast The Brown]

River of gold.

[Count Comfect]

Yup.

[Radagast The Brown]

What color of socks does Thorin have?

[Christiana]

umm....green?

[Radagast The Brown]

Sorry for the delay, had no idea I was asking a question... and have no idea what the answer is now. :p So I suggest anyone who wants to ask a question, since I think Christiana is rather idle. I know no one will do it, but.. I find no other way.

[Christiana]

wait, did i get that question right?
if i didnt ignore this question


what color smoke rings did Gandalf blow at Thorin's smoke rings?

[Lotesse]

Gandalf made green smoke rings to match Thorin's normal smoke rings.

[Christiana]

correct :)

[Lotesse]

An easy one - What were the names of the three trolls who turned to stone?

[Lotesse]

anyone? hello...

[Count Comfect]

Tom, Bill, and I can't remember the other one.

[Lotesse]

You're getting close, Count, but no cigar - yet. ;)

[Count Comfect]

Bert

[Lotesse]

Bravo! :) Your turn, Count.

[Count Comfect]

Hmmmm then.

When is tea-time, according to Bilbo?

[Lotesse]

Four O'clock? Hmmm, wait, no that can't be it...

[Count Comfect]

it is. :D

[Lotesse]

I wasn't even sure I was right! What a trip... but I left my Hobbit book back home, and won't be back home until Saturday, so I can't look up a good question - can you post another one for everyone, Count, you O.K. with that?

[Spock]

...tick-tock, tick-tock :(

[Lotesse]

Spock, let me give this one to you. The early bird gets the worm and besides, I hate it when these trivia threads start stalling.

[Lotesse]

Spock, R U there?

[Lotesse]

Or Count? Either Spock or Count Comfect, SOMEbody give us a question...

[Spock]

FYI, on the main page of the Moot, at the bottom, you can see who is on line at any give time as long as they aren't in invisible mode.
Then if you see someone you want to contact immediately, click their name and go to public profile and see which IM programs they have or send them a PM.

I am sorry I missed your "calls". :o

And now for the question: The answer "lots and none at all" came from whom in response to a quesion by who? Two parts, not too difficult but I'm trying to jumpstart this again.

[Radagast The Brown]

Bilbo, Bert?

[Spock]

Bilbo, Bert?


You got it. Whew! The stress of waiting is over, you now post the next one. ;)

[Radagast The Brown]

Who is the strongest of dwarves (of the 13 that went to the journey with Bilbo)

[Christiana]

umm... Bifur?

[Radagast The Brown]

No..

[Christiana]

found the quote. its Dori

[Radagast The Brown]

Yup... Dori it is. Your turn.

[Christiana]

okay...

what armour did Thorin take for himself out of the dragon's hoard?

[Lotesse]

Thorin chose a gold-plated mail-shirt and a silver axe?

[Christiana]

yup -- your go! :)

[Lotesse]

Oh! Can you put another one, Christiana? Please?

[Lotesse]

Anyway, guess Christiana's not into posting another question, so I'll do it like I was supposed to in the first place...

When Bilbo & Co. were up in the Eagle's eyrie, what did the Eagles bring for them to eat? Hint: 3 different things.

[Christiana]

rabbits, hares and a small sheep

[Lotesse]

Right you are! It's all yours, Christiana.

[Christiana]

what kind of buttons did they find in the trolls' lair?

[Lotesse]

brass buttons.

[Christiana]

thats correct. your go

[Lotesse]

Thanx, Christiana!

What kind of bird was it who was giving Bilbo hints about how to open the magic door into the Lonely mountain, and what did the bird do which jogged Bilbo's brain to figure it out?

[Spock]

Thrush. (from memory) banging a snail against a rock. YUCK. ;)

[Lotesse]

YES! You got it, your turn Spock!

[Spock]

The Thrush brought news to one other: a) what was it and b) to whom was it delivered.

[Lotesse]

The thrush told Roac the raven that Smaug had been killed.

[Spock]

gee. I don't even remember that item at all, I'd another in mind. But if you say so, then you go

[Lotesse]

Yeah, the thrush was eavesdropping on Bilbo & Co. whilst they were talking about wishing he were a raven, so he could speak to them, then the thrush flew off and returned with Roac the talking raven, who at that point told them about Smaug's demise.
But which part were you looking for, curious to know.

[Count Comfect]

I think he was looking for "Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you" to Bard the Bowman.

[Spock]

I think he was looking for "Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you" to Bard the Bowman.
'
YES, YES, YES, This happens roughly six (6) pages before the conversation Lotesse mentioned.

COUNT COMFECT WINS. YUGO. :cool:

[Lotesse]

Count Comfect, are you gonna give us a new question soon?

[Spock]

Sory I missed this delay. LOTESSE please post a question as you're quite good at this now. :D

[Lotesse]

Thanx, Spock!
Here's a simple one:

When they went to Beorn's place, who was the last of the party to enter his house?

[raven of the forest]

Thanx, Spock!
Here's a simple one:

When they went to Beorn's place, who was the last of the party to enter his house?
bombur?

[raven of the forest]

is it bombur???!!! :confused:

[raven of the forest]

bye.

[Lotesse]

raven of the forest, calm down! Answers on the moot are not instantaneous, you know. :rolleyes: And yes, you are correct, so now it's your turn to post a trivia question from The Hobbit.

[Lotesse]

Well, I have a funny feeling that 'raven of the forest' might not be coming back, which means - who will post the next "Hobbit" trivia question? I'll give her 2 more days, isn't that the protocol?

[Spock]

Yes it is so if she fails to come back, you post the next question, please, Lotesse on Sunday.

[Lotesse]

well, she's not back yet; why does that not surprise me :rolleyes:


Of everyone who got rescued out of the burning trees by the Lord of the Eagles and his crew, who was the last to be borne off?

[Count Comfect]

Bilbo?

[Lotesse]

Not Bilbo...

[Lotesse]

a hint: the answer's in the wording... "borne off"....

[Count Comfect]

Dori?

[Lotesse]

Yep, that's the guy! It's all yours, Count Comfect...

[Count Comfect]

Here's a fairly easy one...

How many guesses does Gollum actually take while trying to divine what Bilbo has in his pockets?

[rohirrim TR]

four

[Count Comfect]

Yup.

[rohirrim TR]

how many did thorin's company consist of?

[Count Comfect]

Thirteen?

[Elanor]

well, fourteen if you count Bilbo

What were the other titles besides "the lucky number" that Bilbo used to describe himself to Smaug?

[rohirrim TR]

barrel rider, one who lives in a bags end but was never in a bag,ringwinner, luckwearer. I can't think of any more

[Lotesse]

...and The Clue-Finder, The Web-Cutter, The Stinging Fly, friend of bears, guest of eagles; he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water, he that walks unseen, and comes from under the hill and through the air. *phew*

[Spock]

SO FOUR DAYS AND no answer and no new question....AWAKE, FIRE, FOES, FLEE :D

[Elanor]

I'm sure Lotesse got 'em all... someone else come up with a question.

[Lotesse]

o.k. then, I'll put up a quick one -

Who was the youngest of all the dwarves in the group?

[Christiana]

Fili?

[Lotesse]

:) Yes, Christiana; it's all yours...

[rohirrim TR]

since christiana hasn't been back could Lotesse please post a question

[Lotesse]

Me? How come me? :rolleyes: Very well, here goes...

What did Gandalf advise Bilbo & the dwarves NOT to do when they were to travel through Mirkwood Forest?

[rohirrim TR]

not to kill anything or stray off the path

[Spock]

Me? How come me? :rolleyes:

Because you've got the knack of this trivia and do extremely well. Plus we can count on you to be around. :cool:

[Lotesse]

Aww, thanks Spock! nice compliment! Rohirrim TR, you're right, so... take it away, horsemaster! ;) :)

[rohirrim TR]

what was bilbos door marked with?

[Lotesse]

Gandalf's rune letter?

[rohirrim TR]

correct you win ... uhh ..uhh the next question :D :D
yes i am bit strange today but thats nothin like yesterday :cool:

[Spock]

a mark that said "burglar wants a good job"

[rohirrim TR]

a mark that said "burglar wants a good job"
yeah but that wasn't on his door that was in bilbo's newsletter :D

[Spock]

Actually it is in the book when the dwarves mention to Bilbo they only came because of the mark and explain what it says and Bilbo says "there is not mark", Gandalf replies there is one because he put it there.

[rohirrim TR]

Actually it is in the book when the dwarves mention to Bilbo they only came because of the mark and explain what it says and Bilbo says "there is not mark", Gandalf replies there is one because he put it there.
ok i don't have a book handy so if you want the next question you can have it :) in fact it woud be great if you would then i'll have something to do :D

[Spock]

What were the conditions Biblo would need if he was to bring up all the treasure in the mountain?

[Curubethion]

"...you could steal the gold bit by bit-a matter of a hundred years or so..."
~Smaug
Is that the answer? (And is looking up the answer allowed-I did :o ).

[Spock]

"...you could steal the gold bit by bit-a matter of a hundred years or so..."
~Smaug).

Not the answer I am seeking. Re-read the question.

"..Is that the answer? (And is looking up the answer allowed-I did :o ).

Yes as ages ago we exhausted all things immediate and now try the more obscure.

[rohirrim TR]

What were the conditions Biblo would need if he was to bring up all the treasure in the mountain?

if there were a hundred of him he might be able to? :D

[Spock]

no....

[rohirrim TR]

ha i got it
if the dragon were dead :p

[tomstheman]

"I should want hundreds of years to bring it all up, if I was fifty times as big, and Smaug as tame as a rabbit." I think that's the answer.

[Spock]

Thank you Lotesse for 'nudging me' back to the forum. :confused:



tomstheman got the correct answer. :eek:

[tomstheman]

Thanks, okay new question. What were the Goblin names for Glamdring and Orchrist?

[rohirrim TR]

biter and beater

[tomstheman]

good job, your turn

[rohirrim TR]

what were the names of the three troolls?

[Count Comfect]

Tom, Bert, Bill.

[Spock]

larry, curly and moe? :D

[rohirrim TR]

count comfect your quustion :)

[Count Comfect]

How old is the raven (Roac) who translates for the thrush?

[Spock]

153 yrs.

[Count Comfect]

Got it in one. Your turn.

[Spock]

who said "get up lazybones or there will be no breakfast left for you?"

[Lotesse]

Thorin?

[Spock]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :p


"Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage."
Ray Bradbury

[Curubethion]

Gandalf?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Gloin?

[rohirrim TR]

Beorn

[Spock]

Nict.

[rohirrim TR]

what it is not beorn or any of those dudes OMG maybe it was Dori, Nori, balin dwalin, bofur, bombur, ...

[Spock]

you can't apply a 'shotgun solution' you must designate one character. :(

[Count Comfect]

Bilbo?

[rohirrim TR]

bombur

[Spock]

Nope!

[Rconsole]

Balin?

[Count Comfect]

Dori

[Spock]

Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnn
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooo
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)

[Count Comfect]

Dwalin?

[Spock]

Nope and now I have to go lay down....migraine coming on, honest.

-----------------------------------------------------------
"Sometimes I think that the greatest sign that there is intelligent life somewhere in the universe is that it hasn't tried to contact us yet."
Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

[rohirrim TR]

bofur

[Spock]

Indeed! :D

[rohirrim TR]

what did bilbo take out of smaugs lair the first time?

[Spock]

an air of satisfaction :D

[rohirrim TR]

lol nice try

[Curubethion]

A golden two-handled cup...that was easy.

[rohirrim TR]

yeah thats it, it kind of reminds you of beowulf i think thats where tolkien got some of his stuff for the hobbit and lord of the rings :)

[Curubethion]

Ok...who is the only man in the Hobbit to get soaked?

[rohirrim TR]

Bard

[Curubethion]

Yep.

[rohirrim TR]

can goblins count? if yes according to who?

[Spock]

can goblins count? if yes according to who?

Please pick another question and get us started again. :cool:

[rohirrim TR]

gosh, that question wasn't that hard :rolleyes:


how many eagles are mentioned by name?

[Rconsole]

three?

[rohirrim TR]

that sounds right, to tell you the truth i'd have to go look and i don't really know where my book is right now.....so why don't you post the next question :)

[Rconsole]

Okey Dokey

Who said: "Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!"

[Lotesse]

Thorin?

[Curubethion]

Bilbo said it

[Rconsole]

Bilbo said it
Yep, Bilbo said it to himself

[Count Comfect]

*coughs, the sound echoing through the aged, empty hall of Thread*

Curub? I'm giving this another day before I just resurrect it myself (or someone else does).

[Gandalfthegray]

Yeah come on give me a chance, ive read it 36 times :)

[Spock]

Amongst all, someone, whom ever is first on, POST A NEW QUESTION-this has gone unanswered too long. :(

[Gandalfthegray]

What were the names of the 13 dwarfs?

[Spock]

13? I thought there were 7....oh, wait, that's a different topic :D

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Thorin, Fili, Kili Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Balin, Dwalin, Ori, Nori, Dori

[Gandalfthegray]

go ahed tel

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

What time did Bilbo have to meet the Dwarves to begin their adventure?

[Lotesse]

Seven o'clock?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Nope.

[Gandalfthegray]

11:00 am

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

You guys didn't waste your time. Go for it Gandalf.

[Gandalfthegray]

Why did the dwarfs want to bring bilbo along on their mission?

[Gandalfthegray]

Why did the dwarfs want to bring bilbo along on their mission?
hello anyone home? :)

[Spock]

hello anyone home? :)


You obviously are new to this :), it's only been a day. You must be a hasty Ent in disguise. :D

If you want an answer so quickly..........because he was a 'good burglar'.

[Gandalfthegray]

nope but thanks for answering so this way im not talking to myself hehe

[Spock]

Actually the mark on Bilbo's door (place by Gandalf) said "Burglar wants a good job, plent of Excitement and reasonable Reward.
And when Gandalf explained to Thorin that he'd prefer a Hero but they were very busy and so he settled on burglary, Thorin said; "very well then, supposing the burglar expert gives us some ideas or suggestions".

[durinsbane2244]

that's true, but mostly because they needed fourteen people...

[Gandalfthegray]

that's true, but mostly because they needed fourteen people...
durin your right, the dwarves didnt want to travel with 13 people, go ahed durin

[durinsbane2244]

sorry for the wait, family in town, so:

what valuable item did thorin's father possess? [not map or key]

[Lotesse]

The Arkenstone?

[Gandalfthegray]

one of the 7 dwarf rings

[Spock]

Boy this is hard. Thrain 1 had the Arkenstone. Thrain II had the key for the side-door, while Thorins father had an oak shield and a large club. :confused:

[durinsbane2244]

gandalf got it, he had the ring...but it was taken by the necromancer...

[Gandalfthegray]

horah dont mess with me ive read the book 36 times haha ok next question.
Name each gift that was given to bilbo through out the whole book.

[Lotesse]

****

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Some gold, silver and the mithril coat. Not Sting because it says Bilbo took that and he found the Ring.

[durinsbane2244]

yes, well, early bird....

[Gandalfthegray]

go ahed tel

[durinsbane2244]

wow, it's been quite a long time...at least a few weeks...

[plays pink floyd's comfortably numb]
hello, hello, hello,
is there anybody in there?
just nod if you can hear me,
is there anyone home?

so, yeah, anybody there?

[durinsbane2244]

i have been given the next question, so:

what color ink did bilbo mark his favorite walking paths in?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Red?

[durinsbane2244]

correctamundo...

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

What was Biter?

[Spock]

What was Biter?

The name given to Orcrist, by the Orcs.
Orcrist means "goblin cleaver"

[durinsbane2244]

oooh...slick spock, slick...give more than needed, a nice little slap in the face there...one day, spock, one day....yes, ok, i did just pretend we had a war again...fine!

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Correct Spock. Your go.

[Spock]

ok,

Who said AND where (a two parter for you in Rio Lindo)

" get up lazybones or there will be no breakfast for you" ;)

[durinsbane2244]

balin or one of the dwarves [i'll check that when i stand up...tomorrow...] in beorn's house to bilbo...

[Spock]

you gotta do a bit better than that :(

[durinsbane2244]

bofur to bilbo, after he wakes up late, house of beorn...o yea...

[Spock]

Correctomundo! :D

[durinsbane2244]

yay! ok, what modern phrase is invented in this book, and what was it originally? [dreadfully easy, i'm afraid]

[durinsbane2244]

EARTH TO MOOT! THIS IS GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR MOOT, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!?! HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THERE? [insert more song spoofs here] HELLLLOOOO?!?!

[Curubethion]

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire", originally "escaping goblins to be caught by wargs". I wish I had seen it sooner, but I'm not checking the trivia so recently any more...

[durinsbane2244]

correct...all red sox are not created equal, i suppose...sorry! sorry! i know we had a truce, just had to...

[Curubethion]

That's allright...you'll get mercy until the season starts... :evil: ;)

Ok...What is the other proverb created in The Hobbit?

[durinsbane2244]

hmm...to the book!

[durinsbane2244]

despite my dramatic charge, i never checked, nor do i have the energy now...can we...well, really i, have a hint?

[Curubethion]

The answer lies in the chapter where Bilbo goes and talks with Smaug...
First word: Never

[EarthBound]

Never laugh at a live dragon!

[Curubethion]

Correcto!

[durinsbane2244]

blast...NOOOOOO!

[EarthBound]

Who first told Beorn that the goblin King had been killed?

[durinsbane2244]

i know i'm going to say Gandalf and it's gonna be trick because you emphasized first...sigh...[mock high voice] gee whiz! was it Gandalf?

[Curubethion]

Yes, it is a trick...Gandalf told Beorn, which was confirmation that he was telling the truth. Beorn first heard it from a goblin and a warg, who both ended up nailed to his door. :eek:

[durinsbane2244]

wait though, wouldn't it be the goblin and warg which were confirmation that gandalf was telling the truth so gandalf did say it first and therefore i am correct? [catches breath]

[Curubethion]

But remember...Beorn took all of them out to show them the warg skin and the goblin head just after they told the story...I think.

[durinsbane2244]

no, he showed them that after he came back from his looking around, the day after they arrived and the story was told, so it was gandalf...

[EarthBound]

Yes, it is a trick...Gandalf told Beorn, which was confirmation that he was telling the truth. Beorn first heard it from a goblin and a warg, who both ended up nailed to his door. :eek:


No, in the story, the Goblin King's death isn't mentioned, so when Beorn finds out that not only were the travelers telling the truth, but that they'd killed the Goblin King, he immedietly felt worried for them and excited and ran back to check on them. ;)

[Spock]

ok, so who gets the next question ????

[EarthBound]

ok, so who gets the next question ????

Curubethion

[Curubethion]

All right...whose noises, according to a character's quote, could "awaken a stone dragon"?

[durinsbane2244]

stab in the dark here, bilbo saying, "all this dwarvish racket"?

[Curubethion]

Sorry, incorrect. Biblo in that case was referring to a live dragon-Smaug!
Good guess though...

[durinsbane2244]

er...a hint, if you will?

[Spock]

hmm, "C" it's been six days and no one has guessed correctly. Perhaps you might care to post a new question...saving this for yet another time?

[Curubethion]

Well...I think a hint would be good...haven't checked up on this thread as recently as I should have...
Bilbo was the speaker here, in response to the other party saying his snores would rouse a drunken goblin...

[TomthePilgrim]

Good hint, but I think there is a little confusion here.

The elves of Rivendell said this of Bilbo on his trip homeward in reply to Bilbo's comment that their song would waken a drunken goblin.

[Spock]

So almost three WEEKS on this, can't we move on to another question.......no one gets this :(

[Curubethion]

Sorry...I forgot to check this thread. Tom got it. The quote is referencing Bilbo.

[TomthePilgrim]

OK. If it's my turn, here goes . . . . .


What relationship did Gandalf claim to have with Radagast?

[durinsbane2244]

he's his cousin, maybe "distant cousin", or something of the sort, but i'm pretty sure it was cousin...

[TomthePilgrim]

That would be correct. (That was quick: have to work harder next time).

The next question is up to Durinsbane2244.

[durinsbane2244]

hmm...this should be interesting...if i can think of one...

k.

upon his first hearing of the size of the "secret door", what is bilbo's reaction, in a quote?

[TomthePilgrim]

I believe Bilbo's reply was, "it seems a great big hole to me."

[durinsbane2244]

indeed, ask away!

[TomthePilgrim]

Alrighty then . . . . .


Someone said, "Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes." What was said of Bilbo next?

[Spock]

Alrighty then . . . . .


Someone said, "Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes." What was said of Bilbo next?

He's had his fill.

[TomthePilgrim]

I'm not sure Bilbo ever had his fill . . . . . . and, no.

[TomthePilgrim]

It's been a couple of days since the last guess, so here's the question again and a hint . . . .

Someone said, "Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes." What was said of Bilbo next?

Hint: The elves were speaking.

[Spock]

It's been a couple of days since the last guess, so here's the question again and a hint . . . .
Someone said, "Mind Bilbo doesn't eat all the cakes." What was said of Bilbo next?
Hint: The elves were speaking.


"He is too fat to get through key-holes yet!"

[TomthePilgrim]

And that would be correct. :D

[TomthePilgrim]

And Spock gets to ask the next question . . .

[Spock]

an easy one as I am only on briefly until all repairs are done

...at the time of their first conversation (Bilbo & Smaug) how many ponies had been eaten

[TomthePilgrim]

Six?

[Spock]

Why yes, that's exactly correct.

[TomthePilgrim]

Hot dang! I guess I'm up, then . . . . .

Next question: Where did Bilbo say of Sting, "So it is an elvish blade, too."?

[Telcontar_Dunedain]

Rivendell?

[durinsbane2244]

in the goblin hall when he awakens and finds the blade glowing.....

[TomthePilgrim]

In the goblins halls after falling off of Dori's back and coming to.

Durinsbane2244 is correct . . . . .
. . . . . and the next questions is his.

[durinsbane2244]

alright! what are the first two signs of gandalf's presence in the goblin's hall?

[TomthePilgrim]

1) the lights in the halls went out
2) the bonfire went off in a flood of smoke and sparks