# LOTR - the monster at the gates of Moria **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123 "2013-12-12T00:30:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123/21 "2013-12-12T18:47:11Z")
For that matter, we don’t know that the thing in the water is strictly aquatic. It could be some sort of amphibian. All we see of it is a bunch of tentacles. Who knows what it’s full physiology is like? For all we know, it could very well have walked to the pond by the back gate. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123/22 "2013-12-13T00:11:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Really ? I didn’t remember that part. Hmm. So maybe it’s as simple as A Wizard Did It then. From the tale of years. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123/23 "2013-12-13T03:29:48Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > In fact, Gandalf pretty much precisely steps up and addresses this: > > “Something has crept, or has been driven out of the dark waters under the mountains.” > > Whatever that thing is, it used to live waaaaay down in the bottomless deeps of the earth, but it has managed to make its way to the lake before the gate. So yes, it seems that the lake connects to something down below. And, well, it may not be apparent from the movie, but we’re not talking about a ‘pond’ here. While it might not be Loch Ness, it IS basically a flooded valley, not a fishing hole. well, as he falls battling the ballaq, he ends up in a big lake area, right? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123/24 "2013-12-13T16:10:23Z")
And it’s possible that the orcs in Moria take care to feed the critter prisoners every so often… we know that’s how Shelob feeds, mainly. She’s not on a main thoroughfare, either. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123/25 "2013-12-13T16:16:42Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > In fact, Gandalf pretty much precisely steps up and addresses this: > > “Something has crept, or has been driven out of the dark waters under the mountains.” > > Whatever that thing is, it used to live waaaaay down in the bottomless deeps of the earth, but it has managed to make its way to the lake before the gate. So yes, it seems that the lake connects to something down below. And, well, it may not be apparent from the movie, but we’re not talking about a ‘pond’ here. While it might not be Loch Ness, it IS basically a flooded valley, not a fishing hole. I have no recollection of that Gandalf quote. I should really Kindle up the books, seems like it’s been ages since I’ve done what used to be my yearly mid-summer re-read. Anyway, that… makes a lot of sense. All right, sold. J.R.R. ? You and me, we square now. Jackson, you’re still on notice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-the-monster-at-the-gates-of-moria/676123.md?page=1)