Pengolodh will end up turning himself into a Crystal Ball in Doug's 3rd book. His body will become sand, which will be 'spun' or formed into a ball of polished glass. His spirit or mind will take up residence in that Ball. Various individuals will carry and interact with him, and he will even lead and direct groups through various lands (perhaps a precursor or foreshadowing of the Liahona in this other tale?). It is as this Ball that Pengolodh is said to have recreated what will become the Brass Plates that Nephi reclaimed from Laban.
As to to truth of this, I can't say for certain, obviously. Regardless, it is probably an important and necessary image or element for Doug's story. The Book of Mormon talks about a Seer. Seers are defined as having or interacting with Stones (or even being Stones?). We currently face the absence of any such Stones in our world. But if Pengolodh turns out to be (or is portrayed as) as a Stone, that opens up possibilities for Pengolodh, Doug and their writings. Even as we wait for an actual physical Stone in our world, it could be said that he has been interacting with a Stone all along. I don't know if that is how things are (for all I know Pengolodh's tale has evolved where he is no longer in the present a Ball anymore, and this particular thread of thinking is wrong and outdated).
Leo also mentioned a "Wizard of Oz" scenario in an earlier comment relating to Pengolodh's current state. I take this to mean that either there is no Being called Pengolodh, or he is actually not a Ball (only claiming to be). I think either are possibilities also - meaning, we can't be sure what it is or is not real or true at this point. We can only make some guesses and trace through implications and possibilities.
Doug has already elevated his writings as a partial fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecy, specifically found in 2 Nephi 27, both implied (through his choice of titles) as well as explicitly stated (in his introduction to Words of the Faithful). In 2 Nephi 27, Nephi relates a series of prophecies that center around a book and its words. Commonly understood by Mormons to be about the Book of Mormon (to the point where the chapter heading summarizes Nephi's prophecy in that way), this is almost certainly about something else.
The book is said to contain "words of them that have slumbered" as well as "words of the faithful". You'll note that these are the titles to Doug's first two books. Further, Doug will directly tie his books to the prophecy of that book in his introduction:
The following stories bring forth some "words of the Faithful" as promised by the Lord in the Book of Mormon.
It takes some level of confidence to tie one's works to Book of Mormon prophecy, so that should be a reminder that Doug is fairly all-in on this effort, as are those he is working with.
To be fair, though, Doug does not say his books are the only writings that fit the bill, nor claim that these books are a 'sealed' record or book. Rather, he joins his writings with Tolkien's books, and implies that those stories are also some of these "words of the Faithful". In Book 3, his latest, it is also implied that Doug's writings (though it seems these will be future writings, based on the note) are to be tied or joined with the Brass Plates. Pengolodh specifically states this to Doug as he recounts how he assisted with the recreation of the Brass Plates.
In Doug's latest book, Pengolodh will first note that he, as a Ball, entered into the mind of a girl named Moira to recreate the Brass Plates (at this time Brass Records which Ki-Abroam had joined together consisting of Asenath and Ifariel's words have been melted down and destroyed). It is this brief description that has me thinking that Pengolodh is still a Ball (whether actually or portrayed) because he likens this process from before to how he has been communicating to Doug now:
Moira settled herself and grasped as one Final inscription, after long weeks ablazing, pen into bronze laying down so many tales, come of Pengolodh (as you! [Doug]) enraptured about Distaff, and sending to her hands all his Rosumbd's Word.
Moria writes Pengolodh's words, just as Doug is writing them now. As an aside, the "as you" comment, referring to Doug I assumed, brought my dream of Pengolodh to mind, since I believe I saw him "as Doug" in that dream.
In any case, it is confirmed in the next paragraph that what Moira engraved on Brass Plates is what Pengoldh claims are the Brass Plates of the Book of Mormon. Along with this is the mention that Doug's own writings will be joined, and then two names as a source for these, though my guess is Pengolodh also claims to be in possession of these accounts as well:
So those Brass Plates (of Nephi's circle's retaking) had originaled (a second time!) in this little hovel ,poorest maid, alone nearly. And to it (in time) shall be added thy own inscribed, what Hythiach and Hygelac cared to encumber in their long ago realms, hidden; and more also, was appended, here and thereto (too). but in honor to Greatest Lore Master olden and renewed, Moira sanctified that book with Mos'th's signature, and to this honor consented he, lored-lord.
I should note here the tendency to really honor the name or role of Pengolodh in these writings, which is a funny tendency given that he is positioned as the author. In this paragraph alone we get "Greatest Lore Master" and "Lored Lord".
Reading that last phrase actually brought to my mind a scene from Rocky 4. Apollo Creed is introduced before his fight with Ivan Drago, and is given a litany of amazingly self-indulgent nicknames. So much so that Rocky turns to him and asks if he has enough names, as in he should be embarrassed by this. Apollo, however, is clearly enjoying the adulation. Here is the clip that I thought of:
This tendency (and one that Doug carries over in his own writing and discussion of Pengolodh, with supreme reverence) reminded me of this scene. In the few discussions I joined with the SLC group virtually, Pengolodh's words (through Doug) trumped any other opinion that was voiced, and so it was not just the title or name that was reverenced, but anything that was said by this Being.
Anyway, we know what happened to Apollo.
Actually, I just thought to look up the name Apollo right now, which might be relevant only specifically in the context of my own thoughts and guesses as to the nature of this Being calling themselves Pengolodh. Apollo means "Destroyer".
Another movie analogy comes to play with Pengolodh adopting his circular shape. It is one that has come up before over on William Tychonievich's blog as well as a bit on this one - Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part 1.
That movie features the main nemesis also as a "Being" adopting the shape of a circle, but I will go into my thoughts on some interesting symbolism there in a follow-up post. Might be something to it. For the record, I watched the first half of that movie two nights ago. It has the scene that William has written about before, featuring Bengi disarming a bomb that starts off with the message "U R Dunn" (Dunn being Benji's last name).
I woke up the next morning and read a post by William featuring a character named Luther and a series of conveyor belts. In that scene I had just watched the night before, it is the character name Luther who is working with Benji to disarm the bomb, while Benji is surrounded by conveyor belts. I am not sure how it ties, if at all, with William's dream, but the existence of a Luther and these conveyor belts made me think of that scene, and thus some of the rest of the symbolism I had seen in the movie, specifically relating to Pengolodh.
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