Land of Dragons: How Myth Shapes Our Reality
Signum University invites you to join us from 3-5 October for Euro Moot 2025. This hybrid event will occur at the Pafiliwn Grange Pavilion in Cardiff, Wales, UK. For our very first Euro Moot, you are invited to join us in, and also consider, the “Land of Dragons: How Myth Shapes Our Reality”.
Register Here For Euro Moot
- $130 USD ( ~ £100 or €120) for in-person adult attendance,
- $75 USD ( ~ £58 or €69) for in-person student attendance,
- $35 USD ( ~ £27 or €32) for remote attendance
“Land of Dragons: How Myth Shapes Our Reality” invites scholars and fantasy enthusiasts to Wales to journey deep into the heart of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium, where dragons are more than mere monsters—they are mirrors reflecting human nature, greed, courage, and the complex moral landscapes of myth. From the malevolent Smaug, who hoards treasure and embodies corruption in The Hobbit, to the dragons of broader fantasy lore such as Falcor the Luckdragon from The Neverending Story, to dragons from around the world such as Shenlong the Chinese spirit dragon, our theme examines how dragons oscillate between symbols of destruction and wisdom, between terror and inspiration. Tolkien, a scholar of ancient myth himself, drew heavily from Norse and Anglo-Saxon traditions, where dragons often represent both doom and the trials heroes must overcome. Through this and other lenses, Euro Moot will explore how the world myth of dragons influences not just fantasy literature, but also our understanding of power, temptation, and transformation in the real world. We invite participants to reflect on how these legendary creatures continue to shape modern storytelling, bridging the gap between the fantastical and the familiar.
Schedule of Events (All Times Local to Cardiff – British Summer Time)
Friday, 3 October
12:00 noon – 1:00pm: Lunch and Euro Moot Registration
1:00 – 1:15: Greetings and Introductions w/Corey Olsen
1:15 – 1:45pm: Euro Moot Helcaraxë-Breaker w/Adam Beaton
1:45 – 2:45pm: Euro Moot Reading Circles
2:45 – 3:30pm: Euro Moot Debate: “This House Believes Fëanor Did Nothing Wrong” w/Darren Grey and Karen Pollock
3:30 – 3:50pm: Afternoon Tea
3:50 – 4:50pm: Corey’s Textual Analysis Dice Game w/Corey Olsen
4:50 – 5:40pm: Ranger of the North – A Documentary in Progress w/Ned Phillips
5:40 – 5:45pm: Thank Yous and Goodbyes w/Corey Olsen
5:45 – 7:30pm: Gathering Together and Cardiff Walking Tour
Saturday, 4 October
9:00 – 9:15am: Greetings and Introductions w/Corey Olsen
9:15 – 9:55am: Welcome to Wales w/Maggie Parke
9:55 – 10:35am: The Weirdness of Wyrd: Language and Reality in Christopher Paolini’s ‘Eragon’ w/Sam Lewis
10:35 – 10:50am: Elevenses
10:50 – 11:30am: Lessons in Writing From J.R.R. Tolkien w/Darren Grey
11:30am – 12:10pm: Trauma Therapy for Orcs w/Karen Pollock
12:10 – 1:20pm: Lunch Break
1:20 – 2:15pm: Draconic Enchantment in Tolkien’s “Iúmonna Gold Galdre Bewunden” w/Sara Brown
2:15 – 2:55pm: The Dragon Has Two Tongues w/Gareth Davies
2:55 – 3:15pm: Afternoon Tea
3:15 – 3:55pm: Battle Scars: A Conservator’s Look at the Book of Mazarbul w/Lisa “Juno” Behrens
3:55 – 4:35pm: From Fáfnir to Fragments of God: The Ludonarrative of Dragons in The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim w/Adam Beaton
4:45 – 5:45pm: Other Minds & Hands Storyboarding Workshop w/Maggie Parke and Corey Olsen
5:45 – 5:55pm: Thank Yous and Goodbyes w/Corey Olsen
5:55 – 8:00pm: Euro Moot Pizza Party and Watch Party for The Hobbit (1966 and 1977 animated versions)
Sunday, 5 October
9:00 – 9:15am: Greetings and Introductions w/Corey Olsen
9:15 – 10:15am: Trivia Time: The Tolkien Chase w/Sara Brown, Corey Olsen, Adam Beaton, and YOU!
10:15 – 11:00: Never Laugh at Live Dragons: A Writing Workshop w/Karen Pollock
11:00 – 11:15: Elevenses
11:15am – 12:00pm: What-ifs in a Hat w/Darren Grey
12:00 noon – 1:00pm: Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:20pm: Sing Along With the Lampton Worm! w/Karen Pollock and YOU!
1:20 – 2:20pm: Filling up the Corners: One Minute Reflective Talks w/YOU!
2:20 – 2:30pm: Last Thank Yous and Final Goodbyes w/Corey Olsen
