#❝ between the mountains and the sea ❞ → gondor tag

[starsinlegions]

tag dump

[sweetearthandnorthernsky]

i’ve been Pondering my orb midsummer lately (as one does) and while i was doing that, sae informed me she Did Not Like my idea for her midsummer outfit.  

anyway, a few hours of brainstorming later, this was created! [excuse the handwriting, that is Not my forte lol]

[lesbiansforboromir]

Impossible LotR Quiz Answer sheet with explanations!

As an addendum, since people have been doing the quiz I’ve seen a few mistypes and awkwardnesses that are my own fault so I’ve corrected them. This means some people got a higher score than was shown, know that when I looked over your answers I saw your actually right answers and fully appreciated them! It’s good to not that the ‘fill in the blanks’ questions will not take two words in one space, so I’ve had to get creative with how I apply two named folk like Mardil Voronwe, or people who have numbers like Hurin I.

I would also like to say, to everyone talking about how they’ve never read the Silmarillion, this quiz is very purposefully almost entirely based outside of the Silmarillion. This is Appendices stuff! Indeed there is only 1 question even tangentally related to elves in here, this is by design. 

@magaramach, @brynnmclean and @apojiiislands asked to be tagged in this! Answers under the cut. 

Q2. Who was Dora Baggins in relation to Bilbo Baggins? - Second cousin on his father's side Dora Baggins is a very elderly woman who was the daughter of Bilbo’s father’s brother. She likes writing people a lot of unsolicited advice! THIS WAS WRONG AND SAID FIRST COUSIN FOR SO LONG AND I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR IT.

Q3. How many pairs of biological twins are mentioned in the whole of Arda's timeline and what races do they belong too? - 2 for men, 1 for elves and 3 for half-elves Fastred and Folcred, Haleth and Haldar (men) Amrod and Amras (elves) Elured and Elurin, Elrond and Elros, Elladan and Elrohir (half-elves) Now, admittedly Elladan and Elrohir are never actually described as twins. However they appear completely identical and have the same birth date, so it is assumed.

Q4. Baldor is who the skeleton scratching at the door used to be. When Aragorn and co pass through the paths of the dead they find a skeleton clawing at a door to the mountain. It is finely dressed and described as mighty and was later essentially confirmed to be Baldor, the eldest son of King Brego of Rohan, also called Baldor the hapless, who foolishly wandered into the paths of the dead on, apparently, a dare. (the answer to this was originally Brego because of a foolish typo from me, many apologies!)

Q5. When was the Ondonóre Nómesseron Minaþurie written? - During Meneldil's reign. “Enquiry into the Place-names of Gondor” was a text written by settled numenoreans about their new kingdom during Meneldil’s reign, who was the first sole King of Gondor after both Anarion (his father) and Isildur had perished.   

Q6. Farmer Maggot's particular friend was Tom Bombadil  It is stated that Farmer Maggot sometimes peacefully passes through the Old Forest to go and meet Tom Bombadil, who very much enjoys his company. However! Those who answered Merry or Pippin still deserve excellent recognition, Farmer Maggot was indeed fond of Pippin and respected Merry greatly.

Q7. What was the office of the Steward originally created to do? - Keep the Tradition of Isildur When Romendacil I went to war in the east, he realised that if he died then the secret of the Tradition of Isildur would die with him. Hence he wrote it down in a sealed scoll and gave it to a trusted confidante, to be given to his heir if he should perish. This tradition was maintained by further kings and those trusted confidantes became the Stewards of Gondor. This, admittedly, is a more suggested progression than explicit, but it’s a Impossible evil quiz so :) Q8. What was the 'Tradition of Isildur'? - Remember where Elendil was buried. Elendil had been secretly entombed in Calenardhon, supposedly the midpoint between Gondor and Arnor. This was a hallowed space for only Kings at first, but in later years when the Stewards came to rule Gondor they also were permitted the secret. Cirion had the remains moved when Calenardhon was gifted to the Eotheod to eventually become a part of the Kingdom of Rohan. 

Q9. At the time of Pelargir's founding, is the world flat or round? - Flat. Pelargir was founded as a ‘Faithful Numenorean’ haven on the river Anduin. Therefore it was built before Numenor’s destruction in the Akallabeth, the reason for which being that Eru turned the world from flat to round. 

Q10. Which of these monarchs were indolent and had no interest in ruling? - King Atanatar I - King Narmacil I - Tar-Vanimelde King Atanatar I ruled during Gondor’s richest generation and seemed to believe that meant he didn’t need to put any work in. Narmacil I, his son, didn’t want to put any work in, but he at least assigned his nephew, Minalcar, as ‘Karma-Kundo’ or regent during his reign. So he at least did something to keep the country going. Tar-Vanimelde had no interest in ruling and allowed her husband to do most of the governence. This backfired when she died and he organised a coup against his son to hold power.

Q11. When looking back on the Ship-Kings of Gondor, King Tarannon Falastur began the invasion of Harad and expanded Gondor's borders, King Earnil-I finally took Umbar but died at sea shortly afterwards, King Ciryandil spent most of his reign trying to defend Umbar and died in it's seige and King Hyarmendacil defended Umbar against seiges for 35 years before making war upon all Harad and claiming Harondor as a province of Gondor, ending the line of the Ship Kings.

Q12. What happened during the reign of King Romendacil II? - I don't know! Nothing? Yes I know this is particularly evil of me but Romendacil II was originally called Minalcar, yes the same Minalcar who became REGENT of Gondor due to Narmacil’s indolent nature. Minalcar indeed did everything else listed as answers to this question, but none of them happened during his reign as king. Indeed, his reign was said to be peaceful and we have no real information on it, so technically saying we don’t know, and suggesting nothing happened, is actually the most correct answer :)

Q13. Who succeeded Tar-Telperien of Numenor? - Her nephew, Minastir Tar-Telperien was a lesbian Queen of Numenor who never married and never wanted too and did an excellent job and I love her. Her nephew built a tower to mope in about how much he wanted to be an elf. They are not the same. Absolutely terrified about what Amazon could do to her. 

Q14. Whilst his brethren, the nazgul, were attacking the Prancing Pony, The Witch-King was waiting in the Barrow Downs and probably had a really nice time. Not much to this! Witch King was chilling with the Barrow Wights. 

Q15. Which of these characters are described as 'beautiful' at least once in the Lord of the Rings? - Galadriel, Denethor, Eowyn, Frodo, Elanor, Celeborn, Boromir Yes, Arwen is never described as beautiful, but Denethor is :)

Q16. We all love Boromir II, select the similarities he and Boromir I did NOT share. - Renowned relationship with the Rohirrim. - Destroyed the Bridge of Osgiliath - Feared by the Witch King - Retook Ithilien. - Had a brother. In case you’re wondering, yes, I love both Boromirs. But this question is a fun highlight of how many similarities Boromir II has with his namesake. These are the only things they didn’t both do. Although! Boromir I’s son was Cirion who allied with the Eotheod and created Rohan in the first place, the Uruk-Hai destroyed the Bridge of Osgiliath in Boromir I’s lifetime, Boromir II was PROBABLY feared by the witch-king we just don’t know, Boromir II held Ithilien and Boromir I had two elder sisters like Denethor II did.

Q17. Hey, did you know that, from Boromir I's war with the Uruk-Hai of the Morgul Vale, Gondor didn't know peace until Sauron's death on the 25th of March, 3019? Hah hah! How gut wrenching is that? About how long do you think it has been since Gondor knew peace then? Hey wait does that mean Boromir I's valiant victory that came at a personal sacrifice was the beginning of Gondor's wars and then Boromir II's valiant sacrifice was the end- oh god... oh fuck - 550 years To everyone who answered the crossed out answer,,, you’re correct in my heart. You get bonus points. Also hey! What the fuck :) 

Q18. Who was Borondir? - The rider sent to find Eorl who made it to him after starving himself for two days but who then rode to the Celebrant with Eorl anyway and died in that battle. Literally couldn’t love this fellow more. Big Hirgon energy. A hero of Gondor for time immemorial. 

Q19. The Ruling Stewards, from first to last (with their numbers typed as so Turin-I Hurin-II etc), were as follows; Mardil ; Eradan ; Herion ; Belegorn ; Hurin-I ; Turin-I ; Hador ; Barahir ; Dior ; Denethor-I ; Boromir-I ; Cirion ; Hallas ; Hurin-II ; Belecthor-I ; Orodreth ; Ecthelion-I ; Egalmoth ; Beren ; Beregond ; Belecthor-II ; Thorondir ; Turin-II ; Turgon ; Ecthelion-II ; Denethor-II ; and for like two seconds ; Faramir ; Alrighty, we had a bit of a fight in my discord about this but eventually I did relent in agreement that Faramir IS... very briefly... legally considered a RULING Steward. Ruling Stewards being Stewards that ruled a Kingless Gondor. But! With Aragorn RIGHT THERE is just seemed very redundant. Still! I’ll allow the pedant to win out, ten minutes is still a Ruling Steward. ALSO! I decided that having an extra box for the ‘voronwe’ part of mardil voronwe was just mean as it set everyone’s answers off kilter, so I removed that. ALSO for all of those calling me a bastard for adding this question, @illegalstargender was the one who requested it! I wasn’t going too! 

Q20. The Stewards, despite ruling through very tumultuous and violent periods, were often known for boring things (because they simply ruled better than the Kings did, I said what I said) But what boring thing was Steward Turin I remembered for? - Being the only monarch of Gondor that married twice This skeezy bastard really did marry a second time during his OLD age just to father a son. I can only imagine what a dreadful cultural and social effect this had on this prude country. It’s so unnecessary! He had daughters, many of them! One of them certainly had a son before he did. He was just being a controlling arse, down with Turin I!!!!

[captainderyn]

Day 7: Melinyes

Prompt number: 7. “No, and that’s final.”

Fandom: LOTRO

Rating: Gen

Warnings/Tags: N/A

Read on AO3 or beneath the read more

--

“You have to let me ride to Gondor!” The soft soles of his shoes pattered whispering echoes across the shining floors as Raenor pursued the lord of the Last Homely House, desperation thick in his voice. “I’m begging you.” 

He’d already waved the letter, clutched tightly enough in his hand it had started to buckle and the ink had started to smear dark across his fingers. The words didn’t have to be legible to be engraved on his mind. Hastily written in the shaky hand of one of Wulfwryn’s guards: 

Our captain insists that we send word to you in her stead. I do not know the extent to which you are familiar with her work, but for knowledge’s sake: in the lands around Minas Tirith orcs remain. Routinely we have gone out to hunt the vile beasts, much as your kind has done in the mountains for centuries. The other day she was caught by one of their foul blades in a skirmish. She insists it’s not severe but it’s festered and sickness spreads quickly through her. Trusting her word isn’t sound. 

We’re well familiar with your name and have heard her speak often of the distance between the two of you and while it may not be possible...your name has come often in her delirious ramblings. If you could find your way to the White City...it may give her restless heart some peace.

Remembering more was not a necessity, only that he must get to Minas Tirith. If only to hold her close while she drifted from the world, knowing that he was not a world away, but instead beside her one last time. Or to draw on long forgotten arts of healing that the race of man did not have in their books and memories. 

“Elrond,” he stopped dead as the older, wearied elf, halted at the base of the gilded stairs, one hand resting on the frail banister. “My kind lord, please.” 

The loss of Arwen to a half mortal’s life and the remnants of a war to mark the age had put weight untold on Elrond’s shoulders, Raenor could see it in the slope of his posture, in the deep tiredness in his eyes. Like many who had witness this war as the most recent of many in a gruesome history, he seemed to be drawn closer to the sea and Valinor with each passing year. 

Raenor wasn’t yet ready to go; he had business yet in Arda, he had a love that still burned bright who’s life may be ebbing while he mindlessly argued. 

Elrond’s brows drew together severely, the lines around his mouth deepening as he frowned. “Raenor, I told you no, and that’s final.” 

“She might be dying, I need to go to her.” It was all he could do to keep his voice steady, but he could not help the way he reached out, edging closer to dropping to his knees and raising his hands to Elrond in a plead to ride. Unable to face the look of finality in his eyes, Raenor let his own eyes drop to the floor, bowing his head. 

The cool bite of metal from finely crafted rings bit into his skin as Elrond gently wrapped his hands around Raenor’s clasped ones. “Ninya nildë,” he sighed heavily. 

“Melinyes,” I love her, he replied, voice hardly more than a emotional rasp from behind the emotion clogging his throat. 

“Such is the flaw of elves who fall for those who live mortal lives.” Some of his own sadness seemed to be mirrored in the lord of the house, echoed within the depths of his eyes in stories untold to Raenor. “It would do you best to let her pass if she will and pass yourself into Valinor, you’ll find no heartbreak there.” 

Raenor shook his head, a soft cry breaking from him. “I am bound here.”   

Hands tightening over his, he heard more than felt Elrond’s deep sorrow resonating in the space between them. “And if she passes into the light? Will you too fade from the pain in your heart?” 

Shuddering and finally drawing watery eyes up from the floor, Raenor gave another tiny shake of his head. “It doesn’t matter; where she goes, I will follow. I cannot bear to leave.”

Whether it was to fade like a candle snuffed or like a flame in a breeze, his feet would not follow a path across the sea. 

[sweetearthandnorthernsky]

i feel like in Gondor there are pretty much three major ways to express the sentiment of [when pigs fly/pff yeah right, that’ll never happen]: “when the king returns/comes back,” “when the ships return to port/return/come home,” and “when amroth finds nimrodel [or vice versa].”

the first one is definitely the more ‘acceptable’ [at least of the first two] one and more widely used* because it doesn’t require a specific knowledge of the backstory behind it, since you know. the whole ruling steward SituationTM is known to everyone in gondor.

the second, while mistaken for just any ships, is actually a reference to ar-pharazon's ill-fated fleet, and is frowned upon in most other places for obvious reasons. the folk of pelargir & dol amroth use this one more than everyone else because they’re the boat people.  though pelargir’s populace tends to use it more casually than the dol amrothians who only really use it when they’re feeling Particularly Strongly about something.

the third is almost exclusively used by the folk of dol amroth, since that’s like. their whole thing. 

*until 3019 ta where it completely drops out of the vernacular for... obvious reasons