#earnil

[tenth-sentence]

He it was that rode alone to the gates of Minas Morgul to meet the challenge of the Morgul-lord; and he met him in single combat, but he was betrayed by the Nazgûl and taken alive into the city of torment, and no living man saw him ever again.

"The Silmarillion" - J.R.R. Tolkien

[rohirric-hunter]

I think as a fandom we don't bully the Gloom of Nurn enough for being like, "I don't care about Gothmog, Gothmog isn't the boss of me, I don't have to do what he wants, I'm going to specifically do things he doesn't want just because I can, because Gothmog has no influence over how I live my life whatsoever," and then proceeding to whip out an extremely elaborate Gothmog-themed boss fight. Like, what was that about man?

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 2

Narmeleth vs Faramir (son of Ondoher)

Narmeleth:

Elf of Lindon & later the Gwaith-i-Mirdain; crafted & entrapped by a minor ring of power (Lord of the Rings Online character)

Narmelleth!!! I mean. She's got it all. Corrupted by the Gift Lord, Ring-forger, Bane of Fornost, Earnur's Worstie, COOL OUTFIT, Redemption Arc we didn't start the fire

she actually managed to destroy the lesser ring of power "Annatar" had used to corrupt her, which is like, SO impressive considering how long she had been under its influence. She also fought Mordirith (the steward of Angmar) and his new champion Mordrambor (a universally loathed NPC that everyone rightfully hates for personal reasons) single-handedly!! I don't mean alone, the player character was there, but I mean she did it single-handed. with one hand. she lost a hand and kept fighting. and WON!!!

Faramir (son of Ondoher):

The younger son of King Ondoher of Gondor, killed in battle along with his father and older brother. Also a character in Lord of the Rings Online.

more blorboganda later but! he's been hanging out on dagorlad as a ghost bc he snuck out to join the fighting against the wainriders with his dad and brother and they all got killed. really wants to help the rangers of ithilien once he gets out of the 'ghost who had to hang out at torture temple for a thousand years or so' fog

propaGANDA please vote for Faramir "Namesake of the Faramir we know" son of Ondoher he's got it all. Younger brother, couldn't stay behind while his family fought Mordor, rode out in disguise (sound familiar?) but died TRAGICALLY in the arms of the proto-Rohirric Commander. this is not even touching all the stuff he gets into in adaptations. Faramir I supremacy

OK no I can wax poetical on Faramir I Son of Ondoher because his is a tragedy that sets in motion the end of the Kings of Gondor (for an age or two. idk on specific but). Faramir I second son of Ondoher is not content to stay at home, doing his duty, following orders etc. etc. because he LOVES his dad and his big brother SO much. And the thing is, he really really shouldn't go. Hindsight 20/20 and all that but if he leaves there is NO ONE who can take the throne from his dad's direct line (because the Gondorian Council are punks and decide his cool sister Firiel and her extremely cool husband Arvedui can't have it on account of [handwaves] honestly). But the armies they're facing off against are serious business! They're really outmatching Gondor here. They straight up already fought his grandfather King Calimehtar, iand are back for round 2. So what does precious Faramir (I) do? He pulls the OG Eowyn, babey (and let's not forget parallels, PARALLELS about following your father (figure) and brother to war, right? she marries the NAMESAKE of this guy, incredibly cool mirroring here) and gets a disguise and rides with the Rohirrim-before-Eorl (some adaptations call this the Eotheod) to go help. Here's where things get EXTRA angsty HIS FATHER AND BROTHER ARE DEAD. He doesn't know because he's with the Eotheod, but like. The Wainriders killed them. And the Eotheod does help rout the rest of them and eventually, Earnil II future Throne-thief (but it's not his fault) gets the final victory BUT not before sweet noble Faramir is run through with a spear by the chieftain of the Wainriders and DIES IN THE ARMS OF A COMMANDER OF THE EOTHEOD. Like. That's a specific detail we have. Blorbo Blorbamir at LEAST didn't die alone and was discovered to be the prince there. So. Mr. Horse Leader gets to give the news to everyone about the poor guy that died in his arms being the son of the king. But oops! The King and brother are already dead so. Technically the King of Gondor died in his arms. What a day for him, right? Anyway this is still about Faramir who (in the LoTRO adaptation) feels such guilt that he HANGS AROUND AS A GHOST REGRETTING HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOWNFALL OF GONDOR. Tragicest blorbo. Regret. Precious guy. Vote Faramir I

Round 2 masterpost

[sesamenom]

Tolkien only mentions people's absent mothers or wives if they're dead

...so about that:

dead, named

miriel

elenwe

luthien

nimloth (of doriath)

morwen

rian

nienor

aerin

finduilas [girlfriend]

eilinel [girlfriend]

arwen

theodwyn

tar-miriel

beruthiel

finduilas (of gondor)

primula

gilraen

elfhild

assumed eventually dead (mortal), named

adanel

andreth [girlfriend]

arachon

beldis

emeldir

zimrahin

gildis

gloredhel

hareth

hiril

meleth

elros' wife

tar-vanimelde

tar-ancalime

silmarien

almarian

erendis

ailinel

lindorie

inzilbeth

firiel

rian (of gondor)

morwen (of gondor)

morwen (of the dunedain)

ivorwen

not dead (as of last mention), named

tatie

nerdanel

indis

anaire

earwen

aredhel

idril

iminye

ilwen

meril [existence uncertain]

amarie [fiancee]

eldalote

enelye

galadriel

ungoliant

fluithin [existence uncertain]

varda

yavanna

vana

nessa

vaire

este

uinen

goldberry

melian

celebrian

elwing

lothiriel

eowyn

nimrodel (of lorien) [fiancee]

adamanta

lalia

eglantine

esmeralda

rosamunda

diamond

belladonna

donnamira

mirabella

belba

camellia

laura

pansy

linda

lobelia

chica

rosa

gilly

mimosa

prisca

dora

peony

tanta

lily

estella

alfrida

dina

cora

adaldrida

lavender

amethyst

ruby

sapphire

jessamine

gerda

druda

primrose

hilda

ivy

berylla

malva

hanna

salvia

menelgida

asphodel

nina

bell

marigold

rose (other one)

rose

lily (other one)

elanor

cwen

naimi

vaire (of tol eressea)

unnamed

nerdanel's mom

maglor's spouse [gender uncertain]

caranthir's spouse [gender uncertain]

celebrimbor's mom

ilion's wife

indis' mom

fingon's possible wife [existence disputed]

finduilas' mom

earwen's mom

denethor (of the laiquendi)'s mom

celeborn's first wife/amroth's mom [existence uncertain]

saeros' mom

cirdan's mom [existence disputed]

celeborn's mom

galadhon's mom

thranduil's mom

legolas' mom

nimloth (of doriath)'s mom

wives of beor, baran, belen, boron, baranor, beldir, boromir (of the beorians), bregor, beren (other one), bregolas, baragund, belegund

anduir's mom

amdir's wife/amroth's mom [existence uncertain]

wives of marach, imlach, magor, hathol, haldan, halmir, hundar, hunthor, haldad, haldar

bor's wife

ulfang's wife

gorlim's mom

dorlas' wife

aerin's mom

wives of vardamir, tar-amandil, nolondil, veantur, tar-elendil, earendur, axantur, hatholdir, caliondo, cemendur, hallatan, tar-anarion, tar-surion, isilmo, tar-minastir, tar-ciryatan, tar-atanamir, tar-ancalimon, tar-telemmaite, tar-alcarin, tar-calmacil, tar-ardamin, ar-adunakhor, ar-zimrathon, ar-sakalthor, tar-palantir, tar-gimilkhad

wives of valandil, earendur (second one), numendil, amandil, elendil, isildur, anarion, valandil, meneldil, eldacar, arantar, tarcil, tarondor, valandur, elendur, earendur (third one), amlaith, beleg, mallor, celepharn, celebrindor, malvegil, argeleb I, arveleg I, araphor, argeleb II, araval, araphant, aranarth, arahel, aranuir, aravir, aragorn I, araglas, arahad I, aragost, aravorn, arahad II, arassuil, arathorn I, argonui, arador,

wives of cemendur, earendil (of gondor), anardil, ostoher, tarostar, turambar (of gondor), atanatar I, siriondil, tarciryan, earnil I, ciryandil, ciryaher, calmacil, romendacil II, calimehtar, vidugavia, castamir, aldamir, hyarmendacil II, telemnar, minastan, tarondor, telumehtar, narmacil II, arciryas, calimehtar (other one), calimmacil, ondoher, siriondil (other one), earnil II

wives of marhari, marhwini, forthwini, frumgar, fram, leod, eorl, brego (of rohan), aldor, frea, freawine, freca, goldwine, deor, helm, hild, frealaf, brytta, walda, folcwine, fengel

wives of pelendur, vorondil, mardil, eradan, herion, belegorn, hurin I (of gondor), turin I (of gondor), hador (of gondor), barahir (of gondor), boromir (other one of gondor), cirion, hallas, hurin II, belecthor I, orodreth (of gondor), egalmoth (of gondor), beren (of gondor), beregond (other one), belecthor II, thorondir, turin II, turgon (of gondor), ecthelion II (of gondor)

wives of adrahil I, galador, agalahad, angelimir, adrahil II, elphir, imrahil

smeagol's grandmother

ibal's mom

beorn's wife [mortality uncertain]

ghan's wife

wives of girion, bard, bain, brand, bard II

wives of baranor (of gondor), beregond, borlas, berelach II

grima's mother

dunhere's mother

aghan's mother

mim's wife

wives of durin I, durin II, durin III, durin IV, durin V, durin VI, nain I, thrain I, thorin I, gloin (other one), oin (other one), nain II, dain I, borin, thror, thrain, gror, nain, farin, fundin, groin, dain II, gloin, thorin III

isengrim II's wife [mortality uncertain]

wives of isumbras III, ferumbras II, fortinbras I, isumbras IV, isumbold, isembard, adalgrim, flambard, sisigmond, adelard, ferdinand

wives of odo, olo, polo, ponto, dudo, adalgar, jago, gundahad, vigo, bosco

wives of gorhendad, sadoc, saradas, orgulas, marmadas, hamfast, wiseman, holman, cottar, hobson, holman, andwise, halfred, frodo (gardner), holfast

wives of woden, heden, eoh, tulkastor

if we include implied mortality (orange), we have our totals of:

total named: 129

dead, named: 43 not dead, named: 86

total unnamed: 273

probably dead, unnamed: 230 not dead, unnamed: 43

obviously the eventual mortality of the gazillion numenoreans does impact these numbers quite a bit, but it still does stand that more of the unnamed mothers/wives are dead than the named ones (84% vs 33%)

---

other notes:

orange = implied eventual death due to mortality at some point up to the end of the TA

[gender uncertain], [girlfriend], and [fiancee] characters were counted as wives

[existence uncertain] and [existence disputed] characters were included

[mortality uncertain] characters were counted as not dead

actually not only is Legolas’s mother still alive, post-quest she was like ‘Aragorn I’m your mum now’ and Aragorn was like ‘that’s kind of you but no need’ and she was like ‘NO. I AM YOUR MUM NOW.’

& Legolas was solemnly like ‘this means we are brothers now. I take my brotherly responsibilities very seriously. Family game night is on Tuesdays.’

that’s what happened.

[tolkienmatters]

‘Not by the hand of man will he fall’ - Prophecy and End of Kings

One of the most enduring moments of the Lord of the Rings is Eowyn’s slaying of the Witch King and fulfilling the Prophecy of Glorfindel, but where did this prophecy come from? During the Witch King’s conquest of Arnor, King Eärnil II sent his son Prince Eärnur with a small army to help defend their ally. Eärnur’s army merged with an Elven host under Glorfindel, and the Host of the West met the Witch King’s army at Fornost. During the battle the Witch King rode issuing a challenge of single combat to Eärnur, who accepted the challenge, but the Witch King’s malice and intimidating aura frightened the Gondorian horses, and Eärnur’s horse fled in fear - taking the Prince with him. The Witch King mocked him for this, and as Glorfindel’s army came the Witch King escaped the battle. Eärnur regained control of his horse and wanted to chase them, but Glorfindel warned against it prophesying “Do not pursue him! He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall”. Eärnur did not pursue, and though the battle was won his pride was hurt, and ultimately Arnor was destroyed. Mordor soon took Minas Ithil, Gondor’s chief position in Mordor, and made it into Minas Morgul, a fortress of dark sorcery. Eärnur came to the throne after the death of his father, and upon his ascension to the throne the Witch King, now based in Minas Morgul, issued his challenge again. Eärnur wished to fight him but was held back by his steward Mardil. Years later the Witch King issued another challenge, but this time Eärnur accepted. He left the Crown of Gondor on his father’s tomb, gathered an escort of knights and rode to Minas Morgul. He and his escort were never seen or heard from again. There was no heir and nobody claimed the throne. The line was broken and nobody wanted to risk another Kin-Strife. So began the Ruling Stewards as the caretakers of the throne, and the Crown of Gondor remained in the tombs until the Fourth Age and the coronation of King Elessar. Glorfindel’s prophecy remained part of legend and gave the Witch King more infamy. Hundred years later, During the Battle of Pelennor Fields in the War of the Ring, Merry the Hobbit broke the Witch King’s armor with a barrow-blade, and Dernhelm revealed himself to be Eowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who then slew the Witch King. His doom was met by the hand of Woman and Hobbit, and thus the prophecy came to pass.

“Now the descendants of the kings had become few. Their numbers had been greatly diminished in the Kin-strife; whereas since that time the kings had become jealous and watchful of those near akin. Often those on whom suspicion fell had fled to Umbar and there joined the rebels; while others had renounced their lineage and taken wives not of Númenorean blood. So it was that no claimant to the crown could be found who was of pure blood, or whose claim all would allow; and all feared the memory of the Kin-strife, knowing that if any such dissension arose again, then Gondor would perish. Therefore, though the years lengthened, the Steward continued to rule Gondor, and the crown of Elendil lay in the lap of King Eärnil in the Houses of the Dead, where Eärnur had left it. “

- The end of the line of kings from the Third Age into the Fourth. Appendices, Annals of the Kings and Rulers, The Numenorean Kings, Of Numenor

[middle-earth-mythopoeia]

What are your thoughts and theories about Dunedain women? They're not really named or talked about, but they must exist

You’re so right! And thank you for this ask! :)

The Dúnedain women are fascinating, and I wish Tolkien had written more about them. I’m assuming you’re asking about Dúnedain women in Middle-earth, but I want to go back earlier and talk about the Númenoreans first.

There were three Ruling Queens of Númenor—Tar-Ancalimë, Tar-Telperiën and Tar-Vanimeldë—but there would have been four, if Tar-Míriel had not been forced to marry Ar-Pharazôn against her will. I find Míriel’s fate really tragic. Not only did her cousin force her to marry him and usurp the throne from her, then she had to watch as he became more and more corrupt and authoritarian (under Sauron’s influence) and ultimately brought about the downfall of her kingdom.

But I find it really interesting that (until Ar-Pharazôn ruined everything) Númenor had such egalitarian rules of succession. This was because Tar-Aldarion changed the laws so that Tar-Ancalimë, his daughter, could inherit the crown from him. Although Númenor had male-only primogeniture before that, I think it’s important to note that this law change happened quite early in its history—Númenor had twenty-five rulers, and Tar-Aldarion was the sixth. It’s also interesting to me that a power-hungry man illegitimately taking away the political authority of a woman is such an essential part of the downfall of Númenor.

And speaking of a man usurping the rightful Queen, I’m still mad that Fíriel didn’t become the Ruling Queen of Gondor after her father, King Ondoher, and her two elder brothers, were killed. She was the rightful heir to the throne according to the ancient laws of Númenor! She should have become Queen of Gondor! (I’ve been upset about this ever since I was 13 years old and reading the ROTK appendices for the first time.) But Eärnil II claimed the crown, and then his son Eärnur received it, and he was killed, and the rule of Gondor passed to the Stewards; and Eärnur was the last King of Gondor until Aragorn took the throne more than 900 years later, so once again, a man usurping a woman’s political power led to extremely dire consequences for the Dúnedain. If Eärnil hadn’t wrongfully taken the crown from Fíriel, the line of Kings and Queens wouldn’t have been broken and Gondor and Arnor wouldn’t have fallen into disarray.

(I think the narrative agrees with me, too, because Eärnur was described as valiant but not wise, a man who took pleasure chiefly in fighting, and he ultimately died because he was too proud to refuse a challenge from the Lord of Minas Morgul. Is this who should have been ruling Gondor? No. It explicitly says in the appendices, ‘It may be that if the crown and the sceptre had been united, then the kingship would have been maintained and much evil averted.’ Fíriel should have been given the crown! Another point in my favor is that Aragorn was descended from Fíriel, the rightful line. It says, ‘Arvedui did not press his claim; for he had neither the power nor the will to oppose the choice of the Dúnedain of Gondor; yet the claim was never forgotten by his descendants even when their kingship had passed away.’ That’s right! I fully believe that Aragorn reinstated the Númenorean law of succession when he became King, allowing for there to be Ruling Queens after his reign.)

But if there is not enough written about the Queens of Númenor and Gondor, there is even less about Dúnedain women who weren’t of royal blood. I love the idea that in later years, after the Númenoreans founded Gondor and Arnor, some of them would have become rangers alongside the male Dúnedain. Because why not? The fact that Númenor had Ruling Queens suggests that women could have had many of the same rights as men, so I see no reason why they couldn’t have done all the same things men did. I’d love to see more stories about them.

[child-of-hurin]

On me giving myself feelings for Elendil and Míriel even though they have a total of zero interactions on page

I'm looking at how insistent Elendil is in the UT that we should not count Vanimeldë's husband Herucalmo in the line of kings of Númenor. Elendil clearly specifies that Herucalmo WAS of royal blood, as a descendent of Atanamir, and that he effectively ruled Númenor for 20 years, until he died, and he even adopted a royal name -- Tar-Anducal. But he also makes a point of highlighting that none of the circumstances of his claim made it legitimate, and goes on to say that Alcarin, Herucalmo and Vanimeldë's son, "ruled for 80 years until his death in 2737, being rightful King for one hundred years".

The difference between Herucalmo and Pharazôn is that Pharazôn is still married to Míriel and thus he is a legitimate king. Which brings to mind again Elendil's insistence that the marriage was not just a product of coercion, but that it was illegal anyway because cousins that close can't marry under Númenorian law. I've mentioned before that it sounds so weird on page the first time you read it, that a lame ass law about cousin marriage would be put on the same level as rape/forced marriage... and I always come away with the same impression, that it is easy to assume Elendil is just using every single argument he has to say that Pharazôn's kingship is at best dubious...

Also thinking, of course, of Fíriel and Averdui and this post by @anghraine...

[sweetearthandnorthernsky]

so i was doing the ondoher’s folly quests again and. paying really close attention to the dialogue

Artamir here has told me much of the days that followed the King's death as well as my own. He tells me that the Wainriders made camp to the southwest, but were ambushed and slain to the last by a vast army under command of a man named Eärnil.

ASSUMING that this isn't because of any shade-related amnesia, (which is a completely different case entirely, and not the point of this post) i am once again extremely confused as to why faramir 1 seems to be unaware of the existence of earnil? because

1) really high ranking general, you don't get Like That overnight and 2)

they’re cousins [although like four times removed]? and then it would make sense for a general of such standing to be on the king's royal council? (that isn't canon though, that's just part of my mental-gondor-worldbuilding/how i interpret that situation)

anyway, it would make sense for them to see each other fairly (?) regularly.

also i'm not sure how much of that information is from what ssg has rights to, so that may factor into it

[arofili]

the line of elros ♚ royalty of gondor ♚ headcanon disclaimer

          Tarcíryan was the young brother of King Tarannon Falastur. He was born Círyan, adding the prefix Tar- to his name as had that Númenórean kings of old when it became clear that Falastur would produce no heirs with his hated wife, Queen Berúthiel, emphasizing his position as his brother’s heir. After Tarannon ascended to the throne, Tarcíryan took his place as Captain of the Hosts and sailed alongside the king as he attacked the coastal settlements of the Easterlings. In one of these battles he was slain, leaving his wife Láminë a widow and losing his chance at the throne; instead, his son Eärnil inherited Falastur’s crown upon his death.           Eärnil continued the expansionist maritime policy of his predecessor, constructing a great navy and rebuilding the havens of Pelargir. He captured the Haven of Umbar, establishing it as an outpost of Gondor and learning of Berúthiel’s disappearance. The rulers of Umbar resented Eärnil and Falastur for their conquest of their people, though their own ancestors had long ago conquered this land in turn, and sabotaged one of his voyages three years later. The truth of Eärnil’s disappearance at sea was unknown for many generations, revealed only to the sons of Castamir upon their exile from Gondor.           At the time of his death, Eärnil’s wife Tyelcatálië was pregnant with his last child. She nearly withered away in grief, but her daughters tended to her through the birth of their youngest sister, and she survived into old age. Tyelcatálië and Eärnil’s only son, Círyandil, inherited the throne and dedicated himself to maintaining Umbar, not wishing his father’s achievements to be forgotten. Círyandil defended Umbar against the Haradrim, led by the Black Númenórean lords Eärnil had driven from the city, and was slain before his time in a siege. His wife Netyariel, a weaver, spun herself a veil that she wore in mourning for the rest of her life.           Círyandil was succeeded by his son Círyaher, who set about reorganizing Gondor’s armies with the expertise of his wife, the fearsome warrior Ilwiel. For years they trained their soldiers quietly, but thirty-five years into Círyaher’s reign they struck suddenly against the people of the South who had slain Círyandil. In a swift and brutal military victory, Círyaher decimated the southern forces and exacted submission from the men of Harad. After this victory, he took the name Hyarmendacil, “South-victor,” in the same style as his ancestor Rómendacil I, and Ilwiel took the name Rilyasicil for her skill with the dagger.           During his reign, Hyarmendacil brought Gondor to its greatest extent of power and wealth, even reestablishing trade with Celebrindor, King of Arthedain. Hyarmendacil ruled in peace for the rest of his days, though he was plagued by aches from his old battle wounds that only worsened in his old age. Queen Rilyasicil bore him but one child, Atanatar II, who knew only a life of decadence and would not take the lurking threats against Gondor seriously.

[timewandererus]

The Kings of Gondor

I claimed that I can name all the Kings of Gondor by rote. Such a bold claim demands proof. So, here:

Meneldil-Usurped Valandil’s suzerainty and ensured the Kings of Gondor could rule without Arnor’s interference. Judge him as you will but Gondor thrived under the rule of his descendants.

Cemendur-Literally did nothing at all.

Earendil-Had a famous name and an uneventful rule

Anardil-The same as his grandfather. See Cemendur.

Ostoher-Expanded Minas Anor. Not much, but better than his father. Minas Anor’s expansion would be useful in a millennium or so.

Romendacil I=Defeated the first invasion of Easterlings. Bravo, Tarostar.

Turambar-Avenged his father and dealt the Easterlings a second defeat. They remained cowed for close to a millennium.

Atanatar-Rejoiced in his father’s victory. Did nothing else of note.

Siriondil-Did absolutely nothing of note.

Tarannon-Started an epic shipbuilding program. Probably to compensate for his lack of heirs and his horrible marriage.

Earnil I-Continued his uncle’s naval expansion and conquered Umbar. Perished shortly after along with his entire armada in a very suspicious storm.

Ciryandil-Continued his father and great-uncle’s work and defended Umbar to his death.

Hyarmendacil I-Fulfilled his father, grandfather and great-uncle’s grand ambitions by defeating the Umbarians and Haradrim once and for all, earning his place as the greatest King of Gondor.

Atanatar II-Enjoyed the fruits of his father’s great labors. Called himself the “Glorious”.

Narmacil I-The most lazy and spoiled King in Gondor’s entire history. Lived in complete luxury and decadence and handed the tasks of ruling to his nephew. Lived like a literal King without any of the responsibilities or cares.

Calmacil-Lived the same life as his childless brother. Ruled for a handful of years after his brother’s death. Dude had a pretty luxurious life.

Romendacil II-The true heir to Hyarmendacil’s strategic genius and leadership. Carried the torch for his lazy father and uncle. Defeated the Easterlings after they stirred from their long past defeat at the hands of Turambar.

Valacar-Married a woman of the North-Princess Vidumavi-for love. One of the bravest Kings of Gondor. Defied the worst racism of the Dunedain. Kudos, King.

Eldacar-The first King to be of “mixed” blood. Was usurped by his chief Admiral and lost his firstborn son to the Kin-Strife. Took it all back a decade later and slew the foul Usurper for his crimes.

Castamir-Racist, usurping tyrant. Shortest reign of all the Kings of Gondor, save one. And not short enough it was.

Aldamir-Ruled Gondor after his father reclaimed the crown. Didn’t do much other than rebuild.

Hyarmendacil II-Defeated the Haradrim after their long defeat at the hands of Hyarmendacil I.

Minardil-Fell victim to a surprise attack by the Usurper’s grandsons. Bad luck, I guess.

Telemnar-Fell victim to the Great Plague. Must have inherited his dad’s bad luck.

Tarondor-Took the throne after his uncle died from the Plague. Managed to save Gondor from collapse. Relocated to Minas Anor, Ostoher’s renovations from a millennium ago finally proving useful.

Telumehtar-The first King of Gondor to take to the sea since Hyarmendacil-Castamir does not count!-and destroyed all of the Usurper’s heirs, taking Umbar back for Gondor. A much-belated vengeance for his great-great-uncle.

Narmacil II-Fought a third invasion of Easterlings. Defeated them, but died on the field of battle. Those Easterlings are a pretty resilient foe. That’s the second King of Gondor they’ve killed.....I hope they don’t get anymore.

Calimehtar-Avenged his dad, following in the proud tradition of Turambar and both Romendacil’s. Defeated the Wainriders with the help of the brave Northmen.

Ondoher-Rode to battle to fight a second invasion of Wainriders. Those guys just don’t give up. His luck was even worse than his grandfathers and both his sons died with him in Battle.

Earnil II-The great-great-grandson of Telumehtar. Literally the only choice left for a successor in the Line of Anarion after Ondoher and his idiot sons got themselves killed at the Morannon. The Heirs of Anarion are getting pretty scarce. Earnil had a lot more battle-savvy than his predecessor. He avenged Ondoher and saved Gondor from ruin. Let’s hope his son is half the man he is.

Earnur-The Last-King of Gondor in the Line of Anarion and by far the most foolish. He inherited his father’s skill on the battlefield and none of his strategic brilliance. After taking the crown, he was tricked into an ambush by the Lord of the Nazgul and slain after long torment. Thus ends the Kings of Gondor through Anarion’s Line.

[lesbiansforboromir]

is it just me or is arvedui the funniest minor character in lotr? man literally said "pfft, these primitive superstitions about 'weather' and 'ships' don't apply to me! i'm great at boats!" and then immediately sailed directly into an iceberg. i read his wiki page and since then i've been doing a small laugh.

No absolutely not just you, Arvedui's one of the most hapless background characters to exist. He's presiding over the ultimate defeat of his nation and when he sees Gondor barely make it through their own war but lose their whole main line of kings barring his wife he's like I know what I'll do, I'll try to become king of Gondor through Firiel and FORCE them to send what little forces they have left to them to come die in a futile attempt to save Arnor but make it out like I'm being a feminist or something. And Pelendur is like you're not a girlboss, Arnor has never cared about women, take your pathetic attempt to use Gondor as your personal army storehouse and go, Earnil here's the crown.

And Earnil's like Arvedui! We don't wanna leave you in the lurch okay, we got shit to deal with we'll come when we can. That does happen to take thirty years and Arnor is pretty much defeated by then so Arvedui does this like...haskjd like it's such a convoluted switcheroo like his heir is with Elrond, he flees north with the ring of barahir bUT he gives one of his friends the ring of barahir to send BACk to his son BUT he's like okay hello the Lossoth who have lived here since humanity awoke, they've sent a ship to come get me so I'll be leaving now and the Lossoth are like broski the Witch King is FORREAL legit controlling the seas right now you'll fully die and Arvedui's like I don't think you all know what you're talking about, I'm the one who's been fighting the Witch King most my life I know more than you (somehow true and yet he still didn't know more than them) and promptly died! But not before like... imparting this miserable decree on his descendants to keep acting like kings until someone eventually feels peer pressured enough to give them a crown, it's really unbelievably funny like this is your guy? The one you're all listening too? That explains so much about Northern Dunadain culture like you're all as bad as he was, stop!!! Giving your babies the 'Ar' particle, they aren't kings!! Of shit!!! Get a life!

[anghraine]

What about an AU where Earnil has a daughter rather than a son and she grows up to kick the Witch King's behind.

Wow. I love Éowyn’s moment, but just taking out the Witch-king like that, in that era, would be a great moment (and good for Middle-earth! but also, cool). And tbh I find Eärnur dull and vaguely unlikable as he is, but Warrior Princess Eärnurmë who’s had to claw her way into even being in the right position to take out the Witch-king could be super interesting, if it happened in a context that wasn’t kind of inherently doomed like Minas Morgul.

I do wonder how she would end up there, and how Eärnur’s cheerfully single life would work for the last princess of the house of Anárion. I do very definitely headcanon Eärnur (and Boromir after him) as 100% ace, so ... hmm. It’d be complicated, but still interesting!

[loremastering]

So passes death. Earnur, son of Earnil. 

Daerhovan feels as if he’s come full circle. During this war his personal quest and fate felt like ending Mordirith once and for all. True, the destruction of the One Ring and Sauron’s downfall were more important in the scale of things, but that was Frodo’s quest. Aragorn’s quest. And while Daerhovan thought he was done with the false king for a time, his ventures back in Osgiliath proved that wrong. And now Mordirith’s time has ended, and with him, Daerhovan’s quest. 

But is it really the end? Is there more he can do for the free peoples? Whatever they need, he will be at their call. In the meantime, he will continue to watch over the wilderlands.

Daerhovan can’t help but feel a peculiar sense of grief for Earnur/Mordirith. His fate leaves Daerhovan to ponder his own choices in life, and how they will affect him as the years go by. He only hopes he’ll make the right ones. 

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 1

Nuin vs Faramir (son of Ondoher)

Nuin:

A Dark Elf in the Book of Lost Tales.

He’s an elf who found the first men asleep before the sun rose! He accidentally woke them up and took responsibility and taught them how to talk and how the world works. They call him the Father of Speech, in the very early draft he inhabits. Still canon in my heart, you go you random Avar.

Faramir (son of Ondoher):

The younger son of King Ondoher of Gondor, killed in battle along with his father and older brother. Also a character in Lord of the Rings Online.

more blorboganda later but! he's been hanging out on dagorlad as a ghost bc he snuck out to join the fighting against the wainriders with his dad and brother and they all got killed. really wants to help the rangers of ithilien once he gets out of the 'ghost who had to hang out at torture temple for a thousand years or so' fog

propaGANDA please vote for Faramir "Namesake of the Faramir we know" son of Ondoher he's got it all. Younger brother, couldn't stay behind while his family fought Mordor, rode out in disguise (sound familiar?) but died TRAGICALLY in the arms of the proto-Rohirric Commander. this is not even touching all the stuff he gets into in adaptations. Faramir I supremacy

OK no I can wax poetical on Faramir I Son of Ondoher because his is a tragedy that sets in motion the end of the Kings of Gondor (for an age or two. idk on specific but). Faramir I second son of Ondoher is not content to stay at home, doing his duty, following orders etc. etc. because he LOVES his dad and his big brother SO much. And the thing is, he really really shouldn't go. Hindsight 20/20 and all that but if he leaves there is NO ONE who can take the throne from his dad's direct line (because the Gondorian Council are punks and decide his cool sister Firiel and her extremely cool husband Arvedui can't have it on account of [handwaves] honestly). But the armies they're facing off against are serious business! They're really outmatching Gondor here. They straight up already fought his grandfather King Calimehtar, iand are back for round 2. So what does precious Faramir (I) do? He pulls the OG Eowyn, babey (and let's not forget parallels, PARALLELS about following your father (figure) and brother to war, right? she marries the NAMESAKE of this guy, incredibly cool mirroring here) and gets a disguise and rides with the Rohirrim-before-Eorl (some adaptations call this the Eotheod) to go help. Here's where things get EXTRA angsty HIS FATHER AND BROTHER ARE DEAD. He doesn't know because he's with the Eotheod, but like. The Wainriders killed them. And the Eotheod does help rout the rest of them and eventually, Earnil II future Throne-thief (but it's not his fault) gets the final victory BUT not before sweet noble Faramir is run through with a spear by the chieftain of the Wainriders and DIES IN THE ARMS OF A COMMANDER OF THE EOTHEOD. Like. That's a specific detail we have. Blorbo Blorbamir at LEAST didn't die alone and was discovered to be the prince there. So. Mr. Horse Leader gets to give the news to everyone about the poor guy that died in his arms being the son of the king. But oops! The King and brother are already dead so. Technically the King of Gondor died in his arms. What a day for him, right? Anyway this is still about Faramir who (in the LoTRO adaptation) feels such guilt that he HANGS AROUND AS A GHOST REGRETTING HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DOWNFALL OF GONDOR. Tragicest blorbo. Regret. Precious guy. Vote Faramir I

Round 1 masterpost

[caidaarnor]

Historia del Foro

Hace cerca de más dos mil años que Sauron fue derrotado en la Guerra de la Última Alianza, en la que hombres, elfos y enanos se unieron para hacer esfuerzo común contra el mal de Mordor. La batalla fue dura, y mucho se perdió entonces, pero finalmente el Señor Oscuro fue derrotado, y como señal de su victoria, la alta torre de Bàrad-dûr fue derruida hasta sus cimientos, y una fuerte guardia fue puesta en Mordor para prevenir el regreso del Señor Oscuro. Por qué había algo que era certero y que sabia todo el mundo, y es que Sauron había sido derrotado, pero no eliminado. En parte fue culpa de Isuldur, rey de Arnor y de Gondor, quien recibió el Anillo de Sauron como compensación por la muerte de su padre y su hermano, que cayeron durante la batalla, y por el sin fin de vidas de dúnedains y otros hombres que también perecieron. Lo que nadie podía imaginar, es que tan solo dos años después, Isildur iba a caer en una emboscada, y que con él se iba a perder el Anillo Único, y desde entonces nada más se ha vuelto a saber, de Sauron o del Anillo. Bien podría decirse que la paz reinó durante todo este tiempo, pero no sería verdad. Por un tiempo hubo paz, y los reinos fundados por Elendil y sus hijos prosperaron y se hicieron poderosos. En el sur, Gondor, la línea de la Casa Anórien siguieron gobernando como reyes por derecho propio. En su momento de máximo esplendo, el poder de Gondor se hacia sentir hasta la lejana Umbar y las tierras del este en Rhun, y en el norte hasta la frontera con Arnor. El poder de Gondor era temido por todos sus enemigos, y aquellos que alguna vez sirvieron a Sauron tuvieron que aceptar a los reyes de Gondor como sus señores. Hasta que su poder empezó a disminuir, y la casa de Anórien empezó a menguar, tanto en poder como en años de vidas. La sangre de Númenor poco a poco se iba agotando, y Gondor se veía envuelta en conflictos civiles, guerras en todos los frentes, y pestes que asolaban a población. Bien podría haber caído Gondor de no haber sido por un general audaz y fuerte que encaraba la sabiduría de Númenor. Este era Earnil, quien fue coronado rey tras la muerte de su sucesor, y volvió a poner en pie al reino, pero sin poder devolverle todo su antiguo esplendor. En el Norte las cosas no le iban mejor a su reino hermano, Arnor, que si bien prospero durante un tiempo, tuvo que ver en la división su principal crisis. Y es que a a la muerte del decimo rey de Arnor, sus tres hijos entraron en disputa, y el reino se dividió en tres partes, Arthedain, Rhudaur y Cardolan. En el primero fue el único reino donde se mantuvo la línea real iniciada por Elendil y Isuldur, y sus reyes bien podían creerse con derecho propio de hacerse llamar reyes de Arnor. Pero era solo una falacia. La antigua capital, Annúminas fue abandonada, y Fornost se estableció como capital del viejo reino. Pero los tres reinos nunca más volvieron a unirse. Si la llegada del Rey Brujo y a la fundación de Angmar en el Norte sirvió para unir sus esfuerzos. Angmar se pobló pronto de orcos, hombres y otros seres que antiguamente habían servido a Sauron. Primero cayó Rhudaur, y después Cardolan. Quedando pronto Arthedain como único bastión frente al poder de Angmar. Mientras los reinos en el exilio prosperaban y se debilitaban, el poder de los elfos empezaba a menguar en la Tierra Media. Si bien Rivendel, Lindon y Lothlórien prosperaban de un modo que nadie podía imaginar, y no se encontraba el porque, los elfos empezaban a abandonar la Tierra Media de un modo constante. De Lindon partían cada vez más naves rumbo a Valinor. Muchos elfos murieron en la guerra contra Sauron, entre ellos el último Rey Supremo de los Noldor en la Tierra Media, Gil-Galad, que murió junto a su amigo Elendil enfrentando a Sauron. Desde entonces nadie ha podido reclamar el titulo de Rey Supremo. Y lugares como Lórien son un reflejo de lo que antes fueron los reinos elfos. Mientras que en lugares como el Bosque Verde, Thranduil y su gente, los elfos silvanos se muestran cada vez más desconfiados. Sobre todo al ver que algo oscuro y malicioso se ha instalado al sur del Bosque Verde el Grande. Algo tan oscuro que incluso inquiera a los silvanos. Tras una larga amistad entre elfos y enanos como nunca se vio, los enanos de Khazad-dum cerraron sus puertas y se cerraron en sus asuntos, cavando cada vez más profundo en la oscuridad de las Montañas Nubladas, buscando codiciar su insaciable sed de oro y materiales raros, como el mithril. Pero Khazad-dum sigue siendo el reino fundado por Durin, y su estirpe ha gobernado desde hace incontables generaciones. El reino es poderoso y prospero, tanto que incluso ha colonizado lugares tan remotos como las Colinas de Hierro y el norte de la Montañas Nubladas para extraer hierro. A pesar de todo ello, los enanos se han vuelto muy cuidadosos, mostrándose raramente de forma abierta, y centrándose sobre todo en sus asuntos, ajenos casi por completo a lo que sucede en el exterior. Pero si alguien iba a pensar que esta paz iba a durar para siempre no podía estar más equivocado. Nadie sabia donde podía estar Sauron, y tampoco que se cual era el destino del Anillo Único. Sauron pervivió como una sombra, o eso decían los sabios. Y aquellos que una vez lo hubieron servido sabían que tarde o temprano volvería. Y así fue como al cabo de mil años llego el Rey Brujo, el capitán de los Nueve, y fundo el reino de Angmar, como recuerdo del viejo poder de Mordor y del Señor Oscuro. Pero no solo pasaba eso, sino que en el sur algo extraño paso, y alguien desconocido, que rápidamente se conoció como el Nigromante, levantó una fortaleza al sur del Bosque Verde, Dol Guldur. Cosas oscuras y sin nombre pasan en esa fortaleza, sin que nadie le pueda dar una explicación, lo que hizo que tanto elfos silvanos, como Hombres del Norte se movieran inquietos lejos de aquel lugar. Algo se movía en la Tierra Media, algo que recordaba a una antigua sombra dormida desde hacia mucho tiempo. Pero algo que solo los muy sabían lograban alcanzar a comprender, y sin embargo tampoco le encontraban una explicación. Y fue así que del otro lado del mar llegaron cinco hombres con aspecto de viejos ancianos, pero de gran sabiduría, que se hacían llamar a si mismo los Istari. Saruman era su líder, Saruman el Blanco, el más sabio de todos, aunque algunos decían que lo era otro, su compañero, Gandalf el Gris, a quien los elfos pronto llamaron Mithrandir. Nadie sabia quienes eran en realidad, o cual era su misión. Aunque pronto empezaron a rondar por toda la Tierra Media y más allá. Y fue entonces cuando gente como Elrond o Galadriel comprendieron que el mal que tanto tiempo habían temido tal vez había vuelto, y que si bien no se había mostrado abiertamente, este volvería. Con Gondor demasiado cansada y debilitada, la vigilancia en Mordor fue abandonada, y puede que la Caída de Arnor fuera solo el primer paso hacia la caída de la Tierra Media. ¿Tendrían elfos, hombres y enanos el poder suficiente para detener ese Mal?

[squirrelwrangler]

Already had this brainstorm in a discussion tangent w/ @absynthe--minded, y’all know me and thinking about Umbar and the Kin-strife of Gondor for the fics that need to be written.

Context, you have to recognize who Cortez and Malinche aka Dona Mariana were in Mexican history. So yeah, now adding the Conquering and Colonization of Mexico and Central America to my Japanese Civil War. But finally here’s the story of Castamir’s son when they flee to Umbar. Or conversely going back to Earnil and Gondor’s conquest of Umbar (which would then also have to tie into Earnil’s aunt by marriage, Berúthiel).

But- Umbar is ruled by Black Númenoreans aka ones that followed the Sauron-established worship of Melkor that involved captured people sacrificed on altars. Now one of the biggest factors to Cortez and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec was, aside from military tech and disease, was that Cortez via Malinche’s linguistic and diplomatic cunning was able to ally with the various subject nations and rivals of the Aztecs. So, late into the Third Age Umbar and the regions of Harad still tell of their own Lady Luin, a woman of Harad who helped the Gondorian prince overthrow the first Black Númenorean monarchy- and whether or not she was a traitor to her people.