Thanks. I got what you were going for initially, but the expression itself bugged me a little. This is much better.
A Light from the Shadow (Tolkien CKII)
- Thread starter ganonso
- Start date
Thanks. I got what you were going for initially, but the expression itself bugged me a little. This is much better.
- Location
- The World
Day will come back... everywhere except the Shire I suppose, where they never had this problem, fascinatingly enough.
Will we have a chance to figure out what magic Hobbits have? Because I am pretty sure the Shire never laboured under any gloom at all, so there must be something going for them. Maybe that something contributed to the Witch King not being able to even find the Shire despite staying for weeks just a few miles off from its border in canon?
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
I haven't decided yet on how the Shire was spared from the terror while sitting not that far off the Barrow-Downs. Hobbits are resistant to magic that's sure and proven by Gollum which with 500 years of possession of the One Ring was not turning into a wraith.
One part is I think the very simple fact the Lord of the Nazgul had no grudge against them. There are no mentions of them being struck by the Plague that emptied Arnor and Gondor's cities by instance. There was no battles in the Shire proper, no place defiled by the blood of the innocents or fell rituals.
In this Quest I have chosen that the gloom of Arnor is maintained by a dark ritual where a king of Rhudaur, Cardolan and Arthedain (Argeleb II taken from the battlefields of Rhudaur) basically cursed their own land. For the latter two consent was extorted through a Morgul-blade kiss. They basically used their kingly privilege to invite dark things and curse the Dunedain to nightmares if they were ever to try to take power again. Nightmares involving things like the disaster at the Gladden Fields, Numenor's Downfall and the Ruin of Arnor. Nightmares vivid enough to bring to despair and madness.
Of course the obvious drawback of this plan is that three kingly wraiths are beyond the reach of the Dunedain and can stay hidden for long, slaughtering any who come forwards, but against three Istari and a retinue of Rangers and Orcs, they're toasted. And once they are killed and the Barrow-Downs purified from evil, their curse ends.
So in my interpretation, the Shire was spared because it was its own admnistrative region and an autonomous one at that, the kings had no authority to specially curse it and the Hobbits natural resistance did the rest.
The Bree-folk are kinda spared from at least the nightmares (they are spared from the monster infestation by the Rangers) because they are removed enough from Arnor to not count as their subjects anymore. Also they are First-Age Easterlings not Edain which plays a role.
EDIT: The Hobbits were indeed touched by the Plague after checking, well a shame.
One part is I think the very simple fact the Lord of the Nazgul had no grudge against them. There are no mentions of them being struck by the Plague that emptied Arnor and Gondor's cities by instance. There was no battles in the Shire proper, no place defiled by the blood of the innocents or fell rituals.
In this Quest I have chosen that the gloom of Arnor is maintained by a dark ritual where a king of Rhudaur, Cardolan and Arthedain (Argeleb II taken from the battlefields of Rhudaur) basically cursed their own land. For the latter two consent was extorted through a Morgul-blade kiss. They basically used their kingly privilege to invite dark things and curse the Dunedain to nightmares if they were ever to try to take power again. Nightmares involving things like the disaster at the Gladden Fields, Numenor's Downfall and the Ruin of Arnor. Nightmares vivid enough to bring to despair and madness.
Of course the obvious drawback of this plan is that three kingly wraiths are beyond the reach of the Dunedain and can stay hidden for long, slaughtering any who come forwards, but against three Istari and a retinue of Rangers and Orcs, they're toasted. And once they are killed and the Barrow-Downs purified from evil, their curse ends.
So in my interpretation, the Shire was spared because it was its own admnistrative region and an autonomous one at that, the kings had no authority to specially curse it and the Hobbits natural resistance did the rest.
The Bree-folk are kinda spared from at least the nightmares (they are spared from the monster infestation by the Rangers) because they are removed enough from Arnor to not count as their subjects anymore. Also they are First-Age Easterlings not Edain which plays a role.
EDIT: The Hobbits were indeed touched by the Plague after checking, well a shame.
Last edited:
- Location
- The World
Easterlings? Do you mean the Bree men or hobbits? I'd love to find out where the source for that is in any case because it's the first time I hear of it. The only recordings I know of from reading the books and appendices, or Tolkiengateway, are sparse in details. We know that some believe hobbits are men or related to men, and they originated in earlier ages like whoever else. But from what I was able to research, it's just as likely that they spontaneously showed up (Awoke?) in the third age and are not descended or otherwise directly related to men at all. If you know any specific apocryphal writings or letters where Tolkien might have said anything about their origins, I'd appreciate a point in the right direction.
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
If that seem confused it's because it is. I have never understood why the son of Arvedui decided to become Chieftain and not King. Elrond had all the royal heirlooms in his keeping (except the Ring of Barahir ransomed latter from the Lossoth). The Witch King was visibly in Minas Morgul just years latter the final battle, in 1000 years in canon they didn't try to rebuild their Kingdom before Aragorn.
The fact that the land was actively rejecting their rule is one of the explanations I found most in fanfics on Aragorn youth, that and the Witch King would have zeroed on them again which is not something I'm convinced at.
I decided for the sake of possibly changing canon to take that explanation, developp it a bit and not have the curse linked to the Lord of the Nazguls which would have make a recovery impossible
The Bree-men or at least the folk of Eriador. Nobody knows how the Hobbits came to be. They must be Men because they are mortal and we have no tale of a Vala creating them.
The fact that the land was actively rejecting their rule is one of the explanations I found most in fanfics on Aragorn youth, that and the Witch King would have zeroed on them again which is not something I'm convinced at.
I decided for the sake of possibly changing canon to take that explanation, developp it a bit and not have the curse linked to the Lord of the Nazguls which would have make a recovery impossible
The Bree-men or at least the folk of Eriador. Nobody knows how the Hobbits came to be. They must be Men because they are mortal and we have no tale of a Vala creating them.
Last edited:
- Location
- The World
Strange. I didn't think the term "easterling" was ever used for anyone other than the asians you mentioned previously. Aren't the folks of Eriador just the descendants of the Atani? Or whatever men (not) of the Edain who didn't go to Numenor when it was raised? Otherwise Numenoreans wouldn't have had anyone to lord over later.
Eh, not really relevant either way I suppose.
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Strange searching the topic I was sure I had seen an explicit mention of the Eriador folks being described as kin to the First Age Easterlings but all I have is the quote for the Silmarion on how many of the Easterlings who served Morgoth repassed the Blue Mountains and fled, with no mention where they stopped.
Breefolk are described on the wiki as related to the Dunlendings.
I thought I had seen a description. Something about how the First Age Easterlings did not come all in Beleriand but some lingered in Eriador. But yeah the only thing important is that they are not Dunedain.
Breefolk are described on the wiki as related to the Dunlendings.
I thought I had seen a description. Something about how the First Age Easterlings did not come all in Beleriand but some lingered in Eriador. But yeah the only thing important is that they are not Dunedain.
- Location
- The World
I think you might want to consider using Tolkiengateway as the primary source of your lore. The LOTR wiki seems to have some more detail in places, but Tolkiengateway is a lot better about canonicity, consistency and properly linking pages together and to sources. So you know that anything not on tolkiengateway is questionable, although I checked and did find the bit about Dunland linked to proper materials (Appendix F) so at least there was that.
Last edited:
- Location
- The World
It seems the Bree-men even have a dedicated page separate from Bree-Folk! One that is even more thorough than I expected.
And the stock image for that page may just be the most hilarious one on the website.
Last edited:
I'm....kinda more invested in the story of Orc redemption than the world at large, or even our own protagonist!
I agree. As such it's been good to see a little more happen with the orcs in the last few updates.
Hm. I have to say, I did get a sense that things were pretty bad (not that they were worse than in the book timeline, but that the appearance of Best Balrog opened the eyes of the council of the wise and raised their hopes, spurring them to act more earlier). And I did get the sense that we HAD to take part in one of these 3 projects in the wider world - even if the wise could act without Best Balrog, Best Balrog saying hello and then departing back to Moria to focus on uplifting the Orcs would have crashed their morale.
fasquardon
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Well rolls and readings were made.
And seeing her lord struck down his mount and a Troll about to bite his throat, as is the custom of these beasts with those they dismount, Galadriel grew wroth and smote the Olog with such violence he was like a withered branch in a summer blaze. Great and radiant rose the Lady of Lothlorien and as wounded Celeborn was ushered from the battlefield she looked at Dol Guldur and her heart gave in to rage as she beheld the walls who befouled Eryn Lasgalen and the Greenwood.
She rode down the Orcs and they fled before her like their forebears had fled from Fingolfin's ride to the gates of Angband. Yet the Shadow had no captain to oppose her for Sauron was gone and even Khamul had fled to the East he had so long ruled. When she approached the gates the Castellans in black plates and enspelled blades and renegades from Wilderland were there and even Elves who had chosen the sunless woods and embraced the hungry dark.
But which sorcerer, Orc, Wraith or renegade of evil race, living or dark undead can stand against Galadriel daughter of Finarfin who saw the Trees ere sun and moon were made? Who would dare to contend her way and cry "You shall not pass"?
Three time she struck the door of iron with her white hand and at the third the heavy doors wrought by Sauron and whose arts were second only to the Black Gate who was wrought with the power of the One Ring, the doors none save Gandalf had passed while in service to light. The doors fell from their melted hinges and the shards struck down the hosts of Dol Guldur as mortal rain.
In rode the Lady of the Elves, through the ruin of the gates down the dim halls no foe had breached. In rode the Lady of the Elves and all fled before her and none dared to contend the passage while Elves, Dwarves and Woodsmen let echo such a great cry many evil creatures fled the eaves of Mirkwood and dared not return.
And seeing her lord struck down his mount and a Troll about to bite his throat, as is the custom of these beasts with those they dismount, Galadriel grew wroth and smote the Olog with such violence he was like a withered branch in a summer blaze. Great and radiant rose the Lady of Lothlorien and as wounded Celeborn was ushered from the battlefield she looked at Dol Guldur and her heart gave in to rage as she beheld the walls who befouled Eryn Lasgalen and the Greenwood.
She rode down the Orcs and they fled before her like their forebears had fled from Fingolfin's ride to the gates of Angband. Yet the Shadow had no captain to oppose her for Sauron was gone and even Khamul had fled to the East he had so long ruled. When she approached the gates the Castellans in black plates and enspelled blades and renegades from Wilderland were there and even Elves who had chosen the sunless woods and embraced the hungry dark.
But which sorcerer, Orc, Wraith or renegade of evil race, living or dark undead can stand against Galadriel daughter of Finarfin who saw the Trees ere sun and moon were made? Who would dare to contend her way and cry "You shall not pass"?
Three time she struck the door of iron with her white hand and at the third the heavy doors wrought by Sauron and whose arts were second only to the Black Gate who was wrought with the power of the One Ring, the doors none save Gandalf had passed while in service to light. The doors fell from their melted hinges and the shards struck down the hosts of Dol Guldur as mortal rain.
In rode the Lady of the Elves, through the ruin of the gates down the dim halls no foe had breached. In rode the Lady of the Elves and all fled before her and none dared to contend the passage while Elves, Dwarves and Woodsmen let echo such a great cry many evil creatures fled the eaves of Mirkwood and dared not return.
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Yep. The reading after that gave the Queen of Cups and the Ten of Sword: Love brings ruins. So Celeborn was wounded to give Galadriel a reason to get berserk.
And when she sees what is in the dungeons she get even angrier and she levels the fortress, leaving no two stones standing together. This Dol Guldur will not be retaken by Khamul.
- Location
- The World
So Celebron critfailed, then Galadriel crit succeeded. And Khamul rolled well on escape so we'll have to hope Pallando does something about him in the future.
What do you mean by reading though? Do you use an online tarot reading program and decide what happens based on that? It's a surprising and really interesting method if so.
Now let's hope this streak of high rolls doesn't suddenly end and drop to critical failures once it's our turn to do something.
What do you mean by reading though? Do you use an online tarot reading program and decide what happens based on that? It's a surprising and really interesting method if so.
Now let's hope this streak of high rolls doesn't suddenly end and drop to critical failures once it's our turn to do something.
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Khamul was not there. Sauron left Dol Guldur with the Nazgul leaving the Nine dispersed through the world. Khamul returned to the Easterlings he ruled to retake his kingdom. Without even a Nazgul it was sure the Lorien host with the help of the Woodsmen, Thranduil and the Dwarves of the Iron Hills would make Dol Guldur fall.
Even if Sauron had left the entirety of the army there: 20 000 Orcs and 5000 renegades, Trolls and Wraitsh (numbers from the MERP supplement on Dol Guldur).? Now all dead.
What happened is that Galadriel crit suceed and the Tarot Reading I made indicated she would act from love. So Celeborn was wounded (basically the same wound that Beregond got at the Black Gate in the book and he survived just fine).
My method for crit success or failures, especially in events is to complete them by a Tarot Reading to explain them. I use more complicated readings to determine the psychology of non-canonical characters.
Last edited:
DocMatoi
Theoretical Lover of Girls
- Location
- within 2 hours of the White House
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Clever!
The Fall of Dol Guldur
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
The Fall of Dol Guldur
Leaving the Council gathered in Khazad-Dum, Galadriel and Celeborn rejoined their hidden people and prepared to war. White was the smoke rising from the smithies of Lothlorien and it hovered across the land as a threat to any who would dare the people of the Elves. The Lady against her husband's counsel called to her the birds of the wild and sent them with messages to the East where in the Iron Hills dwelt those of the people of Durin who had spent two years reconnoitering the passages to their ancestral halls. While these were received coldly and only the promise of vengeance on the Necromancer of Dol Guldur, now revealed to be Sauron's the Deceiver who in the Second Age seduced Sindri's Folk against the heir of Durin, made them prepare for war.
More warmly received were the missives Celeborn sent to Thranduil his kinsman. Long had the Wood Elf King soldiered against the might of Dol Guldur and it pleased his heart to see its might sundered and its gates broken and its armies like straw on the harvest's day. These messengers met with many birds and beasts for Radagast, even as he was to travel westwards had sent his friends to the Woodmen of Wilderland. There, there was fear and many would not dare trespass against the Necromancer's lair. Yet Ingwar son of Ingwald who only saw fifteen winters pass declared he would go and Merovech son of Munderic his beloved would come with him and many of their friends whose hearts were bold and full of adventure. They took as weapons the great axes which they used to fell trees and swore they would now fell Orcs. The birds of Radagast guided them first to Rhosgabel where they took two cloaks of feathers and rings of white gold to wear at their fingers, then to the halls of Thranduil where the elven king rose to greet them for he recognized their pains and their vengeance.
When all was ready three hosts issued, one from the Iron Hills, the second from the Halls of the Elvenking memory of Menegroth, and the third from Lorien where no evil dwell. The Dwarves went at their manner in corselets of steel with weapons of dread and locked shields and helms and masks with terrible countenance. Elves and Men of the wood came with aprons of leather and bows and axes, quick on branch or bow and knowing all the paths of the woods. Yet the elves of Lothlorien went in golden mail like the Noldor of old and the sun shone bright on the spears and swords of Galadriel's household. Her lord Celeborn wielded the axe Meliant who was wrought to serve in the Battle Under the Stars ere the ships of the Exiles came from Valinor at the rising of the moon. Galadriel held at her side the sword Tintelpë "Silver Shard" in the tongues of man but she had no need of it.
Yet mighty was the host bred under the caves of the Hill of Sorcery. Two thousand years had Sauron brooded in its depths and his shadow had spread through the forest's eaves. Orcs had multiplied in Dol Guldur and Trolls who knew no fear of the sun's radiance and renegades from even the elves of the forest, some broken by torture and other seduced by the wood's poisoned song. Madness had crept in beasts' minds and flesh, filling the clearings with abominations of blood and bone. Spiders had come from far Nan Ungol and in hidden vales wove their webs of darkness. Even the trees had been broken to the power of the Lord of Rings and three Huorns, rotten oak, crafty willow and black-hearted yew, stood guard and twisted the paths of the Shadow's foes.
And this host Xenlac the Olog-Ai, Lieutenant of the Citadel, did raise against those who threatened his master's lair and they were as many as ants when their anthill is crushed underfoot.
No love have Dwarves for woods and dark forests and the children of Yavanna and so it was as Men and Elves mourned for the tortured trees the Dwarves of the Iron Hill entered with fire and drove wolves before them until Coeddil the Yew uprooted himself and went against them. Strong was his fists, with the strength of an old tree and able to crush iron like an autumn leaves. Wild were the falcons and wolves who growled at his side. Yet they were charging a wall of steel and warriors who sang dirges even as they struck. Fell Coeddil the Yew to the host of the Iron's Hills and away in the clearings died Adracil the Oak under Merovech and Ingwar's axes, and Durthu the Willow withered under Celeborn's woodcraft. Their trunks were cleaved, their roots driven from the earth and their spirits travelled with the wind to the feet of Yavanna to whom all plants all dear.
Great were the feats done these days and still renowned in song are the deeds of Ingwar the Young. For in the battle he saw his love set upon by a spider's net and the monster taking him from the field. Wrathful beyond reason he beseeched Thranduil to give him and his men leave to hunt the creature before Mevorech was slain. The Elven-King sent him forth with his blessing and did Ingwar son of Ingwald run with elven-light upon his brow and fury in his eyes and with him went the youth of Wilderland, fey like boys filled with strong wine. Fearing no terror they hewn their way to Eryn Ungol and there Ingwar strove against the mother of spiders. Few of those who had left Rhovanion went back to their home that day and the land wept for her youngs taken away, but Ingwar Dagnir Ungola killed the monster who had mothered the spiders of Mirkwood, daughter of Shelob and granddaughter of Ungoliant the Maïa. Merovech they freed from a prison of silk and his own axe soon too smoked in spider-blood.
Many were the losses of the allied hosts this day and many would be the widows singing to their lover's tomb yet they were but a drop compared to the Shadow's. For they were after three days of fighting before the walls of Dol Guldur and with trumpets they commanded the commander to come forth. And Xenlac answered with treachery and released all the power of the Mirkwood from hidden entrances and sorceries prepared long ago. Soon Celeborn himself was fighting in a sea of foes and the Olog struck him down his horse with a blow of his black mace.
And seeing her lord struck down his mount and a Troll about to bite his throat, as is the custom of these beasts with those they dismount, Galadriel grew wroth and smote the Olog with such violence he was like a withered branch in a summer blaze. Great and radiant rose the Lady of Lothlorien and as wounded Celeborn was ushered from the battlefield she looked at Dol Guldur and her heart gave in to rage as she beheld the walls who befouled Eryn Lasgalen and the Greenwood.
She rode down the Orcs and they fled before her like their forebears had fled from Fingolfin's ride to the gates of Angband. Yet the Shadow had no captain to oppose her for Sauron was gone and even Khamul had fled to the East he had so long ruled. When she approached the gates the Castellans in black plates and enspelled blades and renegades from Wilderland were there and even Elves who had chosen the sunless woods and embraced the hungry dark.
But which sorcerer, Orc, Wraith or renegade of evil race, living or dark undead can stand against Galadriel daughter of Finarfin who saw the Trees ere sun and moon were made? Who would dare to contend her way and cry "You shall not pass"?
Three times she struck the door of iron with her white hand and at the third the heavy doors wrought by Sauron and whose arts were second only to the Black Gate who was wrought with the power of the One Ring, the doors none save Gandalf had passed while in service to light. The doors fell from their melted hinges and the shards struck down the hosts of Dol Guldur as mortal rain.
In rode the Lady of the Elves, through the ruin of the gates down the dim halls no foe had breached. In rode the Lady of the Elves and all fled before her and none dared to contend the passage while Elves, Dwarves and Woodsmen let echo such a great cry many evil creatures fled the eaves of Mirkwood and dared not return.
But more wondrous was the deed the Lady of Lothlorien did later for she walked in Sauron's dungeons and when she passed the chains snapped and the locks opened and the captive she set free and the last of these who had been lamed by the torments she took in her arms as he weighted the weight of a babe. Such sights she saw there would have driven many to madness and many an elf to run to the Sea to forget the pains of Arda beyond the walls of Valmar or in the care of Estë. But Galadriel felt only righteous wrath and she called to Oromë who hunted the monsters of Morgoth and Tulkas who laughs while in battle.
Certain than none was left she cared to save she sang a mighty song, a song of Valinor, a song of Aulë who set the pillars of the world. And Dol Guldur shook like a man drunk and in her tremor she cast down the Tower. Yet Galadriel was no content and she sang on and fire came from the stones and devoured them. The earth was cleaved and pewter coins from the treasury and the bones of prisoners and those evil servants who were still inside rolled in the abyss. Still she sang on and the dungeons ate themselves, crushing like a living mouth the remnants of Sauron's reign.
Ingwar and Merovech and the Men with them heard the song and such was their fear they cast their weapons down and knelt and cried mercy among their allies. For they thought that such wrath once arose would consume them too. Yet Galadriel looked at them and even the shadow of wrath was lifted from her heart. She bade them to rise and fill the forest with joy for Mirkwood was no more and the Shadow had departed and would not come back to this place. For they had answered the call against the terror of their childhood, Thranduil, Celeborn and Galadriel named them Elendili or "Elves-friends" and when they returned to their homes with scars and glories and tales of battle and great thunder, they became chieftains renowned and brought their families to Greenwood the Great where they served Thranduil as knights of his train to trace the forest wild, and their descendants remained even after the Elves had departed ere the world was changed and trees grow there no more.
Leaving the Council gathered in Khazad-Dum, Galadriel and Celeborn rejoined their hidden people and prepared to war. White was the smoke rising from the smithies of Lothlorien and it hovered across the land as a threat to any who would dare the people of the Elves. The Lady against her husband's counsel called to her the birds of the wild and sent them with messages to the East where in the Iron Hills dwelt those of the people of Durin who had spent two years reconnoitering the passages to their ancestral halls. While these were received coldly and only the promise of vengeance on the Necromancer of Dol Guldur, now revealed to be Sauron's the Deceiver who in the Second Age seduced Sindri's Folk against the heir of Durin, made them prepare for war.
More warmly received were the missives Celeborn sent to Thranduil his kinsman. Long had the Wood Elf King soldiered against the might of Dol Guldur and it pleased his heart to see its might sundered and its gates broken and its armies like straw on the harvest's day. These messengers met with many birds and beasts for Radagast, even as he was to travel westwards had sent his friends to the Woodmen of Wilderland. There, there was fear and many would not dare trespass against the Necromancer's lair. Yet Ingwar son of Ingwald who only saw fifteen winters pass declared he would go and Merovech son of Munderic his beloved would come with him and many of their friends whose hearts were bold and full of adventure. They took as weapons the great axes which they used to fell trees and swore they would now fell Orcs. The birds of Radagast guided them first to Rhosgabel where they took two cloaks of feathers and rings of white gold to wear at their fingers, then to the halls of Thranduil where the elven king rose to greet them for he recognized their pains and their vengeance.
When all was ready three hosts issued, one from the Iron Hills, the second from the Halls of the Elvenking memory of Menegroth, and the third from Lorien where no evil dwell. The Dwarves went at their manner in corselets of steel with weapons of dread and locked shields and helms and masks with terrible countenance. Elves and Men of the wood came with aprons of leather and bows and axes, quick on branch or bow and knowing all the paths of the woods. Yet the elves of Lothlorien went in golden mail like the Noldor of old and the sun shone bright on the spears and swords of Galadriel's household. Her lord Celeborn wielded the axe Meliant who was wrought to serve in the Battle Under the Stars ere the ships of the Exiles came from Valinor at the rising of the moon. Galadriel held at her side the sword Tintelpë "Silver Shard" in the tongues of man but she had no need of it.
Yet mighty was the host bred under the caves of the Hill of Sorcery. Two thousand years had Sauron brooded in its depths and his shadow had spread through the forest's eaves. Orcs had multiplied in Dol Guldur and Trolls who knew no fear of the sun's radiance and renegades from even the elves of the forest, some broken by torture and other seduced by the wood's poisoned song. Madness had crept in beasts' minds and flesh, filling the clearings with abominations of blood and bone. Spiders had come from far Nan Ungol and in hidden vales wove their webs of darkness. Even the trees had been broken to the power of the Lord of Rings and three Huorns, rotten oak, crafty willow and black-hearted yew, stood guard and twisted the paths of the Shadow's foes.
And this host Xenlac the Olog-Ai, Lieutenant of the Citadel, did raise against those who threatened his master's lair and they were as many as ants when their anthill is crushed underfoot.
No love have Dwarves for woods and dark forests and the children of Yavanna and so it was as Men and Elves mourned for the tortured trees the Dwarves of the Iron Hill entered with fire and drove wolves before them until Coeddil the Yew uprooted himself and went against them. Strong was his fists, with the strength of an old tree and able to crush iron like an autumn leaves. Wild were the falcons and wolves who growled at his side. Yet they were charging a wall of steel and warriors who sang dirges even as they struck. Fell Coeddil the Yew to the host of the Iron's Hills and away in the clearings died Adracil the Oak under Merovech and Ingwar's axes, and Durthu the Willow withered under Celeborn's woodcraft. Their trunks were cleaved, their roots driven from the earth and their spirits travelled with the wind to the feet of Yavanna to whom all plants all dear.
Great were the feats done these days and still renowned in song are the deeds of Ingwar the Young. For in the battle he saw his love set upon by a spider's net and the monster taking him from the field. Wrathful beyond reason he beseeched Thranduil to give him and his men leave to hunt the creature before Mevorech was slain. The Elven-King sent him forth with his blessing and did Ingwar son of Ingwald run with elven-light upon his brow and fury in his eyes and with him went the youth of Wilderland, fey like boys filled with strong wine. Fearing no terror they hewn their way to Eryn Ungol and there Ingwar strove against the mother of spiders. Few of those who had left Rhovanion went back to their home that day and the land wept for her youngs taken away, but Ingwar Dagnir Ungola killed the monster who had mothered the spiders of Mirkwood, daughter of Shelob and granddaughter of Ungoliant the Maïa. Merovech they freed from a prison of silk and his own axe soon too smoked in spider-blood.
Many were the losses of the allied hosts this day and many would be the widows singing to their lover's tomb yet they were but a drop compared to the Shadow's. For they were after three days of fighting before the walls of Dol Guldur and with trumpets they commanded the commander to come forth. And Xenlac answered with treachery and released all the power of the Mirkwood from hidden entrances and sorceries prepared long ago. Soon Celeborn himself was fighting in a sea of foes and the Olog struck him down his horse with a blow of his black mace.
And seeing her lord struck down his mount and a Troll about to bite his throat, as is the custom of these beasts with those they dismount, Galadriel grew wroth and smote the Olog with such violence he was like a withered branch in a summer blaze. Great and radiant rose the Lady of Lothlorien and as wounded Celeborn was ushered from the battlefield she looked at Dol Guldur and her heart gave in to rage as she beheld the walls who befouled Eryn Lasgalen and the Greenwood.
She rode down the Orcs and they fled before her like their forebears had fled from Fingolfin's ride to the gates of Angband. Yet the Shadow had no captain to oppose her for Sauron was gone and even Khamul had fled to the East he had so long ruled. When she approached the gates the Castellans in black plates and enspelled blades and renegades from Wilderland were there and even Elves who had chosen the sunless woods and embraced the hungry dark.
But which sorcerer, Orc, Wraith or renegade of evil race, living or dark undead can stand against Galadriel daughter of Finarfin who saw the Trees ere sun and moon were made? Who would dare to contend her way and cry "You shall not pass"?
Three times she struck the door of iron with her white hand and at the third the heavy doors wrought by Sauron and whose arts were second only to the Black Gate who was wrought with the power of the One Ring, the doors none save Gandalf had passed while in service to light. The doors fell from their melted hinges and the shards struck down the hosts of Dol Guldur as mortal rain.
In rode the Lady of the Elves, through the ruin of the gates down the dim halls no foe had breached. In rode the Lady of the Elves and all fled before her and none dared to contend the passage while Elves, Dwarves and Woodsmen let echo such a great cry many evil creatures fled the eaves of Mirkwood and dared not return.
But more wondrous was the deed the Lady of Lothlorien did later for she walked in Sauron's dungeons and when she passed the chains snapped and the locks opened and the captive she set free and the last of these who had been lamed by the torments she took in her arms as he weighted the weight of a babe. Such sights she saw there would have driven many to madness and many an elf to run to the Sea to forget the pains of Arda beyond the walls of Valmar or in the care of Estë. But Galadriel felt only righteous wrath and she called to Oromë who hunted the monsters of Morgoth and Tulkas who laughs while in battle.
Certain than none was left she cared to save she sang a mighty song, a song of Valinor, a song of Aulë who set the pillars of the world. And Dol Guldur shook like a man drunk and in her tremor she cast down the Tower. Yet Galadriel was no content and she sang on and fire came from the stones and devoured them. The earth was cleaved and pewter coins from the treasury and the bones of prisoners and those evil servants who were still inside rolled in the abyss. Still she sang on and the dungeons ate themselves, crushing like a living mouth the remnants of Sauron's reign.
Ingwar and Merovech and the Men with them heard the song and such was their fear they cast their weapons down and knelt and cried mercy among their allies. For they thought that such wrath once arose would consume them too. Yet Galadriel looked at them and even the shadow of wrath was lifted from her heart. She bade them to rise and fill the forest with joy for Mirkwood was no more and the Shadow had departed and would not come back to this place. For they had answered the call against the terror of their childhood, Thranduil, Celeborn and Galadriel named them Elendili or "Elves-friends" and when they returned to their homes with scars and glories and tales of battle and great thunder, they became chieftains renowned and brought their families to Greenwood the Great where they served Thranduil as knights of his train to trace the forest wild, and their descendants remained even after the Elves had departed ere the world was changed and trees grow there no more.
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Ungoliant was not a Maia, nor even a Vala. She was something not of Arda, something born of the Void.
- Location
- Germany
That is certainly impressive, but was Dol Guldur not build and infused with the power of Sauron and the One Ring?
Did not the victorious Elves and Men of the Second Age fail to break the foundations of his works even after his defeat at that time?
I wonder how she managed that now, while his power is still unbroken, since I assume that even Galadriel is not Sauron's equal.
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Depends the version. I take the version where she was a Maïa in the service of Melkor before she grew independant
Nope Dol Guldur was raised in the Third Age so no Ring-sanctified foundations. Idem for Carn Dûm who you will see (although to do something like Galadriel just did someone in the stronghold must yield to you the mastery of the citadel).
Galadriel could not do that to the Black Gate or Barad-dur and would find difficult to do it to Minas Morgul as long the Nazgul are there (I think she would win this fight eventually, the city is not the Nazgul's and could be encouraged to revolt against their corruption). Dol Guldur had no one to give credible opposition to the daughter of Finarfin.
When she ordered the hill to shake down, the stones to burn and the dungeons to crumble, there was no one to say :"No!"
Last edited:
You've done a great job capturing the tone of Tolkien I'm seriously impressed and yeah you don't fuck with Galadriel a Queen great and terrible indeed...
- Location
- The World
So you're retconning Ungoliant's nature. Kind of hard to imagine a mere Maia becoming more powerful than Morgoth (and the one mention I found of some merely believing she was a Maia didn't have a proper reference to anywhere, and The Silmarillion is, on the whole, quite clear on what she's not), but it's your decision even though Tolkien's Ungoliant was entirely an outside context problem.
It's great how you're using the fable/historical approach and saying what came in later ages from these events. Gives an extra layer of gravity to the whole quest.
It's great how you're using the fable/historical approach and saying what came in later ages from these events. Gives an extra layer of gravity to the whole quest.
Last edited:
ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
- PACA France
Ungoliant
"In the Later Silmarillion, as documented in Morgoth's Ring and War of the Jewels, Ungoliant is explicitly identified as one of Melkor's servants who abandoned him prior to settling in Avathar. She is also depicted as starving to the brink of death during her time in Avathar, cut off from the light of the Valar by her own webs of darkness. She is also shown to fear her master, and hides desperately from Melkor when she first sees him approaching her lair. She initially refuses to emerge (believing Melkor plans to murder her for deserting him) until he offers her an assortment of gems he had stolen from the Noldor. She then regains the strength needed to destroy the Two Trees, which she does alone while Melkor waits near Avathar."
YMMV but my reasoning is that it's more credible she is a Sauron or Eonwe's level Maïa than a being created in Arda. Her coming from the Void would mean she is alien to God's creation and I don't think it jives well with the Christian Tolkienian world.
Basically if Cthulhu exists in Arda (and it does in mine), he is a fallen angel like everyone else.