Rivendell Preview 1: What's in it?

[Falenthal]

Eriador is called the lonely land for a reason...

A forest full of trolls, orcs scattered in the north, wolves prowling in the harsh winters, descendents of Angmarin Men and Hill Men wanting revenge from the civilized men, bandits, an old kingdom capital named "Deadman's Dike", bad-looking fellas that look like half-orcs, wights in barrows and living trees that dream of choking you,...

Lonely land? I don't think so...

[Glorelendil]

Eriador is called the lonely land for a reason...

A forest full of trolls, orcs scattered in the north, wolves prowling in the harsh winters, descendents of Angmarin Men and Hill Men wanting revenge from the civilized men, bandits, an old kingdom capital named "Deadman's Dike", bad-looking fellas that look like half-orcs, wights in barrows and living trees that dream of choking you,...

Lonely land? I don't think so...

Yeah, but it has a terrible singles scene. Elrond's own daughter had to settle for an unemployed mortal.

[Falenthal]

Elrond's own daughter had to settle for an unemployed mortal.

Don't forget he probably had long hair, was unshaved, bathed seldom and "travelled a lot, sleeping under the stars without a place to call home",...

I see Elrond crying: "Damn hippies! Not my daughter!"

[Tolwen]

..., descendents of Angmarin Men and Hill Men wanting revenge from the civilized men,...

That'd stress the books a bit IMO. Tolkien tells us very clearly that every man and orc loyal to Angmar was slain in the aftermath of the Witch-king's defeat (a full-fledged genocide by the hands of the Númenóreans). And those left of the eastern side were slain by the Éothéod when they went there in a bid for new land.
All in all Tolkien is quite clear that Angmar and its people were thoroughly terminated in the late 20th century.

Anyone living there in the late Third Age would be a newcomer (relatively speaking). Everything left of Angmar would be dark ruins and perhaps some dangerous items or similar things lying in hidden vaults.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Tolwen]

Don't forget he probably had long hair, was unshaved, bathed seldom and "travelled a lot, sleeping under the stars without a place to call home",...

Well, the ill-shaven part is movie stuff. Tolkien says that those with elven blood (and I'd bet that Elros' line falls under that as well, even if distantly related) lacked facial hair. I'd have to dig up the precise quote if you're interested.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Lugija]

I'm sure Elrond was starting to get quite pessimistic of the whole "Return of the King" thing after 1000 years.

Chief of the Dúnedain: Lo, master Elrond! I have brought my son to live in Imladris! He shall rule my people after me and unite the kingdoms of old!
Elrond (not lifting his eyes from a book): Yeah yeah, I'm sure that's going to happen this time. Try not to get killed on your way out, will you?

[Glorelendil]

I was just reading Tolkien's letter to Milton Waldman, and thought this passage was germaine to the topic of the Eldar and the use of "magic":

“It has various opportunities of ‘Fall’. It may become possessive, clinging to the things made as its own, the sub-creator wishes to be the Lord and God of his private creation. He will rebel against the laws of the Creator – especially against mortality. Both of these (alone or together) will lead to the desire for Power, for making the will more quickly effective, – and so to the Machine (or Magic). By the last I intend all use of external plans or devices (apparatus) instead of developments of the inherent inner powers or talents – or even the use of these talents with the corrupted motive of dominating: bulldozing the real world, or coercing other wills. The Machine is our more obvious modern form though more closely related to Magic than is usually recognised.
I have not used ‘magic’ consistently, and indeed the Elven-queen Galadriel is obliged to remonstrate with the Hobbits on their confused use of the word both for the devices and operations of the Enemy, and for those of the Elves. I have not, because there is not a word for the latter (since all human stories have suffered the same confusion). “But the Elves are there (in my tales) to demonstrate the difference. Their ‘magic’ is Art, delivered from many of its human limitations: more effortless, more quick, more complete (product, and vision in unflawed correspondence). And its object is Art not Power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous reforming of Creation.”

Hopefully that distinction will be reflected in the magic items we find in Rivendell.

[Falenthal]

Don't forget he probably had long hair, was unshaved, bathed seldom and "travelled a lot, sleeping under the stars without a place to call home",...

Well, the ill-shaven part is movie stuff. Tolkien says that those with elven blood (and I'd bet that Elros' line falls under that as well, even if distantly related) lacked facial hair. I'd have to dig up the precise quote if you're interested.

Cheers
Tolwen

That's why I said "probably". In fact, I don't remember Tolkien giving us a lot of physiscal descriptions of the characters. He mostly describes "what impression do they give", more than if they have long or short hair, the colour of their eyes, or if they had moustache or beard.

About the facial hair, well, he also had mortal blood in him. And maybe, for one living among elves, the traits that could make him distinctive are a way of showing his pride. But that's just a non-sense discussion on my part. I don't have the slightiest idea if Aragorn had beard or no. I only know that Cirdan, a pure elf, had.

[Falenthal]

..., descendents of Angmarin Men and Hill Men wanting revenge from the civilized men,...

That'd stress the books a bit IMO. Tolkien tells us very clearly that every man and orc loyal to Angmar was slain in the aftermath of the Witch-king's defeat (a full-fledged genocide by the hands of the Númenóreans). And those left of the eastern side were slain by the Éothéod when they went there in a bid for new land.
All in all Tolkien is quite clear that Angmar and its people were thoroughly terminated in the late 20th century.

Anyone living there in the late Third Age would be a newcomer (relatively speaking). Everything left of Angmar would be dark ruins and perhaps some dangerous items or similar things lying in hidden vaults.

Cheers
Tolwen

Do you think some group of outlaws and brigands could have taken the name of Angmar for themselves and be planning the restoration of "the ancient Order". Of course, they might not be related to Sauron or the Witck-King, they would just be never-do-wells who are looking for a way to justify their thirst for power. But they might be charming for the poorer people, telling them that they have angmarim blood in their veins and thinks like that. You know, race and religion can be a very strong ally in justifiying a war.
(I know there are people here very into religion, so pelase, just consider my hypothesis as a proposition for a fantasy setting with fantasy reasons).

[Glorelendil]

..., descendents of Angmarin Men and Hill Men wanting revenge from the civilized men,...

That'd stress the books a bit IMO. Tolkien tells us very clearly that every man and orc loyal to Angmar was slain in the aftermath of the Witch-king's defeat (a full-fledged genocide by the hands of the Númenóreans). And those left of the eastern side were slain by the Éothéod when they went there in a bid for new land.
All in all Tolkien is quite clear that Angmar and its people were thoroughly terminated in the late 20th century.

Anyone living there in the late Third Age would be a newcomer (relatively speaking). Everything left of Angmar would be dark ruins and perhaps some dangerous items or similar things lying in hidden vaults.

Can you give me a book/chapter reference for that? I want to read up on it.

Thanks!