Rivendell Preview 1: What's in it?

[Falenthal]

It's in UT:

In a note written in December 1972 or later, and among the last writings of my father's on the subject of Middle-earth, there is a discussion of the Elvish strain in Men, as to its being observable in the beardlessness of those who were so descended (it was a characteristic of all Elves to be beardless); and it is here noted in connection with the princely house of Dol Amroth that "this line had a special Elvish strain, according to its own legends" (with a reference to the speeches between Legolas and Imrahil in The Return of the KingV 9, cited above).
---UT.IV The History of Galadriel and Celeborn and of Amroth King of Lórien (Amroth an Nimrodel; near the end of that section)

In that context it refers to Imrahil, but Aragorn counts likewise (at the very least), given how Tolkien stresses his exalted lineage

Cheers
Tolwen[/quote]

I give it for granted that you're right in this matters. As in most of them

But just for the sake of knowing: don't you think Imrahil has more elvish blood than Aragorn? As far as I know, only Elwing's blood is elven in Aragorn's line. And that was a loooong time ago, in the First Age.
On the other hand, Mithrellas married Imrazôr during the Second Age, and there have probably been less generations between that marriage and Imrahil than from Eärendil/Elwing to Aragorn.

That said, I also believe Aragorn didn't have facial hair. But Elrond was equally distressed by the "human hippie" nontheless In fact, he did smoke strange weeds in a pipe while listening to music, didn't he?

[Corvo]

This preview got me really interested.

Just surprised nobody apparently noticed... The Witch King.
With long, epic play, and the rules to see if the Enemy notices you, there is definitely place for the Heroes to meet some of the most terribles of the Eye's servants.

[Lugija]

The Heart of the Wild spoiler warning:


That book already includes Hill-men who came from Angmar to the Vales of Gundabad and were hunted by Éothéod.

I'm including them in my next adventure, the players have to raise the Hill-men against the wolves who have tricked their leaders to serve them. (A note of wisdom: You don't want to anger Hwalda.)

[Halbarad]

According to Heart of the Wild, The Wild Hillmen of Gundabad are the descendants of the 'Angmarrim'. They are much diminished in numbers but, in TOR at least, the rumours of their extinction seem to be very much exaggerated.
As has been pointed out, there is a several hundred year window between the 'Hell or Connaught' events following the flight of the Witch King and the later Éothéod land grab. Plenty of time for the exiles to return to their homeland if they so desired. Whether they would have or not is open to individual interpretation of course, but I would not hesitate to place similar communities of these Hillmen in Angmar.
It will be interesting to see what C7 will have done. However, as Tolwen/Thomas has the inside track on this, I would think that they won't be in the book/PDF.
What I might suggest is that there may be small pockets of humanity scattered throughout the region. The Population and Demographics of Eriador article (by Tolwen) from Other Minds might give some small insight as to where and who these might be. Or they might not.....

[Falenthal]

After reading what I could find from Tolkien, I guess the canon is that all angmarim where killed either by the alliance of Gondor and Elves, or by the Eóthéod.

On the other hand, for game purposes, I think it's perfectly believeble to have survivors dwell in Mount Gundabad that, after some years, gather enough forces and valour to inhabit again the surrounding terrains (the former Angmar and/or the north vale of the Anduin). Also, the foul smell of Orcs in Mount Gundabad surely help them find the strenght to venture out again and reclaim their former lands.

[Beran]

This preview got me really interested.

Just surprised nobody apparently noticed... The Witch King.
With long, epic play, and the rules to see if the Enemy notices you, there is definitely place for the Heroes to meet some of the most terribles of the Eye's servants.

Oh, I noticed the mention of the Witch King, I'm still a little in shock over the prospect of that creature being given form in the game...a frightening prospect to be sure. And I am very interested to see the rules regarding The Eye.

[Stormcrow]

Remember that Tolkien never speaks in an omniscient narrator's voice. When he says Angmarrim—I'll use that word—were defeated/driven away/killed/whatever, he's speaking as historians of the West would speak. History can be wrong, or history can overlook minor exceptions.

If you want a small pocket of Angmarrim to have survived in hiding, and are now causing trouble, that's perfectly fine, and in keeping with what Tolkien said to the extent that he said it.

[Falenthal]

That's an interesting and nice way to put it. I like to know (as far as I can) what the canon is. Sometimes investigating the canon you discover things that give great ideas for adventures... with the benefit of being true to Tolkien. Like the unexplained disapperance of Radagast in LotR.

But if I come up with any idea that seem believable in Middle-Earth, even if it's not canon, I go for it if it seems fun for me and my players.

[Francesco]

Remember that Tolkien never speaks in an omniscient narrator's voice. When he says Angmarrim—I'll use that word—were defeated/driven away/killed/whatever, he's speaking as historians of the West would speak. History can be wrong, or history can overlook minor exceptions.

I think this concept is key for the understanding of the whole 'canon' concept. Of course with that I don't mean you should invent things that openly contradict what the sources indicate...

Francesco

[Glorelendil]

That's an interesting and nice way to put it. I like to know (as far as I can) what the canon is. Sometimes investigating the canon you discover things that give great ideas for adventures... with the benefit of being true to Tolkien. Like the unexplained disapperance of Radagast in LotR.

But if I come up with any idea that seem believable in Middle-Earth, even if it's not canon, I go for it if it seems fun for me and my players.

Two thumbs up for this post.

The canon isn't a sacred text; it's a story. Participating in telling that story is a lot more fun than just interpreting it.