Fornost Erain / Deadman's Dike

[Rocmistro]

In the chapter called "Strider" we learn that Fornost is now called Deadman's Dike. No one came there any more but Rangers, and no one knew what they did there.

My adventure path will soon take my primary protagonist to Fornost Erain.
I'm curious how you all envision it.

I imagine a crumbling city, once great, not unlike a Roman ruin. I envision Rangers going there from time to time and doing things like preserving their culture; they pay homage to their ancestors, clean up and revisit old temples from time to time and keep sacred old holidays and rituals. They train new members of their order, honor the dead, and harvest what books and knowledge they can. They put any evil doers to the sword: orcs or lingering malevolent spirits. There, they re-group and share news of the wider world, enjoy one another's companionship and company, promote and retire one another.

I imagine it a secret place, and the Rangers of the North not unlike a secret society; a brotherhood like the Freemasons, where they keep their old traditions and customs alive.

[ThrorII]

Yes, Fornost Erain (Deadman's Dike) is in ruins. Beyond Ruins. It was laid siege to and destroyed 950 or so years ago. I imagine grasses and trees growing up in the ruins. I imagine rolling hillocks as the remains of old foundations, with rocky pillars, the remains of columns, statues, or cornerstones, sticking out of the grassy swards. Every here and there are caves--remnants of old basements, storerooms, and the like.

Elrond said that men feared to tread there. Somewhere else, I read that after conquering Fornost, the Witch-king sent evil spirits to live there. I would think that it is full of Wraiths, Wights, other fell spirits. Like the Barrow Downs, it is possible that cold mists cover the lands at times, confusing travelers. Orcs and Trolls may wander down from the mountains and use the ruins as staging grounds for raids.