Middle Earth Role playing Game FA 63 & 64 Player Timeline Project.
3020-21 Third Age
Fourth Age — length uncertain. All entries are derived from Appendix B (see references) unless otherwise noted.
In the reckoning of Gondor, the Fourth Age began on March 25, T.A. 3021. Since most of the following events were dated according to the Shire-reckoning, their years in the Fourth Age cannot be stated with certainty. Some events may have occurred in the following year of the Fourth Age.
- 6 - Peregrin Took marries Diamond of Long Cleeve
- (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Elfwine, son of Éomer and Lothiriel
- (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Elboron, son of Faramir and Éowyn
- (Date Uncertain) - Birth of Durin VII, descendant (perhaps son) of Thorin III Stonehelm
- 13 - Peregrin Took becomes 32nd Thain of the Shire
- 15 - Death of Glóin, father of Gimli.
- 34 - Death of Prince Imrahil. Imrahil's son Elphir assumes the Principality.
- 41 - Birth of Holfast Gardner, son and heir of Frodo Gardner
- 43 - Birth of Eldarion, son of Aragorn and Arwen
- 61 - Samwise Gamgee leaves Middle-earth via Mithlond
- 63 - Meriadoc Brandybuck, aged 102, and Pippin leave the Shire to live in Gondor; death of Éomer, aged 93, whose son Elfwine ascends the throne of Rohan.
- 67 - Death of Prince Elphir son of Imrahil, 23rd Prince of Dol Amroth. Elphir's son Alphros assumes the Principality.
- 80 - Birth of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir and great-grandson
- 82 - Death of Faramir, aged 120. His son Elboron assumes the Principality.
- 91 - Death of Dwalin, brother of Balin, aged 341.
- 95 - Death of Prince Alphros of Dol Amroth, son of Elphir.
- 120 - Death of Aragorn, King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, after 210 years of life and 122 years of reign; Aragorn's son Eldarion ascends the throne. According to legend, on the death of Aragorn, Legolas builds a ship and sails into the west to the Undying Lands, taking Gimli (now a very old Dwarf) with him
- 121 - Death of Arwen, aged 2901
- 172 - A copy of the Red Book of Westmarch is made
- 185 - Death of Harding of the Hill, Sam Gamgee's heir.
By starting in FA 63 there is a strong chance of meeting Merry & Pippin and Eldarion is only 20. Nearly 60 years of Aragorn’s reign and Legolas & Gimli around.
http://shire-reckoning.com/calendar.html
Some background, it is 64 years since the Bearers of the Three Rings left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West and 66 since Sauron and Barad-Dûr fell.
King Elessar & Queen Arwen are in their prime and young Prince Eldarion is in his early training at age 21. There is still a constant struggle to tame the brown lands, Umbar, Harad, Nurn and the North. The court summers in Evedim near the lake and spend 9 months in Minas Tirith. Aragorn has campaign more often than not in the last 64 years, but far less than the prior 67. He and Arwen have had 4 daughters. Silmariën (FA45), Gilraen (FA47), Telperiën (FA51) & Fíriel (FA55)
As of 65 FA:
Princess Silmariën is the eldest sister and King Elfwine of Rohan is her leading suitor at this time. She is extremely beautiful though still not as beautiful as her mother.
Princess Telperiën seems quite content with the life of a Princess and the Dances, Balls and giggly teenage Court intrigues.
Fíriel is the youngest and looks up to Gilraen the great adventurer more then Silmariën. It is clear she wishes to emulate her someday.
Legolas has removed a small number of his people to Ithilien to support Prince Faramir in this fair land. He visits the courts of Faramir, Elessar, Éomer and Gimli son of Gloin often. His beautiful sister Elenwë is adventuring and rides a Minaras (Unicorn)
Faramir and Éowyn have two sons: Elboron (FA3) & Caramir (FA7). Both are hardy Warriors. They say that Prince Elboron has the look of his father and Caramir of his mother’s people. Prince Caramir is a great Horseman and loves his visits to his Uncle. Both appear to take strongly after Faramir as they are aging slowly. It has been noted that Éowyn has remained very youthful for all her long years. She could be taken for Éomer’s daughter or even granddaughter rather than his sister. She looks to be in her 50s more than her late 80s. Some wonder if this was a gift of King Elessar’s healing or a reward for slaying the Witch King of Angmar. Faramir is of course still a hale and hardy man. A little over a hundred he too looks to be in his 50s.
Currently Minas Tirith and their allies are fighting a two front war in the South and a Campaign wiping out orc lairs in Ered Lithui and around Nurn. Gondor is expanding and trying to build up a large force of horseman to supplement the Riders of Rohan. They are building a great road to Rhûn to create trade and build an alliance. They also hope to increase trade to Erebor & Dale. There is a project underway at a slower pace to improve travel along the Anduin. It is expected to take decades. Dark tidings arrived out of Rhûn brought by Hodwain the Beorning Bard. There is apparently unrest and some organized evil activity out near the Sea and beyond.
Dol Amroth is still the great Principality of Gondor. It is under the wise care of Prince Elphir (TA2987), son of Prince Imrahil of course. Sister to Lothíriel the Queen of Rohan. His eldest son Alphros (TA3017)is the Commodore of the Gondor Fleet and commands the great and swift flagship the Amroth.
King Éomer has passed away leaving the behind his widow, Queen Lothiriel of Dol Amroth. King Elfwine, his eldest now leads in all things. He is seeking the hand of Silmariën. Elfwine is a tall man of 6' 5" with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His features show a bit of elvish influence of his mother's side. He speaks with a deep voice and looks to be no more than 30 years old but he is probably 50. He uses a long sword and Gwaelur knows that Elfwine was given a fine chain mail shirt as a gift from Gimli. The Chief Mearas likes the new King, his best son is Prince Elfwine's partner. They think he is a very good human.
Dale: King Brand II son of Girion II son of Bard II. His oldest son is Brion and second and third sons are Bard & Bain.
Girion II (FA8-FA51) died young in Battle and Bard II is young. He was born in FA32 and already has 5 children. Three sons and two daughters. The eldest son is 10.
In 61 Samwise Gamgee left Middle-earth via Mithlond. Merry and Pippin got their affairs in order and headed south to live in Gondor. Mulligan Took was among their escort. Samwise’s eldest Grandson Elfstan Fairbairn joined the group after visiting Minas Tirith. Faramir Took son of Pippin is the Thain and the Shire’s greatest Warrior since Meriadoc the Magnificent. Mulligan’s Brother Ponto Took is an excellent archer and a good treasure finder. Rorimac Brandybuck the youngest son of Meriadoc is a well trained adventuring Ranger.
Arnor is repopulating as is the Anduin Valley. The Shire’s population is growing and their produce is helping to feed the North and even the South. They have steady wains heading to and from the Dwarves of Ered Luin. They are even supplying produce and pipe weed to the Grey Havens in exchange for salted & smoked fish.
Elladan and Elrohir of course remain the Masters of Rivendell and assist in the running of Arnor. They in no way have finished with hunting Orcs. Indeed, they have driven the Goblins far underground with their constant attacks on Goblin Gate and often roam north against Angmar itself. Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel seem tireless these days in hunting the scattered remains of these ancient enemies to the North. They often leave the care of Rivendell to the wise Celeborn. He did leave a thriving Sindarin kingdom in Southern Greenwood from where Gil-Gandel most recently hailed.
Thorin III Stonehelm rules the Durin Folk (Khazad). He rules from Erebor of course. His lords include Gimli in Aglarond, Lord Gíon of the Iron Hill and some lesser lords in the Blue Mountains and Fornost. The Dwarves are again thinking of Khazad-dûm. Dori and Bofur are still alive, but quite venerable and rich. Bofur is acting as the ambassador to Rivendell and Arnor as needed.
The master smith is Hern son of Dori who trained and shared smithing knowledge with Curunauth and Narvil of Rivendell among others. Master Axe and Mattock maker.
A bridge at Tharbad has been built and the great bridge is nearly rebuilt. Tharbad is already a thriving and growing town under the command of Lord Mayor Ianthír (Bridge Lord). He is Ranger of the North and the son of Aragorn's most loyal friend Halbarad. The population is mostly just men of Eriador. There are small Dwarven and Hobbit communities.
The Great South road is rebuilt and maintained from Fornost to Minas Tirith. All the additional trade has brought much prosperity to Bree and the town and the Prancing Pony have both expanded. Fornost is still small, but growing. Most of the remaining Northern Dúnedain have moved near Fornost. Year 63 in review:
Gil-Gandel's company first formed as Anthar came looking for help in the Green Stone Inn to save his family from orcs and foul men. He feared his father Norvon was dead. Meriadoc the Magnificent & Ornan of Lossarnach rode with them and rescue the father and then later with the aid of Gimli, Nanthor of Anfalas, Prince Caramir, 4 Knights and the Dwarves, Jari, Brúni, Víli, & Náli who died in battle rescued the family. They succeeded and defeated the magician Gash and his orcs, uruks and half-orcs.
Going further back, Hodwain got his help near Rhûn from the Prince. Legolas leading 20 elven archers, Gimli leading 20 Dwarf Vets, Meriadoc leading Ponto, Taur Ernil leading his party and Captain Helton of Lebennin leading 20 Gondor Light Calvary with Lady Penlinna meet with Hodwain, Belem the Bowyer, local chieftain of the elves and Taur Ernil’s father leading 50 secretive elven archers, Lord Cirya of Dorwinian and his daughter Daelhaelin Cirya a young mage lead 50 border guards, Hodwain and his uncle Terthan a Beorning fighter, Bôm of the Rhûn Dwarves and 120 sailors assaulted and took out Minas Falath held by an Evil and powerful wraith. In the end it was Meriadoc that killed the Wraith with a timely backstab and another lost rune blade.
Meanwhile Caramir has had great success up in Ered Lithui. The orcs have been systematically routed week by week and month by month. Some head east and many are now working on building the roads. Most lay dead in large covered pits or in collapsed caves and chambers.
Aragorn has been in Minas Tirith since October. The southern campaigns are going well. Eldarion was acting as an officer to one of Aragorn’s most trusted commanders and leading a company in battle and learning much more about tracking and scouting at other times.
The Gondor Navy is growing quicker than it can be manned. They recently had a very successful raid to the south and captured a dozen large galleys. Additionally the Navy’s newest Cavalry fast transports have completed their sea trials and are ready for use in the next campaign. The Sea Knights are being gathered to support the Army by sea. Once again Rohan will lend several companies to support the Sea Knights. A weather wizard is in the position of second in command of fleet behind the Prince Heir Alphros of Dol Amroth.
FA63 was a very good year for the Free People of the West. Ered Lithui has been subdued, Goblin Gate cleared, Angmar is running scared and their campaign foiled and even Mt Gundabad has had recent reverses. The lost without a clue and entire Goblin army north of Goblin Gate and the Werewolf and Warg population in Eastern Eriador has been decimated. Greenwood is slowly cleaning up and Rhûn had foiled a devastating plot and possible swung the balance of power to the Northern people and away from the Easterlings on the south shore. In the South Aragorn had only success and the roads from Minas Tirith have been made safer and more secure as the Bridge of Tharbad and its harbors near completion. It is also a year where a druid as achieved the level of shape changer and another is ready. Umbar and the City of the Corsairs are firmly under Gondor’s control again.
FA64 is off to a good start. Glorfindel is planning a series of serious raids against Angmar as Goblin Gate is consolidated and shared among Dwarves, Men and even a small Hobbit Colony on the Western side of the mountains. Bjorn the Beorning Druid becomes the second and probably most powerful Druid shape changer. Prince Elfwine plans to lead several thousand on the campaigns in support of King Aragorn. Shelob may well be killed and if so the pass into Mordor could be opened before the year ends. Prince Caramir expects to be able to ride south and support Riglo around Nurn to secure this as a safe land for the King’s subjects. Little by little Mordor is becoming safer and more secure.
A large expedition of heroes is formed led by Legolas, Lady Elenwë, Gimli, Captain Meriadoc, Prince Elboron and Taur Ernil to kill Shelob and clear the pass to Mordor at the end of February. They leave on February 24th.
For clerics they had Lady Penlinna who is the chief healer of Estë, Vern Smith a cleric of Aulë and Alma Priestess of Vairë who is the highest cleric at 13th level. With Meriadoc came Ponto Took. Legolas and Lady Elenwë and her Minaras Neeya led 30 more Elves of Lórien and Ithilien. Gimli lead Floin son of Oin, Vini Hammerhead and 50 more Dwarves. Prince Elboron the eldest son of Faramir and Éowyn led 30 men of Ithilien. Benhir the Paladin 33 years old and the son of Bergil is his bodyguard. Drevi the Mage/Alchemist and Deor’s Master joined them, eager for Shelob’s poison sac. Taur Ernil a Silven Ranger from northeast of Rhûn leads his party of Bjorn the Beorning Druid, Bokken the Captain of the Guard for Thranduil for so many years, Felyahin a silven fighter and treasure finder also from Rhûn, Mirëgol the ancient but very youthful Noldo Mage who now rides Neeya’s Foal, Bruzer the Dwarf and Nico the young human archer from Greenwood.
FA64: Lots to fill in
First Adventure Thread
Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, the Second Adventure, Scouting Ered Lithui
Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, Third Adventure, Ered Lithui Mystery Creature
Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game. Fourth Adventure. Journey to Rivendell
August 10th the party reaches the Last Bridge.
Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game: Fifth Adventure - War in Goblin Gate
Middle Earth FA64 D&D Game: Sixth Adventure - Harrying Harad by Sea.
Middle Earth FA64 D&D Game: Seventh Adventure – The Ruins of Old Hatha
Other People Met on the way.
“I am Atheniel and I am of the Healing Order of Estë."
Lady Atheniel was Gilraen's principle teacher at the House of Healing. She herself trained under Éowyn.
The Courtyard of the White Tree is dazzlingly clean, marble and green grass. The Tree is brilliant and almost glowing in the early afternoon sun. Like a reminder of Galathilion of Tirion.
There are people milling around and picnicking. They are in all manner of garb and races. Often even a Hobbit, Pippin of course the likeliest.
It is easy to see an honor guard of 10 proud citadel guards.
Caramir looks very much the Dunedain. He is tall, but fair like his mother. He looked extremely comfortable in the saddle when he road up. He appears to carry a Bastard Sword and an elven bow. He wears no obvious armor or helm but a well worn cloak of high quality make. He wears high quality travel boots.
Some of Gimli's companions: Jari, Brúni, Víli, & Náli. All four have crossbows and axes or hammers. Náli died on the initial adventure.
There is also one more scout/archer in the company that will go with you if desired. He is Nanthor of Anfalas. He wears no armor, but has an excellent looking bow.
Riglo of North Ithilien, and he is a skilled ranger and has been on missions into Morder. He will be scouting by himself in Ered Lithui.
Lorinden of the Forests of Ithilien. He is of Legolas’ people and a skilled tracker. He will be leading three of his own people into the Dead Marshes to check out other leads.
Captain Helton of Lebennin. He leads a mounted troop of 60 light cavalry and archers. They will not be scouting, but riding the land and waiting for our signal fires if we think we have enough to take the orcs.”
Agreed on Picture of Gilraen: http://www.visimag.com/filmreview/images/f185_rev01.jpg
Elenwë: Legolas would have a younger sister. Not Turgon's Wife*. The younger Elenwë does not has Golden hair, but long raven locks instead. She is not as beautiful as Arwen or Galadriel but she is of more than human beauty. I guess using the old D&D scale, if Arwen and Galadriel were 24s, Elenwë would be a 22 and Gilraen (Renee) a 20 perhaps. The other way to look at this is on the standard 10 scale, Gilraen is a 10!, Elenwë an 11 and Arwen and Galadriel go all the way to 12 with Luthien a 12!
*A note on the game and a possible error that I have retained. About 22 years ago, I decided Legolas would have a younger sister. I consulted my notes (hand scribbled from a few sources available back then) on the Elven Language and came up with Star Maid (Elen Wen) which I made Elenwë. I did not realize until years later that the name Elenwë already existed in the legends as Turgon's Vanyarin wife and thus the mother of Idril. This Elenwë died crossing Helcaraxë. I like the name too much and she was woven too much into my near future world of Middle Earth to abandon the name and I decided it was just a coincidence. Thranduil would never have met the elder Elenwë and I am reasonable sure the Noldorians that survived the crossing Helcaraxë spoke very little of this great sorrow overall.
Her mount Neeya is basically a Unicorn, but it does not look much like a horse. You have probably seen some medieval tapestries and painting that depict a more delicate creature with Deer-like features (or Goat-like in many cases) This is a silvery-white Deer Like creature the size of a small horse. Don't assume you know what the Minaras can do. By the way, Minaras combines elven elements of One, Horn and Deer. They are extremely rare but a few are known to live in Mirkwood (Now Eryn Lasgalen, Sindarin for the Wood of Greenleaves) These Unicorns or Minaras hate Giants Spiders and are proof vs. their poison and the Minaras are great at killing the Giant Spiders.
We have learned they do seem to prefer virginal women and Elven maids. Though not exclusively. Apparently the Dwarves and many of the Hobbits are not aware Lady Elanwë is riding a Unicorn like creature. Some believe it to be a large pretty white doe and others an Elven Horse like Cúran or Glorfindel’s horse. Of the party members Gwaelur & Bitur seems a bit confused as does the recently added Paladin Hraedsig. He sees her mount is as opposite as evil as his own Holy Symbol, Glorfindel or Gilraen but Neeya appears more like Glorfindel’s horse to him than how others perceive her. You’ll find that nearly none of the Woodmen will perceive Neeya correctly but the Beornings of course will.
Gorbo Marshsweeper: Lives about 15 miles from Tharbad. He knows the lands very well and I would guess would not charge much in the way of gold. If you wish to hire him though, bring a gift of a small keg of Ale and some salted ham or beef just to open negotiations the right way. His name is Gorbo Marshsweeper. Large ceramic pot: The pot is 2' tall and has 2' diameter. Restores rotten food to fresh once. Slow cooks ½ time.
Belem, First Born Archer leader of Elves in Woods North East of Sea of Rhun. Considered the best Bowyer/Fletcher. Son is Taurendal and he is a very good Ranger/Archer.
Glorfindel is very tall in person. He must stand nearly 6' 10". He is surprisingly soft spoken especially to Gilraen. He provides much instruction in the Lore of the Undead and the slaying of them. Though very tall and very old it is at times hard to recall this gentle elf fought and killed a Balrog and drove the Witch King from Angmar and indeed chased the Ringwraiths into a torrential flood that destroyed their temporary forms. His hair is as golden as the sun and occasionally Thoroncir sees it glow as he talks more passionately about some old enemy faces. He is pleased the Curunauth is now safe. "Though renounced Curunauth is the most direct heir to Finwë in Middle-Earth and it has always been my way to protect Finwë's house. Though of course Gilraen is the child of the line of my own sworn King, Turgon ‘the Wise’".
Rivendell
Farofind who leads a dozen swift archers mounted on Elven Horses.
At the table are Celeborn, Erestor (who was the chief counsellor of Elrond), Lindir (an elven bard that was there when Bilbo sang his song about Earendil the Mariner), Farofind and 3 elven maids named Mirwen, Bélin and Cuin•glir.
Celeborn effectively asks Gil-Gandel for a very long report.
Curunauth joins in looking clean and refreshed. With him are two elves he introduces as Agli and Narvil, they are both Smiths but Narvil is apparently also a mage.
Belem is the leader of the Elves of the Woods of Rhun and one of the first born by rumor. He is considered the great bowyer fletcher of them all. His son Taurernal is a excellent Ranger and Archer.
Faramir Took the Thain of the Shire and one of the King’s key Captains in the North. He is married to Goldilocks Gamgee a younger sister of Elfstan’s mother Elanor. He is a tallish Hobbit standing a bit over 4’ and 54 years old. He is well armored and armed. His bow appears Elvish as does his cloak, boots and rope. He carries a finely made quiver and wears a small green elf stone on his brow. It looks like a small version of the one that King Elessar wears. He is one of the most respected Hobbits outside the Shire and as a hero in the Battle of the Sanford in ’52 and very well off and already married with children his being an adventurer is mostly overlooked. He has ridden often with his Father and Meridoc and even the King himself. He has visited everywhere from Fornost to Minas Tirith and the Grey Havens to Rivendell.
Panto Took is Mulligan's Brother. A Fighter Thief.
Lord Tuln of Belegost is leading 300 Dwarves from Ered Luin.
Some oddball notes for later use.
Seven houses of the Dwarves: Longbeards (Durin Folk or Khazad), Firebeards, Broadbeams, Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, & Stonefoots (Stonefeet?)
Caramir agrees with Deor, “Dogs left wolves long ago, but they are indeed descended from wolves and still close kin. It would seem that when men first awoke the dogs came to them. Cats waited until men became home dwellers and builders and I understand that is was the Elves that tamed cats and then cats tried to tame men. In the end, it is rarely wolves that trouble men, but their other close cousins the Wargs and the Winter Wolves that were bred by the Witch King.”
Minas Tirith is almost as much a military complex as a city, actually maybe it is more of one. Further, there really are Paladin types all through the city staff and that staff is energized by an extremely charismatic benevolent dictator and his even more charismatic Queen. Half the soldiers would gladly give their life to save the Queen. It is not quite a normal place.
People in Minas Tirith are inspired to be good and dedicated. The fact that the threat of total annihilation is now gone after a millennium of decay and that the economy is booming hugely after centuries of stagnation does much to buoy popular support to levels unheard of in the real world. While Aragorn & Arwen live, no shadow of even the smallest sort will fall on Minas Tirith.
Radagast rarely leaves Rhosgobel. It is on the Western border of Eryn Lasgalen (Greenwood/Mirkwood). Rhosgobel as just inside the woods and surrounded by a thick and confusing hedge (or hay) of trees, vines and brambles. There are glamours in place so most would never find it or see it but all animals not of an evil nature can find it, especially those that are injured. Ghân of course can find it and get through the hay. I have always gone with the location as situated on the edge of Mirkwood just south of the Gladden Fields. On the Map of Middle Earth (the one with red printing) you can see a bight out of Mirkwood that is south of the Gladden Fields and north of Dol Guldur. There is a small spur sticking out. Rhosgobel is within that triangular part of the woods.
The Horn of the Mark was blown on the evening of November 2 when the hobbits arrived at Bywater, marking the outbreak of the uprising. The Battle followed on the next day when the Men returned with reinforcements and were ambushed, but the Buckland feast-day marked the blowing of the Horn, not the battle. (And it's a feast-day in Buckland because of Merry, and because that is where the Horn became an heirloom, obviously, not because of where the historic event took place.)
Harlindin: The Lost Elves of Far Harad.
Harlindin: The Lost Elves of Far Harad.
Before the first migration of elves and only shortly after Oromë first espied the young Elves awakened by the waters of Cuiviénen a small group of the Lindar portion of the Nelyar tribe fled before the servants of The Dark One1. Those that survived headed ever further south away from the Dark One’s servants and fearsome monsters.
They found a fertile land of young woods and prospered and grew in numbers. They called themselves the Harlindin Elves, The Southern Singers. Linwë and Linelyë who were among the 24 pairs of the original Lindar were taken as their leaders. A few tried to return to Cuiviénen but they never returned to tell their tale. Two things happened to upset this first settlement. Strange new lights that came to be known as the Sun and the Moon began to fly in the sky over the lands. They brought even better crops and were considered a boon though most of the Harlindin found themselves drawn more to the silvery light of the erratic Moon.
The second change involved the arrival to the region of a group of strange, short and not lovely people also fleeing to safety. They turned out to not be Elves but some new and short lived race, a race that came to be known as men. The leaders of the Harlindin did not trust these new people and Linelyë foresaw the great grief to the Harlindin if they dwell together. A few of the Elves left a trail easy to follow to another nearby land where large herds of antelopes roamed and the land was fertile. Linwë hoped the men would settle in and leave them alone. Linelyë said it would take more than this and they must become a secretive people again. Their great peace had ended.
The Elves moved further south to where a great rain forest had grown strong with the life-giving rays of sun. They kept guards out and trained some of the local animals to help them in their hiding. Their closest friends were the otters of the local rivers and the grey parrots of the young rain forest. They cultivated many fruit trees and made hidden fish ponds deep in the woods. They began the slow process of building a protective maze within the woods to guide intruders away from their new settlement. The years passed and they successfully hid. They managed to lead men astray and developed beguilement to protect themselves. Among these were seemingly moving trails, never leaving signs of passage beyond their realm, mists and wisps of lights to lead those getting too close and of course occasionally putting men to sleep. No man made it through but Linelyë warned that they would soon need to move again and set up an even greater defense. She saw the world changing soon and men growing into great numbers in the next age. She advised her people to develop even greater songs of power and enchantments.
It was 590 years from when the sun first rose that the land shook like never before. Their woodland retreat was largely ruined and the men of the south lost much of their settlements in the cataclysm. Harlindin scouts had searched out potential new locations respecting Linelyë’s prophetic warning and found two of their possible locations still stood. Both were within a great and mature rain forest. They chose the one near a large lake. This was the first time the Harlindin prepared for battle but it was no normal battle. Their greatest singers went out with their best scouts and cleared the way at night for the 5 fast marches of the now numerous Harlindin Elves. Wherever man or intelligent beast was sighted they were put to sleep or charmed to forget. Their passage left many stories but no details of what had happened. Many a man and beast recalled only extraordinarily pleasant dreams with strangely beautiful singing. Some few retained some scattered memories of waking by waters and great starlit farms and a hidden wooded realm.
The Harlindin began to build their new and larger retreat. The great oval maze was over a mile thick and surrounded the entire land around the lake. It was 7 miles across the narrow portion of the oval and 10 miles the longer distance. Their skill in song and beguilement continued to grow and they learned to sing the very plants into helpful growth. They also learned to partially awaken some of the trees. The trees themselves helped keep watch over the hidden realm. They grew in knowledge and song but grew with nature as opposed to the Noldorin way of craft and metalworking. No rings of power for them made of gold but Rings of Contemplation within wooded groves and gardens of flowering trees around babbling springs. No great stone towers or even a city in the great trees but rather simpler ground dwelling of trees and interwoven living vines were their way. No horses or canines but their friendship with the otters, parrots and trees stood them well. They ate mostly fruit and nuts supplemented with fish and a ground fowl they mostly kept for their large nutritious eggs. The otters acted almost like herding dogs to the slowly bred fish of the lake. It was here in their fourth home that they met and tamed the okapi to be their special mounts. The okapi were naturally shy and quiet and excellent at traveling unseen in the woods. The Harlindins enhanced their ability with songs to make they and their riders pass unseen within close distance of man and beast.
The Second Age largely passed the Harlindin by except that men kept growing in numbers and invaded the outer reaches of their woods. Rumors grew of a mysterious inner wood of a sorcerous people. It was said that men that entered the realm would not be able to leave if they ate of the food or drank of the wine. It was rumored that a great king had a great treasure horde within. Stories included men returning that thought they spent but a few night but decades had gone by. This last was not true and no man ever made it within the oval ring of the maze to see the Harlindin and escape again. It is true some were put to sleep in the maze and found themselves mysteriously far away in another part of the woods well away from the realm. Some men were left bemused and with hazy memories of dreams of another way of life and they wandered mostly lost of years at times. But none actually spoke to the elves that then returned to humanity. Some few were brought in and thus was news of the wider world gained. Thus even the Harlindin learned of Sauron and the Númenóreans. They wanted nothing to do with either. These men were treated well for their short years and indeed some thrived and lived far longer than normal though it still seemed very brief to the Elves. When the world changed again it had little effect on the Harlindin save for a season of unusual flooding.
Though they wished it they could not stay as isolated in the third age. In the second age, much of Harad had dried out and the humans sought the greener areas and a kingdom of men had grown near the greater woods. The felling of trees began to grow quicker and Linwë determined that the humans must be dissuaded and the woods protected. The Harlindin began to scare the humans off. They made it seem the woods were alive. People would enter the woods and disappear for days or weeks and be far way when they awoke. Some would disappear completely. Entire armed lumbering camps disappeared over night and the men would reappear scattered and with memory loss and a great fear of the woods.
The campaign was going well when the Elves themselves were startled one day. They saw tree-like beings entering the woods and stopping to talk to the trees. The trees appeared to greet them with almost joy. The Harlindin raced back to let Linwë and Linelyë know of these strange tidings. Linwë and Linelyë themselves came out to meet these strange and unexpected beings. As they carefully approached, Linwë and Linelyë sang a song of welcoming and strode out to meet this group of 18 unexpected people of the trees. They most resembled aged fruit trees to the eyes of the pair.
One of the strangers stepped forward and spoke in a tongue close to Harlindin language, “Great Greetings Speakers to Trees, we have come from far fleeing the Dark Lord and Bringer of fire. We have heard the land itself whisper of Elves passing this way long ago and we are happy to find your people. You could call me, hrum, let me see, Smoothbark is long past and no longer best. Perhaps Applefriend would be best. We are the Entwives, perhaps the last of the Entwives and we have come long and far over the dry lands from the Brown Lands that were once our gardens. We seek a refuge from orcs and the humans that betrayed us. Only Elves have never hurt us and we no longer feel safe on the open plains. Would you take in refugees? We can be of help.”
Applefriend was a stooped and tanned figure standing perhaps 12’ tall. Linwë and Linelyë were tall silver-haired elves of considerable stature. All of their line shared the silver hair. It was one of their escorts, their young great granddaughter Linwen that spoke first. “Surely the tree folk should be welcomed to our land of singing trees. I am Linwen, apprentice singer to the trees and I at least welcome you with all my heart.”
Linwë spoke, “Forgive my daughter’s daughter’s daughter her rash tongue. She speaks out of turn but from the heart at least. I too would welcome you to our realm and I will try to persuade the elders of our tribe that we should welcome you. I will leave Linwen with you while we return to gauge the will of our people. She will take you to a pleasant grotto where you should be safe.”
Linwen asked much and listened long. She learned of the world of Elves, Men, Orcs, Dwarves and Dark Lords. Sea lords and great cities were described and horrible wars and fire, always fire. Linwen learned of Elves like her own people and terrible Elves is strong mail with mighty swords and spears from over the Western Sea. Linwen was amazed by the descriptions as her own people had but little metal craft preferring to work with living plants and wood. Their weapon of choice was still the bow and arrow and most bows still have stone tips loaded with natural substances to subdue their foes. They relied mostly on guile and what men called magic though for their protection. At the same time a desire to see this outside world began to grow in her.
Linwen found much to like in Applefriend and her 17 friends. Windwhistle, Mossybark, Silverleaf, Grimbranch the best warrior but warrior of desperation and not pride, Greenmantle, Trellisweaver, Ivycloak, Rosemistress, Grapetamer, Wildberry, Serenetree, Burntbark an entwife with deep burn scars that rarely spoke at all, Mulberryfriend the youngest, Cherryblossom, Waterlilywader, Gardenlady their eldest and Silentberry the most scarred and least talkative. When Silentberry moved it was seemingly without sound.
After nearly a month, Linwë and Linelyë and 2 dozen of their people returned to escort the Entwives to their new home. The Entwives eventually settled into a string of groves near the lake where they could order their gardens and orchards. There was must learning shared between the Entwives and the gentle Harlindins. The Harlindin Elves managed to protect their wooded retreat throughout the third age. They resorted to fighting but once and with the help of the Entwives and 216 tree guardians they had awakened ensured the men never knew what attacked them but the men carried back tales to leave the haunted forest alone.
Linwen became a tree singer of great promise and learned much from the Applefriend and the others as their closest friend. She became one of the chief scouts of her people and ventured occasionally into human towns at night and out to the sea. She was skilled with bow of course but also the art of stealth and climbing. She had a natural ear for languages and her singing was powerful. She even learned to fight with human swords and was part of a group that trained themselves in this new art. She learned over the long centuries to make her paired short swords dance though rarely had she used them in actual combat. Her speed and agility were amazing. She was considered strange by those of her generation and older but among the younger Elves, those of the third age, she was held as a leader and speaker.
In this the third age is when the most profound arts of the Harlindin Elves came to fruition. This is when they created their living towns and villages. They wove with skill and song longhouses of strong trees and vines. Cool in the hot climate and protection from rain and hidden in the woods so even the beast did not know that Elves lived near. They grew odd furniture, fruit trees with normal trunks that would then widen greatly to good size round table of smooth tops and have but a slim trunk grow up above the table and fruit year round. They had chairs and couches of shrubbery and vines growing in harmony. They used beds of soft thick grass. They had secret gardens throughout the woods and their fish farms on the lake. The otter folk were their shepherds. The grey parrots were their lookouts and helped to spread their seeds so that all the woods had nutritious plants scatter throughout.
The Harlindin Elves lived in their wooded realm among their protective mists and prospered and slowly grew and thus most of the third age passed. It was not until near the end of the third age that a large human intrusion happened again.
This time though it was a far larger army with dozens of oliphants. Through secret guile and nighttime raids these armies were disrupted but still they built forts on the edges of the woods. When the oliphants would not fight for them against the unknown terrors of the wood, the Haradrim turned to other methods. They used fire often and fires were an effective tool.
Linwë and Linelyë needed to find away to drive these invaders out before it was too late. Linwen volunteered to lead a dozen of the stealthiest to learn more of the leaders behind this war and see what could be done to get them to abandon it.
Starting in the camp, she sang the guards to sleep in one large area and then her small group worked their way to the command tent. She found a senior advisor and beguiled him to the point where she was able to learn where the Prince that ordered this army lived and where to find the general of this army. That night the swords of the Harlindins made fast work of the dirty work of killing dozens of men in their sleep and lacing their food and water with natural poisons that would cause stomach ailments and drowsiness. The advisor was never seen again as he was sent back to the woods for further use as an information resource and the camps captain was found wandering outside of the camp all but bereft of his memory and speaking of the horrors that awaited if the army did not leave.
From this camp she split her forces. She sent six of her band to the General’s fort to do what they safely could and she led another six to a great city of the Haradrim. The retreated back to the woods long enough to summon their okapi steed. They travelled at night and when near populated areas even avoided moonlight. With great stealth they arrived at the city in only 4 nights of travel. The okapi were secreted but a few miles from the city. That night they went over the walls of the city using vines they grew to get over the wall swiftly. To the central fortress of the city they crept. Linwen made glamour of invisibility about her and made the final approach on her own. On the top floor of the fortress she sang the men to sleep. Down to the King’s apartments she continued to sing those awake to sleep. Near the King’s very door though stood one that was fighting the sleep. She sent an arrow flying for his throat but he moved to quickly for one she thought dazed. The guard raised hue and cry and charged towards her. Her second through fifth arrows found their marks though and he lay dying. She swiftly crossed to the doors, with practiced skill she unlocked it and then sang the wooden bar to slip loose. With a dull clatter the bar was gone and she sang back up her glamour of invisibility. She opened the door to find the King cowering behind a desk. “What manner of being dares assault King Melliot?”
Linwen responded, “I am the spirit of the haunted woods. Your people knew for thousands of years to leave the sacred woods alone but you sent men that brought fire and axes. We tried gentle methods to turn them back but you ordered them to press harder and burn faster so I have left my grove and come for you directly. One last time I tell you in person, leave the woods alone and you yourself shall pay the price.” All this time she was throwing her voice and had snuck up behind him. She used a small club to knock him senseless and then made sure he would suffer nothing worse than some headaches. She did a quick search of the apartments and found a lightly jeweled sword of fine and alien make that seemed to be of power. This she liberated as her fee.
Back out she went as stealthy as she came. Back to her people she rejoined who had been busy preparing to set fire to the city’s warehouse district. Messages were left that for every tree burnt a building would burn and the fires were lit and the party of Elves left quickly. They returned to the okapi and road for home.
The general’s fort near the woods had suffered such larger mayhem that few had slept for the past week. The men were digging trenches, standing fire watches, trying to stop the ghost like beings that slipped in and out of their fort like the wall were non-existent. On Linwen’s return though all activity stopped and but hours behind her were orders from the King to cease operations and bother the woods no more.
1 This means they are not technically Avari as they did not refuse the invitation but rather missed it entirely.
