The Shirelings Weekly Bugle

The Kings of Gondor – Part One

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Hey Everyone!

This week starts a brand new lore series on the line of Gondorian Kings.  We kick things off at the roots of how the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor were founded.  Ok readers buckle the seat belts and keep all arms, hands, and legs inside the vehicle at all times because this is going to be a fast, crazy ride!

High King of the Two Kingdoms

king elendil

Elendil was the first High King and founder of both the Gondorian and Arnorian kingdoms.  Elendil had two sons, Isildur, and Anarion who helped him found these two great kingdoms after the downfall and destruction of Numenor.  Elendil was not only the first high king, but he was also known for being extremely tall, as history recalls him to be around 7’10”.   Elendil was born in Numenor. He was the son of Amandil, Lord of Andunie and leader of the Faithful Numenoreans.  Like his father before him, Elendil wanted to keep a strong relationship with the Elves and kept the old beliefs in Iluvatar and a high reverence for the Valar.

Elendil’s father is the one who warned him of the coming destruction of Numenor and is the whole reason we now have the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.  Elendil gathered nine ships and had them port on the Eastern shores so they could be loaded with goods, his people and all the possessions they could hold.

 

main-qimg-4dfdef82e8810e9b87211202a272a60aThe Great Ships of the Faithful

When the destruction of Numenor happened Elendil was already prepping his ships to leave Numenor, his sons Isildur and Anarion, and their supporters set sail for Middle-earth. Some of the items they took with them were the Palantiri,  “Great Seeing Stones”  which were given to the Lords of Andunie by the Elves of Tol Eressea, the Ring of Barahir, the Sceptre of Annuminas, Narsil the great sword of the King which Elendil claimed for his own, and a seedling of Nimloth which later grew into the White Tree of Gondor.

The ships became separated during the long voyage to Middle-earth.  While Isildur and Anarion landed their ships in the southern regions of the lands near the haven of the faithful at Pelargir, Elendil landed in the northwest corner near Lindon.  This is why we see two high kingdoms in the books, Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south.  Elendil lived in Arnor, where he founded the city of Annuminas.  His son Anarion established the city of Minas Anor in Anorien, and Isildur founded Minas Ithil in Ithilien. Across the Anduin the city of Osgiliath was built.  In both regions they built great holding towers for the palantiri, this is how they kept in contact with each other.

 

siege of baradurThe Siege of Barad-dur

Elendil, and his people were not so lucky as to escape the evil that closely followed though.  Sauron had lost his physical body in the destruction of Numenor, but his spirt was still well alive and returned to Middle-earth as a great shadow.  That shadow came to Mordor , and Gondor, where Sauron sought after a new shape to take.  In the second age year 3429 Sauron attacked Gondor taking the hold of Minas Ithil.  Isildur fled north to his father, leaving Anarion in charge of Gondor. In 3434, King Elendil and Isildur returned south together with the Elven High King Gil-galad forging the last Alliance of Elves and Men to take on Sauron and his great hordes of evil followers.  Towards the end of the Siege of Barad-dur, Sauron came forward to battle the Elves and Men. Gil-galad and Elendil fought Sauron but were both slain, and Elendil’s sword Narsil was broken when he fell. His son Isildur used the broken sword to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. However, despite the council of Elrond, Isildur chose not to destroy the Ring at Mount Doom and was eventually betrayed by the Ring in the the Gladden Fields, and was slain by Orcs.

I hope you enjoyed the start to our new series!

Until next week, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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The Origins Of Evil – Part Four – The Death of Morgoth

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Hail and Well Met Everyone!

You might have been wondering where in the world I had vanished…. well I won’t lie, it’s been a nice little three week break over the holidays and beginning of the new year.  I’m finally back on a regular schedule of writing, planning, and getting new topics lined out for the website.  This is a rather long article of lore….So let’s not dilly-dally any longer and get to it shall we.

When we left off last time we had just seen the Battle of Flames and a small band of men called the Edain who were able to withstand the corruption of Morgoth and began feeding the elves information about the dark lords every move.

AnghbandSiege of Angband

The siege of Angband was broken 455 years after Fingolfin came to Middle-earth, when Morgoth started the War of Sudden Flame or it’s Sindarin name “Dagor Ballogach”. One cold winter night, when the Elves were off guard, Morgoth brought terrible rivers of fire and lava from Thangorodrim and poisonous fumes from the Iron Mountains. The Elves were completely unprepared for such an assault, and many Noldor perished on the Ard-galen, as the fires consumed it and transformed it into a lifeless wasteland, forever after known as the Anfauglith.

With the exception of Maedhros and his fortress upon the Hill of Himring, the sons of Feanor and Finarfin were overthrown and defeated. Fingolfin and Fingon only just barely managed to defend Hithlum from Morgoth’s onslaught, as the mountains surrounding it provided an effective barrier against Morgoth’s fires. The Elves were completely driven from the forests of Dorthonion, and many of the Grey elves forsook the war altogether and went to Doriath. When news came to Fingolfin of the defeat of the Elven forces, a great despair came upon him. Believing the Noldor to have been defeated beyond any hope of recovery, he rode forth from Hithlum to the gates of Angband in a wrath so potent that he was said to have resembled Orome himself.  When he arrived at Morgoth’s fortress he challenged the Dark Lord to come forth and fight. Though Morgoth did not wish to, Fingolfin’s challenge was heard by all in Angband, and was given in such an insulting manner that to ignore it would have been to lose face before his captains.

Morgoth came forth dressed in his black armour from Angband to confront Fingolfin. Wielding the terrible hammer Grond in which he attempted to kill the Elven-king repeatedly, but succeeded only in carving many fiery pits in the ground from his missed strikes. Fingolfin managed to avoid Morgoth’s blows, and wounded the Dark Lord seven times. But at last, Fingolfin grew weary, and Morgoth brought him to his knees. Fingolfin arose each time to continue the fight, but eventually he fell backwards into one of the many pits formed by Morgoth’s missed attacks. Morgoth took his foot upon Fingolfin’s neck and killed him, but not before Fingolfin, cut Morgoth’s foot with his sword.  Morgoth enraged broke the Elven-king’s body, but Thorondor, the King of the Eagles, swooped down on Morgoth, marring his face with his talons, and rescued the body of the Elf-king.

Fingolfin’s last stroke gave Morgoth a permanent limp, and the pain of his seven wounds could not be healed, nor were the scars ever erased.

After the battle, Morgoth sent out spies to watch over the Edain men, but when the Edain refused his false offers of peace he summoned the Easterlings over the Blue Mountains. However, he soon realized that he had underestimated the resolve and valor of his foes, for the Elves and Edain, recovering from the initial shock of Morgoth’s onslaught, had begun to make small gains against his outlying forces. He therefore checked his advances, and withdrew the main groups of Orcs to Angband.  Though Morgoth’s victory had been great, his own losses had been as numerous as the losses that had been accrued by the Elves. Seven years passed before Morgoth renewed his offensive abilities. He assailed Hithlum with great strength but just as he was on the verge of victory, Cirdan and a large army under his command came at the last moment and helped Fingon to turn the Orcs back.

Morgoths CourtThe Quest of the Silmaril

Some time later, the Elven-maiden Luthien and her human lover Beren, seeking to recover a Silmaril, came disguised to Morgoth’s court. Morgoth was able to see through her disguise, but she was undaunted by his eyes, and offered to sing for him. As she sang, Morgoth conceived a lust and an evil more abominable than any he had yet committed, and allowed her to continue singing. This was his downfall; suddenly shadow hid her, and she sang a terrible song of power that cast a spell of sleep.

All Morgoth’s court was cast down in a deep sleep by her song, but the Silmarils burned, and became so heavy that the head of Morgoth sagged upon his chest. He fell from his throne, the Iron Crown rolled away with a clang, and Beren cut a Silmaril from the neck of Morgoth.  However, rather than leaving immediately with his prize, he tried to take another of the Silmarils.  As he attempted to pry the second jewel loose, his knife snapped.  One shard struck Morgoth’s face, and he began to awaken. Beren and Luthien fled, but the dreaded werewolf Carcharoth bit off Beren’s hand. Then Morgoth awoke, and in a rage he and his court roared up in pursuit, only to see Thorondor carrying off the raiders. Morgoth’s rage at the loss of the Silmaril caused the Iron Mountains to begin erupting, but Morgoth wasn’t able to recover the Silmaril.

Soon after, Morgoth became aware that Maedhros was making a great army against him, and driving his orcs off the northern heights.  He took council against them and prepared his forces for a major confrontation. When the Elves made it to Angband, the Battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, began. Ultimately, the battle was a complete and decisive victory for Morgoth. The power of the Elves and the Edain were broken against Morgoth. The Noldor from the north of Beleriand, and all their great kingdoms besides Gondolin were destroyed. The Edain who did not flee were enslaved by Easterlings, and Hurin was taken captive.

tumblr_static_tumblr_static_bbp7i3c1334gos0wsc0o88k8w_1280The Cursing of Hurin

Morgoth was also well known for the imprisonment of Hurin of the House of Hador during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. In the last hours of the battle Hurin and his kin defended Turgon, for he was the last heir to the throne of Gondolin and of Fingolfin after his brother, Fingon, died in battle. Turgon narrowly escaped the clutches of the orcs due to the valor of Hurin and Huor and their men.

Unfortunately, all but Hurin fell after the onslaught of Morgoth’s forces. After slaying untold numbers of Trolls and Orcs, Hurin was captured by Gothmog and sent to Angband. Morgoth knew that Hurin had been to Gondolin, and knew of its location. Morgoth sought to extract the information from him but, despite inflicting terrible torment upon his captive, was unsuccessful.

hqdefaultMorgoth sentences Hurin

From a distance Morgoth put the son and daughter of Hurin, Turin and Nienor, under a species of diabolic oppression: his thought followed them and gave them bad luck, though they were not possessed. By this means he drove them at last to madness and despair; though there is doubt as to whether in the extremity of his malice he cheated himself, as their madness saved them from damnation.

Morgoth brought a great curse upon the people – “Behold! The Shadow of my thought shall lie upon them wherever they go, and my hate shall pursue them to the ends of the world.” But all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever they go, evil shall arise. Wherever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death.

And so Hurin stayed and was chained atop Thangorodrim, forever watching his homelands fall under the shadow of Morgoth until he released him. Turin, who was valiant and powerful, nearly escaped the curse, as feared by Morgoth, but could not leave it. He and his sister perished and the curse of Morgoth on the Children of Hurin was fulfilled.

howe_gondolinNZThe Fall of Gondolin

Though he had been unable to force Hurin to reveal the location of the last great Elven kingdom, Morgoth eventually captured Maeglin, son of Turgon, the King of Gondolin. Threatened with unimaginable torment, Maeglin offered the secrets of Gondolin’s defenses in exchange for his own wellbeing. Additionally, he made a promise to kill Tuor personally, and was given permission by Morgoth to take Idril for himself.  With the promise of having Idril, Maeglin became Morgoth’s servant and sent him back to Gondolin to aid the invasion from within when the time came.

Soon after, Morgoth assaulted Gondolin, the last great realm of the Noldor, and with a superior force and Maeglin’s treacherous information, the city was destroyed without hope and quickly fell.

 

angliflin the blackFinal defeat and War of Wrath

However, Morgoth’s triumph was relatively short lived. Due to the plea actions of Earendil, the Valar were persuaded once again to take up arms against Morgoth’s tyranny. Morgoth himself did not expect that the Valar would ever help the Noldor after the terrible sins they had committed, and did not foresee the assault from Aman. But the Valar took pity on the Noldor, and a great battle began between Morgoth and the Host of Valinor. Morgoth emptied all of Angband, and his devices and engines and armies of slaves were so various and powerful the fighting spilled across all Beleriand.

In the end, Morgoth’s forces were completely defeated. The Balrogs were destroyed, except a few that fled and hid themselves in the caverns of the earth, and the Orcs were slaughtered. Morgoth hid in fear, and dared not come forth himself, but he had one last weapon at his command; the monstrous Winged Dragons. From out of the pits of Angband he called them to battle, with great power and fire, they drove back the Valar. But then Earendil came with Vingilot, accompanied by Thorondor and all the great birds, and killed Ancalagon The Black, whose great body fell upon the towers of Thangorodrim destroying them. Morgoth, utterly defeated stood and watched. He fled into the deepest of his mines, but his feet were cut from under him, and he was cast down upon his face. He was bound with the chain Angainor, his Iron Crown was beaten into a collar for his neck, and he was thrust through the Door of Night into the Timeless.

This concludes our lore series on the dark lord, but next week we kick off a brand new series (The Kings of Gondor) so until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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The Origins of Evil – Part Three

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Hail and Well Met Friends!

I’m back after what seems like ages of not writing since the last episode published and very excited to continue in this lore series!

When we left off last time, Melkor had returned to rebuild his fortress Angband and breed his mass armies of fell beasts.  This week we pick up with Melkor in the first age and the Noldor rebelling to recover the stolen Silmarils.  I hope you enjoy!

morgothpic4Melkor’s Evil In The First Age

Feanor followed Morgoth to Middle-earth with the greater part of the Noldor in rebellion, hoping to recover the Silmarils.  This rebellion and last effort from Feanor to recover the Silmarils caused the massive War of the Great Jewels, in which the elves were completely defeated.  Upon learning of the arrival of the Noldor in Middle-earth, Morgoth sent armies of Orcs against Feanor’s and his elves, hoping to destroy them before they could establish any strongholds and well organized defenses. Though the Noldor were outnumbered, they were very skilled in combat and swiftly destroyed the Orcs; though only a handful returned to Angband. But Feanor, in his pride and arrogance, came after Morgoth himself and pursued the Orcs.  Soon, the vanguard and Feanor pressed ahead of the main host, and the Orcs and they came to battle at the gates of Angband.  The battle was so close to Angband that it alerted a number of Balrogs that came to the aid of the Orcs that quickly defeated the Elves. Feanor fought on alone, but was eventually struck down by Gothmog, the Lord of the Balrogs. Though a relief force under the command of his sons saved him from being killed on the field of battle, Feanor’s wounds were mortal and he perished soon after.

gothmogShortly after Feanor’s death, Morgoth sent an embassy to the Noldor offering terms of surrender, even promising a Silmaril.  Maedhros agreed to the parley, but both sides, expecting treachery, came with greater force than was agreed. Unfortunately for the Elves, Morgoth’s force was the greater of the two, and was accompanied by Balrogs. The Elven company was quickly slain with the exception of Maedhros, who was captured and chained by his right hand to one of Thangorodrim’s cliffs.  Morgoth sent word to the Noldor, promising to release Maedhros on the condition that the Elves would depart from the North and cease their war against him.  However, the Elves knew that Morgoth would not honor his word, and sent no reply.

It was time that the host of Fingolfin, which had been betrayed and abandoned by Feanor’s group in Aman, came at last to Middle-earth. Tension between the two groups quickly developed and Morgoth, seeing that the Noldor were divided, made plans to destroy his very distracted enemy’s.  To his dismay however, the Valar revealed the creation of the Sun and the Moon, which confounded Morgoth and his servants for a time. To counter these new lights, Morgoth sent up clouds of smoke from the Iron Mountains to darken Hithlum.

During the time of confusion and inaction caused among Morgoth’s forces by these new lights, Fingon traveled to Angband, aided by the very darkness Morgoth had set upon Hithlum, and rescued Maedhros. In doing so, he started a series of events that united the Noldor and allowed them to establish great and mighty kingdoms in Beleriand and Hithlum. When Morgoth initiated his next attack, the Noldor swiftly destroyed his forces and set a war upon Angband, hoping to forever contain the evil of Morgoth.  After waiting many years, Morgoth tested his enemy’s, causing the Iron Mountains to erupt sending an army of Orcs down through the passes, but the Noldor easily defeated these Orcs. After this failure, Morgoth took to capturing what Elves he could, breaking them with the power of his will and chaining their lives to his. These Elves became his spies among the Noldor, keeping him aware of all there movements and plans.

Lord_of_the_rings_glaurung_by_vaejoun-d71q48fBattle of Sudden Flame

One hundred years later, Morgoth sent an army into the north to approach Hithlum from the side, but an army under the command of Fingon destroyed them yet again. At this point, Morgoth came to realize that the Orcs unaided were no match for the Noldor, and began experimenting with ways to create more deadly creatures for his armies. Another century passed, and the creation of Glaurung, the first dragon, was the result of Morgoth’s long intense labor. Glaurung’s sudden appearance scattered the Elves around the areas of Angband, but a group of archers under Fingon’s command engaged him before he could attack and merely frightened the Elves. Glaurung was barely half-grown, and his hide wasn’t thick enough to take the Elven arrows so he had no choice but to flee. Morgoth was displeased with Glaurung for revealing himself to soon, but ultimately Glaurung’s sudden attack on the elves was of little consequence.

images (28)When Men first arrived in Beleriand, it was revealed that Morgoth left Angband and walked among the fathers of Men. Hoping to corrupt them to his service, he spread his lies among them, and found them to be much easier to sway than the Elves had been. However, the strengthening of the Elven kingdoms worried Morgoth, and he returned to Angband before his labors were complete. Nevertheless, most Men believed or half-believed his lies and either departed from the North or joined with Morgoth’s forces.  A small group of Men that became known as the Edain were able to resist Morgoth. They provided the Elves with vital intelligence as to the doings of Morgoth in the North, as many of them chose to live within sight of Angband’s gates.

Until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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The Origins Of Evil – Part Two

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Hail and Well Met Friends!

Last week if you remember we left off with Melkor being captured and held for three ages in the Halls of Mandos.  I hope you all are enjoying the series!

utumnoMelkor’s Revenge

During the War of the Powers when the Valar took to overthrow Melkor, they in the haste to do so left many of Utumno’s pits and vaults unexplored, and Sauron was still roaming the lands as well.  Also, the Valar didn’t capture or destroy the Balrogs, who gathered at the ruins of Angband who had gone into hibernation awaiting Melkor’s return.

After the passing of the Ages, Melkor was brought before Manwe, and played a good act of repentance.  Manwe was just unable to comprehend the evil of Melkor, so Manwe ordered him to be released.  At first, it seemed as though the evil of Melkor had been cured, for all who sought his counsel and aid in that time benefited greatly from it.  However, Tulkas and Ulmo were both very slow to forget Melkor’s evils, and watched him closely. In truth, Melkor was more filled with malice than ever, and began to put his extraordinary cunning to use in devising a way to ruin Aman.  Seeing the bliss of the Elves and remembering that it was for their sake that he was overthrown, Melkor desired above all things to corrupt them.  Of all the three primary groups of Elves, he found the Noldor to have a perfect balance of usefulness and open ears, and so worked began to work his malice almost exclusively among them.

Catherine_Karina_Chmiel_-_FeanorThe Greatest of the Noldor

Over a long period of time he spread lies concerning the intentions of the Valar in bringing the Elves to Aman, telling them, among other things, tales of the coming of Men, the existence of which the Valar had not revealed to the Elves. Due to his carefully crafted lies, many of the Noldor began to believe that the Valar had brought them to Aman so that Men might inherit Middle-earth, taking the lands and the glory that could have been theirs. Eventually, a shadow fell upon the Noldor, and they began to openly rebel against the Valar.  Chief amongst the disgruntled Noldor was Feanor, the firstborn son of the Noldor King Finwe.  Though he hated and feared Melkor, his overwhelming pride caused him to be the most vocal of the Noldor in expressing discontent. For their part, the Valar remained unaware of Melkor’s work, and saw Feanor as the source of the Noldor’s unrest. Though perturbed, they let the situation continue until Feanor threatened his brother Fingolfin at which point the Valar summoned him to the Ring of Doom in Valinor to explain his unlawful actions.

Feanor’s testimony revealed the lies of Melkor, and Tulkas immediately left the Ring of Doom to recapture him. But Melkor could not be found. After a time, he went to Formenos and struck a deceitful friendship to Feanor, as Melkor was only after the Silmarils.  Feanor, knew what he was up to and saw Melkor’s greed, refused him and shut the doors of Formenos in the face of Arda’s mightiest being.  Melkor passed unseen to the south, and came upon the great spider Ungoliant, which he promised to satisfy her unrelenting hunger, so she and Melkor together came back to Valinor, intending to destroy the Trees. During a time of festival, Melkor and Ungoliant suddenly attacked and Melkor thrust a great spear into the Trees and Ungoliant drank the sap that poured from the wounds, draining the Trees and poisoning them. The Trees quickly withered and died, plunging Aman into complete darkness for a time.

Melkor-and-UngoliantKilling of the Two Trees

In the fear and confusion that followed, Melkor sped to Formenos and broke into the fortress. There, he killed Finwe, father of Feanor, and stole the Silmarils along with all the other gems that lay there. The Silmarils burned Melkor’s hand, causing him great pain, but he did not release them. He and Ungoliant fled to the North, and the Valar pursued them, but the Unlight of Ungoliant brought great confusion to the Valar and the two escaped. The two thieves crossed the Grinding Ice of the Helcaraxe and entered Middle-earth, completing Melkor’s great revenge.

In Lammoth, Melkor and Ungoliant approached the ruins of Angband, with Melkor hoping to escape and leave his promise to feed Ungoliant unfulfilled. Ungoliant however, saw through his plan and stopped with him before they reached Angband. She demanded that he surrender the treasure of Formenos to satisfy her hunger as he had promised, so he gave her the lesser of treasures he had taken, but he would not give her the Silmarils which lay hidden within his right hand.  With his refusal to surrender the Silmarils, Ungoliant attacked Melkor, weaving her dark webbing around him. His resulting cry of pain and anguish woke the Balrogs from their depths of Angband. With a violent windstorm of fire they came to his aid, and drove away Ungoliant, but Melkor recalled them, and allowed Ungoliant to escape.  He then began to rebuild Angband, and gather his servants there.

When Feanor found his father was slain, he cursed Melkor and named him Morgoth, meaning “Dark Enemy”, and by that name was he known ever after. The name Melkor was never spoken again by his enemies.  As Morgoth finished rebuilding Angband, the slag and debris created by his vast tunnelings was plied into three huge volcanoes, collectively known as Thangorodrim.  Once he made these huge volcanoes, he began work on creating his forces, breeding vast numbers of Orcs and other fell beasts.

Until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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The Origins of Evil – Part One

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Hail and well met everyone!

This week we continue in our lore with a brand new series.  We are taking a look at someone who truly is the creator of evil. I hope you enjoy the series!

dark_lord_by_rinthcog-d3ki4nhThe First Dark Lord

That’s right I said the First Dark Lord, as Sauron was not the first… Originally the most powerful of the Ainur created by Eru was Melkor and he rebelled against his creator because of pride and sought to corrupt Arda, becoming Morgoth.  After committing many evils in the First Age, such as the theft of the Silmarils and the destruction of the Two Lamps, Morgoth was defeated by the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath. According to an unpublished portion of Tolkien’s conclusion to The Silmarillion, Morgoth will return at the end of the world to fight against good in Dagor Dagorath, the final battle.

Melkor was made in the beginning as an Ainu created by Eru Iluvatar in the Timeless Halls, at the beginning of creation. Manwë is said to be brother to him, yet Melkor was greater in power than any of the Ainur. Melkor was gifted also with the greatest knowledge of all the Ainur, and had share in all of the gifts given to his fellow Ainur by Eru. Desiring to create things of his own and knowing of but not understanding the Flame Imperishable, Melkor often went forth into the Great Void outside of the Timeless Halls in search of this flame. His quest was in vain; he found not the Flame Imperishable for it lies with Eru alone. Melkor grew ever more impatient of the unclear designs of Eru and the emptiness of the Void, and was often alone and apart from his fellow Ainur. It was during these lonesome periods that Melkor began to have ideas and thoughts of his own that were not in accordance with his fellow Ainur.

When the Ainur sang the Great Music before Eru, some of these stray thoughts he wove into his music, and straightaway discontent arose around him. Some of those nearby attuned their music to his, until two musical themes were warring before the Throne. Then Eru introduced a Second, and then a Third Theme into the music. Melkor succeeded in holding back the Second theme, of which Manwe was the chief instrument. The Third was the theme of Elves and Men, and while it was not overwhelmed by the Discord, it too failed to correct it. When Eru brought the Music to an end, he rebuked Melkor, praising his strength but telling him that all he did redounded only to the glory of Eru’s work. Melkor was ashamed, and resented it; for he thought his Discord an improvement. When the Music was made incarnate as Arda, it was already flawed through the Discord, and immoderate heat and great cold stalked it. He then took in the interest of the World and put his evil wherever he could put it.

67aadf5b93e2ca801a31c3a4f04cf77fBefore the Two Trees

When the Valar entered into Arda and began to shape the unwrought matter, Melkor saw the Field of Arda and claimed it for his own, striving against the Valar. He took various shapes. Whenever the Valar did something, Melkor disrupted them. For a long while, Melkor fought alone against the might of all the other Valar and Maiar of Arda, and he long held the upper hand. Then Tulkas came, his strength tipping the balance in favor of the Valar, and Melkor fled before him.

afe6a06255b84d74a3fabff74539c5bcThe Dark Lord Chained

The Valar had built for themselves the isle of Almaren in the midst of Middle-earth, between the Great Lamps. Then, Melkor delved a mighty fortress at the very north-most part of the World and named it Utumno. To defend it he raised the Mountains of the East in the northeast of Middle Earth, east of the Sea of Helcar. Decay arose in the North, and the Valar knew that he was there.

When the Valar had built Valinor, Melkor built his second, lesser fortress of Angband in the west, as a defense from the West should they attack. Angband was delved into the Iron Mountains, and was given to Sauron to command. While the Valar were unsure where the Children of Iluvatar would awake, they were reluctant to wage war against Melkor, fearing the clash of powers might result in massive collateral damage. Due to this, Melkor discovered the Elves before the other Valar, captured many of them, and transformed them by torture and other foul craft into orcs.

When it was discovered by the Vala Orome where the elves were, the Valar took immediate action against Melkor. This action was called the War of the Powers. When he saw the Valar winning, he retreated into Utumno and shut the great doors. The Valar smote the doors open and Melkor was cast down by Tulkas. Melkor was bound in Angainor and brought back to the Halls of Mandos for three Ages.

You will have to wait until next week to find out what happens after Melkor was bound in the halls for three ages.

Until next week, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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I Once Was A Hobbit – Part Three

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Hail and well met friends!

Last week when we left off, Gollum had told Sam and Frodo about another way into Mordor that was safer then crossing the Black Gate. This entrance was to the South and even though Frodo agreed to go, Sam was quite suspicious of Gollum’s actions.

gollumfishie_nasFinding the Stairs of Cirith Ungol.

During this change in direction to find this new passage to Mordor, Frodo and Sam were captured by Faramir, and Gollum quickly followed  In doing so, Frodo allowed Faramir to take Gollum prisoner, and Faramir found out that the place Gollum was taking the Hobbits was Cirith Ungol and he warned Frodo and Sam of the great evil that dwelt in that place.

cirith-ungol-leeThe Hobbits, and Gollum chose to leave Faramir and crossed the Morful Vale which brought them to the “Stairs of Cirith Ungol” which stood near the border mountains of Ephel Duath. Gollum was planning to betray the hobbits and had devised a plan to visit the great spider Shelob, the child spider of Ungoliant.  His plan was to deliver the Hobbits to Shelob for food and steal the “Precious” back for himself.  How Gollum managed to forge an alliance with Shelob is quite remarkable, as she was known for devouring and killing everything that came in her sight. When he returned from his devious onslaught the Hobbits were asleep. While Gollum watched Frodo sleeping it almost brought him to stop his plan…. However, Sam woke up and began speaking harshly to Gollum which brought back the hatred and Gollum chose to follow through with his plan and led Frodo and Sam into Torech Ungol.

Just as Frodo warned him, Gollum’s betrayal of his oath ultimately led to his demise, as Frodo and Sam escaped from the Great Spiders lair and Cirith Ungol. They made it to Mount Doom, but still Gollum followed them seeking his chance to surprise them and take the ring back.  Frodo and Sam had almost reached the peak of the Volcano and Gollum attacked them but failed to get the ring.  Sam, almost killed Gollum but couldn’t due to pity and disgust for the creature.

download (5)Gollum’s Fiery Death

Once Frodo reached the Crack of Doom which was the heart of the Volcano, he chose not to destroy the ring but instead claimed it for himself and put it on. Gollum then attacked the hobbits again and knocked Sam out with a rock while Frodo was invisible. But Gollum was able to track his footprints and jumped on Frodo. The two fought and finally Gollum bit off Frodo’s finger with the ring on it.  He finally got his “Precious” back but Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him along with a final cry of “Precious!”. The ring was burned in the molten magma with Gollum dying with it as well.

Years after Gollum’s death, Frodo would finally forgive him, as Gandalf had told Frodo that Gollum wasn’t actually an evil being that deserved his death, but was only a poor being, bound to the Ring’s will, and that Frodo’s fate would be like Gollum’s if he kept the Ring. For if Gollum did not stay with Sam and Frodo to the end of Mordor, Frodo’s choice not to destroy the Ring would have brought Sauron to it, and all good in the world of Middle-earth would have disappeared.

As we wrap up one of the most iconic characters in Middle Earth, stay tuned next week as we pick up with a brand new lore series.

Until next week, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell

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I Once Was A Hobbit – Part Two

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misty_printIn a Desperate Search for Precious

Gollum eventually left the Misty Mountains and pursued Bilbo a few years later, but the trail was cold. He made his way south into Mordor where all evil was being drawn at the time, discovering the secret stair located near Minas Morgul and surviving an encounter with Shelob.  He was captured on his return and taken to the enemy’s stronghold and forced to reveal under intense torture what he knew about the Ring.  Gollum was then strangely freed, as he shows no particular loyalty towards Sauron, but caught by Aragorn, and interrogated by Gandalf, who placed him in the care of the Silvan Elves living in Thranduil’s kingdom in Mirkwood.  Assisted by Orcs he escaped the elves, and slipped out to search for for the Shire. He passed through Moria, but could not make it out of the East gate. He was stuck and waiting, but got lucky when the Fellowship passed through.

poort1Finding the Fellowship

Gollum met and started following the Fellowship in Moria, and was spotted and heard by Frodo several times during that journey.  The Fellowship was divided when Gandalf disappeared while fighting a Balrog. Gollum continued following the remaining members of the Fellowship. It is unknown how he crossed the Bridge of Khazad-dum, but he came with them to Lorien without their knowing.  Gollum followed their boats down Anduin to Rauros and pursued Frodo and Sam across the Emyn Muil when they decided to make the journey to Mordor on their own. Gollum followed them, but after a confrontation with Sam in which Frodo finally stopped him and threatened to kill him with Sting, which Gollum recognized from his encounters with Bilbo.

03_KALUTA_01Frodo decided it best to tie a rope around Gollum’s neck for a leash, but the mere touch of the rope pained him. Taking pity on the wretched creature, Frodo made Gollum swear to help them. Agreeing to the oath, Gollum swore by the “Precious” itself and Frodo released him. The three of them then made their way to the Black Gate of Mordor.  Upon arriving the Black Gate they found it well guarded, Gollum convinced them if they went this way they would surely be caught and Sauron would regain the Ring. Gollum knew of another way farther to the South, another way into Mordor that was safer.

We shall pick up in the next episode and find out what happens with the journey to the South and supposed safer entrance into Mordor.

Until Next Week, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell

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I Once Was a Hobbit

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Hail friends!

This week we continue in our lore series of villains in Middle Earth.  We are taking a look at a very mysterious creature.  I hope you enjoy the story!

a-08The Corruption Takes Place

Once a predecessor of the Stoorish Hobbits, Smeagol spent the early years of his life living with his family under the Matriarch, which was his grandmother.  Around the year 2463 in the third age, Smagol became the fourth Bearer of the One Ring, after Sauron, Isildur, and Deagol, who was his cousin.  On Smeagol’s birthday, his cousin and him went fishing in the Gladden Fields north of the mountains.  It was there that Deagol found a gold ring, after being pulled into the water by a large fish.  Almost immediately, Smeagol fell to the power of the ring and demanded it as a birthday present.  When Deagol refused, Smeagol promptly went into a panicked rage and began fighting with Deagol over the ring.  Smeagol was so engulfed with rage he strangled his cousin to death and finally took the One Ring.  For seven years Smeagol was corrupted by the ring and finally banished by his people…he was forced to find a home in the nearby Misty Mountains.  The Ring’s malignant influence twisted his body, as well as his mind, and prolonged his life far beyond its natural limits. He called the ring his “Precious” or his “Birthday Present,” the latter as a justification for killing his cousin.

121217_r22934_p465A Home in a Cave

He lived in the Misty Mountains for over four hundred years, living on raw blind fish (which he caught from his small row boat), bats and Goblins when he could get them as Goblin City was very close to his home.  In later years, he found Hobbit and Elven food completely repulsive.

During his centuries under the Ring’s influence, he developed a sort of dissociative identity disorder: Smeagol, being his former hobbit personality, still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love, while Gollum, his now corrupted personality, was a slave to the Ring and would kill anyone who tried to take it. Years later, Samwise Gamgee gave him the nicknames, “Slinker” (for his eager-to-please demeanor), and “Stinker” for his corrupted personality.  His two personalities often argued when he talked to himself and he had a love/hate relationship, which mirrored Gollum’s love and hatred for the Ring and for himself.

In the year 2941, during the Quest of Erebor, Bilbo Baggins stumbled upon the lake on which Gollum lived and found the One Ring.  Gollum had lost the Ring while squabbling with an imp goblin in the caves leading to the lake, though in some fact it is thought that the ring abandoned Gollum, as it was known to have a will of its own. As Gandalf says later, it looks after itself, trying to get back to Sauron.  After the infamous Riddle Game that Bilbo played with Gollum and in beating him, Gollum refused to show Bilbo the promised way out and had plotted to murder him. When he went to get his “Precious,” he found that it was gone. He suddenly realized the true answer to Bilbo’s last riddle—”What have I got in my pocket?” – breaking into a rage he began to chase Bilbo into the tunnels. Bilbo stumbled across the Ring’s power of invisibility as he ran, allowing him to follow Gollum to the back entrance of the cave and make his way out safely.

We shall pick up next week and continue our episode to find out what happens with Gollum and the Ring!

Until then, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

 

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A Watchtower Stands

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images (10)The Great Watchtower

Weathertop as a lot of fans know it, but it’s true name was known as Amon Sul, which was a hill in the Eriador region of Middle-earth, the southernmost and highest summit of the Weather Hills, hence the name “Weathertop”. The watch tower at its top overlooked the Great East Road in central Eriador, east of Bree, about halfway between the Shire and Rivendell.

This great hill was a watchtower and according to the Atlas of Middle Earth, it was around a thousand feet tall and stood abroad against relatively flat lands around it.  The lower Weather Hills stretched northwards and offered a very commanding view of every direction.  There was a path that led from the north side of Weathertop to the other surrounding Weather Hills.

The strategic importance of Weathertop was recognised early, and during the reign of Elendil the Dunedain of Arnor built a watchtower on its summit, installing the most powerful of Arnor’s three Palantíri in the tower. This Palantír further enhanced Weathertop’s value, as it could be used for intelligence gathering and rapid communication with the King in Annuminas, or later in Fornost.

images (9)The Great Dividing Fall

In the third age around year 861, Arnor was divided into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur.  Weathertop stood at the junction of their borders, and became the focus of a long-running territorial dispute between the three kingdoms, with frequent border skirmishes and minor wars. During this time, Weathertop may have changed hands on several occasions. By the latter part of the 14th century, Weathertop was controlled by Arthedain and Cardolan, which were at that time allied against Rhudaur and Angmar, and was the chief fortress in their fortified border with Rhudaur. The watchtower and fortifications were burned and destroyed in the year 1409 by forces of the Witchking.

King Arveleg I was slain while defending the watchtower, but the Dunedain of Arthedain saved the Palantír and took it to their capital at Fornost. By the time of the War of the Ring only a ring of broken stonework remained of the watchtower forever leaving it a broken ruin of Middle Earth’s great past.

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A Wizard For Himself – Part Three

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Hail and Well Met Everyone!!

Last week when we left off Gandalf had just escaped Sarumans keep by the help of Gwaihir the Windlord. This week we pick up with more of the treacheries Saruman has been planning.

Gandalf EscapesDevious Plans Indeed

Two days after Gandalf’s escape the Nazgul came but Saruman persuaded the Lord of the Nazgul that he did not know the Ring’s location but Gandalf did and should seek him out. In search for Gandalf the Nazgul found Grima Wormtongue instead…Grima being the one who went to Saruman and told him Gandalf had been to Edoras, and where Gandalf learned Saruman had been hiding his knowledge of the Shire from them.  The Nazgul later learned that Saruman knew far more than he had revealed. On their way to the Shire, the Nazgul met one of Saruman’s Shire spies, from whom they got detailed maps of the Shire made by Saruman. They sent the spy back to the Shire after warning him that he was now in the service of Mordor.

Believing that he would find no pity from either quarter (a false assumption, since he was later offered pardon by Gandalf); Saruman now put all efforts into obtaining the One Ring for himself. Not all of these efforts ever became known, but they included sending spies to detain Frodo Baggins on his journey from the Shire, attacking Rohan with Uruk-hai, and dispatching raiding parties of Uruk-hai accompanied by Moria Orcs on likely routes the Fellowship might take through Rohan to go towards Gondor. One of those parties captured Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck and shot Boromir “with many black-feathered arrows” when he tried to defend the Hobbits. This led Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli on a search which eventually led to the Battle of Helms Deep as well as the Destruction of Isengard by the Ents, leading to the end of Saruman’s reign of power in the north.

lotr-board_ISENGARDHis Power Destroyed

“ You have become a fool, Saruman, and yet pitiable. You might still have turned away from folly and evil, and have been of service. But you choose to stay and gnaw the ends of your old plots. Stay then! But I warn you, you will not easily come out again. Not unless the dark hands of the east stretch out to take you! ”
–Gandalf the White

Saruman’s plans have failed, and he suffered a series of massive setbacks.  His network of spies in the Shire didn’t capture Frodo Baggins, and Eomer destroyed his only partially successful raiding party. His invasion of Rohan ended in disaster with the utter defeat of his army at the Battle of the Hornburg.  Leaving Isengard undefended resulted in its destruction at the hands of the Ents.

250px-John_Howe_-_SarumanConfined to Orthanc and with his servants scattered or killed, Saruman made one final unsuccessful attempt to turn Theoden and Gandalf over to evil.  Gandal then offered Saruman a chance for redemption, which involved surrendering his staff and the Keys of Orthanc as a pledge. Saruman had a moment of doubt but in the end pride, anger, and hate won over and he refused the chance of redemption.

Gandalf, who had returned from death to replace Saruman, as the White and the head of the Istari, expelled Saruman from the order and broke his staff. Saruman also lost the Palantír of Orthanc when Grima Wormtongue threw it off a balcony of Orthanc, undecided about which he hated more, Saruman or Gandalf, and hitting neither.

 

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A Wizards Great Fall

Left out of the final stages of the War of the Ring, Saruman eventually managed to persuade the Ents who kept him captive into letting him leave Isengard after he met the conditions of handing over the Keys of Orthanc. He then went to the Shire, which his agent Lotho Sackville-Baggins had brought under control. He spent his final days as a small-time criminal master in Hobbiton known as Sharkey, until he was beaten in the Battle of Bywater. In the aftermath of that battle, Frodo confronted Saruman and exiled him from the Shire, but before he could leave Gríma Wormtongue slit Saruman’s throat on the very doorstep of Bag End.

Though his physical body was dead, Saruman was a Maia and did not truly die.  His spirit separated from his body much like Sauron’s after the Downfall of Numenor. As an incorporeal spirit, he should have been called to the Halls of Mandos, but the story implies that he was barred from returning. Tolkien indicated that his spirit was left naked, powerless and wandering, never to return to Middle-earth.

Well friends, this wraps up our series on Saruman but we still have more dark villains of Middle-Earth to cover….so stay tuned.

Until next week I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell.