Dunedain: ========= Type: ===== Racial Location: ========= Pelargir, Gondor, Middle Earth Requirements: ============= You must be human. Rules: ====== ? Joining: ======== ? Leaving: ======== ? Guild sign: =========== ? Skills: ======= ? Specials: ========= ? Titles: ======= ? Book: ===== The Dunedain are superior to other humans in body, mind and spirit. They are tall, dark-haired and grey-eyed, and are blessed with long life. All of the Dunedain possess great wisdom and foresight, and speak both Adunaic and the language of the elves. The long history of this race of men has seen it divided into two groups--those the Faithful Numenoreans who are good and true, and the Black Numenoreans of Umbar, who are corrupted and have fallen into evil. The City of Pelargir was founded by the Dunedain, and their Halls and histories are located there. The Halls of the Dunedain offer training to in many of the skills acquired throughout the history of the Numenoreans, including herbalism, spellcraft, and trading. The Dunedain are proud of their heritage, and are divided into Houses representing the family lines, and devoted to each family's unique heritage and role in history. Houses include Agarwaen, Amandil, Aranarth, Belecthor, Beor, Borlad, Hador, Haladin, Hallacar, Hurin, Thalion and Umarth. The Lord or Lady of each House is responsible for the history of each House, setting the policies therein, and verifying the claims of blood ties for those wanting to declare publically their Dunedain heritage. It is for this reason that the Dunedain have a diverse membership, including those who served to found and populate the Rangers of the Westlands and oppose the Dark Lord, and those who will accept only those who pledge loyalty to Sauron. Houses of Dunedain ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Agarwaen Amandil Aranarth Belechtor Beor Borlad Hador Haladin Hallacar Hurin Thalion Umarth Information about certain houses can be found in the following section. House of Amandil ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The House of Amandil is among the oldest surviving Houses of Dunedain. This noble House is descended from Silmarien, and before her from Elros Tar Minyatur, first King of Numenor. Amandil, direct descendent of Silmarien, was the last Lord of the Faithful in Numenor. He served as friend and advisor to the cruel and chaotic Black Numenorean King Ar-Pharazon. Ar-Pharazon captured Sauron in the year 3262 of the Second Age. The King and his court were soon corrupted by Sauron, and began to worship the darkness, even considering an attack on Valinor, the Land of the Valar. When Amandil learned about King's plot, he dared the wrath of the Valar and sailed west to Valinor to beg for mercy for his people. He also ordered his son, Elendil, to prepare a small fleet and to go to Middle Earth before Ar-Pharazon would bring doom to Andor. Amandil's fate is unknown. Elendil fled the doom of the Numenoreans with his two sons Isildur and Anarion to Middle Earth. Elendil landed in the Land of Lindon, and settled in Ithilien and Gondor, where he ruled together with his two sons. From Elendil the Kings of Arnor and Gondor are descended and for many years the people flourished and prospered, establishing the Dunedain race in the Realms in Exile. Eventually, however, the line of Kings began to wither and finally failed, so that no heir was found and the Dunedain leadership was taken over by Stewards of the House of Hurin. As the line of Amandil diminished further, the members of this House scattered across the lands to await the day when the Kings would once again arise and take leadership of the Kingdoms of the Dunedain. Although the original founders of this House were true to the Valar and followed the path of light, many years of wandering--even in lands beyond the boundaries of Middle Earth--have led some family members to live and flourish on paths other than that of the path of light. Therefore, no ties to this family will be questioned simply because one does not follow the teachings of the Valar. If you believe that you have ties to this House, send a detailed story of your life and family history to the Lady of Amandil. Do not do so unless you are familiar with the relevant literature of the House and the Proclaimation of the United Amandil. Furthermore, because Amandil stands as a united House, three members of Amandil must express to the Lady of Amandil their willingness to shed blood on your behalf. Such willingness is not a guarantee of admission, as only the leadership of Amandil has access to relevant documents to verify your claims. It is only once these preconditions are satisified that the Lady will devote her time to reviewing your petition. The Soulless and those who serve them will be denied the mantle of the Amandil name. Lords and Ladies of Amandil: As many years have passed since the noble House of Amandil was founded, the following are listed as accurately as surviving records allow, and as long as fading memories run. The leaders of Amandil are listed in reverse order, as it is the current Lady who directs the path of the House, and to whom the recognized members have sworn fealty. Anahita, Lady of Amandil | Ambrosia, Lady of the Black Flame | Zedar | Obiwan | Rangar | (Unknown) | Kammie | (Unknown) | (See history) Members of the family are encouraged to choose a role for how they serve. Family members with a granted title include: * Ambrosia, Lady of the Black Flame * Anahita, the Quickening of Amandil * Arnumor, Silver Warrior of Amandil * Greywolf, Scion of Amandil * Kahless, Dragon Guardian * Milehigh, the Skywolf * Rangar, Savant of Amandil * Tal, Weaponmaster of Amandil * Zagar, Stormrider House of Thalion (contributed by Sly) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Fate of Hurin Thalion 'Therefore with my eyes thou shalt see, and with my ears thou shalt hear.' These words, spoken by none other than Melkor, the Lord of All, the Giver of Freedom, and Master of the fates of Arda, sealed not only the fate of Hurin, but also the doom of the House of Thalion. They are the most precious and most important heirloom of the House of Thalion - its essence. Unto some, they are a curse, the ignorant deem them a blessing, our ancestor knew them to be both. This is the story of his fate. - o - Hurin, eldest son of Galdor and Hareth, was born around the year 440 in the First Age. In accordance with the custom of the Edain of the time, Hurin and his younger brother Huor were raised by their uncle Haldir, the Lord of Haladin. From an early age, the brothers took part in the misguided and unjust war on the forces of the Giver of Freedom. We were young, and unwary still of the enticements of the Valar and their elfthing slaves. It was during one of these endless skirmishes, for the Giver of Freedom sought, at first to defend himself, not to annihilate the aggressors, that Hurin and his brother Huor found themselves cut off from their main force. They were captured by a company of Orcs, and taken to Angband. Only the lies of elfthings would see Ulmo himself coming to their resuce... In his new home, Hurin soon came to realise the iniquitous lies which he and his father before him had been fed by Fingon. Hurin now resolved to indemnify his captors for the warcrimes he had committed against their people and their Lord, unto whom he was to do great service. With much cunning and guile, Hurin found his way into Gondolin, the Hidden Rock of Turgon. He spent a year in the secret city, keenly observing its strengths and weaknesses. His mission accomplished, he demanded from Turgon to be given passage out of the city. The elfthings were reluc- tant, fearing the inevitable, but Hurin brooked no denials. Thus, he was the first Man ever to have entered the secret city, and the first ever to have left it. Hurin now returned to Dor-lomin, his fathers fief which had been given as a bribe by Fingon to secure his support. Indeed, Hurin saw his father butchered by elven arrows while holding ground for Fingon, High King, at the time, of the kin-slaying kind. Fingon had received word from Turgon, and thought that Hurin would be even easier to control than his father had been, and thus saw to it that Hurin now be- came the Lord of Dor-lomin, to which he was the heir. Ig- nominous were the years which now followed, and which saw Hurin as a servant of Fingon. There is little or nothing to tell of these dark times, and I turn instead to the battle of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, in which Fingon lost his realm and his life. Hurin stood by Fingons side during the battle. It has been debated ever since, whether or not Hurin defended the elfthing against the high-captain of Angband. Did Fingon manage to turn Hurin against the protector of Men? What we do know for certain, however, is that Hurin was spared by the Lord of Balrogs, and that he was brought before Him. Regrettably, the pride which so often has been a cause for misfortune for the Numenoreans had clouded Hurins mind. He had served the elfthings too long, and was no longer content to serve for the promise of further service. He met his Lord, not in submission, but with ludicrous claims of rewards for services rendered. Indeed, he was rewarded. For the doom of darkness and sorrow which lies over the House of Thalion was set upon Hurin and Morwen, and up- on all of their descendants, and it was only now that Hurin Thalion surrendered himself completely to the Lord of All. Hurin Thalion, mightiest of the warriors of mortal Men, achieved the greatest feats of his age. It was he who ex- posed the Hidden Rock, thus causing its ruin. It was he who cast ruin before the feet of Thingol when he delivered Nau- glamir to the elfthings kingdom. It was granted to him to see through the eyes of something greater than he. This was his blessing, and this was his curse. For the day came when Hurin was no longer of use to the Master of his fate. Bereft of all purpose and of all desire, did Hurin Thalion end his life in the western sea. -o- This is your heritage, a doom that will haunt you, relent- lessly into the Darkness Everlasting.