Rivendell

Rivendell, also known as Imladris, is a faction founded by Rumil on May 17th, 2020. The faction is separate from the High-Elves of Lindon. Lord KefinLOTR rules from his seat at Rivendell.

Rivendell is affiliated with the publication Rivendell Times, operated by the Woodmen Live media group.

## How to Join

### Recruiting Process

Rivendell has high standards for potential members. In order to be invited to the Rivendell Discord as a recruit, a player must complete the following:

* Reach the House of Elrond
* Reach +100 alignment with the High Elves
* Join the Official Server discord

Upon reaching these requirements, potential members will be invited to join our faction Discord server as a recruit, where further instructions on how to rank up to member can be found. Note that being accepted as a recruit does not necessarily mean you will become a member; it takes time and participation in the faction to become a full-fledged member.

Members and recruits alike are encouraged to read and adhere to the rules of the Official Server. Further information on rules and advice for members can be found in the Rivendell Discord server.

### Inactivity or Incompatibility as a Recruit or Member

If you go inactive during the recruiting stage or fail to prove yourself suitable to be part of the faction, the faction leader may choose to remove you from the faction at any point.

If you have already been promoted to member and go inactive for an extended period of time, you may also lose your role, however it is less likely once you have been accepted as a full member. Even so, members who are inactive for several months may at the faction leader's behest be demoted back to recruit, and, if inactivity continues, removed from the faction entirely. However, even if you have been kicked from the faction for inactivity, you are free to contact the faction leader in order to regain your member status, if you plan to start playing again.

Only members are allowed to receive the corresponding faction role in the Official Server Discord. The leader will request the role for each new member when he sees fit.

### Unofficial (Dual) Membership

Unofficial, or dual, membership is not strictly prohibited in Rivendell. Allowance of unofficial members is decided upon by the faction leader on a case-by-case basis. The faction leader may choose not to allow a person to join as an unofficial member for any reason, which may be disclosed to the person in question, but the faction leader may also choose not to reveal his reasoning.

As an unofficial member, you are confined to permanent recruit status, with access to a select range of channels in the Rivendell Discord. Depending on which is your main (other) faction, you may also be invited to be a member of the Imladris fellowship on the server. If not, you will be invited to the Recruits of Imladris fellowship instead, which gives you limited access to the House of Elrond.

### Leaving or Being Removed from the Faction

As previously mentioned, inactive members or recruits can be removed from the faction by the faction leader. You may also be removed for other reasons, such as behaving inappropriately towards other members of the faction, or not aligning with the faction culture.

Members may also choose to leave the faction. Leaving the faction will result in the following:

* Removal of Rivendell role in the Official Server Discord
* Removal from the Imladris fellowship and any related fellowships on the server
* Role removal or altogether expulsion from the faction's Discord server

For those select members who have been allocated a (faction-owned) homestead in the Rivendell biome, leaving or being removed from the faction also means you are compelled to return the home and any extensions or subsidiary areas of the home to the faction leadership. Once all of your items are removed from the homestead, you will lose banner access to it. You must also remove any custom waypoints set inside the homestead or nearby it. As the number of homesteads is limited, homestead occupants who go inactive for an extended period of time may also find their items moved and the home reclaimed by the faction leadership to make space for new members. Inactive members may lose access to their homestead without necessarily being removed from the faction altogether.

## Players

Current players (in no particular order)

* KefinLOTR, founding member and Second Lord of Rivendell
* Krablo
* Valyanis
* jvfs65
* TheBlueBoy42 (inactive)
* vQ6R (inactive)
* Zobair (inactive)
* Arwaeneth (inactive)
* DirtyChicken2 (inactive)
* Knaber (inactive)
* FishBiscuits420 (inactive)

Notable former players

* Rumil, First Lord and founder of Rivendell (left the faction)
* Olgierd\_ (left the faction, later quit the server)
* PizzaKingOfPizza (left the faction, later server banned)
* Lawnmower (server banned)
* Erurehto, founding member and former Noble (left the faction, later server banned)
* Aiglos\_, founding member and former Noble (server banned at his own request)
* Sartavaryon, founding member and former Noble (quit the server)
* Carnifindion, founding member and former Noble (disappeared)
* Monkeyan501, founding member (server banned)
* Morgul\_Lord, founding member (quit the server)

## Builds

Rivendell has a rigorous designing and building process. We allow only the utmost quality builds to be constructed in the name of our faction. For this reason, only builds approved by the faction leadership (official builds) may be listed below.

### Rivendell (The House of Elrond)

#### Construction and Reconstruction

The House of Elrond is built south of the waypoint. Construction of the original Rivendell started on January 28th, 2020, when 14 players aided Rumil in demolishing a mountain in the way. In the months following the construction, Rivendell was frequently used as a meeting place for players from various factions and several official and unofficial events were hosted in and around the builds. Old Rivendell was demolished by hand around the end of 2021 for a new version to take its place. Rumil was primarily responsible for the design of Old Rivendell.

After months of designing, Old Rivendell was ready to be replaced with a newer and improved version. Construction of New Rivendell began on January 10th, 2022 and was temporarily stalled after about three months due to server downtime and a lack of finished terrain. After another extensive round of designing and integrating the terrain, New Rivendell finished approximately eight months later, on September 20th, 2022. In the end, the total cost of the project including material purchases and payment for hired workers amounted to 2.6 million coins. The build was designed by Rumil and KefinLOTR, with help from Arwaeneth, Lawnmower and DirtyChicken2.

#### Build Description

The House of Elrond is a large wooden house nestled in a custom-built valley, with a large river running through it. It is open to visitors, but enemies and unannounced guests enter at their own risk. The cliffs and mountains surrounding the House have been heavily modified and within the northern set of cliffs runs a large system of caves and tunnels which can be used to access different sections of the valley. The House of Elrond contains many different rooms and halls:

* The House of Healing
* The Rivendell Library
* The Hall of Fire
* The Great Hall
* Elrond's Chambers
* The Bell Tower
* Elrond's Study
* The Meeting Hall
* The Rivendell Armoury

Aside from the listed rooms, the House of Elrond also contains several guest rooms and miscellaneous other rooms. Aside from the main house, the valley also contains stables including a stablemaster's quarters, a garden shed, a dovecote and a smithy. At the top of the southern cliffs stands the Rivendell Observatory. The Tomb of Carnifindion can also be accessed through a secret entrance hidden somewhere in the valley.

Rivendell Underground lies directly beneath the House of Elrond and contains, among other things:

* The Faction Storage
* The Treasury
* The Trader Hall
* The Rivendell Bathhouse
* The Wine Cellar
* The Lord's Storage

Aside from containing all of the main functions of the build, Rivendell Underground is entirely secure, with several entry and exit points. Parts of the Underground are still in the process of being designed and built, and are still subject to change.

The Rivendell build is extensive and, due in part to the secretive nature of the Rivendell Elves, it contains several hidden and unlisted areas in addition to the ones mentioned, some of which can be accessed if found, while some are restricted to outsiders as well as many members. Some further additions are also planned for the future.

### Fords of Bruinen

The Fords of Bruinen is a small village that stands at the crossing place into the realm of Imladris. Since its construction a few people have inhabited the build, among them PrincePorky and CombatEngi. In the current day, no elves live at the Fords of Bruinen. Designed by Sartavaryon, Carnifindion, Rumil and KefinLOTR.

### Church of Eru Ilúvatar

The Church of Eru Ilúvatar is a modestly sized religious building that reflects the humble nature of the Rivendell Elves, where Elves come from afar to pay tribute to their creator and almighty god, Eru Ilúvatar. The church is located just north of the Rivendell Fast Travel Point. Outside the church are a few graves to keep safe the remains of revered former members, as well as a great fir tree. Each Christmas, the grand tree is decorated with blocks of shining gems and gold.

### Player Homes

Aside from the builds listed above, a handful of smaller houses are scattered throughout the biome which serve as homes to members of Rivendell.

While not official faction builds, these plots are still sponsored and owned by the faction and given for free to long-time or well-established faction members for the duration of their stay in the faction, on the condition that the home remains largely unedited, and is returned to the faction leadership, should the occupant ever choose or be forced to leave the faction (or server). Homesteads are not offered to unofficial members or recruits.

In accordance with the strict build quality policy of Rivendell, any player who inhabits a homestead is required to follow a few rules and recommendations regarding these prestigious abodes. The rules for occupation and renovation of homesteads are as follows:

1. -a. You may not extend or significantly edit any above-ground buildings without approval from the faction leader, or add external buildings to go along with your homestead. -b. Basements and other subterranian areas may be built in proximity to the homestead, as long as the aforementioned additions do not break the terrain or collide with other subterranean spaces (naturally generated caves excluded). -c. If renovations, extensions or additional buildings are requested and approved by the faction leader, the design must closely follow that of the original homestead, and both the design and construction processes can and will be closely monitored by the leader to ensure that the building regulations are followed.
2. You may not plant trees on the plot of your homestead. You can plant trees if there is empty space close to the borders of your homestead, IF the trees are suitable for the biome. Party trees, mallorn trees and other very large trees such as mahogany may not be planted. Exotic trees such as banana trees, palm trees or mangrove trees may not be planted for permanent measure. Any tree can be planted if the intent is to cut it down in a short amount of time, i.e. for material collection.
3. You may construct farms adjacent to your homestead as long as the farm(s) is/are not unreasonably large or otherwise obstructive, however it is preferred any farms are constructed underground, as it is safer and does not risk ruining the look of the biome.
4. You may use your homestead as a primary or secondary base, but you are not permitted to invite other players to live in your homestead. In accordance with Rule 1a and the server rules regarding building close to waypoints, you are also not allowed to invite another player to build their home close to yours. Players outside the faction are free to build their homes outside of the 1k block radius surrounding both fast travel points in the biome, as determined by the Official Server Rules.
5. -a. Homesteads cannot be sold, given or traded between faction members, and obviously not to players outside of the faction. -b. To make it abundantly clear that each homestead is owned *by the faction* and *not* by the individual player living there, the banners protecting each homestead will always remain under the ownership of the faction leader. Only the faction leader and the player living in a homestead will be given unrestricted banner access to the area: other members of the faction will never be added to the banner without consultation with both the faction leader and the inhabitant of the homestead. As such, any items stored in a homestead are safe.
6. Walls or other defenses may not be constructed at homesteads. For safe living, a secure basement is recommended.
7. Destroying buildings, decorations or terrain that is part of the homestead without approval is strictly prohibited.
8. For information regarding reclaiming of homesteads from inactive members, see section 1.1: **Leaving or Being Removed from the Faction**.
9. These rules may be changed or new rules pertaining to the matter may be added at any point, and each person living in a homestead is required to read these and adjust accordingly.

## Diplomacy and Trade

### Diplomatic Relations

Rivendell is a Free Peoples faction, but because of the nature of Imladris as the "Hidden Valley," the faction has refrained from becoming entangled in broad alliances and wars across Middle-earth. Rivendell has no official alliances or pacts.

Trade scamming and killing as well as build killing is allowed.

## Hierarchy

Since the founding of the faction and up until shortly before the abdication of Rumil, Rivendell had been practically ruled by a council of Nobles consisting of First Lord of Rivendell Rumil, Aiglos, Erurehto, Aranosto (KefinLOTR), Sartavaryon and Carnifindion. However in the weeks and months preceding the abdication, several council members went inactive, left or got banned, resulting in the effective dissolution of the Council. Now, Rivendell is ruled by the leader alone.

By tradition Rivendell has no officially declared heir or second-in-command to assist and/or succeed the leader. Rather, a successor is chosen at the leader's discretion following their abdication. As such, the faction has no ranks aside from the ruling Lord of Rivendell.

## History

#### Timeline

Rivendell was established on May 17th 2020 by Rumil and seven other players. Previously a High-Elven city-lord of the waypoint build, Rumil declared independence and split from the Lindon Elves due to a series of grievances against their faction leadership who were led at the time by DerpyMacDerpFace.

On June 10th, 2020, Rumil hosted Rivendell's first official Mass. In attendance from the Rivendell faction were Rumil, Aiglos\_, Morgul\_Lord, and Erurehto. Also present were RaymondWang from Angmar, and Noloite from the Woodmen of Mirkwood.

Rivendell was accepted as an official faction by the admins on September 27th, 2020.

November 7th 2020: The Elves of Rivendell defeated in the Siege of Rivendell by the Golden Easterlings of Rhudel, led by RHVT.

February 3rd 2021: Mordor and Dol Guldur declared war on Rivendell and the Woodmen. Rumil quickly lead Rivendell into two disastrous defeats at Gatwald and Othrund Guldur.

On July 23rd 2021 Rumil abdicated as Lord of Rivendell in favor of KefinLOTR; Blessed be his reign.

January 6th 2022: The House of Elrond and the surrounding terrain was demolished to be replaced with a new and improved version, New Rivendell.

January 10th 2022: Construction of New Rivendell began.

March 29th 2022: Server had to close for an extended amount of time, forcing construction progress to stall for several months.

July 6th 2022: Server reopened and KefinLOTR began the final phase of designing New Rivendell, involving mostly terrain blending.

August 21st 2022: Construction of New Rivendell on the server resumed after an extended period of server downtime and offline designing.

September 20th 2022: Construction of New Rivendell completed.

June 26th 2023: *Song to Imladris* implemented as official faction anthem.

August 5th 2023: Pledging requirement removed from the list of recruit requirements.

## Faction Anthem and Other Traditions

*Song to Imladris*

*to be added*