Eldacar of Gondor

Eldacar, who lived from 1255 to 1490 in Middle Ages, was the son of King Valacar and Vidumavi, who was the daughter of King Vidugavia of Rhovanion, a Northman. He was the first Gondorian king whose lineage was not exclusively Dúnadan, and he was the twenty-first King of the Land of Stone. Being a Northman, his mother passed away at a young age, and many interpreted her death as evidence that Eldacar's blood was weak. Eldacar's father, Valacar, lived in Rhovanion with the Vidugavian people before getting married to Vidumavi. Eldacar's grandfather, King Minalcar, appointed Valacar as an ambassador. Like Minalcar, Valacar supported the Northmen and their land (called "Dor Rhúnen" in Gondor) being incorporated into the South Kingdom. Many Dunedain were disturbed by this, fearing that Gondor would weaken if it ceased to be "pure" and faithful to its Dúnadan roots. The recent collapse of Cardolan made Arnor's sundering all the more memorable, serving as a reminder to the Edain of the perils they faced.

Disgruntled seafaring residents of Lebennin and South Ithillien, some of whom were already in open rebellion over the policies of Valacar and his father Minalcar (Rómendacil II), were thrown into civil unrest when Eldacar took the throne in T.A. 1432. Tensions erupted into the bloody Kin-strife, which set the loyal Dúnedain and Northmen of Gondor's northern regions against the rebels of the South, supported by the Sea-lords of Pelargir. Eldacar's cousin Castamir, the High-captain of Pelargir, led the rebel army and assaulted Osgiliath, the capital. Following his enemies' burning of the city in T.A. 1437, which allowed Castamir to ascend to the throne of Gondor, Eldacar fled to his mother's house at Burh Widu in Rhovanion. Osgiliath was burned by the Usurper's warriors, but nobody took the diligence to save its priceless Master Palantir, the Seeing-stone. Ornendil, Eldacar's young son and heir, fled with his father and was banished to safety with his mother. In T.A. 1447, Eldacar gathered his allies from the North and marched southward out of Rhovanion. He marched toward the heart of Gondor, gathering the obedient Dúnedain of the northern territories before entering Calenardhon and then Anórien. Due to Castamir's cruel and unpopular reign and his preference for the Sea-lords of the South, a large number of warriors flocked to Eldacar's side. Castamir withdrew to Pelargir, gathering a devoted army, and encountered Eldacar at the Erui Crossing. With Eldacar's victory, the Usurper's army withdrew towards Pelargir. Following a brief, bloodless siege, the rebels who were still alive sailed down the Anduin to safety, taking the majority of the ships in the Garth. They established the Corsair state after subduing Umbar (T.A. 1448). Eldacar remained king until T.A. 1490 during his second reign. Despite his fairness and popularity, he ruled over a wounded realm. In order to make up for the losses caused by the Kin-strife, he was compelled to send a large number of Northmen south, and as his reign wore on, the makeup of Gondor's populace shifted. Castamir's own act of usurpation was largely to blame for his greatest fear, which was the widespread mixing of Dunadan and non-Dunadan blood. Even so, Ornendil, his son, would follow in his father's footsteps and serve as his Steward, leaving the Gondorian Throne to his younger brother.

## Features

At 6'5'', King Eldacar was tall. His blue eyes, straight sandy hair, and fair features hinted at his Northman ancestry, and his strong, muscular frame suggested his upbringing in a rural area. Eldacar was regarded with amazement by his subjects despite the fact that he was primarily of Dúnadan descent because he was not like any pervious King. But he never forgot to remind people that he was a Gondorian first and foremost, and he hardly ever went on a campaign without his mail armor, which was black and silver. Eldacar, in all his attire, wore a black shirt or surcoat with the South Kingdom's symbol, the White Tree, emblazoned on it. Eldacar was a boisterous and gregarious man with a cheerful manner based in Rhovanion customs. Despite the Kinstrife, he steered clear of resentment and accusations and delighted in singing, hunting, and storytelling.

## Family

Calenmîr (later Aldburg) in Calenardhon (later Rohan) was the birthplace of Eldacar's wife Armiriel. Though she was Dúnadan, it was said that she shared some Northman ancestry with her spouse. She gave birth to seven kids. Ornendil was the oldest; upon relinquishing the throne, his brother Aldamir succeeded Eldacar as heir.

## Eldacar's Principal Items

The following items were the hereditary possessions of the Kings of Gondor. All of them except the "Helm of Elendil" were lost when King Eärnur disappeared in TA. 2050.

* Crown-helm of Gondor - (Helm of Atanatar): white (mithril alloy) helmet of High Helmet design, shaped like a high, pointed dome applied with jewels.
* Helm of House Andúnië - A Númenórean war-helm of the High Helmet design, a stylized high dome with two applied wings of Sea-birds. This was the Helm of Elendil, and the original crown of Gondor.
* Mace - (Mace of Anárion): mithril-inlaid eog Holy Mace to topped with an inset aquamarine. The gem glowed upon wielder's mental command and, depending on the level of concentration, could emit a bright beam that shone afar. The mace was originally a slaying-weapon when used against Sea-drakes, Kraken, or Fell-turtles, and was used as the sceptre of Gondor.
* Shield - (Shield of Anarion): gold- and silver-inlaid black itihilnaur shield. Set atop the black metal field, the silver inlay formed the symbol of Gondor: the White Tree and the Seven Stars.

Eldacar's personal belonging that he carried from Rhovanion were as follows:

* Battle-lance - ("Vidugavia's Needle"): enchanted lance
* Great Axe - ("Castamir's Bane"): magic, gold-inlaid Battle-axe.
* Boots - ("Greenwood Boots"): Boots which, with wearer's concentration, left no bootprints. They permitted wearer to walk silently in the woods.
* Armor - ("Valacar's Mail"): magic black chain mail, with white links woven in the breast area and forming the symbol of the White Tree.