recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Emyn Arnen

**Emyn Arnen** was a series of hills in Ithilien, located south of Osgiliath in Gondor.

## History

Old records preserved in Gondor indicate that *Arnen* was once used for the larger part of the region later known as Ithilien.

Emyn Arnen was home to a family of Númenórean nobles, and from them came Húrin, chosen by King Minardil of Gondor to be his Steward. Later, Kings of Gondor only chose their stewards from among Húrin's descendants, and eventually the Stewardship of Gondor became a hereditary position with all those holding the title organizing themselves into the House of Húrin.

After the events of the War of the Ring, King Elessar granted to Faramir, son of the Steward Denethor II, the Princedom of Ithilien and the Lordship of Emyn Arnen (Faramir also maintained the Office of the Steward, even after he tried to surrender it to King Elessar). Emyn Arnen, being the ancestral home of the Stewards of Gondor, became the official home of the Steward Faramir and his descendants.
Eastemnet

The **Eastemnet** was a part of Rohan, and an area of wide, grassy plains found east of the river Entwash, between it and the Great River Anduin.

The region was bordered by the lands of Anórien in the southeast, the Emyn Muil, marked by the East Wall of Rohan, in the east, the Brown Lands and the Field of Celebrant in the north and northeast, and Westemnet in the west. The land consisted of short and tall grasslands.

## History

The region was the site of the death of Eorl the Young in a battle with the Easterlings in the Wold. In the past many herdsman and horse-lords wandered freely throughout this land in temporary tent camps, but during the War of the Ring Éomer had the population take refuge in the Eastfold from increasing Orc raids.

There were few fixed settlements here, but many of the herdsmen of the Rohirrim lived a nomadic existence on the fields of the Eastemnet, living out of temporary camps and driving their herds across the grasslands.
Council of the Sceptre

The **Council of the Sceptre** was the council of the King of Númenor.

The Council was composed various nobles and lords from all regions of Númenor. They had no powers of governance over crown save for advice. When the King proclaimed his heir, he or perhaps she would become a member of this group so that they could learn the ways of governance. The Lords of Andúnië were said to be members of the body as well.
Black Breath

The **Black Breath**, also known as the **Black Shadow**, was a serious and often fatal condition, resulting from contact with a Nazgûl.

Rather than actually being the breath of the unseen wraiths, it was more of a produced aura, meant to incapacitate foes. This power was used extensively in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, though not during their confrontations with Frodo and his companions in Eriador.

## Effects and treatment

In a mild form, the Black Breath could cause a brief period of unconsciousness, accompanied by bad dreams, and a state of agitation upon being woken.

## History

In the evening of 29 September T.A. 3018, Meriadoc Brandybuck left the Prancing Pony and went for a stroll in Bree. He saw and followed (or was drawn by) a dark shadow, but then fell unconscious. Strider stated that Merry had been overcome by the Black Breath.

In the last retreat before the city of Minas Tirith was besieged, on 13 March 3019, Faramir was struck by a dart shot by one of the Haradrim, which rendered him unconscious. After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, on 15 March 3019, Aragorn came to the Houses of Healing and recognized that Faramir was suffering from the Black Breath. Aragorn used *athelas* to cure Faramir, which led to the rapidly spread news that the King had returned.

Earlier, it appears that both Merry and Éowyn were exposed to the Black Breath when they fought the Witch-king. Aragorn, after treating Faramir, also aided these two with *athelas*.
Fire-drakes

**Fire-drakes** (in Quenya **Urulóki**) was one term used for fire-breathing **dragons** in J.R.R. Tolkien's writings. They may have been a sub-species.

## History

### First Age

Glaurung and Ancalagon were fire-drakes, and were among the most famous of the breed. Glaurung was a key player in the sacking of Nargothrond and in the fulfillment of Morgoth's curse on the children of Húrin. He was a fearsome bane to the Elves. Ancalagon and his armada of winged fire-drakes by themselves drove back the Host of the Valar during the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age, such was their incredible power.

Fire-drakes also joined the Balrogs in the attack on Gondolin.

### Second and Third Ages

All but two of (winged) fire-drakes were thought to have been slain during the War of Wrath, and the surviving drakes eventually started to multiply in the far north. During the Second Age, they still posed threats to Men, and Sauron at one point summoned all of Morgoth's remaining forces, but the presence of dragons were not mentioned in the War of the Last Alliance. In TA 2770, Smaug came down from the North and sacked the Lonely Mountain. Later, in TA 2941, Thrór's grandson Thorin Oakenshield returned with a small group to reclaim his grandfather's kingdom, unleashing a chain of events that led to the death of Smaug when he attacked nearby Lake-town and was slain by the Black Arrow shot by Bard the Bowman.

According to Gandalf, there were still dragons shortly prior to the War of the Ring, though they were said to be lesser in nature.

## Description

Fire-drakes often grew to immense sizes, and breathed destructive flames and vapours from their mouths and nostrils. The fire from one of these dragons was so intense that it was said to be able to consume and melt the Rings of Power (as became the case with some of the Dwarven Rings), with the exception of the One Ring. The fire also emitted extreme heats from their bodies, enabling them to dry up a river and potentially melt their passage through snow.

Most of the famous dragons throughout the ages were fire-drakes, although only some of them fought for Morgoth.

Tolkien confirmed in a letter that Smaug was the last of his kind, the last of the "great" fire-drakes of Middle-earth. Dragons of lesser stature, such as smaller kin of Cold-drakes and fire-drakes lived on. This was also mentioned by Gandalf.

Thranduil had claimed to face a "fire drake of the North", and presumably suffered damages caused by dragon's fire. It is unknown whether this dragon was in the First Age, or those in the Grey Mountains in later days including Scatha, but seemingly in the Third Age after Smaug's attack on the Lonely Mountain.
Caradhras

**Caradhras**, also called the **Redhorn** and **Barazinbar**, was one of the mightiest peaks in the Misty Mountains. A pass crossed over it and was the most southerly point at which the Misty Mountains could be crossed.

## Description

Caradhras was one of the Mountains of Moria, the three mountains under which the great Dwarf city of Khazad-dûm was built. It was also the only site in Middle-earth where Mithril could be mined. But mining ever deeper into the roots of the mountain in search of Mithril, the Dwarf miners unwittingly awakened the Balrog of Moria.

Caradhras was called *the Cruel* by the Dwarves and had long had a bad reputation. The Redhorn Pass (also called the *Redhorn Gate*) was known to be treacherous and was used by Hobbits migrating from the Gladden Fields into Eriador.

## History

### Third Age

In TA 2509, Celebrían, the wife of Elrond, passed through Redhorn Pass and was captured by Orcs.

After the fall of Khazad-dûm, this pass was predominantly used by Elves travelling between Lorien and Eriador.

During the Quest of the Ring, the Fellowship is trying to cross Caradhras in a blizzard, Saruman utters enchantments in Quenya from the top of Orthanc in Isengard to prevent them from crossing the mountain by causing massive boulders to plummet down from the mountain and lightning to strike the mountain, sending a mass of snow cascading down and burying the Fellowship. This differs from the book, in which it is suggested that an ancient evil born from the mountain itself was sending the foul weather to hinder the group's passage; or that it could have been the work of Sauron, from afar. Gandalf himself responds to Gimli's questioning of Sauron's reach, to which Gandalf says, "It has grown long."
Belegaer

**Belegaer**, the **Great Sea**, the **Sundering Seas**, or the **Western Sea**, was the sea of Arda that was west of Middle-earth.

## History

Before the Second Age, Belegaer stretched from the Gap of Ilmen in the far north, where a bridge made of ice known as the Helcaraxë connected Middle-earth and Aman, to the far south, where it also connected with Ilmen and froze, although no strait was formed there. Belegaer was narrower in the north than in the south, with its widest part near the equator of Arda.

The full extent of Belegaer after the Downfall of Númenor is never made clear, but it reached far enough to the north to be ice-covered, and far to the south.

Before the end of the Second Age, the continent of Aman, home of the Valar, formed the western edge of Belegaer. Before the ruin of Beleriand at the end of the First Age, the sea was narrow and ice-filled in the north, forming the strait of Helcaraxë, the Grinding Ice. It was thus possible to cross from Aman to Middle-earth on foot, though with difficulty, as did Fingolfin and his people of the Noldor when fleeing Valinor.

After the War of Wrath, Belegaer was widened by the drowning of a large part of Middle-earth, (and possibly parts of Aman). The bridge of ice in the north was removed, removing land access to the western continent. During the Akallabêth in the Second Age, the seas were bent and the world was made round. Aman was removed from the world, Belegaer washed "new lands", and only the chosen could find the Straight Road to Valinor. The new western end of Belegaer is never described in the narrative, although there are indications that Númenórean refugees reached them in search for Valinor.
Dorwinion

**Dorwinion**, also known as **Dor-Winion**, was a land in the vales of the Celduin, northwest of the Sea of Rhûn, that was famous for its great gardens and as the home of the finest wines in all of Middle-earth.

## Description and inhabitants

Its fertile climate, temperate latitude, and close proximity to the Sea of Rhûn made Dorwinion an ideal location for an agrarian society. Its people were descendants of the Edain, and they had close ties to the Northmen of Dale in genealogy as well as Avari elves.

## History

Dorwinion was known quite well for its high-quality and widely enjoyed wines that they were imported even by the Elves of the Halls of Thranduil in Mirkwood, the Men of Dale and Lake-town, and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain and of the Iron Hills.
Bandobras Took

**Bandobras Took**, more commonly known as **Bullroarer**, was a Hobbit of the Shire and the hero of the Battle of Greenfields.

## Biography

Bandobras Took was the second son of Thain Isumbras III, and the great-great-grand-uncle of Bilbo Baggins. He was born in TA 2704. Bandobras was noteworthy among Hobbits for his exceptionally large stature, being four feet, five inches tall and able to ride a horse. He was the tallest Hobbit on record until the Ent-draughts taken by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took made them the tallest Hobbits in the history of the Shire.

Bandobras also gained fame for leading the Hobbits at the Battle of Greenfields in TA 2747 when goblins from Mount Gram in the Misty Mountains invaded the Northfarthing. Bandobras, it was said, charged the goblins' ranks with a wooden club, and knocked the goblin chieftain Golfimbul's head clean off, sending it sailing a hundred yards through the air and down a rabbit-hole, thus winning the battle and inventing the game of *Golf* at the same time.

From Bandobras were descended the North-tooks of Long Cleeve, where Peregrin Took's wife Diamond hailed from. He died in the year TA 2806.

Bilbo Baggins has a portrait of him in Bag End. Gandalf speaks briefly about him and how he invented golf, though it is implied that some historical embellishment may be at work.
Erech

**Erech** was a hill in Gondor situated at the mouth of the Blackroot Vale, far to the west of Minas Tirith. It lay near to the southern entrance to the Paths of the Dead. Upon the summit stood a smooth black globe, the **Stone of Erech**.

## History

In the Second Age, Isildur brought with him the stone as a symbol of his lineage. The Stone of Erech was a great black stone, spherical in shape and roughly six feet in diameter. He set it upon the hill of Erech and made the local hill tribes swear an oath of loyalty on the stone. It was there that the King of the Dead swore allegiance to Isildur's cause at the time of the Last Alliance. Because he failed to fulfil his oath, the Oathbreakers haunted the hills until they made good their promise.

The Stone became a mysterious and eerie place, shunned by the people of the valley, who claimed it had fallen from the sky, and was haunted by restless spirits. The area was completely abandoned by the end of the Third Age. During the time of King Arvedui of Arthedain, a prophecy was made regarding the arising of the dead during the War of the Ring.

When the Grey Company came to Rohan, the sons of Elrond brought with them a reminder of these words from their father to Aragorn, who acted upon these words to brave the Paths of the Dead.

After waiting through the long years of the Third Age, at midnight on 8 March T.A. 3019, the heir of Isildur, Aragorn, came to Erech to hold the Dead to their oath again, promising that upon its fulfillment they would have peace. The next day they left Erech for Calembel. Indeed, on 13 March, they held true to their oath and formed the Host of the Dead to help Aragorn defeat the Corsairs of Umbar at Pelargir. After the battle at Pelargir, Aragorn released them from their oath and they were allowed to rest.
Eastfarthing

The **Eastfarthing** was a region of the Shire on the borders of Buckland, containing the towns Frogmorton, Brokenborings, and Whitfurrows and the farms of the Marish. Originally, the Eastfarthing was under the control of the Oldbuck family. Even after these became the Brandybucks, the farmers of the Marish followed the Brandybucks rather than the Thain and Mayor.

## Areas

The Yale was the name of the low-lying lands here that lay along the northern side of the long road from Stock westwards to Tuckborough. This seems to have been a sparsely populated area, and in fact the map of the Shire in *The Lord of the Rings* marks only a single building here. The meaning of the Yale's name is obscure. The well-known English personal and placename "Yale" has its origins in a Welsh expression meaning "fertile upland." Its use may suggest that the Hobbits who named it had contacts with "strange" languages, possibly those of Dunland.

The Marish was the fertile, boggy farmlands in the Eastfarthing where the Oldbuck family is believed to have lived before Gorhendad Oldbuck removed the family across the Brandywine to Buckland and changed their name.
Eothain

**Éothain** was a young Rohirrim during the War of the Ring.

## Biography

Éothain and his sister are sent on a horse by their mother Morwen to alert Théoden that the Wild Men have begun attacking and burning the settlements of Rohan. Éothain and Freda arrive shortly after Théodred's funeral, and Éothain was seen fainting, falling from the horse. The siblings are kept in Edoras until they arrive at Helm's Deep shortly after the Warg attack and are reunited with their mother.
Death Down

The **Death Down** was a mass grave about a mile below Helm's Dike in the Deeping Coomb.

## History

The Death Down was where Men believe that the Huorns buried the Orcs that took part in the Battle of the Hornburg. As the grass that was there was trampled down and scored during the battle by the Huorns, a large mound of stones stood there ever after.
Black Arrow

The **Black Arrow** was an heirloom of the house of Girion, Lord of Dale, passed down to Bard, his descendant.

## History

The Black Arrow was Bard the Bowman's last remaining arrow when Smaug attacked Lake-town and, directed by a Thrush who had overheard a conversation between Bilbo Baggins and Smaug, he shot it with remarkable speed into the dragon's only weak spot; a small chink in the scales upon its left chest. Smaug was felled by the shot, and the Lonely Mountain, Dale, and Lake-town were freed. The Black Arrow was forged by Thrór, who was the King under the Mountain before its fall, according to *The Hobbit*. It is not known if it had any magical properties, but Bard said that he had successfully retrieved it every time he used it (like Beleg's arrow Dailir). The Black Arrow is not a single regular-sized arrow, but rather one in a series of large metal quarrels, designed to be fired by a "Wind lance" ballista for attacking dragons. The arrows themselves are roughly two metres in length with heavy twisted steel heads, combining elements of both spears and harpoons. The Black Arrows are the only known weapons with enough power to pierce the armored hide of dragons.

All but one of the Black Arrows are spent on Smaug as Girion, Lord of Dale attempted to shoot him down in defence of the city. One of his shots managed to break off an armoured scale protecting the left side of the dragon’s chest. However, Girion was himself killed by Smaug before taking a final shot. It is later revealed that the last Black Arrow was kept as an heirloom by Girion's descendants.

After Thorin and Company accidentally release Smaug upon Lake-town, Bard the Bowman, a direct descendent of Girion, retrieves the arrow from his home and attempts to reach Lake-town’s windlance ballista, intent on slaying Smaug.  However he was arrested by the corrupt Master of Lake-town  before reaching the weapon, prompting his son Bain to instead hide the arrow in a boat, narrowly avoiding it being seized by the Master’s guards.

Bain retrieves the arrow in the midst of Smaug’s assault upon Lake-town, bringing it to Bard whilst he is attempting to shoot down the dragon with regular arrows fired from a longbow.  During this exchange, Smaug attacks the belltower they are standing on, shattering the limbs of Bard’s bow. Improvising, Bard attaches his bowstring to the ruined tower’s posts and, using his son as a stand, fires the arrow into the weak spot on the dragon’s chest, puncturing his exposed skin and piercing his heart. Enraged, Smaug soars into the sky before succumbing to the arrow’s wound, his corpse falling onto the town’s burning ruins, crushing the Master and sinking his boat.
Deeping Wall

The **Deeping Wall** was the solid stone wall, some twenty feet in height and thick enough that four men could walk abreast along the top, that defended the refuges of the Rohirrim at Helm's Deep. It lay beneath the castle of the Hornburg, to which it was connected by a flight of steps. In the Battle of the Hornburg (on 3 March, T.A. 3019) it was breached for the only time in its history by a besieging army of Orcs and Dunlendings, but they were soon driven back and defeated.
Boromir

**Boromir** was a valiant warrior of Gondor for his prowess in combat and skill on the battlefield. He was the eldest son of Denethor II, who was Steward of Gondor during the War of the Ring, and his wife Finduilas. Even the people of Rohan admired him, particularly Éomer. He was the older brother of Faramir.

## Biography

### Before the War of the Ring

Boromir was born in the year TA 2978. He was the eldest child of Denethor II, the last Ruling Steward of Gondor and his wife Finduilas, and would have succeeded as Steward after Denethor's death, had he lived. When Boromir was only ten years old, his mother died. Consequently, his father became grim and came to prefer Boromir over his brother, Faramir. Despite this fact, Boromir looked after his younger brother and they became very close. Boromir devoted himself to leading his people and fought in the battle for the eastern part of Osgiliath in TA 3018. He, his brother, and two others were the only survivors of the unit that held the bridge until its destruction; they had to swim the river Anduin to reach safety.

### War of the Ring

Following the battle Boromir set out from Minas Tirith to Rivendell to decipher a riddle.

He first appears at the Council of Elrond, where he suggests that Gondor use the One Ring as a weapon against Sauron. Although he squabbles with Aragorn over the kingship of Gondor, he joins the Fellowship of the Ring when it assembles. As the Fellowship travels toward Lórien, Boromir proves his worth as a fighter but continues to be tempted by the Ring. When the group arrives at Caras Galadhon, Galadriel speaks to him telepathically of the fall of Gondor. At the end of the first film, Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo as Saruman's Uruk-hai attack the Fellowship. Frodo escapes by using the Ring, and Boromir dies defending Merry and Pippin from the orcs. As he passes, he apologizes to Aragorn and acknowledges Aragorn's birthright to the throne of men. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli then lay his body in a rowboat that floats down the Anduin.
Captain of the King's Ships

The **Captain of the King's Ships** was a title given to the chief captain of Númenor's navies.

The title was especially associated with the great navigator Vëantur, who was the first Númenórean to make the sea voyage back to Middle-earth in his flagship Entulessë. The importance of Vëantur’s office is made clear by the fact that his daughter Almarian was taken in marriage by the King’s Heir Tar-Meneldur, and so went on to become a Queen of Númenor. Meneldur and Almarian had a son, Aldarion, who inherited his grandfather’s love of the sea. Aldarion became known as the Great Captain, and founded the Guild of Venturers in Númenor.
Fall of Gondolin

The **Fall of Gondolin** was the battle between the forces of Gondolin under King Turgon and Morgoth, after Maeglin had betrayed the city's hidden location to the enemy. This battle took the lives of most of the Gondolindrim, and of Turgon and his captains. However, some few managed to escape the through a secret passage, notably Tuor, Idril, and their son Eärendil.

## History

### Prelude

Gondolin had long been a hidden city, heavily fortified and cut off from the Noldor's allies and enemies alike. The Elf Maeglin, a lord of Gondolin, resented both Turgon and Tuor, primarily because of the latter's marriage to Idril, whom he desired as a lover. Once, he was far away from Gondolin, searching for ore in the mountains. Orcs captured him, and he pleaded with and bribed them to bring him to Morgoth rather than kill or torture him. Morgoth recognized Maeglin, and told him he would make him ruler of Gondolin and husband of Idril if he betrayed the Noldor and gave Morgoth information on how to gain access to the city. Maeglin agreed to the treachery, and was given a token by Morgoth that would supposedly protect his life during the assault. Maeglin returned to the city and spoke nothing of his capture. However, Idril foreshadowed the dangers to come, so she began working on a hidden passage deep beneath Gondolin that would later act as an escape route.

### Battle

On Midsummer of F.A. 510, the Gondolindrim were celebrating the festival of the Gates of Summer. As they gathered in the night to observe the sunrise over the mountains, a light was seen in the North instead of the East: the armies of Morgoth were coming and nothing could stop them until they reached the walls of the city. Balrogs, Orcs, wolves and dragons surrounded the city, and a siege began.

During the havoc of the battle, Maeglin went to Tuor's home on the southern wall and attempted to assassinate Eärendil, but was caught by Tuor before he could do so. There Maeglin was struck down and fell from the wall to his death below, fulfilling the curse of his father Eöl. Then Tuor and Idril gathered as much Gondolindrim they could and led them to the secret way. The Exiles of Gondolin could cross Tumladen not being noticed, as the fountains and burnings of the city had covered the plain with fume and mists.

Although Morgoth was ignorant of their escape, the survivors found an ambush of Orcs while crossing the Cirith Thoronath, and a Balrog was with them. The Eagles protected the refugees against the Orcs, but Glorfindel fought the Balrog alone. He slew the beast and both fell into the abyss.

### Aftermath

Though Morgoth's marshal Gothmog had fallen in the battle, he had conquered the greatest and last city of the Noldor and had almost entirely wiped out their people. In the north, Morgoth's victory was complete. However, this would later be his doom, for years after the siege, Eärendil, a survivor, sailed to Valinor where he requested their aid in defeating Morgoth. This would lead to the War of Wrath, after which Morgoth was cast into the Void.
Bilbo's Contract

**Bilbo's Contract** was a legal document manufactured by Thorin and Company for the employment of Bilbo Baggins as their Burglar, to help facilitate the retrieval of the Arkenstone. It was signed by Thorin, witnessed by Balin and eventually signed by Bilbo himself.

## History

### *The Hobbit (film trilogy)*

#### *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey*

Bilbo is handed the contract by Thorin. He is distressed at the mention of "funeral arrangements" and waiver of liability regarding "incineration", and faints. He later sees it resting on his desk in the morning, where he signs it and runs out his door, showing it to Balin.

### *The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies*

Bilbotakes the Arkenstone as his fourteenth share. He re-quotes this to Thorin, which infuriates his former friend.

Later, upon his return home where he finds his belonging ransacked in a public auction, he offers the contract to Tosser Grubb as proof that he is indeed Bilbo Baggins, clearly uncomfortable with the "Burglar" moniker. Mr. Grubb asks about the person to whom Bilbo, per the contract, pledged his services to. Bilbo says he was his friend.
Daggers of Westernesse

The **Daggers of Westernesse** were weapons brought out of the mound in which Frodo Baggins and his friends had been imprisoned. Each dagger had a long, leaf-shaped blade, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. They had black sheaths of an unknown metal, light and strong, adorned with fiery stones. Despite their great age they were sharp and unrusted by time.

## History

The daggers were created by the Dúnedain of Cardolan during their war against the Witch-king of Angmar. They were made for fighting forces sent from Angmar. After the fall of Cardolan, at least four of these daggers ended up in the tomb of the last prince of that realm who fell in T.A. 1409.

On 28 September 3018 Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin became lost in the Barrow-downs and were captured by one of the wights and imprisoned in the tomb. Frodo was able to call Tom Bombadil to their aid, and he opened the tomb and drove the wight away. Tom gave each of them a dagger from the tomb and told them their history.

Frodo's dagger was broken by the Witch King at the Ford of Bruinen.

Merry laid his sword in the lap of King Théoden on 6 March 3019 offering service to him. The king gladly made Merry an esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld.

When Pippin came before Denethor in Minas Tirith on 9 March he offered his sword to the Steward in token of service. Denethor smiled at first but was impressed by the dagger, recognizing it as coming from his own kindred in the North.

On 15 March during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Merry stabbed the Witch-king in the back of the knee with his dagger, which enabled Éowyn to thrust her sword into his face. The dagger that Merry stabbed into the Witch-king had a power beyond mere metal, for it broke the spell that held the spirit's body together. However, after Merry's blow the blade of the dagger writhed and withered, vanishing like a dry branch in a fire. Thus while the blade was created centuries before to battle against the forces of Angmar, it contributed to the demise of the Witch-king.
Changing of the World

The **Changing of the World** was the event in which Arda was transformed from a flat world into a round planet. It occurred in S.A. 3319 when Eru destroyed the island of Númenor due to the deeds of its people.

## History

When the Númenórean King Ar-Pharazôn attacked Valinor, the Valar relinquished their dominion over Arda and called upon Eru for help. Eru responded by creating an enormous rift between Númenor and the Blessed Realm, into which Ar-Pharazôn's fleet and, ultimately, his land were swept. Meanwhile, the flat world bent back upon itself and met at this rift. The final result was a round planet of which Aman and Tol Eressëa were no longer a physical part. After the Changing of the World, only the Elves could find the Straight Way and reach the ancient West by ship.
Eastfold

The **Eastfold** was a region of Rohan which bordered with the Westfold via the Snowbourn River on the west and bordered with Anórien in Gondor to the east.

The areas of the Eastfold that were not within the White Mountains were tall grasslands and had a modest climate. The main parts of this land was the historic region of the Folde which hosted the Rohan's originally capital of Aldburg was part of this land, as with the Irensaga, Dwinorberg, and Dunharrow. The Great West Road that ran from Isengard through Gondor and then into Harad passed through the Eastfold.

Hirgon, an Errand-rider of Gondor, braved his way through the Eastfold to bring the Red Arrow to Théoden at his camp.
First Age 2

**First Age 2** (abbreviated to **F.A. 2**) is the 2nd year of the Sun of the First Age of Middle-earth.

Notable events in this year include:

* The Host of Fingolfin descends from Dor Daedeloth and camps beside Lake Mithrim. The House of Fëanor camp on the other side of the lake.
* Morgoth issues dark poisonous vapours from the pits of Angband which darken the sky.
Eldarion

**Eldarion** is the future son of Queen Arwen and King Aragorn, grandson of Lord Elrond, Celebrian, Arathorn II, and Gilraen, great-grandson of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, nephew of Elrohir and Elladon and an older brother to many unnamed sisters.

## Biography

### Before birth

Lady Arwen rides to the harbor to leave for the Grey Havens. She then stops when she sees a boy run past her and see that he runs into the arms of Aragorn. The child looks at his mother who sees he has an Evenstar on, marking that he is her child. This motivates Arwen to abandon the journey and go back to Rivendell to ensure the future she saw to come to pass.

### Becoming King

After the death of Aragorn, Eldarion became the Second King of the United Kingdom and had several sisters. It is unknown if he went to the Grey Havens or not.
Ettenmoors

The **Ettenmoors** or **Troll-fells** are a region in Eriador, to the North of Rivendell, which was infested by Mountain Trolls. The Witch-king of Angmar appearantly used Trolls from this region against Arnor, but after his defeat, the Trolls remained in the hills, and kept in check by the Dúnedain Rangers, descendants of the Northern Kingdom.

The land was wild, and many evil creatures dwelt there.

Only the rising evil of the Necromancer spurred some Trolls - specifically, Tom, William and Bert - to venture south and invade the farms near the Great East Road. The woods in which they settled (and were later turned to stone) was recalled Trollshaws.

## History

The Ettenmoors had been a peaceful part of the Dúnedain kingdom of Arnor until the middle of the Third Age when, during the Angmar War, the breakaway kingdom of Rhudaur became a vassal of the Witch-king of Angmar. After the war, the Witch-king fled to the Ettenmoors after his defeat at the Battle of Fornost. At that time the Ettenmoors were mainly ruled by Hill-men and Orcs, and was infested with trolls.

The land has three keeps (Lugazag, Tirith Rhaw and Tol Ascarnen), Isendeep Mine and Grimwood Lumber Camp that can be controlled by either the forces of Angmar or the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.
Cracks of Doom

The **Cracks of Doom** was the name given to the volcanic fissure in Mount Doom, where Frodo Baggins had to throw the One Ring into to be destroyed. It was the only place in Middle-earth where the One Ring could be destroyed.

## History

Elrond leads Isildur to the Cracks of Doom to destroy the One Ring immediately after it is cut from Sauron's hand, but Isildur refuses and takes the Ring for himself. It appears as a doorway with a long bridge that ends with a narrow cliff, to where the lava falls.

This place is described in *The Return of the King* as a great fissure boring a large tunnel down into Mount Doom. From the Cracks of Doom, a red light, presumably from lava, was emitted. The red glow was the only light in the cavern, as even the Phial of Galadriel was dimmed by the power of Sauron in the heart of his realm. There was a road leading from Barad-dûr to the Cracks of Doom.

Frodo claimed the One Ring here; he and Gollum fought over it. Gollum subsequently fell into the Cracks itself with the Ring, thus completing the Quest of the Ring.
Black Speech

**Black Speech** is the language of Mordor. It is spoken by Sauron, and his creatures of the dark. It is also used as an inscription on the One Ring.

## History

### Before the Wars of Middle-earth

Sauron created the dark and twisted language.

### Quest of Erebor

Sauron and Azog both spoke in this dark language when they were discussing Battle plans and what to do with the Dwarves.

Whenever someone used the One Ring, they could understand Black Speech.

### Council of Elrond

Gandalf speaks it briefly when Boromir was about to grab for it, Elrond and the Council are shaken. The Elven Lord on knew that tongue had never been spoken in Rivendell. However, Gandalf instead responded that the foul language spreads through every corner of the West and that Ring is all but evil and that Sauron's influences are around every corner in Middle-earth.
Archer

An **archer** is someone whose primary weapon in battle is the bow and arrow. There are many different archers in *The Lord of the Rings* and the other books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

## In Middle-earth

### Dwarves

Some of Thorin's company used bows to hunt with in *The Hobbit.*

### Elves

The Elven archers from Lórien used large bows of Mallorn wood strung with elf-hair. Their arrows were almost four feet long and usually made of ash with a tip made of gold and shaped like a Mallorn leaf. They used a spiral method of fletching (attaching feathers to the arrow shaft), thus making their arrows more accurate, up to a quarter mile.

Legolas was the most renowned archer throughout the Third Age. Earlier in his journey with the Fellowship of the Ring, he used a bow from Mirkwood, and it was later replaced by the bow of the Galadhrim Lady Galadriel gave him.

### Númenor

The Númenóreans used bows made of steel with steel tipped arrows an Ell long. These bows were unmatched in range and were greatly feared by the enemies of the Númenóreans. These bows continued to be used for a time in the Realms in Exile but few if any survived to the end of the Third Age.

### Gondor

Gondor's army contained units of archers famed for their skill with longbows. The fief of Morthond contributed solely archers to the aid of Minas Tirith in the War of the Ring.

### Rangers of Ithilien

The Rangers of Ithilien were primarily archers. They used a simple longbow, with green fletching on their arrows.

### Rohirrim

Rohan included archers in its Éoreds, likely trained to fire from the saddle as the Rohirrim usually fought on horseback.

### Haradrim and Easterlings

The Haradrim (Southrons) were also skilled archers, along with their allies the Easterlings. The Haradrim were masters of archery and had expert snipers positioned on the feared Mumakil.

### Orcs

Orcs and Goblins were often seen carrying bows. Their bows can range from being as tall as an Uruk to relatively short. Though not nearly as skilled as the elves or rangers, these archers could certainly be deadly. Orc arrows were usually tipped with poison or barbed, so even a glancing hit could be fatal.

### Hobbits

The Hobbits were not a warring people, but were very skilled at archery. During the reign of the last King of Arthedain the Hobbits sent a force of archers to defend Fornost and another company to fight in the Battle of Fornost a year later. Hobbit archers were also responsible for the death of Grima Wormtongue.﻿

## Most notable archers

* Beleg
* Legolas
* Bard
Fourth Age 27

**Fourth Age 27** (abbreviated to **Fo.A. 27** or **F.O. 27**) is the 27th year of the Sun of the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. Unless otherwise stated, Tolkien Gateway follows Shire usage in Appendix B for reckoning Fourth Age years: Fourth Age 27 was also known as **S.R. 1448** in Shire-reckoning.

Notable events in this year include:

## Mid-year's Day

* Samwise Gamgee is elected Mayor of Michel Delving for the fourth time.
Dain's Halls

In the Third Age, the **halls** of the Dwarf-king Dáin I formed the capital of the Grey Mountains.

## History

The halls of Dáin were likely founded by the first exiled dwarves from Khazad-dûm who had fled because of the Balrog. However because there is no information on the halls, it can only be assumed that it was the capital of Durin's Folk at the time.

In TA 2589, Dáin was killed by a great Cold-drake along with his son Frór at the entrance to the city. A year later, most of Durin's Folk abandoned the mountains, leaving for Erebor and the Iron Hills.
Eucatastrophe

**Eucatastrophe** is a neologism coined by Tolkien from Greek *ευ-* "good" and *καταστροφή* "sudden turn".

In essence, a eucatastrohpe is a massive turn in fortune from a seemingly unconquerable situation to an unforseen victory, usually brought by grace rather than heroic effort. Such a turn is catastrophic in the sense of its breadth and surprise and positive in that a great evil or misfortune is averted.

Tolkien himself made use of the trope of eucatastrophe several times in his own writings. The most famous usage is the final destruction of the One Ring within Mount Doom. Frodo was unable to destroy the Ring by his own strength. The Ring is destroyed by the intervention of Ilúvatar after it is taken from Frodo by Gollum, who Frodo himself spared earlier in the story. Had Gollum not been there, the Ring may only have been destroyed by Frodo casting himself into the fire, if it was destroyed at all.

The other famous example of a eucatastrophe is the War of Wrath fought on behalf of the Eldar at the end of the First Age. Eärendil was able to reach Valinor and persuade the Valar to go to war against Morgoth for the sake of Elves and Men. Without the intervention of the Valar, Morgoth would never have been defeated by any mortal strength.
Battle of Dale

The **Battle of Dale** was a battle fought between the Kingdom of Dale allied with the Dwarves of Erebor and the Iron Hills, against the Easterlings of Rhûn in the valley of Dale during the War of the Ring in the late Third Age, and was the decisive battle in the Northern Theater of the War of the Ring. The Easterlings were initially very successful, driving the Dwarves and Men of Dale back and besieging them for several days, but were later routed.

## History

### Background

Prior to the events of the battle, the Nazgul had tried recruiting Dale and Erebor. However, they both refused to side with their enemies and remained Free People of Middle Earth. They even demanded to find Bilbo Baggins and the One Ring. This had worried Dáin that Bilbo was endangered and sent Glóin and his son Gimli to the Council of Elrond. Meanwhile, everyone prepared for war.

### Events

March 17, 3002, while Sauron dealt with his enemies in the west, he sent Easterlings to attack Dale, with Brand leading the people of Dale and Dáin Ironfoot was in charge of the Dwarves of the lonely Mountain. However, there were too many enemies to attack, so the Kings were forced to retreat inside the Lonely Mountain. However, after days of hiding, Dáin and Brand rallied their forces and went out to fight. However, Brand was mortally wounded and fell to the Ground. Ironfoot then died protecting his friend.

By March 25, men of Rohan and Gondor had easily defeated the main Power of Sauron, being able for it to be diverted from Lorien and Rivendell. There, Dain and Brand's sons were able to ally with each other and defeat their enemies.

### Aftermath

Dale had to be rebuilt afterwards. Thorin and Bard II were made Kings of their respected cities after the death of their fathers. They had sent ambassadors to King Elessar's coronation. The Dwarves were led south by Gimli and later lived in Aglarond.
Beorn

**Beorn** (Unknown-Before TA 3019) was a skin-changer who helped Thorin and Company and fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. He later re-founded the skin-changer line, and named them Beornings. He had a son later named Grimbeorn, starting the family all over again.

## Background

Beorn was born to unknown parents before TA 2941. He lived there peacefully until Azog had captured all skin-changers using them as slaves. Beorn eventually escaped, leaving his species endangered.

## The Hobbit (film series)

### The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Beorn is first seen by Bilbo Baggins when he was sent by the leader of his company. At first, the hobbit was terrified to be seen by Azog, but then heard a growling from the left. He saw that he wasn't the only one seeing Azog the Defiler and went to warn the others. Beorn later chased them from their hiding spot all the way to his house. Before he could furthur harm Bilbo and his friends, the dwarves pushed the door. Ori asked what that was and Gandalf answered that their host had taken bear form. IT was also revealed that Beorn was under no enchantment but his own.

However, by morning, Beorn changed and let Thorin's company sleep on. He started chopping wood before being approached by Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf (then known as Gandalf the Grey. He later lends them ponies before talking with the grey wizard, who reveals that the dead have been seen previously walking. Gandalf talks of Saruman's belief while Beorn asked what Gandalf thought. Before they could furthur speak, Beorn told them their hunters were not far behind and bid them farewell.

### The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Later, Beorn was recruited by Radagast the Brown and fought in the Battle of the Five Armies. He also showed his respects by attending Thorin's funeral. He later travelled with Bilbo and Gandalf, until they left him after winter passed.

### Later life and death

Beorn later sparked the second generation of the Skin-changers, also marrying a wife and having a son named Grimbeorn. He later died by the time of the War of the Ring, and his son in charge of the household.

## Personality

Beorn was respectful of all life forms, with the exceptions of orcs, goblins and enemies of the Free People of Middle-earth. That was also during the fact he didn't like dwarves and saved a mouse from Bofur. He used to have a farm with many animals, and refused to even kill any of them. Beorn also appeared to love and respect all of his kin before they were all killed by the Defiler. He was also soft-spoken and collected. Even though he had a grudge against Dwarves, he still assisted Thorin's company by letting them stay in his home and eventually giving them ponies to ensure their safety.

However, in bear form, Beorn was hardly ever calm and had little control of himself. According to Dori Beorn is unnatural and under some dark spell, but Gandalf says he is under no enchantment but his own.
Guldur Orcs

During the quest to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug, many Moria Orcs gathered at the Sorcery Hill within the center of the stronghold, drawn to the presence of the Necromancer (Sauron). They began to forge weapons and armor in preparation for their master's war in the east region of Rhovanion. After Gandalf was imprisoned by Sauron, the assembled force of orcs set off towards the region of Erebor, to wage war on the unsuspecting Dwarves, Elves, and Men, currently there. Like any other foul breed of orc, the orcs brought along terrible creatures of war with them. Huge and monstrous war trolls as well as flesh starved wargs joined the massive orc host.

During the Battle of Five Armies, Azog's host of 30,000 strong Guldur Orcs clashed with the allied forces in the valley of Erebor, and within the streets of the ruined city of Dale. During the day long fight, thousands were slaughtered at the hands of these orcs, the battle only being won when Thorin Oakenshield killed Azog at the precipice of Ravenhill, thus cutting off the commanding head of the orc army. The orc army was thus defeated, and lost a considerable amount of their forces; only a small number managed to escape the battle.

## Description

Much like Azog himself, these orcs were a more disciplined and dangerous breed. They were tall, long-limbed, brutal, bloodthirsty and "bred for war". The Guldur Orcs were heavier-built and larger than the orcs that took over Erebor during the War of the Ring, though their armor and weapons are similar. Most were hive-minded brutes that worked directly under the orders of the one currently in charge of their forces. When their commanding officer was killed, they would completely lose all methods of strategy and organization.
Cirith Gorgor

**Cirith Gorgor** was the point where the mountain ranges of the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath met, located towards the northwest of Mordor.

It was sealed by the Black Gate and guarded by the two Towers of the Teeth, Carchost and Narchost.

## History

The Black Gate was built by Sauron during the Second Age with the power of the One Ring to seal the pass. After his defeat, Cirith Gorgor was part of a series of fortifications and towers that Gondor had placed in the mountains, high points and passes, to ensure that Mordor remained desolate and uninhabited. However, Gondor fell into decline and was struck by civil war and plague, and so afterwards Cirith Gorgor was slowly retaken by Sauron and his other dark minions.

At Cirith Gorgor, Aragorn and the armies of Gondor and Rohan met with the army of Mordor in a battle just before the One Ring was destroyed. A great many lost their lives, but in the end held Sauron's gaze long enough to allow Frodo Baggins to destroy the Ring.

Cirith Gorgor was ruined by the devastation of the northwestern part of Mordor after the destruction of the Ring.
Black Serpent

The **Black Serpent** was an emblem of the Haradrim during the War of the Ring. It was seen on banners upon a scarlet background.

## History

The symbol is mentioned only once in *The Lord of the Rings*. On Théoden's arrival at the Pelennor Fields with his army of Rohirrim horsemen, a Haradrim chieftain bearing a banner with this emblem beheld him, and prepared with his own warriors to stand against Théoden's charge. He and his Haradrim were clove through, however, "like a fire bolt in the forest" by the Rohirrim, and other Haradrim fled.
Cirdan

**Cirdan** was a Telerin Elf, a great mariner and shipwright, and Lord of the Falas during much of the First Age and Lord of Lindon during the Third Age. Cirdan was the bearer of the Ring of Power, Narya and later handed it to Gandalf.

He was one of the few elf to sport facial hair, having grown a beard.

## History

During the forging of the Rings of Power, Cirdan received Narya (the Ring of Fire. )

When Gandalf first came to Middle-earth, Cirdan handed him his Ring of Power

## The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

In *The Lord of the Rings* film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, Círdan appears at the beginning of the first movie, and when the fellowship arrives in Lothlorien. He appears mostly as he is described in the book, but lacks a beard. His first appearance is during Galadriel's monologue at the start of the first movie, in a brief shot of the three Elven ringbearers.

## *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*

He appears for a second time in the scene at the end of the third movie when Frodo, Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn, Gandalf, and Bilbo board the ship at the Grey Havens. He has no speaking role.