Lond Daer
Hildigrim
Lond Daer is the oldest town that never was. It was founded at the same time as Pelegrir, during the Númenórian colonization of Middle Earth, but it never became a great city. Most of the forest of Minhiriath and Enedwaith eventually passed through the port, but none of the wealth and few of the ships that were made from that lumber stayed in Lond Daer.
It's population never exceeded a few thousand persons. The lumbermen were always away in the forest, as were the soldiers who protected them. When the lines of support grew too thin, another settlement was built at Tharbad, near the Elven city of Ost-in-Edhil. Númenórians and lesser men flocked there, where the markets were filled with the exotic crafts of the Elves and Dwarves. Before long Tharbad was several times larger than the older Lond Daer.
The mouth of the Grayflood had been intermittently inhabited by Númenórians since early in the Second Age (II 900). A permanent settlement of Vinyalondë was established in II 1200, by the explorer Aldarion (later King Tar-Anárion), who foresaw the need for an outpost and safe haven on the wild cost. His made a simple fortification and a low tower, on which could be made a fire that could be seen from the mouth of the deep bay.
Three centuries later, Tar-Minastir, finished a far more ambitious construction. He built a magnificent tower that rivaled the finest of Númenor - one that outlasted the empire by millennia. The tower was set high upon the ridge that encircled the cove at the mouth of the river Grayflood (Gwathló). Within the cove, a stone pier was built, and quays for many ships.
Throughout the reign of Tar-Ciryatan the harbor was never empty, as lumber bound for Numenor was loaded onto ship after ship. After the resources of Minhiriath and Enedwaith were exhausted, it remained a popular port of call for ships bound for Umbar. It was never captured or sacked because it was too remote to have great strategic value.
The original inhabitants of the area were called "Dunlendings" by the Númenórians, but the people were separate in tongue and history - the Gwathuirim, the "Middle-folk" of Enedwaith. The Gwathuirim were among the first of Middle-earth to be given agriculture by the Númenórians. They prospored in small villages in the clearings east of the mouth of the Grayflood. Before long, their population grew so large that many were forced to migrate northward and intermingle with the Northmen. But, a small and vigorous community remained in the lower vales of the Gwathló where it was discovered by Tar-Anárion.
The village was at the mouth of a small tributary on the south side of the Gwathló. There were two score huts scattered around shared pastures when Captain Vëantur landed his ship Entulessë at the mouth of the Gwathló. Some of the Gwathuirim lived in remote farmsteads, a few of which were on the north shore of the Gwathló, but most lived in the ancient forest near the coast.
During the later construction by Tar-Minastir and the the colonization by Tar-Ciryatan and his successors, the coastal lands of the Gwathuirim were protected, and the Gwathuirim served as workmen of the Númenórians. But the other Men of Mithlond were less fortunate. Many of them starved when their forests were cut down, and some fled eastward past the Misty Mountains. There, they came under the influence of Sauron, and served in his army during his conquest of Eregion. But most of them were forced into dangerous work in the lumber camps and mines. And, during the reign of Ar-Pharazôn, thousands were loaded into slave ships at Lond Daer and taken to Númenór.
In the middle of the Second Age (II 1695), Sauron made war on the Elves of Eregion over their Rings of Power. Eventually, he overran Eregion and Eriador and took the Elven rings. And even though the Númenórians had not aided the Elves, Sauron destroyed their fortress at Tharbad. Sauron was threatened by their expanding presence in the region. Lond Daer was too remote and too small a prize for the Dark Lord, but it played an important role during the counter-attack. At the battle of Fornost, the army of Númenor so thoroughly crushed Sauron's forces, that he never openly confronted them again.
During the BLACK YEARS that followed the departure of the army of Númenor, the men of Eriador and Eregion were tormented by the servants of Sauron. But, Lond Daer was protected by a strong force that supported the mining and logging of Eregion. Sauron despised the Númenórian presence, but he feared a direct confrontation. Eventually, he felt strong enough to contest their claim, so King Ar-Pharazôn brought a great force to Umbar, and took Sauron prisoner.
It was during the reign of Tar-Surión (II 1420) that the cult of Úlari first came to Lond Daer. They were an ancient religious order of Númenor that did not follow the teachings of the Valar, but neither were they servants of Sauron or followers of Melkor. All were members of royal houses, and many were officers in the army. At first, Tar-Surión tolerated the activities of the cult, but their teachings on "the gift of Eru" became offensive, and the Úlari were forced to depart to Lond Daer. The religious exiles from Númenor brought with them considerable resources, and they built a fortified mansion overlooking the harbor.
A few of the Úlari were forced to return to Númenor when Ar-Pharazôn assailed Valinor, but most remained safely in Lond Daer. After the downfall of Númenór, the cult took control of the tower, which had been built (II 1650) near the sect's mansion.
When word reached Lond Daer of the fate of Atlantë, few mourned. In its final days, Númeno;r had become cruel and ruthless in its dealing with the peoples of Middle Earth, and neither the greatest nor the least citizen of the remote harbor relished the actions they had been forced to take part in.
During the Third Age, the deep harbor was filled for a time by the ships of Gondor. And although the men of Lond Daer were kindred who spoke the same tongue, they were estranged from the Dúnedain by religion and customs. And, even though the great ships came less and less often, the light atop the great tower remained lit at night. And only The Wise knew the part Lond Daer played in the fall of Arnor and Gondor.
The exodous from Númenór began long before the end of the second age. Many of those who left were members of the cults of the undying, which were not tollerated by the early rulers of Númenór. Some of these cults looked for the return of Melkor, and a few practiced human sacrifice. Many more Númenórians departed than were in the nine ships of Elendil and his kin. The Elf-Friends who fled to Middle Earth before the arrival of Elendil settled chiefly in Mithlond and Pelargir, but the cult of the Úlari had taken Lond Daer. A much larger number of exiles - chiefly those who worshiped Melkor - settled in Hadar and Umbar, and in the far East.
The cults of Umbar openly worshiped Sauron as a representative of Melkor, but the Úlari did not worship any being. Rather, their rituals focused on balance between the "world unseen" and the "world seen" as the path to life unending. They sought to understand both realms and they practiced extreme acts meant achieve balance and deathlesness.
The Úlari also believed themselve to be the people "chosen" to avoid death, and they shunned intermarriage or even association with the "lesser Men." The group in Lond Daer was too small to sustain its population without intermarraige, so brides were sought among the other groups of Númenórian descent. The beliefs and practices of the Úlari were closer to those of the Umbar than any other, so the ties between Lond Daer and Umbar became strong.
The women of the Úlari lead sequestered lives and seldom appeared in public, but a few of them became influential through their children. One such woman was Míriel, the mother of Morendil. She had been brought to Lond Daer as a girl in the company of her Sister. Both had been orphaned by one the plagues that too often struck Umbar. Míriel grew to be a beautiful young woman, and when she came of age she was sought by all the elegible Men of the Úlari. But she chose aged Atanistar, whose wife had recently died.
This displeased many of the community, but little was said openly because Atanistar was the first of the order of the Úlari, and the Captain of the Guard of the Tower of Lond Daer. He was over 150 years old when they married, and he was still vigorous, but although he lived another 60 years, she bore him only one son. And that son, Morendil, inherited all of Atanistar's wealth, because Atanistar's two children by previous marraige died at sea.
Morendil was born in 1910 of the Second Age, while the colony of Úlari was still young. When his mother Míriel died in II 1989, he appeared as one of the lesser Men do at 30, and there was hope among the Úlari, that the race of undying was coming into being. Morendil was skilled in combat, as were all the Úlari, but he did not become Captain of the Tower, as his father had wanted. Rather, he devoted himself to the hunt in the wilderness of Enedwaith, where he would go alone for long periods.
One day, while traveling far to the south of Lond Daer, on the banks of the River Issen, he came upon a stranger of great comeliness. This stranger named himself Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, "for thus had the Elves known him." And, Morendil knew at once that he was in the presence of one of the undying, yet not an Elf, with whom the Úlari had no dealings.
Morendil and Annatar stayed there long, and talked of many things, and when they at last talked of the "gift of men," Annatar scoffed and said that it was a small thing to him, and that it could be overcome by any Man of great will. So, Morendil told Annatar of the Úlari and their teachings, and asked him what could be done to achieve their goal. And Annatar said that, "the many could be led to deathlesness by one among them who was undying," and that he, Morendil, could be that one.
Annatar then gave to Morendil a ring, and when Morendil put it on his hand, he saw more clearly into the hidden world than ever before. And he thought that true balance was now his. When Annatar and Morendil parted, both were glad, but especially Annatar, because he had given one of the Great Rings under his power to one of the mighty among the Númenórians. And Annatar, whom Men and Elves also called "The Abhorred," and "Sauron," gave nine of these rings to Men who were ensnared, including Morendil the Úlari. The nine became the ringwraiths, who were known as the "Úlari" because of the origin of Morendil.
Morendil became truly undying, and though he grew to despise his fate he could not change it, because the ring came to rule him and he could not take it off. At last he was called to Mordor by his master, and all at Lond Daer were relieved, because Morendil had become horrible. But from him the Úlari learned much of death and of the unseen world. After Morendil had gone, the Úlari better understood the Gift of Eru. Their lives often exceed four centuries, and they perceived the hidden world more clearly than the Elves.
But through them, Sauron achieved a great victory. When Morendil returned to Lond Daer, the Úlari were stunned by his ability to move almost fully into the world unseen. After a time they learned that the power came from his ring, and that he would share it with no one. Foremost among the Úlari, and Captain of the Tower, was Murazor, the 2nd son of King Tar-Ciryatan. Murazor greatly coveted the ring, and plotted how to make it his own. It could only be achieved, he concluded through the death of Morendil.
Murazor called Morendil to the tower one day, to discuss the future of the Úlari, he said. When he arrived, Murazor took Morendil to the highest balcony, where he pointed seaward and began a discourse on how the Úlari had come to Lond Daer. Slowly, he moved to position Morendil between the precipice and himself, and then he lunged to push Morendil to his death. But Morendil had foreseen the plan, and instead thrust his dagger into Murazor's side saying, "See now, who is first."
Murazor was not killed by the attack, but the Úlari perceived his guilt in the matter, and expelled him from Lond Daer. Murazor departed when he was able, and traveled ever eastward, seeking Annular, whom many believed to be Sauron. At last, he was taken by the Orcs before the dark throne, and Sauron smiled. It is said that when Morendil was at last called to Mordor, he was greeted by his former enemy, who had become lord of the Ringwraiths. And Murazor said to him, "See now, who is first."
Thus, two of the Ringwraiths of Sauron were taken from the Úlari.
It was because of their understanding of the hidden world - that I, Hildigrim, have had such a long-standing relationship with the Úlari of Lond Daer. I was first welcomed by Atanistar, father of Morendil, not long after the fall of Celebrimbor. I had followed the victorious army of Númenor back to their ships and marvled at the spoils they had acquired in such a short time.
The population of Lond Daer had temporarily been swelled by the army's presence, and the tiny village on the east side of the harbor was drowning among a sea of tents. People from the region had flooded into the village, selling every ware and service imaginable, and those who did not fall victim to drunken warriors departed Lond Daer rich Men, by their standards. The huge population had combined with the constant rain to turn Lond Daer into a sea of mud and filth. It was humanity at its best.
As I watched the soldiers and equipment slowly being loading onto their great ships, I noticed a man in armor watching me closely. A guard, I though, and nothing more; but when I finally moved to depart, he came to me. "I am Atanistar," he began, "first among the Úlari." "I perceive that you are neither man nor one of the deathless, may we speak?"
Before that time, no Man had discovered my true nature, so I followed him along the trail leading up out of the village toward the Mansion of the Ulari. The Wise among the Elves had never told me what they see in me, and the Valar had never seen me as a Man, so the fresh opportunity was interesting. "You appeared to me at first as a Man," Atanistar began, "but then I saw that you were neither Man nor Elf nor any living thing; and I wonder that you exist at all, for there is nothing of you in the world unseen. "
The Valar had told me that I exist only in the physical world, but his comment on not being alive was interesting. "Yes," I said, "go on."
"How is it," he began, "that you can appear to be a Man without the power of the world unseen?"
That was a novel question to which I had no answer, but before I could answer a look of terror spread across the face of Atanistar. I had seen that look many times before, on the eyes of every Man or Beast who had attacked me, and I had thought it was the realization that I could not be harmed. But, Atanistar had not attacked me.
"Look away, look away," he cried! "It is your eyes," he gasped, "do not look at me!" I was too fascinated to do anything else. Atanistar slowly turned his gaze from me, but he did not flee.
After a long time, he regained control of himself. He began in a quavering voice, "It is said that the physical world and the world unseen are one, and it is also said that together they encompass all that is." "But this is not so, you are of neither world."
"Your form comes to the world through your eyes, and behind them is only darkness, you are nothingness. You exist only in the eye of the beholder. You are not made."
He coughed as if he were going to be ill, and then shakily walked away. I pondered his statements until long after dark, and after a time I departed the fine chaos of Lond Daer for the serenity of Mithlond. Since then, I have visited Lond Daer and the Úlari many times and have never been shunned. I am sometimes used as a kind of "test" for initiates. Many have failed to realize that I am not a Man, but a few have thrown themselves from windows after perceiving my true nature. And, sometimes there are Men like Atanistar who perceive that I am not, and face away from me and talk of death and the fate of Eä.
History of Lond Daer
