who is the barrow wight???? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Gwaihir the Windlord · 07-05-2003, 03:18 AM

Yes, to be dispersed and spread, so that the power of the Barrow would be scattered. (Although I think if I had found the great heap of gold lying in my path, I would probably have come back and taken most of it myself [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img])

The Barrow-Downs lay in what had been the Arnorian dominion of Cardoloan, overrun by Angmar and the corrupted hillmen that had taken over in Rhudaur -- towards the end of the Third Age's first millenium, I believe. Thus Arthedain was left as the only remnant of the Numenoreans in the North. The Downs -- either of the slain in the war, or already being a burial ground previously, contained many 'barrows' or tombs of fallen kings and lords. It is thought that, after Cardolan had come into the control of Angmar, that the Witch King sent down some sort of evil spirits to animate the bodies of the dead kinds and lord of Cardolan and to haunt the mounds they were buried in; the Wights are these. The Barrow-Wight that siezed the Hobbits and which presumably had its spirit driven out of it by Tom was this, the haunted body of some captain or baron -- perhaps evn a king -- of Cardolan or Arthedain.
The host of Earnil and Lindon passed over them, they hid, and they were left behind in the ruins of Arnor long after Angmar was defeated. No power existed to drive them out, except of course for Tom Bombadil; why he didn't is unclear, unless he simply saw no purpose in doing so (which seems to be his most common excuse for his various inactions). The Rangers were left to guard Bree and the Shire against them.

edit: Hmm I had a feeling there as if I was an old greybeard, telling a story to some assembled children... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] thoroughness I spose.

[ July 05, 2003: Message edited by: Gwaihir the Windlord ]

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07-05-2003, 03:18 AM	#14
Gwaihir the Windlord Essence of Darkness Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Evermore Posts: 1,420	Yes, to be dispersed and spread, so that the power of the Barrow would be scattered. (Although I think if I had found the great heap of gold lying in my path, I would probably have come back and taken most of it myself [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]) The Barrow-Downs lay in what had been the Arnorian dominion of Cardoloan, overrun by Angmar and the corrupted hillmen that had taken over in Rhudaur -- towards the end of the Third Age's first millenium, I believe. Thus Arthedain was left as the only remnant of the Numenoreans in the North. The Downs -- either of the slain in the war, or already being a burial ground previously, contained many 'barrows' or tombs of fallen kings and lords. It is thought that, after Cardolan had come into the control of Angmar, that the Witch King sent down some sort of evil spirits to animate the bodies of the dead kinds and lord of Cardolan and to haunt the mounds they were buried in; the Wights are these. The Barrow-Wight that siezed the Hobbits and which presumably had its spirit driven out of it by Tom was this, the haunted body of some captain or baron -- perhaps evn a king -- of Cardolan or Arthedain. The host of Earnil and Lindon passed over them, they hid, and they were left behind in the ruins of Arnor long after Angmar was defeated. No power existed to drive them out, except of course for Tom Bombadil; why he didn't is unclear, unless he simply saw no purpose in doing so (which seems to be his most common excuse for his various inactions). The Rangers were left to guard Bree and the Shire against them. edit: Hmm I had a feeling there as if I was an old greybeard, telling a story to some assembled children... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] thoroughness I spose. [ July 05, 2003: Message edited by: Gwaihir the Windlord ]