Why is northern Eriador (Lake Evendim, Fornost) deserted at the end of the 3rd Age? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Snowdog · 04-02-2007, 05:26 PM

Fornost was pretty much rubble after it was sacked by the armies of Angmar in 1974. But the thought of secret places among the ruins where the Rangers would go is indeed intriguing.

The city in the north I'm curious about is Annuminas, which was simply abandoned sometime in the first millenium of the third age. Instead of being destroyed by war, it would have merely been reclaimed by the elements.

Lord Halsar · 04-02-2007, 05:49 PM

You have a good point there. and the rangers of Eriador were clever men indeed.
if there were any hidden sanctuaries or hideouts around, they would find them.
also, if anyone would know about what was scattered and still usable out there, it would have been them.

Boo Radley · 04-02-2007, 07:08 PM

I never really thought of the area as being haunted, per se, but I felt that perhaps, due to the huge battle that had been fought there and the powers that must have been unleashed, there might be some kind of residual psychic effect, not unlike fallout.
And maybe, anyone who traveled there would have a feeling of growing disquiet or a general uneasiness as long as they stayed there.
You know... a constant need to look over your shoulder. That kind of thing.

I could be way off base on this.

CSteefel · 04-02-2007, 08:52 PM

But I am not completely clear why the Rangers would bother going up there if the place was completely deserted. I suppose they could be protecting against the possibility that Orcs and Wargs from the north would descend on the area, and then move to the south (Bree and the Shire).

But otherwise, why would the Rangers bother to visit a place that is completely deserted?? This is partly what sparked my interest in the topic...

Arathul · 04-03-2007, 01:02 AM

Annuminas were not abandoned when Angmar defeat the Dunedain like Fornost. it was abandoned before that and the king moved the capital to Fornost. I believe it was because of the increase threat from angmar. Annuminas, assumably less fortified then Fornost (it's a city, not a fortress) were exposed to an attack by Angmar forces. and so the king moved the capital to Fornost. The same thing happen in Gondor when the capital moved from Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the City over the great river were abandoned.

goldfinger · 04-03-2007, 11:47 AM

Well one reason is also that wolves from Angmar and beyond invaded Eriador during the Long Winter (I think) or the Fell Winter. Which were forever a threat in that region, and maybe also Trolls and Orcs went in to Eriador every now and then to find meat and plunder.

About the about the depopulation don't forget the Great Plague that killed hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in Arnor, Gondor, the kingdom of Rhovanion, and elswhere.

Lastly about the "haunting". I kind of figured if there was a haunting it was by Wights like in the Burrow-downs, and just the simple fact that the land had been ravaged by Angmar it would have the eerie/evil feeling about it like the Dead Marshes, the Paths of the Dead, and Moria.

Snowdog · 04-06-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arathul

Annuminas were not abandoned when Angmar defeat the Dunedain like Fornost. it was abandoned before that and the king moved the capital to Fornost. I believe it was because of the increase threat from angmar. Annuminas, assumably less fortified then Fornost (it's a city, not a fortress) were exposed to an attack by Angmar forces. and so the king moved the capital to Fornost. The same thing happen in Gondor when the capital moved from Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the City over the great river were abandoned.

Yer right. Thats why I said it was simply abandoned sometime in the first milenium of the third age. Exactly when it was abandoned is open to speculation but by the time if the split in the kingdom of Arnor in Third Age 861, it had been completely abandoned. Elrond mentions the city at the Council of Elrond, saying only that

Quote:

'...after the war and slaughter of the Gladden Fields the Men of Westernesse were diminished, and their city of Annúminas beside Lake Evendim fell into ruin; and the heirs of Valandil removed and dwelt at Fornost...'

So by saying 'heirs' it could be anytime between Third Age 249 and 861.

The Mouth of Sauron · 05-14-2007, 01:20 PM

There must have been some sort of permanent settlement for the Rangers of the North at the end of the 3rd age .

40 or so rode south to join Aragorn, " all that could be gathered in haste " , so presumably a minimum of say 60 Rangers would have lived in the north . They obviously had womenfolk and children so a sizeable settlement must have been somewhere .

04-02-2007, 05:49 PM	#2
Lord Halsar Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 'Round the corner, down the well, passed the Balrog, straight to HELL! Posts: 77	You have a good point there. and the rangers of Eriador were clever men indeed. if there were any hidden sanctuaries or hideouts around, they would find them. also, if anyone would know about what was scattered and still usable out there, it would have been them. __________________ My time is at an end, for I have walked from Valinor to the Far-east where men have not gone for millennia. Demons have fallen before me. And now... I must rest...

04-02-2007, 07:08 PM	#3
Boo Radley Wight Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio. Believe it or not. Posts: 145	I never really thought of the area as being haunted, per se, but I felt that perhaps, due to the huge battle that had been fought there and the powers that must have been unleashed, there might be some kind of residual psychic effect, not unlike fallout. And maybe, anyone who traveled there would have a feeling of growing disquiet or a general uneasiness as long as they stayed there. You know... a constant need to look over your shoulder. That kind of thing. I could be way off base on this. __________________ Don't believe everything you read on the interwebs. That's how World War 1 got started!

04-02-2007, 08:52 PM	#4
CSteefel Wight Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 204	But I am not completely clear why the Rangers would bother going up there if the place was completely deserted. I suppose they could be protecting against the possibility that Orcs and Wargs from the north would descend on the area, and then move to the south (Bree and the Shire). But otherwise, why would the Rangers bother to visit a place that is completely deserted?? This is partly what sparked my interest in the topic... __________________ `These are indeed strange days,' he muttered. `Dreams and legends spring to life out of the grass.'

04-03-2007, 01:02 AM	#5
Arathul Pile O'Bones Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 16	Annuminas were not abandoned when Angmar defeat the Dunedain like Fornost. it was abandoned before that and the king moved the capital to Fornost. I believe it was because of the increase threat from angmar. Annuminas, assumably less fortified then Fornost (it's a city, not a fortress) were exposed to an attack by Angmar forces. and so the king moved the capital to Fornost. The same thing happen in Gondor when the capital moved from Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the City over the great river were abandoned. __________________ "This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death. Though we part here and for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and from me a new star shall arise. Farewell" - Huor words to Turgon during Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

04-02-2007, 05:26 PM	#1
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 662	Fornost was pretty much rubble after it was sacked by the armies of Angmar in 1974. But the thought of secret places among the ruins where the Rangers would go is indeed intriguing. The city in the north I'm curious about is Annuminas, which was simply abandoned sometime in the first millenium of the third age. Instead of being destroyed by war, it would have merely been reclaimed by the elements.

04-03-2007, 11:47 AM	#6
goldfinger Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KC, Missouri Posts: 60	Well one reason is also that wolves from Angmar and beyond invaded Eriador during the Long Winter (I think) or the Fell Winter. Which were forever a threat in that region, and maybe also Trolls and Orcs went in to Eriador every now and then to find meat and plunder. About the about the depopulation don't forget the Great Plague that killed hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people in Arnor, Gondor, the kingdom of Rhovanion, and elswhere. Lastly about the "haunting". I kind of figured if there was a haunting it was by Wights like in the Burrow-downs, and just the simple fact that the land had been ravaged by Angmar it would have the eerie/evil feeling about it like the Dead Marshes, the Paths of the Dead, and Moria.

05-14-2007, 01:20 PM	#8
The Mouth of Sauron Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barad-Dur Posts: 196	There must have been some sort of permanent settlement for the Rangers of the North at the end of the 3rd age . 40 or so rode south to join Aragorn, " all that could be gathered in haste " , so presumably a minimum of say 60 Rangers would have lived in the north . They obviously had womenfolk and children so a sizeable settlement must have been somewhere .