Introduction: A Vision of the Past

[Bo]

A long, long time ago, four Hobbits set out from their home on a journey that, little did they know, would alter the history of Middle-Earth for all time. However, this quest was not at all random. It was the product of thousands and thousands of years of wars, greed, beauty, adventure, and magic. This is that story...

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From 'The Fellowship of the Ring' - 'Fog on the Barrow Dows'

It was still fairly early by the sun, something between nine and ten, and the hobbits turned their minds to food. their last meal had been lunch beside the standing stone the day before. They breakfasted now off the remainder of Tom's provision, meant for their supper, with additions that Tom had brought with him. It was not a large meal (considering hobbits and the circumstances), but they felt much better for it...

[Bo]

While they were eating, Tom went up to the mound, and looked thourgh the treasures. Most of these he made into a pile that glistened and sparkled on the grass. He bade them lie there 'free to all finders, birds, beasts, Elves or Men, and all kindly creatures'; for so the spell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever come back to it. He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones, many shaded like flax-flowers or the wings of blue butterflies. He looked long at it, as if stirred by some memory, shaking his head, and saying at last:

"Here is a pretty toy for Tom and for his Lady! Fair was she who long ago wore this on her shoulder. Goldberry shall wear it now, and we will not forget her!"

For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger, long, leaf-shaped, and keen, of marvellous workmanship, damasked with serpent forms in red and gold. They gleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths, wrought of some strange metal, light and strong, and set with many fiery stones. Whether by some virtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound, the blades seemed untouched by time, unreusted, sharp, glittering in the sun.

[Bo]

"Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit-people," he said, 'Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, and south, or far away into dark and danger." Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dum in the Land of Angmar.
"Few now remember them," Tom murmured, "yet still some go wandering, sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness, guarding from evil things folk that are heedless."
The hobbits did not understand hist words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast, shadwoy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow. Then the vision faded and they were back in the sunlit world.....

[Bo]

....

And so we remember the northern Kingdom of Arnor..
At the beginning of the Third Age of Middle-Earth, shortly after the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, the One Ring of Power was lost. Also lost, slain by the ring's treachery, was Isildur, eldest son of Elendil, and many of his offspring. Thus, they rule of Men in Middle-Earth was split, falling to his youngest son, Valandil, who ruled Arnor in the North for a time and Isildur's nephew, Meneldil, who ruled Gondor in the South.

But the Dark Lord was not fully vanquished...

Without strong leadership, the northern Kingdom of Arnor fell to infighting and soon splintered into three realms: Rhudaur in the East, Arthedain in the West, and Cardolan in the South.

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[Bo]

The Ruin of Arnor was hastened by the arrival of the Witch King of Angmar in the year 1300. The Witch King soon made an alliance with and then betrayed the realm of Rhudaur, effectively annexing it. Since then, battle has raged between Angmar and the remaining Kingdoms of Men in the North: Arthedain and Cardolan.

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Bound together in a loose alliance, Arthedain and Cardolan, along with what friends they can gather to them, now prepare for battle near the legendary fortress and watchtower of Amon Sul - known as Weathertop in the days to come. It is the year 1409 of the Third age, and it is here where our adventure begins....

OOC

The rest of this will pick up in our first IC Thread- Chapter 1: The Fall of Amon Sul!!