Book 2: Chapter 1 - The Hills of Dunland

[Wbweather]

Hartley's blister was really painful and slightly infected. He probably even stepped on a thorn.

[Boronind]

Though they prefer the underground of the great dwarven halls to just about any place, Bláin and company have take to the road like ducks to water, enjoying the good weather and full use of their doughty legs. As redoubtable in their constitutions, they are unaffected by the hardships of the road that seem to plague the halfing. Perhaps if he had boots crafted in Erebor as Bláin and the rest possessed, the bare hobbits feet wouldn't be so subject to the travails of the road.

The dwarves converse little during the day with the rest of the company and only politely during the campfire times in order to keep the camp orderly and well served.

[Vardaen]

Aravule warns Telurin at the camp one night as they speak of the goods, "Remember these are not gifts, but trade goods, the money we spent on them needs to be made back!" He is adamant about that, but not angry in his clarity. "We need to gain their muscle, and offer them civilization in the return. They may have a desire to return to their old homeland in Calenardhon, but we can't alienate those men, we can offer them new lands and opportunity in Tharbad. A land with more than what they have now, perhaps we shouldn't mention a King right away either. Till we know their feeling on such things."

The poor Hobbit's feet are hurting, but he's hardy and plucky and he continues on after only a little complaint. Back on the road a few days later, five since leaving Tharbad, you are nearing Tunum, the first of the major Dunlending settlements.

The largest settlement found between the Isen and the Greyflood stands on a little hill overlooking the Old South Road, not quite a third of the way between the Fords of Isen and the ruins of Tharbad. Wide, sparsely-wooded plains stretch away to the west, planted with many crops; the Misty Mountains loom much nearer to the east. Tunum stands within walls built up around and into the hillside, the combined work of Dwarves who made their home here centuries ago and of Dunlendish masons.

The result is a sturdy fortification, an encircling curtain of low, wide walls made with large blocks of stone and large timbers. The walls cannot compare with the works of the Dwarves in the North, but for most of the raiding parties that descend from the mountains the stronghold of Tunum is impregnable.

As you near the settlement you now spy Dunlendings about. Some work in the fields, a few lounge about on the side of the road. These men and women are truly rustic, but they appear more well off than the Dunlendings you encounter previously. These folk have benefited from the trade of the dwarves when they lived in the Dunland and it shows. They bear metal weapons, finer clothing, and a look of a sedentary folk; unlike their nomadic cousins. They bear similar tartan colors among themselves showing their clan allegiance one (different than those you met in Tharbad).

As you spot them, they spot you and they turn and gaze at your group watching you near....

[Wbweather]

"These men are of a different tribe than Bradan's people it would seem." Hartley states the obvious. "Let's hope they will be willing to treat with us. At least this town looks more hospitable than Tharbad. I wonder if they have a decent tavern here." Hartley's spirit has grown in proportion with the calluses on his hairy feet. "I wouldn't mind a decent meal either."

[Blubbo_Baggins]

"Don't worry Aravule; I did not invest our funds only to waste them. Perhaps a gift might be in order for a powerful ally. But Dunlending gold will be good enough for us. And if they are happy with the trade, they will be glad to continue doing so, and will only give us that much more sway to gain their support when it comes to Tharbad."

--------------------------

Telurin looks for a leader of some sort. "Go on Aravule, Blain, I think the two of you ought to represent us. Aravule naturally for our journey demands it, but Blain you should join him, for these men likely know the Dwarves well and shall therefore respect them."

[Boronind]

Bláin smiles at the elf with a look of acknowledgement of the ancient ones practical wisdom and then casts his gaze over to the Man of royal lineage waiting as if waiting for his acknowledgement as well.

All the while he removes his cunningly made coat of mail and gives his helmet to Oxdis to hold. He then smooths as many wrinkle out of his dark red tunic and checks the elaborate braids on his beard to see if they are neat and tidy. He is now ready to treat.

[Muskrat]

Halleth watches uneasily as Aravule goes forward to treat, ready to spring to his defense if the Dunlendings lay a hand of his liege. But he knows they have no reason to think these Dunlendings would be hostile--indeed, they look prosperous enough that they might welcome trade.

[TetNak]

Aravule nods to the elf, "Draw up your hood. These men will likely grow weary if not outright panicked by seeing an elf. I wager none have, and most believe your ancient kind to be myth of superstition."

With a look to Blain, Aravule hands over the reigns to the pony he is leading to one of the dwarfs and makes his way to one of the Dunlendings on the side of the road.

In the common tongue, he says, "Hello good fellow, we are passing through, can you tell us where we might stop to rest our weary feet? We have a halfing among us and he is better fit for ale and stories than a long journey."

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Telurin is no Elf out of the far west, and so he is not sure the Dunlendings will fear him. Nevertheless he draws up his hood, for caution never hurt.

[Vardaen]

A pair of men, who were lounging on a few tree stumps watching a woman work the fields, rise to meet with Aravule. They are rough looking fellows, unwashed, and with long hair some in braids, some not. They say something to one another in a language not akin to any you speak, but it sounds much like the tongue that Fearghas and Bradan spoke among their own people. They chuckle to one another and then one looks to Aravule, "You have pretty words traveler. Drink and food and rest can be had in Tunum. Nertun Ironhand is chieftain, so pay your respects to him if you want entrance to the great city." The other man motions at the fort on the hill nearby as the great city.

On Language

“Yet there are many that cry in the Dunland tongue,” said Gamling. “I know that tongue. It is an ancient speech of men, and once was spoken in many western valleys of the Mark.”


Tolkien Gateway
Dunlendish was the Mannish tongue used by the Dunlendings,[1] who inhabited the lands west of the Misty Mountains and northward from the Gap of Rohan.

The language was akin to the language of the House of Haleth of the First Age and is almost completely lost, and only a single recorded word remains - forgoil, a Dunlendish word literally meaning 'strawheads', and used as an insult for their enemies, the Rohirrim.

At one time, a language akin to Dunlendish was spoken by some of the Hobbits of Stoor-kind, but by the later Third Age their descendants in the Shire had long abandoned it for the Common Speech.

The only analysis that can be done with some degree of credibility, is that the final part -il could be the plural marker of the word; then, it would be reminiscent to the Elvish partitive plural -li, and perhaps related.

The Horse-lords of Rohan Book

... Even so, all Dunlendings speak close versions of the same unique language, an ancient tongue that has no connection to any other spoken on Middle-earth.


See this OOC Thread where we can debate the merits of language:
viewtopic.php?f=800&t=8622