The Lands of Arda

Lanalon · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:28 pm Post subject: Races of Arda

Well since Sal posted the stuff on the Valar I thought I'd let you in on the race conversions we're proposing for Arda 2.

Human = Atani
Aasimar = Edain
Tiefling = Swarthy Men
Moon Elves = Sindar
Drow = Kin Slayers
Sun Elves = Noldor
Wood Elves = Nandor (Green Elves)
Shield Dwarves = Firebeards
Gold Dwarves = Broadbeams
Duergar = Petty Dwarves
Lightfoot Halflings = Fallohides
Strongheart Halflings = Harfoots
Rock Gnome = Stoors
Deep Gnome = Wild Hobbits
Half-Elf = Peredhil
Half-Orc = Perorch

Atani

At the first rising of the Sun the younger children of Ilùvatar awoke in the land of Hildorien in the Eastward regions of Middle-Earth, but as sun first arose in the West the opening eyes of Men were turned towards it, and their feet as they wandered over the Earth for the most part strayed that way. The Atani they were named by the Eldar, the Second People, but they called them also Hildor, the followers, and many other names.

Edain

The Edain were those men who made their way into Beleriand and with the friendship of the Eldar grew in might and wisdom. The Edain were divided into three houses. Those of the House of Bëor were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the Noldor of all Elves. They were first discovered by Finrod Felagund, Lord of Nargothrond, and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Noldorin lord Amrod, in a place later known as Estolad, the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of Finarfin, and later settled in the lands of Dorthonion. The Second House, later known as the Haladin or the House of Haleth is comprised of a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They kept separate from the other Men, and later received permission to settle in the forest of Region, part of Doriath. The House of Marach, later best known as the House of Hador is made up of men who are tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the Vanyar of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the Nandor of Ossiriand feared them. They later settled in Hithlum by way of Estolad. They are loyal to the House of Fingolfin.

Swarthy Men

The Swarthy Men or the late comers of Men came over Ered Luin from Eriador into Lothlann long after the Edain. They were not wholly unlooked for since the Dwarves had warned Maedhros that hosts of Men were journeying towards Beleriand. They were short and broad, long and strong in the arm and grew much hair on face and breast; their locks were dark as were their eyes and their skins were sallow or swart. But they were not all of one kind, in looks or temper, or in tongue. Some were fair to deal with; some were grim and ill-favored and of little trust. But Maedhros, who knew the weakness of the Noldor and the Edain whereas the pits of Angband seemed to hold inexhaustible and ever renewed hosts of war, made alliance with them and gave them land to dwell in the North and South of his land.

Sindar

The Grey-Elves came from the Teleri line of those who originally came to Beleriand. The Grey-Elves stayed here and mostly settled in the hills of the northern mountainous countries and in the woods of Beleriand. From the Sindar came the Falathrim-Elves those who settled in the region of Falas in West-Beleriand. The Noldor gave the name Sindar to the Teleri they met in Mithrim. The people of the North were clad much in grey as secrecy was needed especially after the return of Morgoth and the grey cloth the women of the north made, by the art of the weavers, let the wearer become almost invisible in a stony and shadowy land.

Kin Slayers

The Kin Slayers are those elves who have committed the most heinous of crimes, the willful murder of another elf. The first kinslaying occurred at the Havens of Alqualondë, where a small part of the Noldor tried to take the ships of the Teleri by force. Many innocent Teleri were killed that day, both in anger at their refusal to let the Noldor use their, and in confusion as the greater part of the Noldor came upon Alqualondë and saw there brethren fighting the Teleri. All those who bear the mantle of Kin Slayer are marked and forever cursed in life and in the judgment that waits.

Noldor

The Noldor are accounted the greatest of the Elves and all the peoples in Middle Earth in lore, warfare and smithcraft. They are the greatest warriors of all, the most brave and powerful. Fëanor was the greatest of their craftsmen. When Melkor killed Finwë and stole the Silmarils, Fëanor renamed Melkor: Morgoth ("Black Enemy"), and persuaded the Noldor to pursue him to Middle-earth and wage war against him. The Noldor led by Fëanor demanded that the Teleri let them use their ships. When the Teleri refused, they took the ships by force, committing the first Kinslaying. Mandos then came at the bidding of Manwe and delivered the Prophecy of the North, pronouncing doom on the Noldor for the Kinslaying and warning that if they continued they would not recover the Silmarils and moreover that there would be great grief in the tragedy that would befall them. At this, some of the Noldor who had no hand in the Kinslaying, including Finarfin son of Finwë, returned to Valinor, and the Valar forgave them. Other Noldor led by Fingolfin son of Finwë, many of whom were blameless in the Kinslaying, remained determined to leave Valinor for Middle-earth. The Noldor led by Fëanor crossed the sea to Middle-earth, leaving those led by Fingolfin, his half-brother, behind. Upon his arrival in Middle-earth, Fëanor had the ships burned. When the Noldor led by Fingolfin discovered their betrayal, they went farther north and crossed the sea at the Grinding Ice which cost them many lives.

Nandor

The Nandor hail from the Teleri line of those who gave up on the trail towards Valinor and were led by Lenwë down South towards the Ered Nimrais and Belfalas. These Elves later populated Eriador and the lands around the Bay of Belfalas. The son of Lenwë, Denethor, in the late Valian Years crossed the Southern Ered Luin and entered Ossiriand were they became the Green-Elves or the Laiquendi-Elves.

Firebeards

The Firebeards are one of the seven clans of dwarves descended from one of the seven fathers. Each father was given a hammer by Aule and the rulers of the clans still bear them. They can be distinguished from other dwarves by their crimson beards. The Firebeards predominately dwell in Nogrod with a small portion dwelling in Belegost.

Broadbeams

The Broadbeams are one of the seven clans of dwarves descended from one of the seven fathers. Each father was given a hammer by Aule and the rulers of the clans still bear them. They can be distinguished from other dwarves by their extraordinarily broad shoulders. The Broadbeams predominately dwell in Belegost under the rule of their Lord Azaghâl, with a small portion dwelling in Nogrod.

Petty Dwarves

The Noegyth Nibin, or Petty-dwarves, are despised by the normal Dwarves, the Naugrim. Petty-dwarves, as it is told, are descendants of Dwarves who had left or been driven out of their communities, being deformed and undersized or slothful and rebellious. The Petty-dwarves settled in Beleriand before the Elves came and they attacked the Elves at night or whenever they could get at them alone in the wild. Therefore the Eldar thought they were a kind of cunning two legged animal and hunted them. But when the Eldar had come to know the Naugrim, the Petty-dwarves were recognized as a lesser kin and left alone.

Fallohides

The Fallohides are the least common of Hobbits, and are fair of skin and hair, and none of them ever grew a beard. They are great lovers of the trees and forests, and skilled hunters. Many of them are friends with the Elves, and because of this they are more learned than the other Hobbits.

Harfoots

The Harfoots are the most common of Hobbits, and are browner of skin than the other Hobbits, have no beards, and do not wear any footwear. They live in holes they called smials, and are also on very friendly terms with the Dwarves.

Stoors

The Stoors are a riverside people and were fishermen. They are broader in build than the other Hobbits, and have larger hands and feet. Among the Hobbits, the Stoors most resembled typical Men. Stoors are the only Hobbits who grow facial hair, and only some of them can at that. A habit which set them apart from the Harfoots who lived in the mountain foothills, and the Fallohides who lived in forests far to the north, was that many Stoors used boats, and could swim. They also wore boots.

Wild Hobbits

The Wild Hobbits, much like the Petty-dwarves, are outcasts from their societies. Being of bad temperament and evil disposition, they were driven out of their homes for the crimes that they committed.

Peredhil

The Peredhil are the children of the union of Elves and Men. To them is given the choice of whether to be counted among the children of Men and to die and leave the world or to be counted among the Elves.

Perorch

The Perorch are the bastard offspring of a mating of a human woman and an Orc of Morgoth. No evil is more hurtful to Ilúvatar than the perversion of his children, and no perversion is worse than the Perorch.
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One of the Fëanturi, the masters of spirits. He is keeper of the Houses of the Dead, and the summoner of the spirits of the slain. He forgets nothing; and knows all things that shall be. He is the Doomsman of the Valar, and Mandos is his name.