[Preview #2] Elves of the Falas

[Nelduin]

Faction leader and family tree: Círdan
Special characters: Arminas and Gelmir
Starting settlements: 4 (Barad Nimras, Brithombar, Eglarest and Haven of Balar)
Allies: Doriath and Elves of Ossiriand
Enemies: Morgoth and his allies
Campaign difficulty: Medium/Hard
Objectives: Control of Beleriand coast lines
Style of fighting: Good in melee and long distance, a mixture of heavy and light infantry, very poor in cavalry units (only light cavalry in low numbers)

The Elves of the Falas are members of the Third clan, the Teleri, who dwelt along the coasts of West Beleriand under their lord, Círdan the Shipwright, kinsman of Elwë and Olwë. They are people distinct in many ways from the other Sindar, speaking an archaic dialect, and continued to refer to themselves as Teleri though in later Sindarin form Telir, Telerrim. They became most commonly known by the name the other Sindar gave them: Falathrim, 'People of the Foaming Shore'.

After the loss of Elwë, many of the Teleri dwelt for long years on the coasts of the Western Sea, holding Olwë as their lord. There, they were befriended by the Maiar Ossë and Uinen, and Ossë taught them all manner of sea-lore and sea-music.

Heeding to the pleas of the Noldor, and Finwë their king, who would be reunited with their long sundered friends, Ulmo, Lord of Waters, returned to the coasts of Beleriand to bring to Aman all those of the Teleri who would go with him.

Most were willing, but Ossë, whose grief was great, persuaded some to remain. These were the Falathrim, and they took Círdan the Shipwright as their lord, and had their chief dwellings at the havens Brithombar and Eglarest. They were the first ship builders and mariners in Middle-earth.
When Morgoth returned to Middle-earth, after his theft of the Silmarils, he loosed his armies in two hosts upon Beleriand. In the east, Thingol had victory, though dearly bought. In the west, however, the Orcs had success, Cirdan was driven back to the edge of the Sea, and his people sought refuge in Eglarest and Brithombar.
Fëanor, pursuing Morgoth, landed at Drengist and passed into Hithlum, then Morgoth sent forth his host to take the Noldor at unawares and assail them. Though Fëanor was out numbered and his defences not fullwrought the Noldor were swiftly victorious in the Dagor-Nuin-Giliath, and drove the Orcs from Mithrim and into Ardgalen. Then the armies that had beleagured Círdan came north to succor them and were destroyed by the Noldor.
Círdan and the Falathrim maintained close friendship with the retuning Noldor, particularly Finrod and his following. With the aid of the Noldor, Brithombar and Eglarest were expanded with great walls, and fair towns and piers and quays of stone were built therein. When, seven years after Dagor Bragollach, Morgoth assailed Fingon, High King of the Noldor, on the very plains of Hithlum, Círdan sent a great force of ships into the Firth of Drengist, and landed an army that took the Enemy in the flank, and routed them, so the Eldar had victory. In the Year of Lamentation the Falathrim came to fight alongside the Noldor in the Fifth Battle, the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Here Morgoth had a great victory, and Fingon was slain and his realm was no more, and Morgoth ravaged much of Beleriand.
But Círdan was safe, for a time, in the Havens, and many fled there, taking refuge behind the walls. From there the mariners sailed along the coasts and harried the Enemy with swift landings. Thus Morgoth turned his might upon Círdan, and ravaged the Falas, besieged the Havens and laid them to ruin. Most of Círdan's folk were slain or enslaved, save only a remnant that with Cirdan escaped by ship to the Isle of Balar where a refuge was made for all that could come thither, and with them went Gil-galad, prince of the Noldor, who had been sent in his youth, to the Havens for his safety. A foothold was kept as well, at the Mouths of Sirion, and there Turgon, now High King of the Noldor sent messengers to Cirdan and besought his aid. Thus Círdan built seven swift ships that sailed into the West, but all were lost save the last. Voronwë was the captain of that ship, and he alone survived.

When after the fall of Gondolin and the ruin of Doriath the survivors came to the Mouths of Sirion and sought refuge there, Círdan's mariners came amongst them and taught them of the sea and the building of ships. Cirdan took Eärendil, son of Tuor and Idril, as apprentice and after, and ever with Círdan's advice and help, Eärendil built Vingilot. The sons of Fëanor, learning the presence of a Silmaril in Arvernien, held by Elwing, daughter of Dior and wife of Eärendil, came with force to seize it, But Eärendil was at sea, and Elwing escaped with the help of Ulmo came to him with the Silmaril. Círdan and Gil-galad, sailing too late from Balar, rescued the few survivors they found, though the sons of Eärendil and Elwing were taken by Maedhros and Maglor.
After the War of Wrath, in which the Falathrim had little part, and the sinking of Beleriand, Círdan and Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor, established the Elven realm of Lindon and founded Mithlond, the Grey Havens. There, they dwelt in peace for long years.

Círdan, born Nowë, was kin of both Elwë and Olwë, a lord in the host of the former. During the push westward, seeking to go to Valinor, Nowë and his followers kept going where most of his kin fell away throughout the journey. Despite Nowë's great eagerness to see the light of Valinor (his "greatest desire"), he loyally searched for Elwë upon his disappearance. Because of this the Teleri missed the first trip on Tol Eressëa to Valinor, on which went their close friends the Noldor and the Vanyar. They took for their king Olwë, and while waiting for Ulmo to return for them, Nowë headed the art of making and sailing ships, growing impatient. From this profession he took the name Círdan which means "shipwright" in Sindarin. The Teleri also developed a great friendship with Ossë. At the same time, although most of the Teleri had given up, Círdan sought Elwë longer and harder than most of his kin, partly because of his love for him and his allegiance.

Because of this, Círdan came to the shores too late during the second embarking of Eressëa. He came to the sands to find them departed, and as he stood forlorn he saw far-off a glimmer of light upon Eressëa as it vanished into the West over Belegaer. Then he cried aloud:

"I will follow that light, alone if none will come with me, for the ship that I have been building is now almost ready."
― Círdan, Last Writings

But into his heart came a message from the Valar which warned him that his ship could not endure the voyage, nor would any ship for many years: "Abide now that time, for when it comes then will your work be of utmost worth, and it will be remembered in song for many ages after." Círdan answered "I obey", and saw a vision of a ship.

Foundation and Return of the Noldor
Círdan therefore remained with those Teleri who had chosen to stay east of the Sea for love of Ossë, and became their lord. The folk became known as the Falathrim, "people of the foaming shore", and dwelt in the Falas by the sea. There they built many ships, and the cities Eglarest and Brithombar, and found pearls which they sent to their overlord, King Thingol of Doriath, who was once Elwë.

When Belegurth broke forth in the First Battle of Beleriand in Y.T. 1497, Círdan was cut off and unable to come to Thingol's aid. Further, although Thingol conquered with the help of the Laiquendi, the Falathrim were driven to the very edge of the sea, where they were besieged for some months, until the Return of the Noldor, when Fëanor struck Morgoth from the north. The siege of the Falas was abandoned as the Orcs were ordered northward to help their master, where they were all destroyed by Celegorm. The Falas were saved.

Círdan attended the Mereth Aderthad with many of his people, where he swore oaths of friendship with the Noldor, and quite possibly met and befriended his later neighbors and friends Turgon and Finrod. Although Turgon eventually moved from Vinyamar to faraway Gondolin, Círdan's friendship with Finrod was lasting, and Círdan became a close advisor to the Noldo. Círdan was, after all, a relative of his, being related (probably quite closely) to Olwë, Finrod's grandfather.

When the tales began spreading (sown by Belegurth) of the Kinslaying of Alqualondë, Círdan, being very wise even at that time, was greatly troubled, feeling that these rumors sprouted from great malice. Knowing the jealousy and dissention among the Noldor, he guessed that the malice was that of the kinslayers. Therefore he dutifully sent messages to his overlord Thingol, telling him all that he had heard. This resulted in the banishment of Quenya, and greater strife between the Sindar and the Noldor.

Círdan may have assisted in the Dagor Aglareb, but this is unknown. Nevertheless he did not take part in the Dagor Bragollach, as he was far away and not directly attacked, if even he had time to come to the aid of his allies. Nevertheless Círdan made up for his lack of participation in the Second Assault on Hithlum, coming to the timely aid of Fingon when he was most needed. They sailed up the Firth of Drengist, then struck the unsuspecting orcs from the west, giving victory to the elves.

After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, many fugitives came for shelter in the Falas. The Falathrim mariners harassed the orcs in guerilla attacks from the sea. But it was only a matter of time before Morgoth attacked. Then came the disastrous Fall of the Falas. Though both Brithombar and Eglarest were strong, with mighty walls, both fell one at a time due to the impressive array of siege-masters Morgoth had in his train. The elves fought valiantly, but the walls were broken and most of the Falathrim killed or enslaved. Barad Nimras was cast down, and the Falas laid to waste. But Círdan and some of his followers escaped by sea, and he took with him Gil-galad, one of the last of the princes of the Noldor. They came to the Isle of Balar and founded a new kingdom, but kept a foothold at the Mouths of Sirion, keeping ships hidden in the reeds there, making a refuge for all who fled there.

Lord of Balar
Turgon, receiving the dreadful news, requested that Círdan send mariners to seek Valinor and the aid of the Valar. Círdan built seven swift ships, and sent them westward. None returned, save for only one mariner of the Gondolindrim. The way to the West was closed.

Eventually Círdan served as messenger, when Ulmo delivered him a message for Orodreth, warning of the doom of Nargothrond, and ordering him to shut his gates and cast down the bridge. The warning went unheeded, resulting of the Fall of Nargothrond.

After news came to Balar of the Fall of Gondolin, Gil-galad was proclaimed High King of the Noldor. Círdan soon after became a fast friend of the young half-elf Eärendil son of Tuor and Idril, who had grown up essentially under his shadow, and was apprenticed to him. Círdan aided Eärendil in building the ship Vingilot, giving him advice and help. Círdan doubtless remembered his vision, and this ship was indeed a fulfillment of it.

Círdan and Gil-galad came with their armies from the Isle of Balar too late to prevent the disastrous Third Kinslaying, when the Havens of Sirion were ambushed and many fell. But Eärendil was not there, rather on a voyage, and the Silmaril of Beren and Lúthien had been spirited away by Elwing his wife. Thus, wielding the Silmaril, Eärendil came to Valinor and found the forgiveness of the Valar. From that time on, Círdan was given foresight surpassing that of any of the elves, perhaps some special grace of the Valar for his deeds in this world-changing episode (like the return of Glorfindel, who also contributed significantly). After the War of Wrath, Círdan, heeding the bidding of the Valar long ago, once more obediently abstained from finding his heart's desire and going West, but with a small following remained in Middle-earth.

Second & Third Age
So, after the destruction of Beleriand at the end of the First Age, Círdan and Gil-Galad moved their people to the last remaining area of Beleriand called Lindon. There three havens were built and Círdan became the chief lord of one at the end of the Gulf of Lhûn called Mithlond. Initially, he lived in the southern haven of Harlond, but it is not known when he moved permanently to Mithlond.

When the elven smith, Celebrimbor, produced the Three Elven Rings of Power, the ring Narya (Ring of Fire) was given to Círdan by Gil-Galad, as he was one of the wisest elf lords of that time. He possed Narya up until the Istari (wizards) arrived in Middle-earth around TA 1000. Upon meeting Gandalf, Círdan gave the ring to the wizard, perceiving that he was the wisest of the Istari and would be in need of the ring in his work in Middle-earth.

Círdan remained active during the Second and Third Ages. He fought alongside High-elven King Gil-Galad in the battle of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, along with Elrond, and sadly watched his king fall to Sauron. During TA 1974, Círdan led the elves of Lindon in the Battle of Fornost, with the Dúnedain, against the Witch-king of Angmar in the north. He also was a member of the White Council at the end of the Third Age.

Throughout his stay in Middle-earth, Círdan made sure ships were available in Mithlond for those elves that wished to leave Middle-earth. After the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age, he saw Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and the Ringbearers, Bilbo and Frodo, off on their journey into the West. Círdan stayed until sometime during the Fourth Age when he sailed the last white ship from Mithlond into the West.

Sources:
Tolkien Gateway
Elvenesse.net

The Falas was the realm of Círdan the Shipwright and his people, the Falathrim. The two primary havens, girded with great walls, were Eglarest, built at the mouth of the Nenning, and Brithombar, to the north of Eglarest, built at the mouth of the Brithon.

Source:
Lotr.wikia

Eglarest was the easternmost and southernmost of the two ports that were built by the Falathrim, the people of Círdan the Shipwright , in the region of the Falas. It was located at the mouth of Nenning River near the Great Sea. Círdan ordered its construction well before the beginning of the First Age, as for Brithombar, and in this place was made ​​the first ships ever known in Arda, even before those of Alqualondë.

After Dagor Aglareb, the Haven of Eglarest was fortified by the Noldor in 65 FA, and its inhabitants had long peaceful life. However, following the defeat of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morgoth sent troops of Orcs to destroy the port, and although it was valiantly defended, he could not withstand the onslaught of the enemy who had sent fire, incendiary and siege engines in large numbers. The Harbour was in ruins and ashes, as Brithombar which also had been besieged. The majority of the population perished or was taken prisoner in the attack, while the survivors fled to the Isle of Balar where their Lord Círdan had, in his foresight, built a refuge in case of disaster.

Source:
Tolkiendil

Brithombar was the westernmost and northernmost of the two ports were built by the Falathrim, the people of Círdan the Shipwright , in the region of the Falas. It was located on the mouth of the river Brithon, from which it gots its name, near the Great Sea. Círdan ordered its construction well before the beginning of the First Age, as for Eglarest, and in this place was made ​​the first ships ever known in Arda, even before those of Alqualondë.

After Dagor Aglareb, the Haven of Brithombar was fortified by the Noldor in 65 FA, and its inhabitants had long peaceful life. However, following the defeat of Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morgoth sent troops of Orcs to destroy the port, and although it was valiantly defended, he could not withstand the onslaught of the enemy who had sent fire, incendiary and siege engines in large numbers. The Harbour was in ruins and ashes, as Eglarest which also had been besieged. The majority of the population perished or was taken prisoner in the attack, while the survivors fled to the Isle of Balar where their Lord Círdan had, in his foresight, built a refuge in case of disaster.

Source:
Tolkiendil

The sandy reed-beds of the Mouths of Sirion had been home to settlements of the Sindar from their earliest days in Beleriand, and though Círdan ruled his seafaring Falathrim from the Havens of the Falas further north along the coasts, he long maintained a secret outpost and fleet of small vessels among the tall reeds of Sirion's delta. These were the first beginnings of the Havens of Sirion.

It was after the Dagor Bragollach that Círdan's hidden outpost began to gain in importance. Turgon sent envoys from Gondolin there to sail into the West in search of Valinor, though none succeeded. Soon after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Círdan's Havens to the north were overrun and destroyed. His ships fled south with many of his people aboard, and they settled at the Havens of Sirion and on the Isle of Balar to the southwest. Turgon again sent mariners from the Havens of Sirion to seek the aid of the Valar, but again they failed.

Ultimately even Turgon's kingdom fell to the forces of Morgoth, but because of the friendship between Gondolin and Círdan, the survivors of that fallen realm travelled southwards under the leadership of Tuor, and founded a settlement1 of their own at the Mouths of Sirion. As disaster after disaster befell the Elves and Edain of Beleriand, more refugees came southwards to join Tuor and his people, including the survivors of the Ruin of Doriath, and other Elves and Men from far and wide.

For a time, the Havens at the Mouths of Sirion remained peaceful, and after Tuor departed, his son Eärendil became the lord of that people. It was at that time that the poet Dírhavel, who lived among the settlers, wrote the epic lay known as the Narn i Chîn Húrin. As the years passed, Eärendil himself travelled far and wide on the Great Sea, seeking a way into the West as the mariners of his grandfather Turgon had done.

The peace of the Havens was broken at last by the four remaining Sons of Fëanor. Eärendil's wife Elwing was the bearer of a Silmaril that her ancestors Beren and Lúthien had recovered from Morgoth's Crown. Fëanor's sons laid claim to this, and launched a fierce attack on the Havens of Sirion. Elwing herself escaped, and was carried out to sea by the power of Ulmo. So she brought the Silmaril to Eärendil, and through the power of the Jewel they found their way to the land of the Valar.

Of the Havens that they left behind, little more is known for sure. It is clear that the fighting there was fierce, and of the Sons of Fëanor both Amrod and Amras were slain in the battle. The settlement itself presumably survived for a time, but soon afterwards, in answer to Eärendil's prayer, the host of the Valar came against Morgoth in the far north. Their assault broke the lands of Beleriand: the River Sirion and its Mouths were drowned beneath the Sea, and with that the last of the Havens of the First Age to an end.

Source:
Glyphweb - Encyclopedia of Arda

A large island (indeed, the largest known island off the shores of Middle-earth) located in the Bay of Balar, some seventy miles south of the coastlands of Arvernien.

According to legend, the Isle was the eastern horn of the much greater island of Tol Eressëa, which broke off when Ulmo towed away the main island to Aman carrying the Vanyar and the Noldor. It is said that the Maia Ossë often came to the Isle of Balar.

The island was noted for its pearls, which were found in great abundance in the shallow waters around it. These were collected by the people of Círdan, who gave them freely to the other Elf-lords.

While we are not told of the nature or location of settlements on the island, it is clear that it was populated at least early in the First Age, and possibly before that. As well as the Elves of the Havens, Balar was explored by the people of Nargothrond, and Turgon built refuges there for the Gondolindrim after the Dagor Bragollach in 455 (First Age). From these, he sent out ships seeking Aman and the aid of the Valar, but none succeeded.

The Isle of Balar became an important centre after the destruction of the Havens in 472 (First Age), when Círdan and Gil-galad fled to the island and settled there. While it is not stated certainly, it is likely that Eärendil's ship Vingilot was built here, and that the Mariner set out for the West from Círdan's havens on the Island.

In The Etymologies, Tolkien speculates that the name might derive from báláre ('powerful lord'), a reference to the Maia Ossë who was said to often come to the Bay of Balar. (The History of Middle-earth Volume 5, The Lost Road and Other Writings III The Etymologies).

Source:
Glyphweb - Encyclopedia of Arda

• Círdan
  
• General Guard
  
• Guard of Barad Nimras
  
• Telerrim Nobles
  
• Guards of the Havens
  
• Telir Cavalry
  
• Telerrim Mounted Scouts
  
• Telerrim Mariners
  
• Telerrim Axemen
  
• Telir Coastal Watch
  
• Telerrim Spearmen
  
• Telerrim Levies
  
• Telerrim Sailors
  
• Telerrim Archers
  
• Telerrim Mariners of Balar
  
• Telerrim Villagers

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• Glyphweb - Encyclopedia of Arda
  
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[Jubal]

Gorgeous screenshots again, well done guys! 

[comrade_general]

 

[Bercor]

I heard that the guys that are making this mod are awesome...

[Tom]

I agree awesome again guys.