At the time of Gondor’s founding in the south of Middle-earth, a second kingdom arose in the north, between the Misty Mountains and the Ered Luin. This was the kingdom of Arnor, over which Elendil ruled until his death at the final battle of the Last Alliance. Arnor was much alike to Gondor, yet its line of kings wavered much sooner and the kingdom found its strength diminished. Such a weakened realm was easy prey for the Witch-king of Angmar, chief amongst Sauron’s servants and Lord of the Nazgûl, whose armies ultimately seized and destroyed Arnor’s capital of old, Fornost. This single act crushed Arnor forever, despite the best efforts of the north kingdom’s allies (the Hobbits of the Shire amongst them).
Nowadays, Arnor is a ghost-haunted land, a place that has seen too much war and known precious little happiness. Ruins of its buildings and statues, testaments to its former glories, can be found in every corner of its old domains. From broken Fornost, to burned Amon Sûl and the Wight-infested downs near Bree, travellers can see the ruin brought to the once-proud kingdom. To stray from the safe pathways of Arnor is to invite great peril, for many evil and unwholesome things survive in the dark forests of Rhudaur, or walk amongst the mists of Evendim. Such creatures vary from savage beasts to malicious and cunning spectres, yet all know little of mercy, and possess cruelty beyond measure. Hope is not unknown even so, for there are many places of a more wholesome power within the boundaries of the old realm, though their numbers are few and their strength fades daily.
THE RANGERS OF THE NORTH
All that remains of the noble houses of Arnor, the Rangers of the
North, live within the valleys and hills of Eriador, continuing
to defend the common folk from the evils that dwell in the ruins of
the north kingdom. Since the fall of Arnor, the Rangers have followed
the leadership of chieftains, taciturn and steady-handed
Men who can trace their lineage back to Isildur himself, and thence
to the blood of lost Númenor. Courageous and determined warriors,
the Rangers are masters of all manner of woodcraft and fear neither
Man, beast nor unquiet spirit.
Of all the races of Men to remain in Middle-earth, it is the Rangers of the North who earned the most respect from the Elvish peoples, for the Elves perceive the nobility of their calling for what it is. Indeed, several of the Elves of Rivendell, the sons of Elrond amongst them, have taken to spending time in the wilderness alongside the Rangers, lending what aid they can. Many believe that there will come a time when the descendants of Arnor will reclaim their birthright, yet until that day they continue their thankless task, guarding the villages of Eriador from evils unknown to all but they.
