The Green Book of the White Downs: 2023

Thursday 28 December 2023

Rana's Events: The annual Tolkien Toast on Laurelin - Wednesday 3rd January 2024

The annual Tolkien Toast 🍺
Wednesday 3rd January 2024

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Tolkien Trewsday Week 21: Third Age – Tuesday 18th July 2023

Week 21: Third Age – Tuesday 18th July 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Tolkien Trewsday Week 20: Second Age – Tuesday 11th July 2023

Week 20: Second Age – Tuesday 11th July 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Tolkien Trewsday Week 19: First Age – Tuesday 4th July 2023

Week 19: First Age – Tuesday 4th July 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Migrations and monuments: Contents

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

Tim Bolton
(First edition: 08/07/23)

The Barrows outside Edoras in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings:
The Two Towers" Extended Edition

📗 Contents

Migrations and monuments: Bibliography

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Bibliography

Migrations and monuments: Addendum 1

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Addendum 1] “red flame” – a volcano crafted by evil

Migrations and monuments: Addendum 2

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Addendum 2] “Elf-haven” – Elves in the south

Migrations and monuments: Part 11 - End of the First Age

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 11] “scattered in the lands” – Population of Eriador and Rhovanion by the end of the First Age

We have seen that during the various migrations of Elves and Men that populations did not reach Beleriand and instead stayed and settled within Eriador and Rhovanion. The destruction of Beleriand at the end of the First Age would also lead to further population in these lands. Across Tolkien’s works we see evidence of the populations who never made it to Beleriand:

“These Atani were the vanguard of far larger hosts of the same kinds moving westwards. When the First Age ended and Beleriand was destroyed, and most of the Atani who survived had passed over sea to Númenor, their laggard kindred were either in Eriador, some settled, some still wandering, or else had never passed the Misty Mountains and were scattered in the lands between the Iron Hills and the Sea of Rhûn eastward and the Great Forest, in the borders of which, northward and eastward, many were already settled.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Migrations and monuments: Conclusion

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Conclusion

Migrations and monuments: Part 10 - Strife

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 10] “strife among themselves” – returning to Eriador and Rhovanion

“Moreover they had strife among themselves, and Morgoth, now aware of the coming of hostile Men into Beleriand, sent his servants to afflict them.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Migrations and monuments: Part 9

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 9] “Where dead men rest” – Barrow building of the First Age

“They heard of the Great Barrows, and the green mounds, and the stone-rings upon the hills and in the hollows among the hills.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book One Chapter 7: In the House of Tom Bombadil)

Migrations and monuments: Part 8 - Hobbits

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 8] “Their Wandering Days” – Pre-Shire Hobbits in Rhovanion

It is important to emphasis again that the Eldar (and Tolkien) see the Hobbits as part of the race of Men:

“It was a mark of all kinds of Men who were descendants of those who had abjured the Shadow of Morgoth and his servants and wandered westward to escape it – and certainly included both the races of small stature, Drûgs and Hobbits.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Migrations and monuments: Part 7 - Drúedain

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 7] In their image: the faithful Drúedain and their watch-stones

Alongside the House of Haleth on the migration is another group of Men, different in looks and nature, but considered close allies. The story of these beings, the Drúedain (Púkel-men), help understand migration routes and we’ll also discover our first monument(s) left by Men within Eriador.

“The Drûgs that are met in the tales of the First Age – cohabiting with the Folk of Haleth, who were a woodland people – were content to live in tents or shelters lightly built round the trunks of large trees, for they were a hardy race. In their former homes, according to their own tales, they had used caves in the mountains, but mainly as store-houses only occupied as dwellings and sleeping-places in severe weather. They had similar refuges in Beleriand to which all but the most hardy retreated in times of storm and bitter weather; but these places were guarded and not even their closest friends among the Folk of Haleth were welcomed there.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Migrations and monuments: Part 6 - Men

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 6] “A Darkness lies behind us”: the westward migrations of Men

“At the first rising of the Sun the Younger Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the land of Hildórien in the eastward regions of Middle-earth; but the first Sun arose in the West, and 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: Apanónar, the After-born, Engwar, the Sickly, and Fírimar, the Mortals; and they named them the Usurpers, the Strangers, and the Inscrutable, the Self-cursed, the Heavy-handed, the Night-fearers, the Children of the Sun.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 12: Of Men)

Migrations and monuments: Part 5 - Dwarves

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 5] Dwarf-roads to the fortress delvings: the Dwarves in Eriador

Dwarves were not part of the Children of Ilúvatar having been created in secret by the Vala Aulë. When it was discovered what he had done, in repentance Aulë almost destroyed them but his hand was stayed by Eru Ilúvatar. The Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were put to sleep and hidden under mountains, to be awakened after the Elves.

Migrations and monuments: Part 4 - Ents

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 4] Awakening the Shepherds of the Forests

When the Maia Yavanna saw that the Dwarves of Aulë would walk the land, she was fearful for the trees that she loved. Through Manwë she appealed to Eru Ilúvatar to give the trees life (or be inhabited by spirits): thus awoke the Shepherds of the Forests:

‘Nay,’ he said, ‘only the trees of Aulë will be tall enough. In the mountains the Eagles shall house, and hear the voices of those who call upon us. But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees.’
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 2: Of Aulë and Yavanna)

Migrations and monuments: Part 3 - Elves

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 3] Of starlight and the wide spaces of Middle-earth: The Unwilling Elves and those lost or turned aside on the long road

The first sundering of the Elves

“Thus it was that the Valar found at last, as it were by chance, those whom they had so long awaited. And Oromë looking upon the Elves was filled with wonder, as though they were beings sudden and marvellous and unforeseen; for so it shall ever be with the Valar.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 3: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor)

Migrations and monuments: Part 2 - Tom Bombadil

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 2] Middle-earth’s first dweller: Tom Bombadil

Tom was here before the river and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.’

-- J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book One Chapter 7: In the House of Tom Bombadil)

Migrations and monuments: Part 1 - Awakenings

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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📗 Part 1] The Years of the Trees and Years of the Sun: Awakenings

“The First Age begins with the Awaking and ends with the Downfall of Angband.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Nature of Middle-earth (Part One: Time and Ageing)

Migrations and monuments: Introduction

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

Tim Bolton
(First edition: 08/07/23)

[Note 1: I use Tolkien Gateway as points of reference due to it being the best online J.R.R. Tolkien encyclopaedia and is accessible to all readers. Other online options include the Encyclopaedia of Arda.]

[Note 2: Tolkien uses specific names for races (Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc) and “Men” for humanity. I recognise that it is not ideal nor gender-neutral, but to avoid confusion when quoting/discussing, I’ll follow Tolkien’s usage.]

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📗 Introduction

Tolkien Trewsday Week 17: Faërie – Tuesday 20th June 2023

Week 17: Faërie – Tuesday 20th June 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Weekly Tolkien Round-up: Shire Post and Ninimiel’s gossip – 17 June 2023

Shire Post: 17 June 2023 🖃

With the Shire Post I hope to return to a more frequent, weekly potentially, round-up of Tolkien-related news from book announcements, upcoming events, game news and more. And with a (potentially) more irregular Ninimiel’s gossip, I aim to cover LOTRO (The Lord of the Rings Online) news.

Tolkien Trewsday Week 16: Stories from the Past – Tuesday 13th June 2023

Week 16: Stories from the Past – Tuesday 13th June 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Tolkien Trewsday Week 15: Mountains/hills – Tuesday 6th June 2023

Week 15: Mountains/hills – Tuesday 6th June 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

The hub for this Twitter-based event can be found here.

The Middle-earth Bestiary HUB

The Middle-earth Bestiary

Bestiaries (A book of beasts, “bēstiārium” from Latin “bēstia” meaning “beast, animal”) were medieval books about animals following a long tradition of animal literature from the Classical period onwards. They had chapters on real and imaginary beasts, and their purpose was to both entertain and also teach Christian morals to the reader.

The Middle-earth Bestiary will provide information about where animals appear in the works/adaptions of J.R.R. Tolkien's world and what context they appear in. From the talking fox incredulously watching the group of Hobbits walking through the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring to Sadoc Burrows declaring Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot being part-squirrel in The Rings of Power, I hope to eventually provide a resource for fans and scholars to explore the animal kingdom in Middle-earth.

The Hall of Lore

Welcome to the Green Book of the White Downs blog which focuses on the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien and adaptions made about Middle-earth. If you want to learn more about the blog name and where it came from, you can find that information here.

This page, the Hall of Lore, is your shortcut to the main sections of this blog, whilst the Archive will collect together blog posts of interest from the past.

Gaming in Middle-earth HUB

This page will provide a Hub for any game-focused blog posts and quick-access information.

Gaming in Middle-earth - Games you may have missed crib sheet

Games you may have missed crib sheet
🎲 May 2023

To accompany the "State of play report May 2023" that can be found here, this is a crib sheet featuring games that people may have missed when released.

Gaming in Middle-earth - Free League's The One Ring RPG and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying game 5E

May 2023

Over the years with the change of publisher and two separate lines, it is understandable that there is some confusion which line a newly released book is connected to. Below I've created a short guide and crib sheets to help resolve any confusion.

Free League Publishing took over the reigns of publishing The One Ring roleplaying game in 2020 after Cubicle 7 dropped the game in December 2019. The game is produced in a partnership with Sophisticated Games through a license granted by Middle-earth Enterprises (owned by Embracer).

New and upcoming releases for PC, Console, Mobile and Digital gaming crib sheets for 2023
🎲 May 2023

To accompany the "State of play report May 2023" that can be found here , I've also created crib sheets for the six digital games currently available or being produced. These are either PC, console or mobile. You can also see crib sheets for games set in Middle-earth expected (or just released) in general here.

New releases and upcoming games crib sheets for 2023
🎲 Update May 2023

To accompany the "State of play report May 2023" that can be found here, I've also created crib sheets with a selection of the games available now and upcoming releases. These will be updated over the year. You can find the previous crib sheets from February 2023 here.

Week 14: Gaming – Tuesday 30th May 2023
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday #Tolkien

Welcome to #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday.

Gaming in Middle-earth - State of play report May 2023

Gaming in Middle-earth - State of play report May 2023

🎲 The dice are still rolling favourably for Middle-earth though it has gone a little quiet on the release front with some delays to games. Nevertheless, for gamers and those who love J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, there is a lot of choice open to you. From board games, card games, roleplaying games, mobile games and PC/console games.

Thursday 28 December 2023

Monday 17 July 2023

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Saturday 8 July 2023

Saturday 24 June 2023

Saturday 17 June 2023

Monday 12 June 2023

Tuesday 6 June 2023

Thursday 1 June 2023

Tuesday 30 May 2023

Saturday 27 May 2023