User:High King Ithilion



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Mae govannen, mellonnin! I am High King Ithilion, and I am the newest moderator on this Wiki. I am also a walking encyclopedia on the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Lost Tales, and The Silmarillion, and have read each dozens of times. I love most the Noldor of Finwe, because they are excellent warriors and also the most thirsty for knowledge, but also have similar flaws to me, like arrogance and pride. If you have any questions about the lore of Middle-Earth, I can answer them, so feel free to ask on his message wall. I try to get on every day, but certain dictators demand that I actually have a life.

What do you think of me? Rate me here!

About Me

 * I am 13 and live in Maryland.
 * I am exceedingly freckly and I also have elf ears. I am really short.
 * I am founder, and in charge of the Building Tips page, where I have made 23,829 bytes worth of edits.
 * My LOTR knowledge is profound. I can probably answer any trivia question thrown at me. And this isn't idle brag.
 * I love drawing both landscapes and concept art with pencils and oil pastels.
 * I love bird-watching. My "life list" (the number of bird species I've seen) is at 330 species.
 * My Battle Cry is: ' Ni celeb Ithil a i ring hith!' (For the silver Moon and the cold Mist!)
 * I am a lover of the Eldar, and they are the only race I feel kinship or relation to.
 * I have made a huge Lego Middle-Earth in my basement on a board. I paint, modify and cut my Legos to make them more like they would be in Middle-Earth.
 * When I first began in Middle-earth, I could not believe that Tolkien envisioned the soldiers in chainmail and surcoats. How hideous! But now, I find myself leaning towards the book side, and have been trying to make the mod more like this.
 * Anyone who hates on Tolkien's works is on my death list.
 * My favorite realm in Middle-Earth is Lindon, due to it's cool climate, beautiful scenery, and history.
 * The Lord of the Rings movies are my favorites, because, as any good Tolkien fan knows, the Hobbit movies and books share a title and nothing else.

Suggestions
Here you can find links to some of my favorite suggestions.

Lore-Based Changes, Plus Faction Changes

Of the Land of Mordor Where the Shadows Are

Of Nan Curunir

Of Horse Archers and Archers in General

Of the Rangers of Arnor

On the Geography of Middle-Earth

On Population

Character Overview:
(For those of you who do not wish to read the lengthy history)

Culture:
Ithilion is a Noldo, a Deep Elf, a Sword Elf, an Elf of Aulë, a Foe of Morgoth, and a Follower of Finwë. The Noldor, dark-haired and grey-eyed, are renowned in song for their labor and war in the north of Beleriand. They were the mightiest warriors, the greatest jewelwrights, and the wisest loremasters that Middle-earth has ever known.

Personality:
Ithilion is, as all the Noldor, proud and arrogant, but he has an undercurrent of regret. He is kind to those who merit it, but against foes he is pitiless and cruel. A veteran of countless battles, he has seen far more of the horrors of war than any elf should. He is pained constantly by the death of his warriors, and grieves for the fall of any Elf, not least the Falmari he himself slew at Alqualondë. His favorite time of the day is the rising of the night and moon, and is happiest during the beginning of spring, when the flowers are in bloom yet it is still cool and cloudy. Rain and clouds are a delight of his, especially at night with the moon behind them.

Abilities:
Ithilion was famed for his skill with a bow and blade during the Elder days, a champion even among the Noldor. In battle he uses his long silver sword, Helcanárë, the Icy Flame, which was made in the light of Telperion and cooled in the snot of Taniquetil. Sharp as obsidian, its bite burns with the feel of ice. As well as his sword, he uses a bow of Valinor, an heirloom of the Eldar, made of Taniquelasse and bound with silver, and a fine and deadly weapon when used with the Celereg arrows that he himself forged.

During the Wars of Beleriand, Ithilion was second captain of the Horse-archers of Fingon, and the two rode together in many battles. He carried this skill with a bow with him to Gondolin after the Nirnaeth, where he was a leader of the archers of the Fifth Gate, the Gate of Silver. He served Gil-galad during the Second Age, as a general in his forces. After the Battle at Fornost, Ithilion did not participate in any more wars of Men, and left with Elrond at the end of the Third Age.

Relations:
Ithilion is a diplomat as well as a fighter, though he is somewhat reserved and has few close friends. His cousin, Ariniel, was the wife of Fingon, and his parents stayed behind with the host of Finarfin during the Flight of the Noldoli. He is well-acquainted with Elrond-o-Imladris, and Faenor of the Silver Laurel of Lóriën. Sadly, many of his friends like Fingon, Aegnor, Gil-galad, and Argon died during the Wars of Beleriand and the Last Alliance.

History
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In Valinor:
Telemtir was born in the Years of the Trees, several weeks after the birth of Fingon son of Fingolfin. The two, as they grew up, became good friends and constant companions in Tirion. Telemtir was also a friend of the other children of Fingolfin, and as elf-children they roamed the Calacirya together. As he grew older, Telemtir journeyed to Valimar to see the Two Trees. He loved most the silver light of Telperion, and often sat below the hill of Ezellohar at night watching them. He also had a love of the woods and mountains, and would often hunt in the following of Orome with Celegorm, Amrod, and Amras (though he held no love for the sons of Feanor.) His sister Ariniell eventually married his oldest comrade Fingon.

Of the Kinslaying and the Flight of the Ñoldor:
Telemtir was in Valinor at the time of the destruction of the Two Trees. He stayed near Fingon and was a member of his host that followed Feanor’s. The host arrived at Alqualonde to see the Ñoldor and Teleri slaughtering each other. Assuming that the Teleri had tried to stop the Ñoldor’s escape, the warriors of the house of Fingolfin charged into battle. Telemtir was filled with regret at fighting his kin, but, not knowing the cause of the fight, he fought against the Sea-Elves, and slew many, although he would later regret it terribly. He did, however, try to stop the slaying of those Teleri who surrendered, and prevented the murder of Olwe from the cruel servants of the sons of Feanor. He followed Fingon out of the city of Swans and marched north, his heart heavy. They encamped upon the cost of Araman, while Feanor and his elves slept on the stolen Swan-Ships. When he awoke, in the darkness, there was a red glow upon the western horizon, and Feanor and his ships were gone. Telemtir cursed Feanor thrice for his treachery, and the host of Fingolfin marched north to the Grinding Ice.

Of the Battle of Lammoth:
After a long and difficult journey, through death and cold, the Ñoldor set foot upon Middle-Earth as the Moon rose, and flowers grew underneath their feet. The silver glow in the sky entranced Telemtir, and he was named anew Isilanon, son of the Moon,  which became Ithilion in the Sindarin tongue. And the servants of Morgoth hid and would not assail the Eldar. But when it vanished into the west the Orcs arose and attacked the Ñoldor in the hills of Lammoth. Caught off-guard, Fingolfin had no time to muster a defence, but his sons Fingon and Argon charged forward with a company of warriors, among them Ithilion. In a blue and silver wedge they fought into the heart of the orc lines, and Argon there threw down the orcish general. But he himself was wounded to the death, and died as the orcs fled the glowing swords of the Eldar. Thus died the first descendant of Fingolfin, but not the last.

Onward the Ñoldor marched, but in the East there was a red glow. To Lake Mithrim they came, and there news was received that Feanor was dead. There Maedhros gave up the kingship unto Fingolfin, and spoke of his regret for the sundering of the two brothers and their following. Fingolfin accepted the apology, but relation were harsh between the Sons of Feanor and Fingolfin after, and were until the Dagor Dagorath.

As the Ñoldor arrived in Mithrim the Sun rose, and Fingolfin let blow his horns, and a company of Sindar archers under one with silver-gold hair came through the Cirith Eithel. From Thingol they came, and brought words of welcome to the Ñoldor. But their leader Faenor bid the Eldar to settle in the North, for Thingol was lord of Beleriand.

Then Fingolfin marched to the iron gates of Angband, and smote the doors, and blew the trumpets. But no answer did they receive, and Fingolfin in rage turned with his host and returned to Mithrim, where he began building a realm.

Of the Third Battle:
Ithilion dwelt in Barad Eithel after its construction, and often rode with Fingon upon the north marches. But there came a day when Fingon could not be found. It is said in The Silmarillion that he travelled to Angband, alone, to rescue his beloved friend Maedhros. Fingon was hailed as a hero for this brave act, and was given command of the horse archers of Ard-galen. Of these Ithilion was second captain, and clad in royal blue and silver he rode in defence of the forts on the plain. The Sindar Faenor, captain of Doriath, occasionally joined the company as well in patrols along the north.

Fingon and Ithilion were stationed in Barad Eithel when the Thangorodrim belched flame and a host of orcs came out of the Hells of Iron. Fingolfin mobilized his warriors, and came on the western flank of the orc-host with Maedhros on the east. The orcs, trapped by the blue-clad scions of Fingolfin and the scarlet-clad sons of Feanor, broke and fled north. The mounted archers of Fingon, Ithilion at the head, rode out behind and slaughtered the fleeing orcs with barbed silver arrows, earning himself the name Elruth, Star’s Wrath. Not one returned to Angband that day. Thus began the long siege of Angband. ==== Of the Fourth Battle: ====

Four hundred years after the Dagor Aglareb, Morgoth attacked. Stationed on the north marches, Ithilion watched with dread as smoke rose from Angband, then rivers of fire. Leaping upon his horse Celemori, he rode south ahead of the approaching flames, followed by all the Elves who could escape, including Faenor Celebri of Doriath. The Orc-host under Glaurung and Gothmog burned all the green fields of Ard-galen that day. Continuing south, the orcs assailed Dorthonion and slew the sons of Finarfin Angrod and Aegnor. Maglor led a sortie in the east, but his horsemen burned on the fields. The defence of the Feanorians was overthrown, and East Beleriand was lost save for the hill of Himring. Ithilion and his few elves retreated towards Ered Wethrin, and in the woods and valleys they fought guerilla warfare against the black tide. Then, when all seemed lost, the orc hosts retreated before the walls of Barad Eithel. Warriors under blue banners pursued them down the cliffs, and a horseman in silver rode out before, his dark hair streaming and his eyes glowing. Like Orome the Great Fingolfin rode towards the North, and the sound of his horn all could hear. Ithilion mounted his horse and rode behind, but even the great horse of Valinor could not catch Rochallor in his battle rage. Too late Ithilion arrived to the fight, as Fingolfin fell beneath a great shape in black who was bleeding from seven wounds.. But the eagle Thorondor lifted Fingolfin’s body and clawed Morgoth, who cried in rage and retreated into Angband. Then Thorondor set down Fingolfin in the Anfauglith, and Ithilion saw he was not alone. Faenor Celebri was there also, and held Ringil. “Farewell, soldier of Doriath!” rasped Fingolfin. “Avenge me with its shining blade!” He turned to Ithilion. “Farewell, son of the Moon! Tell my children farewell. And take my armor, and use it in defence of the realm of Hithlum!” Thus the High King of the Noldor died, bravest of the sons of Finwe.

Ithilion and Faenor wept at the death of the king, and Ithilion took the silver mail and gilded bracers of Fingolfin, and wearing it he looked a prince. And wielding the icy Ringil, Faenor stood as one as well. “Farewell, captain of Thingol.” said Ithilion. “I must return to Mithrim and bear this news beyond grief to the new king. But I daresay that we shall meet again, on this very field, and in peril and death none shall stand before the Silver Laurel and the Fury of the Stars.”

Then Faenor rode south under Thorondor’s wings, bearing the High King south. And Ithilion turned west and rode to the white walls of the Citadel of the Spring, bearing the most woeful tidings to have come to the Eldar since the death of the Two Trees.

Of the Fifth Battle:
Ithilion was now one of the generals of Fingon, and was the mastermind of the plan to take Angband. The plan called for the forces of Maedhros, Feanorians, Naugrim, and Easterlings, to draw out the army of the North. Then Fingon’s force of Noldor and Edain would attack from the west, trapping the orcs in a vise. When all was made ready, Ithilion stood near Fingon with Faenor Celebri on Barad Eithel, and as the trumpets of Turgon sounded in the south, he heard the famed cry “Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë!” And Ithilion drew his blade and cried in answer “Auta i lómë!” and all the host in the hills echoed it.

But Morgoth was aware of the attack, and brought forth Gelmir of Nargothrond, and slew him cruelly, and the force under Gwindor brother of Gelmir lept forward from the hills and slaughtered the orcs, pursuing the Orcs even to Angband. Thence Faenor followed them, and coming behind came the army of Fingon, warriors of Hithlum, Gondolindrim with silver pikes, and Edain with axes, Ithilion at the tip of the wedge behind his lord. But then the remnants of Gwindor’s company came flying back, and Morgoth sprung his trap. Out of Angband poured Dragons, and Balrogs, and innumerable legions of Orcs. Coming upon the Guard of Fingon, Gothmog lord of Balrogs charged and engaged with the elite of the Eldar. Many Balrogs and Trolls fell before Ithilion and the others of the Guard, but they were cut off from their lord. There Fingon was slain by Gothmog, and Faenor battled Gothmog and was thrown down. But the remnants of the Guard bore him from the battlefield and pulled back to the lines of Turgon.

Tidings came of the treachery of Ulfang, and the death of Azaghal of Belegost, and Turgon saw that the day was lost. Ithilion and Faenor urged him to retreat, and he agreed. And in the Fen of Serech the Gondolindrim slipped away, and Turgon granted Ithilion a noble gift: To come to Gondolin and dwell there in peace. But Ithilion would stay with the rearguard with Húrin and Faenor, and so Turgon left without him.

The Rearguard formed a shieldwall in the Fen, and the Men of Dor-Lomin stood proud and tall, knowing they were going to die. Onward came the Orcs, and the Edain cut them down. But the numbers of the North were too great. Huor was shot through, and Húrin Thalion ordered the remaining soldiers to form a circle and fight to the last. He then turned to Ithilion and Faenor and told them to leave, if only to remember the warriors of Dor-Lomin. The two regretfully and reluctantly departed, and sprinted off through the Fens. They were followed by orcs and separated. Ithilion could hear the great bow of Faenor singing as he moved east. But just as he thought he had escaped, a volley of arrows sliced through the air and struck him in the leg, shoulder, and throat. He collapsed to the ground.

But with his last sight, Ithilion hewed the legs of his three attackers, and slew them. Then he fell and was unconscious. Bleeding out as he was he would have died then had it not been for a dream. The spirit of Fingon visited him as he lay, and told him the location of the entrance to the Hidden City. The dream jerked him awake, but he was terribly weak. He removed the arrowheads from his shoulder and leg, but could not remove the one in his neck. Miraculously, the orc-arrow had missed all the major blood vessels and was lodged above his collarbone. But, though with intense pain, he managed to take it out. The blood was flowing freely now, and he knew he has only minutes before he lost too much blood and died. Groping around, he found some moss and padded his wounds with it. Then he slept. When he awoke, he found he could stand. He found some water in a stream nearby, and drank eagerly. That refreshed his mind, and he began journeying south to where he knew the Orfalch Echor lay. And such did Unnumbered Tears end.

Of the Fall of Gondolin:
Through pain and suffering, Ithilion eventually reached Gondolin. He was well-known to the guards, and as such was allowed to enter the gate and into the city. The sight of the white walls, the towers, and fountains made Ithilion gasp. He was taken before King Turgon, and was welcomed to the city. There he met Ecthelion, lord of the Fountain, and joined his ranks. He became a member of the House of the Fountain, and befriended Ecthelion and Rog of the Hammer of Wrath. And Ithilion had at last peace. But ere long Huor came to the city, and came with warning of the doom of Gondolin. Ithilion was horrified at the words of the messenger of the Valar, but Turgon would not hear it, nor Maeglin, though Ithilion and several of the Lords of the Houses sided with Túor. It was then that Ithilion perceived that Maeglin loved Idril, who had eyes only for Túor. And Ithilion saw the shadow growing on Idril, once she married Túor, and counseled her to build an escape tunnel to Cirith Thoronach. But one day, Faenor was brought in by the Eagles of the Crissaegrim, and he was dreadfully wounded. The healers of Gondolin worked their skill, and removed the shards of darkness that were in Faenor. And when he awoke, Ithilion greeted him and showed him the city.

It came on a night of the Tarnin Austa, before daybreak. A red light grew in the North, but the watch was not called out until the city began to be shelled. Great stones flamed down on the white walls, and Ithilion, making his way to the king, urged for an assault upon the orcs in the Tumladen. But Maeglin gainsaid him, and in a rage Ithilion stormed out of the palace. But as he left, he realised the treachery of Maeglin, and would have turned back and slain the son of Eol, but the iron monsters of Angband destroyed the gates of the city and he rushed to the defence. But he intercepted Salgant who was fleeing to his home, and Salgant drew his sword against him. There Ithilion slew him, and the blood stained the flagstones. The other members of the House of the Harp followed him, and he rushed with Faenor to the aid of the Houses of the Tree and Hammer of Wrath. There they held the breach in the wall, but Balrogs burst through, and war machines hurling fire. Then Rog led a desperate charge out into the fray, and every member of the House of Hammer of Wrath slew seven foes, but they were overcome and slain. Looking from the walls to high above, Ithilion saw elves fighting elves on the ramparts, and a black shape falling out into the abyss, striking the cliff thrice and falling into the fire. Thus Maeglin perished. Ithilion rushed to the main gate, but there the forces of Morgoth broke through, and having spent all his arrows Duilin fell, and Penlod died in a lane with many elves around him. The western wall collapsed under the assault of Morgoth, but there Túor coming with his house, Faenor Celebri, and Ecthelion of the Fountain repelled the attack. Ithilion arrived and joined the fray, but Ecthelion was wounded and Ithilion urged a retreat to the Square of the King. The remainder of the houses of the Wing and Fountain, along with the House of the Golden Flower, pulled back, where the phalanx of Turgon reinforced them. But the barricades were destroyed and the Gondolindrim were forced to retreat again. There Ecthelion lept upon Gothmog, and threw him into the fountain, and both drowned in its water. Glorfindel, Ithilion, and Faenor held the rearguard, but a dragon came against them and they retreated yet again to the King’s Tower. There Túor revealed the secret tunnel to those who did not know, and Turgon laid down his leadership unto him. The survivors made for the house of Túor and the entrance to the secret tunnel, which was on the side of the city the orcs had not yet reached in force. Faenor wished to remain and die fighting, but Ithilion and Turgon convinced him to leave. Ithilion was no coward, but he knew that his death would not help the Noldor. So the two fled towards the secret tunnel, as behind them Turgon mocked the orcs and his tower fell in ruin.

Into the tunnel the Elves fled, and they made their way under the Tumladen to the dreadful Eagle’s Pass. But Morgoth was aware of them, and he sent a company of orcs and a Balrog after them. But Glorfindel slew the balrog, and as he fell into the abyss he urged the Noldor to flee. Ithilion weeped at the fall of his friend, and the Noldor, with help from the Eagles, managed to escape into the Vale of Sirion. There Ithilion and Faenor parted, and Ithilion traveled south with the survivors to the Mouth of Sirion, and then to Balar, while Faenor traveled to Doriath.

Of the Mouths of Sirion and the Third Kinslaying:
The refugees of Gondolin continued south, until they came to the hidden refuge in the Mouths of Sirion. He was an advisor to Tuor, and, after his departure, Earendil. He often paid visits to his nephew Gil-Galad, now High King, on the isle of Balar. Unlike many of the refugees, he lived not in the reed-forests of Lisgardh but in the birchwoods of Nimbrethil, alone with his sadness of the death of his friends, lords, and fellow Noldor. Over time, he would come less and less to the havens of Sirion, his grief rendering him quiet and solitary. He helped to build Vingilot the ship of Earendil, but he mostly avoided contact with others.

But there came a day when, with his farseeing Elvish eyes, that he looked to the havens and saw flames rising from them. Leaping upon his horse, he rode like a hailstorm towards the havens, but, like the forces of Gil-Galad, was too late. He arrived to a massacre,. He saw friends lying dead, and near them fallen scarlet-clad elves with longswords. He recognised the rayed stars and flames on their tunics. Soldiers of the Feanorians. Another Kinslaying. He fell to his knees, remembering the dead Teleri lying in the sea. Tears flowed down his cheeks. He sat there, weeping until the soldiers of Gil-Galad came.

 

Ithilion did not participate in the War of Wrath, nor did any of the other Elves of Beleriand. He moved to Balar, and, hearing of the oncoming flood, built a ship and sailed to the land of Lindon, not ready to return to the Blessed Realm. There he met Maglor wandering the coast, and forgave him for the sins of the Feanorians, and Maglor taught him a song of the Curse of the Silmarils, the last song of the great singer, and the only one he sang ever after.

“ ‘A blazing wave devours white shore,'

The poets muse on Feanor,

While they should wish him nothing more

Than swiftly falling ash.

 

In reckless words we forged our fate,

In white-hot script for cracking slate,

Each syllable the world's weight -

But gladly were we crushed.

 

I saw blood in the soft sea wrack;

Each sea-elf dead a mirror's crack

In our own faces staring back

From all the noble slain.

 

In Dior's blessed and empty face

I searched for us but found no trace.

The mirror shattered. Only grace

We bear no more stared back.

 

The waves closed over Elwing's head,

Dissolved the Light that silver bled

Into a face that held no dread;

So different from ourselves.

 

Not princes now, nor kings, but thieves,

And reckless as the falling leaves,

We take the Jewels and my heart grieves:

For all the world is stained.

 

For this the final Doom we bear:

In blood spilt red as Nelyo's hair;

The golden Vanyar lying there

Dead, even as our hearts.

 

The living Light is agony;

A shining, sharp finality:

A leap into eternity,

Into the mirror cracked.

 

Deep water hide this wretched Jewel!

A Silver flame in bloody pool;

All who might have called me fool

For drowning it are dead.

 

'A blazing wave devours white shore,'

The poets muse on Feanor,

While they should wish him nothing more

Than silent, faceless as
 * }

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