User:Calanon Evergreen

"In a great hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone sat the Elvenking on a chair of carven wood. On his head was a crown of berries and red leaves, for the autumn was come again. In the spring he wore a crown of woodland flowers. In his hand he held a carven staff of oak."

- The Hobbit

Background
The Elvenking is a title used in Middle-earth for the ruler of the Woodland Realm, the country of the Silvan Elves who dwelt in the north of Mirkwood. Little to nothing is mentioned of him in the line of events from the Second to Third age, but we learn later in history that he is aarplane22 (known to the Elves as Calanon), the Elvenking that ruled Northern Mirkwood in the Second Age (lore-wise) and the Third Age (in-game).

Culture
The Elvenking had his halls underground, partly in memory (it was said) of the mighty but long-lost Menegroth of Doriath. He lived in attunement with nature, wearing a crown of flowers, or autumn berries, according to the season, and his banner was, naturally enough, green in color.

Personality
The Elvenking believed the solution to fixing the problems of Middle-earth was to remove himself and his people from it, and let the fortunes of the world rise and fall. However, over time, various circumstances prompted him to commit his people to defend the Free-peoples of Middle-earth from great evil. Through the good and the bad of these events, the Elvenking reconnected with the outside world, returned to his Eldarin role as a watchful guardian over Middle-earth, and re-opened some of his heart to the needs of others.

When presented with logic and facts, the Elvenking is able to be reasoned with in a diplomatic fashion. On other occasions, however, the inherent assertive, somewhat aggressive nature of his Woodland kin shines through, which makes him deadly in combat, not only with blades, but with words as well. It was through this skill that he rallied the forces of northern Middle-earth to stand against the darkness, and through which many fell to his prowess.

Abilities
The Elvenking was skilled in army combat, coordinating the great Woodland Army with incredible tact and discipline. All would fear the beech arrows of the Woodland Elves, raining down like a wild wind on a winter storm, and the glistening curved swords that cut throug the enemy with incredible power and grace. The ranks of the Woodland Army were rarely breached, as the Elvenking kept the formations tight, secure, and always around him. While other parts of Middle-earth had scattered, unorganized armies, the Elvenking was able to master various efficient formations and strategies, which made his Woodland Army among the deadliest hosts in Middle-earth.

Not only was he skilled in the art of army combat, but also combat with blades. The Elvenking wielded two of the finest Elven swords of the Woodland Realm, which were skillfully fashioned by the finest Sindarin smiths among his Silvan kin. This set apart not only the elegant design of his Sindarin swords from his Silvan kins' blades, but it also differentiated his fighting style. Although the Elvenking rarely put himself in a position of self-defense or solo combat (since he was more accustomed to leading an army), he was none the less a deadly fighter, and a feared opponent on the battlefield.

When put in a situation of dire need, the Elvenking can slice through ranks of opponents with effortless ease. He fights with heightened efficiency, wasting no energy in extravagant or unnecessary swings, but using quick, graceful, and elegant movements. The Elvenking faces opponents in a defensive fashion, waiting for opponents to come to him, but swiftly ends them in an offensive manner. All of these aspects make the Elvenking's fighting style an extraordinary combination of Elven skill and ability.

Being a Sindarin Elf, the Elvenking possesses less light and power than the higher Elves of Middle-earth. None the less, he is able to channel this inherent power of the Eldar and fight against higher-tier entities, like wraiths and other dark forms. When coupled with an artifact of light, like the Light of Earendil, the Elvenking's light can equal that of a high Noldorin Elf.

Relations in Middle-earth
Unlike his latter Sindarin and Silvan kin, The Elvenking fostered a courteous friendship with the Dwarves of Erebor to the north. Other notable allies were the Horse-lords of Rohan, The Galadhrim Elves of Lothlórien, the Rangers of Ithilien, and the noble Elves of Imladris.

Contributions

 * Created a resource pack of completely redesigned Wood-elven armor and weapons
 * Created a new infobox template "Infobox War"
 * Published the story The Great Angmar War
 * Played a part in the Last Chat Alliance of Mods and Users
 * Received the promotion to chat moderator

History
The following content is based on real in-game events

Origin
The Elvenking, vaguely known as Calanon, was a Sindarin Elf who traveled East from Beleriand to Rhovanion some time in the early Second Age. Before the great line of Woodland rulers (notable figures such as Oropher and Thranduil), he wandered the Greenwood and became highly acquainted with the vast forest. Before long, he reached the heart of the wood, and stumbled upon the Silvan Elves dwelling there in. In awe of his regal Sindar ancestry, they made him their king, and under his rule, they established a great realm that encompassed all of the Greenwood, which brought security, peace, and prosperity.

The Shroud of Greenwood
Alas, their peace did not last long. For when the Orcs in the mountains learned of a united Elven force in the Greenwood, under one they called "Elvenking", the forces of darkness rallied and set out to assault the young kingdom of the Greenwood, now called The Woodland Realm. Towards the mid-Second Age, the orcs and foul creatures of the North flooded into the Greenwood, and pushed the Elvenking and his kin farther east, until their Woodland Realm was only a fraction of the vast, peaceful forest it once was.

The Northern Alliance & The Great Angmar War
In response to the influx of foul creatures now residing under the trees of the forest, the Elvenking assembled a great army of Woodland Elves and waged war on the evil lands of the North, now called Angmar. Behind him, he rallied the Dwarves of Erebor and the Horse-lords of Rohan to aid him in the war. Together, they assembled a mighty host of Men, Elves, and Dwarves. Vaguely known in history as the great Northern Alliance, they marched to the lands of Angmar, intent on vanquishing this foe of the North.

What eventually transpired was a great war that went far beyond Angmar, and one that ravaged all the evil lands of Middle-earth. The Northern Alliance made a daring assault on eastern Mordor, which allowed forces from the West to deliver a swift, finishing blow to the Land of Shadow. Soon after, the Elvenking and the King Under the Mountain pushed to the center of Southern Mirkwood and battled a powerful Nameless Shadow, which made its residence in a ruined fortress deep under the twisted beech trees of the Elvenking's now-corrupted forest.

Read the full story

The Southern Alliance & The Gulduril War
The Gulduril War is a currently ongoing conflict, long after the events of The Great Angmar War, and involves the stirring of darkness once more in Middle-earth, and the impending rise of The Enemy.

Beginning with a surprise assault on The Lonely Mountain by Orcs, and the discovery of powerful, ancient artifacts of darkness from the seemingly-vanquished kingdom of Angmar, The Elvenking begins to realize that darkness may have found a way to creep back into the world. Word soon reaches him from the Lord of the Galadhrim, Faenor of the Silver Laurel, that a dark power was once again stirring deep within the confines of Southern Mirkwood, which further confirms the Elvenking's suspicions. As time swiftly progresses, the two Elven lords come to the startling realization that the Darkness has indeed returned to Southern Mirkwood, and it could very well be The Enemy of the Free-peoples of Middle-earth. With a union of Sindarin might, and a brave force of Ithilien Rangers, lead by Captain Faramir, this newly formed Southern Alliance must unite and directly confront the Darkness within Southern Mirkwood, and move swiftly to the other fell lands of Middle-earth (potentially with the rest of the Free-peoples), in an effort to prevent widespread loss like that from the days of old.

[Story is an ongoing conflict, and a work in progress. Link to full story will be posted when conquest is fulfilled.]

''Note: The manuscripts in the stories above are only small excerpts from "Tales of the Elvenking", which is the Redbook of the Elvenking Calanon that contains a multitude of accounts and events that transpired during the early Second Age of Middle-earth. "Tales of the Elvenking" is a work in progress, and will be compiled into one textual work in due time.''

Context & Etymology

 * The era these events occurred in-game was the Third Age, but for purposes of not interfering too much with existing lore timelines, story-wise I translated the events to the Second Age.
 * The name "Calanon" (the Elvenking's lesser known name), means light in Sindarin, and is a rough Elvish translation of my actual name.
 * The font used in "The Great Angmar War", "Tales of the Elvenking", and other manuscripts highly resembles my handwriting in real life.

Alternate Wood-elven Resource Pack
Redesigned armor, sword, shield, and more, to resemble the design shown in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Download

Infobox War Template
Template for the infobox (used in the History section) to analyze wars and battles

Click here