Board Thread:Lore Texts/@comment-29773086-20170530083354

 A history of Cârmab, the last prince of the Kingdom of Cardolan, the southermost kingdom of Arnor. Cârmab was a noble and virtous prince, and unlike his father, he had no love for war and the suffering that it unleashed on the denizens of Cardolan. Rather than devoting his time to the pursuit of martial perfection, the Prince tilled the fields with common farmers, sought for trout with the Fisher-folk of the Gwathló, and talked long with the odd inhabitants of the Old Forest. But although he neglected his studies of war, he was still of the Dúnedain, and proficient with blade and bow. And though he loved not the thrill of battle, still he was a man of great courage and bravery. But then, in the year 1409 of the Third Age, Amon Sûl was assaulted by a great host out of Angmar. Those few of the Dúnedain that survived fled to the capital of Cardolan, the Barrow-downs, and Cârmab started to gather all his vulnerable subjects in an attempt to save them from the Witch-King. It happened that Cârmab rode out from the Barrow-downs south on the North Road (today known as the Greenway) late in 1409. With him was a small company of his own devising- a militia made of the common folk that he loved so much. It was named the Red Company, as Cârmab's name meant 'Red Hand'- surely a name given in jest by his friends, considering how unwarlike he was if the times did not call for it. His men dared not take armaments from the barrows of the kings and lords of old- such an act would be irreverent. So instead, they had equipped themselves with axes, hunting bows, and makeshift spears. These were not just any peasants, but Dúnedain descended from the glory of Númenor, with the valour of the Edain of old, and their bearing, no matter how humble their weapons, reflected that heritage. But now that lineage would be tested. For even as Cârmab rode south, a host of Orcs could be seen coming up the North Road, and the Prince was bewildered at the turn of events- Angmar was in the north, and that land was assumed to be relatively safe. Here a note must be made on the tactics of the Witch-King's commanders. The host had most likely travelled south from Amon Sûl, rather than west on the road; such a path was more arduous, but the Orcs of Angmar travelling at night were capable of completing the journey. After some months of war, the Angmarim commanders had been taught with steel that the eastern route was well-guarded and patrolled; so they decided on a new ploy to crush the remnants of Cardolan. Their strategy was to renew the assault on the eastern route, so as to draw out much of the Cardolani garrison to defend it; but only as a diversion. Meanwhile, they would send the larger host south past the South Downs, and then wheel around to find the North Road and follow it north into the Barrow-downs, so as to wreak havoc while the army of Cardolan was elsewhere. This strategy was only prevented by sheer luck, and the timely presence and great valour of Cârmab and his force, as I will now detail. Upon sight of the great number of enemies, Cârmab ordered his company to stop and take cover. His face was grave as he deliberated with his friends and lieutenants. The options they had became clear to him: the first was to attempt to harry and slow the host of Orcs, so as to give the defenders of the Downs time to prepare- though he knew not that the force was even then fighting in the north against the diversion. The other path he could take was to flee, either back to the Barrow-downs or into the countryside, and thereby preserve himself and his companions- but he guessed that such a choice would lead to the enemy being able to storm into the Downs unopposed by anything more than a token defence. The Orcs were further off than he had first thought, owing to the sheer size of the host- some 6,000 strong. Still, they would soon be upon the capital, and that could not be allowed. So he began to formulate a plan to harass the Orcs without losing his dear friends (and his own life) to Orcish blades. Soon he had decided upon a plan of attack. For though the North Road was not in those days in such disrepair as to be called the 'Greenway' as it is now, the bushes grew thick on either side of it still. So he sent their horses off a ways on the road under the care of a farmer, and set his men in readiness on the flanks of the road in preparation to ambush the Orcs with their bows. Most of them had bows, as for a commoner (and indeed for the noble Dúnedain) they served a dual purpose as both a hunting weapon and a protection against an Orc. The column of Orcs drew ever nearer, as the men waited in fear and anticipation. Now they drew close enough that the Dúnedain felt they could almost smell the stench of orc-filth, but still Cârmab did not give the order. Suddenly he raised a crimson fist (for he had taken to wearing red gloves after his name) and the men of Cardolan gave a great shout and fired a volley into the front rank of Orcs. Most of those died, and the ones immediately behind were bewildered at the turn of events. They balked in confusion as the Red Company shot again into their midst. At this range, every arrow hit a target, but what mattered more was to slow the force and make them wary of going onwards too speedily. Now, as the Orcs began to recover from the ambush, the Prince gave the signal again, and the Cardolani began to fall back as one. A few Orcs dared to give chase, but the fresh men quickly outran the wearied Angmarim. Cârmab repeated this tactic several times on the vanguard of the enemy, but it began to lose effectiveness as the Orcs caught on. Soon the Orcs devised a counter to the ambushes- they brought up their own archers to fire at the retreating Dúnedain. Now they could reply in kind to the farmers' arrows, and teach them to fear the host. Even though it was now doubly dangerous, Cârmab continued to employ the tactic as it was the only one available to them, and the Orcs needed to be held a little longer. So again his men positioned themselves in the bushes. This time the Orcs were all too ready, though; they had formed a shield wall in an attempt to stop some of the arrows. Once more the Red Company fired upon the Orcs, and instantly began to flee from the reply they knew would come. And indeed, a cloud of Orcish darts soon rose, and fell back to the earth, bringing down several men. Cârmab himself took an arrow to the knee, and could no longer walk. The Orcs now ran up to finish off those on the ground. But the Prince would not let himself be slain so easily. With difficulty, he rose, and stood his ground against the oncoming Orcs. The first to reach him was dispatched quickly by his well-forged but little-used blade. But then several of them swarmed him at once, and slashed at him with their scimitars, rendering him unable to wield his sword. He managed, with an inhuman effort, to shake them off. But now he was surrounded by eight or so, with no hope of victory or escape. Again they sprang at him, and this time he taught them to fear his sword. But eventually by sheer numbers Cârmab was overwhelmed, and the Orcs who now numbered in the dozens stabbed many times into him, as his life-blood flowed from his body. It was at this moment that his men, hastening back to save him, beheld the sight. They were overcome with rage, and charged into the knot of Orcs, cutting their way towards their lord implacably. Reaching him, they bore up his body, and with it began to fall back once more. The Orcs feared to engage them, such was their anger and might at this moment. Some say that if they had remained and fought, not any of all 6,000 Orcs could have withstood them, but they did not tarry to fight, and instead bore Cârmab homewards with all honour. They buried Prince Cârmab in a great barrow, as was befitting of his position, upon returning to the Downs. Even after the final fall of Cardolan, so strong was the memory of his valour and nobility that his tale was still told throughout the lands of Eriador for long ages after his fall.  
 * 1) written by Gorbag12/ Thindithron
 * 2) author:Hallas, Scribe of Tharbad
 * 3) title:Cârmab, last prince of Cardolan
 * 4) types:eriador
 * 1) types:eriador