Dor-en-ErnilDor-en-Ernil comprises all the lands between the rivers Gilrain and Ringló / Morthond including the hilly penninsula called Belfalas. To the west lies Anfalas, Lebennin to the east. The Realm of Dor-en-Ernil is an autonomous provice in the heart of souther gondor. Two of the most important ports lay within its borders and the capicat Dol Amroth is neighbored to the famous elven city of Edhelond. The name "Dor-en-Ernil" is sindarin for "Land of the Prince". The Principality has long prized its autonomy from the central realm. |
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HistoryFirst AgeThe first inhabitants of the land were the Druedain whio arrived in the last First Age. At the end of the First Age came the Dean Coentis from the east who settled the lands at the Ered Nimrais (S. "White Montains").Second AgeIn the Second Age came Sindar founded Edhellond (S. "Elf-haven"). By 1700 S.A. the Edhellond had become a significant port for the Elves.After the war against Souron in Eriador, the Noldo Galadriel come with her spouse Celeborn to Belfalas. She decided to settle next to Edhelond on a rocky promonotory jutting into the bay call Tirond Aear (S. "Sea-spire"). There she erected a a tower called Tirith Aear (S. "Sea-ward Tower"). After 1800 S.A. the Guild of Venturers arrived around the Bay of Belfalas, bringing munonorians settlers mostly to todays Lebennin. The Guild was led by Imrazôr in this days - and in the later history banned by the king. In 3319 S.A. Gondor was founded by Elendil the Tall and his sons Isildur and Anarion. A powerful family related to Elendil and possessed of elven blood was choosen to oversee the new lands at the kingdoms western frontier. It was the famous Lord Edhelion - a man who was treated by the elves as one of their own kind - who secured and developed the region between the River Gilrain and the Ered Tarthonion. In need to reward this invaluable service High-King Elendil accorded Edhelion the title of Ernil (S. "Prince") and the Land became know as Dor-en-Ernil (S. "Prince´s Land"). Third AgeIn 830 T.A. Tarannon ascended the throne of Gondor and the Princes were granted the western coast of Belfalas as well. Dunedain poured into this fertile land. Galadriel, realiting that the age of men has come, resigned Tirith Aear to the reigning Prince, who committed himself and his successors to maintain its warning bell.Aided by the sindar of Edhellond the Prince raised a mighty Castle on the peak above the Elven-tower. The new capital named Lond Ernil (S. "Princ´s Haven") was build below the fortress.This fine port would later become known as Dol Amroth (I prefer this name and use it all the time :). Gondor´s Kin-strife (1432-48 T.A.) was mostly fought in the Anduin Valley. The House Edhelion stayed neutral in this conflict, but many poeple of Belfalas went to join Castamir army and never caem back. Dor-en-Ernil was not only wealthy and the people masters of their craft, the Kin-strife strengthened the political position of Dor-en-Ernil. After the war the rebels fled with most of gondors fleet to Umbar and started raiding the castal regions of Belfalas. The Prince was forced to strengthen the castles and construct a system of coastal fortifications. With hard labor he succeeded and diverted the most of the raiding towards other regions. The Great Plague (1636-37 T.A.) claimed a third of the gondorian population,
although the loss was not as
That is the point were most of ICE´s stuff starts. |
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GeographyBelfalas has a long, rounded and hilly coastline between the mouth of the river Morthond and the Gilrain. The western coast is dominated by steep cliffs and rocky coves. On the eastern side are less dangerous sea-rocks sometimes you find beaches and marches. It is still impossible to land with bigger ships at the Belfalas coast apart from the habours. |
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ClimateThe average temperature at the coast is warm, the inner parts of Dor-en-Ernil are slightly cooler. Generaly the climate is perfect: you have a mild winter, prolonged spring and autumn and a warm, dry summer.Precipitation is regular - very frequent in spring and a with the peak storm season is late autumn. The coastline is never clam, but only in spring and autumn it is really windy. Occasionally winds from the sea dance around the Ered Nimrais - suddenly spilling spilling into the narrow river valleys. The inner vales generally are calm in summer, the mountains breezy. In winter the coast is rainly, the inner vales and mountains have moderate snow. |
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Fauna & FloraHighland lifeThe foothills of Ered Tarthonion are heavily are heavily wooded.The lower vales are filled with deciduous tree including oaks and cedars. Getting higher, the way is given to mighty pines.Marshes and river deltasThe deltas of the rivers Gilrain and Morthond have only a few large trees. Moss-hung cypresses can be found around small lagoons. Waterfowl and other birds could be found. Swarms of insects fill the air. Myriads of fish fill the estuaries. Closer to the bay are clam beds and burrowing crabs.Sea life in the bayVast beds of plankton, marine plants, crustaceans and shellfish have their home at the bay. Even lager ocean creatures are attracted by the large food supply. You can find sharks, whales, dolphins, rays, sea-snakes and sea-turtles as well as fell-turles and kranken. |
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People & CulturesEredrimIn the Ered Tarthonion still a few decendants of the Daen Coentis settle. These people are referred to as Eredrim. Akin to the Dulendings in the North, they are a bit darker. Generaly the eyes and hair are brown. Men often wear mustaches and thick beards. They rarely get older the 80 years, srating with the physical decline at around 60. They are a secretive folk, the last of a dying culture in these lands.Social Life: A small warrior arictrocaty rules the villages. The main part of a village are farmers and herdsmen. The wealth is shown by the number of cattles a man ownes. Stealing in the own village is regared as a major offence, stealing cattle elsewhere is regarded as admirable act of manhood. Only men go to war, but the woman are known for their courage in defending the homes. There is low unity under the villages, loyality goes to the villages and the clan. They dislike their Dunadan overlords - and flee on the sight of elves. Culture: the Eredrim speak a dialect of Dunael, very rare even some broken Westron. The Shaman is the only literate in these villages, many conversing in Daenael (Old Dunael). The male clothings consits of plain earthen-hued woolen tunics and trousers, wooden clogs or leather boots. Woman waer linen shifts and woolen dresses and also wooden clogs. Only Chieftains and Warriors possess fur mantles and brightly colored clothing. The food is mainly bread and vegetables, only chieftains and warriors can aford regular meat and ale. Houses are of stone, wood or wattle-and-daub. The animals are stabled at one end of the house. Gatherings with food and games are quite common, even between villages. Religion: Eredrim are very superstitious. They generaly follow theri shamans and beliefe in the Valar and Natural spirits. Sacrifices are very comman. Cremation is the traditional funeral ceremony. A minority follows dark cults. Under the influence of Saurons agents they follow the "old ways", remembering the power there ancestors had while following the Dark Lord in the old days. DunadanThe Dunadan of Dor-en-Ernil have a good shot elvish blood in there lines. Magic isn´t that bad reputaed as in the rest of Gondor, and the ties with Edhellond are quite close. Their appaerance is remarkably tall, black hair, shining grey eyes and fair skin. The man are clean-shaven.Social Life: the land is ruled by a feudal system. There is no dishonour in being a framer or fisher and everyone is a free man, also able to move from one village to another. They pay rent to the local manor lord. The family structur is conservative. Men are warriors, woman play supportive roles as counselors and healers. The Inhabitants are fluently in Sindarin and an archaic, chivalrous-sounding version of Westron. Nearly everone is literals, knowing people often also know Quenya and/or Adûnaic. The traiding people often also know the languages of some neighboring countries. Culture: Men wear long waist-belted tunics, made od linen or light wool. In cooler waether they waer fur or wool mantles and trousers. Sandals and soft boots are common. Ceremonical colthing reflects evlish style. The diet is various and tasteful: sweet brad, meat, fish, cheeses, many fruits and vegetrables. Wine, mead and ale are enjoyed. The prefferd buliding material is stone, and their ability in stoneworking is only surpassed by Dwarfs. Nobleman enjoy riding , hawking and hunting for leisure. Commonmen enjoy swimming along the shores and diving from the cliffs. Sailing and the local kind of chess are commonly pleasure. Religion: The Dunadan worship Eru without organized rituals. There is a form of ancestor worship. ElvesAlthough even in Dor-en-Ernil elves are rarely seen, there happen to be a few in the capital Dol Amroth. Where Morthond and Ringlo meet the ocean lies the port of Edhellond - the only elvish settlement in the whole gondorian region. Not officially a part of Dor-en-Ernil, the Prince and the rulers of Edhellond respect each other and Edhellond keeps the elvish strike in the Belfalas culture alife.Social Life: the leaders of Edhellond are principially Sindar.Silvan (or Avari) make up the ranks of the common folk. Many elves never marry, while those who do have several children. Culture: Sindar waer long tunics and flowing silken robes. They speak Sindarin, but also know Westron as well as the tounges of their Noldor and silvan brethen. Many Sindar are spell users, and are are literate. The Silvan waer functional green and brown tunics and hose, at sea a grab of greenish-blue hue. They speak their own silvan dialects - and a few word in sindarin. Few know Westron, apart from the ones traveling the land of the Prince. Religion: they revere the Valar. |
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Politics & Power (1640 T.A.)Status of Dor-en-ErnilAutonomous Principality. Dor-en-Ernil is technically a provice of Gondor, but in fact is is much more independant and treated like an state of its own. Unlike the other regions the Prince rules his state with enormous autonomy and his voice is one of the most important in gondorians affairs- just behind the King and the Steward of the Kingdom. Population
GovernmentDor-en-Ernil is a absolute monarchy with feudal structure. The Prince is an autonomous ruler. He pay annual support to the King, but he rules as he sees fit. The land is held in fiefs by the lesser Nobility of Belfalas and Dor-im-Nîn (S. "Land between the Waters") in the northern. These vassals pay annual tax, must enforce the laws in their domains and join the Princes Army as well as serve in the garrison of the castles three month a year. All of them join the Princes Army in wartime, many of them building the heavy cavalery of the realm. Seventeen families hold 90% of the land. Some local positions are elected.WarcraftIn wartime the Prince can raise an Army of 8.000 to 10.000 warriors. The navy has acouple of coastal patrols, about 20 of the famous White Ships and eight war galleys. Five privateers call port of Dor-en-Ernil their homeport.Knights: 200 Regular Infantry: 2.500 Navy: 1.000 Militia: 4.000 The elven port of Edhellond has a guard with is not part of the
amry, but may join the fight side by side with their allies. They have
lightweight chain hauberks and are armed with spears and either longbows
(Sindar) or shortbows (Silvan). Elven sailors wear leather breastplates
and falchions.
The Eredrim rarely serve in the Princes forces. Eredrim troops
are, unless trained, poorly disciplined and prefer wild charges and single
combat. They wear rigid laether brastplates, full shild and broadswords.
Some sign on as mercenaries for foreign wars.
The CourtTo other Dunadan the Court of Dor-en-Ernil is remarkably "elvish". Kights and their wonderful Ladies dance in the great hall to the melodies of the findest harpers in gondor. Heros rise to propose quest to far lands, and challenge one another to joust at forthcoming tourneys. Court life is a cycle of hunts, tourneys and entertainment. The most inmportant tounrnament of the year is may, when the most skilled swordfighters from all over Gondor meet in the the Lower Bailey of the Castle. One tourney is held evey season except winter.Alliances and WarsGondor is fequently at war with the south and the east. Umbar is the most dangerous enemy. Even as Dor-en-Ernil was neutral in the kin strife, it now stands on the gondorians side and is a traget for corsairs raids and vice versa. The umbarians seapower si superior the the gondorian, but they lack the skilled land forces. Nevertheless, merchants of Dor-en-Ernil weigh anchor is corsair controlled ports, and ships from Umbar and allied ports are seen in Dol Amroth and Linhir.The only true ally of Gondor are the Northmen who live east of Mirkwood. The contact with Arthedain is low, Cardolan is nearly out of conrtol and the Elves of Edhellond normaly mind their own affairs. The Eredrim are a possible enemy in the heart of Dor-en-Ernil. The clans of Ered Tarthonion do not resist the Prince openly, but he takes comfort when the Hill-folk remains at home. The Eredrim consider their situation as a constant siege, but they know a war aginst the Prince would prove hopeless. Mostly they show their position with no more than a hsotile stare. |
Politics & Power (1688 T.A.)WarcraftSince Arleod ascended the throne of Dor-en-Ernil in 1667 the warcraft as improved. The Princes guard Black Rose was set up, led by Terilaan - an former leader of the Elite Guards of Womaw. Like Arleod he is a Warriot Mage, and till 1688 about a dozend men are able to use some war magic in this force. Also the mobile force is Harondor was set up to guard the southern border of Gondor - and Dor-en-Ernil as a wealthy country takes more than half the cost of this force. On the other hand, the leaders are all men of the prince and the Prines forces gain more fighting expirience than any other soldiers in Gondor.Black Rose: 200 Harondor Army: 500 |
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Dol AmrothSymbolWhite Swan on a blue ground.DescriptionDol Amroth is the capital of Dor-en-Ernil and with Edhellond one of the most famous ports in Gondor. It was founded with aid of the Elves in the beginning of the Third Age as Lond Ernil (S. "Princes Haven"). In 1640 T.A. about 10500 people live here, mostly Dunadan but some even with some elvish blood. |
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LinhirLinhir is the second biggest port in Dor-en-Ernil and has a population of ca. 4100 people. It is strategically situated at the junction of the rivers Serni and Gilrain, about twelve miles from the point where the gilrain estuary empties into the Bay of Belfalas. The Gondor Road crosses the Gilrain Fords at the southern tip of the hills of Lebennin. Linhir is the largest center of administartion and commerce between Dol Amroth and Pelargir. Its is the gate for nearly all the trade from or to Lamedon and Belfalas.Also Linhir is said to have the best organiced underground activities in Gondor, but who knows... |
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EdhellondEdhellond is a famous elven haven at the west of Dol Amroth.It was founded by Sindar who arrvied there at the Second Age. The Elv-haven occupies a 150´ high hill that rises out of the lower Morthond less than a mile from the Bay of Belfalas. The rocky hillock forms a 1500´ long isle, which is just over 500´ accross at its widest point.Three staitways connect the gently tarraced hillock with the quaye below. The town is surrounded by a low white wall and a ring of silvery oaks. The four high towers with blue tile roofs sparkle in the clear sky. |
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