Compendium of Forodwaith

[Rivine]

Compendium of Forodwaith​

Fauna
Hylje
The hylje are a marine animal that provide an important source of food for the people of Forodwaith and several of it's predators as well. Hylje themselves are warm blooded creatures that live most of their lives in and around water, preferring oceans to rivers and lakes. Hylje are polka dotted , either dark on a light background or light on a dark. They vary in color from brownish black to grey or white; underparts are generally lighter. The body and flippers are short, heads are rounded. Most adults are around six feet long and weigh between nine and twenty six stone.

Jäkarhu
The jäkarhu (jah-CAR-oo) are akin to the bears that are more common in the wider world, but they seemed to have adapted themselves to living in the frigid climes of the Forodwaith. It is large, even when compared to other bears, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water. Known as an ice bear in the other tongues of men, the jäkarhu has a white coat which allows it to blend into it’s wintery surroundings and also has webbing between it’s toes, which allows it to be an excellent swimmer.

Karhu
The karhu (CAR-oo) are a breed of bear that frequent Forodwaith, preferring it over other climates. They are longer limned then many bears in the south, an adaptation which allows them to be quicker then their southern kindred. Unlike the jäkarhu, the karhu are not adapted for the ice packs of the Bay of Forochel. Rather they use their speed and short jaws to their advantage, being one of the few predators in the north that will hunt the mammut. Their fur is usually two toned and mottled, usually in browns and greys.

Kyllohik
Kyllohik (kill-LOW-hick), also known as cold-drakes, are a lesser dragon with iron-hard scales, sharp claws and fangs who did not have the ability to breathe fire. These wingless, four-legged dragons were driven out of the more southerly regions of Middle-Earth and into the northern wastelands where they’ve remained for many centuries. Like all dragons, they have a love of treasure (especially gold), exhibit intelligence, cunning, great physical strength as well as a hypnotic power often termed ‘dragon spell’. Like all dragons, they mature at a slow rate, but once fully grown are very powerful and dangerous. However, it should be noted that dragons are not purely evil and destructive creatures.

Mammut
The mammut (MAM-moot) are large four legged beasts, commonly equipped with long, curved tusks and a covering of long hair. They have many traits similar to the mumakil of the south, although this is simply speculation. The mammut are quite large, with bulls easily standing fifteen feet tall at the shoulder. Both males and females have tusks, which are greatly prized by the natives of the Forodwaith.

Myskhärka
The myskhärka (misk-HARK-ah)are bovine animal that are covered with a thick coat of hair, with both sexes possessing long, curved horns. The largest myskhärka is only about five foot tall at the shoulder, with adults weighing as much as seventy stone. The thick coat and large head suggests a larger animal than the myskhärkä truly is. The myskhärka are herd animals and usually travel in groups of one to two dozen. When threatened by predators myskhärka are known for gorupin up, either in a line or in a circular formation, all the members of the group protecting each other as best they can. This is typically a very successful defensive tactic for them.

Poro
The poro are deer that are native to the lands of Forodwaith. Both sexes grow antlers, though they are typically larger in males. The females usually measure fife to six feet in length and weigh thirteen to nineteen stone. The males (or "bulls") are typically larger, measuring six to seven feet in length and usually weighing twenty five to twenty nine stone. Wild poro hunting and herding of semi-domesticated poro (for meat, hides, antlers, milk and transportation) are important to the Lossoth.

Susi
Susi are the wolves that are native to the far north. They are larger the their smaller cousins, measuring six feet in length on average and weighing around seven stone. They are wider in the body and more muscled then most other wolves. Susi are all white furred, which serves as excellent camouflage in the northern snows. They also posses a keen mind and are cautious, but not violent, towards humans.

Foes
Hill Men/Wildmen
Hill men (also known as wildmen) are a lesser race of men who are found throughout Middle-earth. There are many tribes near to Forodwaith, especially in northern Eriador, the Misty Mountains, Ettinmoors and the fallen kingdom of Angmar. When Angmar was defeated at the Battle of Fornost, many of the hill tribes were destroyed outright, however the remnants of these people still haunt the northern regions. They are a tough, hardy people, big and powerful with long, unkempt dark hair and beards, usually clad in leathers and furs. They tend to have more primitive weapons made of iron, favoring axes and spears, with some being skilled with bows. However they do take weapons and armor from those that they have killed, so they can often be found in ill fitting mail and with steel weapons as well.

• Gauredain
  The Gauredain, followers of the Witch-king of Angmar during his war against Arnor, have an ancient affinity for the Wolves of the North. They emulate these vicious beasts, wearing wolf-hides and going about on all fours when entering battle. These savage men use their fearsome behavior to terrify their prey, though even more terrifying is the rumor that they eat flesh . . . any flesh.

Orcs

• Goblins
  Goblins are kin to orcs, being a more diminutive version of their larger cousins. They are squat, somewhere between a hobbit and a dwarf’s height (3’6”-4’6”), broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, bow-legged, with wide mouths and slant eyes, long arms, dark skin, and fang-like teeth. They are cannibalistic, ruthless, and terrible, and often their rending claws, and slavering fangs were gored with the bitter flesh and the foul black blood of their own kind. They live deep under the Misty Mountains in many strongholds, ever since the War of Wrath in the First Age. Notable cities include Goblin-town near the High Pass above Rivendell, the Goblin-capital at Mount Gundabad, and the former Dwarf-kingdom of Moria. Goblins are not tactful warriors, dependent entirely on their swarming numbers to win a contest for them.
  
• Snagae
  Snagae are lesser orcs compared to the Uruk-hai and other breeds that they were the progenitors of. Snagae are more or less the true orcs, the ones from which many of the stronger breeds that Suaron has created came from. The appearance of the snagae is rather wide and varied. Skin colors can range from dark red, to sickly pale greens and even almost pure white. Ears can be pointed, elongated, or even almost human. This just goes to show the mut-like nature of the snagae themselves.
  
• Uruk-hai
  Uruk-hai are black skinned, enormously strong, tense creatures, top-heavy juggernauts with massive chest, neck, shoulder, and jaw development. They are taller and have more human-like proportions, being the result of crossing orcs and men to create a creature that is larger and more powerful than both. They usually have limited formal training, just basic drill work, but they were lethal, instinctive fighters, much more dangerous than common Orcs.

Trolls
Trolls are a very large and monstrous (ranging from between 8 to 20 feet tall), and basically unintelligent humanoid race inhabiting Middle-earth. Trolls were very strong, but but many of them can be turned to stone in sunlight. There were several subtypes, which are listed below.

• Cave Troll
  Cave trolls are a race of trolls found within the caves of the Misty Mountains. Cave-trolls' heights can range from eleven to sixteen feet. They use their sense of smell more often than sight. They retain dark yellow or green skin with tinted blue hues and purple eyes. Their blood is black in color, and very hot. Their hides cannot be pierced by normal swords, and remain hard to pierce even when confronted by Elven blades. Cave-trolls are omnivores, eating both meat and plants. Usually these trolls live with groups of goblins and fight alongside them or in groups of two or three in small caves.
  
• Mountain Troll
  Mountain trolls are found throughout the mountainous regions of Middle-earth, but are most common in the far north and the areas around Mordor. Mountain trolls are much like cave trolls, having dark yellow or green skin with tinted blue hues, usually more mottled than their smaller cousin. Where they are truly differentiated from their kin is in their size, for mountain trolls range from fifteen to twenty feet tall.
  
• Peikko
  Peikko, called snow trolls in the common tongue, are native to the frozen northern cold wastelands of Forodwaith. Peikko are smaller in terms of mass than their southern relatives, but they are usually ten feet tall. Their skin and fur color is usually white or light grey and they possess short and powerful legs to carry them long distances. They are also exceptionally fast compared to other troll species, fast enough to keep up with horses and can even briefly outpace them if need be.

Peoples
Dwarves
Dwarves were a short, stocky race, little taller than hobbits but much broader and heavier. They were physically very strong, possibly stronger than humans, elves in spite of their height, and certainly much stronger than hobbits,. Dwarves had great endurance, especially in the ability to resist heat and cold, and they made light of heavy burdens. Dwarves lived longer than Men, often up to two hundred and fifty years. They grew thick, luxuriant beards in which they took great pride, and often forked or braided them and tucked them into their belts. They seem to have favoured simple durable clothing, coloured hoods and heavy cloaks for travelling, and belts of gold or silver. For battle they would have elaborately crafted armour and helmets bearing masked symbols (after the manner of those used in forges for shielding the eyes) that were hideous to look upon.

Dwarven women were alike in manner, voice and appearance to their menfolk. They were typically bearded and grew their thick hair long, often braiding it in intricate patterns and decorating with simple yet functional pieces. They were few in number, less than a third of all dwarf-kind, and they were seldom seen outside their own halls, often not venturing far due to their duties as caretakers and crafters in Dwarven society. They typically only travelled when in great need, and they usually dressed similarly to Dwarf men. This often led other folk to believe there were no women among the Dwarves, that Dwarves grew from stone when created. Few female Dwarven warriors were known, but some tales say that female Dwarves were as fierce as their male counterparts, especially in protecting their families and offspring. Dwarves were usually monogamous, and fewer than one-third of Dwarven men took a wife, the rest busying themselves with their crafts.

A typical dwarf was usually stubborn and secretive, but fiercely loyal to their friends. Most of the time, the thing they cared about most were mining and crafts. Dwarves had the ability to learn new artisanal skills quickly, especially those dealing with metal or stone. Dwarves were not easily offended by rude comments, but they had a propensity to hold a long-lasting grudge. Dwarves were greedy, but their stoutness granted them with high resistance to external influences, as shown by their resilience to the evil of the Dwarven Rings of Power. Whereas the Men who owned the nine Rings were corrupted and became the Nazgûl, the Dwarves were unaffected, save by an increase of their goldlust and hatred for anything that stood between them and what they perceived as their treasure.

• Longbeards
  Also known as Durin's folk, the Longbeards are the oldest and most important folk of all the Dwarves in Middle-earth. They originally inhabited the Misty Mountains as a home, until they were driven out by Orcs. Their strongholds in the Misty Mountains included Khazad-dûm (Moria), their first city, and Mount Gundabad, the latter of which was overrun by orcs and became one of their capitals. In the Third Age, after being driven out of Moria by the Balrog Durin's Bane, most of Durin's Folk fled north and established cities in Erebor and the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin). Both the Grey Mountains (Ered Mithrin) and Erebor were later occupied by dragons, and they then became a wandering folk in exile. Most of them settled in the Iron Hills, while others under Thráin II wandered west, till they came to the Ered Luin and settled there. However, later in the Third Age, the kingdom of Erebor was restored due to the efforts of Thorin Oakenshield and his cousin Dáin II, Lord of the Iron Hills, became King under the Mountain.
  
  Currently the Longbeards maintain a single stronghold within the Forodwaith, Zigligund. Zigilgund (meaning - silver tunnel in the Dwarven tongue) is an ancient stronghold. Despite it's name it's tunnels no longer yield the riches it once did. The Longbeards have established decent relations with the Lossoth--the native humans of the Forodwaith region. The number of Longbeards residing in the fortress itself is small, numbering only around a thousand. Despite their small numbers the Longbeards have proved to be hearty and have built great forges withing the fortress, their smiths having become renowned for their works, at least within the Forodwaith.

Elves
The elves, also known as the eldar, were the first race that came into being. The Elves are not subject to disease or physical aging, though they could be killed by violence or by wasting away and losing the will to live. They are otherwise essentially immortal. Elves only mate with one person ever be they elven or human (very rare for this to happen).

• Half-Elven
  The Half-elven or Peredhil were people of Middle-earth. They were called so because of their extremely mixed Adan/Edain (Man) and Eldarin (Elven) blood. At the end of the First Age they were given a choice to be Elven and immortal, or to be of the race of Men and accept the Gift of Men which is death. The Half-even are very, very rare, for they are the descendents of the very few unions between Adan/Edain (Man) and Eldarin (Elven) blood. Currently there are only a handful of Half-elven, most of whom have already made their choice.
• Noldor
  The Noldor are the second clan of elves, their name meaning "those with knowledge" and are usually known as High Elves in order to distinguish them from lesser elves who have never been to Valinor. Noldor are often quite tall, easily standing somewhere between six and half to seven feet tall. The Noldor also tend to be thin when compared with men, but this in no way means that they are weak. The also posses an agility that is not found in the lesser races and are so graceful and light of footed. High Elves tended to have considerable power, such as the ability to see Ringwraiths and other shadow creatures, and to combat such entities. This power comes from the fact that they are "Elves of Light", meaning that they have been to the lands of the Valar and carry some of that light within them. Those of the Noldor race were often skilled craftsmen as well. There are few Noldor remaining in Middle-earth, with most residing in Rivendell and a few in Lorien and Lindon.
• Silvan
  Silvan elves, otherwise known as Green Elves, are probably the most common of elves left in Middle-earth. Just like the Sindar the Silvan elves have never left Middle-earth, thus they lack the Light of the Valar. Silvan elves are the smallest of their kin, averaging between five and a half and six feet tall. They make up the vast majority of the populations of the two elven realms of Lorien and the Woodland Realm (Mirkwood).
• Sindar
  Also known as the Grey Elves, the Sindar differed from their cousins, the Noldor, because they had never journeyed to Valinor, so they did not posses it's light. The Sindar spoke Sindarin; they invented the Cirth. Although less learned and powerful than the elves of Valinor and less interested in crafts than the Noldor, they were extremely gifted in music, and their voices were very fair. In appearance they can look almost identical to the Noldor, except that they tend to be shorter; usually somewhere between five and a half feet to just short of six and half. Sindar can be found in almost every elven realm.

Men

• Dúnedain
  The Dúnedain are not a people who are native to Forodwaith, but they are known to the natives. The Dúnedain do not have a large presence in Forodwaith, usually only a handful of their people being there at any one time. The Dúnedain mainly rely on stealth as an advantage rather than an actual face-to-face confrontation, but they do whatever they can to help the peoples of Forodwaith remain free of the enemy's influence. Called the Vanha by the Lossoth, which means "Old Ones" in their tongue, the Dúnedain are known for their long lives. Those who are descended from the line of chieftains are said to live three times as long as lesser men.
  
  The link between the Lossoth and the Dúnedain goes back to the fall of Arthedain, the last kingdom of the Dúnedain in the north, over a thousand years ago. Athedain's last king, Arvedui, had been forced to flee his homeland and made his way north to escape the forces of Angmar. The Lossoth reluctantly helped Arvedui and a few of his men, until Cirdan sent ships to rescue him from Lindon. A chieftain of the Lossoth counseled Arvedui not to go aboard the ships and face the bitter northern winter, but the King refused and went anyways. In payment for his safekeeping, King Arvedui gave to the Lossoth his ring, the Ring of Barahir, and bade them ransom it to his kin when the Lossoth had need. Unfortunately, the chieftain's counsel proved wise, and Arvedui was lost at sea, thus ended the Kings of Arnor, and their line continued as the Chieftains of the Dúnedain of Arnor.
  
• Lossoth
  The Lossoth are natives to the region of Forodwaith and thus live in a realm that has fallen under the curse of a seemingly endless winter. In general, the are a free people and do not have a single ruler, but they are fearful of what might be behind the curse of the winter that they are forced to endure and thus are leery about leaving the area of Forodwaith for fear that it might cause something worse to happen other than the curse they currently suffer. They are a superstitious people, but have adapted to and more or less accepted the fact that Forodwaith has become the northern wasteland that is. But this was as the Witch-King wanted (especially now that he no longer resides in Angmar to keep watch over the north) because it means that he and Sauron won't have to worry about Lossoth aiding the other nations after they refused to aid Mordor when assistance was demanded. Due to the history between Angmar and the Lossoth, the trust between the natives and any ally with Mordor is non-existent and they'd prefer to stay out of all business tied to region. As such, the Lossoth stay away from the now abandoned Angmar and do not venture south into regions such as Eriador. They prefer to stay put, their superstitious eye watchful on anything skulking about Angmar in case she should rise gain.
  
  The Lossoth are not a single tribe. Instead, they are divided into sub-tribes, each of which tend to reside within a particular Lossoth village in the region of Forodwaith. Most are friendly with each other and work harmoniously together. However, there is one known hostile faction known as the Suri-Maja. They do not have any direct ties to either Angmar or Mordor, but they have broken away from the other tribes in that they feel separated from the Lossoth as a whole. When the Witch-King had tried to convince the Lossoth to aid Mordor, it was the Suri-Maja alone who wished to lend aid. However, being outnumbered by their brethren tribes, they remained silent and no aid was given. When the curse of the harsh winter befell the Forodwaith region turning it into a northern wasteland, the Suri-Maja grew bitter and blamed the rest of the Lossoth for this curse, that had they all gone to Sauron's aid, Forodwaith would know summer much like the rest of Middle-Earth.
  
  Tribes of the Lossoth
  Suri-Maja: The Suri-Maja (meaning, 'mourning hut') is the youngest of the Lossoth tribes and came into being after the Lossoth, as a whole, decided to refuse assistance to the Witch-King and Sauron when they came to Forodwaith seeking their aid. Those who felt aid should've been given broke away from their tribes and formed the Suri-Maja. Over time, the peoples of this tribe grew to resent the Lossoth of the other tribes, blaming them for the curse of the endless winter that befell the Forodwaith after the refusal of aid to Mordor.
  
  Hirvi-Heimo: The Hirvi-Heimo (meaning, Elk Tribe) is primarily situated in Kauppa-Kohta, which is located in the area of Taur Orthon.
  
  Hylje-Heimo: The Hylje-Heimo (meaning, Seal Tribe) is primarily situated in Lossoth capital of Suri-Kyla.
  
  Koira-Heimo: The Koira-Heimo (meaning, Dog Tribe) is primarily situated in hunting/fishing village of Pynti-Peldot, which is located in the area of Ita-Ma.
  
  Leijona-Heimo: The Leijona-Heima (meaning, Lion Tribe) is primarily situated in the Lossoth capital of Suri-Kyla.
  
  Mammutti-Heimo: The Mammutti-Heimo (meaning, Mammoth Tribe) is primarily situated in Dwarven Fortress of Zigilgund, which is located in the area of Lansi-Ma.
  
  Karhu-Heimo: The Karhu-Heimo (meaning, Bear Tribe) is primarily situated in Kuru-Leiri, which is located out past the ice plains of the Talvi-Muri.
  
  Janis-Heimo: The Janis-Heimo (meaning, Rabbit Tribe) is primarily situated in Kauppa-Kohta, which is located in the area of Taur Orthon.
  
• Northmen
  Most men of Middle-earth now have at least some blood from the Northmen in them, or are of their blood completely. They have a considerably shorter lifespan as compared to the lifespan of the Dúnedain. The Men of Dale, Esgaroth and the Beornings are counted among the Northmen, as were the woodsmen of Mirkwood.