The Red Company

In the second age, following the downfall of Numenor, Elendil founded the realm of Arnor in the north of Eriador. The northern realm, with Gondor in South, were long known as the Realms of the Dunedain in exile. At the close of the Second Age, the Dunedain of Arnor allied themselves with the Noldorin High King Gil-Galad, and in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, threw down Sauron the Deceiver and broke his grim tower of Barad-Dur.
But with the fall of Sauron, the Dunedain of Arnor grew restive, and with the death of their tenth king Earendur, fair Arnor splintered into three smaller kingdoms; Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur, and thus were the seeds of its doom sewn. 

Of the successor kingdoms, Rhudaur was the easternmost, and fell quickly to the wild men of the hills and the servants of Angmar. But the remaining two kingdoms remained strong for nigh a thousand years. And it was here, upon the walls of the world of Men, that the Red Company was birthed.
On the ancient Dwarf road, half way between the town  of Bree and the Shire of the Periannath stood the proud town of Halhiril, a Dunedain place that took its name from the stark, smooth, hill that rose above it. On the summit, legends told, a Noldorin maiden, having come far out of the East on the march to Beleriand, had laid down to rest and never risen. And thus was the mount named Haudhalhiril 'Grave of the Exalted Lady'.

Halhiril also stood nigh the border between Arthedain, Cardolan, and fallen Rhudaur. Thus, as the Dunedain quarreled, and their foes pressed in from east and south, the town soon raised a strong towered wall, and upon Haudhalhiril, a fastness that became known as Ost Barandor; 'Fortress on the Smooth Hill'

The first steward of Ost Barandor was the Dunedain captain Andarth, but only a small span of years after assuming his post he was slain by a prince of Cardolan. His captaincy was filled by his wife, Rossiel, in whom the blood of Numenor ran true. From her walls she defied fallen Dunedan, Hillman, and servant of Angmar alike and under the crimson phoenix emblazoned banner, her companions; the Red Company, maintained their hilltop vigil for almost a thousand years.

But over ages past, the days darkened and their power dwindled. War was ever present upon their borders and when Amon Sûl fell in III 1407, Ost Barandor became of great importance, preventing the enemies of Angmar from moving to Fornost. A battle arose in Tyrn Fornech, on the doorstep of Haudhalhiril. Although the Dunedain of the Red Company suffered great losses, they overcame and won the battle.

Being a sturdy folk, they even overcame the pestilence of the 16th century. With depopulation of Cardolan, they were to defend Arthedain against the south, as many enemies tried to enter. But the fall of the children of Rossiel could not be avoided...

In III 1974, Angmar regained their strength and they besieged Ost Barandor. Whilst, at first, the fortress resisted, the fair town at it's foot was laid waste and many of its folk scattered. The following year, After more than a thousand years of duty, the Red Company's stronghold met the same fate as Weathertop... Those of Rossiel's line who remained had to retreat to Fornost, Arnor's then capital. But their doom couldn't be expelled, for the northern kingdom and its capital fell not even a year later.

Although Gondor's forces freed the north of the yoke of Angmar, the Dunedain were scattered and disarrayed. Only a handful of the children of Rossiel remained and they sought and got refuge in the town of Bree. Since that day, they owed the Bree-folk their lives. For another 1000 years, Rossiel's line hid and seemed to pass out of history. The world forgot and they spent their time in Red Stable, a little refuge of which little was told of save in their own annals.

But nowadays, the shadows of Angmar have returned. First under command of Amrindil, later under Adilyr's, the Red Company rode out for one last time with their heirs and man, elf, dwarf or hobbit who are friendly to their kin. Under oath, they protected the town of Bree and they preserved the lands of the north. And now that Aragorn, chieftain of the Dunedain, parted for a quest and Halbarad mustered the Grey company south, the Children of Rossiel are tasked with the protection of the north...For their legacy, and that of their rightful king.