Perhaps the first questions that must be answered are those surrounding the name ‘Forsaken’. To address these we must look far into the past of the ruin-dwellers. It was on my fourth night in Ost Guruth that I first heard its residents sing of their origins. The song told of when, more than a thousand years ago, a tribe of Northmen fled from the Wainriders and came to the upper vales of the Anduin. Finding the land already settled by the Éothéod, they braved the High Pass in the hope that they might come across another place to make their home. Many perished on the journey, but eventually they reached Eriador. Following the Great East Road they came to the deserted lands east of the Hoarwell where they first met the Men of Arnor. Two of their number were taken to Fornost and brought before the king. Arthedain’s population had been devastated by the Great Plague and so he was happy to welcome the incomers. The migrants were given all the land from the Weather Hills to the Hoarwell, though the ruined stronghold of Amon Sûl remained in the hands of the Dúnedain. For almost a century the soldiers of the king guarded the land, but when Angmar grew in strength they retreated westwards, leaving the people of the Lone Lands to whatever fate awaited them. For this reason they declared themselves to be ‘forsaken’, yet somehow they managed to survive the oncoming storm. From then on the Eglain were hostile to the Dúnedain, whom they believed had betrayed them. Over the years, their numbers were swelled by Men from the Bree-lands who sought an escape from normal society. It might therefore be said that ‘forsakers’ would be just as appropriate a name.
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Observations on the Eglain: Origins
Submitted by Hithenair on October 13th, 2014
