Boy, I'm glad I saw Amon Ereb's post before the LOTRO forums were wiped...anyway...most of you recognize this kinship, I imagine, although my handle might look unfamiliar. I'm "Minas Ithil" on the LOTRO forums. The Dúnedain, as a kinship, has been around since September of 2003, so I'm hoping we qualify for this forum.
What you'll see below is the kinship description, copied from our original thread before Turbine has its chance to blow it up...
Although "Dúnedain" refers to any descendant of Númenor that resides in Middle-Earth, this specific kinship is a small company of Dúnedain Rangers of the North; therefore, we only seek members who wish to play such characters. Roleplaying, character history and accuracy to Tolkien's works are the cornerstones of our guild. We also know that the devs do not currently plan to offer a specific "Dúnedain" sub-race in the game, but that does not prevent us from roleplaying such characters.
Some History - The Second Age
During the Second Age, the Númenóreans rose to the height of their power. They lived on an island, Númenor, which lay in the ocean to the west of Middle-Earth. In effect, they were masters of all that they surveyed, colonizing the coast of Middle-Earth and setting up great cities. The only thing they were not masters of was the Undying Lands, where the immortal Elves and the Valar lived. Seduced by Sauron, an ancient evil, and their own lust for power, the Númenóreans raised a huge fleet and sailed to conquer the Undying Lands, believing, wrongly, that the land itself gave the gift of immortality and that if they conquered the land, they too would become immortal.
As punishment, the fleet was destroyed and the island forever sunk beneath the waves, thus wiping out the Númenórean civilization. A few of the Númenóreans, those who disagreed with the war against the Undying Lands, foresaw the tragedy and escaped by sailing to Middle-Earth before the invasion. These Númenóreans, known as the Faithful, founded the twin kingdoms of Arnor in the North and Gondor in the South.
The Dúnedain of Middle-Earth are the descendants of these Númenóreans. Though Arnor has been destroyed, and Gondor greatly diminished, the blood of Númenor has not all been spent. This kinship represents a small group of Dúnedain of the North, who still serve as Rangers in the lands where Arnor once was.
The Third Age
In the year 3018 of the Third Age, the remaining Dúnedain, Rangers of the North, reached their greatest crisis since the fall of Arthedain long ago. In the autumn of that year, the Ring of Power, held by Frodo Baggins the hobbit and only recently identified by Gandalf the wizard, had been carried through many perils to the safety of the House of Elrond. Guided by Aragorn, chieftain of the Dúnedain, Frodo and his companions were pursued by the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths of Sauron, all the way to the very borders of Rivendell. The wraiths were carried away by a flood at the Ford of Bruinen, foiling Sauron’s attempts to reclaim the One Ring, but the servants of the Enemy would soon return to continue the chase.
While Frodo rested and recovered in Rivendell, Aragorn led the Rangers on a scouting journey to the south, since the Ring would soon pass that way on its journey to Mount Doom. The Dúnedain knew the finding of the Ring and the re-appearance of the Nazgûl in the North meant Sauron would soon launch his war against Middle-Earth, and many of his minions would seek to cause havoc in the lands of Eriador. After Aragorn left with the Fellowship, Amandil of the Dúnedain gathered a small band of Rangers under his command, a group of kinsmen who had sworn to serve under him should this dark hour ever come. This kinship will continue the Rangers’ mission of defending the people of the North from the growing evil of Sauron, and prepare for the coming war that will decide the fate of Men.
Members list
Officers
Amandil
Elerinn
Isiolas
Saulidor
Turam
Rangers
Arathanen
Aregoth
Arquen
Arthon
Erthalion
Fëanágorn
Hanasían
Raharanor
Rukhuur
Taranor
Elf Scouts
Aralaewen
Recruits
This company will never exceed 30 Rangers, so we’re not designed to carry out large-scale operations. Instead, our hunting and raiding parties will work to harass and disrupt the enemy, much like Faramir's men in Ithilien. Also, since we're a somewhat nomadic, fighting kinship, we have no place for merchants and other non-fighting classes.
Our website can be found at
www.thedunedain.com. Feel free to come in for a pint of ale, listen to our tales of old, and tell some of your own.
For information on any possible openings, see our kinship website, or the last few posts of this thread. You can also send a PM to Amandil if you have any questions.
Until such time as our paths cross,
namarie. May the good will of Men and Elves go with you on your journey.
Kinship created September 16th, 2003
. Anywho, I'm just posting to let my presence on these forums to be once again known
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