IntroductionThe Council of Fennas Drúnin is set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, approximately 1,400 years before the time of the Lord of the Rings. There isn't the space to give a full history of Middle-earth, but the relevant facts (much condensed!) are as follows. For more general information on Fennas Drúnin, click here. The history of Middle-earth is split into three Ages and the game is set in the middle of the Third Age in the year 1641. The First and Second Ages are ancient history and only the most learned of scholars know much of these long distant events. However, the main events of the Second Age, the downfall of Númenor and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, are outlined below.
All the information provided here is in the Player's Guide, which will be sent to you before the game.
As punishment for their wrong doing, the fleet was destroyed and the island sunk beneath the waves, thus wiping out the Númenorean civilisation. 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, were the forefathers of the Dúnedain and founded the twin Kingdoms of Arnor, to the North, and Gondor, to the South. Sauron, who had led the Númenóreans to their downfall, also escaped the destruction of Númenor and returned to Middle-earth, where he waged war against the Dúnedain. In a massive battle, which marked the end of the Second Age, the combined armies of the Dúnedain and the Elves of Middle-earth defeated Sauron and slew him (The Last Alliance of Men and Elves). At the end of the Second Age, many Elves left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, though several large groups still remain, most notably in the Grey Havens to the west of Arnor. The Third Age started in a mood of optimism and peace. It was a time of rebuilding for the Dúnedain and both Arnor and especially Gondor grew in power, though both were a mere shadow of their forerunner, Númenor. By 851, Arnor was at the height of its power. However, when King Eärendur died, his three sons squabbled over the succession and split the Kingdom into three, Arthedain in the West, Cardolan in the South and Rhudaur in the East. This marked the start of the decline of the northern Dúnedain. The three kingdoms had frequent border skirmishes over boundary disputes, but were relatively peaceful. Then, in around 1300, an evil power, the Witch-king of Angmar, arose in the mountains of the North East. It is a common belief that the Witch-king was an ancient lieutenant of Sauron who survived his master's destruction, but no-one can be sure. Soon Rhudaur, Angmar's nearest neighbour, fell under the Witch-king's sway and the remaining Dúnedain there fled. Then, in 1409, there was war. The Angmarian army invaded, all but destroying the Kingdom of Cardolan and almost driving the Arthedan forces from the field. However, with the help of the Elves of the Grey Havens, the Witch-king was driven back, but at a huge cost. The Arthedain capital, Annúminas, had been destroyed, and Cardolan shattered. While Arthedain recovered something of her power, Cardolan did not, dissolving into a region of warring, petty Princes. Since that time, Fennas Drúnin, always on the northern edge of the Kingdom of Cardolan, has effectively been on its own, regaining something of its prosperity in the 230 years since the war. Now it is a frontier town, effectively governing itself, an island of stability on the edge of civilisation...
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