Son of Mirkwood
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:57 pm
Hi everyone,
Here is a short little back story/intro for Ruinar. I wrote this a while ago so forgive me if it is a little rough, the intention was just to get information down on "paper". I have since began writing this as a work of fiction, which I will probably post later on in Chapters on the Bard's Stage. Some of this backstory required me to fill a lot of gaps in canon information so some of it is my own thoughts and hypotheses informed by what information there was.
Here we go!
Name: Ruinar (Sindarin) - Rauðrþengill (Old Norse) Trans. Red King or Red Lord
(Ãlfrkyn – Elf Kin) (Hrafnahlakka – Raven’s Cry) (Hrafnakveðja – Raven Caller)
Race: “Half-elf†– Woodman of Mirkwood with a Silvan Mother
Ruinar was born to a Silvan mother, Amariel, and a Woodsman father, Réondrik in TA 2980. Réondrik was the second son of the settlements chieftain Brynjar. Amariel was a handmaiden to one of the Sindar noblewomen that lived in Thranduil’s Hall in the Woodland Realm. They met whilst Réondrik and his older brother Ãsger were out hunting. The two boys, who were in their late teens came across a party of Elves that were dancing and feasting in the woods. There was a strange and sudden attraction between Amariel and Réondrik and they were passionately and truly in love. After several secret encounters in the hidden glades of Mirkwood they decided that they should be unified. Réondrik brought Amariel back with him to his father’s settlement to present his intended wife. Brynjar, seeing the love his son bore this elf-maiden and seeing her beauty, for she was often called Naur-celon for her flame red hair that flowed like a river over her shoulders and down her back, he happily consented to their marriage. They were soon wed, in the Woodsman’s way, with hand-fasting and the exchange of rings and gifts followed by feasting, drinking, and much celebration. Amariel and Réondrik’s first night as husband and wife was full of purity and passion, and soon it was announced that Amariel was with child. A year later Amariel gave birth to a son. This son they named Ruinar in Sindarin, but he soon was given other names by the woodsmen. For example he was called Ãlfrkyn or “Elf Kin†and Hrafnakveðja or “Raven Callerâ€, given to him for the strange occurrence of a large group of ravens which perched upon the roof of the Great Hall during Ruinar’s birth.
The settlement that Ruinar grew up in was founded in the North of Mirkwood, North of the Forest River. The settlement sat along one of the River’s tributaries and made use of the fish, game and wood surrounding it. It was called HárlÅ“kr, Loud Stream, in the tongue of the Northmen because of a series of small waterfalls near to the northern edge of the settlement that caused the tributary stream to gurgle and roar constantly. The forest was bountiful, though not without its dangers. Spider attacks and Eagles searching for sheep and goats forced these Woodmen to build a palisade around their settlement and keep a vigilant watch. Spiked crenellations hewn from the trees adorned the tops of the palisade. Defensive ditches and towers were also added to defend the villagers. There were several buildings scattered outside this palisade, but most buildings (in particular the dwellings) where built within the palisade. HárlÅ“kr was afforded a certain amount of protection, being protected by the forest river and nearly being within the Woodland Realms border. But they still faced dangers from enemies to the north. A great hall towered over the small wood shingled houses. Raised on an artificial mound and carved with the intricate designs of the Northmen the thirty foot tall wooden structure was the centre of power for the settlement. In this hall Ruinar lived with his family, in rooms off the main hall. The main hall, with its long fire pit and benches and tables strewn around it, was an imposing yet very comfortable room; even with the commanding throne-like chair set at the far end of the hall on a slightly raised platform. This was the seat of the Chief, which was first occupied by his grandfather Brynjar and later briefly by his uncle Ãsger.
Ruinar grew at a normal Mannish rate in his early years, but it began to slow greatly once he began to grow from a young child into his early teens. Once Ruinar had been weaned his mother was called back to the Woodland Realm by the disapproving husband of the Sindar Noblewoman she waited on. Réondrik and Amariel agreed to release each other from their vows, though they still loved each other they realized that the Gift of Men would prove to be a constant peril for them. After several years or more of mourning the loss of Amariel, Réondrik finally wed again. This time he wed to a Woodswoman from a neighboring stronghold, and had several children. Réondrik’s new children were raised alongside their now slow aging half-brother Ruinar. They grew up happy, liking each other well. The oldest of his new half siblings, Béonar, became one of his closest friends. Though in years Ruinar was much older than him, they grew together as young teenagers. They often played in the river, or hunted in the woods around their village. They would stay up late and listen to the elders tell stories and legends by the light of the fire. They would spar with carved wooden swords, or race down the game trails, or climb the highest trees, each trying to outdo the other.
But as time wore on Béonar began to wear his years more heavily while Ruinar stayed youthful. And as this change occurred Ruinar became conscious of other things. He began to notice that his father, who was by now the Chief of the settlement due to the disappearance of his older brother and his sons whilst on a trading mission to Dale, seemed to insist on spending more and more time with Béonar. His father seemed to also be involving Béonar in much of the social, political, and economic relations of the settlement. He also realized that while everyone in the village liked him, because of his mixed parentage he would never truly be “one of them†nor would he necessarily be respected as a leader. Around this time Ruinar was also struck with an overwhelming wanderlust. He wanted to see more than just the village and the woods surrounding it. He often found himself climbing to the tallest trees at staring out at the mountains surrounding them. During the winter of TA 3005 Ruinar decided to leave the following spring and strike out into the world.
Over the winter Ruinar, with the help of his half-siblings and the village carpenter, built a swift and steady boat. It had a shallow draft and both the stem and stern were sharply angled. He built it so that he could control it with ease with the use of just one paddle, but he also built a small mast and yard so that he could rig up a sail should he ever reach the Long Lake. They carried it down the stream that ran past their stronghold to a part when it began to widen and deepen as it was joined by other streams and creeks. Ruinar loaded the boat with a few blankets, a pack, a small lantern, rope, the mast and sail. He took with him meagre provisions of smoked trout and dried venison, goat’s cheese, and dry honey cakes. Fishing hooks with linen line and water skins he also stowed away should the need arise. His spear he placed along the gunwale of the boat, his bow and quiver he would place just behind his seat with his axe at his feet. His knife, however, would remain firmly on his belt.
On a clear spring day, one where the last grips of winter could still be tasted on the wind, Ruinar, his father, siblings, and several others from the stronghold whom he had befriended bade him farewell. The night before they had feasted and drank, gave gifts, and asked the gods for guidance and protection with sacrifice and song. There were tears in Ruinars eyes as he bade farewell to his brothers and sisters, but he forced them back as he grasped his father’s forearm as a show of strength. Soon the father released his sons arm, seeing in him the same stubborn determination he once had as a young man, and pulled him into a tight hug as a wordless farewell. As Ruinar climbed into his boat and pushed away from the bank he heard some of the women begin to sing quietly, another song of prayer and protection. The swollen stream carried his boat down away from the group, towards the rushing Forest River. As the river took Ruinar around a bend and behind a thick stand of pines the sound of the voices faded and was replaced by the sound of the forest and the water rushing past his hull. The stream carried him further south, further away from his home, and closer to new path of his life.
Here is a short little back story/intro for Ruinar. I wrote this a while ago so forgive me if it is a little rough, the intention was just to get information down on "paper". I have since began writing this as a work of fiction, which I will probably post later on in Chapters on the Bard's Stage. Some of this backstory required me to fill a lot of gaps in canon information so some of it is my own thoughts and hypotheses informed by what information there was.
Here we go!
Name: Ruinar (Sindarin) - Rauðrþengill (Old Norse) Trans. Red King or Red Lord
(Ãlfrkyn – Elf Kin) (Hrafnahlakka – Raven’s Cry) (Hrafnakveðja – Raven Caller)
Race: “Half-elf†– Woodman of Mirkwood with a Silvan Mother
Ruinar was born to a Silvan mother, Amariel, and a Woodsman father, Réondrik in TA 2980. Réondrik was the second son of the settlements chieftain Brynjar. Amariel was a handmaiden to one of the Sindar noblewomen that lived in Thranduil’s Hall in the Woodland Realm. They met whilst Réondrik and his older brother Ãsger were out hunting. The two boys, who were in their late teens came across a party of Elves that were dancing and feasting in the woods. There was a strange and sudden attraction between Amariel and Réondrik and they were passionately and truly in love. After several secret encounters in the hidden glades of Mirkwood they decided that they should be unified. Réondrik brought Amariel back with him to his father’s settlement to present his intended wife. Brynjar, seeing the love his son bore this elf-maiden and seeing her beauty, for she was often called Naur-celon for her flame red hair that flowed like a river over her shoulders and down her back, he happily consented to their marriage. They were soon wed, in the Woodsman’s way, with hand-fasting and the exchange of rings and gifts followed by feasting, drinking, and much celebration. Amariel and Réondrik’s first night as husband and wife was full of purity and passion, and soon it was announced that Amariel was with child. A year later Amariel gave birth to a son. This son they named Ruinar in Sindarin, but he soon was given other names by the woodsmen. For example he was called Ãlfrkyn or “Elf Kin†and Hrafnakveðja or “Raven Callerâ€, given to him for the strange occurrence of a large group of ravens which perched upon the roof of the Great Hall during Ruinar’s birth.
The settlement that Ruinar grew up in was founded in the North of Mirkwood, North of the Forest River. The settlement sat along one of the River’s tributaries and made use of the fish, game and wood surrounding it. It was called HárlÅ“kr, Loud Stream, in the tongue of the Northmen because of a series of small waterfalls near to the northern edge of the settlement that caused the tributary stream to gurgle and roar constantly. The forest was bountiful, though not without its dangers. Spider attacks and Eagles searching for sheep and goats forced these Woodmen to build a palisade around their settlement and keep a vigilant watch. Spiked crenellations hewn from the trees adorned the tops of the palisade. Defensive ditches and towers were also added to defend the villagers. There were several buildings scattered outside this palisade, but most buildings (in particular the dwellings) where built within the palisade. HárlÅ“kr was afforded a certain amount of protection, being protected by the forest river and nearly being within the Woodland Realms border. But they still faced dangers from enemies to the north. A great hall towered over the small wood shingled houses. Raised on an artificial mound and carved with the intricate designs of the Northmen the thirty foot tall wooden structure was the centre of power for the settlement. In this hall Ruinar lived with his family, in rooms off the main hall. The main hall, with its long fire pit and benches and tables strewn around it, was an imposing yet very comfortable room; even with the commanding throne-like chair set at the far end of the hall on a slightly raised platform. This was the seat of the Chief, which was first occupied by his grandfather Brynjar and later briefly by his uncle Ãsger.
Ruinar grew at a normal Mannish rate in his early years, but it began to slow greatly once he began to grow from a young child into his early teens. Once Ruinar had been weaned his mother was called back to the Woodland Realm by the disapproving husband of the Sindar Noblewoman she waited on. Réondrik and Amariel agreed to release each other from their vows, though they still loved each other they realized that the Gift of Men would prove to be a constant peril for them. After several years or more of mourning the loss of Amariel, Réondrik finally wed again. This time he wed to a Woodswoman from a neighboring stronghold, and had several children. Réondrik’s new children were raised alongside their now slow aging half-brother Ruinar. They grew up happy, liking each other well. The oldest of his new half siblings, Béonar, became one of his closest friends. Though in years Ruinar was much older than him, they grew together as young teenagers. They often played in the river, or hunted in the woods around their village. They would stay up late and listen to the elders tell stories and legends by the light of the fire. They would spar with carved wooden swords, or race down the game trails, or climb the highest trees, each trying to outdo the other.
But as time wore on Béonar began to wear his years more heavily while Ruinar stayed youthful. And as this change occurred Ruinar became conscious of other things. He began to notice that his father, who was by now the Chief of the settlement due to the disappearance of his older brother and his sons whilst on a trading mission to Dale, seemed to insist on spending more and more time with Béonar. His father seemed to also be involving Béonar in much of the social, political, and economic relations of the settlement. He also realized that while everyone in the village liked him, because of his mixed parentage he would never truly be “one of them†nor would he necessarily be respected as a leader. Around this time Ruinar was also struck with an overwhelming wanderlust. He wanted to see more than just the village and the woods surrounding it. He often found himself climbing to the tallest trees at staring out at the mountains surrounding them. During the winter of TA 3005 Ruinar decided to leave the following spring and strike out into the world.
Over the winter Ruinar, with the help of his half-siblings and the village carpenter, built a swift and steady boat. It had a shallow draft and both the stem and stern were sharply angled. He built it so that he could control it with ease with the use of just one paddle, but he also built a small mast and yard so that he could rig up a sail should he ever reach the Long Lake. They carried it down the stream that ran past their stronghold to a part when it began to widen and deepen as it was joined by other streams and creeks. Ruinar loaded the boat with a few blankets, a pack, a small lantern, rope, the mast and sail. He took with him meagre provisions of smoked trout and dried venison, goat’s cheese, and dry honey cakes. Fishing hooks with linen line and water skins he also stowed away should the need arise. His spear he placed along the gunwale of the boat, his bow and quiver he would place just behind his seat with his axe at his feet. His knife, however, would remain firmly on his belt.
On a clear spring day, one where the last grips of winter could still be tasted on the wind, Ruinar, his father, siblings, and several others from the stronghold whom he had befriended bade him farewell. The night before they had feasted and drank, gave gifts, and asked the gods for guidance and protection with sacrifice and song. There were tears in Ruinars eyes as he bade farewell to his brothers and sisters, but he forced them back as he grasped his father’s forearm as a show of strength. Soon the father released his sons arm, seeing in him the same stubborn determination he once had as a young man, and pulled him into a tight hug as a wordless farewell. As Ruinar climbed into his boat and pushed away from the bank he heard some of the women begin to sing quietly, another song of prayer and protection. The swollen stream carried his boat down away from the group, towards the rushing Forest River. As the river took Ruinar around a bend and behind a thick stand of pines the sound of the voices faded and was replaced by the sound of the forest and the water rushing past his hull. The stream carried him further south, further away from his home, and closer to new path of his life.