Mirodhel

Quick Reference
Mirodhel
Home	Imladris
Gender	Male
Race	Noldor
Culture	Unknown
Title	Unknown
House	Unknown
Clan	Unknown
Age	~10,000
Birthdate	n/a
Occupation	Smith, Soldier
Occupations	{{{occupations}}}
Hair	Russet
Eyes	Grey
Skin	Fair
Height	~6'10"
Weight	200 lb
Player	Tuil
Character type	PC

Mirodhel Annongil Pathlam Mindonhir Curuglir Thurinlachen Othuieneth of the House of Finarfin came out of the West with the Noldor at the dawn of the First Age after the theft of the Silmarils by Melkor, named first by Feanor and called ever after by the Elves the Morgoth. Few if any of his close kin survived the First Age and by the end of the Second after the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, he had but comrades-in-arms who knew nothing of their captain beyond his skill in arms, subtlety in hand and swiftness of tongue. Eventually, he settled in Imladris in the house of Elrond. Throughout his travels, he acquired his famed seven names as well as the titles Captain of the Company of the Star-Gate amd Host-Lord of the Guard of Imladris.

• +history2: c. SA 1 - c. SA 750
• +history3: c. SA 750 - c. SA 1500
• +history4: c. SA 1500 - SA 1697
• +history5: SA 1701 - c. SA 3320
• +history6: c. SA 3320 - SA 3441
• +history7, 8, 9: c. TA 1 - TA 1974
• +history10: TA 1976 - TA 2942
• +history11: TA 2942 - present

Description

It was written by contemporaries, "He is tall, towering over all mortals. His face is ageless and ancient. Eyes grey as the twilight under the trees shine as they survey any and all who draw their attention. They are kind and soft as silk one moment, hard and piercing as daggers the next and their wrath is terrible to behold. His face is fair and his locks are russet. His features are beautiful, as smooth as the sculptor's marble.

"He is dressed in simple clothing. His tunic is brown and falls to his knees. It is embroidered with muted golden thread in the pattern of leaves and branches of a tree. Around his waist is a belt of darker brown leather with several pouches. His leggings are also dark brown, as are his leather boots. His raiment is simple, but also of exceedingly fine quality fit for a king."

Personality

It was also written of Mirodhel: "Mirodhel is known by many names. The younger Elves call him Othuieneth; however, he usually goes by Mirodhel. He is well-known for his smithing, be it jewels or swords or anything else. His history before the beginning of the Second Age is not well known, but all agree that he is ancient and must have once been a student of Aule.

"Though not a lord now, Mirodhel is usually treated as one as his counsel is wise and he is far-sighted. He will sing if the mood strikes him, but more often he prefers to sit and listen. A true Exile whose gaze is towards the Blessed Realm, the ways of mortals are not usually his own; when their paths and his cross, it is for a reason though only the Valar know what it is.

"He does have a few quirks: he likes to write in the ancient Sarati, that mode of letters that preceded Feanor's Tengwar. All his scholarly writings are set down in Quenya."

Origins

Where he might have come from or which house he belonged to is not known. He first entered the collective memory of the Noldor in Lindon at the dawn of the Second Age. In those days when many Elves mingled after escaping the wreck of Beleriand, it was not uncommon for individuals to escape their pasts. Perhaps Mirodhel simply wanted a clean start in a brave new world without Morgoth or the Silmarils. In any case, his skill as a jewel smith became apparent in due course. It was in Lindon that he was given one of his names, Mirodhel or 'Jewel Gnome' in Sindarin.

Eregion

When Celebrimbor recruited the Noldo to go with him and his followers to Eregion to found a new realm, Mirodhel followed, perhaps out of friendship with many of the other jewel smiths who went along. In Ost-in-Edhil, Mirodhel was a casual member of the Mirdain. The great convocations always saw the quiet Elf. He kept his own counsel, listening much and saying little while spending much time in his own workshop. While the greater (so they imagined themselves) smiths and Celebrimbor himself achieved greater and greater (so they thought) feats (later with the help of Sauron in disguise), Mirodhel was often teased over the trifles he produced. Wondrous, intricately crafted trifles, but trifles nevertheless when compared to the Rings of Power. It is said by those who remember that Sauron once visited Mirodhel, in hindsight probably to seduce another to his cause. What was said is known only to the Lord of the Rings and Mirodhel himself, but Sauron never returned to that workshop and as the Dark Lord's influence grew in the Brotherhood, Mirodhel attended their meetings less and less.

It was about this time when Sauron's influence was at its zenith that the Noldo joined the forces of Eregion. Given command of a gate (hence one of his other names, Annongil or 'Star-Gate'), Mirodhel had but a small company in his service. Many were veterans of the Elder Days and soon they were forged once more into the lethal weapons they'd once been in Mithrim and Nargothrond and Himring. Their names are still remembered in song as the Company of Annongil held out longer than most before being overwhelmed by the forces of Mordor. A small remnant escaped and found Elrond and the fleeing refugees.

Travels

Imladris held no interest for Mirodhel. With the (temporary) defeat of Sauron, the Gnome took the opportunity to see many lands. He and a few of his brethren traveled far, visiting Greenwood and Lorien and other realms. Mirodhel's journey far into the East left him with a smattering of various Avari tongues. On the way home, he passed through Khazad-dum and met with the dwarves. Passing along some of his jewel smithing, Mirodhel 'convinced' the great hoarders to part with some of their mithril which he in due course took back to Lindon where the Gnome once more set up shop.

Mithlond and the Last Alliance

With the return of the Dunedain and the raising of the White Towers, Mirodhel used his smooth tongue (Pathlam) to get himself appointed warden of one of the towers (Mindonhir). Many speculated that the Gnome wanted the position for no other reason than to study the Palantir for his own purposes.

More war soon followed as Gondor was assailed and the Last Alliance formed to go forth and strive with the Dark Lord. The Company of Annongil once again came together and with many recruits of Lindon and Imladris, the soldiers fought with valor and cunning as shock troops at Dagorlad and then the Siege. Though decimated by the end of the war, those who survived were accounted some of the greatest of the Eldar in battle.

Imladris

Many of the Noldor left Middle-earth at the start of the Third Age. Lindon was not what it once was with the death of Gil-galad and the ascendancy of Cirdan and his Shipwrights. With many of his friends and comrades gone, Mirodhel was not yet inclined to go west, so he instead went east with those few who remained with him, Exiles all.

Mirodhel was once livelier. In the early days of the Second Age in Lindon, it is said that he was often with a song and that his crafting was not limited to jewel smithing, but also the making of instruments for music. All were skillfully played while in his hands (Curuglir). But by the end of the Second Age and into the Third, the Gnome had become rather guarded. Much like the days in Eregion, Mirodhel kept his counsel and spent much time in his workshop, a place that was dark and often locked. A few sought to be his apprentice, but they stayed only a few months or years before departing, telling of secret lore and strange songs (Thurinlachen). The jewel smith also took a liking at that time to the crafting of swords. Those who could remember the old ways of the Exiles in the Elder Days remarked on the handiwork of Mirodhel, noting his archaic techniques.

Few journeys did Mirodhel make in those years. When the Istari arrived in Middle-earth, the one known as Mithrandir was closest to the Elves. Before he became estranged from the Eldar, it is said that Curunir visited Imladris to consult with Elrond. A few times did he enter the workshop of the Jewel Gnome. If he learned anything there, he did not say. After the old age had passed, it was surmised that Curunir was seeking those who knew of the Ring-lore Eregion. Curunir's power grew and then he took Isengard as his own. Mirodhel went not to see him.

The Late Third Age

Arnor and her children fell and Eriador became wild as evil creeped forward. When the Eldar of Imladris went forth to battle, the Company of Annongil was present, though each incarnation was smaller than the previous. As more Noldor went West to the Havens and then on to Aman, Mirodhel's influence grew. He who was subtle of hand and tongue took a more active role in the counsels of the Valley. He was never one to take the lead, but before all debates were concluded, his voice was heard at least once, if not from his own mouth, then through others. Though not known to be a lord, he was treated as such, if only because of his great fame (or mystery). Mirodhel was the friend of all and the friend of none, though it was said that he and Elrond conversed now and then and that the son of Earendil perhaps knew more than any about who Mirodhel was or where he came from.

Some of the younger Eldar of Imladris made jest of Mirodhel's various names as they named him Othuieneth or 'Seventh Name' in reference to his six others. Perhaps as a sign that he was not completely morose beneath his outer demeanor, the Gnome took the name as his own, much to the amusement of his new admirers.

Sauron arose (again), leaving Dol Guldur and once more going home to Mordor. Dark days awaited Middle-earth as Arnor was gone, Gondor was decaying with every year and the Eldar were few and getting fewer. Mirodhel one day shut himself in his workshop and spent a week, a month, a year in there, coming out only for an hour here and there to see again the sky and eat. If his skill brought forth any weapon against the Enemy (if that indeed was his purpose), he did not say and none could discern.

Eventually he came out and rejoined the councils of Elrond, but after a time, he slipped back into his brooding as strength in Imladris waned more and more and his burden as host-lord of the Tirith grew heavier.