House Gildring
Under Construction - this is a working page in the construction of a new noble house
Contents
History
As the days of Gondor waned, so too did the lifespan of those of high blood. Filled with pride, many of these folk sought everlasting life, but found that it could only be prolonged. The arts of magic and alchemy were ever researched, but still no cure for death could be found. Chief among these lore masters was the family of the Gildring. Their origins are obscured in the fog of centuries, but they first came into prominence during the reign of Tarondor. Whence this name came, is lost in time. It is clear however, that these folk are of Numenorean descent because of their long lives, and their tendency toward drak hair and grey eyes. Whatsoever the case, King Telemnar, who died with his close kin by the Great plague, was succeeded by Tarondor. Tarondor, who contracted the plague, was saved through the efforts of Astarien, one of the Chief alchemists of Minas Tirith.
Feeling magnanimous toward Astarien, the new king elevated the alchemist to high status. In addition, Astarien was granted fiefs in Lebennin to which he and his kin barely attended, being consumed, as they were with the high arts.
From the time of Astarien, the house became increasingly secretive for they were consumed with their arts and begrudged sharing their secrets, even with close kin. The High Lords and Ladies of the House of the Gildring, often found themselves in contention with one another, for they strove to outdo each other in their arts. Yet this at times drove them to new heights of skill and for many in Gondor they escaped understanding and some called them sorcerors.
As the Third Age progressed, the arts of the Gildring were often lost with their creators, such was their secrecy, yet all of that folk possess keen minds and intellects that are often used in the employment of the engineering projects of the city, the healing arts, or the creation of things that may seem magical.
The House is obscured by its secrecy and what follows is the public record of the Gildring. It is rumoured, that there is a secret history of the House, but where that is (even if it does exist), is unknown save to those in the House.
The House, because of its strange scheme of inheritance, often finds itself in conflict with itself, and sometimes, it is whispered, the House members will even plot against each other in order to learn their secrets and gain power. This is of course rumour only, for the House considers itself a servant of Gondor and do what they can either as loremasters, healers, engineers, and very rarely, a warrior.
Chronology
All dates are Third Age
1636 - Great Plague strikes Gondor. King Telemnar dies. Lord Tarondor, nephew of the King is stricken with the plague but is cured by Astarien.
1637 - Astarien (?-1680 ) elevated to the rank of Lord, is granted fieflands in Lebennin.
1681 - Garien Gilthring (1680-1734), son of Astarien, inherits the Lordship. Becomes Lord Guildmaster of Gondor.
1737 - Gulwen the Preserver (1737-1801) - With no direct male heirs the Gildring establish the election system of inheritance. Gulwen, the niece of Garien is chosen. This time period is considered the Golden Age of the Gildring. Gulwen was surpassingly skillful in the arts and won much reknown for not only her healing arts, but also for devising weapons of war for King Telumehtar Umbardacil in his conquest of Umbar. The House won much praise, but Gulwen had no known children. Therefore, upon her death in 1801 the House elected her sister's son.
1802 - Thorongul the Unready (1802 - 1805) - Thorongul was said not to desire the lordship for he was already old when he achieved it. Three years after attaining the office, he died suddenly by choking at the Midsummer Eve festival in the Merethrond.
1805 - Angdring the Unlikely (1806-1900) - Angdring was called the "Unlikely" because he had not the temperment of his House. Yes, he was proud, but open-handed and did not care for the arts, but rather was a man of war and he wielded his great Hammer which was after named by him with ferocity against the Wainriders in 1856. However, as Angdring grew older, he became more dotardly and the House was soon controlled by his brothers daughter, Agarwen.
1903 - Agarwen the Alchemist (1903-1950) - Agarwen was notable for her experiments involving fire, smoke, and lightning and thus became known as the Alchemist. During her time, she removed herself from Minas Tirith to the family keep in Lebennin called Dol-Gildring. However, lightening and storm struck that hill and it became blackened and was renamed Dol-Thaur. Agarwen died at Dol-Thaur but her body was consumed by flame.
1951 - Gulbereth the Conjuress (1951-2000) - Gulbereth the Conjuress was the grandaughter of Angthring and was swiftly elected to the position upon the disposition of Agarwen. Gulbereth was surpassingly skilled in the arts so that she was called by many to be a Sorceress. It is said that she used her craft against the enemy to the end, and was caught in the ruin of Minas Ithil.
2002 - Morbereth the Matriarch(2002 - 2060) - Morbereth, daughter of Gulbereth was elected in 2002 and attempted to assert her rule over the house. However, other descendents of Angthring, who bore his ancient hammer chaffed under her hegemony and considered themselves the rightful heirs of the Gildring resulting in the Gildring Schism.
2040 - 2101- The Strife of the Gildring - At this time, there is a schism in the Gildring House. Some members of the family under the leadership of Gularan Gildring, a descendant of Angdring the Unlikely and in the favor of the King Earnur II, attempted to split from the leadership of Morbereth. In 2048 he usurped the Lordship of the House and it was not resolved until two generations had passed. However, Gularan was executed by the first ruling Stewart, Mardil in 2055 for reasons that have been lost in the streams of time.
2048 - Gularan usurps the Lordship from Morbereth, but he is executed for unknown reasons in 2055.
2055 - Golhir, son of Gularan (2055-2070), takes up the mantle of leadership for his branch of the house: the Gularan-Gilthrings.
2062 - Gildress Gilthring (2062-2100) - Lady of the main line is elected. She was the granddaughter of Morbereth the Matriarch.
2070 - Golion son of Golthurin rules the Gularan-Gilthring branch (2070-2101).
2101 - Golion and Gildress are both found slain within the lower city for unknown reasons. Angloss, who was descended from both lines is elected as Lord of the Gildring.
2103 - Angloss the Reuniter (2103-2150) - Angloss was the son of the two warring branches and successfully reunited the House.
2151 - Astarien II (2152- 2183) - Astarien II took the name Astarien upon being elected House Lord. From this point, the Lords of the Gildring took on a new name upon ascending to the position. Astarien was born with the name Calion.
2185 - Finwengul the Seer (2185 - 2201) - Born as Aearwen. She was called the Seer because of her gift of forsight. She died at a relatively young age, being consumed, as it were, by her visions.
2202 - Gulwen II the Old (2202 - 2304) - Born as Galienne. She was notable for the new designs of the Pelennor Walls as well as recovering the lost plans for Numenorean "fire arrows" which were subsequently lost with her dead. Being of pure Numenorean race, she was long lived and at the end of her life it is said she destroyed the old keep of Dol Thaur, but never made plans to rebuild.
2304 - Angthring II the Devious (2304-2333) - Born as Maehir. He was not closely related to Gulwen II, but he was great in skill nonetheless. His chief delight was in the creation of illusions and things that would escape the eye, only to be foudn with delight later. Upon achieving the Lordship, he began the reconstruction of the keep at Dol Thaur, and renamed it Minas Angthring -- yet construction only began before he suddenly died.
2338 - Curuhir (2338 - 2339) - Born as Galion - Assassinated. From 2333 to 2338 there was no lord of the Gildring. It is rumoured that there were intense power struggles, but none of it was apparently public until Curuhir, the new lord was elected in 2338. After ruling the house for several months, he was slain by a poison dart outside Dol Thaur.
2339 - Morbereth II (2339) - Born as Toliel - Assassinated. Toliel was the sister of Curuhir Galion and she swiftly filled her brother's place. Yet she too was found murdered at Dol Thaur.
2342 - Morbereth III (2342 - 2379) - Born as Caliel. Morbereth III was a strong Lady Gildring and ordered the destruction of the half-built keep and left it bare thereafter. She was a reknowned healer and many from beyond Gondor, came to Minas Tirith to seek her aid.
2382 - Maethir (2382 - 2450) - Born as Thringion. He was skilled in the arts of alchemy and attempted to recover the lost lore of his forebears.
2452 - Thorongul II the Elf-Friend (2452 - 2503) - Born as Curumir. Thorongul II was mostly concerned with Elven-lore and desired greatly to learn all he could of the skills of that folk, particularly the Noldor.
2505 - Amarthadaneth the Dwarf-Friend (2505 - 2611) - Born as Gilwen, she earned the name the Dwarf-Woman for desiring to learn all she could of the kindred of the Dwarves.
2611 - Aearangol the Smith (2611 - 2703) - Born as Illuin, he gained reknown for smith craft, and being one of the last of the smiths of Gondor to forge with mithril, the last lodes which were gained by his predecessor, Amarthadaneth.
2705 - Arodgul the Hammer (2705 - 2766) - Born with the same name as the ruling name. He was unlike many of his forebearers and became a Captain of Gondor, wielding his war hammer.
2767 - Angolchir (2767-2815) - Born as Ulion. He was the son of Arodgul, but was of a much different nature. He was unwarlike, and planned for the reconstruction of Dol Thaur, but it never came to fruition.
2817 - Gulamarth the Dark (2817-2901) - Born as Rellion. He was of dark mood and secretive nature. His skill was surpassing, especially in engineering, but he did not share his knowledge.
2902 - Angolwaloth the White (2902 - 2978) - Born as Melianiel and was not a descendant of Gulamarth but rather, a descendent of Amarthadaneth. She was in many ways the opposite of Gulamarth being open-handed and kind.
2978 - Agarwen II the Fair (2978 - 3015) - Born as Weniel, she was the fairest of that House. Her skill was widely known for artistry, particularly in embroidery, and her tapestries that told the story of ages past were hung over all the halls of Gondor. Yet when she died, there was no direct heir who was available, or willing to take up the lordship.
3015-3030 - The Great Gap - during this time, there was no House Lord. There apparently was a period of time when various claimants vied for the throne.
3030 - Curungol (3030 - 3044) - Born as Geletros. He was a distant descendant of Angthring II the Devious, but whose line had been kept out of the lines of power. He took the lordship at old age and died soon after, but not before planning once more to reconstruct Dol Thaur.
3045 - Curugil (3045 - current) - Born as Angirion, he was the son of Geletros and now rules the House, chiefly out of Minas Tirith.
Succession
When a Lord or Lady of the Gildring dies, it is not immediately apparent that the child of that lord will become the new Lord or Lady. Rather, a secret conclave of the entire house is held, and a new member is elected. It is known that the new Lord or Lady of the House must be of the blood of Astarien and also would be accomplished in the arts. Typically, the rulers of this house are the descendents of Astarien, but often different lines and lineages will rule based on the choices of the remainder of the house.
Upon taking the Lordship, the Gildring Lord changes his or her name to a ruling name that often indicates either reverance to an ancestor, or how they intend to use their position.
Professions
The Gildring usually become either loremasters, alchemists, or engineers. They are rarely warriors, but that is not to say that they do not know how to wield weapons. Rather, they believe that their knowledge is their best defence. They are often seeking out new wisdom, or they are trying to find the lost wisdom of their forbearers.
Personality
The Gildring are typically very secretive, but they take great delight and pride when one of their marvels comes to fruition and gladly accept the praise of others. Of course, there are exceptions to this general principle. For example, Angthring the Unlikely was of outgoing, friendly personality, and even bore a great maul hammer at war.
Symbols
The device of the Gildring is a White Hammer with a star above it upon a purple field. The origins of this device is obscure.
Rumours and Relations with Other Houses
There are many unsubstantiated rumours about the House Gildring which is mostly based upon their tendency toward secrecy and their skill. They have been accused of being involved in the black arts, being sorcerors, necromancers, having secret names and forming secret societies, and even among the most callous accusations that some of the house have been traitors to Gondor.
Of course these types of rumours could amount to the jealousy of other houses and therefore results in tensions between the Houses, but of course, all individual relationships always depend on the person. However, it is typically for the Houses of Eastern Gondor to respect the Gildring more than the Houses of Southern and Western Gondor, which know them not well at all.
