Session 7-06: The Union of Maedhros
- Thread starter MithLuin
- Start date
Update: Session delayed until January 4th 2024.
This season is our opportunity to see Fingon as High King. He never expected that role, and he will fill the shoes differently than his father did.
We last saw Fingon in Episode 1 of Season 6, as a newly-minted High King consulting with Finrod about the situation in West Beleriand and hopes for better relations with Doeiath.
...and here we are. What kind of High King is Fingon going to be?
This season is our opportunity to see Fingon as High King. He never expected that role, and he will fill the shoes differently than his father did.
We last saw Fingon in Episode 1 of Season 6, as a newly-minted High King consulting with Finrod about the situation in West Beleriand and hopes for better relations with Doeiath.
...and here we are. What kind of High King is Fingon going to be?
Odola
Well-Known Member
Regarding this session - nice ideas overall.
A couple of remarks:
a natural successor of Emeldir would be of course Dior. Why he is not considered by her and her "court" one still needs explanation imho.
[The reason why he was not considered one is that he was originally functionally an elf in-story and of ambivalently assignment and was turned fully "mortal" later and as such the consequences were not wholly and consequently thought through and integrated in-story - still we must provide some feasible explanation why he is not.
If Beren and Luthien were able to get a Silmaril from Morgoth - then Dior, their offsping would be a natural heir to that tradition. Why do not the Feanorians try to recruit young Dior for their cause?
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Assuming the timeline is similar to canon, Dior wouldn't be born until F.A. 470. Plus Maedhros might not want to approach Tol Galen lest Celegorm get any... ideas about taking Lúthien for himself again.
Odola
Well-Known Member
Still even assuming 50 years for him to become adult by elvish count, this is a mere nothing to wait for for elves. And Celegorm would not be an issue for elves as long Beren is alive, as elves do not takes others' wives. Once Beren dies Luthien is a widow and can be courted again. So no problem there, really. Before Luthien was married, this was an issue, as the question was whom she marries first, but now it is only a question of several decades until she in not married anymore... Elves can wait, there is no urgency. Actually marrying a widowed Luthien and gaining custody of Dior as a stepson would be a legitime and bloodless way to regain the Silmaril back for the Feanorians...
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Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Again, Maedhros might not want to approach them if Celegorm wants to "speed up" the remarrying issue. It's also clear that Maedhros doesn't have everyone onboard with working together in the Union, since Celegorm (again) threatens to slaughter the populace of Doriath should the Union overcome Morgoth and the Silmaril not given back.
Odola
Well-Known Member
Maedhros can well go himself or send Maglor, there is no need for Celegorm to be involved at all in such negotiations. One just goes down the Little Gelion and then Gelion by boat and then up the Adurant. Easy access from Himring for to have some secret talks. This issue is not to let them do it, the issue is to have a logical explanation as to why they do not.
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Depending on the year of Emeldir's death, Dior may or may not be born, and if born, is still a baby. Also, if born, he is in Tol Galen, an isolated spot with few outside visitors, making it an open question whether or not the people of Dor-lómin even know of his existence. At what point do they learn that Beren and Lúthien are returned to life? And living on the opposite side of Beleriand?
But more importantly, the House of Bëor as portrayed in Silm Film has seldom had any sort of line of succession that was direct father-to-son. Bëor's heir (when it came to leading the people and taking care of the functional issues of living in Nargothrond) was Adanel. She is one of the people who was a young child when the (small) house of Bëor came to Nargothrond, so she is unlikely to even be a direct descendent of Bëor herself, though he very much had a 'grandfatherly' relationship with all of the children in his band. The point being, Bëor chose Adanel to take that role, not his own sons or grandsons, so 'line of succession' obviously was not the important criteria for taking on that mantle. It was about selecting and training 'wise people' to serve the people.
Adanel's successor was Andreth. Andreth is a direct descendant of Bëor. but was chosen for the role of wise-woman because of her willingness to learn and a certain sense of ambition. Her youth allowed her to see a different future for her people, but her decisions were informed by her understanding of what it meant to be human. She clearly also had a fascination with the elves. But of course Andreth never married and never had children.
With the move from Nargothrond to Ladros, the need for military leadership becomes apparent. Yes, Andreth is the wise woman and leader who has inherited Bëor's stole. But she's not going to be directly involved in developing a military presence for Ladros. That role goes to her younger brother Bregolas, who was a teenager when they moved to Ladros.
Bregolas' nephew is Barahir, who is raised in Ladros from childhood. Barahir is the son of Bregor, the older brother of Andreth and Bregolas. But in Silm Film, Bregor himself never has a leadership role in the House of Bëor. He's a family member of people who are, so surely he's involved, but...not the guy in charge.
Beren, of course, never has the chance to succeed his father Barahir. His mother Emeldir (who is Adanel's granddaughter) joins with Andreth to lead the refugees away from Ladros to Brethil, and it's Emeldir who leads the remnant of the House of Bëor (men, women, and children) to Dor-lómin after Andreth's death.
And so...even if Dior is born, and even if Emeldir's people know about Dior's birth, there is not going to be any reason for anyone to think that Dior should be the next leader of the House of Bëor. That...isn't how the House of Bëor has ever chosen leaders. Emeldir will choose and train her successor - and that will be Morwen.
The House of Hador is much more into the idea of a father-to-son line of leadership.
The Sons of Fëanor will seek out and contact Dior...after the deaths of Beren and Lúthien. Now is too early for that story.
But more importantly, the House of Bëor as portrayed in Silm Film has seldom had any sort of line of succession that was direct father-to-son. Bëor's heir (when it came to leading the people and taking care of the functional issues of living in Nargothrond) was Adanel. She is one of the people who was a young child when the (small) house of Bëor came to Nargothrond, so she is unlikely to even be a direct descendent of Bëor herself, though he very much had a 'grandfatherly' relationship with all of the children in his band. The point being, Bëor chose Adanel to take that role, not his own sons or grandsons, so 'line of succession' obviously was not the important criteria for taking on that mantle. It was about selecting and training 'wise people' to serve the people.
Adanel's successor was Andreth. Andreth is a direct descendant of Bëor. but was chosen for the role of wise-woman because of her willingness to learn and a certain sense of ambition. Her youth allowed her to see a different future for her people, but her decisions were informed by her understanding of what it meant to be human. She clearly also had a fascination with the elves. But of course Andreth never married and never had children.
With the move from Nargothrond to Ladros, the need for military leadership becomes apparent. Yes, Andreth is the wise woman and leader who has inherited Bëor's stole. But she's not going to be directly involved in developing a military presence for Ladros. That role goes to her younger brother Bregolas, who was a teenager when they moved to Ladros.
Bregolas' nephew is Barahir, who is raised in Ladros from childhood. Barahir is the son of Bregor, the older brother of Andreth and Bregolas. But in Silm Film, Bregor himself never has a leadership role in the House of Bëor. He's a family member of people who are, so surely he's involved, but...not the guy in charge.
Beren, of course, never has the chance to succeed his father Barahir. His mother Emeldir (who is Adanel's granddaughter) joins with Andreth to lead the refugees away from Ladros to Brethil, and it's Emeldir who leads the remnant of the House of Bëor (men, women, and children) to Dor-lómin after Andreth's death.
And so...even if Dior is born, and even if Emeldir's people know about Dior's birth, there is not going to be any reason for anyone to think that Dior should be the next leader of the House of Bëor. That...isn't how the House of Bëor has ever chosen leaders. Emeldir will choose and train her successor - and that will be Morwen.
The House of Hador is much more into the idea of a father-to-son line of leadership.
The Sons of Fëanor will seek out and contact Dior...after the deaths of Beren and Lúthien. Now is too early for that story.
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Odola
Well-Known Member
That looks like a society where the spiritual leadership is traced down matrilinealy while their war chiefs are either the husbands, brothers or offsping of said female leaders:
Zimrahin - Adanel - (no sister, no own daughter, descent goes over to her "foster daughter"[ husband's "niece" (actually 2nd cousin once removed)] Andreth (childless, sister Beril is childless, fraternal nieces Gilwen and Hirwen are childless, [there is the eldest niece Bregil and grandniece Beldis, but that one lives among the House of Haleth] - back to Adanel's filial granddaughter Emeldir - Emeldir's own daughter is Hiril (who has no sister, childless, no nieces) descent passes over 2 female-less generations via Hiril's brother Beren Erchamion and her fraternal nephew Dior to - Elwing (no sisters, no daughters, no reported nieces) - one generation passed over via Elros (but by that time the descend is traced patrilinearly after the elvish fashion [and they are all counted to the House of Hador]) - Tindómiel / alternatively via Elrond to Arwen
So while the houses are named after their father grandfather/male ancestor - the leadership seems to be passed on matrilinealy. There are several real world cultures where the descent pattern is traced down like that.
Edit - I have checked the family trees again - what about Morwen's and Rian's aunt Beleth then? She has had offspring, as one of her descendants is later the famous Erendis of Numenor. Beleth was the daughter of Bregolas (3rd Lord of Ladros) and the older sister of Baragund and Belegund. While Morwen and Rian were Andreth's great-grandnieces, Beleth was one generation above them, a grandniece to Andreth and a niece to Emeldir's husband Barahir. If Morwen was Bregolas' granddaugher via his oldest son Baragund (the next in line patrilinealy), Beleth was his eldest child and the daughter of an actually officially ruling leader. She would take precedence over her nieces. Is Beleth dead?
Barahir was not only Emeldir's husband, he was also Andreth's nephew. This makes Beren Erchamion's closest kin to both Andreth and Adanel - and Dior for sure the next in line for leadership, as the sons of both Morwen and Rian are counted into the House of Hador (and so are both Morwen's daughters and her unborn grandchild) - Except of course the case that Lady Beleth had a son or grandson, that one could take precedence over Dior.
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Patrick Graham
New Member
During the session In regards to the discussion about Curufin not being able to see through the easterlings, i like the idea that Curufin is the Feanorian ambassador to the dwarves. According to the sources he is one of the very few elves to know khuzdul and being the inheritor of most of his fathers skills of craft, he could be working closely with the dwarves to develop their armaments for the coming battle, and as such i believe this to be a plausible reasoning for his not recognising the deceit among the easterlings. this alongside the fact that Curufin has had very little dealings with the easterlings.
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Wasn't it Caranthir and Maedhros (at least in canon) who dealt with the Easterlings? The ones who served under Maedhros proved faithful, the ones under Caranthir didn't.
Odola
Well-Known Member
also while Curufin is cunning and would betray anyone, the one exception was his own father Feanor, so I do not think he would suspect anybody of betraying their own father - I think Maeglin was the only elf to ever do such a thing
A reminder of the family tree of the House of Bëor in Silm Film:
People whose names are in black are not characters in the story, but naturally existed. Likewise, there can be canonical characters from Tolkien's family trees who also would 'exist' in Silm Film, in the sense that they can be an unnamed background crowd person with no lines or something. But only a limited number of characters get names that we want the audience to know or recognize, and with the exception of Gorlim and Eilinel, they appear here. Implying that Gorlim and his wife were not closely related to Barahir, but that does not mean unrelated, either.
They are a very small group of people originally. There's only about 100 people crossing the mountains with Bëor, and some of those are his own children and grandchildren. They are very isolated in Nargothrond (isolated from other humans, I mean), so after a couple of generations there, literally everyone in the House of Bëor is related to everyone else by the time they move to Ladros, and certainly everyone is related to the line of Bëor. This is very different from Tolkien's story, where the House of Bëor mingles with what will become the House of Hador in Estolad, before separating again. Also, Boromir, father of Andreth, is not lord of Ladros in Silm Film. Andreth leads her people to establish Ladros, and her father comes along with her. He is only mentioned in the context of his grave appearing in the Athrabeth episode in Season 5. And Adanel does not marry into the House of Bëor, but is born into it in Silm Film. The only nod we give to her origin is to make her not Bëor's granddaughter, but to have her parents be unrelated to Bëor. But she crosses the mountains into Beleriand with her parents and Bëor as part of that very small original group. In one version of Tolkien's family trees, Adanel has five children. In another, she is Hador's sister. We have preserved Emeldir as her granddaughter, but her children are not part of this story because we see her childhood and time as a young woman (before they are born), and her mentoring of Andreth (which happens after her children are grown to adulthood).
Leadership is neither matrilinear nor patrilinear. Leaders emerge and are chosen by the current leadership. So, no one becomes a leader without the 'blessing' of the established leader, and there are family ties, but there isn't a particular pattern to it, and certainly not a rule about oldest sons or sister-sons or any of that. The 'baton' of war-leader has only been successfully passed along *once* - from Bregolas to his nephew Barahir. Bregolas' own adult sons acknowledge Barahir as their leader, both in the Dagor Bragollach, and afterwards, as outlaws. Beren buried all of them, but never assumed any mantle of leadership within the House of Bëor. His mother Emeldir, however, did. So it's up to her to select her successor, and in Silm Film, that will be Morwen (who is Beren's second-cousin, but that's not why she's being chosen). The role of 'wise counselor' leadership is now dead, though - the stole of leadership worn by Bëor, Adanel, and Andreth is left on Andreth's grave. The role Emeldir is taking involves carrying a sword - she is both Barahir's heir as well as Andreth's, but she acknowledges her role will be very different from Andreth's. She is the leader of the remnant of men, women, and children of the House of Bëor - in many ways, Emeldir is acting as Bëor's heir. The next leader will be Morwen.
Naturally, the House of Hador is very much patrilinear, and we will be showing that again this season, as we have in Season 5. The House of Bëor had to be handled differently for a myriad of storytelling reasons. It's important that we be consistent with our storytelling and have them discuss and make decisions as they have in the past.
Dior will not be a character in Season 7 of Silm Film. So we're not going to have characters on screen talking about him or discussing him. People *will* talk about the exploits of Beren and Lúthien. We will introduce Dior to Silm Film on screen - he will appear the next time we visit Beren and Lúthien. But they are not part of the Season 7 storyline, and it's important that we let them 'rest' from the story for awhile.
People whose names are in black are not characters in the story, but naturally existed. Likewise, there can be canonical characters from Tolkien's family trees who also would 'exist' in Silm Film, in the sense that they can be an unnamed background crowd person with no lines or something. But only a limited number of characters get names that we want the audience to know or recognize, and with the exception of Gorlim and Eilinel, they appear here. Implying that Gorlim and his wife were not closely related to Barahir, but that does not mean unrelated, either.
They are a very small group of people originally. There's only about 100 people crossing the mountains with Bëor, and some of those are his own children and grandchildren. They are very isolated in Nargothrond (isolated from other humans, I mean), so after a couple of generations there, literally everyone in the House of Bëor is related to everyone else by the time they move to Ladros, and certainly everyone is related to the line of Bëor. This is very different from Tolkien's story, where the House of Bëor mingles with what will become the House of Hador in Estolad, before separating again. Also, Boromir, father of Andreth, is not lord of Ladros in Silm Film. Andreth leads her people to establish Ladros, and her father comes along with her. He is only mentioned in the context of his grave appearing in the Athrabeth episode in Season 5. And Adanel does not marry into the House of Bëor, but is born into it in Silm Film. The only nod we give to her origin is to make her not Bëor's granddaughter, but to have her parents be unrelated to Bëor. But she crosses the mountains into Beleriand with her parents and Bëor as part of that very small original group. In one version of Tolkien's family trees, Adanel has five children. In another, she is Hador's sister. We have preserved Emeldir as her granddaughter, but her children are not part of this story because we see her childhood and time as a young woman (before they are born), and her mentoring of Andreth (which happens after her children are grown to adulthood).
Leadership is neither matrilinear nor patrilinear. Leaders emerge and are chosen by the current leadership. So, no one becomes a leader without the 'blessing' of the established leader, and there are family ties, but there isn't a particular pattern to it, and certainly not a rule about oldest sons or sister-sons or any of that. The 'baton' of war-leader has only been successfully passed along *once* - from Bregolas to his nephew Barahir. Bregolas' own adult sons acknowledge Barahir as their leader, both in the Dagor Bragollach, and afterwards, as outlaws. Beren buried all of them, but never assumed any mantle of leadership within the House of Bëor. His mother Emeldir, however, did. So it's up to her to select her successor, and in Silm Film, that will be Morwen (who is Beren's second-cousin, but that's not why she's being chosen). The role of 'wise counselor' leadership is now dead, though - the stole of leadership worn by Bëor, Adanel, and Andreth is left on Andreth's grave. The role Emeldir is taking involves carrying a sword - she is both Barahir's heir as well as Andreth's, but she acknowledges her role will be very different from Andreth's. She is the leader of the remnant of men, women, and children of the House of Bëor - in many ways, Emeldir is acting as Bëor's heir. The next leader will be Morwen.
Naturally, the House of Hador is very much patrilinear, and we will be showing that again this season, as we have in Season 5. The House of Bëor had to be handled differently for a myriad of storytelling reasons. It's important that we be consistent with our storytelling and have them discuss and make decisions as they have in the past.
Dior will not be a character in Season 7 of Silm Film. So we're not going to have characters on screen talking about him or discussing him. People *will* talk about the exploits of Beren and Lúthien. We will introduce Dior to Silm Film on screen - he will appear the next time we visit Beren and Lúthien. But they are not part of the Season 7 storyline, and it's important that we let them 'rest' from the story for awhile.
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Odola
Well-Known Member
That that gives us a huge problem, as if it is so would be either Morwen's duty to marry within the House of Bëor - anybody male: old, young, lame, decrepit, does not matter. In her position she would be simply obliged to. Or she must adopt/foster another child from the House of Bëor to raise as her successor, regardless of her own children. Otherwise she commits treason and voluntarily obliterates her nation.
And after Morwen dies, only Dior and his sons (before they are killed off) and [in Tolkien] the offsping of Baleth remain of the ruling House of Bëor.
So in the end only the line of Baleth remains into Numenor (northwestern parts of the island) of the "Lords of Ladros" - if the rulership does not go over to an assumed great-grandson of Belegor who probably would be wise enough to marry a descendant of Baleth (or vice versa).
But in your tree there in no House of Bëor left for Numenor at all!
Would that not be a problem? We do need to have some Bëorians there, even if only to have Erendis descent from them?
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To the contrary, marrying Húrin secures the position of her people in Dor-lómin. Recall that after the destruction of Ladros in the Dagor Bragollach, they have no land of their own. They have just left the Forest of Brethil, the first place they took refuge. Also, in our story, we've tentatively proposed that she marries Húrin prior to the death of Emeldir.
I agree that Curufin being the ambassador to the Dwarves makes sense as a role he can be playing at this time. If he never interacts with Ulfang or Uldor, it will be harder for him to notice the brewing treachery. Azaghal's decision to join the Union is fairly momentous. He's feeling a bit pressured into things, but obviously commits wholeheartedly enough to lead his troops into battle and fight a dragon. So, if he is not a reluctant ally, he must have some confidence in the success of the Noldor, and Curufin would be a good go-between to inspire that confidence.
We do have the issue that the king of Belegost is always named "Azaghal" (we are going with an Azaghal the Deathless theme, just like Durin). So how old is this Azaghal? Is he the same person who gifted the Dragon-helm to Maedhros as we around when Telchar was making Narsil? Or is he the son/grandson of that king? The cat is out of the bag to the audience (who observed the death and crowning of a new King Laurin in Nogrod in Season 5), but it's not clear that elves other than Eöl and Maeglin are fully aware of Dwarven mortality yet. Curufin will defintely figure that out if he's spending time with Dwarves as an ambassador, but of course Maedhros could also recognize that 'King Azaghal' is not the person he met before, either.
I agree that Curufin being the ambassador to the Dwarves makes sense as a role he can be playing at this time. If he never interacts with Ulfang or Uldor, it will be harder for him to notice the brewing treachery. Azaghal's decision to join the Union is fairly momentous. He's feeling a bit pressured into things, but obviously commits wholeheartedly enough to lead his troops into battle and fight a dragon. So, if he is not a reluctant ally, he must have some confidence in the success of the Noldor, and Curufin would be a good go-between to inspire that confidence.
We do have the issue that the king of Belegost is always named "Azaghal" (we are going with an Azaghal the Deathless theme, just like Durin). So how old is this Azaghal? Is he the same person who gifted the Dragon-helm to Maedhros as we around when Telchar was making Narsil? Or is he the son/grandson of that king? The cat is out of the bag to the audience (who observed the death and crowning of a new King Laurin in Nogrod in Season 5), but it's not clear that elves other than Eöl and Maeglin are fully aware of Dwarven mortality yet. Curufin will defintely figure that out if he's spending time with Dwarves as an ambassador, but of course Maedhros could also recognize that 'King Azaghal' is not the person he met before, either.
Odola
Well-Known Member
But then her children are all House of Hador automatically! Who is then her successor in the House of Bëor?
As established, the leader will select and train a replacement, who is almost never their own child. So, she will select someone from the House of Bëor to be her mentee, with the hope that that person will take a leadership role after her death. That...probably won't pan out, seeing what is coming. But she may still entrust someone with an authority role prior to leaving for Doriath later.
Húrin will be confused by all of this, so we will have some opportunities to explain what is happening in-story.
Húrin will be confused by all of this, so we will have some opportunities to explain what is happening in-story.
Odola
Well-Known Member
O.k. that makes sense. But this should not be forgotten and should be integrated in-story. Might be that very person that informs Turin that his mother and sister have already left. Turin might have bean also angry that Morwen had taken somebody else in while she sent him away. That she shares secret knowledge wit him/her and not with her own son. Potential for conflict there, to flesh out Turin character out as a child. He seems prone to feel slighted.
Ange1e4e5
Well-Known Member
Like there's going to be anyone left.
Notes for Session 7-06:
Communication and Travel in Beleriand
Looking at the map, we see that there are some communication and logistics issues for this season. We're going to be coordinating a nearly continent-wide military offensive, with the entire middle of the map being territory that is difficult or impossible to traverse. We do have time, though - time for people to travel around the south of Beleriand to relay messages. Walking, travelling by horse, and travelling by boat are all options. A communications network (similar to the pony express or beacons of Gondor) can be implemented to allow information to travel as swiftly as possible. The eagles play a role limited to Turgon in Gondolin (we did not discuss talking ravens at this time). And the question of elven telepathy bears a bit more discussion. No palantíri in Beleriand during the First Age in Silm Film.
We will want in-person meetings on screen to show characters discussing and reacting to one another. And since there are no strong time constraints, there is no reason not to have these meetings. We will want to portray two meetings (minimum). Maedhros will travel around the south of Doriath, perhaps to the Mouths of Sirion, perhaps continuing over land, and reach Fingon's seat of power in Barad Eithel. This will be an official visit with the High King, and an opportunity to complete the story of their friendship. They will have a private meeting in which Maedhros proposes the idea of the Union to Fingon, urging him to recognize that now is the time.
The second meeting will be a secret concil held at the ruins of Tol Sirion (to parallel the Frame meeting of the White Council in the ruins of Eregion). Fingon will be giving his public support to Maedhros' plan, and urging others to support the plan. Húrin of Dor-lómin and Handir of Brethil are in. Círdan is in support. Thingol of Doriath is (fairly obviously) not interested, and Orodreth likewise refuses to undertake a joint venture with the brother of Celegorm and Curufin. So, while not an unequivocal success, there is enough support to move forward with their plans.
We will likely need to have a third and final meeting to discuss logistics and tactics once the Dwarves and Easterlings also join the Union (though perhaps not with Fingon and Maedhros both attending in person). The audience should feel strongly that they have a solid chance of success with this plan. Which means that the plan presented needs to sound reasonable, elegantly brilliant, and something they could acheive without Turgon's army (so that the arrival of the additional army is a 'bonus' rather than a requirement for the cunning plan to work).
Why does Fingon think that now is the time for the fight against Morgoth?
Fingon has been wanting to follow in his father's footsteps and go haring off into battle against Morgoth, but he considers it prudent to...not do that. He feels that his responsibility as High King requires focusing on rebuilding rather than battle plans. It's important that we make sure he is not a cipher, just a background character going along with Maedhros' ideas with no motivation of his own. Rather, the Union was an action he wanted to take for his own reasons, and he's trying to determine if now is the time and how to do it successfully.
Death of Fingon
Fingon must accomplish something with his death. He will fall fighting Gothmog, but he must do so valiantly. So the fatal charge is his decision, and it accomplishes wounding Gothmog in some way (maybe seriously, like severing a limb or blinding an eye). More importantly, he halts Gothmog at a key point that allows Turgon and the troops of Gondolin to begin their escape from the battlefield. In his final moments, Fingon realizes that not all hope is lost. He had thought that his entire role was to succeed where his father had failed to defeat Morgoth. But in that moment, he realizes that hope of success remains even after he is gone. The realization that it does not have to be he himself who accomplishes victory, coupled with his aid in Turgon's escape, points to an understanding that he is Fingolfin's heir, but he is not the only descendent of Fingolfin left alive in this world. His death should feel a bit like he's passing the torch to his brother Turgon, but it should not be identical to Huor's "from you and from me a new star shall arise".
Fëanorean Role-Call
Communication and Travel in Beleriand
Looking at the map, we see that there are some communication and logistics issues for this season. We're going to be coordinating a nearly continent-wide military offensive, with the entire middle of the map being territory that is difficult or impossible to traverse. We do have time, though - time for people to travel around the south of Beleriand to relay messages. Walking, travelling by horse, and travelling by boat are all options. A communications network (similar to the pony express or beacons of Gondor) can be implemented to allow information to travel as swiftly as possible. The eagles play a role limited to Turgon in Gondolin (we did not discuss talking ravens at this time). And the question of elven telepathy bears a bit more discussion. No palantíri in Beleriand during the First Age in Silm Film.
We will want in-person meetings on screen to show characters discussing and reacting to one another. And since there are no strong time constraints, there is no reason not to have these meetings. We will want to portray two meetings (minimum). Maedhros will travel around the south of Doriath, perhaps to the Mouths of Sirion, perhaps continuing over land, and reach Fingon's seat of power in Barad Eithel. This will be an official visit with the High King, and an opportunity to complete the story of their friendship. They will have a private meeting in which Maedhros proposes the idea of the Union to Fingon, urging him to recognize that now is the time.
The second meeting will be a secret concil held at the ruins of Tol Sirion (to parallel the Frame meeting of the White Council in the ruins of Eregion). Fingon will be giving his public support to Maedhros' plan, and urging others to support the plan. Húrin of Dor-lómin and Handir of Brethil are in. Círdan is in support. Thingol of Doriath is (fairly obviously) not interested, and Orodreth likewise refuses to undertake a joint venture with the brother of Celegorm and Curufin. So, while not an unequivocal success, there is enough support to move forward with their plans.
We will likely need to have a third and final meeting to discuss logistics and tactics once the Dwarves and Easterlings also join the Union (though perhaps not with Fingon and Maedhros both attending in person). The audience should feel strongly that they have a solid chance of success with this plan. Which means that the plan presented needs to sound reasonable, elegantly brilliant, and something they could acheive without Turgon's army (so that the arrival of the additional army is a 'bonus' rather than a requirement for the cunning plan to work).
Why does Fingon think that now is the time for the fight against Morgoth?
Fingon has been wanting to follow in his father's footsteps and go haring off into battle against Morgoth, but he considers it prudent to...not do that. He feels that his responsibility as High King requires focusing on rebuilding rather than battle plans. It's important that we make sure he is not a cipher, just a background character going along with Maedhros' ideas with no motivation of his own. Rather, the Union was an action he wanted to take for his own reasons, and he's trying to determine if now is the time and how to do it successfully.
- His first push to want to do something differently will be voiced during his meeting with Húrin where they discuss the final battle of Fingolfin.
- His first indication that now is the time is when Maedhros arrives with a plan that matches the thoughts that Fingon had after his discussion with Húrin.
- Once others sign on, it seems that they have a plan, and they have people to carry it out. So, looking good, though unfortunate that not everyone is on board.
- The first feeling of confirmation that they're doing the right thing is when Galadriel appears in East Beleriand with an army of Easterlings.
- The second is the alliance with the Dwarves of Belegost.
- And then the final source of hope and indication that 'now is the time' is the arrival of Turgon with the army of Gondolin that leads to the proclamation that Utúlie'n aurë! (The day has come!)
Death of Fingon
Fingon must accomplish something with his death. He will fall fighting Gothmog, but he must do so valiantly. So the fatal charge is his decision, and it accomplishes wounding Gothmog in some way (maybe seriously, like severing a limb or blinding an eye). More importantly, he halts Gothmog at a key point that allows Turgon and the troops of Gondolin to begin their escape from the battlefield. In his final moments, Fingon realizes that not all hope is lost. He had thought that his entire role was to succeed where his father had failed to defeat Morgoth. But in that moment, he realizes that hope of success remains even after he is gone. The realization that it does not have to be he himself who accomplishes victory, coupled with his aid in Turgon's escape, points to an understanding that he is Fingolfin's heir, but he is not the only descendent of Fingolfin left alive in this world. His death should feel a bit like he's passing the torch to his brother Turgon, but it should not be identical to Huor's "from you and from me a new star shall arise".
Fëanorean Role-Call
Maglor whole-heartedly supports Maedhros and this plan, being completely loyal to his older brother. He is the one with the insight that if they do not plan an attack on Angband now, and if it does not succeed...it's about to take a very dark turn. He can run Himring while Maedhros is away, and should have some valiant action during the Nirnaeth battle.
Amras has been in a very dark, nihilistic headspace since the death of his brother Amrod. He hates the Oath, and has no hope (amdir or estel) for the success of the Noldor in their fight against Morgoth. He's kept isolated (nomadic in his yurt) for most of the First Age, but has not yet had the opportunity to voice much of his nihilistic thoughts. The lead-up to the battle is the perfect time for his 'guess we'll all die now, I'm in' attitude to be articulated, and this can be what gives Maglor his concern that the brothers are on the brink of a precipice. Amras is the one brother whose character can still change in significant ways before the end, so we have choices to make about him in the future.
Amras has been in a very dark, nihilistic headspace since the death of his brother Amrod. He hates the Oath, and has no hope (amdir or estel) for the success of the Noldor in their fight against Morgoth. He's kept isolated (nomadic in his yurt) for most of the First Age, but has not yet had the opportunity to voice much of his nihilistic thoughts. The lead-up to the battle is the perfect time for his 'guess we'll all die now, I'm in' attitude to be articulated, and this can be what gives Maglor his concern that the brothers are on the brink of a precipice. Amras is the one brother whose character can still change in significant ways before the end, so we have choices to make about him in the future.
Caranthir will be taken in and duped by Uldor. He no longer has sole custody of his tower, and no longer has a toll road for the dwarves. Flattery works on him, and he wants to feel important. He will see his role as important, and Uldor will encourage that.
Curufin will not be as involved in the human alliances. He'll be more focused on the Dwarves? He does meet Bor and see his sincerity, which helps mask Uldor's treachery from him. If Curufin does have suspicions about Uldor's actions, he may foresee the internal betrayal of Ulfang, but not the larger betrayal of the Union.
Curufin will not be as involved in the human alliances. He'll be more focused on the Dwarves? He does meet Bor and see his sincerity, which helps mask Uldor's treachery from him. If Curufin does have suspicions about Uldor's actions, he may foresee the internal betrayal of Ulfang, but not the larger betrayal of the Union.
Celegorm has lost Huan, and is cooler in friendship with Curufin than he has been. He's still exceptionally good in battle.
Galadriel arrives with the Easterlings in East Beleriand, which was a complete surprise to everyone. Galadriel serves as a diplomat, helping to establish a good neighborly relationship between the Men and the Fëanoreans. Once she learns about the plan for a battle, she will feel that her actions were fortuitous and that she was working towards this end. So she will agree to the plan out of a sense of purpose and destiny, but she will not be 'handing over' an Easterling army to the Fëanoreans. Maedhros needs to be genuinely grateful and not the least bit condescending or dismissive in his interactions with her to avoid a breakdown of diplomacy.