men of middle-earth ☀ misc. dúnedain ☀ headcanon disclaimer
Gondor was a mighty kingdom at its height, and even in the years of its decline it held many fiefdoms within its borders aside from the capital of Minas Tirith. Those who led these provinces were known in times of war as the Captains of the Outlands, for when the King or Steward called upon them they were bound by honor and duty to ride to the defense of their kingdom. During the War of the Ring, the Captains were rallied together to face the might of Sauron on the Pelennor Fields. From Lossarnach came Forlong the Fat, an old man of great girth and vitality, with two hundred men bearing mighty battle-axes. From Blackroot Vale came Lord Duinhir and his sons Duilin and Derufin, leading five hundred bowmen to battle. From Ringló Vale came Dervorin, son of its Lord, with three hundred men on foot; from Anfalas came Golasgil with a long line of civilians, fighting bravely despite their lack of equipment or skill. From the Green Hills came Hirluin the Fair with three hundred gallant green-clad men. From Dor-en-Ernil, Land of Princes, whose capital was Dol Amroth by the sea, came Prince Imrahil with a company of knights and seven hundred soldiers. From Anórien came Benrodir, newly ennobled for his bravery, with two hundred doughty men loyal to their prince. From Calembel came Inram the Tall, who had emptied his settlement of soldiers and led six hundred spearmen in his train; from Ethir Anduin came Nosdiligand, his force of a hundred fishermen small but mighty in their bravery. These brave warriors fought to defend Minas Tirith, a city not their own, for its people were their kin and deserved not the cruelty of the Enemy. Amid the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, hundreds of soldiers fell; and with them fell many of their lords, also. Forlong, separated from his men, was rendered immobile when his horse was slain, and soon was overrun; Hirluin was killed in battle rushing to the aid of Éomer of Rohan; Nosdiligand was cut down at the very gates of Minas Tirith, defending against an onslaught of orcs. Though Duinhir survived, his twin sons Duilin and Derufin were slain, trampled by mûmakil while attempting to shoot out the monsters’ eyes; they died with questions in their heart of who their mother was, though in truth they had none, for Duinhir had borne them himself after a love affair gone wrong. Of the Captains of the Outlands, only three were not present for the assault upon Minas Tirith, for they were defending their own lands, besieged by the Corsairs of Umbar. These were Angbor of Lamedon, Torthion of Lebennin, and Brassenor of Belfalas, and each of their lands was freed only when Aragorn and the Grey Company with the wraiths of the Oathbreakers swept along the coast liberating the Men of Gondor from the wrath of the Corsairs. Both Torthion and Brassenor were slain before Aragorn’s arrival, leaving Angbor alone to rally the people of the coast and march to Minas Tirith. Aragorn named Angbor “the Fearless” for his determination in leading four thousand men, many of which were his own horsemen, even after the destruction of his homeland. Indeed, his endurance through trial allowed Angbor to relieve Aragorn of the duty of protecting Minas Tirith when he marched to the Black Gate in a direct challenge to Sauron, for Angbor’s forces would defend the city as he went on the offensive, both important roles in bringing about the end of the War and the freedom of Gondor.