It would be overstating matters a bit to say this letter relates to exploration and new lands (as per the prompts for Day 2), but the author of the letter has just taken up a new post in a new location. She is Edhellos, the widow of Prince Angrod, recently a refugee from Dorthonion.
Edhellos, now Warden of White Horn Tower, to Cirdan, Lord of Eglarest and Brithombar.
Thank you again for all the gracious assistance you have lent us! I am happy to report that all is going well so far in this our new venture. Although the previous warden you had installed was evidently very glad to be away—I gather Carallim had greatly missed serving you on a ship, which is his true vocation, and being stuck in a tower staring out over the sea was a poor substitute for him—we found everything in Barad Nimras in extremely good working order and I trust we will succeed in keeping it so.
I have put up the naltalma apparatus in the pavilion on the viewing platform and turned the largest room on the floor below into my room of records. Your people are viewing these manifestations of Noldorin newfangledness with some scepticism. Captain Feinnen, in particular, may have something to say you about this, when you next meet. As the plan is for him to be stationed here regularly with me, when he is not patrolling the coast, I hope I can convince him that I am not more eccentric than he can tolerate!
I will write again soon, when we have settled in a little more. I wish to be useful to you, my friend, and not only by freeing up Carallim for other duties closer to his heart.
Edhellos
With thanks to Chestnut for the names of the two Falathrim characters.
Here is my second Silm OC— aka, the cousin of Merilwen! @fishing4stars @cilil
Name: Laeriel
Gender: Female
Group: Falathrim
Affiliation: Círdan, the Falas
Dwelling: Brithombar, Mouths of Sirion
Face-claim: Alissa White-Gluz, vocalist of Arch Enemy
Laeriel is a Sindarin elf-maiden, the maternal cousin of Merilwen, and one of the Falathrim. Prior to her birth, Laeriel’s family abandoned the Great Journey to Aman in favor of following Círdan to the Falas. They settled in Brithombar, where Laeriel was born during the Years of the Trees. Her father is a soldier and an advisor to Círdan, while her mother is a pearl diver. Eventually, Laeriel followed her mother’s footsteps and became a pearl diver in her adolescent years.
Though she is admired by the other divers for her skill, Laeriel is quite reserved. When she meets others, she doesn't waste time with small talk, but gets straight to the point. She’s no-nonsense, doesn't spend a lot of time with other people, and she prefers to be alone with her own thoughts. But though she is cold in public, Laeriel is fiercely loyal to her family, and to Círdan. She also tries to write letters to her cousin in Doriath, and hopes to meet her extended family one day.
When she's not diving for pearls, Laeriel likes spending time in the library of Brithombar, where she writes poetry. Laeriel is very proud to be one of the Falathrim, and she always feels most at home whenever she's by the sea. She also has a bit of a sweet tooth, and loves the citrusy desserts of the Falas. Laeriel is very good at making sweets and desserts, and likes to make them for weddings and special festivals.
Following the return of the Noldor to Beleriand, Laeriel and her family join Círdan’s delegation to the Mereth Aderthad to form bonds of friendship with the people of Fingolfin. It’s at this feast that Laeriel earns the attention of Maglor, Fëanor’s second son. While initially aloof and cold towards him, Laeriel is gradually won over by Maglor’s charm and charisma. Even better, her parents also approve of Maglor as a potential suitor. Though Maglor settles in east Beleriand, he and Laeriel write letters to each other as a form of long-distance courtship. Maglor even travels down to Brithombar to meet with Laeriel a few times. They spend a lot of time together in Brithombar— swimming in the harbour, exploring the city, and just walking along the shore. Slowly but surely, Laeriel starts to fall in love.
But such feelings are quickly extinguished with some shocking revelations during one of Maglor’s visits.
When the news of the First Kinslaying reaches the Falas— as well as Maglor’s part in it, Laeriel is furious, hurt, and deeply heartbroken. This results in an ugly fight between Laeriel and Maglor, with Laeriel shouting at Maglor to get out of her sight and never return to the Falas. Likewise, her parents support her decision, and tell Maglor to leave. It’s the worst kind of heartbreak that Laeriel has experienced in her life. To be honest, Laeriel isn’t sure what’s worse— the fact that Maglor had taken part in the First Kinslaying, the fact that he never even planned to tell her about it, the fact that his first instinct was to try and victim-blame the Teleri, or the fact that Maglor didn’t even show genuine remorse. If Maglor had shown some genuine remorse for the Kinslaying, Laeriel could have probably tried to forgive him. But the moment he tried blaming the Teleri for the Kinslaying was the moment when Laeriel lost her affection for him and began to loathe the Fëanorians as a whole.
Laeriel’s whole life in Brithombar is upended after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Her father is killed during the catastrophic battle, and her mother is killed when Morgoth’s forces invade and destroy the Havens of the Falas. Luckily, she escapes to the Isle of Balar along with the rest of the survivors. She would later move to the Havens of Sirion after the Second Kinslaying, which is when she and Merilwen finally meet. Due to their shared losses, Laeriel is able to form a close, sisterly bond with Merilwen, and she also becomes something of an aunt to Elwing. Laeriel is also very supportive of Merilwen’s blossoming romance with Voronwë, and encourages them both to pursue their mutual feelings.
However, seeing her own cousin falling in love has Laeriel realize something. Despite her ugly falling out with Maglor many long years ago, despite hating him so much, she can’t deny that deep down, a part of her still cares about him. Of course, she cannot forgive his participation in the Second Kinslaying, which destroyed Merilwen and Elwing’s home. And she certainly won’t forgive him for his actions in the Third Kinslaying either. And yet, at the same time, Laeriel can’t help but mourn for the person that Maglor could’ve been, for the person she thought she could love.
However, through a series of coincidences, Laeriel finds herself meeting Maglor again, well after the end of the War of Wrath. After everything he’s done, she should want nothing to do with him.
But perhaps this chance meeting could be the catharsis and closure that she needs to move on with her life…
Falathrim World Building Introduction (First Age Prior to the Isle of Balar)
(Noldor, Teleri, Vanyar, Sindar of Doriath)
I did some introductions to world building for the three main cultures of the Eldar in Valinor and the Sindar of Doriath and I want to write more for those but I also wanted to do the other kindreds so here’s part one for my Falathrim World Building
Here are some more general world building headcanons (architecture/homes, governance, etc) Please feel free to ask more!! I’d love to expand on food, environment, flora and fauna, etc
Please feel free to ask more!! General posts are hard because I didn’t have specific categories to cover so feel free to send categories! I also included some similarities and differences with the Teleri in Valinor
The Falathrim lived on the coasts of Western Beleriand where they were persuaded to stay by Ossë. They lived at the Havens of the Falas at the mouths of two rivers, Nenning and Brithon. There were two Havens, Brithombar and Eglarest, walled cities that lasted until the Fifth Battle where the surviving Falathrim moved West to the Isle of Balar
Círdan is considered an authority and leader despite never being officially appointed. The Falathrim of Beleriand do start out with a less formal system of rule than their kin in Valinor. As time goes on a more formal system of governance does emerge with appointed roles. Much is decided communally
The houses and structures were made of sandstone, clay and wood with imported stone from their allies utilized in the reconstruction after damage during the First battle of Beleriand. Tufa and limestone were also used in the walls, towers, and fortification
Sand ryegrass is also used in more temporary homes as well as baskets and nets.
In the Eastern reaches of their land, sheep were kept for wool and thus fabric (as well as milk). They were originally traded for with the Sindar of Mithrim. Flax, nettle and other salt marsh plants are also used in clothing. Shells are used in jewelry and metal production is relatively rare outside weapons.
Clothing is generally made with practical uses being considered first but there is absolutely a distinct fashion among the Falathrim.
Shell and bone are also used for blades. Pearl blades are a particular treasure.
Pearls are highly favored by the Teleri and though prized by the Falathrim, they do not have the same place in their culture. See the differences at the bottom
Several of the archways at Brithonbar contains fossilized ammonites.
Map making, cartography including astrocartograpgy, and navigation are highly valued skills and trades. Ink is made from the berries of a few plants and from pigment made from rock with traces of iron. Quills are typically made from sea bird feathers
Like the Teleri, Falathrim children grow up with a respect and love for the water. Swimming, safety, and knowledge of plants and animals of the water and shores is taught from a very young age. Knot tying and rope and sail making using fibers and cloth is also widely taught. Boats are typically wooden with cloth sails.
Trade began with Nargothrond and their allies soon after the hidden city was constructed though Finrod and his smaller group of followers canonically aided them long before. Routes for travel were known to the Falathrim long before the return of the Noldor.
Fish make up a lot of their dishes along with sea and salt marsh vegetables like Salicornia and sea purslane. Methods of seasoning are similar to Telerin and Iathrim methods and tend to rely on herbal sauces and garnishes rather than spices. Shrimp and crab are eaten far more commonly than the Teleri.
Olives grow to the North and South of the Havens and are cultivated in groves along with lemons closer to Nevrast and orchard stone fruit South of Egalrest. White peaches are rarer and often traded from East of the Havens but are a favored treat.
Some primary differences with the Teleri of Valinor
Teleri: sheer fabrics primarily from traded silk and very light cotton flower, large communal homes, pearlescence, music and instrument making, elaborate gardens and water scapes
Falathrim: primarily linen from flax, common use of sand ryegrass, silver and pale metallic colors, smaller often temporary homes, cartography, epic poetry, more practical gardens, fossils
Similarities: limestone and sandstone architecture, similar community governance ideas (though Alqualondë has a king of course), herbal sauces and garnishes
