men of middle-earth ☀ misc. dúnedain ☀ headcanon disclaimer
The Rangers of Ithilien were a Gondorian special operations force selected from the descendants of the people who had dwelt in Ithilien before it was overrun by orcs. Dressed in camouflaging green and brown, they crossed the Anduin in secret to harass the Enemy’s forces, using several secret retreats as havens. They were organized in the time of Steward Túrin II and were first led by Túrin’s son Turgon and Prince Angelimir of Dol Amroth, and afterward it was traditional that their leader be related either to the Steward or the Prince. In the time of the War of the Ring, Faramir son of Steward Denethor II led these rangers. Under his command were Anborn, a bowman and a scout; Damrod, guard of grim mood; Mablung, a scout and guard; and Madril, an aging soldier of much wisdom. Many others worked alongside them, but these four were the only ones who had direct contact with Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, and the creature Gollum when they passed through Ithilien on their quest to Mount Doom.