Quick overview of the coastal-dwelling Elves, the Falathrim.

Posted by Secretariat on Nov 1st, 2019

The Falathrim

The Teleri were the most numerous Elven clan and for this reason they were led by two brothers, Elwë and Olwë in the Great Journey to Aman. They were also the most slow and reluctant and many turned back or stayed behind. When Elwë became lost in Beleriand, many of his people refused to carry on until he had been found; those were named Eglath, the forsaken.

It was Olwë who led the rest to the shores of Beleriand. As they lingered at the Bay of Balar where they were befriended and taught by Ulmo's vassal, the Maia Osse. When Ulmo returned with the floating island to take the bulk of the Teleri to the West, Ossĕ convinced some of them to forsake Valinor and the other Elves and stay behind with him.

These became the Falathrim, and their leader was Nowë, kin of both Elwë and Olwë, who stayed behind despite his great eagerness to see the light of Valinor. He was later known as Círdan. The Falathrim settled on Beleriand's western shores, building themselves Havens at Brithombar and Eglarest and became the first builders and sailors of ships in Middle-earth's history.

When Elwë returned, he established the Kingdom of Doriath, claiming overlordship of all Beleriand as King Elu Thingol. The Falathrim, along with the Eglath, were considered Sindar, and found many pearls that they sent to him as gifts.

After the Return of the Noldor, the Elves of the Falas became fast in friendship with the Deep Elves. Círdan attended the Mereth Aderthad with many of his people, where he swore oaths of friendship. With Finrod's aid, the Havens of the Falas were strengthened and rebuilt. The Elves of the Havens enjoyed peaceful relations with all the Elves of Beleriand, and were particularly closely allied with the people of Nargothrond. As one of the most remote peoples from Morgoth's forces in Angband, the other Elvish lords would often send their children to the Elves of the Havens for safekeeping.

They fought beside the Noldor, too: in the Dagor Bragollach, their mariners rescued High King Fingon from overwhelming hordes in Hithlum, and they went to the aid of Fingon again at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. After that disaster, many of the survivors fled back to the Havens of the Falas, but they were not safe there for long. A year after the great defeat, Morgoth sent his creatures to besiege them, and both the Havens were overthrown. Most of the Elves of the Falas perished in the fall of the Havens, or were captured, but Círdan escaped. With his surviving followers and the young Ereinion Gil-galad, who was at that time lodging with the people of the Havens, he sailed southwards, and settled for a time on the Isle of Balar. He maintained a haven there for many years, before removing once again to Lindon, where he dwelt at the Grey Havens with, doubtless, a remnant of the Falathrim.

As Morgoth's power overwhelmed the Eldar, some "seafaring Sindar from the west havens" fled with 3 small ships to the east. They ended up to the confluence of Morthond and Ringló. There they established Edhellond and were eventually joined by their Telerin kin, Silvan Elves from the north. At the beginning of the Second Age, Círdan sailed east to found the Grey Havens on the Gulf of Lhûn, and the remnant of the Elves of the Havens must surely have accompanied him.

In battle the Falathrim are formidable raiders, sailing along the coasts and up rivers, launching lightning raids against the forces of Morgoth and Sauron. Their mariners are lightly armored but ferocious, tossing their javelins before swiftly charging into close combat where they wield their spears with prodigious skill. In addition to their excellent light infantry the Falathrim havens of Brithombar and Eglarest are protected by the elite corps of the heavily armored Haven Guard which is led by Círdan himself.

--Falathrim Faction Traits--

Raiders: +.05 Speed for Light Infantry, plentiful access to javelins.

Versatile: Units from Eglarest enjoy a +2 bonus fighting in scrub while troops from Brithombar get +2 when fighting in the woods. In addition, all Falathrim units have a +2 bonus fighting in desert to represent their comfort when fighting on the beaches and river shores of their homeland.

Noldorin Refugees: Heavy infantry gain an extra 10 men in the unit, however they cost 10% more.

Stubborn: Excellent and plentiful morale buffing units.

Defensive: Much of the Falathrim army is armed with spears which trade damage for melee defense. In addition the cap for mid tier spear units is increased by +1 and the Falathrim completely lack shock infantry.

Lightly Armored: Most units are classified as light, or medium infantry. In addition all heavy and medium infantry take a -1 armor penalty.

Brithombar Marksmen:

Brithombar was the western of the two Havens of the Falas, at the mouth of the River Brithon, from which it took its name. It was occupied by the Elves of the Havens until it was invaded and destroyed in F.A. 473 along with its twin, Eglarest.

Brithombar Marines:

The Falas only occasionally enters into the events of the First Age; in the First Battle of Beleriand, Morgoth's host overran the Falas and besieged the two havens, but lifted the siege in order to join in the Second Battle. Nargothrond had an alliance with the Falas. During the Siege of Angband (F.A. 65), the Elves of Nargothrond aided the Falathrim in rebuilding the two Havens and made them fair and strong. They also built Barad Nimras to watch for attacks from the sea by Morgoth.

Brithombar Foresters:

Havens of the Falas (called Havens of Círdan by Voronwë) were the two great walled Elven cities: Eglarest at the mouth of the River Nenning, and to the north Brithombar at the mouth of the River Brithon. Built on the western shores of the Falas, the Havens were the realm of Círdan the Shipwright and his people, the Falathrim, who were considered Sindar.

Brithombar Spearmen:

After the disaster of the Nirnaeth, many of the survivors fled back to the Havens of the Falas, but they were not safe there for long. A year after the great defeat, Morgoth sent his creatures to besiege them, and both the Havens were overthrown. Most of the Elves of the Falas perished in the fall of the Havens, or were captured, but Círdan escaped.

Balar Spearmen:

During the Fall of the Falas some Falathrim survivors escaped the Havens on ships, with Cirdan and Gil-galad; they reached Balar where they established a safe refuge, keeping also a foothold of ships at the Mouths of Sirion. Hearing this, Turgon once more sent messengers there asking for Cirdan's help. Cirdan built seven ships to send to the West, but of them no news came to Balar; only one Elf, Voronwë, survived and ever returned to Middle-earth.

Eglarest Spearmen:

The Falathrim thrived in their Havens through the long twilight of the Years of the Trees. They were the first sea-farers in Middle-earth, and became expert mariners. Before the first rising of the Sun, though, Morgoth sent an army of Orcs into West Beleriand, and they came up to the very walls of the Havens of the Falas. Soon afterwards, the returning Noldor drove the Orcs away, and the Elves of the Falas dwelt in peace once more.

Eglarest Warriors:

Círdan and the Falathrim also played a more active role in the Wars of Beleriand: seven years after the Dagor Bragollach, a great battle was fought in Hithlum between Fingon and the Orcs of Morgoth. The ships of the Falathrim raced to Fingon's defence, and so the Orcs were defeated and the High King saved.

Cirdan's Retinue:

Círdan, born Nowë, was kin of both Elwë and Olwë, lords in the host of the former. Cirdan was said to have been one of the most skilled Elves in building ships during the Great Journey, especially when the Elves dwelt by the Sea of Rhûn. During the push westward, seeking to go to Valinor, Nowë and his followers kept going where most of his kin fell away throughout the journey. Despite Nowë's great eagerness to see the light of Valinor (his "greatest desire"), he loyally searched for Elwë upon his disappearance. Because of this, the Teleri missed the first trip on Tol Eressëa to Valinor, on which went their kin, the Noldor and the Vanyar. They took for their king Olwë, and while waiting for Ulmo to return for them, Nowë headed the art of making and sailing ships, growing impatient. From this profession he took the name "Círdan" which means "shipwright" in Sindarin. The Teleri also developed a great friendship with Ossë. At the same time, although most of the Teleri had given up, Círdan sought Elwë longer and harder than most of his kin, partly because of his love for him and his allegiance.

Flamewards of Barad Nimras:

Barad Nimras (S. 'Tower of the White Horn') was a watchtower on a headland westward of Eglarest built by Finrod Felagund. Its purpose was to watch the western seas, and warn of any naval attack by Morgoth's forces. As Morgoth never mounted any attack from the ocean, the tower was never in fact needed. In the year after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, though, Morgoth did launch a land-based attack on Eglarest and Brithombar, and Barad Nimras was torn down at that time by the very foes it was meant to guard against.

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