The story of Vorrothiel:

            On 12 January, T.A 2932 in a Ranger came along the south-east Coldfells, a beautiful, healthy baby girl was born to Rangers Ríneth & Namiron Amarth. They bestowed upon their daughter the name, Rínoa. The name was reminiscent of both her parent’s, although many just came to simply call her Rín. Rín was a smart and adventurous child, but was never far from the small cloth doll her parents worked hard to make for her. As a child, Rínoa was a quick learner and she loved everything she learned; from language to tracking and trapping. The highlight of her day was listening to tales of the older Dúnedain at meals and before bedtime.

            23 March, T.A. 2937 marked the day that would forever change the young girl. Ríneth & Namiron were sent out to the north-eastern edge of the forest in which they dwelt with a few fellow Dúnedain. Their task was to remain hidden and scout enemy movement out of Angmar through the Ettenmoors. Young Rín’s adventurous side was eager to test her budding tracking skills. She slipped away from the main camp and followed her parent’s tracks. She followed the tracks until the sound of blades and screams could be heard. Her eyes went from the ground to the sight before her. There was nothing else she could do but hide in a bush, hope she was not seen, and try to be quite through her sobs. The small group of Rangers had been spotted and were locked in combat with Orcs and one of the only remaining bands of Black Númenóreans. She would peek out from the bush, but would only see the deaths of the Rangers. Unable to take anymore, she covered her ears and put her head to her knees. The battle was soon over and the victorious laughter of Orcs and Black Númenóreans echoed in her ears as she looked again through the bush. The enemies were moving on the east and the bodies of her kin littered the ground amongst the enemies they killed. When the enemies were out of eyeshot, she emerged from the bush and stood by her parent’s bodies. Tears pooled in her eyes as she tried to see if her parents were breathing. Ríneth & Namiron were quiet. Their daughter sat between their bodies and stared in the direction the enemies left as she cried.

            Another band of Rangers came as soon as they realized a young child was missing from the camp. They found Rínoa in the middle of all the carnage with tears flowing down her face. A Ranger by the name of Idhedir Thangur was the first to approach the young girl. It took some convincing, but he finally got her to come back with him to the main camp in the Coldfells. On the way back he asked what she had seen and she told him everything with tears continuing to flow down her face. When they reached the main camp, Idhedir told the others what had happened in the north and wagons were sent to retrieve the dead for proper burial. Idhedir and his wife Celebeth took the young girl under their wing and cared for her as their own daughter. The next day a burial was held for those lost in the previous day’s battle. A young boy, Logon, had also lost his father in the battle. Rín watched as the young boy cried at the loss of his father. She eventually went over to the young boy and hugged him, unsure of what else to do. After the burial, Rínoa abandoned her birth name and took up the name Vorrothiel to escape from the pain of her parent’s death. She vowed vengeance against all remaining Black Númenóreans and Orc-kind for the loss of her parents and her kin.

             Much like the rest of the Dúnedain her age, she spent most of her adolescence becoming proficient at archery and swordsmanship, her preference being for dual daggers. She was one of the best females in her age group and could often take down quite a few of the males in a friendly spar. It was here when her rivalry with Mithril began. The two would often work to best each other in anything. When one would win the other would work harder. At the age of sixteen, Vorrothiel passed her rite into adulthood when she tracked and killed a one of the wargs roaming the Ettenmoors. Her adoptive parents were proud of her and were often fearful for her when she would be sent out on scout parties. Although for most of her parties, Idhedir requested to join to keep an eye on his daughter and was accepted.

            The enemy activity had increased exponentially in the area and by 28 October, T.A. 2953 the Ranger band was forced to leave. Their numbers were 1/3 what they used to be and could be easily overwhelmed. They had no choice but to leave the Coldfells. A handful of men escorted the women and children to the Ranger camp at Lake Evendim while a small group decided to do what they were originally sent out here to do, track enemy movements. Vorrothiel said her good-byes to Idhedir and Celebeth and vowed to see them again. The party that was decided to scout and follow the orcs were: Vorrothiel, her friend Logon, Braichon, Aduialon, Nethriel, Mithril, and Goldir. Vorrothiel, Logon, Mithril, and Aduialon were some of the best budding Rangers remaining while Braichon, Nethriel, and Goldir were skilled, but still quite young veterans.

            The party of Rangers tracked a band of orcs along the Misty Mountain’s ranges. Their efforts were halted when they had to seek shelter from a snow storm for several days. 29 November, T.A. 2953 they officially lost the trail of the orc party they were tracking. Due to the storm they were starting to run low on supplies and a few in their company had started to suffer from the conditions. Realizing that Imladris was not far, Goldir lead the company to the elven city. They arrived on 1 December, T.A. 2953 and were welcome by the elves of Imladris. When asked about their task, the party told them openly of their purpose. The elves offered for the company of Rangers to stay until the band of orcs could be found. The Rangers during their stay ask an elven courier to please deliver a message to the camp in Evendim about their progress. The elven courier accepts and leaves as soon as possible. Ten days after their arrival, an elven scout reports another band of orcs passing through the Trollshaws. The Rangers, now fully refreshed and restocked on supplies, thank the elves for their hospitality and depart immediately.

            The company followed the band of orcs over the Redhorn pass but are ambushed on the other side in Rhovanion. The Ranger’s suffer their first loss in the battle. Aduialon was killed defending Goldir from a duo of goblins come up behind him. The orc knew they were being followed there was no doubt about it. The orcs did all they could to shake the Rangers but they were not clever enough. On 26 January, T.A. 2954 the Rangers find themselves in front of Dol Guldur. The old fortress in Southern Mirkwood was once again operational and slowly massing enemy forces. The rangers set up camp on the west edge of Mirkwood and Braichon is send to Evendim with a message of their progress and intentions.

            In September of T.A. 2956, Mithril had tracked and killed an orc messenger from Mordor and intercepted Sauron’s message to the forces at Dol Guldur. The Dark Lord was requesting more forces from Angmar to continue on to Mordor. His army needs to build further in Mordor. Through the next 48 years, the Rangers continually set up ambushes for enemy troops entering and exiting Dol Guldur. On occasion help would come from Evendim or the North Downs, but it was always a small number. When the rangers would start to run low on supplies they would often send Vorrothiel to Lórien to barter for supplies. Life was dangerous and monotonous at times, but even the Ranger’s small impacts on the orc’s numbers could make a ripple that could help the future.

            T.A. 2981 brought an unexpected guest to the small company of Rangers. Their Chieftain, Aragorn II, had come with a few other Rangers to help where they could. Vorrothiel and her company were honoured to have him fight by their side for the next few years. The Rangers don’t get to interact much outside of their companies so Vorrothiel took the time to really know her Chieftain over the years and became fair friends. His stories of his time in Gondor inspired her. She hoped to someday journey to that part of her ancient homeland. When Aragorn departed to head back West, Vorrothiel had asked if he might be able to deliver a letter to her adoptive parents, should he come across them. He was kind enough to agree and life returned to how it had been for many years.

            On 14 September, T.A. 3004 an ambush was unsuccessful and the orc obliterated the Rangers. The only ones to survive were Vorrothiel and Mithril. Growing concerns from across the Anduin brought Lórien elves to the battle site where they found the two against a tree. Vorrothiel had torn apart her cloak and wrapped her stomach in half of it while the other half was torn up to act as a tunicate on Mithril’s left arm and right leg. The elves brought the two back to Caras Galadhon to help them recover. Vorrothiel was forbidden to do too much movement while recovering to make sure none of her wounds would reopen. Mithril made a full recovery by August, T.A. 3005 and decided that it was time for her to head back to Evendim. Vorrothiel still had a few more weeks left to recover and asked, Mithril to tell everyone back in Evendim that she was still alive and planned to join the Rangers in the North Downs and keep an eye on the orcs from Angmar. She agreed and was given a horse for her travels back to Evendim. In October, Vorrothiel is also given a horse and the Lord and Lady’s blessing for a safe travel to Esteldin.

            Vorrothiel arrives in the North Downs December, T.A. 3006. She offered to be a scout along the borders of Angmar. After losing her last group of friends and allies, Vorrothiel often chose solitude. She eventually wound up befriending a few fellow Rangers: Beldor, Berethor, & Othanar. Vorrothiel’s part in Angmar & the North Downs ended when she received a letter from Aragorn asking for her assistance in Bree-land. She left on 21 June, T.A. 3018 and the rest of her story has yet to come…