In the ancient days of the Second Age, mighty Númenor reached out to the indigenous Men of Middle-earth, who even then were defined as 'Middle Men' and 'Swarthy Men' like their descendants. At first the Númenoreans came with benign intentions, liberating these enslaved peoples from the grasp of Sauron in an alliance with the Elves under Gil-galad of the Noldor, and establishing colonies along the western coast of Middle-earth in peace...but in time, their worldly power and ambition (chief above all their ambition to avert the inevitable death that all Men went through) corrupted them. The colonies which had originally been founded as peaceful trading hubs evolved into militarized strongholds; negotiations for trading contracts became demands for tribute and vassalage, backed by Númenorean swords and longbows; and fleets sailed up Middle-earth's rivers bearing legions of Númenorean soldiers not to protect and liberate those they came across, but to conquer and enslave without mercy. These policies began under Tar-Ancalimon and accelerated under Ar-Adûnakhôr, the first King of Númenor who did not take a Quenya name. Even later on, as silent, subdued reverence for Eru Ilúvatar was replaced by ostentatious temples consecrated to Melkor who these fallen sons and daughters of Númenor named the 'Lord of All and Giver of Freedom', the native Men of Middle-earth were collected for horrific sacrifices to the new God of Anadûnê (as the growing majority of the Men of the West, who followed their Kings into error and tyranny, now insisted on calling their homeland). Such was the gravity of old Númenor's crimes against the peoples of Middle-earth that it poisoned the hearts of the ancestors of the Haradrim and Easterlings with an undying hatred for all things Westron, and to this day their descendants are frequently still at odds with those descended from Númenor.
But not all Númenoreans were like these 'King's Men': a minority still remained humble enough to hold on to their reverence for Eru Ilúvatar and their friendship to Elvenkind, and to not lose sight of things beyond life and power in this world. Of these 'Faithful' the best remembered are Elendil, his sons and their followers who moved to Middle-earth just in time to avoid the Downfall of Númenor when their liege Ar-Pharazôn dared to invade the sacred Undying Lands; but they were not the only Faithful to have migrated to Middle-earth, nor the first. Many preceded them, fleeing mounting persecution by the arrogant and iron-fisted King's Men at home, and these earlier generations of Faithful are best remembered for founding Pelargir. Less well-remembered among their ranks was Halboron Hadorion ('Halboron son of Hador'), a nobleman of the forests of Hyarrostar (southeastern Númenor) who sailed for Middle-earth with all his kin and retainers early in the reign of Ar-Gimilzôr. Finding the coast of Anfalas already dominated by the colonies of the unfriendly King's Men, they made their way further inland and settled in a region that they aptly named Pinnath Gelin, the Green Hills, for its...well, green hills and forests. There they strove to befriend the locals, reaching out to and trying to make peace with even those so traumatized by the actions of their corrupted cousins that they shot at Númenoreans on sight, and to protect them from the depraved depredations of the King's Men to the south however they could. When Elendil came and assumed kingship over the Dúnedain still in Middle-earth, Halboron's great-grandson Vinyaher readily swore allegiance to him, and his descendants have not broken faith with Gondor ever since.
Pinnath Gelin is a naturally beautiful land of hills, forests and small rivers, but not particularly rich. Furthermore it is a quite remote region of Gondor, stowed away in the kingdom's northwestern corner with few roads or settlements of note: most of its people, descended from the native Middle-men, live in scattered villages, farming in the valleys or fishing in the streams or chopping down timber for a living much as their ancestors had. The Halborionath, or House of Halboron, have married with their subjects more than a few times, as much out of choice as out of necessity due to the unwillingness of most Dúnedanic houses to send their kin so far to their remote and politically insignificant corner of the Kingdom, and so in their veins the blood of Númenor has been diluted (the uncharitable would say 'polluted') to a greater degree than most of the rest of the realm's nobility. Regardless of the opinion (often found coming from houses vastly younger and less established than theirs no less) that they were mongrel hicks however, the descendants of Halboron have never shirked their duties to the realm, and famously Lord Hirluin the Fair rode from the Green Hills at the head of a company of 300 green-garbed lancers to take part in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields as part of the Aragorn's army. There he laid down his life for the man who would be King and for the freedom of all Gondorians from evil, a death his descendants can be proud of as they extended his millennia-old line into the radiant Fourth Age.
| Lords of Pinnath Gelin from Hirluin I 'the Fair' to Hirluin III 'the Good' |
- Hirluin I, called 'the Fair' (reigned 3A 2965-3019): Nicknamed 'the Fair' for his winsome looks and manner, which made him one of late-Third-Age Gondor's most eligible bachelors - a rarity for the usually isolated and forgotten Lords of Pinnath Gelin. During the War of the Ring, he organized a troop of 300 of the bravest and most skilled riders of the Green Hills and set out to fight in the East, joining his strength to that of Aragorn and the Grey Company as the latter made his way up the Anduin. He then perished at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields soon after, felled by a mûmak rider's arrow as he charged to aid the faltering Rohirrim that day.
- Mablung II (r. 3A 3019-4A 180): Hirluin I's son, who rode at his side on the Pelennor Fields and fought to keep his body safe from rampaging Haradrim and Orcs after he fell. He subsequently took up the lordship of Pinnath Gelin at the relatively young age of 32 and returned to live in peace with his family and people among the idyllic Green Hills, where he died in his sleep at the ripe old age of 212.
- Mardil (r. 4A 180-290): Mablung's son. He was content to laze about the Green Hills like his father had before him, and was thus reluctant to participate in King Eldacar I's war of expansion against the Haradrim. Nevertheless, he did his duty and furnished a regiment of spearmen and lancers from his lands for the conflict, sent forth under his son's command. To his great relief, said son returned home alive and safe, though the same could not be said for over half of their warriors.
- Mirendur (r. 4A 290-410): Mardil's son. A reckless hothead in his youth, he jumped at the chance to command Pinnath Gelin's contingent in the future Hyarmendacil's war with the Haradrim, and thus participated in the victorious reconquest of Harondor. Nevertheless, the sight of the brutality of battle and the deaths of over half his men traumatized him and he returned home a changed man, having hung up his sword and committed himself to peace and healing. Near the end of his life he committed only as few soldiers to the war-effort of King Artamir against the Easterlings; however his eldest son Huor, whose daughter Esteliel had married Prince Aranarth and who reminded Mirendur of his old, youthful self, had gone with them - insisting on representing the House of Halboron on the battlefield so as to not disgrace the family name - and died in the same battle that the King and Steward Turin the Fair had. Huor's death broke his elderly father, who wasted away of grief a week after hearing of his death.
- Borondir, called 'the Bold' (r. 4A 410-501): Mirendur's grandson through his son Huor. Following his father's death in battle and his grandfather's from grief, he committed himself and the strength of Pinnath Gelin fully to the war with the Easterlings. Alongside his brother-in-law King Aranarth and their allies from Rohan, he helped clear southern and western Rhovanion of Easterling rule. Alas at the moment of the Reunited Kingdom's great triumph in Rhovanost, the victory which made Aranarth into Rómendacil or 'East-victor', Borondir was struck by a poisoned Easterling arrow and died of the festering wound a few months later in early 4A 501.
- Hirluin II, called 'the Homely' (r. 4A 501-603): Borondir's son, who got his nickname from his less than stellar appearance, in sharp contrast to his ancestor the better-known Hirluin. Him having a face only his mother could love did not prevent him from faithfully serving his uncle Rómendacil and cousin Aranuir, though.
- Boron VI (r. 4A 603-685): Hirluin II's son. He did not follow in his father's martial footsteps, taking little part in the wars of Aranuir and then the latter's son Arciryas. When at long last he ran out of excuses and captains to send in his stead, he reluctantly took command of the Pinnath Gelin contingent in the latter's war with Umbar and tried to steer clear of the fighting, nominating himself to lead the defense of the royal army's camp while they laid siege to the Haven of Umbar. Ironically this attempt to guarantee his safety got him killed instead, felled in a Black Númenorean night raid while the majority of the King's soldiers were doing fine (more or less) in the siege lines in front of him.
- Halboron XII (r. 4A 685-747): Boron VI's son. He took over command of the Pinnath Gelin regiment in Arciryas' army following his craven father's death and participated in the successful final assault on Umbar's walls. Though content to retire to the Green Hills afterward, he did not hesitate to join in Aragost's wars when this new and warlike King assumed power...and died almost immediately afterward, slain while repelling an Angmarim ambush of the royal army's vanguard in the far north of Middle-earth only two years into Aragost's reign.
- Boron VII (r. 4A 747-782): Halboron XII's son. Following in his father's footsteps, he fought ably beneath Aragost's command in his many wars, making a name for himself as a brave and determined cavalry commander. He died in one of the undefeated King's many battles against the Easterlings, and was given a hero's burial even as the rest of Arnor and Gondor celebrated his liege's latest triumph.
- Thalion (r. 4A 782-800): Boron's son. He too served in the wars of Aragost/Hyarmendacil II, and like the past two generations of Lords of Pinnath Gelin, died in them - in his case, he was killed directing the reserve into action in Hyarmendacil's penultimate battle, weeks before the next battle in which his liege was actually killed. The lords who followed him, mindful of how their line had shed its blood in wars far away from home three times in rapid succession, were wary of committing the strength of Pinnath Gelin to the Reunited Kingdom's future struggles - and often too consumed by internal strife in the normally idyllic and peaceful Green Hills to do so even when they wanted.
- Elboron II (r. 4A 801-888): Thalion's son, born posthumously; he had been conceived only three months before his father's death in battle. Before his birth, there was a conflict between his mother Ithilwen and his uncle Gwindor over the succession to the lordship of Pinnath Gelin. King Arahael interceded in Ithilwen's favor, ruling that her and Thalion's child should sit as Lord or Lady of Pinnath Gelin, but Gwindor seized the Halboronionath seat with his armed retainers and locked Ithilwen and Elboron out of the latter's rightful keep for some years until the King's wars had ceased and royal men-at-arms could be spared to drive him away. This they did bloodlessly, for Gwindor saw that he could not withstand them, but he and those who still followed him became outlaws in the hills and troubled Pinnath Gelin for years to come. In 4A 888, when these brigands' depredations could no longer be contained, Elboron marshaled a small force and set out to suppress them, but was lured into an ambush and killed at his uncle's hand.
- Labadal (r. 4A 888-960): Elboron II's son. He rebuffed his great-uncle's assault when the latter, fresh from having killed his father, came to seize the lordship which was his by right and law; but, the royal court of Kings Arahael and especially Araglas was loath to once more bestir itself to get involved with distant and poor Pinnath Gelin, and so Labadal was unable to finish the bandits off. Even after Gwindor was ridden down by Labadal's retainers, the outlaws persisted under his son (Labadal's first cousin once removed) Maeglin.
- Halboron XIII, called 'the Bad' (r. 4A 960-1043): Labadal's son. He was a severe and paranoid ruler who, having been told (as had his father before him) by the court of Minas Anor that he should sort his own backyard out, governed his people harshly and was ever on the lookout for conspiracies centered around placing his first cousin twice removed, Maeglin, in his chair. At his order, his men ruthlessly questioned anyone who he suspected of harboring sympathies for Maeglin and his outlaws, innocent or no. Ironically, the thirteenth Halboron's tyrannical rule actually generated a successful conspiracy to oust him; in the 83rd year of his reign, his servants allowed Maeglin's men into his keep, where they promptly murdered him and imprisoned the rest of his family. All of the latter conveniently and inexplicably died in Maeglin's custody over the following years save for Halboron's young grandson Turendur, who another servant had taken pity on and spirited away at the cost of her own life.
- Maeglin, called 'the Accursed' (r. 4A 1043-1070): Halboron XIII's first cousin twice removed, and son of Thalion's brother Gwindor. An old man upon his successful usurpation of the lordship of Pinnath Gelin, he was never recognized as an official lord by the realm, but by this point King Eldacar II had sunk into a deep depression over the death of his wife and the royal court had vastly more important matters on their hands to deal with over the Green Hills. Though the smallfolk of Pinnath Gelin had supported Maeglin's overthrow of Halboron XIII because of the latter's tyrannical ways, Maeglin proved no better and soon earned the resentment of the very same people who put him in power, which he dealt with even more brutally than Halboron ever had even at his worst. Turendur, Halboron's grandson, had been allowed to escape Maeglin's custody as a child thanks to the aid of one of the servants put off by the realization that the new boss was even worse than the old boss, and returned in the late 1060s as a grown man to reclaim his birthright. The people of Pinnath Gelin readily rose up in Turendur's name and lynched Maeglin's own son, Malbeth, when the latter made the mistake of trying to terrorize a village back into line with too few men at his side. Maeglin was determined not to flee back to the woods where he had been born and grew up however, and feigned surrender before having Turendur (who had let his guard down) assassinated. When this enraged Turendur's vastly more numerous supporters into attacking his keep rather than disheartening them, he threw himself off the roof rather than surrender.
- Hirluin III, called 'the Good' (r. 4A 1070-present): Halboron XIII's great-grandson through his grandson Turendur and oldest son Hirgon. He assumed the lordship of Pinnath Gelin after the assassination of his father Turendur at the hands of the usurper Maeglin, who killed himself almost immediately afterward. A welcome refresher after the atrocious reigns of his great-grandfather and distant cousin, he has proven to be the exact sort of amiable and kindly ruler his people needed - hence his nickname - but one who was most reluctant to involve the Green Hills in affairs abroad or even to travel far beyond his borders. He married locally and expected his only child to do the same, but young Hirgon grew up to be a restless and rebellious young man and struck out to travel the world as an officer of the King's army, winning acclaim in his own right on foreign battlefields and marrying the sister of the Lord of Lamedon while his father continued to sit in Pinnath Gelin doing little of note. Father and son have since found themselves at odds, with the spirited and daring Hirgon eager to see Pinnath Gelin take a more active role in the Kingdom's affairs (especially now, with a mad King and a struggling court) while his conservative father is content to remain in their little corner of Middle-earth, always welcoming of visitors but unwilling to change or involve themselves for their sake.
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| Hirluin III of Pinnath Gelin, called 'the Good' | 
Age: 100 (b. 4A 1040)
Spouse: Víressë of the Green Hills (age 95, b. 4A 1045)
Traits:
+2 Wealth
+1 Scout
+2 Battles
+1 Survival
Questionnaire:
Heritage:
- High Men (Dunedain of the South/Gondorians): You are descended from the Numenoreans of old. Your heritage is rich with that of the High Men and the kingdoms they created, thanks to the efforts of the Faithful. You are known for your height and long life. Your ancestors were noble and so you seek to to uphold their legacy. +1 to Wealth.
Signs of the Aratar:
- Sign of Yavanna: Your hands are good with nature, for as a young person, you once made a garden to brighten the home you were born into. You are loved by the common folk as you understand topics such as farming and livestock. As a result, your hands fear the sword and spear. You despise violence of all kinds. It is hard to make friends with warriors. You may be seen as an easy target as a result. (point invested into wealth)
Pursuits as a Youth:
- Hunter: As a youth, you yearned for the forests and the beasts. You became an expert huntsman at a young age and proved your worth in many hunting parties that you were invited to. Your skill as a hunter and knowledge of game makes your friends both jealous and desiring of your knowledge. +1 Scout
Tales told by Father:
- The Lord of the Rings: One of two tales that came from the region known as Hobbiton, written by the hands of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. This tale speaks of the heroes, the villains, the victories, and the tragedies that eventually led to the Fourth Age and the end of Sauron’s darkness. It is a tale worth telling over and over again for there is much to learn from the exploits and deeds of those who fought to free Middle-Earth from the shadows of Sauron. +1 to Battles
Notable Ancestor:
- Hirluin the Fair - Fought during the War of the Ring: Many centuries ago, a noble ancestor of yours took up arms to fight against the shadow of Sauron. Though their deeds may not be as great as those of Elessar, the Fellowship, or their allies, they still are revered, by your family, for standing against Sauron and his evil. No statue may commemorate their deeds, but they serve as an example for future generations. +1 to Battles
Heirloom:
- Armor: This beautifully crafted suit of armor has long existed within your family. Documents indicate its age, but there is no true source as to when it came into your family. Whatever the case, your father has remembered all its markings, indicating who had cut where. It has proven that this armor will certainly defend you well. +1 to Survival |
| Hirgon Hirluinion Halboronionath | 
Age: 65 (b. 4A 1075)
Spouse: Morien Mirionionath (age 60, b. 4A 1080)
Traits:
+2 Battles
+2 Duel
+1 Charisma
+1 Scout
Questionnaire:
Heritage:
- High Men (Dunedain of the South/Gondorians): You are descended from the Numenoreans of old. Your heritage is rich with that of the High Men and the kingdoms they created, thanks to the efforts of the Faithful. You are known for your height and long life. Your ancestors were noble and so you seek to to uphold their legacy. +1 to Battles.
Signs of the Aratar:
- Sign of Oromë: You are a hunter at heart, the trees are your friends, and your love for horses and nature is akin to that of the Elves. A skilled tracker, you to get ahead of yourself due to your confidence in your own skill. As a result, you look down on others who aren’t as wise nor skilled as you. (point invested into Scout)
Pursuits as a Youth:
- Guard: It is the duty of any citizen to serve his King and Country, your father always said. Just like him and his grandfather before. You were groomed to handle a sword and shield, earmarked to one day become a great warrior. Due to your training, you were accept into a local town’s guard, a city guard, or perhaps a more prestigious appointment in a nobleman’s guard. +1 Duel
Tales told by Father:
- Elessar: All know of King Elessar Telcontar, who fought bravely through the War of the Ring and saw the rise of the Reunited Kingdom. The role he played during that time and after has been a model story that is told to many generations, young and old. As the founder of this kingdom, he is revered high and low, beloved beyond death, and viewed as a hero among heroes. +1 to Charisma
Notable Ancestor:
- Hirluin the Fair - Fought during the War of the Ring: Many centuries ago, a noble ancestor of yours took up arms to fight against the shadow of Sauron. Though their deeds may not be as great as those of Elessar, the Fellowship, or their allies, they still are revered, by your family, for standing against Sauron and his evil. No statue may commemorate their deeds, but they serve as an example for future generations. +1 to Battles
Heirloom:
- Sword and Shield: This pairing has saved the lives of the holder, many against harm, and struck down a number of foes. It is hard to say when it was crafted, but it has always been in your family's possession. Your father once said, always rely upon them for they have saved many and they will certainly serve you well. +1 to Duel |
| Other members of the House of Halboron | Víressë of the Green Hills, wife to Lord Hirluin, mother of Hirgon (age 95, b. 4A 1045)
Morien Mirionionath, wife to Hirgon and mother of his children (age 60, b. 4A 1080)
Hiril Hirgoniel Halboronionath, Hirgon and Morien's daughter, age 12 (b. 4A 1128)
Hirwen Hirgoniel Halboronionath, Hirgon and Morien's daughter, age 10 (b. 4A 1130)
Hirluin Hirgonion Halboronionath, Hirgon and Morien's son, age 5 (b. 4A 1135) |
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