Forannest

Forannest in The Lord of the Rings Online

Forannest was the northern gate of the Rammas Echor, the great encircling wall of the Pelennor Fields.

History

The Forannest was located in the north-west part of the Rammas Echor and the northern road from Minas Tirith ran through it joining the Great West Road.

During the War of the Ring, Gandalf and Peregrin Took passed through the gate which was under the command of Ingold. Several days later the forces of Sauron coming from the Morannon, took Cair Andros and breached the Rammas Echor, destroying the Forannest, and Ingold and his men were the last to retreat from the wall to Minas Tirith.

Two days later the Rohirrim passed through Forannest and the breaches around it to take part in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Etymology

The name is apparently Noldorin (which was later re-envisioned as Sindarin) and is glossed by Tolkien as "North Entrance ..." with an obscure final word looking as "in".

The name seems to be composed of the Noldorin/Sindarin elements forn ("north"), annon ("gate") and nest which probably means "heart, core".

Other versions of the legendarium

Earlier names of the gate that Tolkien rejected were Fornest and Anfornest.

The name Forannest appears only in drafts from the 1940s and didn't make it to the final book The Return of the King.

Portrayal in adaptations

2015: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Forannest is only referred to as the "North-gate" in the game. Ingold stands watch over the game and gives the player several task to scout and undermine the enemy before the Siege of Gondor beings in earnest.