In Middle-earth Role Playing, Caras Celairnen (S. “Town by the Brilliant Water”), also Gobel Calarnen, was a town near the junction of the rivers Lhûn and Uialduin.[1]
A monastery of Arthadan scholars, named Tol Lamfirith (S. “Muted-voice Isle”), was located ten miles to the north.[2] After the fall of Arthedain, it became an important hidden outpost of the Rangers of the North.[3]
History
Early in the First Age, the Dwarves of Nogrod established a trading post at the river junction. Their fort was destroyed in aftermath of the War of Wrath. A shared need for a river port led to Gil-galad commissioning Durin's folk to rebuild the settlement as Caras Celairnen.[1]
After the War of the Last Alliance, Círdan granted Caras Celairnen to King Valandil of Arnor, who in turn granted the settlement and its surrounding vale to his son Silivnir, who was married to an Elf. The settlement received a charter that granted it a large degree of autonomy. When the charter was renewed in T.A. 740, aligning some of its laws with Arnorian precedent, more Dúnedain moved to Caras Celairnen and became the largest part of its population.[1]
Silivnir's descendants continued to rule the vale, though over time the town's council usurped much of their authority.[2] When prince Eärnur's fleet arrived at Mithlond, it was found to be too poorly connected, so forces were brought to Caras Celairnen with smaller vessels. With most rulers of Arthedain having perished, a knight of Gondor held the port for twenty years, until another heir of Silivnir was found.[3]
During the remainder of the Third Age, Caras Celairnen remained a quiet town, mostly notable for its market where Rivermen, Dwarves, and Hobbits traded. Elves slowly withdrew from the port during this time, and ships from Gondor became rarer and rarer.[3]
In the early Fourth Age, King Elessar elevated Curudur Silivnirion to a lord of the Reunited Kingdom, and the town began to flourish again as goods passed through on their way to Annúminas.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023), p. 42
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023), p. 43
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023), p. 44