Rohirrim
From Elendor
This is a page about the Rohirrim culture on Elendor. For information about Rohirrim in J.R.R. Tolkien's books, see Rohirrim (canon)
| Quick Reference | |
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| The Banner of Rohan | |
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Rohirrim | |
| Ruler: | Faramir - Rananar |
| Alignment: | Good |
| Unrestricted Species: | Human |
| Restricted Species: | None |
| Allied Cultures: | |
Coming down from the North near five centuries before, the Eotheod were lead by Eorl the Young. Upon the fields of Calenardhon they fought by the side of the South-kingdom of Gondor to win a great victory, and in so doing win that broad land for their own. Taking the Oath of Cirion (the Steward of Gondor in those days) and Eorl, Calenardhon was renamed the Riddermark (Mark of the Riders), and its first King was Eorl himself. In honor of him, his people named themselves the Eorlings (Sons of Eorl), but in Gondor they are more well known as the Horse-lords, the Rohirrim.
Blonde of hair, clear of eye, and grave to look upon, the Rohirrim are known the best for their horses. They are wise but unlearned, few knowing letters but all knowing many songs. They are a warrior people, delighting in feats of arms and great deeds, thinking it greatest to be remembered in song forever -- that is the surest immortality, to be remembered. Proud but wilful, the Rohirrim have held true to the oath of Eorl over the centuries, coming to the aid of Gondor at need.
With the gifting of the Mark to the Eorlings, the oldest native population took to anger and fled before the numerous new settlers. Living north of the Gap of Rohan (being the expanse of plains between the Misty and the White Mountains), they were named Dunlendings for their swarthy appearance. They are a primitive folk, lacking in arts, and they both fear and despise the Rohirrim, calling them the thieves from the North and straw-heads. In the time of Helm, last of the First Line of Kings, they assaulted the Mark and held it for a time before being thrown back. To this day they make raids among the small holdings about the Gap, searching for plunder that they value - good arms and armor, and other things of high craft that they do not possess of themselves.
Orcs too have been a danger, and once they had holds in the White Mountains which make the southern border of Rohan. Yet all of those were driven away and slain more than a century before the present. Still, orcs are a danger, and they seem to grow more numerous in these days, plundering in small bands about the Gap and the eastern marches. Where these orcs come from, no one knows for certain, though orc holds in the northern mountains and the Black Land away East are speculated.
The Rohirrim have diversified since their nomadic days among the Eotheod. In the Westfold, the great population of that strip of land are largely agrarian and sedentary, yet in the east the people stay more often to the nomadic wanderings of their ancestors from Eastfold through East Emnet to the Wold; because of this they are a less numerous folk. Still, under the wise rule of Theoden King, and despite the whisperings of untold dangers, the Rohirrim prosper and are a greater folk than they were in Eorl's day.
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Clans
Rohan is a clan society, dominated by three major clans, Mearas, Ethias and Eowain. The very social center of Rohan is centered around the clans. Every person is born into a clan, and is a member of a clan. Further information about each clan can be found in their respective subsections.
Mearas Clan
The Mearas Clan, named in honor of the noble breed of horses first tamed by Eorl, consists of the King of Mark and some of his close relatives. Though the clan membership typically passes from father to child, a relative of the King may also be adopted into this clan, especially if that kinsman is named heir to the throne. Several of the Knights of Theoden's household and their families are also Mearas through their close kinship to the King.
The clan members breed and care for the beloved Mearas horses to insure they retain their purity and majesty. While these horses are known to only submit to be ridden by the King and his sons, other kinsmen of the king do care for them as well. Clan members hold lands for grazing and farming in several areas of the Mark, but are especially concentrated in the area around Edoras.
Rohirrim from every clan hold those of the Mearas clan in the very highest regard and look to them for leadership. Though the Meara typically do not intervene in the affairs of the other Rohirric clans, they often are invited to take part or lead in special ceremonies such as weddings and might also be asked to solve major disputes between clans.
Eowain
The members of Clan Eowain keep many of the nomadic traditions that go back to the days of the Eotheod. The Eowain travel with their herds of primarily horses but also other livestock in search of good grazing lands from the edge of East Emnet east to the swampy area around the Entwash and north from the Great West Road and Ered Nimrais to the Wold and the southern fringes of Fangorn Forest.
While settlements typically are not as large or permenant as those in other parts of Rohan, some of the major villages would include: Stowburg, the site of the Eowain clan house; Mering, in the swamps of the Eastfold; Stjernholm, a small settelment near the Great West Road; and Aldburg, the ancestral home of Eorl which is mostly abandoned aside from a few of his decendants. Many Eowain return to these settlements only in the depths of winter.
Two things are the pride of Eowain. First, their freedom of movement, making them fanatical lovers of liberty as well as a fiercely independent lot, coming and going throughout the Eastfold controlled only by the availability of suitable grazing sites. Secondly, their horses. The steeds bred in the East-Mark have a reputation for being faster and more agile, if not as strong as the western ones, and well suited to the highly mobile calvary tactics preferred in the East.
Not surprisingly the nomadic herding lifestyle of Eowain produces some of the finest horsemen in Middle Earth and Eowain Riders are renowned even in Rohan for feats of horsemanship, scouting and raiding, and great deeds from the saddle. However, the Eowain do not compare with the folk of the west as far as organized maneuovers campaigns however since the fiercely independent nature of these clansfolk and their inherent distrust of authority often make for headaches, miltary or otherwise. Nevertheless, a typical Eowain member is a loyal subject of his/her King as expressed in the Eowain motto, "King, Clan and Country".
The Eowain primarily earn their living through their herds of sheep and cattle as well as by farming. Some of the main products produced include grain, barley, and various raw materials used for cloth. Though they typically have other professions, most able-bodied men are expected to serve the eoreds in times of need, while the women serve as healers or take care of the farms, herds, and families while they are away.
Most Eowain, men and women alike, are used to taking care of themselves and thus are proud and resistant to changing their independant, semi-nomadic lifestyle. Eowain are honest, simple and straight forward folk; lovers of a good ale after a hard ride. They are also extremely proud people, easily rubbed the wrong way by the slightest insult to their rural lifestyle. Their free manner and highly de-centralized political system often leads them to scoff at the hierarchy.
Eowain is led by a Maegtheow (Clan Master), who is assisted by the Maegwitan (Clan Council). The Maegwitan is made up of the Maegrads (Clan Counsellors), who are some of the most influencial people in the clan. Usually about half of them are the craftmasters (such as the Masters of the weavers, traders, horse-breeders and so on) within the clan, a quarter or less are nobles or men (women) of wealth and influence and the last quarter or so are in general respected elders of the clan.
The main duties of the Maegrads are to assist the Maegtheow in solving the various problems which might concern the clan, its members and its lands; marriages between members of different clans, civil disputes of all natures and the negative effects of both weather (harsh winters, droughts) and outside forces (such as orc raids). It is also the duty of the Maegwitan to arrange the election of a new Maegtheow when one is needed, and to win a candidate must be supported by a majority of the clan's people as well as the majority of the Maegrads. The Maegwitan always meet four times a year; spring, summer, autumn and winter, as well as when there is need for a meeting.
The emblem of the Eowain clan is a white rearing horse between two bound sheaves of grass from which longswords rise, on green.
Ethias
Clan Ethias are the decendants of Helm Hammerhand, 9th and last King of the 1st line. They live in the western part of Rohan, controlling and maintaining the strong hold of Helm's Deep. They are a settled people, preferring to live in small towns instead of following their nomadic heritage. Many Ethians have taken up farming and mining, making them the two biggest industries. There is only a small permanent military force, but in times of need, all able men are expected to answer the Call to Muster.
Presently Ethias controls the Westfold plains, Helm's Deep, the valley of Harrowdale, the village of Dunlostir and the mining town of Grimslade. On the north-western plains live the horse herds and those that tend them. The horse wards live in small camps near the streams and salt licks frequented by the horses that roam freely. After a month or two in one spot, the warders pick up and move camp, often travelling entirely across the westfold. But their first concern is always the needs of the horses that pass by them.
Although all Rohirrim love and respect the great horses, most earn earn their livings in other ways. In the West-mark, farming and mining are the biggest ways. Farms dot the plains along the Great West Road while vineyards and orchards wind their into many of the White Mountains' valleys. The main crops are grains for both man and horse as well as barley and hops for ale. The fortress at Helm's Deep, called the Hornburg, is the most formitable defensive structure in Rohan, and possiblely the West. It is located deep in a valley, called the Deeping Coomb, in the Ered Nimrais Mountains. The Ethian Clan House is also located in this protected valley. It is the political and military center of the Westfold. Small farms dot the plains just outside of Helm's Deep as well as vineyards in the smaller nearby valleys. At the back of the Coomb, and behind the Burg, lies the wonderous caves of Aglarond. It is in these caves that supplies are stored for the keep. Semi precious stones are also mined there, but that is strictly controlled by the Ethias Clan Master so as to not destroy the natural beauty of the caves.
The people of Ethias are proud and honorable. They have sired more nobility than any other clan. And since they are more settled than the Eowains, they tend to view the East-markers as a bit backward. This has caused problems occassionally as the Ethians sometimes take a superior attitude towards their eastern cousins. The settled nature of the West-mark culture is due in part to the constant attacks of the Dunlending. It is an old feud, dating back to the days of Eorl and fueled by the Dunlendings' claims that Rohan is their land. Ethians' feelings toward Dunland range from suspicion to full hatered with a very small minority being sympathetic. This symathy comes from only those with some Dunlending blood. as there have been times when the cultures intermingled.
Less than a days ride north of the West-mark lies the ringed keep of Isengard. Saruman, the White Wizard, took over Isengard in 2726, right after Frealaf Hildeson, Helm's sister son and first king of the second line, was crowned King of Rohan. Beren, Steward of Gondor, gave him leave as Isengard was still controlled by Gondor. For many years Saruman was a strong ally to the men of Rohan and Gondor. But over the generations the paths of Rohan and Isengard have parted until nothing is known today of the doings in the ringed tower.
The emblem of the Ethias clan is a silver fist on red.
Horses
Rohan, being the Land of the Horse Lords, has a special fondness for horses. As such, horses are used alot in everyday life for a Rohirrim. Presented here is some information from which a little more about horses and their place in Rohan can be learnt.
Ceremonies
The Bonding
For a Rohirrim a horse is not simply a nameless animal used for transportation but a dear companion, held in high regard and cared for lovingly. Most Rohirrim, knowing the importance of their horses and that they may one day be saved by them, highly values the companionship with their steeds and strive to form a deep bond. Thus, the choosing of a first or a new horse for a Rohirrim is a matter of great importance. The man or woman who seeks a new steed will be taken by an Eomaegister to a herd and approach the horses, singling no one out but waiting for a sign of any kind or perhaps for one of the steeds to approach him.
Once the 'candidate' knows which horse he has chosen/been chosen by, this animal will be singled out from the herd and it is up to the rider to convince his new mount that he is worthy. A true Rohirrim would not use violence but skill to prove himself and gain the horse's acceptance. Once this is obtained, a brief ceremony remains to seal horse and rider to each other. The Eomaegister will make a small cut in the riders palm and upon the horse's neck, asking the former to press his hand against his new steed's wound to allow their bloods to mingle. After that the Eomaegister will cut a few strands from the horse's mane and rider's hair, braid these together and tie about the rider's wrist.
The Releasing
When a horse dies, be it of injuries sustained in battle, due to an accident or of old age or anything else, it is up to its rider to perform a last service for his faithful companion. The circle of their braided-together strands of hair tied about the rider's arm at the bonding will be cut to mark an end to the partnership and it will then be burned together with the horse to symbolize that the rider staying behind gives up a part of himself as a gift for a friend. If the horse's body cannot be retrieved and burned, only the circle of hair will be burned, then symbolizing the whole act itself.
The Foaling Feast
In late spring each year, when the foals are born and the herd so rejuvenated, a week-long celebration is always held. The place varies from year to year, and it is a great honour as well as a great responsibility to be the Eomaegister(s) in whose region it takes place. During the festivities all sorts of horse-related activities, often in the form of contests, take place. Prices are awarded for the finest herds, the finest stallion, mare, yearling and foal and both races and many other tests of riding skill are held. This is also a chance for those who make saddles and bridles to sell more of their merchandize and even to have their work judged to find the finest in the Mark. Finally it is the time of the year when all the Eomaegisters and their superiors as well as their apprentices meet to discuss the past year, plan the coming one and exchange horses to revitalize the herds.
Organization
Since there is more or less no information from Tolkien about how the care for and breeding of the horses were arranged in Rohan, we have for the sake of RP created a system which we hope is both plausible and playable. The structure is basically a four-tiered one, connected primarily to the clans but (as some horse specialist can be tied to a patrol or an eored) also in part to the military. Anyone, both men and women, can work within it (even though 'he' is used throughout the following text). The ICly highest authorithy on horses in the Mark is the Erkenstedamaegister (literal meaning: chief stallion master). He is chosen by Theoden from one of the Stedamaegisters to supervise the breeding in Rohan. No major decisions about horses are taken without the Erkenstedamaegisters approval. He wears a brooch of gold shaped like a rampant stallion as a badge of office. This position is not hereditary.
Below the Erkenstedamaegister are the Stedamaegisters (literal meaning: stallion master), one for each clan (including the NPC clans). They are chosen from the Eomaegisters in that clan by the Clan Master and the Erkenstedamaegister to supervise the breeding within that clan and in general to represent all of their craft on the clan council, although this is not necessarily the case in some clans. When a Stedamaegister is chosen to be Erkenstedamaegister, he still retains the duties of Stedamaegister for his clan as well (though he may appoint a second in command to share the duties with), just like he when chosen to be Stedamaegister still retains the duties of an Eomaegister in the region where he previously worked. He wears a brooch of silver shaped like a rampant stallion as a badge of office. This position is not hereditary.
The Eomaegisters (literal meaning: horse master) are the other horse specialists within each clan, who work with and below the Stedamaegister of their clan, including breeders, horse healers and trainers; some specialized, and some knowledgeable in all areas. What kind of authority and duties an Eomaegister has can vary quite a lot, much depending on how he gained the title which can be both hereditary or achieved through skills earned during an apprenticeship. If it is inherited, the situation is generally as follows: Your family (which in the majority of these cases holds the rank of thegns or ealdormen, i.e is some kind of nobility) has been entrusted the care of a herd of horses or your family has for a long time been working for a noble family and handling the care of their entrusted herd for them. Most Eomaegisters are tied to a certain region (that is the case for all of those which are responsible for a certain herd), and there's a limit to the number of PCs which may be active within the same region, but some are also permanently assigned to an eored and they're then responsible for its horses. An Eomaegister wears a brooch of bronze shaped like a rampant stallion as a badge of office.
The rank below Eomaegister is that of Eoscealc (literal meaning: horse servant), and these make up the main body of people working with horses within each clan. Often an Eoscealc is apprenticed to an Eomaegister with the aspiration to become one himself, but this title is also given to any grooms or helpers working under the 'jurisdiction' of a particular Eomaegister without aspiring to becoming one. Many Eoscealcs come from the Eomaegisters families, or from families living on their lands in the cases when they are thegns or ealdormen, but anyone who wishes to become one may approach an existing Eomaegister and ask if he may become an apprentice. All PC Eoscealcs who wish to become Eomaegisters should be apprenticed to (or assigned to at least if they have no aspirations to rise further but wish to remain Eoscealcs only as a secondary profession) either another PC Eomaegister or to an NPC they've created (for example a father) regardless of whether they want to work within a certain region or within the Eoreds. The details of this arrangement should be noted in the character's history. Eoscealcs wear a brooch of copper shaped like a rampant stallion as a badge of office.
One of the major things to RP for horse-specialists is helping a clan-member to find its first alt. a new horse (for the bonding ceremony), as this should traditionally be done by an Eomaegister from the same area as the person who needs the horse, but Eomaegisters and Eoscealcs also have plenty of things to do on a daily basis. People might come to them with all sorts of problems, for example sick or lame horses, troublesome horses or mares which they are looking for good stallions for. It is the Eomaegisters and the Eoscealcs duty to not only make sure that the herd they're working with is thriving but also to care for the general health of all horses in their area. All extended patrols should also have at least an Eoscealc assigned to care for their horses.
Regions
The East-mark regions
The Wold
The NE of the Riddermark, bounded by the Limlit and the Anduin. No important towns, save for such burgs as Mestbrim Weard in the NE of the Wold, and others. A windswept, dry land, supporting vast herds but few settlements. Horses bred here are mostly of the lighter, faster type.
East Emnet
Burgs and homesteads are more common here; the area is roughly central eastern Rohan, mostly plains and meads. Horses bred here are mostly of the regular type.
Eastfold
Southeastern Rohan, it has the most villages of import, such as Stowburg seat of Eowain and Mering; a place of hills which extend into the White Mountains. Hills, dells and farms. Horses bred here run all the way from light to heavy.
The Folde
West of Eastfold, it is part of the King's Lands; Aldburg is there, home of those descended from Eofor son of Brego Eorlsson. Meads, willow-grove and long grasses. Horses bred here are mostly of the regular to heavy type.
The West-mark regions
The Gap
NW Rohan, it is a fairly empty place, though there are homesteads and herders there; a broad, flat plains between the Andrast and the White Mountains. Horses bred here are mostly of the light type.
West Emnet Again, broad plains, also some marshy land and it is rather central western Rohan. Horses bred here are mostly of the heavy type.
The Westfold
Many farms and settlements, hills and mountains. Southeastern Rohan. Horses bred here are mostly of the regular to heavy type, and ponies are common in the mountain areas.
The West Marches
No real settlements, but homesteads; little power from the King, and the folk there are half-breeds. Horses bred here often differ a lot from those found in the rest of Rohan, many are much smaller and very hardy and the most common type of 'normal' Rohirric horse is the light one.
Types
The most basic division of the horses existing in Rohan is a two-part one: First we have the Meara, the offspring of Felarof, father of horses, who stand above normal horses like elves stand above men and who carry no riders save the King of Rohan and those of his line. Whether the Meara mingle, or have done so in the past, with regular horses we do not know for sure, but perhaps there is at least a small touch of Meara blood in all Rohirric horses from back in Felarofs days, as it would seem he was the only of his kind which the Rohirrim captured. However, for all intents and purposes the division between Meara and the second type, the non-Meara, stands.
The non-Meara can then be divided into several sub-types. Not breeds, because they're all pretty much just variations (though one might argue that ponies and heavier draft-type horses should be counted separately; it is not done, however) within one common breed. All the non-Meara are after all the descendats of the horses the Rohirrim brough with them, with (in some cases, such as ponies and drafts) some blood from the horses which already existed in the area mixed in; these were likely small and hardy ponies near and around the hills. The main part of the non-Meare are, however, the 'common' Rohirric horse, the one one ridden by most of us, and while it is seen as the same breed all over the Mark, over the centuries different regions have specialized in slightly different sub- types, depending on preferences and military needs.
This way three sub-types have developed, simply called light, regular and heavy. The lighter ones tend to be faster and more mobile, and thus often used by scouts, while the heavier lack some speed but instead possess greater strength, which make them the favoured choice for primarily the heavier cavalry units of the West-mark. The regular type, as one might guess, combines the traits of the light and heavy ones but doesn't excell in either speed or strength, and it is also the most common one. Stamina and hardiness is equally great for all types. It is the IC duty of the Eomaegisters to uphold the breeding standards for his region, for the Stedamaegister to ensure balance within the clan and for the Erkenstedamaegister to coordinate breeding all over Rohan.
