Dúnedain:Sindarin Edain of the West

Men, those of the Edain who at the beginning of the Second Age sailed to Númenor . After the fall of Númenor in SA 3319, the Dúnedain survived only in the Faithful and the Black Númenóreans of Umbar. Two kingdoms were founded by the Faithful, Gondor and [Arnor]?, and after the death of [Elendil]? in SA 3441 the Dunedain were split into two groups, those of the North and those of Gondor.

The Dunedain of the North were attacked from TA 1300 onward by Angmar, and slowly they lost territory and their numbers dwindled. The Dunedain of Rhudaur were few by 1409, and the last Dunedain of Cardolan perished in the Great Plague of 1636. After the fall of Arthedain in 1974, the Dunedain of the North became few, and survived only with the aid of [Elrond]?. However, adversity preserved their hardiness, and many or all of the Dunedain became Rangers, who protected the innocent Men and Hobbits of Eriador and were implacable foes of [Sauron]? and his servants. The Dunedain of the North were ruled by the Line of [Isildur]?, which never failed.

In Gondor, the Dunedain flourished for many years despite threats from Harad and Rhun, but many of the Dunedain became decadent and over-proud. The Line of [Anarion]?, the family of the Kings of Gondor, failed five times because of the childlessness or early death of the king. Also, the Dunedain of Gondor, like their forebears in [Numenor]?, became concerned with their shortened life-span (which waned more rapidly than that of their northern kinsmen), and even had a disastrous civil war, the Kin-strife, about this. The purity of the Dunadan blood was lessened by intermarriage with lesser Men, especially the Northmen, and, more importantly, by sloth and love of luxury. However, some of the Dunedain families, notably the House of [Hurin]? and the house of the Princes of [Dol Amroth]?, retained their nobility; the latter family was enriched by Elvish blood. By the time of the WR, although Gondor was still strong and some of their Dunedain were still noble and wise, the Dunedain of Gondor had waned considerably.

The Dunedain were superior to other Men in nobility of spirit and body, although there were of course capable of evil if corrupted. They were tall, with dark hair and grey eyes. The lifespan of the royal family, originally three times that of lesser Men(210 years), was by the time of the WR still about 150 years or more; lesser Dunedain lived somewhat shorter lives. The age of adulthood seems to have been about 20 or 30, although most of the Kings did not succeed their father until they were much older. The Dunedain, especially those of high rank, possessed great wisdom and discernment, and occasional foresight. The Faithful and their descendants loved the Elves and were liked by them; there was great hatred between them and Sauron.

The Dunedain spoke Westron, which they enriched with many Elvish words. Many of the Dunedain knew Sindarin, and some also knew Quenya. The Dunedain of Numenor, and probably also those of Umbar, spoke Adunaic.

The Dunedain were also known as the Men of Westernesse, the Men of the West, and the Numenoreans. There were also called the Kings of Men, the Men of the Sea (since the Numenoreans were great mariners), the Tall Men (by the [Woses]?), and the High (in the lore of Gondor).