Blackroot Vale

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Blackroot Vale
Valley
General Information
Other namesMornan
LocationSouthern Gondor, at the feet of the White Mountains.
TypeValley
DescriptionGrassy upland valley inhabited by Men
RegionsGondor
Reunited Kingdom
People and History
InhabitantsGondorians
EventsAragorn's ride to Erech

The Blackroot Vale, known as Mornan in Sindarin,[1] was a valley of rich grassland through which the River Blackroot flowed.[2] The river rose beneath the sheer mountainsides of the White Mountains' southern extent,[3] and in the shadowed rocks above its spring was the hidden gateway leading out from the Paths of the Dead.[2]

The people of the vale were known in Gondor for their archery skills, and their lord Duinhir took a small company of his bowmen to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[4] With them went Duinhir's sons, Derufin and Duilin, both of whom were lost in the defense of Minas Tirith.[5]

On 8 March T.A. 3019, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and the Grey Company exited the Paths of the Dead at the source of the Morthond.[6] They rode to the Stone of Erech where Aragorn, as the heir of Isildur, called upon the Oathbreakers to follow him and fulfill their pledge.[2]

Etymology

Carl F. Hostetter has suggested that the name Mornan consists of mor- ("dark") + nan (valley).[7]

Portrayal in Adapations

2014: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Blackroot Vale is an area in the region of Western Gondor. It is accessed by traveling from "Kingstead" in Western Rohan through the Paths of the Dead. Tarlang's Neck connects the Vale to Lamedon in the southeast. The Havens of Belfalas lie to the south, connected by a road that runs through "Tarlang's Crown" on the west side of "Tarlang's Peaks". The capital is "Morlad", built upon a hill on the western shore of the river Morthond, south of the entrance to the Dwimorberg. Further south along the river are the villages of "Alagrant" and "Sardol". East of Morlad, on the other side of the Hill of Erech, are the mining village of "Tingobel" and the town of "Lancrath".
The Vale faces several threats. Orcs of the White Mountains have captured Tingobel, Umbarrim Corsairs and sorcerors hold Tarlang's Crown, and some of the cursed Oathbreakers have rejected Aragorn's offer and reaffirmed their allegiance to Sauron. These twice-traitorous shades call themselves the Ruthless Dead, and the fear they spread is driving the local fauna to madness and death. "Malthellam" is Steward of the Vale in Lord Duinhir's absence. He requires the cooperation of Duinhir's wife, the Lady Rosfin, but Rosfin blames him for the loss of Tingobel and is reluctant to work with him. The emblem of the Blackroot Vale is a black circle on a white field.

References