Men of the Mountains

History

The Men of the Mountains were the people living in the lands around the Blackroot Vale and the White Mountains at the end of the Second Age. They were led by King Rioc.

The Men of the Mountains at one point fought against Isildur and the Dúnedain who escaped Númenor and founded Gondor. Rioc surrendered after a battle in Tarlang's Neck; the surrender was accepted by Tárandil, foster-son of Isildur.^[1] Rioc swore afterwards on the Stone of Erech, an Oath-stone, that his people and the Dúnedain would have peace, and that they would stand together if Sauron should return to trouble Middle-earth. ^[2]

The Men of the Mountains had worshipped Sauron in the Dark Years, however, the long period of the Second Age where Sauron had dominion over much of Middle-earth, and, when summoned by Isildur to the Hill of Erech to fight, they refused. ^[3] Rioc arrived with only a handful of men, and in anger Isildur cursed them, saying that they would know no rest until their oath was fulfilled. ^[2] Despite several requests from Tárandil, Isildur never recanted his curse. ^[1]

Rioc and his people retreated into the mountains, and there they died to a man, including children and those who were no warriors. Some died of natural causes, but others were killed.^[1] Their shades haunted the tunnels under the White Mountains that had once been their home, and the place became known as the Paths of the Dead, and the Mountain the Dwimorberg to the Rohirrim and Gondorians who lived near either end of the Paths. In time, some of the restless Dead fled north, coming at last to old barrows in Enedwaith, a place that became known as the Forsaken Road. Britou and Maonir were among these. ^[4]

It was said both by Isildur and by a Dúnadan seer named Malbeth that the Men of the Mountains would be summoned again before the end of war with Sauron; for more than three thousand years the Restless Dead lingered, until they were summoned again to the Stone of Erech by Aragorn. ^[3] Rioc and many of his people followed, and after aiding Aragorn at Pelargir, he held their oath fulfilled and they were released at last. ^[5] Not all took this offer, out of bitterness, distrust, despair, or lingering loyalty to Sauron, and instead left the mountains to haunt western and central Gondor. ^[6] These became the Ruthless Dead.

The shades of the Men of the Mountains seem able to sense those who are of Isildur's line.^[6]^[4]

Major Spoilers: Black Book of Mordor, Epilogue

Though the histories speak of the fact that the Men of the Mountains once worshipped Sauron, it is said by Vágari the Wanderer that Rioc ultimately commanded the breaking of the oath after learning that his daughter, Bravantel, had married one of the Dúnedain in secret and had a son with him. Though he had sworn peace with Gondor, Rioc had no love for them, and for this last insult he willingly broke his oath. ^[1]