Ostecthel

Prince Ostecthel was one of the last Princes of Cardolan. He was son of Prince Amondir, brother to Amonhathol and Thannadan, and father to the last prince, Ostir. He was married to Princes Luilloth.

According to Narndir's journal and the Scroll of Luilloth, he, along with his entire family, was murdered by the Grey Fear:

Three sons Amondir had when he died, and the curse that came to fall on them could not be escaped. One of the dead, a pale shade who appeared as a man-shaped darkness in the fog, its eyes glowing a cold, blank white, appeared several decades after Amondir's disappearance; it seemed intent on hunting them, stalking and slaying them one by one. First Amonhathol, eldest son of Amondir, was found slain... but that was not the worst. Someone had garbed him in white, and he lay before a barrow-gate in the downs in the evening. His face was shrivelled... as though he had aged one hundred years in a single night. Scarcely two years later, his brother Thannadan met an identical fate, though in his case he disappeared from Dol Ernil itself!"

In those days, a fog rolled over the land, from whence emerged a plague of the Dead who slew all before them. Most fearsome of these was a wraith-like figure known as Hithrengor, the Grey Fear, who terrorized Dol Ernil. Luilloth brought her young son Ostir to Fornost for his protection while her husband, Prince Ostecthel, hunted down the source of the evil.

Prince Ostecthel strode into the fog a mighty warrior in his prime... only to later stumble out looking as though he had aged decades. With gasping words he revealed that the evil had been banished and that the land was safe once more. Aggrieved but proud, Luilloth returned and served as princess-regent until Ostir came of age. The people loved her, for she was good and kind, and ruled wisely.

But Ostecthel's words were soon proven wrong! The great evil was not gone, for it returned in Cardolan's darkest hour. Called away to the defence of Amon Sûl, Prince Ostir rode north with much of his household. In his absence, the Grey Fear attacked once more, and Ostir returned to find Dol Ernil merely a ruined shell, its people scattered or slaughtered, and Luilloth nowhere to be found.

Once more, the Dead rose and ravaged Cardolan, while Ostir and his few remaining knights fell back, retreating north. Is it not known where Luilloth had been, but tales say that when Ostir and his army did not return, she set out to aid them. She found only her son's loyal canine howling among the Downs, and Luilloth knew then that Ostir was dead, for Astoryn would never leave his master's side.

Luilloth vowed to put an end to the torments and ravages visited upon the land and her family. She and Astoryn went north to seek guidance, following whispers of some great power that dwelt beneath the sinister bows of the forest. She was never seen again, but the ravening Dead quieted soon after and vanished back into the mists.

The fate of Princess Luilloth is unknown, but those she left behind built this statue in honour of her sacrifice.