The Stone of Erech (King's Gondor)

This page is about the Stone of Erech after Midsummer 3019 T.A.. For the Stone soon after the passing of the Grey Company, see The Stone of Erech. 

The Stone of Erech
Type:	Hill
Region:	King's Gondor
Area:	Blackroot Vale (King's Gondor)
Location:	[58.2S, 65.1W]

Location

The Stone of Erech is a landmark within the Blackroot Vale in King's Gondor. ^{[58.2S, 65.1W]}

Atop the Hill of Erech, this great black stone is one of the seven Vandassari brought out of Númenor at the end of the Second Age. It was once known as Orossar. Set here by Isildur, it was before this Stone that King Rioc and the Men of the Mountain swore an oath of alliance that they later broke. For this Isildur cursed them not to rest even in death, and they remained beneath the White Mountains for three thousand years.

During the War of the Ring, Aragorn summoned the Dead to the Stone once more, and offered them another chance to fulfill their oath and have peace. Most of them followed Aragorn to Pelargir, but some few still linger near the Stone and their old home beneath the mountains.

Quest Involvement

• [142] A Dangerous Dare

Deed Involvement

• Explorer of Blackroot Vale Renewed

NPCs

During Quest:

• Randis

Creatures

During Quest:

• Ruthless Keeper
• Ruthless Warrior (King's Gondor)

Lore

Borne away from the destruction of Númenor, the Stone of Erech sits atop the Hill of Erech in the Blackroot Vale. In truth, the Stone of Erech is one of the seven Vandassari, the Oath-stones, and is named[Orossar, but this has been forgotten to all but the most learned of scholars in Middle-earth. It was upon the Stone of Erech that the Men of the Mountains long ago swore an oath to Isildur to aid Gondor in the war against the Dark Lord, Sauron. However, when they refused to honour their oath, Isildur cursed them, condemning them to dwindle and diminish into the Sleepless Dead. Although many of the Dead have now departed with the fulfillment of their oath, the Stone of Erech still rests atop its hill and forever serves as a reminder of the betrayal of the Men of the Mountains.