All the Wight Reasons?

[Inziladun]

A casual viewer of book-related threads here might have seen an occasional question regarding the nature of Barrow-wights.
One issue I don't recall seeing before is why the wights were on the Downs.

In the days of Argeleb II the plague came into Eriador from the South-east, and most of the people of Cardolan perished....It was at this time that an end came of the Dúnedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur entered into the deserted mounds and dwelt there.

ROTK Appendix A

The Witch-king now had a clearer understanding of the matter. He had known something of the country long ago, in his wars with the Dúnedain, and especially of the Tyrn Gothad of Cardolan, whose evil wights had been sent there by himself.

UT The Hunt for the Ring

It seems pretty clear they were sent to Tyrn Gothad by the WK. But for what purpose? The Dúnedain of Cardolan were gone, dead or fled away. And if these spirits were the Witch-kings to command, wouldn't their services have been of more use somewhere else; specifically, Forcost, where he still had living enemies?

[Formendacil]

It's a good question.

The first thought that I have is that the Witch-king--for whatever reason, I can't think of one right now--couldn't send the Wights into the territory still held by the Dúnedain--meaning that the Shire was out, Fornost was out, and Bree was out.

Perhaps, in that case, the Barrow-downs were simply the best spot to put them--a way of hedging in Arthedain's southeastern frontier, and reinforcing the dread that the Dúnedain probably already felt for the scene of Cardolan's final defeat. Despair, after all, was one of the more potent weapons Angmar could wield, and as Arthedain became more isolated and their resolve broke down, that could be quite effective.

It also occurs to me that the Wights may not have been worth much as an offensive force. They seem unlikely to stand up in full sunlight in the midst of battle. Perhaps their presence was more effective on the edges than at the centre of things.

Of course, the Old Forest was already there, so one wonders about the duplication...

[Rumil]

Perhaps to stop any re-colonisation of Cardolan by Arthedain?

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Rumil

Perhaps to stop any re-colonisation of Cardolan by Arthedain?

Hmm. The problem with that is that the Downs themselves lay at the extreme northwest of Cardolan, the bounds of which were the Brandywine, the Road, and the Greyflood. Having spirits inhabit a grave site at the outliers of the realm wouldn't seem to accomplish that goal.

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Hmm. The problem with that is that the Downs themselves lay at the extreme northwest of Cardolan, the bounds of which were the Brandywine, the Road, and the Greyflood. Having spirits inhabit a grave site at the outliers of the realm wouldn't seem to accomplish that goal.

Although there are suggestions that the northern regions of Arthedain, especially that region close to Fornost, were also haunted. The Rangers went there evidently some times, but they were about the only ones. The question comes up as to why so much of Eriador is deserted, and haunting seems to be the only possible explanation given how pleasant a country the Shire is.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by CSteefel

Although there are suggestions that the northern regions of Arthedain, especially that region close to Fornost, were also haunted. The Rangers went there evidently some times, but they were about the only ones. The question comes up as to why so much of Eriador is deserted, and haunting seems to be the only possible explanation given how pleasant a country the Shire is.

My impression is that the reputation of Fornost (Deadman's Dike) was a holdover from the war in which the North-kingdom met its end. Fornost had become the dwelling place of the Witch-king after the death of Arvedui, and it seems natural that it would maintain a place in legend among the Bree-landers as a token of fear. That the Rangers would go there to me indicates that there was no truth to the rumours.
The comparitive emptiness of Eriador could be explained by the fact that there didn't appear to be any folk near it that needed more space for long years. All inhabitants seem to have been content where they were: Hobbits in the Shire, Hobbits and Men at Bree, Elves in Lindon and Rivendell, Dwarves in the Blue Mountains. The nearest settlements of Men outside those areas were in Dunland, and indeed some of them had apparently began to seek to colonize the North by the time of the War of the Ring, out of fear of Saruman and the coming war.