Dwarves of The Last Alliance - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Perky Ent · 09-12-2004, 04:42 PM

It is said that during The Last Alliance, Elves and Men united to fight evil. Although they were the main forces, Tolkien also states that there were beasts, and even dwarves, although their numbers were few. We know that the dead Elves, Men, and Orcs could found in the Dead Marshes, decaying under the water. My question is, what happened to the dwarves? Are they hidden in the marshes? Because of their height, do they decay faster? Did they all survive and go back to their halls? What is the fate of the dwarves! And for that matter, what is the fate of all those not of Elves or Men who participated in The Last Alliance?

Kuruharan · 09-12-2004, 09:53 PM

Those who survived the war went on a lived out their lives, whatever they happened to be.

The dwarves probably did not bury their dead in the marsh (or what eventually became the marsh). Since nothing is said about it one must assume that they found some way of interring the deceased in stone as was the usual custom.

NightKnight · 09-13-2004, 12:12 AM

I agree with Kuruharan. They must have been dragged away by the surviving dwarves. And if they were buried on the battlefield, later Dead Marshes, they probably decayed just as everyone else. The "bodies" that lay there weren't real, remember?

As for the other creatures, they were probably eaten by birds or wolves or whatever hungry animals were nearby.

Findegil · 09-13-2004, 03:07 PM

Dwarves do lay their dead in stone or rock and not in earth. That would mean that Dwarves would be found in the dead marshes since they clearly were of muddy earth.
If to many dwrves were killed in a battle, so that they could not bury them in proper maner or take them away from the battle-field dwarves would bunr their dead. Thus I think after the war of the last aliance the Dwrves made a burning of their dead companions.

Respectfully
Findegil

Kuruharan · 09-13-2004, 05:49 PM

I actually don't know about that.

The way it is described after the Battle of Azanulbizar, it sounds like something unique in their history.

We don't know exactly the relation of the battle lines to the mountains. It is possible that the Alliance was close enough to the mountains for the dwarves to follow their usual customs.

Of course, while Sauron's dwarves might not have been upset about the matter, the Longbeards might not have been too happy about burying their kin in the Mountains of Mordor.

Zebedee · 09-17-2004, 07:59 PM

Dwarves may have simply not fought in the region where the marsh sprung up.

Gil-Galad · 09-17-2004, 09:42 PM

There was probaly a morgue chamber in Khazad-Dum... though it was not enitrely sure where the dwarves fought, they probaly helped with the building and stuff, like when Osgiliath was beseiged, maybe some dwarves came down and started fortifying it? probaly under Elvish supervison...who knows?

Kuruharan · 09-17-2004, 11:19 PM

While you are probably right that the dwarves did a lot in siege warfare during the War of the Last Alliance, I doubt there was much in that area that the elves could teach them.

Gil-Galad · 09-18-2004, 08:05 AM

well i was thinking of ideas cause there was no indication of dwarvish building-type things in Osgiliath, so i would think that they worked with elves and gondorian builders...

09-12-2004, 04:42 PM	#1
The Perky Ent Maniacal Mage Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Setting sail for Umbar, with Firefoot at my side! Posts: 3,297	Dwarves of The Last Alliance It is said that during The Last Alliance, Elves and Men united to fight evil. Although they were the main forces, Tolkien also states that there were beasts, and even dwarves, although their numbers were few. We know that the dead Elves, Men, and Orcs could found in the Dead Marshes, decaying under the water. My question is, what happened to the dwarves? Are they hidden in the marshes? Because of their height, do they decay faster? Did they all survive and go back to their halls? What is the fate of the dwarves! And for that matter, what is the fate of all those not of Elves or Men who participated in The Last Alliance? __________________ 'But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.'

09-12-2004, 09:53 PM	#2
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,592	Those who survived the war went on a lived out their lives, whatever they happened to be. The dwarves probably did not bury their dead in the marsh (or what eventually became the marsh). Since nothing is said about it one must assume that they found some way of interring the deceased in stone as was the usual custom. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

09-13-2004, 12:12 AM	#3
NightKnight Lost among the Stars Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hiding in Childhood (Sweden) Posts: 2,690	I agree with Kuruharan. They must have been dragged away by the surviving dwarves. And if they were buried on the battlefield, later Dead Marshes, they probably decayed just as everyone else. The "bodies" that lay there weren't real, remember? As for the other creatures, they were probably eaten by birds or wolves or whatever hungry animals were nearby. __________________ There are three kinds of people in this world. Those who can count, and those who can't.

09-13-2004, 05:49 PM	#5
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,592	I actually don't know about that. The way it is described after the Battle of Azanulbizar, it sounds like something unique in their history. We don't know exactly the relation of the battle lines to the mountains. It is possible that the Alliance was close enough to the mountains for the dwarves to follow their usual customs. Of course, while Sauron's dwarves might not have been upset about the matter, the Longbeards might not have been too happy about burying their kin in the Mountains of Mordor. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

09-17-2004, 07:59 PM	#6
Zebedee Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 61	Dwarves may have simply not fought in the region where the marsh sprung up. __________________ If at first you don't succed, then skydiving isn't for you.

09-13-2004, 03:07 PM	#4
Findegil King's Writer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,721	Dwarves do lay their dead in stone or rock and not in earth. That would mean that Dwarves would be found in the dead marshes since they clearly were of muddy earth. If to many dwrves were killed in a battle, so that they could not bury them in proper maner or take them away from the battle-field dwarves would bunr their dead. Thus I think after the war of the last aliance the Dwrves made a burning of their dead companions. Respectfully Findegil

09-17-2004, 09:42 PM	#7
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	There was probaly a morgue chamber in Khazad-Dum... though it was not enitrely sure where the dwarves fought, they probaly helped with the building and stuff, like when Osgiliath was beseiged, maybe some dwarves came down and started fortifying it? probaly under Elvish supervison...who knows? __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

09-17-2004, 11:19 PM	#8
Kuruharan Regal Dwarven Shade Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A Remote Dwarven Hold Posts: 3,592	While you are probably right that the dwarves did a lot in siege warfare during the War of the Last Alliance, I doubt there was much in that area that the elves could teach them. __________________ ...finding a path that cannot be found, walking a road that cannot be seen, climbing a ladder that was never placed, or reading a paragraph that has no...

09-18-2004, 08:05 AM	#9
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	well i was thinking of ideas cause there was no indication of dwarvish building-type things in Osgiliath, so i would think that they worked with elves and gondorian builders... __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.