Wk5 Bk5 Ch5: Forgotten Stonewain Road

[Stormrider]

From: Stormridr (Original Message) Sent: 4/13/2003 9:10 PM

Ghân-buri-Ghân
Copyright Edward Beard. All Rights Reserved

Ghân-buri-Ghân says:

"More than one road he knows. He will lead you by road where no pits are, no gorgûn (Orcs) walk, only Wild Men and beasts. Many paths were made when Stonehouse-folk (Gondorians) were stronger. They carved hills as hunters carve beast-flesh. Wild Men think they ate stone for food. They went through Drúadan to Rimmon with great wains. They go no longer. Road is forgotten, but not by Wild Men. Over hill and behind hill it lies still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Dîn, and back at the end to Horse-men's road."

When was this road built and for what was it used?
Why did it become overgrown and forgotten?
Why did the Wild Men know this road? Did they use it themselves?

[Stormrider]

From: Redha Sent: 4/16/2003 11:43 AM
This description of the road is reminiscent of the old Roman roads found in Britain. Lost then rediscovered by later generations.

It seems the road would have been built during the same era as Orthanc, Minas Tirith, Amon Sul, and the other great towers. That is, when Gondor and Arnor were at their zenith and men had not forgotten how to build such things.

Redha

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From: galenas Sent: 4/16/2003 10:06 PM
Even in our world outside of ME, there are wonderful old roads buried under layers of earth or trapped under thick growth. Roads that were once busy with 'wains' moving goods. I believe this was once such a road. Ghan-buri-Ghan's statements about it being heavily traveled lead me to believe it to be so. Also, his statements about the Stonehouse folk carving out the land when they were strong leads me to think it in use during the time of the great watchtowers like Amon Hen and Amon Sul, and when the Argonath was of fresh stone.
I have no idea as to its fall into disuse.

Galenas

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From: Desi-Baggins Sent: 4/17/2003 10:38 AM
I have read that there is a path in the Stonewain Valley that leads from Minas Anor to Nardol. Nardol was located on a rocky hill, which leads me to think 'bad location', so maybe travel stopped between the two and the road becoming untraveled. This goes all goes along with what Galenas mentioned.

Desi

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From: Alaere_Dûnhilien Sent: 4/17/2003 3:02 PM
It was my first thought too, that the Númenoreans must have built this road, and I think Desi could be very right about the travel having stopped: never underestimate the power of economics, it can destroy a whole nation.

That the Wild Men know it, is not very surprising I think: it leads, at least partially, through the forest where they live. Probably, they even used it. No one else did, and they kept to themselves, so why wouldn't they use an old forgotten road? Besides, the fact that they know so well where it leads to, means that they have at least investigated it. Using that old road must have been easier than chopping your way through the wild. They had their own paths too, I guess, but that one just lay there, ready for them to use.

Alaere