Manveru
05-16-2004, 11:47 AM
Traitor I am
and always be.
Even most precious gem
could not save me
from vengeance hunting me...
Gather around me, lads (lasses can come, too, if they're not scared, of course;)), gather around me... for I give you
The Tale of Mīm the Petty-dwarf
Who were the Petty-dwarves, you ask me? (thank you, lass, my tale will seem more interactive this way)
Who were the Petty-dwarves? Right... let me look back deeper on to my memories, for tales of their wanderings are woven deep amongst thick mists of Ol'Uncle Time...
In the distand times, when the Land was still young and the Elder Children of Iluvatar started to spread all around, these tales had their beginning. It is said, and is very likely to be true, that Petty-dwarves were the first to settle in Beleriand, even before the Elves came there. Little is known of those times. All we, the Wise (;)), know is that the first encounters of Elves with the "pioneers" weren't pleasant to each race, for as we read in ancient scrolls:
The Eldar did not at first recognize these as Incarnates, for they seldom caught sight of them in clear light. They only became aware of their existence indeed when they attacked the Eldar by stealth at night, or if they caught them alone in wild places. The Eldar therefore thought that they were a kind of cunning two-legged animals living in caves, and they called them Levain tad-dail, or simply Tad-dail, and they hunted them. But after the Eldar had made the acquaintance of the Naugrim [Dwarves -- you're welcome, lassy :)], the Tad-dail were recognized as a variety of Dwarves and were left alone. There were then few of them surviving, and they were very wary, and too fearful to attack any Elf, unless their hiding-places were approached too nearly. The Sindar gave them the names Nogotheg 'Dwarflet', or Nogoth niben 'Petty Dwarf'.
Although they were recognised as a "variety of Dwarves", the great Dwarves despised the Petty-dwarves (though still acknowledged their kinship), who were (it is said) the descendants of Dwarves who had left or been driven out from the Communities, being deformed or undersized, or slothful and rebellious. And what's more, filled with hate for all other creatures. Why, you ask? Is it not a characteristic of Enemy's minions? Yes, you're right. The Wise still debate different possibilities of that... but it's unimportant to our tale. Let's call it a "mystery" and leave it to others (do not meddle in the affairs of the Wise...;)).
I truly hope you didn't lose the track of our tale in the midst of all those strange names (Eldar, Naugrim, Tad-dail, etc.) or - what would be very unkind - fell asleep somewhere in the middle (can someone, please, nudge that little boy in the first row? thank you; *waves for welcome* :)).
To make it simple (and short): Petty-dwarves -> A small, stunted people, apparently related to the true Dwarves...
The only Petty-dwarf to appear in the Annals of Beleriand was... yes, yes, my lads, no other than Mīm. Forgotten, left alone by the Eldar (like most of his kin) lived along with his two sons: Ibun and Khīm. Probably in peace, though never willing to let go a feeling of resentment towards other creatures (especially Elves of Beleriand --> the Exiles in particular). Living this way he'd probably have lived till his very late days, but for a dark cloud of fate, which let criss-cross his path with a path of Neithan, "one who is deprived"... and his band of outlaws...
to be continued...
-------
as you can see, it's still in progress... but i decided to post this first part (it's so great that these Halls breathe again with a full breast, right Kingy? :))
and always be.
Even most precious gem
could not save me
from vengeance hunting me...
Gather around me, lads (lasses can come, too, if they're not scared, of course;)), gather around me... for I give you
The Tale of Mīm the Petty-dwarf
Who were the Petty-dwarves, you ask me? (thank you, lass, my tale will seem more interactive this way)
Who were the Petty-dwarves? Right... let me look back deeper on to my memories, for tales of their wanderings are woven deep amongst thick mists of Ol'Uncle Time...
In the distand times, when the Land was still young and the Elder Children of Iluvatar started to spread all around, these tales had their beginning. It is said, and is very likely to be true, that Petty-dwarves were the first to settle in Beleriand, even before the Elves came there. Little is known of those times. All we, the Wise (;)), know is that the first encounters of Elves with the "pioneers" weren't pleasant to each race, for as we read in ancient scrolls:
The Eldar did not at first recognize these as Incarnates, for they seldom caught sight of them in clear light. They only became aware of their existence indeed when they attacked the Eldar by stealth at night, or if they caught them alone in wild places. The Eldar therefore thought that they were a kind of cunning two-legged animals living in caves, and they called them Levain tad-dail, or simply Tad-dail, and they hunted them. But after the Eldar had made the acquaintance of the Naugrim [Dwarves -- you're welcome, lassy :)], the Tad-dail were recognized as a variety of Dwarves and were left alone. There were then few of them surviving, and they were very wary, and too fearful to attack any Elf, unless their hiding-places were approached too nearly. The Sindar gave them the names Nogotheg 'Dwarflet', or Nogoth niben 'Petty Dwarf'.
Although they were recognised as a "variety of Dwarves", the great Dwarves despised the Petty-dwarves (though still acknowledged their kinship), who were (it is said) the descendants of Dwarves who had left or been driven out from the Communities, being deformed or undersized, or slothful and rebellious. And what's more, filled with hate for all other creatures. Why, you ask? Is it not a characteristic of Enemy's minions? Yes, you're right. The Wise still debate different possibilities of that... but it's unimportant to our tale. Let's call it a "mystery" and leave it to others (do not meddle in the affairs of the Wise...;)).
I truly hope you didn't lose the track of our tale in the midst of all those strange names (Eldar, Naugrim, Tad-dail, etc.) or - what would be very unkind - fell asleep somewhere in the middle (can someone, please, nudge that little boy in the first row? thank you; *waves for welcome* :)).
To make it simple (and short): Petty-dwarves -> A small, stunted people, apparently related to the true Dwarves...
The only Petty-dwarf to appear in the Annals of Beleriand was... yes, yes, my lads, no other than Mīm. Forgotten, left alone by the Eldar (like most of his kin) lived along with his two sons: Ibun and Khīm. Probably in peace, though never willing to let go a feeling of resentment towards other creatures (especially Elves of Beleriand --> the Exiles in particular). Living this way he'd probably have lived till his very late days, but for a dark cloud of fate, which let criss-cross his path with a path of Neithan, "one who is deprived"... and his band of outlaws...
to be continued...
-------
as you can see, it's still in progress... but i decided to post this first part (it's so great that these Halls breathe again with a full breast, right Kingy? :))