[Anguirel]

Fingolfin shows his true colours with this outrageous assault on the crown that cannot be rightfully his! Let's have a closer look at this "paragon of chivalry", Crookback Fin, attempting to usurp his six innocent nephews...

FINGOLFIN OF GLOUCESTER: Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by my brother's death,
And all the clouds that lay upon this house
In the red ire of a Balrog burnt.

The dastardly villain! If we follow the historical precedent, it's clear what he'll do.

1. Detract attention from his own villainy by framing his mediocre younger bother Clarenc...er, I mean, Finarfin...for treason. He will then drown him in Dorwinion wine. No one will care because Finarfin is a bit of a wimp, but Rich...I mean Fingolfin...will be closer to the crown. Obviously we need to thwart this plan by voting off Finarfin. Then we'll keep Fingolfin's military skill yet check his scheming. And no one will miss the old pacifist...

++FINARFIN

2. He will murder several of his nephews and rule until stopped by an even more cunning and relentless claimant. A Henry Tudor character. Now if we can get the Henry Tudor character crowned High King first, all the trouble will be averted.

Clearly, we must elect a lawful heir, or make hypocrites of ourselves. So we need a scion of the senior branch of the House of Finwe. IE, a Son of Feanor. I will inspect each in turn.

Maedhros-a great warrior and a noble and chivalrous elf. Sadly, too noble; he'll be oblivious to Finarfin's evil plotting, and he may not be resourceful enough to deal successfully with emissaries of Morgoth like Sauron.

Maglor-No. Out of the question; too nice and artistic to be spoilt by murderous politics, despite keen intelligence. We should keep him as the splendid prince he is.

Celegorm-Possible. A fine warrior, a great orator, and a handsome figure of a King. But perhaps a little too preoccupied by the pleasures of the chase. It would be like making Orome King of Arda. Too distractible.

Caranthir-good in dealings with other races. A fair and just, if harsh, ruler. Quick to anger, though, and manipulatible on this account.

Curufin-the perfect Henry Tudor model. An excellent plotter, lies so well he can leave Sauron baffled, no mercy on his enemies. Marked out by his great father's especial favour. Would immediately detect any false step by Fingolfin. Good relations with Nogrod (Dwarves are as yet a distant rumour, but will be important later). An opportunistic diplomat. Good taste; no patience with irritating Mary-Sues. A solid line of succession-a baby son has just been born...

Amras-bit of a dark horse, really. Quite a risk. Probably too mucked up by brother's death.

The conclusion-I elect

++CURUFIN

as High King of the Noldor.