How many Rangers of the North were there ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Snowdog · 03-10-2010, 09:28 PM

I think the speculation on numbers of the Northern Dunedain, and their battle-worthy male population of Rangers, comes from the fact their "numbers were too few" to re-establish a kingdom after the fall of the Witch-king in third age 1975, and only 'thirty (Rangers) could be gathered in haste' in third age 3019. Factoring in they 'kept their blood pure', and there was enough men and women to procreate through the years, and they logically wouldn't have left the homelands completely devoid of fighting men, one could assume from all this that maybe there were 50 to maybe 80 or so Rangers in total, and many more Dunedain people when the elderly, women, and children are factored in. Yet they were a 'wandering people' so they didn't have towns... it does make for quite a puzzle.

PrinceOfTheHalflings · 03-11-2010, 01:33 AM

I've applied science, history, and advanced mathematical thinking to this question and I've come up with the answer. There were 33 Rangers: Aragorn, Halbarad plus the thirty that rode with him, and Eddie The Unready.

Eddie was always on the verge of undertaking quests and/or participating in Ranger-related activities, but he never quite made it. There was always something keeping him from leaving his hovel.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Halbarad. I just have to mend my jerkin, I can't have the Sons of Elrond seeing me in this ratty old thing. And then there's the goldfish to feed, of course."

"Come on Eddie, we'll be halfway to Tharbad before you've done that."

"Just a sec, old Halby, I'll get my shoes on. Oh look, there's a head of lettuce that needs washing. I'll be out in two ticks."

Erendis · 03-11-2010, 02:28 AM

Oh,so just in case there was victorybut all the Grey Company was dead,the only Dunadan left to lead the people would be Eddie?
Then they would have perished for sure!

Snowdog · 03-11-2010, 08:44 PM

Eddy the bar-fly at the Forsaken Inn....

Erendis · 03-12-2010, 03:11 PM

Again that bloody Inn?
Come on ,there must have been a good reason for it to be Forsaken

03-11-2010, 02:28 AM	#3
Erendis Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imloth Melui,with Yoreth's sister...Just finished the Panadol stock. Posts: 398	Oh,so just in case there was victorybut all the Grey Company was dead,the only Dunadan left to lead the people would be Eddie? Then they would have perished for sure! __________________ Ah,it's good to be home again!

03-12-2010, 03:11 PM	#5
Erendis Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imloth Melui,with Yoreth's sister...Just finished the Panadol stock. Posts: 398	Again that bloody Inn? Come on ,there must have been a good reason for it to be Forsaken __________________ Ah,it's good to be home again!

03-10-2010, 09:28 PM	#1
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 667	I think the speculation on numbers of the Northern Dunedain, and their battle-worthy male population of Rangers, comes from the fact their "numbers were too few" to re-establish a kingdom after the fall of the Witch-king in third age 1975, and only 'thirty (Rangers) could be gathered in haste' in third age 3019. Factoring in they 'kept their blood pure', and there was enough men and women to procreate through the years, and they logically wouldn't have left the homelands completely devoid of fighting men, one could assume from all this that maybe there were 50 to maybe 80 or so Rangers in total, and many more Dunedain people when the elderly, women, and children are factored in. Yet they were a 'wandering people' so they didn't have towns... it does make for quite a puzzle.

03-11-2010, 01:33 AM	#2
PrinceOfTheHalflings Wight Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 120	I've applied science, history, and advanced mathematical thinking to this question and I've come up with the answer. There were 33 Rangers: Aragorn, Halbarad plus the thirty that rode with him, and Eddie The Unready. Eddie was always on the verge of undertaking quests and/or participating in Ranger-related activities, but he never quite made it. There was always something keeping him from leaving his hovel. "I'll be with you in a minute, Halbarad. I just have to mend my jerkin, I can't have the Sons of Elrond seeing me in this ratty old thing. And then there's the goldfish to feed, of course." "Come on Eddie, we'll be halfway to Tharbad before you've done that." "Just a sec, old Halby, I'll get my shoes on. Oh look, there's a head of lettuce that needs washing. I'll be out in two ticks."

03-11-2010, 08:44 PM	#4
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 667	Eddy the bar-fly at the Forsaken Inn....