Everyman

The Silmarillion is a story about heroes, often larger than life (sometimes literally, given how many characters claim to be the tallest) and the performers of deeds worth the historical record. Yet hovering around the edges of the lives of heroes are ordinary people. They are the companions, the spies, the messengers, the servants, and the soldiers, their actions given the barest glance and their names unknown. Yet as the compendium of their deeds—collected in this month's prompts—show, their impact on the tale is not insubstantial.

This month's challenge brings these unnamed, unknown characters to the foreground. Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in legendarium using one of our collected quotes about the unnamed and undistinguished people of Middle-earth. While you are welcome to write the scene from which the quote derives, this is not the only approach to the prompts, and we welcome all interpretations of the prompts (and some have been left intentionally vague!) You can use all or part of a quote. The only requirement of the challenge is that a background character plays a key role in your work.

Thank you to Erdariel for this month's stamps!

This challenge opened in April 2026 .

Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts

• "... even then he had secret friends and spies among the Maiar whom he had converted to his cause …" ("Of the Beginning of Days")
• "But even as Oromë passed the servants of Melkor would gather again; and the lands were filled with shadows and deceit." ("Of the Beginning of Days")
• "'But in the forests shall walk the Shepherds of the Trees.'" ("Of Aulë and Yavanna")
• "... in the valleys of the night-clad hills there were dark creatures old and strong. ("Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor")
• "So it came to pass, some years ere the coming of Oromë, that if any of the Elves strayed far abroad, alone or few together, they would often vanish, and never return; and the Quendi said that the Hunter had caught them, and they were afraid." ("Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor")
• "For the Orcs had life and multiplied after the manner of the Children of Ilúvatar …" ("Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor")
• "... Elwë's folk who sought him found him not." ("Of Thingol and Melian")
• "... of [Ossë] they learned all manner of sea-lore and sea-music …" ("Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië")
• "And it came to pass that the masons of the house of Finwë, quarrying in the hills after stone (for they delighted in the building of high towers), first discovered the earth-gems, and brought them forth in countless myriads …" ("Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië")
• "The maidens of Estë tended the body of Míriel …" ("Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor")
• "These words were heard by many, for the house of Finwë was in the great square beneath the Mindon …" ("Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor")
• "... at each first gathering of fruits Manwë made a high feast for the praising of Eru, when all the peoples of Valinor poured forth their joy in music and song upon Taniquetil." ("Of the Darkening of Valinor")
• "But even as Nienna mourned, there came messengers from Formenos, and they were Noldor and bore new tidings of evil." ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "And [Melkor] being freed gathered again all his servants that he could find, and came to the ruins of Angband." ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "A great multitude gathered swiftly, therefore, to hear what he would say; and the hill and all the stairs and streets that climbed upon it were lit with the light of many torches that each one bore in hand." ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "Greater love was given to Fingolfin and his sons, and his household and the most part of the dwellers in Tirion refused to renounce him …" ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "... a great part of their mariners that dwelt in Alqualondë were wickedly slain."  ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "... many of [Finarfin's] people went with him, retracing their steps in sorrow, until they beheld once more the far beam of the Mindon upon Túna still shining in the night, and so came at last to Valinor."  ("Of the Flight of the Noldor")
• "... the Dwarves trafficked into Beleriand, and they made a great road that passed under the shoulders of Mount Dolmed and followed the course of the River Ascar, crossing Gelion at Sarn Athrad, the Ford of Stones, where battle after befell." ("Of the Sindar")
• "... among them were the Orcs, who afterwards wrought ruin in Beleriand: but they were yet few and wary, and did but smell out the ways of the land …" ("Of the Sindar")
• "... in the tempering of steel alone of all crafts the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor, and in the making of mail of linked rings, which was first contrived by the smiths of Belegost, their work had no rival." ("Of the Sindar")
• "Now these were a woodland people and had no weapons of steel, and the coming of the fell beasts of the North filled them with great fear …" ("Of the Sindar")
• "... along the Falas in the country of the mariners, were there numerous peoples." ("Of the Sindar")
• "... his people lamented him [Denethor] ever after and took no king again. After the battle some returned to Ossiriand, and their tidings filled the remnant of their people with great fear, so that thereafter they came never forth in open war, but kept themselves by wariness and secrecy; and they were called the Laiquendi, the Green-elves, because of their raiment of the colour of leaves. But many went north and entered the guarded realm of Thingol, and were merged with his people." ("Of the Sindar")
• "... the servants of Morgoth roamed at will …" ("Of the Sindar")
• "But in the Calacirya they set strong towers and many sentinels, and at its issue upon the plains of Valmar a host was encamped, so that neither bird nor beast nor elf nor man, nor any creature beside that dwelt in Middle-earth, could pass that leaguer." ("Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor")
• "And in the twilight a great weariness came upon mariners and a loathing of the sea; but all that ever set foot upon the islands were there entrapped, and slept until the Change of the World." ("Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor")
• "At the first rising of the Sun the Younger Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the land of Hildórien in the eastward regions of Middle-earth; but the first Sun arose in the West, and the opening eyes of Men were turned towards it, and their feet as they wandered over the Earth for the most part strayed that way." ("Of Men")
• "Yet it is told that ere long they met Dark Elves in many places, and were befriended by them; and Men became the companions and disciples in their childhood of these ancient folk, wanderers of the Elven-race who never set out upon the paths to Valinor, and knew of the Valar only as a rumour and a distant name." ("Of Men")
• "Then the Quendi wandered in the lonely places of the great lands and the isles, and took to the moonlight and the starlight, and to the woods and caves, becoming as shadows and memories, save those who ever and anon set sail into the West and vanished from Middle-earth." ("Of Men")
• "Now the flames of that burning were seen … by the watchers of Morgoth." ("Of the Return of the Noldor")
• "Now in Mithrim there dwelt Grey-elves, folk of Beleriand that had wandered north over the mountains …" ("Of the Return of the Noldor")
• "[Thingol] gave [Finrod] guides to lead him to that place of which few yet knew." ("Of the Return of the Noldor")
• "And desiring above all to sow fear and disunion among the Eldar, [Morgoth] commanded the Orcs to take alive any of them that they could and bring them bound to Angband; and some he so daunted by the terror of his eyes that they needed no chains more, but walked ever in fear of him, doing his will wherever they might be." ("Of the Return of the Noldor")
• "At the coming of the Noldor many of the Grey-elves lived in Nevrast near to the coasts, and especially about Mount Taras in the southwest; for to that place Ulmo and Ossë had been wont to come in days of old. All that people took Turgon for their lord …" ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "South of Nan-tathren was a region of meads filled with many flowers, where few folk dwelt …" ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "With the aid of the Elves of the Havens some of the folk of Nargothrond built new ships, and they went forth and explored the great Isle of Balar, thinking there to prepare a last refuge, if evil came; but it was not their fate that they should ever dwell there." ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "... when [Ungoliant] had passed away, her foul offspring lurked and wove their evil nets; and the thin waters that spilled from Ered Gorgoroth were defiled, and perilous to drink, for the hearts of those that tasted them were filled with shadows of madness and despair." ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "The woodcraft of the Elves of Ossiriand was such that a stranger might pass through their land from end to end and see none of them." ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "... their [the sons of Fëanor's] riders passed often over the vast northern plain, Lothlann the wide and empty, east of Ard-galen, lest Morgoth should attempt any sortie towards East Beleriand." ("Of Beleriand and Its Realms")
• "... [Turgon] summoned many of the hardiest and most skilled of his people, and led them secretly to the hidden vale, and there they began the building of the city that Turgon had devised; and they set a watch all about it, that none might come upon their work from without, and the power of Ulmo that ran in Sirion protected them." ("Of the Noldor in Beleriand")
• "But the march-wardens denied [Aredhel's guard]; for Thingol would suffer none of the Noldor to pass the Girdle, save his kinsfolk of the house of Finarfin, and least of all those that were friends of the sons of Fëanor." ("Of Maeglin")
• "[Aredhel's guard] sought long for her in vain, fearing that she had been ensnared, or had drunk from the poisoned streams of that land; but the fell creatures of Ungoliant that dwelt in the ravines were aroused and pursued them, and they hardly escaped with their lives." ("Of Maeglin")
• "... the people of Celegorm welcomed [Aredhel] and bade her stay among them with honour until their lord’s return." ("Of Maeglin")
• "There were [Eöl's] smithy, and his dim halls, and such servants as he had, silent and secret as their master." ("Of Maeglin")
• "And when the Guard heard that he claimed Aredhel as wife they were amazed, and sent a swift messenger to the City; and he came to the King’s hall." ("Of Maeglin")
• "... others tended Aredhel." ("Of Maeglin")
• "... they led him forth to the Caragdûr, a precipice of black rock upon the north side of the hill of Gondolin, there to cast him down from the sheer walls of the city." ("Of Maeglin")
• "But it was said afterwards among the Eldar that when Men awoke in Hildórien at the rising of the Sun the spies of Morgoth were watchful, and tidings were soon brought to him …" ("Of the Coming of Men into the West")
• "... Morgoth grew afraid of the growing power and union of the Eldar and came back to Angband, leaving behind [in Hildórien] at that time but few servants, and those of less might and cunning." ("Of the Coming of Men into the West")
• "[Haldad] gathered all the brave men that he could find, and retreated to the angle of land between Ascar and Gelion, and in the utmost corner he built a stockade across from water to water; and behind it they led all the women and children that they could save. There they were besieged, until their food was gone." ("Of the Coming of Men into the West")
• "... some [of the Haladin] cast themselves in the rivers and were drowned." ("Of the Coming of Men into the West")
• "The watchfires burned low, and the guards were few; on the plain few were waking in the camps of the horsemen of Hithlum." ("Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")
• "But [the Orcs] overwhelmed the riders of the people of Fëanor upon Lothlann, for Glaurung came thither, and passed through Maglor’s Gap, and destroyed all the land between the arms of Gelion." ("Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")
• "And Morgoth sent out his spies, and they were clad in false forms and deceit was in their speech; they made lying promises of reward, and with cunning words sought to arouse fear and jealousy among the peoples, accusing their kings and chieftains of greed, and of treachery one to another. … Therefore if any of his captives escaped in truth, and returned to their own people, they had little welcome, and wandered alone outlawed and desperate." ("Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")
• "... [Turgon] sent companies of the Gondolindrim in secret to the mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar. There they built ships, and set sail into the uttermost West upon Turgon’s errand, seeking for Valinor, to ask for pardon and aid of the Valar; and they besought the birds of the sea to guide them. But the seas were wild and wide, and shadow and enchantment lay upon them; and Valinor was hidden. Therefore none of the messengers of Turgon came into the West, and many were lost and few returned; but the doom of Gondolin drew nearer." ("Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")
• "Then the Orcs broke and fled, and the Eldar had the victory, and their horsed archers pursued them even into the Iron Mountains." ("Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin")
• "But [Thingol] sent his servants to lay hands on [Beren] and lead him to Menegroth as a malefactor …" ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "Then silence fell upon the hall, for those that stood there were astounded and afraid, and they thought that Beren would be slain." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "Upon all that plain the Elves of Nargothrond kept unceasing watch; and every hill upon its borders was crowned with hidden towers, and through all its woods and fields archers ranged secretly and with great craft." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "From time to time they saw two eyes kindled in the dark, and a werewolf devoured one of the companions; but none betrayed their lord." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "... the ladders were taken away and guarded, save only when the servants of Thingol brought her such things as she needed." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "Of the strands that remained she twined a rope, and she let it down from her window; and as the end swayed above the guards that sat beneath the tree they fell into a deep slumber." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "Therefore the hearts of the people of Nargothrond were released from their dominion, and turned again to the house of Finarfin; and they obeyed Orodreth." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "All [Melkor's] court were cast down in slumber, and all the fires faded and were quenched …" ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "But in the north of his realm his messengers met with a peril sudden and unlooked for: the onslaught of Carcharoth, the Wolf of Angband." ("Of Beren and Luthien")
• "Then the heralds of Angband showed him forth, crying: ‘We have many more such at home, but you must make haste if you would find them; for we shall deal with them all when we return even so.'" ("Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad")
• "Then the Dwarves raised up the body of Azaghâl and bore it away; and with slow steps they walked behind singing a dirge in deep voices, as it were a funeral pomp in their country, and gave no heed more to their foes; and none dared to stay them." ("Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad")
• "Then all the hosts of Angband swarmed against them, and they bridged the stream with their dead …" ("Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad")
• "The mariners of that ship toiled long in the sea, and returning at last in despair they foundered in a great storm within sight of the coasts of Middle-earth …" ("Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad")
• "By the command of Morgoth the Orcs with great labour gathered all the bodies of those who had fallen in the great battle, and all their harness and weapons, and piled them in a great mound in the midst of Anfauglith; and it was like a hill that could be seen from afar. Haudh-en-Ndengin the Elves named it, the Hill of Slain, and Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, the Hill of Tears." ("Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad")
• "... band of such houseless and desperate men as could be found in those evil days lurking in the wild … their hands were turned against all who came in their path, Elves and Men and Orcs." ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "... beneath the crown of Amon Rûdh, the Bald Hill, the slow hands of the Petty-Dwarves had bored and deepened the caves through the long years that they dwelt there …" ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "The sword Anglachel was forged anew for [Túrin] by cunning smiths of Nargothrond, and though ever black its edges shone with pale fire …" ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "... those of the women and maidens that were not burned or slain they had herded on the terraces before the doors, as slaves to be taken into Morgoth’s thraldom." ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "But when the people saw [Túrin] they drew back in fear, thinking that it was his unquiet spirit …" ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "... when Men of Brethil came thither, and they learned the reasons of Túrin’s madness and death, they were aghast …" ("Of Túrin Turambar")
• "... there was a great riding of captains and black soldiers of Angband over the sands of Anfauglith …" ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "... the creatures of Morgoth watched all his steps …" ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "The night-sentinels saw [Húrin], but they were filled with dread, for they thought that they saw a ghost out of some ancient battle-mound that walked with darkness about it …" ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "Long was their labour …" ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "Then great was the wrath and lamentation of the Dwarves of Nogrod for the death of their kin and their great craftsmen, and they tore their beards, and wailed; and long they sat taking thought for vengeance. It is told that they asked aid from Belegost, but it was denied them, and the Dwarves of Belegost sought to dissuade them from their purpose …" ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "... the captains of the Grey-elves were cast into doubt and despair, and went hither and thither purposeless." ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "There came a night of autumn, and when it grew late, one came and smote upon the doors of Menegroth, demanding admittance to the King." ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "... the cruel servants of Celegorm seized his young sons and left them to starve in the forest." ("Of the Ruin of Doriath")
• "... ​​passing down the tunnel [to Gondolin] they reached the inner gate, and were taken by the guard as prisoners." ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "The spies of Angband sought for them in vain; and their dwelling was as a rumour, and a secret that none could find." ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "... all the people of Gondolin were upon the walls to await the rising sun, and sing their songs at its uplifting; for the morrow was the great feast that they named the Gates of Summer." ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "... they climbed, in woe and misery, for the high places were cold and terrible, and they had among them many that were wounded, and women and children." ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "And they made a feast in memory of Gondolin and of the Elves that had perished there, the maidens, and the wives, and the warriors of the King …" ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "... from Balar the mariners of Círdan came among them, and they took to the waves and the building of ships, dwelling ever nigh to the coasts of Arvernien, under the shadow of Ulmo’s hand." ("Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin")
• "In that battle some of their people stood aside, and some few rebelled …" ("Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath")
• "... wellnigh all the Elvenfolk were gone to Valimar, or were gathered in the halls of Manwë upon Taniquetil, and few were left to keep watch upon the walls of Tirion." ("Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath")
• "There the Teleri befriended her, and they listened to her tales of Doriath and Gondolin and the griefs of Beleriand, and they were filled with pity and wonder …" ("Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath")
• "Yet [the Teleri] stayed aboard their vessels, and none of them set foot upon the Hither Lands." ("Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath")
• "... out of the deep prisons a multitude of slaves came forth beyond all hope into the light of day, and they looked upon a world that was changed." ("Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath")
• "And the loremasters among [the Númenóreans] learned also the High Eldarin tongue of the Blessed Realm, in which much story and song was preserved from the beginning of the world; and they made letters and scrolls and books, and wrote in them many things of wisdom and wonder in the high tide of their realm, of which all is now forgot." (Akallabêth)
• "For most of the Men of that age that sat under the Shadow were now grown weak and fearful. And coming among them the Númenóreans taught them many things. Corn and wine they brought, and they instructed Men in the sowing of seed and the grinding of grain, in the hewing of wood and the shaping of stone, and in the ordering of their life, such as it might be in the lands of swift death and little bliss." (Akallabêth)
• "... their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the secret of recalling life, or at the least of the prolonging of Men’s days. Yet they achieved only the art of preserving incorrupt the dead flesh of Men, and they filled all the land with silent tombs in which the thought of death was enshrined in the darkness." (Akallabêth)
• "And now there came to [Ar-Pharazôn] the masters of ships and captains returning out of the East, and they reported that Sauron was putting forth his might …" (Akallabêth)
• "... the Tree [Nimloth] was watched day and night by guards in [Sauron's] service." (Akallabêth)
• "... the people murmured against the King and the lords, or against any that had aught that they had not; and the men of power took cruel revenge." (Akallabêth)
• "... many they slew cruelly upon their altars." (Akallabêth)
• "And [Amandil] took with him three servants, dear to his heart, and never again were they heard of by word or sign in this world, nor is there any tale or guess of their fate." (Akallabêth)
• "Now the lightnings increased and slew men upon the hills, and in the fields, and in the streets of the city …" (Akallabêth)
• "... the mortal warriors that had set foot upon the land of Aman were buried under falling hills: there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten, until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom." (Akallabêth)
• "And tales and rumours arose along the shores of the sea concerning mariners and men forlorn upon the water who, by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar, had entered in upon the Straight Way and seen the face of the world sink below them, and so had come to the lamplit quays of Avallónë, or verily to the last beaches on the margin of Aman, and there had looked upon the White Mountain, dreadful and beautiful, before they died." (Akallabêth)
• "In Eregion the craftsmen of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, the People of the Jewel-smiths, surpassed in cunning all that have ever wrought, save only Fëanor himself …" (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
• "At Fornost upon the North Downs also the Númenóreans dwelt, and in Cardolan, and in the hills of Rhudaur; and towers they raised upon Emyn Beraid and upon Amon Sûl; and there remain many barrows and ruined works in those places, but the towers of Emyn Beraid still look towards the sea." (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
• "Only three of [Isildur's] people came ever back over the mountains after long wandering …" (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
• "At length naught was left of them but a strange people wandering secretly in the wild …" (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
• "But Sauron had many ears …" (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)
• "... help came from the hands of the weak when the Wise faltered." (Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age)