This would be a perfect time to suggest that Gondor was unable to help when the Westfold Fell.
It was an invasion at the Fords of Isen when Isengard was attacking, and Gondor was absorbed near-totally in fending off Mordor to the east, particularly at Osgiliath. They may have been able to send auxiliary forces to the Fords to help, but it's unclear if they'd even have time to arrive. The Fords were a distance to the north, and it would require crossing a mountain range to get there. And it's unclear if the auxiliary forces would have even been enough to help Rohan.
Anyway. It's worth exploring that point to LOTR lovers everywhere: what exactly was Gondor supposed to do. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Direckshun:
This would be a perfect time to suggest that Gondor was unable to help when the Westfold Fell.
It was an invasion at the Fords of Isen when Isengard was attacking, and Gondor was absorbed near-totally in fending off Mordor to the east, particularly at Osgiliath. They may have been able to send auxiliary forces to the Fords to help, but it's unclear if they'd even have time to arrive. The Fords were a distance to the north, and it would require crossing a mountain range to get there. And it's unclear if the auxiliary forces would have even been enough to help Rohan.
Anyway. It's worth exploring that point to LOTR lovers everywhere: what exactly was Gondor supposed to do.
That's why I've always had the little 'middle earth map' page at the front of the book paperclipped whenever I read one of the books.
Because yeah - every now and then you'll hear some storyline and go "hey wait just a second - how you gonna pull that off?"
Credit to Tolkien for, by and large, sticking to a fairly well established and realistic universe. But he did the same thing just about every author will do on occasion and play fast/loose with time and distance. [Reply]
Originally Posted by HemiEd:
Wow, there is some pretty interesting data out there. I guess eating raw fish and rice instead of ribeye steaks really does lead to a longer life.
Originally Posted by Direckshun:
This would be a perfect time to suggest that Gondor was unable to help when the Westfold Fell.
It was an invasion at the Fords of Isen when Isengard was attacking, and Gondor was absorbed near-totally in fending off Mordor to the east, particularly at Osgiliath. They may have been able to send auxiliary forces to the Fords to help, but it's unclear if they'd even have time to arrive. The Fords were a distance to the north, and it would require crossing a mountain range to get there. And it's unclear if the auxiliary forces would have even been enough to help Rohan.
Anyway. It's worth exploring that point to LOTR lovers everywhere: what exactly was Gondor supposed to do.
Loved that they showed the fear, insecurity, spite, and all the other poor qualities of Man through Theoden. Might be my favorite part of the universe of Middle Earth, that Man is full of cowards way moreso than heroes, which makes Man's triumph (and of course Theoden's triumph) that much more satisfying towards the end. [Reply]