Finrod: 30-Day Character Study - Study Days by cuarthol

Day 1. Drop Everything and Read, Part One.

Drop Everything and Read, Part One. Take at least a half-hour to read what the texts say about your chosen character.

Canto VII and VIII of The Lay of Leithian - The Lays of Beleriand
Selected passages of the Silmarillion
Selected passages of Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth - Morgoth's Ring

Read Day 1. Drop Everything and Read, Part One.

Started by reading parts of the Lay of Leithian

http://tolkienleithian.blogspot.com/2013/03/canto-vii.html
http://tolkienleithian.blogspot.com/2013/03/canto-viii.html

I love the additional information we have on how the group of 12 came to disguise themselves as Orcs, taking the arms and armor of the band they slew but also the descriptions of Finrod's 'magic':

They smeared their hands and faces fair    
with pigment dark; the matted hair
all lank and black from goblin head    
they shore, and joined it thread by thread    
with Elvish skill. As each one leers    
at each dismayed, about his ears    
he hangs it noisome, shuddering.

Then Felagund a spell did sing
of changing and of shifting shape;
their ears grew hideous, and agape
their mouths did start, and like a fang
each tooth became, as slow he sang.
Their Elvish raiment then they hid,
and one by one behind him slid,
behind a foul and goblin thing
that once was elven-fair and king.

Interesting to interpret some of these lines - such as taking the hair from the Orcs and making ... wigs? False beards?  It almost reads like beards to me, hanging from their ears, where they can smell it (noisome: stinky, not loud) just under their noses.

So did... did orcs have beards?

I also note the sheer number of times that he is called Felagund in the text vs Finrod.  It certainly seems to have been Tolkien's preferred name for him.  The Silmarillion has both, but even there he is referred to by Felagund about 30% more than Finrod (and often by both).

There in Nargothrond Finrod made his home with many of his people, and he was named in the tongue of the Dwarves Felagund, Hewer of Caves; and that name he bore thereafter until his end.

I won't get too deep into the name here as it comes up later in the challenge, but it was interesting to note the preference.

In the Silmarillion, Finrod is called The Faithful, and Friend of Men, and given the name Felagund by the Dwarves.  He seemed to be the friend to everyone - he and his brothers and sister were the only ones welcomed in Doriath and took counsel with Thingol, he was friendly with Cirdan, traveled with Turgon, and was noted as hunting later with Maedhros and Maglor. 

But as much as the instinct to make him a shiny, sweet boy is derived from all the references to him as friendly, we cannot forget that he took out a werewolf with his bare hands and teeth!

Thus King Finrod Felagund, fairest and most beloved of the house of Finwe, redeemed his oath;

What is interesting is that the oath presumably does not require him to die for the sake of Beren.

but he swore an oath of abiding friendship and aid in every need to Barahir and all his kin

Friendship and aid could have come in many forms: shelter, weapons, guidance - as we have it, the oath did not necessitate that Finrod give his very life (though given that his life was saved by Barahir it could be argued it was what was owed in the end).

He is also a sort of pivot upon which the First Age turns.  Had he not held to his oath, Beren's quest may well have failed, Beren himself may have died, the Silmarill unrecovered, and Elwing never born, nor would she with Earendil have come to Valinor to seek the aid of the West or to persuade the Teleri to at last lend the use of their ships.

He is also the only Exile explicitly stated to have been reborn in Valinor.  (Yes, Glorfindel, the conclusion is obvious but never explicitly stated.)

They buried the body of Felagund upon the hill-top of his own isle, and it was clean again; and the green grave of Finrod Finarfin’s son, fairest of all the princes of the Elves, remained inviolate, until the land was changed and broken, and foundered under destroying seas. But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.

I also appreciate that we have the Athrabeth, which gives more insight into Finrod's personality as we have an intimate conversation rather than the more high-level approach of the Silmarillion.  We can see that he does have a sense of being correct in his beliefs, but even so he appears willing to have his beliefs challenged and his assumptions overturned.   He does not always agree with Andreth but he accepts that the Edain have their own history and wisdom that does not always align with the Eldar's, and that there may be more than he knows that she can teach him.

Even so, it's somewhat humorous to me that he accepts as a very real possible future of the fate of Men something which Andreth says she does not necessarily believe herself.

I think one of my absolute favorite bits of description can be found in the Athrabeth:

Finrod (son of Finarfin, son of Finwë) was the wisest of the exiled Noldor, being more concerned than all others with matters of thought (rather than with making or with skill of hand);

It reinforces him being perhaps less a warrior than his brothers and more a scholar and explorer as we see him act.

2. Down Memory Late, Part One

Down Memory Lane, Part One. Think about your character’s childhood (or the early days of their existence if they had no childhood). What was the environment and daily life of their formative years like? Did they have siblings? What was their relationship to their family like? Who were their friends? What made them feel sad/angry/frightened? What made them feel content/excited/happy? Who were their teachers?

Read 2. Down Memory Late, Part One

Birth and Early Childhood

The Shibboleth of Fëanor from The Peoples of Middle-earth, says that Anairë did not go into exile with Fingolfin because of her close friendship with Eärwen, Finarfin's wife.

That's a strong friendship to choose over your husband and children, (however foolish they are being).  So I now have imagined that Anairë and Eärwen were so close they chose to time the birth of their children - Turgon and Finrod - to align, not just the same year but very close to the same day.

I have this adorable mental image of Turgon and Finrod often shared a cradle, almost like twins might, and thus their friendship was formed from birth.

Since Finrod was the eldest of his family, this would have been the only 'sibling' he would have known for some time (though we don't know the exact dates of birth of his brothers.)

However, beyond this, given that Finarfin was the youngest son and wed to Eärwen, I think he had more freedom to take his family to Alqualondë, spending more time with her family, but maybe also to avoid the political strife in Tirion.  Finrod would have been raised very multicultural as a result, even beyond the Vanya influences from Indis.

Perhaps as they grew, Turgon might have accompanied him more often, as he also clearly had a great love for the sea (seen in the building of Vinyamar), and Ulmo chose them specifically for his message.  I think this speaks to Turgon being often at the Sea and that he and Finrod were held still in affection by the Vala even after their Exile, and perhaps similar to the devotion of Fëanor to Aulë, or Celegorm to Oromë, that Finrod and Turgon were likewise close to Ulmo during their lives in Valinor.

While it’s easy to overlook such details as they are largely absent from the text, being an eldest son of his father, a prince of the Noldor, and arguably of the Falmar as well, means that Finrod would have had a great deal of benefits in his life - he would have had access to resources and study that may not have been universal, and we know he had a great deal of treasures - which may or may not have been comparable to the other grandchildren of Finwë, we just don’t know.

Almost certainly he did not do many menial tasks (if we take a view that their society must have had servants) and he would have been largely free to pursue his interests.  Though his position likely carried some level of expectation and responsibility, being the eldest son of a youngest son means he was also likely on the periphery of those social and political burdens to some degree.

Who were their friends?

As covered in the first day, Finrod is noted as being a friend or on friendly terms with almost everyone to some degree.  

He stays connected to the Fëanorians even after the Helcaraxë and their removal east (going hunting with Maedhros and Maglor).  He shows proper deference to Thingol’s position and seeks his counsel.  The Silmarillion says “between Cirdan and Finrod there was friendship and alliance, and with the aid of the Noldor the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest were built anew.”

He is called Friend of Men, was on good terms with the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains who helped him delve Nargothrond and bestowed upon him the name Felagund, and made the Nauglamir.  Whether he paid them for it or no I don’t believe it is specified, but the Dwarves, at least, seemed to regard it as a token of their (or their forefathers’) friendship with Finrod.

It is even said he had the friendship of Celegorm and Curufin for a time before their oath was roused.

Perhaps it is his life of stradling cultures that helped him become a more universal friend to many, accepting of differences and seeking out similarities, and in general being more laid back than some of his kin.

What made them feel sad/angry/frightened?

Finrod is specifically stated as knowing no fear, and while that may not be an all-encompassing statement, if he felt no fear after wrestling a werewolf with his bare hands and teeth, I can’t imagine there was much in Valinor that would have caused him to feel it.

I do think he would have felt some level of anxiety over the welfare of his family, if not ‘fear’ in the same sense, then at least a deep desire to avert disaster for their sakes.  Death, while not natural for Elves, was also not the end of their existence, and so it can be seen as having very different connotations, especially to one who is said to be more for thinking than others; and his discussion with Andreth shows he has some considerable time to think on the subject, not just from a mortal vs Eldar vantage but also in the death of Finwë and perhaps even Míriel. 

As for sorrows: the death of Finwë surely affected the whole of the family, then his parting from Amarië in Valinor, the slaying of his kin at Alqualondë, the horrors of the Helcaraxë, the death of Bëor, and of his brothers in the Dagor Bragollach.  While he may not have known fear, he certainly was not a stranger to sorrow.

What made them feel content/excited/happy? 

While a somewhat unusual approach, I think building made him happy.  He is noted as building more than anyone in Beleriand.  Whether the extent of his building projects was greater than any other is debatable, but the sheer number of them seems to win.

He not only aided in the rebuilding of the Falas, he also built a tower nearby, Barad Nimras, as a watchtower against an attack from the sea (by Morgoth’s forces).  He also built Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion, and was aided in the building of Nargothrond.  No other single Eldar is credited with such, and he adopts the Felagund name, so it certainly seems that he took a great deal of delight in building.

Who were their teachers?

Andreth should have a prominent role here.  She certainly taught him a great deal, both in terms of personal relationships but also in Edain lore - lore that perhaps was only passed through women, and so would not have come to him even through Bëor. 

Ulmo, also, would likely be a logical inclusion, though we have no direct interaction between them recorded, and only the vision brought to him and Turgon at the Mouths of Sirion.  Still, it does show that Ulmo must have regarded him as a willing student for such a vision.

I want to also note the untold and unsung teachers among the Sindar from whom he would have learned a great deal upon arriving in Beleriand.  Perhaps even Daeron could be counted - as a loremaster - as one who would have been a teacher to Finrod.

His father likely had a hand in any kind of formal education, but also he seems to share, at least in part, his father’s more reserved nature, who is said to have inherited Indis’s Vanya nature.  He may also have had teachers among the Vanyar.
 

3. Strong Points, Part One.

Strong Points, Part One. Think about at least three strengths of your character - talents they were born with, skills they have learned, positive character traits… Write a scene in which your character really shines at something.

For today's creative writing scene see The Oath

Read 3. Strong Points, Part One.

Finrod is a thinker: a philosopher among a family of warriors and crafters.  I don’t believe he was in the slightest incapable - he is noted as going hunting with his cousins, and he does see battle both at the siege and in the south, but he seems to be more content being away from the fighting directly.

It is entirely possible that the reason he is noted as having brought more treasures out of Valinor is because he understood there would be a need for them, to trade or gift, with the people who still dwelt in Beleriand.

Such foresight (in a more human sense) served him well, as he was generous with payment to the Dwarves for their aid.

But he also is noted as having foresight in terms of having a sense of future events before they happen.  While the Silmarillion seems to be largely written from an Elvish POV - anything that is taken for granted among the Elves is regarded as not worth noting - the fact that Finrod is multiple times noted as having specific abilities may hint that he was somewhat more extraordinary in having them.

Finrod is powerful.  His ability to read the minds of Men, or project into them thoughts; his foresight of his oath and death, as well as his brother’s eventual death; his ability to disguise himself and his companions with spells; the songs of power he uses against Sauron - these may or may not be common throughout the Eldar, varying only in degree, but they are never or only very rarely noted in connection to any other, which makes Finrod’s abilities seem more unusual.

After all, Finrod goes toe-to-toe with a powerful Maia, and while he does not succeed, he also does not entirely fail.  Though Sauron strips away their disguises, he does not discover who they are or what their quest is.  His strength of will, if nothing else, is formidable.

Finrod is Faithful.  He is called so for good reason - holding to his oath unto death rather than break his word.  One of the more iconic objects out of the First Age is the Ring of Barahir, given as a token of oath.

But far more - in the Lay of Leithian, while disguised as Orcs and questioned by Sauron, he would not dare to speak against the Valar to keep their identities concealed.

… Repeat your vows,    
Orcs of Bauglir! Do not bend your brows.    
Death to light, to law, to love;    
cursed be moon and stars above;    
may darkness everlasting old
that waits outside in surges cold    
drown Manwë, Varda and the sun;    
may all is hatred be begun    
and all in evil ended be    
in the moaning of the endless Sea!'

But no true Man nor Elf yet free    
would ever speak that blasphemy,

Not even to deceive Sauron and potentially save all their lives would Finrod deny or curse the Valar.  He very much had his own moral framework that he would not overstep.  This adherence to a faith-like devotion comes up in the Athrabeth as well, when he cautions Andreth against speaking blasphemies by either equating Melkor with the Lord of Arda or otherwise speaking ill or lightly of the Valar.

He is faithful both in keeping his word but also in holding to his faith in Eru and by extension the Valar (though he draws a clear distinction between them).

For today's creative writing scene see The Oath

4. Home Sweet Home, Part One

Home Sweet Home, Part One. Think about a geographical location where your character lived. Learn more about what life in that location might have been like: the climate, topography, seasonal changes, flora and fauna, or anything else related to that physical location.

Read 4. Home Sweet Home, Part One

As with all of the Exiles, the place they lived varied both in Valinor and in Beleriand.

As a Noldorin Prince, Finrod would have lived in Tirion, a city first built with the Vanyar and then later held by the Noldor.  As the son of Eärwen he would likely have often been at Alqualondë, where the light of the Trees did not fully reach.

The two cities would have been very different in terms of climate, culture, and environments, and while we do not know which he preferred, it is pleasant to think he found comfort in both places.

Tirion would have been very green - grasses, plants, trees - and I don’t remember if there was said to be a river but I imagine there was at the base of the hill, and many little streams coming down from the surrounding mountains.

Herds of deer, wildfowl, an abundance of wild fruits and berries, and other edible plants.  Many who grew weary of the city might live in the wider lands around, more at ease in the forests.

For the city itself was stone, though beautifully chosen - not just drag grays and browns, but marbles, granites, precious stones and inlays.  There were cobbled roads and wide squares with fountains, and cultivated gardens where nature were guided and restrained.

The climate would have been fairly mild with winters that did not see snow and summers that still had occasional rains.  Perhaps the buildings were created to channel the water into decorative spillways or across metal tubes to make music that was never the same twice.

Alqualondë, meanwhile, was wilder - cut into the cliff face, with the shining white sands all along the sea.  The towers were crafted of pearl and seemed to flow as if molded like clay, with organic curves rather than sharp edges.

Sea-berries made for a treat, and shallow roots could be dug up and chewed like candy.  Birds were ever in the skies, in the water, upon the sands or nesting in the rocky cliffs.  Never did their seem to be a day without birds.  But other creatures, also, like crabs and sealife which could be found in rockier areas away from the main harbor.

Otters would occasionally come to steal from the daily catch of seafood, and when aship, the mariners would sing with the whales out at sea.

When Ossë was having a wild day, the swells could lap at the foundations of the palace and the winds would send wooden chimes dancing.  Sometimes the many birds would find refuge within the halls of the Teleri until the storm had passed.  

When they came to Mithrim, and even for the settlement that the Fëanorians had built before them, there was less focus on beauty and more on practicality.  They needed homes, defenses, stables and forges, granaries and halls for the production of textiles.

When Finrod built Minas Tirith he had a number of aesthetics he might have drawn on.  The stone would have been a familiar building material for the Noldor, but his shining white tower would have echoed Alqualondë as well.

But of course, Finrod’s most famous home is Nargothrond.  Nargothrond was put in Finrod’s heart by a vision from Ulmo, guided there by Thingol, delved with the aid of the Dwarves, and home to both Noldor and Sindar.  Nargothrond stands as a product of all the ways in which Finrod straddled lines of division, seeking to bridge rather than create chasms, forming bonds rather than severing them.

Nargothrond’s gates were hidden and well guarded, built significantly further south than most of the other Noldorin realms, which likely meant he had a great deal more of… everything.  More food cultivation, more resources to harvest, more trade with his neighbors.  The realm itself was far larger than merely the halls, for Thingol gave him rule of all of west Beleriand save for the Falas, which meant he had extensive hunting grounds, fertile soils for farming or gathering wild, plenty of wood and stone, likely domesticated herds of sheep and cattle for leather and wool.  The speculation can go on and on, given his secure situation.

While Dorthonion would not have been barren by any means, I picture Finrod regularly sending wagonloads of goods to his brothers and their people, for they were busier with war and defenses and Finrod's station as King also of these lands would have made them his responsibility as well.

The weather we have some insight to from the Children of Húrin, for Túrin was not far off from Nargothrond during his time at Amon Rudh.  The autumns would have been cold and rainy, the winters bringing ample snows.

Talath Dirnen might have been heavy with underbrush given the climate but it does not seem to have been, as it is referred to as a forested plain, so perhaps the summers were dry and hot, or the Elves kept it clear so that enemies could not approach under cover.

Whatever the case, Nargothrond seems to stand apart from all the other realms of Beleriand - even Doriath seems small by comparison.

5. What’s On The Menu?

What’s On The Menu? Your character’s food choices will be influenced not just by taste, but by their culture, environment and circumstances. Try to find out about what foodstuffs might typically be available to your character. What would be their everyday fare? What would be a special treat? Where does it come from? Who does the cooking?

Read 5. What’s On The Menu?

I have been looking forward to this one!  

Being in the center of multiple cultures and on the periphery of multiple more, means that Finrod has learned to eat pretty much everything that is edible, and a few things he suspects really aren’t.

Noldor tend toward inland fare - a variety of meats, whether wild or domestic, would include deer, elk, boar, fowl, sheep and goat, hare, and fresh-water fish.  They would have also eaten extensively of vegetables and fruits, again whether wild harvested or farmed, along with nuts and seeds of all kinds.

The Teleri had a far more sea-based diet: fish of all kinds, shellfish, octopus, urchins, and sea vegetables.    Occasionally they eat shore birds, seals, or other sea animals, but these are more rare and some look down upon the practice. They also cultivate herbs and vegetables, some fruits, and gather wild berries and other wild foods.  

Through his grandmother, some Vanya dishes have come into the family with more grain and vegetable heavy diet, not necessarily different fundamentally from the foods the Noldor eat, but often prepared differently, in thicker sauces and with a greater emphasis on the senses: color, presentation, and fragrance in addition to taste.

Nargothrond would have drawn heavily from all these sources, with extensive arable lands to the south, trade with the Falas for sea produce, and later trade with Estolad and eastern Beleriand for sheep and goat.  Wild game could be hunted or trapped in the forests, and domesticated herds had ample grasslands.

I picture Doriath as probably less of a trade partner in that I see them as less inclined to produce excess for export, and the bulk of their land within the girdle is forested.  The Sindar in general probably lived far more by gathering and hunting wild rather than cultivating.

Nargothrond would have been one of the better situated realms in terms of abundance of food and goods, which helped him support Minas Tirith and supplement Dorthonion as well.

From the Dwarves he would have come to greatly appreciate the many types and preparations of fungi, and a wider variety of ales, and the delight of hand-pies stuffed with all manner of deliciousness.  He was willing to try the various grubs and insects that they insisted were fine delicacies, but he has never quite decided to introduce these into Nargothrond’s standard fare.

The Edain introduced him to many edible flowers and varieties of herbs and wild greens brought with them from over the mountains, such as nettle and dandelion, as well as their particular choice of spices, including heavily spiced drinks, and a variety of both culinary and medicinal herbal drinks.

Finrod very much loves seafood.  While trade brought dried or preserved goods to Nargothrond, he would have enjoyed visiting the Falas for fresh when possible.  Anything that could not be properly conveyed overland would have been a rare delight.

Some of his favorite foods are seaweed soup (which reminds him of his mother), fresh berries (and when he gathers them himself they’re even better), and honey-roasted almonds, one of his father’s favorites also.  Spiced ciders, introduced by Bëor, became a staple at Nargothrond alongside the traditional meads, wines, and ales.

Finrod is not a cook.  Finrod not only has no interest in cooking, he has very little skill at it, either.  His brothers used to tease him that he could not even properly grill fish.

In this, Finrod is very much of the noble class and appreciates having others cook for him.

6. Artistic Licenses.

Artistic Licenses. Take at least ten minutes to peruse fan art about your character. If you are working on a rare character about whom little has been drawn, you may substitute looking at fan art about a group of characters to whom your character belongs (e.g., Dwarves, female characters, commonfolk, craftspeople, etc.) Think about which fan artists best capture how you imagine your character and why. Think about how your character's appearance does (or does not) support other aspects of their traits and history.

Read 6. Artistic Licenses.

Me: Oh, gee, no, don’t make me spend hours and hours staring at Finrod fanart 

Prompt: T-ten minutes we said.

Me: Pfft, like that’s even possible.

 

Quite enjoyed browsing art of my boy <3

Some of the recurring themes with Finrod art that I have seen (accepting I have seen a fraction of a percent of all Finrod art that is likely created)

The jewelry and flashy clothing
Snake
His harp

There is (I didn’t count) what seems to be a pretty even blend of Finrod alone vs Finrod with someone else, which makes sense as much of Finrod’s personality seems to be tied up with those he interacts with (family, men, dwarves, etc)

A sad variety showing him in Sauron’s dungeons, wrestling the werewolf, or dead.
But except for those, I would say he is most often depicted as smiling or pleasant.  There are moments of sadness or grief, but overall he is a positive character.

 

Some of the art I browsed:

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/File:Tatyafinwe_-_Finrod_Felagund.jpg
There are so many glorious images of Finrod from the POV of the artist, but this one seems to have a twist to it - Finrod as seen by others within the story.  I could see this as a painting done by the Edain, or even perhaps by the Numenorians, almost like a religious or mythical icon.

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/File:Tuuliky_-_Sit_straight,_ninny.jpg
I love this one for the sibling dynamic, their sweet expressions and adorable interaction!

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/File:Jenny_Dolfen_-_Finrod%27s_dormouse.jpg
It’s so rare I see Finrod depicted as a child, and this is just such a precious image of him!
https://cuarthol.tumblr.com/post/697751308974915584
Another with he as younger and Angrod as a child

https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/File:Elena_Kukanova_-_Finrod_and_Aegnor,_the_Last_Conversation.jpeg
Almost in contrast to the Finrod & Galadriel, this one very much feels like an aching conversation between Finrod and Aegnor about Andreth and the sorrow of that chasm that lies between them.

https://melkomelko.tumblr.com/post/136938567725/finrod-the-explorah-hes-just-crazy
This one is a delightful series following Finrod around Beleriand

https://eldamaranquendi.tumblr.com/post/181929297487/finrod-turgon-from-httpxyshuloftercom
And another of him as an explorer, with Turgon

https://cuarthol.tumblr.com/post/698402607754084352
This one has stuck in my brain, and I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why but I adore the vibes that Finrod gives off in this art.

https://cuarthol.tumblr.com/post/701454913883996160/hi-i-just-found-your-art-on-ao3-and-it-is-so
These may be some that are closest to how I would imagine him, the one with he and Andreth especially

https://cuarthol.tumblr.com/post/699820898573746176
A shout-out to this Finrod Rock Opera depiction which also ranks high in reference to my mental image

https://www.tumblr.com/hallbeorn/683796691062849536/finrod-eldamar-the-third-part-of-tryptyh-there
Another very strong contender

 

So, I actually don’t have much in the way of mental images - as in I almost never form ideas of exactly what a character looks like.  I don’t have many solid ideas about a character’s appearance so I am very easy to please when it comes to fanart.  But when it comes to looking at fanart and saying “yes, that’s absolutely it” it’s pretty rare for me.  There are some things that don’t quite hit my personal tastes but broadly I am happy to accept them all simultaneously.

The added difficulty is that Elves are supposed to be distinct in appearance from Humans - not just the ears but like everything about them is supposed to be just a little different, so it makes it hard to imagine that without anything to really draw on as an example.

But this one plays delightfully on the idea of Elves as ‘bright’ 
https://busymagpie.tumblr.com/post/648666136503812096/beren-just-wants-to-take-a-nap-i-took-that-concept
 

7. Affiliations, Part One.

Affiliations, Part One. Think about an important relationship your character has to another character in your verse. Spend at least a half-hour exploring that relationship in any way you choose. For example, you might read and research the other character, write or draw about their relationship, create meta or headcanons--your choice.

Read 7. Affiliations, Part One.

There are countless relationships that are given to Finrod.  Beyond mere family or incidental connections, he has a love, Amarië; Turgon, specifically noted as his friend; Bëor, who was so devoted to him he left his own people to live the rest of his life with Finrod; and his nephew, Orodreth, whom he named steward first of Minas Tirith and later of Nargothrond.

As I have said in previous days, Finrod is almost as defined by his relationships as he is by himself.  But today I think I will focus on his relationship with Andreth, because it offers so many counterpoints to his other relationships.

In the days of the peace before Melkor broke the Siege of Angband, Finrod would often visit Andreth, whom he loved in great friendship, for he found her more ready to impart her knowledge to him than were most of the Wise among Men
Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth - Morgoth’s Ring

Unlike Amarië, she was not his lover - rather she was the love of his brother, a love they were both denied.  Unlike Bëor she was not devoted to him nor did she abandon her people to follow him, rather challenging the way the Elves see themselves in regard to Men.  Unlike Turgon she is not really noted as a ‘friend’ though he loved her in friendship, nor is she a partner in great works as the Dwarves, nor kin and advisor such as Thingol.  Rather she seems to be an antagonist in a way, but a necessary one, and one which I think helps push Finrod’s thoughts in important ways.

She is not exactly a teacher, either, for there are some things she does not share with him, very pointedly does not share.  Things she feels are too sacred (though not in a spiritual sense) to her people to be spoken of to him yet.

In that she demonstrates she also does not quite fully trust him with the deepest lore of her people, but she trusts him enough, and loves him enough in return to both share with him and contend with him.

While the Athrabeth makes it seem as if the love between Aegnor and Andreth was one of “love at first sight” and then forever apart - as if they saw one another, fell in love, and then never so much as saw one another ever again - later in the text it sounds as if they must have spoken regularly.

As Finrod is leaving, Andreth bids him tell Aegnor:

‘Will he be there, bright and tall, and the wind in his hair? Tell him. Tell him not to be reckless. Not to seek danger beyond need!'
'I will tell him,' said Finrod. 'But I might as well tell thee not to weep. He is a warrior, Andreth, and a spirit of wrath. In every stroke that he deals he sees the Enemy who long ago did thee this hurt.’
Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth - Morgoth’s Ring

This seems to very clearly indicate that Aegnor and Andreth spoke together in perhaps a similar manner that she and Finrod do - speaking of the lore of the Edain and the wisdom passed down through the women.  Aegnor very clearly seems to see himself as battling against a foe that did such grievous injury to the woman he loves (that is, in the greater context of this writing, to steal her immortality and thus their happiness together).

However, if Finrod is only just now learning of this belief among Men that they were meant from the beginning never to die, then Aegnor must have learned this previously, and it is somewhat telling that he may have shared some small part of it with his brother, but not the whole of it.  Whatever Andreth shared with Aegnor, he was sensitive of the nature of this knowledge, that it was for him alone, not to be spoken of even with his kin.

Finrod has some sense of it, knowing that Aegnor continues to fight not merely due to the vengeance of the Noldor against the slayer of Finwë, but also now as a personal kind of vendetta against the Enemy who is now the cause of his (and her) grief.

Finrod and Andreth's relationship is one of many facets, for he is her king, but he speaks with her as one who is more an equal - as one who loves wisdom, seeking to learn from her as much as to teach.  He is Elda and she Adan, so they are reaching across wide chasms between their people's experiences and understandings.  And though perhaps in a different sense, they are very much friends with one another, and their shared love for Aegnor would certainly hace brought them closer, also.  Though she does challenge him on many points - not only his beliefs but his biases - he also challenges some of hers as well, and it serves to bring them both deeper understanding.

They offer something of a balance to one another - his is a knowledge that stretches back over two thousand years of his life, built on the knowledge of his forebears, and informed through direct fellowship with the Valar.  He may not be old in terms of the Eldar, but he is certainly older than the entirety of Men, and he has first-hand knowledge of many things, and second-hand knowledge of much more (his grandfathers being from Cuiviénen means he likely heard about it from those who was there.)

Hers is one of collective wisdom passed down through the wise of her people, and certainly neither Elves nor the Valar knew the dark history of Men after their awakening, nor fully understood their nature.  Because of this, Finrod does accept that even if she does not have personal knowledge of this history (that is, she was not yet alive to have witnessed these events first-hand and relies on oral traditions) that her wisdom and knowledge is valid.  While he does question her, he does not doubt that she speaks the truth of the Edain.  Though they do disagree on some points whether the truth passed down is always factual or if it has been itself influenced or corrupted by Morgoth.

I do actually have a piece of art I’d like to do for today, but not before the end of the day.  But when it’s done it’ll get uploaded to the eventual Art portion of this study.  I can’t imagine that Finrod’s only interaction with Andreth was contentious, they certainly would have had more easy-going or friendly interactions, and that is what I’ll try to capture in the art.

Link to art

8. The Mirror Cliché

The Mirror Cliché. Authors are often discouraged from describing their characters by having them look at their reflection in a mirror (or a pool, or a puddle, or whatever). For this one exercise, we want you to embrace the mirror cliché! Write a scene where your character sees their reflection. What do they see? What do they feel as they see it?

For today's creative writing scene see Is This The Journey's End

Read 8. The Mirror Cliché

This was a writing prompt but I don't want it to look like I missed a day so...

For today's creative writing scene see Is This The Journey's End

9. Weak Points, Part One

Weak Points, Part One. Think about at least three shortcomings of your character - things they are bad at, mistakes they make, bad habits… Write a scene in which their failings play a pivotal role.

For today's creative writing scene see Regrets: One

Read 9. Weak Points, Part One

This was really a hard one for me.  Finrod is generally written without many of the overt faults that are ascribed to much of his kin, but I think they are there, especially when his strengths become his weaknesses.

One weak point Finrod seems to have is a desire to appease others, or not cause strife.  The times this becomes an issue is when it is impossible to appease everyone, he seems to make less than ideal choices on which edge of the line to walk.

For instance, he doesn’t speak about the kinslaying at Alqualondë to appease the other Noldor, lest he be accused of being a traitor to his father’s kin, which is what Caranthir basically does (even calling into question his kinship at all)

But Caranthir, who loved not the sons of Finarfin, and was the harshest of the brothers and the most quick to anger, cried aloud: ‘Yea more! Let not the sons of Finarfin run hither and thither with their tales to this Dark Elf in his caves! Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him? And though they be come indeed to Beleriand, let them not so swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor, though their mother be of other kin.’

The Silmarillion

And when the truth is later brought out, Thingol then turns and accuses him of being a traitor to his mother’s kin for not saying anything:

‘I marvel at you, son of Earwen,’ said Thingol, ‘that you would come to the board of your kinsman thus red-handed from the slaying of your mother’s kin,and yet say naught in defence, nor yet seek any pardon!’

Then Finrod was greatly troubled, but he was silent, for he could not defend himself, save by bringing charges against the other princes of the Noldor; and that he was loath to do before Thingol. But in Angrod’s heart the memory of the words of Caranthir welled up again in bitterness, and he cried: ‘Lord, I know not what lies you have heard, nor whence; but we came not red-handed. Guiltless we came forth, save maybe of folly, to listen to the words of fell Feanor, and become as if besotted with wine, and as briefly. No evil did we do on our road, but suffered ourselves great wrong; and forgave it. For this we are named tale-bearers to you and treasonable to the Noldor: untruly as you know, for we have of our loyalty been silent before you, and thus earned your anger. But now these charges are no longer to be borne, and the truth you shall know.’

The Silmarillion

Finrod was stuck in the middle of competing loyalties and I’m not sure he necessarily chose correctly here, because in his choice of silence he sided (intentionally or no) with the kinslayers.  

Still, he does manage to salvage the relationship with Thingol, and is close to Círdan.  But I would certainly say Finrod’s desire to both appease and attempt to hold a neutral position on matters like this is not a good trait.

It seems to surface again when Celegorm and Curufin take refuge with him.  He says they have been friends to him in every need while in Nargothrond, but knows they will turn on Beren if they learn of his quest.

What he doesn’t seem to realize is that they will turn on him, also.  Not only that, they turn almost the whole of his people against him.  He does seem to fall into this sense of the trust he extends will be repaid by being earned, and he is proven wrong on this point.

I have had to backpedal on a few ideas about him that could come off as negatives.  I tend to have this sense of Finrod mostly staying hidden in Nargothrond once it’s built and leaving the fighting to others (and particularly his brothers and nephew) - but the Athrabeth makes it clear he did spend time fighting at the siege.

But I think there is one situation in which Finrod’s strength as someone wise and learnèd becomes a weakness when he ascribes too much to his own knowledge.  He can come across as arrogant at times to Andreth, and while he is eager to learn the lore of the Edain, he only does so up to the point that it seems to conflict with his own beliefs (or at least he pushes back harder on those points of conflict).  That is a normal reaction, yes, but it is not really a high point of his character.

 

One connection I recently made is that Finrod can be fiery in anger and argument:

Recalling this paragraph when the Noldor debated on their course of action before they had chosen to rebel and leave Valinor, it gives a very dense rundown of who took what position:

Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against Feanor, and fierce words awoke, so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords. But Finarfin spoke softly, as was his wont, and sought to calm the Noldor, persuading them to pause and ponder ere deeds were done that could not be undone: and Orodreth, alone of his sons, spoke in like manner. Finrod was with Turgon, his friend; but Galadriel, the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes, was eager to be gone. No oaths she swore, but the words of Feanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled in her heart, for she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will. Of like mind with Galadriel was Fingon Fingolfin’s son, being moved also by Feanor’s words, though he loved him little; and with Fingon stood as they ever did Angrod and Aegnor, sons of Finarfin. But these held their peace and spoke not against their fathers.

The Silmarillion

So if we draw out these two sections:

Fingolfin and Turgon his son therefore spoke against Feanor, and fierce words awoke, so that once again wrath came near to the edge of swords.

Finrod was with Turgon, his friend...

It seems to me that Finrod was part of those who were so fierce in their argument that they almost came to blows!  I kinda love this - I love a Finrod that hints at the wild spirit that wrestled a werewolf with his bare hands and teeth!  I love a Finrod that is not just quiet and accepting.  Yes I know this is supposed to be Finrod’s weaknesses.  I did say this was hard for me!

For today's creative writing scene see Regrets: One

10. What's in a Name?

What's in a Name? Research the meaning of your character's name. Think about how that name fits the character but also what the name might more subtly imply about your character.

Read 10. What's in a Name?

As with about half of the Silmarillion characters, the immediate first question is “which name??”

So let’s look at them all!

Findaráto was his father-name, and is in the Telerin language of his mother’s people.  Despite it being Telerin, it still references his Noldo heritage, including the Findë element derived from Finwë, a trait that all his kin share.  It means "[Golden-]Haired Champion", a reference to Finarfin’s house, and the ‘Aráto” element is shared with his next brother.  It’s a shame that Finarfin did not use the Telerin language to give his son a name that actually referenced his Telerin heritage.

This name is what is rendered not into the Sindarin language, but the elements Sindarized into Finrod.

Ingoldo was his mother-name, and is in the Quenya language of his father’s people, and a name he shares with his father (being Finarfin's mother-name as well).

It meant "the Ñoldo", 'one-eminent of the kindred' which is in simpler words 'the wise'.  This name is given in The Peoples of Middle-earth, and seems to be a reference to the earlier name given to Finrod, Inglor, at the time of Tolkien’s writing when Finrod referred rather to Finarfin, his father.

Nóm or Nómin was the name given to him by the people of Bëor, and is in the Taliska language.  Like Ingoldo, it means ‘the wise’.

And then there is Felagund, Sindarinized form of the Khuzdul name Felakgundu, given to him by the Dwarves, meaning Hewer of Caves. (There is a note that Tolkien might have revised this to be a name given in mockery by the Sons of Fëanor for his choice to delve caverns rather than build a city.)

Felagund appears to be the name that Finrod (and perhaps Tolkien himself) prefers.  He is referred to by Felangund more often than Finrod in the text of The Silmarillion, and it is Felagund that he ‘reverses’ into Dungalef (which isn’t a perfect reversal) when he stands before Sauron.

We know, of course, that authors will give characters names that mean something about the character, but I like to think that Finrod chose to adopt the name Felagund because it is one of the names that actually involves something Finrod loves and does, rather than being some version of what his lineage is or a claim of wisdom.

Perhaps, in a way, it was Finrod pushing back on the idea that he was wise, or at least pushing back on the claim of it.  The almost paradox of being more wise by denying wisdom seems to fit Finrod oddly well.  Perhaps it’s his way of trying to temper the arrogance he might otherwise fall into more readily.

11. Drop Everything and Read, Part Two.

Drop Everything and Read, Part Two. Take at least a half-hour to read meta and scholarship written about your character. If you are working on a rare character about whom little has been written, you may substitute reading about a group of characters to whom your character belongs (e.g., Dwarves, female characters, commonfolk, craftspeople, etc.)

Read 11. Drop Everything and Read, Part Two.

In part because I do find it difficult to ascribe negative motivations to Finrod, I went looking for some more critical meta takes on him to mull over, but also because they are important points of view not considered often enough.

Finrod, the Edain, and Mighty Whitey by tumblr user avarindigenous

Hearkening to the Other: Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth by Cami D. Agan, Professor of Language and Literature, Oklahoma Christian University

These are, of course, points of view, not objective facts.  And I think it’s important that we can appreciate varied points of view and let them inform our greater understanding without necessarily adopting another’s point of view as our own, or needing to vocally disagree with someone else’s point of view.  There is ‘wisdom’ in merely seeking out and exposing ourselves to various viewpoints, especially from those who have less in common with us.

I also read
Finrod Felagund by oshun, pandemonium_213
To reground myself in canon.  It’s easy to stray too far into headcanons when getting this deep into a character, it’s nice to come back home, as it were.

Nothing else to add in the way of commentary today.

12. Down Memory Lane, Part Two.

Down Memory Lane, Part Two. Think about the rites of passage your character went through. These can be mundane things like learning to walk, their first kiss, or taking an exam; formal ceremonies like a coming-of-age ritual, graduation or wedding; or life-changing events. Which steps did your character take on the way to who they are?

Read 12. Down Memory Lane, Part Two.

There’s no end to rites of passage or life-altering events for Finrod.  His entire life was life-altering events.  But I decided to focus on two - one canon, the other post-canon.

The day Finrod became a big brother

It was the first time he felt as if he was responsible for another person.  This was his new little brother - tiny and perfect.  He’d need help doing so many things, and Finrod was eager to be there for him.

He made all sorts of beautiful promises to that golden-haired bundle, that he’d always protect him and teach him everything he knew, and they'd do so many things together.

He crossed the ice as much for the sake of his siblings as his own desire to go.  How could he leave them to face that fate alone?  He was the eldest, it was his responsibility, and he needed to protect them.

But he had failed.  He had failed as their king, but worst of all he had failed as their brother.  

The day Finrod became a father

He knew he could not protect this tiny, perfect bundle from life - but at least he knew (he hoped he knew) this life was better than what it might have been elsewhere.  The pain that his brothers had suffered would not touch his child.  He dared not promise, but he dared to believe it.  

He would teach and guide, and protect as much as he could; but he would also urge and encourage: the stars were unreachable but reach for them anyway!  The lights will go out sometimes, so embrace darkness.

With the wisdom he had gained in Beleriand he hoped he would be worthy of the name “father.”

 

13. Home Sweet Home, Part Two

Home Sweet Home, Part Two. Where does your character live? What are their domestic arrangements like? What do their sleeping/dining/cooking/working areas look like? Where do they go to pee and poop? What about their tastes in interior decoration? Take the time to think about one habitation of your character in as much detail as you can come up with.

Read 13. Home Sweet Home, Part Two

Outside of luxurious, sensuous, steaming baths, nobody really wants to consider Elven plumbing. Specifically: Elven toilets.

And I don’t either.

But I will.  Nargothrond is underground.  It’s delved into stone. That leaves precious few options for addressing sanitary needs, but it is undeniably a foundational consideration for a city that held as many people as Nargothrond must have held.

Obviously there are three main considerations - accessibility, containment (especially prevention of contamination), and disposal.  When talking about a city that lasted for over three-hundred years, but could theoretically have held up for thousands, that’s a lot of waste to design for.  You can’t just dump it and hope the ‘tank’ never fills up, you have got to address this mess.

Accessibility: you can’t have sanitation facilities that take an hour to walk to and from.  That’s not reasonable.  They must have been regularly located throughout Nargothrond.

For the purposes of this headcanon I am going with chamber pots as not a viable option for long-term use, as they drastically increase the contamination hazard and disposal efforts.

Containment: You don’t want sewage seeping into your water supply, into your food storage, into your living quarters, into … well anything, really.  You also don’t want the fumes getting into the air and fouling up life underground.  So proper venting is a part of containment.

Disposal: Again, an entire city over hundreds (potentially thousands) of years needs a proper method of dealing with waste that is sustainable for the long-term.

Chutes from well-ventilated blocks of latrines direct all waste into containers far down where they are heated using residual energy from the forges to destroy pathogens and remove all moisture.  The resulting dry matter is incinerated and the ash may be disposed of alongside forge and fireplace ash.

I am not actually going to create a fully functional civil design for Nargothrond’s septic disposal.  But I was amused that this was part of the prompt, and I thought I’d throw some brain-cells at it because, as mentioned, it is oft overlooked in all forms of media - from fantasy to sci-fi.

This does bring up a fun idea of Nargothrond being fully plumbed.  Heat from the forges can keep water tanks hot, pipes can run along auxiliary halls to dispense into kitchens, sanitary stations, bathing rooms, and, as necessary, crafting halls.

I imagine Finrod can be extravagant but not stingy with such amenities.  He would have private bathing chambers and a luxurious sized tub for soaking, but there would also be public hot baths that would accommodate anyone in Nargothrond without regard to rank.

Of the many gems he brought out of Valinor which confer light, he has some set in the ceiling of his bedchambers to resemble stars, so he can lay and watch them at night.

Not all of his favorite places are private, however.  There are fountains, garden sanctuaries, acoustically ideal music halls, libraries and scriptoriums, galleries for art and sculpture, and more, all for public appreciation.  

There are forges and armories, workshops for armor and weapons of all kinds.  There are whole wings dedicated to cloth-working.  Kitchens and pantries, cellars and storerooms, stables and coops.  It is both a palace and a city.

There are also infirmaries and places of healing, and often Nargothrond took in the grievously injured from Dorthonion and Tol Sirion.  

Nargothrond, more than any other city among the Exiles except Gondolin, was built with an idea of recreation and delight rather than merely war and defense.  Finrod was not arrogant but he certainly enjoyed his little vanities and comforts. 

But for all of Nargothrond's splendor, it wasn't really "a home".  It was a realm, or a city, or however one wishes to view it, but not really a home as such.

I imagine Finrod had a small set of apartments he could use to actually have time away from others and be alone.  Smaller, more intimate sized rooms where he could relax. 

The bedroom, obviously, and whatever wardrobes that might entail.  A small study where he could read, write letters, or conduct business beyond the counsels.  A private dining room when he wasn't in the main feasting hall.  Maybe a small room just for music and meditation. 

Perhaps he even indulged himself with a private hallway to his own toilet - not attached directly to his suite, of course, but accessible without necessarily leaving the privacy of them entirely.

For as friendly and welcoming and indulgent as Finrod might be with others, a place he could escape to would truly have been a 'home'.

14. Big Ideas, Part One

Big Ideas, Part One. Create a visual representation of the big ideas you've learned about your character. This can be a quick list in a notebook, a series of sticky notes, or a graphical representation … or whatever you want to make or imagine!

Read 14. Big Ideas, Part One

Finrod was ruled by his heart.

He followed it when he made the oath, knowing he would go into darkness for it.  He followed it when he chose death for Beren’s sake.  He followed his heart when he opened his gates to his cousins.  He followed it when he left his hunt with Maedhros and Maglor to explore Ossiriand.  He followed it when he came to Beleriand, despite his vehement argument against exactly that.

Finrod was called “the wise” - but when wisdom and his heart collide, he follows his heart.

Then I did a moodboard because I haven't done one of those yet.

---

Chapter End Notes

Images sourced from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/

15. Big Ideas, Part Two

Big Ideas, Part Two. Using one of the big ideas from Prompt 14, revise an existing fanwork so that this idea is more strongly emphasized or create a new fanwork that brings this idea to the center of the piece.

For today's creative writing scene see The Oath Come Due

Read 15. Big Ideas, Part Two

For today's creative writing scene see The Oath Come Due

16. Down Memory Lane, Part Three

Down Memory Lane, Part Three. Imagine your character keeping a box of little mementoes that are important to them. Write a list, make a sketch, or create a fanwork where these mementoes feature.

Read 16. Down Memory Lane, Part Three

Okay at this point I am just making excuses to make more Finrod art

I feel like Finrod would have written volumes on his explorations in Beleriand, especially about those he befriended.  So this is a picture of Finrod making a picture and writing little details down.

Though it’s also because… I’ve kind of already written this one.  Extensively.

17. Affiliations, Part Two

Affiliations, Part Two. Think about a group your character belongs to--perhaps a cultural group, a profession, a family or clan, or any other group of affiliated characters. Spend at least a half-hour exploring that affiliation in any way you choose, whether reading and researching the group, writing or drawing about the character's relationship to the group, collecting links and resources, writing meta or head canons, or anything else you can dream.

Read 17. Affiliations, Part Two

Finrod feels very constrained by the sense of being his father’s eldest and heir and therefore must not do anything to suggest he is not a proper and legitimate prince of the Noldor.  Without this constraint he would be far happier following more of the Telerin customs, but this would mean bringing even more negative attention than they already receive, being both the grandchildren of Indis and the children of Eärwen - twice over not Noldo enough.

Finrod and his siblings walk a fine line between cultures and societal expectations due to their station.  This is most evident when Finrod won’t even defend himself or his family against the accusation of kinslaying for it would mean having to accuse those who actually did the act and bring further strife between their houses.

He tries very hard to fit into the shape he is expected to take, and it does not always suit him entirely.  He builds a homage to Menegroth, not Tirion; he embraces his friendship with Thingol and Círdan; he follows the drive to exploration and adventure - these all hint at his connection to his Telerin nature.

That is not to say he does not see himself as Noldo, he certainly claims the kinship without hesitation, but he leans further into it than his natural inclinations would otherwise cause.  He cannot simply pretend that the political alliances to his cousins is so easily pushed aside, nor does he want to deny his Noldo blood.  He just wishes it did not feel so very heavy to carry.

Interestingly, he does not really consider himself Vanya at all.  Not that he rejects it or looks down on it, he just doesn’t consider it being part of him, exactly.  The parts that Indis influenced balanced pretty evenly between Fingolfin and Finarfin and their children, so he tends to just accept that as being part of his Noldo side.  He never spent much time in Valmar, and Indis was rather quiet about her heritage in terms of claiming it openly rather than quietly doing as she had always done.  The Vanya influences tended to go unsung, and he never spent enough time among them to really pick up on the similarities.

 

His Elvishness doesn't really become a thing he notices until he begins to interact with Dwarves, and then really hits home when Bëor comes to live with him, and later in his dealings with his kin and Andreth in particular.  It's a slow process, but one in which he becomes keenly aware of the ways in which he is an Elf.

It wasn't as stark with the Ainur, though there was clearly an understanding of the distinction between them, but he still spent most of his life among other Eldar, with the Ainur being somewhat set apart and clearly above.

With Dwarves and Men there is a greater sense of equality between them, despite the beliefs of other Eldar, and so the differences are much more apparent.

18. Fan Art/Fancast/Fanmix

Fan Art/Fancast/Fanmix. Create fan art of your character. Don't have an artistic bone in your body? You can substitute finding three images of different people who would fit how you imagine your character to look, or three sets of clothing/costumes that the character might wear, or make a fanmix of songs that relate to your character.

Read 18. Fan Art/Fancast/Fanmix

So since I’ve already done a few artworks now I thought I’d come at it from a different angle: Nereb and Dungalef.

But the rest of the prompt was too fun not to do also!

Fancast (but also actually cast)

Possibly the closest I’ve ever seen to how I would really imagine Finrod to be is Yaroslav Bayarunas as Finrod in the Finrod Rock Opera
https://at.tumblr.com/emeraldskulblaka/gold-gleams-suspended-in-the-dust-sky-ships/otczkdoiim70

And not just Yaroslav Bayarunas but specifically the wavy haired version!  Like he’s gorgeous with the straight hair but that Telerin beach wave just is the final dollop of cream that makes this perfect!

Clothing

Finrod enjoys archery as much for the form and skill as the function, but he still looks amazing doing it.  He might have worn something similar when at the siege with his brothers or hunting with Maedhros and Maglor
https://armstreet.com/store/medieval-clothing/Medieval-fantasy-costume-garb-cotton-brocade-coat-elven

A fantastic casual robe, perhaps for getting out of the bath or lounging in his study reading
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1348025382/long-hooded-ethnic-cotton-peacock-kimono?click_key=e6c5646b2629d3a1799ea1e1ae9e20d9f2b6a4e6%3A1348025382&click_sum=c98c5726&ref=shop_home_active_40&frs=1&sts=1

I truly adore this outfit for Finrod, in the long peace years in the safety of Nargothrond
https://elf-esteem.tumblr.com/post/123463396232/finrod-the-wise-of-nargothrond-epess%C3%AB-felagund

The shirt one of the Bëoreans made for him with their traditional embroidery
https://etnodim.com/en/man/man-embroidered/embroidered_shirt_tor-product.html?offer=30798&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz9ieBhCIARIsACB0oGLf91eNcwtg-lusE7CVATyo8QnsGaBsuGs6ooRJCvSfpsnTo9nlImYaAnQCEALw_wcB

 

Music

And I cannot help but throw in these songs

Finrod’s song battle with Sauron from the Lay of Leithian Rock Opera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxOBnGpGPTM

This gives me Finrod in the dungeon vibes
SKÁLD - Då Månen Sken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8hMEHPr6Yg

And I have indescribable Finrod feelings associated with this song
Cruxshadows - Helen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2HXRXbyJSI

19. Strong Points, Part Two

Strong Points, Part Two. Revisit the list of strengths you’ve thought about for Prompt 3. This time, write a scene in which your character’s strong points cause them trouble.

For today's creative writing scene see Words Will Not Avail

Read 19. Strong Points, Part Two

For today's creative writing scene see Words Will Not Avail

20. Who Are You?

Who Are You? Using what you've learned about your character, take a Myers-Briggs type personality test for your character. What do you learn about the person? What surprises you?

Read 20. Who Are You?

I did this - and honestly maybe it’s that I generally don’t care for personality tests, or that too many of the questions are too… modern/human-centric.  

Not that I think the results aren’t a good fit, just harder to quantify an Elf’s personality based on Human personality categories.  I don’t think the answers for an Elf carry the same implications as they would for a Human, nor do modern sensibilities map exactly to medieval societies, and especially not to a ruler.

But I've never been one who has their MB personality type memorized or ascribed any meaning to it.  When people talk about this or that character being some alphabet soup it is utterly meaningless to me. 

 

Anyway, here's Finrod:

20% INTROVERTED - 80% EXTRAVERTED
34% SENSING - 66% INTUITIVE
38% THINKING - 62% FEELING
37% PERCEIVING - 63% JUDGING
 
About Your Type
As an ENFJ, you are driven by a deep sense of altruism and empathy for other people. You have an intuitive sense of the emotions of others, and often act as an emotional barometer for the people around you. You tend to personally experience the feelings of others, and feel compelled to act when you see people suffering. But your compassion is not reserved for the people close to you; at heart, you are a humanitarian, and you feel genuine concern for the ills of the entire human race.

You want close, supportive connections with others, and believe that cooperation is the best way to get things done. You like to be liked and are very sensitive to feedback, both positive and negative. You expect the best not just from yourself, but from others as well, and may find yourself disappointed when others are not as genuine in their intentions as you are. You work hard to maintain strong relationships, and strive to be a valuable member of your family and community.

You are typically energetic and driven, and often have a lot on your plate. You are tuned into the needs of others and acutely aware of human suffering; however, you also tend to be optimistic and forward-thinking, intuitively seeing opportunity for improvement. You are ambitious, but your ambition is not self-serving: rather, you feel personally responsible for making the world a better place.
 

21. In Dreams

In Dreams. Your character is asleep and dreaming. What are their dreams typically like? Write or sketch a dream sequence that explores your character’s subconscious.

For today's creative writing scene see Undreams

Warning: Today's entry took a dark turn and may not exactly fit the prompt but... it's what the muse took from it.

Read 21. In Dreams

For today's creative writing scene see Undreams

22. What Do They Think About You, Part One.

What Do They Think About You, Part One. How do characters close to the one you’ve chosen (family, friends, significant other…) see your character?

Read 22. What Do They Think About You, Part One.

Angrod and Aegnor see him as “second dad”.  He’s the responsible one, the calm one, the one who sits under a tree with a book watching as they roughhouse, and then patches them up when they invariably get injured so he doesn’t get in trouble with mom.

While in Beleriand they did not defer to him in all things, and were quick to voice disagreements in private, but they fell almost naturally into being his vassals, happy with their lands but with that sense of someone over them to think of the details that they were spared.  Angrod was honored to speak on his behalf, and Finrod trusted that Angrod’s words would be his own.

Galadriel, meanwhile, sees herself as Finrod’s equal, and they butt heads often, though less overtly than he does with his brothers.  She is more likely to ignore his words than to argue until they find a way to agree.  She did not want to live under his rule, however benevolent it might have been, which largely drove her choice to remain in Doriath.

 

Amarië saw in Finrod someone who loved and accepted her without conditions or reservations.  They had so many interests in common, a love for poetry and song, preferring to enjoy the beauty and peace of the forest than break it by hunting. 

In the end, however, she also saw that part of him that chose his family over her, and the sting of that sense of betrayal would be a very long time healing.

 

The Nolofinwëans, save Turgon, tend to overlook him.  He just becomes yet another one of their many cousins.  As he isn’t antagonistic or loud, he tends to just blend into the background.  Turgon, of course, is closest to Finrod of all of them.

The Fëanorians underestimate him, equating his quieter demeanor with weakness and his love of books over swords with cowardice.

23. Drop Everything and Read, Part Three.

Drop Everything and Read, Part Three. Take at least a half-hour to familiarize yourself with fan fiction created about your character. If you are working on a rare character about whom little has been written, you may substitute reading about a group of characters to whom your character belongs (e.g., Dwarves, female characters, commonfolk, craftspeople, etc.)

Read 23. Drop Everything and Read, Part Three.

Oh, gee, spend half an hour reading Finrod fic?  Wellll if I must!

I could list dozens of amazing Finrod fics here but I take the meaning of today’s prompt to find and enjoy fics not previously read.

Thankfully there is no end to the Finrod fics to browse through, but this one came across my dash and fell into my lap and now I am having the most intense feels I can’t even

Atandil and the follow-up Grief in All Her Guises on AO3 by EilinelsGhost

The first is an absolutely soul-wrenching dialogue between Finrod and Aegnor with regard to Andreth and Aegnor's decision.

I adore this depiction and find myself almost swayed to this version against my will!  (I desperately want Finrod not to be responsible for this but dammit it’s just so compelling!)

The second is an amazing glimpse into Finrod's time with the Edain when he first found them.  It has some absolutely stand-out moments, including folk-tales, songs of power, and unexpected moments of mortality.

11/10 would read again

24. Weak Points, Part Two.

Weak Points, Part Two. Revisit the list of shortcomings you’ve come up with for Prompt 9. This time, write a scene in which your character turns a weakness into a strength.

For today's creative writing scene see To Bridge This Divide

Read 24. Weak Points, Part Two.

Okay I kind of messed myself up by not actually doing a whole 3 actual shortcomings in the first place, and there’s not much there to revisit...

grabbing a shovel time to dig myself out

I did it!

For today's creative writing scene see To Bridge This Divide

25. An Atlas of Everyday Life.

An Atlas of Everyday Life. Draw a map of a location familiar to your character. The location may be as small as a room or as vast as a realm. Include details important to your character's life or connection to this location.

(Very large image in this chapter)

Read 25. An Atlas of Everyday Life.

---

Chapter End Notes

Imagine if Finrod was doing this at 6 years old. (also I was just kinda burnt out on art so this is all I had in me today)

26. Happy Holidays.

Happy Holidays. What special days does your character observe? Research or invent the customs of a holiday your character loves to celebrate.

Read 26. Happy Holidays.

I am really stretching the 'happy' here to the breaking point... 

 

Around the time of winter solstice, the Noldor in exile observed a custom of bringing small trees into their homes and decorating them in silver and gold.  Candles were lit all around, and the Mingling of the Two Trees is recalled in a mingling of joy and sorrow, a reminder of why they had come and yet a hope for the return of the sun and a relief from the shortened days.

Finrod had forms of the two trees sculpted into the main hall of Nargothrond, wrought in silver and gold and filling the walls on which they were carved.  On solstice midnight, all other lights in Nargothrond were put out (within reason) and only the lights of the trees shone, filling the darkness with brilliance.

Over the centuries, various songs and poems were created and recited or sung on that night.  It is a subdued affair, but it is one of Finrod’s favorite observances.  He feels in it not only the memory of Valinor but the steadfast faith that the Valar had not utterly forsaken them. 

He used to always ask his brothers to come join him, but in later years they had more and more often stayed in the north.  Then the year came when, like the trees, darkness overtook and destroyed them.  Their lights went out, and one, at least, would never again shine until the very ending of the world.

From that time, Finrod forbade the trees to be lit in the hall (though he did not forbid others from observing it privately) and he felt himself descending further into darkness with each passing year that they were gone.  The time of the Mingling became rather a time of mourning, his grief magnified.

In his final years, solstice became a time when he, Orodreth, and Finduilas would recall their loved ones lost.
 

27. Beyond the Tales.

Beyond the Tales. Create a links list of at least eight sources of information that will help you understand an aspect of your character's life. For example, you may collect links that help you better understand the character's profession or a pursuit important to that character (e.g., hunting or harp playing). You may collect links on magic or mythology related to that character (e.g., telepathy or the trickster archetype). You may collect links related to the setting where the character lives, relevant real-world history, or anything related to that person at all. You do not need to read all eight sources; the idea is to have a starting point for future research and reference.

Read 27. Beyond the Tales.

Medieval kings
https://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-people/medieval-royalty/medieval-king/
https://www.franklinboe.org/cms/lib/NJ01000817/Centricity/Domain/2449/PeopleoftheFeudalSystem.pdf
https://eagleandchildblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/01/gawain-the-five-knightly-virtues/

Medieval Life
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer-westerncivilization/chapter/daily-medieval-life/
https://www.wondriumdaily.com/the-medieval-european-society-in-the-early-14th-century/
https://about-history.com/health-and-hygiene-in-the-medieval-ages/
https://www.thefinertimes.com/middle-ages-customs

Underground Cities
https://www.history.com/news/8-mysterious-underground-cities

Medieval Clothing
https://www.hisour.com/european-mens-fashion-in-1400-1500-32362/
https://www.hisour.com/1300-1400-european-mens-fashion-32327/

Medieval Cuisine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_cuisine
https://www.castlesandmanorhouses.com/life_05_drink.htm

Medieval Pastimes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_hunting
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_dance
https://castle.eiu.edu/reading/MEDIEVALGAMES.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_harp

Medieval Weapons and Warfare
https://www.history.com/news/medieval-weapons-knights-middle-ages
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_warfare
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1230/siege-warfare-in-medieval-europe/

Elves in European Folklore
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Elf
https://justhistoryposts.com/2017/04/25/mythical-creatures-medieval-elves/
https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/tuatha-d-dannan-enchanting-predecessors-irish-fairies-and-elves-007657

Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/medieval-philosophy/
https://iep.utm.edu/ancient-greek-philosophy/
https://www.classics.pitt.edu/research/ancient-philosophy-and-science
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/

28. Down Memory Lane, Part Four.

Down Memory Lane, Part Four. Imagine your character writing or dictating their autobiography. What parts of their story would they hush up or change to make themselves look better? What parts would they blow out of proportion? What parts would make them cry?

Read 28. Down Memory Lane, Part Four.

Finrod doesn’t want to think about much of his life in Beleriand after he is reborn.  Beleriand itself, but not his life there.

He’d want to focus on the good and beautiful things - meeting Thingol and Círdan, meeting Dwarves and working with them on Nargothrond, meeting Men and learning so much about them.

But he would, in a sense of self-inflicted punishment, include things he felt he had done wrong, expressly refusing to cover them up.  He’d mourn again the loss of his brothers, and the pain of Aegnor’s loss and refusal to return from Mandos.  He’d mourn the Kinslaying and wonder what he could have done differently.  He’d not regret going to Beleriand, but he’d regret the path that they took.

He would not speak of his death, or his oath.  Those would be too close to him.  Nobody who had not been there could possibly understand.  He might write about that privately, along with other things he experienced or did there.  Many things he’d keep inside.  The only one he might share part of the story with would be his father.

Finrod would be far more likely to go on at length about the land rather than himself - the plants and animals, the beauty he had experienced, perhaps recount his thoughts and feelings on the first moonrise, the first sunrise, the new cycles of time.

He would try to capture the majesty of Menegroth and the horror of Thangorodrim and fail miserably at both.  He’d try to express the fleeting lives of Men and yet the brightness with which they shone and still fail utterly to help someone understand who was not there.

Most of those things he’d feel too deeply about he might speak of in the quiet hours to certain people - telling Olwë about his brother, telling his mother about the cousin she never met, telling Nerdanel about the beautiful things her sons did there, shying away from their ends.  Perhaps he would even spend time talking to Aulë about his Dwarves.  He, more than anyone, might better understand Finrod’s poor attempts to recount Nargothrond.

Finrod’s “autobiography” would probably end up telling about all the other lives he was touched by.  He would write about Orodreth’s wife and children, and he might speak of Andreth but would not share the more private details of her love for Aegnor or their deepest discussions which she trusted him with.

He might lapse into philosophical musings, and fill it with pictures of various things, memories as best he can recreate them.

It comes down to Finrod would write an autobiography that focused on everything except himself, though it would be told clearly from his point of view.

29. What Do They Think About You, Part Two.

What Do They Think About You, Part Two. How do characters unfriendly towards your chosen character (rivals, enemies, ex-partners…) see them?

Read 29. What Do They Think About You, Part Two.

Finrod may well be one of the more underestimated and ignored characters in terms of what those who don’t like him think of him (if they think of him at all).

He isn’t Noldo enough for the Noldor, as Caranthir pointed out (even though it wasn’t directed solely at Finrod).  He does not have great skill of hand like his kin.  He is the son of the youngest son and so is never really in line for anything of note among the Noldor as a whole.

Celegorm and Curufin are noted as being friendly to him in his every need while they are at Nargothrond, until the oath prompts them to turn - and so it isn’t exactly fair to say they were his enemies for most of their time, but they held him in little regard when it came to that fateful moment.

But the curse of Mandos came upon the brothers, and dark thoughts arose in their hearts, thinking to send forth Felagund alone to his death, and to usurp, it might be, the throne of Nargothrond; for they were of the eldest line of the princes of the Noldor. 

- The Silmarillion

Sauron knew Finrod had left Nargothrond and yet even he didn’t imagine that the Noldo he had captured was Finrod - it never seemed to have crossed his mind!  Celegorm is more known to Sauron than Finrod seems to be.

'Come, tell me true, oh Morgoth's thralls,    
what then in Elvenesse befalls?
What of Nargothrond? Who reigneth there?    
Into that realm did your feet dare?'    

'Only its borders did we dare.    
There reigns King Felagund the fair.'    

'Then heard ye not that his is gone,
that Celegorm sits his throne upon?'

…

Yet not all unavailing were    
the spells of Felagund; for he    
had spun spells Sauron could not see -    
some not yet full-wrought; and Sauron
neither their names nor purpose won.

- Lay of Leithian Canto VIII

Even Morgoth more or less seems to have no thoughts about Finrod at all.  He isn’t leading battles at the siege, he doesn’t rouse his fear or anger in particular like Turgon, his hidden realm isn’t sought after to the degree Gondolin is (it doesn’t really appear to be sought after whatsoever, if the bridge had not been built it likely would have endured to the very end).  There’s no noted bounty on his head - even Beren got a bounty on his head!

He is seen as largely un-notable, expendable, and weak.
 

Day 30. Show It All Off.

Show It All Off. Create a fanwork about your character: any format, any genre.

For today's entry, see the last entry in Artwork

Read Day 30. Show It All Off.

I decided to create a House of Finarfin family tree as if Finrod were the one to draw it.  Still a WIP in that it will take quite some time to fill in the miniature portraits but the framework has been drawn and can be found as the last entry in Artwork