Dúnedains

The Dúnedain are a lineage of Men in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, descended from the Númenóreans. These people were once inhabitants of the island kingdom of Númenor, a great realm gifted to their ancestors by the Valar for their aid in the war against Morgoth. After the cataclysmic Downfall of Númenor, a remnant of its people, led by Elendil and his sons, escaped to Middle-earth and founded the kingdoms of Arnor in the north and Gondor in the south.

Over time, the descendants of these Númenóreans in Arnor became known as the Dúnedain of the North. They were a wandering people, living in secret and acting as rangers, guarding the borders of the dwindling realms against the encroaching shadow of Angmar and later Mordor. They retained a longer lifespan and a greater wisdom than ordinary Men, but their numbers gradually diminished.

The Dúnedain of the South, who remained in Gondor, also maintained their lineage and strength for a time. However, as centuries passed, they too intermingled with other Men, and the distinct blood of Númenor became diluted. By the Third Age, the most prominent Dúnedain were the rangers of the North, including Aragorn, who carried the hopes of their people and the legacy of their noble ancestors. Their history is one of decline but also of enduring vigilance and a deep connection to the past.