House Oiomíril
House Oiomíril (W."Uimîr") Oiomíril is, in sheer expanse, one of the largest fiefs in
Arthedain; it includes the Weather Hills, the
Midgewater Marshes, the village of Occum on the Men
Formen, and the Nan Turnath lying between
the hills and the North Road. Raimáro, its lord, ruled
from the keep of Minas Galanna at the northern end of the
Emyn Sûl. The citadel stands only fifty miles southeast of
Fornost Erain, along the road to Amon Sûl. The feif also includes three smaller towers located along the
ridge of hills, one every twenty miles: Barad Thoron,
Barad Emer, and Barad Narn. They are connected by a
military road, that runs along
the eastern slopes of the Emyn Sûl. It lies atop a series of
dikes and terraces, the Rammas Sûl, intended to deter
raiders from En Eredoriath to the east.
The Weather Hills mark roughly the midpoint of the
great basin of Eriador. They run some ninety miles
northwest to southeast. The southmost and highest peak
is Weathertop, which stands nearly a thousand feet above
the plains. There is still sufficient grass on the hills for
grazing sheep; small patches of woodland grow in the
vales and catch-basins around the ruins of abandoned
farms. Gypsum, flint, and onyx are found in the clefts and
rock falls of the hills in small quantities; the remaining
inhabitants still work a few small mines.
Most dwell near the keep of Minas Galanna and the
village of Occum on the Men Formen, well west of the
hills. There are, however, scattered steadings among the
Emyn Sûl wherever good water and farmland occur.
Herdsmen and shepherds run their flocks over the rest of
the country. The fiefs lord oversees the quarries and
mines in the northern reaches.
There remain less than a score of true Dúnedain in the
entire fief of Oiomíril. The population of the vale of
Minas Galanna and the majority of the people of Occum
are Eriadoran commoners. The farm families of the hill
country and Nan Turnath also stem from this heritage.
The shepherds of the Emyn Sûl are primarily Dunnish,
most of them rootless wanderers without homelands or
clan ties.
16,000 soldier bear the responsiblity
for patroling the borders of the fief. Because Oiomíril feif is
large, all normal patrols are mounted, even though most
of the Rhivilyr are trained as footsoldiers. Dol Occum and
each of the three hill-towers house three hundred Tulkairim
(infantry squads) 10 Men-at-Arms. Barad Thoron,
Barad Emer, and Barad Narn each serve as home to some
500 who tend the towers' herds and gardens, as
well defending the walls in need. The Tulkairim take
turns running three day patrols through their sections of
the fief. Minas Galanna is garrisoned by 300 Tulkairim of
infantry and 100 of cavalry. At any given time, one third
of these are on patrol; another third acts as castle garrison;
and the final third occupy themselves with non-military
duties.
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