Great Plague

2007-11-01T22:21:01Z

Chadking704:

The '''Great Plague''', also known as the [[Dark Plague]] was a disastrous pestilence that killed untold numbers of people that possibly went up into the hundreds of thousands.

The Great Plague began in the east beyond [[Mordor]], reaching [[Osgiliath]] in 1636 of the [[Third Age]], just a year after King [[Minardil]] of [[Gondor]] had been killed at [[Pelargir]] by the [[Corsairs of Umbar]], and only two centuries after the [[Kin-strife]] of Gondor. The new king, [[Telemnar]] was killed together with his kin, as well as many others of the [[Dúnedain]]. After the Kin-strife this further destroyed the people of Gondor.

The Plague had first hit [[Rhûn]] and [[Rhovanion]], and after it had passed more than half the folk of the [[Kingdom of Rhovanion]] had been killed. From [[Osgiliath]] the plague spread west and then north. [[Enedwaith]] and [[Dunland]] were scarcely affected, but the Plague regained strength as it went north, and [[Minhiriath]] (the southern part of [[Cardolan]]) was especially hit hard. The last of the Dúnedain of Cardolan died on the [[Barrow-downs]], and evil spirits from [[Angmar]] and [[Rhudaur]] entered the realm.

[[Arthedain]] further to the north and [[the Shire]] were scarcely affected, although the [[Hobbits]] recorded casualties in the South Farthing. Arthedain still defended [[Fornost]] to the north.

The city of Osgiliath was especially hit hard, suffering the highest casualties outside of Rhovanion. Many fled the city and removed to [[Ithilien]] and [[Anórien]], and [[Minas Anor]] became the King's seat.

The casualties were so high that the fortresses guarding [[Mordor]] were abandoned as the troops were recalled. For the next two centuries Gondor, as well as its enemies, did little but try and regain strength.

[[category:Events]]

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Great Plague