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Atalantedain

The fall of Númenor was a tragic and bewildering event to most; nonetheless, it was not unforeseen by its wiser citizens. Between the great factions of the Elendili Elf-friends and the wicked and grim King's Men, a tithe of their kind elected for neutrality; instead of aligning themselves with any power, they chose to fly to the bosom of Uinen, Lady of the Sea. By some mysterious art, be it technology, sorcery, or simply the blessing of their patroness, their forms and bodies were altered such that they became beings of the sea, living submerged lives; they were said to breath water as air through their lungs, and yet to maintain the ancient customs and traditions of their realm. With their newfound abilities, they survived the Akallabêth simply by swimming out and down, and migrating through the waters they established an undersea haven off the former coast of their isle in the midst of the Belegaer. Sightings, rumors, and legends of them had come down through the years to produce legends of a sunken empire, Vanwa Atalantë (Q. "The Lost Downfallen"). In reality, though this was their name for their unique city, cobbled together from the rubble of the great cities of their land, they were but a small, isolationist community, and indeed stranger even than their legendary form; none, in fact, new what language they spoke, their level of advancement, or even by what means they were capable of dwelling underwater. Nonetheless, some, such as Akbulkathar, still did their best to interact with the surface world, either seeking revenge or forgiveness from their land-walking kin.

They took the form of men, women, and children of grim, stern appearance and great stature, with strangely pale complexion, cold skin, and a constantly radiating smell of mildew. All of these Atalantëatani (Ad."Kallabêthim") could swim with tremendous skill, and many had even mastered the art of walking as easily underwater as on land. Most, however, had near-entirely lost their ability to survive on land and in air for long periods, for they easily dehydrated, had little tolerance for warmth, and easily risked heat prostration if venturing more than a mile or so on dry land or going for four hours without immersion. They were, however, capable of breathing the outer airs, indicating that they had not yet lost the power of their lungs. They were used to eating raw meats (chiefly of fish) and were almost entirely carnivorous; they savored cooked and vegetarian food very little.

Legends of all forms surrounded these people; the Dúnedain and their other kin called them the Atalanteatani, and in both lore and art they described them as a people under the waters of the sea. Lesser Men, who as a rule knew little of the sea, called them the "Mer-folk"; they identified them with Ainur of the same name, divine beings who had taken to dwelling in the seas, and they deemed the Atalanteatani to be a people of Men adapted entirely for life in the deeps, with tails as those of fish, gills for lungs, and voices which blended with the songs of the sea to compose a music which many said could entrance an unwary listener. Many simply assumed that they did not exist. But exist they did, a solitary and forlorn people sunken below the seas, which communicated in their tongue through the waves, and hunted for fish about their city, and sang within their cobbled walls and caves of the lost glory of their people.

Atalantatani of note[]

Akbulkathar Ranfirieth

Notes[]

Original form in MERP: Atalantedain

It is only in "Arnor: The Land" in which amidst the legend of Akbulkathar he is described as a water-breathing and ghoulish, but living, man of Númenor, while in "The Lost Realm of Cardolan" he was assumed to be a lesser ghost. The previous interpretation is here used, as it is generally considered that the spirits of Men did not linger about the world save in extraordinary circumstances.

Nonetheless, the compatibility of the Atalantedain, who indeed are envisioned as representatives of the undersea Atlanteans of legend, with traditional Tolkienian canon is difficult to gauge, and in certain forms is questionable to even absurd. It seems doubtful indeed that a lesser Maia such as Uinen could or would grant intercessions which no doubt interfered with Illuvatar's great plan. Thus it can be suggested to envision the Atalantedain as a culture of pre-historic sea-divers, accustomed to dwelling for long periods with the aid of some sort of forgotten or experimental Númenórean technology; for as they had achieved complex industry, from engine technology and the construction of vehicles of land and sky to cannon and gunpowder technology, then some form of experimental marine technology is surely not beyond their abilities. Perhaps they may even be identified with those Black Númenóreans who were known to have experimented with Black Magic on other Men; if so, it is also plausible that they would use these dark arts to the effect of dabbling with early "genetics," perhaps under the teaching even of Sauron (as both he and Saruman, and likely Morgoth, had demonstrated skill in these dark techniques). According to this theory, they must have been the result of interbreeding of Númenóreans and water-beasts or even with of Merfolk-spirits. Whatever their origin, a crafty people persistent through their advanced technology, a blessed people rescued by their patron angel, or a dark people of sorcerers corrupted only to dwell in the deeps, the Atalanteatani represent a different interpretation of the legend of Atlantis as in Tolkien's work, and a naturally mysterious and legendary people.

References[]

  • MERP #2023: Arnor: The Land
  • MERP #3700: The Lost Realm of Cardolan
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