Ïdur Athándrë

Ïdur Athándrë is one of the Seven Watchtowers, which were constructed from 618 to 619 First Age by the elves. In it was placed one of the ilyatári, and an elf warden was stationed in it to watch over Irëduin. In 5359, at the end of the First Age, the elves cloaked Ïdur Athándrë from sight to prevent the Fallen from destroying it as they had destroyed the other six towers.

Ïdur Athándrë remained hidden for millennia until 2764 Third Age. In this time, King Tywell I built the Castle nearby, completely unaware of the tower's existence. However, the peninsula on which the tower was built repelled everyone, and no one would go near it. In 2764, Elothar Stormwind revealed it, deeming himself capable of defending it and using it to defend the world. Elothar stationed himself in the tower, and found the corresponding ilyatár soon after.

Thereafter, the common folk talked of Ïdur Athándrë as a position of leadership, none of them remembering the purpose for which it was created.

Appearance

Ïdur Athándrë is a three hundred and fifty foot tower, built of a dark stone quarried from the area surrounding the Rûkor Azgan. It has thirty-five floors, and a flat roof. On top of the roof are carved circles of runes, which are spells of warding and seeing. Four peaks of stone, like the points on a crown, stand up from the side of the roof, towering another thirty feet tall. Lancet windows line the walls, and the entrance is a pair of lancet stone doors, twice the height of a person.

Utility

Ïdur Athándrë is more than a tower. It is known as the Eye of the West or the All-Seeing Eye, and spells are woven throughout every centimetre of stone. Combined with the correct ilyatár, the tower turns into a lens through which to view the world.

As well as this, Ïdur Athándrë could function as a fortress, although it was not built with that intention. As such, it would not be able to hold out long, but it could defend a sizable group from attack until reinforcements could arrive.

The All-Seeing Eye

Elothar used this power on many occasions. He would sit in the lotus position on the centre of the tower roof, facing the West and placing the ilyatár in front of him. Resting his hands on his knees, palms up, he would close his eyes and focus. After a time, he would start levitating until his eyes would be level with a standing Man's, and the runes on the roof would glow golden. The ilyatár would start floating and spinning round at an incredible pace, and a golden light would appear above his hands. At this point he would be able to direct his gaze wherever he wished, and he would see, hear, and smell as if he were there. The one drawback of this was that he could sense nothing of his actual location while in this trance, and was thus vulnerable to attack. In days of old when this power was used by the elves, another elf would be nearby, ready in case of attack. However, Elothar kept the power of Ïdur Athándrë secret, and so no one was ready to defend him when he used its magic.

Etymology

In an old dialect of Elvish, Ïdur Athándrë means the Watchful Tower or the Tower of Watching

Founding Date

618

Type

Tower, Mage

Owner

Elothar Stormwind