Author's Note: Here's another interview! Please note that it has been several generations since the reign of our last interviewee, Tar-Ancalimë. This time I'm going to leave a specific question that you have to answer in your review: what do you think is the most distinct change in Númenórean thought from the first king to the eleventh? I ask again that you guys please leave me some feedback; it really does mean a whole lot for me to know what the people who are reading this story think.

Tar-Minastir

Name(s): Tar-Minastir

Race: Men

Life: He was born in 1474 S.A. and became the eleventh king of Númenor when the childless Queen before him, his aunt, gave up the scepter. He reigned for 138 years and then died in 1873.

. . .

Tar-Minastir, your royal title comes from the fact that you built a great tower on the hill of Oromet. Would you please talk about that tower's purpose? Did your people have any positive or negative feelings about it?

Ah, that was a beautiful tower. I consider it my legacy and my greatest work. It was tall and fair, shining like a spire of ivory in the morning sun. I spent many hours there, gazing to the far West. The people liked it, as far as I can tell. It was so beautiful that it would have been difficult to complain. I once received a stern remark from an older advisor about wasting resources on my vain desire or something like that, but otherwise all was well.

Why did you look to the West? What did you long for? Did this tie into your view of death, the Ban, or the Eldar?

Yes, all these topics are connected. I looked to the West because I desired more. It's hard to put into words, but I felt that even though as a Númenórean I had a far longer life span than most men, I was a mere breath. Here today and gone tomorrow. And yet in the West was a land that did not fade and had no evening. Why should only the Eldar be allowed to venture and rest there? I loved the Eldar; they were wise and powerful, but I don't see why they were considered superior. Death seemed an unfair burden; men could have accomplished so much more good if they did not have to die.

To backtrack a little to your comment on being a breath—here today and gone tomorrow—would you explain how you and your people found meaning in life? What was your view on Eru?

Eru is real and powerful; no one ever rejected such a statement. It is simply a part of Númenórean culture to believe such a thing. But I don't think that has anything to do with meaning. We are men, and the highest men at that: value is just a part of who we are. I simply meant that I wished our value could grace the circles of the world longer so that the individual could make an impact.

Your founding fathers did not think that was the case. They said that because Eru created men, each unique in his own way, all have dignity. This value is dependent on Eru, but that means that they can be used to accomplish extraordinary things; they were characters in Eru's tale. What do you say about this, and about Eru's sovereignty?

Eru is good and powerful—I have said as much already. He did make us, and I suppose that gives us some of our dignity. But I don't think He is sovereign over everything. I mean, it's not in His nature to be controlling, at least not the way I see it.

[Thalion would like to direct readers who are interested in theology and found this comment thought-provoking (whether you agree with it or not) to the ninth chapter of Romans, which speaks about God's sovereignty. To those who do not care for such things, all that Estel wants you to realize from these questions is that Númenóreans slowly shifted their focus from Eru to themselves. Whether the result was good or bad, readers can judge for themselves.]

How do you see His nature?

I picture Eru as a father. He made me, and then He let me live the life I wanted to live, though He is most pleased with good works.

Okay. Switching to a totally different set of questions, let's discuss your involvement in Middle Earth. What did you do, and why did you do it?

One of the most notable things was I sent a great force to aid Gil-galad in the fight against Sauron. The Dark Lord was advancing far too quickly, and if Númenor didn't do something, he might have eventually taken over all of Middle Earth. Our force was successful in driving Sauron back, though he was not defeated.

Another big landmark was Umbar and the other permanent ports that we set up along the coasts of Middle Earth. We needed some places to call our own if we wanted to ever establish some a real defense against Sauron.

Did you see a change in Númenor's involvement with the indigenous people?

Well, I suppose there was a change, but I don't think it was bad or anything. Our fathers were sort of like teachers to these inferior men, and we acted more like governors. But we didn't oppress them; we merely helped to order and control them. Without us, they were savage, cruel, and ignorant. They owed it to us to submit; it was for their good and ours.

Be sure to give a bit of feedback, whether in the form of encouragement, constructive criticism, or just a simple comment! I would REALLY appreciate it!