In response to the Guy from Finland: Um, what?! I am unfamiliar with the ENIBASC…though they sound quite fantastic.

In response to Umeko: Thank you so much! Not to worry, we've got a couple of the Faithful non-rulers on the list, and they're coming up soon.

Author's Note: Ah, now we reach Tar-Palantir! He's such a great guy; this was one of my favorite interviews, though also one of the saddest. I feel a sort of connection with Tar-Palantir because like him, I find myself trapped in a culture that is rejecting its foundation, and I have a great desire to remedy it. Let me know what you guys think of this, the opposite side of the argument that so far has been biased in favor of the beliefs of the King's Men. What do you like most about Tar-Palantir? Tell me in a review!

Tar-Palantir

Name(s): Tar-Palantir; Inziladûn

Race: Men

Life: He was born in 3035 S.A. and when he received the scepter, he ruled as the twenty-forth king of Númenor for 78 years until his death in 3255.

. . .

Before we discuss anything else, I want you to just talk about yourself. How were you different from your father and your fellow Númenóreans? What did kind of things you like? What were your hopes for Númenor?

I took after my mother in that I held to the teachings of the Faithful. I, unlikely my father, and his father, and most of the kings before me, was very upset with the direction Númenor had gone. Most Númenóreans of my day wanted to find their own identity; I wanted to go back to the old ways of friendship with the Eldar and respectful obedience to the Valar. I loved tales of the great deeds of the Eldar and the Valar in the War of Wrath and of our own warriors who were in alliance with the Valar.

Why did you take your name in the old Quenya?

Because that's how it should be. Quenya is an ancient and elegant language, and when I took my name in it, I was showing my alliance with the Eldar and my desire to revert to what Númenor had once been.

What did the other Númenóreans, particularly the King's Men, think about this change?

Oh, they were not excited about it. Not in the least. People wondered why I was so unconfident, why I needed to find my identity in foreigners and archaic ideas. Most of their insults were not made in my presence, but a few people, including my brother, did ask me such questions to my face. And that was just the beginning of my reforms, and the whole controversy was only about a name!

How did the King's Men view your other policies that were not in accordance with the common opinion?

That sparked much more opposition. My brother especially worked to stop or slow all of my work against the man-centered and wicked ideas and actions that had penetrated so much of Númenórean culture. The King's Men schemed unceasingly; every day I had to dodge another one of their deceitful attempts to keep me from making progress. They made up lies, used political issues as rallying points against me, and occasionally broke the law blatantly. They were desperate to dispose of the old ways permanently at any cost.

In other sessions, my interviewees were often biased heavily in favor of the King's Men. What do you say about encounters between the Faithful and the King's Men? Were the Faithful usually in the wrong?

Alas for the folly of my sires! No, the Faithful were wronged without cause many, many times, and I never heard of one of the King's men suffering so much as a bruise or stolen penny at the hands of the Faithful. If someone was known to be of the Faithful, they were liable to be shoved or assaulted even when they were just walking down the street. Sometimes, others would refuse to sell or serve them. And few were willing to be caught in public with them. It was certainly one-sided, but not because of the Faithful's wrongdoing. The King's men were wholly to blame.

It is said that you were foresighted. What did you foresee?

Ah, very terrible things. I saw that if the folly of Númenor were to continue, it would result in the destruction of the country itself. I saw the White Tree being felled and burned, and this coincided with the end to the line of kings. I saw much pain and suffering, though I also foresaw that there would be a glimmer of hope to survive the evil of our race. But on the whole, most of what I saw was the devastation, fair though it may have been, of Númenor.

Is that why you were darkened with grief?

Yes. To know that the country which I loved, which had once stood for goodness and joy, was now digging its own grave feverously was very hard for me to know. I hated the thought that my people, though many were indeed wicked, would one day die in a horrible catastrophe. If only they had turned from their evils, but despite all my efforts, they would not.

Why did you look to the West so often?

I hoped to see a sail of some ship of the Eldar coming our way from the Undying Lands. I wished so desperately to apologize for my sire's wrongs and to offer renewed friendship. In addition, I simply desired to see and speak with the great Elven lords of old. But no ship ever came.

Did you truly expect to see any ships?

Well, my heart often told me that one would come someday, but my good sense reminded me of the true situation. Númenor had committed, and was still committing, grievous crimes against the Valar and the Eldar; why should they grant forgiveness to so vile a people? Even though the Faithful championed justice, they were but a small minority in a sea of wickedness.

Why did you tend to the White Tree?

I have previously stated that I foresaw a connection between it and the line of kings, but even if it had possessed no such tie, I would have done as I did. The Tree was a gift to us from the Eldar, and it symbolized our friendship with them. I could not leave something so deserving of honor in disgrace. And there is a fact that few consider in this matter, but that I think does mean something. Even if you throw away all the amazing history of that tree, then you still have a stunningly beautiful object, one that was simply too gorgeous and unique to disregard.

Could you talk about your reasons and attitude concerning the designated times when you as king were supposed to offer prayer to Eru on the sacred mountain?

I went to pray for several reasons. First of all, I was supposed to do it. I needed to lead my people in an example of penitence and submission, especially during the time when there was rebellion against the old ways and a desire to be independent. But secondly and most personally, I wanted to pray. I begged and implored Eru to change the hearts of the Númenóreans. I pleaded that He would forgive us and make us what we once were. Of course I prayed every day, but I think somehow my prayers were most sincere and focused while I was on the mountain. And I gave my first fruits quite willingly, being glad to acknowledge that all I had received came from Eru.

Would you summarize your views on Eru and the Valar, the Eldar, and death?

I believed Eru was real, was powerful, and was my God. He gave me everything I owned, and He blessed me with grace after grace each day of my life. The Valar were His highest servants, and He entrusted them with rule over Arda. That meant that all the children of Eru were to obey and respect them. The Eldar were the firstborn; they were wiser and fairer than us, and their fate was different than ours. We should not have begrudged them for this, but instead learned from their wisdom and experience. Death is our fate, though a bitter one to receive. I did not believe that we should try to seek unending life; that would not be natural to our race.

Why didn't you give up the scepter before you death of old age if you adhered to most traditional thought?

Two main factors contributed to this. First of all, I wanted to keep working against the flow of man-focused thought that was tearing my country apart. I desired to spend every breath I had in a labor to save the nation I loved. The second reason is far less admirable: I was afraid. Death frightened me, and I was never able to escape the fear of it. My culture rubbed off on me, I guess. But I hope that my honorable motives were the main ones; I myself am not absolutely sure. What I do know is that if Númenor had healed, then I would have encouraged my descendants to not wait until their death perforce dotage to yield the scepter.

Please review! Up next is the final and most notorious king of Númenor!