**This page is designed to tell you a little bit about the Doriath Culture on Beleriand MU*.**

The Culture of Doriath is home to the Elves who followed Elwe (later renamed Elu Thingol) who were named the Teleri or the Aftercomers, for they were the slowest of all Elves on the Great Journey to the Blessed Realm of Valinor. Elwe's people were waylaid on their journey by the disappearance of Elwe into the wild forests of Beleriand. They searched high and low for a long time before Elwe renewed, appeared with the new Lady of their people -- Melian the Maia.

Together, Thingol and Melian established Doriath -- The Guarded Realm, The Land of the Fence -- for Melian counselled the building of Menegroth, The Thousand Caves for the security of their people from future events that only she could see. About this whole land she set her Girdle, an unseen border of protection so that none who were not Fated or welcome within Doriath, could not pass.

Together, they had a daughter, Luthien. Arguably the most noted character of Doriath in The Lays of Beleriand and The Silmarillion, Doriath is known in the books of J. R. R. Tolkien's work primarily for two events: The Tale of Luthien and Beren (The Lay of Leithan, Release from Bondage) as well as the Sacking of Menegroth where Elu Thingol met his untimely demise, and Melian the Maia fled Beleriand back to the Blessed Realm.

In terms of our OOC (out-of-character) selves...

On Beleriand, we play in the timeline where none of the major events of Doriath have yet taken place. The Girdle is intact, Luthien still roams happily in the four forests, Thingol and Melian are still very much alive and kicking.

We have many positions that a player can take up including military, healers, forgers, singers, bards, fletchers... the list is nearly endless. Promotions in your chosen field are given through RP and IC actions, and you are not restricted to just one position in Doriath -- though this latter is encouraged for new players, so you can get your feet wet in RP and understanding one position before choosing another.

The culture itself is filled with helpful and awesome players (I can say that, I'm the CW of Doriath!) and we welcome RP at any opportunity. There are characters from the books (known as BFC's) that are waiting to be filled. These characters take RP and IC actions, as well as a contribution to the culture on a whole. It doesn't have to be anything more than your willingness to RP and further prove why we're the best culture on Beleriand.