Lossoth

From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.

Lossoth, or Snowmen, is a name of the Ice Men of Forodwaith. They dwelt in the far northwest of Middle-earth during the time of the Lord of the Rings, in a land of bitter cold. The Lossoth were described as using bones tied to their feet as ice skates, and were a semi-nomadic people. They were not akin to the Edain, but more like to the Men of Dunland.

They appear most prominently in Tolkien's works when they harbor the exiled King Arvedui of Arnor in the year 1975 of the Third Age. Arvedui, the Last King, was forced to flee his home land of Arthedain by the forces of Angmar under the Witch-king. The Lossoth reluctantly helped Arvedui and a few of his men, until Cirdan sent ships to rescue him from Lindon. The chieftan of the Lossoth counseled Arvedui not to go aboard the ships and face the bitter northern winter, but the King refused and went anyways. In payment for his safekeeping, King Arvedui gave to the Lossoth his ring, the Ring of Barahir, and bade them ransom it to his kin when the Lossoth had need. Unfortunately, the chieftan's counsel proved wise, and Arvedui was lost at sea. Thus ended the Kings of Arnor, and their line continued as the Chieftains of the Dúnedain of Arnor (Rangers).