Summary
An account of the moral decay, fear of death, and violent imperialism that defined the final days of Númenor under the influence of Sauron.
The Corruption of Númenor under Sauron
Highlights
The Rise of Darkness and Sacrifice
Under Sauron's influence, the people of Númenor began sacrificing to Melkor in hopes of escaping Death. The Faithful were frequently targeted with false accusations of treason, leading to a climate of suspicion, hatred, and social instability, while the promise of immortality through sacrifice failed, leading only to greater agony and madness.
Imperialism and the Decline of Númenor
Despite increasing wealth and the construction of advanced war machines and ships, the Númenóreans lost their former nobility. They began sailing to Middle-earth not as benefactors, but as cruel conquerors and slavers, permanently tarnishing their legacy and replacing the memory of their kindly ancestors with tales of terror.