In the days of Tar-Palantír the splendour of the island realm, Númenor was renewed. His father, Ar-Gimilzôr abandoned all traditions of old. This blasphemy began with 20th king of Númenor, Tar-Herunúmen. He started to use Adûnaic instead od Elven tongue and renamed himself to Ar-Adûnakhôr, the king of the West. He forbade speaking elvish and meeting with Elves either. He closed all havens. Thus Elves, always good friends of Númenoreans and very fond of them were banished from the island and came there no more. He would even hunt and punish those who would break this rule. So the Downfall of Númenor began. His son Ar-Zimrathôn, his grandson, Ar-Sakalthôr and his grandson's son Ar-Gimilzôr continued in this oppressing rule. Ar-Gimilzôr had 2 sons: older Inziladûn and younger Gimilkhâd. Inziladûn was more similar to the kings of old but Gimilkhâd was just like his father. Since Inziladûn was older he took the sceptre after Gimilzôr's death. He renamed himself to Tar-Palantír in the old manner of naming kings in Elvish. His name means the Farsighted. He tried to renew the fame and splendour of Númenor as it once was. Yet he couldn't erase the cruelty and misdoings of his forebearers. In the time of Palantír's rule a child was born. He was son of one of the king's advisors, from highly cherished Númenorean family. He was to be an advisor also. He had a name once but even him can't remember it now. I will call him Ofagizdûn in this story. In the middle of Palantír's life, Gimilkhâd passed away. It is known not if he died natural way or was poisoned, but he was too young to die naturally. So it is said he was poisoned by his enemies. Palantír had one daughter and when he died she was supposed to be his heir. But she was married to Tar-Calion, Ar-Pharazôn against the island's laws. So Ar-Pharazôn seized the sceptre and he was the mightiest and the richest of all kings of Númenor. But his mightiness was not in his arm or his wisdom, but in his army and his riches were not from the prosperous business, but from stolen gold and ransomes. In that time Ofagizdûn became the king's advisor. And he was not the honest and willing servant as his father. He was greedy, envious and he lusted for the king's power. He seemed to be good advisor to Ar-Pharazôn but everything he said was for his own profit. After some time Pharazôn's army became so great and mighty that he had dared to assault Sauron himself! Of course this idea was not from him. It came from Ofagizdûn who wished his lords death so he could marry his daughter Zimraphel and become the king himself. And so Ar-Pharazôn did what he was told to. He sailed to Middle Earth and assaulted Mordor. And Sauron was afraid. Yet all went how he desired. He surrended and Pharazôn in his abysmal pride captured Sauron and imprisoned him in his palace on Númenor. And Sauron was clothed in a fair body. First Pharazôn despised him and hearkened to him not. But Ofagizdûn was strangely interested in Sauron. Sauron was imprisoned but yet subtle and cunning. He has guessed Ofagizdûn's intentions and designs. Sauron offered him his help in exchange of information from the king's court. Thus Ofagizdûn fell into Sauron's nets and became corrupted, the first of Black Númenoreans. And Ofagizdûn spoke highly of Sauron amidst his friends and formed a group which worshipped Sauron as their leader. In a while, although locked, Sauron had a net of spies and servants all across the island. He had yet to drag Pharazôn on his side. King was very stubborn and listened to Sauron not. Long has Sauron tried to deceive but finally he has found the king's only fear: his age. It was just a matter of time when Pharazôn passes away. Yes, Númenoreans were gifted with unnaturally long lives, but their lifespan began to fade and shrink in the Winter of Númenor's fame, the end of its days, its Downfall. So Sauron promised eternal life to Pharazôn if he would just hearken to him. And so he did. And Sauron spoke about Valinor, the land where the Valar, the Gods of Middle Earth, live. He described it's beauty as it is. And Pharazôn listened to his words and was glad for Sauron promised eternal life to Pharazôn if he would just assault Valinor and take from the what is rightfully his: the right for living eternally. So king set Sauron loose and made him his advisor. And Ofagizdûn was in Sauron's favor so he climbed the ranks until he became the right hand of king. And Pharazôn built a great temple for Morgoth, Sauron's teacher and one of Valar, the Gods, the only one who is evil. And Númenoreans started to worship Morgoth and made unholy sacrifices there. Sacrifice of Men's life. Only few of the Númenoreans stayed loyal to Valar and they were called the Faithful. And their leader was called Elendil, with sons Isildur and Anarion, later kings of Men in Middle Earth after the Downfall. And so Ar-Pharazôn did what he was advised to do. He built a Great Army and sailed into the West where Valinor laid. But Sauron knew that Pharazôn will not win. And he perceived that the wrath of the Valar will be swift and when it strikes on Númenor there will be no place to hide. But Ilúvatar, the Creator of the Earth knew Sauron's intentions. So he set a Ban upon him. A Ban that forbade leaving Númenor. So Sauron at least sent Ofagizdûn and other most loyal servants to escape into Middle Earth. So did the Faithful. And Sauron stood in his temple waiting for his doom to come. And he was laughing because they could kill his body but they could not kill his foul soul. And so the Ilúvatar 's wrath came. The Valar imprisoned Ar-Pharazôn and his under a mountain and they will longer there as punishment till the end of the days 'tis said. And Ilúvatar changed the shape of the World and moved Valinor behind the Borders of the World so it cannot be reached by any mortal. He also opened great chasm under Númenor and it became devoured by the chasm. And Sauron's body was destroyed but soul endured. But after he lost his body he couldn't change his forms and faces anymore. He only stayed in one of his forms: the form of the Dark Lord, which was terrible to look upon. And Sauron took refugee in a land of Mordor where he built his fortress, Barad-Dûr. When he arrived Ofagizdûn was already waiting for Sauron. And Sauron was glad. As a reward for Ofagizdûn's patience and loyalty Sauron gave him one of the Seven dwarves rings to unnaturally prolong his life. And henceforth Ofagizdûn abandoned his name and his sight also as to express the blind faith he had to Sauron. So Sauron clothed him and gave him a great helmet which covered all his face but for his mouth. And as time went his mouth became rotten, decayed and bled with every word spoken. For he was the herald of Sauron and Sauron's word were so foul that simply repeating caused his mouth to decay and bleed. But he met his deserved fate in the end. He perished in Third Age of Middle Earth when Sauron was defeated and Mordor was laid waste. That was the life of Lammen Gorthaur, the Voice of the Abhorrent Dead, the Lieutenant of the Black Tower.