The History of Amon Thranduil And Other Things

Amon Thranduil, or the Thranduil's Hill, is named for its current ruler. It was founded in the second age by his father, King Oropher. Oropher and his kin had come from Doriath near the end of the first age, seeking a new home. They settled in Greenwood the Great, now known as Mirkwood to many of its neighbors, and lived there in watchful peace through much of the second age.
As Sindar, they were highly respected by the local elves, who had settled there instead of crossing the Misty Mountains to the west. Living aside the Anduin, and Taurduin, or farther south, in the forest proper, the Silvan elves loosely aligned themselves under the leadership of the Sinda Lords. Over time, darkness, and the dwarves of Moria, led the elves to abandon the southern woods, and move farther north. As the darkness gained strength, Oropher commanded his son to fortify a hill north of the Taurduin river. To this city, many of the elves traveled, and in its formidable halls the Sinda Lords did hold court.
In the Last Alliance of Man and Elf, at the end of the 2nd age, many of the elves of Greenwood took part, though at its end only a third returned. Slain was Oropher, and so Thranduil became King of the Greenwoods.
Though the third age has been generally peaceful north of the river, and Amon Thranduil has never been breached by foe, the continuous presence of evil in the southern forest has made the elves wary and stern in protecting their realm. Patrols cross the river and spy the entire forest, though the danger is great. Thranduil rules from Amon Thranduil.
The great battle of five armies is the last true battle waged by the elves in great numbers, and with the death of Smaug, and the expulsion of the Necromancer from Dol Guldor, it would seem that the elves would be able to begin the process of retaking the southern wood, but even as such plans are made, the darkness seems to rise again. Aiding the elves of Greenwood are the Beornings of the Anduin river, as well as the suprising alliance with the dwarves of Erebor.

There are 3 major clans in Amon Thranduil/Mirkwood and we do ask all citizens to join one of them. The clan you will join depends heavily upon the job you have want, but that is not the only factor that will determine it.
The Laiquendi or green elves are also known as the Singers of Ossiriand. Singers, artists, diplomats, minstrels and historians would belong to this clan.
The Laiquendi common room is inside the halls of Amon Thranduil.
The Erynedhrim or the wood elves of Mirkwood are another clan. Warriors, smiths, guards, hunters and scouts would belong to this clan.
The Erynedhrim common quarters are up in the Beeches just west of the halls.
The Duinedhrim or the river elves of Mirkwood are the third clan. Traders, brewers, clothiers, jewellers and innkeepers would belong to this clan. The Duinedhrim clan house is in Celebannon, where most of the Duinedhrim live.

Before they began the journey to the West, the elves divided themselves up into three clans, the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri. When Orome came to lead the elves to Valinor, it was hotly debated among the elves whether or not to accept these summons. The Noldor and Vanyar undertook the march, but some of the Teleri chose to stay behind in the far east. These became the Avari, or Dark Elves.
Along the march, some of the Teleri changed their minds. They stayed in Greenwood the Great, on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, and became known as the Nandor, those who turn back. Because they chose a forest for their home, they also became known as the Silvan elves. It is this group who comprises most of the population of Amon Thranduil.
Silvan elves tend to be outdoorish types. The love nature, especially the forest. They have adopted the Sindarin language for most day-to-day speech, though they also speak Bethteur, an older form of the language. A very few among them even know Quenya, the language of the High Elves of the West, although its speech is banned from use in Thranduil's realm.
The Silvan elves tend to stay to their own realm more than other elves. Though they enjoy contact with the outside world, they would prefer to stay in their forest, fighting the evil that has taken root there. But for the most part they are a merry folk, singing and laughing and telling stories.

In the beginning there was Eru, the One, who was later called Illuvatar, and from his thoughts sprang the Ainur. Together from the Void their voices rose up in chorus, and of their song sprang the vision of Arda, the world, and it was was given form by Iluvatar, and was Ea, the World That Is.
Most of the Ainur stayed in the Timeless Halls in the Void, but some went forth upon Arda to shape it, and they were the Valar and the Maiar. Of the Valar there were fifteen, and they were Manwe (Lord of the Wind), Varda (Queen of the Stars), Ulmo (Lord of the Ocean), Nienna (the Weeper), Aule (the Smith), Yavanna (Giver of Fruits), Orome (Lord of the Forests), Vana (the Youthful), Mandos (Keeper of the Dead), Vaire (the Weaver), Lorien (Master of Dreams), Este (the Healer), Tulkas (the Wrestler), Nessa (the Dancer), and Melkor, who was later Morgoth, the Dark Enemy.
Melkor, whose song even in the beginning had marred the grand plan of Iluvatar and had caused discord in the great chorus, now came forth into Arda with a host of Maiar that he had perverted, and caused conflict. This was the first war, and the Valar won, yet Arda was scarred.
Then Aule constructed two huge lamps set upon pillars, and Varda and Manwe filled them with light, and this was the Spring of Arda, when the Valar dwelt in Almaren. Yavanna filled the land with her forests and meadows and under the light of the lamps all seemed good.
However, in the North Melkor raised up the Iron Mountains and beneath them built his evil stronghold of Utumno, and grew in power. At length, he came to Almaren and knocked down the pillars and from the flames that sprang from the light of the lamps, the fair land was lost.
The Valar fled westwards, and Middle Earth was left to the evil power of Melkor.
The land to which the Valar fled to was called Aman and also Valinor, the Undying Lands, and the city of the Valar was called Valimar. Upon the green mound called Ezellohar at Valimar's western gate Yavanna sat and sang, and Nienna watered the earth with her tears. And then, two trees sprang up - Telperion the silver, and Laurellin the golden. Their light filled Aman as they waxed and waned, marking the passage of days, but their light did not reach Arda, for the Valar had raised the mighty Pelori mountains to keep Melkor out of Aman.
So it was under the light of the trees that Manwe first conceived the Eagles, and Yavanna the Ents, and Aule the dwarves, but Arda was still in darkness, and there Melkor made his fortress in Angband, and names Sauron the Maia its master.
Yavanna was alone among the Valar in walking upon Arda during this time, and she caused all her creations to sleep during this Age of Darkness, so to be safe from Melkor.
During the second half of the Ages of the Trees, the Valar learned of the imminent awakening of the elves, and so Varda gathered silver dew from Telperion, and with it rekindled the stars. The evil creatures of Melkor were unused to such light and fled; and so it was under the light of Varda's stars that the elves awoke and thus ever have they revered her most of all the Valar. Also awakened were the Ents and Eagles and Dwarves, and also were now created the Orcs and Trolls, who were Elves and Ents captured and tortured by Melkor and perverted to his evil purposes.
Hearing of Melkor's evil, Orome the Horseman led the Valar in war upon him, and the Iron Mountains and Utumno were destroyed, and Melkor was chained.
And so now came the Peace of Arda, and the Valar called the upon the elves to travel westwards, to Eldamar, the home they had prepared for them in the Undying Lands, for the Valar sought to protect them from the remnants of Melkor's evil still in Arda.
With this goal, Orome came to the elves, and urged them to follow him, and some heeded his call and some did not, and thus were the elves sundered.