NationStates Jolt Archive


The Easterling Factbook

The Dominion of Sweden
18-08-2006, 16:38
Name: Khand, Harad, and Rhun (Easterlings)
Capital: Haradwraith
Population: 250,000
Leader: None as it is a confederation of tribes

Army:
250 Oliphaunts (Heavily armored, with mounted archers)
7,000 Human Horsemen
10,000 Human Archers
20,000 Human Soldiers

Geography:
The land of the Easterlings is mostly rolling desert hills.

Climate:
It is very dry with little humidity and there is a lack of water.

Economy:
The Men of Khand and Harad are a loose confederation of tribes, an economy does not exist. But each tribe survives off its land. Each tribe makes their own armor and weaponry so there are some differences, but in the Third Age they have become more united and therefore armor and weapons are more streamlined. Oliphaunts are captured and used for mostly battle, if one is killed it is used entirely. Most trade is done with goods rather than coins.

History:
Easterlings:
Easterlings of the First Age

During the First Age, the term was applied to the Swarthy Men who came from the east and went into Beleriand much later than the Edain. Easterlings are of the same ethnic stock as the Forodwaith, and later men of Lossoth. They were dark-skinned and broad. The most powerful of their chieftains were Bór and Ulfang.

House of Bór

Bór came into Lothlann in Beleriand in the year 463. His sons were Bórlach, Bórlad and Bórthand. Bór was welcomed by the sons of Fëanor, and Maedhros gave him and his followers land north of the March of Maedhros, and south of it. Bór and his sons swore allegiance to Maedhros, and remained faithful, though he was told by Morgoth to betray the banner of Caranthir. All of them were wiped out during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

House of Ulfang

Ulfang also came in Lothlann in Beleriand in the same year, shortly after Bór. He was the father of Ulfast, Ulwarth, and Uldor. Ulfang was also welcomed by the sons of Fëanor, and he and his sons swore allegiance to Caranthir. They were given lands to dwell in the north and south of the March of Maedhros. Ulfang and his sons were secretly in the employ of Morgoth, and betrayed the Eldar and Edain during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in what was later known as the Treachery of Men. For their treachery Ulfang was called the Black and Uldor, the Accursed. Ulfang and his sons were all slain in the battle.

However, Ulfang's Easterlings were also betrayed by their lord Morgoth, who had promised them vast lands, and they were locked in Hithlum. After the War of Wrath, those that survived fled back over the Ered Luin to Eriador and beyond.

Easterlings of the Third Age

During the Third Age, the term was applied to those Men living beyond the Sea of Rhûn, who were allied with Sauron and frequently attacked Gondor.

Wainriders

The Wainriders were a confederation of Easterling tribes who were united by their hate of Gondor, fueled by Sauron. Following the Great Plague which weakened Gondor, they started their attacks in 1856 (T.A.), defeating the Gondorian army and killing King Narmacil II. They rode in great wagons and chariots (which gave them their name), and raided the lands of Rhovanion, destroying or enslaving its people. Gondor gradually lost all of its possessions east of Anduin to them. The thirtieth king of Gondor, Calimehtar son of Narmacil, defeated the Wainriders at the Field of Celebrant, buying some rest for his land. However the Wainriders struck back in 1944, allying themselves with the Haradrim of Near Harad and the Variags of Khand. They managed to kill King Ondoher and all his heirs, but instead of riding on to Minas Anor and taking the city, they paused to celebrate. Meanwhile, general Eärnil of Gondor's southern army had defeated the Haradrim and rode north to defend his king. He came too late to rescue Ondoher, but managed to totally defeat the Wainriders. Eärnil was crowned king. After this defeat the might of the Wainriders was broken, and they retreated east. They still held Rhovanion, but never troubled Gondor again. It later turned out that their attacks were staged by Sauron to allow him to reclaim Mordor while Gondor's watch was diverted.

Balchoth

The Balchoth were a fierce group of Easterlings, who attacked Gondor while under orders of Dol Guldur. In 2510 they overran the plains of Calenardhon and almost destroyed the army of the Ruling Steward Cirion, but were defeated by the Éothéod under Eorl the Young. Like the Wainriders they rode in chariots and wagons, and they may have been descendants of this people.

Variags of Khand

The Variags were from Khand, and they first appeared in the north-west of Middle-earth in 1944 of the Third Age, fighting alongside the Wainriders. They were also present during the battle of the Pelennor Fields, over a thousand years later. Little was known about them.

Easterlings during the War of the Ring

During the War of the Ring itself, Easterlings are described as perhaps belonging to more than one culture, plus the Variags of Khand. One group is described as a "new" kind of Easterling that the men of Gondor had previously not encountered; fierce bearded men with axes.