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Description
The Old World Will Burn:
A Lord of the Rings AU set in the movie universe with the materials from the Games Workshop “Battle Games in Middle Earth” series helping to fill in a few blanks.

In this telling of the tale the Uruk Hai armies at Helms Deep were able to rally as the relief force led by Gandalf and Eomer arrived to assist the beleaguered and outnumbered defenders of the Hornburg. Though the Rohirrim were able to drive a few ranks deep into the army the Uruk pikes skewered hundreds. The charge faltered and was quickly overwhelmed by the weary but heavily armed and enraged Uruk soldiers. The Rohirrim were routed as they struggled back up the steep escarpment they had charged down minutes earlier or fled into the shadows of the dark and gnarled forest that had suddenly appeared at the other end of the valley.

Many brave defenders had fallen in the battle including King Theoden, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Legolas the prince of Mirkwood and Gimli son of Gloin. The Fellowship of the Ring, which had already been broken now suffered the loss of three of their members.

Still the Uruks found themselves struggling to escape the fortress they had just taken. With the assistance of their blasting powder and copious amounts of fire they were able to burn their way through the forest with only a couple of hundred losses. Still numbering several thousand the weary Uruks, Orcs and Dunlendings began the long march back to Isengard. There they found their base of operations flooded and overrun with Ents. Enraged the Uruks forced the Ents out of their home. Their numbers thinned by the battle, the Ents fled back to the much reduced borders of Fangorn Forest. Saruman permitted his warriors a short rest and then put them to the task of rebuilding his great fortress.

Still the War of the Ring had already begun. The brunt of Sauron's assault on the Free Peoples fell on Minas Tirith. Isolated, under-defended and facing an army beyond count the city was overrun in a matter of days and all within were slain or enslaved. His greatest obstacle removed, Sauron looked ready to engulf all of Middle Earth with darkness and tyranny. However, not even a day after his great victory, he was undone.

Sauron's war effort had drained Mordor of it's manpower and the Gorgoroth Plateau was unguarded. Sauron's attention was elsewhere as well as he directed his numerous invasions. Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer, finally made it to Orodruin, or Mount Doom as it was also known, and threw the ring into the fires from which they had been forged long ago. Sauron dissipated as his powers were destroyed, Barad-dur toppled, Mordor collapsed and the Nazgul disappeared as they too were robbed of their unnatural life. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee lay down on the side of Orodruin and accepted their fate, though they had given their lives to do so, they had saved Middle Earth from the Shadow.

However though Sauron was gone and the War of the Ring ended, peace did not replace it.

The Kingdom of Rohan is dead and in its place has risen the fell Empire of Lugdush. The name, derived from Black Speech, describes the dreaded tower of Orthanc from which the empire is ruled.

Isengard is much the same size as it has always been though the walls have been rebuilt thicker and stronger than before. It's industry has not only been restored but has expanded with time. The chasms beneath the fortress have been expanded. With the foundations of Orthanc at its core, the system of tunnels, chasms and mines stretches far beyond the borders of the fortress. Housing furnaces, foundries and barracks where the great legions of Isengard are birthed, trained, equipped and housed. Coal seams found in the Misty Mountains now fuel the fires of Isengard though the trees of Fangorn are still felled in order to remind the denizens of the great forest that the Empire is not to be trifled with.

The people of Rohan still live but things are very different. The survivors of the kingdom have been rounded up into new settlements and forced to till the land as slaves of Saruman. The fields of Rohan now grow the grain and raise the cattle that feed the vast armies of Isengard. Some villages have actively collaborated with Isengard and often receive better treatment in return and occasionally even gain a chance to serve in his armies and earn the privileges that come with such services. The people are now practically forbidden to use horses with only a few exceptions such as draft horses. Surprisingly trade still survives as certain individuals are granted permission to conduct business and travel between settlements. However they still require permits and other documents in order to travel safety and will often be forced to rent out Uruk-Hai guards to be recognised as an official businessman.

Dunland is nominally independent as a vassal of Lugdush. The Dunlendings were granted portions of Rohan to resettle in order to placate the tribesmen but in return they found themselves increasingly under Saruman's control. The tribes and clans of Dunland have centralised thanks to the machinations and designs of Saruman and many have even adopted many of his weapons and machines. Dunlending soldiers are now a common sight in the armies of Lugdush, armed and armoured in similar armour to the Uruk-Hai but armed with their own, more traditional, weapons.

Saruman the White continues to seek power even though the Ring of Power has been destroyed. He still has his sorcery and his power despite the losses he suffered after his first invasion of Rohan. He continues to invent new devices and machinery to expand his industry, equip his armies and strengthen his power further. With vast armies and a mighty empire at his disposal he is continuing his plans for dominance for he has tasted power and is unwilling to let any of it go. Even now his armies march north and west into the ruins of Eriador, pushing north from Dunland in great waves that none in the north are able to stand against.

Under assault by the Uruk-Hai and Dunlending soldiers of Lugdush, the Goblins of the Misty Mountains and the Orcs from Angmar and Gundabad, the people of Eriador have been scattered. The Dunedain Rangers are stretched to the breaking point and continue an increasingly fruitless struggle against the forces of destruction. Halbarad has taken over as chieftain of the Dunedain and has even rallied the remaining free peoples of Eriador.

The Confederation of the Free Peoples is a nation built out of desperation. Centred in Bree, which is now an immense, if ramshackle, settlement swelled by refugees, the Confederation has managed to finally rally in Arthedain and Minhariath. Officially a confederation of various cultures and settlements, the Free Peoples are now a military state led by the Dunedain who are responsible for training the various militia into a proper military. Ancient Numenorian craftsman has been taught to the smiths of the Free Peoples though it has been bastardised by necessity since the other Free Peoples do not know how to properly craft the weapons of the Dunedain and have been forced to make it possible to produce rapidly.

Here and there, small clans and communities of Elves, those who chose not to take the ships to the West, can be found. They offer what support they can for the Confederation and provide invaluable support to the Dunedain and the Free Peoples as a whole.

The few cities that do exist within the territories of the Free Peoples are ramshackle affairs. Mostly constructed from wood and surrounded by wooden palisades or, occasionally, simple stone walls, these large settlements have proven to be relatively safe havens for the displaced and dispossessed people of the North. Unfortunately these newly built cities are steeped in squalor and corruption as the refugees are forced into the packed settlements with few possessions and little with which they can protect themselves. Gangs of ruffians prowl the streets and entire districts can often be controlled by criminal syndicates and guilds. Things are hardly better for those who remain in the countryside for they are still at the mercy of the roaming packs of Goblins and Orcs that still make incursions into their territory. Wooden castles and palisades have been constructed to provide some modicum of safety for the people but life is still difficult and precarious.

Beset by packs of Orcs and with the armies of Lugdush encroaching on their borders the Free Peoples have been forced to change their tactics. With slightly better weaponry now available the once disparate people of Eriador are now organising themselves into proper soldiers. Soldiers of the Free Peoples now march in serried ranks, dressed in poorly coloured and coordinated uniforms and equipped with weapons that all differ slightly in appearance due to their differences in craftsmanship. The Dunedain all rove ahead and around the soldiers of Eriador, stalking and ambushing invaders and intervening in battle as the deadly archers they have always been known as.

The Shire was another realm touched by the war. Though the Hobbits were loathe to involve themselves in the wars and issues beyond their borders but after they too were assaulted by the Orcs from Angmar and Gundabad they too agreed to assist and do their part in the defence of all decent people in the North. They are still the most isolated and have issues with Men settling in their lands permanently but in return for their autonomy they supply fine and dedicated soldiers who exhibit phenomenal courage and fortitude. Bagend is now the property of the Sacksville Baggins since Bilbo left for the Grey Havens, though unbroken he was embittered by the death of his nephew and would forever show reluctance in mentioning his lost heir, even in the paradise of Valinor.

Gondor has not fallen but is has been dealt a terrible blow. After the Corsairs of Umbar moved north to the Pelennor Fields the armies of Gondor's fiefdoms were able to rally and form a defensive ring. Refugees from further east swamped Gondor's western lands at the same time that Rohirrim peasants fled south, many even braving the mountain passes of Dunharrow to find sanctuary. These people were conscripted into Gondor's overstretched armies in return for the safety and support that Gondor, somewhat begrudgingly, gave them.

With Minas Tirith still in the hands of their enemies the Gondorian capital has been moved to Dol Amroth and, in a highly controversial move, a prominent general has declared himself the new king of Gondor since the line of Stewards has been extinguished and the throne and crown are lost. The cities and settlements of Gondor have been both expanded and fortified since the long war with Mordor has now become much more precarious. With the natural defences of the Anduin now gone the Gondorians now find themselves with a much less defensible eastern border. Remaining eastern settlements like Pelagir are now more like castles than cities and are populated by more soldiers than non-combatant citizens. The coasts are now ringed by fortresses and outposts designed to warn the remaining coastal settlements of Corsair and Haradrim incursions and provide them with sanctuary.

All of these measures have cost the people of Gondor dearly. Taxes have been raised to support the expanded armies and fortifications that keep them safe. The thousands of refugees have been settled in the countryside, often near some manner of fortified structure, and made to expand infrastructure and farm the land. Tax collectors are a sight feared by many people as certain regions, often those that are being immediately assailed by an enemy, are being bled dry by the war effort. Conscription parties are also common sights in regions especially since the recent reignition of the wars with the Orcs coming from Mordor and Lugdush. The cities are still sites of prosperity though they too suffer from a loss of lustre and vibrancy from the war and the strains on their kingdom.

The armies of Gondor, now sufficiently reinforced are once again a formidable foe for the forces that assail the kingdom. Serried ranks of well equipped and well trained soldiers form armoured walls of spears and pikes that charges are dashed against whilst the mighty cavalry of the Kingdom, led by the unstoppable and noble Swan Knights crush anything in their path. Rangers and militia forces assault invading forces before they even reach the battlefield and sow havoc in enemy ranks. The famed soldiers that all characterised the more unique fiefdoms and cities still fight in Gondor's armies as they always have. Alchemists have brewed all manner of deadly concoctions that are launched by artillery at enemy forces.

At the same time that they're fighting this terrible war the Gondorians are expanding, through the use of conscripted refugees. The lands of Enedwaith are being seized by the armies of Gondor and the people within are being subjugated in an effort to provide more territory and resources for the Kingdom of Gondor. Even though this is now putting them in direct conflict with Lugdush the king and his aristocracy all consider it a worthy effort and a necessity after the terrible losses they have suffered. Others in his court at Dol Amroth are worried that this is merely stretching what few resources they still have available to them. Even with their renewed war with the Corsairs the fleets of Gondor are roaming far and wide and with new ships being built in the more protected harbours at Enedwaith, they are now sending explorers and colonists overseas to Western Eriador and the abandoned lands of Lindon. The ingenuity and efficiency of the old Gondorian kingdom can still be seen in the speed they exhibit when building the new camps and settlements which are quickly replaced by rough stone fortifications in a matter of years.

Though Sauron was destroyed and his powerbase at Gorgoroth collapsed into the abyss his armies, which were all away on campaign, were able to rally. The Kingdom of Mordor is not what it once was. It is, however, still a threat to the people of Gondor and all other peoples around it. The Kingdom stretches from Minas Tirith and the Anorien in the west, over Dagorlad and up to the southern most borders of Mirkwood (they claim it but only have a few token outposts to enforce their claims) to the western borders of Khand and the River Poros in the South, all of which were lands conquered by the armies of Sauron before his demise.

Mordor is now ruled by the great Orc king Gothmog, who found himself commander of Mordor's armies with the dissipation of Sauron and the Nazgul. Gothmog rules from Minas Morgol, the fortress he was captain of. Minas Tirith remains under his control and has, in turn, been remade into a massive fortification. Covered in iron spikes and crude military structures, the once noble fortress city has become a symbol for what Gothmog and his kin will do to the world of Men.

Without the power of Sauron the great cloud of Orodruin has been absent for decades and the once great volcano has quieted to inactivity. The Orcs of Mordor have been forced to adapt but their discipline has allowed them to remain the formidable war machine they were long ago. Though not lush the plains of Mordor have bloomed with grass and saplings which have survived the attentions of the Orcs through natural tenacity and the fact that the Orc populations have been forced to spread out to support the massive empire they now find themselves lords over. The old fortifications have been rebuilt and expanded upon and new outposts are spreading across the significant fiefdoms of Mordor. Uruk-Hai and Olog-Hai are increasing in number and represent the elite of Mordor's armies. The great furnaces, which have been rebuilt, craft better and better armour and weaponry for Gothmog's forces. The Black Numenorians, though still low in number are by far the finest and most well equipped forces in Mordor.

Without the smog of Orodriun the lands of Mordor have become more fertile than ever before. Nurnen experienced a very short period of freedom when Sauron was destroyed. The slaves rose up and overthrew their disoriented Orc masters and were about to organize themselves when the armies of Gothmog returned, decimated their ranks and returned the survivors to work. Nurnen and other areas in Anorien, Dagorlad and even parts of Gorgoroth are now tilled by Human and Orc slaves who grow food and raise livestock to feed and support the armies of Mordor. New slaves are provided by the neighbouring Haradrim and Variags who are more than happy to sell dissident tribesmen and the losers of internal feuds to the Orcs.

Though they have slowed down the armies of Mordor are on a permanent war footing. The border with Gondor sees constant battle as columns of Orcs march west to face the armies of the Gondorian people. Incursions are being sent into mirkwood but little success is being on made on that front. The Orcs of Mordor are on understandable terms with Lugdush but hostilities are growing between Minas Morgul and Isengard.

After the battle of the Pelennor Fields the Haradrim and the Corsairs of Umbar went on another rampage into Gondor, supported by the armies of Mordor, Rhun and Khand. However Sauron's destruction led to the collapse of the tenuous alliance between these four armies. The armies of Mordor returned east to restore order and establish a new hierarchy and the Easterlings and Variags went off in different directions. Isolated, the Haradrim were rebuffed by the Gondorians under their new king and were forced back to the Harandor. Relations with Mordor turned very sour after the Orcs secured Ithilien and refused to grant the Haradrim any of the lush lands beyond the Poros.

Suladan, the Serpent Lord of the Haradrim Great Army, not only survived the war but rallied his troops afterwards. His defeats had shaken the armies confidence in him but he was able to regain it by crushing attempts by Mordor to reassert control over the Great Army and Harlindon. Seeing Gondor as a lost cause he instead returned to Harad to answer to the irate lords of Umbar. With the reduced but loyal Great Army at his back he overthrew the Black Numenorean lords of Umbar, fighting off countless assassination attempts on the way, and crowned himself the High-King of Harad. Suladan has spent all of his time since strengthening his rule. From Umbar he exerts control over the petty kings around him and has subjugated the tribes of the interior deserts. The mercantile cities of the east have sworn allegiance to him and the wealth of their coffers enriches Suladan's empire.

Recently fleets from Umbar have gone south to the lands of the Mahud tribes and the Half-Trolls. They have always been sources of trade but now Suladan wants to find what lies beyond. Already contact is being made with new tribes and the exotic items they return with are bringing new riches to Umbar. The shipwrights are now constructing great merchant ships for the riches of the south and the lands beyond that are too tantalising a gift to ignore.

To the North East the various peoples of the vast land known as Rhovanian came under assault as the rest of the world did. Assailed by Orcs from Mordor and the Misty Mountains and raided by the Easterlings and Variags, the people of Rhovanian were forced to flee to the lands that were safe and defensible. The people found safety in the lands around the Lonely Mountain and on the borders of Mirkwood where they rallied and drove back their enemies. Since then they have been able to reclaim territories, organize themselves and fortify what they had been able to preserve. As the Free Peoples formed in Eriador, so too did the people of Rhovanion form the League of Celduin, named for the river that their lands are centred around.

The League is not a nation but rather an alliance of the besieged. As the richest, and now largest, settlement, Dale is the 'capital' of the League and the political centre of this alliance. The men of Dale, like all others have been forced to expand their armed forces, train their citizens as a levy army and fortify their settlements. Rhovanion has been assaulted by enemies before but never before has it been so dire and chaotic. The Celduin is now dotted with new towns and the older settlements have expanded exponentially as new people flood the cities and towns, forcing the established communities to accommodate them. The great cities and the new settlements all possess some basic form of fortification in order to ward off Orc and Easterling raiding parties. Surprisingly the cities of the League are prospering on some level thanks to the trade on the River Celduin. Trade with the Dwarves of Erebor provides immense amounts of wealth for the people. Though the various city masters control the flow of trade along the river with strict authority this has not prevented the wealth from slowly trickling down to other people.

The armies of Dale are rather diverse and often have trouble coordinating themselves. Horsemen from Central Rhovanian, militia men from the Vale of Anduin and the distinctively well equipped soldiers of Dale and Esgaroth can all be found in the League's forces and many generals often struggle to coordinate the many different kinds of soldiers under their command. However as the people are forced together for longer periods of time these soldiers are becoming more uniform as more equipment is produced, often to a certain standard.

After breaking the siege of Erebor the Dwarves of Erebor have a closer relationship with the people of Dale than ever before. However they are loathe to support the League directly. The Dwarves have, for the most part, returned to their mines. They happily trade with the people of the League and happily sell them weapons.

Mirkwood has once again become Greenwood. The Elves of Greenwood still remain in their forest and happily tend it, expanding their kingdom to fully encompass it's former borders. Dol Goldur has been torn down completely and it's foundations have been shattered beyond repair. Though few in number the Elves have found a great energy once again and their king Thranduil has roused his kingdom and his people. The loss of his son has angered him greatly and the knowledge that those responsible for his death not only survive but thrive infuriates him. Though progress is slow and meticulous the Elves of Greenwood are preparing for war. Weapons that have not been held for years are being raised and battle formations are being assembled.

Greenwood is just as threatening a place as it was when it was Mirkwood. No-one is welcome under the boughs of the forest and those who venture into the forest rarely ever return. Whether Thranduil commands it or not the Elves guard their borders jealously, the memories of Dol Goldur and the penetration of their borders by countless hordes of Orcs is still fresh in their minds and their militarisation has done no favours to their distrust of those beyond their borders.

Even as the world prepares to march to war once again one figure works to end it all before it becomes too late. Gandalf the White, once again clad in grey robes walks the face of Middle Earth seeking allies. Considering his task far from complete, the white wizard plans to rekindle the bonds of friendship and allegiance between the various free peoples of Middle Earth. Even as the Elves of Greenwood battle the men of the League, even as armies of the Free Peoples and Gondor clash over territory and even as the armies of the enemy march on their borders, he will never stop. Upon horse Shadowfax he travels across the lands bringing news and advice, supporting the wise and denouncing the foolish.

Meanwhile another great shadow appears in the east. The men of the League have seen a great cloud of dust that many claim blots out the sun. Towns have been overrun and armies crushed by this new threat. The petty kings of Rhun have finally been brought into line by one of their own and this new High-King has brought the vast hordes of Rhun and Khand to the borders of the West.

Description
The Old World Will Burn:
A Lord of the Rings AU set in the movie universe with the materials from the Games Workshop “Battle Games in Middle Earth” series helping to fill in a few blanks.

In this telling of the tale the Uruk Hai armies at Helms Deep were able to rally as the relief force led by Gandalf and Eomer arrived to assist the beleaguered and outnumbered defenders of the Hornburg. Though the Rohirrim were able to drive a few ranks deep into the army the Uruk pikes skewered hundreds. The charge faltered and was quickly overwhelmed by the weary but heavily armed and enraged Uruk soldiers. The Rohirrim were routed as they struggled back up the steep escarpment they had charged down minutes earlier or fled into the shadows of the dark and gnarled forest that had suddenly appeared at the other end of the valley.

Many brave defenders had fallen in the battle including King Theoden, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Legolas the prince of Mirkwood and Gimli son of Gloin. The Fellowship of the Ring, which had already been broken now suffered the loss of three of their members.

Still the Uruks found themselves struggling to escape the fortress they had just taken. With the assistance of their blasting powder and copious amounts of fire they were able to burn their way through the forest with only a couple of hundred losses. Still numbering several thousand the weary Uruks, Orcs and Dunlendings began the long march back to Isengard. There they found their base of operations flooded and overrun with Ents. Enraged the Uruks forced the Ents out of their home. Their numbers thinned by the battle, the Ents fled back to the much reduced borders of Fangorn Forest. Saruman permitted his warriors a short rest and then put them to the task of rebuilding his great fortress.

Still the War of the Ring had already begun. The brunt of Sauron's assault on the Free Peoples fell on Minas Tirith. Isolated, under-defended and facing an army beyond count the city was overrun in a matter of days and all within were slain or enslaved. His greatest obstacle removed, Sauron looked ready to engulf all of Middle Earth with darkness and tyranny. However, not even a day after his great victory, he was undone.

Sauron's war effort had drained Mordor of it's manpower and the Gorgoroth Plateau was unguarded. Sauron's attention was elsewhere as well as he directed his numerous invasions. Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer, finally made it to Orodruin, or Mount Doom as it was also known, and threw the ring into the fires from which they had been forged long ago. Sauron dissipated as his powers were destroyed, Barad-dur toppled, Mordor collapsed and the Nazgul disappeared as they too were robbed of their unnatural life. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee lay down on the side of Orodruin and accepted their fate, though they had given their lives to do so, they had saved Middle Earth from the Shadow.

However though Sauron was gone and the War of the Ring ended, peace did not replace it.

The Kingdom of Rohan is dead and in its place has risen the fell Empire of Lugdush. The name, derived from Black Speech, describes the dreaded tower of Orthanc from which the empire is ruled.

Isengard is much the same size as it has always been though the walls have been rebuilt thicker and stronger than before. It's industry has not only been restored but has expanded with time. The chasms beneath the fortress have been expanded. With the foundations of Orthanc at its core, the system of tunnels, chasms and mines stretches far beyond the borders of the fortress. Housing furnaces, foundries and barracks where the great legions of Isengard are birthed, trained, equipped and housed. Coal seams found in the Misty Mountains now fuel the fires of Isengard though the trees of Fangorn are still felled in order to remind the denizens of the great forest that the Empire is not to be trifled with.

The people of Rohan still live but things are very different. The survivors of the kingdom have been rounded up into new settlements and forced to till the land as slaves of Saruman. The fields of Rohan now grow the grain and raise the cattle that feed the vast armies of Isengard. Some villages have actively collaborated with Isengard and often receive better treatment in return and occasionally even gain a chance to serve in his armies and earn the privileges that come with such services. The people are now practically forbidden to use horses with only a few exceptions such as draft horses. Surprisingly trade still survives as certain individuals are granted permission to conduct business and travel between settlements. However they still require permits and other documents in order to travel safety and will often be forced to rent out Uruk-Hai guards to be recognised as an official businessman.

Dunland is nominally independent as a vassal of Lugdush. The Dunlendings were granted portions of Rohan to resettle in order to placate the tribesmen but in return they found themselves increasingly under Saruman's control. The tribes and clans of Dunland have centralised thanks to the machinations and designs of Saruman and many have even adopted many of his weapons and machines. Dunlending soldiers are now a common sight in the armies of Lugdush, armed and armoured in similar armour to the Uruk-Hai but armed with their own, more traditional, weapons.

Saruman the White continues to seek power even though the Ring of Power has been destroyed. He still has his sorcery and his power despite the losses he suffered after his first invasion of Rohan. He continues to invent new devices and machinery to expand his industry, equip his armies and strengthen his power further. With vast armies and a mighty empire at his disposal he is continuing his plans for dominance for he has tasted power and is unwilling to let any of it go. Even now his armies march north and west into the ruins of Eriador, pushing north from Dunland in great waves that none in the north are able to stand against.

Under assault by the Uruk-Hai and Dunlending soldiers of Lugdush, the Goblins of the Misty Mountains and the Orcs from Angmar and Gundabad, the people of Eriador have been scattered. The Dunedain Rangers are stretched to the breaking point and continue an increasingly fruitless struggle against the forces of destruction. Halbarad has taken over as chieftain of the Dunedain and has even rallied the remaining free peoples of Eriador.

The Confederation of the Free Peoples is a nation built out of desperation. Centred in Bree, which is now an immense, if ramshackle, settlement swelled by refugees, the Confederation has managed to finally rally in Arthedain and Minhariath. Officially a confederation of various cultures and settlements, the Free Peoples are now a military state led by the Dunedain who are responsible for training the various militia into a proper military. Ancient Numenorian craftsman has been taught to the smiths of the Free Peoples though it has been bastardised by necessity since the other Free Peoples do not know how to properly craft the weapons of the Dunedain and have been forced to make it possible to produce rapidly.

Here and there, small clans and communities of Elves, those who chose not to take the ships to the West, can be found. They offer what support they can for the Confederation and provide invaluable support to the Dunedain and the Free Peoples as a whole.

The few cities that do exist within the territories of the Free Peoples are ramshackle affairs. Mostly constructed from wood and surrounded by wooden palisades or, occasionally, simple stone walls, these large settlements have proven to be relatively safe havens for the displaced and dispossessed people of the North. Unfortunately these newly built cities are steeped in squalor and corruption as the refugees are forced into the packed settlements with few possessions and little with which they can protect themselves. Gangs of ruffians prowl the streets and entire districts can often be controlled by criminal syndicates and guilds. Things are hardly better for those who remain in the countryside for they are still at the mercy of the roaming packs of Goblins and Orcs that still make incursions into their territory. Wooden castles and palisades have been constructed to provide some modicum of safety for the people but life is still difficult and precarious.

Beset by packs of Orcs and with the armies of Lugdush encroaching on their borders the Free Peoples have been forced to change their tactics. With slightly better weaponry now available the once disparate people of Eriador are now organising themselves into proper soldiers. Soldiers of the Free Peoples now march in serried ranks, dressed in poorly coloured and coordinated uniforms and equipped with weapons that all differ slightly in appearance due to their differences in craftsmanship. The Dunedain all rove ahead and around the soldiers of Eriador, stalking and ambushing invaders and intervening in battle as the deadly archers they have always been known as.

The Shire was another realm touched by the war. Though the Hobbits were loathe to involve themselves in the wars and issues beyond their borders but after they too were assaulted by the Orcs from Angmar and Gundabad they too agreed to assist and do their part in the defence of all decent people in the North. They are still the most isolated and have issues with Men settling in their lands permanently but in return for their autonomy they supply fine and dedicated soldiers who exhibit phenomenal courage and fortitude. Bagend is now the property of the Sacksville Baggins since Bilbo left for the Grey Havens, though unbroken he was embittered by the death of his nephew and would forever show reluctance in mentioning his lost heir, even in the paradise of Valinor.

Gondor has not fallen but is has been dealt a terrible blow. After the Corsairs of Umbar moved north to the Pelennor Fields the armies of Gondor's fiefdoms were able to rally and form a defensive ring. Refugees from further east swamped Gondor's western lands at the same time that Rohirrim peasants fled south, many even braving the mountain passes of Dunharrow to find sanctuary. These people were conscripted into Gondor's overstretched armies in return for the safety and support that Gondor, somewhat begrudgingly, gave them.

With Minas Tirith still in the hands of their enemies the Gondorian capital has been moved to Dol Amroth and, in a highly controversial move, a prominent general has declared himself the new king of Gondor since the line of Stewards has been extinguished and the throne and crown are lost. The cities and settlements of Gondor have been both expanded and fortified since the long war with Mordor has now become much more precarious. With the natural defences of the Anduin now gone the Gondorians now find themselves with a much less defensible eastern border. Remaining eastern settlements like Pelagir are now more like castles than cities and are populated by more soldiers than non-combatant citizens. The coasts are now ringed by fortresses and outposts designed to warn the remaining coastal settlements of Corsair and Haradrim incursions and provide them with sanctuary.

All of these measures have cost the people of Gondor dearly. Taxes have been raised to support the expanded armies and fortifications that keep them safe. The thousands of refugees have been settled in the countryside, often near some manner of fortified structure, and made to expand infrastructure and farm the land. Tax collectors are a sight feared by many people as certain regions, often those that are being immediately assailed by an enemy, are being bled dry by the war effort. Conscription parties are also common sights in regions especially since the recent reignition of the wars with the Orcs coming from Mordor and Lugdush. The cities are still sites of prosperity though they too suffer from a loss of lustre and vibrancy from the war and the strains on their kingdom.

The armies of Gondor, now sufficiently reinforced are once again a formidable foe for the forces that assail the kingdom. Serried ranks of well equipped and well trained soldiers form armoured walls of spears and pikes that charges are dashed against whilst the mighty cavalry of the Kingdom, led by the unstoppable and noble Swan Knights crush anything in their path. Rangers and militia forces assault invading forces before they even reach the battlefield and sow havoc in enemy ranks. The famed soldiers that all characterised the more unique fiefdoms and cities still fight in Gondor's armies as they always have. Alchemists have brewed all manner of deadly concoctions that are launched by artillery at enemy forces.

At the same time that they're fighting this terrible war the Gondorians are expanding, through the use of conscripted refugees. The lands of Enedwaith are being seized by the armies of Gondor and the people within are being subjugated in an effort to provide more territory and resources for the Kingdom of Gondor. Even though this is now putting them in direct conflict with Lugdush the king and his aristocracy all consider it a worthy effort and a necessity after the terrible losses they have suffered. Others in his court at Dol Amroth are worried that this is merely stretching what few resources they still have available to them. Even with their renewed war with the Corsairs the fleets of Gondor are roaming far and wide and with new ships being built in the more protected harbours at Enedwaith, they are now sending explorers and colonists overseas to Western Eriador and the abandoned lands of Lindon. The ingenuity and efficiency of the old Gondorian kingdom can still be seen in the speed they exhibit when building the new camps and settlements which are quickly replaced by rough stone fortifications in a matter of years.

Though Sauron was destroyed and his powerbase at Gorgoroth collapsed into the abyss his armies, which were all away on campaign, were able to rally. The Kingdom of Mordor is not what it once was. It is, however, still a threat to the people of Gondor and all other peoples around it. The Kingdom stretches from Minas Tirith and the Anorien in the west, over Dagorlad and up to the southern most borders of Mirkwood (they claim it but only have a few token outposts to enforce their claims) to the western borders of Khand and the River Poros in the South, all of which were lands conquered by the armies of Sauron before his demise.

Mordor is now ruled by the great Orc king Gothmog, who found himself commander of Mordor's armies with the dissipation of Sauron and the Nazgul. Gothmog rules from Minas Morgol, the fortress he was captain of. Minas Tirith remains under his control and has, in turn, been remade into a massive fortification. Covered in iron spikes and crude military structures, the once noble fortress city has become a symbol for what Gothmog and his kin will do to the world of Men.

Without the power of Sauron the great cloud of Orodruin has been absent for decades and the once great volcano has quieted to inactivity. The Orcs of Mordor have been forced to adapt but their discipline has allowed them to remain the formidable war machine they were long ago. Though not lush the plains of Mordor have bloomed with grass and saplings which have survived the attentions of the Orcs through natural tenacity and the fact that the Orc populations have been forced to spread out to support the massive empire they now find themselves lords over. The old fortifications have been rebuilt and expanded upon and new outposts are spreading across the significant fiefdoms of Mordor. Uruk-Hai and Olog-Hai are increasing in number and represent the elite of Mordor's armies. The great furnaces, which have been rebuilt, craft better and better armour and weaponry for Gothmog's forces. The Black Numenorians, though still low in number are by far the finest and most well equipped forces in Mordor.

Without the smog of Orodriun the lands of Mordor have become more fertile than ever before. Nurnen experienced a very short period of freedom when Sauron was destroyed. The slaves rose up and overthrew their disoriented Orc masters and were about to organize themselves when the armies of Gothmog returned, decimated their ranks and returned the survivors to work. Nurnen and other areas in Anorien, Dagorlad and even parts of Gorgoroth are now tilled by Human and Orc slaves who grow food and raise livestock to feed and support the armies of Mordor. New slaves are provided by the neighbouring Haradrim and Variags who are more than happy to sell dissident tribesmen and the losers of internal feuds to the Orcs.

Though they have slowed down the armies of Mordor are on a permanent war footing. The border with Gondor sees constant battle as columns of Orcs march west to face the armies of the Gondorian people. Incursions are being sent into mirkwood but little success is being on made on that front. The Orcs of Mordor are on understandable terms with Lugdush but hostilities are growing between Minas Morgul and Isengard.

After the battle of the Pelennor Fields the Haradrim and the Corsairs of Umbar went on another rampage into Gondor, supported by the armies of Mordor, Rhun and Khand. However Sauron's destruction led to the collapse of the tenuous alliance between these four armies. The armies of Mordor returned east to restore order and establish a new hierarchy and the Easterlings and Variags went off in different directions. Isolated, the Haradrim were rebuffed by the Gondorians under their new king and were forced back to the Harandor. Relations with Mordor turned very sour after the Orcs secured Ithilien and refused to grant the Haradrim any of the lush lands beyond the Poros.

Suladan, the Serpent Lord of the Haradrim Great Army, not only survived the war but rallied his troops afterwards. His defeats had shaken the armies confidence in him but he was able to regain it by crushing attempts by Mordor to reassert control over the Great Army and Harlindon. Seeing Gondor as a lost cause he instead returned to Harad to answer to the irate lords of Umbar. With the reduced but loyal Great Army at his back he overthrew the Black Numenorean lords of Umbar, fighting off countless assassination attempts on the way, and crowned himself the High-King of Harad. Suladan has spent all of his time since strengthening his rule. From Umbar he exerts control over the petty kings around him and has subjugated the tribes of the interior deserts. The mercantile cities of the east have sworn allegiance to him and the wealth of their coffers enriches Suladan's empire.

Recently fleets from Umbar have gone south to the lands of the Mahud tribes and the Half-Trolls. They have always been sources of trade but now Suladan wants to find what lies beyond. Already contact is being made with new tribes and the exotic items they return with are bringing new riches to Umbar. The shipwrights are now constructing great merchant ships for the riches of the south and the lands beyond that are too tantalising a gift to ignore.

To the North East the various peoples of the vast land known as Rhovanian came under assault as the rest of the world did. Assailed by Orcs from Mordor and the Misty Mountains and raided by the Easterlings and Variags, the people of Rhovanian were forced to flee to the lands that were safe and defensible. The people found safety in the lands around the Lonely Mountain and on the borders of Mirkwood where they rallied and drove back their enemies. Since then they have been able to reclaim territories, organize themselves and fortify what they had been able to preserve. As the Free Peoples formed in Eriador, so too did the people of Rhovanion form the League of Celduin, named for the river that their lands are centred around.

The League is not a nation but rather an alliance of the besieged. As the richest, and now largest, settlement, Dale is the 'capital' of the League and the political centre of this alliance. The men of Dale, like all others have been forced to expand their armed forces, train their citizens as a levy army and fortify their settlements. Rhovanion has been assaulted by enemies before but never before has it been so dire and chaotic. The Celduin is now dotted with new towns and the older settlements have expanded exponentially as new people flood the cities and towns, forcing the established communities to accommodate them. The great cities and the new settlements all possess some basic form of fortification in order to ward off Orc and Easterling raiding parties. Surprisingly the cities of the League are prospering on some level thanks to the trade on the River Celduin. Trade with the Dwarves of Erebor provides immense amounts of wealth for the people. Though the various city masters control the flow of trade along the river with strict authority this has not prevented the wealth from slowly trickling down to other people.

The armies of Dale are rather diverse and often have trouble coordinating themselves. Horsemen from Central Rhovanian, militia men from the Vale of Anduin and the distinctively well equipped soldiers of Dale and Esgaroth can all be found in the League's forces and many generals often struggle to coordinate the many different kinds of soldiers under their command. However as the people are forced together for longer periods of time these soldiers are becoming more uniform as more equipment is produced, often to a certain standard.

After breaking the siege of Erebor the Dwarves of Erebor have a closer relationship with the people of Dale than ever before. However they are loathe to support the League directly. The Dwarves have, for the most part, returned to their mines. They happily trade with the people of the League and happily sell them weapons.

Mirkwood has once again become Greenwood. The Elves of Greenwood still remain in their forest and happily tend it, expanding their kingdom to fully encompass it's former borders. Dol Goldur has been torn down completely and it's foundations have been shattered beyond repair. Though few in number the Elves have found a great energy once again and their king Thranduil has roused his kingdom and his people. The loss of his son has angered him greatly and the knowledge that those responsible for his death not only survive but thrive infuriates him. Though progress is slow and meticulous the Elves of Greenwood are preparing for war. Weapons that have not been held for years are being raised and battle formations are being assembled.

Greenwood is just as threatening a place as it was when it was Mirkwood. No-one is welcome under the boughs of the forest and those who venture into the forest rarely ever return. Whether Thranduil commands it or not the Elves guard their borders jealously, the memories of Dol Goldur and the penetration of their borders by countless hordes of Orcs is still fresh in their minds and their militarisation has done no favours to their distrust of those beyond their borders.

Even as the world prepares to march to war once again one figure works to end it all before it becomes too late. Gandalf the White, once again clad in grey robes walks the face of Middle Earth seeking allies. Considering his task far from complete, the white wizard plans to rekindle the bonds of friendship and allegiance between the various free peoples of Middle Earth. Even as the Elves of Greenwood battle the men of the League, even as armies of the Free Peoples and Gondor clash over territory and even as the armies of the enemy march on their borders, he will never stop. Upon horse Shadowfax he travels across the lands bringing news and advice, supporting the wise and denouncing the foolish.

Meanwhile another great shadow appears in the east. The men of the League have seen a great cloud of dust that many claim blots out the sun. Towns have been overrun and armies crushed by this new threat. The petty kings of Rhun have finally been brought into line by one of their own and this new High-King has brought the vast hordes of Rhun and Khand to the borders of the West.