Middle Earth Campaign Setting (4e Campaign Setting)/Eä; The World That Is
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Eä; The World That Is
Eä IS the name of the world that was created by Ilúvatar and the Ainur at the beginning of time. The landscape has changed greatly over the ages, crafted by the Valar and damaged by Morgoth. The centre of Eä is Middle Earth, the setting of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and is the landmass most familiar to us. Middle Earth contains Mordor, as well as Gondor, Rohan and Arnor, the lands of Men, Fangorn forest, Lórien and Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains. Middle Earth is inhabited by all of the Free Peoples; Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits and Men.
To the north-west of Middle Earth is Beleriand, a land ruined at the end of the First Age of the Sun and sunk at the end of the Second. Within Beleriand are places of legend; the fair hidden city of Gondolin, Doriath and Nargothrond. Beleriand is the setting of tales such as the Tale of Beren and Lúthien.
Situated in the Great Sea to the west of Middle Earth lies Númenor, the island-kingdom of Men. Númenor was created at the start of the Second Age of the Sun and destroyed by flood along with Beleriand at the end of the Second Age of the Sun.
Finally, further west than Númenor are the Undying Lands, the land of the Valar that left the world even as Númenor sank at the end of the Second Age of the Sun.
Contained within this chapter is an overview of these lands, presenting potential adventuring sites, and the places that the Free Peoples make their homes:
- Regional Benefits: Benefits that a character from each region can claim, including regional languages and skills, and a list of regional feats that a character can select.
- Knowledge and Lore: Information that a character from a region may know about that region.
- Features and Settlements: Descriptions of places and settlements in the region.
- People and Adventurers of the Region: An overview of the people and adventurers that call a region home.
Middle Earth
At the centre of Eä is the continent of Middle Earth, a place that has been the setting of many legends such as the Last Alliance and the fall of Sauron.
From the First Age of the Sun at the Awakening of Men, Middle Earth has been a continent populated by both Elves and Men, but in the Third Age of the Sun, the dwindling Elves began to forsake Middle Earth, which was to become the land of Men, for the Undying Lands of their kin from whom they had become sundered.
Middle Earth was to the west of Aman, the Undying Lands, separated from it by the Great Sea Belegaer, until Aman was removed from the world at the sinking of Númenor. Middle Earth is split by the Misty Mountains that run from north to south; concealed within the mountains is the legendary dwarven city of Dwarrowdelf which is called Moria (or ‘black pit’) by the elves.
To the west of the Misty Mountains is the lost realm of Arnor, a land founded by Elendil, and Eriador, of which only a handful settlements remained by the end of the Third Age of the Sun, such as The Shire, Bree and Rivendell.
To the east of the misty mountains lies several realms, including Gondor, lands founded by the Dúnedain that also founded Arnor, and Rohan, the land of the horse lords. The east of Middle Earth also contains several forest-realms, such as Lórien, the golden wood, Fangorn and the largest of the three, Mirkwood.
To the east of Gondor is Mordor, the Black Land founded by Sauron in the Second Age of the Sun, and it is from here that Sauron spread his dark influence over the East, to Rhûn, Harad and Khand, the lands that surround Mordor.
This section explores these regions of Middle Earth, regions that adventurers may hail from or may wish to explore.
Languages of Middle Earth
This section summarizes the languages that are spoken in Middle Earth. A more comprehensive description of the languages of Middle can be found in The Lord of the Rings.
| Language | Race and/or Region |
|---|---|
| Adûnaic | Númenor |
| Black Speech | Mordor, orcs |
| Common | All |
| Entish | Ents |
| Haradaic | Harad |
| Khuzdûl | Dwarves |
| Logathig | Rhûn and Khand |
| Quendi | Elves of Eriador |
| Rohirric | Rohan |
| Sindarin | Elves of Lórien and Mirkwood |
Eriador
Eriador is the land between the Misty Mountains and the Sea, within which, Arnor was founded; a realm founded by Elendil in the Second Age of the Sun, only to be sundered and overrun by the orc-hordes of the Witch King of Angmar in the Third Age. For much of the Third Age Arnor was a wilderness.
Common Knowledge
Eriador once made up the Kingdom of Arnor, which was once a mighty kingdom of men, but was overrun by orcs in the Third Age of the Sun. Since then Arnor has become a largely uninhabited wilderness, inhabited largely by Rangers, men who wander the wilds.
Eriador Lore
A character knows the following with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: Arnor was founded in the year 3320 of the Second Age of the Sun by Elendil, and it was the first kingdom of the Dúnedain in Middle Earth. Elendil was High King of all of the realms of the Dúnedain, though he sent his sons south to found Gondor.
- History DC 20: The sons of the Tenth King of Arnor split the Arnor into three realms, Arthedain, Cardolan and Rudaur. In the Third Age of the Sun, the Witch King arose in Angmar to the north of Arnor and for almost seven-hundred years made war on Arnor. By 1409, the kingdoms of Cardolan and Rudaur had fallen, and Arthedain lasted only another six centuries.
- History DC 25: During the First Age of the Sun, Eriador was inhabited by men under the influence of Morgoth, the Enemy. During the Second Age of the Sun, it was Sauron that held sway over the men of Eriador until the Dúnedain claimed Eriador and founded Arnor.
Settlements and Features
From the fourth or fifth centuries of the Third Age of the Sun, before the fall of Arnor, the capital city of Arnor was Fornost, though the city was ruined during the fall. After the fall, Arnor was largely a wilderness with once great ruins of fallen cities. A few settlements, such as the Shire, Bree and Rivendell remained after the fall of Arnor.
Barrow Downs
The lands east of the Old Forest were known as the Barrow Downs, because of the barrow graves built there. During the war with Angmar, the last of the Men of Cardolan sought refuge in the Barrow Downs, only to find the barrows inhabited by fell spirits called barrow-wights.
Bree
Bree was founded in the Second Age of the Sun by men from Dunland, and was the main village in Breeland—other villages included Combe, Archet and Stoddle. Bree was one of the few towns to be inhabited by both Men and Hobbits.
Carn Dûm
Carn Dûm was the capital of Angmar in the north of Eriador, and was inhabited by evil men who served the Witch King. Carn Dûm was later destroyed when Angmar fell to forces of Dúnedain and Elves, though the ruins of Carn Dûm would likely have remained haunted by fell spectres and shades of the witch king, as well as the remnants of the men of Angmar.
Fornost
Fornost (“North Fortress”) was the capital city of the realm of Arnor and was powerful and prosperous up to its fall in the Third Age of the Sun. Fornost was ruined in the year 1974 of the Third Age by the armies of the Witch King of Angmar, and although it was retaken in 1975, it was deserted.
The Old Forest
In the Third Age of the Sun, to the west of the Brandywine River lay the Old Forest, the last remnant of an ancient forest that once covered all of Eriador. The Old Forest was inhabited by many malevolent Tree spirits, called Huorns.
Rivendell
Built in the year 1697 of the Second Age of the Sun by Elrond the half-elf in the valley of Imladris, Rivendell is a refuge both for the elves of the fallen land of Eregion and for weary and injured travellers. Rivendell is strongly guarded by powerful enchantments, and it is virtually impossible for evil to enter the valley.
The Shire
Since the seventeenth century of the Third Age, the land west of the Brandywine river was called the Shire and inhabited by Hobbits. The shire was divided into four areas, the Four Farthings; later the Oldbucks crossed the Brandywine river and founded Buckland. With the exception of several natural disasters and the Orc raid that occurred in 2747, the Shire was a peaceful land, largely unaware of the outside world.
Weathertop
Weathertop was the common name for the ruins of the watch tower of Amon Sûl that was overrun by the forces of the Witch King in the fifteenth century of the Third Age of the Sun. The Dúnedain rangers of Arnor often use Weathertop as a lookout point, for it provides a long view of Arnor and Eriador, and thus messages left by rangers can often be found there. However, Weathertop is also easily seen from a long way away, so adventurers taking advantage of the view provided from Weathertop often attract unwanted attention.
People of Arnor
Until its fall in the Third Age, Arnor was a realm of Númenoreans who had fled from Númenor after its fall. The people of Arnor were also called Dúnedain (“Men of the West”) by the elves. After its fall, much of the inhabitants fled Arnor or were slain. Many of those from Arnor would have fled to Gondor, or possibly ended up in villages such as Bree. Those that remained were rangers who patrolled the wilderness to keep it free from orcs that might have threatened Bree and the Shire.
Adventurers
The majority of adventurers from Arnor are rangers, trained to survive in the wilds of Arnor so that they may keep the servants of The Enemy away. Those that are not rangers often multiclass into ranger, or are trained in wilderness survival to some extent, and are often being called ‘ranger’ in title if not in class. Many adventurers from Arnor seek to help reunite the fallen kingdom, reserving a special hatred for orcs, trolls and fell spirits as it was such creatures that laid the Arnor of old low.
Gondor
Gondor is the South Kingdom of the Dúnedain. At the time of the War of the Ring, Gondor was a land besieged by Mordor. The people of Gondor await the return of their royal line, hoping that a king will end the siege of Mordor.
Common Knowledge
Gondor was founded in the year 3320 of the Second Age of the Sun by Elendil the Númenorean. Gondor’s chief cities included Minas Anor, Minas Ithil, Osgiliath and the ports of Dol Amroth and Pelargir, but Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl in the year 2002 of the Third Age of the Sun, and was thus renamed Minas Morgul while Minas Anor was renamed Minas Tirith.
Gondor Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: After Elendil’s death in 3441 of the Second Age of the Sun, Isildur and his heirs became the rulers of Arnor, while Anárion’s and his heirs became the rulers of Gondor. Gondor’s royal line lasted until 2050 of the Third Age of the Sun. From then on, Gondor was ruled by stewards.
- History DC 20: It was said that Isildur’s death was caused by something known as Isildur’s Bane. The exact nature of Isildur’s Bane is not commonly known, though most seem to think that it is some kind of cursed treasure rather than a creature.
- Arcana DC 25: Isildur took Sauron’s Ring for himself against counsel from the Elves. The Ring is commonly called “Isildur’s Bane”, for it supposedly betrayed Isildur and caused his death. The ring was not passed to any of his heirs, however, so the Ring was presumed lost.
Settlements and Features
Gondor’s land once covered a sizable part of the land East of the Misty Mountains, stretching as far into Rhovanion as far East as the Sea of Rhûn. However, as a result of Gondorian resistance against Sauron, Gondor was invaded many times and lost most of its territories before the War of the Ring. It is the hope of Gondor’s people that the King will return and restore Gondor’s former glory.
Dol Amroth
Dol Amroth was one of the five great cities of Gondor. Dol Amroth was built by the Elf-king Amroth and was once used as a port for Elves of Lothlórien leaving for the Undying Lands, until Amroth’s death in the year 1981 of the Third Age of the Sun. The city possessed both a port and a great tower.
Ithilien
Ithilien is the land that borders with Mordor at the Ephel Dúath, the Mountains of Shadow. During the War of the Ring, Ithilien was the sight of many small skirmishes with Mordor in the War of the Ring. During the war, much of Ithilien was infested with orc-patrols and Easterling and Haradrim armies moving to aid Mordor.
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith was once named Minas Anor, “Tower of the Sun”, and was a sister city to Minas Ithil, “Tower of the Moon”, but it was renamed to Minas Tirith, “Tower of the Guard” when Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl in the year 2002 of the Third Age of the Sun (and was thus renamed Minas Morgul, “Tower of the Wraiths”. The city of Minas Tirith was built on seven concentric levels, each terraced above the previous level and surrounded by great ring walls with gates positioned on different parts of each wall to maximise the defensiveness of the city. The seventh level was called the citadel and within it was the white tower itself.
Osgiliath
Osgiliath, “Citadel of Stars” was the first capital of Gondor and bridged the River Anduin between the twin cities of Minas Anor and Minas Ithil. Osgiliath was founded at the end of the Second Age of the Sun and lasted until the year 1437 of the Third Age of the Sun when most of the city was burned (along with its legendary Dome of the Stars) in Gondor’s civil war, and in the year 2475, the remnants of the city was sacked by Mordor’s Uruk-Hai legion. The city was a major strategic position during the War of the Ring, and was briefly defended as such by the Men of Gondor to prevent the legions of Mordor crossing the river Anduin.
People of Gondor
Gondor’s population consists entirely of humans, save for a small population of half-elves (and likely several elves) in Dol Amroth. Gondor’s population are strongly opposed to Mordor, and so many join Gondor’s army.
Adventurers
Gondor has a tradition of defensive combat and so most Gondorian adventurers become fighters of warlords, generally specialising in combat against large numbers of foes. Some Gondorian adventurers become rangers, training with the bands of rangers that patrol Ithilien to ensure that orc patrols and spies cannot get past the River Anduin.
Misty Mountains
The misty mountains divide Middle-Earth in two, forming the border between Rhovanion in the east and Eriador in the west. The mountains themselves are infested with goblins, trolls and other, fouler creatures which the Free Peoples prefer not to name.
Common Knowledge
The misty mountains was home to the most successful Dwarf civilisations in the history of Middle Earth; Khazad-Dûm or Dwarrowdelf, often called Moria after it closed its gates to the world in the Second Age of the Sun. However even then the most numerous inhabitants of the mountains were the goblins, who live in the cave networks in the roots of the Misty Mountains.
Misty Mountains Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: Moria was abandoned by the dwarves in the year 1980 of the Third Age of the Sun. It is said that they delved too deep into Barazinbar and released some dark, terrible thing that drove the dwarves from Dwarrowdelf.
- History DC 20: In the Second Age of the Sun, the dwarves had a long-time alliance with the elves of Eregion, but this friendship ended in the war with Sauron. The dwarves closed the gates of Dwarrowdelf to avoid the devastation of the War. At that time, the elves began calling the dwarf-halls Moria, “Black Pit”.
- History DC 25: Khazad-Dûm was founded by Durin, the first of the seven fathers of the dwarves before the creation of the Sun and Moon. Khazad-Dûm was delved through five ages of the Stars and three of the Sun.
- Religion DC 30: The dwarves delved too deep into Moria and released a Balrog, a Maiar Demon of great and terrible power. The Balrog of Moria was called “Durin’s Bane”, and hid itself deep under the Misty Mountains after Morgoth’s fall in the First Age of the Sun.
Settlements and Features
Most of the settlements in the Misty Mountains are inhabited by Goblins, though up until the year 1980 of the Third Age, Moria was inhabited by the Dwarves. There are numerous dangers for those crossing the mountains, from wargs to trolls to stone giants.
High Pass
The high pass is the northern pass through the Misty Mountains, starting in Eriador near Rivendell, and exits the Misty Mountains near the Old Ford through the River Anduin. The high pass was used by Bilbo, Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves in The Hobbit. There is a goblin-infested cave network that runs through the mountain roots from the start of the pass to the end, so travellers traversing the pass are at risk of goblin attack.
Moria
Moria, “Black Pit”, was a dwarven city founded by Durin, also called Dwarrowdelf and Khazad-Dûm. Moria consisted of a number of inter-connecting tunnels and halls that go deep into the Misty Mountains—some say far too deep. After its fall, Moria became infested with goblins and trolls, as well as larger orcs, such as Uruk-Hai of Mordor. Moria’s greatest treasure is Mithril, a legendary, silvery metal of great strength and little weight.
Redhorn Pass
The Redhorn pass is south of the High pass and crosses the Misty Mountains close to Moria, over the mountain Caradhras. The mountain Caradhras is said to be capable of punishing travellers with snow storms, though whether the storms are called by the ill will of Caradhras or by nature is uncertain.
People of the Misty Mountains
The Misty Mountains are largely unpopulated by the free peoples, though there was a large dwarven population in Moria up until its fall in the Third Age of the Sun. The dwarves of Moria were masters of the crafts of Aulë, even by the reckoning of the dwarves. After the fall of Moria, the Misty Mountains were largely infested by goblins and other fell creatures of darkness, though small groups of dwarves may have continued mining in other parts of the mountains.
Adventurers
Many dwarven adventurers that hail from Moria (either the survivors or their descendants) eventually wish to reclaim Moria, and indeed many expeditions had been sent to Moria before the last, led by Balin, and though every expedition to Moria failed, the dwarves were far too stubborn to give up the attempt completely.
Other dwarves from Moria that are perhaps more realistic in their goals simply wish to forge some new great dwarven hall elsewhere, in place of Moria.
Mordor
Founded at the end of the first millennium of the Second Age of the Sun, the land of Mordor is the evil kingdom of Sauron, and his base for the conquest of Middle Earth. Mordor is a land of ash and darkness, surrounded on three sides by two unassailable mountain ranges; Ephel Dúath to the West and South, and Ered Lithui (the Ash Mountains) to the North.
Common Knowledge
Much of Mordor is an ashen wasteland, the sky above it blocked out by ash and fumes that spew from Orodruin, also called Mount Doom. However Nurn to the south is a vast farmland populated by slaves and slave-drivers.
Mordor is ruled from Barad Dûr by Sauron, who took the form of a great, flaming eye after his return in the Third Age of the Sun.
Mordor Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: In the early part of the Third Age, Gondor built the tower of Teeth and the fortress of Durthang in the north pass and the tower of Cirith Ungol in the west pass so that the scattered remnants of Mordor’s armies could not escape into Gondor, but after the Great Plague in 1636, these were abandoned and taken over by orcs in preparation for Sauron’s return.
- History DC 20: In the year 1600 of the Second Age, Sauron forged the rings of power and the One Ring in the fires of Orodruin, and began a war with the elves. Sauron destroyed Númenor in 3262, after having surrendered to them, and then made war on Gondor in 3429. In 3434, the Last Alliance of elves and men was formed, and the Black Gate was destroyed; then after a seven year siege, Barad Dûr fell and the One Ring was cut from Sauron’s hand.
Settlements and Features
Barad Dûr
Built in the Second Age of the Sun, Barad Dûr was the centre of Sauron’s power in Mordor and was the greatest of the towers in Middle Earth until its second fall in the Third Age of the Sun. Barad Dûr was often called the Dark Tower by men and Lugbúrz by orcs. After Sauron’s return to Mordor in the Third Age, the top of Barad Dûr housed Sauron, in the form of a giant, flaming eye.
Cirith Gorgor
The pass of Cirith Gorgor, meaning “haunted pass”, is the main entrance to Mordor. It is the largest pass through the mountains that surround Mordor and is thus the best defended—the Black Gate blocks the pass from wall to wall and is heavily defended by both orcs and trolls. Because of this, many believe that the Black Gate is impenetrable, although in the Second Age it was destroyed by the Last Alliance.
Cirith Ungol
Although it is not widely known, there is a second, smaller pass through Mordor, named Cirith Ungol, “Pass of the spider”. The pass is guarded by wraiths and orcs at the citadel of Minas Morgul, but there is also a second guardian. The up the winding, rocky stairs of
Cirith Ungol is a cavern inhabited by a great Maia demon in spider form named Shelob. Shelob isn’t particularly fussy as to whom she feeds on, and eats both intruders and orcs, however as large numbers of orcs can pass through Shelob’s Lair (largely) without becoming her prey, Sauron is pleased with her presence.
Minas Morgul
The citadel of Minas Morgul was built by Gondor and was named Minas Ithil, the Tower of the Moon, until it was taken by the Witch King in the year 2002 of the Third Age of the Sun when it was renamed to “Tower of the Wraiths”, although it is also called “Tower of Sorcery” and “the Dead City”. Minas Ithil is ruled by the ringwraiths and is infested by fell spirits and orcs; the fell magic that fills the city makes it shine with a ghostly light and ensures that the denizens are constantly vigilant for intruders.
Orodruin
Orodruin, “The Mountain of Blazing Fire” is commonly called “Mount Doom” and is the volcano in which Sauron forged the One Ring. By some magic, the eruptions of Mount Doom have coincided with Sauron’s ascensions to power, clouding the skies of Mordor with black smoke and fumes.
People of Mordor
The majority of Mordor’s population is made up of Sauron’s Orcs and Trolls, both those that are part of the military and those that are slaves working the farmlands of Nurn. A small number of the slaves of Nurn are of the Free Peoples, most of whom are humans.
The armies of Mordor are also reinforced by Easterling, Haradrim and Khandish human armies. Rhûn, Harad and Khand are all tributary to Mordor, as Sauron’s influence has long extended over these countries, although there are those within these countries resist Mordor’s rule in secret.
Adventurers
Among the orc slaves of Mordor, the “Snaga”, the idea of revolution is an unthinkable, alien one, however human slaves and the slaves of other races do attempt to escape; those that succeed and survive eventually become adventurers of a sort, having to travel through hostile territory to reach Gondor or even resisting Mordor from within.
Rhovanion
Rhovanion or “Wilderland” is the land west of the Misty Mountains and north of Gondor, Rohan and Mordor. Much of Rhovanion is covered with the forests of Lothlórien and Mirkwood.
Common Knowledge
The forest of Lothlórien lies to the west of Rhovanion in the foothills of the Misty Mountains and is said to be ruled by an elf-sorceress of terrible power, capable of enchanting all men who look upon her. In truth, the Queen of Lothlórien is the beautiful Noldor princess Galadriel, who uses her magic beneficially to protect Lothlórien from orcs. Mirkwood is considerably larger than Lothlórien and was once named Greenwood until the dark powers tainted Greenwood with sorcery and fell creatures.
Rhovanion Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: In the year 1050 of the Third Age of the Sun, a fell sorcerous creature commonly known as “The Necromancer” came to Greenwood and built the tower Dol Gildur in the south of the forest, and from there his dark taint spread throughout, corrupting the fair forest. With him he brought foul creatures, fell spirits and orcs. From then on, Greenwood was renamed to Mirkwood.
- History DC 20: In the year 2850 of the Third Age of the Sun, Gandalf the Grey entered Dol Guldur and discovered that the Necromancer is Sauron and had fled to Mirkwood to recover his strength. He was subsequently expelled from Dol Guldur by the White Council, although Dol Guldur remains a bastion of Sauron’s forces in the War of the Ring.
- Nature DC 20: Lothlórien, “Land of Blossoms Dreaming” is the woodland realm of The Galadhrim elves in which the golden leaved and silver barked Mallon trees grow. Around these trees the wood elves built the city-palace of Caras Galadhon.
Settlements and Features
Dol Guldur
During the Third Age of the Sun, Sauron the Necromancer built the evil fortress of Dol Guldur, “Hill of Sorcery”, and for a thousand years the evil powers of the Necromancer spread out from Dol Guldur over Mirkwood. Though Sauron was cast out from Dol Guldur by the White Council, many of the fell creatures and orcs remain in the tower and three of the Nazgûl have taken command of the fortress.
Erebor
In the year 1999 of the Third Age of the Sun, The Lonely Mountain Erebor was claimed by the dwarf king Thrain I who found a great wealth of gold and precious stones in the bedrock of the mountain, and he became King Under the Mountain. However, in 2770, Erebor was attacked and taken by the dragon Smaug the Golden, and it remained in his possession until Smaug was disturbed by the hobbit Bilbo and 13 dwarves reclaimed Erebor after the dragon was slain by the human Bard.
Esgaroth
The city of Esgaroth is built upon wooden walkways over the Long Lake and connected to the land by a wooden bridge. The people of Esgaroth are human, although they have long had ties to the elves of Mirkwood and has had ties to Erebor since the Battle of the Five Armies, though the original city was razed by Smaug the Golden before the battle itself and was rebuilt with the aid of the dwarves and the elves.
Iron Hills
After the dwarves of the Ered Mithrin, also called the Grey Mountains, were forced out by dragons, they settled in the Iron Hills to the east of Erebor in the year 2590 of the Third Age of the Sun.
Lothlórien
Lothlórien is the fairest of the elf-kingdoms that remains in Middle Earth, and is one of the few places in Middle Earth in which the Mallorn trees grow. Lothlórien is ruled by the Sindar king Celeborn and the Noldor queen Galadriel from the tree-top city of Caras Galadhon, “City of Trees”. It is virtually impossible for unwelcome visitors to enter Lothlórien; the forest is protected by Galadriel’s magic, and groups of elf rangers patrol the borders and are so adept at stealth that they are virtually undetectable.
People of Rhovanion
Along with Eriador, Rhovanion has the most inhabitant races of all the regions of Middle Earth. The population is made up of elves, dwarves and humans, as well as a small number of half-elves within Lothlórien and Mirkwood.
Rhovanion is a wild region, with only several small settlements to act as shelter. The people of Rhovanion are particularly resilient, and most are proficient with several weapons. Settlements in Rhovanion maintain armies and guards of variable size in order to combat the many threats of monsters and dark sorcery.
Adventurers
A large proportion of adventurers in Middle Earth hail from Rhovanion, as its hostile environments encourage many of its inhabitants to take up the sword or to learn magic. There are also many, such as the elves of Lothlórien and Mirkwood and the dwarves of Erebor who are capable of teaching the skills needed by adventurers. Many adventurers from Rhovanion become rangers or seekers, and there is a prevalence of primal adventurers in the region, while the practice of clerics, fighters and warlords has spread from Erebor and the Iron Hills.
Rohan
Formerly the Gondorian province of Calenardhon, Rohan was given to Éothéod horse-masters. The land of Rohan is the home of the Rohirrim (or the “Horse Lords”), and largely consists of sweeping grasslands, plains and farmlands bordered by the river Anduin.
Common Knowledge
Rohan is ruled from the city of Edoras by the heirs of Eorl the Young, the first king of Rohan. Although Edoras is the capital city of Rohan, it is not a fortress. Instead, when fighting defensively, the Rohirrim flee to Helm’s Deep or Dunharrow. However, the armies of Rohan are mostly made up of mounted warriors.
Rohan Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful skill check:
- History DC 15: The kingdom of Rohan was founded in the year 2510 of the Third Age of the Sun. During the battle of the Field of Celebrant, the men of Gondor were rescued by the wandering horsemen called the Éothéod, who turned the tide of the battle. Gondor gave the Éothéod the province of Calenardhon, which was renamed Rohan.
- History DC 20: The strategic fortress of Isengard was built by Gondor at the start of the Third Age of the Sun to house on of the Palantíri stones; however the power of Gondor faded and the tower of Orthanc at Isengard’s centre was abandoned. In the year 2700, the tower was taken by the Dunlendings, but they were driven out fifty-nine years later. After then, Saruman the White was given the keys to Orthanc and was given permission to occupy the tower.
Settlements and Features
Dunharrow
Dunharrow is one of the two main refuges from war in Rohan that is approached by a small switchback road that winds up a cliff—this road is the first defence of Dunharrow. The road leads to a small defensible gap at the top of the cliff which leads into the hold of Dunharrow.
Edoras
Built in the twenty-sixth century of the Third Age of the Sun, Edoras is the capital city of Rohan. Edoras translates to mean “the courts” and as the royal city it contained the great feast-hall of Meduseld, which was the court of the king. Edoras is a wooden hill-fortress with both a stockade and a dike.
Fangorn Forest
Fangorn forest is one of the oldest forests in Middle Earth and is but a mere remnant of the massive forest that once covered most of Eriador and large portions of land in Beleriand. Fangorn is sometimes called “Entwood” by the Rohirrim because it is fiercely defended by ents and huorns; trees inhabited with fierce spirits. Anyone who cuts live wood in Fangorn risks the wrath of the tree-guardians, though ents are slow to wrath and are likely to ensure that those they attack are indeed enemies.
Helm’s Deep
Named after the Rohir king Helm Hammerhand, the fortified gorge of Helm’s deep was one of the two main places of refuge during war of Rohan. Helm’s deep has a great wall, the Deeping Wall, built across it, behind which is the Hornburg, a great fortress that acted as the centrepiece of the defensive system of Helm’s Deep.
Isengard
The fortress of Isengard lies at the southern end of the Misty Mountains, just north of the fords of Isen. The fortress’s main defence is a ring-wall of stone surrounding a flat plain. At the centre is the tower of Orthanc which is built of four unbreakable towers of black stone. The tower itself is over five-hundred feet tall and is ruled by the wizard Saruman the White.
People of Rohan
The Rohirrim are the horse-lords, and are experts and riding and breeding horses. Most Rohir are expert riders, and those in the army are masters of mounted combat. Rohir commoners are farmers, although most Rohirrim are also capable hunters. To the Rohirrim, horses are sacred, and most of the Rohirrim worship Oromë.
Adventurers
The Rohirrim favour martial classes, and tend to favour mounted combat. Most Rohir adventurers do so to keep Rohan free of orcs and Dunlendings, while some seek to cast out Saruman.
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