Umbar faction dev thread
Just to give you some idea of the recent discussions in the dev forums, there has been some very vague conversations about potential additions to a version 4 in the far future. KK has said in the dev forums that he might consider an Umbar faction. This is to help that process, and to avoid any terrible and unimaginative unit names like Umbar Spearmen, Umbar Swordsmen etc
Just to give you some background, I was the main advisor behind Dale supporting KK with unit concepts, descriptions and reference pictures. I hope to do the same with Umbar, and perhaps your feedback could help this process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Originally Posted by King Kong
since it is a long road to Umbar maybe some constructive ideas and suggestions will be made in response to this in the main forum
Faction Description:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Of all the races of Evil Men, those of Umbar are the best documented. Umbar has a chequered past, its people are the oldest followers of Sauron but also of the purest Númenórean blood other than the Dúnedain. Umbarons consider themselves the heirs of Númenór since they descend from the King’s Men and the forces of the last Númenórean king Ar-Pharazôn.
Unlike most factions’ military styles that are designed to counter the strength and tactics of their enemies, the corsairs style of warfare has developed from fighting each other. Their heritage of a reliance on sail began with the sea-kings and seafaring colonists of Gondor, and therefore seatrade is the lifeblood of Umbar as it is today. Corsairs run contraband along the coasts between Harad, Gondor and as far north as Enedwaith whereby they have contact with the Dunlendings with whom they allied themselves in the coordinated attacks on Gondor in the late Third Age.
From this great sea-trade, various merchant houses have arisen, called Sea-Guilds. Each guild competes to carry trade and undermine the other, pirating rivals. Privateers go so far as to raid each other’s ships in the same harbour or city, internecine conflict is rife in Umbar. Each Sea-Guild is led by a Master or captain from the Castamiri.
Castimir was the key player in the period known as the Kin-strife, which was along with the Great Plague, one of the chief reasons for the abandonment of the fortresses in and surrounding Mordor. When in TA 1432 Eldacar became King in Gondor, there was popular unrest because his mother Vidumavi was a princess of the Kingdom of Rhovanion, and so he carried only half-Gondorian blood. Castamir took advantage of this unrest to launch a rebellion, and he succeeded in deposing Eldacar, who fled into exile. For ten cruel years he ruled Gondor, but Eldacar the rightful King built an army in exile, and returned to slay Castamir and reclaim his throne. Remnants of Castamir’s forces, and his surviving sons, retreated from the Battle of Erui to the port of Pelargir and escaped by ship to Umbar, far to the south. These descendants of Castamir gained great power and influence in Umbar, uniting the coastal Harad tribesmen into pirate clans which became the infamous Sea-Guilds.
However, prior to the coming of the Castimiri, Umbar was ruled by the old Númenórean settlers of the King's Men — a proud faction loyal to the last King of Númenór: Ar-Pharazôn and opposed to the divine authority of the Valar. After the downfall of Númenór, the Black Númenóreans as they came to be called (in contrast to the elf-friendly ‘Faithful’ of Gondor) continued in Ar-Pharazôn’s corrupted state to follow Sauron and worship Melkor. The Black Númenórean style of government was no doubt tyrannical, but may also have involved a tradition of duumviracy, whose lords are usually paired as Herumor/Fuinur, and later Angamaitë/Sangahyando were. Whatever political system was in place, however, the Black Númenóreans did not govern effectively;
...some were given over wholly to idleness and ease, and some fought amongst themselves, until they became conquered in their weakness by the wild men. ('The Window on the West' ~ The Lord of the Rings)
The triumph of the Last Alliance marked the decline of the Black Númenórean race and the end of their racial superiority:
After the fall of Sauron their race swiftly dwindled or became merged with the Men of Middle-earth... ('Appendix A' ~ The Lord of the Rings).
Nevertheless, a remnant of the Black Númenórean elite survived in Umbar for over a thousand years after Númenor's fall, perhaps existing merely as a cultural relic. Circa 900 TA, Tarannon married Queen Berúthiel a Black Númenórian from 'The Inland City' south of Umbar, Tarannon Falastur was the first of Gondor's sea-kings and through his marriage ackowledged the power and neccessity for Gondor to ally with the shadowy powers south of Harondor and west of Harad. As late as TA 1015 even after being exiled from their homeland for nearly a century;
...the Men of Harad, led by the lords that had been driven from Umbar, came up with great power against that stronghold... (from 'Appendix A' of 'The Lord of the Rings').
The following three Gondorian kings over the next 300 years would wrestle with the Black Númenóreans for control of Umbar, since they maintained much influence in western Haradwaith. Gondor held intermittent control over Umbar from TA 933 until TA 1448 when the Castimiri took control of the Havens. Despite Ar-Pharazôn’s final seduction by Sauron, he had earlier in SA 3261 defeated Sauron and taken him prisoner (thus leading to Ar-Pharazôn’s corruption), but in order of this victory the Gondorians at this time built a great statue to Ar-Pharazôn which became a definitive symbol of Umbar. During the Gondorian period, the Black Númenóreans had dwelt in Harad as the lords there. However the coming of the Castimiri allowed the return of the Black Númenóreans to Umbar who brought with them Haradrim settlers. The Castamiri and Gondorian blood reinforced that of the Black Númenórean elite, and the Castimiri became a kind of middle class, running the economy and the military. The Black Númenóreans (as they still called themselves) had for 500 years mixed with the lesser men of Harad, yet even now they maintain ultimate authority over the Sea-Guilds however and through them conspire to regain what they see as their rightful place as the rulers of Gondor and the west.
In TA 2885 Umbar supported the Haradrim who claimed Harondor, although this had long "been a debatable land between the Corsairs and the Kings", and when Sauron declared himself openly in TA 2951, Umbar declared its allegiance to him, and the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's triumph at Umbar was thrown down. Umbar's fleet was largely destroyed 29 years later, when Thorongil (Aragorn Elessar in disguise, as it later turned out) in the service of the Steward of Gondor Ecthelion II led a taskforce south and burned them, killing the Captain of the Haven in the process. During the War of the Ring, Umbar could still send "great ships" and smaller vessels "beyond count", to raid the coastlands of Gondor and draw off major forces from the defence of Minas Tirith.
Titles/ancillaries:
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Twin Arch-lord (2 available)
The Black Númenóreans had not one but two princes who led them, such as Herumor/Fuinur, and Angamaitë/Sangahyando.
+ authority, + command, + dread
Captain of the Haven (1 available)
The great leader of the fleet would command all the Sea-Guilds and pirates whenever he went to war.
+ authority, + command, + dread
Master of a Sea-Guild (5? available)
This man is one of the leaders of the Sea-Guilds. He controls trade and piracy.
+ tax, + trade, +law, +order, - loyalty
SHIPS:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Castles of the Sea
Alcarondas or Aglarrâma in Adûnaic was the name of Ar-Pharazôn’s flagship a massive floating fortress of gold and black. Although hardly in the same league as that legendary vessel, the corsair ‘sea-castles’ are the largest and most powerful warships of the corsair fleets. Unlike all other corsair vessels which fall under the control of the Castamiri Sea-Guilds, these magnificent warships are built and maintained by the Black Númenóreans.
Great Ships
There were two types of ships used in the Corsairs' fleet: "great ships and smaller vessels beyond count" (The Return of the King, Chapter 9, The Last Debate). These ships are the former, they are flagships of the Castamiri captains and the Masters of the Sea-Guilds.
Dromunds
"And looking thither they cried in dismay; for black against the glittering stream they beheld a fleet borne up on the wind: dromunds, and ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze." (The Return of the King, Chapter 6, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields). Dromunds are in fact a form of Great Ship, but unlike those vessels called ‘Great Ships’ they do not carry Castimiri captains but have a similar construction. The Sea-Guilds use Dromunds as their main vessels for merchant trafficking, piracy and coastal raids. They can carry a large contingent of marines and soldiers, many doubling as oarsmen when at sea.
Black Sail Longboats
There were two types of ships used in the Corsairs' fleet: "great ships and smaller vessels beyond count" (The Return of the King, Chapter 9, The Last Debate). These are the latter which make up the ‘free fleets’ of marauders, who are conscripted into service of a Sea-Guild but many are merely craft that otherwise serve as fishing boats on the coasts of Harad. Despite their small size and lowly origins they are nonetheless feared by all Free Peoples of Middle-Earth, the black sails appearing on the horizon are a sign of the corsairs who always rove in great numbers and bring fire and sword wherever they set anchor.
UNITS:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Heirs of Ar-Pharazôn
They still call themselves Black Númenóreans but their blood is now mixed with that of the coastal Haradrim and that of Gondor, through the 500 year long colony and from the Castimiri renegade settlers of TA 1448. As King’s Men, and as sons of Gondor they still claim the West as their own, faithful to Sauron and defiant of the Valar and elves, the Black Númenóreans are a fearsome and powerful elite, and a last remnant of a glorious if treacherous past.
Black Númenórean heavy cavalry
Morardai Barons
'Black King's Men' from the Sindarin Mor Ar Edain. These are descendants of Ar-Pharazon's followers, those that remained as the once great fleet sailed west to the Undying Lands under Sauron's corruption. They still call themselves Black Númenóreans and have a claim on Gondor. Dwelling isolated from the Corsair-folk they live in tall grey towers, occupying twisted thrones overlooking the harbour cities. These so-called 'barons' take their pickings of booty from their vassals the Castimiri captains. Not only do they crave jewels and gems, but slaves and women to continue their bloodline bound by hate and vengeance.
Black Númenórean heavy infantry
Castamiri Kaΐnuheen
Remnants of Castimir the Usurper's rebel exiles in Umbar, the original nobles of the corsairs who snatched control of the Havens from Gondor in TA 1448. Their name stems from the Númenórean Kano (commander) and Hini (children). They exist now as petty sea-kings and chiefs of rival robber-clans. Kaΐnuheen form the upper class of the Corsair fleets, acting as captains and officers.
Heavy Infantry: Armoured spearmen, breastplates
Black Sail Boltermen
Crossbowmen are perfect for use along the forecastles of ships, the mechanisms can hold a bolt or arrow in place for long periods, waiting for that perfect shot, much better than bows who tension are easily damaged by seawater. Rather than mere crossbows, corsairs prefer to use a much heavier weapon which although cumbersome and takes longer to reload than conventional crossbows packs formidable firepower. The heavy bolts are designed for piercing the wooden hulls of ships, but on land they are naturally devastating against armoured opponents.
Heavy Missile Unit: Ballista unit? Pavisse crossbowmen?
Ampadîs Hookmen
From the Númenórean for 'hook bridge', these are the Castimiri Captains' own trained marines, they wear the different Castimiri ‘Marks of the Sea-Guilds’ companies. Their heavy bladed pole-arms are tipped with hooks which are used for grappling other vessels, pulling them alongside their own longboats and ships allowing the crew to board. These marines have some added use on land, since the design of their weapons allows them to dismount heavy cavalry from their horses and pull them to the ground where they can be finished off with spikes and blades.
Heavy Infantry: Halberdiers, breastplates
Sea-Guild Henchmen
Armoured two-handed axemen from the Umbar city of Morlond, the Black Port. These are the pirate guilds' own militias, they wear heavy mail and the Mark of the Companies. These slow but solid brutes guard the captured booty of their Castamiri captains, they also keep sea-dogs in check when under sail.
Heavy Infantry: two-handed axe, leather armour. Undisciplined.
Dockyard Brigands
These men are hired hands hardened by years of work in shipbuilding. Hardly worthy of the title craftsmen, these labourers use heavy axes to cut dark southern timber into strips and planks from which the corsair vessels are made. Thy saw and nail these planks to the inner frame and then coat the outer hull in stinking black pitch which gives these workers their distinctive dyed hands and garments. Using their working tools such as hammers, axes and lathes and wearing leather bindings for protection they make a mean bunch. When they are out of work they trouble the sea-fronts, forming gangs to rob and riot along the dockyards. To save the Sea-Guild Henchmen beating them on a daily basis many of these unemployed labourers are conscripted as raiders on outgoing vessels. They are the worst kind of troublemakers, and some of the best pirates around.
Light melée infantry: Maces/axes/hammers, leather armour. Undisciplined. Rabble/loose formation
Harbour Thieves
Also known as 'Midnight Rogues', they are almost legendary sea-rovers and bandits, wearing black masks and cloaks they are adept stalkers and experts in stealth rather than brute force. Their typical tactic is to sneak into enemy harbours in silence and shadows, slitting throats and burning ships, moving off with stolen loot before anyone knows they were there.
'Rangers'/'Hashiri': Archers, swords. Fast, good morale. Undisciplined. Rabble/loose formation
Jackals of the Wharf
Hired by the Sea-Guilds as private bandits they usually gather along the quayside as a rival guild ship comes to port, harrassing them with missiles as they try to dock. They intercept cargoes as they are being offloaded, for the sea-guild that hired them. These untrustworthy mercenary 'jackals' will pillage anything they can and sell it to the highest bidder. Some sea-guilds employ them as marines on the lighter vessels where their missiles and cheap manpower can be useful in ship-to-ship fighting.
Skirmishers: javelines/bows?- Undisciplined. Rabble/loose formation
Taverneers
Press-ganged from Morlond the Black Port and the outlying Havens of Umbar, they are a lightly armed rabble of drunks and layabouts equipped with nothing more than basic weaponry. They are useful for filling up a ship's contingent to swarm onto the beaches during an attack.
Light missile infantry: Throwing axes? Undisciplined. Rabble/loose formation
Special Building:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
White Pillar Ruin of Ar-Pharazôn
Gondors power eclipsed that of the Black Númenóreans of Umbar as the Third Age progressed, and in TA 933 Gondor's King Eärnil I captured Umbar in a surprise attack, although this was "at great cost." For the following 500 years, Umbar was an important city of Gondor: not only a major sea-port, but as the site of the submission of Sauron to Ar-Pharazôn, and so served as a proud reminder of the might of the Dúnedain of old:
on the highest hill of the headland above the Haven they (…) set a great white pillar as a monument. It was crowned with a globe of crystal that took the rays of the Sun and of the Moon and shone like a bright star that could be seen in clear weather even on the coasts of Gondor or far out upon the western sea.
('The Heirs of Elendil' from "The Peoples of Middle-earth")
Character names WIP
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Angamaitë
Sangahyando
Herumor
Fuinur
Berúthiel FEMALE
Portraits WIP
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Unit Resources:
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Black Númenóreans
Potential New Settlements WIP:
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Morlond -The Black Port
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