Last speculation thread made by Blatta Optima Maxima was fun (to me), so let’s make another one...
I think that it would be fun to speculate what future faction symbols could be. They should symbolize in one picture what owning faction (or their ruling family respectively) stands for, or just show something that makes them unique and distinguishing.
The new factions that will be added in the DoM are:
- Dwarves
- Dale
- Elves
They already have their faction symbols, and I guess they will not be changed. Why should they? So the factions with unseen faction symbols are:
- Variags/Khand
- Harondor
- Far Harad
- Rhovanion
- Beornings
- The Shire/Hobbits
- Minhiriath/Tharbad
+ 1 Emergent faction: supposedly Dorwinion
So, let’s guess... what would you make their faction symbols and why? What image first crosses your mind when you read/hear of them?
My try:
- Variags/Khand
As they are horse nomadic people (similar to real world Huns) I think that their symbol could be bow and arrow (similar to original Hun faction symbol). Otherwise maybe horse archer.
- Harondor
I really don’t know what makes them different from Harad and very unique. I get an impression that they are people influenced both with Gondor and Harad culture. Maybe Anduin river delta (Ethir Anduin), forget it, I don’t know, bad guess...
- Far Harad
They are (semi-) nomadic people of the desert, similar to Bedouin tribes. I guess that their faction symbol could be oasis, or palms, regarding the importance of that to desert people. I think that camels are out of question...
- Rhovanion
I really can’t think of something unique for them... As they were long under the foreign rule and enslaved, and now they are finally free, their faction symbol may be bonds, or chains broken.
- Beornings
Quite easy, obviously bear. Now, it could be bear head, whole bear or only the claw...
- The Shire/Hobbits
Hmm, I think that hobbit hole is their best known unique thing, so it could be theirs faction symbol. Unless, Aradan or Éorl will put pipe, tobacco, or even big hairy foot as it.
- Minhiriath/Tharbad
Ah, old enemies of Númenóreans… Tharbad in Sindarin means crossing place, and it was know by the great bridge. So, I think that the faction symbol will be the great bridge (in ruined, or repaired form, I don’t know was it repaired in the Fourth Age).
- Emergent faction: supposedly Dorwinion
When I think of Dorwinion I think of wine, or any other in the Middle-earth. Accordingly to that, I think that the faction symbol (if it will be emergent faction) will be grape or grape wine arranged in a heraldic manner. Or, as we were kidding, bottle or barrel, or maybe drunken man tottering.
Your turn...
P.S. If you are wandering why I have painted the factions, here is the reason:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: