We the DCI: Last Alliance team are proud to present to you the:
Preview of the roster of Rhovanion!
The Northmen roam the land east of the Misty Mountains, and has done so for more than an Age. The Edain house of Hador, and to a lesser degree the house of Bëor, was a vanguard branch of the Northmen who in the First Age reached Beleriand to fight along the side of the Noldor hosts. Trough them distant kinship to the Dúnedain of Númenor is counted.
Long before record the Northmen has been assailed by many foes, Men and Orcs of Morgoth not the least as Morgoth hated these renegades who defied Him, but they have protected their lands with vigour. Trough the Second Age the Longbeard Dwarves of Durin's line have been great brothers in arms, while that Alliance faded long ago when the new Dark Lord Sauron made his first own wars upon Middle-earth over a millennia ago friendship till remain. Perhaps it is time to honour old alliances?
Still, the scattered Woodmen in the Vale of Anduin and in Eryn Galen fight next to the Elves, and on the grasslands of Rhovanion, between the Forest and the Sea of Rhûn, strong Northmen realms remain. Ruled by princes in splendid Mead Halls, sometimes united under a proclaimed king, their cavalry secure borders and reputation.
Later on their decendants became the Rohirrim, but for that great legacy to come true the Northmen must make a stand now. Sauron has returned, and He will not be content before all have bent their knee to Him, or been annihilated.
Thus the Northmen saddle up, to war, because they will bow knee to no Dark Lord and the earth will tremble under their hooves.
1st Tier:
Warda Spearmen
From childhood the Northmen is put to the task of guarding the farmholds from animals, and growing up all abled young men are given training how to handle the spear. To hunt wild beast, or to protect land and property from predators who walk on two legs.
Called together by their chieftains the younger and older peasants form the Warda, the Guard, ready to make use of their basic gear, and their hard earned experience, to protect their lands and homes. Their carry a simple shield from home, but it proves adequate to form a sturdy line of spears, and hold it. As Warda spearmen have littled training or protection they should not be expected to challenge trained foes.
Freiswair Warriors
The sturdy peasants, proud Freemen, are hunters of beasts and raiders of livestock as much as plowmen and shepherds. Boldly they put their skill with the spear in the service of their lords.
Freiswair use speed and agility to harass the foe with mighty throws, while lightly armoured with helmet and shield they should not be expected to hold for long against more professional opponents in close quarters.
Mahr Scouts
Among the traits and skills of the Northmen, no one surpassed the recognition of the Dwarves as that as tamer of beasts. The horse, mahr, was greatly praised and made the Dwarves tie close alliances with Men, to use them as scouts and rapid messengers. While that union broke down after the War of the Elves and Sauron this traditions live on among the Northmen to high praise.
Farmers who can afford to hold horses, as well as sons of their households, and shepherds deploy in the service of their lords as the Mahr Scouts. Armed with lances they can bring true destruction upon a foe, but lacking protection they should avoid prolonged close combat and the arrows of enemy archers.
2nd Tier:
Riggswair Companions
The foremost warriors among the common Freemen are the Riggswair, the Fiercemen. They are often younger sons to landholders and have little land to inherit but great ambitions to fulfill. Therefore they form bands of companions in search for wealth. Armed with axes they have a great capacity to charge enemy lines and get at armoured opponents, but lacking armour themselves, beside their shields, they favour any chance to strike at enemy flanks.
In difference to their fellow landtillers the companions have no or little land to return to, and are not eager to leave the service of a lord trough whom opportunity to allowance or plunder can make way for a better future.
For a prince of Rhovanion this is a long term opportunity and if the need arise he may provide the Riggswair better armours to make for a tougher force in battle.
Upgrade 1:
Upgrade 2:
Harjis Spearmen
Princes oThef Rhovanion face much peril and hold honour in defying anyone opposing them: Orcs and trolls, Avari, Easterlings, or not seldom their own kin, Northmen of other regions and principalities. Therefore the princes of Rhovanion has made sure to always have a body of skilled warriors to raise at need: the Harjis, the Army.
Donned in a simple but effective mail, with helmet and round shield, the Harjis spearmen are well trained and though soldiers, ready to hold a line against any enemy or charge with the points of their spears at hostile cavalry.
Baúrgs Longbowmen
The towns and homesteads of the land are required to provide the princes and the king with skilled longbowmen, hunters since childhood and trained with the greater bow when coming of age.
Light as they, are the Town Bowmen should be kept away from the fray, but the task to keep them safe is an honour to any Northman soldier, who praise the sound of bow strings and whirl of feathers, when they sing in their meadhalls during winter nights.
Marh Archers
During the alliance between the Northmen and the Dwarves that kept both folks prosperous during the first half of the Second Age, no fighters among mortal Men were higher esteemed by the Khazad than the horsed archers. In great numbers they would oppose the armies of savage Orcs, pepper them with arrows and bolt away from vain attempts to catch them.
Nowdays the princes value this skill in turn, a skill that comes from a shepards lifetime on the horseback and daily training from hunting, games and real combat. The Horse Archers are lightly armoured, but maintaining the old traditions of skirmishers only enemy cavalry or archers may pose a true threat to this formidable addition to Rhovanion's fighting forces.
Upgrade:
Marhdrauht Lancers
Lesser nobles and wealthy Northmen Freemen can afford to don the armour of a warrior and sit up at horseback, eager to charge enemy ranks for land and lord.
The Horsewarrior Lancers impact is significant and this has played an important role in making Rhovanion's horses a sign for why the Northmen are respected, as well as a most appealing ally to the Númenóreans in Exile.
3d Tier:
Harjis Swordsmen
The greatest of footmen in the regular fighting forces are the Army Swordmens. Their ranks consist of younger sons of nobles, recognised veterans and other professional soldiers who can afford, or are granted by chieftains and princes, fine mail and great shields.
Skilled with the sword they are a challenge to any foe, disciplined and undaunted by hostile numbers.
Gafaúrd Housecarls
The elite infantry of Rhovanion are the Chief Council Housecarls, handpicked men who make up the princes and chieftains personal guardsmen. They wear the greatest avilable armours to protect themselves, even crafted by the Dwarves on occasion, and bring vicious two handed axes into battle, weapons that can penetrate armour in mighty strokes.
Lacking shield these men are deployed on the battlefield not to hold a line but to breach it, tearing down enemy formations, encouraging the friendly forces who follow in their steps. Holding their honour higher than anything and eager to outshine their fellow housecarls in deeds of valour they often prove the last to leave a struggle, dead or alive.
Harjis Longbowmen
The finest marksmen among the Baúrgs Longbowmen are selected and equipped with mails and bows of highest quality. The honour that comes with this rank strenghten morale, and the allowance they earn enables a professional lifestyle.
This include training in close combat arms, making the Army Longbowmen able to hold their ground against melee attacks to some degree.
Marhdrauht Archers
Perhaps no symbol underline the proud independence the Northmen of Rhovanion fought for and earned as the heavy Horsewarrior Archers. Professional soldiers in service of mighty princes they excel in bringing defeat to the enemy.
In them are the skilled rider combined with both the keen eyed marksman and with the heavy infantry. For as long as possible or appropriate they send arrows into the enemy host, only to, when need be or fortune present itself, charge into the fray with battle axes, ready to cut heads from shoulders.
Fráujam Horsemen
The higher nobility upon great steeds is a sight to admire and fear. Clad in excellent armour, often provided by Dwarven traders, and with a lifetime of training they come with earth-trembling thunder and aimed lances upon Orcs or Men or whoever is wittless enough to challenge the might of Rhovanion.
The men who form the Lord Horsmen also follow their princes or kings into battle as bodyguards, turning him into a force of nature out of steel and flesh.
Captain
General
(ignore the graphical glitch on the sword hehe)
Credits:
Credit to Taro for his bag of tricks, sword model for the general/captain, shield belt and a strap model.
Septa scarabs texture pack from the mount and blade forums.
Huge credit to Rusichi TW as they work was used as the basis for all these units.
Also to KK and the rest of the team for making TATW
Our friend Marcus for the 3-head-horses shield image
Hopefully I haven't forgotten anyone
Additional credits:
Fraujam & BG TATW models updated by Araval with swords in scabbards added and new shields.
Shield textures by paleologos, based on the original model made by King Kong and shield straps by Taro_M.
Enjoy !!
I think the Rhovanion Roster is coming soon. A few days they said. Looking forward to it.
Sooner then you think !