Faction Preview: The Easterlings of Rhun
The Easterlings of Rhun
Textures and Models by DisgruntledGoat
The Easterlings provided a challenge unlike others during the creation of TATW. Little was written by Tolkien regarding them and a great deal of effort was required to assemble a reasonable unit list that fit the lore laid out by him. Additionally we had to find a way to meld the lore and Peter Jackson’s vision from the movies. To do this we took what we knew and filled in the blanks with what we consider reasonable “fan-fiction.” The result is a faction with considerable depth and meaning that will present a unique game play experience for all our TATW fans.
Recent History of the East
The Easterlings have been under the influence of Sauron, and before him Morgoth, it would seem from the very beginning. However it is their more recent dealings with Sauron that concerns us most. Before Sauron had established himself in Mirkwood he sought security in Rhûn. He used this time in the east to build the loyalty of the Easterlings. Around 1050 of the Third Age Sauron rebuild Dol Goldur in Mirkwood; however he maintained his ties with the Easterlings. He constantly sent emissaries to the men of the East to ensure they kept up their raids. These emissaries would eventually help establish the tribe known in the west as “The Wainriders” as the pre-eminent tribe in Rhûn. They were eventually able to establish a loose confederation under the leadership of the Wainrider Warlords. It was these warlords who attacked the west in 1851 of the Third Age by assaulting the lands south of Mirkwood. A constant state of war existed between the Wainriders and the West as an Alliance with Khand and Harad was formed. However with their defeat at the hands of Gondor in 1944 of the Third Age the Wainrider influence in the east disappeared. The tribes were fragmented once again and the alliances with Khand and Harad fell apart.
In 2064 of the Third Age Sauron was forced to return to Rhûn. For over 400 years he attempted to re-establish the might of the Wainriders. As the years went on the remnants of the Wainriders were able to rise to power once again. These people would be known as the Balchoth Horde in the west. By 2460 of the Third Age the Balchoth had established a Khanate and the foundations of a future “Rhûnic Empire.” Sauron, seeing the might of the Balchoth returned to Mirkwood and from their incited the Balchoth to assault the west. The Balchoth would push across the Anduin in 2510 of the Third Age. Once again however, despite initial successes the Easterlings would be defeated. This time by the people that would form the nation of Rohan. Rhûn and its tribes would again fall into a nomadic and tribal way of life. Tribes, when they became large enough would make invasions into the west. For hundreds of years the Easterlings would remain anything but united. When Sauron began to turn his thoughts once again towards the Ring and the West he once again looked to unite the Easterlings.
Rise of the Loke-Khan
Around 1000 of the Third Age Saruman, Alatar and Pallando, were sent East by the Valar. They were given the orders to break Saurons influence there. Saruman was forced to retreat west after Pallando was killed and Alatar was corrupted by Sauron. Chief among the emissaries that Sauron used over the years Alatar gained much influence in Rhûn. While Alatar remained a servant of Sauron he had his own ambitions. Using the powers available to him, he began the work of establishing cults to dark magic in the lands of Rhûn. Among the adherents of these dark cults was a sect of dragon worshippers, known as the Loke Egleria. Alatar fermented these beliefs establishing himself as high priest of the cult. It was not until the Balchoth Invasions that Alatar had fully established himself as Saurons Chief Lieutenant in Rhûn and was left in the East to watch over the invasions. With the failure of the invasions in 2510 of the Third Age Alatar fled further east with his Dragon Worshippers abandoning Rhûn to the chaos of that would follow the failure of the Balchoth.
Around 2800 of the Third Age Sauron sought to increase his influence in Middle Earth. He called on Alatar to bring his Loke Egleria Priests and Dragon Worshippers to Rhûn where he was to attempt to unify the tribes. The Dragon worship which Alatar believed had travelled east with him was still well established among the tribes of Rhûn. He began exploiting this, now ingrained, belief system using his own followers and priest to establish his influence among several of the Warlords. Several decades of war and conquest eventually resulted in a second khanate under the leadership of the Loke-Khan (Dragon Khan) with the corrupted Istari Alatar at his right hand. This Khanate was very different from that of the Balchoth Khanate and even farther removed from the loose confederation of the Wainriders. Alatar had formed a nation which steeped itself in the dragon mythos he had created. It permeated ever aspect of life which led to the loyalty of the Tribes to the Loke-Khan who was the human embodiment for the Dragons of Middle Earth.
Alatar, moving quickly to establish the might of the Loke-Khan established a standing army, The Loke-Rim which would serve as the personal bodyguard of the Khan and also to ensure the loyalty of his Clan leaders. Only the best men in Rhûn were taken into the army and a new social order was established. The professional soldier quickly became a social class of its own with the clan structure left to peasantry. Once a man was taken into The Loke-Rim all his decendants were immediately accepted into the social order. They children would train from birth to be warriors of the Loke-Khan and so a great deal of pride and honor was established within the army.
Below the army were the Clan Leaders, or petty Warlords. These men had their own household troops which they used to maintain their own power. It was not uncommon that two Clan Leaders would go to war with their personal armies. However, even combined the Clan Leaders could not challenge the might of The Loke-Rim and so the Loke-Khan was secure in his position. In times of full scale war the Clan Leaders were expected to field troops to augment those of The Loke-Rim. If the army still did not have the numbers required for the expedition then the peasantry was further conscripted.
It was this social and military structure that Aragorn witnesses in 2980 of the Third Age. It was troops of The Loke-Rim who were supplied to Sauron in the War of the Ring. At the start of the mod the Easterlings are being ruled by the 4th Loke-Khan and the might of the Khanate is unrivaled in Rhûn.
Units
Balchoth Tribesmen
The lands to the southeast of Mirkwood are inhabited by the rements of the Balchoth. These warlike tribes invaded the west only to meet defeat at the hands of the fledging Rohirrim. Pushed back into the foothills along the Sea of Rhun their lust for battle has not diminished in the years since their invasion and defeat. Called on by Warlords and the Lôke-Khan as mercenaries their tribesmen are ferocious warriors capable of amushing an enemy and quickly disappearing into the shadows wence they came. They carry menacing javelins, crude axes and hand-scythes. Chiefly used for protecting archers or infantry flanks, they have been used by Warlords as a main battle line where there ferocity in a general melee was on display for all to see.
Clansmen
The warlords of Rhûn each control large swaths of land which they hold for the Lôke-Khan. Living on this land, and owing their livelihood to the Warlords are the various clans of the Easterlings. While the clans themselves are semi-nomadic in nature they have a feudal debt to the warlords whose protection they live under. When a Warlord calls upon the clans they are to supply a quota of able bodied men based on past service and their current clan size. These clansmen go to war with an assortment of weapons. Typically they carry single edged blades and axes into battle as well as wooden shields. The clansmen are typically are not used by the Warlords to form the main battle line and are used only to augment his numbers.
Clan Hunters
The warlords of Rhûn each control large swaths of land which they hold for the Lôke-Khan. Living on this land, and owing their livelihood to the Warlords are the various clans of the Easterlings. While the clans themselves are semi-nomadic in nature they have a feudal debt to the warlords whose protection they live under. When a Warlord calls upon the clans they are to supply a quota of able bodied men based on past service and their current clan size. Because of their nomadic style and the lands in which they inhabit the Easterlings have become excellent archers. When not called upon to form part of the infantry the clansmen are usually formed into archer groups. Using smaller composite bows, that can also be used from horseback, the clansmen archers possess considerable range and deadly impact. As side arms they carry similar weapons as their infantry counterparts.
Clan Warriors
While in times of great need the entire clan provides it quota of men to the Warlord there is also another group within the clans. Clan warriors are men raised from birth in the ways of battle, many of which have aspirations of entering into the sacred Lôke-Rim. These warriors protect their own clans when not in the service of their Warlord. Typically outfitted for war by the Warlord himself their weapons and equipment are passed on from generation to generation of clan warriors. As is their tradition they forsake the safety of the shield and prefer to use their own agility and armor to protect them in combat. They carry an expertly crafted curved saber into battle along with a guard sword which they use in their off hand. This guard sword is equipped with curved blade and a terrible claw at its end. Used in concert with the saber a clan warrior can create a masterful dance of death which few can resist. After the Clan Guard and Horse Guard these men are the most valuable troops the Warlords possess.
Clan Crossbowmen
For thousands of years the bow has been the weapon of choice for the men of Rhûn. However, not long after Alatar and the Lôke-Khan arrived in Rhûn with their armies so did another terrible weapon, the crossbow. Brought from further east by Alatar and originally thought to be of eastern dwarven construction the crossbow found itself well at home within the armies of the warlords. Easy to use and even easier to train for, the Warlords found it easier to arm their clansmen with the crossbow rather than trying to piece together groups of archers. Even with its ease of use the crossbow of the Easterlings is still out ranged by their composite bows placing its operators in greater danger as they close with the enemy. In an attempt to eleviate this crossbowmen are typically outfitted in additional armor made of leather and steel similar to that of the clan warriors.
Clan Guard
While the clans supply the majority of the Warlords men; he also has his own personal guards. Made up of a core of professional soldiers paid by the Warlords to do one thing, wage war, the Clan Guards are the pinnacle of the Warlords infantry. Drawing from the warrior class and retired Lôke-Rim soldiers they are armed with six foot long halberds which have blades on both ends of the weapon. They wear sturdy steel lamellar armor of various designs with spiked steel helmets. While limited in numbers the Clan Guard are a formidable enemy on the battlefield. Used properly, as to not waste their numbers, they can turn the tide of battle or hold a critical position within the battle line.
Horse Guard
Many of the clans cannot produce their own cavalry. Their horses used as beasts of burden and not for war the Warlords have very little cavalry at their disposal. They typically rely on their allies in Khand to supply mercenary cavalry to augment what little they do have. Typically the Warlords of Rhûn field cavalry in the form of the Horse Guard. The horse guard draws from the clan guard, taking only those that show superior riding skills they are a fast moving medium cavalry excellent for envelopments and running down the enemy. Exchanging halberds for spears they are also equipped with steel lamellar armor which gives them strong protection in combat but also ease of mobility atop their mounts.
Variag Raiders of Khand
Khand, lying south west of Rhûn has been the traditional ally of the Easterlings since the time of the Wainriders. As such they supply mercenaries to the Warlords and the Lôke-Khan whenever asked. These take the form of Kataphrakts, warriors and most typically Raiders. The Variag raiders are fast moving light cavalry horse archers and form a perfect counter-part to the horse guard of the Easterlings. Outfitted with light leather lamellar and steel helmets Variags carry composite bows and axes into battle. In times of need the Variags can be dismounted and serve as infantry where their skills rival those of the Lôke-Khans own elite archers, the Lôke-Nar Rim.
The Lôke Rim
The Lôke-Khan, chief among the Warlords of the Rhûn and chosen servant of Sauron in the east established his power there with his Golden Horde. An army of professional soldiers which was collected for him by the will of Sauron and his servant Alatar, they were outfitted in golden steel armor from which they drew their name. From this golden horde developed the military society of the Khan, the Lôke Rim or Dragon Regiments. Steeped in the mythology of dragons and the dark cults created by Alatar the regiments fermented a religious zealotry within their ranks producing fearless warriors who served only the Lôke-Khan and by extension Sauron. A closed society only those that can prove descent from the original Golden Horde are allowed to join the Regiments. Because of this exclusivity a new social order was born in Rhûn in which the members of the Lôke Rim were at the top. Typically trained at birth to be warriors, the Lôke Rim do not give ground, do not retreat and believe death in the service of their Khan to be the ultimate privilege. The Lôke Rim is divided into four separate groups each having its own place within the social order and on the battle field.
The Dragons Fire Regiments
The Lôke-Nar Rim are some of the finest archers in Middle Earth. They posses large composite long bows with incredible range and power. In addition to their mastery of the bow they are also accomplished swordsmen. As part of the Lôke-Khans and Alatars combined arms strategy they provide the missile screen required for the advance of the infantry.
The Dragons Claw Regiments
Quite literally the bite of the Lôke-Khans army the Lôke-Gamp Rim are highly trained pikemen and swordsmen. Wielding nine foot pike and halberd hybrids they are the infantry which will ensure that the men of Rhun are never defeated by the horses of Rohan again. Their job in battle is to close with the enemy under the protection of the dragons fire and pin them in position; making the enemy susceptible to envelopment and destruction. They rely heavily on their pikes to provide the protection they need, keeping the enemy at a distance, and are therefore not as heavily armored as the other infantry in the Lôke-Khans army.
The Dragons Skin Regiments
Heavily armored and armed the Lôke-Flag Rim are capable shock troops that are incredibly effective against armor. They wield heavy steel maces and axes and protect themselves with large shields. Primarily their role is to protect the flanks of the Dragons Teeth but they can also be used to soften the enemy up prior to main battle line engaging in melee. Of all the regiments the dragon’s skin is the most versatile, being capable of storming citadels or fighting on open battle plains. Used correctly they are nearly an unstoppable force.
The Dragons Will Regiments
Foremost among the Lôke-Rim are the Lôke-CCC Rim, the heavy cavalry of the Khan and the finest cavalry in all of middle earth. Clad in golden steel plate armor, scale armor and steel chainmail and mounted upon massive war horses draped in armor the Kataphracts are an imposing force on the battlefield. They charge into battle with long cavalry spears and carry with them menacing curved sabers. Their presence on the battlefield gives strength the Lôke-Khans army and hence provides the will of the dragon regiments. While capable of frontal assaults the Dragons will is best utilized in concert with the other regiments. They provide the final envelopment of the enemy and the final devastating charge into their rear. Select squadrons of kataphracts also form the personal bodyguard of the Lôke-Khan and his Generals.
I apologize for any spelling mistakes or errors on dates. This was compiled from various pieces of writing I have for the faction and I haven't had time to give it a thorough proof read.
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Re: Faction Preview: The Easterlings of Rhun
These are the most amazing unit's I've ever seen!! 
. I absolutely LOVE the loke-rim! Will they be a significant part of a easterling force?
Originally Posted by JonSnow
. This mod will rock. The units are beautiful.
