The Fallen Realms
Special thanks to Lord Rahl for this Article
Fluff of the Fallen Realms
Harad, Far harad Fluff
Harad lies far to the south, past the borders of Mordor and Gondor, and covers a greater swathe of land than any other of Middle-earth's kingdoms. In the north, Harad is often thought to be a barren and desolate place, and much of it is, yet some of it has beauty enough to challenge the most verdant realms of the world. This in itself should come as no surprise, for a realm on the scale of Harad will always encompass many different landscapes. As such, Harad's folk have grown accustomed to dwelling within the many varied environs of their land, from the great sandy reaches of the Nafarat to the dense forests about the ancient city of Karna.
The people of Harad have grown accustomed to war, for they have long quarrelled amongst themselves, rival chieftains vying for power and privilege wherever they could. Such squabbles serve to strengthen Harad's warriors, which is doubtless what led them to conflict with their neighbouring realms. Chief amongst their foes has been the more northerly realm of Gondor, a land whose fate has been irrevocably entwined with that of their own. Whether the Haradrim should be considered to be agressors in their own right, or more likened to catspaws of the greater kingdoms of the area, is much debated, yet it cannot be argued that they have been much given to warring with their northern neighbour. Such battles have been ferociously fought on both sides and often end in stalemate - the skill and armour of Gondor matched by sheer volume of warriors the Haradrim can bring to bear.
The Corsair Fleets Fluff
Along the coasts of Belfalas there are none as feared as the Corsairs of Umbar. Possessed of nautical expertise beyond compare, these raiders prey upon all of the coastlands of southern Middle-earth, taking whatever they can. Descended in equal part from the Black Numenoreans and the indigenous peoples of Harad, the Corsairs hold allegiance only to the Lords of Umbar. Even there, this fealty is mere lip service, for the captains of the Corsair fleets are so rarely to be found within Umbar itself that they remain largely autonomous.
In ages past, the Corsair fleets were composed of great Numenorean frigates, sleek in motion but also strong and unyielding. As time has slipped away, many of the skills to fashion such vessels have been lost, and now many Corsairs put to sea in ships more akin to the traditional Haradrim coastal craft; angular vessels that are all severe silhouettes and pitch-blackened hulls.
The Eastern Realms Fluff
Beyond Mordor are a great many realms, largely undocumented by the histories kept in the western lands of Middle-earths. Of these kingdoms, some bow down before Sauron's will, contributing slaves, wealth and warriors to his goals, but, even so, there are bastions of the Free Peoples to be found within these lands.
Upon the boundaries of the Sea of Rhun, lies the mysterious kingdom of Dorwinion. Little is known of the realm save the fact that they are masters of the art of wine-making, capable of blending such heady and flavoursome vintages that even an Elf may lose his wits after a small bowl. Such art is highly sought after in the neighbouring realms - the Elves of Mirkwood are particularly partial to its taste - and Dorwinion has been made rich by trade. Despite this, the inhabitants of the realm remain a mystery, for even the boatmen who ferry their wares labour in ignorance of the nature of their paymasters. Some believe the folk of Dorwinion to be Elves, others consider them to be Men, while others still believe them to be something else entirely, yet none can be sure.
Even further southwards lie the Rhunish kingdoms, an alliance of warlike and indisputably evil Men whose loyalty has long since been pledged to Sauron - unsurprisingly, as the Dark Lord has invested much time and effort in bringing them under his sway. It is from these lands that now-vanished peoples came to bring ruin to Gondor and Rhovanion, and the ring of iron fortresses that encircle the lands past the mountains of Rhun haven proven to be a formidable barrier against Gondor's vengeance.
Lastmost, and most southerly, of the Eastern kingdoms is Khand, a rolling land of plains and hills. The Khandish folk are as wild and warlike as those of Rhun, yet their savagery is fuelled by a warrior-code that prizes victory in combat above all else - a trait that makes them highly prized as mercenaries in the neighbouring realms of Harad, Mordor and Rhun. Skilled horsemen, Khandish warriors are capable of deadly raids, striking without warning and dissapearing to the hills from whence they came before the hue and cry can be taken up.
The Models
Here are some example Models from The Fallen Realms range.
Suladan the Serpent Lord of Harad:
Mahud King of Far Harad:
Haradrim Warriors:
Corsairs of Umbar:
Easterling Warriors:
Khandish Horsemen:
War Mumak of Harad:
Heroes of the Fallen Realms
Harad, Far Harad Heroes
Suladan: He one of the most notorius evil men in the land of middle earth, his high stat profile with a plethora of might amd will points and the options to take a war horse and bow makes him one of the most versatile hero for your Haradrim army. Taking a bow in his wargear coupled with his ability to use poisoned arrows makes him a very dangerous marksmen. His true power however, comes from his ability to fight well and best almost any enemy hero and use his courage and Ascendant rule to keep your lowly warriors in the fight until the bitter end. He does have flaws however, as do all heroes and should always be backed up by a bodyguard or he will fall due his lack of defense and low fate points.
Hasharin: The Hasharin are an order of assassins whos job it is to keep order throughout the lands of Harad, On the field of battle these mighty powerful heroes are capable of taking the fight to any problem the free peoples can throw at them. Thay come with a low amount of might and will, but this is made up by some very high fate points. They can lurk in the shadows at relative saftey and not be worried about being shot by archers as they cannot be seen at a distance. In combat however, is where they truly excell and being able to use poison blades will ensure they get the kills they need.
Chieftans: These are the main stay of any Haradrim army and can add a great amount of diversaty to your force. They can be equiped with a bow to help with the fire powre af the overall force or they can be given a spear and horse or even wield a deadly lance to great effect in combat. Whatever their role they have a nice average might point store to be used on heroic actions or help wound the enemy. Although they are not that tough defense wise there many differant types to accompy your force form the south.
Corsair Fleets Heroes
Dalamyr: Dalamyr is the most feared amoungst they piratical Corsair fleets of Umbar and is nigh unstopable when supported with a horde of of screaming pirates. He has a low defense value and next to nothing on might and will points, but this is made up by having a nice amount of fate and they same abilitys as a Haradrim Hasharin, with the added bonus of being able to use his deadly smoke bombs in combat. These will allow Dalmyr to go toe-ot-toe with even the mighty Aragorn himself and still come out on top, However if he should miss, whilst using these invaluable weapons his supply will suddenly run out and he becomes less effective. He must be used wisly and always be backed up by his warriors.
Captains:The Captains are the mainstay of any Corsair fleet army and whilst having a respectible store of might to help them out, they also have a fairly good stat profile and are able to win fights and beat the enemy down alongside your main force. They add much needed muscle in a fight and are a must to help you weak corsairs stay and fight to the last man.
Bo'sun: The Bo'suns are the best way to get the most from your troops, whilst not as strong as your captains, they can bellow orders at your warriors and they will offer a combat bonus and also be able to lend a helping hand in the fight whilst doing so. They also have a choice of being armed with a crossbow to lend a helping hand with the fire power of your force.
The Eastern Realms Heroes
Kamul The Easterling: Kamul is only second most powerful compared to the Witch King and can bring to battle all the Wraith powers, a normal Ring Wraith can use. His greatest asset is being able to disrupt enemy troops courage just by his sheer presence on the battlefield. He can also take a war horse or a mighty Fell Beast as a mount and boost his combat capabilities for a small price to his will store. His high defense means he is a stayer in the game and will be hard to kill due to his respectable store of fate and might points. He also has the ability to reach out and drain the enemys will when they are dying and use it for his own purposes.
Captains: Easterling Captains are very versitile and come with a good profile which can best even the free peoples, They may carry a bow into battle to aid with shooting or they may take a very specilised weapon called a halberd, which grants bonuses in combat depending how it is used. Armed with a armoured awr horse and a shield they can lead your cavlery into battle and have a very strong impact on the game if used correctly. They also have a good supply of might points to use throughout the battle.
Khandish King: The king of Khand is the best hero for this small elite force and comes with a chieftains axe as standard, this allows him to gain a combat bonus in much the same way as a Easterling Captain. He also has a good store of might and a respectable defense value to ensure he stays in the fight. His options include a war chariot which if used well can halt a entire cavalry force, it also gives a bonus for bow armed models. It does come in at a high point cost but can be deadly if used correctly, especialy when used with his commanding presence ablilty to gain the combat bonus where it's needed.
Chieftan: Khandish Chieftan are the main stay of a Khandish force and will allow great flexibility throughout the army, they have a low defense and fate value but come equipped with a chieftan axe as stanard and may choose to take a war horse or a war chariot to battle. They may also take a bow to add much needed firepower to the force, this can be used to great effect when coupled with a chariot.
Mercenary Chieftan: Although cheaper and not as couragous as the normal Chieftan they are better in fight and come with a chieftan axe as standard,. They dont access to a chariot but can take a horse and a bow. Their only weakness is a low defense value and the sellsword rule which makes them unpredictable and non-reliable to use.
Warriors of the Fallen Realms
Harad, Far Harad Warriors
Haradrim warriors: These little fellows are the what make up the bulk of the Haradrim army, they have a low defense and all come with the options to equippe them with a spear, a bow, or a banner. If they are equipped with a bow then they will be able to use poisoned arrows to ensure they enemy fall at a distance. If they have spears they can all be backed up and aid an additional warrior in combat.The banner however will add more than one warrior and is good for helping win the fights. Thay are also very cheap point wise, so you can have lots of troops for a very small point game.
Harad Raiders: These make up the main cavlary force for the army and come standard with bows, this allows them to use poison arrows to help kill the enemy with ease. They may also choose to have a banner which will aid them in the fight or be armed with atrusty lance to maximise their initial charge into combat. They have a fairly high points cost for a low defense warrior, but used correctly they can change the course of battle.
Serpant Guard: These are the elite bodyguard of the Haradrim Chieftans and all come armed with a war-spear to ensure their numbers really do count in combat. The 'bodyguard' rule will allow them to stay and fight to the bitter end and have no fear in battle. They are costly but well worth the points when aiding the Haradrim armies Chieftan.
Serpant Riders: These are the mounted version of the Serpant Guard and have all the same abilities as the Serpant Guard, the only exception to this is the war-spear which gives them a combat bonus whilst mounted. If they should lose their mount then the war-spear will still retains its combat bonus, proving these deadly warriors are well worth the points.
Watcher of Karna: These little close combat specialists excel in a fight and use poison blades to overcome the toughest of foes. The only real problem when using them is that have a very measly low defense and can be pick off by bow fire with realtive ease. However when they do get close to the enemy they can overcome all fear caused by the enemy ranks and charge straight into the thick of it. They are fairly for the abilities you get with them, just be sure to hide them in your rear most ranks.
Mahud Warriors: The Mahud are a small elite force which is avaliable to the forces of Harad, they are more exspensive foot troops than any other troop avaliable but with an impressive stat profile they are more than a match for the free peoples of middle earth. They also have the option for blow pipes and spears. The spears will allow their small numbers to really count, while the blow pipes add the much needed firepower to their ranks. Their only flaw is that they can only use the courage from another Mahud Chieftan due to a instinct called warriors pride.
Mahud Raiders: Are a heavy hitting cavlary force which can be used in a Far Harad army, they have the same stats, profile and strength as a Mahud warrior on foot with the added ability to ride a war-camal. They gain an inital bonus when they firstcharge the enemy and will stay in the fight for a lengthy time. They also have their flaws, which are a high point cost and they suffer from warriors pride, so be sure to have a Mahud Chieftain nearby.
Creatures of Harad, Far Harad
Mumakil: The Mumakil is the most powerful monsterous creature in the entire Fallen Realms list. They not trample through absolutly everthing that gets in their way, but can carry your powerful Mahud warriors or Haradrim Warriors into battle upon the mounted Howdah on their backs. They can also be given a variety of wargear to either aid in your troops combat effectivness or to offer much needed protection from enemy bowfire. They are the most expensive model in the army and should only be used in high point games.
Half Trolls: These are the hardest foot warriors in a Far Harad army and whilst striding across the battlefield they can shrug all but the most powerful of hits. They are the toughest and strongest warriors you can field but do come in at a very high price, so you will not be able to field many in your force.
Corsair Fleets Warriors
Corsairs: These are ill armoured pirates who hate the realm of gondor and the western world, they all come equipped with a bandoleer which allows them to get of a deadly volley of fire before or during the charge. They are also very good in a fight, they easily best a good warrior in a one-on-one scrap. Although they have a weak defense they can pack a serious punch when on the charge. They can also be given bows and spears to help make take down the enemy at range or bring their numbers to bare on a single foe.
Arbalesters: These are they main fire power for the Corsairs, aremed with a deadly crossbow and the ability to shoot at a further distabnce with more effect they are the best ranged troops avaliable. If the enemy do manage to get up close and personal the Arbalesters can use a giant shield to cover themselves from harm in the heated combat. They are quite exspensive but can easily make up their points on the field if used correctly.
The Eastern Realms Warriors
The Easterling: These are the most elite warrior avaliable to any of the Fallen Realms armies, they have a high defense when eqiupped with a shield and can be given a spear to gain an additional bonus in combat. Their main strength lies when they form up into a phalanx, this special formation is incrediable hard to stop on the field of battle. They may also be given bows to lend a hand from a distance. They may also take a banner into battle to help with the fighting and ensure you win the combat. Relativaly average points value, which allows a mediocre sized army which can hit hard with rows of warriors.
Kataphrakts: These are the elite cavlary of the Eastern Realms armies altough not as hard hitting as some of the other races cavalary, they do have an incrediable amount of defense. Their horses even come armoured as a standard wargear, which will ensure they will stay mounted for longer duing the battle. A banner is also avaliable to these warriors to help out in the combat and ensure that they win every time. These tough armoured men come in at high point cost so you will not be able to field very many of them.
Warriors of Khand: These are weakly defended troops that can pack a punch when grouped tightly together. They may also exchange their two-handed axe for some much needed fire power in the form of taking bows. They are an average point cost but will be small compared to other armies.
Khandish Horseman: The horsemaen of Khand are the main cavalary to their army and although they have a low defense they come equipped with a bow and hand weapon as standard. There are no options for them but they do pack quite a punch when on the charge and can even move further than a normal bow armed warrior and still be able to fire. At a high points cost dont expect them to fill your ranks.
Khandish Charioteer: The Charioteer is the most hard hitting cavlary force in the Khand army list, they not only provide a stable platform for bow armed models but can hold up entire armies of horsemen with just a couple of them working in unison. The chariot itself is very welll armoured, however the warrior inside is not and can fall to bow fire fairly easily so be sure to keep them safe. They are a good value for points but they are the most exspensive model in the army and must be used with caution.
Mercenary Horsemen: Whilst these are better fighters than their Khandish counterparts they are also less courages and if not paid enough money they will not show up for battle. The only other draw back is they are also have a low defense value.
Khandish Mercenary: These are better than a Khandish warrior in fight but are likley to run at the first sight of trouble, due to a low courage value. They are also unpredictable and may not show up for battle if they do not receive enough payment for their services.
Gameplay
The Fallen Realms list is full of very unique armies that can be assembled with a variety of ways to play in mind. If you are a person who likes to sit back and shoot then take lots of bow armed models, or you could take lots of hard hitting specialised troops such as the Half Trolls and Watchers of Karna. If you prefere your cavlary then you could consider taking the armies of Khand with some Easterlings for some extra punch. The best way to use them is to take advantage of their spear armed warriors who will be able to back each other up and get more of their numbers into the fight. Remember to select your heroes carfully as they can turn the tide of battle in your favour with the right set up. The true strength of any of the Fallen Realms armis is thier ability to allie with each other and almost all of the other evil races in middle earth. This allows them to have some of the most deadliest combinations in the game.
I hope that this has been helpful in introducing you to The Fallen Realms. Any question about The Fallen Realms or anything to do with this, either PM me or post a thread in the Lord of the Rings Forum
