“The Haradrim, a great and cruel people that dwelt in the wide lands south of Mordor beyond the mouths of Anduin…. a grim folk, and not easily daunted by shade or blade. Out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues.” - Little known information on Harad
Campaign Features
Unite the Clans
Rise from the glittering city of Faen’obel and assert your control over the various tribes of Harad.
Hasharii Assassins (V3)
After consolidating control of the tribes, send the assassins of the Hasharii to remove your enemies from their seats of power
Empire of the Haradwaith (V3)
Lay claim to more than just Faen’obel and the surrounding regions and declare yourself Serpent-King, supreme ruler of the southern multitude. Forming the Empire of the Haradwaith will change your faction’s colours, names and give you a small bonus to your king’s purse.
Sauron’s Will (V3)
Sauron will not rest until the West is undone and you are an instrument of this reckoning. Capture key Gondorian and Amrothian cities such as Pelargir, Dol Amroth and Minas Tirith to unlock unique buildings and recieve Black Numenorean generals from Sauron.
The Black Pearl (V3)
The Serpent-Lord has long looked across the Haradwaith in envy of independant lords that have held Umbar. It is a disgrace to the God-king Sauron for it not to be held by his people so we must take it for him. By conquering Umbar, you can build two unique buildings there as well as gain benefits from a multitude of unique landmark buildings across the Haradwaith.
The Black Sneak Guard are among the most dangerous men in Harad. Each one has fought for their place amongst the ruling class of the Serpent Tribe. They have clawed up through the ranks of nameless conscripts sent to die on the frontlines, they have survived the cutthroat and ruthless political games of the Black Palace. They have shed the blood of enemy and ally alike and have earned their place through their determination to fight and kill for what power and wealth they can attain. Each one is a brutal example of the Serpent Lord’s Empire: the rule of the heartless. ‘Honor’ and ‘virtue’ do not measure against cunning and cruelty in Harad. Such sentiments are for the weak which these men have stepped upon to reach their goals countless times.
Each of these men commands the loyalty of a dozen tribes, through hostage exchange, threats, debt, or other means. They hold the fealty of hundreds of Serpent warriors, oaths from the Muhad and Troll-Men tribals, some of the more cunning even have Hasarii beholden to them. Any favor owed to a Black Sneak is one that will likely never be paid; to let any power go is not their nature, and any kind of leverage can be useful if a subject is desperate enough. And all of the common folk in Harad are desperate.
One would think such men would stay far from the frontlines and instead linger at some luxurious home, but the teachings of Sauron are not designed to foster complacency in these lesser lords. Instead they know, just as all the helpless masses in Harad understand; the path to glory lies through war. No matter what these men have cobbled together it is nothing compared to what they could gain from a successful conquest. There is no rest for these wicked men, and they must always remain faithful to the Serpent Lord lest they see their hard-won position taken away.
Should they fail to protect the Serpent Lord and his kin; their tribe will be destroyed, decimated without mercy or compromise. And they will likely be forced to witness and take part in the bloodshed before themselves facing an agonizing public execution. These men represent the power of the Serpent Lord, and they will gladly throw themselves to their doom if it means their clan will survive the Emperor’s wrath.
Should they fail to protect the Serpent Lord and his kin; their tribe will be destroyed, decimated without mercy or compromise. And they will likely be forced to witness and take part in the bloodshed before themselves facing an agonizing public execution. These men represent the power of the Serpent Lord, and they will gladly throw themselves to their doom if it means their clan will survive the Emperor’s wrath.
Should they fail to protect the Serpent Lord and his kin; their tribe will be destroyed, decimated without mercy or compromise. And they will likely be forced to witness and take part in the bloodshed before themselves facing an agonizing public execution. These men represent the power of the Serpent Lord, and they will gladly throw themselves to their doom if it means their clan will survive the Emperor’s wrath.
The riders of Harad prefer to use horses as they are swifter and can be better trained to the horrors of battle. However they have long had to fight against the superior cavalry of Dol Amroth, as such, as well as train horses to sweep away infantry, they often use camels to frighten and alarm enemy horses. The men atop the camels are simple tribesmen who have lived among the camels their whole lives and can control them effectively, some wield spears and others use bows but neither are professional warriors. Outfitted in simple tribal leather armour, they do not hold up long in melee but can turn the tide on even the greatest Knights of Dol Amroth.
The word 'Haradrim' is an elvish phrase that translates to "Southern Mulitlute." Indeed: the people of Harad are one of the most numerous populations in Middle-Earth. Harad is a vast land, with many thousands of tribes occupying the fertile oasis and river lands. The more nomadic folk dwell in harsher environments, while the bulk of the population live in the cities and tribal communities that have dwelt in this land since the First Age.
The Serpent Lord is the master of Harad, and the Empire is maintained by the constant battle against Gondor. A heavy tax is imposed on the tribes, not of wealth but of men. Young men are expected to join the armies of Harad as soon as they are of age and each tribe has a tax of warriors they must be able to meet. If they fail their Lord's demand of manpower the tribe is forfeited, and their families and lands are taken and given to a tribe who can meet the quota.
The Haradrim learn to hunt with a bow and spear as soon as they are old enough to carry them. High-quality armor is a rare commodity, so leather and cloth are the most available resources for protection. Typically these conscripts are not expected to survive their first battle and are tossed into the fires of war with no regard. If ten fall and one soldier of Gondor is killed it is considered a favorable outcome. The advantage of Harad is that it can replace any loss in manpower. In fact; this horrific system has become a necessity, as the land itself would be heavily burdened by the excess population.
Haradrim Archers deploy in vast numbers to rain death and chaos upon the foe. They darken the skies with their missiles and hope no returning fire catches them, cloth does little to stop an arrow after all.
The word 'Haradrim' is an elvish phrase that translates to "Southern Mulitlute." Indeed: the people of Harad are one of the most numerous populations in Middle-Earth. Harad is a vast land, with many thousands of tribes occupying the fertile oasis and river lands. The more nomadic folk dwell in harsher environments, while the bulk of the population live in the cities and tribal communities that have dwelt in this land since the First Age.
The Serpent Lord is the master of Harad, and the Empire is maintained by the constant battle against Gondor. A heavy tax is imposed on the tribes, not of wealth but of men. Young men are expected to join the armies of Harad as soon as they are of age and each tribe has a tax of warriors they must be able to meet. If they fail their Lord's demand of manpower the tribe is forfeited, and their families and lands are taken and given to a tribe who can meet the quota.
The Haradrim learn to hunt with a bow and spear as soon as they are old enough to carry them. High-quality armor is a rare commodity, so leather and cloth are the most available resources for protection. Typically these conscripts are not expected to survive their first battle and are tossed into the fires of war with no regard. If ten fall and one soldier of Gondor is killed it is considered a favorable outcome. The advantage of Harad is that it can replace any loss in manpower. In fact; this horrific system has become a necessity, as the land itself would be heavily burdened by the excess population.
Haradrim Spears are thrown into battle and expected to hold the enemy while other troops move to exposed flanks. They are also placed in screening rolls for more valuable infantry so that they die to an arrow that might have killed someone more important.
The Hasarii are a secretive and dangerous group of spies and assassins who swear absolute allegiance to the Serpent Lord and the great benefactor of Harad: the Dark Lord Sauron. This collection of murderers and killers serves as the underground enforcers of the Serpent Lord and his followers. Their headquarters are located underneath the Black Palace and they have tunnels that spread across the capital where they wait and watch for any sign of treachery or sedition, quickly snuffing such sentiment out and leaving nothing behind but rumors and distant calls for mercy. Each of the major cities of Harad maintains hidden covens of the Hasarii, ensuring that all the land is surveyed by the eyes of the Serpent Lord.
The Hasarii themselves can trace their origin back to the Second Age when the Numenorian occupation of Harad was first established. The Numenorian strength and power were impossible for the men of the South to challenge directly, so they resorted to guerrilla warfare. Attacking from the shadows with poison arrows and ambushing those who could be killed quickly and silently. This is likely where the first ideas of the Haradrim as an ‘honorless’ and ‘savage’ people first were born, as these tactics were considered deplorable by the Numenorians. After the fall of Numenor it was Lord Fuinor who saw the value in turning the Hasarii into a secret cult of enforcers. Through them, the rule of Sauron has become unassailable. While they began as a group that stood for the freedom of Harad, they are now a device of the Dark Lord and his proxy rulers.
When the Hasarii are called to the battlefield they gather as a sinister shadow of the main host, setting traps and stalking the roads and paths of the enemy. In open battle, the teachings of Sauron come alive the sadistic depravity of the Hasarii is on full display. It takes men of great courage to stand up in the face of what the Hasarii unleash, the sight of a tormented comrade might drive some to flee, only to be caught and taken as a prisoner of war into the horrid terror of the Hasarii headquarters.
The Shadows are expert marksmen, able to kill or cripple their foe from a great distance. Wicked barbed arrows are crafted to cause great harm to their opponents and when the enemy realizes where the attack was launched the Shadows slip away toward another target while other troops close in and finish what they started.
The Hasarii are a secretive and dangerous group of spies and assassins who swear absolute allegiance to the Serpent Lord and the great benefactor of Harad: the Dark Lord Sauron. This collection of murderers and killers serves as the underground enforcers of the Serpent Lord and his followers. Their headquarters are located underneath the Black Palace and they have tunnels that spread across the capital where they wait and watch for any sign of treachery or sedition, quickly snuffing such sentiment out and leaving nothing behind but rumors and distant calls for mercy. Each of the major cities of Harad maintains hidden covens of the Hasarii, ensuring that all the land is surveyed by the eyes of the Serpent Lord.
The Hasarii themselves can trace their origin back to the Second Age when the Numenorian occupation of Harad was first established. The Numenorian strength and power were impossible for the men of the South to challenge directly, so they resorted to guerrilla warfare. Attacking from the shadows with poison arrows and ambushing those who could be killed quickly and silently. This is likely where the first ideas of the Haradrim as an ‘honorless’ and ‘savage’ people first were born, as these tactics were considered deplorable by the Numenorians. After the fall of Numenor it was Lord Fuinor who saw the value in turning the Hasarii into a secret cult of enforcers. Through them, the rule of Sauron has become unassailable. While they began as a group that stood for the freedom of Harad, they are now a device of the Dark Lord and his proxy rulers.
When the Hasarii are called to the battlefield they gather as a sinister shadow of the main host, setting traps and stalking the roads and paths of the enemy. In open battle, the teachings of Sauron come alive the sadistic depravity of the Hasarii is on full display. It takes men of great courage to stand up in the face of what the Hasarii unleash, the sight of a tormented comrade might drive some to flee, only to be caught and taken as a prisoner of war into the horrid terror of the Hasarii headquarters.
The Blades prefer to fight up close with their victims, springing from the shadows in a flurry of attacks before vanishing into darkness. Twin blades dipped in snake venom ensure that even a small bite of the blade means agonizing death.
All across the great Haradwaith; tribes form great collectives and communities around natural resources, fertile farmland, and the coastline of the Harnen. The Empire is built upon these masses and by its own laws it enforces this kind of consolidation of the masses. The exception to this rule is the Muhad. Perhaps the oldest of tribes that dot the more wild and untamed lands, the Muhad are a nation of primitive hunters and herdsmen that practice the same traditions as the savage ancestors that first migrated to Harad in the First Age. Surviving off the land and wildlife that call it home, protecting safer routes to the oasis of the desert, passing on the secrets of the savannah to the next generation.
The Muhad are skilled hunters and renowned for their ability to train horses and camels, even the mighty Mumakil can be tamed to be a beast of burden by these masters of wild craft. The Muhad are therefore an extremely valuable asset to the Serpent Lords of Harad, and through careful negotiation and patient cunning, the Muhad have gone from being an antagonist of Harad to its most powerful of the servile tribes.
The tithe of men the Serpent Lord demands of his loyal tribes can be paid in beasts by the Muhad. Instead of men, they bring their trained animals to augment the Serpent Lord's armies, and a trained horse is worth more than ten warriors in Harad! The Muhad have another privilege they have made for themselves; as they are the ones who know the safest paths through the deserts, they have established the trade roads that weave throughout the vast South. No goods are moved in Harad without the Muhad guiding them, effectively making them a ‘guild’ of commerce.
Beastmasters are skilled riders and prefer camels instead of horses for their longevity in the desert and for their greater intelligence. The smell and sounds of a camel can also spook horses who have never trained with them, and this can be an advantage when facing other mounted troops.
All across the great Haradwaith; tribes form great collectives and communities around natural resources, fertile farmland, and the coastline of the Harnen. The Empire is built upon these masses and by its own laws it enforces this kind of consolidation of the masses. The exception to this rule is the Muhad. Perhaps the oldest of tribes that dot the more wild and untamed lands, the Muhad are a nation of primitive hunters and herdsmen that practice the same traditions as the savage ancestors that first migrated to Harad in the First Age. Surviving off the land and wildlife that call it home, protecting safer routes to the oasis of the desert, passing on the secrets of the savannah to the next generation.
The Muhad are skilled hunters and renowned for their ability to train horses and camels, even the mighty Mumakil can be tamed to be a beast of burden by these masters of wild craft. The Muhad are therefore an extremely valuable asset to the Serpent Lords of Harad, and through careful negotiation and patient cunning, the Muhad have gone from being an antagonist of Harad to its most powerful of the servile tribes.
The tithe of men the Serpent Lord demands of his loyal tribes can be paid in beasts by the Muhad. Instead of men, they bring their trained animals to augment the Serpent Lord's armies, and a trained horse is worth more than ten warriors in Harad! The Muhad have another privilege they have made for themselves; as they are the ones who know the safest paths through the deserts, they have established the trade roads that weave throughout the vast South. No goods are moved in Harad without the Muhad guiding them, effectively making them a ‘guild’ of commerce.
The Muhad Tribesmen are skilled at ambush and hunting with a throwing spear. Hunting a man is easier than hunting lesser prey, and their sharp javelins can pierce armor better than an arrow. They just need to get closer…
Of all the great beasts that roam Middle Earth the Mumakil reigns supreme as the most powerful of all creatures. Standing ten stories tall and boasting the strength of one thousand men, the mighty Mumak cannot be matched by any other living creature. To behold such a magnificent animal is to step back to a more primordial Age, nothing alive in this time rivals these beasts, and the enemies of Harad quake with fear knowing such raw power can be brought down upon them.
The Serpent Lord has declared that all Mumakil on Middle-Earth belong to him. As such; the tribes that hunt these creatures are sanctioned by His Majesty and must provide adequate tribute for each beast they slay. This tribute is taken in the form of trained Mumakil, captured by the Troll-Men of Far Harad and disciplined by the Muhad Beastmasters. It has taken generations to raise herds of Mumakil that can be trained, but by the sweat and blood of their labors, the savage tribes of the South have delivered unto the Serpent Lord, Emperor of all Harad, the greatest weapons in the world!
The sheer force these breasts can unleash is awesome to behold! With one sweep of its great tusks, the Mumak can send dozens of warriors soaring to their inglorious deaths. The most valiant of knights can be crushed in an instant, mount and all, beneath its mighty foot! Even Trolls would be trampled into bloody heaps if faced with the charge of a raging Mumak! The power of Harad is made manifest in such great creatures. No living warrior can stand before these monsters and hope to prevail…
The Serpent Warriors are battle-hardened veterans who have killed enough enemies to earn a place within the military elite. They have survived long enough to reap the benefits of their service and are granted access to finer weapons and armor courtesy of the Serpent Lord. They have the right to extort manpower from the tribes of Harad and part of their responsibilities is the formation of armed regiments for the Haradrim army. They fight behind the battle standard of the troops they raise and form their own cohorts on deployment if the campaign is prestigious enough.
As a fighting force; these men are unchallenged in the Haradrim rank and file, they command respect and fear from those of lower rank and drive the great Legions of Harad onwards to glory and war. The teachings of Sauron become realized by these warriors, who have learned the harsh lesson that only cruelty and violence can make a better world. Devotion to the Serpent tribe and its ruling Lord means that they must disregard the lives of their lesser kin, seeing them for the fodder they are as they press the masses to war.
While these men may not be part of the Serpent tribe, they have shed their identities as lesser warriors and have begun their rise into the higher echelons of Harad’s ruling class. Some may become chieftains of new tribes, given land rights in foreign lands, or perhaps even more valuable: a chance to serve a rotation at the Black Palace! There a man’s fortune can turn in a heartbeat; a chance encounter with the right people can lead to many opportunities. Such a chance is what drives thousands to die in battle for the Serpent Lord, but these men have survived long enough to size it. Their Lord is watching their progress with great interest.
The Serpent Horse Archers are rivaled only by the nobles of Khand. Swift steeds carry these warriors behind the foe and their deadly arrows strike at the vulnerable. When they are out of ammunition they will join the lancers for hit-and-run strikes at the weakest points of the foe.
The Serpent Warriors are battle-hardened veterans who have killed enough enemies to earn a place within the military elite. They have survived long enough to reap the benefits of their service and are granted access to finer weapons and armor courtesy of the Serpent Lord. They have the right to extort manpower from the tribes of Harad and part of their responsibilities is the formation of armed regiments for the Haradrim army. They fight behind the battle standard of the troops they raise and form their own cohorts on deployment if the campaign is prestigious enough.
As a fighting force; these men are unchallenged in the Haradrim rank and file, they command respect and fear from those of lower rank and drive the great Legions of Harad onwards to glory and war. The teachings of Sauron become realized by these warriors, who have learned the harsh lesson that only cruelty and violence can make a better world. Devotion to the Serpent tribe and its ruling Lord means that they must disregard the lives of their lesser kin, seeing them for the fodder they are as they press the masses to war.
While these men may not be part of the Serpent tribe, they have shed their identities as lesser warriors and have begun their rise into the higher echelons of Harad’s ruling class. Some may become chieftains of new tribes, given land rights in foreign lands, or perhaps even more valuable: a chance to serve a rotation at the Black Palace! There a man’s fortune can turn in a heartbeat; a chance encounter with the right people can lead to many opportunities. Such a chance is what drives thousands to die in battle for the Serpent Lord, but these men have survived long enough to size it. Their Lord is watching their progress with great interest.
The Swords are foot troops in medium armor and wielding a curved blade. These men form a hard-hitting reserve. Once the foe has been tired and worn down by fighting the common tribesmen these true warriors descend on them and carve them into pieces.
The Serpent Warriors are battle-hardened veterans who have killed enough enemies to earn a place within the military elite. They have survived long enough to reap the benefits of their service and are granted access to finer weapons and armor courtesy of the Serpent Lord. They have the right to extort manpower from the tribes of Harad and part of their responsibilities is the formation of armed regiments for the Haradrim army. They fight behind the battle standard of the troops they raise and form their own cohorts on deployment if the campaign is prestigious enough.
As a fighting force; these men are unchallenged in the Haradrim rank and file, they command respect and fear from those of lower rank and drive the great Legions of Harad onwards to glory and war. The teachings of Sauron become realized by these warriors, who have learned the harsh lesson that only cruelty and violence can make a better world. Devotion to the Serpent tribe and its ruling Lord means that they must disregard the lives of their lesser kin, seeing them for the fodder they are as they press the masses to war.
While these men may not be part of the Serpent tribe, they have shed their identities as lesser warriors and have begun their rise into the higher echelons of Harad’s ruling class. Some may become chieftains of new tribes, given land rights in foreign lands, or perhaps even more valuable: a chance to serve a rotation at the Black Palace! There a man’s fortune can turn in a heartbeat; a chance encounter with the right people can lead to many opportunities. Such a chance is what drives thousands to die in battle for the Serpent Lord, but these men have survived long enough to size it. Their Lord is watching their progress with great interest.
The Serpent Guard is the heaviest cavalry in Harad. While still not a match for a Swan Knight perhaps, they are a deadly force. They will find formations of the enemy's heavy troops that are already engaged and crack open their lines with a savage charge.
The term ‘Southron’ is a colloquial term coined by Gondorians for all the different tribes that dwell south of Harondor. It is a gross simplification of these people, as each tribe has a unique identity, history, and dialect. While they are unified under the banner of the Serpent Lord, to say that they are all ‘one people’ would do them a discredit. This is one of the many perceived insults that the men of the South carry with them into battle against the forces of the ‘arrogant’ and ‘pompous’ West.
Centuries of war with Gondor and her allies have hardened the tribes. Under the ruthless leadership of the Serpent Lord, they are convinced that the path to peace and prosperity lies through the destruction of the West. Weather every man of the south truly believes what they’re told is unclear, as all tribes are expected to send their men to join the Empire’s army as soon as they are of age, with extreme punishments for those who do not. Promises of wealth in plunder and new fertile lands to settle lead many of these men to join the endless ranks willingly, others understand that their lives mean nothing to the ones who send them to war and that they go so that their families can live another generation. Lies and threats are what drive these folk to war, and defiance means a death most cruel.
While these warriors are skilled, and trained from a young age to wield a spear, they are no match for a more advanced and disciplined force. It matters not to the Serpent Lord, who can call upon a seemly endless number of men to his banner. Some will rise out of obscurity, by chance or cunning. If a man is willing to set his goodwill aside and embrace the opportunity of war, he may one day become a part of the Serpent tribe; the elite warriors who drive the endless Legions of Harad.
Archery is practiced from a young age in the South, as such the Lords of Harad can deploy skilled archers in vast numbers. These men darken the skies and rain death and chaos upon the foe. Light on their feet, they can quickly outmaneuver a more heavily armored enemy.
The term ‘Southron’ is a colloquial term coined by Gondorians for all the different tribes that dwell south of Harondor. It is a gross simplification of these people, as each tribe has a unique identity, history, and dialect. While they are unified under the banner of the Serpent Lord, to say that they are all ‘one people’ would do them a discredit. This is one of the many perceived insults that the men of the South carry with them into battle against the forces of the ‘arrogant’ and ‘pompous’ West.
Centuries of war with Gondor and her allies have hardened the tribes. Under the ruthless leadership of the Serpent Lord, they are convinced that the path to peace and prosperity lies through the destruction of the West. Weather every man of the south truly believes what they’re told is unclear, as all tribes are expected to send their men to join the Empire’s army as soon as they are of age, with extreme punishments for those who do not. Promises of wealth in plunder and new fertile lands to settle lead many of these men to join the endless ranks willingly, others understand that their lives mean nothing to the ones who send them to war and that they go so that their families can live another generation. Lies and threats are what drive these folk to war, and defiance means a death most cruel.
While these warriors are skilled, and trained from a young age to wield a spear, they are no match for a more advanced and disciplined force. It matters not to the Serpent Lord, who can call upon a seemly endless number of men to his banner. Some will rise out of obscurity, by chance or cunning. If a man is willing to set his goodwill aside and embrace the opportunity of war, he may one day become a part of the Serpent tribe; the elite warriors who drive the endless Legions of Harad.
These light lancers are excellent for pricing exposed flanks and chasing down archers. Hunting on horseback is a custom of many tribes of the Haradwiath, but horses are fewer than men in Harad. Arguably the horse is more valuable than the rider to the Serpent Lord, as he can replace one man with ten in a day, but a trained horse is rarer.
The term ‘Southron’ is a colloquial term coined by Gondorians for all the different tribes that dwell south of Harondor. It is a gross simplification of these people, as each tribe has a unique identity, history, and dialect. While they are unified under the banner of the Serpent Lord, to say that they are all ‘one people’ would do them a discredit. This is one of the many perceived insults that the men of the South carry with them into battle against the forces of the ‘arrogant’ and ‘pompous’ West.
Centuries of war with Gondor and her allies have hardened the tribes. Under the ruthless leadership of the Serpent Lord, they are convinced that the path to peace and prosperity lies through the destruction of the West. Weather every man of the south truly believes what they’re told is unclear, as all tribes are expected to send their men to join the Empire’s army as soon as they are of age, with extreme punishments for those who do not. Promises of wealth in plunder and new fertile lands to settle lead many of these men to join the endless ranks willingly, others understand that their lives mean nothing to the ones who send them to war and that they go so that their families can live another generation. Lies and threats are what drive these folk to war, and defiance means a death most cruel.
While these warriors are skilled, and trained from a young age to wield a spear, they are no match for a more advanced and disciplined force. It matters not to the Serpent Lord, who can call upon a seemly endless number of men to his banner. Some will rise out of obscurity, by chance or cunning. If a man is willing to set his goodwill aside and embrace the opportunity of war, he may one day become a part of the Serpent tribe; the elite warriors who drive the endless Legions of Harad.
Southron pikes are 14’ long with a wicked blade at its edge. They lack shields and rely on support from other infantry, but in great enough numbers, they can stand against even the heavier knights of Gondor and Dol Amroth.
The term ‘Southron’ is a colloquial term coined by Gondorians for all the different tribes that dwell south of Harondor. It is a gross simplification of these people, as each tribe has a unique identity, history, and dialect. While they are unified under the banner of the Serpent Lord, to say that they are all ‘one people’ would do them a discredit. This is one of the many perceived insults that the men of the South carry with them into battle against the forces of the ‘arrogant’ and ‘pompous’ West.
Centuries of war with Gondor and her allies have hardened the tribes. Under the ruthless leadership of the Serpent Lord, they are convinced that the path to peace and prosperity lies through the destruction of the West. Weather every man of the south truly believes what they’re told is unclear, as all tribes are expected to send their men to join the Empire’s army as soon as they are of age, with extreme punishments for those who do not. Promises of wealth in plunder and new fertile lands to settle lead many of these men to join the endless ranks willingly, others understand that their lives mean nothing to the ones who send them to war and that they go so that their families can live another generation. Lies and threats are what drive these folk to war, and defiance means a death most cruel.
While these warriors are skilled, and trained from a young age to wield a spear, they are no match for a more advanced and disciplined force. It matters not to the Serpent Lord, who can call upon a seemly endless number of men to his banner. Some will rise out of obscurity, by chance or cunning. If a man is willing to set his goodwill aside and embrace the opportunity of war, he may one day become a part of the Serpent tribe; the elite warriors who drive the endless Legions of Harad.
These troops are the hardened frontline of the Haradrim Army. They support the pikemen and provide screening for the archers. Holding the enemy down while arrows and lancers take them down. While their armor and weapons cannot match the craftsmanship of Gondor, they make up for it with sheer numbers and a grim disregard for their own lives.
Troll-men champions are the most dangerous men who walk beneath the southern sky. Their might and power are unequaled by any of Sauron’s mortal servants. They carry massive weapons of bleached bone and masks made from the skulls of those who stray into their lands uninvited. These warriors guard the Mumakil Graveyard in Far Harad, a holy place to the Troll-men. Each champion must venture deep into the Graveyard to commune with their ancestors as part of their right of passage. This may be how Sauron came to influence these folk and bring them into the fold, as Sauron is known as the Necromancer, and these people trust the words of the dead. It seems plausible that the Deceiver whispers his lies to these people from the Mumak Graveyard, such a deplorable thing would suit the Dark Lord.
The deserts, forests, and savannas of Far Harad hold a plethora of dangerous creatures. Mûmakil being the most well known and mightiest of these. All life here is utterly dependent upon the whims of the rains. The vast herds of the savanna undertake great migrations during times of drought, meaning anything or anyone who depends on them for food are also on the move quite often. Only the hardiest of peoples can survive here. The Troll Men of this land thrive in this exotic and harsh environment. In fact, it is they who capture and train adolescent Mûmakil to be the war machines that the Haradrim are famous for. The secrets of this training are a matter of great pride and amongst these tribes. The act of taking a young Mûmak from it's mother requires a bravery and strength unlike anything the Men of the West have ever seen. Most tribes field specialized teams of hunters whose main purpose is the acquisition of Mûmakil. These Troll Men wield their spears quite expertly as they have all needed to defend their lives from the various dangers of the Haradwaith. They have also found that the best tactic for bringing an angry Mûmak down is massed volleys of javelins. During the many conflicts with the Men of Gondor, the Haradrim have found that the same tactics which ensure their tribes' survival are actually quite effective against the heavily armoured cavalry of Dol Amroth. The addition of a shield to their kit, while not very useful on the hunt, helps ensure their survival on the battlefield.
The humans that live in Far Harad are a strange and mysterious people. Some question whether they are some product of unholy magic or a cross between man and the evil spirits that roam the vast deserts. Their eyes are white and their skin a dark hue, they tower over other Southrons and somehow manage to carve out a life in one of the most inhospitable places on Middle Earth. Surely such things are unnatural? The truth that is more likely is that these folk are simply another example of mankind’s persistence and willingness to accept hardship. The world is a vast place, and the distinction of ‘Troll-Men’ is likely a way for the simple-minded to make sense of what they cannot understand.
The Troll-men of Far Harad are indeed brutal in war, living in the harshest wilderness will harden a people to a patient they may be indistinguishable from a cunning predator. These mighty people have mastered the craft of taming the Mumakil and have established trade with the Muhad for these powerful monsters. The Troll-men have a great sense of personal honor in combat, and discipline that comes from surviving the wastelands. They craft their own weapons from hardened bone sharp as steel. They hunt with javelins and despise the bow as a weapon, claiming it is the tool of lesser men. Whether they are a product of exotic climate or dark sorcery Troll-men represent a deadly threat on the battlefield.
