“Many of the Wainriders now passed south of Mordor and made alliance with men of Khand and of Near Harad; and in this great assault from north and south, Gondor came near to destruction.” - Khand’s history with Gondor and its neighbours
Campaign Features
Blue Wizards
Heed the advice of the Blue Wizards and resist Sauron, at the risk of all out civil war and his great Inquisitors or stand with him and refute the foreign wizards and their allies
Khand is a land of tribes and chieftains, greatest of these are the Variags. Men who have featured upon the history of the west only twice but fierce men nonetheless. They are a warrior people and hold honour and bravery high. The bravest and greatest warriors are chosen to defend the sons of the Variag Chieftain and ruling noblemen, however only those of Variag blood can join the ranks of the nobles bodyguards. Appearing on the battlefield as 'Variag Nobles', they are swift and deadly. They wield powerful bows and excellent swords and wear the finest armour that the smithies of the tribes can offer. Although this is heavy armour, it is not like the armour of Dol Amroth or the Lonely Mountain as it has been adapted for men of the saddle and affords them speed as well as protection. The pride of the Variags is reflected in these men and their finely honed skills in archery and swordsmanship from atop their mounts are held in high esteem throughout the tribes.
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 Horsemen and adept archers. The Steppe Hunters are fast moving archers who form a perfect counter-part to the guard of the Easterlings. Outfitted with light leather lamellar and steel helmets Hunters carry composite bows and axes into battle. In times of need, the Hunters can be mounted and serve as cavalry where their skills rival those of the Lôke-Khans own elite archers; the Lôke-Nar Rim.
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 Horsemen and adept archers. The Khandish Hunters are fast moving archers who form a perfect counter-part to the guard of the Easterlings. Outfitted with light leather lamellar and steel helmets Hunters carry composite bows and axes into battle. In times of need, the Hunters can be mounted and serve as cavalry where their skills rival those of the Lôke-Khans own elite cavalry. When mounted, these men act like a brutal hit and run unit and as such, their enemies have branded them 'Raiders' due to the frequency of the raids conducted by these grim men.
Khand is a large country, stretching from the Ered Lithui down to the deserts of Near Harad and it is predominantly ruled over by the Variags. However there are bands of roaming mercenaries and bandits who terrorize the innocent clans folk of the steppes. Using cunning and a great deal of money, the Variags have managed to persuade these Marauders to focus their fury on the foes of the clans and they have since become powerful allies. They aren't well armoured and they aren't well organized but they are very fast, relatively cheap and perfect for picking off any fool who tries to run from the battlefield. Like vultures they prowl the field out of range of any real threat but ready to strike when a weakness opens up.
The numerous tribes that have retained their independence, albeit under fealty to the Variags, draft battalions of warriors for the Khan's armies. They are not as skilled as the secretive Warlord's Brotherhood or as well equipped as the Variags' own hand picked troops but they are fierce fighters nonetheless. Despite their war fervour, loyalty and fierce bloodlust, they are still relatively lightly armoured and their ranks can be decimated by archer fire and should not be expected to hold against the heavily armoured infantry of Gondor or the Knights of Dol Amroth. These particular warriors wield two handed axes and a charge by these men will leave even the bravest men quaking.
These horsemen, drawn from all the tribes of Khand, form the bulk of the feared mounted hordes of Khand. Like all of the men of Khand they are proud and have been shaped by a warrior culture and have known the saddle since birth becoming fine horsemen. These men only wear medium armour and, instead of the heavy lances favoured by Khand's more elite cavalry, they use spears on the battlefield. One thing these men do have in abundance is speed, and they have mastered the hit and run tactic and will not easily tire. However, due to their relatively light equipment, these men will not survive in prolonged combat long and must use their speed and superior horsemanship to quickly disengage after delivering their stinging charges.
The numerous tribes that have retained their independence, albeit under fealty to the Variags, draft battalions of warriors for the Khan's armies. They are not as skilled as the secretive Warlord's Brotherhood or as well equipped as the Variags' own hand picked troops but they are fierce fighters nonetheless. Despite their war fervour, loyalty and fierce bloodlust, they are still relatively lightly armoured and their ranks can be decimated by archer fire and should not be expected to hold against the heavily armoured infantry of Gondor or the Knights of Dol Amroth. These particular warriors are those who have chosen to fight on foot with round shields and heavy sabres and will usually form the bulk of Khand's infantry.
The four clans of the Orocarni Dwarves can all field formidable warriors and, united, they make a fearsome force that any foes would do well to fear. They wear strong and capable armour and wield large battle axes whilst wearing shields on their backs to protect them from arrow fire. Hailing from the far off Red Mountains these soldiers, like all Dwarves, fight valiantly in protection of their brothers.
Contrary to popular belief, the dwarves do not always shy away from war and the troubles of others. In truth, if their kin are threatened then the dwarves have been known to rally together in astounding numbers and crush their enemies. The last occurrence of which was the dwarven retaliation to the killing of King Thrór in T.A 2790, whereby the dwarves showed the world that they were a force to be reckoned with in the 'War of the Dwarves and Orcs'. The war called upon all of the seven families of the dwarves, and all answered the call. Now, as then, the dwarves of Erebor are threatened by the vastness of Rhûn and the plague like spread of the shadow of Mordor. They have called for aid from the four clans of the Orocarni and the call has been answered!
Although the Variags are the strongest of all the tribes of Khand, their numbers mainly consist of unskilled tribesmen, little more than peasants. Due to the harsh lifestyle of the steppes, these men are much stronger than the peasants of the men of the west but they are not a problem for even militia to deal with. Variags have a rich tradition of warfare and due to their mingling with Haradrim and Easterlings they have a strong hatred toward Gondor and their northern Rohirric allies. These men use that hatred and as such can survive in battle on their dark zealotry alone. When war is called, these men choose to march forward with a bow and a shield for protection. They wear little to no armour and should avoid melee at all costs.
Although the Variags are the strongest of all the tribes of Khand, their numbers are still mainly made up of unskilled tribesmen, little more than peasants. Due to the harsh lifestyle of the steppes, these men are much stronger than the peasants of the men of the west but they are not a problem for even militia to deal with. Variags have a rich tradition of warfare and due to their mingling with Haradrim and Easterlings they have a strong hatred toward Gondor and their northern Rohirric allies. These men use that hatred and as such can survive in battle on their dark zealotry alone. When war is called, these men choose to march forward with a spear and a shield for protection, additionally, they carry a single volley of javelins. They wear little to no armour and should avoid frontline combat, being used as a last resort or as arrow fodder.
When the Khan chose to side with the Blue Wizards, many fearsome warriors came with the two Maia and none are more mysterious or feared than the women of the Uushixià clan. Defying all known warring convention, the clan sends its women to war alongside the men! These feared warriors are like a storm: their charge decimates enemy battalions when used correctly and their crossbows, gifted to them by the Orocarni, ensure that long after any archer has run out of arrows they will continue to fire deadly bolts that, though slow to fire, can punch through even the heaviest armour. This barrage of bolts is made even more deadly due to their mobility; only enemy cavalry stands a chance of catching up to these riders. They are a deadly foe that the Shadow would do well to fear, for they are well equipped to trample both its weaker hordes and pierce the armour of its elite troops.
The bow is a central part of life in Khand, when they are strong enough to pull the string, the youth of Khand begin practice. These men represent the years of toil spent at perfecting skill with the bow on foot. They are not the finest archers of the vastness of the east nor are they the best fighters but they will support their cavalry brethren from afar with a ferocity rarely seen in the west.
The bow is a central part of life in Khand, when they are strong enough to pull the string, the youth of Khand begin practice. However, the vastness of the steppes of Khand meant their archers adapted to firing from the saddle. When the chieftains of Khand call, hordes of horse archers respond. Their mounts are bred for endurance and stamina and they will keeping running long after most men and horses can go no further. As such these men use 'hit and run' tactics almost invariably. Raining wave after wave of arrows, with deadly accuracy, upon their enemies. The horse archers of Khand are second only to the riders of Imladris but a lifetime of practice and perfection leaves these men vulnerable if engaged in prolonged melee. They are outfitted for manoeuvrability and speed and so use light armour and only short swords if the need arises.
Hailing from the south-eastern steppes of Khand, these riders follow an ancestral art of battling on horseback. These men have been trained for years with the heaviest horses found in these harsh regions, and donning with the best equipment the Khandish smithies could craft: lamellar plate armour, with a closed helmet, and a long sharp wooden lance and a small iron buckler. Their charge is among the most terrific and powerful of the warriors of the east and few enemies can withstand such tremendous power. Even the spearmen from Dol Amroth and Gondor know their fate might come if a battalion of these heavy cavalry decide to trample them.
As the pastures of the Khan are both vast and ever changing, the traditional methods of border defense do not necessarily apply to the people of Khand. A watchtower or a stone wall is of no use when these nomadic people are likely to wander beyond the boundaries it protects not two weeks after it's construction was completed. Therefore, a wise Khan must employ a more dynamic force, in Khan Arkish's case, the Variag Khuzáta. These captains are responsible for ensuring that if a foreign, hostile force was to make it's way within striking range of any of the Khan's camps, it would be known about well in advance. Given the importance of this task, these captains have promoted to their positions soley because of merit and as such come from a variety of smaller tribes rather than the traditional 'nobility' of Khand. While not the finest warriors or diplomats, these men know the rolling hills and long pastures of Khand like no other.
The Khand of today is vastly changed from the times of Khan Arkish's forefathers. Before, the clans raided and warred with each freely. One would claim dominion before falling swiftly to the next, a cycle only occasionally broken by outside subjugation to an ascendant Haradrim empire. Until recently.
With the return of the Dark Lord, the eye of Mordor has fallen upon Khand for the first time in millenia. The Lord of Men requires armies for his wars, and with Khan Arkish as his chosen vassal the fractured clans of Khand have been brought to heel one by one. But generations of infighting are not easily forgotten, and out of the furthest east there are strange rumors also; of fanatical dissidents, and mountainfolk not seen in generations.
Khan Arkish is no fool, and he has learned much from his master of the art of domination. Inspired by the inquisitors of Durthang, Arkish has organized a new arm of the military under his oldest friend Yiltig. These heavily armored macemen, the Amanta, are well equipped and trained to maintain order in the burgeoning urban environments of the new Khand. Despite their intended purpose they are no less deadly on the battlefield, making them an invaluable tool against all enemies of the Khan within or without.
Khand has no formal military and most men go to war with whatever weapon they have practised with the most. There are exceptions to this rule however and the warriors of Khand are testament to that. When a man has served his time in the ranks of the Khandish Elites but has not lost the taste for battle, they almost always join with the Warriors of Khand. These men have seen countless battles and retain their heavy armour from their past. As the duel swords of the elites are symbolic, the warriors can no longer use them and so, to ensure they still instil fear, they have adopted heavy two handed swords. Performing as the very best dismounted shock troopers that Khand can field, they are proud of their pasts and have little fear of death, making them a truly formidable force on the battlefield. Few men survive long enough to see their service ended in Khand, making these units incredibly rare.
These veterans of the Variag have seen their share of war and battle and come away from this life with a profound love for both. They have fathered many sons of the clan and carried away more plunder than any can boast for. These are the men others look up to for guidance, for leadership, and for the best protection of enough can be found. Although their skill on horseback is unequaled; they have chosen to fight on foot, using the signature two-handed curved sword of the Variags. Their scale armor provides excellent protection from enemy arrows while their massive weapons cleave holes in their foe's battle line. These men can even stand against mounted warriors, staring down the horse of the enemy before side stepping a charge and delivering a blow powerful enough to kill rider and mount in one terrible strike.
The Variag Veterans are an unmatched force! Woe to any who counts them as an enemy and a blessing to he who claims them as an ally.
Often, the field of battle is not suited to cavalry and the vast hordes of Khand have to use infantry instead, equipping their warriors with sword, spear and axe. Should a man prove his skill on the field of battle on foot then he may be called into the fighting battalions of the Brotherhood of the Axe, one of three elite groups within Khandish life collectively know as the 'Warlord's Brotherhood'. The Brotherhood of the Axe is the youngest of the four and they wear their heavy armour with pride. Opting to use an axe in honour of the great Khandish hero Hasar; Hasar fought and died in battle against Gondor in T.A 1944 but was said to have fought with the strength of 10 men; a maelstrom in the sea of men, wielding his two-handed axe with fury. In battle they also wield these mighty axes and can carve through the enemy ranks with ease, also, like all Brotherhood warriors they cover their faces so as to inspire fear. Despite their prowess, they are only called into battle if absolutely necessary as their numbers are few. "Just as night falls on the Steppes, so to do we fall on our enemies; as the serpent devours all, so to do we devour our enemies; as the shadows spare none, so to do we spare no enemy. As a silver tide we rise, in the name of Khand!" - Song of the Brotherhood
The bow is a central part of life in Khand, when they are strong enough to pull the string, the youth of Khand begin practice. However, the vastness of the steppes of Khand has meant their archers adapted to firing from the saddle. When the chieftains of Khand call, hordes of horse archers respond. Their mounts are bred for endurance and stamina and they will keeping running long after most men and horses can go no further. As such these men use 'hit and run' tactics almost invariably. Raining wave after wave of arrows, with deadly accuracy, upon their enemies. The horse archers of Khand are second only to the riders of Imladris but a lifetime of practice and perfection leaves these men vulnerable if engaged in prolonged melee.
When a man proves his skill in the ranks of Horse Archers, then he may be called into the fighting battalions of the Brotherhood of the Bow, one of three elite groups within Khandish life collectively known as the 'Warlord's Brotherhood'. Taking only the finest archers in to their order, they are Khand's elite bowmen and are outfitted with the finest armour Khand can produce to ensure their survival in melee and to act as a statement of their strength. "Just as night falls on the Steppes, so to do we fall on our enemies; as the serpent devours all, so to do we devour our enemies; as the shadows spare none, so to do we spare no enemy. As a silver tide we rise, in the name of Khand!" - Song of the Brotherhood
Khand is a land of horsemen and many men are born in the saddle. Unlike the Rohirrim, this is more out of necessity than desire but that does not mean the men of Khand are not adept on horseback and these men are testament to that fact. After having spent a lifetime on horse and bearing the scars of countless battles, the best Khand has to offer are selected to join the Brotherhood of the Lance, one of three elite groups within Khandish life collectively known as the 'Warlord's Brotherhood'. Choosing lances over the more common Khandish spear, they are the juggernauts of the east, appearing in battle on fine mounts and wearing well crafted heavy lamellar armour, they crush all those who stand in their path. They are not as mobile as the men of Rohan and their armour slows them down but often only one charge by these formidable units is enough. They take on only the best men of the tribes and are only called into battle if absolutely necessary as their numbers are few. "Just as night falls on the Steppes, so to do we fall on our enemies; as the serpent devours all, so to do we devour our enemies; as the shadows spare none, so to do we spare no enemy. As a silver tide we rise, in the name of Khand!" - Song of the Brotherhood
As part of his consolidation of power, Khan Arkish implemented a system of bringing the noble sons of the greatest clans together in his camp. There they would live, ride, and learn of war alongside the Khan's own heir to forge bonds of loyalty amongst the historically combative clans. Thus far they have proven the wisdom of Arkish. They are, to a man, fiercely loyal to Orash and equally skilled in war. In honor of their commander's impressive steed, a gift from Arkish and rumored descendant of the legendary horses of old, they call themselves the White Horse Followers. The title is carried with pride even for those who depart the Followers to succeed their fathers, the new chiefs now inextricably tied to the royal dynasty of Arkish and Orash.
Windriders take their name very deservedly, being the fastest unit on the face of Middle-earth. It is said amongst the tribes of Khand that when the Nazgûl came to the far east to rouse the tribes for war in Sauron's name, the Windriders outpaced them. A feat only accomplished by Glorfindel of Gondolin! The Windriders are a group of warriors who now fight for the Variag's but are descended from the first tribesmen to master horse riding. As such they have spent thousands of years closely guarding their masterful secrets and practising the art of riding. Whilst not the finest warriors of the clans they are still very skilled at fighting atop their horses and they carry fierce sabres, capable of slicing through enemies at top speed. There are none faster than the Windriders and they are a formidable foe.
