I thought I would do a revamp of everything and gather it all in one place, since this group is where everything seems to happens, we might as well make room for other factions as well.

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Gondor

"Gondor! Gondor, between the Mountains and the Sea!
West Wind blew there; light upon the Silver Tree
"

The territory that would become Gondor had been widely colonised by the Númenóreans from around the middle of the Second Age, especially by the Elf-friends loyal to the house of Elendil. When his sons Isildur and Anárion landed in Middle-earth after the drowning of Númenor, they were welcomed by the colonists and their claim of lordship was accepted, while Elendil was held to be the High King of all lands of the Dúnedain. Within the South-kingdom, the hometowns of Isildur and Anárion were Minas Ithil and Minas Anor respectively, and the capital city Osgiliath was situated between them.Sauron, however, had survived the destruction of Númenor and secretly returned to his realm of Mordor just to the east of Gondor. Soon he launched a war against the Númenórean kingdoms, hoping to destroy them before their power was established. He captured Minas Ithil, but Isildur escaped and fled by ship to Arnor; meanwhile, Anárion was able to defend Osgiliath. Elendil and the Elven-king Gil-galad formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and together with Isildur and Anárion, they besieged and defeated Mordor. Sauron was overthrown, but the One Ring that Isildur took from him was not destroyed, and thus Sauron was able to regain power in the next age.

During the Third Age, Gondor prospered for a while, and a for short time it truly resembled the lost Kingdom of Numenor in both beauty and knowledge, but after the fall of Arnor, the northern Numenorian kingdom, the line of Kings failed and Gondor began its long decline. After centuries of wars with Easterings from the east, Corsairs from Umbar and evil men from Harad, Gondor barely survived if not for the help of the people of Eorl, whom saved Gondor in its time of need. The land of Caladhorn was given to his people as a gift for his help and the Kingdom of Rohan were established.

Now, in the final days of the Third Age, Gondor faces the greatest challenge of their time. Sauron has returned and are gathering his legions of orcs and calls all the kingdoms of evil men to answer his call. Only valour, bravery and hope now remains to fend of the darkening skies and such the worst come to pass, a messenger will ride for Rohan. Will they come to our aid?



Major Regions and Fiefs of Gondor


Minas Tirith and the Lands of Anorien


A narrow strip of land consisting of the northern valleys of the White Mountains, bordered by the Mering Stream in the west, the Mouths of the Entwash in the north and Anduin in the east. Anórien were well populated in the past, but due to the growing shadow of Mordor and the last plaque. Most residents have moved to the region capital of Minas Tirith or further south.

Minas Tirith, once called Minas Arnor, is the current Capital of Gondor, built when the Numenorians first established the Kingdom of Gondor, it is a massive fortress and city. The Outer wall is made of an impenetrable black stone, similar of that the tower of Orthanac is constructed of. In this city resides the Steward of Gondor and is regent over the kingdom and its vassals until the return of the kings.


Osgiliath, Cair Andros and the lands of Ithilien


The easternmost provinces of Gondor, lying between the river Anduin and the Mountains of Shadow, subdivided by the stream of Morgulduin into North and South Ithilien. It was a fair and prosperous land during the first part of the Third Age, filled with many woods and gardens, but after the fall of Minas Ithil the population gradually migrated across the Anduin to escape the looming threat of the Ringwraith's city. From that time, Ithilien was kept free from Sauron's servants only by the Rangers, who maintained secret refuges such as Henneth Annûn.

Osgilliath was once the capital of Gondor and was built of both sides of the river of Anduin, it now lies in ruin because of having been the center point of centuries of warfare and a devastating civil war. Its only residents are the garrison that holds the river and prevents the enemy from crossing. Last time the enemy tries to cross, Boromir of Gondor destroyed the last bridge and pushed the orcs back, but even so. There is kept an watchful eye for the next attack and it will come soon. Only minor and hasty fortifications have been constructed in the eastern part, because Gondor is no longer capable of procuring the manpower to hold it and all stone workers are occupied building the Great wall of Rammas Echor that surrounds the Pellenor Fields and Mins Tirith.
Further up the river is Cair Andros, a small and narrow island in the middle of the Anduin and on it is a small fortress that holds the crossings.


Pelargir and the Lands of Lebennin and Lossarnarch


Lebennin is the central and one of the most populated regions of Gondor, bordered by river Anduin in the east and south and by the White Mountains in the north. Lebennin translates from Sindarin as "five waters", which is a reference to the Five Streams that flowed through it: Erui, Sirith, Celos, Serni and Gilrain. In parts of Lebennin around the Mouths of Anduin lived a fairly numerous fisher-folk.

A densely populated region of "flowering vales" just to the south of Minas Tirith, locked between the White Mountains and Anduin. The soldiers of this region are described in the text as "well-armed and bearing great battle-axes".

The greatest port of Gondor, situated just above the delta of Anduin in Lebennin; its name means "garth of royal ships" in Sindarin. The city was founded in S.A. 2350, before the Downfall of Númenor, and became the main stronghold in Middle-earth of the Elf-friends.The ancient haven was "repaired" by King Eärnil I, and it became the main naval base during the Ship-kings' conquests. During the Kin-strife, Castamir the Usurper planned to make Pelargir the capital, and after his defeat his sons and followers retreated to this town and withstood a siege for a year, before fleeting to Umbar. Two centuries later their descendants made a raid up Anduin, ravaging Pelargir and killing King Minardil; from that time, the city was under constant threat from Umbar and Harad. It was refortified by Steward Ecthelion II.


Dol Amroth, Linhir and the Lands of Belfalas and Dor-En-Ernil


Belfalas is a fairly settled shoreland between rivers Anduin and Morthond, after which the great southern Bay was named. Belfalas was formed by an out-thrust peninsula, with highlands in the middle and a large town of Dol Amroth on the western shores. The lands of Dor-En-Ernil literally emans, the "Land of the Prince", located in the south of Gondor; it spanned both sides of the highlands in Belfalas. The land was ruled by the Prince of Dol Amroth, subject to the King of Gondor, and have been populated by Númenóreans since the Second Age.

The city of Dol Amroth is one of the largest fiefdoms of Gondor. The Faithful from Númenor began colonising the coast near Dol Amroth at the end of the Second Age shortly before Númenor was destroyed, and this area was noted for the number of men of Númenórean blood, and for the number who still spoke the Elvish tongue. By the end of the Third Age, a city had grown up around the Hill of Amroth, and had become the seat of a principality. Its prince is an important subject of the kingdom. The line of Dol Amroth was linked by marriage both to the Stewards of Gondor and to the Kings of Rohan: Imrahil was uncle to Boromir and Faramir; a kinsman of Théoden.



Gondor Military

Gondorian Army



Gondor's armies prevented Mordor and its allies from overwhelming the rest of Middle-earth. Because of Gondor's proximity to Mordor, its military forces had to be proficiently trained and vigilantly on guard. Because of this, they were arguably the strongest country that opposed Sauron. During the Third Age, most of Minas Tirith's armies were trained and fought in infantry formations, supported by archers and cavalry. Their armament consisted of a chained undercoat with either a black tabard or plate armor over it. Their standard weapons were spears, swords, and longbows, complimented by wooden tower shields.

The defense of Gondor's fiefdoms were the responsibility of the respective lords of these territories. Their training, strength in numbers, and armaments varied from each fief (Lossarnach brought axemen to the aid of Minas Tirith while the men of Morthond Vale consisted of archers). The greatest of these fiefs were Dol Amroth, which brought forth the largest force to Minas Tirith made up of men-at-arms and knights.



Archers


The men of Gondor have powerful longbows strong enough to punch through armor at long distances. Even though Gondor has lost the knowlegde to create the Numenorean Steel bows, Gondors archers are still a feared force on the battlefields, next only the elves. Many battles have been won thanks to the skill of these men and their bows, which is often prized in siege battles where the corpses of the enemies of Gondor tend to stack up in piles at the foot of the walls or in front of the gates.


Men at Arms / Line Infantry


Armoured regiments of foot infantry, mostly dúnedain from Anórien, Ithilien and lower Anduin. Reinforced chain hauberks and breastplates with additional steel vambraces and greaves. Line infantry are armed with shortswords, long spears and tall shields. They are able to withstand almost any enemy charge with equal valor and stubborness.



Cavalry


Gondor never had much cavalry due to a low number of horses, but whatever cavalry they posses is excellent. Having the vital role of guarding the flanks of the slow moving armies of Gondor. The most common Cavalry forces are lightly armed, for quick skirmshes against ambushers and enemy riders before they reach the main army lines. Often they are used in fights against the feared Mumakil or Trolls.

The Knights of Dol Amroth or The Swan Knights are a group of soldiers who served under the prince of Dol Amroth. They are a force to be feared and can measure up to Rohans elite in almost every way.

These
are heavily armored and their horses big and strong enough to trample down almost any foe. Among the nobles of Dol Amroth, some is said to be decendants of elves, who once lived among these coastlines. It is said that soem, chose not to go over the sea and very few mingled with human nobility. Some among the Dol Amroth are even said to look more elven than human



Rangers


Several groups are armed men operating often behind enemy lines.
They act as an reconnaissance force, and often harass Sauron's forces. Few, if any, can survive the deadly ambushes of these Rangers and they have done a great deal in the past to secure Gondors borders and slow down the enemy movements.


Citadel Guards and Fountain Court Guard

Founded as an order of elite guards answerable only to the king of the southern realm. Only the best warriors that Gondor has to offer are picked to join the Guard, to be clad in their ancient armour and to carry blades of Westernesse and númenorean steel composite bows, heavy with both age and honour. The guardsmen themselves are the very image of the first Men of Núménor to settle the shores of Middle-earth, tall and stern, proud and steady in battle. They protect the lords of Minas Anor and the sacred places of the Mound of Mindolluin with a resolute devotion. In the absence of a king, the guards take their orders from the Steward of Minas Anor, sworn to obey his every command until death claims them.




Gondorian Navy


The legacy of Numenor was its naval prowess, and this is represented in the seafaring nations of the modern era. These nations have such advanced naval architecture to build massive war vessels that dominate the ocean battle field. The Elves have their Teleri Whiteswans, the Gondorians and descendants of Arnor have their Carracks, while Umbarian shipwrights have Dreadnoughts. Gondor's fleet is docked at Pelargir. This port and the Anduin River are essential in the defense of Minas Tirith. As made evident by the fiefdom's dire need to defend their coasts and many rivers of Gondor, a majority of the fleet are concentrated at Pelargir.





The Northern Army/ Royal Army

3000 Line Infantry
2000 Archers
1000 Light Cavalry

Northern Garrisons

Minas Tirith: 2000 Line Infantry, 2000 Archers
Cair Andros: 200 Line Infantry, 100 Archers
Osgiliath: 300 Line Infantry, 200 Archers
Ithilien: 500 Rangers

The Southern Army

3000 Line Infantry
2000 Archers
1000 Light Cavalry
1000 Knights of Dol Amroth

Southern Garrisons

Pelargir: 1000 Line Infantry, 2000 Archers, 30 Warships
Dol Amroth: 2000 Line Infantry, 1000 Archers, 500 Knights, 20 Warships
Linhir: 700 Infantry 300 Archers, 500 Light Cavalry



Positions

King: None

Steward: Denethor II, son of Ecthellion (NPC)

Commander of the Northern Army: Gandalf and Faramir

Commander of the Southern Army: Prins Imrahil and Forlong the Fat

Grand Admiral of the Navy: Hirlun the Fair

Post comment Comments
French_Fry
French_Fry - - 2,510 comments

Please, do mine? I'm too lazy for now. I'm waiting for summer (July 12th)

Looks great, can't do it now though.

I'll do the armies, garrisons, and the positions.

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Headhunter128 Author
Headhunter128 - - 5,145 comments

It may not be as long but I'll give it a try. Might first do it tomorrow, but lets see.

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Ori`verda
Ori`verda - - 12,429 comments

Just putting this link right here for those interested in my folk.
Moddb.com

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