The Woodland Elves live in a darkened forest - the once-beautiful Greenwood has become Mirkwood, a dangerous and unpredictable place. While they hold the evil at bay in the Woodland Realm, this is only a small portion of the forest and most of the rest of it has been poisoned and twisted by the influences of the Hill of Sorcery - Dol Guldur - in the southwest. Skilled camouflage/stealth and a sense of having to be ready and wary while staying on the move really set this faction apart as something quite thrilling and entirely unique – it is the only proper realm which exists in this fashion, living directly under the shadow of the Necromancer (a.k.a. Sauron). These Elves are shadowy figures: swift, invisible and deadly - far more dangerous and wilder than their Wood-elven counterparts of Lothlórien or the stately immortals of Rivendell. Rather than aloof and serene they are edgy and almost predatory. Nonetheless their garments are incredibly detailed and elegant – a tight-fitting melange of cloth, leather and metal in patterns. They reflect the perilous nature of the forest. The distinction between armour, camouflage and clothing is blurred - outlines unclear - similar to the dappled sunlight seen in a dark wood. The Woodland Elves take inspiration from the forest's myriad textures and magical spiralling lines, evocative of their environment - no straight lines, graceful curves and a sense of camouflage channeled through ancient Elven craftsmanship. Their weapons also reflect this. Their forms and shapes are both flowing and jagged. Their military structure and style adapts to its surroundings. In the forest/woodland they're camouflaged, lightly armoured and loosely organized; out in the open they're visible, heavily armoured and tight-knit. Their only proper stronghold is Thranduil’s halls. Other than that they utilize camouflaged huts in/among the trees.
This is the introduction to a series of blogs I will be posting discussing the Elves of the Woodland Realm and their potential as a full faction in any version of The Battle for Middle-earth. Posts will be infrequent and few in number, but when I do post they will be oh-so-worth-it (at least I will think so, as that is my goal) so if you’re a woodland watcher make sure you keep an eye on this woodland way for I am sure I’ll make it worth your while someday. Until then. Way.
