Post news Report RSS Preview of the Rhûn Confederacy

This is the unit roster of Rhûn, in the campaign. DCI: Last Alliance is a Third Age: Total War submod.

Posted by on

The DCI team is proud, through the craftmanship of Earl of Memory, to present the

Rhûn Confederacy



Easterlings is a term for a great variety of peoples and tribes that inhabit the North and East of Middle-earth. They appeared in the First Age during which many served Morgoth but certainly not all, as some fought the first Dark Lord till their bitter end.
During the Second Age Sauron reigned in the East that neither Valar, Elves nor Dúnedain had enlightened. Easterlings who wanted to be free took refuge in the fastnesses of wood and mountain, and ever fear pursued them. Most Men fell under Sauron's dominion, and they have grown strong and built many towns and walls of stone, and they are numerous and fierce in war and arm themselves with iron.
To them Sauron is both king and god, and they fear him exceedingly, for he surrounds his abode with fire.

Little about them is known in the West, especially as most who they met were wicked and ravening men who seek Sauron's favour or spoils of war, but it is clear they shall not be disrespected. They have been in Sauron's service for long, so their hate of the West goes deep and they ask for no quarter.
The Easterling hosts are great and varied. Included are the numerous Balchoth tribes, the armoured archers from the city states of Khand, from the distant Haerhûn ride heavy cavalry, and in great chariots that thunder across the battlefields kings of the East charge to victory.

Ruler: warlord Borthand


~~~


Game notes: Rhûn Confederacy represent its diverse nature through 'subfactions' that we call the "Tribal Courts": Balchoth, Khand and Haerhûn.

There is a regular army of units avilable in every region once enough culture is reached, but each settlement may also be dedicated to one of three "tribes" though a building called Camp, that over time may be upgraded up till the level of Court.

The "Tribal Courts" provide different bonuses to the settlement, such as improved Law, Population growth or Trade income depending on whether you devote the settlement to the peoples of Balchoth, Khand or Haerhûn, but that also provide different kind of units, uniqe to the chosen Courts.
You may not have more than one kind of Court in a settlement, making them strategic choices. The six starting provinces of Rhûn are granted a "Homeland" instead of a "Court", that may not be replaced.
The Rhûn Confederacy has no family tree, but increase it's amount of generals through Man of the Hour and adoptions.


~~~


Regular Melee Infantry

Eastern Tribesmen
The Easterlings are short and broad, as well as long and strong in the arm, their hues are swart or sallow, and their hair is as dark as are their eyes. Morgoth lay his shadow upon most of them of old, and later Sauron's despotic theocracy befell them. Now Sauron, and the kings and chieftains who serve him, force the masses into service, to fight grim wars far from home, driven by lies and fear.
The Eastern Tribesmen have no armour besides a shield, but fight in large companies. Wielding spears they are good against cavalry, but have wavering morale.





Upgraded:



Rhunnic Spearmen
Sauron enlisted many savage tribes in the East that, corrupted by Morgoth in days long go by, served him well in bending the world to his will.
Societies in constant strife, which was often instigated by the Dark Lord himself, provide hardy men. Thus, armed with spear and shield, wearing basic armour and helmet, the Rhunnic Spearmen provide the bulk of many a warlord's hosts.
Especially good against enemy cavalry they, after a hard days fighting, most of all are looking forward to exultant feasting and singing songs of victory.





Upgraded:



Rhunnic Fencers
These swift swordsmen that wield gleaming blades with deadly efficiency, are known to serve kings, cities and the countless warring chieftains alike. Professional soldiers, loyal men-at-arms or double-crossing sell-swords, it makes no difference. Paid in gold their heritage in the East is always drawn in red.
Sauron acquired dominion over many savage tribes in Rhûn long ago and eased his rule over their lands by keeping them divided amongst themselves. He now urges them to seek land and booty in the West, and Rhunnic Fencers are eager to serve any lord who will endeavour to fulfil Sauron's wishes.
Disciplined soldiers wearing basic armour and helmet, armed with sword and shield.





Upgraded:

Regular Ranged Infantry

Eastern Archers
The people that inhabit the region from Rhovanion to the distant western Ocean, fear that great hosts of "wild men" will sweep over them, and rightfully so. From behind broad lines of spears and swords, arrows shall rain upon the enemy!
Few men have not made themselves familiar with bow and arrow from early age on, in order to put hare and venison over the fire. Merely mustered peasants, the Eastern Archers carry no armour, but as long as they are kept out of the enemy's reach, avoiding Sauron's wrath, they will perform their duty in the field.




Upgraded:

Rhunnic Slingers
The sling is an ancient weapon which appears to be simple, but requires great skill. In the right hands, a slinger's beads can crack skulls or incapacitate even a heavy armoured enemy at great range.
Because of the contact with Sauron and even before that with the Orocarni Dwarves, armour has become more common in Rhûn. This has made that these men are highly sought after, both in wars against rival tribes as in battles against the terrible West.
The confident slingers, clad in common eastern armour, look forward to feasting and revelling, when Sauron's enemies are overthrown and nothing remains but to take the spoils of battle.

[C Slingers]

Regular Cavalry

Rhûn Riders
It is reported with dread that swift shadows move at the horizon beyond the Inland Sea, how a great dust borne on a wind from the East, announces the oncoming of the Rhûn vanguard.
The Rhûn Riders are light, but have the potential to mass a force of cavalry far greater than any that may beforeseen. Being accustomed to warfare in open lands their charge is deadly, especially when they can hit a flank, or hunt down wailing archers or other scum.





Upgraded:



Rhûn Horsearchers
Many cultures on the plains of Rhûn have the horse to thank for livelihood and security. Cruel wars rage among the clans, often fought over cattle or honour. This makes some of them withdraw westward to escape the violence in search for opportunity. But when they arrive their hopes proof false for they are mustered into the hosts of the god of darkness and flame, and their minds are filled with Sauron's cunning hatred, regarding all that dwell in the West as enemies to be slain and plundered.
In great numbers they reach full effect according to their tactics of choice, being accustomed to warfare in open lands where they can bring down enemies at range with their strong composite bows. Although they wear decent armour, their preferred fighting style is to ever dart away from hostile attempts to lay hands on them.





Upgraded:

Balchoth

The tribes on the border to the West are called Balchoth, "Horrible Horde". They are more rustic than other Easterlings but also more numerous. More than to plunder they want to capture new land to settle in and till the earth, keeping native population as thralls.

Balchoth Tribesmen
The West whispers about the many new and dangerous tribes coming out of the East, steadily drifting in from beyond the Sea of Rhûn, they thrive on the borders between Rhovanion and Rhûn. They are rural farmers and settlers, but what they may lack in gear of war they make up for in numbers and hunting skills.
Their enemies call them all Balchoth, a mixed word of popular speech, from Westron balc "horrible" and Sindarin hoth "horde". A demeaning name, but one they shall soon regret!
The fierce Balchoth tribesmen are excellent skirmishers, who hurl javelins at their foes in battle but avoid close quarters if possible.





Balchoth Lancers
The Balchoth are more rudely armed than the folk from more civilized areas, and have no great number of horses for riding, using horses mainly for draught, but that means they value their cavalry highly. The chieftains devote resources to outfit their Lancers better than what is common with the Rhûn Riders, so lightning raids can be sent to neighbouring peoples, or defend against other raiders in turn.
A medium cavalry their name derives from the lance they use for their charges, while they wield axes in close quarters combat.





Balchoth Sicas
As the Balchoth communities constantly increase their numbers by kindred people coming in from the East, while slaves and plunder flow in from the West, chieftains can afford to strengthen their armies with full companies of the renowned Sicas. These fierce warriors, the ones deepest and longest in Sauron's servitude, hate the West. Both proud as bold, these men are used as shock infantry, especially suited for breaking up enemy formations.
The Sica is a weapon that looks like a huge reaping-hook, developed to cut trough the armours and shields of their more civilised neighbours. This devious weapon is also referred to as the "horse cutter" since it advantageously can be used to cut the legs out from under a horse in battle.



Haerhûn

From Haerhûn, the Far East, rulers come, from along the mountain range Orocarni and from Hildórien, where Men once awoke in the First Age. With them march grim warriors, filled with devotion to crush Sauron's enemies. But their chieftains and kings also establish trade routes for foreign luxury, increasing the regional wealth.

Haerhûn Axemen
Grim Men from the uncharted Far East arrive, eager to serve the Lord and defeat those who dare to oppose the god of darkness and flames. They are not tall, but broad and grim, clad in armour that offers them mobility and wielding great axes for breaking up enemy formations.
With axes and beards they resemble Dwarves, but then again they likely had their share of exchanges with the Orocarni Dwarves. Whence it comes that of the tongues of the Easterlings many show kinship with Dwarf-speech rather than with the speeches of the Elves, as is common with Men in the West.





Upgraded:


Haerhûn Lancers
Many kings ride in from the East to the service of Mordor, bringing new strength to the front line of Rhûn. For once they let rest the conflicts with neighbours and the peoples of Khand and Balchoth, for a peace and alliance imposed by Sauron, king of the world. The Haerhûn Lancers are proud to ride the plains near Hildórien, where Men first awoke when the Sun arose, and the enemies who live where the sun goes down will be unprepared to face the charge of gleaming lance points.
The Haerhûn riders have a decent armour, but excel in the charge, repeated until the enemy breaks. They have a sword as sidearm but should avoid prolonged melee.



Khand

The folks of Khand grew strong in earlier days of Sauron's rule, when they built many towns and walls of stone. The city states ceasless warring, and political intrigue within, have made sure their kings rule with an iron fist. City guards, agents, bribes and public executions help them make sure the population is held in line.

Khand Infantry
The city states of Khand are constantly at war, be it against rival settlements, or against enemies within their own walls. This has created a military culture that specializes both in fighting revolts and laying siege to cities. The Khand Infantry is made up of strong and war-hardened soldiers who ask for no quarter, nor expect to receive it. They wear heavy armour, carry maces and broad shields, and cover their faces to seem less human to their foes.
Finally Sauron has decided to direct the savage, mortal energy of the peoples of Khand against his enemies in the West. This surely will have dire consequences for anybody that stand in the way of the Khand armies. For they long for conquest and booty and are filled with hatred against Dúnedain, Dwarves, Elves and anyone else that dares to oppose them in equal measure.







Khand Marksmen
Khand's rulers enjoyed the supremacy of Sauron, towns they built and walls of stone. The city states have since competed and fought for contested resources and dominion over each other, so the demands of sieges have molded the military tradition.
Clad in heavy armour, and wearing masks inspired by the Dwarves, the Khand Marksmen are renowned and well-paid archers, using composite bows that are both far reaching and deadly. Now they are restless, plagued by the evil and darkness that Sauron set in their hearts, they lust for prisoners to send to servitude and new lands to occupy.

Special Units

Rhûn War-Chariot
At the head of swordsmen, spearmen, bowmen upon horses and laden supply wains, roll the war-chariots of kings and chieftains. Many Eastern lords fight in chariots, sturdy and rapid they move across the plains and fire arrows at the enemy.
But an enemy who thinks they are just fancy missile platforms must soon think again and cover his flanks as swiftly as he can. Thus preparing for the moment when the chariots in great weight crash into and disorder his lines, tearing men apart with sharp and vicious scythes attached to the chariots sides. They do this to pave the way for infantry and victory, and their charge is a feared threat to any host. (Rhûn AoR)



Rhûn Bodyguard
Over the open plains on the back of a fleet horse, the wealthy lords of the East enjoy falconry and the feeling of wind in their hair. But a life of power and ambition leaves little time for leisure. To secure the good will of Sauron, who bestows recognition, and to secure spoils of war and earn a name feared and renowned as a commander of men, one must ride out to war.
Most kings and chieftains are skilled with the bow from horseback, used to hunting dangerous beasts as they are, whilst an an elite bodyguard accompanies them at all times.
Heavily armoured and donning dehumanizing masks of war, inspired by the Dwarves, they spread death with strong composite bows, equipped with spears for close combat.

Credits:

All units are created by Earl of Memory

Preview images by xHolyCrusader
Unit original concepts by Ngugi
Faction icons and Tribal Courts by Withwnar
Texts by Ngugi; text editor Veteraan
Faction Leader portrait by Araval

Units have bare models from Rusichi Total War, and the head texture from Sumskilz
and round shields for the Haerhun units by GeMiNi][SaNDy

Post comment Comments
TheHolyPilgrim
TheHolyPilgrim

I Lôke it! I Lôke it a lot!

This Khand of really makes the want to watch all of the Lord of the Rings movies, again.

Reply Good karma Bad karma+7 votes
Guest
Guest

All will answer Mordor's call... :D

Reply Good karma Bad karma+3 votes
Ngugi Author
Ngugi

Rhûn and do so!

Reply Good karma+4 votes
Buffaloman
Buffaloman

This is definitely a very original rhunnic flavor, unlike the usual gold armor. It is very nice.

Reply Good karma Bad karma+2 votes
Ngugi Author
Ngugi

We're glad to hear it's appriciated :)
Indeed we wanted to provide our view, free from the movies impression*, as this war occurs thousands of years earlier.

*especially since the movies Easterlings actually are based on descriptions given in LotR of Haradrim soldiers, hehe.

Reply Good karma+5 votes
ShrekTheOgrelord
ShrekTheOgrelord

I like how Rhun is more of a central Asian style cav archer civ, they remind me of the Seljuks or Kipchaks but with a strong Persian influence. I love them.

Reply Good karma Bad karma+1 vote
Ngugi Author
Ngugi

We went with a broad span of inspirations, as we deem Tolkien intended it so in his sparse references.
From central Asian nomads to Assyrians and Hittites, to Indians, Persians and Byzantium and Vikings (who from an English perspective were invaders from the northeast, too; also, see historical Variag), and glad the end results pleases others as well :)

Reply Good karma+5 votes
anumen
anumen

Great work, you did an awesome creative job.

The details on the masks alone, impressive.

Reply Good karma Bad karma+3 votes
Ngugi Author
Ngugi

We're glad you like it ^^

Reply Good karma+2 votes
Post a comment

Your comment will be anonymous unless you join the community. Or sign in with your social account: