Khand

Khand (arch. "Kha-ôn" from "Khâha-ôn-zûndrâ" c."Land of river and horses") stretched between the southeastern flank of the Ephel Duath and the northwestern edge of the Ered Harmal. It occupied the semi-arid plateau bordering northeastern Harad and thus commanded the great Khand Gap, the 100-mile wide pass facing southern Rhûn and eastern Mordor. Nûrad lay in the hills to the northeast.

Hot, dry, and windy, Khand was an unforgiving locale. Its flat, lowland areas afforded few means for stable settlement. Scrub and desert abound throughout Lower Khand. Here, horse herders moved their lightly-encumbered bands around a circuit of periodic shelters and encampments, their routes dictated by the location of springs, seasonal pools, and intermittent streams. The only permanent settlements lay along the broad, shallow Knife River, a tributary of the Harnen. Sturlûrza Khand - the traditional capital of Lower Khand and the largest city between Umbar and the Talathrant - stood by the confluence of the rivers Knife (V. "Nóz-pêka") and Gold-horse (V. "Medlóshad-pêka"). It was the home of the powerful Ûrpov and Oléna clans.

Upper Khand, which comprised the eastern and northern quarters of the region, enjoyed a bit more rainfall and cooler temperatures. The more numerous tribes of the area were generally richer and more settled than their brethren to the west and south. Upper Khand's principal city, Ûbésêsh-ûta-Pavéter (V. "Refuge from the Flailing Wind"), stood only about 170 miles east and upstream from Sturlûrza Khand; however, it received twice the precipitation and a lot less heat than its larger and more important counterpart. The town was home to the Îrbho clan.

Lâorkí was the sister city of Ûbésêsh-ûta-Pavéter and the second town of Upper Khand. The home of the Akhêv clan, it had produced most of the Variag kings. Ûvathar-akhêv, the greatest conquerer of the line, became the ninth of Sauron's accursed Ringwraiths.

Ûvathar (arch."Hoûwartâzhar-Hakhîva") was born at the Caves of Ôlbamarl. The vast caverns wind up and down through a mountain spur located in the southeastern part of the Ephel Duath (S. "Shadow-fence"). They included two permanent towns and seven shrines. Here, the bones of many Kings were entombed (the Variag successors stripped the meat from, and then ate, their fallen monarchs).

All seven of the Variag confederations spoke Varadia and shared a common culture rooted in an ages-old reverence for the horse. Superb riders and warriors, they were without peer as cavalry.

History[]

Khand originally was a gap and plateau between the southwestern shores of the Sea of Helcar (later to become the Núrnen) and the Ered Harmal. Khand was finally shaped when Sauron created Mordor by the volcanic activities of Mount Orodruin. The Lands of later Núrn and Khand by this time were populated by tribes of Fîrasfratha descent, the Ôrôrath, Omodath and Vracarath which would become the ancestors of the later Variags.

These "Ioryaga" would name the Lands between Núrn and the Ered Harmal Khâha-ôn-zûndrâ (Tal. "Land of Horses and Sun") which would later evolve into Khand.

Following Sauron's defeat, Khand, due to its distance from Gondor, proved to be the only major combatant to emerge succesfully from the Continuation Wars evading the destruction and havoc caused by the armies of the Reunited Kingdom to other allies of Mordor.

Timeline[]

First Age[]

F.A. 1: Men awaken in Hildorien.
Morgoth appears to the Talataerimbê peoples and walks among them, worshipped as a god. Eventually, he departs, leaving the seeds of evil among the Talataerimbê, with his followers helping to nurture it.
Wars and strife begin between the Talataerimbê and Eastern Lake-peoples peoples. The Avarin allies of the Lake-folk are drawn into the conflicts.
c. F.A. 550: The Great Sundering occurs: the Lake-folk lead a great force against the aggressive Talataerimbê. The Talataerimbê, although commanded by evil servants of Morgoth, are defeated by the valiant champions of the Lînerin and the Avari. The broken tribes of the later Ioryaga are led westward, split from the Talataerimbê. They begin their migration across the great plains of Endon.

Second Age[]

S.A. 50: Râkhôdsâol, a former demonic servant of Morgoth, appears amongst the ancestors of the later Variags -- the most westward of the future Ioryaga. It teaches the Variag-ancestors to tame the horse.
S.A. 262 - 268: Râkhôdsâol, leading the Variag-ancestors and the rest of the later Ioryaga, invades the central Talathrant valley later known as Relmether. Its inhabitants are obliterated. The Ioryaga take many of the defeated as slaves.
c. S.A. 100 - 596: The worship of Morgoth is fostered by Râkhôdsâol. It deifies itself and feeds on the Ioryaga's reverence.
S.A. 596: The proud and haughty Râkhôdsâol-tribes are defeated by their fellow future Ioryaga and are forced to flee westward after the Hamâsta-Naurônu.
SA. 596 - 599: The broken and divided Râkhôdsâol-tribes settle in the wide grasslands north of the later Gap of Khand. Râkhôdsâol encounters Tuyulergwêne and her Faerasroch steed, Tuyurôkko. After a long struggle, Râkhôdsâol is defeated and sorely injured, yet Tuyurôkko is slain. Râkhôdsâol hides in the Ered Harmal for many long years, nursing his grievous wounds.
S.A. 671 - 678: A Númenórean expedition, led by Er-Endrakhôr of Nindamos, explores Central Middle-Earth. The contingent rides through the later Gap of Khand in S.A. 673 and encounters raiders of the Ioryaga's ancestors people in the same year. Their strong arms and armor save them from slaughter, and they soon push east, passing out of history.
S.A. 680: Two tribes of the Ioryaga's ancestors, the later Ôrôrath and the later Omodath, migrate through the Gap of Khand.
c. S.A. 700: The Telmôrng, a fallen Fire Spirit in human form, leads orcs and the Ioryaga tribes of later Núrn and Pûstrava into the vales of later Harnen and Óde Pézar.
S.A. 750 - 780: Several more tribes who will become ancestors of the later Ioryaga make their way south to avoid the aggressions of Meklâk, settling along the Nóz-pêka (later "Khandwater") and the fertile vales of the Ered Harmal. Fighting and raiding between tribes is incessant, each struggling for premium pastures and water supplies.
S.A. 500 - 1000: Sauron resurfaces in Middle-earth and is bent on domination. Through his work, many dark religions and ways flourish among the descendants of the Asrabi.
c. S.A. 900: The Ioryaga's of later Khand, long-steeped in dark worship, begin to lessen their warring ways and unite through their common religious beliefs. A true society begins as the first set of laws, devised by later clan Vracarathi (Tal. "Woman of Power") spreads through the tribal confederations. Sauron passes through later Khand and has much influence on these developments. Moon-worshipping Haradrim clansmen, the early Kibíc, appear out of the southern desert and destroy the fire spirit-worshippers in Near Harad.
S.A. 930: In the future Ammû Khand (valley of Khand) on the southern edge of the plateau, a great temple is erected from which tribal worship and justice is dealt out.
S.A. 900 - 1200: Some clans begin to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. Later Ammû Khand is sown with seeds, yielding rich crops.
S.A. 950 - 1,000: Dwarves and Haradrim drive the Ioryaga away from the eastern lowland reaches of the later Óde Pézar and build the first towns of the predecessor of future Lûrmsakûn at the foot of the later Plateau of Khand.
c. S.A. 1,000: Sauron, alarmed at the growing power of the Númenóreans, chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold. He begins the building of Barad-dûr.
c. S.A. 1,050: The earliest forerunner of later Sturlûrza Khand is founded, owing to trade along the later Khandwater.
S.A. 1,182: The Thêwrakhâran, chief of the later Vracara, travels to the site of Barad-dûr under compulsion by Sauron, where she is instructed in techniques of construction. She returns to future Ûbesêsh in 1,286 (her life extended through dark sorcery?) and oversees the building of the earlyest predecessor of the later Hrôn Tûmrakhi ("Temple of the Lord of Darkness").
S.A. 1,250: Two small Númenórean expeditions -- one marching eastward from the Nan Harnen, the other moving northward from the Bay of Ormal -- meet at later Ôvatharak, an oasis in the southern land that would later be Khand. After a tense meeting with the local Ôsvodar (Ior. "lords") of the ancestral Variag culture, they exchange gifts and make trade agreements. The Tengwar script is introduced for the first time.
S.A. 1,260 - 1,270: The village of later Laôrki is established in the northeast. In later times, the tribes of Upper Khand will hold gatherings and festivals here.
S.A. 1,200 - 1,300: the early predecessor of Ûbesêsh is established as the religious capital of the region. The worship of the "Lord of Darkness", an incarnation of Morgoth, is the central pillar of the religion. Feogur subtly re-establishes himself as one of the deities of the peoples.

Economy[]

Economy in Khand turned round taxing the north-south and east-west caravan trade, mining exports and herding. The staple foods in Khand were corn and fish. Barley, wheat, melons, hemp, and cucumbers were also harvested in Upper Khand. There were many orchards and fertile regions around the Nóz-pêka, which the Variags depended upon due to the infrequency of rain. Khand was an important trade route connecting East and West. For example, the "Silk Road" was an important link between Wômawas Drûs, Palisor, Kykûrian Kyn, and Umbar. Among the things traded along the Khand trade routes were silks, porcelain from Lôkhas Drûs, furs and cattle from Rhûn, candlewax, mead, honey and timber from Rhovanion, jewelry, silverware, gold, ivory and luxuries from Zîrayn, Rây and the Tûr Betark, pottery and glass vessels from southern Gondor, coins, and exotic herbs and spices from Khyan. Radhanite traders of Khêy passed through Khand on their way to western Middle-earth, near-Rhûn, and other locations. Zîrayn also made use of the Silk Road trade, and their letters method of writing had become well known in Khand. The Khûr' subjects traded with the people of Kârgagish-ahâr and also with port cities in Bûlkhyades and Lyneria. Almost every kind of commodity had to someday pass through Khand.

Characters[]

Ainur: Meklâk Râkhôdsâol Telmôrng Tuyulergwêne Yaria Feogur

Men:

About T.A. 1,640: Âdha Âkroth-nîkod Akûl Arslan Bâghatûr-îtakh Bâghatûr-îtakh II Baryîk-ûdho Bîhar-ûdho Bôri-ûdho Brôdvaga-akhêv Bûlan-îtakh Bûsir-ûdho Dêshkir of Khand Hâm-ûn-Shalê Yûsan Îvica-îbho Kârm of Nûrun Khôdid-ûprava Khîonvad-akhêv Khôngiu-ûdho Khôngiu-ûdho II Khûndai-îtakh Khûndai-îtakh II Khûndai-îtakh IV Khûndau-ûdho V Khurûbra-ankhîv Mânâr-khûndai Nôhoth-âkheth Nômid-akhêv Ôdavith-akhêv Ôthour I Ôthour II Ôthour III Ôthour IV Ôtokh Ôvag-îtho Ôvask-drîond Ôvatha-îtho Ôvatha-ûdho II Ôvatha-akhêv III ôvatha-ûdho IV Ôvatha V Ôvatha-îtho VI Sevrakhara Târkhab-îthakh Târokh Tûvan-ûdho Têmer-Cósrah Tûkhik Tûlrokh Tykhìr-ûn-shalê Ûvatha-borzîgîn VII

T.A. 2,950-3,019: AsternakH Avôsh-îghaz Beg Balûn Caljar Khurubra of Sturlurza Gorovod of Medlóshad Haarith Itâna Ôron Itâna-Ôvan Khanhai Keiseimu Khîonid of Ylâ-Khand Lûthkan Mîonid Oldur Ôvatha IV Râisha Tûkhrai Ûrdrath the Banner-bearer Ûrig of Ammu Baj Ûsriev Vacheraltan Vangaris Vrônkhar Wârlog Yursal Skakali

Undead:

The Ninth of the Nazgûl

Regions[]

Ala-Khand Bûrsk Mareg Chain of Blades Desert of Khand Desolate Steppe Eastern Desolation Eastern Khand eastern mountains of Khand Ered Caradhram Fire Sea Gathod Greater Khand Harad-Khand-Border Hûk Saromis Itakh-Khand Kajbah Khadû Prakhôd Khand Amû (Khand Inferior) Khand Gap Khand Khûrvesra (Upper Khand) Lake Ata Lûrmsakun Maresh Methiant Rath Khand Middle Ered Harmal Passes Muzeida Vales Northern Steppes Northern Plains Nun Gazir Nûrad Ôlbamarl Plains plains of Khandur Pûstrava Raiba Rath Khand Sâr-Khand Sêth-Harmûr Sûbi-Khand Sûrakh-Khand Telaith Lyst Ûda-Khand Velarith West Khand Ylâ-Khand

Settlements[]

T.A. 1,640[]

Amast Núrn Ammû Khand Ankruz Blûmkhôlanz Bôgakh Bogath Brafenas Bûth Ôvaisa Carshram Núrn Enmahadh Erahavar Erszavar Gizar Hlastûon Hrôn Tûmrakhi Imak Peh Janprok Karghila Khuvad Khand Kôrandai Krûk Azbanna Krûk Boiadla Krûk Mahûr Kudnûvra Kyzilkum Lagari Ôrath Laôrki Layotani Marash Mattaram Mûrilak Nebûrkha Ôlbamârl Ôrduga Aivaiza Ôvatharak Parzee Sturlurza Khand Talazhan Tereze Ûbesêsh

T.A. 3,019[]

Agûth-ot-Kekhaolthí Akhârn (City) Alag Rôkhbin Alagoth Ammû Asubûhi Blûmkholands Ciranthir Ikh´ahôn Kha´hae Kharsûm Kîlikûm Lhûg Lurôki Maresh Mûldin Narumbulot Parkhereb Pashâr Pâzghar Runakesh Slaveport Sturlûrza Sûbi-Khand Sûstaph-Khand Talazhan Temple of Khôndri Ôdchi Temple of Lôkuthor Tuaremindon Vârfest Varnakh

Kelvar[]

Andaelion Armadillos Aryx Black Lizards Black swans Brown rats Bûb Bush Gazelle Camels Cliff hornets Cobra Dagri Desert Puma Dire Wolves Fell Beasts Fell Wargs Fern-dancer Flying Foxes Gacalac Gembucks Golden Fire Ant Great Beasts Grey Wolves Harad-Dog Haradan-Jackals Highland Lynx Hulmîs Ant Kingshorn leaping Unbird lice Lions Lise Lisicavi Mordor Cattle Morgûl-Dogs Morungol Mosquitoes mud dauber wasps Painted Scorpion Pond Bats Red Deer Rock Vipers ticks Variag Dogs Variag Horses Variag Zûrafa Vultures of the Ered Lithui Werewolves Wild goats Wild horses

Olvar[]

Ankî Arduvâr Argsbargies Carnegurth Dagmather Dragul Hárfy Harlindar Hôak-fôer Hugburtûn Hwindos Kaktú Klagûl Markû Merrig Nelissë Nelthandon Pathúr Sauthoël niben Shardúvâk Silraen Síran Sîriëna Swigmakrîl Tharfern Tûkamûr Turvîk Úl-náza Vinúk Yanta Hlianteron Yanúk-ty

Name[]

The term "Khand" had undergone numerous semantic transformations across the ages—"Ka'ûn", "Kha-ôn", "Khâha-ôn-zûndrâ", "Kha-ôn-Zundre", "Khaôn-Khûrvesra" , "Khaônêshûr", "Khaôn", "Khau", "Khaunu", "Khaunûd", "Khaundû", "Khondûr", "Khondu" and other variations still echoing its core. Originally, it referred to a gap between two mountain chains, a specific region or landscape, later a kingdom, a grand realm, finally a sub-division of the Sauronic dominion.

References[]

The Wild Lands South and East, Gazetteer by Pete Fenlon
Lindefirion: Khand (http://wiki.lindefirion.net/Khand)

Editorial Note: This entry contains speculative or fan-based material — such as fanon, fanfiction, or theory constructs — that may not be directly supported by canonical texts. Interpretations offered here are part of the NNCA’s speculative corpus and should not be mistaken for primary Tolkien sources.