Rhudaur

Easternmost of the three sections of Arnor, Rhudaur (S."Trollshaw",Hi."Red Sky") was the wildest, most rugged, and least populated region in the North Kingdom. When Arnor was sundered in T.A. 861, Rhudaur became an independent realm. It was a culturally diverse and politically volatile territory with a relatively small Dúnadan population. Hillmen (Hi. "Noi Trevan") and later, migrating Dunmen, formed the majority of its populace. Its sparse Dúnadan aristocracy lost control of the kingdom in T.A. 1349; in the following year Rhudaur went to war with Cardolan and Arthedain. Rhudaur was subject to the Witch-king of Angmar for the last sixty years of its existence as a distinct state, until T.A. 1409. Thereafter Kings of Rhudaur were Angmarean puppets, ruling only the area around the capital at Cromm Bráighe.

Rhudaur in TA 1650:

Political Organization: Tribal Confederation.
Rulers: King Broccach.
Administrative Organization: King by self-proclamation and use of force, Broggha holds the thirteen Hillman tribes together through sheer personal charisma. He appoints family members to most positions of responsibility,distrustful of any others. Tribal leaders retained their legal rights when they swore fealty to Broccach, but they surrendered any claim to land ownership to him.
Population: 217.800 Rhudaurians.
Military: 4,500 Warriors and Eastern Mercenaries, usually grouped according to tribe.
Products: Hides, copper, mercenaries.
Symbol: Tribal Knot.

The Kingdom of Rhudaur did not last under Dúnadan rule for long after the sundering of Arnor in T.A. 861. The region had always been remote and far from the influence of Annúminas. Few Dúnedain lived in Rhudaur. ruling their subjects from within their strongholds and ever-fearful of revolt. Under the influence of the Witch-king of Angmar, the indigenous Hillmen finally succeeded in overthrowing their Dúnadan masters in the winter of T.A. 1350. A series of Hillman chieftains subsequently set themselves up as Kings, though none could stabilize relations between the highly competitive tribal factions for long enough to establish a dynasty. Even with the aid of Angmar, the Hillman Kings were forced to rely upon brute force to enact their will. The best known King , Broccach, ruled his own Hillman people and a large population of Dunnish refugees forced North by the Plague.

Broccach held the promise of stability for his realm for the first time in centuries. Unfortunately, he had to call upon a good deal of assistance from the Witch-king to establish his control. Broccach was no dear friend of Angmar and held the interests of his people first in his heart. He would have be satisfied to establish relations with the men of Cardolan and Arthedain if that relationship could have proven profitable to his people. Faced with the internal problem of disunity, Broccach sought only peace to give his realm a chance to develop to the level of its Dúnadan neighbors. Sadly, the military threat of Angmar's Orcs and the guile of Angmarean agents in his midst made Broccach more often than not a puppet of the Witch-king. The agents of Angmar in his court played off the Hillmen's ancient strife with the Dúnedain to keep the enmity between Rhudaur and its former siblings burning.

The Hillmen were closely related to the Dunmen of the South, but they held enough differences with their Dunnish brethren to warrant a separate classification. They spoke their own language, and had developed their own unique lifestyle while adapting to the rigors of the rough and unfriendly lands of Rhudaur.They organized themselves mainly along kinship lines. Each clan was ruled by a chief, with the King acting as a high chief over all the tribes, the symbolic patriarch of his country. Hunters among the Hillmen were honored, with the most prized prey being the mighty horned Losrandir.

Most of the Hillmen lived in semi-permanent camps north of the Trollshaws, ready to follow the migrating herds that formed the basis for their lifestyle. Only a few lived in towns or in the remains of Dúnadan strongholds. Ihe Dunmen who made up an increasingly large portion of the population were more inclined to take up an urban lifestyle. They lived along and south of the Great East Road, exacting heavy tolls for their new Hillman king and themselves. Their tolls made little difference to the common wanderer, however, for the road through Rhudaur was pitted and eroded in many places, and bandits continued to plague travellers.

Despite the untamed frontier nature of Rhudaur, there were efforts being made to bring the land up to the standards of its neighbors. Though Broccach faced a seemingly insurmountable task, he had managed to open a few regular trade routes through his land. The most profitable and least desirable of these was the road which lead to Angmar. The Witch-king sent regular caravans laden with finished metal weapons in exchange for the hides, timber, and copper Rhudaur had to offer. On a smaller scale, a few bold merchants from Tharbad had made mercantile contracts to King Broccach. The result of this trade had been little more than a few Southern luxury items in Broccach's court, but the King saw it as a promising start to gain respect for his realm.

Later Years:

In T.A. 1975, with the destruction of the Angmarean army, the Trolls surviving in Rhudaur ravaged the last of the settled countryside. A winter of abject horror followed, and only strenuous efforts by refugees from the war to the west kept the remaining Rhudaurean fortresses in mannish hands. With the succeeding spring came the terrible "Woman's March" of refugees from Angmar—the Trolls and wild Orcs returned with a vengeance to slay and carry off the virtually defenseless families of lost Angmarean soldiers. In the midst of the carnage, the chiefs leading the Trolls and Orcs suffered a wave of violent and mysterious deaths. The bán flaith, "White Fiends," from Rivendell made spot-appearances around the refugee camps. The mercenary ruffians who held Cromm Bráighe also tried to enslave the refugees; they, too, died for their pains. Into this chaos rode the Gondorian Cánotaran of Tharbad, with a handful of soldiers, scattering the ruffians and chasing the remaining Trolls into the hills. The refugees escaped to the south and east; by the time Gondorian engineers arrived from Bree-land, Cromm Bráighe had fallen to the Cánotaran; the work of destroying its fortifications begans. Without Cromm Bráighe and the other fortresses, Rhudaur could not be defended against the Trolls. Under Grulag, the last of the Witch-king's Ologs, a Troll Empire was founded in the late 1990's. Thanks to the organizational skill of a mad Arthadan renegade named Cebermoth Night-shadow, the Troll Realm lasted for almost a century. It further depopulated the country as far south as Fennas Drunin. After Cebermoth's death, Grulag grew careless, and Elladan of Imladris caught and slew him in his bed. This set a pattern that held for the next thousand and more years. Attempts to organize the evil creatures of northeastern Eriador occured periodically, but the ambitious would-be tyrant—whether Troll, Man, Orc, or Wraith—always made the same elementary mistake of letting the Rangers and Elves get wind of his location. The error eventually led to his death and the demise of his empire.

Regions:

Amrothar the Angle Anghiril Arador's End Barnâtha Blind-Ox Vale Blogath´s Valley Blooming Fens Broadcleave Brochenridge Bruinen Bruinen Gorges Burial Bog Calavir Caranduin Vale Carest Ceredigion Coldfells Dimbar Dor-en-Dunhirion Drauglad Drebiwood Dún Glandagol Eastwood Eldanar Elven Fells Enedil Ephanial Fields Eryn Singor Ettendales Ettenglade Ettenmoors Everlasting Plain Famera-Grish Fell-land Fereic Forest of Curses Giant Valley Gladdalf Glamgil Vale Glenn Crec Gloomy Dell Granite Sea Great Moors Grimwood Forest Harnaladh High Fells Hidden Valley Highmoor Hithlad Hoardales Hoarwell Hoarwell Marches Imlad Mitheithel Last-wood Llyr Lone lands Long Fell Low Lake Maglilas Melosse Mitheithel Mithlad Móin Dúldachd Nan Siring Nan Tornaeth Northern marches North Trollshaws Ornuil Valley Pinefells Plains of Gramsfoot Pwyll Rangaza Riagall Rhudainor Rist Anghiril Riven Valleys Rómentir Cos Riagaill Scandric-grate Sîramoth Siring Sirruth Skull Wood Steps of Gram Taur Ornolf Southern Marches Sruth Bócan Stepping Fells Stone-Piles South Trollshaws Tâl Bruinen Tegwared Teregnen Tol Ascarnen Thorenhad Trollshaws Trollwood Tum Dincelon Upper Gwathló Basin UreithelWeatherwater Whitbeamwood Wolfdale Wolf Wood Wovenvales Yfelwood

Roads:

Dunen-Path Earthenway Great East Road Len Rómen Men Egladil Men Ered Men Galedhol Men Sirmorva Old Road Road to Rivendell

Settlements and Points of Interest:

1650:

Ascarnil's Place Athilin Barad Cam Barad Galen Barluin Bastuca Ceann Uisge Bennas Rhovanin Blind Ox Hold Bráighe Cuic Brochenridge Broig Brôk's Cave Bryamor Cauldeburgh Cromm Bráighe Camp of the Hil Nynniau and Machu Mor Caranduin Village Carandôr Caras Teregnen Cirith Fanui Cerin Iaur Coronminas Crossriver Daenost Dinuis Dispar Dol Aglardin Dol Carak Dol Coldirith Dol Duniath Dol Elril Dol Gelin Dol Gilion Dol Hithaer Dol Mithlad Dreary Hills Drebiwood Duildin Hill Dunno Earthenway Elenost Erethrin Tirin Fell Stair Fennas Drúnin Ford of Bruinen Fotureda´s Farm Fuintirith Folcwine's Home Gamanas Garbin Garkash Garzûgûl Gersebroc Girail Glenn Crec Glenn Rúad Glorionamar Grumbul Gûrzgawar Galadharn Helegmel Hirvar Gûlarion High Fells of Rhudaur Hill of Fangs Hill of Woe Hoarwell Ferry Hogben Iach-Bann Last Bridge Iffgûld's Keep Inn at the Last Bridge Airedú Kala Uruk-Lûgât Karmaz-Dewuk Kelthad Longfell Low lake cavern low road Macc-Rúad Mag Fael Mag Tuireadh Malin's Home Mael Bacraid's Tower Men Sîramoth Mikil Razn Minas Brethil Minas Melosse Minas Suleraig Minvorn Erain Móin Dúldachd Mount Gram Mûthag Skug Neddig Nerva Tarth Nordinbar Net Riagaill Númenorean Barrows Old Copper Mine Old Trollshaw Quarry Ost-en-Dunhirion Pass of Dol Hithaer Pedol Bron Drebi-Head Hag's Head Cenn Cummae Cennmóin Pinefells Campsite Reedhaven Rilineldor Ruined Farmhouse Rumsey Halls of Móin Dúldachd Sable Tower Scandric Edge Seaton Seroneldeon Tarma Shelton Sirtathar Site of the Petty-Dwarves Smallforge Soldon's Cross Stone-Piles Taglos Gwathren Tairn Coech's Cave Talamh Dairireach Tandauer Uireas Bráighe Tanoth Methed Tatinhala Teregost Three goats Inn Tuin Bod Tirbarad Tereg Tîregad Tirthon Tower of Crisgalen Trollbridge Caverns Trollwater Ford Twisted Hill Wûtar-Fashat Winterdown Wintersebb Zagoth's Tower

2041-3018:

Broken Keep Cairn of the Crag-King Castle Hill Refuge of the Dúnedain Troll-Hole

3019:

Amon Nendir Amon Varadh Angmar's Grave Arador's End Outpost Bar-e-Therchir Barachen's Camp Barad Glamgil Barad Remmellad Cirith Ulunn Coldfells Orc Camp Coldfells Outpost Conhuith Crumbled Cellar Dâr-gazag Delossad Delving of Frór (Ettendeep) Draugroth Echad Candelleth Echad Gauradan Eerie Halls Forgotten Monument Garbert´s cottage Gates of Imladris Ghostly Ruins Glamgil Falls Glân Vraig Gramsfoot Grimwood Lumber Camp Grothum Hithlad Outpost Hoarhallow Hoarwell Waterfall Hrimbarg Huggins Troll-Cave Imladris Isendeep Mine Isendeep Outpost Laenan Lavanim Lost Temple Lugazag Minas Agor Minas Ciliant Mustering Horn Nidor's Rock Nurath Ost Brandras Ost Chall Ost-din-Forod Ost Dúrgonn Ost Ringdyr Plains of Gramsfoot Outpost Rivendell River Outpost Snowreap South Tol Ascarnen Bridge Steps of Gram Elf Camp Stone-trolls' Glade Stonemere Uireas Cromm Taurdal Thingroth Thondol Thorenhad Tírith Rhaw Tol Ascarnen Ruins Torech Ullug Torogrod Trapdoor Lair Troll-Camp Troll-height Tor Rétlu Vault of Celebrían's Legacy Warrens Watch of Bruinen Weaver's Nest West Tol Ascarnen Bridge Witch-house

Peoples:

Rhudaurians

Dwarves:

Dwarves of Gabilazan
Dwarves of Smallforge
Ibunites

Elves:

Elves of Imladris

Halflings:

Stoors of Reedhaven and Hoardale

Giants: Stone Giants

Trolls:

Orcs:

Goblins of Goblin-Town
Gramsfoot-Goblins
Kraiarn
Laenan-Orcs
Ongbúrz
Snowreap-Orcs

Characters:

Ainur: Feredrûn Giant's Spirit Kalamire Morrigan Ridorthu

Dwarves Daldin Draimmer Duildin Ibun Malin Miffli Risloe Steppin

Elves Aitharan Aiwe Andriel Aranto Arwen Evenstar Ascarnil of Rivendell Bellindiel Lomeloth Celandur Celebrian Celebring Coibor Dan Deneldír Dorban Earwing Elladan Elrond Half-elven Korekalwen

Men:

Before TA 2940:

Aldor of Rhudaur Edhelion of Rhudaur Aldúrin Hûr-Gûlúk Arfanhil Arfanneth Arvil Baumyakund Beregor Bhaltair Brian of the Maicc-Temair Broggha Bura Grumm Cebermoth Night-Shadow Claith of Rhudaur Cullen Daeros of the Cruaidh Maraich Durkarian Elenthorn Elegost Êlwen Ermegil of Rhudaur Falen Forodagnir Fottred Fulcwian Galadhion of Rhudaur Gerse Goldang Gothólin Grepp Keleag Malm Bairg Mardrash Marendil en Hrótaiyar Menel Mongán Finn Odelard Orodreth of Rhudaur Rúadcara Rubb Grumm Safin Scandoreik Seammu Soldon Tumach Vulvrithona Witbert

Orcs: Golfimbul Gorbla Gorgaz Gorkil Grarfim Krabanak Lûgât Malkur Oomaug Shagrad Shardakh Tharzog Thuk

Trolls:

Bert Huggins Grulag Huggin Little Hugh Huntan Kurash Kur-Tuk Tol-Tuk Tom Huggins Waren William Huggins Winifred Huggins

Other:

Balasimur Blogath Naranatur Skrykalian

Factions:

Airund Shegan
Angmarrim
Coldfells Army
Coldirith
Dunnish Warbands
Elves of Rivendell
Goblins of Mount Gram
Fuintiri
Giants of the Ettendales
Hillmen of Rhudaur
Hunters of the North (Forferyth)
Rangers of the North
Trolls of the Trollshaws
Wulfseggeas

Olvar:

Heat-heal Liantehen Arlandal Armanúmas Orrain Athelas Calenhwan Barnaie Beeches Birch Black Oak Black Vines Blue Pine Bushbells Camadarch Spearleaf Dúran Elben´s basket Elendil's-basket Carnihelwa Elm Faghiu Heblas Hiam Moss Lâtha Lawrim Maiana Urchar Harwëtuima Mírëtar's Crown Mossy Grass Nelthandon Pines Rúmareth Ruthin Sha Shimmer Sprig Silaren Sinblas Streambeard Tall Pines Úl-náza Watercress White berried Yew Witch Hasel Tall Yews

Kelvar:

Aurochs barn owl barrow owl Bats Beaver Bighorn Sheep Black Bears (Barg-Moigh) Blackbird Black Chicken Blue-headed Ducks Blue Pigeons Boars Brown Bears (Barg Dign) brown owl Degmurg Cave Bears Chatmoig Coneys Crows Cunara Dappled Deer Deer Dunman's Dog Edlings Eriadorian Pony Fell Turtles Fell Wolves Ferrets Field Mice Flying Foxes Frunts Gaich Deg-lic Goats Golden Eagles Gophers Goral Gorcrows Great Eagles Caru Great Owls Grey Wolves Ground Squirrels Harbdo Hawks of the Hithaeglir Hedgehog Highland Lynx Ice Goose Lark Longhorned Cattle Loons Feithan Mice Misty Mountain Deer Moose Mountain Goats North Bears Opossum Otters Pigs Porcupines Rabbits raccoons Rats Red Fox red-headed ducks Red Chicken River fishers River Mink Rock Viper screech owl serganka Shaking Asp Sheep Hound Skunks Snow Hares Snow Leopards Songbirds split-tailed duck Tree Bats Vampire Bats Wargs War-Wolves Weasles White Chicken White Foxes White Hart White Powan Wild Boar Wild Cats Wild Cattle Wild Goats Wild Sheep Wolfhound Wolverines Woodchuck

Other: Cave Trolls Forest Trolls Ghosts Great Giants Hill Trolls Lesser Giants Mewlips Small Dragons Stone Trolls Wights

Notes

Rhudaur is often suggested to mean "Eastwood", however Tolkien himself glossed the meaning as "Trollshaw", though this probably is a very loose translation of what seems to be Sindarin "Rhû-", "wild, wicked", and "daur","league" or "large".Rhudaur was not an evil realm, but a large and widely savage and untamed country.

References:

LOTRAG:Over the Misty Mountains Cold
MERP:Arnor - The Lands
MERP:Arnor-the People
MERP:Campaign & Adventure Guidebook
MERP:Creatures of Middle-Earth
MERP:Dark Mage of Rhudaur
MERP:Hillmen of the Troll-Shaws
MERP:Loons of the Long Fell
MERP: Lost Realm of Cardolan p.10: Table: KINGS OF THE REALMS IN EXILE After the Division of Arnor, 861 T.A.
MERP:Middle-Earth Adventure Guidebook
MERP:Northwestern Middle-Earth Campaign Atlas
MERP:Northwestern Middle-Earth Gazetteer
MERP:Palantir Quest
MERP:Phantom of the Northern Marches
MERP:Rivendell - the House of Elrond
MERP:Trolls of the Misty Mountains