Factions
The Witch-realm of Angmar was in ancient years, a stronghold of evil in the north, a power that for centuries made war with Arnor under their fell Witch-king, the Lord of the Nazgûl. Of old the faction was home to many Orcs, Trolls, Wargs, and Men, and by its power the North Kingdom of the Dúnedain was wiped out. But Angmar too fell shortly after, for the High Elves and Men of Gondor destroyed their armies in a battle at Fornost, and the vale of Angmar was purged of evil.
Bree-land is a small settlement of Men and Hobbits to the east of the shire. Protected by the watchful eyes of the Dúnedain of the North very few orcs or wargs ravage these lands. Major towns are Bree, Archet, Staddle, and Combe.
The Kingdom of Dale is the largest and most powerful state of Northmen. They reside between the Celduin and Carnen Rivers, with their capital in the city of Dale, located between the Lonely Mountain and Esgaroth, a prosperous city through trade-gained cooperation among Erebor, Dorwinion and the Woodland Realm
Dol Guldur is an evil-infested region at the southwest corner of Mirkwood where Sauron lived before moving to Mordor. The forces of Dol Guldur represent the source of all corruption in the forests of Mirkwood, and their sinister urge to conquer directly contrasts the tranquil seclusion of their counterpart faction: the Wood-elves.
The beautiful land of Dorwinion is home to both men and elves. It is a fertile, well-populated region known for its wine which is sold around Middle-earth (particularly to the Wood-elves).
Dunland is the home of the sworn enemies of Rohan, the Dunlendings. After they were driven out of their old home in Rohan and Enedwaith, they went to Dunland to scrape a living off rocks, making them wild and vengeful.
Rangers of the North are the military forces of the Dúnedain. They spawn in Eriador and its surroundings, including the Lone-lands, Trollshaws, Minhiriath, and most commonly, the Angle.
Durin's Folk, the Longbeards, Dwarves of the Iron Hills and Erebor, are master craftsmen and miners. They value the riches of the earth, and delve deeply through complex systems of mines in the mountainous terrain of their home. Once fallen from greatness, the Sigin-tarâg of Khazad-dûm have since regained their former glory, and the Kingdom of Erebor, home of Dain under the Mountain, is the zenith of the Khazâd in the last days of the Third Age.
The Blue Mountains are the peaceful home to the Dwarves of the Ered Luin, cousins to the Dwarves of the Iron Hills. Like all their kin, Ered Luin Dwarves have a love for the precious metals of the earth, and a large part of their time is spent in mines deep underground.
Fangorn is a large forest near the base of the Misty Mountains, close to Nan Curunír. In it dwell the Ents and Huorns, who do what they can to protect the trees from harm.
Gondor is the greatest kingdom of Men in Middle-earth, bordered by Rohan to the north, Harad to the south, the cape of Andrast and the Sea to the west, and Mordor to the east. Its first capital was Osgiliath, but was moved to Minas Tirith in TA 1640 and has remained there since. Other major fortresses include Dol Amroth in Belfalas and Pelargir, which is a city on the Anduin.
The Orcs of Gundabad have long troubled much of the North of Middle-Earth. These bloodthirsty Orcs are split into many scattered tribes, and at night can be found far from their chief strongholds in the Misty Mountains, and trouble many lands between the Lone-Lands and Wilderland. The average Gundabad Orc may not seem like a challenge, but be careful: hordes of them are lethal, and they are often backed up by powerful and well-equipped Gundabad Uruks.
In the lands of the Gulf of Harad live the Gulfings, a harsh people known for their undying devotion to Mulkhêr and their use of Mûmakil in warfare. Their culture is unlike that of the other Southrons, with a focus on live sacrifices and constant displays of devotion to the Dark Lord. The Gulfings are also known as master traders, and their kingdoms have long grown wealthy off trade with the Morwaith, their fellow Southron realms, and other peoples from the Far East.
The Half-trolls of Perdorogwaith are monsters, created by Sauron long ago. These brutish warriors are savage and unintelligent, but nonetheless are a force to be reckoned with. Their warriors are strong and without fear. Their Rhino cavalry can cut through great armies. And worst of all, all Half-trolls have a lust for blood that does not stop until they are destroyed. Recently, they have entered once more into an alliance with Mordor, and the Southrons as well, and have made peace with the Morwaith. Many soon will fight to destroy the realm of Gondor, but for now they have enemies closer at hand: the Taurethrim of the jungles and the Cerinrim of the bushlands.
The Harnedhrim live in Harnennor, the northernmost of the Southron realms. Once, they lived in Harondor to the north, but they were driven out of their homeland by Gondor millennia ago. They are a warlike and vengeful people, and they remember well the countless injustices they suffered under Gondorian rule. The Harnedhrim aren't as advanced as some of the other Southrons, but they have a fierceness and devotion to their cause that few Haradrim can match.
Hobbits are small, Man-like, and jolly in nature. They are not well-known, but they are often called "The Little Folk", or "Halflings", by those that know (or have heard) of them. They enjoy their meals very much, and have them very often. They are not warlike, but instead love the comforts of their homes. The most common forms are dug into hills, and called "Hobbit holes", or "Smials", but they have also been known to live in houses above ground, too.
Isengard is located deep in Nan Curunír in the Misty Mountains. It is the stronghold of the Wizard Saruman the Wise, of Many Colours, from which he makes war upon the Free Peoples. But he is not in truth allied to Sauron, and seeks to supplant him and seize Middle-earth for himself. For that he needs the One Ring, the Ruling Ring, to give him power unimaginable.
Lindon is a coastal biome where the Elves of Lindon spawn. It is a fair land of green, rolling hills and costal plains. Lindon, along with Rivendell and Lórien, is one of the few realms that Sauron never touched. Lindon is west of the Blue Mountains and east of the Great Sea Belegaer. During the First Age, it was called Ossiriand by the Sindar, and the Laiquendi, along with Beren and Lúthien, lived here. Now, it is the only remnant of the ancient land of Beleriand.
The Galadhrim of Lothlórien are a small yet powerful Elvish faction. Their land is one of beauty and light, headed by the Elven Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. Lórien is well-defended by slender elven-bows, but a hidden power is there as well. In it alone grow the great golden Mellyrn.
Mordor is the fearsome realm of the Dark Lord Sauron, utterly subservient to his will. The greatest of the forces of the Shadow, the Mordor faction is the strongest power in Middle-earth, with plans to crush the Free Peoples and dominate the world. Based in the land of Mordor, this faction is composed of millions of foul creatures, most notably the Mordor Orcs, who serve their Dark Lord alongside a number of other fell beings. The faction of Mordor is indisputably evil and formidable, a black tide that threatens to sweep the Free Peoples of Middle-earth into the Sea. The power of Sauron grows by the day, and soon all of Middle-earth will fall sway to him and his servants!
Though their crafts and way of life may seem primitive to the Men of the North, the Morwaith lead complex lives. Their chieftains are many, separated by great distance and divided by cultural differences. They have many strange rituals and traditions, including the ritual slaying of wild animals. They are strong warriors in battle, sometimes riding on zebras against their enemies, and wielding spears, clubs, axes, and daggers.
The Half-deserts that border the Southron realms are home to the nomads, an insular people that follow traditional lifestyles that the other Southrons long ago abandoned. They mostly keep to themselves, but there are many merchants among them that trade regularly with the other Southrons. Those travelling in the desert regularly seek them out, as they know a great many valuable secrets.
The Golden Easterlings are a great kingdom of Men, bound to the will of their god, the Dark Lord, and who are ready to serve him in his war against the Free Peoples. They are the grandest of all the kingdoms in the east, and they are skilled in the art of fire. They are also in a trade partnership with their neighbours, the Dorwidhrim. They also are known for their golden armour, hence the name, "Golden Easterlings".
Rivendell, or Imladris, was an Elven refuge in the Misty Mountains on the eastern edge of Eriador. It was called "The Last Homely House East of the Sea", due to the remnant of Elvendom and ancient power that dwelt there, of a kind not found elsewhere east of Valinor.
Rohan is the realm of the Rohirrim, whose lifestyles revolve around the training and breeding of horses which they hold sacred. Because of this, the Rohan faction is comprised of the best horses and cavalry in all of Middle-Earth. As one of the greatest kingdoms of Men, the Rohirrim, or Eorlingas, have a long history, vibrant culture, and expansive territory that stretches from the foot of the Misty Mountains to the great Anduin River.
The Southrons of Near Harad are the swarthy men of the great Southlands, mostly isolated from the Westlands of Middle-earth. For thousands of years, they have been at odds with their northern neighbours, the Gondorians, and they have sworn allegiance to Mordor for the war that is to come. They worship the Dark Lord, known to them as Mulkhêr the Excellent, and his enemies are theirs. This faction is split into five distinct sub-factions.
Once a mighty empire that held all of Far Harad under its sway, the Taurethrim are but a shadow of their former selves. They dwell in the Far Harad Jungle, defending their homes from their sworn enemies, the Morwaith. In battle they wield deadly obsidian blades, and their hunters carry blowguns and poisoned darts.
The people of Umbar in the west live in the most powerful of the Haradric realms. The city of Umbar itself is the greatest in all of Haradwaith, built by the Númenóreans in days long past. Black Númenóreans once ruled over Umbar, and though they're long gone, the lords of Umbar continue to follow their traditions, and the Umbarians still see themselves as the most "civilised" of the peoples of Harad. This realm is infamous as the home of the Corsairs of Umbar, barbaric pirates that plague the Bay of Belfalas.
The Wood-elves (Silvan Elves or Tawarwaith) of the Woodland Realm are the most isolated of the Elven race, being both powerful warriors and distrustful characters at the same time. In fact, they will not hesitate to attack anyone that does not have at least +50 alignment with their faction. However, they attack less frequently, as your alignment approaches +50.