Eastern Wilderland
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POPULATION EFFECTS: Establishing 'Eastern Wilderland' in the nearby lands of the Dwarves reflects the ruler settling Men in the province. This is a one-way process which brings population growth and allows Mannish - and only Mannish - troops to be recruited here.

GEOGRAPHY: Eastern Wilderland is a large and largely untamed area of scrub and scattered woodlands. Its southern borders reach down to the Ash Mountains, and its northern borders to Dale. Its width, though not quite so great as its height, spans from the Greenwood to the Sea of Rhûn, and includes the isle of Tol Rhûn in that inland sea. It is teeming with wildlife, and in some parts prowl the dread Wargs. Fertility, though not poor, is not as rich as that found to the west in the region of Dale. In the northeast of the region lies the fertile land of Dorwinion, where rich vineyards grow.

HISTORY: Most of the region had often been invaded, and even settled, by Easterlings before the Fourth Age. More recently, however, it has been free from such colonies, though it was attacked not long ago from the East. However, when the invaders became weakened by their battles with the armies of the Reunited Kingdom and Rohan, the population of Rhovanion rose up and threw off the Easterling taskmasters. It was this act, and perhaps the apparent failure of the Reunited Kingdom to protect them, that led to Rhovanion declaring independence and thus the creation of that kingdom. Rhovanion's independence – combined with the lack of a strong presence of any Easterling or Western power – in turn made room for the people of Dorwinion to claim their own rule, and now these industrious folk hold lands stretching from the Sea of Rhûn up the Celduin. Independent Northmen, braving the waters of the inland sea, have also established a small outpost on Tol Rhûn. It remains to be seen what nearby powers will seek to draw that settlement into their fold..

INHABITANTS: The indigenous Rhovanion people - hunters and trappers in the main - are chiefly of Northman stock, but some Easterling blood flows through their veins in the more southerly parts beyond Dorwinion. Hence, though they are largely Northmen, they are nevertheless more susceptible to the Ways of Darkness than their brethren in the north.

Establishing the nearby Dwarven lands of Ered Rhûn and the Iron Hills as part of the Eastern Wilderland region reflects the ruler settling Men in the province, displacing those of the race of Durin who may remain or simply building new homes in the abandoned lands. This one-way process brings population growth, and changes recruitment options.

FEATURES: None.

SETTLEMENTS: Belegant, Rathwin, Hithe, Ereb-gobel, Iâth-in-Rhaw, Mid-deeping, Lith-morchant, Braig Estolad, and Rhovanost. Narag-zigil and Baraz-dûm will also be considered part of this region if the Dwarven population of those provinces is lost.

FORTS: None.

DEVELOPER'S NOTE: Belegant ("great garden"), Rathwin ("course of wine"), Hithe ("landing place"), Ereb-gobel ("lonely town"), Iâth-in-Rhaw ("fence of the wilderness"), Lith-morchant ("ash shadow"), Mid-deeping, Braig Estolad ("wild encampment"), and Rhovanost ("town of the wilderness") are all additions for gameplay purposes and not part of the lore of Middle-earth. Baraz-dûm ("red halls") and Narag-zigil ("black silver") have been added for gameplay purposes and make no appearance in the writings of Tolkien.