Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-25661985-20160406141225/@comment-26347028-20160406151008

Wargaz cc wrote: Well Elves do better on fight against Dol Guldur. But you see, the Kingdoms of Dale was captured, and the Dwarves of Erebor, retreated into the the Lonely Mountain, but lost Kings Brand and Dáin Ironfoot who were both slain at the Gate of Erebor...

Except Lórien preserved by Nenya, Woodland Realm loss its most territories and its former capital (Amon Lanc) through the long fight. Those kingdoms just survival... So I count this as a proof of "An alive powerful faction in the East". It is due to the power of the Elves that it was dying. In an attempt to destroy the three of them; it failed. It over exerted itself, and now it is paying the price. However, I must admit that since this is set just before these things happened, it is rather at the peak of its power - but still a fair bit less than you convey.