Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-28813058-20170521150355/@comment-31421070-20170525075650

TheodenOfRohan wrote: Well, I got bored and wrote a long story concerning the history of the Tauredain, so here it is if anyone is interested. NOTE: I'm not pushing for the mod team to adopt this history, I just thought it would be nice to share my thoughts on this culture.

In the Hither Lands, better known as Harad, there are many mighty tribes and kingdoms that many of the men of the Far Reaches (as the Haradrim call Rhûn, Rhovanion, Eriador, and Forodwaith) have never even heard of. One of these mighty empires is the kingdom of the Tauredain, spreading across the great jungles of the South.

Nothing is known about the origin of these Men. They are tall and grim, with dark skin that is dark-brown. They have black hair and eyes, and they are strong and swift. They hunt well and climb trees with skill and purpose, for all forests are their domain. They wear clothes of many colors, and their sharp weapons are carved of obsidian. Flowers adorn their helms and tunics, and they are woven into their tapestries and clothes.

Their first home in the South was the not the forest, but instead the wet, muddy swamps of Chunha. These lands were harsh, however, and many of the people eventually decided that, despite their faith in the land, that they wanted a better life. Their legends told of towering forests filled with food and stone and ruin, and many wanted to see these fabled lands. Most folk, fearing death, refused to go on a journey, but then Chunha was hit by enormous floods that wiped out hundreds of villages and killed thousands. Many people suddenly had nowhere to go except southward to the fabled forests, and suddenly most of these people endeavored to start a new life in this land or die trying. The leader of this enormous company of travelers who survived the flood was called Kibakala, a tall man who wore a great beard and a spear of ash. He encouraged these people and led their travels. After many a cold year sleeping in the open and fighting beasts, these brave travelers found the forests.

These forests were nothing like the men were used to; they were thick with growth and green. But these folk were overjoyed to have reached this legendary land, and so they built villages there. Kibakala became their lord. They also found mighty beasts there, ones that were tall and muscular, with tusks of ivory and great trunks and thick, gray skin. They called them the Mûmakil and held them sacred as beasts created by their deity, the goddess Kinza’nzala. They thought that the forest had been Kinza’nzala’s home in the past, and they held it sacred. As their numbers expanded, they began to become a mightier and mightier people. They colonized the whole forest, building roads of stone from city to city. Their many great cities and fortresses included Otoch Kaah, Ya’ax Kaah, Lakin Paah, Pixan Kaah, Actun Kaah, and Mûmakaah. At Mûmakaah were kept the Mûmakil, and priests watched them there. At Ya’ax Kaah, they built a throne of gold and a beautiful palace name Mfalmikulu for the High Kings. First Kibakala dwelt there, but after that, there were his sons and grandsons as kings: Kamfulu, Mukìdì, Ngo’onu, Yakála, and many others. They proclaimed that they would begin a Tauredain Empire. The King wore a tall crown of gold and flowers called the Crown of Flowers, and it was passed on through the monarchy for many, many years after its creation.

They traded with the tall, fair-skinned men of Númenor, who came to places like their western port-city of Otoch Kaah to trade metal and blowguns, a specialized weapon of Númenor, for flowers, wood, and carved staffs of great magnificence. The Tauredain built ever greater cities and tombs, such as their famed pyramids in which they buried their Kings. Temples to Kinza'nzala grew, and many an animal and human were sacrificed there; the Tauredain thought it such an honor to be sacrificed to Kinza'nzala that they even competed for it. Some of these pyramids, temples and cities were even made of gold, which was abundant in that land, and even farmers and laborers of the land often had something wrought of it. The Númenórean sailors actually built a few small villages across the Westingcoast, near Otoch Kaah, and they often spoke with the Tauredain there.

The Tauredain tried to be peaceful with all countries, but in the end, their attempts were unsuccessful. Although they had a strong army with many thousands of warriors, the plains and marshes of Far Harad held many tribes who wanted some of the Tauredain’s wealth and power. Among these were the monstrous Half-Trolls of Pertorogwaith, who were strong but stupid. They wielded clubs of bone and swords of rock, and they began to battle the Tauredain, killing many a warrior. The Tauredain built a fortress called Nkulutaak Kaah to hold off their armies. Also, the brutal warriors of Limwaith, who dwelt in the Mangrove, constantly fought with the Tauredain. Many wars that will be explained in full later took place between these two kingdoms. The Cerinrim, the most warlike tribe of Harad, skirmished with the Tauredain as well, although their main interest was in the Moredain of the plains north of the Forest. The Moredain were peaceful with the Tauredain at first, as were the men of Near Harad and Umbar, but this would change in later years.

The Tauredain fought first with the Half-Trolls, a devilish experiment of Sauron. They populated the hilly wastes of Pertorogwaith west of the Forest. They relied on brute strength, whereas the Tauredain relied more on mobility and stealth, especially when hunting. The Half-Trolls sprang several surprise attacks on the western borders of the Forest in the beginning, destroying several settlements, but the Tauredain quickly mobilized their forces, slaying over a thousand Half-Trolls and forcing the rest to pull back. The Tauredain king at the time, who was named Nkulutaak, built an enormous citadel called Nkulutaak Kaah in the Westforest to hold off the Half-Trolls. Nkulutaak, who was a strong warrior himself, decided to lead the forces there in the war. The Tauredain, who had began to trade with Númenórean sailors around this time, used the Númenórean weapons to hold off the Half-Trolls. However, they continued to raid, seizing several fortresses and cities that the Tauredain had built earlier, such as Kimen Paah. King Nkulutaak sent in more warriors to counter the Half-Trolls, and the warriors eventually succeeded, but at great cost. The Half-Trolls, in a final effort to defeat the Tauredain, sent four thousand of their best soldiers to attack Nkulutaak Kaah. They overtook the fortress and put King Nkulutaak in chains. Before they executed him, however, King Nkulutaak called upon the power of Kinza’nzala, their goddess, by cursing the citadel and the Half-Trolls. A massive explosion occurred when he finished chanting, and it annihilated the whole fortress, including King Nkulutaak himself. This strange disaster is believed to have been caused by Kinza’nzala and her anger at the Half-Trolls for defiling her land, or at least the Tauredain say. The Half-Trolls stayed away from the Tauredain for a long while after this war. The explosion caused a great fire that burned down quite a bit of forest, and the wasteland was ever after called Kinza'nzala’akaahúlu, the Land of Kinza’nzala’s Fury in their tongue.

The Half-Trolls had been scared off, at least for a bit, and a time of peace followed. King Mbua, who reigned during this time, helped to expand their civilization even more, using Númenórean resources to create ships to sail along rivers. They soon sailed into the Mangroves of Harad, a swampy area filled with many a tree. Soon they came upon a great tribe of people called Limwaith. They were a people whose job comprised largely of fishing, since Limwaith literally means ‘fish-people.’ The Limwaith welcomed them, but cautiously, knowing they couldn't fight a force like this. However, the Tauredain soon realized that they worshipped a different deity, the god Kàhurangi. The Tauredain tried to convince them of the existence of Kinza'nzala, the forest-deity, but the Limwaith refused to believe this. The Tauredain suddenly drew weapons, and so did the other side. A bloody battle ensued, and the few survivors sailed back to Ya’ax Kaah. They informed King Nuukoko, Mbua’s son, about the encounter. Nuukoko was furious. He cried, “Worshippers of a swamp-god? First worshippers of the Great Eye come hither, and now another tribe who loathes the sacred forest? Mbua would be crushed by news like this.” Then he instructed them to oppress them and slay as many as were needed until they surrendered. As you can see, the Tauredain held great faith in their Goddess. Nuukoko proceeded to sent a mighty army to the Mangroves, or Ayakaalu’alu as they called it.

The Tauredain marched to the Mangroves to find a rival army of Limwaith already marching out to meet them in the plains between. The Tauredain had even brought a Mûmakil as a war-steed, something they rarely did. However, the Tauredain, being better fighters than the Limwaith, defeated their force and marched into the Mangroves, taking over many camps (the Limwaith were similar in that way to the Dúnedain of the North; they didn't build many permanent structures), although they did spare the peaceful civilians. Limwaith struck back, however, and since they had better knowledge of the swamps, their hunters slew much of the remaining host. Their capital, which was really only a small village to the Tauredain, was the dwelling-place of their chieftain, who was named Timoti. The second host sent by the Tauredain marched all the way to this village, and they burned their shrine to Kàhuragi. They held a sword to Timoti’s neck, but he surrendered and granted their lands to the Tauredain. The Tauredain quickly built a city there called Yuluch Kaah, and they proclaimed this land as their fief of Ayakaalu’alu, the Leafy Marshes.

However, soon after came the Rise of the Cerinrim. They were tall, brutal people who lived in Ayalataaharad, the Bushlands of Harad. They had been enthralled by a war cult and worshipped the war god, whose name was Atomoyulu. Half-Trolls had already had a war with them, and they had sacrificed every Half-Troll prisoner that they captured. They began to fight with every tribe in Harad, for they had no allies. They first assaulted the Moredain village of Za’kia, and then Khamisikito. They sacrificed the whole populations to Atomoyulu, including the women and children. The Moredain fought a losing war, and they sent messengers north and south, to both the Tauredain and the Southrons of Near Harad, for assistance. The Tauredain, knowing that having a tribe like this alive could be disastrous, sent four thousand soldiers, and the Southrons, who traded with the Moredain, sent two thousand, but even then the Cerinrim had emptied their whole land and amassed some ten thousand soldiers. The Cerinrim fought using adrenaline as opposed to skill, but many on both sides died. The original host was meticulously censused by Duqaq, the Lord of the Southrons. Of the original 7,006 soldiers of the combined Moredain, Tauredain, and Southrons, about 4,886 were slain, including Ndeke, the commander of the Tauredain’s army, who was a woman. However, of the 10,000 warriors of the Cerinrim, about 8,000 were slain. The Cerinrim retreated into the Bushlands, and there they were met by a thousand Southron soldiers who had marched into the land after they had left. The Southrons slew every warrior in the army. Thus, the Cerinrim’s army was ended, and their remaining citizens could only rub their knuckles and hope to build up another army one day. However, during this battle, Limwaith started a rebellion, and this rebellion would go on to nearly destroy the Empire and everything it stood for.

The Tauredain soon faced rebellions from Limwaith, since they had taken some of their Limwaith-guards out to fight the Cerinrim. The Limwaith jumped the remaining Tauredain forces, defeating them and taking their weapons and armor. They marched into the forest, taking over the city of Tayanulun Paah and gaining momentum. They decided to send an assassin to Ya’ax Kaah to slay the King, who was named Nzáwu Ntuad’isi. They sent one of their own named, quite simply, Nì. Nì was much like the Tauredain in looks, and he had none of the tattoos that the Limwaith typically wore. He traveled the long road to Ya’ax Kaah and went to the King’s Palace (Mfalmikulu in their tongue). He climbed the wall and went into Nzáwu’s bedroom, and there he pulled out a knife, hoping to slay the King, his wife, and his children in their sleep. However, he had not seen the guard in the corner of the room, who had seen him climb the wall. This guard bellowed “Assassin!” and hewed Nì’s neck with an axe, saving Nzáwu’s life.

King Nzáwu realized that the Limwaith were behind this, and he sent an army that subdued them again. However, he also decided to move the capital to Nohoch Kaah, which was strategically harder to reach. They built a new palace there, and King Nzáwu, his wife Diaki, and his children Kento, Mbuetète, and Olo, dwelt there. Ya’ax Kaah’s palace of Mfalmikulu became the Court of Wolo, a Tauredain judge who was the son of a Tauredain man and Númenórean woman; thus, he lived to be 286 years old and mediated many disputes throughout his lifetime.

At this time, Sauron began to attack Númenor, and he targeted the Númenórean havens located in Far Harad. Many a tall Orc sailed there, in boats of black wood, and they burned the Númenórean homes and enslaved their people. The folk of Númenor who had not yet been assailed were deft warriors, but there were far too few of them; for each Númenórean, there were fifty bloodthirsty Orcs. The Tauredain took matters into their own hands. They sent their hunters to the west coasts of Harad where the Orcs were marching, and they ran onto the coasts, and they slew the Orcs and returned to the Númenórean havens. The lord of these Númenórean sailors, who was named Gimlân, gave King Boyi a sword wrought of mithril from their land as a gift. Boyi took it with great honor and called it Fedu’paangáh, the Sword of Silver.

Then came the Second Torog War, and this time the Tauredain brought it about. A host of Tauredain hunters on the northeast borders of the forest caught sight of a Half-Troll camp, probably for a hunting-troop. However, they spotted several Tauredain corpses in the camp, probably victims of the Half-Trolls, and they decided to avenge them and assault the camp. They shot the Half-Trolls using wicked darts that were shot from their blowguns that they had gotten through trade with Númenor. More Half-Trolls eventually came to look for the company, only to find two dozen Half-Trolls slain. Muzthâkh the Murderous, the chieftain of the Half-Trolls, declared war on the Tauredain and sent an army to the former site of Nkulutaak Kaah to make an encampment. They slew a company of 660 Tauredain that were sent to weaken their defenses, and they charged into the jungle, overtaking eight villages, including the millennium-old village of Ya’nalaku. The Tauredain were forced to fight fire with fire, and they sent a host of six thousand soldiers (roughly half of their army) to flank the force of Half-Trolls. King Boyi and his son Mfelumu fought there. Muzthâkh slew Boyi in a duel, but Boyi’s son Mfelumu slew Muzthâkh with Boyi’s sword Fedu’paangáh, the gift from the Númenóreans, which was wrought of mithril. It belonged to the King of the Forest forever after, and it became a great symbol of the Tauredain’s power.

After this came the Dark Times, the waning days of the Empire. It began with a second war with the Cerinrim, who had since amassed a new army. They overtook the Southrons and attacked Xaman Paah, which had been built to stop the Limwaith. The Cerinrim threw enough power into the attack that they slew the Tauredain there; and they didn't stop there. Army after army poured into the land, not only of the Cerinrim, but of Pertorogwaith as well. The soldiers of the forests charged again and again, and their new king Ngòma, grandson of Mfelumu, led these armies. But in a great battle, Ngòma was slain by Yunu of the Cerinrim. The kingdom mourned his passing, of course, but hope still remained, because Ngòma’s wife Makuba was still pregnant with his child. However, one of the greatest shocks of the Tauredain existence came when the child came out stillborn, thus ending the Line of Kibakala, who had led the Tauredain out of Chunha into this great land. There was now no rightful ruler of the Tauredain to take the throne. However, Nuyula’anu, the commander of the Tauredain’s armies, won back-to-back victories against the Cerinrim and Half-Trolls, driving them out of the Forest. The Tauredain then adopted a new ruler. His name was Msitutah, Forest-lord, and he was nothing like his late cousin Ngòma. He was greedy, cunning, and arrogant. Many said that he did not deserve possession of the Crown of Flowers and Fedu’paangáh. He began to raise taxes and send more and more soldiers out on suicidal missions. He started to cut off trade with Númenor and the Moredain, as well as lessened security in Ayakaalu’alu, allowing more potential for a Limwaith rebellion.

Then, suddenly, new Númenórean sailors began to sail to the shores of the jungle demanding tribute. They said, “Our right to rule is divine, for we are a high people. Pay tribute to us as an homage!” The Tauredain respected Númenor and acknowledged their heritage, but the ships came quick and often, and soon many people in the Empire, especially on the West Coast, sunk into poverty. Many in the Forest murmured about possible corruption in the Númenórean royalty. King Msitutah had no choice but to raise taxes even more in order to pay this tribute. Soon, however, he refused to pay Númenor any more valuables. He greeted the sailors himself and proclaimed, “Is this your Empire, high men of Númenor, or is it mine? You have wealth enough on Númenórë. Go back! Do not trouble our ports again!” But the Númenóreans did not heed him, and soon they sent soldiers to force the Tauredain into submission. The Tauredain had neither the number advantage or the skill advantage, so they continued to pay tribute. However, rumor of these hindrances spread to the nearby Moredain and Limwaith. The Moredain had previously been peaceful with the Tauredain, but they were jealous of the Tauredain’s land and influence, and they decided to take advantage of their weakened state. They called upon their allies in Harad, and a great host of fifteen thousand Haradrim and Moredain marched to the Forest. Thus began the War of the Forest.

These mighty Haradrim and Moredain defeated many Tauredain armies, and they overtook many cities, ruining them, slaying the men, enslaving the women and children. They ransacked villages as well, and they took what little the Tauredain had left of value. They felled the tall, mighty trees that the Tauredain held sacred. They then marched straight to Mûmakaah, which King Msitutah had escaped to after he had heard about the threats from Númenor and the Moredain. There, they seized the Mûmakil, and they gave them to the Southrons as payment for their assistance. Msitutah begged for mercy, but the Moredain slew him and took his sword Fedu'paangáh. However, it is said that Msitutah’s servant Nbu slew the man who kept Fedu'paangáh and took it to Actun Kaah, a strange city with caves that were said to reach the very heart of the earth, and hid it among the caves there. Since Actun Kaah was naturally fortified by enormous cliffs, it survived the War of the Forest, although the location of the sword is known only to a few shamans and it will only be disclosed if a new King were to come and take the Golden Throne.

The Limwaith broke free and rebelled against their oppressors, murdering every one of the Tauredain in their land. The Tauredain city of Nohoch Kaah had survived, but the Golden Throne sat empty, and the Crown of Flowers had been lost in Mûmakaah. The Tauredain had survived as a people, but their glorious empire had fallen. They no longer bore power and influence; rather, they stayed in their homes, forever cursing the enemies that had surrounded them and had defeated their great forces. Many prayed to Kinza’nzala, hoping forever that a new King would claim the Golden Throne. Many more mourned the loss of their sacred Mûmakil, which became war-steeds of the Southrons and were ridden all the way to the Battle of the Pelennor many years later, and some also cursed Númenor, although eventually they received news of their corruption: how they had sent an army to Aman (a location that was little more than a foreign fairy tale in their culture) and they had perished, and how their grand land with its green fields and light forests had sunk beneath the wave. But the Tauredain were not sorry, for they could only recall what Númenor had done to them immediately before their downfall, and their belief was that friendship must be true for its whole stretch, not only in the beginning.

Most Tauredain never heard of the great wars that took place in the North, or Kaskazinu as they called it. They knew of the Great Eye of Sauron only as a vague legend, since the Moredain and Half-Trolls spoke of it on occasion. They never got to see the destruction of the One Ring, nor the mighty battle of the Pelennor Fields, where the Rohirrim and Gondorians charged the Southrons, Black Númenóreans, and Mordor Orcs to save the lands of Middle-Earth. Their perception of the North was limited, since the furthest any of the Tauredain had ever journeyed was to the River Poros and Khand (done by the traveler Mbundu who was slain by the Variags in Khand). Most said that it was a frozen wasteland filled with tall mountains where Dkarto’lu, the god of snow and cold, had a mighty fortress. Yet they remain a great people, even if they have but a memory of their former glory and power in the little-known, but just as important, lands of Far Harad. You, good sir, would be a wonderful Ancient History lecturer.