Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-34241117-20180207232730/@comment-34435400-20180208155307

Thindithron the Great wrote: I don't quite see how this series of diaries fits into the mod. Firstly, a number of the places that this merchant has visited are places where Merchants of Harad do not even gaze upon in the mod, let alone in lore. Secondly, the point of view and character of the author seem very unlike a typical Haradrim merchant. A follower of Melkor (as all Haradrim merchants undoubtedly are; otherwise they wouldn't be able to trade in their own lands) would not feel at peace in the home of the Ents. Even some of the free peoples, such as the Rohirrim and the Dwarves, feel uneasy in Fangorn Forest. Any Man of Harad who ventured far into there (not that many would) would likely be apprehended and slain by the shepherds of the trees, not protected by them and comforted by their presence. Nor would he be heartened the fact that as long as the Ents lived, there would be "one last strong and wise region in Middle-earth". If anything, he would welcome their destruction.

As well as the extremely out-of-character feelings of the merchant, there are some factually incorrect things in the text that any merchant would know were false. These include:

-"Not a soul hasn’t heard of this great land, save perhaps the uneducated peoples of the East." Almost none of the Haradrim would have ever heard of Fangorn Forest. They are not a widely travelled people.

-"I have been warned by the peoples of the surrounding area that to cut a tree here, is to sign a death penalty." The people inhabiting the lands nearby are the Rohirrim, bitter enemies of the Haradrim. They would kill a Man of Harad on sight. What you forgot about is that Haradrim were not followers of Melkor by choice. I would think that some Haradrim would enjoy the defeat of Sauron so they may live freely. I'd think all haradrim would feel this way.

Also there is no honor in killing a merchant, he is just trying to make a living in this harsh world. I don't believe they would kill a simple merchant just for being a haradrim.

I agree that the Haradrim probably haven't heard of it but I also think the Ents wouldn't have heard of haradrim. So they would have no reason to kill him.