Morwaith (Faction)

This article is for the Faction, for the NPC, see here.

Morwaith
Information
Biome(s)	Far Harad Savannah
Members	Morwaith warrior, huntsman, hutmaker, chieftain,
Alignment command name	MOREDAIN
Faction Items
Crafting Table	Morwaith crafting table
Shield
Banner
History
Added in (first NPCs)	Public Beta 23

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. 

History

Please note that the following lore is Mod-Canon; i.e., it was written or approved by the mod team to supplement Tolkien's works.

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The Morwaith are descendants of the second tribe of the original Haradrim, which we now call the "Plains Peoples." In the very early First Age, the Plains Peoples split off from the other two tribes - the "Desert Peoples", who settled in Near Harad and became the ancestors of the Southrons, and the "Forest Peoples", who, at the time, settled the Swamplands around Lake Chunha, who became the ancestors of the Taurethrim and Limwaith. The Plains Peoples settled the wide Grasslands and Bushlands of Far Harad, and over time they diverged into two separate peoples - the Morwaith of the Grasslands and the Cerinrim of the Bushlands. Of all the Far Haradrim peoples, the Morwaith were spread out the most by far, even after the Taurethrim migrated to the Great Jungle.

From early on, the Morwaith were very sectarian. Due to how vast a swath of land they were spread over, they quickly splintered into hundreds of tribes, each with their own chieftains and village networks. But remarkably, they have maintained many customs that their people have practiced since the beginning, and differences between the tribes aren't as pronounced as one could reasonably expect. The Morwaith live lives based around hunting and gathering, which has made their people into natural warriors. Morwaith tribes are usually rather small, generally no larger than the population of a single village, though larger tribes with multiple villages are not unheard of. The greatest warriors of these tribes become Chieftains, who prove their worth by killing the fearsome lions of the grasslands and wearing their fur. These tribes frequently compete with each other, though enemy tribes will usually band together against any sort of external enemy.

Central to Morwaith culture is the concept of the Great Lion. Though some Morwaith, especially younger members of more northerly tribes, have begun to worship Sauron, as many of their Southron allies do, most Morwaith worship the Great Lion, a deity they consider a symbol of strength, who both created the world and will destroy it in time. The Morwaith believe that the Great Lion grants strength to the worthy, and will devour the souls of all Men when their time is come. Of particular importance, especially to the western tribes, is the belief that the Great Lion waits beyond the mountains in the west, waiting to arise and swallow all the earth, ending the world of Men.

The Grasslands of Far Harad are perilous, and so travel between Morwaith villages is fairly infrequent, and usually only done by warriors. As a result, contact between Morwaith tribes is limited, and no sort of centralized government or community has ever developed between them. This, of course, complicates the matter of tracking and recording their history. As a result, their history is recorded here geographically, with the Morwaith divided into four regional subgroups.

The Northern Morwaith of the Arid Savannahs developed close ties to their Southron neighbors in Near Harad from very early on. Morwaith Hunters sold exotic goods like lion fur and rhino horns to the Southron merchants, while the merchants in return provided weapons. Besides being trading partners, the Northern Morwaith became famous over the centuries in Near Harad as reliable and brave mercenaries. It is said that, prior to her departure for Gondor, Queen Berúthiel of Harad maintained a personal guard of Morwaith Warriors from the Arid Savannah. It is rumored that these Warriors were a gift from a powerful Morwaith chieftain to the south, one of many of her lovers. Morwaith warriors particularly earned their fame during the siege of Umbar in TA 1015, when a Morwaith mercenary slew the fourteenth King of Gondor, Ciryandil. Yet in the end neither Southron nor Morwaith forces were able to stop the Gondorian invasions of Near Harad, which was completed by King Hyarmendacil in TA 1050.

Still, Gondor’s hold on Near Harad weakened significantly over the following centuries, and the Southrons managed to drive the Gondorian forces further and further north. They often relied on Morwaith mercenaries in the early years of reconquest. During the late Third Age, the northern Morwaith were to some extent involved in the Southron advances north. After Sauron returned to Mordor, the northern Morwaith followed their Southron allies and joined his forces. Now, they rally for war on the Dark Lord’s part, and the coming war may see many more brave deeds of the Morwaith Merceneries.

The Morwaith of the east settled around the Great Lakes of Far Harad, as far as the lands today known as Pertorogwaith. The Eastern Morwaith lived in isolation from their kin and any other Haradrim tribes until around SA 1800, when monstrous creatures known as Half-Trolls started raiding the mainland from Tol Torog. During the next two hundred years, the Half-Trolls raged through the lands east of the Seregduin. The local Morwaith fell victim to the Half-Trolls, who were known to devour captives whole. The Morwaith named those creatures “Grey Demons” and fled in masses westwards, crossing the Seregduin. 

Around SA 2130, the Eastern Morwaith became subjects of the newly founded Taurethrim Empire of Kimen Kaah. The city-state was founded by Taurethrim refugees fleeing the chaos of the Jungles after the fall of their Empire centuries earlier. The rulers of Kimen Kaah promised the local Morwaith protection against the Half-Trolls in exchange for their service, which the Morwaith accepted. Yet in the end the Taurethrim did not follow their end of the promise, and in SA 2161 the city fell to the invading Half-Troll hordes. 

In complete desperation, the Eastern Morwaith united their small forces and through luck were able to drive back the Half-Trolls to the lands east of the Seregduin. Infighting between the Half-Trolls enabled the Morwaith to strike back. At around SA 2200 the eastern Morwaith allied with nearby Limwaith tribes to secure the Seregduin river and stifle Half-Troll attacks as much as possible, yet occasional but brutal Half-Troll raids could not be prevented. This situation continued deep into the Third Age. 

In the late Third Age, Half-Troll attacks intensified extremely for no known reason. The Half-Trolls seemed to have become more organized than ever before, and threatened the lands settled by the eastern Morwaith. But around the time of Sauron’s return to Mordor, the Dark Lord send out envoys to the chieftains of the Eastern Morwaith, with the promise to free them of their Half-Troll enemies in exchange for their service. The desperate Morwaith accepted, and suddenly all Half-Troll attacks stopped. The gracious Morwaith then prepared to join Sauron in his quest to conquer Gondor. Without the knowledge that their savior was responsible for their suffering all along, the Eastern Morwaith have joined their northern brethren, and will soon march north to war.

The Southern Morwaith settled the fertile lands along the mighty Haraduin and the Savannahs south of the great Jungle. They relied more on agriculture than their neighboring kin, yet sometimes went deep into the Jungles to hunt as well. With the rise of the Taurethrim Empire in the Second Age, the Morwaith fell under the influence of the jungle warriors, who conquered the lands along the Haraduin around SA 1200. The Taurethrim High King Matlal imposed his strict rule on the southern Morwaith, who were forced to grow corn and yams to feed the ever-expanding Empire. During the Taurethrim rule the Southern Morwaith suffered enormously. Taurethrim High Kings and nobles were known to treat them like slaves. Although a few Morwaith rose to prominence as warriors in the Taurethrim Empire, most Morwaith had to endure severe hardships, as the Taurethrim High Kings enforced high tribute payments and forced labor. Many Morwaith tribes rebelled against their Taurthrim overlords several times, yet with no success, as Taurethrim civilization proved to be too powerful. The last resisting southern Morwaith tribes were subjugated around SA 1600, thus securing Taurethrim hegemony for another 100 years.

But in SA 1700, a young boy became the High King of the Taurethrim Empire after the sudden death of his father. He quickly fell under the influence of Sauron, and he accepted one of the Nine Rings of Power. He was a sadistic ruler, who left the Empire in ruins. He bled his own people for his amusement, which at around SA 1850 led to the downfall of the Empire after his disappearance. The Southern Morwaith used this opportunity to regain their freedom, and even take revenge for hundreds of years of torment. As the once-mighty Taurethrim Empire collapsed into many petty chiefdoms and princedoms, the Morwaith flooded the northern Jungles with their warriors, establishing many Jungle chiefdoms of their own. Over the next hundred years, one by one the true Taurethrim realms fell victim to the Morwaith invaders, until almost all of the Jungle was ruled by Morwaith chieftains. Yet the influence of Taurethrim culture started to show. As invading Morwaith and Taurethrim merged more and more, so did their cultures. Many Morwaith rulers started slowly to adopt ancient Taurethrim traditions, seeking legitimacy in the history of the fallen Empire. Over time, all the peoples of the Jungle started to again call themselves Taurethrim, although the people inhabiting these lands were not anymore.

Those of the Southern Morwaith that remained in the plains hated the new Taurethrim, and many southern tribes have dedicated themselves to finishing what their ancestors started. Now Morwaith raids in the Jungle have begun once more, as the Taurethrim and Morwaith clash in a battle of ancient hatred.

Of the final Morwaith group little is said. These were the Western Morwaith, and dwelt in a narrow strip of savannah west of the Mountains of Harad. It is likely that these came under the dominion of the Númenoréans from early on, as the Men of the West formed colonies on the western coasts of Harad. However, these colonies quickly fell to evil, and the Black Númenoréans used the Western Morwaith as soldiers and slaves. Throughout the Third Age the various Black Númenoréan colonies collapsed, with the remaining Men of the West opting to move to Mordor and Umbar. However, dominion over the western Morwaith was retained by Umbar, who also enslaved the Western Morwaith. Few of those now remain.

The men of the Sunlands are tough and hardy, and willing to fight for the Red Eye. But their allegiance lies foremost with the Great Lion, and it is under his banners, not Sauron’s, that they walk. Divided into many tribes and petty chiefdoms, they are disunited and without great settlement. It may be one day that one shall unite them and lead them forth to new glory. But that day, should it ever come to pass, is long off, and as the shadow lengthens, the Eye colors the plains in the scarlet light of a dying sun.

Alignment

Isolated as they are, the Morwaith are neutral with most factions. They are however enemies with the Taurethrim, and they are allies of Mordor and Near Harad.

Inter-faction relations

Allies	Friends	Neutral	Enemies	Mortal Enemies
•Mordor •Near Harad	None	•Angmar •Blue Mountains •Dale •Dol Guldur •Dorwinion •Dunland •Durin's Folk •Fangorn •Gundabad •Half-trolls •High Elves •Hobbits •Isengard •Lothlórien •Rhúdel •Woodland Realm	•Dúnedain of the North •Gondor •Rohan	•Taurethrim

NPCs

• Morwaith - Basic Morwaith Civilian.
• Morwaith Warrior - Morwaith clad in Morwaith Armour and wielding Morwaith Equipment. Will attack any enemies of their faction. May be mounted on a zebra.
• Morwaith Huntsman - A Morwaith trader that can be found in the trader hut of a village.
• Morwaith Hutmaker - Traders found in villages who will sell hut-making blocks to players with enough alignment.
• Morwaith Chieftain - Tribal leaders, clad in the sacred pelt of lions who will sell Morwaith warriors to players with enough alignment.

Structures

Compared to Northern factions, the Morwaith are industrially relatively undeveloped.

• Morwaith Hunter Camp - A small camp containing several hunting shacks around a Morwaith crafting table.
• Morwaith Village - A cluster of 3-5 huts, 0-1 chieftain huts and 0-2 trader huts.

Items

• Morwaith crafting table - Crafting tables used to craft all of the following.
• Morwaith Banner - The banner of Morwaith, depicting a golden lion on an orange field.
• Morwaith Equipment, daggers, battleaxes, spears and clubs. Curiously enough, the Morwaith spear has a base damage of +7, making it higher than the base damage of other Morwaith weapons.
• Morwaith Armour and Morwaith Chieftain Armour - Respectively, the armour worn by warriors, and the armour made from the sacred pelt of lions, worn by chieftains.