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Haradrim

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Haradrim Empty Haradrim

Post by Faramir Sun Jun 02, 2019 7:58 pm

Haradrim

Other Names
Southrons, Swertlings, Swarthy Men

Origins
Various groups of Men settling in Haradwaith

Location
Haradwaith in the South of Gondor

Language

Several languages and dialects

History
Like the people of Rhûn the first Men settling in Haradwaith were those who did not migrate West after they awoke in the East.
In the Second Age Sauron, who had escaped the Valar to continue Morgoth’s work, approached them, lending his support to their efforts to develop the land, build great cities, arm themselves, survive and conquer.

The Black Númenóreans, too, who settled in Umbar, became their allies, sharing their expertise in exchange for goods and materials, sometimes workers or slaves. Through this alliance several Black Númenóreans survived the Fall of Númenor in Harad and later many members of the Umbari nobility hid and rallied forces there, to take back Umbar after Gondor had conquered it.

Meanwhile Haradwaith prospered, their kings and queens ever under the protection of higher powers. Unsurprisingly, the gift of Rings of Power from Sauron was accepted by them as a blessing and remains to be seen as such.

After the Umbari had retaken Umbar with help from Haradwaith, Gondor eventually invaded the kingdom in the Third Age and the armies of king Ciryaher, henceforth known as Hyarmendacil I, took several of their major cities. The king of Haradwaith accepted defeat and agreed to send several of his sons as hostages to Gondor.

Peace, as is the case so often, was short lived. Mistreatment and oppressive demands caused the Haradrim to rebel, first among themselves, causing the end of a royal dynasty and replacing it with a new line of rulers, then against Gondor. With the help of the Umbari they once again attacked Gondor. King Aldamir of Gondor was slain, but the armies of Harad were defeated by his son. Yet, Harad remained free from Gondorian influence and the help of new found allies among the Easterlings and in Khand assured that it would remain so.

In the following years their forces occasionally clashed, but Haradwaith had its own internal battles to fight. The youngest of which was the latest bloody civil war over royal succession.

Queen Mahaiaret rose to power after her father and older sisters fell ill during a visit to Umbar and died soon after. She then was named co-ruler alongside one of her younger brothers, but a falling-out between them led to civil war. Her older brother, either unable or unwilling to claim the throne for himself supported Mahaiaret’s claim, slaying their younger brother in combat. A great warrior killing a defenseless boy who doesn’t even know which end of a sword to grab, it is said by their enemies. Witnessing this their uncle, cousin and second younger brother fled to Far Harad and established their own rule there, rallying more and more supporters to their banner, claiming not only that Mahaiaret had poisoned her father and sisters, but that she was also actively seeking the support of none other than Gondor to reclaim Far Harad and have her remaining brother killed.

Family strife once again tore apart Haradwaith. Still,  they appeared to remain united at least in their efforts to support Mordor.

Culture and Daily Life
What most people of the West know about their Southern neighbors is limited to the fact that they are fierce, terrifying warriors, clad in gold and scarlet, rallying to the banner of a black snake and the feet of massive war beasts, while at the same time seeming not uniform in appearance at all, some nearly naked and others masked, hooded and veiled, with only their eyes visible. Considering the endless sands and blistering heat that the South is known for, it is speculated that those enemies are nothing more than wild, violent tribes, only united and driven on by the whip of their cruel master in Mordor. Some might even remember stories about haggling traders and foreign thieves, whispers about golden kingdoms far South. The rangers of Ithilien certainly have wondered about those strangers, leading never ending lines of soldiers down the Harad Road to Mordor. Haradwaith certainly is Sauron’s most important ally.

But the two Harads, Near and Far Harad, and, more importantly, their inhabitants, are much more than that.

They are a polite, if insistent, people who value cleanliness and celebrate floods, love sweet, strong tea, sticky palm fruits, wheat beer, the sound of reed flutes, games, festivals and their families and friends.

While different tribes and family clans, even several different dynasties of rulers, exist and infighting causes rifts between neighbors, different streets and even the great kingdom itself, they are not just scattered tribes wandering the desert, lost until Mordor calls for their service.

Most Haradrim are part of an advanced, sedentary culture that has settled along rivers and lakes and around hidden water sources found deep underneath the sands of the desert that is so characteristic for Haradwaith.

Their cities are built from sandstone, reed, clay and mud-bricks. Houses with small gardens in the center line wide streets and open market places, surrounded by smaller huts and tents, in the shade of golden and blindingly white palaces painted in pigments from Rhûn. Ingenious builders have devised irrigation systems that allow for farming even some distance away from rivers and other water sources, and ships that can sail water and sand, tamed beasts both huge and tiny, moved massive blocks of stone across the desert to construct monuments that honor life and map the stars, and plastered networks of roads that span all of Harad and reach far into Gondor.

All the while traders and nomadic tribes fearlessly roam the desert, bracing the elements and defending themselves against bandit attacks. Families feud in bloody battles. Snakes, spiders and scorpions are milked for poison, and deadly curses are spoken over clouds of incense and flicking lamps, the night is imbued with magic and more than one has died from fear. The desert only knows its own law and those dim lights above are not the stars that the elves know.

Almost anything can be bought and sold in Harad. While this can be useful, it is also a horrible truth. As advanced as Harad can appear, as savage it can seem at other times. The same holds true for its people and they are well aware of it. In the cities a militia, both feared and respected, sanctioned by the king or queen and outfitted by the rich maintain order, albeit often biased. The closer to Gondor the more restrictive their oversight grows and the more numerous their spies and informants.

Criminals, captives of war and those who cannot pay their debts face slavery, a quality of life far below that of the free people of Harad, but not entirely without rights or protections. Punishment awaits those who beat a slave to death, who do not feed them, who do not call a healer when they are sick or wounded, who force themselves on woman or harm a child.

Criminals convicted of crimes considered too dire, captives without anyone to pay for their freedom or those among them considered too dangerous to live, however, are either tortured and killed horribly to set an example in Harad itself or, worse, sent to Mordor, from where none ever return.

Few doubt this form of justice. Few care to question any decision that those above them make. Even though farmers will take up arms when called to war, most Haradrim care more for their own daily struggles and their family than for greater political issues. They trust in their leaders and even more so in the powerful beings beyond this world that their leaders bow to.

As is the case among most Men the population of Harad, too, is, with exceptions of smaller tribes far South and some nomadic groups, strictly divided into social classes. Near Harad is currently ruled by queen Mahaiaret, Far Harad, after civil war and rebellion, by her uncle and younger brother. In the past all of Harad was ruled by one king or queen, their chief advisor and members of court. Regional governors and overseers of worksites and large-scale projects enforce their will locally, military captains and champions picked from a small number of noble and rich families leave no doubt of its validity. Peasantry and slaves make up the largest part of Harad’s population. Most peasants are farmers first, paying with their work and produce for the land that they are allowed to live on, and only practice other crafts and trades on the side.

Besides warriors and traders scribes are held in high esteem. Their ability to receive and pass on messages, thoughts and voices, through time and space appears to move immortality well within their reach. Rulers pay them handsomely and people revere them, for what is written down in the reed scrolls of the great libraries or on the stone of monuments, palaces and houses, what will be remembered about all of them is in the hands of the scribe.

As is the case with rulers, women, too, are known to work as scribes, overseers and architects or practice medicine. They are also the ones who tend to the private gardens that feed their families while men work on the fields that are not their own or go to war. No account of female warriors has ever been recorded. The queen certainly does not fight in battles.

Contrary to their subjects the kings and queens of the South do not have to work hard to earn their keep. They are expected to live a life free from want and hardship, protected and served by the elite, sampling only the best that their kingdom has to offer. They have to be happy, healthy and beautiful. In doing so they are meant to represent the kingdom’s strength, wealth and glory. As its personification they act as intermediaries between the people, who themselves often cannot even imagine the luxuries that their rulers partake in, let alone hope to ever attain themselves, and their most powerful, non-human allies and their representatives. Dangerous allies who need to be placated, venerated, satisfied and reassured, who expect results and demand success.

A success that even the poorest people of Harad are convinced that they have. In part, because such powerful beings as the Witch King of Angmar appear to them and Sauron himself seems to consider them worthy. Most Haradrim hold contempt for outsiders, simply because they believe themselves to be living the best possible life, or at least that if it can be made any better it will happen for them.  This belief is so fundamental to their society that they continue to celebrate the life of their deceased loved ones by building small altars in their homes to their honor, decorating them with fresh flowers, fruit and pleasant smells every day, and even giving them small gifts so that they can at least symbolically continue to partake in the life that they loved so much.

At the same time they are keenly aware that this quality of life depends, completely and utterly, on the favor of ghostly sorcerers and the unblinking eye in Mordor. Whatever sacrifice those higher lords demand, barely any Haradrim will not try to do anything to please them. Their whole world depends on it.

Crafts and Warfare
Haradrim are known to be excellent horsemen. Additionally they have tamed other, even more impressive beasts that they take into battle with them, hawks and other birds of prey, slim dogs and sturdy camels as well as the majestic elephant-like Mûmakil to the backs of which they strap massive saddles, some outfitted with siege towers manned with archers and spearmen. Their foot soldiers use shields and spears or curved blades, and additional to captains there will be several champions fighting among the regular soldiers, rallying them on and stirring the battle’s direction from within. One of them is the queen’s own brother, riding under the banner of a black serpent ready to strike.

Aside of some pastoral nomads most Haradrim are farmers first, cultivating the fertile soil near watersources. Scribes, architects and members of medical professions are held in high esteem, as are traders and soldiers. Haradrim craftsmen produce wares ranging from exquisite jewelry to sturdy ploughs. Linen, incense and perfume from Haradwaith are certainly among the finest.

Appearance
Haradrim clothing is made from materials that can be sourced locally. In regions where agriculture is more prevalent linen and other plant fibers are used. Pastoral nomads travelling the great sand sea rely on their livestock. Since the most densely inhabited areas are fertile land surrounding water sources linen is what most Haradrim wear in some form or another.

Additionally age, wealth and social standing determine what the individual can afford and is allowed to wear. Imported fabrics might by worn by lesser nobles and rich merchants, while higher nobles and royalty proudly adorn themselves with the very best that their own country has to offer and are not likely to use foreign fabrics or jewellery.

While the clothes worn by poorer members among the Haradrim tend to be thick, coarse and almost grey or brown in color, the linen worn by royals and rich nobles typically is of the very best quality. It is soft, white, without any blemishes and so fine that it becomes almost see-through. Additionally it is decorated with as much jewellery as their wearer can afford and preferably made from gold and precious stones.

Men tend to wear a large piece of fabric wrapped around their waist, held in place be belts, or light-weight and loose fitting robes or tunics.

While women prefer long, straight dresses held in place by one or several shoulder straps, pleated or draped.

The garments warriors wear underneath their armor are ticker, more robust and dyed scarlet and red. The face and hair of warriors from Near Harad will also often be hidden from the eyes of their enemies, while those of Far Harad bare their chest, covered in paint and adorned by jewelry, scars won in battle and some that were artificially created.

Aside of jewellery Haradrim also often wear wigs. They value hygiene, detest grey or white hair and baldness, while at the same time taking great pride elaborate hairstyles that take a lot of time to create and maintain. While men prefer to wear their hair shaven, short or in curls down to around their ears, women wear their hair in long curls and waves or chin length, plaited with gold or topped luxurious headdresses made from gold, glass and gems. Again status determines what will be worn. While the wigs created for royalty are made from exclusively human hair, those worn by commoners or poorer people are made from that of animals or plant fibers. During festivities a cone of perfumed fat may be worn on top of a wig, emitting the odor of expensive perfumes as it slowly melts.

Haradrim are tall and dark-skinned, with dark eyes and black hair. Those of Near Harad tend to have lighter brown or golden skin, while that of people from Far Harad tends to be much darker. Both variants intermingle, however, and a dynasty of kings from Far Harad has ruled both massive regions in the past.

Relations
Their ally have ever since been the Black Númenóreans, have been Umbar and Mordor. And their enemy, almost as long, has been Gondor and its allies.


Notable Members
In the past:
In the present:
- Queen Mahaiaret and her older brother, known as the Black Serpent
Faramir
Faramir
Assistant Loremaster

Posts : 646
Join date : 2019-05-25
Race : Half-Human
Nationality : Gondorian
Occupation : Soldier, Kennel-warden
Age : 35

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