Lord of the Rings: Fall of Man | OOC | Always Open

[Elerian]

Hey Ely, my app's nearing completion and I'd love if you can already check it out, maybe give me some pointers.

Looks pretty good to me as it stands.

I really have no idea on numbers for the tributaries of Smaug. At the end of the day the Dragon himself is the tactical equivalent of an extremely smug thermonuclear missile, so I can understand if I should err on the lower side.

This is correct, Smaug is quite strong on his own. In addition to having destroyed the nearest settlement of men when Thorin and Company came through, Smaug would likely only have numbers of men in the hundreds or low thousands. Same for orcs/goblins.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

Hey Ely, my app's nearing completion and I'd love if you can already check it out, maybe give me some pointers.

Looks pretty good to me as it stands.

I really have no idea on numbers for the tributaries of Smaug. At the end of the day the Dragon himself is the tactical equivalent of an extremely smug thermonuclear missile, so I can understand if I should err on the lower side.

This is correct, Smaug is quite strong on his own. In addition to having destroyed the nearest settlement of men when Thorin and Company came through, Smaug would likely only have numbers of men in the hundreds or low thousands. Same for orcs/goblins.

He can prolly have Drakes tho, as the Withered Heath lies in the Ered Mithrin.

[Dentali]

WIP

Name: Durin's Bane
Race: Balrog
Appearance:
(Image)
Role: Lord of Moria
Motivations: Power, Dominion,
History: (After Sauron’s Victory)
Territory: Khazad-dûm, Central Misty Mountains, Eregion
Strength: 10k goblins, 20k orcs, 300 ogres,
Notable Artifacts: Dwarven hordes of Khazad-dûm, Mithril Mines,

Could I have said DB expanded north and untied the orcs of the Misty Mountains up to Gundabad?

[Elerian]

Could I have said DB expanded north and untied the orcs of the Misty Mountains up to Gundabad?

That's fine. Your picture doesn't work however.

[Elerian]

-Snip-

All seems in order, accepted.

-snip-

I see you upped the numbers of Dwarves a bit, which still seems fine to me. Contingent upon the number and kind of war beasts the app seems good to go.

@Azorea
I see you added in some numbers for orcs and men, lemme know if the app is ready.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

-Snip-

All seems in order, accepted.

Thanks!

[The Knights of Azorea]

@Azorea
I see you added in some numbers for orcs and men, lemme know if the app is ready.

Should be done with if those lower numbers are alright.

[Elerian]

@Azorea
I see you added in some numbers for orcs and men, lemme know if the app is ready.

Should be done with if those lower numbers are alright.

They are indeed. If you wanted to add a lesser serpent or cold drake or two then that would be fine with me as well.

[Arlye Austros]

Paint me interested. Should I aim for one of the main characters or can I just go for more custom minor ones?

EDIT: Actually, I am tempted on Shelob. Would she be like in Shadow of War? Or just according to the cannon material?

[Elerian]

Paint me interested. Should I aim for one of the main characters or can I just go for more custom minor ones?

EDIT: Actually, I am tempted on Shelob. Would she be like in Shadow of War? Or just according to the cannon material?

I'm not real familiar with Shadow of War Shelob other than the fact that she supposedly can shapeshift or something like that.

[Arlye Austros]

Paint me interested. Should I aim for one of the main characters or can I just go for more custom minor ones?

EDIT: Actually, I am tempted on Shelob. Would she be like in Shadow of War? Or just according to the cannon material?

I'm not real familiar with Shadow of War Shelob other than the fact that she supposedly can shapeshift or something like that.

They kinda gave her a personality and the ability to speak. I kinda see it as an appeal to a hypothetic Maia-side. We do know she can have some dialogue, given her dealings with Gollum.
the shapeshifting I see it more like an ability to appear to Talion and Celebrimbor in her "True" form in the shadow realm of the Ring.

If you are alright with it I would like to have her as able to appear like this in the mind of ringbearers and Maia alone. And no, not gonna say she had an affair with Sauron.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

I'm not real familiar with Shadow of War Shelob other than the fact that she supposedly can shapeshift or something like that.

They kinda gave her a personality and the ability to speak. I kinda see it as an appeal to a hypothetic Maia-side. We do know she can have some dialogue, given her dealings with Gollum.
the shapeshifting I see it more like an ability to appear to Talion and Celebrimbor in her "True" form in the shadow realm of the Ring.

If you are alright with it I would like to have her as able to appear like this in the mind of ringbearers and Maia alone. And no, not gonna say she had an affair with Sauron.

Yeah, the affair with Sauron thing was really weird, especcially since Sauron in the book essentially treated her like his backyard guard dog.

Me personally, I like the idea and more girl power Overlords are great. OCs should also be possible if I understood Elerian correctly but we were kinda hoping to fill the important canon roles first.

[Elerian]

I'm not real familiar with Shadow of War Shelob other than the fact that she supposedly can shapeshift or something like that.

They kinda gave her a personality and the ability to speak. I kinda see it as an appeal to a hypothetic Maia-side. We do know she can have some dialogue, given her dealings with Gollum.
the shapeshifting I see it more like an ability to appear to Talion and Celebrimbor in her "True" form in the shadow realm of the Ring.

If you are alright with it I would like to have her as able to appear like this in the mind of ringbearers and Maia alone. And no, not gonna say she had an affair with Sauron.

I'm not sure that Shelob was anywhere close to being a Maiar, but if it gives you more freedom to allow her to appear in such a way, then I'd say more power to yah.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

Shelob is interesting; She is spawn of Ungoliant, who appeared as a large spider herself, but was a shape-changer. This is where the idea comes from that Shelob too might be a shape-changer.

Ungoliant, of course, was powerful enough to take on Morgoth and almost win, until the Balrogs drove her back. The Great Spiders of Mirkwood are her spawn, so I would say she hovers in power between a Great Spider and a Maia.

[Arlye Austros]

Name: Shelob.
Race: Spiders of Ungoliant.
Appearance:

Shelob is an dark-caparaced arachnid. While she resembles a spider almost completely, with eight legs, dual-tagmata and a pair of chelicerates, she displays obvious differences, other than her size.
She possesses a stinger, which she seems to prefer when hunting her prey. She also has the capacity to devour solid food, although she seldom does. She is also blessed with an intelligence greater than her offspring, and is able to plan, wait, understand others and negotiate to some extent.
Her six eyes are dark and her hairs are also dark.

Role: Matriarch of the Spiders of Ephel Dúath and the Spiders of Rhovanion. Warden of Cirith Ungol.

Motivations: Primarily she will seek her sustenance and feeding. She is, like her brood and her ancestry, almost entirely advocated to the consumption of life. However she, unlike others, seeks to expand her dominion outside Sauron’s Grasp, if that is even possible. She knows the value of planning for a future, and if it grants her more sources for feeding herself she will let her brood to survive and serve her.

History: Hosts of Orcs advanced under Shelob’s watch. The beast observed in the darkness, in a silent breath of expectation. For decades she guarded the pass of Cirith Ungol, and could hear from a distance the orcs that bred in the Dead City. She was no stranger to waiting, and wait she did.
Months later her waiting gave fruition. Sauron began sending her prisoners. Massive amounts of prisoners. Most of them proud lords of Men, who had fought and survived by some curse. They were no longer of use to the Eye, so they were sent to her tunnels, and she feasted. Sometimes it was something else. Terrified men of no strength. Women who sobbed as she crept near them, holding their brood tight and oblivious to the coming doom. Orcs seemed to enjoy sending these cruel gifts to her.
And then it all stopped. She had feasted like never in centuries, that is true. But Shelob was even more hungry. Why had it all stopped? Oh, but they wouldn't come no more! Shelob, unable to control her starvation, began attacking orc patrols. She knew it was folly. What if they came for her? She could lose them in the tunnels, but she would have to hide for years. Yet no party came after her. The orcs just kept marching, kept patrolling, avoiding her, but not facing her.

She knew something was wrong, so she came out, creeping out to contemplate the Dark Land, and that no Eye was there. No Will to look back to her. Sauron was gone. Somehow, he was gone.

Something stirred within her, and more than ever before she mated. Shelob laid eggs in the mountains and the numbers of spiders swelled. She began attacking more and more orc patrols and even some encampments, killing orcs and taking captives for herself. But still she knew it was folly.
She fled Mordor, sliding between hidden cracks that no living or unliving thing had touched ever before. And her spawn followed wherever she chose to go. She headed north, making burrows and nests every few days, laying more eggs, hunting, waiting, and moving on.

Then she reached the forest. Her old breeding ground. Where are the elves? They hated her the most, she recalled, for she resembled her Mother. But the Elves were nowhere to be seen, none to be feasted upon. Only some villages of men remained. And her brood, her old one.

Thus began the War of the Broods of Ungoliant. Shelob’s Old Brood, unwilling to share the shrinking food, and her New Brood, pushing away the old, and somewhat smarter and deadlier. In between, the very few villages of men that remained became the targets to contest, victims in a silent war that wages around them.

Territory: Shelob’s territory can be distribed as hunting grounds dotting the borders of Mordor, the Brown Lands and the southern Mirkwood. All of them are laid around lairs which submit, one way or another, to her will. However, that territory is divided. The Northern Spiders of the Wood have a somewhat more cohesive territory and do not allow the Southern Spiders of the Mountains, more scattered about in their recent migration, to enter their territory, destroying any trespasser and barely clinging to Shelob’s command.

Shelob's main lairs lay now in Emyn Muil, but she has taken residence in the southern grip of the forest, trying to subdue the Wood Spiders back into her control. The Wood Spiders have tended to amass in the corners of the East Bight, somewhat afar from Dol Guldur.

MAP

Strength:
Shelob’s broods spawn two different kinds of spiders. The Forest Spiders are more adapted for the foliage of the Great, able to sense smells in between the varying scents of their surroundings, and are accustomed to leap on their prey from a great height, endowed with great flexibility and balance. They are, however, generally vulnerable, and most will be incapacitated quickly by a well-shot arrow. Nor do they tend to grow a lot. The Spiders of Mordor are, on contrast, starker and larger. They may very well survive an axe blow even if rather small, and once they become full adults they are generally difficult to take down. They are, on the other hand, less used to the light, and generally move at night or dark days. They prefer to tackle their prey from a short distance, ambushing from their own burrows. The Mordor Brood is also less lenient to work together, and will often cannibalize their younglings. They both have potent venom at their disposal, and can make nests by raising barriers of cob between trees or inside their tunnels.
Some spiders change into different forms when shedding. They might even specialize in different roles and capabilities.

All measures are considering the leg span. The species is only a visual reference, though they may share several traits.

Forest Spiders.

-Greenwood Leapers (s. macaroeris nidicolens-a. 1.8mt.): 400. Most Sindar in Oropher’s Realm would be familiar with the rather big spiders that sometimes creep off their nests and venture, perhaps confused by the light, into our homes. Now those are just younglings and even a child would kill them without major harm. But most travellers should be weary if they ever venture under the cover of the darker trees. Sometimes these spiders grow larger and develop the ability to jump between trees, or just climb and leap down, dropping on unsuspecting elves.-Maeldir of Ost-Galadon, 3401, S.A.

--Greenwood Hawk-fellers (s. Zoropsis spinimana – a. 2mt): 90. The well-known leaping spiders that sometime propel themselves from behind a rock or from a high tree are now seen on the tree-tops, and they have grown much more. They are different and will often be able to bring down birds that fly between the trees. Our messenger birds have been unable to send word, and we require assistance. -Letter from Lossiel, commander of Ast Brethil to King Thranduil. Delivered by a rider. 1090 T.A.

-Greenwood Hunters (s. Gnaphosa bicolor-a. 1mt.): 170. Some spiders have developed the habit of preying on ground. While the forest offers an obvious advantage to those who climb, these chose not to compete, and go after their prey by ambushing them from behind the trees or under the bushes. They are very fast and agile, and outrunning them would be a death warrant to anyone but a skilled rider. It would be more advisable to turn and fight. While their carapace is thick, a spear would most likely penetrate it when these beings are coming at full speed. Consider, however, that they make a slight jump in the last few steps. –“Treaty on the Creatures of the East”, Bronahdawn the Botanist, Imladris. 2133 T.A.

--Forest Chargers (s. Castianeira descripta – a. 1.5mt.): 100. I tell you, I never saw anything like this. These were not your regular spiders. They moved like shadows near us, following us as we rode across the Elven Road. Some must have slipped past the Elves’ defences. No wonder with that speed. Dark things that moved at our side for the feel dash, but all I could hear was the hooves of our mounts. Then one got ahead of us, a shadow that gained on our right, then seemed to wait for us on a rock. I saw its eyes. Luckily I managed to tell Æthelbran. The boy ducked just in time, and this large thing, like a big hound, passed over him. I saw its legs trying to get him, but it missed. -Account of Gorlas of Dale. 2741 T.A.

-Forest Silk-walker (s. Hersiliidae – a. 2.9mt: 60. It is well known amongst the youth of the Mirkwood not to climb those woods without looking were you lay your hands and feet. Not only because of the many things that may creep in the branches and sting you out of scare, but also because the evil things that walk that forest have taken to placing their foul webs on branches and trunk. The climber could easily be stuck on it, and due to some spell or venom on it, they will not feel it until they try to move again. That is why I have tried to get some of that web, as it could be used as bandage. Those lucky enough to keep their footing could ask for help. Many, however, could fall in the scare when seeing that thing on their hand. If you are alone that is an entirely different fate. -Lothiriel the Healer. Library of Osgiliath. c. 1577.

--Forest Silk-strider (s. Hersilia Okinawaensis – a. 3mt: 60. The column of dwarves that departed through the road didn’t make it to the other side. My scouts brought back their belongings, however. Axes and pikes entangled on the webs. It seems these spiders made a trap sturdy enough even for the dwarves. Should we send a party deeper into the woods to aid them?
I was kind enough to let them go through my realm. They sought their doom. – Laeriel to King Thranduil. 2771 T.A.

--Forest Bridge-weaver (s. Hersilia Savygnyi – a. 2.5mt: 60. We torched it. The cog doesn’t burn well, but it shrivels and diminishes near heat. It’s fumes. They are intoxicating. Many of my scouts fell ill before it was over. One of them took hold of some of it and he then reported he couldn’t move his arm. We had to cut it before sunset. But that wasn’t all. As if they cursed us for what we did, those demons looked at us from the darkness and smoke. That’s when I see it… Towering around the trees, white silk, pale and feverish-looking. And each was connected with the other many feet above. -Report by Bairmellon of the King’s Western Watch. 2799 T.A.

-Greenwood Fishing Spider (s. Scytodes thoracica – a. 1mt.): 10. My wife and I. We were just eating, you know? And Felaróf, my son… He was just sitting with us, he said he liked the meat. I should have seen it then. It crept from the shadows, but not into the house, just barely into the light that came from the window. A dozen legs or so. I was still smiling when my son was covered in that thing. Like a fish under a net. He screamed when he was already through the window. I ran outside, but the screams vanished as fast as they began. -Account from Folde of the Woodsmen. Lothlorien, delivered upon reaching Caras Galadon.

-Mirkwood Fell-Torment (s. Palystes Casteuns – a. 3.5mt.): 20. Commonly named “Throne-dwellers”. These hairy spiders are very rare and prefere solitude. However it is know they can move surrounded by lesser spiders, which they may coerse into their service for a time. They are large, and they can bring down larger prey, like bull and ox, sometimes more at a time. They don’t have poison, but their fangs can tear apart iron mail. They legs can also raise their prey, and bring them to the safety of their grounds. Those who follow after to try recover livestock or kin always return empty-handed. They are quick to retreat to their dwelling with their price, which they weave with a thick, leathery-looking silk, forming a sphere suspended between branches.

Breaching inside is impossible if one fears being attacked by nearby spiders, and should one manage to rip the cover, the Fell-Torment will attack back with brutal force, often lethally. Their web might be useful for making sturdy structures, but I don’t think it has any healing application. -Lothiriel the Healer. Library of Osgiliath. c. 1577.

Mountain Spiders of Mordor.

-Ephel Duath Crack Spiders. (s. Ungol of Mordor. – a. 0.7m.) See them? The spiders? They seem to keep off the fire. Make sure we have enough wood for the night… I don’t want them to get any close. Out in the open they are no danger, at least they weren’t. The Rangers don’t go near crevices and cracks, as they nest there and could snatch you inside if not careful. You would recognize their lair by the siphon of webs that got into the darkness. (1000)

--Morgul Uruk Hunters. (s. Lexosceles reclusa – a. 1.2m.) Another one. No Snaga this one. See the steel? It’s been gnawed by those damn spiders. They keep to their holes no more, and their bite is strong enough to go through plate. I bet it took only two, maybe three to bring this one down. Can’t eat it. The flesh must be bad already. I bet they want us to do it so we get sick! Keep your eyes open! Their hole must be close by. (200)

--Dagorlad Stalkers. (s. Lexosceles sp. – a. 1.1m.) I fear our escape routes are cut now. Not by orcs. Our rangers have been met by large spiders. They tend to wait under the fog coming from the Dagorlad. It seems they have been coming from the Ephel Duath into the bogs and learning how to fight us. Every party that we sent to find a way out of the circle laid by the orcs is ambushed. Their legs reach out from the mist or even from the mud. They are not very large, and usually they pulled out those caught, but the venom was enough to doom them. I was bitten yesterday, and I can feel my bones burn with every breath I make. Damn those things! May they kill themselves along with the orcs! – Letter found in Pinnath Girith, southern Nindalf. 3019 T.A. (70)

-Crack-Feeders. (s. Mismena Wawuensis – a. 0.2m.) Cair Andros must be alerted. Some spiders have made it past the Dagorlad and began making their nests in the Emyl Muil. They mostly ambush us, waiting for a retreating patrol to pass through their trap. But I sent a party to clear out one of those nests. They were gone. It seems they are all on the move. Yet some spiders lingered. They were beyond number, as a matter of fact. Piles of dead ones. Formless beyond round, with little legs and transparent. No larger than a palm. Most were dead, but some survived, feeding off the bleeding of their brethren. We burnt the entire place down. -Report by Angrencil, Ranger of Ithilien, delivered in Foldburg. 3019 T.A. (Beyond count)

--Emyn Muil True Spider. (s. Eidmannella Pallida – a. 1.3m) As orcs advanced on Minas Tirith it became clear fleeing north wasn’t all that easy anymore. Some reports of nests being made by evil spiders from Mordor were confirmed when some outposts placed by the Rohirrim in Nen Hithoel were attacked at night by swarms of spiders. They were fair-colored and their armor was spiked, but they were generally easy to kill. Their numbers, however, were beyond count, and their attack coordinated. Several outposts fell before sunrise and no horses were left, all taken away by the spiders, who would simply overcome the rider before drowsing both man and horse with their bite. -Ioleth the Younger. Letter sent to Lothlorien. 3020 T.A. (900)

--Emyn Muil Weaver. (s. Molinaranea – a. 1.9m.) We could have turned around just after we landed. But my father decided to push on and into the Emyl Muil. We penetrated the hills from the north. Some scattered orcs harassed us, but paid more dearly than we did. I think that is when it was already too late. Soon our passing became harder, as we climbed the hills into the rocky outcrops and passes. And then we were cut off from each other. The fog became a veil and it stopped us from going forward, from moving back, and from aiding the column, as any maneuver would end with many of us entangled in that thick web. Then the spiders came. I noticed they were black, and almost blind, but could notice when one of us touched the web. They had spikes in the latter part of their body, but their bite was deadly, and even those of us who assumed the bear skin would fall sick if we managed to pull back through the veil. I made it back to the ships with a handful, and we crossed into Rohan for safety. – Account by Frealath Beornling. (400)

---Emyn Muil Fog-weaver. (s. Molinaranea Magellanica – a. 2.6m.) My father and I managed to make it across the river. He transformed himself into a Great Bear when he tried to aid the back of the column, getting himself entangled in the cob. He killed many of those black spiders, then the fog got thicker. I stopped seeing him, but I heard him fighting. Then I saw other creatures. These spiders were green, and dropped the webs on him. He told me he felt drowsy and tired as soon as they touched his fur, and that the webs were hard as steel. He died in the shore of Rohan across the Anduin. – Account by Frealath Beornling. (60)

--Brownlands True Spider. (s. Metasolpuga – a. 2.6m.) Crossing the Brown Lands would not be easy, as we knew. But at least we had the archers of Dale to help us. I counted six hundred men under our protection departing the Southern edges of the Wood. Settlers from the Line of Girion, I think, who fled the dragon decades ago and resettled near the forest. On our second day I saw a brown dust-plume following us from the south, and gaining fast. We got the chariots and wagons in circle, preparing to fight off these easterlings. But no warcry, no arrows as I expected. These Spiders hailed from Emyn Muil, no doubt, but seems happy with open spaces and dusty devastation. They were elongated, their legs almost long as a mannish bow, and their fangs thick, more meant to grab things and crush them, or perhaps to penetrate armor on a dash, as they moved fast. They seemed vulnerable to arrows, so the mannish archers could fend them off to a point. Once they broke through our perimeter they began slaughtering them all right on the spot, ripping off arms or legs and opening chests with ease. I led a cavalry charge to scare them off, but it didn’t work. Only when our archers shot them from horseback did they follow us. It costed us many good archers, but the caravan could go on. Two hundred reached the eastern shore of Anduin. -Account by Melathan, Lothlorien. Date unknown. (120)

-Snatching Spiders. (s. Heptathela higoensis. – a. 3m. Travellers report that beyond the hills that separate the Brownlands with the Anduin it is better to stay on well-known roads and avoid mounds. Survivors have told, on their arrival back to Lothlorien, that some of these mounds, hidden from plain sight by the dust and decaying wood they are made of, can hide the threat of great spiders, that have learn to use the remnants of the woods and the ashen dust brought from Mordor in the years before to build burrows from which they can take their victims. It is not known if they have any poison, as most spiders do. They do seem to bite their victims once they are well within their hideout. Some lucky ones have escaped by some folly from the spider, and comment its great strength, their snatching tools at the end of their front legs resembling claws, and their single eye, an extreme oddity amongst the Ungol. – On the Creatures of the East. Eranath of Rivendel. (100)

-Black Nightmare of Dol Guldur. (s. Atracidae. – a. 3.8m.) “It won’t stop wailing and screaming. At least not until we give her something to calm his fears. Then the girl talks a bit before falling asleep.”
“What does she say?”
“From what we could put together, that her brother and some friends wandered into the woods after working in the fields. They fell through a slope and into a dale. As they tried to find their way out they all began feeling their throats sore and hurt. Then one by one they were taken by a large Black Spider.”
“Not Her?”
“No. She survived, didn’t she? This one, however, used its hairs to poison the lads. We found those hairs in her clothes, but we cannot touch them. The girl says they began seeing horrible visions after they couldn’t breathe, and that madness took over them.“
“Are you sure you want to go after it?”
“That thing took my nephew. We are going tomorrow.” -Last conversation between Athalward Gainasson and Audwolf of Esgaroth. East Bight. 3021 T.A. (30)



Notable Artifacts: None

[Arlye Austros]

So, I made the APP, but not sure where I should stay the numbers. I generally envision Shelob's Broods divided into two, one of the Mirkwood and the other newer and fed by the influx of food brought by Sauron's Victory. They would be made by two different kinds of units, if you will. Also, I would consider Spiders to work like light infantry, rather vulnerable, but able to move through almost any terrain and deliver venomous bites. While they will not overpower a man, elf or dwarf by themselves and wont outright kill them unless ambushed or surrounded, their bite may prove fatal in time. The rate of replenishment doesn't necessarily have to be too fast, as you would expect, as older spiders may eat the new ones if there is some lack of food, but that would also imply the strongest survive.

At least that's how I imagine it, not sure if OC will agree to this and where to leave the numbers.

[Empire of Techkotal]

Name: Gimli son of Gloin
Race: Dwarves
Appearance:

Role:Regent of Ered Luin
Motivations: Defend the free people of Middleearth
History: After his father Gloin had died on his journey with Thorin Oakenshield. Gimli had been left alone in the mighty halls of Ered Luin. The last expedition to Erebor was a disaster and as time went on the mood in Ered Luin only darkend. As more and more bad news came. Refugees came from the east bringing news of destruction and war. Treachery befell Ered Luin and the Dourhands were banished.
With the last great dwarven holding in the west being threatend and the free people of Middleearth being driven of their lands, the dwarves started preparing for the last battle. One last time they should stem the tide. Warriors were trained and fortifications build. The dwarves build themselves up for the great battle in Eriador, but it never came. Gondor, Rohan and most of Eriador fell. The trade routes had been taken by the enemy and Sarumam seemed to have sided with the enemy. But the last attack did not come.

After having waited in their fortresses for a long time news came from the east. Something was off. The remaining Dunedain had told them, that the forces of evil seem to be disorganized and the opportunity had come to strike. News from the east was scarce, but what little information they got seemed to confirm this.
Territory: Ered Luin
Strength:
-1.000 dwarven Warriors
-300 dwarven Rangers
-a few dozen dwarven chariots
-some dwarven siege equipment
-a few warships in Kheledul
Theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmZFm6NHfA&t=186s
[b]Notable Artifacts: Ha they already lost all.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

@Arlye Austros so Shelob now stays in big fat spider form or has just such versatile shapeshifting powers that there's no use utilizing more pictures because she can shift into essentially anything?

WIP (will fnish it tomorrow)
Name: Gimli Gloin's son
Race: Dwarves
Appearance:
Role:
Motivations:
History: (After Sauron’s Victory)
Territory: Ered Luin
Strength: (I.e. Retinues, Beasts of War, Ships, etc.)
Notable Artifacts:

Oh god oh fuck

I'm going to have to figure out how to deal with this, preferably before the Dwarven pain train starts rolling.

[Arlye Austros]

@Arlye Austros so Shelob now stays in big fat spider form or has just such versatile shapeshifting powers that there's no use utilizing more pictures because she can shift into essentially anything?

I am thinking she begins somewhat limited, only able to appear in humanoid form in the thoughts of Ringbearers/Maia/Nazgul and speak only to spiders. But I want her to be able to progress into more wider shapeshifting capabilities, eventually able to "appear" fair to lesser beings. Of course that depends on OP and that I am able to pull off the story. I do consider her somewhat able to shapeshift due to Ungoliant's blood (or hæmolitic fluid, to be precise).

[Remnants of Exilvania]

@Arlye Austros so Shelob now stays in big fat spider form or has just such versatile shapeshifting powers that there's no use utilizing more pictures because she can shift into essentially anything?

I am thinking she begins somewhat limited, only able to appear in humanoid form in the thoughts of Ringbearers/Maia/Nazgul and speak only to spiders. But I want her to be able to progress into more wider shapeshifting capabilities, eventually able to "appear" fair to lesser beings. Of course that depends on OP and that I am able to pull off the story. I do consider her somewhat able to shapeshift due to Ungoliant's blood (or hæmolitic fluid, to be precise).

Should probably add her humanoid appearance then, just in case.

Am curious myself what story can be weaved there. Also badly hoping we get some Nazgul or a Mouth of Sauron soon.

[Elerian]

So, I made the APP, but not sure where I should stay the numbers. I generally envision Shelob's Broods divided into two, one of the Mirkwood and the other newer and fed by the influx of food brought by Sauron's Victory. They would be made by two different kinds of units, if you will. Also, I would consider Spiders to work like light infantry, rather vulnerable, but able to move through almost any terrain and deliver venomous bites. While they will not overpower a man, elf or dwarf by themselves and wont outright kill them unless ambushed or surrounded, their bite may prove fatal in time. The rate of replenishment doesn't necessarily have to be too fast, as you would expect, as older spiders may eat the new ones if there is some lack of food, but that would also imply the strongest survive.

At least that's how I imagine it, not sure if OC will agree to this and where to leave the numbers.

Certainly many thousands of spiders is reasonable, though many would be no larger than a small dog or a cat. Its also not inconceivable that many of the Great Spiders of Mirkwood would come to Shelob for safety where the fiery lord of Erebor and the terror in the deep all pose a threat to them.

[Lindon-Rivendell]

Can I join as a custom character?
Dunmir Finion, Lord of the dark elves,
OC: some elves of mirkwood, rivendell and dorwinion decided not to fled from the darkness to lindon and lorien, but decided to join Sauron, early in the conquest, they chose Dunmir Finion, heir of Feanor, who lived all his life hiding in Dorwinion, with his father, Aredan Tilanna (also an heir of Feanor). Dunmir was born in Mirkwood during Smaug's first attack on Erebor, to his mother Zelad Turros, shortly after his birth, she discovered Aredan was a traitor and Feanor's heir, who fooled her to give him a child, she tried to flee with Dunmir to Rivendell, but failed and had to leave Dunmir behind. Aredan knew Zelad would bring reinforcements from Elrond, so they fled to Dorwinion. Here they were masked as winemakers, Elna and his son Legorohir. But secretly they had a cave under their house, where Aredan trained Dunmir the secrets of the blade and the arrow, dark sorcery and forging powerful weapons. As a gift for his good service sauron gave him a Semi-broken palantír, repaired with gulduril. Sauron and Dunmir made a new ring which he calls Qënstůril, it's made from Galvorn and Ëáruiln (One of the gems made by Feanor, is turquoise.)
PS: Yes I love Feanor lore
PPS: Can I use an random pic. from google as his image?

[Remnants of Exilvania]

Can I join as a custom character?
Dunmir Finion, Lord of the dark elves,
OC: some elves of mirkwood, rivendell and dorwinion decided not to fled from the darkness to lindon and lorien, but decided to join Sauron, early in the conquest, they chose Dunmir Finion, heir of Feanor, who lived all his life hiding in Dorwinion, with his father, Aredan Tilanna (also an heir of Feanor). Dunmir was born in Mirkwood during Smaug's first attack on Erebor, to his mother Zelad Turros, shortly after his birth, she discovered Aredan was a traitor and Feanor's heir, who fooled her to give him a child, she tried to flee with Dunmir to Rivendell, but failed and had to leave Dunmir behind. Aredan knew Zelad would bring reinforcements from Elrond, so they fled to Dorwinion. Here they were masked as winemakers, Elna and his son Legorohir. But secretly they had a cave under their house, where Aredan trained Dunmir the secrets of the blade and the arrow, dark sorcery and forging powerful weapons. As a gift for his good service sauron gave him a Semi-broken palantír, repaired with gulduril. Sauron and Dunmir made a new ring which he calls Qënstůril, it's made from Galvorn and Ëáruiln (One of the gems made by Feanor, is turquoise.)
PS: Yes I love Feanor lore
PPS: Can I use an random pic. from google as his image?

Hello there. Elerian is asleep right now so I'm going to see if I can answer your questions in his stead. If there are others in this thread with better knowledge about this, I would appreciate if they weighed in.

Yes, custom characters are allowed though we would prefer having major canon character roles filled first. Still, they are allowed.

So a few questions. Heir of Feanor you say so I assume being of Feanor's bloodline, yes? Celebrimbror was supposedly the last of that one unless Maglor still did some funny things after throwing his Silmarill into the sea. I'm uncertain if Elerian will allow that as the name comes with a bunch of baggage but I mean...from a purely technical perspective there are loose ends to which one could connect and produce a continued bloodline of Feanorites from.

The bigger questions is why join Sauron? As far as I am aware the Elves are near universally anti-Dark Lord, Maeglin having been the only exception I can think of and he had a reason for his betrayal. What is the reason for Aredan to just up and go "Hey yeah, this Sauron sounds like a great chap, what with all the war, slaughter and slavery and being complicit in having kept the Silmarill from my family and the death of nearly the entire family tree.". On top of that how is his son inspiring a notable number of Elves to do the same thing? Especcially an heir of Feanor, given that the Moriquendi were pretty damn pissed about the Kinslaying the sons of Feanor pulled on them.

Concerning the Palantir, I don't think there are broken Palantiri. 4 of the 7 are accounted for in Barad Dur, Minas Tirith (or wherever that one now is), Orthanc and Elostirion. 3 of the 7 are lost rather than broken, two being sunk and frozen deep in the Ice Bay of Forochel and one having been swept out into the sea by the river Anduin. Don't think they could be fixed with Gulduril either as probably a large part of why they work the way they work is because they are from Valinor.

There's also the question of this new ring. For one, you probably cannot make it from Galvorn. Eol was the inventor of that and took his secrets to the grave and the Galvorn he had created likely drowned with the rest of Beleriand. There's also no real connection between Eol and the heirs of Feanor, save for the fact that he met Curufin once, a meeting that didn't go well. The Feanor gem is also a bit, eh. Like, didn't Morgoth steal them and then proceed to feed them to Ungoliant? Of course, there might be surviving gems still and maybe there is something to this specific gem you mentioned that I couldn't find with a google search.

These are just things I see that would require explanation or changes, perhaps others can see more or different things here and we ultimately need Elerian's own opinion.

PS: Yeah, I can see that.
PPS: Since it is an original character, you will probably have to do that.

[Empire of Techkotal]

App ready to be checked

[Elerian]

-snip-

I like the idea, but even with an influx of refugees from the East that many Dwarves of fighting strength is quite high. You may keep everything below the Dwarf warriors, but the number of Dwarven Warriors will need to be reduced to about 1000.

Contingent on that, everything looks good.

Can I join as a custom character?
Dunmir Finion, Lord of the dark elves,
OC: some elves of mirkwood, rivendell and dorwinion decided not to fled from the darkness to lindon and lorien, but decided to join Sauron, early in the conquest, they chose Dunmir Finion, heir of Feanor, who lived all his life hiding in Dorwinion, with his father, Aredan Tilanna (also an heir of Feanor). Dunmir was born in Mirkwood during Smaug's first attack on Erebor, to his mother Zelad Turros, shortly after his birth, she discovered Aredan was a traitor and Feanor's heir, who fooled her to give him a child, she tried to flee with Dunmir to Rivendell, but failed and had to leave Dunmir behind. Aredan knew Zelad would bring reinforcements from Elrond, so they fled to Dorwinion. Here they were masked as winemakers, Elna and his son Legorohir. But secretly they had a cave under their house, where Aredan trained Dunmir the secrets of the blade and the arrow, dark sorcery and forging powerful weapons. As a gift for his good service sauron gave him a Semi-broken palantír, repaired with gulduril. Sauron and Dunmir made a new ring which he calls Qënstůril, it's made from Galvorn and Ëáruiln (One of the gems made by Feanor, is turquoise.)
PS: Yes I love Feanor lore
PPS: Can I use an random pic. from google as his image?

I'm not averse to the creation of custom characters, but I think continuing the bloodline of Feanor into the Fourth age is probably a bit too ambitious.