Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

Finally managed to get myself to get going on Sauron v Angrod! @Tarawen and I are hoping for some short snappy posts the carry all the way through the fight and the inevitable finale...
Also finally getting to use the new Mairon icon @Moriel and I made too. Feels good, looks good too.

While I'm here, would I be able to add a few characters to my non canon list?

Finnbarr Galedeep- Telari elf in service to Thargelion, in search of the one that murdered his parents in the Kinslaying
Hyàfrossä - an Avar of great age and power, whose origins and purpose remain a mystery
Felmener - a Noldor, distant relative and great companion to Finrod Felegund
Hudulgal - a troll brute, captain of Gothmog's bodyguard
Fleeg, the First - a goblin, an experimental creature, first of his kind

Woot, I am drafting my reply as we speak and have included the retreat into Ladros since you mentioned it the other day in DM, @Tharmáras. Thank you as always for the direction! Will have a post up shortly to move this all forward, and I'll keep an eye out for your Aglon update as well.

I'll put on my running shoes and get ready for the chase!

Hahaha perfect! Angrod has fled to Ladros.

I love planning with y'all! I'm going to pump out a series of posts here shortly for many paraticipants. Working on a Masquerade one presently though but I'm coming.

@Skwovet , this "Guess I'll Die" meme I made from the app creator @Annúnfalas made me :

lol oh nooo Angrod feels this meme

I have just made some small edits to my Curufin post to make him a bit less of a jerk to Celebrimbor on the brink of battle

That's okay. He can still be a jerk to other people . I'm interested to know how you're going to write Curufin when Celebrimbor "repudiates" his father's misdeeds following the Luthien abduction later in this RPG and chooses not to leave Nargothrond with Dad.

Oh yeah he definitely will still be rude to people. I suppose I shall just save his true rage for this upcoming family falling-out

@Tharmáras and @Sil - the great birbs have begun feasting on goats and such

@Skwovet, AoA memes are now a thing

this is perfect hahahaha

@Skwovet - when I was reading your Thorondor post at one point I thought he was going to augur the future from the goat's entrails

@Nessa Saelind - Oh man, that would have been WAY more dignified than what actually happened

There's always next time

@Nessa Saelind !!! The knowledge of your Mortal RPing is blazing in my mind and I can't let it go. Would you like to play any ancestors of your characters here along side @Ercassie , @Annúnfalas , and I? Your Edain forebears will eventually become Númenóreans and Gondorians in the forthcoming Second Age RPGs (unless you have Arnorians I presently don't know about)... Cassie and I could help you get started if you're in...

I wasn't aware that this was let's lure Nessa into delightfully wonderful RPs around the Plaza Don't tempt me @Tharmáras! I'm slow as molasses when it comes to writing already (weekends excluded ) and I... Oh, alright *grumbles* I'll think about it.

I lure anybody I can, especially those who show up on my AoA OOC threads. You walked into a trap *tempts* . I would even give you some major characters and death scenes if you wanted more than playing ancestor NPCs. Could use someone to take Hador off my hands or play some of Barahir’s doomed men. You seem pretty active to me but it's okay, everyone takes their time in AoA and it still moves in wondrous grace.

Definitely think about it, Cassie and I would help you here or in Discord⚘. We are always in need for RPers here, especially humans now.

Uh, oh! Don't think I have the skills to pull off playing major canon characters. Well, maybe I could pull off Bór the Faithful (and progeny), and that's mostly because I imagine him as an uskok/hajduk of sorts But if I'm not mistaken AoA, is at Dagor Bragollach now, not Nirnaeth Arnoediad *thinking face* But will definitely have good think about it and reread The Silmarilion and let you know. Bug you and Cassie on Discord and the like

@Nessa Saelind Do it! Do it! Do it!

Androthelm plays Bor the Faithful and Beowulf (Frost) plays Ulfang the Black! But no one has volunteered to write any of their sons, @Nessa Saelind ! They should be the easiest to play out of all the canon characters still available since we don't know much about them other than that some were honorable and others weren't (and betrayed the Union at Nirnaeth Arnoediad). I need to plot with Beowulf soon on Discord how we're going to set up the migration of the Swarthy Men in the East currently. It's okay just to play as NPCs experiencing these legendary times though. Just let me know.

Right now we're at the Bragollach! The RPG will end with the Quest of the Silmaril (Beren and Lúthien) and the Union of Maedhros on the eve of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad battle. The next RPG - Ages of Arda: V - Masters of Doom - will concern the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, the Fall of the Falas, and Túrin's tale with the Sack of Nargothrond.

You don't have to reread all The Silmarillion to participate in Mantle of Darkness, this RP. You'd only need to read the chapters The Fall of Fingolfin and Ruin of Beleriand, Beren and Lúthien, and the first few pages of Nirnaeth Arnoediad so that way you understand the sole focus of this RP. I hope that helps! Looking forward to some epic RP'ing with you here in AoA!

Bug away @Nessa Saelind. You would certainly be very welcome. I write mostly my own Gondorian ancestors in terms of mortals in AOA. But it is fun. I’ve already been nudging @Pele Alarion in this direction as well.

*follows the mention and mumbles something about being unable to get more than a couple reasonable paragraphs together for a post*

@Tharmáras - The mene! Awesome hairdos! You're very kind and sweet, but never tell a historian they don't need to read the whole book. We are very grumpy and set in our ways.

You can sing me up for Bór's sons, their wives and kids, and Bór's wife if Androthelm hasn't already thought up something for her. And since I'm singing up left, right and centre can I also play Brandir the Lame? Mainly because he was one of the few characters from that fredegar entitled The Children of Húrin that I really liked.

And if you're haven't regretted ropeing me in AoA if it's OK I'd love to take part in the migration of the Swarthy Men. If I sit down and plot really hard some of Morana's (my character from BoB) ancestors could be among them. :-)

@Pele Alarion - you seem to be doing just fine to me *holds up You can do it sign*

@Ercassie - thanks *hugs* Will do, although I'm not so sure if I have the brain power to figure out how to incorporate my Gondorian characters' ancestors to AoA because 90% of the inspiration behind them is Medieval Croatian history, the rest is Tolkien But I'll definitely hurt my brain trying

I knew you'd appreciate that Plaza Meme, @Nessa Saelind , it's hysterical . You can be all three of Bor's sons, RP'ing alongside @Androthelm ; hopefully he doesn't mind if you write Bor's wife! You can also be Brandir the Lame! Brandir is born in FA 465, so ten years from the current date so right now. At present, you could be Brandir, the namesake and uncle of Brandir the Lame. He was born in the year FA 409 so he would be 46 years old right now. Tolkien did not list when he died and there's no canon moment written for that; so feel free to kill him off. If you like, you can be Beldis - Brandir the Lame's mom - who will later marry Handir, giving birth to Brandir the Lame. Currently, they would be at Emeldir's castle in Ladros which needs to be evacuated soon; it's about to be stormed by Orcs while she's gone, trying to fight off Gorgol the Butcher. I need to write as Beren saving Morwen from the Orcs, he can rally surviving members of the noble house of Beor (ones I'm not slaughtering off who has no death date listed in the Histories) in the castle. Brandir could help Beren, protecting Beldis. Sounds good, Nessa?


About Morana and the Swarthy Men ancestry, Tolkien says the good Easterlings who followed Bor didn't take part in the Edain's battle with Morgoth's forces in the War of Wrath. They did not live in Numenor which was gifted to the Edain (who became Numenoreans) but dwelt in Eriador later. "The people of Bor, who were worthy folk and tillers of the earth. Of them, it is said, came the most ancient of the Men that dwelt in the north of Eriador in the Second Age and after-days." - Tolkien, The War of the Jewels: The Grey Annals. Sooo...how about a Numenorean ancestor of Morana married one of her Swarthy forebears when the Men of Westernesse established the Realms in Exile, Arnor and Gondor; eventually their descendants cold have migrated south? Does that sound doable?

I'm going to show Taylus' ancestors so I can explain the reasoning of his surname 'Morgaur'...it means 'the black werewolf.' I'm thinking that one of his mortal ancestors of Nargothrond killed one of the werewolves Sauron unleashed on Minas Tirith later in this RPG and won reknown for killing the beast before Orodreth retreated with his forces to Finrod. I think the ancestor of Morana's Numenorean side could be friends with Taylus' ancestor...so that way it is poetic in Buccaneers of Belfalas that Taylus and Morana, the descendants, are friends / partners-in-crime. Sound good? I'll help you in any way I can. We could have Taylus' ancestor and your Gondorian forebear fighting along side each other at the Fen of Serech; it's currently being attacked. Finrod has come to help out and in my next post Barahir will arrive with some of his men, one of them played by @Ercassie .

Pele, I've been eager for you to play for many years now! I'm happy that Cassie is ropeing you in at last! We need more human RPers and it's a good opportunity for Gondorians to show their Edain / Numenorean ancestors. You're a great writer, we need you!

A few quotes about the Swarthy Men, the Easterlings, coming to Beleriand:

"FA 463: In this year new tidings came to Beleriand: the Swarthy Men came out of Eriador, and passing norrth about the Eryd Luin entered into Lothlann. Their coming was not wholly unlooked for, since the Dwarves had warned Maidros [Maedhros] that hosts of Men out of the further East were journeying towards Beleriand. They were short and broad, long and strong in the arm, and grew much hair on face and breast; their locks were dark as were their eyes, and their skins were sallow or swart. But they were not all of one kind, in looks or in temper, or in tongue. Some were not uncomely and were fair to deal with; some were grim and ill-favoured and of litle trust. Their houses were many, and there was little love among them. They had small liking for the Elves, and for the most part loved rather the Naugrim (Dwarves) of the mountains; but they were abashed by the lords of the Noldor, whose like they had before encountered." - Tolkien, from The War of the Jewels: The Grey Annals.

"Some (of the Easterlings) were under the secret dominion of Morgoth, and came at his call; but not all, for the rumour of Beleriand, of its lands and waters, of its wars and riches, went now far and wide, and the wandering feet of Men were ever set westward in those days. Maedhros...made alliance with these new-come Men, and gave his friendship to the greatest of their chieftains, Bor and Ulfang. And Morgoth was well content; for this was as he had designed." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

"Some (Sindar, Dark Elves) fled the land and hid themselves in Ossiriand, or passign the mountains wandered homeless in the wild. And rumour of the war and the breakign of the siege reached the ears of Men in the east of Middle-earth." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: Of the Fall of Fingolfin and the Ruin of Beleriand

"There were some (the Edain) that turned from evil and left the lands of their kindred, and wandered ever westward; for they had heard a rumour that in the West there was a light which the Shadow could not dim. The servants of Morgoth pursued them with hatred, and their ways were long and hard; yet they came at last to the lands that look upon the Sea, and they entered Beleriand in the days of the War of the Jewels." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: Akallabêth

Okay, so this is what I'm proposing to kick off the Swarthy Men migration, @Beowulf , @Androthelm , and @Nessa Saelind :

Bor and his sons are great leaders of the good-hearted Easterlings who will be going west. They have unified the many houses of their following against the Men of Darkness (the wicked servants of Morgoth in Rhun, Khand, and Harad). We can see them now in Rhun in the year FA 455. Andro and Nessa, I could have a random Sindarin NPC fleeing from the Bragollach War entering your domain located in a made-up village in Rhun. The Elf can tell Bor and his sons about the Siege of Angband ending, that the Elves and Edain need help battling Morgoth. The Elf can remind them of the riches of Beleriand, that perhaps the Swarthy Men will be rewarded for providing support. Bor and his sons are then resolved to lead the East so they can settle in the West.

Ulfang and his sons can share a smilar story, @Beowulf . They are great leaders who have unified multitudes of Easterlings but their wars against Morgoth's forces have darkened their hearts and hardened their bruality. A demon of mine, sent by Morgoth, arrives on the land of Ulfang's holding. He tells them to stop fighting the Men of Darkness and to head west. That Morgoth is now their Master and will no loner hurt Ulfang's people but will award them the bountiful lands of Beleriand if they will join his army against the Elves, Edain, and Bor's Easterling faction. Ulfang and his sons agree. They pass themselves off as strangers of the vast East, meeting Bor and his sons; they want to journey with them into Beleriand with the same goals, helping the powers that be against Morgoth in exchange for their own fertile earth to colonize. Deceived, Bor and his sons welcome Ulfang and his children amongst their assembly; together, they get underway towards Wilderland.

Once they arrive in Eriador in FA 463 (most likely around the Middle Men who did not follow the Edain across the Ered Luin, scattered, Tolkien says, between the Brandywine and Rhudaur....you could ask me for a quote and I'll give it), I'll have the Dwarves and my demon contact Bor's family and Ulfang's seperately. The Dwarves will tell them what's happened in Beleriand since the War was over and a bit about the Elf-kings; Bor and his sons will choose to serve Maedhros and Maglor. My demon will tell Ulfang to serve Caranthir and will tell him to betray the Elf-king when the time is right. All the Swarthy Men enter Lothlann and will be met by the Feanorians.

How does all this sound?

I really like how this sounds @Tharmáras. I like the idea that Ulfang and his clans/people fought against Morgoth but as their wars wore on they began to become more and more like the enemies they were fighting until they could no longer distinguish themselves, opening themselves up to Morgoth's temptations. Ulfang will likely delude himself into thinking he's doing the right thing for his people when the deal is struck and that once it's over he and his can live in peace finally.

Fantastic, @Beowulf ! I was hoping you'd love tragic fallen hero theme. Gives new epic dimension to the story of Ulfang and his sons . A heartbreaking tragedy, my friend. Let's write it.

Me after reading one of @Tharmáras famous info dumps

Now that I'd got that out of the way let's talk shop! An enthusiastic yes for Beldis (I'll have to reread AoA to see where she is and what's going on so I can jump in, that's Christmas reading sorted ) and a maybe on Brandir the uncle... I'd love to kill him in a Sean Bean worthy fashion, but need more researching before I can commit to writing.

Also yes on Taylus' and Morana's ancestor fighting together side by side (another research project for Christmas sorted, so glad I get 3 days off work ). Fair warning: if said ancestor is anything like Taylus he might be called a version of fool of a Morgaur, or idiot more than once In a completely friendly and exasperated way

I'll write some thoughts on the migration of the Swarthy Men when I get home from work and consult some late antiquity/early medieval sources about the great migrations of the period.

Mairon and his forces are officially on the move and chasing Angrod!

I also blame @Tharmáras for being such an enabler for my addiction of creating characters and throwing them into the fray.

Oooh, I have totally fallen out of keeping track of Ages of Arda the last few weeks -- I'll catch up, just give me a moment, and Bor will come out to play!

Thanks, @Nessa Saelind , I needed that laugh ! Read everything but concerning Beldis, no one has written her yet at all. You can read up on here though http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Beldis . She is currently 44 years old you'll see by the given genealogy; there's also one in the War of the Jewels History of Middle-earth. She has her baby, Brandir the Lame, in the year FA 465... Beldis will be 54 years old, yes... Brandir is currently 46 years old.

A suggestion, you coukd have Brandir be a lookout for Emeldir's castle in Ladros. He can see a force of Orcs from Gorgol's host coming to attack the place before Emeldir comes back and rallies the household guards against the enemy; I'm going to have Beren trying to keep Morwen safe (but she'll be traumatized by the fighting she's witnessing). I can have Belegund, Tuor's grandfather, battling along side Brandir. Either you can kill off Brandir in front of his sister in the attack and Morwen or...you can keep him around and kill him off sometime after Emeldir makes Mount Foen (the highest peak in central Dorthonion, east of Rivil's Well and west of Aeluin mentioned in two Histories of Middle-earth) her new base until Barahir returns.

She's going to be sending messengers and rescue teams to all mortal villages in the forest so survivors can be gathered to Mount Foen so we can eventually set up her mass exodus to Brethil and Ered Wethrin. Brandir could be killed during that time, helping Beren and Morwen deliver messages or getting mortals out of an imperiled village. Let me know!

I'm glad you're down for us RPing the ancestors of Taylus and Nessa!! He's going to be a scholarly soldier who has a stubborn need to help any friend regardless of the danger (might get him killed someday). When he gets the surname, your character can start calling him "fool of a Morgaur" ; maybe the ignorance of self-preservation is inherited . He needs a name, I'll make it soon!

Glad to know you're still on the move in Ladros @Beowulf !! Just so you know, Aegnor is with Angrod (and will be killed by Moriel's Ziltang). Don't edit your post though, bud. It's perfectly okay if Sauron doesn't know. Things like this happen in a war and I like the whole mystery surrounding the fate of Angrod and Angrod currently in the RP! We'll see them die soon. I'm happy to see you used the demon name name from our chat last night!!

@Androthelm , we're setting it up, pal! Looking forward to writing together!!

I'll be posting a lot of segments for AoA soon! Just need to finish the Masquerade post I've been writing for days and something for New Years first here in the forum.

Tonight I'm making location battle maps in Paint for Mantle of Darkness like I did in the last RPG for Dagor Aglareb! I know it helped folks last time seeing where everybody is.

Thanks, @Laintaen ! I'm excited to see you write a menacing Orc! Flex those RP muscles!

When do we get a meme about you either get RPed by a hero or shire posted by Fuin?

We know that's what happens when I get given characters.

On it, @Fuin Elda

I feel like we need a Mylien ancestor as well if we have a Taylus though she's a sea creature so would make more sense if she was near the ocean which we... are not atm

That said I 100% approve of the fact that my Meme is a Boromir Meme. It is absolutely correct for it

We should definitely have a Mylien ancestor !! Unfinished Tales speak of how the Elves taught the Edain how to sail when they became Númenóreans (It's in the Description of Númenor chapter) so we could see Mylien's ancestor learning how to be a mariner in the Second Age RPGs. Right now, one of Mylien's ancestors could be a Mortal of Nargothrond like the forebears of Taylus and Morana? Of the Second House of Men, descendants of humans who followed Haleth. Not all of them settled in Brethil which we'll see when the Haleth storyline gets there in this RP.

"Therefore in new lands they went back to their old life as best they could; and they dwelt in free homesteads in the woods of Talath Dirnen beyond Teiglin, and some wandered far into the realm of Nargothrond." - Tolkien, from The Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men Into the West.


What do you and @Nessa Saelind , think ? We could be at Minas Tirith now (Ironic since they're Buccaneers descendants will be Gondorians ); they can fight Orcs failing to besiege the tower once the Pass of Sirion is forced shortly after we get Finrod heading back south.

I knew you'd love the Boromir meme, Fuin ! I have made an Airien-Fuin one based on Starfire & Raven but I'm not showing that just yet .

@Tharmáras I still haven't reread the AoA from the start so I have no clear plans on where to spectacularly kill Brandir, but I shall let you know by Sunday. There's your Christmas present sorted

@Fuin Elda please do join in the fun with Mylien's ancestor. I can't be the only one who's going to scream bloody murder at proto-Taylus all the time I'm imagining Galen (working name of Morana's ancestor so far) shouting "If I have to stuff you with healing herbs, like a chicken one more time, I swear I'll strangle you with my own bare hands!" and regretting his life choices Here's to hoping that Galen will live to an venerable old age and complain that his bones hurt, but you never know

Alright @Tharmáras, where are we exactly on planning the arrival of Men? I know it's been talked about a couple of times, but we've still got... a couple of years, right, in-time, before the Easterlings pop over the mountains? How long should that be post-big fire times?

Also (sorry to double post but I know mentions don't work on edits, but) @Nessa Saelind very excited to write alongside you!

Likewise @Androthelm ^_^ can't wait to see what kind of story we'll end up writing :-)

I thought about the data that @Tharmáras shared about the Swarthy Men and their eventual migration to Beleriand and here are some of my musings. Get a drink, get a snack, it's a long one...

They were short and broad, long and strong in the arm, and grew much hair on face and breast; their locks were dark as were their eyes, and their skins were sallow or swart. But they were not all of one kind, in looks or in temper, or in tongue.

When I first read this description I was immediately reminded of the Morlachs and Vlachs. Granted this is somewhat biased, because my MA thesis dealt with them, and honestly most of my academic writing was in one way or another connected to the population of the Croatian and Dalmatian military frontier in the early modern period. But, but look at the moustache on the guy with the chickens and tell me that's not a Swarthy Man!

Although I couldn't find any information if the Swarthy Men were sedentary or nomadic people, I'm leaning more to nomadic. I'm thinking they move frequently, and they move their livestock and people in the pattern of horizontal transhumance that is more susceptible to being disrupted by climatic, economic, or political change. Having that in mind, climatic change (let's say a volcano eruption, or sudden change in the wind pattern) triggered their migration from their homeland toward the West, and the afore mentioned factors (not only being promised rewards in the form of land by Morgoth's emissaries or the Elven emissaries) can be the main reason Bór's and Ulfang's tribes move. The promised rewards are just the final push, the swing vote.

Of course we don't have to go into complex tribal politics or list reasons why historically tribes moved or even go into the whole transhumance thing... I'm a historian and I like these kind of things, and exploring tribal politics, culture and how climate affected everything would be fun for me, but I understand that's not the main focus (or even the point Nessa!) of AoA.

Before I forget, for writing inspo I wanted to highlight how the Swarthy Men differ from the Edain not just in clothes, but in weapons. I was inspired by the weapons of the uskoks, if you disregard the flintlock weapons and the schiavona, the rest seems something that these people could be using. Heck, while I'm at it and if you haven't already fallen asleep here are some clothes inspiration: uskok uniform and Alkar squiers

@Nessa Saelind Yeah Myliens ancestor would be absolutely be hilariously harsh with Taylus ancestor. And would probably look at your characters ancestor and say something like 'what the herbs your using are a suppository? Remind me not to use you as a healer.'

I have to work on what they would be before they learned to sail though maybe scavengers part of her family is not among the most noble of houses... farmers of some sort maybe (goats? lol)

The banter will be so much fun to write! @Fuin Elda how about carpentry for the family? Practical and useful for the future job of being mariners :-)

@Tharmáras Argh! I somehow read that Angrod was running to Aegnor and my decided that was that We can all gloss over that tiny continuity error right?

Nessa Saelind wrote: ↑Tue Dec 22, 2020 8:07 pm Of course we don't have to go into complex tribal politics or list reasons why historically tribes moved or even go into the whole transhumance thing...

Hey -- I love this stuff too, even if I don't have the same academic background. In-world, don't we also get nudges from... Bëor(, maybe? I can't recall,) which suggest that (the Edain, anyway) were fleeing something in the East toward the rumor of the distant west? Could be something to think about on a more micro, why did this person in particular lead their people over the mountains level, especially when the time comes for the others to betray the Eldar and Bor to remain loyal.

As far as the weapon / armor inspiration pics go, I LOVE them. The yatagan especially has an appropriate energy -- and I almost like the idea of giving Bor's folk lots of maces and hammers, in comparison with the axe and sword heavy rest of the world.

Lots of talking in here... about things...

"Merry Christmas, Tharmaras, this is how I'm going to kill Brandir..." what a wonderful holiday gift ! I have a wizard character named Galen the Gree, @Nessa Saelind , but that's alright; our Galens are not around each other in the same aeon . I will be sure to have Proto-Taylus say recurring lines like "I've been shot, Galen! / I've been stabbed, Galen! I fell off the cliff, Galen! I got bit, Galen! I got choked, Galen! I nearly drowned, Galen! I got burnt, Galen!' etc . Might have Taylus do the same with Morana . Should be posting in Buccaneers this week.

@Fuin Elda , Mylien's ancestors could be Haladin (Second House) goatherders in Taleth Dirnen! There were mortals of the Third House and First in Himring also; I was speaking to Celebrin a few hours ago that they will soon be attacked by the Orcs Laintaen is invading with...but that's quite a distance away from where Nessa and I would be at Minas Tirith. Unless you'd like for our ancestors to be close to yours in Himring! Could be be hill herdsman?


You can see here for my ideas which @Beowulf liked, @Androthelm https://lotrfanaticsplaza.com/forum/vie ... 201#p40201! There's eight years of travelling from the east to Eriador and Beleriand the Swarthy Men. Mostly y'all (and me) will come up with Free RP'ing situations of their arduous journey until they serve Maglor, Maedhros, and Caranthir.

It seems like it was climatic / economic and political concerns which drove the Swarthy Men over to Beleriand once the far-wandering refugees and the demon spoke to them about the "riches", the "lands and waters". Rhun doesn't seem to be as lush as Beleriand so the bounty of the land beyond the Ered Luin must have attracted them. So did escaping the Men of Darkness (the evil servants of Morgoth in Rhun, Khand, and Harad) so that's a political reason there. Maedhros, Maglor, and Caranthir must have noticed how well armed they were which is why they enlisted the warriors into militant service.

Nessa and I were discussing that Ulfang's faction would be nomadic whereas Bor's faction would be sendentary; Tolkien even says "The people of Bor, who were worthy folk and tillers of the earth. Of them, it is said, came the most ancient of the Men that dwelt in the north of Eriador in the Second Age and after-days." - The War of the Jewels: The Grey Annals.

I love the weaponry, was talking to Nessa about it just the other day, especially that scimitar-like yatagan! I might use that or a bludgeoning weapon.