ME-PBM 1650 Nation Description
Dark Lietenants (#20)
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Powers:New Char: Commanders up to 40 Great commanders and excellent mages. Nine artifacts. This is the military power of the DS in the south. When your characters, armies, artifacts and population centers are added up, you are the best DS with the possible exception of the Witch-king. |
The nation of the Dark Lieutenants represents the center of power for the Dark Lord. From their main fortress inside Mordor, Barad-dûr, The Mouth of Sauron (Ûrzahil) and The Warlord (Gothmog) initiate and control events that influence much that transpires in all the regions surrounding Mordor. The Dark Lieutenants occupy a strategic location that could see the presence of many powerful characters, from all allegiances, in the event that the One Ring is found.
Powerful Mages and ancient items of power contribute much to the power of the Dark Lieutenants. The fear of the Dark Lord's premier captains is enhanced by the unusual ability of all Dark Lieutenant Mages to learn the lost Fearful Hearts spell. Reflective of this same power, the Dark Lieutenants are capable of attracting foul hordes to their armies because all their Mages also have the ability of learning the lost Conjure Hordes spell. Furthermore, the keen interest of the Dark Lieutenant Mages in collecting artifacts helps ensure continued supremacy of their arcane arts.
While the forces that constitute the armies of the Dark Lieutenants are not well-skilled, the extremely-seasoned Commanders of the Dark Lieutenants are probably the most capable leaders to be found anywhere in northwestern Middle-earth. Because of the rigorous emphasis on martial training, new Dark Lieutenant Commanders can begin with a Command rank of up to 40. Their presence makes their armies a formidable force. In fact, the martial traditions maintained by their Commanders are so competitive that Dark Lieutenant troops without food will still gain 1-2 Morale points when stationary and will only lose 1-2 Morale points when traveling. Furthermore, Dark Lieutenant troops only lose 1-2 Morale points for a Forced March (2-5 points without food).
The strategic problems facing the Dark Lieutenants are considerable. Both Gothmog and Ûrzahil must ensure that the various entrances into Mordor remain secure. Thus, coordination with the Ice King, the Dog Lord, the Fire King, and the other nations within Mordor is crucial. Furthermore, the Dark Lieutenant holdings in the mountains of Mordor must be defended against their hated enemies - the Éothraim.
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