ME-PBM 1650 Nation Description
Ice King (#16)
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Powers:New Char: Agents up to 40, Chance of Stealth Fair commanders, agents and mages. Five artifacts. This position is often overlooked but can be very powerful. Your agents, with training, can be as good as those of the Cloud Lord (especially if you jump on the good agent artifacts like the Ring of Wind). In addition, your mages can add a lot to your armies' power and you occupy a strategic position facing the Éothraim. |
Led by the Sixth of the Nazgûl, the Ice King, the nation of Hoarmûrath represents a formidable and growing force among the Dark Servants. From his main stronghold inside Mordor, Hoarmûrath's adept Mages and skilled Agents have permitted the Ice King to maintain constant vigilance and influence over Ithilien, while at the same time remaining undetected. The dark holes and crannies of Mordor breed a variety of unusual and foul servants. Many are well suited to lurking and spying on their prey. As a result, new Ice King Characters have a good chance of having a natural Stealth rank. Also indicative of this harsh environment, new Ice King Agents can begin with an Agent rank of up to 40.
The hostile terrain of the Ice King realm also provides an ideal haven from which to launch nearby raids. By striking out, and then forcing the Free Peoples to come to him and fight near his mountain fortresses, Hoarmûrath is able to weaken his powerful enemies - the Éothraim, and Northern and Southern Gondor - and protect his realm.
However, the rich and poorly defended lands outside his realm are an attractive goal, for the resource-poor lands of Mordor will not continue to support the growing might of the Ice King. The importance of Ithilien places military burdens upon the Ice King to help maintain the security of Mordor, since the roads north and south of his realm are of vital strategic value. Reflective of the close association with the elemental mountain forces, the defense of Mordor by Hoarmûrath's forces is facilitated by the unusual ability of all Ice King Mages to learn the lost Summon Storms spell.
The Ice King's armies are steadily growing. Although the watch on Mordor has been virtually abandoned, the importance of strong armies is ever-increasing. Provided further benefit due to the rigorous nature of the mountains, Ice King troops without food will still gain 1-2 Morale points when stationary and will only lose 1-2 Morale points when traveling. Furthermore, Ice King troops only lose 1-2 Morale points for a Forced March (2-5 points without food).
A reliance upon indirect influence is perhaps the key to the Ice King's growth. The strength and potential of the neighboring Free Peoples could easily be overwhelming. Also, incursions from the Khand Easterlings and the Haradwaith may present further difficulties. However, by focusing upon harassment and subtle interference, Hoarmûrath can keep his enemies unprepared for the direction of his next attack and unsure of where to strike back.
Free to use his characters for tactical and individual activities, Hoarmûrath encourages his Agents to assassinate his foes, while ordering his skilled characters to challenge and duel his hated enemies. Many Free People Lords fear to move about when rumors fly that one of Hoarmûrath's ilk is about.
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