The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - An Audience With The King -- Discussion Thread

Child of the 7th Age · 09-19-2002, 12:12 PM

Hello, Maril, Brienniel, and Alkanoonian---

Greetings from sunny Harad! Please check for pms.

Background

Harad sits below the river Harnen. Nurn (old Mordor) lies to its southeast, and Gondor to the southwest. On maps, it's shown as Near Harad (north) and Far Harad (south). It's made up of petty, warlike kingdoms who don't always agree.

Umbar, on the Bay of Belefas, was originally independent. In the Third Age, it became part of Harad, including the port of Umber and its fleet. The men of Umber, known as Corsairs, were pirates and raiders. This fleet was sadly thrashed in the War of the Rings, so only a few ships remain.

We know about Harad through the eyes of Sam Gamgee and Gollum. (LotR, II, 321-323; 340-342) Sam is fascinated by Harad's Oliphaunts. Gollum describes the people as having long and braided black hair, black eyes, and dark skin, and wearing bright colors like red and gold and many gold ornaments. He says they're cruel: "almost as bad as Orcs, and much bigger." The Haradrim stand second to none in combat, especially when they sit atop oliphaunts.

For Harad, the War of the Rings wasn't a matter of supporting "Sauron" or "Evil." It was a vendetta against Gondor, whom they'd fought for thousands of years. You can argue rights and wrongs, but both sides had long been "locked" into their positions. Harad was fiercely independent; it resented Gondor's occupation in 1050, T.A. and having to pay tribute. There was almost constant war between the two in the Third Age.

The Haradrim were cruel and primitive and loved to fight. But, having said that, they had a real sense of honor. And, as far as we know, none were personally "corrupted" by Sauron. Sam held no personal anger against the Haradrim, as he did with Orcs. When a man of Harad lay dead, Sam wondered what his "name was, and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart; or what lies or threats had led him from the long march from his home..." If Sam's attitude was "typical" of Middle-earth, it's possible Harad could reach a grudging accomodation with Gondor. But that could only happen if it was treated fairly.

There were two parties in Harad: those who continued to raid, and those who wanted change. It's the latter who go to Elessar's court. These moderates wanted to revive coffee export, a lucrative trade, as well as expand spice, tobacco, and tea production.

Harad is negotiating a coffee agreement with Dale. They'd like to make similar contracts with the Dwarves, possibly even the hobbits. This is their main motive in going to Minas Anor. They're open to friendship with men, just not those of Gondor!
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Please look at the thread labelled "Coffee" in Books for differing ideas on the origin of coffee.
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First Post

Herumir, King of Ariwenna, paced back and forth. How he hated being cooped up! He wanted to be outside on his oliphaunt, chasing lions through the purple brush of the desert. But he had little choice.

Gondor's victory over Harad had proven bitter. Now Elessar had asked them to travel to Minas Anor to "right such disputes as may yet exist."

Herumir threw back his head and roared, golden chains jangling about his neck and ears. "He thinks to right our quarrel of several thousand years with a single meeting?" Too much anger still ran through his proud people to be bought off with scraps. He himself dreaded the heavy hand of Gondor and its insistence on unreasonable tribute, as had happened in the past.

Yet, Herumir had pledged loyalty to the party seeking to find some honorable road to prosperity, rather than continuing a hopeless war. And once a pledge was given, it could not be honorably withdrawn. Their group would travel to Umber and free at least one ship. The Council had ordered the Corsairs to turn over all vessels, but they had defied that order. Now, he--King Herumir--would force them to obey.

He and Fuinur, King of Leowenna, would then sail up the Bay and the Anduin towards Minas Anor. They must go swiftly. Rumor said one Corsair ship had slipped out from Umber a day before, intending to pillage spots along the river in south Gondor. Such an expedition would infuriate the King and negate his own attempts to foster trade. So they might need to do some "persuading " of these Corsairs. He was an expert at "persuading." It might involve a bit of bluff, physical force, a promise to cut the Corsairs in on a share of trade profits, or perhaps all of the above. He'd have to judge what would work best.

For Harad had learned a bitter lesson. It could not exist only on the might of its individual soldiers. Herumir understood they must bring gold into their coffers. The tools were at hand. The west clamored for coffee, a thing so common in Harad that the poor drank it for breakfast. They also wanted spices and tobacco and tea. All that, Harad could supply, if it could make trading deals. This was the real reason his people had agreed to the meeting. Let the men of Gondor be hanged! He'd take a good dwarf trading caravan any day.

Already, Jarl, a man of some intelligence from Dale, was in Harad to negotiate a coffee deal. Gramil hoped to travel with him to the eastern Nurn to look at the trading outposts Dale meant to establish. Then, Gramil would turn his oliphaunts to the west and arrive in Minas Arnor through the back door. Jarl and his folk were welcome to come as guests aboard the oliphaunts.

There was no pretending otherwise. The great Harad Road was largely gone. They would need to rebuild it and many others if trade was to flourish. And dwarves were reputed to have such skills. Certainly, his own people were not road builders. They might have used slaves, but Elessar had issued an order abolishing slavery in Nurn and Harad. So other sources would have to be sought.

No, Herumir had no desire to be a piece of Gondor's great empire or to build roads with his own hands, but the money that would flow from arteries made safe for trade. That was quite another thing!

NEEDED: Two to play the kings travelling to Umber to seize the ship and sail north up the Bay and the Anduin. One to play the trade negotiator who'll be using the Oliphaunts to approach Minas Anor through the back door. Names can be changed as needed, but let me know.

Get in touch, and we'll talk strategy and characters. You'll also want to drop a line to your fellow Harad delegates.

sharon

[ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

09-19-2002, 12:12 PM	#11
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Hello, Maril, Brienniel, and Alkanoonian--- Greetings from sunny Harad! Please check for pms. Background Harad sits below the river Harnen. Nurn (old Mordor) lies to its southeast, and Gondor to the southwest. On maps, it's shown as Near Harad (north) and Far Harad (south). It's made up of petty, warlike kingdoms who don't always agree. Umbar, on the Bay of Belefas, was originally independent. In the Third Age, it became part of Harad, including the port of Umber and its fleet. The men of Umber, known as Corsairs, were pirates and raiders. This fleet was sadly thrashed in the War of the Rings, so only a few ships remain. We know about Harad through the eyes of Sam Gamgee and Gollum. (LotR, II, 321-323; 340-342) Sam is fascinated by Harad's Oliphaunts. Gollum describes the people as having long and braided black hair, black eyes, and dark skin, and wearing bright colors like red and gold and many gold ornaments. He says they're cruel: "almost as bad as Orcs, and much bigger." The Haradrim stand second to none in combat, especially when they sit atop oliphaunts. For Harad, the War of the Rings wasn't a matter of supporting "Sauron" or "Evil." It was a vendetta against Gondor, whom they'd fought for thousands of years. You can argue rights and wrongs, but both sides had long been "locked" into their positions. Harad was fiercely independent; it resented Gondor's occupation in 1050, T.A. and having to pay tribute. There was almost constant war between the two in the Third Age. The Haradrim were cruel and primitive and loved to fight. But, having said that, they had a real sense of honor. And, as far as we know, none were personally "corrupted" by Sauron. Sam held no personal anger against the Haradrim, as he did with Orcs. When a man of Harad lay dead, Sam wondered what his "name was, and where he came from; and if he was really evil of heart; or what lies or threats had led him from the long march from his home..." If Sam's attitude was "typical" of Middle-earth, it's possible Harad could reach a grudging accomodation with Gondor. But that could only happen if it was treated fairly. There were two parties in Harad: those who continued to raid, and those who wanted change. It's the latter who go to Elessar's court. These moderates wanted to revive coffee export, a lucrative trade, as well as expand spice, tobacco, and tea production. Harad is negotiating a coffee agreement with Dale. They'd like to make similar contracts with the Dwarves, possibly even the hobbits. This is their main motive in going to Minas Anor. They're open to friendship with men, just not those of Gondor! --------------------------------------------- Please look at the thread labelled "Coffee" in Books for differing ideas on the origin of coffee. --------------------------------------------- First Post Herumir, King of Ariwenna, paced back and forth. How he hated being cooped up! He wanted to be outside on his oliphaunt, chasing lions through the purple brush of the desert. But he had little choice. Gondor's victory over Harad had proven bitter. Now Elessar had asked them to travel to Minas Anor to "right such disputes as may yet exist." Herumir threw back his head and roared, golden chains jangling about his neck and ears. "He thinks to right our quarrel of several thousand years with a single meeting?" Too much anger still ran through his proud people to be bought off with scraps. He himself dreaded the heavy hand of Gondor and its insistence on unreasonable tribute, as had happened in the past. Yet, Herumir had pledged loyalty to the party seeking to find some honorable road to prosperity, rather than continuing a hopeless war. And once a pledge was given, it could not be honorably withdrawn. Their group would travel to Umber and free at least one ship. The Council had ordered the Corsairs to turn over all vessels, but they had defied that order. Now, he--King Herumir--would force them to obey. He and Fuinur, King of Leowenna, would then sail up the Bay and the Anduin towards Minas Anor. They must go swiftly. Rumor said one Corsair ship had slipped out from Umber a day before, intending to pillage spots along the river in south Gondor. Such an expedition would infuriate the King and negate his own attempts to foster trade. So they might need to do some "persuading " of these Corsairs. He was an expert at "persuading." It might involve a bit of bluff, physical force, a promise to cut the Corsairs in on a share of trade profits, or perhaps all of the above. He'd have to judge what would work best. For Harad had learned a bitter lesson. It could not exist only on the might of its individual soldiers. Herumir understood they must bring gold into their coffers. The tools were at hand. The west clamored for coffee, a thing so common in Harad that the poor drank it for breakfast. They also wanted spices and tobacco and tea. All that, Harad could supply, if it could make trading deals. This was the real reason his people had agreed to the meeting. Let the men of Gondor be hanged! He'd take a good dwarf trading caravan any day. Already, Jarl, a man of some intelligence from Dale, was in Harad to negotiate a coffee deal. Gramil hoped to travel with him to the eastern Nurn to look at the trading outposts Dale meant to establish. Then, Gramil would turn his oliphaunts to the west and arrive in Minas Arnor through the back door. Jarl and his folk were welcome to come as guests aboard the oliphaunts. There was no pretending otherwise. The great Harad Road was largely gone. They would need to rebuild it and many others if trade was to flourish. And dwarves were reputed to have such skills. Certainly, his own people were not road builders. They might have used slaves, but Elessar had issued an order abolishing slavery in Nurn and Harad. So other sources would have to be sought. No, Herumir had no desire to be a piece of Gondor's great empire or to build roads with his own hands, but the money that would flow from arteries made safe for trade. That was quite another thing! NEEDED: Two to play the kings travelling to Umber to seize the ship and sail north up the Bay and the Anduin. One to play the trade negotiator who'll be using the Oliphaunts to approach Minas Anor through the back door. Names can be changed as needed, but let me know. Get in touch, and we'll talk strategy and characters. You'll also want to drop a line to your fellow Harad delegates. sharon [ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.