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Scimitars of 'iththîl
| Website | |
|---|---|
| Founding date | T.A. 3017 |
| Goal | To provide Mercenary service. Offering professional soldiers, adventurers, and sell-swords for hire. |
| Main area of operations | All over Middle-Earth |
| Kinship type | Hobbit |
| Friends/Allies | "None" |
| Rivals/Enemies | "None" |
| Kinship status | Active and recruiting |
| Recruiting Officer(s) |
Background
Secret history and lore (Optional knowledge)
Players choosing to play characters from Khand or in other ways versed in ancient lore can choose to know this. Though, it is a closely guarded secret, and knowledge of it was systematically destroyed over ages by Mordor.
The Scimitars of 'Iththil began millennia ago as an order of warriors to fight against the influence of Melkor, then Sauron in the tribes of what is now Khand. As the legend goes, 'Iththil was the first light in the Darkness that kept Men asleep, and slaves to the evil dreams of the great deceiver. So, as she saved Men, and fended off the Darkness, so they shall in turn fend off the darkness as her swords.
As the eons passed, however, the order was slowly brought low by both the machinations of the Enemy, and the slow march of time. The indiscriminate optics of Gondor, and the Free People of the West as well did not help the order when conflict broke out, causing years of work to go to ruin as hatred and anger towards the West grew, making the Enemy out to be a reasonable cause for their people.
Eventually, the Enemy won. The Order, having now been nothing but mercenaries for centuries, was slowly infiltrated, until its last leader, still holding true to their ideals was betrayed by his sword-brother, and now it served Sauron as one of the Variags.
Public knowledge in the East and South
The Scimitars are a mercenary band of warriors from Khand. Though they have been hired by many different tribes, chieftains, and warlords, they have only recently entered the service of Mordor. Some years ago (Around 3016-3017 T.A) another band of the same name emerged, but it was short lived, and disbanded soon after.
Public knowledge in the West
In Gondor, Dale, and Eastern parts of Rohan, the Scimitars are known as one of the bands of the Variags who occasionally raid and plunder into the West. Their exact name is not vastly known, but to precious few, they have had the displeasure of learning their name.
In Eriador, the band is unheard of, except for recently (Pre-war) as a new band of Mercenaries and Sell-sword recruiting and providing professional soldiers and adventures to the services of those who wish to hire them.
