Recaps

Hollimion killed fleeing Easterling scouts while Allen’s forces captured a camp, but Kurda’s cavalry fled the Dwarves and stumbled into Allen’s territory. Kurda split his riders to escape toward Chariot City, forcing Allen to send Hollimion and pursue them before they could alert Ashur.

• Hollimion killed an Easterling scout with his Sapphire Rune Bow, then learned from Emily that another rider was fleeing northwest toward Chariot City.
• Allen’s army attacked an Easterling camp, and his Chain Lightning broke the defenders’ resistance and forced them to surrender.
• Kurda returned from a visit to find Iron Arm Town taken by Thorin II’s Dwarves, then fled south when Goat Riders approached his colleague’s camp.
• Kurda’s riders entered Allen’s territory, and Allen ordered Klethi to alert Hollimion and asked Abinas to gather help.
• Allen pursued Kurda’s exhausted cavalry, but Kurda split his riders into small groups heading toward Chariot City.

Ashur discovered that Allen’s forces had struck his Easterling followers and ordered his army to move north before spring. Allen, learning his mission had been compromised, abandoned his attack on the final camp and called for Thorin’s help as he regrouped at Bamund’s camp.

• Ashur examined frozen, shattered Easterling corpses and learned that silver-armored riders had attacked his followers near the camp.
• Ashur realized Rabat and Bamund had stopped reporting and ordered Mad to send cavalry to investigate the other tribes.
• Ashur ordered his forces to prepare to march north after lunch, and Tad reported that the troops were ready.
• Allen watched the final Easterling camp while Klethi told him Hollimion had failed to kill the last enemy rider without alerting the Easterlings.
• Allen abandoned his plan to attack the camp, ordered everyone to assemble at Bamund’s camp, and asked Klethi to send Thorin a message requesting help.

After Thorin’s Dwarves destroyed three Easterling strongholds, Tuck brought word that Allen’s plan had failed and that he urgently needed help. Allen’s retreating army prepared to face an unknown cavalry force, then discovered it was led by Lindir and included more than two thousand Elven riders; Lindir began explaining how the reinforcements had come.

• Thorin considered delaying his advance south because a severe blizzard was approaching, but Tuck delivered Allen’s message that a large enemy army was pursuing him and he needed help.
• Thorin ordered Dwalin to escort the human prisoners to Ironwall Town and told Dáin to gather the Dwarves to march south toward Allen.
• Allen assessed the losses and prisoners from his campaign before Klethi warned him that a fast cavalry force was approaching from the east.
• Allen ordered Alayen and Firentis to arrange the infantry and cavalry for defense, then recognized Lindir leading a friendly force of more than two thousand Elven cavalry.
• Lindir greeted Allen on behalf of Elrond and Círdan, and began explaining that Mithrandir’s visit had led to the Elves’ arrival.

After Mordor renewed its assault on Gondor, Turgon’s appeal prompted the Elves to organize aid, while they first redirected Lindir’s cavalry to help Allen in Rhovanion. Allen received Gondor’s plea as Thorin II and the Dwarven Goat Riders arrived, leaving him to decide whether to march south after securing victory over Ashur.

• Gondor repelled Mordor’s first offensive with help from Rohan and Saruman, but Sauron gathered forces and threats soon appeared along Gondor’s borders.
• Turgon convened Gondor’s council, and a sage urged him to appeal to Círdan by recalling the ancient friendship between Elves and Númenóreans.
• Círdan brought Gondor’s letter to Elrond, who sent Lindir and nearly two thousand cavalry south and asked Gilraen about Dúnedain support.
• Elrond and Círdan learned that Allen’s war against the Easterlings had begun, so they sent Lindir’s cavalry to assist Allen while Círdan sought Galadriel’s help for Gondor.
• Lindir delivered Turgon’s blood-speckled appeal to Allen, who weighed whether to march south after his war with Ashur.
• Thorin II arrived from the north with the Dwarven Goat Riders as Ashur raged over the destruction of his camps.

Ashur halted his pursuit of Allen to wait for reinforcements, then suspected an enemy ambush and ordered his army to prepare for battle. Allen, Thorin II, and Lindir chose a direct attack, and Ashur recognized their approaching forces as humans and Dwarves with no Elves in sight.

• Ashur learned that most of the tribes under his command in Eastern Rhovanion had been destroyed, so he halted his pursuit and waited for reinforcements.
• Ashur spotted a lone gray bird and, suspecting the enemy was nearby, ordered his army to form up defensively and sent Mad east to scout.
• Thorin II urged Allen to attack the Easterlings with their cavalry, and Lindir said a direct confrontation would save time but leave the decision to them.
• Allen agreed to Thorin II's plan, with some changes, and the allied forces advanced toward the Easterlings as they ate.
• Ashur saw the approaching human and Dwarf forces, realized no Elves were present, and ordered his soldiers to arm themselves and form up.

Tuck watched as Ashur’s Easterling army engaged the allied Dwarves and humans, whose archers inflicted heavy casualties before the battle turned into a desperate struggle against the Easterlings’ superior numbers. As Alayen’s lines neared collapse and Ashur advanced to witness victory, Mad arrived from the north warning him that an ambush was underway.

• Tuck flew north to report to Thorin II as the two armies prepared to clash.
• Bunduk’s Woodland Dweller archers used Elven longbows to devastate the Easterling Longbowmen with their first volley.
• Ashur ordered an all-out assault, and the Easterling infantry pressed the allied humans and Dwarves into a widening, bloody battle.
• The Dwarves held their ground against Ashur’s elite soldiers, while Alayen committed reserves to prevent the Easterlings from surrounding the allied line.
• Ashur sent cavalry against the Dwarven chariots as they charged to relieve the pressure, but his own cavalry hesitated.
• A large cavalry force appeared from the north, and Mad warned Ashur that it was an ambush and urged him to run.

Allen’s forces routed the Easterlings after Ashur fled, and Kurda persuaded the remaining fighters to surrender by promising they would not be enslaved. Allen ended the battle with the Easterlings in custody as heavy snow began to fall.

• Ashur ordered a retreat after Hollimion’s cavalry pursued him, and his flight shattered the Easterlings’ morale.
• Allen led his heavy cavalry into the Easterling elites while Lindir’s Elves pursued fleeing soldiers and the Dwarves and spearmen held the enemy back.
• Allen’s cavalry killed hundreds of Easterling elites in their first charge, then regrouped to prepare another attack.
• Kurda urged the Easterlings to surrender, explaining that Ashur had fled and Allen would not enslave them.
• The Easterlings laid down their weapons and surrendered as snow began to fall, and Allen recognized that he had won the war.

Ashur escaped west through the snowfall after his army was shattered, while Allen abandoned the pursuit and led his forces and prisoners back to camp before the blizzard worsened. Allen had already decided to march south to reinforce Gondor.

• Ashur fled the battlefield on horseback as heavy snow covered his tracks, and he resolved to send Tad to relocate their remaining people while he reported to Sauron.
• Allen followed Hollimion through the snow, but stopped the pursuit because the blizzard threatened his force and the prisoners.
• Allen returned to the main force, where his soldiers gathered the Easterlings’ supplies and held a large number of prisoners.
• Lindir considered the Elves’ distrust of the Easterlings and chose not to advise Allen, whom he believed had planned the battle carefully.
• Allen had designed the battle to limit losses among his cavalry and horses, since he intended to march south and reinforce Gondor.

Allen treated the critically wounded after the battle and arranged for the uninjured to return toward the Anduin River Valley while a small force remained in the freezing wilderness. After leaving the medical tent, he met with Thorin and Abinas, then learned Klethi had gone off alone and sent Grim to find her.

• Allen stabilized the gravely wounded, reassured a young soldier who had lost his right hand, and left the remaining care to the field medics.
• Allen had Firentis lead the uninjured warriors and most prisoners toward the Easterling camp, while he kept guards and scouts behind to protect the wounded from threats in the wilderness.
• Thorin and Abinas asked Allen to discuss several matters with them, and Allen invited them into his tent to escape the cold.
• Allen asked Grim where Klethi had gone and ordered him to take Wulf to find her and bring her back.

Allen, Thorin, and Abinas discussed the war against Gondor and agreed to send their forces south to help. Allen accepted the Dúnedain’s request to serve under his command, while Thorin considered sending Fili to lead the Dwarven troops.

• Thorin asked Allen for his assessment of the war, and Allen said Gondor’s position was manageable with its allies but identified the Haradrim and Corsairs of Umbar as major threats.
• Allen showed Thorin Turgon’s appeal for aid and said he would take his battle-ready cavalry south to support Gondor.
• Thorin agreed to send Dwarven troops, and Abinas asked Allen to let the Dúnedain join the campaign under his command.
• Allen accepted Abinas’s request and estimated that Gondor’s combined forces had a strong chance of victory.
• Thorin decided that Fili should lead the Dwarven army to gain experience and confidence, then told Allen he needed his help with something.

Klethi discovered a wounded Mearas herd after the horses fought off a wolf pack, and the white mare asked to meet Allen. Allen agreed to help the herd survive the winter and planned to meet the mare before traveling to Mirkwood to approach Thranduil about sending troops south.

• Grim found Klethi treating the white mare, whose herd had lost many horses fighting more than a hundred wolves.
• The white mare asked Klethi to arrange a meeting with Allen, and Klethi warned that the herd might have to serve him in exchange for help.
• Grim escorted Klethi back to camp, where Allen scolded her for venturing into the storm before hearing about the herd.
• Klethi told Allen about the horses, and he agreed to meet the white mare the next morning and provide food and shelter for the herd.
• Thorin urged Allen to ask Thranduil to send troops south, and Allen planned to visit Mirkwood after meeting the mare.

Allen traveled through Mirkwood to ask Thranduil for help against Sauron, but the Woodland King refused to send his people south. Legolas chose to join Allen anyway, and Thranduil sent two hundred elite Elves with them as they departed for Gondor.

• Allen agreed with the white horse that he would protect the herd in exchange for its support, then left Klethi and Grim to care for the horses.
• Allen and the Twilight Knights traveled through a blizzard and reached Mirkwood, where Legolas welcomed them and asked about Allen's war against the Easterlings.
• Allen told Legolas that the Easterlings had been defeated and explained why he had come to Mirkwood; Thranduil welcomed him but refused to send Elves south.
• Legolas declared that he wanted to go with Allen, prompting Allen to leave the father and son alone to settle their disagreement.
• The next morning, Legolas joined Allen in full battle gear, and Thranduil sent two hundred elite Elves to accompany them south to Gondor.

Allen returned to Wilderness Town after defeating the Easterlings and prepared the kingdom for his departure south to Gondor. He postponed a proposed victory ceremony, arranged rewards and safeguards for the prisoners, and decided which cavalry forces and equipment would accompany him.

• Allen returned to Wilderness Town and invited Asudan, son of Tuoju, to enter his service with his father's permission.
• Firentis and Alayen proposed a grand triumphal ceremony, but Allen postponed it because he needed to lead his troops south.
• Allen granted Alayen several hundred Easterling prisoners and planned to sort and assign the remaining prisoners to labor based partly on their appearance.
• Allen kept the Recruits in service on a rotating leave schedule and retained at least three thousand troops to guard the prisoners and maintain order.
• Allen planned to take four hundred Heavy Cavalry and over a hundred adult Knight Apprentices south, while Abinas led five hundred Northern Rangers toward Lothlórien.
• Allen decided the Dúnedain would temporarily borrow their horses and equipment, with the rental fees offset against their payment.

Allen arranged the Kingdom of Rhovanion’s affairs before departing with a large force for Gondor, leaving key subordinates to defend the realm and manage its growth. After Deshavi recommended Malherb as a useful guide through Gondor and Rohan, Allen’s column set out toward Lothlórien, where Círdan and Lady Galadriel awaited them.

• Allen ordered Alayen to watch the Easterlings with help from the Friends of Animals and assigned Firentis to oversee Lake-town’s rebuilding.
• Allen appointed Bunduk to organize a Royal Family Imperial Guard of up to three hundred Rhodok soldiers, while Ymira discussed population growth, food support, and children’s education with him.
• Ymira stayed with Allen after their late-night discussion, and the next morning she prepared breakfast before returning to her duties.
• Deshavi declined to accompany Allen south and recommended Malherb, whose family connections in Rohan and Gondor led Allen to accept him.
• Allen left the Twilight Knights and Noldor Lady Knights behind, brought Malherb, Klethi, Grim, and other guards, and departed Wilderness Town for Lothlórien.
• Círdan and Lady Galadriel waited for Allen’s force in Lothlórien.

Allen’s force reached the Anduin opposite Lothlórien, where the troops rested and feasted while he kept watch against danger. Meanwhile, Klethi and Grim wandered near Mirkwood and fought a band of Warg Riders, leaving Klethi facing three surviving Wargs.

• Allen described Lothlórien and warned his companions to respect the Galadhrim and avoid entering their forest.
• Legolas recalled his people’s former home near Amon Lanc and warned that evil creatures were stirring in Mirkwood.
• Allen’s force camped by the Anduin for a two-day rest, and the soldiers held bonfire feasts while patrols guarded the camp.
• Klethi and Grim wandered to the edge of Mirkwood, where they encountered dozens of Warg Riders bearing Sauron’s mark.
• Grim charged through the Warg Riders and killed those around him while Klethi used knives and her scimitar against the attackers.
• Klethi faced three surviving Wargs after the rest of the Warg Riders had fallen.

Grim and Klethi were trapped by the wargs while trying to flee, until Allen arrived with human and elven cavalry and broke through the enemy forces. With Klethi unconscious but alive, Grim began treating her wounds as the battle continued to the east.

• Grim fought off pursuing wargs but was repeatedly forced to flee, while Klethi suffered wounds and lost blood defending him.
• Klethi fell unconscious, and Grim shielded her as the Wolf Leader and approaching Half-orcs surrounded them.
• Grim briefly changed into human form to carry Klethi, then returned to bear form when he heard cavalry approaching.
• Allen charged in on his Elves Horse, killed the black Wolf Leader with his Giant Lance, and led the cavalry against the Half-orcs.
• The cavalry swept past Grim and Klethi, and the Dwarves arrived as Grim returned to human form and bandaged Klethi's wounds.

After Klethi recovered from her near-fatal recklessness, Allen sent her back to Wilderness Town and recalled how he had rescued her and Grim from a Half-orc attack. Allen then met Celeborn, Galadriel, Círdan, and Estel, who warned that Lórien could not send troops to Gondor because threats were rising at Moria and Dol Guldur.

• Allen gave Klethi honey water and ordered Baren to escort her to Wilderness Town, where she would stay near Ymira and find work.
• Allen recalled how Gael's question alerted him that Klethi and Grim were missing, prompting him to find them and lead a counterattack that routed the Half-orcs.
• Allen warned the Noldor Elves about the Ringwraith at Dol Guldur and sent Gael to tell Ymira to protect Eowya while Artimenner built southern outposts.
• Celeborn and Galadriel met Allen, Legolas, Fili, Círdan, and Estel on the eastern bank of the Anduin and provided supplies.
• Galadriel told Allen that Lórien could not send Galadhrim to Gondor because of the threat beneath Moria and the renewed danger at Dol Guldur.

Allen led several thousand cavalrymen from Lothlórien toward Rohan by the dangerous route through the Brown Lands, while explaining Dol Guldur and ancient sources of hope to Aragorn. As they approached Nindalf, Sauron learned of the northern reinforcements and prepared a surprise for them in the Brown Lands.

• Allen chose the dangerous route through the Brown Lands because moving the army across the Anduin would take too long, and led the cavalry south from Lothlórien.
• Allen allowed Klethi to remain with the column on the condition that she stay within five meters of him, and her animals helped locate Warg Rider scouts that Allen's guards killed.
• Allen explained to Estel that Dol Guldur was rooted in enduring evil, then shared stories of the Elves Jewels to encourage him to hold on to hope.
• Allen ordered the column to resume its journey toward Nindalf, unaware that Sauron watched his movements through the Palantír.
• Sauron captured Ashur near the Running River, learned about the northern reinforcements, and prepared a surprise attack in the Brown Lands.

While scouting a flooded Nindalf, Allen entered the Simulator after learning that Dilinard had died and traveled to Praven to claim Swadia’s throne. After his coronation, he learned that Rafard’s supporters had attacked him and that an Anti-Allen Faction wanted Rafard crowned king, while the Simulator granted him new privileges for becoming king.

• Spring flooding made most crossings through North Nindalf impassable, so Allen sent cavalry to scout South Nindalf while the contingents rested nearby.
• Allen learned that Dilinard had died and entered the Simulator to travel from Sunno to Praven, surviving repeated attacks that reduced his escort of Swadia Knights to just over fifty.
• Praven’s nobles swore allegiance to Allen, who accepted their support and attended Dilinard’s funeral before being crowned king the next day.
• At the coronation, Haringoth presented Allen with the Crown, the nobles swore their oaths and gave gifts, and Allen exchanged greetings with them at the banquet.
• Dilinard’s chief of intelligence told Allen that Rafard’s men had attacked him and revealed an Anti-Allen Faction seeking to make Rafard king, then left him a list and a letter from Dilinard.
• The Simulator announced privileges for Allen as king, including rising reputation and the ability to summon loyal knightly orders, but barred him from entering Calradia under a new identity.

Allen and his allies were trapped at North Nindalf by Sauron’s forces, and his attempt to kill the Mouth of Sauron failed. He ordered the cavalry north to regroup with Círdan as the enemy closed in.

• Allen and Fili learned that South Nindalf offered a possible river crossing and agreed that the Dwarves would cross first to secure the far bank.
• An army of Half-orcs emerged from Mirkwood under a dark cloud, while Uruks blocked the river and Wargs approached from the south.
• The Mouth of Sauron urged Allen to surrender and promised him a magic ring, but Allen silently prepared an attack.
• Allen struck the Mouth of Sauron with Chain Lightning and fired a frost arrow, but the enemy survived and his monstrous horse blocked the arrow.
• Allen ordered the human and Dwarven cavalry to ride north and join Círdan, while the Mouth of Sauron recovered and cursed him.
• The chapter revealed that the two Ringwraiths were Holmras and Akhorahil, who led tens of thousands of Half-orcs and used Akhorahil’s Dread Statue to conceal their march beneath dark clouds.

Gandalf discovered that the Elven reinforcements were delayed and rode toward Rohan after learning Half-orcs threatened their route. In the Brown Lands, Allen and Círdan faced an approaching Warg force and decided to fight rather than retreat.

• Gandalf learned that Half-orcs were encamped in the Northern Highlands and rode to Edoras to seek cavalry support.
• Under dark clouds, the Nazgûl led Half-orcs toward North Nindalf while Allen’s human cavalry joined Círdan’s Elves.
• Allen told Círdan that Half-orcs and Wargs had blocked their route and proposed riding north along the Anduin to Lothlórien.
• Círdan argued that the Wargs were the immediate threat and that the open Brown Lands favored their cavalry.
• Allen realized they could defeat the Wargs and agreed to ride with Círdan.

Allen and Círdan led the allied human, Dwarven, and Elven forces in a countercharge against Sauron’s Wargs. Allen broke through the enemy ranks and rallied his troops for another charge, while most of Fili’s Dwarves remained surrounded and formed sturdy bands to fight on foot.

• Allen arranged his heavy cavalry into small wedges, assigned the Horse Archers to cover them, and ordered Aragorn to protect the reserves and supplies.
• Allen led the charge with the Gryphon Knights and Mettenheim Death Swordfighters beside him, while Fili’s Goat Riders and Círdan’s Elves charged on the flanks.
• The Wolf Leaders gathered the Wargs into packs and sent them charging toward the allied forces.
• Allen cast Chain Lightning and killed several Wargs with his lance, then his sword and bare hand as his guards cut down enemies on his flanks.
• Allen broke through the Warg ranks with his Personal Guards and ordered his troops to rally for a second charge.
• Most of Fili’s Dwarves remained surrounded after their goats were brought down, but they gathered into small bands and fought the Wargs on foot.

Allen's human and dwarven forces were surrounded by frenzied wargs, while Círdan's elven cavalry fought through the packs and prepared to rescue their allies. With tens of thousands of half-orcs approaching under the Blind Sorcerer's dark clouds, Círdan accelerated his plan to clear the wargs and confront the larger army.

• Allen's heavy cavalry lost momentum among the wargs, dismounted, and fought in infantry circles while horse archers helped clear nearby enemies with volleys.
• Legolas's Dúnedain and elite Sindar dismounted to battle wargs that turned on the horse archers, while Círdan's elven cavalry swept through the packs with arrows and polearms.
• Aragorn's knight apprentices and the supply horses escaped along the Anduin River, but Allen's heavy cavalry and Fili's dwarven riders charged back into the surrounding wolves.
• Círdan spotted the approaching half-orc army and ordered the elves to ride faster, encircle the wargs, and send rear archers to rescue the humans and dwarves.
• Círdan kept his plan to have the elves engage the half-orcs after killing the wargs, and observed Allen's guards and lightning with approval rather than suspicion.

Allen’s exhausted forces defeated the Wargs, but a Half-orc army and its flying sorcerers threatened the battlefield until Galadriel arrived and routed them. The Elves and mounted warriors charged the scattered enemy while Allen treated the poisoned wounded, then counted more than fifty of his men dead.

• Allen’s Heavy Cavalry suffered severe losses as Demon Wolves used their claws to poison fallen soldiers, while the Dwarves and Elves helped kill or drive off the Wargs.
• Círdan urged Allen to withdraw as a Half-orc army, two Fell Beasts, and a dark cloud arrived, but Aragorn, Klethi, Grim, and the Knight Apprentices returned with spare horses.
• Galadriel arrived on the Eagle King holding the Starlight Phial, dispelled the dark cloud, and forced Holmras and the Blind Sorcerer to flee as their Fell Beasts and evil statue fell.
• Círdan ordered the Elves to charge, and Allen sent his mounted warriors after the disordered Half-orcs while Grim guarded Aragorn.
• Allen and the Dwarves rescued the soldiers buried beneath Warg corpses, and Allen purified the Demon Wolves’ poison in the surviving wounded.
• Allen counted more than fifty dead men, whose bodies the Dwarves laid in a row after tending to them.

After the arrival of Galadriel, the Galadhrim, and the Great Eagles helped turn the battle in the Brown Lands into a decisive victory, Allen treated the wounded and thanked his allies. With the Half-orcs routed and his army exhausted, Allen planned to rest, bury the dead, and send the fallen home; meanwhile, Rohirrim scouts watched the battle in astonishment.

• Allen exhausted his healing power tending the wounded until Galadhrim healers arrived from Lothlórien to take over.
• The Great Eagles and thousands of cavalry pursued the fleeing Half-orcs, leaving fewer than a fifth of their original force to reach Mirkwood.
• Galadriel and the Eagle King joined Allen at the riverside camp, and Allen thanked them for saving the allied army.
• Círdan returned from the front, and Galadriel assured Allen that the Galadhrim would guard the camp while the soldiers rested.
• Allen decided his army could delay its journey south, planned to deal with the battlefield’s corpses, and intended to send the fallen Heavy Cavalry home.
• Rohirrim scouts watched the battle in the Brown Lands in astonishment.