Blood flows in Arda. War is rampant in the five regions of the realm. None have been spared the onslaught. Driven under the whip of merciless rulers from the realm’s six Greater and five Lesser Kingdoms, the peoples of Arda reel from the gory fray. Strong mercenary bands roam the land, gladly exchanging the service of their experienced swords for the gold of the highest bidder. Powerful sorcerers, diabolical assassins and great heroes of renown remain as yet uncommitted.  They follow events from afar while judging when, and with which King, they will throw-in.

Here follows a brief on the regions of Arda and their provinces. (Click on a region name, above, to see its brief and a larger image of the region.)

The High Elves are known as the First Children of Arda. In an Age long past they roamed its breadth. Time and relentless, ravaging enemies have reduced their numbers and compressed the reign of the High Elves deep into Lorethane, which lays in the northeast of Arda. Here the splendor of the Silver Coast and the varied topography of Avon-Kor, with its roaming Centaur tribes, contrast with the great forested vastness of Mistwood. The ancient woodland serves as sanctuary to the High Elves, but is seen as an awesome and foreboding danger to intruders. Thargellion is a widely contested province, home to men, humanoids, and possibly both High Elves and Dark Elves. In the south lies the marshy land of Shuzessek, and its ruler, the Lizard King.

Central Arda is the location of the region of Khaz-Adul. High in the imposing great expanse of the Angry Mountains, whose peaks pierce the highest clouds, the stout Stone Lords of the Dwarves hold their war councils. There they make preparations to defend their proud homes from the rampant incursions of the untamed humanoid races that surround them. Ogres, Trolls, Orcs and Goblins inhabit the surrounding provinces of the Black Crags, Tarak-Dum, and Gundarkhar. The humanoids frequently leave their lairs to raid the outlying provinces, seeking the destruction of Dwarven and other civilized nations. In southern Khaz-Adul is Cimmeria, land of a race of barbarians who are believed to be the most outstanding warriors, man for man, of any in Arda.

The lands of northwest Arda form the region of Nevrast. The Drow, or Dark Elves as they are sometimes called, are masters of the Shadowlands. Here, the nobility of the Dark Dominion holds sway from its sinister black towers that puncture the bleak skyline. The menacing Vorpal Forest contains monsters that may yet unite as an independent tribe, or serve a powerful overlord. Dragon Falls is a wild province with rumors of great wyrms still residing among its cliffs – powers contending for control of the Falls may have to overcome their might. The Amazons are a fierce matriarchy that roams the vast plains on their fast ponies in the province bearing their name.

Here, Death is thick in the land. The Witch King reigns from his tower in Perdition, served by both Undead and the cult-like Death Seekers, a race of men who prize death in service to the Witch King as the way to undead immortality. Angmar’s diseased forests and barren plains are the homes to nests of humanoids and more Death Seekers. The Great Bog is a dire infested primordial goo of marsh, swamp and black, gurgling lagoons where primitive species have held off civilization throughout time. Celestium is the province of a lesser kingdom led by Half-Elven lords that have long opposed the Witch King, and great has been their sacrifice in that pursuit. This province also holds fortress-capital of the terrible Tyrant of Gor, the quasi demi-god master of the widespread humanoid races, who seeks to unite the races into the ultimate power under his Overlordship.

The seaports and rolling ranges of Evanon in southwest Arda include the largest province in the realm, Tyrolia. Followers of Tyr have recently immigrated to this vast land and formed the theocracy that is the Sacred Order. Minotaur Gorge is a province of exotic races with a proud history of resisting outside influence and would-be rulers. Zamora is a land of men, dark in complexion and unique in their proud customs, that find themselves in stark cultural contrast to the Sacred Order. Conflict seems eminent. The Emerald Range is a province of independent men, some of whom are refugees from the Border Marches, a land scarred by the Great Abyss, a huge chasm that legend says marked a sundering of the world when the ultimate spirit of evil was hurled from Arda ten centuries ago. That was then, this is now….