The Histories of Middle Earth Part 2
The Fall of Dale
Original Timeline
When asked it is easy to point to the great fire drake Smaug as the one who laid the once former kingdom of Dale to ruin, though that is only where it really began, for you see it did not die that day and with the loss of the city their back broke not from anything external though some of them made things far harder to weather mind you but the power vacuum that followed was what truly brought low the kingdom of Dale.
For you see few if any could be called the next leader and with none of the higher nobility stepping forward, it fell to town mayors and leaders to lead the kingdom through trial and tribulation, only that none could quite come to agreement and old grudges flared up. Accusations of others hoarding power and trying to strengthen their position were level.
All the while Winter approached and with trade all but ceased and the far too thinly stretched Dale guard, it only brought ruin as by the time anyone realised that they were in danger winter was upon them and much of their food stored lost in the fires of Dale.
The Starvation and plague that followed through their kingdom's lands saw any kind of leadership desolated and many of its people dead, while the lack of pay and harsh conditions saw some of the old Dale Guard turn to banditry.
They would eventually be wiped out three years later, though the damage done by their actions and everything before that would see the official disbandment of the kingdom, its survivors making their way to Lake Town, the last haven within the old kingdom. To remain there until the battle of five armies would occur and see the old kingdom resurrected with the aid of the Longbeards reclaiming the mountain.
Changed Timeline
Instead of a slow and inglorious death starting with Smaug, it would instead be averted, the fact that the Kingdom's line of succession and much of its nobility survived allowing them to guide their people through the crisis.
It would not be easy mind you, their years after filled with peril and more than a few close shaves with bankruptcy as they rebuilt their new capital, still, they would survive and in no short thanks to the Dwarfs of the Iron Hills, the trade and generous contracts given to them allowing to weather the storm and come out if weaker at least united now under the reign of King Gerion after his successful bid to see him crowned.
They would still suffer sporadic attacks from orcs and even bandits, fewer than they were but still present. Though while they recovered disaster would still strike them as a plague from the east began to spread through their people.
It was only thanks to the strange medicines of the dwarfs that they survived, expensive as it was it allowed them to rebuild and while it would take them time to recover their former strength. Their territory was safe and trade slowly growing with the southern kingdom of Rohan. The agreements struck between the two kingdoms brought a greater level of prosperity and protection in the future than any would expect.
The Survivors of Erebor
Original Timeline
It is without a doubt that with the fall of Erebor that the dwarfs of Middle Earth were struck a grave blow, their home and industry completely taken from them, their people if still united adrift if only because the Iron hills could not handle the strain to support so many.
The months that followed would not be easy and would see the survivors cut in half, their lack of good coin and any items worth of value ensuring that they were doomed to starvation, all the while Thrain struggled to maintain control of his people succeed as he did. The shock of losing their home and family's keeping them together though it did little for their situation.
They would be driven south in search of work and while they would find it, they made barely enough to cover what they needed. All the while they sold what little they had, armour and weapons were among the first of the things to go along with many sentimental items. It would take it's toll on their people.
Only to become more evident as Thror was killed by Azog within Khazad-Dum, the message he sent was the rallying cry to awaken the fading clan. Thrain would manage to gather what remained of all dwarf clans and unite them for one final time.
The influx of coin allowing the Longbeards to stabilise themselves and even recover somewhat, though they threw themselves into training their once grand army was barely better equipped than a gate guard, only having managed to acquire heavy armour for their best warriors while the rest were left with varying type of armour that could be scrounged up in a hurry and their weapons of low quality.
Still it was enough and three years after his death the grand army of dwarfs was assembled, all seven clan's warriors ready for war, it would be quick and brutal in the opening of the war, the most northern orc settlements and former dwarf halls would be cleared with weeks of each other, it would take them another eight months before they would reach the halfway point within the grey mountains.
It was a great victory and despite mounting casualties, they pushed on intent on wiping out the orcs that dwelled there, though in their haste they refused to leave any of their kin behind, bringing their wounded with them the emptied halls were left empty.
It would not be until a year after the war began that things became a meat grinder, the orcs organised and ambushing them at every turn, the battles long and casualties mounting, still the dwarfs pushed on, uncaring of their losses.
It would continue much the same for the next three years, that is until the dwarfs of the east were recalled, why no one can find out but it cut the remaining dwarf army to a mere fifth of its size. The Longbeards, Broadbeams and Firebeards that remained would draft their young into the fight.
It would allow the orcs to regroup and while severely depleted the remaining fight would last another year ending with the Battle of Azanulbizar, both sides were utterly decimated from their battles and while the dwarfs won the war, the casualties suffered were so high it would end the presence of the dwarfs in any meaningful only fighting outside of Erebor in both the battle of the five armies and war of the ring. Their races strength was decimated and the eastern dwarves never heard from again.
The Survivors of the battle would retreat to the blue mountains and under Thorin's Leadership the settlement built there would thrive, it wouldn't be a grand thing their numbers were too small for that, though it would still be enough to see them at least recover their safely and eventually scrape together some level of prominence.
Changed Timeline
When Smaug came to Erebor, he was wounded and weary, his eye missing and while he still brought low their armies, it was not so great nor so devastating as he would be drawn into the mountain, Balin having entrusted the command to a few of his own cadre of officers that he'd been training, few would return but they would work closely with Balin over the next three days to ensure the people of Erebor survived.
For you see Erebor was no small manse and with a dragon roaming about few were brave enough to escape to the surface rather taking refuge in hard to reach places, thankfully under the command of Balin would many of them survive as he organised a successful evacuation, taking with him many of their armouries equipment and good gold while ensuring the people were usefully lead to safety.
Their struggles would be far from over as Thror would eventually regain command of the dwarfs and while they had successfully escaped he tried to push to retake their kingdom and his gold, it would ultimately come to a halt at the news of his son's death and Thror would struggle to recover for many years.
With no king to guide them for the foreseeable future and having survived Smaug the dwarfs of Erebor would take refuge with the Iron hills, it would not be easy and while they would have been forced to move on in more dire circumstances. Their luck came in the most unlikely of sources.
The hold of Karak Lhune paying for much of their immediate needs as well as part of their employment in the construction of a trade road, it would be harsh but it would allow Balin to establish a council of elders with Thorin sitting on it.
They would argue for sure but between the aid from the Blue Mountains and the Iron hills they survived and allowed the new council enough time to stabilise for a time and while the people of Erebor remained united. It would be a struggle as they slowly wished for more.
Thorin seeing his people suffering and his people future in question under such trying times, more than a few of his people talking of seeking refuge within the halls of the dwarfs in the east or the blue mountains. He made a choice, his people began a great migration with one final goal, the securing of a new home and his legitimacy.
There he would successfully settle his people for a time after a quick and brutal lightning strike wiped the orcs from its halls. Little did he know that it would become such a pivotal moment that it would set the course of events to come. (You'll find out just where they are at the start of next turn)
Angmar
Original Timeline
Left alone and neglected the Kingdom of Angmar would mostly remain a relic of older times, only a few of its tribes and loyal remaining at your point of arrival. Of course it would continue like this as they constantly remain irrelevant and forgotten. They'd make a brief appearance in the war of the ring on the northern front under Agandaur but their armies were small and in all honestly easily dealt with alongside the orc armies their by the Elrond and his people. A foot note in the history books.
Changed Timeline
With the Survival of the Arnor Remnants in the battle of Amon Sul, the rumours their and the lack of any real information saw to it that the witch king was dispatched to his former Kingdom and given leave to rebuild it, the Elves and surviving Rangers would not find out about it until it was far too late.
The ancient fortress garrisoned and while severely dilapidated they were ultimately too hard to take, Elrond unable to call upon his people in great numbers was forced to take a new stance of harassment. He would keep an eye on them, multiple scouting parties and raids would be launched by his people.
As it stands their power grows and while contested, they are safe within their dark fortresses waiting for a time for once they can surge forth once more.
The Dunlanders and their change of fate
Original Timeline
The Wildmen of Dunland were a vicious people and while little is known of their actions their near constant raids against Rohan and Gondor spoke little good of them, they would in part survive the retaliation of the Rohirrim in no short order thanks to the plight of Erebor, a desperate but skilled people.
The gold and steel they looted would be used to pay them and while done reluctantly it would be done for the dwarfs were desperate, it would not make them all that more dangerous due to their usual martial skill.
Though it would allow them to in part survive the retaliation of Rohan due to their previous actions and near constant skirmishing that would follow would remain, if a little weaker than in the past.
For a time, peace would even be achieved until the War of the ring in which they would return to reap Rohan's lands under the command of Saruman. Though their people would remain diminished.
Changed Timeline
As it stands the people of Dunland alone and without support were pushed from Isengard and while enough would survive to escape their former lands, it would not be in great number as they were pushed west from both Rohirrim patrols and Dale trade caravans.
It would indirectly lead them into further isolation as they were expelled from Tharbad and ended up drifting to the shores of Eryn Vorn, they would make a home there and even integrate the few hunters that made the place home.
Raids from them would all but cease but from a few holdsouts in other lands but it would become the last true enclave of wild men.
Gondor and Umbar Situation (Burning of Anfelas)
Original Timeline
In the opening great raid of 2758 T.A would see one of Sauron's schemes come to fruition in a major raid against Gondor and against their allies of Rohan, it would only be made worse at the fact of the Long Winter, the devastation from both actions leading to a great loss of life for both Kingdoms, only trade with the more Northern kingdoms outright stalling the worst of affects.
Still while Rohan would come out fine if injured and the royal family gone it would recover, their losses while bad it was not crippling. The same could not be said for Gondor, as with the raids opening waves, much of the southern navy of the kingdom would be lost in multiple lightning strikes, their patrol squadrons ambushed by much larger Umbar squadrons sinking them with little hope of escape. Their routes never having changed in over two decades, the superiority of their navy having made them complacent and easy to predict.
It would not be until the very coastline of Gondor was under attack that they would realise the true issue, it would only be in thanks to daring raids and luck that brought the northern fleets time to regroup and make a concerted push. Sadly, it would be little too late.
Much of Gondor's fields and coastal areas put to the torch, it would not be immediately apparent but between the starvation that followed and butchery Gondor's ability to rebuild it's navy was outright destroyed. The infrastructure of its smaller ports all but destroyed along with their supporting towns, their craftsman dead and knowledge lost.
It would be half a decade before the effects were truly felt as the ruling steward and nobility were forced into petty squabbling over what was left, only major ports and naval basing having survived.
Gondor's navy would never recover and would be stretched thin as time marched on their navy growing ever smaller in the face of a growing Umbar navy, eventually Gondor would cut it's losses and abandon the coast line and only patrol it's larger cities and towns.
It would lead to an unmitigated disaster as entire towns were abandoned and fertile fishing areas and fields left without hands. Many of the people migrating inwards to the safety of larger forts and cities, it would only lead to further starvation and a small plague rearing it's head. The damage done would lead to a further shrinking of Gondors armies and with it the loss Harondorr with two decades.
Changed Timeline
Unknown at the time but the founding of Rosse Lond would in part allow for much of the heart ache and issues that befell the southern Gondor navy to be mitigated as new demands forced ancient routes to be changed. It would make a world of difference as between Gondors navy having to adapt to new routes and a call for expansion not seen in a century would allow them to wither the coming storm.
As for when Umbar launched it's Great raid they were not able to catch many of Gondors naval Squadrons in their lightning strikes and while some were destroyed. The new routes and commitments would see them all the more sooner. Though it would do little to stall the coming force, Umbar's navy to large to outright stop.
Instead, a daring move was made and Gondor managed to ensnare much of Umbar's command with a month long skirmishing along the coast of Gondor and with it towards their new port established so far from their boarders.
If the Umbar knew what was going on they did not show it, in the End the full might of Gondors navy would regroup over the month of skirmishing, still it did little to help their battle line. In a daring move A small handful of squadrons would stall the growing Umbar navy and while they did not last long they gave Gondors navy two days, time with which they resupplied and regrouped within the ports of Rosse lond and a battle plan drawn up.
It is not known just how large both navies were but the largest was undoubtedly that of Umbar, this was no more felt as the Gondorian navy immediately gave ground fighting a retreat even further up the coast drawing over three forths of Umbars navy.
They would make their stand within the Gap near the Gulf of Lune leveraging their superior skill to try and win their day, though little would be known of the battle for decades Gondor would not have won the day if not for the Elves of Mithlond, their navy under the command of Cirdan bringing the ancient skill and ships to battle would turn the tide.
The Umbar between their losses at their assault of Rosse Lond and the clash within the north would see over half their assembled fleet wiped out, even if they would ultimately escape the loss of so many would break much of the stalemate existing between the two powers. Not enough to give Gondor ultimate dominance but enough to recover and even grow in the coming years.
Mordor
Original Timeline
In the Original timeline Sauron would not send his armies of orcs to contest Gondor, his schemes paying dividends in weakening his enemies enough that he saw no need and his plans were proceeding easily. Rather he would devote more of his time searching for the ring and developing his power base within Dol Guldur in secret.
Changed Timeline
With his plans at wiping out the last true remnants of Arnor a failure and even more so completely he would begin the first change to his plan in centuries. The Witch King of Angmar would be dispatched to discover the story of just what happened and to begin rebuilding his former Kingdom.
This would only be magnified when his schemes to weaken Gondor even further was completely circumvented and yet again by the dwarfs, the rumours of the battle at least making it back to him. It would lead to the activation of one of his many contingencies and armies of orcs were let free.
They would begin to raid Gondors Eastern territories and while heavily contested it would be a stalemate little to his liking, all the while more orcs would be diverted to speed up the development of Angmar and his hold of Dol Guldur, he would be met with failure as his logistics all but ground to a halt under their numbers and the machinations of the elves.
Faced with ever-growing issues and a discovery in a weakness in his own armies new plans were drawn up and while Dol Guldur would be secured the raids against Gondor and the orcs sent towards the North would be met with varying degrees of success.
It would lead to a far more violent age and between the years 2790 T.A and 2825 T.A the relative peace of the time would come to a violent end as battles were fought and wars started. It would also come to be known as by many races as the Age of Stone for the many events that would circle around the Dwarven race.
***
You guys had your fingers all over the place didn't you. Small change here and their but you've overall made a lot of changes, while some things will stay the same, I am busy mapping out a whole lot of stuff and just what needs to be done to keep on top of the changes made to the history and just what could occur from such things.
I'm having a lot of fun charting all of this out and just what kind of consequences and changes are occurring. (Also so many background rolls it's not even funny! Worth it though)
