The History of the Haradrim | Tolkien Explained

A great southern kingdom, tamers of the mighty Mûmakil, and a land caught between the opposing forces of Númenor and Sauron. The Haradrim were divided between those who served the dark lord and those who opposed him. Likely aided by the Blue Wizards, they would not only be enslaved by Sauron, but also the Númenóreans as their kingdom turns to darkness. In the Third Age, Gandalf would visit the southern realm, and many Haradrim would aid Sauron in the War of the Ring.
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Haradrim Spear - Lucas Durham
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Bor with his sons - Helena Stepanova
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Elven smithy - Christina Kraus
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Harad - Visions of Palantir
Southron Camp - Davis Engel
Umbar - Bengamey
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Alatar and Pallando - Ralph Damiani
The Blue Wizards - Turner Mohan
Fields of Emerie Looking into Meneltarma Numenor - izzi3bootz
Harad - Tomasz Jedruszek
Numenorean Armor - Turner Mohan
Numenorean Warrior - Jef Murray
Umbar - Turner Mohan
Herumor - Jovan Delic
The Evil Runs Deep in Numenor - Oznerol
Numenor's Legion of Armenelos - Sam McKinnon
Celebrimbor and Annatar - WETA
Lord of Mordor - Snow Monster
Umbar - Angelique Shelley
Arrival of Ar-Pharazon in Umbar - Ivana Lekseich
Sauron - Spartank42
Southron Soldier - Alexandr Elichev
Ar-Pharazon - Steamey
Ar-Pharazon - Niwa Jongkind
Sauron bows, submits to Ar-Pharazon - Kip Rasmussen
Harad - Lida Holubova
Sauron and Ar-Pharazon - Janka Lateckova
Ar-Pharazon at Umbar - Niwa Jongkind
Sauron Descending - The Brothers Hildebrandt
The Ships of the Faithful - Ted Nasmith
Fall of Numenor - Fox in Shadow
Haradrim Archer - CK Goksoy
Sauron - Johnnyslowhand
The Last Alliance - Jenny Dolfen
Wild Lands and Strange Visions - Fantasy Flight Games
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Adunakhori - Tom Romain
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Haradrim Cavalryman - Turner Mohan
Southern Support - CBsorgeArtworks
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Eomer finds Eowyn - Paula DiSante
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Haradrim Swordsman - Jan Pospisil
#haradrim #tolkien #lordoftherings

[@NerdoftheRings]

I would love to see the drama of Númenor - Sauron - Haradrim play out in the Amazon series. What do you think?

[@INSOMNIAsua]

I think it would be great to see some of the Haradrim in the series, it would be interesting to see what exactly happened in the South during the events of the Second Age

[@evanairnomad4361]

That would be awesome!

[@evanairnomad4361]

I like a little corruption…

[@jeffreed671]

Every time I see a new lore video dealing with the second age I always think it should be included in the Amazon series... at this rate it should have 483 seasons if it includes everything I want

[@Enerdhil]

Thanks so much for this video, Matt. Now we know that Bezos could have had a fantastic story with people of color set in the South (which is what I was hoping for), with even Sir Lenny Henry being a Blue Wizard and other actors of color being involved. Instead, Bezos chose to end White Privilege in Middle Earth.😒

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

I truly wish Tolkien had gone into as much detail about the Easterlings and Southrons as he did the West. I find them fascinating

[@tamlandipper29]

Except his focus was on creating a British centric mythology. What we need is people rooted in African mythology to create tales of the Haradrim. Far more interesting.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

@@tamlandipper29 Well, African and Middle Eastern I should think since they show a combination of influences from those areas, with the Easterlings and Variags being more like the cultures of Asia Minor, Persia and East Asian Steppes. I think it would be interesting to see authors with Tolkien's level of detail cover those areas from those regions to get a different take on each.

[@tamlandipper29]

@@grandadmiralzaarin4962 You are correct to set straight my over generalisation. Continuing your point it is a mistake to think of Africa as one culture. Which as I say just underscores the wealth of potential.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

@@tamlandipper29 Oh I completely agree, even Middle Eastern 'culture' is incredibly varied, even more so before Islam where you have many examples of unique polytheistic tribes and civilizations. Africa is fantastically diverse regionally, ethnically and tribally to the point one could spend a lifetime accumulating examples. I myself study East Asian history and China alone has well over forty subcultures. It's always a mistake to portray anything as monolithic.

[@georgedunn320]

There's a principle of the entertainment arts to leave a little mystery. There could be a heroic backstory to First Servant in King Lear, but it wouldn't move the plot along. This is at heart Frodo's story, and though there are fascinating other players in that story, their stories are incidental to his. There might have been perfectly good stories about How Faramir Found Love or Becoming King of Gondor, but they wouldn't have been THIS one.

[@TheMasonK]

When Sam talks about the Haradrim I feel like that’s Tolkien kind’ve speaking to us about war in general. I have to think that Tolkien’s feelings about the Germans during the First World War are close to how Sam feels about the Haradrim. Were they truly evil of heart? Wouldn’t they truly prefer to be back home? One of the most underrated parts of the books in my opinion!

[@vinz4066]

Yes it definetly is crimanily underated. A small Part that often gets forgotten but is very touching and interesting.

[@Zeuseus6609]

Some of Sam's lines (or at least the general theme of them) are given to Faramir in the movie rendition of Two Towers.

[@Houd_Vast]

Yeah, and I wonder what Tolkien thought about Poland being stuck between Germany and Russia some 25 years later.

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

Not really. Tolkien laid out in Return of the King that he considered the Haradrim, Easterlings, basically any non-white as evil.

[@TheMasonK]

@@sumanadasawijayapala5372 umm no he doesn’t. He says they’re corrupted by Sauron. Men are not inherently evil. He also says that the blue wizards may have played a part in limiting the size of the Easterling army (which would imply that not every Easterling served Sauron/was evil).

[@OriginalGazGoose]

I like to imagine when Numenor captured Sauron the Harradrim just went: "You have freed us" Numenor:"I wouldn't say "freed", more like under new management."

[@josuesolisgamboa3376]

this place is under new management! by order of the numenoreans

[@Broockle]

i like this take on evil Atlanteans 😆

[@lloydgush]

lol! But i think they already knew what sauron's intentions were.

[@sweetpeach3649]

Megamind lol

[@hannotn]

Tolkien established that the Numenoreans weren't exactly the good guys (although in the days of the British Empire maybe he was a little undecided on that) in relating how they landed on the coasts of Eriador and cut down the forests there to enlarge their fleet, having deforested Numenor. When the Dunlendings attacked to protect their homelands and resources they were essentially wiped out by the Numenoreans. Typical colonialist interaction, really.

[@AnnaMarianne]

If I could disturb Tolkien's peace in heaven and have him write and send down to us one, just one more Middle-earth novel, I'd have it be about the Blue Wizards and their adventures in Rhûn and Harad, aiding the Easterlings and the Southrons against Sauron.

[@maxion5109]

I understand but it could be that his response would be that explaining everything might risk losing the mystique and the magic, and that appendices are perhaps better experienced through the narrative mode where we touch upon stories and legends only briefly as unattainable vistas. This way it will engage your own imagination and reflection more, rather than having everthing taxonomized.

[@segundajuganda]

And aiding the other 4 dwarven clans of Orocarni.

[@justinezekwelu3335]

Someone should pick up the rest of the story, if I was Tolkien I would want someone to continue the story( while keeping its mystique of course). Of course this would be hard because not just anyone could pick up Tolkiens work🤷🏾‍♂️.

[@maxion5109]

@Walker Sims Yes, being the Germanophile he was it's obvious that his creation tapped stories predominantly from European mythology and history but there is also a great deal of Semitic influence as well. Dwarven languages, placenames and the languages of Men comes to mind, like Khuzdul and Aduniac have a clear Semitic flavor to them. Personally i also find some of that in the Elven languages as well even though i'v heard they were mostly a composition of various European languages. Some of the stories from the Silmarillion speaks to me of Eastern mythology but i can't really give a direct reference other than the two trees in Valinor, Laurelin and Telperion (Silpion in early writings) and the subsequent "Tale of the Sun and Moon" is heavely inspired by Avestan, Persian mythology or either later Manicheaism, but both are "Oriental" stories at least. Being an academic i think he was well versed in Eastern mythology but his love and knowledge of German/Nordic and English legend seems to have tilted his creation towards that.

[@maxion5109]

@@justinezekwelu3335 I'm unsure about that. As far as i know he deeply wanted to finish the Silmarillion but it the end it became to large and he was too tired to deal with the metaphysical framework of his creation. He wasn't satisfied with the truncated form of the appendices either, but had he finished everything, i don't think he would have wanted to continue the stories and elaborate further than necessary. In the information era of video games and extended universes wer are conditioned to always want more content and to have everything explained but this isn't always a good thing. All stories must come to an end. They need finality. Then you can re-read them and find new meaning at a different point in life.

[@TheMarcHicks]

Wow, even as someone who has been reading Tolkein's books for almost 40 years now, I never knew there was so much depth to the Haradrim. Thank you for such a wonderfully informative video!

[@gaiiacry]

There are plenty of books besides LoTr

[@cosmicnomad8575]

I guess I’m not surprised considering it’s Tolkien we’re talking about!

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

There isn't any depth to the Haradrim. Tolkien had hardly anything to say about them other than that as nonwhite people they're bad.

[@WelcometoKabul]

@@sumanadasawijayapala5372 what ? Harad 70% of them rejected the evil , while the eastern rhun were more Evil . You must b one of those ppl huh . Obviously you haven’t read the books if you say that tho

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

@@WelcometoKabul Where did you get that 70% from?

[@BartAllen]

*Some facts about Harad -- just a few, mind you:* *1.* Tolkien stated that he based Harad on the African continent, with his son Christopher and scholar Tom Shippey confirming the Haradrim were based on ancient Ethiopians from an essay of Tolkien's during the 30's. *2.* Manwe (the King of the Valar) sent the Blue Wizards to Rhun and Harad before Sauron invades Eregion (almost 3,000 years before sending Gandalf, Radagast and Saruman). The Nature of Middle-earth reveals that their presence was the reason why Sauron delayed the invasion - by about 90 years or so, if I'm not mistaken. *3.* The monstrous Ungoliant could be in Harad, given the nebulous passage included in The Silmarillion and also that Earendil (Elrond's father) encountered her in southern Haradwaith during the First Age, however, that was in The Book of Lost Tales. Earendil also encountered Fire mountains, Tree-men, Pygmies, and Sarqindi or cannibalogres. *4.* There are two mountainous regions in Harad known as the Grey (not those Grey Mountains) and the Yellow Mountains, constructed by the Valar -- but it's unknown if they were still there post-Battle of Powers. *5.* One of the two lamps of the Valar was located in Harad: Ormal, which was later destroyed by Morgoth. *6.* There are camels in Near and Far-Harad. *7.* Aldarion suggested that Harad had "forests wider than Numenor". *8.* Harad had one of the last major bloodlines of Elros (Elrond's brother), when Castamir ventured to the land after the Kinstrife wherein his sons, grandsons and great-grandsons mated with the women of Harad. The other two locations were Gondor and Arnor, though the latter fell in part due to their lack of intermingling.

[@tauempire1793]

Thanks for this I knew that the Haradrim were based upon the Ethiopians but also Arabian amd other middle Eastern themes. I also figured out that Near Harad is essentially like North Africa and the Middle East and Far Harad sub Saharan Africa and that there were various Kingdoms in Far Harad. Still it's much appreciated.

[@BartAllen]

@@tauempire1793 *Yeah ^_^ Tolkien wrote an essay in the 30's based on ancient Ethiopians - whilst conflating them with the entomology of an Old English word - something which Christopher later confirmed ~*

[@tauempire1793]

@@BartAllen epic I also know that they took some aspects from Epitus with the eliphants and the Umber Coursairs being based upon the barbery pirates. In the series commin in 2022 if they do showcase black people and Qrabs them it works because Near Harad is based upon Ethopian and possibly middle eastern cultures. Eitherway much appreciated.

[@BartAllen]

@@tauempire1793 *Aww great comment, thanks; and I see, but yeah the those Pirates too ~*

[@klaojungwiwattanaporn6927]

I assume "Forests wider than Numenor" possibly hints at Harad having tropical jungles?

[@markagrippa4018]

This would make such a good miniseries the Numenoreans, Haradrim, Sauron and the Blue Wizards in a desert-like arab-style motif

[@factanonverba7547]

Ya, we could hire all the Pakistandrim.

[@persassy7076]

@@factanonverba7547 lmao and the turkistandrim

[@crhu319]

Laugh all you want but the two gorgeous female blue wizards belly danced them into totally not caring about fighting for 93 years.

[@shaunsaega]

@Fuinendil blackpilling

[@extremetea]

There is no such thing as a good miniseries homie

[@ofgondor5312]

It's so fascinating to think that everything we know about Tolkien's expansive world building work is only a single, geographical part of the world he built. If he had more time, there's a chance that there's an entire history with wars, kings, trees, kinslaying, dragons, family affairs, with possible dark lord(s) crossover between the histories. From the eyes of a Southron, everything we know about middle-earth means nothing. To the Southron, Manwe, Eru, Ulmo, Gil-Galad, Hurin, Beren, all mean nothing more than a possible rumor. They had their own kings and their own problems and possibly even their own version of magical jewels/rings.

[@robertsothmann8110]

Just like the real world... we view all of history and theology/mythology though a distinctly Eurocentric lens and sometimes forget the rich tapestry of story and myth from other regions of the world. :)

[@ofgondor5312]

@@robertsothmann8110 you’re so right! Buuuuut, why bother with studying real life history when we have THIS! Middle-earth lore IS real life to me. Lol

[@garretlemire4327]

Too bad old Tolkien didn’t have the longevity of the elves.

[@ofgondor5312]

@@garretlemire4327 Ehhh he’d be disgusted with todays world though lol. But yes I wish he was still around.

[@deespaeth8180]

I'd much rather see that than what rop is focusing on now.

[@XxLIVRAxX]

When it comes to the controversy over casting decisions taking by the creators of Amazon's The Rings of Power, the introduction of the Haradrim and filling the gaps in the lore right from the start would have offered a great opportunity to introduce a diverse casting in a way that felt organic to the world of middle earth and an introduction to new and interesting characters, as oppose to what feels like tokenism.

[@JohnSmith-bo3fn]

It's just about replacing White people. There's nothing deeper to it. Stop trying to justify the erasure of Europeans. Thanks.

[@j-mc5201]

Yes that’s a good idea. Also I’d say if Blade was suddenly swapped with a white man to represent me, I’d feel mocked and joked. Amazon made $326M today … guys … make something new.

[@colinbaldwin313]

Moreover, the Haradrim, Easterlings, and Variags really deserve to be represented because they're among the last uncharted avenues for exploring the world of Middle-Earth. Neither Tolkien nor Jackson did any more than hint at the complexity of any of these Men. (Legolas's awesomeness may be irrepressibly entertaining, but I've always been a bit chagrined with how Jackson turned the Southrons into video-game bad guys in ROTK). The Rings of Power episodes I've seen certainly aren't terrible, but they feel too safe and familiar: noble Elven quests, Elf-Dwarf tension, Elf-human romance, deceptively brave Hobbits, etc. If Amazon is going to continue The Rings of Power, I hope that subsequent seasons have the courage to break new ground by exploring the Men of Harad, Rhun, and Khand, and portraying them as complicated - and possibly conflicted - people in their own right.

[@CheddarGetter]

​@@colinbaldwin313you're asking way too much of modern Californians.

[@colinbaldwin313]

@@CheddarGetter Well, actually, I'm a modern Californian. They say it's easier to change the system from within, so we'll see.

[@krispymeme4965]

The best channel for anything Tolkien

[@NerdoftheRings]

You are too kind! :)

[@jotnarymir1393]

Honestly never liked how they where shown in the movies. Harad is so much more complex in the books. Thanks for showing that.

[@Jonnell01]

I personally didn't like their design too much either since it made them look far too primitive but the mumakil scenes definitely made up for that haha. The most detailed description of a haradrim soldier in the books was a man with braided hair, golden coated armors with layers of plates (probably scale armor or something alike) and a scarlet robe. While in the movies they were all wearing stuff that looked like wood and dried animal hides. I also really wish we could've seen the black serpent vs theoden because that kinda solidified theoden's badassary and made his death more honorful

[@NerdoftheRings]

Would’ve been awesome to get that battle with Theoden. Esp if they could’ve developed the Haradrim chieftain a bit (not a ton, but he could’ve taken the place of Gothmog the orc in ROTK).

[@excursor4296]

@@NerdoftheRings Make all so much more excited about the Harad update for AotR mod.

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

How are the Haradrim complex in the books??? They just ride elephants and attack harmless white people. Sam sees a faceless corpse and wonders what sort of person he was. That's it!

[@idiot_city5244]

@@Jonnell01 in the movies they make pretty much everything/armor out of a super strong bamboo found in Harad. Imo the design of them in the movies is great, their few scenes have always been some of my favorites

[@aceofhearts573]

Great video. I really like how the Haradrim and Easterlings got portrayed in the movies. I love their armor, clothing and weapons. Felt so unique and different from Gondor and Rohan.

[@lizzies4964]

I think the relations between Harad and Numenor could potentially be one of the most interesting aspects of the Amazon series. I hope we get to see that. Great video as always!

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Agree. They could even add black people there and it won't feel forced.

[@JesusFriedChrist]

@@valentinkambushev4968 Yes. If there’s going to be “diversity” in LotR, then that’s exactly where it should be. I think it’s pretty easy to see that Gondor and Arnor are based on Europe. Harad is based on Africa (Umbar is roughly equivalent to Morocco). Khand is based on the Near East/Egypt. And Rhûn is based on the Middle East/Central Asia/The Mongols/The Persians/The Turks (Sea of Rhûn being roughly equivalent to the Caspian Sea).

[@valentinkambushev4968]

@@JesusFriedChrist exactly. Not to mention that in the parts of Middle Earth that Tolkien didn't explore too much the writing can have more liberties then in the lands where we know the location of every stone.

[@AskiyaIshaq20]

@@valentinkambushev4968 as a black LOTR fan I agree with you

[@HaldorZX]

@@JesusFriedChrist Plenty of Non-White people lived in Europe during the middle ages and even ancient times, a minority sure but the existed. People do move and it is totally believable plus excepted that people from Harad wouid, for various reasons such as fleeing those who support Sauron or just economic reasons, move to Gondor and settle. Having black Gondorians would not really be forced it would merely suggest a perfectly realistic connection between the West and the South.

[@cpegg5840]

The Variags of Khand are even more mysterious. I think it likely that Morgoth visited Harad and Khand in the early First Age and began the corruption of those kingdoms.

[@michellemchughbudd5558]

True.

[@TheMasonK]

Yes. We barely know anything about the Variags.

[@grandmasteryoda5241]

Yeah... I seem so interested in the Variags of Khand. Tolkien mentions them so little. Just like 3 times in the Siege of Gondor and in the 2 front battle by the Wainriders who allied with the Variags

[@rayleo9940]

There's a theory that the Variags were descended from the Northmen of Rhovanion who fought with the Easterlings against Gondor. "In the days of Narmacil I their attacks began again though at first with little force; but it was learned by the regent that the Northmen did not always remain true to Gondor and some would join forces with the Easterlings either out of greed for spoil or in the furtherance of feuds among their princes. Minalcar therefore in 1248 led out a great force and between Rhovanion and the Inland Sea he defeated a large army of the Easterlings and destroyed all their camps and settlements east of the Sea. He then took the name Romendacil."

[@johanna-hypatiacybeleia2465]

The name "Variag" didn't originate with Tolkien. It 's the Russian name for the Varangian Norsemen who crossed Russia and Ukraine to get to Byzantium. This has to be interpreted in light of Tolkien's ingenious substitution of different Germanic languages for Middle-Earth languages. English replaces Westron, Old English replaces Rohirric, Frankish is used for some Hobbit names, and Old Norse replaces a Northern Mannish language used by the Dwarves. "Variag" introduces another layer: A Russian (read Easterling) form of a Northmen name. This tracks with the idea that Variags were descended from men of the North of Rhovanion who went south.

[@charleslarrivee2908]

Faramir being given Sam's inner monologue is just one of many reasons the Extended Editions of the films are so much better. Without it we lack context both to the complexity of the Haradrim and the ultimate goodness of Faramir.

[@farhanmizra]

A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality.

[@versebuchanan512]

@@farhanmizra Dude's my favorite character.

[@farhanmizra]

@@versebuchanan512 yeah, same here

[@valentinkambushev4968]

It would be interesting to see a video about animals and plants unique to Middle Earth.

[@richiejbhoy1888]

No. No it wouldn't.

[@VoiceoftheRings]

Yes there is a book about plants of middle earth! @NerdoftheRings

[@AnnaMarianne]

@@richiejbhoy1888 I couldn't care less about adult men running around a field kicking a ball, but I realize that millions of other people do, and that's it's a huge global (money laundering) business. I'd totally watch a video about the nature of Middle-earth, though.

[@lovez2eat]

Yes! I'd also love to learn more about society and culture in Tolkien's world! As much as I love videos like this, almost all we learn is about the lives and deeds of exceptional characters and great wars over very large time spans. But what was actual life like?

[@georgedunn320]

You realize that without Tolkien there's no authenticity to Middle Earth flora; it's all fan fiction. I'm also afraid that the Professor's herblore wasn't up to his genius with languages. Neither the incidental but evocative potatoes nor the semiessential tobacco could have been present in precolumbian Eurasia; they're both American imports. Of course, for the sake of a great story I'm more than willing to employ a little willing suspension, but no deeper insight into Tolkien's invented world is to be gained with a spurious herbal. One might as well station the arboreal Elves to eucalyptus trees and coastal redwoods.

[@quinlanjones6047]

Thank you so much for this video. I feel like those without this kinda background knowledge tend to see the East and South of Middle Earth as just “bad guys”. I hope this shines some light on the good hearts of men in all of Middle Earth

[@NerdoftheRings]

👆

[@Darkrunn]

I've always loved that little bit from Sam's perspective on the dead Harad warrior. It really sounds like Tolkein having an aside with his readers, recounting his own experiences of the Great War. It also makes the reader pause for a minute, and consider the violence unfolding as more than simple fantasy "good vs evil."

[@colinbaldwin313]

It gives the Men of Sauron a really effective contrast with the Orcs, who are basically beings come to life off a wartime propaganda poster: the age-old fantasy of "the enemy" as loathsome monsters to be slaughtered rather than human beings like yourself. The Peter Jackson film adaptation (the Extended Edition, at least) does include this passage, but then it has to squander it in the final film with Legolas's "cool" takedown of a mumak, in which he counts the Haradrim soldiers as no more than notches on his bow. I mean, shouldn't an Elf of all people be more benevolent than that?

[@MisterFluffyBags]

Videos on Easterlings, Haradrim, Khandish, etc. will always get high viewer numbers. People can't help but want to find out more about them.

[@andythecrimson8877]

And how about The Land of the Sun and The Dark Land?

[@AnnaMarianne]

@@andythecrimson8877 Alas, there's much less to tell about them.

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

But Tolkien had no interest in them so why should you?

[@MisterFluffyBags]

@@sumanadasawijayapala5372 Because I do. Silly question.

[@TheCradM]

Though I do agree with the comments that it would have been nice to know more about these groups in Tolkien’s mind, but he kept that loose on purpose I think. That part of the foreign power you don’t understand, which causes you to fear it. Even though they’re not all evil. Hence the peace they finally come to with Elesar

[@jefffinkbonner9551]

Indeed, sometimes less is more

[@rizerek]

Since Tolkien didn't write much about them, I think it would be cool to see a series entirely about the blue wizards. It could be a cool fantasy espionage-esque suspense series.

[@paulbenedict1289]

There is a book written by a Russian guy, written from the perspective of Mordor and it's absolutely hilarious. Alas, completly censored in English, due to "you no own da franchise, you no write no words".

[@winndypops]

"Between a dark lord and a darkening kingdom" is a pretty cool description.

[@LibertyandFreedom4]

I LOVE the art work here for both the Haradrim and the Blue Wizards. The influences of North Africa/Middle East is fantastic and I believe that this is an accurate representation of who they really were. IMHO the idea of Eastern and Southern lands has always conjured the images of the flowing sand dunes of North Africa with the silhouette of the pyramids in far, far distance or a caravan of Bedouins edging closer to a isolated oasis in the high desert, the historic lands of Persia or the chaotic market place of Marrakesh, Istanbul or Baghdad where buyers and sellers haggle. Mind you J.R.R. did fight in WWI and T.E. Lawrence "Lawrence of Arabia" captured the spirit of what every young Englishman had dreamed of. Fighting in a exotic location against insurmountable odds, becoming a legend and being Knighted by the king for bravery and gallantry in the service of the crown. Who ever did the art work, job well done!!!

[@zaccaria101]

This is where Amazon needed to go if they wanted diversity in the show. Rhun and Harad are places in middle earth where representation makes the most sense. Naysayers may say “why are POCs given the role of the bad guys” but as this video shows, both Numenor and the men of the east and south had their good and evil factions

[@Giagantus]

Does it really matter if there are a nonhumans darker skin ?

[@zaccaria101]

@@Giagantus if you wanna be authentic to the source material then yes. Why do you need to change the elves just so someone who doesn’t fit the character description get to play them? As I’ve said, explore areas of the map that aren’t given enough attention. Fans have been asking for years for shows and movies to let us see Harad, Rhun and Umbar more. They may be “bad guys” for joining Sauron’s army but this is where a grey area can be explored in a show like this. Not all people from one race are bad bc their leaders chose to follow Sauron, and not all people from one race are good bc they’re elves or are from Numenor etc.

[@samueladelman6048]

Even if not actually from Harad or Rhun, these are realms that trade in times of peace, and so in the more cosmopolitan places of middle earth like Minas Tirith or Dale we can reasonably expect to see men from all kinds of far off places. Even Tolkien alludes to Gondor being rather a diverse place.

[@mirafloyd5756]

@@Giagantus no, it doesn’t. And there was plenty of times of peace where trade likely flourished between the West, South & East. So it’s not far off to assume that groups of ppl traveled around to different parts of Middle Earth (as has been the case in our own world).

[@andresanguianozuniga6798]

Yeah, but lets be honest, the CORE is the Middle Earth, the norse and celtic and a lot of middleterranean stuff... I mean, i'm against the black dwarf and elve, but i don't blame them totally for that, its like they know what we care as fans about that...Its like triying to force black characters in Avatar TLA, it doesn't matter if there is a unexplored land in that world were there is african-like benders, the core is asian cultures and aesthetics...and somentimes it breaks the immersion and goal of that. So if asian and african people want a LotR-like representation, Avatar TLA and The Gilded Ones are the solution, not Tolkien's world.

[@SnkrPrince]

But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass. - Sam Gamgee

[@lucasjleandro]

I love the movies. But the Battle of Pelennor Fields in the book was EPIC

[@dv4975]

And the battle in the movie wasn’t?

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

@@dv4975 I'd be glad if Theoden survived and then marvel at the areas of Minas Tirith. Gambling's status is unknown whether or not he survived. Grimbold died.

[@c6083]

Honestly bro. I have always loved lord of the rings since I saw it and your videos sharing these stories from what is truly a real history of a fictional world. You help us who aren’t so great at deciphering Tolkien understand the greatest universe ever made. And I thank you

[@NerdoftheRings]

So happy to hear my videos are helpful. It truly is the greatest fictional world ever created! 😊

[@TON-ws9og]

The scope of Tolkien's work remains baffling. Truly fantastic

[@Raptorzar]

I have always been very interested in the easterlings and southrons and was quite disappointed there wasn't more information about them in the Lotr books. I am sure this video will be great as usual.

[@captaingalaxy5265]

If only Tolkien stayed with us longer

[@turambar006]

I have always been fascinated by Harad and Rhun and wish there was more about them. But at the same time the lack of information and small peeks at them keep them mysterious and interesting. Also I would love to see a video about the Sons of Elrond. They don't get many scenes but they always sound so badass when they are mentioned. Like so and so rode forth with the Sons of Elrond and crushed the orcs or they fought side by side with Aragorn etc.

[@BartAllen]

*There's quite a lot of information on these lands, but not as much as the West ~ For instance, one of the last bloodlines of Elros was in Harad and it was in southern Haradwaith that Earendil (the father of Elrond) slew Ungoliant, as in the Book of Lost Tales ~*

[@sumanadasawijayapala5372]

There isn't anything more to know about them. Tolkien's entire point in including them was to show that nonwhite people are bad.

[@starkilr101]

Can we all agree that the style in which the Haradrim adorn themselves with is amazing

[@captaingalaxy5265]

Them and Easterlings is the main reason I love them They just look so cool and have a nice history and want to find out all about them

[@MegaFarkh]

The real world civilization that have similar style is Amazighs

[@enriquepena2009]

I love that the Lord of the Rings LCG included them as both enemies and as heroes/allies

[@hazuusan]

Would have been awesome if the Amazon series included these badass warriors, their beef with Sauron and Numenorians. Huge missed opportunity.

[@blaxpoitation8528]

Hard facts. What a missed opportunity to see these great warriors in action against Sauron in guerilla warfare, or in open battle. I’m sure there were some- or even many- that opposed Sauron. I’d almost imagine them like Redguards from Skyrim

[@colinbaldwin313]

So true. It's quite enjoyable, but the stories it's gone with seem pretty generic and safe so far. I hope subsequent series prove more daring and do something truly original: portraying some forces of evil as complex and interesting characters in their own right.

[@djay6651]

The Haradrim are the only peoples described using armor other than maille. The Haradrim Sam sees die is said to be wearing armor made of bronze bands. I imagined it looked somewhat like Roman lorica segmentata.

[@arranthearab5105]

What would I do without these videos? Respect the grind put in by Nerd of the rings!

[@davidmeza993]

I would love Brandon Sanderson to write a Blue Wizards novel based on how well he finished the Wheel of Time... finishing a specific narrative is different than fleshing out an untold story in an established world but Sanderson has passion and you can't say he doesn't know the mechanics of fantasy and it's development

[@t.c.bramblett617]

The Blue Wizards fascinate me more than anything else somehow

[@mitchellsmith4690]

I wouldn't

[@rayden120]

Haradrim reminds a bit of the people of India, Carthage, and some elements of the Persian empire.

[@richardcook5919]

Not sure whether it's coincidence, but the collective noun "Haradrim" is reminiscent of plural words in Semitic languages.

[@mirafloyd5756]

Khand is probably more like that. Near Harad is like northern/Eastern Africa while Far Harad is like southern/Western Africa.

[@alejandromolina5645]

This is an excellent video answering the question in a superb step by step format. You really know and understand your subject matter very well. I love being a scholar in Lord of the rings myself and following your materials has been a treat.

[@VoiceoftheRings]

This Was Awesome! Loved it Nerd of the Rings! I enjoyed it and learned a lot! I also love that you show there is so much land to the south! Also, both good and evil men are there. A lot of people I hear say" Tolkien never made a land that was like Africa", again I don't think we should compare real-life geography to ARDA but, still I think it's cool that you show within this video that, Yes Tolkien did! I think the thing I enjoyed most was the fact that I learned that there is a Jungle Far far south ! Where the Mumikil is from! This I never knew about and loved to learn!!!

[@Dirtfire]

There's a line in LotR that mentions apes also living in those southern jungles.

[@VoiceoftheRings]

@@Dirtfire cool!!!

[@vinz4066]

@@Dirtfire Yes I think it was in the Two Towers When the Uruk-hai and Orks travel trough Rohan it is mentiond that the Orks could climb Like apes from the south I could be wrong though

[@itayshorek6872]

This was amazinggggggggg Every video you make is perfect! You`re the best tolkien channel, my friend. From start to end and all within it: the pictures, the voices, the music, how long the quates are, even the number of ads during the video.. You`re the best! thanks!

[@tommyle90]

I'd honestly and sincerely love some brand new characters from Rhun, Harad and Khand. Amazon should use this opportunity to create new characters and add them to the lore. Imagine having some ass kicking Rhunic or Haradrim characters working against Sauron in secret. "Rangers" of the south whose great tales and deeds were silenced by Saurons propaganda and left untold.

[@NerdoftheRings]

💯

[@tommyle90]

@@NerdoftheRings Just wanna say keep up the great work and the grind you put in is greatly appreciated!

[@skittles7306]

Agreed 👍🏽

[@waltonsmith7210]

Taming and harnassing the mumakil was an impressive feat of human ingenuity. And the mumakil are never described like the fell beasts of Sauron but, rather, as magnificent. If you pay attention to the writing, the southrons are described with a kind of dignity that's never afforded to the orcs. They seem like the opposite number to the Rohirrim. I think Tolkien thought it was important to distinguish between humans and orcs. Which is why "that still only counts as one!" from the third movie is problematic lol.

[@ZaleraArkanus666]

How was it problematic? He was talking about taking down the Mumakil and the riders as one unit.

[@laura-bianca3130]

I like it so much that you signal the passages that were pubilshed after Christopher's death (i.e. unconfirmed material). Shows so much respect ♥️

[@ckoritko]

Love your content, man. Have loved this fantasy world since I was a kid and you help keep that interest alive.

[@jaysgamingcorner8539]

Another fantastic video. They're all so informative and well produced.

[@danepatterson8107]

You did a great job with describing Pellenor! Terriic editing and production! A new classic!

[@Solarnova]

That was awesome, thanks so much! Jackson’s movies portray the strength of Mordor mostly through the Orcs, and we see only a little of the men he corrupted in the late Third Age. This focus brings so much more perspective to the influence Sauron had on men not just in the east, but the south as well. I agree, without the help of the blue wizards over so many years, these men would have overwhelmed Gondor and Rohan, perhaps even without Mordor orcs and Isengard Uruk’s by their side.

[@tristanherb49]

Amazon should've watched this video.

[@YouTubestolemyhandlethosemofos]

Great video, one of your best. Really did well to humanize the Haradrim which very much adds to the quality of the story. Thank you!

[@michaelschodel6362]

Would you consider making a video about Dol Guldur? I know a little bit about what happened there with Sauron but I‘d love to learn its history. I am sure you would make a really interesting video on it.

[@fcsimo]

Love your videos and the effort and research you put into them, and I find myself constantly rewinding to look at the art work. Your channel is a pleasure to watch

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! So glad you are enjoying the channel! :)

[@DrivewayProjects]

Such an amazing video!!!! I’ve been tuning in on all your videos and this one was so good. Thanks for doing this for us.

[@bigwhoop7929]

Haradrim: Thank you for freeing us from Saurons Tyranny! Ar Pharazon: "Oh I wouldn't say freed. More like, under new management."

[@stevea1708]

I see the passion you and other KZbinrs have, And I find it such a shame that this passion isn't found in the showrunners of ROP

[@BVargas78]

Rings of Power could have had more diversity by taking a more sympathetic look on the haradrim and other peoples of middle earth, thus staying true to the lore. Rather than non canonically changing the ethnicity/race of characters.

[@blaxpoitation8528]

That would’ve been a much better move. And with so little written about them, they could really make an amazing story. So long as it doesn’t interfere or mess up the established lore.

[@JH-zs3bs]

couldn't agree more. What a story that would have made! To show how the haradrim had suffered at the hands of both sauron and numenor and thus strived to free themselves from both. And Umbar is the canonically perfect place to show a diverse population coexisting.

[@TheSuperRatt]

Eh? Men, Elves, and Dwarves, were not evolved on Middle Earth. They were created through intelligent design. To say that Eru Illuvatar only created whites, and PoC later arose as adaptations to different climates, is still showing a bias. Because Eru Illuvatar is an intelligent being, and not the non-intelligent natural processes lacking in bias that created real humans. To say that God created whites first, is to say that they are closest in his image. That's bigoted no matter which way you slice it. Introducing PoC among the Edain/Elves/Dwarves is only saying that Eru Illuvatar/Aule created all their children in whatever image was desired, equally, and none are closer to his original design than any other.

[@shamanicdude8605]

@@JH-zs3bs I think ROP should be an anthology series which shows diffreent parts of history in each season.I heard that would be the case from somewhere but take it with a huge pile of salt.

[@jeffreyhannah2879]

Changing established characters of a mythology such as Tolkien's for the sake of "political correctness" is unfortunate and unforgivable. Rings of what?

[@unitedweanalyse5193]

Great channel, keep up the good work! Can't stop seeing your videos. I have read all of Tolkien's books, yet despite being the nerdiest of the nerds around me, I don't remember learning so much from all of the books, compared to what I learn from you. The editing, the narrating, the research is just splendid. You're gonna reach heights my friend

[@kaylin756]

Absolutely love this channel. Been binging its content the entire week :D

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much for watching and subscribing! :)

[@iusefacebookalso]

This is a great video. I'm glad youtube finally recommended some good channels for me. Looking forward to more videos.

[@zachnar0125]

This is such an honorable service to Tolkien. We appreciate it!!!!

[@WhoIsCalli]

Another knockout vid, thanks Matt. I hope we explore more of these lands, via the blue wizards, in the Amazon show 😊

[@michealdargue2985]

I love your videos. So so so much info to take in. Big fan from Canada 🇨🇦

[@thehighguarduk4820]

Fantastic video, really well explained and discussed. Nicely done! 😎

[@violatierwillbeprosecuted3392]

As a kid these realms filled my mind with things, I would have a drive to try to interpret in art as the descriptive writing was so vivid and entrancing! also loved hearing how others interpreted the names of people and places throughout my existence.

[@markaruski]

What an incredible video and all the art is amazing! Thank you for your awesome channel! Would love to see a video about the Knights of Dol Amroth!

[@riildiilcomments891]

The power-struggle between the Númenor and Sauron with the Haradrim inbetween makes me think about the Sykes-Picot treaty. I can't help but thinking about how the British and French divided the Middle-East and all the problems that followed that treaty. Maybe Tolkien was on to something? Now, I've noticed that I've got a lot of hates on this comment. First I want to say that I'm not trying to defend any auctoritarian regime of any kind. And second, what I meant is that there were borders drawn straight through the lands without considering the different people living there. I apologice anyone and everyone I might have offended. I'm deeply sorry.

[@AG-vb6vv]

The Ottoman Empire was a 1000* worse than the British/French, dare I say even evil! One needs only look at the Armenian Genocide committed in the last days of WW1 to see that the Ottomans were just as bad, maybe even worse than the Nazis (Armenians were raped and brutally massacred which is equally cruel as the Holocaust, but arguably much more brutal). So no, I wouldn’t compare the Harad to the Ottomans.

[@markm4603]

The elves are the problem..

[@papi9582]

@@AG-vb6vv Ottoman was worse than the British and the french 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lordjustice6994]

@@AG-vb6vv I mean the British committed many genocides as well in Africa and cause multiple famines (e.g. in both Ireland and India). So let’s not try to whitewash history lmao.

[@AG-vb6vv]

@@lordjustice6994 I know, I am Indian but those were mostly implicit, and incomparable on scale, and brutality.. call a spade a spade

[@mr.campbellexplains]

This was awesome! Thank you so much. Recommendation: Please do Ghân-buri-Ghân and the Drúedain!

[@sebastos7693]

I feel really ashamed that I portrayed myself as a fan of lord of the Rings, without knowing anything about the political situation in Harad and the East. From your history, it actually looked like most of Saurons influence over Harad was actually a result of the the remnants of his influence over the Numenoreans, which portrays the Haradrim much more as victims of a colonizial ruling class and less as inherently evil (which I think is great, as it makes it far more realistic).

[@KetanVatsalya]

As a kid from India, I always had trouble reconciling my love for Tolkien's world with the villainous role it cast my history in - the oliphaunt riding Haradrim weren't very different from ancient Indians armies. Can't say that I have made any progress even after 20 years. But I still love the stories. And if I only get to relate to the world as a villain, so be it.

[@NerdoftheRings]

This is one of the big reasons I hope we see the more intricate background of the East and South play out in the Amazon show. It would be great to see an adaptation that shows how, in reality, not all the Haradrim and Easterlings were evil and in fact fought against Sauron. Thanks for sharing your insight and for watching!

[@BartAllen]

@@NerdoftheRings *Yep, and the oldest and most ancient men of northern Eriador are descendants from the Easterlings of Bor -- additionally, one of the last bloodlines of Elros was in Harad ~*

[@racernatorde5318]

Hm, it's probably something that shouldn't be overlooked, but I never saw it as an issue at all. But I also have kinda different take on it: When writing stories, authors are always inspired by history, but are also influenced by the country they themself live in (Which certainly is the case with Tolkien). This tends to make the country or neighbouring countries into the "protagonists" or "good guys" (Which we can see with the Shire, Rohan,...). At the same time, the "bad guys" are generally based on cultures/countries with a different culture. For that purpose, basing the Haradrim and the Easterlings on north-african countries and arabien/asian countries is not far streched. But here's the catch: They are simple the "bad guys" for these mentioned reasons - they are different to the protagonists. In a way, it is a matter of perspective. If you would look at stories written in other countries, you would probably find similar cases. And Tolkien himself sad, using Sam in the books and Faramir in the movies, that you don't know weither those people were truly evil, what brought them here, to this war (I am sure you remember the part from the book or the movie?). So it's a case of meeting someone's warriers, but having very little knowledge of their story beyond I have no idea weither Tolkien had anything against foreign cultures, for a lack of better words, but I never took his stories as a reason to assume so

[@Johnathan737]

@@NerdoftheRings Amazon could simply show the blue wizards the haradrim and the easterlings if they want to romance with diversity but instead they have made galadriel guyladriel and tar mirriel tar niggiel literally they ganged up Tolkien 🙂🥲

[@EZCompanyofficalclan]

As soon as KZbin was getting stale, great video! keep it up :)

[@matthewthomas5657]

Jut found your channel and its incredible, I am so glad that Tolkien (of course he did) paved ways for the Easterlings and Southrons to not be broad strokes 'evil'. coupled with the fall of numenor and suraman, it's just so much more nuanced. Interested to see which fiefdoms where an assimilation of harad culture.

[@rafaelpereiradenovo]

A can't thank you enought mate! Your videos truly are masterclass!!👏👏👏

[@9501JiNi]

Hey man, thanks for another great video. I really enjoy your videos as you dig up some fascinating facts and also dare to make some assumptions from the facts you have, which gives another dimension to the whole LOTR and history behind the many marvelous characters in Tolkien's world. Do you know what would be really cool? To make a video concerning what little we know and can guess about the beornings and their origin. I am sure you'd make that a super interesting video. Greetings from Sweden, and thanks again for your awesome work!

[@jordanatkins4493]

There’s a work in progress fan fiction on Harad called Lost Tales of Harad that so far has being interesting and greatly respects the Canon.

[@johanna-hypatiacybeleia2465]

Hyarmendacil isn't /haiarmendasil/, it's /hjarmendakil/. or the palatal aspirate is a phoneme in Elvish and a letter in the Tengwar. It's like the initial sound in Hyundai. is always pronounced /k/, even after e and i.

[@speedyspeeds]

EXCELLENT video and artwork!!

[@phiology1983]

Tolkien would be very proud of you if he watch these awesome videos

[@flujetberg4612]

Hey man, love your videos. I just finished reading about the death of Fingolfin, and damn it's sad. I was wondering when you would make a video about him as he is an amazing character, and my favorite from The Silmarillion.

[@mmctro]

This video makes you realize how vast is the world Tolkien created. While there’s a lot to be answered regarding the first age (thanks Cristopher Tolkien so much for releasing all those pages), we know almost nothing about the East and the two blue Stari. I hope someday in the afterlife I can get to meet Tolkien so he tells me everything.

[@FlorentPlacide]

Very interesting topic and wonderful illustrations !

[@JackRabbit002]

I always found the Haradrim really interesting and with coolest of outfit during the films/movies! My love comes from the release of the miniatures from Games Workshop as a kid though, didn't want no Orcs, Elves or Rohan just cool looking Desert Nomad types who had massive Elephants 🙂

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

I wished Legolas tries to tame an oliphant and free them back to Fangorn Forest

[@dickslaughter2]

Wasnt there a guy called the serpent lord or something? It was a name similar to saladin, obviously inspired by saladin, or did I imagine that?

[@lordsauron7559]

Listen!!! we don’t need no gifts for Christmas!!! Do you understand? This is the gift!!!!!!!!!

[@harmhendrik]

Thank you so much again ! Awesome video as always!

[@gybod9166]

It's crazy how good you are at these videos dude

[@alexneill130]

Could you possibly do a video on Bullroarer Took and other pre-Bilbo adventurous Hobbits? It was supposedly the legends of his Took ancestors that encouraged Bilbo’s to set out on the Quest if Erebor in the first place, but this is rarely acknowledged in the way it probably deserves...

[@Dyundu]

Perhaps a brief inclusion of the origins of the game of Golf as well? 😉

[@markoconnor7163]

There isn't much to say about them... Bandobras (the Bullroarer) was over 4 feet tall and he led a party of Hobbits at the Battle of Greenfields in TA 2747. It's said he was tall enough to ride a horse, being the tallest Hobbit on record until Merry and Pippen. "when goblins from Mount Gram in the Misty Mountains invaded the Northfarthing. Bandobras, it was said, charged the goblins' ranks with a wooden club, and knocked the goblin chieftain Golfimbul's head clean off, sending it sailing a hundred yards through the air and down a rabbit-hole, thus winning the battle and inventing the game of Golf at the same time"

[@wobh688]

I like to think that in the various countries of Harad they refer to everyone who lives north of Harondor as "Forodrim".

[@helixxharpell]

I am extremely impressed! Well done young man! Instant subscribe there!

[@annaroselarsen4218]

Yay I'm so excited going to listen to this on my way home!

[@joshuatayloe8616]

With so many more stories and so much more lore, I really hate the singular focus being on the lands of the North and West. Really wish the Amazon show would have focused on the South and East. I mean when they're hyper focused on inclusivity and diversity why not tell a story from a more diverse area of Tolkien's works.

[@joshuatayloe8616]

@@user-tp8io4vz6s yep and the worst part is if they did that they would not even have to make a fanfic story of their own. They could literally just tell the story already laid out by Tolkien in regards to the South and East. With some added characters that would fit the narrative or completely original characters because it's not like there's a lot to go on in regards to those that did not side with Sauron other than being aided by the Blue Wizards.

[@LagunaShirogane]

Because of this channel along with Men of the West, The Broken Sword, and GeekZone, I have found a new desire to start reading The Silmarillion and Children of Hurin. I tried to read the Fellowship of the Ring years ago when i was in the 8th grade in 2002 but I had a hard time with it and understanding it and so on. I got only as far as the Council of Elrond and I put it down due to how hard of a read it was for me at that time and I have yet to pick it back up again out of fear that it would be like last time. I have read several novels over the years. I read many of the late Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles series in my early high school years. And I read Star Wars Shadows of the Empire novel as well as reading JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels. JRR Tolkien's books are the next challenge for me in terms of novels. My capabilities to comprehend things has grown exponentially since i was in the 8th Grade attempting Fellowship of the Ring my first time and Im 33. So I think Im ready this time to tackle Tolkien's works and Im gonna start over with The Silmarillion first and finish what i started nearly 20 years ago.

[@SugerSprinkledFun]

Amazing! I hope you achieved your goal but I would start with the hobbit first. It's a pretty chill read and gives you a taste of tolkiens style of writing, which is quite old school.

[@LagunaShirogane]

@@SugerSprinkledFun Thank you for that :D I havent had a moment to start yet but thanks for you the encouragement.

[@aarondemiri486]

excellent video really interested in learning more about them now

[@skylarbenedict5693]

This is an AWESOME video. One of my favorites by you so far and it illuminates so many other topics!! Would you be willing to briefly share which works you drew from for this video? (I.e. which volume of the H.O.M.E. series, if the case?) Thank you for your passion and your hard work!

[@magecraft2]

Must admit I have run RPG campaigns in both the east and south for the players to be either part of a resistance to Sauron or people sent to aid them. I had this same view that these land where not just evil but far more variable. It also helped that we did not know alot about these lands so I had free range for my imagine :)

[@captaingalaxy5265]

Is there games about East and South?

[@magecraft2]

@@captaingalaxy5265 My own homebrew using MERP's and PAthfinder (same setting different campaign's)

[@asaromsonarenpajas8199]

Great video

[@mirvzdnb]

I would like to know what music do you use for your videos? Anyways great video again! I discovered your channel a few weeks ago and since then, I almost watched every video. Keep up the good work 🙏🏼

[@hydradominatus3641]

The Corsair Wars will be FASCINATING

[@INSOMNIAsua]

Finally! The history of the Haradrim is really interesting! ^^

[@lordsauron7559]

Love this man!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Nox.the.nightingale]

Hi Sauron 🙂

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

Brilliant video. We know it takes a lot of time and hard work to make these videos. So we always appreciate your hard work and time to make these videos ❤️🔥🔥.

[@meanmachine6328]

I've been waiting for this one :)