Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 21:24:41 -0700

From: Collin Raymond <Collin.Raymond@asu.edu>

Subject: Khamul and the Womaw
In Mirkwood a brief description of Khamul's Womaw heritage is given. I
assume it is lifted directly from LoME II. It says that "his people had
descended from the remants of the First Tribe of Cuivienen, the same
lineage that produced the Edain of Western Endor" (pg 99) I am a bit
confused by this statement, since the Elves awoke at Cuivienen, and Men
arose at Hildorien. The Mirkwood statement would imply that both the
Womaw and the Edain were descended from the Vanyar - an impossibility.
I assume that Cuivienen should actually be read Hildorien but I am
looking for confirmation. Mirkwood also notes that the Womaw lords had
elven blood but I think they are referring to Avari, not Vanyar blood.

On another note- does LoME talk about the lands of the Womaw in any
other bio's - or does Hands of the Healer have any info on them?

Thanks
Collin
From: tmorwinsky@zoologie.uni-kiel.de
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 15:08:04 +0200
Subject: Re: Khamul and the Womaw
Hi Collin,

> In Mirkwood a brief description of Khamul's Womaw heritage is given. I

> assume it is lifted directly from LoME II. It says that "his people had
> descended from the remants of the First Tribe of Cuivienen, the same
> lineage that produced the Edain of Western Endor" (pg 99) I am a bit
> confused by this statement, since the Elves awoke at Cuivienen, and Men
> arose at Hildorien. The Mirkwood statement would imply that both the
> Womaw and the Edain were descended from the Vanyar - an impossibility.
> I assume that Cuivienen should actually be read Hildorien but I am
> looking for confirmation. Mirkwood also notes that the Womaw lords had
> elven blood but I think they are referring to Avari, not Vanyar blood.
>
LoME II had some inherent problems IIRC, and the one you spotted
is one of them. I think your solution is quite good. Another problem
is the supposed birthdate of Khamul (around 1705 SA IIRC). This
would make him nearly 300 years old when he accepted his ring.
IMO this is another case of ICE's (annoying) tendency to introduce
extraordinary longevity to a broad selection of mannish people. In
contrast to this Tolkien explicitly states that the longevity of the
Numenoreans (c. 200 years for Commons) and up to 400 years for
the kings (before their fall from grace) was a special case granted
by the Valar in accordance with Eru.
Even "normal" mortal Half-Elves do not get Elros' lifespan, which
unfortunately is implied in ICE's view on this point (and firmly
entrenched in MERP). The longevity of Elros was a special favour
granted by the Powers. This we can see in the case of the line of
Imrazor: his half-elven descendant does not reach an age greater
than that of the Dunedain at this time.

I prefer an alternative scenario for the Womaw:

Through their contact with Avari the Womaw were spiritually "lifted"
and this contact led to a greater average life expectancy among
this people. If we follow T.'s statement that the natural lifespan for a
human is around 100 years, the Womaw might reach 80 or 90
years as an average while other - less blessed - tribes of men in
their vicinity would only reach an average age of 40 or 50 years
(comparable to the Middle Ages, and in the Second Age Middle-
earth was a place with short life for humans! This we can see in
UT). So even this "heightened life expectancy within natural
bonuds" would be seen as extraordinary, a great blessing and
cause for awe by the other people around them and favour the
Womaw's leading role in the region.

This whole concept is derived from the Silmarillion where we learn

that the Edain's lifespan increased (perhaps 70 to 90 years as an
average) when they came into Beleriand and in contact with the
Eldar. Before that death came swifter in many ways as Andreth
tells us in the "Athrabeth".

> On another note- does LoME talk about the lands of the Womaw in any
> other bio's - or does Hands of the Healer have any info on them?
>
IIRC there is a bit of info in the "Demik Dral" entry. Pete Fenlons
"Homelands" Gazetteer also has a bit of info. All in all, it's not too
much.
HotH does not cover the regions east of the Sea of Rhûn.

Thomas
Date: Wed, 03 May 2000 09:47:46 +1000
From: Jason Mulligan <jason.mulligan@studentmail.newcastle.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Khamul and the Womaw
On 02-May-00 at 15:08 tmorwinsky@zoologie.uni-kiel.de wrote:

>Hi Collin,
>
>> In Mirkwood a brief description of Khamul's Womaw heritage is given. I
>> assume it is lifted directly from LoME II. It says that "his people had
>> descended from the remants of the First Tribe of Cuivienen, the same
>> lineage that produced the Edain of Western Endor" (pg 99) I am a bit
>> confused by this statement, since the Elves awoke at Cuivienen, and Men
>> arose at Hildorien. The Mirkwood statement would imply that both the
>> Womaw and the Edain were descended from the Vanyar - an impossibility.
>> I assume that Cuivienen should actually be read Hildorien but I am
>> looking for confirmation. Mirkwood also notes that the Womaw lords had
>> elven blood but I think they are referring to Avari, not Vanyar blood.
>>
>LoME II had some inherent problems IIRC, and the one you spotted
>is one of them. I think your solution is quite good. Another problem
>is the supposed birthdate of Khamul (around 1705 SA IIRC). This
>would make him nearly 300 years old when he accepted his ring.
>IMO this is another case of ICE's (annoying) tendency to introduce
>extraordinary longevity to a broad selection of mannish people. In
>contrast to this Tolkien explicitly states that the longevity of the
>Numenoreans (c. 200 years for Commons) and up to 400 years for
>the kings (before their fall from grace) was a special case granted
>by the Valar in accordance with Eru.
>Even "normal" mortal Half-Elves do not get Elros' lifespan, which
>unfortunately is implied in ICE's view on this point (and firmly
>entrenched in MERP). The longevity of Elros was a special favour
>granted by the Powers. This we can see in the case of the line of
>Imrazor: his half-elven descendant does not reach an age greater
>than that of the Dunedain at this time.

Well, from memory the Womaw had close links to some Avari peoples of the region. This is probably the justification for the
long life-span of Khamul, and other Womaw nobles for that matter. It even implies that the Womaw empire only came about
and was so strong because of the longspan imparted to the Womaw rulers by this elven blood.

300 years isnt anywhere near Elros's lifespan. I think ICE suggests a lifespan of 300-600 years for mortal half elves in the
MERP rules. So given Khamul's noble status I dont think it's _that_ excessive.

Of course then there is the problem of whether you like the idea of large numbers of half elves in your Middle Earth.
From: tmorwinsky@zoologie.uni-kiel.de
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 11:35:42 +0200
Subject: Re: Khamul and the Womaw
Hi Jason,

> Well, from memory the Womaw had close links to some Avari peoples of the
> region. This is probably the justification for the long life-span of
> Khamul, and other Womaw nobles for that matter. It even implies that the
> Womaw empire only came about and was so strong because of the longspan
> imparted to the Womaw rulers by this elven blood.
>
> 300 years isnt anywhere near Elros's lifespan. I think ICE suggests a
> lifespan of 300-600 years for mortal half elves in the MERP rules. So
> given Khamul's noble status I dont think it's _that_ excessive.
>
I think that's the central point. IMO there's no justification from
Tolkien's work that mortal half-Elves have a life expectancy
considerably higher than their mortal father/mother. I think Elros
does not count as an example:
The Numenorean (and Elros') longevity was not inherent in
themselves, but a "bonus" granted by the Valar for their valor
against Morgoth and an "extra" bonus for Elros and his
descendants for their ancestry (Luthien!).

If Khamul and a considerable number of nobles were half-elves

(remember, in every generation there has to be an elf for his
descendants to be counted as half-elven), this would stress the
point way too far IMHO.
Even if they were half-elves I think this wouldn't enhance their
lifespan (s.a.). As we see in Legolas' remark about Imrahil the
elven heritage in humans is more a spiritual blessing (good
character, steadfast, faithful, etc.) rather than a bodily function.

In this context we have to consider the cause of elven longevity: It

lay in the ability of their fear to control their bodies _far_ better than
humans: the strong elven spirit caused the longevity (not a bodily
function that might be inherited by descendants). If an half-elf
elects for immortality (e.g. be counted as an elf) his spirit is
granted the elven strength. If he opts for mortality, his spirit does
not have a greater control over his body (in terms of lifespan) than
that of his mortal parent, and so he dies at an age appropriate for
his mortal parentage.

Thomas
Womawas Drus and Eastern Middle Earth
From: Collin Raymond <Collin.Raymond@asu.edu>
About a month ago Matt Caywood posted on this site a link to short lecture on the history of Eastern Middle Earth, specifically
Womawas Drus, that he found on the Elendur MUSH site. I did some research found the author and got his permission to
repost on the web someplace. I am sending the edited version up on the mailing list first (although I do have an HTML version
ready to go, I am not sure where I am going to place it). What is included is a cleaned up version of the history, as well as some
summaries from ICE sources, as well as the material from Homelands Gazetter that is applicable and a couple of synthesis
paragraphs by myself (Collin). So here it goes:

This is a multipart synthesis of various works on the land of Womawas Drus - an empire in the eastern reaches of Middle
Earth. The material is a combination of several sources found on the web, all of which were official. The first part is brief
history of the early Wowamas Drus, and was given as a lecture by Steve Landes to the members of Elendur (A Middle Earth
MUSH). The original log can be found at http://homepage.interaccess.com/~hayes/logs/easthist.txt The second part is a
description of the lands of within Wowamas Drus, and has been lifted from the Homelands Gazzeteer out on the web, at two
locations http://alufis35.uv.es/~valinor/merp/Endor.html and http://www.firegate.de/roleplay/uland/mers/endor_a.html The
partial map of Wowamas Drus has been pieced together from the maps on the first Homelands address. A few additional notes
been made by myself. A thank you to all the people who have made this material available on the web.

An Overview of Womawas Drus : Early History of Womawas Drus (From Steve Landes):

The few pages of notes I am going to share with you are part of an ICE publication forthcoming, hopefully will be out by June
1996, called 'The Eastern Middle-earth Gazetteer'. It will be 160 pages, and will thoroughly document the historical, social,
religious, and political structures of the lands beyond the Orocarni (Red Mountains, right next to Cuivienen, where the Elves
awoke before the Years of the Sun).The history of Middle-earth is chronicled throughout most of the lands according to the
King's Reckoning (K.R.) of Gondor, which evolved almost exclusively from the rise and fall of Sauron in the Second and
Third Ages. So comprehensive was his involvement in the affairs of the realms and territories that either fought against or
suffered under his sway that the two events of his corporeal destruction hallmarked almost universal periods of peace and
prosperity for those who had lived under his Shadow. The kingdoms of the Utter East, by contrast, without the omnipotent
presence of semi-divinities like Morgoth and Sauron utilized a different though no less systematic means of heralding the
passage of time. In the field of international politics, the event of a mighty adversary's demise is generally accepted as a great
turning point in the fortunes of neighboring realms. Regardless of their affiliation with that power, as foes or allies, its sudden
or even dwindling extinction is an event of great symbolic importance to both. Such is the case with regard to the realms east
of the Orocarni. Their key figures, rather than Sauron, determined the turning of the Ages, and instead of the King's Reckoning
to determine time they utilized the Wol Recording (W.R.).

Perhaps the most powerful unified force dominating eastern Middle-Earth's politics is the empire of the Womawas Drus. Since
the dawn of the Second Age (K.R.) this aggressive faction of Avardaran, or half-elven frontiersmen have suffered many
challenges to their claim on the vast territories east of the Red Mountains proper, though no challenges have been
insurmountable to them for long...like their cousins the Numenoreans. Uniting and assuming control over the scattered tribes of
the Cuivac (Suurk Kaelaan, or "Wandering Folk"), a nomadic race dominating the grassy plains of an area roughly the size of
Rohan, the Womaw began what would be a remarkably expedient and lasting conquest of neighboring realms in an era to be
known as the Adiin Riit, or Period of Ordering. Adopting the language Beth Teur (Silvan for "Words of the Woods") as their
formal, ritualistic court tongue, the Womaw elected the woman Kodiis as their first Hion, or in their own native tongue
Ssoilaasi (Drakespeech) the King. She was the overlord of a rapidly growing kingdom, and was of the highly prestigious and
influential Krawaan tribe, many of whose members could trace their descent from the remnants of the First Tribe of Cuivienen
(Quenya, "Awakening Waters") (Ed. note - Should change "Cuivienen" to "Hildorien"). This was the same lineage that
produced the Edain of western Endor. Quickly uniting and consolidating her rapidly growing forces under the banner of a
rampant golden-black Dragon, Kodiis in the year (A.R. 210 (same as the K.R.) established two capitals through which to
channel the influence of the Womaw: the political focus was centered around a mighty fortress built at Goak on the Lake,
while a religious capital was constructed at Naag in the Marshes nearby. Her kingdom's symbol of the golden-black Dragon
was inspired by the presence in the Naag Goak (So. "Swamp of Blessed Places") of Utumkodur, one of the greatest of
Morgoth's worms to survive the fall of Thangorodrim at the end of the First Age. Driven out of his home on the Plateau of
Desdursyton (about 300 miles south of sunken Utumno) in A.R. 1 (S.A. 1) by the dwarves of Barin the Scarred, he flew
eastward and took up residence in the Womaw lands. Utumkodur's influence among the mystics and shamans of the Krawaan
Goak spawned Soilaasi religion and culture, which in turn later proved to be one of the few symbolically unifying forces
binding the four principal Womaw tribes together. Khamul the Nazgul became a mighty priest of the Soelaasi. But, of course,
that was some 1700 years later than what I’m telling you about.However, the Avari Moriquendi, or Silvan Elves, of Helcarth
and Helcar Sael were slow in their welcoming of the Dragon, and it wasn't until A.R. 16 (S.A. 16) that they finally accepted the
Peace of Utumkodur. Based on assurance from their Womaw neighbors, the Avari (aka the 'Helcarim') set aside their plans to
slay the huge Fire-drake. With a firm foothold in the region's constantly shifting political arena, it took the headstrong Kodiis
little more than a decade to bring the Womaw's dominating influence to bear against the neighboring forested realm of Aegan.
Heavily populated by rustic and scattered tribes of Avari Elves and woodmen, the arrival of Womaw emissaries was an almost
welcome event. With them came a social structuralization that bore promise to even the most impoverished citizen, new
technology in crafting, shipbuilding and arms, and many other aspects of a 'higher' and enlightened civilization. It actually
mirrored the very trademark complaints which they harbored against the Numenorean expeditionaries a long while later.The
Mannish tribes for the most part welcomed the Womaw arrival, though the Elves in the region became reclusive in the face of
thinly veiled persecution for their reluctance to adhere to the doctrines preached by Soelaasi priestesses.

The new lands became the home for two of the four Womaw tribes...the Aegaw and the Lokaw. While generally enjoying great
prosperity in a burgeoning culture, still the seeds of dissent were sowed by those who neither welcomed the Womaw invaders
to the lands nor listened to their promises of wealth and glory under a united banner. Pockets of resistance sprang up in the
countryside, though few hailed to the rebel cause for fear of the might of the Womaw armies. Rather than chance the alienation
of her new subjects through a brute display of force by having the perpetrators hunted down and destroyed by her military,
Kodiis opted for a more cunning approach that would still achieve its objective. In A.R. 240 (S.A. 240) she brought into the
center of governmental affairs the Awdu Awg (So. "Order of the Dragons"), a cabalistic group of mysterious and powerful
sorcerers whose members were drawn from all the lands.Recruiting and training converts into the Soelaasi religion and culture
was the group's primary motive, yet under Kodiis' ministrations they assumed the secondary directive of seeking out and
informing on those scattered individuals and groups who opposed the occupying Womaw regime. With its wide and
encompassing area of influence and sizable membership at the time of the Womaw arrival in the lands thirty years prior, the
Awdu Awg was already a powerfully prominent force in the region. It was still suffering from the effects of the Fall of
Morgoth, however, since much of their collective power had been rooted in worship of him and his minions. With the support
now of one of the strongest and most cohesive militaristic regimes in Middle-earth, the lords of the Awdu Awg saw clearly the
opportunity to further their influence and domination against realms not yet under their sway.

Heeding the prophesies of victory given her by the Awdu Awg's council of Seers, Kodiis in the year A.R. 241 (S.A. 241)
began a lightning campaign of conquest into the neighboring realms of Kael, Haen and the elven archipelago of Uiven. These
are all lands at the very easternmost tip of Middle-earth, something like 3,000 miles east of Mirkwood. Acquisition of Kael
brought under Womaw title the Red Pass, the principal highway connecting all lands east of the Orocarni with their
counterparts to the west. The Red Pass, after about 2,200 miles, becomes the Men Romen, which cuts south of Mirkwood, for
your information. The subjugation of Haen forced the indigenous Valg peoples of the region westward over the Orocarni,
spurring a subsequent retreat of the neighboring Mornerim (aka 'Lossorim') out of their homes along the shores of the Sea of
Illuin. These would become the Lossoth. The Lossoth, you will remember, carried as ransom Aragorn's Ring of Barahir and
the Sceptre of Annuminas after Arvedui's demise. Uiven in the East fell to Kodiis after bitter struggle with the Womaw armies
for four years.With an eye now to the isolated northern island kingdoms of Kosth Leer and Rolfandas, where the Womaw
enjoyed little support for their political and religious doctrines, Kodiis and a handful of elite retainers traveled to Goak to
petition the support of the great dragon Utumkodur. A tenuous alliance was agreed upon. Flying north in the broad light of day,
Utumkodur razed to the ground the principal Kosth Leer trade city of Sh'raz in a fury of fire and devastation, returning south
only after assuring the huddled masses of refugees of his return should they refuse his minions' demands. Taking the
suggestion to heart, the already besieged southern island realm of Thruiac surrendered to Womaw naval forces in A.R. 252
(S.A. 252) while the Kharal (So. 'King") of Kosth Leer abdicated his kingdom's throne in A.R. 259 to an interim governor who
sailed in from the Womaw naval base at Moak with a troop of war-hardened colonial Rangers for support.

It was during this time that Kodiis commissioned the Elven smith Sulcu, an apprentice under Curufin the son of Feanor, to
construct an enchanted forge above the holy fires at the pit of Ayiig Chig (So. "Caves of Fire") in Aegan. Reputed to be the site
of the baptismal fires of those Balrogs who entered into Morgoth's service before the Count of Time, the white forge was
called Uon (So. Cloud"). This name was indicative of the perpetual mists enshrouding the mountain's icy and snow-covered
heights wherein were built the cavernous forges. The smiths of Uon labored for many years during the erstwhile Womaw
conquest of the Wom lands withouth, and by the end of A.R. 256 (S.A. 256) had produced many items of wonder, including
eight magical helms, six of which were to be known as the Dragonhelms (So. "Soeyaed"). They became the symbols of the
Awdu Awg, and tools of the Emperor into the Fourth Age a long long time later. Incidentally, Khamul has one of
these.Incensed by the continued rejection of Womaw rule by the Sea-lords of Rolfandas, and following an interminable series
of inconclusive naval battles in and around the Forogaer (elven for "North Sea") that had only resulted in a stalemate for better
than forty years, Kodiis again called upon Utumkodur for assistance. The Drake responded in A.R. 280 by flying northward
intent upon the destruction of the Rolfandas captial Tukor. Word of the deed reached the Elves of Helcar Sael, who finally
spoke out from their subservient silence in outrage against the use of the Dragon as a weapon of conquest. Acknowledging at
last the dissent between her people's ideals and those harbored by the elven folk, Kodiis allowed the Firstborn the exclusive
right to leave those lands controlled by the Womaw without fear of open warfare. This the Avar Elves of Helcar Sael did,
abandoning their land to their Womaw neighbors and moving westward over the Cirith Cuivienen they resettled by their
brethren in Helcarth. Displeased at the sundering of a previously powerful alliance with the Helcarim, Kodiis nonetheless
announced a new renaissance of growth and prosperity for her people. Written Soelaasi Bu (Old Ssoilassi) was declared as the
formal replacement of the Silvan script while the Drakespeech became the official tongue of all the Womaw. Khamul's name is
an appellation of Komul, which was what he was called in the East. Early in A.R. 281, reeling from the sudden though hardly
unexpected onslaught of Utumkodur, the Sea-lords of Rolfandas sent an ambassador to the Womaw court of Goak on the Lake
announcing unilateral surrender. Rolfandas became the last of all realms east of the Orocarni to fall under Womaw dominion,
together forming the new empire that would be called Womawas Drus (So. "Empire of the Womaw"), or literally 'All that is
seen is Womaw'. Their territory covered lands in size of all of Eriador and Rhovanion...their sister lands in the west, as it were.

The Surk -- a.k.a. Vulmaw -- represented the fourth principal Womaw tribe and were masters of the isle of Thuriac. In S.A.
282 they called for rebellion against the Womawas Drus, and were crushed at sea in the Bulchyamiis, off the northeastern coast
of Aegan. They subsequently left Thuriac and sailed to Argiac and Vuulm (Vulm Shryac).
Later History of Womawas Drus (Summarized from various ICE sources):

Around A.R. 900 the Numenoreans established trade embassies in Womaw territories. For the next 650 years the Numenoreans
expanded their domination of the lands south of Womawas Drus. They gained concessions from the Womaw and threatened
the stability of Womawas Drus.In A.R. 1744 Komul (original name of Khamul) was born in Laeg Goak, son of Mul Tanul, the
Hionvor (Wm. High-lord) of the Womaw. His mother, Klea-Shay, a member of the Shay race, died when Komul was seven.
He was raised by Tanul's Avari consort Dardarian raised him until Komul assumed the throne of Womawas Drus in A.R. 1844.
He was Hionvor and Mul (Wm. King) of the Womaw, and so had elven blood in his veins, which increased his and his people's
lifespan beyond that of normal men. The Womaw were heavily influenced by the Avari and practiced wood and word magic,
and had dominated eastern Middle-Earth for over a thousand years. By A.R. 1994, many of the Hiona no longer swore
allegiance the Hionvor, Komul. Komul turned to Dardarian for help. They met at the Isle of Sunrises, the easternmost point of
Middle-Earth. There the Avari Queen seduced Komul, and an alliance was formed between Womawas Drus and the Avari
Kingdom of Helkanen. This alliance led to the Numenorean concessions of the First Acknowledgement in A.R. 1995.
Dardarian was actually a servant of Sauron, and in A.R. 1996 she offered Komul one of the Nine Rings of Men. Komul
disappeared from Laeg Goak in the spring of S.A. 1997 after being isolated for seven months, heading for Mordor.

Overview of the Lands of the Wowamas Drus (From the Homelands Gazetteer)

Aegan (I-J, 25-26)

Situated between the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains") and the Romenëar, Aegan is a large, heavily forested coastal region
renowned for its myriad tree species. Its two grand temperate forests provide home to hundreds of different maples, oaks,
chestnuts, cherries, hickories, elms, pines, and spruces. Besides yielding countless medicinal resources, lumber and pitch for
boats, and various oils and syrups, the rich woodlands shelter numerous beasts. Large cats and apes dominate the local chain of
life. The Aegaw reside throughout Aegan. A Womarin-speaking people, they constitute the southern branch of the same Hildo
family that produced the Womaw. The four Aegaw tribes-the Uonurk (central), Ornurk (west), Dawurk (east), and Arxurk
(south)-share a largely-common culture with their brethren across the Bay of Swirling Waters. Only geography sunders their
union. A watery gulf and rugged mountains help restrict free movement and, because Aegan's two rivers (the Orosîr and
Dawahîr) run southward, the Aegaw focus much of their commercial attention toward the south. Like the Womaw, the Aegaw
enjoy a strong, somewhat rigid political tradition. The four tribes each elect their leader, a "Hion," in an annual midwinter's
moot. Blood plays a major part in these elections, and it is not unusual for one family to oversee a tribe for a number of
centuries. Every four years, the election is especially important, for afterwards the four Hioni join to select another individual
as Hionvol. The Hionvol serves as the Over-chief of all the Aegaw. He resides at Uon, where he maintains the Four Shrines,
conducts foreign policy, and wages war. Aegaw symbolism is rich and varied. Nature and family provide many of the themes.
All four Aegaw tribes carry similar banners, each a two-color design with a stylized tree emblazoned on a contrasting field.
The Ornurk's flag involves a dark red pine on a pale lavender background, symbolizing their affiliation with the Orosîr Valley.
A green maple on a white field serves as the symbol of the less numerous but powerful Uonurk. The plentiful Dawurk carry a
banner that nearly mirrors this design, for it displays a silver oak on a green field. A yellow cherry on a black field denotes the
Arxurk. When joined, the Aegaw carry a large flag incorporating all four of the tribal fields (lavender, white, green, and black)
and adorned with a black chestnut tree-the symbol of tribal unity

Cuivac Wômaw (G-H, 29-30)

One of the oldest Hildor realms, Cuivac Wômaw is the ancestral home of the Womac people - one of the four original Womaw
tribes. It comprises the southeast portion of the great peninsula known the Quendi as "Cuivistar." This cool, grassy land is
graced with rich soil, fine harbors, and a surprisingly moderate climate.

Góak (F, 28)

Situated north and east of the Womaw Reach, the easternmost arm of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"), Góak is a large,
rugged peninsula. Thick hardwood forests occupy most of its rocky coasts, while swift, chilly rivers and extremely deep lakes
dominate the inland areas along the mountain flanks. Ceer Góak, a great swamp surrounding the mouth of the Góak River
(Wm. "Aceer Góak"), lies in the southeasternmost corner of this ancient Womaw homeland. Like the rest of the old "core-
lands" of Womawas Drus - which includes Wôm Shryac, Cuivac Wômaw, and Móak - Góak is named for the tribe that first
settled its cool but temperate hills. Their tribal center at Aalk Góak on Leer Góak still serves as one of the Womaw's four
capitals. Great hunters and fisherman, the Góakaw are the most revered Womaw line.

Haen (D, 26-27)

Situated along the northeastern flank of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"). Haen is a cold but temperate peninsula surrounded
by the Weer Womaw (Wm. "Womaw Gulf"). Haenac Tataweer serves as the capital, but the Hion of Haen lives sixty-four
miles to the north, at the Eight Tiered Hall above the watery Haen Steps. Established by the Aokos family - the most revered of
Haen's original families-the hall is a major center of Womarin-based scholarship.
Helcar Sael (G-H, 25-26)

Helcar Sael lies along a narrow coastal shelf on the eastern flank of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"). It comprises the rich
and well-protected Sael Valley, which once served as the principal eastern route into Cuiviénen. The uppermost part of this
wide river vale is called Parth Úrulis, the "Field of Fire-honey," in name of its nectar-rich flowers. The Cirith Úrulis is the
main pass through the central Orocarni. It leads east and then north to Moinarlin - "Monarlan" in the Womaw tongue - a great
collection of waterfalls that spill into a pool that feeds the river Cuivisîr and the great lake of Helkanen in Helcarth. Úrulis is
actually a cross-shaped vale. The centermost portion is home to the hallowed Ayiigawm, the "Dragon-fields," wherethe
Womaw bury their High-kings-the so-called "Hionvori." Here, a complex of huge, circular grass arrows linked by stone-lined
subterranean halls covers an area of about sixty-four square miles. Haututumkodur stands at the center and serves as the
resting-place for the golden drake that helped educate and unite the founders of Womawas Drus. The Avari of Helcarth refer to
the place as "Angulókaparsi." Though the Elves regularly pass by the area, they are careful to respect its sacred boundaries.
Ironically, few Hildor ever see the place. Most turn away when they see one of the sixteen laen Dragon statues that mark the
border of the burial ground. Tatamúrilis, a Womaw port city near the mouth of the Sael, houses nearly three quarters of the
area's hundred thousand Womarin-speaking residents. Aligned along four huge, interconnected bridges, it is a marvel of
stonemasonry. The town serves as the principal point of exchange between the Womaw, Aegaw, and the Avari. It is the chief
city in the Red Gulf (which the Aegaw call the "Bay of Swirling Waters").

Helcarth (note - The realm of Helkanen mentioned in various ICE sources is certainly Helcarth). (F-G, 24-25)

Situated around a long, exceedingly deep lake tucked into the steep western flank of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"), a
remnant of the now-lost Inland Sea of Helcar, Helcarth is a mysterious Avar realm. Legends suggest that it constitutes part of
ancient Cuiviénen, the old coastal home of the Quendi (see above). Helcarth's Elven overlords live in a beautiful, pastural land
characterized waterfalls and streamside parks. A great circular earth-wall surrounds their kingdom. Thus, the Avari remain
apart from the Hildor. The three entries into Helcarth all follow long, heavily-guarded channels and passageways. Only the
East-gate, the "Doors of Morning," are kept unlocked. They open toward Moinarlin (Q. "Dear Exalted Mere"), a pool fed by
three waterfalls and the birthplace of the river Cuivisîr. The Doors of Morning actually open onto a grass-covered road that
winds under the great cataract spills out from Moinarlin. The fall forms a watery arch that gives birth to a virtually perpetual
rainbow. The Cuivisîr is one of three major streams emptying into the great lake of Helkanen. Helkanen is all that remains of
the Gaer Helkar. Its cold shores form the core of the Avari's guarded homeland.

Kael (E-F, 26-27)

Kael is located just east of the central Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"). It lies along the southwestern shores of the Weer
Womaw, the gulf west of the Womaw Sea (Wm. "Oweer Womaw"). Famous for its "Stone-walks," four covered highways, it
is a civilized and well-settled land. Only the swamps of northern and eastern Kael remain untamed.

Karn Ord (H-J, 25)

Situated along the southeastern flank of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"), west of the river Orosîr, Karn Ord is populated by
a mix of Aegaw and Ubain peoples. Most speak Womarin, although many in the western highlands speak an old Linerin
dialect.

Kosth Leer (B-D, 28-32)

The largest island chain in the Romenëar, Kosth Leer is comprised of nine major, and hundreds of minor, isles. The
archipelago delineates the northern boundary of the Womaw Sea (Wm. "Oweer Womaw"). To the west is the Weer Womaw,
the or "Womaw Gulf," while the frigid Helkëar lies to the north. Unlike Uiven to the south, Kosth Leer is surrounding by cold,
shifting currents and strong north winds. It is a rugged and nearly treeless domain populated by tough Womaw seafarers.
Tatamaac Pîvaan, the capital, houses no more than ten thousand residents.

Móak (F-G, 30-31)

Móak is the easternmost region on the Endorean mainland, and constitutes the eastern "Core-land" of Womawas Drus.

Rôlfandas (A-C, 27-28)

Rôlfandas is a collection of islands located off the coast of northeastern Middle-earth, at the junction of the Romenëar and
Helkëar. The Weer Womaw (Wm. "Womaw Gulf") lies to the south. The 500 hundred mile long archipelago is actually an
isolated section of what was once the northern Orocarni. Tall, red peaks still rise from the center of Vor Rôlfandas, the chain's
main island. The northernmost home of Womarin-speaking peoples, Rôlfandas has long been occupied; however, few folk live
on any of the smaller isles. The vast majority of the areas hunters, trappers, and fishermen reside by the sheltered eastern
shores of Vor Rôlfandas. Rôlaalk-the center of the Rôl and Obaar clans of the Ruulurk tribe-is the region's chief city and
traditional capital.
Thuriac Codya (H-J, 27-29)

The largest island off the coast of Middle-earth, Thuriac Codya is the ancient home of the Surk Womaw.

Uiven (D-E, 31)

Uiven is a collection of six (and numerous lesser) large islands located in the Romenëar. They stretch about four hundred miles
north and two hundred miles east of Móak, the easternmost point on the Endorean mainland. They guard the eastern channels
into the Womaw Sea. Womarin-speaking fishermen reside throughout the cold, windy area.

Womawas Drus (A-K, 25-32)

Womawas Drus encompasses all of the areas once ruled by the lords of Lochas proper. Administrative units were organized
along cultural lines and basically correspond to traditional ethnic areas. After the division of the empire in T.A. 1794, various
kingdoms and confederations arose in most of Lochas Drus' [Ed. Note: Insert "Womawas" for "Lochas"] districts and often
strived to eliminate any obvious vestiges of their elder subserviency; nonetheless, the names and borders of these smaller
realms were generally the same as they had always been, regardless of who was master.

Wôm Shryac (F-H, 28)

Located south and east of the Womaw Reach, the easternmost arm of the Orocarni (Q. "Red Mountains"), Wôm Shryac is the
westernmost of the four "Core-lands" of Womawas Drus. It stretches from the Aceer Shryac in the west to the Sor Cuivan in
the east. The Womaw Reach and the Aceer Góak form its northern boundary, while the Romenëar defines its southern edges.

Languages of the Womaw (Derived from Homelands Gazetteer):

The original language of the Womaw was Womarim, a 4th generation langauge with a vocabulary base of Eastern American
Indian, which was spoken in Northeast Middle Earth. The native name for Womarim was Ssoilaasi (Drakespeech). Womarim
probably gave rise to three 5th generation languages, all with a vocabulary base of Eastern American Indian: Argawin, spoken
in the Far East, Lochan, spoken in the Southeast, and Vulman, spoken in the Far Southeast. These three descendant languages
were spoken in the lands south of Womawas Drus. In addition before A.R. 280, the Womaw used Betheur (Silvan) as their
high tongue.

Peoples of the Womaw (Derived from all texts):

There appear to have been four original tribes of the Womaw people. The sources differ on the names as well as where they
originated. The Homelands information indicates that the four tribes came from the four "Core-Lands." The Góakaw are from
Góak, the Womac are from Cuivac Wômaw, the Móak are from Móak and some other tribe (unnamed), is from Wôm Shryac,
although a fifth tribe, the Surk, are listed as being from Thuriac Codya.

Steve Landes indicates that there were originally four tribes, the Krawaan Goak, the Aegaw, the Lokaw and the Surk. The
Krawaan Goak came from Goak, while the Surk (also called the Vulmaw) were masters of Thuriac Codya. However, the
material also indicates that the original inhabitants of Cuivac Wômaw were called Suurk Kaelaan. The Suurk Kaelaan are
probably another name for the Surk.

The best synthesis is to probably to assume that the Homelands list of "Core-lands" of Womawas Drus is correct and then
make the Krawaan Goak equivalent to the Góakaw and have them originally inhabit Góak, the Surk originally inhabit Cuivac
Wômaw and then migrate to Thuriac Codya. Then assign the Lochaw and Aegaw to Móak and Wôm Shryac, although which
to which I am not sure of. Physically the Womaw men have an average height of 6'3" with an average wieght of 195 pounds.
Those of high lineage generally have fair, beardless faces, with grey eyes and straight black hair.

Politics of Womawas Drus

The Womaw people are subdivided into kingdoms and tribes, each of which is governed by a Hion (Wm. Lord or King). With
the formation of an empire, the various Hion became subservient to a single Hionvor (also spelled Hionvol in Aegan) (Wm.
High-Lord), who also had the title of Mul (Wm. King). The organization was probably feudal, with each incoming Hion
swearing fealty to the Hionvor. The feudal system is probably what caused the later disintigration of Wowamas Drus. The
main political capital of Womawas Drus was located in Goak, in Laeg Goak, which was on the shore of the Goak's inland lake.
In addition there were three other capitals in each of the original Womaw Core-lands. Appointment to the office of Hion or
Hionvor appears to have originally been by election, but probably turned into a familial line of descent during the height of the
Womawas Drus. There appear to have been at least 12 major political divisions in Wowamaw Drus: Rolfandas, Uiven, Haen,
Kael, Wom Shyrac, Cuivac Womaw, Thuriac Codya, Aegan, Goak, Helcar Sael, Kosth Leer, and Moak. Each of these realms
probably had an independent Hion (and some probably had more), although the Hionvor of Womawas Drus was probably also
Hion of Goak. After the disintigration of Womawas Drus, the realms went their various ways, with some, like Aegan, electing
independent Hionvol as well as Hion, and others just a Hion.
Collin

Wainrider Kingdom

Date: 6 May 2000 15:17:27 -0400

Date: Sat, 06 May 2000 12:25:18 -0700
From: Collin Raymond <Collin.Raymond@asu.edu>
Subject: Wainrider Kingdom
Anyone else notice a possible problem with ICE's description of the
Wainrider Kingdom? ICE seems to have it expand over almost all of
Rhovanion east of Mirkwood and South of the Iron Hills. In Unfinished
Tales however, Tolkien says that after the Wainriders attack "a few
[Northmen], it is said, fled over the Celduin and were merged with the
folk of Dale under Erebor, some took refuge in Gondor..." (pg 289).
This seems to imply that the area around Dale remained free from
Wainrider Domination. Obviously you could say that the Wainriders later
conquered Dale, but the feeling I got from the text was that it remained
independent. I just wondered if anyone else had ever noticed this
problem (only one of the many in Mirkwood and associated products)?

It is also interesting to note that this text pushes back the founding
of Erebor to at least late 1800 T.A. In fact, if you read "Peoples of
Middle Earth" text there indicates that Erebor was founded sometime in
the First Age, along with Dwarf Holds in the Grey Mountains and Iron
Hills. Rather cool.

Collin