Lóchas Drûs

Excerpt from Pete Fenlon's “An Artist's Interpretation of Middle Earth”

In Middle-earth Role Playing, Lóchas Drûs ("Dominion of the Lochaw") was a region in the south of the farthest East. It encompassed all areas once ruled by the Lochaw empire, at the southeast of the Mountains of the Wind.

Geography

Brôd

Brôd was a realm situated between the rivers Kirmóas (north), Runk (south), and Breacna (east). The Mountains of the Wind served as its western boundary. The Brôdim culture was a mix of local Braric traditions with Lochan and Wôlim influences. The Brôdim spoke the same language as the Wôlim, sharing a common social organization. Their political organization resembled that of the Lochaw.

Its major urban centers were Sôgôl, Runk, and Brôd. Sôgôl, located on the south bank of the Kirmóas river, was a wealthy town that guarded the Wind Gates which was a pass through the mountains. Brôd was located more centrally, and while the least populated, it still served as the realm's political and religious center. Runk was named after the river and was situated near a waterfall. It guarded the sole bridge crossing the river.

The Braric symbol, the plain white orb, was displayed on Brôd's Lochan-inspired flag. It was set on a field diagonally divided into four. Each division represented a cardinal direction: the east was red, the south was green, the west was purple, and the north was blue.

Locha

Locha was the core of the Lochaw empire, located east of the river Breacna. Before being settled, it was inhabited by Lakhab (“Coast-folk”) and likely known as Cleeac.

Wôl

Wôl was the most southern part of Lóchas Drûs. It was originally inhabited by the Wôlim, who spoke a tongue related to Pûkael. The Wôlim were described as war-like, often fighting against the Brôdan and neighbouring Ts'dan. They also settled Waw in the second and third centuries of the Second Age.

History

Chief Woma Dral of the Womaw tribe Surk sailed to Cleeac in South Eastern Middle-earth in S.A. 347. His Vuulmaw warriors immediately came into conflict with the local Lakhab, culminating in the Cunaaci-aac-Aalkbroda ("Battle of Hillholds"). This resulted in him being proclaimed the High Chief in S.A. 348, leading the first push towards centralization in the region, settling his Vuulmaw throughout the various parts of his new Lochas (“Never-ending Glen”).

At some point before T.A. 1051, Waw had been conquered by the Lochaw, but it declared itself independent again in T.A. 1617 after centuries of rebellion fomented by the Ringwraith Dwar of Waw.

The Lochaw empire was divided in T.A. 1794, leading to the rise of successor states that often followed previous cultural and political lines.