Arg-Sîmorîg Ancient place where Sauron hid himself from the Valar at the end of the First Age;

he apparently
corrupted it around 500 SA, destroying this paradise. The First and Early Second Ages A large isle located in
southeastern Endor, Arg-Sîmoríg was a blessed domain renowned for its swift streams, clear lakes and
well-protected harbors. It was among the prettiest sites in all of Endor. Situated in the shadow of the Orosúlo, it
rose out of a triangular gulf called the Yawning Bay. Two hilly peninsulas, Faelaan (to the north) and Ka'ish (to the
south), surrounded the seaward sides of the bay, as if a pair of arms reached eastward from the mountains in order to
capture the island and its surrounding waters. The Argaw ruled Arg-Sîmoríg. They were descendants of the
Womaw settlers who seized the island from its indigenous Fale inhabitants. These Argawin speaking people
remained close to their ancestral kinsmen, and maintained strong trade ties with the Aegaw and Lochaw, who also
descended from the Womaw. A very civilized and urbanized society, most Argaw resided in the four cities of
northern Arg-Sîmoríg: Zyras (at the northern tip), Símor (on the east coast), and Tor and Nhaag (north of the large,
central lake called the Stoybûr). The only remaining Fale settlements were sprinkled in hills west of the Akaak
Wetlands, in the southwestern quarter of the isle. Steep mountains rose along the western coast of Arg-Sîmoríg.
Here, the landscape precluded road building and most travel is seaborne. Although the area accommodated
numerous fishing villages, it was devoid of larger settlements. Southern Arg-Sîmoríg was dominated by a vast
marsh, the Akaak Wetlands. Fed by the river Akaak and subterranean runoff from the Stoybûr, it was a sea of
swampy grasslands. Few people lived in this rich but inhospitable area. Aside from the Akaak, the Aróak was the
only navigable river on the island. It served as the Stoybûr's only negotiable outlet to the Yawning Bay. Fifty miles
long, it connected Símor, the area's largest city, to Nhaag, the capital. Boats from Símor, which was situated at the
mouth of the Aróak can easily make their way upstream to the Stoybûr. Nhaag was only a fifteen mile journey across
the deep lake. The symbol of Arg-Sîmoríg was a diving, black marsh-hawk; this stylized bird adorned the flag of
the Argaw, a triangular white banner with a blue frame. Fourth Age Arg-Sîmorîg became a cult and ritual spot
important to the remaining Sauronists of the Fourth Age, represented in 752 by Jírdfos (AShadow of Shadows@).
The Temple of Sauron appeared as a giant Eye of Flame, probably centred on ancient Nhaag; only Pallando was able
to guarantee access for Ilinia and her entourage when they rescued Telewen in 752 (AShadow of Shadows@). Arg-
Sîmorg, being located near Sind and Címoníemor, was uniquely concerned with the Seventh Sister and the ancient
Morgothic injunction to find and destroy the Daughters of Balorin, even as the Sauronic heirarchy concerned itself
with more pressing and less metaphysical matters of state.

Bávor=s Folk The Fourth House of the Dwarves, also called the Stiffbeards. Taking their leave of Thelór=s Folk and
abandoning their ancestral mansion because of Thelór=s fall into the Shadow, the Stiffbeards migrated south to the
Yellow Mountains, settling first in Nárad-dûm (under Nár), and later in Mablad-dûm and Blackflame in the Seven
Dominions; there they fought the soldiers and sorcerors of Akhôrahil. Nakor Korlan was a prince of the Yellow
Mountain Dwarves, and his son inherited the throne of Bávor=s Folk in the late eighth century FA. Evefalin was
another Dwarf-hold, lost twice to the Southern Dragon, first under Akhorahil and later under Itangast the Drake.

Dwarves Aulë=s people, traditionally divided into Seven Houses, each founded by a Father directly created by
Aulë: the Longbeards (First House, of Durin), the Flamebeards (Second House, of Dwalin), the Broadbeams (Third
House, of Thár), the Stiffbeards (Fourth House, of Bávor), the Ironfists (Fifth House, of Thelór), the Stonefoots
(Sixth House, of Drúin) and the Blacklocks (Seventh House, of Barin). Durin woke alone, but the others woke in
pairs: Dwalin and Thár in the Ered Luin, Bávor and Thelór in Chey Sart=s Ered Harmal, Drúin and Barin in the
Orósuli near Ruuriik. Durin was first among the Dwarves in all ways, and the place of his awakening and the place
of his greatest power (Gundabad and Khazad-dûm) were considered sacred to Dwarves of all Seven Houses; see
Durin=s Folk.

Kilwa Kisiwani Royal city on an island south of Jojojopo; Kilwa is also the name of the island, which is an
extension of the Jopî Kneel. Kilwa was an important trading centre between the Mûmakan, Greater Harad, the
Lochan empires and the Womaw throughout the Third Age. It towered above the sea, and much of its wealth came
from the gold mines at Sofala in Codya, which it controlled; this control was threatened by Wôlim raiding ships
using sorcery in 1711 TA (AGold@). It was ruled by a Sultan, in the Haradrim manner; its population was mercantile
in nature.
Lóchas Drûs [Dralian Empire] The ADominion of the Lochaw@ encompassed all of the areas once ruled by the lords
of Lochas proper; the Lochans were descendents of Womaw colonists who reached Vulm Shryac, and then turned
back towards their homeland centuries later under Woma Dral. Administrative units were organized along cultural
lines and basically correspond to traditional ethnic areas; this system had been instituted by the first Dral Hionvar,
Woma Dral (see Woma Dral), and lasted until his descendent Oervik Dral was driven from the throne and forced to
commit suicide in 27 TA. Demik Dral reunited the Empire under his family in TA 1148; his descendents ruled until
the coming of the Shadow in 1617. After the division of the Lochaw empire in T.A. 1794, various successor
kingdoms and confederations arose, many of which were based on ancient cultural divisions or claims. While
striving to eliminate any obvious vestiges of their long-standing subserviency, they often retained the names and
borders bequeathed by their Lochan- speaking overlords.

Lygar Kraw Kingdom of Pallando in eastern Middle-earth. Situated about three hundred miles west of the
Orocarni, Lygar Kraw is a marshy land. Swamps and ponds dot its lowland reaches, which are sundered by dense
hills. Two fen forests (one in the east and the other in the west) frame the territory. Most of Lygar Kraw's
Linerin-speaking people lived in fortified hill towns, where they engage in a broad array of crafts and subsist on a
varied diet; hunting, fishering, gardening, and animal husbandry are all practiced. Pallando=s Realm The historical
kingdom was founded in 2114 TA by the Khitan prince Yeh-lü Ta-shih, following the defeat of his people by the
Jurchaen (Womaw Time-line); Pallando settled here in about 2300 and founded the kingdom of Fëamardi (Womaw
Time-line). The heraldic device of Lygar Kraw under Pallando was a spinning wheel on charcoal grey (AFate=s
Shadow@ POR:I, AThe Dark Lady=s Tower@ SSIV:II); his personal guard were the fearsome Black Crows under the
ghost Li K=o-Yung (AThreads@ EQ:XVI). Escape from Lygar Kraw was difficult; a nameless mage did so with a
book in 740, but was eventually caught and killed by Wargs in Kehndral (AThe Morning After@ TK:III). In 746,
Pallando abandoned the kingdom following the Parliament of Ravens (ANothing Lasts Forever@ POR:III); in 757, an
evil Pallando again takes up residence before being slain by Haldir ná Lórien, who was nominated as king by the
resident Elves under Lakuin (AThreads@ EQ:XVI). The succession was disputed by Marlomir and Jantoka (Son of
Heaven). The borders of Lygar Kraw were marked by ebony obelisks with white letters, with Pallando=s power
demarcated in Sindarin, Quenya, Logathig and Womawas (ALost by Many Paths@ POR:II); by the Fourth Age
Pallando=s human guard was composed of Sarbardar tribesmen (ANothing Lasts Forever@ POR:III). Landmarks in
Lygar Kraw included an ancient Womaw road tower, Amon Rávasta, an Elven flet-village and a Womarin town, Ko-
sang. Lygar Kraw remained untouched by the ages, and was home to many historical marvels (POR; AI Know
What You Did Last Semester@ AHE:XI); John Mandeville reports his own journey through the demon-haunted place
in his Travels.

Natak-dûm [Natacia-Cairn] Mansion of Thelór=s Folk in the mountains on the western shore of the Sea of Rhûn;
founded after the majority of the House fell under the Shadow, and in the Fourth Age possibly the only remnent of
Thelór=s House left in Middle-earth. Jaelithe first met Dwarves at Natak-dûm, including Dwarves of the Ered Luin;
she became a Dwarf-friend.

Rakshasa Shape-shifting mortals capable of turning into tigers; similar to the Beijabair, they were the ruling family
of Morënarë (ARakshasa@ CA:VII) until the unnatural winter created by Hoarmûrath=s destruction of a gem of
Unlight in 1710 made the lands south of the Mûmakan uninhabitable (AA Cold Day in Hell@). The heraldic device
of the Rakshasa Princes of Morënarë was a crouching tiger on azure; Lankaran was the ruling prince of the clan
from at least 1703 until the migration in 1711 (ARakshasa@ CA:VII; AWounded Tigers@). Another famous rakshasa
was Tigellnaran (AWounded Tiger@).

Thelór=s Folk The Fifth House of the Dwarves, also called the Ironfists. They awoke beside Bávor=s Folk in the
Ered Harmal near Chey Sart; many may have stayed after Bávor=s Folk migrated south, but a small group went north
to Natacia-Cairn, or Natak-dûm. The cause of the migrations appears to have been the corruption of the majority of
Thelór=s Folk by the Shadow; an unknown Dwarf-king returned Thelór=s Ring to Sauron, directly or through Ren.
Two of Thélor=s Folk, Nárin and Bogli, were dwelling in Dol Guldur when they encountered Bifur and Bofur, and
were killed as traitors (ADwarves@ SSIV:III).

Ûster Kryl Ûster Kryl is an oasis of trees and hills in the vast grass sea known as the East-plain of Endor. It is
occupied by sedentary, Linerin-speaking dairymen and farmers called the Ûsteri. Their famous 650 mile long
ARope-wall@ is a marvel of engineering. A 6 foot high fence made of laquered wood and well-oiled hemp, it resists
both fire and rot. It encircles the entire area. In the mid-Third Age, the Wizard Alatar founded a kingdom in the
forest called Luinemar, which included sovereignty over Daldunair as well; his adopted daughter Lossiriel inherited
the kingdom in 756. It was known as the Round Western Forest to the Womaw (AThunder in the Absence of
Clouds@ Son:VII).
Vulm Shryac Vulm Shryac is the easternmost isle in Endor's great Southern Archipelago. It was inhabited by the
Vulmaw-descendants of the Surk Womaw who first settled the area after 472 SA. Womul of Móak conquered the
local Wose tribes in 474 SA on behalf of the Hion Jaariis. His elite Vrak Taanuk (Wm. ACoast Runners@), comprised
the first Vulmaw aristocracy, and their kinsmen still hold sway throughout the region. Strangely, though, four
sites-the most famous being the Shrine-forges at Leag Oac-remain sacrosanct and uninhabited. In the Third Age,
they were secret base of Hoarmûrath near Morënarë, from which he destroyed a Gem of Unlight in 1710; although
he was forced by Nefertæ, Valkrist and Marthis the Younger to flee, he had proved that the gems, destroyed, would
release winter-like conditions (AA Cold Day in Hell@). Ilinia and her entourage were washed ashore here after the
destruction of Samudra=s ship in 752 FA (AShadow of Shadows@); the island appeared deserted.

Waw Both an island and an archipelago, Waw lies off the southeastern coast of Lochas Drus, near the
so-called Shelf-lands by the Mountains of the Wind. It was settled by the Wôlim during the second
and third centuries of the Second Age, and was the centre of the Nazgûl Dwar=s empire. Dwar=s sphere of influence
extended as far as Sofala, where Wôlim ships were raiding gold-barges bound for Kilwa Kisiwani in 1711 TA
(AGold@). It was visited in 746 by Ilinia and Haldir; they battled the Kalamukha sect and Deoric Deorson found
Dwar=s Nazgûl-tome (ASeventh Sister and the Death-Cult@). The island was long inhabited by evil dogs, the results
of many foul experiments on man=s best friend; there were apparently still people on the island in the Fourth Age, as
Araminta (2) was said to be from Waw.

Woma Dral In 347 SA Woma Dral of the Surk (a tribe of the Womaw) brought his great fleet to Cleaac, on the
southeastern coast of Endor. He was in search of new and fertile territory for his tired horde of warriors. The
residents of the area at that time called themselves the ALakhab@ (lit. ACoast folk@), and lived in modest communities
situated by the rocky promontories where their warlords erected citadels of earth and rude stonework. An armed
landing by a Surk battle-group set the tone for subsequent relations between the two peoples. And so, the
Cunaaci-aac-Aalkbroda= (L. ABattle of Hillholds@) decided who would be master of the fertile lands west of the Ams
Breacna= (L. ARiver of Great Memories@). Woma Dral was given the Laath of Hionvor on the first day of 348 SA (the
first year of the Lochan Second Age). His reign initiated a new period in the history of southeastern Endor; for the
first time, an organized, centralized society embarked on a campaign of conquest. Woma Dral began to carefully
shape the nature of his new ALochas@ (L. ANever-ending Glen@) from the very outset. Using a modest set of laws
which had been brought from his homeland of Uon on Vulm Shryac, he fashioned a state based on the eight
traditional kindreds of Vuulmaw. Four pairings of tribal moieties were settled in distinct geographical districts: (1) in
Halocha, the Shom and Vaeliic, both Surk, settled; (2) the Tawurk, Wom and Runaas, lived in the western Haen of
Rualocha; (3) the Moak, including the Niviis and Chorn, held Diolocha; and (4) the Narig, composed of the Krawn
and Uoniis tribes, held sway along the Breachna in Maralocha. Woma Dral=s descendents ruled Lóchas Drûs from
348-27 TA, and again from 1148-1794 (see Lóchas Drûs).

Womaw Empire [Womawas Drus] The Womaw people are subdivided into kingdoms and tribes, each of which is
governed by a Hion (originally Wm. ALord or King@). With the formation of an empire, the various Hion became
subservient to a single Hionvor (also spelled Hionvol in Ahguan) (Wm. AHigh-Lord@), who also had the title of Mul
(Wm. AKing@). The organization was probably feudal, with each incoming Hion swearing fealty to the Hionvor.
The feudal system is probably what caused the later disintegration of Wowamas Drus. The main political capital
of Womawas Drus was located in Góak (later Gókien), in Laeg Góak, which was on the shore of Góak'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 early Second Age, followed by imperial nomination in the Third. Provincial Organization There
appear to have been at least 12 major political divisions in Wowamaw Drus: Rolfandas, Uiven, Haen, Kael
(Khaetin), Wom Shyrac (Shensi and Shansi), Cuivac Womaw (Kiangnan), Thuriac Codya (Thukshi-Codya), Aegan
(Ahguan), Góak (Gókien), Helcar Sael (Helqisi), Kosth Leer, and Móak (Maekche). Each of these realms
probably originally had an independent Hion (and some probably had more), although the Hionvor of Womawas
Drus was probably also Hion of Góak. After the collapse of Womawas Drus in the mid-Second Age, the realms
went their various ways, with some, like Anhwei, electing independent Hionvol as well as Hion, and others just a
Hion. Reunification under the Qianli occurred in 2913, and largely continued despite numerous dynastic changes
until 749 FA; imperial nomination in the provincial administrations had begun to replace familial descent as early as
the 11th century TA, under Hionvar Laoting.
Womaw Moon Called Tilion=s Jewel by Elven scholars, the Moon is a pearl recovered from a Mulkána, a black-
shelled giant oyster; it is the largest on record, seven inches in diameter. Its early history is one of bloodshed: it
was found by fishermen, who were slain by the brigands of Toro-kan the Reaver, himself slain by the Emperor Qian
Ti=s soldiers in 2982 SA. Qian Ti built a magnificent palace solely to house the Moon, which became an imperial
symbol; the theft of the Moon in 720 FA by Bruernil Rocharn split the Empire until its restoration by Liyana and
Amarië in 759 (APearl@ EQ:XXIV). Bruernil was accompanied by Chinari Yalos, a mage, and three fighters, Leith,
Harin and Twálin.