...¤A brief overview of Rulers of Arda¤...

¤Rulers of Arda is a post Lord of the Rings RPG, currently set over thirty years after the war of the Ring, and Sauron's fall. It follows the books loosely. King Aragorn, or King Elessar rules Gondor along with Arwen, Prince Eldarion is training to be king. Rohan is ruled by King Eomer, and Prince Elfwine is training. The few elves still in middle earth are ruled by Legolas. The elves live only in Lothlorien and Rivendell, as the Dark Lord captured Mirkwood. The Mouth of Sauron currently rules Mordor and Mirkwood, though has changed his name to Melkor.¤

(If you are not aquinted with the RoA v.1 and 2, those histories are below.)

¤Seventeen years have past since the Dark Lord ended his campaign, capturing Mirkwood, and then stopping his onslaught. What seemed to be a successful campaign ended, Melkor left the forest of Mirkwood, leaving several of the reincarnated wraiths to over see that no elves returned to it. And, for seventeen years, the Dark Lord seemed docile, content in Mordor, leaving the free lands alone, letting them continue rebuilding from the War of the Ring, though there are now fewer who remember it.¤

¤But now, though peace has not ended, worry has once again entered the lands, brought about by an escaped Mordor slave. What news he carried? That Melkor had taken a wife, a great sorceress, and now, had two heirs, a son and a daughter, fraternal twins. And that was all the information he carried, for he collapsed from weariness. In the morning when the Gondorian servant came to check on the man, he had commited suicide.¤

¤The time of peace will soon be over. Melkor has trained his children well, and now letting them fend for themselves. They wander the lands, honing their dark skills, occasionally returning to Mordor with news for their father and mother. The number of missing people have risen in Gondor and Rohan. Strangers are no longer as welcome as they once were, as the people are less trusting than before. Many are now asking the Valar for help, and they have heeded the cries. Gandalf the White and his mount Shadowfax have been sent back to Middle Earth, to help in the times which threaten to darken again.¤

¤Who will you play? The bounty hunter after the Heir's valuable heads? The vengeful elf wanting revenge upon the man who stole you home? Or the Dark Lord's spy, keeping a close but unseen eye on the Heir's?¤

¤There are many main characters left, such as Prince Eldarion, King Eomer, Prince Elfwine, Queen Lothiriel of Rohan, Gandalf the White, and Eowyn.¤

¤You do not have to know a lot about Lord of the Rings to join, but you do need to have a willingness to learn. All levels of RPing are accepted¤

¤Rulers of Arda¤

¤Version 1, Shadow's Return history¤

The Ring of Power was destroyed. Frodo and Sam were rescued from Mount Doom. Everyone was happy, life was returning to what it should be. Everyon that, is, except for those in Mordor. The Mouth of Sauron fled the Black Gate after speaking with Gandalf and Aragorn ((according to the book, he flees)), to his tower of Cirith Gorgor. When the Ring was destroyed, Barad-Dûr crumbled, and the Black Land shook in earthquakes. Cirith-Gorgor sustained damage, but was not destroyed. The Mouth of Sauron survived, along with his bodyguards. In several days, the recovered what little of the scrolls of Barad-Dûr, before fleeing to Harad before Mordor was searched for survivors. After several years in Harad, the Mouth (now calling himself Melkor), gained the alliegance of the Harad King. The King sent Mordor slaves to help rebuild, and five years later, Mordor was an efficient country once more. When news of Melkor returning reached King Aragorn's ears, he sent a scouting party to Mordor. None of them returned. A year after the scouting party was sent, Aragorn's daughter foolishly rode into Mordor, and was captured by Melkor. Melkor rode under gaurd to Minas Tirith, and struck a peace treaty with Aragorn. This treaty remained solid for one year, before orcs took over Minas Ithil, when the treaty promptly broke.

¤Version 2, War history¤

¤It has been several months since the peace treaty with Gondor was broken. Melkor gathered his forces, and his army left the Black Gate. However, Gondor was not the intended target. Mirkwood was. Melkor had sent word to Legolas, asking for Mirkwood's surrender. Legolas refused and Melkor sent an army.¤

¤The war was finished almost as soon as it was started. In the first battle, Melkor rendered Legolas unconcious. Legolas was captured, and Melkor retreated. Once in Dol-Guldur, Legolas was tortured, and his mind poisoned with dark magic. The first steps in becoming an orc. But this plan was stopped short-A rescue party broke into Dol-Guldur, and rescued Legolas.¤

¤However, the elven healers could not rid Legolas of the dark magic within him, and could not slow the process. But then, Melkor rode to the elven camp, offering his services to heal Legolas. The healers, desperate, allowed him passage to Legolas. And, leaving everyone surprise, Melkor healed Legolas, removing the poison from his mind. But Melkor had a price. The elves now had three days to leave Mirkwood, their home, was now under Melkor's rule.¤

¤Rulers of Arda¤, version 3, Heirs