Isengard: Plots, Quests & Features

 

 

 

 

 

Saruman the Wize has many colours. On his road to dominion over Middle-Earth, there will be many perils. 
For his orcs, the following traits will bestow Isengard:

Orc Factions Race Traits:

Followers of Melkor: Orcs serve Morgoth, the Maia who once ruled Angbad, and are eternal foes of all others.
(Units cause fear to all enemy factions, combat bonus at night)
Fiends: Orcs hate all true creatures of Eru and so they have no sympathy...or mercy for them.
(Increased income from looting and slaves, diplomatic penalty with all "good" factions)

Isengard Trait:

A New Power is rising: Saruman's new lust for power drives him to use his power as a wizard for all kinds of foul purposes, making Isengard a place where evil thrives.
(Bonus on industry income, faster research, major diplomatic penalty with all "good" factions)

Plots for the White Hand:

Already are the Uruk-Hai scouts scrutinizing the lands of Middle-Earth in search for the One Ring, Saruman must find it before Sauron does. Therefore, his eyes will be ever watchful.
We have an extended manuscript for the One Ring quests starting from Bilbo's party all the way up to the Council of Elrond. This also includes a scenario in which Saruman acquires the One Ring. When he does, be ready for some serious stuff. Even the Dark Lord will have to recheck is defences against the oncoming tide of the White Hand.
For victory, the possession of the One Ring might prove vital in determinating who dominates Middle-Earth...

Quests: the breeding of the Uruk-Hai:

Not always have Saruman's plots been able to recruit his Uruk-Hai. In order to do so, there must be research and experiment to gain the trust of the Dark Lord, after which, the Uruk-Hai will be breed inevitably and will swarm the plains of the Horselords:

Quest #1: "The Treason of Isengard"

*The Free Peoples of Middle-Earth do not know what storm is coming. The ancient realms of the Dúnedain lay in waste or have fallen into decay. The northmen are weak, caring only for their own survival. They have seen too many winters. All men are scattered, devided, leaderless.The Dwarves only care for their own treasures underground. They will not come to anyone's aid. Only the Eldar know what doom lies upon the land, for Elrond and Galadriel have seen it: Sauron has returned. No one knows however, what hope we yet have, what time is there left to act against the will of Mordor? The hour is later than they think. Soon, Sauron will start breeding his orcs again in the Black Land. He will rally Easterlings, Southrons and Corsairs beyond the count to set loose his storm. And the Free Peoples will see their homes burned. For against the will that now stirs in the East, there can be no victory, only death. For a military victory, there is no hope. We must join with him, yes, that would be wize. 
However, Sauron's fortress has a weak spot, for as long as the One Ring remains lost, he cannot regain his full strength. With it, his victory and dominance shall be total, but without it, there is still hope for another outcome of fate, one that equals that of Sauron in might: the White Hand shall rule Middle-Earth. If only it can obtain the Ring. The Ring will prove vital for all in this matter. Sauron must not have it, nor anyone else. Only I, myself, Saruman the Wize, can have it. Scouts must scrutinize all earth to find it soon...*

Objective
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Succesfully recruit 4 units of Goblin-Men and a Ruffian Spy in Orthanc

Minors
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-Ally with the Dunlendings.
*Reward: ...*
-Research 'Goblin Interbreeding'
*Reward: ...*
-Construct barrack tier 1 in Orthanc
*Reward: ...*
-Hold your Homeland Regions and your latest conquests
*Reward: ...*

As soon as Saruman has completed his objectives, the new quests will slowly grant him access to the Uruk-Hai, replacing his first rabble-creatures. Also, the hunt for the One Ring has started

Quest #2: "The Union of the Two Towers"

Objective
---

Recruit at least 2 Half-Orc units in Orthanc
*Reward: ...*

Minors
---

-Send a Ruffian Spy towards Bree and infiltrate the settlement for at least 5 turns.
*Reward: ...*
-Ally with Mordor
*Reward: access to research 'Orc Interbreeding'*
-Research 'Orc Interbreeding' and construct barrack tier 2 in Orthanc
*Reward: ...*
-Hold your Homeland Regions and your latest conquests
*Reward: ...*

Quest #3: "Fighting Uruk-hai"

Objective
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Recruit at least 5 units of Uruk-Hai tier 2 in Orthanc
*Reward: ...*

Minors
---

-Infiltrate Bree for at least 5 turns and buy-off merchants of Pipe-Weed
*Reward: ...*
-Research 'Uruk-Hai' and construct tier 3 barracks in Orthanc
*Reward: ...*
-Plunder the Westfold Region with an army for at least 5 turns
*Reward: ...*
-Hold your Homeland Regions and your latest conquests
*Reward: ...*


And after quest 3, it is time to prepare yourself for war, for the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan!

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Preparing for war: Isengard's Armies

At last, you will have an exclusive look into the Palantír and will gaze upon the armies of Isengard:

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[Scroll Down further for in-game screenshots!]

Snagas:

Although Saruman once was a wizard who actively aided the Free Peoples, he has now been corrupted. He studied so much on Sauron and the One Ring, that he know covets to possess the latter more than anything. His prime goal will ever be to obtain it. As a first step, he seeks to create able scouts. For that purpose, he got his hand on some snagas from the Misty Mountains, either captured by him or given by the more able orcs from that population, who wouldn't miss a few of their snaga rabble. As a unit by themselves, if need be, they will fight, if only it is for their own lives, since they know nothing of loyalty to a commander, whom they only serve when driven by a whip. Neither are they skilled fighters or well-armed. They are numerous, and that is their only strength, but a strength that should not be underestimated: if they are cornered and have run from a fight as much as they can, they will storm at their foes, of which there are many, superior in every manner to themselves, and when the storm comes, their enemies should do well to be prepared for the oncoming tide.

Goblin-Men Bows:


Now that Saruman is corrupted and seeks power for his own, he knows more than ever that he needs the One Ring. He also knows, that he does not yet have the strength to reveal his purposes to Middle-Earth and that he needs cunning and intrigues to bend matters to his will, such as rallying the Dunlendings to pledge their allegiance to him. For both purposes, he experimented, interbreeding Dunlendings with goblins from the Misty Mountains as a starter. Now, he has his first success: creating Goblin-Men, treacherous and vile. Goblin-men are half man, half orc, giving these creatures an orc's villainous and ferocious nature, as well as the wits and strength of a man. Although they are not very able soldiers, these creatures represent the fact that Saruman is able to interbreed succesfully at all. This is the first tread up the stairs to whatever foul things come into his dark mind to create. That said, these creatures will indeed serve their master's will: they will infiltrate the lands to the north, and turn the settlements of the Northmen of Eriador slightly into grim and obscure places with stealth and cunning, as Saruman would want it to be, and in those lands, they are already known as 'Ruffians'. In combat, they will be a unit of hit-and-run tactics. They will shoot their foes in the dark with their bows, or jump out of the scrub, slitting his throat. Should they come in the open, they are easily overcome, but should their enemies neglect their presence and close in carelessly, they will strike.

Goblin-Men Ruffians:

Now that Saruman is corrupted and seeks power for his own, he knows more than ever that he needs the One Ring. He also knows, that he does not yet have the strength to reveal his purposes to Middle-Earth and that he needs cunning and intrigues to bend matters to his will, such as rallying the Dunlendings to pledge their allegiance to him. For both purposes, he experimented, interbreeding Dunlendings with goblins from the Misty Mountains. Now, he has his first success: creating Goblin-Men, treacherous and vile. Goblin-men are half man, half orc, giving these creatures an orc's villainous and ferocious nature, as well as the wits and strength of a man. Although they are not very able soldiers, these creatures represent the fact that Saruman is able to interbreed succesfully at all. This is the first tread up the stairs to whatever foul things come into his dark mind to create.That said, these creatures will indeed serve their master's will: they will infiltrate the lands to the north, and turn the settlements of the Northmen of Eriador, in which they are already known as 'Ruffians', if one refers to 'strange folk walking around here these days', than they are probably refering to these, slightly into grim and obscure places with stealth and cunning, as Saruman would want it to be. In combat, they will be a unit of hit-and-run tactics. They will jump out of the scrub in the dark to slit the throat of their victim, or assassinate the enemies of the White Hand in the Streets of Eriador. Should they come in the open, they are easily overcome, but should their enemies neglect their presence and close in carelessly, they will strike.

Half-Orc Axes:


For Saruman, getting into experimenting with interbreeding orcs and men, means that he will create better and better warriors, for he knows that his foul things will not go unnoticed forever and if the time comes, he will need to have some warriors to repel an unpleasent visit at the walls of Orthanc. No indeed, in time, all foul things come forth, and if men are to see his experiments, let them gaze their eyes upon new creatures, never seen before.
Ever has Sauron watched carefully every move his puppet Saruman made, for as far Saruman was not able or willing to hide his movements. Sauron has now acknowledged Saruman's successes and send him orcs of his own for Saruman to experiment with. If Saruman would succeed, there's no more stopping him from improving new creatures made from man and Mordor-orcs, onto terrible soldiers of unknown strength. And it did not take very long: his first half-orcs, man-orcs large and cunning, are now ready to serve their master, being the final tread up the stairs towards his finest warriors, and when spotted, they will make sure that Saruman's enemies will not have a chance to tell their story alive. They are right to be feared. Not only for their strength and brutality, but also for another aspect: who knows what comes next, now that the wizard has created able men-orc troops?
Armed with a large axe, befitting these creature's evil and ferocious nature, and some basic armour, they are able to put up quite a fight and to instil fear into the hearts of their many enemies. When used well on the offence, they are brutal and savage and not easily tamed, but when scattered, they are routed just as easily.

Wargs of Isengard:


The wolves of Isengard are ferocious creatures, hunting even at times the men of the mark, and their horses. How much more terrible are they when mounted by cruel orcs. These viscous scouts, while few, are the enemies and bane of the horsemen. They leap from woods and hills and devour both man and beast. The wolves of Isengard are pure evil and not to be tamed. They will rip apart any who would stand in their way. Controlled by a capable orc rider, they are even more dangerours. Let the rider of the Mark fear the wolves, and the wolf-riders of the White Hand!

Uruk-Hai Scouts:

Saruman's finest creation, the fighting Uruk-Hai are here exemplified. Ferocious, vile, fast-moving as any orc, yet strong and disciplined, well-trained for warfare as any soldier as men, able to withstand sunlight: that combination makes the Uruk-hai almost perfect soldiers. They are unfamiliar with fear in their lust for blood and men-flesh. They have an excellent stamina too, whatever is there on Middle-Earth that could oppose such beasts of war? These scouts will follow their master's order of pursuit, no matter where to. They will hunt you down, and slay you. These troops are Saruman's best hope for finding the Ring of Power. And when he does, no one will stop him. For a new order is rising.

Uruk-Hai Archers:


Uruk-Hai archers are a darkened shadow of the rangers of northern lands. They are fast moving, shoot and run troops, who have no fear of melee combat. They wield strong composite bows backed with large uruk scimitars. They are a fearless and effective tool of the White Hand, who prowl the forests and the plains seeking to overtake caravans or raid forgotten villages, like thieves in the night. When these decided to hunt you, you are almost certain of death even if you guard yourself. Best not draw their attention...

Uruk-Hai Infantry:


"We are the fighting Uruk-hai! We slew the great warrior. We took the prisoners. We are the servants of Saruman the Wise, The White Hand: The Hand that gives us man's-flesh to eat." This new and stronger half breed of orcs, is the pride of the White Hand, and will stop at nothing to fulfill it's corrupted and twisted will. They resemble the new order that is rising. It will stain the land with the blood of the Free Peoples. Soon, it's victory, is at hand! March on, to war!

Uruk-Hai Pikemen:


The Fighting Uruk-Hai are not a mindless rabble of orcs: they are a trained and organized group, that combines discipline and a thriving orcish ferocity to maximum effect, as the White Hand would wish it to be like. The designed hook at the top of the pole is yet another example of the wizard's cunning. With all that said, these are able to maintain solid pike formations. Any head-on charge will be in vain, no horsemen of Rohan can stop the impenetrable wall of Uruk-Hai Pikemen! A solid fist upon the ranks of Men, ready to strike and kill.

Uruk-Hai Crossbowmen:


Saruman is a cunning wizard, he has designed a new and deadly weapon to rain death upon Middle-Earth: crossbows. And more: crossbows to be wielded by the strong Uruk-Hai. They are large two-handed bows which fire iron bolts, well-able to penetrate the mail of the Rohirrim. They wear partial plate armour to protect them whilst firing and reloading, which takes a long time, and carry scimitars when melee is needed. These deadly missile units are the finest skirmishers of Isenguard. 

Isengard Ballista:
Note that the unit picture is missing here. It will be there, but artillery cards will be made last. Furthermore, I can say that we will do our very best to give Isengard special easter egg concerning siegecraft, that will be kept in secret for now... (hint: it says "BOOM!")
The White Wizard has devised many schemes for the men of the Mark, the Uruk-Hai, Wargs, and these great ballistas. They will take down with ease the wooden walls of the Rohirim, and even in time, the ancient walls of the Hornburg. They fire either large stones for destroying walls, or massive javelins for enemy soldiers. Another force of destruction. Who now has the strength left to oppose the white hand?

Berserkers:

"What of the dawn?" they jeered. "We are the fighting Uruk-hai: we do not stop the fight for night or day, for fair weather or for storm. We come to kill, by sun or moon. What of the dawn?" The berserkers of the White Hand, are truly bloodthirsty warriors. They will never stop fighting and their lust for war and blood will never be stilled, even when they would be mutaleted themselves. With no armour but a helmet and massive cleavers, these Uruks fear no dawn, nor any power of men, elves, or dwarves... 

We cannot hold you from gazing upon a life soldier of Isengard, for what is all this preview, without real, life Uruk-Hai? Of course, Saruman is not yet on his full strength, but this might come close to it:
 

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