The green-swathed leader of the men holding the ford shouted a barely-heard rallying cry as the waters of the Isen foamed around him. A last disciplined core of dismounted knights fought around him, holding back the tide or Uruk and feral Dunlending. They would escape, Saruman knew, as he drew back from the palantir.
"These pitiful horse-folk are no match for the power of Isengard. They will not give up so easily however - and to that end I have found... you"
The lord of Orthanc turned the the hulking bulk that lurked in the shadows of one of the tower's great chambers. Taller than an Orc - taller than a Man, almost reaching the room's high ceiling. It shuddered and groaned, metal scraping against metal as its poorly-fitted plate armour shifted. In its hand it held a wicked-looking club.
"Go, my troll, and strike fear into the hearts of those who would stand against Isengard"
The Isengard Troll brings powerful monster combat to Saruman's army. Trained at the new Troll Pit, this hulking creature comes with heavy armour and a club, but cannot eat Orcs or pick up rocks like a Mordor Troll. Not content with brute force, Saruman has bred his Trolls to be cunning - this is represented by the Troll's Conceal ability, which reduces his sight range and renders him immobile, but makes him invisible to enemy units until they get so close that it's too late....
While the Rohirrim did not venerate the Valar as much as the Dunedain, one of them was known - and revered - to them: Orome, the Great Hunter, or Bema as they called him. The primordial horsemen, Bema's memory among the Northmen was highly influential in the development of the Eorlingas as a horse- and warrior-society. While there are no temples or shrines to the Great Hunter in the Third Age at the time of the War of the Ring, there is one last bastion of his presence in the Riddermark: a select group of knights separate from the Royal Guard known as the Bringers of the Hunt. These religious fanatics charge to war on foot, baring massive two-handed axes more akin to those of the Dwarves than Men.
31Giving their all to emulate their ancient deity, the Bringers of the Hunt are the cream of the crop of Rohan's military elite. They are known to trample their enemies with their feet while rushing the next foe in line, and have a reputation steeped in dark blood of being Troll-Slayers, and hunters of Warg and Orc.
The Bringers of the Hunt are equipped like the classical Royal Guard, but instead of including these common Rohan soldiers, we wanted to give you something more unique. These single powerful warriors can cut through hordes of infantry, and even trample them when using their Wrath of the Meras ability. They are built from a Level 3 Archery Range. Hunters also serve to help counter the new Isengard Trolls with a significant damage bonus to monsters.
Wizardry in Middle-Earth has always been a subtle force - helping the spirits of soldiers and healing the wounded. However, in times of great need the Valar see fit to grant great powers to individuals - mortals, Maia, whoever they find worthy. Hailing from Caras Galadhorn, the heart of Elvendom on Earth, the Lore-Guardians are the last defence of the Lady Galadriel from the forces of Darkness. Channeling the wrath of one or more Valar, they can crack the earth, blind the servants of Sauron with pure light, and use more common Elven lore to heal.
Lore-Guardians introduce a new Elven unit to Rohan. Built from the Level 3 Archery Range, only 3 can be built at once. This is for good reason - they are powerful units, though fragile. Their first ability, Holy Light of Valinor, can be targeted on friendly or enemy battalions. It debuffs enemies or heals friendlies. Thunder of Aule cracks the ground and instantly destroys an enemy building, and Blessing of Mandos allows the Guardian to make a friendly unit invulnerable for 10 seconds. In playtesting, this unit can easily change the course of a battle if used correctly. They must be protected though, as Wargs and Archers are excellent counters to the fragile casters.
That's all for this week!