Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-26535281-20170622154307

I had a few ideas over the past few days that I think could work for the Haradrim. Seeing as currently they are rather underdeveloped and in my mind people are getting the wrong Idea. Haradrim shouldn't be 'evil' they should be corrupted and twisted yes, but not wholly evil. Personally I think the Haradrim should be a prideful, headstrong, and emotional people. With some groups having cultures that stretch back thousands of years.

Now first I wanted to confront some misconceptions I have seen.

- Harad in my mind shouldn't be full of sprawling Empires to the point of harad only being like 3 factions. Harad should be a land of many great cities, clans, tribes, and kings much like Mesopotamia once was with occasionally a great Empire rising, but normally swiftly falls after the death of it's creator.

- Harad should only be barley united (by Sauron and a hatred for Gondor) other then this calling the whole land 'Harad' and treating everyone as the same people should be a thing only characters in the West would do seeing as Harad should be full of many different unique and diverse cultures only barley related and connected.

Now for some Ideas I had for people groups now before I start this I, myself, have divided the people of Harad into three over arching groups they being:

Kiamakû:

Kiamakû are the ocean/coastal people and are vaguely defined as: "Living on or near the coast or on the Islands off of it." in my mind they are split into three types of people: The city dwellers/pirates that live in coastal city fortresses, the simple fisher men that live in many villages across the coasts, and finally the pacific Islander like people who live on many Islands and Atolls off the coast

Marakû:

Marakû are the people who live along or near the fertile rivers most living in large city states who rule over a network or out lying villages and possibly other cities. They could be considered more 'upper class' in Harad with the Marakû having access and the wealth to purchase fine goods and luxuries. On the flip side other Marakû are poor or slaves being the farmers and villagers in service to the cities.

Kûr:

Kûr are the 'other' people those who live in the confines of the deserts, hills, or mountains. Most would see them as bandits, but in all reality they are a tough and resilient people use to hardships of all kinds. They live either a semi-nomadic or fully nomadic life always. The semi-nomads tend to set up permanent camps either near water holes or in the Semi-deserts where food is abundant when compared to the deserts.

Now for overarching themes:

Now I think most if not all haradrim should be rather tribal in nature with even the city folk divided into many different clans. Haradrim should also be rather religious with the religion focused around the basic of life (as they live in or near the desert) such things as fire, water, and air deities.

As seen in the movies haradrim should decorate themselves with both riches but also things from their homes (Bones, plants). On another note Hardarim judging by the books where meant to be brutal so bone masks and decoration fit and so does head hunting.

Now if people like this I will continue on and create specific groups of people and some major cities. 