Rivendell

"His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Evil things did not come into that valley."
—The Hobbit

Rivendell, also known as the Last Homely House or Imladris was an Elven settlement, located in a hidden valley in Northern Eriador, near the Misty Mountains. It was founded and led by Elrond Halfelven, who used his Ring of Power to safeguard and preserve this refuge and made it a safe haven full of song, poetry, merriment, lore and reflection. During the War of the Ring, Rivendell was the location of a great, secret council that decided the fate of the Ring, and so the fate of Middle-earth.

In the Age of the Ring, Rivendell is highly diverse faction, comprising of not only Elves, but Hobbits, Breelanders, and a variety of Dúnedain units also. In fact, despite its faction name, Rivendell depends on non-Elven units for much of its early and mid-game, with the ability to forego Elves altogether if the player so chooses. Once Rivendell reaches mid-to-late game, however, it gains access to some of the most powerful elite units in Age of the Ring in the Rivendell Elves, as well as a number of powerful heroes such as Glorfindel and Elrond.

## Heroes

### Farmer Maggot

Farmer Maggot was a brave hobbit that lived on the border of the Shire, near the Old Forest, and was acquainted with Tom Bombadil himself. He owned three large, loyal hounds: Grip, Fang and Wolf. He fed and sheltered Frodo, Sam and Pippin during their journey out of the Shire.

### Fatty Bolger

Fredegar 'Fatty' Bolger was a close friend to Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo. He helped the Ringbearer make his way out of the Shire, showing great courage when the evil Ringwraiths came to Crickhollow in close pursuit of their quarry. Fatty sounded the Horn-call of Buckland, causing the Ringwraiths to retreat.

### Gildor Inglorion

Gildor Inglorion was an Elf of Rivendell, the son of Inglor and one of the Exiles of the House of Finrod. He met Frodo during his journey out of the Shire, and guarded the hobbits from pursuing Ringwraiths. Afterwards, Gildor sent out messengers to all friendly ears that could be reached to ease Frodo's path towards Bree.

### Halbarad

The second-in-command of the Dúnedain of the North, Halbarad was a tall, brave Man, eager and able to perform great deeds when he was summoned to come to the aid of this chieftain. He endured through many dangers, ever carrying the Banner of the Evenstar, before he perished in the Battle of the Pelennor.

### Elladan

Elladan was one of the two twin sons of Elrond. When his mother was captured and tortured by orcs, he and his brother were filled by hatred against the orcs and often worked with the Dúnedain in slaying any they found in the North.

### Elrohir

Elrohir was one of the two twin sons of Elrond. He and his brother worked with the Dúnedain of the North throughout their life. During the War of the Ring, they joined the Grey Company to advise Aragorn and fight in the battles of the South.

### Arwen Undomiel

The youngest child of Elrond, Arwen was considered to be one of the fairest of the Children of Ilúvatar and resembled Lúthien. Like Lúthien, she fell in love with a man and gave up her immortality to be with him. During the War of the Ring, she wove the Banner of Elendil for Aragorn and, in the end, gave Frodo her path to the Undying Lands as a way of easing his pain.

### Aragorn (Strider)

Aragorn was the last Chieftain of the Dúnedain and was a descendant of Isildur. Throughout his life, he traveled Middle-earth to fight against Sauron's forces. When his time came, the Blade that was Broken was reforged for him and he went to war against the Dark Lord, distracting him while the One Ring was destroyed.

### Glorfindel

During the First Age, Glorfindel was an elf in service to Turgon of Gondolin. His final sacrifice to rescue the refugees of the city from a balrog ensured that he would be re-embodied quickly. He was later sent back to Middle-Earth on similar mission to the Istari and he spent the Third Age assisting Elrond and the elves of Rivendell against the forces of Angmar and Mordor.

### Elrond

Elrond was the Lord of Rivendell during the Second and Third Age. He was Gil-Galad's herald in the Last Alliance and he witnessed Isildur refuse to destroy the Ring. Afterwards, Elrond used Vilya to preserve and protect the Valley of Imladris, and his home become a sanctuary for the last of Noldor, the descendants of Isildur and the weary travelers of Middle-earth.

## Spellbook

* Tangado Haid!
* Tolo dan Nan Galad
* Wisdom of the Eldar
* Remnant of the Old Kingdom
* The Sons of Elrond
* Many Meetings
* Breath of Manwë
* The Grey Pilgrim
* Blessing of Ulmo
* Hall of Fire
* Come Merry Dol!
* Wrath of the Bruinen

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Modifier Type: Buff
Targeted allies gain +25% damage and +25% armour.
Stacks with leadership and spells
Left click then left click on target units.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Partially heals and replaces one dead unit per battalion
Left click icon then left click on target unitsstructure.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Reveals shroud in targeted area.
Modifier Type: Buff.
Gives a temporary +15% speed boost to all allied units within the target area.
Always stacks
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Summonds a ruined Arnorian Outpost
Modifer Type:Buff
Allied units gain +50% damage, +50% armour and become immune to fear and terror
Stacks with leaderships and spells
Left click then left click on target area.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Unlocks Elladan and Elrohir from the Dúnedain Gathering
Passive Power

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Randomly summons 3 battalions from across Middle-earth. The available battalions are:

* Anórien Soldiers
* Lake Town Watchmen
* Sindar Pathstalkers
* Silvan Rangers
* Erebor Pikemen
* Ithilien Rangers
* Westfolders
* Halifirien Wardens

Left click then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Summons a destructive tornado onto the battlefield
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Summons Gandalf the Grey onto the battlefield
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Temporarily covers the map in rain
Cancels Freezing Rain, White Winter, Darkness or Lights Go Out.
All friendly units slowly heal over time.
Orchards gain +25% armour.
 Benefits all Rivendell allies

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Summons the Hall of Fire.
Modifier Type: Leadership
Allies near the Hall of Fire heal and gain +33%, earn experience +33% faster and become immune to fear and terror.
Nearby Rivendell Revelers power recharge times are faster
 Stacks with buffs and spells.
 The Hall of Fire may call forth vivid imaginings of the past that fear and deal damage to enemy units.
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**:
Summons Tom Bombadil.
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**:
Summons a powerful flood to crush enemy units.
Extinguishes fires
Left click icon then left click on target location.
## Strategy

Rivendell is a faction that is relatively difficult to play. This is due to a weak early game units and difficulty transitioning into the late game units. The faction's basic units will have trouble standing up to those of other factions and require the assistance of the faction's many heroes and upgrades. However, with the help of Fredegar Bolger and Farmer Maggot, they can still be used in the mid stages of the game. Rivendell has access to the strongest 'tier 2' units in the mod in the form of the Elves, especially the heroic Veterans of the Last Alliance which are the strongest heroic units in the game. However, the elves are expensive, both in terms of resource and CP cost. The Dúnedain units are unconventional but they can help plug the gap between Bree-land and Elves with some unconventional upgrades and strategies. By using the Rivendell Library, the player can buy various upgrades to unlock new units and improve the overall faction. Fitting with their strength in the late game, Rivendell's economy will only grow stronger the longer the game progresses with various upgrades, abilities and discounts to boost it. The faction also has a strong roster of heroes, but they are hard to obtain with Elrond and Glorfindel being expensive faction leaders and Aragorn requiring other upgrades to reach his full potential.

Overall, there will be a lot of precise micromanagement involved to stay alive during early and midgame and to ensure a clean path to elites and heroes in the late game.