Woodland Realm

### Weaknesses

Low armour for units in early game. Elite units are expensive and cost lots of CP

"Now of old the name of that forest was Greenwood the Great, and its wide halls and aisles were the haunt of many beasts and of birds of bright song; and there was the realm of King Thranduil under the oak and the beech. "
—Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, The Silmarillion

Greenwood the Great was a great forest in Rhovanion and was home to the Silvan Elves under the rule of King Thranduil. They were forced to leave the south of the forest as the influence of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur took over and corrupted the forest. The forest was corrupted as evil creatures began to settle there and the nearby men of the Anduin called it Mirkwood. Only in the North where the forces of the Woodland Realm held back the darkness was the forest pure. The elves here were more dangerous than their kin in Lothlórien and Rivendell, less wise and more suspicious of strangers. However, they were still elves despite their simpler lifestyle and will always appreciate the nature around them.

In Age of the Ring, Woodland Realm is a faction consisting of the Elves under the leadership of the Elvenking Thranduil and their allies living in the Vale of Anduin. The faction's strengths lies in the high speed and damage of its units, allowing the player to continually harass their foes. It is also has some of the strongest archers in the game, as well as powerful cavalry in the late game. However, this comes at the cost of having fragile forces and reduced access to armour upgrades. To compensate, the faction has many abilities from the units and heroes that can allow them to turn the tide against tougher opponents.

## Heroes

### Galion

The Elves of the Woodland Realm enjoyed their wine, Thranduil in particular. It was Galion's job to manage the supply and demand of wine into the Kingdom as well as to dispose of the barrels afterwards.

### Feren

Commander of the Kingsguard, it was Feren's job to ensure that the Elvenking's Halls were protected from intruders. His Kingsguard were some of the best troops in Greenwood and he ensured that they were always ready for the job.

### Grimbeorn

Grimbeorn the Old was the son of Beorn the Skinchanger. He was chieftain of the Beornings and a Lord in the Vale of Anduin. Under his leadership, the High Pass and Ford of Carrock were kept safe from orcs and wargs, although he would charge a high toll for those wishing to pass through.

### Tauriel

A Captain of the Guard, Tauriel led her own group of Silvan Rangers. It was their job to protect the borders of the Woodland Realm and so they saw the most of the fell creatures of the forest such as the Great Spiders. As a result of this, they were often the ones campaigning for a more aggressive approach against the creatures.

### Radagast the Brown

Also known as Aiwendil, Radagast was one of the Istari sent to help the Free People of Middle-earth against Sauron. As a Maia of Yavanna, he has a strong affinity for the plants and animals of Arda and had close relations to the Giant Eagle. He lived in Rhosgobel on the western border of Mirkwood.

### Legolas

Legolas was the son of King Thranduil and Prince of the Woodland Realm. He was sent by his father as a messenger to Rivendell where he joined the Fellowship of the Ring. In his travels, he formed a close friendship with Gimli and the two helped to fix the relationship between dwarves and elves.

### Thranduil

Thranduil became King of the Woodland Realm when his father, Oropher, was killed at the Battle of Dagorlad. During the Quest for Erebor, he imprisoned the Dwarves of the Company after they interrupted his feasts. He later on provided help to the refugees of Laketown and tried to negotiate (unsuccessfully) for some of the treasure of Erebor. He fought in the Battle of Five Armies and later on defended his realm from the forces of Dol Guldur in the Battles Under the Trees.

## Spellbook

* Horn of the Gate
* Hidden Sentries
* The Elves Awoke Them
* Elvenking's Road
* Elvenking's Patience
* Elvenking's Feast
* Elvenking's Decree
* Spears of Framsburg
* Lights Go Out
* Hail of Arrows
* Great Hunt of Oromë
* A Sign of Good Fortune

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**: Modifier Type: Buff
Targeted allies gain +50% damage and +50% armour. Stacks with leaderships and spells.
Left click icon then left click on target units.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**: Reveals shroud and summons three Silvan Hunters in target area.
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**: Summons a tree that knocks back nearby enemy units.
 Nearby allies are stealthed while enemies suffer -15% damage and armour.
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**: Summons an Elven Waystone.
Limited to 1.
The Waystone may teleport targeted units to its location.
Left click icon then left click on target location.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**: Enemy units within the radius lose all leadership and are slowed for 30 seconds. Enemy units are slowed by 50% in the first 10 seconds, by 35% in the next 10 seconds and by 20% in the last 10 seconds. Left click icon then left click on target units.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**: Summons one of Thranduil's famous Woodland Feasts.
Units near it gain heal over time and gain +33% damage and armour.
Left click icon then left click on target location.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**: For 60 seconds all kills earn extra resources and allied units gain +33% experience gain.
Left click to activate.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:Summons an army of Éothéod led by Frumgar, Son of Frumgar.
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:Cancels Freezing Rain, White Winter, Blessing of Ulmo or Darkness.
Enemy units temoporary suffer from -25% vision and attack range, -25% experience gain and -40% attack damage
Left click to activate.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**: Two swift volleys of Silvan arrows
The first salvo in instantaneous, the second follows afterwards
Left click on icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**: Enemy units within the radius lose -50% armour and damage
Heroes within the radius have their cooldown timers recharged and are moderately healed
All friendly units on the battlefield may temporarily trample enemy units.
 All cavalry units on the battlefield gain +50% armour against spearmen
Left click icon then left click on target units.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**: Summons the White Stag
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.
## Strategy

Woodland Realm's greatest strength lies in the speed of its units and its capability to control the map by leaving Feredir lying in wait for unguarded areas and building Cellar Doors to set up ambushes. In some respects, Woodland Realm's early game strategy can resemble that of a Forces of Darkness faction such as Misty Mountains or Mordor - Silvan units are cheap glass cannons and move with great speed. This enables them to launch quick devastating attacks and then escape before they take significant losses. They can be supported by early game heroes such as Tauriel and Galion who enable them to engage in prolonged combat before quickly fleeing with their healing. Silvan Elves can be used throughout the match to overwhelm the opponent with superior numbers and hit and run tactics. Alternatively, Woodland Realm can recruit more standard units such as Woodmen Hunters, who are less vulnerable to damage but less effective at ambushing the enemy, and the incredibly sturdy Beorning Berserkers. These units can be supported by Druids of the Oaken Order (who also buff Woodland Realm's economy and heroes) and with heroes such as Radagast and Grimbeorn, both of whom provide leadership to Woodmen and Beornings. Woodland Realm's endgame army composition is often varied with a mixture of Silvans, Woodmen, Beornings and Greenwood units - the latter of these are the finest of Woodland Realm's units. Greenwood Elves are recruited with heavy armour which makes them the most durable out of the player's forces and so they are frequently used as the anvil to the Silvan and Woodmen units' hammer: keeping the enemy locked in combat whilst the other units pick the enemy units off. Legolas is an extremely dangerous hero who can deal significant losses to enemy units and heroes from great range with his various abilities; it is advised to keep him at range when possible as he is himself quite susceptible to damage. Similarly to The Necromancer, King Thranduil serves as the core of Woodland Realm: the faction cannot research standard heavy armour; Thranduil serves as a primary source for armour to all units with his level 1 leadership. His Love of Silver and Jewels ability can be used to increase the effectiveness of the already tanky Greenwood units or the improve the durability of the more vulnerable Silvan units: giving Woodland Realm either a slow moving, highly elite army or a dangerously quick, reasonably durable guerrilla force.