Misty Mountains

"Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."
—Gandalf

The Misty Mountains was a great mountain range that lay between Eriador and the Anduin. Originally raised by Morgoth to prevent the travels of Oromë, the Mountains often attracted evil creatures. Many orc tribes took over the caves in the mountains, driving out the Dwarves who'd formed settlements there. A Balrog of Morgoth came to the Mountains and was awoken by the Dwarves of Moria. The realm of Angmar was created by the Witch-king at the North of the Mountains. Nameless creatures haunted the deepest pits and even some of the peaks themselves had an ill will towards travelers. Any Free Peoples who tried to cross the mountains had to be on the guard for the many dangers they might've encountered.

In the Age of the Ring mod, Misty Mountains is a primitive force made up of the various orcs and beasts of the mountains. They can begin with their more spammable Moria units and the more expensive but stronger Mountain Orcs. Misty Mountains has a large variety of beasts ranging from warg and wolf harassment, trolls to act as siege and powerful disrupters, vampire bats to attack from above and even drakes to deal heavy fire damage to enemy forces. Wild Allegiance allows Misty Mountains to quickly extend their map control and grants access to powerful monsters and unique units exclusive to creep lairs. Whatever strategy the player goes for it, it is almost guaranteed that they will outnumber the enemy and must make use of their superior numbers to gain the advantage and make up for their weak basic troops.

## Heroes

### Golfimbul

Long after the day his ancestor's gruesome death sparked the invention of the silly Halfling sport, Golfimbul seeks to avenge the death of his namesake by laying waste to the Shire.

### Muzgash

A roving goblin warlord, Muzgash enjoys a great renown amongst the Orcs of the Misty Mountains. Orc-women want him, Orc-men want to be like him.

### Urshak

A powerful and zealous shaman, Urshak is capable of elevating even the meekest of his followers into comitting acts of great cruelty and derangement.

### Lug the Mauled

A psychotic killer for hire, Lug is notorious among the Orcs of the Misty Mountains for quelling would-be insurrections and eliminating Bolg of the North's enemies. Lug is loyal to no-one, driven only by his appetite for gold and destruction.

### Great Goblin

The Great Goblin was the leader of the orcs living in Goblin-Town under the High Pass of the Misty Mountains. He and his forces captured Thorin's Company during their quest but he was then killed by Gandalf who rescued the Company.

### Bolg of the North

A hulking Orc-chieftain gifted with sharp cunning and brute strength, Bolg of the North ruled over the tribes of the Misty Mountains after the death of his father at the Battle of Azanulbizar. Harbouring an intense hatred for Durin's Folk, Bolg bided his time and gathered an army of Orcs, Wolves and Bats before marching on the Lonely Mountain.

## Spellbook

* Fell Wind
* Frozen Wastes
* Cave Bats
* Scavenger
* They Are Coming
* Ruin of Angmar
* Trollish Stew
* Summon Were-worm
* White Winter
* Summon Watcher
* Durin's Bane
* Fire-drakes Wrath

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Disperses enemy units from the centre of the area of effect
Does minimal damage
Does not affect cavalry units
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Freezes an area of terrain for 3 minutes
Modifier Type: Leadership and Spell
All allied units get +25% Damage, +25% Armor, and earn experience 50% faster
Stacks with Buffs and Spells
Enemy units suffer -15% Speed
Estinguishes all fires
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:5PP

**Description**:
Reveals the shroud and detects stealthed units
Modifier Type: Active Debuff
Nearby enemy units suffer -15% Damage, -15% Armor
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
For 150 seconds, all kills gain extra resources
Unit upgrades are discounted by 25% for the duration
Left click icon to activate.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Temporarily increases Moria Orc Production Speed
Left click to activate.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Summons a desolate Ruin of Angmar
The Ruin can recruit Dead of Arnor and White Wolves, as well as cast a local snow storm
Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Cost**:10PP

**Description**:
Temporarily summons a kettle of Trollish Stew, guarded by Tom, Bert and William. The Trollish Stew provides healing and grants +15% armour and damage to nearby units and detects stealth. Left click icon then left click on target pathable location.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Summons a subterranean Were-worm under the caster's control
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Temporarily blankets the map in a raging snowstorm
Cancels Freezing Rain, White Winter, Blessing of Ulmo, Darkness or Lights Go Out
Modifier Type: Active Debuff
Enemy units suffer -25% Damage, -20% Armor, and -30% Vision Range
Nullifies enemy Leadership
Does not stack with other Debuffs
Left click to activate.

**Cost**:15PP

**Description**:
Summons the Watcher in the Water
Causes major damage to enemies
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**:
Summons the Balrog, Durin's Bane
Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Cost**:25PP

**Description**:
Summons a fire breathing Dragon to fly-by and scorch the battlefield
Left click icon then left click on target area.
## Strategy

Misty Mountains is primarily focused on one thing: spreading across the map and infesting their land. The basic Moria orcs are cheap, fast and can be obtained in large numbers to harass from all directions. This harassment can only increase once the player gets access to Great Goblin and the Goblin Town Warriors. However, these units are very weak against cavalry and so the player can supplement the spam with the more powerful (and more expensive) Mountain Orcs available from the Mountain-orc Lodge. Towards the mid-game, the more elite Gundabad Berserkers and heroic Bolg's Bodyguard can be used to devastate enemy armies. The player should also make use of the faction's variety of creatures. The mobile cavalry from the Wolf Cairn can allow for easier harassment across the map and can allow the faction to counter enemy spam (especially when supported by Golfimbul). The trolls from the Troll Lair can all be used as siege units to various extents. A Cave Troll is versatile and can attack from both melee and range, while the Snow-trolls are a fast, glass-cannon unit that can deal high siege damage from melee. The Gundabad Stone-troll is a powerful but expensive unit that can be upgraded further (at a cost) but can be very devastating once upgraded. Lastly, there are some more unorthodox creatures available for the faction. The Giant Bats can allow Misty Mountains to attack from above if the enemy has few archers or high amounts of cavalry, while the Fire Wyrm can deal heavy damage to hordes of weaker foes. Whatever strategy the player goes towards, the key is to make use of the faction's mobility (which is amplified by their access to the Tunnel Network) and to slow down the opponent's progression to keep them on the defensive.