Middle-earth.
Third Age, Year 2940 — more than a year remained until the Battle of the Five Armies.
At this moment, in the tribal lands nestled in the valleys of the Anduin River, a recruitment drive was underway.
Dozens of able-bodied young men stood below the wooden palisade, their eyes burning with eagerness as they looked up at the figure standing tall above them.
"Lord Kaen! Please allow me to follow you. I would lay down my life in your service!"
"Choose me! Choose me!"
"My lord, I once fought beside you—we killed more than ten Orcs together!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement, yet the man on the palisade remained calm, his gaze steady as he watched the scene unfold.
He had black hair and dark eyes, his features strikingly handsome, with an innate nobility radiating from his every gesture—like one born of high blood.
His name was Kaen Eowenríel, a man not of this world.
In his past life, he had been an enthusiast of a game called Mount & Blade*. When a Middle-earth mod was released for the game, he had planned to pull an all-nighter, aiming to unify the entire continent in-game.
What he hadn't planned on, was the blinding light that burst from his monitor the moment he powered it on—one that had pulled him in, body and soul.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in Middle-earth—a land brimming with wonder and peril.
Elves of ethereal beauty, stout-hearted Dwarves, the foul Orcs of the East, the sacred lands of Valinor, and the five Maiar-born Wizards who walked among mortals…
At first, Kaen had been utterly lost. Not only did he arrive with nothing to his name, he couldn't speak a word of the local tongue.
Thankfully, the hill-folk took him in. And over time, he blended into their tribe, gradually learning the language of this world.
During an Orc raid, Kaen mustered his courage and slew one with a spear—his first kill.
That was when his "System" awakened.
—Mount & Blade System—
It resembled an attribute panel with five powerful abilities:
-> Territory development speed ×3
-> Population average lifespan ×3
-> Soldier growth rate ×3
-> Hero growth rate ×3
Kill enemies to gain experience; each level-up grants comprehensive physical enhancement
Kaen began at Level 0.
Over the past two years, he had relentlessly hunted Orcs, eventually reaching Level 1.
After his first all-round enhancement, his speed and strength had reached the limits of human potential.
Here was his current panel:
[Host: Kaen Eowenríel
Level: 1 (84/200)
Heroes: None
Troops: None]
Because he lacked the coin to raise an army, Kaen had spent the past two years slaying Orcs for various hill-tribes, earning his keep and building up his funds.
During this time, not only had his attributes upgraded, his prestige among the hillfolk soared.
Now that he had grown strong and amassed some gold, Kaen was ready to take a bigger step: gather a few warriors and embark on a grand expedition.
In the canon of The Hobbit, the Dwarven company, on their way to reclaim Erebor, defeated three Trolls in the forest west of the Misty Mountains.
There, they obtained three Elven blades—and unearthed a cache of treasure.
That event would occur next year.
But now, in TA 2940, Kaen planned to get there first.
He emptied his savings—fifty gold coins—to recruit a small but elite party for this quest. That's what had brought about today's recruitment scene.
Holding a long list of names in hand, Kaen raised a hand for silence. The crowd quieted.
Then he called out in a loud, clear voice:
"There are only six open spots. I will now announce the selected names."
"Caden, Zakri, Mundar, Lairon, Cathril, Ameliah."
"Those whose names I called—stay. The rest may return home. Thank you for volunteering."
A wave of disappointment washed through the crowd.
Yet no one objected. The six names he called were well-known among the hill tribes.
As the crowd dispersed, four men and two women remained beneath the palisade.
Their names were:
-> Caden — a towering brute with bulging muscles, bald head, and a thick beard; wielded a battleaxe with ease.
-> Zakri — a marksman with unerring aim, the tribe's finest hunter. His braided hair, sharp mismatched eyes, and hawk-like gaze made him instantly recognizable.
-> Mundar — a master-at-arms, proficient in all manner of weapons. He favored a round shield and a long spear. Gruff and bearded, he was fond of drink.
-> Lairon — a black-haired young man of Dúnedain descent; an exceptional swordsman and elder brother to Cathril.
-> Cathril — also a Dúnedain, Lairon's younger sister. A spirited and radiant swordmaiden, with skills to match her brother.
-> Ameliah — a golden-haired beauty and a skilled healer, well-versed in herb lore. Even Kaen had been under her care more than once.
Kaen smiled as he looked over the group.
"Welcome, all of you. You are now my companions."
Caden's voice boomed with pride,
"To serve the Orc-slayer Kaen—an honor we all share."
Lairon stepped forward.
"We Dúnedain have sworn ourselves enemies of the Orcs for life. Lord Kaen, you are worthy of our blades."
The rest nodded in agreement.
Kaen had, in just two years, become one of the most formidable warriors of the hillfolk, solely through the slaying of Orcs.
Talent, determination, and wisdom—he lacked none of them.
Everyone believed he was destined for greatness. That belief was why they had chosen to follow him.
Kaen stepped down from the palisade and unsheathed his longsword.
In a commanding voice, he said:
"Now, the oath."
The six dropped to one knee, heads bowed, speaking in reverent unison:
"Before the skies above, the earth beneath, the mountains, the woods, and the gods of the stars—we swear:
To serve the man before us;
Our hands shall be swords to strike down his foes;
Our bodies shall be shields to guard him from harm;
We pledge our loyalty with our souls, until death, until the end of days…"
Kaen then stepped forward and laid his blade upon each of their shoulders, reciting his own vow:
"I shall honor your loyalty. All that you give shall be repaid in full.
My glory shall be yours to share.
If you fall, I shall sing your names to the world; I shall raise monuments for your memory and see to your kin.
These words are spoken before all creation—and I shall uphold them until my dying breath."
He then handed out three gold coins in wages to each of them, plus another three as household allowance.
"Three days from now, we march west—to the Troll-woods beyond the Misty Mountains.
There lies a hoard of treasure, waiting to be claimed.
We'll gather and train our men there, and return next summer.
Since we'll be gone for a long time, those of you with families—make your preparations.
Bring weapons, armor, supplies, and enough food. I will reimburse every expense."
"Yes, my lord!"
Kaen's panel now showed:
[Host: Kaen Eowenríel
Level: 1 (84/200)
Heroes: Caden (Warrior), Mundar (Warrior), Zakri (Warrior), Lairon (Warrior), Cathril (Warrior), Ameliah (Healer)
Troops: None]
Kaen glanced at the panel and smirked.
"No soldiers yet… but already six hero units in hand."
….
PS:
Set in the world of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
This story follows a protagonist who builds his own kingdom in Middle-earth.
...
*Mount & Blade is a medieval strategy and action RPG game series known for its sandbox-style gameplay. Players build armies, manage kingdoms, and engage in large-scale battles—all from the perspective of both a commander and a warrior on the battlefield. The game allows for extensive modding, including fantasy settings like Middle-earth.