The Frozen Kingdoms of Angmar and Gundabad

This was intentional, for with the loss of most of the Gundabad Orcs in the battle, Arnuzîr's army was left weakened, but Trolls and Goblins can become ravenous in battle if starved for long enough, with whips keeping them from devouring each other.

As such, the march into the frozen waste of Forodwaith was performed with haste, Arnuzîr's army being denied the few sources of manflesh the wastes had to offer on Arnuzîr's own command, both to spread fear among the tribes, but also to fuel the hunger of his forces.

A confederation of tribes from the wastes assembled to meet Arnuzîr's host, with the Chieftain of their most powerful tribe, the Ice Walkers, being chosen to lead them against the dark force.

The two forces met near the Moot House of the waste tribes on a stormy day, the confederation forces being placed behind a frozen over lake with spear and shield steady to face the monsters of the East.

And yet, as the massive silhouettes of the Snow Trolls appeared in the snowstorm, their grip on their spears loosened, several tribes abandoning the field entirely as hundreds of Snow Trolls came into view.

Yet only few had left, most stayed to defend their homes and held their spears ready in anticipation for the monstrous creatures, their spirits hardened by the Ice Walkers Chieftain.

And yet, their spirits were filled with dread and crushed as the Snow Trolls crashed into their line from the flanks, sending hundreds flying back and crushing many more with their spiked maces or bare hands.

The Goblins advanced over the frozen lake with great care, more concerned with their wretched lives than the manflesh that stood before them ripe for the taking, with the tribesmen charging them in a fit of rage seeing their kinsmen butchered by the Snow Trolls, their feet on the ice much more capable of moving across it without hindrance.

The tribesmen charged the Goblin line, but the Goblins took the initial charge with only several Goblins falling on the ice, the strength of the tribesmen fading after the impetus while the Snow Trolls were wreaking havoc among their flanks.

The Chieftain of the Ice Walkers however threatened to break the Goblin centre, Arnuzîr and his personal bodyguard, the Witch Guard charging into the fray to throw back the Chieftain's advance while the Trolls smashed through the rest of the confederation's forces, encircling the tribesmen with nowhere to retreat.

This proved too much for the tribesmen as they were attacked from all sides by ravenous Goblins and Snow Trolls, the Chieftain's life being taken by a Snow Troll crushing his torso with its mace, triumphantly biting off the Chieftain's head and consuming it in one go.

With their leader dead, the tribesmen panicked, many begging to surrender, but their pleas fell on the deaf, hungry ears of Melkor's creatures who would spare none to sate their famishment.

Arnuzîr would let his forces feast on the fallen, instead planting the Banner of the Iron Crown on a small nearby hill to show the other tribes that may still be watching the fate which awaited them should they not bend to Angmar, the snowstorm blowing the banner to the South...

***

"The savages have been destroyed, My Lord. A few of them are still alive, should I order the Trolls and Goblins from harming them?"

"No, no. Let the servants feast, do you not see their kindred watching? Let them know fear, let them know what the consequences of defiance are."

"Very well. What of their nearby camp? Our informant disclosed they had committed most of their men to fight us, they will not be an obstacle, but what of their fate?"

"Those that can fight will serve, those that cannot will be sent to Mount Gram, the women and children will rebuild the capital."

"And the rest of the tribes? What is your verdict upon them?"

"They have already made their choice... Those that have not submitted their lives to Angmar by dawn will join their pathetic confederation's destiny, dispatch the Trolls and Goblins once they are done with their meal to remove the remaining opposition. Burn the Moot House, remind the savages they belong to Angmar and deprive them of the symbol of their unity."

"As you wish, My Lord."