Southlands | For The

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age (as portrayed in The Rings of Power ), the Southlands was a lush, fertile region of plains east of the Anduin river.

In the tabletop RPG world (notably for 5E and Pathfinder ), the Southlands Campaign Setting by Kobold Press offers a vastly different vision. For the Southlands

The human inhabitants were "Low Men" whose ancestors had sided with the dark lord Morgoth during the First Age. Because of this "blood oath," they were watched over for centuries by Silvan Elves, creating deep-seated resentment. The human inhabitants were "Low Men" whose ancestors

The storyline centers on the search for a "Rightful King" of the Southlands, a mantle eventually claimed by Halbrand, who is later revealed to be Sauron in disguise. Tabletop Gaming: The Southlands Campaign Setting Tabletop Gaming: The Southlands Campaign Setting The setting

The setting is a thematic blend of Ancient Egypt , Arabian Nights , and sub-Saharan African kingdoms, prioritizing a "pulpy adventure" feel over traditional medieval tropes.

Unlike standard settings, it features playable races like Ravenfolk (associated with the god Horus) and Minotaurs , alongside living gods who physically manifest to meddle in mortal affairs. Other Notable References

The region's fate was sealed by the Orc-leader Adar, who used a mysterious sword-key to trigger the eruption of the volcano Orodruin (Mount Doom). This transformed the verdant plains into a darkened wasteland, eventually renamed Mordor —the land where shadows lie.