Andrath Battle of Five Armies & The Third Age of Middle-Earth The current year for our Middle-Earth campaign is set during the year of 2946 of the Third Age. Inspired By J.R.R. Tolkien

Andrath is a significant geographical feature located in the southernmost region of Bree-land, serving as a narrow defile or gorge through which the great North-South Road (also known as the Greenway) passes. It acts as a natural boundary and passage between the rising mass of the Barrow-downs to the west and the beginning of the South Downs to the east. The name itself is Sindarin Elvish for "Long-climb" or "long ascent", an apt description of the road as it winds southward through hilly country and ascends the land towards the ancient, depopulated realm of Cardolan.

The landscape within the Vale of Andrath is generally described as a pretty, fertile, little vale, a broad valley cut all the way through the Downs. It features gently sloping land and is far more inviting in appearance than its strategic importance might suggest. While the road is the central feature, the area also encompasses some natural landmarks, such as the secluded Halecatch Lake and a few isolated clearings or farms, like Pierson's Farm, that manage to exist in this largely wild region.

Despite its natural charm, the region is isolated and virtually devoid of modern, safe settlement. Once, a prosperous town also named Andrath stood here, which was a major religious center and even a potential royal seat for the kings of Cardolan in the first millennium of the Third Age. However, the town failed to recover from ancient wars and a great plague, and its population dwindled until it was finally finished off by a raid, leaving only scattered, ancient ruins as a testament to its former glory.

The current environment of Andrath is a dangerous frontier. The ruins that dot the landscape now provide shelter for various threats that make passage hazardous. The area is heavily infested with southern brigands and half-orcs who have established a base at the South-guard Ruins, from which they launch raids on the surrounding areas. This active enemy presence means that safe passage is nearly impossible for ordinary travelers and traders. Strategically, Andrath is a vital chokepoint. Controlling this long defile is key to regulating north-south travel in Eriador, as the only alternative route involves crossing the highly perilous Barrow-downs to the west. This strategic significance has meant the pass has been a location of great tactical importance throughout history, frequently contested by different factions, including the Dúnedain Rangers and forces of the enemy.

The historical significance of Andrath extends to the end of the Third Age, when it was reportedly used as a staging area by the Lord of the Nazgûl himself during his hunt for the One Ring. His presence in the area is mentioned as the likely cause for rousing the dormant Barrow-wights in the adjacent downs, enhancing the already significant dangers of the region and cementing Andrath's reputation as a place of historical gravity and modern peril.