Banes of Angmar

In Middle-earth Role Playing, the Banes of Angmar were a collective term for the magical blights, epidemics, diseases, and curses that afflicted Eriador between T.A. 1636 and Fo.A. 15. Unable to defeat the Dúnedain of Arthedain on the battlefield, the Witch-king of Angmar turned to these methods instead.

While successful in slowly wasting away the Northern Kingdom, the Banes also depleted the forces of Angmar itself. The true toll of the Banes would be paid much later: the environmental degradation left much of Eriador desolate, despite the fall of Angmar, with the land only being healed under King Elessar.

Known Banes

While the term was also often used to encompass all the supernatural tactics, such as the sending of the Barrow-wights, scholars tended to focus on plagues and afflictions. A point of contention between Arthadan and Gondorian scholars was whether the Great Plague was part of these.

Amok Curse

A rune-spell that mentally weakened its victims, and ensorcelled them to pass the rune to others. It appeared in Fornost in T.A. 1781 via forged leather-bound letters allegedly sent from Gondor, and heavily affected the Seers of Fornost. Cursed documents still showed up in treasure hordes by the time of War of the Ring.

Bloodeye Ravish

Aimed at hampering the Dúnadan cavalry, the Bloodeye ravish was spread by lice. It made horses clumsy and visually impaired, and in later stages prone to fury. It decimated half the horses in Eriador between T.A. 1968–1970, though its spread to the herds of Angmar kept the Witch-king from pressing the advantage. Its continued presence among wild animals was one of the reasons that kept the Rangers of the North on foot.

Crop and Herd Blights

These agricultural blights were frequently introduced by the Angmarrim, but plants and animals quickly developed resistances. While Arthedain was generally able to keep its people fed, the remaining blights were able to spread more easily after its fall.

Hound-fire

A form of rabies meant to defeat the Arthedan-led dog-packs that hunted down Orcs and Wolves. It was spread through magically contaminated blood, which was smuggled in sausages in the 1710s. While many dogs had to destroyed, the strongest packs were resistant. This Bane also backfired, for through ticks it wiped out half of Angmar's war-wolves. Afterwards, Hound-fire was carried by asymptomatic foxes and skunks.

Red Flux

Possibly specifically targeted at Hobbits, who were the most prosperous folk of Arthedain at the time, the Red Flux was an influenza-like illness which slew half of the Shire's population in the winters of T.A. 1889-1891 because of their overcrowded smials. It was likely spread by red-eyed undead creatures who wandered the Shire, leading to Hobbits becoming wary of strangers and starting to build above ground. The following year, it struck Fornost, where it was blamed on dark priests.

Stream Fever

A mold from the Under-deeps which was put into Eriador's waterways. It weakened the immune system of herbivores, leading to entire herds being wiped out. As a thing from the Under-deeps, it could not abide the sun. By the 25th century of the Third Age, Hobbits had figured out a way to permanently cleanse streams, which under King Elessar was deployed throughout all of Eriador.

Wood-Blights

From T.A. 1860 onward, hostile minor tree-spirits spread fungal agents that weakened trees, which contributed to the decline of Arthedain's forests.