Easterlings

Beyond the inland sea that borders every map's eastern edge lie whole nations that are never visited. Easterlings is the name the West gives to the Men of Rhûn, the many peoples of the plains and lands beyond the Sea of Rhûn. They are strangers to the countries of the heroes: their kingdoms, tongues, and customs are known in Gondor mostly through rumor, trade, and war. War most of all. Through age after age of the histories, hosts out of the East march against the western realms, and many Easterlings serve in the armies of Sauron, who has long held sway over the eastern lands. Their wars with Gondor across the centuries are noted, but their own countries remain among the great unmapped spaces of Middle-earth.