Swords For Hire
By William E Wilson & Gary D. McClellan

2.0 Angmar

Garroc
Jeshan
Peltadh the Peddler

3.0 Eriador

Frost
Wide Thumb Steelmaster
Oana Sauter
Oana's Troupe
Lâci
Durward
Hack
Tarah
Mablon
Lok
Taurolor (S. "Forest Vision")
Nólamanka
Ariella
Robin Smallburrow

4.0 Rhovanion

Thorold Wollas
Ithilhîr Mithlas (S. "Moonlord Greyleaf")
Cariodoc
Truldar
Dînlalaith (S. "Silent Laughter")
Lokish Kiddell
Tasarë

5.0 Rohan

Wídfara Deneson
Vês-Ora-Vês

6.0 Gondor

Esta
Alcar
Anaristar Mîrdan
Silmariel
Melia
Branadil
Rilotë

7.0 Umbar

Darvi Zint
Tarancar

8.0 Far Harad

The Relortin Brothers
Tar Maltiri
Jehm Ramek

9.0 Greater Harad

Sabakalil
Laknûk
Neddet Hisab
Wahzutti

10.0 Other Areas

Kâmak Tâmak
Valläs

1.0 Introduction

GM Note -- The numbers reflected in the Skills charts only include the skill level bonus. For an accurate accounting of the skill, you must add the stat bonus, level bonus for profession and any magical or special bonuses. The melee charts reflect the skill bonus, stat bonus for the stats given and also the profession level bonus. Add any magical bonuses for weapons, etc.

The professions listed are MERP/Rolemaster/Rolemaster Companions.

MovM -- Movement and maneuver is the movement and maneuver bonus from MERP.

Spells -- The spells listed at each level are those new spell lists added by that level. Unless otherwise noted, the individual knows the list to 10th level.

2.0 Angmar

The Kingdom of Angmar was founded around T.A. 1300 by the Witch-king, the lord of the Nazgûl. This evil realm is surrounded by twin spurs of the Northern Misty Mountains. The vast crescent shaped bowl comprising the land of Angmar is called Iron-home Valley, Nan Angmar, by its inhabitants.

Unlike the majority of Eriador to the south and west, the Nan Angmar is mostly heath, with coarse grasses and other plants indicative of a transition area leading to tundra. Bare rock and scree cover a majority of the landscape. Some scattered woodlands may also be found to the south of the plateau.

The myriad cultures that make up the inhabitants of Angmar, bespeak the far reaching hand of the Witch-king. Sagath and Asdriag tribes from Rhûn, Dunlendings, Hillmen, Northmen, errant Dúnedain, Haradrim from the south and even men from the Utter East bow to the power of their evil Lord. Many live within the borders of Angmar while even more live outside of the realm.

Garroc

Aka: Gursûl (S. "Death Wind").

Race: Son of Urd.

Profession: Warrior/Fighter.

Home: Angmar.

Appearance: Dark, auburn hair, woven into small warrior braids that hang against his face and back of his neck; dark brown eyes the color of polished walnut; 6'1", 205 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 98; Ag 94; Co 99; Ig 80; It 75; Pr 74; Ap 83.

RM Stats: Ag94; Co99; SD84; Me70; Re89; St98; Qu100; Pr74; Em62; In75.

Languages: Westron 4; Sindarin 1; Dunael 2.

Born to the howling wind of Urd's harsh winters, Garroc learned early that Middle-earth was a hard world where only the fittest survive. At the age of five he helped care for the small herd of goats kept by his family; at six, he could chop wood, build a fire and help skin the small animals his father killed in the mountains. At seven, he helped bury his younger brother, Charl, who had not been as sturdy as Garroc and had succumbed to the long months of cold and wind. At eight, Garrock buried his older brother Sleel, after a band of roving Orcs attacked the small village that was his home. His father returned from a hunting trip to listen to Garroc's tale of Sleel's death. After comforting Garroc's mother as best he could, his father retrieved Sleel's vûk (see principle items) and hard leather armor and presented them to Garroc. "Seems time you best learn to use them," said his father. "Both are a bit large for you, but you'll grow into them."

Under his father's tutelage, and later, the war leader of the village, Garroc learned the art of combat. Faced by a future of a goat tender or simple hunter, Garroc channeled all his attention to the study of arms, seeing it as a way to at last strike back at the land he had been born into. By the age of 14, Garroc served as a day guard with the village warriors, perched on one of the several short platforms built behind the staked walls that surrounded the village. He was almost spit by an arrow when he had the chance to sound his first alarm. What he took to be a band of attacking marauders instead turned out to be a small group of Elves from the forests to the south. The Elven band were on their way north into the mountains in search of a rare herb reported to grow along the mountains' flanks. Well equipped with maps and instructions for locating the herb, they none-the-less wished to hire a guide familiar with the countryside to accompany them further north. After two days of bartering, arguing, and threatening all to no avail, the Elves were preparing to leave in disgust. Garroc's father was the most likely candidate for the job, but refused, as did the other able bodied men of the village. Finally, in half jest, half seriousness, Garroc's father approached the Elves as they were readying their horses and said, "Here, take my boy. He has the weather eye and knows the rocks and trees well as any. He can fight, too."

The Elves cast belittling glances at Garroc, hardly concealing their laughter at the sight of the lad. Garroc's vûk was nearly as tall as he was. Several woolen shirts and a bulky sweater kept the hard leather breastplate and greaves from falling from his body. Perhaps Garroc's stern countenance persuaded them as he returned their stares, or perhaps it was simply Elven humor at the ways of men. The reason was never known, but Garroc's father was as amazed as any of the bystanders when the leader of the Elves simply pointed to one of the spare horses, and said, "Let us be off, then. The Mistress will not wait for Elves or Men."

Several months later, Garroc and the Elven band returned to the village, the sought after herbs secure in the leader's saddlebags.

The party had been beset by numerous denizens of the mountains during the journey and had lost two of their original number. They rested for a day and then readied their mounts for the return home. Before leaving, the Leader of the Elves approached Garroc and handed him a small pouch, a long bow and a small wooden flute from one of the fallen Elves. "Here," said the Elf, "payment for your services. You've earned them." Garroc bowed stiffly in acknowledgment, and then hurried off to his family's hut to find out what was in the pouch. Garroc's eyes went wide as he discovered the pouch held eight silver pieces, more wealth than he had ever dreamed of. Far easier to fight for those who would pay well, rather than spend a life herding goats or waiting for disaster. Outside, his father quizzed the Elf on the bow and flute that had been presented to Garroc.

The Elf regarded Garroc's father with a lifted eyebrow, and explained why he had given the items to the boy. "He fought well, saving the herbalist of our party at least twice from certain death. We assigned the lad to him, you see, to keep him out of mischief. Sûnor, one of our fallen, took a liking to the lad and taught him the bow and let him give us all headaches in safe camps with his flute. We lost Sûnor to Orcs, six weeks into our travels. Your son took to playing the flute after we successfully killed or drove off any marauding bands that took us for easy marks. He was ever beside us in the fray. A rare attainment for one so young. Toward the end, he would play the silly thing in the first hour of dawn, to herald in the morning. And I can't say why, for sure, but the Orc bands seemed to simply avoid us soon after. We saw none at all during the last four weeks."

Garroc spent four more years at the village, serving the militia. Some said that Garroc was the best watch the village ever had, simply because he wanted the first chance of speaking to any travellers that passed by. Several times, he succeeded in hiring himself out as an extra warrior to accompany them through the vicinity. At the age of nineteen, when most young men turn to serious pursuits of their chosen craft, Garroc was already a warrior to be reckoned with. He headed south, after saying goodbye to his mother and father, drawn like a lodestone toward any area where fighting and small wars were breaking out and one side or the other would pay for his blade. He finally made his way to Rhûn and took positions with several factions of that area continually engaged in petty wars. The Asdriags, followers of the Witch-king, became his friends and always told him of the magnificent warrior kingdom in the northwest called Angmar. As his skills continued to increase, he at last traveled to that realm, where he never lacked for work or gold as a freelance warrior. Garroc will hire himself out to anyone with enough gold to pay his asking price. The terms good and evil mean little to him. Good is a full belly and a full purse, while evil is the lack of both. He prays to no deity, and looks only to himself for advice.

Garroc will often relax after a day's battle, or prepare himself for an upcoming attack during the first hour of dawn by playing his flute. He only knows a few, slow, dirge-like tunes, and this practice has earned him the nickname of Death Wind. It has been said that ambush parties have deserted their placements and retreated, rather than become the subject of the next evening's melody.

Features:

Of the seldom seen peoples of the Urd, Garroc is a strange sight even among the varied warriors of Angmar. He wears heavy woolen garb and fur boots at all times of the year, which he claims is extra padding for his hard leather breastplate and greaves that cover his arms and legs. His head is covered by a half helm of steel lined with heavy felt, that just covers his ears. From beneath the helm, tiny war braids ring his head from temple to temple. A full shield bearing the sigil of a single flame against a field of black, is carried slung across his back.

Garroc's helm and thick garb frames a wide, ruddy face that seems almost red in hue. His eyes appear as two dark brown pools set in a host of deep wrinkles left there from years of watching the flocks in inclement weather under cold winter skies. His short, flattened nose and thin lips add to the look of one of the carved totems held in respect by his people.

Principal Items:

Vûk (1st Lvl)

+10. This weapon is favored by the goat herders of Urd. At first glance it appears to be a shortened shepherd's crook that is truncated halfway through the arc. Upon further inspection, a row of steel teeth may be seen along the inner surface of the crook. A steel spike used to help in treacherous footing is placed at the bottom of the staff. When not used in combat, a specially constructed sheath is placed over the teeth, thus enabling this end of the vûk to be used as a handle. The vûk does damage as a hand axe.

Flute (1st Lvl)

+15 Magic. Unbeknownst to Garrock, when played, this cursed item casts Fear (6th level, Mind Control list) on any listeners (up to three times a day). The spell affects all creatures except Elves, to whom the instrument sounds dull and out of tune.

Sling (3rd Lvl)

+10 Magic. A favored weapon of the Urd, the sling was presented to Garrock as a going away present from the town militia when he left the village. Treated with a magical solution, the leather will not distort or deteriorate in the rain, yet it imbues the sling with an increased elasticity that adds 50 feet to the normal range.

ûsriev (5th Lvl)

+5. This standard weapon of the Asdriags is eight foot in length and a cross between a spear and thin two-hand sword. (See Mirkwood)

Compound Bow (6th Lvl)

+15. Received as partial pay for a special assignment in Angmar.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM vûk Sling Long Bow ûsriev Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Play Instrument Foraging Weather Watching Navigation Tracking Herding First Aid Stunned Maneuver Leather Working	-10 20 15 5 - 5 5 - 2 5 5 5 5 10 5 5 5 - - 5	-5 35 25 10 10 10 15 5 4 10 15 10 15 20 10 10 5 5 10 15	0 50 35 15 25 15 25 10 6 20 25 15 25 30 20 15 5 10 20 20	5 56 45 25 35 20 35 15 8 30 35 15 35 40 30 25 5 15 30 25	5 64 52 35 50 25 45 20 11 45 45 15 45 50 40 35 5 20 40 25

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	27 48 69 99 119	RL RL RL RL RL	45 45 45 45 45	Y Y Y Y Y	A/L A/L A/L A/L A/L	50 65 80 86 94	35 45 55 65 72	-10 -5 0 5 5

Jeshan

Aka: Wildman of Ahûs, Kordin's Son, The Clever, Grishâktur of Morkai.

Race: Eriadoran Northman.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: Ahûs (Fell-man hamlet of Angmar); then Barad Morkai.

Appearance: sandy, blond hair, hanging in tangles to the shoulders; cold, blue-grey eyes; 6'2"; 160 lbs.

MERP Stats: St96; Ag98; Co84; Ig90; It67; Pr91; Ap 73.

RM Stats: Ag98; Co84; SD82; Me89; Re91; St96; Qu92; Pr91; Em70; In67.

Languages: Blarm 4; Dunael 2; Mos-gûjâb 2; Orkish 3; Sindarin 2; Urdhno 4; Westron 4.

Jeshan passed through childhood under his granny's eye while his father, one of the moor-men of Angmar, foraged and worked at odd jobs from dawn until sundown. The trio were happy despite their simple lifestyle and the death of Jeshan's mother at his birth. A thick wood encircled their small cottage, hiding it from the spies of the Witch-king and enabling Kordin, Jeshan's father, to remain free of the military regime. He harvested wheat in the nearby hamlet of Ahûs for a wage, chopped wood in the forest to supply the cottage's hearth, set snares on the game trails, or fished and gathered berries in the wild as it suited him. His mother and his son never went hungry, and no one save himself ordered his days.

Soon after Granny began to teach Jeshan his letters, Kordin started to take the boy with him on his daily rambles. Without formal lessons, the child learned the ways of the hawk and the titmouse, the proper method for setting a rabbit snare, and which fungi and roots made good eating. Father and son hunted together in the woodlands, swam in the foaming cascades of the moors, and raced each other through the meadows. Footsore and weary, but filled with the satisfaction of freedom well used, the pair would return home only when the shadows lengthened and the light failed. Books read by the fireside with Granny, though thick and lacking in illustration, stirred his imagination with hero's deeds in far away lands and forgotten times. Though roughly clothed and unaccustomed to luxury, the boy was not uneducated.

His untrammeled childhood ended abruptly when a travelling peddler informed the Ashâktur at Barad Shedûn of the isolated cottage where three Fell-men dwelt without paying taxes or rendering the obligatory military service. A company of soldiers arrived the next day, killing Jeshan's grandmother and removing Kordin to Carn Dûm where he would be trained for active duty. Jeshan eluded the soldiers, but freedom alone could no longer provide the contentment it once had. The youth boarded up his granny's cottage and took to the foothills. Sheltered by caves, the thick boughs of pines, or a fallen log, he lived a life more suited to a mountain cat or a wolf than a man. His rage against the Witch-king and the Nazgûl's troops smoldered and smoked in the isolation, but never abated.

For many years undisturbed by the Angmarean regime, he hunted, fished and roamed the highlands of the Hithaeglir while observing the wildlife. Then he unintentionally became involved in repulsing a Dunadan attack, and his strategic and tactical talents came to light. Like his father, Jeshan was drafted into the army where he soon made Grishâktur of 100 foot soldiers.

Despite his hatred for the Lord of the Morgul and all his works, Jeshan continues to do well in the military milieu. Perhaps the most eccentric of Barad Morkai's captains, he wears a plaid kilt, a reinforced breastplate, greaves, helmet of skunk fur, and thong sandals. He wields a baw and cabis. Although he refuses to conform by using more standard garb and gear, none of his acquaintances suspect that Jeshan merely awaits the proper opportunity to escape the Witch-king's grasp.

Features:

Jeshan is a tall, wiry man with aquiline features and a beak of a nose. The gaze of his cold, blue-grey eyes is piercing, but his grooming leaves much to be desired. Abandoned during his adolescence due to the diligence of the Witch-king's soldiers, his idea of cleanliness consists of a plunge in the icy waters of a mountain stream followed by a brisk run in the sun to dry off. Soap has not touched his skin in years, nor has a comb passed through his sandy blond hair. It hangs in tangles well past his shoulders. He wears a loose cotton blouse tucked into a kilt whose plaid displays the same weave worn by his father (forest green, navy, crimson, white, and black). His shield bears the family symbol, a mountain cat in silhouette, poised to spring. Jeshan's breastplate, greaves, and helmet are constructed of reinforced leather obtained from the hides of skunks. The black fur with its white stripe remains on the outermost surfaces of this battle regalia along with the creature's scent. The warrior wears only thong sandals on his feet, except in the coldest of weather, preferring agility over the protection lent by boots.

Principal Items:

Baw (1st Lvl)

+15; wielder may strike twice in a round every 2 rounds; grip is wrapped with scarlet cord; the axe shaft is forged of steel; the striking edge is mithril; Jeshan was given the weapon by his father.

Cabis (3rd Lvl)

+10; returns to the wielder's hand; range is 100'; grip is covered with black cord; the axe shaft forged of a steel/aluminum alloy; the axe head and striking edge is a steel/mithril alloy; Jeshan acquired this weapon from a defeated foe.

Typh (7th Lvl)

+15; fumbles only on a roll of 01-02; delivers double concussion damage; carved of dirwood impregnated with black laen; Jeshan inherited it following his father's death.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Baw (1-He) Typh (1-Hc) Cabis (Thrown) Hand-axe (Thrown) Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Caving Cookery Foraging Leadership Star-gazing Strategy & Tactics Weather Watching	5 20 -- -- 20 10 5 15 10 2 5 5 20 5 10 -- 5 -- 10	10 40 -- 20 20 15 10 20 15 4 10 10 25 10 15 -- 10 -- 15	10 54 -- 40 20 20 10 25 20 4 10 15 30 15 20 10 15 10 20	10 62 10 54 20 25 10 30 25 6 15 20 35 15 20 20 15 20 25	10 74 20 66 20 35 15 40 35 10 25 30 45 25 25 35 25 35 35

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	26 47 68 89 110	RL/10 RL/10 RL/10 RL/10 RL/10	35 35 35 45 45	Y Y Y Y10 Y10	A/L A/L A/L A/L A/L	55bw 75bw 89bw 97bw 105bw	35ha 45cs 65cs 79cs 87cs	5 10 10 10 10

Peltadh the Peddler

Aka: The Pot-man.

Race: Northman.

Profession: Scout/Rogue/Trader.

Home: Angmar.

Appearance: Greying shoulder-length hair and beard; grey eyes; 5'10" tall; 163 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 82; Ag 100; Co 88; Ig 81; It 79; Pr 98; Ap 54.

RM Stats: Ag100; Co88; SD91; Me86; Re83; St82; Qu68; Pr98; Em68; In79.

Languages: Westron 5; Dunael 5; Black Speech 2.

Peltadh was born into a long line of traders and warriors in Rhudaur. However, being the youngest son, his share of the family's business was meager at best. As a young lad, he would peddle pots and pans for his father to the settlements near his family's home. As his trading skills matured, he branched out by delivering milk and eggs picked up from local farmers early in the morning. This he did on some days of the week while on the others he continued to visit the outlying households to peddle whatever wares his father would commission him to sell. By the age of 22, Peltadh yearned for more adventure; his desires were to see the world.

Leaving home with but a large pack and an old sock filled with an odd assortment of coins (together with a motley collection of items to sell), Peltadh roamed throughout Rhudaur, Cardolan and Arthedain buying and selling in every manor and town that he came upon. A number of years and many coins later, the young man turned his eyes towards the North and decided that a small fortune could be made trading in Angmar.

In the late spring of T.A. 1641, a weary traveller and a lone mule pulled into Carn Dûm, capitol of the Witch-king's realm. Peltadh set up shop at a small Inn near the gates to the city and began to trade pots, pans, small blades and other curios that he had collected over the years. He had finally found a niche for himself. Every warrior state requires goods for the troops and Peltadh was the one to deliver.

During the winter months, Peltadh (who now owns a shop in Carn Dûm) sells principally to the warriors and other inhabitants of the city. During late spring through early autumn, he travels the countryside (leaving the business in the capable care of his assistant Greelok) trading with the many people that he meets along the way. Peltadh is a shrewd trader and will haggle for as long as necessary to make a healthy profit.

Features:

Peltadh is nondescript to say the least. In a group, one would hardly notice him. He is medium build and not overly tall. This is not to say that he is a weakling, though. His years of travel have hardened him, and although he prefers to avoid a fight, he can fight adequately if cornered. The trader's garb is much different at home than on the road. When travelling he wears loose woolen pants and a muslin shirt. His pants he tucks into high, sturdy, black boots. Over this he always drapes a battered old traveller's cloak. On sunny days he allows the cloak to hang open with the hood thrown back. At home he dons bright colors, preferring reds and yellows.

Principal Items:

Papers from the Witch-king (4th Lvl)

After he set up shop and established himself in the city, Peltadh obtained a set of papers from the Court of the Witch-king giving him free reign to travel throughout the realm trading his wares. These papers are cursed to all but the original recipient. If stolen and then shown to an emissary of the Witch-king, the papers will instruct the emissary to take the holder into custody and deliver him or her to Carn Dûm.

*** Note Peltadh never keeps anything for himself as personal items. He views the world as a collection of trade goods that may pass through his hands for profit.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Quarter Staff Crossbow Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Trading Appraisal Public Speaking First Aid	10 15 5 20 5 10 10 5 -- 10 15 5 -- -- 5	10 25 15 30 15 20 20 15 5 20 35 20 10 10 15	10 35 25 40 25 35 30 25 15 30 50 35 20 25 25	10 45 35 50 30 45 40 35 20 40 56 50 35 35 40	10 54 50 56 40 54 50 50 20 54 64 58 52 50 52

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	18 32 45 61 83	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	0 20 20 20 20	N Y Y Y Y	N N N N N	21 33 45 57 69	46 58 70 82 91	10 10 10 10 10

Eriador is the name given the lands between the Misty Mountains and the Blue Mountains. Generally speaking, much of the territory is composed of a series of uplands whose longitudinal axes form concentric rings. Many of the uplands are called downs by the local inhabitants. These include the Far Downs, the White Downs, the North Downs, the South Downs and the Barrow Downs. In the far east of Eriador are the Weather Hills, the Midgewater marshes and the Trollshaws. To the west, the downs rise up to the Tower Hills and the Hills of Evendim. Lake Nenuial bounds Eriador to the north and the river valleys of the Gwathlo and the Baranduin form a watery boundary in the south.

A number of political entities exist within Eriador. Dúnedain, Dunlending and Northmen groups vie for control of the resources of the area. Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur comprise the Dúnedain Kingdoms of Arnor. To the south lie the Dunlending lands of Dunfearan.

Frost

Aka: Indorin (S. "Heart's remembrance"), The Gentleman Thief of Tharbad, Kyle.

Race: Half-elf (Northman/Sinda).

Profession: Thief.

Home: Tharbad.

Appearance: dark, wavy hair shot through with early silver. Appraising eyes the color of worn steel. 5'11" tall, 155 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 59; Ag 101; Co 87; Ig 89; It 99; Pr 65; Ap 80.

RM Stats: Ag 101; Co 87; SD 76; Me 90; Re 87; St 59; Qu 93; Pr 65; Em 53; In 99.

Languages: Westron 5, Sindarin 4, Silvan 1, Adûnaic 2.

Born deep within the forest of Mirkwood in T.A. 1636, Indorin spent the first few early years of his life amongst the Wood-elves. He remembered little of that time in years to come, knowing only that his mother's name was Narmirë (S. "fire flower"), and that she refused to speak of his father. At the age of 6, Indorin was separated from his mother and taken out of Mirkwood by a band of Wood-elves following the direct orders of King Thranduil. The young boy was transported over the Hithaeglir (S. "Misty Mountains") into Rhudaur and left with a Mannish family in Talugdaeri, a village by Cameth Brin. His past life and his mother's voice became fleeting memories when his new guardians gave him the name of Kyle and beat him severely for speaking in any tongue but Westron. Until the age of 15, Kyle spent every day working as a servant in the inn owned by his wards. A quick study, Kyle loved to listen to the bards and entertainers that passed through the town and would badger them to teach him juggling, slight of hand tricks, and acrobatics. Born ambidextrous, he easily learned to juggle and before long could deliver a throwing knife with surprising accuracy with either hand. He continued to learn all that he could from anyone that would teach him, although he knew any such kindness would result in another beating when he was caught not working.

On Kyle's 15th birthday, he gave himself the ultimate gift of freedom and during a moonless night, snuck away from the inn and fled into the wilds of Rhudaur. After nearly starving in the wastes, he made his way down the Mitheithel River to Fennas Drúnin. With his bones chilled and his belly growling in hunger, he begged for meals from passerbyes. He chose the name Frost when he was quizzed by a merchant that he tried to beg a meal from. This from his frigid travel through the wastelands. In desperation, he found that his natural agility and dexterity could be turned to other uses. He began a career as a minor thief and cutpurse, until he was nearly caught one night by several angry travellers he had stolen his next day's meal from. As he turned down an alley that led to a dead end, his heart nearly stopped as a murky doorway opened and he was grabbed by the collar and dragged inside. An older man dressed in the attire of a baker held him at arms length and eyed him sternly. "I've been watching you," the man threatened.

Frost prepared to aim a kick at the man's shin to aid him in an escape, and then stopped suddenly as the man continued speaking. "You have talent. Raw, and untutored, but none-the-less, a talent." Those words were the beginning of a six year apprenticeship to Labdo the Baker, one of the finest second story men to ever work the towns of northern Endor.

Frost learned quickly, especially since he had food enough to fill his belly and a warm place to sleep. Under Labdo's tutelage, Frost studied the fine arts of breaking and entering, appraisal of stolen goods (especially jewelry), and the patience and concentration needed to plan and then execute a "job." Frost was forced to leave Fennas Drúnin after he returned from a theft early one morning, discovering the bakery door burst from its hinges and the building ransacked. He later learned that Labdo's career had at last caught up with him and he had been taken in his sleep by the city fathers to be hung at noon in the town square. Saddened by his tutor's death, and even more saddened by the thought of his own possible demise, Frost left town quickly and for a time worked the road between Fennas Drúnin and Tharbad. He developed a knack for furtively infiltrating groups of travellers as they camped along the road at night. He became quite adept at relieving the sleepers of a portion of their wealth without causing alarm from any of the guards.

After a particularly successful night's outing, he began an overland journey to Ost-in-Edhil, thinking to avoid pursuit by skirting along the banks of the Sirannon river. This mistake nearly cost him his life when he was overtaken by a small pack of wolves near the Sirannon. Trusting to his instincts, he went for the highest ground and only accomplished being treed by the wolves. He successfully dodged the first attack but took a severe bite in the leg before pulling himself high enough into the tree to avoid their next rush. Throwing sticks down at the wolves in a hopeless attempt to drive them off, he prepared to die an ignoble death and was somewhat shocked to suddenly see two of the wolves fall to the ground in quick succession with crossbow bolts sprouting from their chests. A Dwarven war cry shattered the stillness of the scene, and one wolf in near panic tried to climb the same tree that Frost held. He dispatched the climber with a lethal toss of his throwing dagger and smiled in relief as the last wolf tried to turn and run, only to crumple to the ground with a crossbow bolt in his back.

Frost slowly made his way to the ground as a Dwarf appeared from behind a pile of jumbled boulders. He eyed the dead wolves, spat once in their general direction and then bowed, while proclaiming, "Wide Thumb Steelmaster, at your service."

Frost regained his composure slowly after the Dwarf bandaged his wounded leg. The Thief nearly started his leg bleeding again from laughter after finding that Wide Thumb had been forced to leave Khazad-dûm for having the nasty habit of unfastening locks on doors that didn't belong to him and then 'borrowing' the contents to study. With passage through the mountains cut off due to Wide Thumb's past, and passage to the north in peril from Frost's similar pastimes, the pair teamed up and traveled to Tharbad, where they found an environment well suited to their liking.

After several years of 'odd jobs' in and around Tharbad, Frost and Wide Thumb opened the Warrior's Anvil weapon shop. It is rumored that most of the weapons sold there are beyond Wide Thumb's limited smithing ability to produce. Still, the inhabitants of the city recognize a good bargain on a weapon when they see one, and the pair is seldom asked about the origin of any item sold within their shop.

Frost trusts no one other than Wide Thumb and Lâci the Dream Speaker, his only close friends. He gets along easily with Dwarf Folk and mannish races, and suffers from a certain attraction to Silvan and Sindarin Elves, though he barely hides his distrust of them. He is known for occasionally hiring out to recover items that are 'lost' by their original owners. Frost will take no unnecessary risks however, and will only engage in activities for hire that he has had time to thoroughly research and plan.

Features:

Frost is of medium height, and looks almost Elven when his face is crossed by a rare smile. Eyes the color of worn steel appraise anyone he meets with the same calculating glance he uses to determine the worth of jewels or weapons. Dark, wavy hair touched with early silver falls to his shoulders, and he has the habit of running his right hand through his hair, displaying the ebony handle of a throwing dagger that glints in an arm sheath against his wrist. He wears dark red, knee-high boots and a brace of jeweled fighting daggers that gleam from within the folds of his smoke-grey cloak. If encountered during the hours of darkness, he will always be found carrying a light crossbow that has been modified to hang from a shoulder sling at waist level. The weapon may be fired with one hand, and is made from dark wood and darker metal that seems to suck light into its surface rather than reflect it.

When relaxing in a tavern or at the Warrior's Anvil with his back to the wall and Wide Thumb close at hand, he will sometimes remove his cloak for added comfort. Under the cloak, he wears loose fitting trousers of grey silk and a midnight blue, silk shirt.

Principal Items:

Throwing daggers (1st Lvl)

+5. These three throwing daggers were presented to Frost by Labdo after the completion of Frost's third successful job.

Fighting daggers (3rd Lvl)

+15 magic. A brace of jeweled daggers acquired from the trunk of a wealthy arms merchant. One dagger has a large emerald set into the pommel, and its twin sports a ruby of equal size. The emerald dagger turns an attackers blade as though it were a full shield (+25 to DB). The ruby dagger glows a bright blue when it is held over a surface that conceals a trap, and glows a soft red if a human presence is within 100 feet of the wielder and the dagger is removed from its sheath.

Lock pick kit (3rd Lvl)

+10. The lock pick kit was made by Wide Thumb. It was a gift to Frost when the two reached Tharbad unscathed.

Light Crossbow (7th Level)

+30 magic. The bow of the weapon is crafted from Black Eog, and is rumored to be a gift from an unknown benefactor at Khazad-dûm. It is further rumored that the crossbow was payment for a recovery mission that neither Frost or Wide Thumb will acknowledge in any way (could it have been something that Wide Thumb made off with?).

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger (Thrown) Dagger (1-HE) Crossbow Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Disarm Trap Pick Locks Acrobatics Appraisal Contortions Juggling Public Speaking Rope Mastery Trickery	10 20 10 -- 15 5 10 2 20 15 5 5 5 -- 10 10 5 5 20	10 40 20 -- 20 10 15 4 30 25 10 10 10 -- 15 15 10 10 40	10 54 30 10 30 15 20 6 40 35 15 20 15 10 20 20 15 15 54	10 62 40 20 35 20 25 8 45 50 20 30 20 15 25 20 20 20 62	10 74 50 35 50 30 35 10 50 56 30 40 25 25 30 20 30 30 74

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	Mov M
1 3 5 7 10	20 35 58 72 95	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	23 23 23 45 50	N N N N N	N N N N N	15Da 25Da 35Da 45Da 55Da	40Da 60Da 74Da/45cb 82Da/58Cb 94Da/80cb	10 10 10 10 10

Wide Thumb Steelmaster

Aka: Grimbold, Fencrist (S. "Door Cleaver").

Race: Dwarf.

Profession: Scout/Thief.

Home: Tharbad.

Appearance: Dark brown hair and beard. Coal black eyes. 4'9" tall, 155 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 85; Ag 90; Co 93; Ig 90; It 100; Pr 57; Ap 60.

RM Stats: Ag 90; Co 93; SD 60; Me 83; Re 97; St 85; Qu 93; Pr 57; Em 75; In 100.

Languages: Westron 5, Sindarin 3, Khuzdul 5.

Wide Thumb was born in the quiet of the early morning hours in Khazad-dûm in T.A. 1617. Several of the Dwarf keep's inhabitants have been noted to say that the night of Wide Thumb's birth was the last quiet night in the city until 1657, the year Wide Thumb left Khazad-dûm to seek his fortune and avoid the dungeons deep within the mountain.

Wide Thumb displayed a curiosity and vocal ability that drove his mother to tears and his father to long trading journeys until the Dwarfling had reached adolescence. Always inquisitive, the young Dwarf would constantly harangue any listener, or the very air itself, about the nature of things. Not content with answers when he received them, Wide Thumb always had to explore things himself. Anywhere a bowl was found overturned, a forge door left open, drawers rummaged, or a trap sprung and not reset, Wide Thumb was sure to be found close by. During weapon training practice, the older Dwarven warriors were said to often cover their ears in response to Wide Thumb's aggressive lungs. His war cry easily reduced the shouts of the other young Dwarves to mere whispers in comparison to his own vocal symphony. Wide Thumb soon showed ability in the use of the mace and the crossbow. He favored the weapons for their direct, straight-forward approach. He was often heard to comment that "You just bash it!" when speaking of the former, and that "You just pull the trigger!" when speaking of the latter.

While reasonably proficient in the use of arms, crafting was nearly Wide Thumb's undoing. He dreamed of being a smith, but his lack of concentration for repetitive tasks and the dedication required of a smithing apprentice was at odds with his inquisitive mind. His concentration would slip at the most inopportune moment, resulting in poorly tempered blades, misshaped weapon blanks, poorly heated forges, and a number of missed hammer strokes that gained him his name. It was during a convalescence period with his thumb swathed in a thick bandage that he discovered his true calling. The master smith of the training forge approached him in disgust. "Perhaps you can repair this" he muttered, tossing a broken padlock onto Wide Thumb's work bench. "It requires only the smallest tools to repair, and please try not to damage yourself too badly." Here at last was a project to capture Wide Thumb's attention, where his natural curiosity was brought to bear. The small hammers, rasps, and punches used to create and repair locks became his forte. He devoted himself to the locksmith's craft and, always desirous of better tools, perfected the manufacture and smithing of various lock picks, and other helpful devices to aid him in lock mastery.

Wide Thumb's growing passion for locks developed into an equal passion for small, concealable traps. He became noted for crafting the finest spring traps and trigger devices for inclusion into boxes, trunks, and doors for one at his level of development. His growing skill, coupled with his still unchecked curiosity led him to explore other masters' lock work and traps. Unfortunately, these locks and traps were usually on doors or chests belonging to other inhabitants of Khazad-dûm. After defeating a lock, he would usually find himself borrowing what was behind the door or inside the chest for some time to glean why the object or item needed to be locked away in the first place. At first viewed as simple practical jokes, it soon became obvious that Wide Thumb could simply not resist a lock that presented itself to his attention. At first his actions were referred to by others as his passion, then as his problem, and finally as his curse. When the word 'thief' started to become synonymous with his name, Wide Thumb was asked in no uncertain terms to either cure his bad habit, or seek habitation elsewhere, with long term habitation of Khazad-dûm's dungeon mentioned as a possibility. In T.A. 1657, Wide Thumb was escorted to the west entrance of Khazad-dûm by two Dwarven watchers, and was advised to never darken the Hold with his talents again.

Several days later on the way west along the Sirannon river, he encountered and rescued Frost the Half-elf from a wolf attack. Discovering Frost's ability to relieve the unwary of their earthly goods, a friendship developed between the two that grew into a lifelong partnership of creative acquisitions. The two

traveled to Tharbad, and quickly became known amongst the lesser elements of the city as ones who could acquire the unacquireable. As owners and operators of the Warrior's Anvil weapon shop, the two fence stolen arms and armor, and take recovery jobs on assignment.

Wide Thumb can usually be found in the shop, talking to himself as he creates or studies a new lock design in the workroom in the back. Unlike most Dwarves, he will talk to anyone that will listen, although most of his comments are actually questions to the listener. His stout countenance and ability with the mace that swings from his belt is all that saves him from those who believe him to be too inquisitive for his own good; that and the rumors that surround his friend Frost. When someone takes offense at Wide Thumb's questions, rather than responding with silence, he is more likely to instruct the listener that "Not even the ears of owls hear the sound of a dagger in the night." Laughing to himself, he will avoid the person that took offense from this point on, and refuse to be involved with any jobs that concern them regardless of any offered price.

Features:

Wide Thumb is on the tallish side for a Dwarf, at 4'9". His coal black eyes dart in all directions, taking in everything. Dark brown hair falls to below his shoulders, and his long beard is braided in the manner of the warriors of Khazad-dûm. He wears an old, leather jerkin with many pockets over a chain shirt. A mithril mace is slung from his belt, and he toys with the handle as he mutters to himself about what he sees, the weather, or a multitude of other unrelated topics.

Principal Items:

Lock pick kit (3rd Lvl)

+15. The lock pick kit is Wide Thumb's finest work.

Light Crossbow (3rd Level)

+15 magic. Acquired from the armories of Khazad-dûm during one of Wide Thumb's practical jokes.

Mace (5th Lvl)

+20 magic. The mace is made of mithril, and will rend all non-magic doors or gates. On doors formed from enchanted material, the mace adds +30 to pick lock attempts three times a day.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Mace (1 HC) Crossbow (Miss.) Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Pick Lock Disarm Trap Perception Appraisal Caving Detect Traps Lock Lore Set Traps Smithing Trap Building	-25 30 5 5 -- -- -- -- 10 5 5 -- 10 -- 15 5 5 --	-15 40 10 10 -- -- -- 5 20 15 15 5 15 5 25 10 10 5	-5 50 15 15 5 -- 1 5 30 25 25 10 20 10 35 15 15 10	0 54 20 15 5 5 2 10 40 30 35 15 20 15 45 20 20 20	0 60 35 15 5 5 2 10 54 40 45 20 20 20 60 25 25 35

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	24 36 48 60 80	13 13 13 13 13	30 30 30 30 30	Y Y Y Y Y	N N A/L A/L A/L	43 59 70 84 100	8 16 25 39 55	-25 -15 -5 0 0

Oana Sauter

Aka: The Mistress, Caunther (D. "The Songstress").

Race: Eriadoran Northman.

Profession: Scout/Rogue/Trader.

Home: Tharbad.

MERP Stats: St 56; Ag 103; Co75; Ig 89; It 86; Pr 101; Ap 98.

RM Stats: Ag103; Co75; Sd81; Me86; Re92; St56; Qu87; Pr101; Em89; In86.

Languages: Westron 5; Dunael 4; Sindarin 2; Adunaic 2.

Oana was born in Tharbad to the Northman couple, Britny and Turloch Carlon. Turloch, a travelling Bard, was saddened at his return after a long sojourn, to find that his only child had been born in his absense and that his beloved Britny had died during the birth. Wishing to provide a warm and caring environment for his daughter, Turloch hired a Sinda nursemaid to care for his child. As one of the finest bards in the land, Turloch was able to provide the best for Oana and her nanny.

At the age of 17, Oana left her home to start a life of her own, although she still keeps ties with her father. She joined a group of performers and in essence followed in her father's footsteps. Over the space of five years she progressed from a simple entertainer to the owner of the company. Seeking greater fortune, she decided to branch out and take her company to the road. With the profits that she had squirreled away for later use, she bought a large gypsy wagon and formulated a plan to provide an increased income for herself and her aging father.

Many individuals from the original troupe decided to leave when the announcement was made to take to the road. She hired a number of new players to take their places who would provide just the skills she needed to entertain in the many different localities that she desired to visit.

Today, Oana manages her troupe of entertainers and often helps in the productions. As a side line, she moves information for individuals that lie along the troupe's route. Oana's information services come dearly, and, she does not work with just anyone. She is very discriminating and must always have money up front in any enterprise.

Features:

Oana is a tallish woman of striking beauty. She relies on her wit and guile to help her in her profession. Her long blond hair hangs loosely down to mid back and her deep brown eyes bespeak a friendliness that few can resist. Her long, nimble fingers allow her to play the lute with extreme delicacy, while her voice enthralls even the most hard hearted. Oana prefers bright clothes. She wears loose fitting pants and tight blouses, over which she wears an emerald green cloak.

Principal Items:

Lute (1st Lvl)

+10 Magic. This musical instrument was a present to her from her father. Its magical abilities help augment any musical arrangement.

Cloak (4th Lvl)

+15 magic. Cloak of Protection. The emerald green cloak subtracts 15 from any attacks against Oana. It was given to her by a forlorn suitor.

Wood Chest (6th Lvl)

This high quality travelling chest is used to hold her fine garments and other assorted belongings. The chest has a secret compartment in the lid that is extremely hard to detect (-30).

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dirk Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Leadership Public Speaking Seduction Trading Navigation Singing Music (Lute) Bribery Region Lore Administration	35 10 -- 10 10 -- 10 15 -- -- 5 -- 5 15 10 -- -- --	35 20 5 20 15 1 15 30 5 5 15 -- 15 20 20 -- -- 5	35 30 10 30 20 2 25 40 15 15 25 5 20 30 30 5 5 15	35 40 15 40 20 2 35 50 25 25 35 15 30 45 45 15 10 25	35 50 20 50 25 3 45 56 35 40 50 30 45 60 60 30 20 35

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	22 34 49 66 88	None None None None None	5 5 5 5 5	N N N N N	N N N N N	11 23 35 47 60		35 35 35 35 35

Oana's Troupe

Oana and her troupe of actors travel the lands in two large, wooden wagons. Oana uses the first wagon as an office and living quarters while on the road. The wagons look like two small wooden shacks on wheels. At the top of each wagon are side boards (1-1 ½ feet tall) that completely surround the top of the wagon. Extra supplies and equipment are normally stored there. When attacked while traveling or camping, the troupe members on watch lie behind the side boards and loose bolts at the attackers. The members of the troupe generally spend the night in, on top of, or under the wagons when camped. For longer stays or when the troupe sets up a show at the outskirts of a town, two large tents are set up behind the wagons. Oana's wagons are heavy enough to secure and hold a tightrope in place between them when there is not a suitable performing area available. The second wagon sports fold down sides that open into a stage for performances.

Over the years, many individuals have joined and later left the troupe. Of these, only Lacî, Tarah, Durward, Mablon, Hack, and Lok have made the Troupe their family. A few travel frequently with the troupe but leave for extended periods of time. Varnum, a thief by trade, travels a few times a year with Oana. He poses as the magician of the troupe, performing slight of hand tricks and other "magical" feats. The only actual magic that Varnum possesses is his set of nimble fingers, which he uses to relieve unsuspecting townspeople of some of their wealth. The self-proclaimed mother of the troupe is Llyn. Llyn is the real mother of Arla and the adopted mother of the boy Lok. When Arla travels with the troupe she acts as second acrobat. Both nimble and quick, she can be devastating when armed with either her longsword or crossbow. She is fond of Durward and allows him to try to be a father to her daughter Arla and the boy Lok.

** GM Note If the troupe is to be used with the characters on the higher end of their levels, the troupe will have been travelling together for 5-10 years.

Lâci

Aka: The Dream Speaker, Diva the Diviner.

Race: Half-elf (Easterling/Silvan).

Profession: Scout/Rogue/Gypsy.

Home: Tharbad.

Appearance: Sandy, golden hair, covering her shoulders. Green, almond shaped eyes. 5'10"; 130 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 84; Ag 101; Co 87; Ig 91; In 100; Pr 87; Ap 93.

RM Stats: Ag101; Co87; Sd89; Me88; Re95; St84; Qu90; Pr87; Em61; In100.

Languages: Logathig 5; Westron 5; Dunael 3; Sindarin 4; Éothraic 3; Adunaic 2.

Lâci was born a Sagath, a member of one of the nomadic tribes of Easterlings that dwelt to the west of the Sea of Rhûn. Her birth took place during the absence of her father, who guarded shipments on the supply road that ran from Rhûn to the heart of Angmar far to the northwest. Her father was pleased to find himself with a new daughter upon his return, and Lâci's mother never told her husband of the Silvan Elf that she sheltered from pursuit months prior to the child's birth.

Lâci was slight of build for an Easterling, and far less swarthy than her kindred. Her father ûntha wasted no thought on the exotic looks of his newest daughter, and simply offered up a sacrifice to the natural spirits of the tribe that had blessed him. She would bring a high bride price and that was enough.

As Lâci grew to adolescence, she was troubled at night by strange, eerie dreams, and a mysterious longing that left her frightened and pale when she awoke. Her mother made arrangements for her to study with the older women of the tribe; healers and midwives. Her mother reasoned that being surrounded by such wise women would ease the girl's troubled sleep, and prepare her to be a good addition to the wives of a successful warrior. Lâci at first resented the training and the inquisitive prodding of Mother Dûka, the healer of the tribe. In time, she came to trust the old woman and would share her dreams and feelings freely. Mother Dûka clucked softly, and explained to Lâci that there was nothing to fear. "Indeed, child, you should be joyful rather than frightened, for you have the gift."

Understanding little of Mother Dûka's explanation, she clung to the healer's words of comfort, and began to learn all that Dûka could teach her about the "gift"; the ability to foresee future events and perceive the actions of other people that would occur. Lâci became a dedicated student, and closely followed the woman's instructions to keep the gift a secret. While her parents believed that she was learning midwifery and herb lore, Lâci practiced with the scrying bones and learned the rudiments of Akath Casting; reading the future in the toss of seven polished agates onto the weave of a woolen casting mat intersected by sixteen lines of alternating colors and symbols.

As Lâci became aware that she could have secrets and keep them, she also began to recognize her power to sway people to her own designs and began putting it to use. She bribed her older brother to teach her the basic fighting techniques used with a dagger and how to properly throw one. Her brother thought it amusing and agreed, since a true Easterling warrior had little use for a dagger unless used as a last resort. She also discovered that her exotic looks could sway young men to do her bidding, and she developed the ability to become what others needed to see her as, at least on the surface. Feeling content in her growing power, she continued her training until the age of eighteen. At that time, her father announced that an older warrior of the tribe had met the bride price he had set for her, and that she would be married within the month. Distraught at the thought of being the youngest of the warrior's four wives and spending the rest of her life following the orders of the others, she sought advice from her mother. Although her mother tried to console and convince Lâci of her good fate, Lâci's misgivings continued to grow until she at last collapsed into tears and admitted that she would never submit to control by any man or clan and would die first.

After several days of fretting over her daughter's words, Lâci's mother finally took her aside and told her of her heritage, swearing her to secrecy. While at first shocked and dismayed to find she was of mixed blood, Lâci finally understood why the world she had been born into would never fulfill her. Three days later, disguised as a young man with her hair pulled up under a fur hat, and covered by the woolen cloak common to the Easterlings, she set off to the northwest toward Mirkwood.

Her journey turned into a trek that lasted for seven years. Delighted with the outside world, she moved from village to village, always with a new name and a different look about her. She survived by stealing, telling fortunes, and lying when necessary. Ever on the move, she joined groups of travelers on their way anywhere that sounded new and different. She briefly searched for her father in the realm of the Wood-elves, but soon realized the hopelessness of ever finding him. The Elves treated her no differently than any other of the Mannish races.

Lâci at last found her home in Tharbad, with Oana Sauter's troupe of entertainers. She became the fortune teller of the troupe and loves the life of travel that the retinue engages in. Lâci respects and admires Oana for being a self-made woman and is Oana's confidant. She often consults with her on the future of the troupe or the nature of particular individuals that Oana finds herself forced to deal with.

Lâci has many acquaintances, but few close friends other than Oana and the troupe of entertainers. She is seldom in one place long enough for anyone to get to know her well. The only exceptions are Frost and Wide Thumb Steelmaster, proprietors of a weapon shop in Tharbad. Whenever the troupe visits the city, Frost seeks Lâci's counsel on jobs that he is working on, and various other decisions that will provide him with a reason to spend time with her. She is one of the only two people in Middle-earth privy to Frost's actions and future plans.

Features:

Lâci is a slender, small boned woman of exotic looks. Her sandy blond hair cascades in waves over her shoulders, and surrounds an angular face that hints of Elven blood or some unknown human stock. Her complexion is that of a year round tan, heightened by the riot of color from her loose fitting silk garb. Her skirt and blouse are always bright hues, with scarves, sashes, and ribbons of counterpointing color circling her neck, waist, and arms. Bangles, bracelets, and other pieces of jewelry adorn her wrists and long, thin fingers. She meets newcomers with a quick smile, but behind the smile is a hint of her calculating mind. Her green eyes often seem unfocused, as though she were searching for something far off in the distance, or contemplating a moment from her past. The illusion of unawareness quickly shatters when she looks directly at someone. Many claim that she can see into a being's heart, whether Dwarf, Elf, or Man.

Principal Items:

Akath Mat (1st Lvl)

+5 magic. This item adds +5 to divination attempts. The woven mat and seven agates were given to her by Mother Dûka.

Scrying Bones (3rd Lvl)

+10 magic. Adds +10 to divination attempts.

Throwing Dagger (5th Lvl)

+15 magic. Returns after being thrown from a distance up to 60 feet. The dagger was a gift from Frost and Wide Thumb.

RM Spells:

3rd Level: Sound's Way,

7th Level: (new lists): Detection Mastery

Lacî innately knows the Future Visions Seer list and uses it when casting the stones.

MERP Spells:

3rd Level: Sound/Light Ways

7th Level: Detection Mastery

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger (Thrown) Dagger (1 HE) Climb Ride Swim Stalk/Hide Pick Lock Perception Acting Bribery Dance Duping Diplomacy Divination (Scrying Bones) Divination (Akath caster) Herb lore Midwife Seduction	35 10 5 -- 5 -- 10 -- 10 5 5 5 -- 10 15 5 5 5 10	35 20 15 -- 5 5 20 -- 20 10 10 10 10 20 35 10 10 10 20	35 35 25 5 5 5 30 10 30 20 20 15 20 30 50 15 15 15 30	35 45 30 5 5 5 40 20 40 35 25 20 30 40 56 20 15 20 40	35 54 45 5 5 5 50 30 50 45 30 20 40 50 68 25 20 20 50

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	24 36 48 60 80	None None None None None	30 30 30 30 30	N N N N N	N N N N N	23 39 50 64 80	-- 11 20 34 50	35 35 35 35 35

Durward

Aka: Durward Bone-crusher.

Race: Dunlending.

Profession: Warrior/Fighter.

Home: Nothva Rhaglaw.

Appearance: Heavy of build; dark brown hair; blue-grey eyes; 5'10" tall; 236 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 105; Ag 89; Co 101; Ig 71; In 72; Pr 83; Ap 73.

RM Stats: Ag89; Co101; SD45; Me72; Re51; St105; Qu92; Pr83; Em71; In72.

Languages: Dunael 5, Westron 4, Adûnaic 2.

Durward's father Ansel was overjoyed when he was told that his wife bore him a son. True to his family's line, the first child was a boy and this first born son would carry on the family's traditions. Durward came from a long line of strong-men who showed their prowess on the field of battle and in the ale-houses of Rhudaur.

Even as a young boy, Durward showed great promise as a warrior. His was the mind of the fighter and he always enjoyed a good scuffle. Unfortunately, he was lacking in "horse sense" and had a tendancy to open his mouth when he shouldn't and was normally found in the company of those that would get him into the most trouble.

At the age of 17, Durward fell in with the company of a group of ruffians who convinced him that a move to Cameth Brin would be to his benefit (and theirs in the long run...). He mentioned his proposed move to his parents at dinner which ended up in a great row with his father. After a heated discussion and even an exchange of blows, Durward took his family's leave, vowing never to return. The lad joined his compatriots and set off for Cameth Brin. On the way, Durward got his first taste of the group's true purpose: to relieve others of that which belonged to them through force of arms. The group waylaid a lone traveller, leaving him for dead after beating him senseless. Although Durward felt guilt-ridden for days, he soon forgot the incident.

After arriving at Cameth Brin, the group took up residence in Talugdaeri and soon ran out of the meager funds that they possessed. They took to the road and began robbing individuals and small parties of their goods, and some individuals of their lives. After six months of this activity, they grew bold enough to begin robbing some of the businesses and homes in and around Talugdaeri.

The local authorities began to notice their activities and laid a trap which the leader of the group could not resist. Durward, ever the simpleton in the eyes of his compatriots, was left "holding the bag" as the others escaped. The trial was short and Durward was sentenced to two years hard labor. Eventually, the leader of the group was hunted down and was hanged for his crimes.

Durward worked for two long years. He learned a great lesson from his travails and vowed to redeem his honor so that one day he could return home without shame. After his release, he found employment at an inn in Talugdaeri. His work was hard and pay meager; he worked as a virtual slave. One day, a group of entertainers contracted with the owner of the inn to entertain for the evening. Unbeknowst to Durward, a shadow from his past would come back to haunt him. Tarah the Bard, the lone individual who he had helped to rob many years ago, bartered for this young giant's release and hired him as the strong man for the troupe.

At the age of 20, Durward joined Oana's troupe. He performs feats of strength while the troupe is entertaining in the many towns and villages that it frequents. He also helps set up the wagons and tents, and serves as Oana's and Tarah's personal bodyguard. He fights with a two handed mace that he can swing as easily as the stake hammer he wields when setting up and taking down the tents. If trouble brews while Durward is working, the stake hammer does damage as a -20 mace. Durward is hopelessly in love with Llyn, another member of the troupe, and is at +30 for frenzy if anyone attacks either Llyn, or her daughter Arla.

Features:

Durward is a quiet man wracked with personal guilt. His only hope in life is to be forgiven his family and Tarah the Bard. Durward favors dark clothes that do not hinder his movements. Heavy boots protect his feet. A heavy leather jerkin and heavy gauntlets help protect him while working as the strong man of the troupe or from occasional encounters with those that would relieve the troupe of their goods.

Principal Items:

Mace (3rd Lvl)

This mace is of fine construction and was purchased by Durward in Tharbad after a very successful tour. The quality adds +15 to all attacks.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Mace Crossbow Spear Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Fenzy Adrenal Strength Adrenal Speed Stunned Manuever	10 15 15 10 5 5 10 5 1 10 15 5 10 5 5	15 35 30 30 20 15 25 20 3 20 30 15 20 15 15	15 52 45 40 30 25 35 30 4 30 45 30 30 25 30	15 56 52 50 40 35 45 40 5 40 52 40 40 35 40	15 64 58 56 50 50 54 52 5 52 58 52 52 50 54

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	23 48 64 97 121	SL/4 SL/4 SL/4 SL/4 SL/4	30 30 30 30 30	Y Y Y Y Y	N N N N N	53 79 102 112 129	23 44 65 78 93	10 15 15 15 15

Hack

Aka: Happy Hack.

Race: Northman.

Profession: Scout/Thief.

Home: Tharbad.

Appearance: Wiry of build; Dark brown hair; brown eyes; 5'8" tall; 158 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 78; Ag 103; Co 81; Ig 81; In 83; Pr 57; Ap 87.

RM Stats: Ag103; Co81; SD91; Me86; Re87; ST78; Qu101; Pr57; Em81; In83.

Languages: Westron 5, Adûnaic 2, Sindarin 1.

Being born in Tharabad as the son of Rastor Quickhand and Maggie the Gimp, Hack was a joyous lad who felt he was blessed by the stars. While other youngsters of the lower quarter occasionally cast a fearful eye toward their futures, Hack knew from the day he could first speak that his adult profession would be that of a thief. From Rastor, Hack received early instruction in the pilfering arts. The boy proved to be quick both in dexterity and wits, and earned his father's praise. Hack's mother was one of the lithest acrobats ever to work a second story job or sit spotter in an alley. She belabored her son to not trust luck and guile, but to develop his body as a tool to use while carrying out his designs.

Known as Happy Hack, and Hack the laughing, the boy drifted through his adolescence with a smile and a grin, nodding to all with the friendly greetings of, "Hello young thief," and "How goes it nimble fingers." He felt himself lucky to be so blessed as to know his life's path so early. As a teenager and apprentice thief, his outlook gradually darkened, as shop owners and merchants soon took to being less cordial and more observant as he entered their domains. As he approached adulthood, the atmosphere of his old haunts became distinctly chilled, with much closing of doors and display chests at his approach. To his dismay, he soon came to realize that being a known third rate theif in a city of theives had little to offer if he was going to be his own man.

His craft suffered, for he could work only the open markets and trade squares when passing merchants traveled through town, and then only for a short time with the murmurs and finger pointing that followed his steps. He took to juggling and acting as a street entertainer, using his mother's training to barely feed himself. But in Tharbad, none would believe that a well trained thief would eke out his existence as a street juggler. And as rumor had it, Hack was responsible for a robbery on one side of town, a burgling affair on the other, and yet a throat slitting in an alley by the river all on the same eve!

The rumors and stories grew until the authorities made it plain that something had to be done about the young hellion that was completely out of hand. A manhunt ensued to capture the felon, but Hack's skills delivered him from the hangman's noose. Finally in desperation, he hid in one of the wagons of Oana Sauter, whose troupe was back in Tharbad for rest and refitting. Exhausted and harried, Hack did not stir till well after dawn, and awoke to find Oana standing over him dagger in hand. As he threw up his arms to protect himself from the thrust that would most assuredly come, Oana suddenly stepped back and laughed. "Why Happy Hack!" she said, "What brings you to sleep here?" Hack collapsed in tears and threw himself to the floor. "For the gods' sake, kill me now and end my miserable existance."

Taken aback, Oana listened for a short bit and then said, "Act like the thief you're reported to be and find your own pastures to graze. The troupe is leaving in a few days. You may leave with us if you wish, or rot in Tharbad as you desire, just as long as it is not in my wagon." With that, Oana turned and walked out.

On the next Oraearon (S. "Thursday"), Oana's troupe departed Tharbad with a new entertainer.

Features:

Wiry and slight of build, Hack dresses as one of the performing acrobats and jugglers of Oana's troupe. His common features and unobtrusive manner help him work the crowd when the other performers have their attention. Dressed as a commoner at these times, he adds to the troupe's income from the purses and pockets of the audience. When danger threatens, he attacks with a dagger to defend himself, but prefers to meet the attacker with a thrown blade before they can close to melee range.

Possessions:

Juggling Balls (4th Lvl)

These finely crafted implements aid +15 to all juggling manuevers.

Fighting Dagger (5th Lvl)

+10. This magical dagger lends either +10 to offense or +10 to defense for the weilder.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Thrown Dagger Crossbow Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Juggling Adrenal balance Acrobatics Trickery	40 15 10 5 10 - 10 - - 5 15 5 - 5 10	40 25 20 15 20 5 20 5 - 15 30 15 5 15 20	40 35 30 25 30 10 30 15 1 25 40 25 10 25 35	40 45 40 35 40 15 40 25 2 40 50 35 15 35 45	40 54 52 45 52 25 50 40 4 54 56 50 30 50 54

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	15 25 36 47 59	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	30 30 30 30 30	N N N N N	N N N N N	22 36 50 64 79	47 61 80 99 112	40 40 40 40 40

Tarah

Aka: Tarah the Bard.

Race: Northman.

Profession: Bard.

Home: Tharbad.

Appearance: Striking features; aquiline nose and bright blue eyes the color of a mountain pond under a summer sky; Black hair; 5'11" tall 170 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 88; Ag 86; Co 91; Ig 87; In 79; Pr 103; Ap 92

RM Stats: Ag86; Co91; SD88; Me93; Re75; St81; Qu82; Pr103; Em79; In87.

Languages: Westron 5, Adûnaic 5, Sindarin 4.

Tarah was born in Tharbad to the family of Gulian Barley the baker. Tarah helped in the family bakery as he grew up, but was often found in the company of entertainers or at the door of an inn listening when he had other tasks to do.

At the age of 15, Tarah met Turloch, a bard of great reknown. The bard noticed the boy's raw talent and approached his parents, asking them if it would be possible for Tarah to become his apprentice. Tarah's parents agreed, knowing that nothing short of chaining the boy in the bakery would stop him from following the bard. Tarah's life changed for the better and years later he would be able to help his aging parent's to finish their lives out in comfort.

Tarah trained for a number of years under the bard's tuteledge before he was sent out to work on his own. He took to the road, stopping in every town, looking to exchange his talents for a meal, a roof over his head and a few coins. He relished his work and all went well till a fateful day while he was travelling to Nothva Rhaglaw in Rhudaur. A group of ruffians accosted him, robbing him of all but the clothes on his back and his lute which they damaged in the process. Tarah lay for days in a coma only to be found by a travelling troupe of entertainers led by Oana Sauter, daughter of Turloch the Bard. Oana took Tarah under her care and helped nurse him back to health. Oana had heard of the young Bard and offered him a position in her troupe.

Tarah accepted Oana's offer and travelled with the troupe for a little over two years when fate cast her bones in his direction again. While entertaining in a town called Tulugdaeri, the Bard discovered a ghost from his past. He recognized a young man named Durward as one of the ruffians who had nearly taken his life years before. Vengence would be his and so he purchased the boy's release from the owner of the inn where Durward was working.

Tarah's intent is to work Durward until he is satisfied that he has been recompensed. He holds no true hatred towards the young man, but feels that an accounting must be made.

Tarah the Bard is the leading musician of the troupe. A natural entertainer, he can hold a crowd spellbound (sometimes literally) while Oana and the others accompany his playing with song. Tarah fights with a longsword, or uses a short bow when needed.

Features:

From Tarah's blue silk shirt that brings out the color of his eyes to his fancy cloak made from silver threaded black cloth, Tarah looks more like an aristocrat than a simple bard. He is never without his emerald earring that helps to soften his aquiline features. He keeps his hair cut short so as not to hide his prize possession. His boots are spotless; cleaned both morning and night. Tarah believes that a mans' boots displays a history of their past and how they view themselves.

Except when entertaining, Tarah appears to have a perpetual frown on his face. It has been muttered amongst the other members of the troupe that he resembles more a mother hawk worrying over her nest than a happy-go-lucky entertainer. However, when he sits down to tell a tale or perform a ballad, his comportment appears to change with a wide smile that illuminates his face.

Principal Items:

Emerald Earring (6th Lvl)

This earring was won in a bardic competition in Fornost. The competition was fierce and Tarah barely bested a well-known Sinda Bard from Rivendell. Although non-magical, the earring seems to soften Tarah's aquiline features.

Lute (3rd Lvl)

This finely crafted lute was given to Tarah by Turloch. The many years of travel may be traced on the lute's patina of scratches, dents and repaired cracks. The lute adds +10 to all singing and instrument playing manuevers.

RM Spells:

1st Level: Controlling Songs (10)

3rd Level: Sound Projection (10)

5th Level: Sound Control (10)

7Th Level: Detecting Ways (10)

10th Level: Illusions (10)

MERP Spells:

1st Level: Controlling Songs (10)

3rd Level: Item Lore (10)

5th Level: Sound Control (10)

7Th Level: Lore (10)

10th Level: Illusions (10)

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Broadsword Crossbow Climb Ride Swim Track Pick Locks Stalk/Hide Perception Acting Region Lore Play Instrument Public Speaking Staves/Wands Runes	10 20 10 10 10 5 5 10 10 15 10 5 10 5 5 10	10 30 20 20 20 15 15 20 20 30 20 15 25 15 10 20	10 40 30 30 30 25 20 30 30 40 30 25 40 25 20 30	10 50 40 40 40 35 30 40 40 52 40 35 50 35 30 40	10 54 50 52 52 50 45 50 50 58 52 50 58 50 45 52

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	18 32 36 47 51	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	20 20 20 20 20	Y Y Y Y Y	N N N N N	26 38 50 62 69	16 28 40 52 65	10 10 10 10 10

Mablon

Aka: Horse.

Race: Northman.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: Cameth Brin.

Appearance: Salt of the earth. Ruddy complexion; Brown hair and eyes; 5'10" tall 210 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 100; Ag 65; Co 99; Ig 70; In 42; Pr 51; Ap 62.

RM Stats: Ag65; Co99; SD88; Me64; Re76; St100; Qu87; Pr51; Em97; In42.

Languages: Dunael 5, Westron 2.

Oana met Mablon for the first time as the troupe searched for a camping spot after a long day of travel. After rounding a bend on the road to Cameth Brin, they came upon a small farm with the barns and farmhouse in ashy ruins; smoke still rising from the wreckage. Huddled over three freshly dug graves was Mablon. He appeared deaf to the questions asked him by the troupe, and simply remained sitting on his heels by the graves, slowly rocking back and forth, eyes wide and unfocused. At Oana's gentle prodding, he finally began to relate the destruction of his farm and family by the Trolls that raided the homesteads from time to time.

With the danger apparently passed, and little to warrant the return of the Trolls, Oana decided they could stay at the farm for the night. Released from his silence by the telling of his story to Oana, Mablon seemed suddenly flustered at the idea of guests at his farm without a way to feed them or provide shelter. Oana and Lâci calmed the man and finally convinced him to share the troupe's evening meal. After all had eaten, Mablon became edgy again. His eyes darted over the ruins of the farm. The graves cast low shadows in the moonlight, and the members of the troupe watched him with concerned glances. As Oana headed toward the wagon to retreive a philter to calm the man, Mahlon's gaze fell on the horses of the wagon. "Not right," he muttered. "They're still lathered and hot. Something must be done. Something must be done."

Mahlon approached the horses with the look of a man who has found some mission of sanity in an insane world and began to brush and clean the horses. The horses in turn, with the latent sixth sense of animals that recognize an able handler when one appears, readily accepted the man's grooming. Noticing Mablon's actions, Oana breathed a sigh of relief and returned the philter to her trunk in the wagon.

When the troupe left the next morning, Mablon sat in the driver's seat of the lead wagon, glancing back only once at the graves before setting his face into a resigned visage and urging the horses onward. In the following months, Mablon came to regard the troupe as his adopted family.

Mablon is happiest while driving the lead wagon, or tending the horses that pull the wagons from town to town. His quiet, friendly manner seems to calm man and beast alike. He will, however, not hesitate to bring his war hammer or long bow into instant use to protect his animals or his family of entertainers.

Features:

Mablon looks no different than the many other Northmen who live in Rhudaur. Prefering loose garb over the restrictive clothing of the city dwellers, Mablon typically wears woolen breeches over which he throws a billowy linen tunic the color of red earth. During inclement weather, he will don a heavy woolen cloak that was made for him by his late wife. Mablon's foot covering is equally utilitarian. He prefers heavy leather boots that will protect him during all times of the year.

Due to his being a farmer until his employment in the troupe, Mablon's complexion is ruddy and he looks as if he has spent most of his life out-of-doors. His hands are large and rough; his nails cracked from years of working the fields of his farm in Rhudaur. These days, a smile rarely crosses the large man's visage.

Principal Items:

War Hammer (1st Lvl)

+10 OB. This weapon was presented to Mablon on his 16th birthday by his father. It was made in Moria by the Dwarves and is Mablon's only possession of worth.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM War Hammer Club Scythe Long Bow Climb Ride Swim Track Stalk/Hide Perception Animal Healing Navigation Smithing	5 10 5 10 5 10 5 5 10 10 15 10 5 10	10 20 15 20 15 20 15 15 20 20 25 20 15 20	10 30 25 30 25 30 25 25 30 25 35 30 25 30	10 40 35 40 35 40 35 35 35 35 45 45 35 35	10 52 50 50 30 50 50 45 50 45 54 56 50 50

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	22 38 49 66 93	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	20 20 20 20 20	Y Y Y Y Y	N N N N N	38 54 70 86 109	8 24 40 55 75	5 10 10 10 10

Lok

Aka: Orphan, Boy.

Race: Dunlending.

Profession: None.

Home: Cardolan.

Appearance: Dirty light-brown hair frames an equally dirty face. Brown eyes. 5'4" tall, 120 Lbs.

MERP Stats: St 54; Ag 100; Co 68; Ig 87; In 88; Pr 42; Ap 57.

RM Stats: Ag100; Co68; SD91; Me90; Re88; St54; Qu101; Pr42; Em87; In88.

Languages: Dunlending 5, Westron 3.

Lok's lot in life seemed to be no better than a gutter rat's. Born in Tharbad and abandoned at nine days old, the boy was raised by the other homeless dwellers of the city. Even under the adverse conditions of the homeless, he was able to grow and strengthen. Lok quickly learned the law of the low. Through scrapes and struggles he realized who was master and who the underdog, and he vowed that he would not remain at the bottom of the pack.

At the age of eleven, Lok discovered a means of survival in the city. He persisted in hanging around many of the businesses of Tharbad (even after threat of bodily harm by the proprietors) looking to run messages or small parcels for the patrons or owners. He had a rare and keen intelligence for one so young and intimately knew every back alley and hide hole in the city. His growing clientele paid him well for the service he performed.

One day, Lok met a new patron, an entertainer named Tarah. The entertainer was a bard working in a troupe owned by Oana Sauter. The boy was to deliver a small parcel to a lady friend of the Bard. Unfortunately, the package was never delivered. It was a rare occasion indeed for Lok to be waylaid. Lok's pride in his work overcame his fear of telling the Bard of the mishap. Tarah listened to the boy's tale and offered him an opporitunity to pay back the loss.

Lok now works for Tarah and Oana in the entertainer's troupe. He adds to the performances as best he can with his juggling ability. When the need arrises, he falls back on his old talents and will move inmformation or small parcels for Oana.

The young lad idolizes one of the members of the troupe named Hack, and constantly seeks training from him. Hack in return, is fond of the boy and shows him tricks and helps him practice juggling moves when time permits. Lok practices with his sling when the troupe is between towns. He is growing adept at collecting rabbits for the troupe's nightly meals.

Features:

One would assume that Lok is a Southroner by the color of his skin. An excess of dirt and years of living in the elements have darkened his skin while lightening his hair. Those that know him swear that water has never touched the boy. His hair is unkempt and is the color of old straw. Grime covers his body and his only clothing consists of an old tunic belted at the waist with a piece of rope. He keeps his hair out of his eyes with a long leather thong that he also uses as a sling when trouble brews.

Principal Items:

None.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5
MovM Dagger Sling Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Juggling Trickery	30 15 15 10 - 10 5 - 10 15 5 5	30 25 30 20 - 25 15 5 25 25 15 15	30 35 45 30 10 35 25 10 35 40 25 25

Due to Lok's age when working with the troupe, his highest level shown is 5th.

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5	21 37 52	None/1 None/1 None/1	30 30 30	N N N	N N N	17 31 45	42 59 80	30 30 30

Taurolor (S. "Forest Vision")

Aka: The Unbending One.

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Ranger/Ranger.

Home: Rivendell (Imladris).

Appearance: Jet black hair, brushed back over the ears and ending at mid-neck; grey-green eyes the color of dew-drops on leaves; 6'5" tall; 225 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 87; Ag 97; Co 90; Ig 90; It 85; Pr 64; Ap 76.

RM Stats: Ag97; Co90; SD99; Me89; Re81; St87; Qu91; Pr64; Em79; In90.

Languages: Adûnaic 5; Westron 4; Sindarin 4; Quenya 2

Born in Rivendell after the great war between Rhudaur and Angmar, Taurolor was raised among the Elves as a ranger and a warrior.

His mother told him the tales of the Dúnadan Lords of the past and made sure he never forgot his Dúnadan heritage. From her, he learned Adûnaic and the old ways and beliefs of fallen Númenor. From the Elves, he learned Sindarin, Quenya, and the ways of the forest. Growing up as one of the few remaining members of a declining race turned Taurolor's already serious personality into one of studied stoicism. He smiled little, and seldom displayed his emotions around any but his closest friends. His aloofness benefitted him in the wilds. He developed the ability to move quietly to the extent that the Elven patrols he served with never complained of the 'lead foot syndrome' usually associated with other human rangers assigned to them. Rain, cold, or other weather conditions brought neither a smile nor a grimace to his face. He became known among the Elves as the Unbending One, with a self discipline that came from one of the mighty oaks of the forest that some whispered must surely be his father.

Taurolor became adept at long range scouting, often leaving the patrol behind to scout ahead along their intended route of travel. After fighting a skirmish with the minions of the Witch-king, he would often be left behind to wait and watch for any that tried to follow their trail. He always caught up with the patrol later, at times battered and scarred but always in good health. The Elves noticed that after these missions, his facial features displayed the nearest to a smile that any had seen.

As his skills and reputation grew, Taurolor would often be sent on single patrols, ranging from Rivendell as far north as the southern borders of Angmar, in search of information on the movement and aims of the followers of the Witch-king. Taurolor always returned, and little was ever said of his odd habit of collecting Orc ears and wearing them on a thong that hung from his belt.

Features:

Taurolor has the build and height of an average Dúnadan. His expressionless grey-green eyes give no hint of what thoughts lie behind his gaze. His face has sharply angled features that appear to have been carved from granite. His jet black hair is always brushed back against the sides of his head to end at a point at the back of his neck. He holds his hair in place with an mixture of deer fat and vine extract, that masks his scent even to an Orcish sniffer. He carries a short bow across his back and a broadsword at his side. Even when in Rivendell he is never without his weapons. Taurolor's sleeved jerkin, britches, and boots are all dyed the same dusty, blue-black color, and he tends to disappear against a background of tree trunks and rock when in the wilds surrounding Rivendell.

Principal Items:

Broadsword (3rd Lvl)

+15 magic. This magic item does damage as a battle axe against Orcs and Trolls.

Short Bow (1st Lvl)

+10 magic. This magic item allows the wielder to fire two arrows a round without any preparation time.

Leathers (6th Lvl)

+10 magic. The full set of leathers does protection as AT 14 and wears as AT 5. +10 to wearer's DB.

RM Spells

1st Level: Purifications (10).

3rd Level: Weather Ways (10), Nature's Lore (10).

5th Level: Path Mastery (10).

7Th Level: Nature's Guises (10).

10th Level: Light's Way (10), Nature's Way (10)

MERP Spells

1st Level: Nature's Ways

3rd Level: Path mastery

5th Level: Nature's Guises

7th Level: Moving Ways

10th Level: Spirit Mastery

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Broad Sword Short Bow Climb Ride Swim Tracking Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Camouflage Read Tracks Direction Sense Navigation Star Gazing Fletching Foraging Weather Watching	5 10 15 5 5 10 10 1 10 10 5 5 10 5 - - 5 5	10 20 35 15 10 20 25 3 25 20 15 15 25 15 10 5 15 15	10 30 50 25 15 30 40 5 40 35 25 25 35 25 20 10 30 25	15 40 58 35 20 40 50 7 50 45 35 35 45 35 30 15 45 40	15 52 70 45 25 45 56 10 56 54 50 50 54 50 45 20 50 52

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	20 32 50 74 105	5 5 5 14 14	10 35 35 45 45	Y Y Y Y Y	N N N A/L A/L	16 43 55 67 82	41 63 80 90 105	5 10 10 15 15

Nólamankaro

Aka: Ondóma (Q. "Stone Voice"), Dûrgil (S. "Dark Star").

Race: Noldo.

Profession: Mage/Astrologer.

Home: Mithlond.

Appearance: Long white hair; grey eyes; 6'8" tall; 110 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 54; Ag 57; Co 61; Ig 103; It 91; Pr 98; Ap 67.

RM Stats: Ag57; Co61; SD89; Me92; Re89; St54; Qu83; Pr98; Em52; In103.

Languages: Quenya 5; Sindarin 5; Adunaic 5; Westron 5.

It is rumored that the Grey Havens did not lose their original splendor until Nólamankaro took up residence on their pristine shores. His past has its beginnings in the late Second Age and Nólamankaro never mentions his family or past except on vary rare occasions. At times, while in a light trance, it is said he can be heard calling out after his mother as if she is leaving by sea on some final journey.

Although young by Noldo standards, Nólamankaro looks aged. The weight of his scant Elven years seems to weigh heavily upon him as if he carried fate itself upon his shoulders. Elves that knew him in his youth spoke of a brilliant astrologer who was bent on determining his own fate in Endor. Such delving led him down paths that an astrologer should not walk. To his dismay, he found that which he sought. It is said that he now understands the true burden of immortality and in so doing lost his former zest for life. His new outlook on life earned him a new name, Dûrgil. He now pays little attention to the fleeting affairs of men and other mortal creatures. Having watched the rise and fall of empires and individuals alike, there is little that can occur that he has not witnessed before.

Although Dûrgil is a virtual recluse, his need of sustenance and shelter requires that he still deal in the astrological arts. Well known for his accurate tellings, his services are sought by the low and high born. However, the availability of his services depend upon his mood and how desperately he is in need of gold. A client arriving at the door to his tower located high above the shipyards must first deal with Mírëar, a shipwrights daughter, who has taken it upon herself to care for the brooding Elf. If the client makes it past her, then they must still deal with Dûrgil. This chore is reported to be almost as bad as a trip to see the tormentors in the dungeons of Dol Guldur. Dûrgil will insist that whatever their problems are, they pall in comparison to those of the great ones of Middle-earth and he will then ask why they have "really" deigned to waste his precious time...

Dûrgil tolerates the presence of Mírëar since he feels that she at least may have some control over her fate. For in his thinking "all Elven maids have the power to shape destiny with their offspring." He has taken her under his wing and teaches her his knowledge of the arcane.

Features:

Dûrgil's dark lackadaisical attitude seems to permeate everything he touches. He favors dark grey and black clothing. For "joyous" occasions he will wear a white or red belt. His half starved, emaciated features seem strange for one of the Eldar. His unkept platinum hair seems more dusty grey than the color that it should truly be. Dark passionless eyes appear as coals from a hot fire long dead.

Principal Items:

Telescope (4th Lvl)

This magical far-seeing device was crafted in the First Age. None know who the craftsman was, but it is rumored that the device was built in Ost-in-Edhil. The device allows the user to see through fog and clouds as if it were a clear day.

Astrolabe (9th Lvl)

This magical device aids in astrological predictions and computations (+25). It has been said that it can actually affect the future...

RM Spells

1st Level: Holy Vision, Times Bridge

3rd Level: Far Voice, Star Sense

5th Level: Way of the Voice, Detection Mastery

7Th Level: Star Lights, Locating Ways

10th Level: Symbolic Ways, Illusions

MERP Spells

1st Level: Essence Hand, Spell Ways

3rd Level: Essence's Ways

5th Level: Essence Perceptions

7Th Level: Light Law

10th Level: Unbarring Ways

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Quarter Staff Climb Ride Swim Stalk/Hide Perception Staves/Wands Runes Star Gazing Weather Watching Meditation Power Perception	5 10 5 10 15 15 15 10 15 5 5 5 5	10 15 15 20 25 25 25 20 25 15 15 15 15	10 20 20 30 35 35 40 35 40 30 25 25 20	10 25 30 35 40 45 52 45 50 40 35 40 30	10 35 40 45 50 54 60 54 54 50 50 52 45

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	11 16 19 24 33	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	5 5 5 5 5	N N N N N	N N N N N	10 15 20 25 35	-- -- -- -- --	5 5 5 5 5

Ariella

Aka: The Dream Walker.

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Mage/Illusionist.

Home: Annúminas; Later, wanders Eriador.

Appearance: Regal of bearing although small-boned; dark black hair, hauntingly light blue, almost clear eyes; 5'11" tall; 147 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 54; Ag 96; Co 82; Ig 106; In 88; Pr 33; Ap 82.

RM Stats: Ag96; Co82; SD67; Me93; Re44; St54; Qu91; Pr33; Em106; In88.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Westron 5, Sindarin 3.

Ariella was born to a noble family of Annúminas before its fall. Raised in her own very secluded world, Ariella did not want for anything. However, this safe and very unrealistic world was to be shattered in her adulthood.

At an early age, it was discovered that the young girl was very empathetic. At times when she was playing with her imaginary friends, ghostly images could be seen, dishes moved on their own and even her dolls and other play things seemed to have a life of their own. These happenings and the girl's odd behavior confused and frightened her family. Her parent's anxiety and fear of the unnatural compelled the girl to retreat even more to her fantasy world.

One day, a scribe hired to record the family's holdings, noticed the girl. Aeron, a mage hiding out from the spies of the Witch-king, travelled from city to city seeking work as a scribe. In each city he secretly taught those that had a gift for the magical arts.

Ariella took a liking to the scribe. Her parents noticed this attraction and hired Aeron to continue her private education. The itinerant mage worked the girl as best he could, slowly refining her latent talents. However, he would never see his work come to fruition.

At the age of 23, Ariella's sheltered life was shattered when the forces of Angmar overran the defenses of Annúminas and sacked the city. The young woman witnessed her family being brutalized and murdered; she was spared as a war prize. She retreated into her fantasy world and shut out the hurt that surrounded her. Several weeks later, a number of warriors materialized out of the very air as she was being carried away to Angmar, disposed of her captors and effected her escape.

Today, Ariella wanders Eriador. Performing odd jobs and menial tasks, she eeks out a meager existence. When wandering at night, she may typically be spied in the company of a number of noble looking individuals. When approached, these individuals fade into the shadows. Ariella has always been considered fey and these occurrences tend to confirm that conclusion.

** GM Note **

Ariella is quite insane. After her departure from Annúminas, she received no further formal training in magic, yet somehow her powers grow. Some feel that her imaginary friends (illusions that she conjurs up) teach her new skills. She wanders Eriador with these friends seeking a final place of safety and solace. She will do odd jobs and will even use her illusionist skills to aid a party if it appears that it will further her ends. She is also somewhat attracted to players with a protective or motherly presence. If Ariella perceives any threat that she cannot counter herself, her fear will help to materialize 1-4 of her "friends". These friends are formed through Ariella's latent and semi-refined illusionist talents. The magnitude of the threat will determine the amount of time it takes for them to materialize. Her friends include a 15th level warrior in plate wielding a two-handed magical sword, a lesser fire drake, a 10th level female mage, and an 8th level cavalier. These illusions are so real that most individuals will actually feel the damage that they receive from them.

Features:

At first glance, Ariella will appear to be a beggar wearing old ragged clothing. An astute observer will notice that she wears a very ornate ring that does not fit her character. This signet ring is from one of the noble households of Annúminas. The observer will also notice that her bearing does not indicate that she is one of the masses. These oddities mixed with the look in her clear blue eyes, do not indicate that the young woman was always in this state. Ariella speaks with unseen individuals and will retreat from anyone who physically gets "too" close to her.

Principal Items:

Only her "friends" that are always with her.

RM and MERP Spells

Ariella knows a smattering from the following lists: Illusions, Essence Perceptions and Living Change. She is able to cast Illusions as a 20th level Illusionist.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Climb Ride Swim Stalk/Hide Perception Runes Acting Dance Singing Music Foraging Trickery	25 10 10 10 10 5 20 10 10 5 10 5 - 5	25 15 10 20 15 15 30 20 25 15 20 15 5 15	25 15 15 30 25 25 40 35 35 25 30 25 15 30	25 20 20 40 35 35 50 45 50 35 40 35 25 45	25 25 25 52 45 50 56 54 58 50 52 50 40 56

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	12 17 28 33 49	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	10 10 10 10 10	N N N N N	N N N N N	10 10 15 20 25		25 25 25 25 25

Robin Smallburrow

Aka: Cock-Robin.

Race: Harfoot.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: The Shire.

Appearance: Dark brown hair and eyes, 2' 11" tall, 85 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 90; Ag 102; Co 84; Ig 74; In 51; Pr 92; Ap 85

RM Stats: Ag102; Co84; SD45; Me67; Re81; St90; Qu89; Pr92; Em86; In51.

Languages: Westron 5.

Like so many of his Harfoot relatives, Robin loved the hills and dales of the Shire. Born in S.R. 1374 (T.A. 2974), Robin was to see many changes come to his beloved homeland.

Robin was born the fifth child of Hender and Tulip Smallburrow. Robin or Cock-Robin as he was soon to be called, enjoyed a very normal Hobbit childhood. Parties, journeys into the hills and downs near Hobbiton and "begging" food and ale from the Green Dragon filled the young lad's days.

Until his coming of age, Robin took little thought of his future or employment, much to the chagrin of his parents. Although he was never considered a bad Hobbit child, he wasn't considered the best either. So, true to his adventurous nature he decided upon a profession that would keep him free to do as he pleased. In S.R. 1412 (T.A. 3012), Robin became a Shirriff of the Shire and was assigned to the Hobbiton area.

For a while everything was wonderful for the new Shirriff. He travelled the countryside, visiting with his friends and neighbors. He even made a special point of frequenting the many Inns in his area. A sad turn in his career occurred in S.R. 1419 (T.A. 3019) when Lotho Sackville-Baggins came to power and instituted very unHobbitish changes and rules in the Shire. Robin was reassigned to the East Farthing Troop where he begrudgingly worked.

Secretly, Robin hoped that Lotho would be deposed, but with the new mannish ruffians in power, he saw no way for it to come to pass. The months passed slowly before Robin could return to his life of ease.

October came and went... It would be a cold winter with no ale and little firewood for the sad Shirriff. However, November showed promise as he and a number of other Shirriffs were ordered to escort four rabble-rousing Hobbits to the Boss at Hobbiton. During this detail, Robin conversed with one of the rabble-rousers and decided that Shirriffing for the Boss was not worth the effort.

During the Raising of the Shire, Robin played a very small role. Joining the Hobbits in Bywater and Hobbiton, he helped to guard those ruffians that surrendered. After the Battle of Bywater, Robin returned to Shirriffing. He helped clear the Shire and was able to return to his post at Hobbiton. Till his retirement many years later, Robin can be found wandering the countryside and frequenting the many Inns on his beat.

Features:

Robin stands out from other Hobbits in that he enjoys wearing his bright green shiriff's hat, which he will remove only to sleep, and then reluctantly. Otherwise, Robin is no different from any of his Hobbit brethren, and is in fact, boringly plain in appearance. Where he deviates from the norm is in his love for adventure, albeit, his adventures only take him to the farthest drinking houses in the Shire. These two loves put an intense sparkle in his eye, and a bounce in his step, while his normal ruddy coloring is heightened to near sunset red by the amount of ale he consumes.

Principal Items:

Shirriff's Hat (2nd Lvl)

This particular hat, although not magical, is believed to have been made by a wizard. Robin is sure of this fact, and is reticent to ever part with this prized possession.

Drinking Flagon (6th Lvl)

Magic. Ale poured into this flagon will never go flat. Even the worst brew will be passable if drunk from the flagon.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Quarterstaff Short Bow Climb Ride Track Stalk/Hide Perception Region Lore Trickery Wood Crafts Cooking Singing Tale Telling First Aid	40 15 15 15 -- 5 30 15 5 5 5 5 10 10 5	45 25 25 25 5 15 40 30 15 10 15 15 20 20 15	45 35 35 35 10 25 50 45 25 20 25 25 30 30 25	45 45 45 45 15 30 54 52 35 30 35 35 40 40 35	45 50 50 50 30 45 60 58 50 45 50 50 54 54 50

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	21 34 52 61 88	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	5 5 5 5 5	N N N N N	N N N N N	28 44 60 76 90	53 69 85 101 115	40 45 45 45 45

4.0 Rhovanion

The ominous Wilderlands (Rhovanion) encompass the territory east of the Misty Mountains and northeast of Gondor and Lorien. This area includes the Northern Anduin Valley, Mirkwood, the Iron Hills, Dorwinion, and Dor Rhunen.

The political makeup of the area is as varied as the terrain that may be found here; the Kingdom of Thranduil in Northern Mirkwood, the Beornings and Northmen of the Anduin Valley, the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, the Wildmen and Woodmen of Southern Mirkwood, the realm of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur and the rural men of Long Lake and Dorwinion.

Thorold Wollas

Aka: Roquetar (S. "Horse speaker"), Súlnoráto (S. "Wind Rider") at Celebannon and among the Elves of Mirkwood, Wynd (at Dale and Laketown), and Nightrunner (among the brigands of Strayhold).

Race: Éothraim.

Profession: Warrior/Rogue.

Home: Buhr Widu, Lake-town, Buhr Waldlaes.

Appearance: Brown hair streaked with grey. Twinkling blue eyes. 5'10" tall, 150 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 90; Ag 95; Co 89; Ig 92; It 80; Pr 65; Ap 91

RM Stats: Ag 95; Co 89; SD 77; Me 98; Re 87; St 90; Qu 89; Pr 65; Em 101; In 80.

Languages: Westron 5, Éothraic 5, Sindarin 4.

Thorold was born in the East Bight of Mirkwood near the eastern plains of the Celduin valley. He learned horsemanship as a young lad from his father and father's brothers of the Ailgarthas tribe of the horse clans. Thorold's family was killed by Orcs in T.A. 1624, and he was sent to live with a distant relative in Lake-town. Thorold's new family owned a business that plied the route from Lake-town to Celebannon (in time, Thorold began to call the head of the business uncle). The boy's natural horsemanship and love of the animals was duly noted, and his ability to win local races led to his being selected as an outrider and messenger for the business.

At the age of 22, Thorold met and fell in love with Narmirë (S. "fire flower") after rescuing her from a mannish party that had abducted her for ransom. Narmirë was the daughter of Camthalion of the town of Celebannon (S. "Silvergate"), the trade center of the Wood-elves in eastern Mirkwood. During their trip back to her father, Narmirë grew enamored of this rough young man. However, a match between man and Elf-maid was not to be. Thranduil, King of Wood-elves was well aware of the dealings of all non-Elves within his realm, and revealed the lovers to Narmirë's father. Thorold was called before a council of Elves and hailed as a hero for rescuing the young Elf-maiden. For his bravery and service to the Elves, he was presented with a mithril Wood-elf's knife. After the presentation ceremony, he was then told that Narmirë had been taken deep into the heart of Mirkwood and he would never see her again. He was warned that though he would always be counted as elf-friend, if he trespassed within the boundaries of King Thranduil's Realm, he would meet an untimely demise.

Thorold returned to Laketown, the fires of anger and loss burning brightly in his heart, only to find that his uncle had also found out about his intentions toward with Narmirë and was as upset as the Elves. An angry exchange of words and gestures ended with his uncle disowning him and casting Thorold from his house. Thorold left in the heat of fury and vowed never to return. He fled southward to the East Bight and took up residence in Buhr Waldlaes (Rh. "Lawless Hold"), or Strayhold as it was known throughout the area. There, Thorold was befriended by the inn keeper Algan, owner of the Angry Horse Inn, the only reputable inn in the area. The inn keeper hired Thorold and helped him start a courier service that covered the roads from Dale in the north to Talath Harroch in the south.

Thorold's ability to travel unseen and outrun the fastest pursuit soon earned him the reputation of the most able messenger in the Celduin valley. Thorold has little use for possessions due to his work. He is continually on the road and owns only those items that are easily carried. He trades his services for gold or a good bed and a meal.

(** GM's Note ** If players encounter Thorold prior to T.A 1629, he has not yet rescued Narmirë. The characters may encounter the mannish group that abducted the Elf-maiden and aid Thorold in her rescue. If they decline, Thorold will rescue her himself and leave the characters to their fate with the Elves and denizens of Mirkwood.)

Thorold may be found at inns and taverns along his route. Characters may hire him as a messenger or a guide into unfamiliar country, but he will not enter Mirkwood unless highly motivated or escorted by a group of Wood-elves. Thorold is seldom swayed by great sums of money, as he requires only what can be carried on horseback. Extremely well crafted or expensive tack will definitely catch his eye. With his tales of other villages and cities and the news and messages he carries, he is always a welcome visitor to the inns and taverns along the routes he travels.

Thorold may be found in the following establishments:

Vodagarazun (Rh. "House of Vodaga") in Esgaroth (Laketown).

The Vodagarazun is the largest inn in Laketown, located at the southwestern edge of the town. It is a fine establishment that offers complete privacy, a great circular bar, and twenty five oak tables housed in a three story building.

The Angry Horse Inn in Buhr Waldlaes (Strayhold). This is Thorold's closest approach to a home.

The Lonely Mountain Inn in Dale. The inn is located at the northern most point of the town (See layout and description).

Features:

Displaying a quiet manner and an alertness that misses little, Thorold will listen to any traveller that he meets. He enjoys bantering with all and will trade the latest news or stories from towns along his route. His brown hair, dusted with grey, like his beard, is cut close to the nape of his neck. Twinkling blue eyes are framed by a face that has seen too many roads and too much weather. He dresses in oiled leathers; long sleeves have been added to his tunic, and his breeches are tucked inside a pair of soft, leather, knee-high Elven boots that were a gift from Narmirë on her return to Celebannon. While his leathers are generally dusty and road worn, his boots seem to repel stains, and he cannot lose his footing in his stirrups while wearing them.

At 5'10" tall, he appears a bit scrawny to some, who at first glance mistake his natural wiriness for lack of food and proper shelter. Any that have seen him fire his short bow from horseback while outrunning a group of pursuers, discard the notion that he is of ill health or an easy mark.

Principal Items:

Short bow (1st Lvl)

+15 OB. Passed down through his family. Thorold is adept at firing from horseback and uses the bow at his full OB when mounted.

Long sword (1st Lvl)

+10 OB. It is carried in a scabbard attached to Thorold's saddle. The scabbard straps also serve as a baldric when Thorold is afoot and his horse is stabled.

Hunting Knife (3rd Level)

Mithril, +20 OB. This magic knife has the unique property of making any skinning job a joy rather than a chore. All skinning performed with the knife will yield pelts with added value and bring higher prices by fur traders in the area. It will also part the strongest ropes with ease.

Elven Boots (3rd Lvl)

These knee-high boots are of a magical nature that offer perfect footing in the saddle and also offer protection to strikes to the legs while on horseback (lower criticals to the leg by one level and lower hits taken by 50%).

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM (Sl) Short Bow Long Sword Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Animal Healing Animal Husbandry Cookery Foraging Herb Lore Leather Working Map Making Public Speaking Navigation Read Tracks Star Gazing Tracking	10 15 5 5 20 10 1 5 10 10 5 -- 5 -- 5 -- 5 20 15 15 10	10 30 10 10 40 15 2 10 25 20 15 5 10 -- 10 15 15 40 30 30 25	10 45 25 15 54 20 4 20 40 35 25 15 20 10 25 25 25 54 40 45 40	10 56 40 20 62 25 5 35 50 50 35 30 35 25 40 40 35 62 50 52 50	10 68 50 30 74 35 5 50 56 60 45 40 50 40 56 45 50 74 56 58 56

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	Mov M
1 3 5 7 10	25 47 68 92 110	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	14 20 20 25 35	N N N N N	N N N N N	15Ls 20Ls 35Ls 50Ls 60Ls	25Sb 40Sb 55Sb 66Sb 78Sb	10 10 10 10 10

Ithilhîr Mithlas (S. "Moonlord Greyleaf")

Aka: Gundar (S. "The Cleaver"), Tûrdagnir (S. "Barrow Bane").

Race: Sinda.

Profession: Warrior/Fighter.

Home: Mirkwood.

Appearance: Golden hair and flashing blue eyes. 6'4"; 172 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 101; Ag 98; Co 96; Ig 89; It 81; Pr 23; Ap 73

RM Stats: Ag98; Co96; Sd41; Me88; Re74; St101; Qu92; Pr23; Em45; In89

Languages: Sindarin 5; Silvan 5; Quenya 1; Westron 2;

Born to a noble house of Lorien, Ithilhîr left his father's halls for the wilds of Mirkwood. As a noble in Lorien, he would have been expected to partake in the social arts of the high born Elves. Unfortunately, early on, Ithilhîr developed the social graces of a warthog. With little understanding for anyone other than himself, he grew to resent the flowery manners of the Elven nobility. No one is quite sure whether he left Lorien of his own volition or that of the Lord of Lorien.

Upon entering Greenwood, he took on the name Gundar, the Cleaver. Armed only with his bow and long knife, he struck out for King Thranduil's halls. Upon arriving there, he demanded an audience with the King. Needless to say, he was thrown out of the halls very soon after his arrival. Undaunted by King Thranduil's treatment, he moved west into the forest and set up residence. He lived alone for a number of centuries and early in the Third Age moved back to King Thranduil's realm. During his solo sojourn, he developed the unusual hobby of hunting Orcs alone. He would even go so far as to ambush large war parties. It was also at this time in his life that he started a side career of grave robbing. He looted many of the barrows throughout Mirkwood.

Around T.A. 1600, Gundar took on the name Tûrdagnir and moved to the town of Celebannon in eastern Mirkwood. Here, he took up residence and used his new home as a base for his forays into the forest. He travels throughout the Mirkwood looking for barrows to loot and Orcs to hunt. Tûrdagnir's only "friends" are the raftmen from Long Lake. He can often be found in their company, drinking and telling tall tales of his exploits in Mirkwood. Unbeknownst to him, the only reason that they drink with him is their fear of reprisals if they do not.

(GM Note - It is almost impossible to hire Tûrdagnir. He may hire adventurers though to help in his forays into Mirkwood.)

Features

Tûrdagnir is tall and slender as most of his race. He wears the standard cloths of the Wood-elves of Mirkwood when travelling. When in a town, he prefers somber colors. He will never be found without his weapons. One of his most notable features are his eyes. Normally pale blue, when angered they turn dark blue and almost seem to flash when he enters combat.

Principal Items:

Long Bow (1st Lvl)

+5 OB. This non-magical bow was given to him when he left Lorien.

Long Knife (1st Lvl)

+10 OB. Ithilhîr appropriated this magical knife from his fathers arsenal prior to his departure from Lorien.

Draugrist (S. "Wolf Cleaver") (6th Lvl)

+20 OB. Tûrdagnir found this enchanted blade after nearly being killed by its wightish owner in a barrow in northern Mirkwood. The blade is fashioned of mithril and dates back to the First Age. It is of slaying against wolves, Orcs and Wargs.

Chain armor (AT 13) (8th Lvl)

This magical armor wears as soft leather (AT 5).

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Bastard Sword Long Bow Dirk Ambush Climb Ride Swim Traps Locks Stalk Hide Perception Foraging Navigation Signaling Subduing Tracking Trap Building	0 18 23 8 -- 11 11 16 5 -- 5 5 10 6 -- -- -- 6 --	5 42 42 16 2 23 23 28 15 5 15 15 25 18 5 2 5 18 10	10 68 68 22 3 35 35 40 30 10 25 25 40 30 15 12 20 30 15	10 87 87 28 4 47 37 47 40 15 35 35 50 42 25 22 30 47 25	0 108 103 37 6 65 44 54 45 20 45 45 60 50 35 32 45 59 40

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	Mov M
1 3 5 7 10	28 47 72 94 123	Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/15 Ch/15 Pl/18	30 30 30 30 30	Y Y Y Y Y	N N Y Y N	48 72 98 117 138	43 62 88 107 123	0 5 10 10 0

Cariodoc

Aka: Car the Cutpurse, The Doctor of Locks.

Race: Fallohide (Hobbit).

Profession: Scout/Thief.

Home: The Gladden Fields.

Appearance: Curly chestnut brown hair with dark brown eyes; favors brown pants and a cream colored shirt with a green cloak overall; 3'7" tall; 72 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 76; Ag 102; Co 81; Ig 98; It 91; Pr 80; Ap 67

RM Stats: Ag102; Co81; SD94; Me90; Re92; St76; Qu89; Pr80; Em86; In98.

Languages: Westron 5, Sindarin 3, Dunael 1, Nahaiduk 4.

No one is quite certain where or when Cariodoc was born, although he assures everyone that he has reached adulthood. Cariodoc's skills are as tenuous as his past. Each of his acquaintances will recount a different trade that he works in. Those that know him well indicate the following: "he is a purveyor of lost and recovered items."

Cariodoc was in actuality born the bastard son of a mayor in the area of the Gladden Fields. Being brought up in the early T.A. 1600's, he experienced the travails of the Great Plague and the further encroachment of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur. When Cary was 15, he was taken in by an elderly Fallohide and was filled with stories of adventure in the Wilderlands. This sparked the wandering spirit in Cary and he soon left to find his fortune in the wild world. His travels took him to many parts of Middle-earth. Gondor, the Dwarf-holds of the Misty Mountains, the drinking-halls of Dale and many inns between were visited by this spirited youth. It is said that Cary spent two full decades learning the secrets of his trade, the art of the thief.

By the time that Cariodoc returned to his homelands, he had amassed a small fortune (for a Hobbit at least). He bought a small building in a village in the Gladden Fields and set himself up in the "trade" business. His shop is filled with items from all over Middle-earth. Most are junk, but, every so often a rare find may be found nestled on some obscure shelf. True to his Hobbitish parentage, Cary steers clear of the magical and arcane. However, he does delight in small mechanical tools and contraptions.

Features:

Cariodoc is wiry for one of his race. His paunch is considered way too small for any respectable Hobbit. He prefers lighter and more drab colors than his kinfolk. Greens and browns similar to the Elves of Mirkwood are his stay. Like most of his race, he also abhors wearing boots or any other type of foot covering, except in the most inclement weather. His nimble fingers are adept at working with small mechanical objects (preferably locks). Cariodoc has one distinguishing feature, his pinky on his left hand is missing to the second knuckle (rumored to have been lost to a trap in Khazad-dûm).

Principal Items:

Cloak of Stealth (1st Lvl)

+10. This magical cloak aids in stalking and hiding. It was given to Cariodoc by a benefactor.

Lock Pick Kit (2nd Lvl)

+5. This kit was appropriated in Dale.

Dagger of Safety (5th Lvl)

+10 OB. This enchanted dagger was given to Cariodoc by a wealthy merchant when he recovered a lost item. The dagger aids in combat and glows a soft red when held over a trap.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Light Crossbow Climb Ride Swim Track Stalk/Hide Perception Trickery Appraisal Trading Pick Locks Lock Lore Pick Pockets Surveillance	35 15 15 15 5 10 5 30 25 5 5 5 5 -- 5 5	35 25 25 25 10 15 15 40 35 15 15 15 15 5 15 15	35 35 35 40 15 25 25 50 45 25 30 25 25 15 25 25	35 45 45 50 25 35 35 54 52 35 40 35 35 25 35 35	35 54 54 56 35 45 50 60 58 50 52 52 50 40 45 50

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	12 18 27 38 51	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	5 5 5 5 5	N N N N N	N N N N N	21 33 45 57 69	51 63 75 87 99	35 35 35 35 35

Truldar

Aka: Binder; Agarcam (S. "Blood hand").

Race: Dwarf.

Profession: Animist/Lay Healer.

Home: Khazad-dûm.

Appearance: Ruddy complexion, with a broad nose, and flint-grey eyes. Brown hair and beard. 4' 11" tall, 175 lbs. MERP Stats: St 85; Ag 75; Co 95; Ig 87; It 100; Pr 95; Ap 55.

RM Stats: Ag75; Co95; SD90; Me83; Re75; St85; Qu89; Pr95; Em100; In 87.

Languages: Khuzdul 5; Sindarin 4; Westron 5; Adunaic 3.

Truldar was an oddity among the Dwarf-kin at Khazad-dûm. Tall and stout even as a young child, Truldar seemed to take an interest in others' well being rather than display the fierce competitiveness of most Dwarves. When it came time to enter training, Truldar proved to be a slow learner of weapon craft. He learned to defend himself well enough with a hand axe and shield, but was always slow on the attack, aiming at less vulnerable points on his opponents.

Truldar proved to be better skilled at crafting and excelled in woodwork and repair. With his obvious bend toward working with his hands, Truldar was sent to work with the smiths for a time, but he had trouble grasping the ideas of forging and shaping molten metal. His family, fearing for the Dwarf-lad's future, next sent him to study with the clerics, thinking that one of his pacifist nature would perhaps feel more comfortable amongst them. His studies with the Clerics were quickly ended since he spent more time arguing philosophy with them than learning their skills, and was little moved to spend his hours in meditation, prayers, and understanding the supposed ways of Mahal.

Resigning themselves to raising a son that would be a second rate warrior, and semi-skilled wood crafter, Truldar's parents made sure he reported for weapon training and wood crafting instruction. The young Dwarf dutifully complied with their requests and remained a nondescript individual during his early years.

Truldar's weapon instructor finally discovered the lad's true path during a mock battle among the young warriors, as one of Truldar's friends was doubled over by a ill parried blow. Dropping his weapon, Truldar went to the lad's aid and began to help him up. The attacker aimed another stroke at the downed lad with youthful zeal. Truldar reacted with out thinking, and swinging his shield in a backhand blow the way another would swing a sword, he deposited the attacker on the floor with a mighty thump. This distraction being taken care of, Truldar inspected his friend's damages and realized his arm and shoulder seem to be at odd angles to a normal Dwarf. Truldar gently probed the shoulder, and then sat on his friends chest to hold him down and somewhat silence his cries at all the prodding, and then pulled his friend's arm straight up with all his strength. It seemed to Truldar that the shoulder assembly was after all, quite similar to a lever arm device he had been working on in the wood shop, and similar principals should apply. There was a subtle pop and a seating feeling, and then Truldar was dragged off of his friend by the weapon instructor and several other young Dwarves who had decided that Truldar was quite mad and was attacking everyone in sight. A healer was immediately sent for. The story was related to the healer as he arrived of how the lad was first struck, and then further had his arm nearly pulled off by Truldar. The healer clucked to himself, examined the injured youth, and then pronounced that the lad had a dislocated shoulder, and that Truldar had somehow relieved the dislocation and returned the shoulder joint to normal. Truldar was released and soon after was sent to study with the healers. In later weapon training classes, Truldar was always placed on the side of the defenders, and coached in the little known art of the shield bash; an attack performed at close quarters with a full shield.

Truldar was happy to study with the healers, although his grasp of the higher forms of channeling and spell use was always just beyond his ability to comprehend. He easily picked up the logic behind first aid, field surgery, and construction of replacement limbs, since to Truldar, the bones and connections of the body seemed to be similar to the forms and construction of wooden devices and sculpture. To better understand the nature of living bodies, he constructed a full-size skeleton from hardwood, sculpting all the pieces himself. Seeing this, the clerics and healers turned him over to Klaggir, the healer, as an apprentice.

Truldar studied with Klaggir for several years, accompanying him on Dwarven journeys to the far off cities of Men and Elves. After finishing his apprenticeship, Truldar continued to wander, always seeking out other masters of the healing arts among men and Elven-kind to trade knowledge and increase his understanding of the physical functioning of other races.

Truldar may be found traveling in groups of Dwarves, men, or Elves, especially to and from fields of battle. He will accompany any group that will provide food, lodging, and recompense in the form of gold or healing herbs for his services. Truldar is friendly and outgoing, but extremely inquisitive and pushy when asking about old injuries, scars, or crippled limbs. He is prone to prod and examine a person first without even introducing himself. He will quiz the person at length on how he or she received the injury noticed, how long it took to heal, what treatment was rendered, and so forth. When working on a wounded individual, Truldar's natural Dwarven tenaciousness will appear, and he refuses to be disturbed, even in the midst of battle. He has been found on occasion tending a wounded fighter, while the battle raged all around. At those times, it has been reported that when approached, he looks up, mutters, "Mahal's Sweat, but I hate to be interrupted," and then continues his work.

Features:

Truldar has a ruddy complexion with wide, rambling features. His nose seems to spread across half his face, jutting outward from between flint-grey eyes that never seem to blink. A full beard spreads outward from his nose and rises to nearly the top of his cheekbones before plunging down and erupting into a wild bushy growth that hides the top of his chest. The beard is unbraided and flies about on windy days, making those that know him wonder how he can see what he is doing. His hair is as uncontrolled as his beard. However, it is held back from his face by a headband of woven ithilnaur threads.

Truldar wears a full suit of chain armor, and always carries a full shield, a hand axe, and a field surgery pouch whose straps run from his right shoulder to his waist. His other personal possessions must be carried by those he travels with, since he says it detracts from his responding to the wounded as quickly as he should. He will begrudgingly carry his own possessions when he must travel alone.

Principal Items:

Full Shield (1st Lvl)

+10 DB/OB. The Shield has a removable, 12 inch metal spike in the center. The shield does an extra C puncture critical any time a shield bash results in a critical strike. Truldar also uses the back of the shield as a field surgery work table after a battle, by driving the spike into the ground to hold the shield in a horizontal position.

Hand Axe (1st Lvl)

+15 OB. Truldar favors the hand axe as an attack weapon, but usually parries or feints with it to draw the attacker in close enough to bash with his shield. The axe is his tool of choice for performing amputations on ruined limbs that cannot be repaired.

Woven Head Band (5th lvl)

+20. This item is woven from ithilnaur threads, and appears as non-magic to Detect Power spells, or other inspection. It wears as the skin of the wearer, and does not impair spell casting abilities. The head band casts a shield spell when any weapon or projectile approaches the head of the wearer, independent of the wearer's action (up to three times a day). The head band normally gives the protection of a standard helm against any criticals that should be taken by the wearer's head.

RM Spells

5th Level: Concussion Mastery (10).

7th Level: Blood Mastery (10).

10th Level: Bone Mastery (10).

MERP Spells

5th Level: Surface Ways

7th Level: Blood Ways

10th Level: Bone/Muscle Ways

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM	-20	-10	-5	5	5

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	25 41 65 89 120	13 13 16 16 16	45 45 45 45 45	Y Y Y Y Y	N N L L L	30 40 50 60 76	20 25 30 35 45	-20 -10 -5 5 5

Dînlalaith (S. "Silent Laughter")

Aka: Sildaë (S. "Knife Shadow"); Makil Hísië (Q. "Sword Mist")

Race: Sinda.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: Lórien.

Appearance: Light brown hair with blond highlights that falls in waves to his shoulder blades; laughing, pale blue eyes; 6'6" tall; 200 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 99; Ag 90; Co 92; Ig 87; It 80; Pr 56; Ap 88.

RM Stats: Ag90; Co92; SD81; Me85; Re76; St99; Qu90; Pr56; Em76; In87.

Languages: Sindarin 5; Westron 5; Silvan 4; Quenya 3.

Dínlalaith was born the son of a weaver in Lórien. The lad spent his youth playing among the mallorn trees and listening to the stories of Elven travellers seeking commerce or rest amongst the Elves of the Golden Wood. Dínlalaith tried his hand at weaving, and found it not to his liking. It required that he stay in one place for long periods of time and do the same things over and over. He quickly gave up the notion of becoming a weaver and, instead, could often be found at the minstrel's glade, listening to the songs that told of the long history of the Elves. Quick to laugh at the lighter side of the stories and ballads, he was always welcomed by his fellow Elves to their gatherings. After half-heartedly attempting to learn the minstrel's art, he realized he liked the tales much better as a listener rather than as a performer.

Whenever Dínlalaith had the chance, he traveled alone to the edges of the Golden Wood, always wondering what lay beyond. His natural curiosity led him to apprentice for a short time with the metal smiths of Lórien, where he learned the rudiments of constructing locks and traps. His dedication to this vocation faded like the others, until a chance comment among a group of older friends snared his interest. Several had decided to become Guardians of the Glade and were just beginning their instruction in arms.

Dínlalaith reported to the Glade several days later, and was accepted as an apprentice Guardian. Boredom was ever kept at bay by the constant drilling in arms, stealth, and scouting skills required of all Guardians. Although quick in his movements, Dínlalaith was stocky for an Elf, and tended to overdraw a bow, and add an uncontrolled aspect to any attacks with the long knife. Knowing that the weapon and wielder must match to create a true warrior, the Guardian's had Dínlalaith try his hand with the long sword. The extra length and weight fit Dínlalaith's build and inclinations and quickly became his weapon of choice. What he lacked in ability with the bow and long knife, he more than made up for with the long sword.

After several months of training, Dínlalaith was assigned to the border watch in the perimeter flets that encircled the Golden Wood. Excited at first, he soon grew bored with simply watching the lands beyond Lórien, and requested transfer to the scouting groups that travelled on foot for several weeks at a time. Here he found the perfect role for himself amongst the Elf kindred. He delighted in always being on the move, searching for unannounced intruders into the realm. He became noted among the younger Guardians for his ability to move silently and remain unseen when needed. In time, the mystery of what lay beyond Lórien began to gnaw at him, and after fifty years with the Guardians, he left their service to work as a guard for merchants, messengers or diplomatic missions to the Dwarf hold at Khazad-dúm or King Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood.

Dínlalaith's ready smile and easy going countenance made him a welcome guest in King Thranduil's realm. Quick to buy an evenings meal or draught of ale for any wandering bard or minstrel, he seeks to hear new tales of other lands or Elven adventures. He may be found anywhere between Loríen's Golden Wood and the east flank of Mirkwood, generally travelling with individuals that gather information for Kings Amroth and Thranduil.

Features:

Dínlalaith is a tall, large-boned Elf whose Sinda features have a somewhat blockier appearance than most of his kindred. His pale blue eyes always seem to hold laughter, and contrast with his lightly tanned skin acquired from long days on the roads and trails. His long exposure to the sun has left blond highlights in his light brown hair that falls in waves to his shoulder blades. He wears a leather-covered chain shirt, leather britches, and soft leather Elf boots all of the same matching mist grey color. A composite bow and quiver is carried across his back, and a kynac rides hidden in his left boot, for "quieting those that lie in wait to do I or my fellow travellers harm." He carries a shield devoid of any markings, and when encountered during his travels, appears to be more of a beweaponed pilgrim than a seasoned warrior in search of new adventures.

Principal Items:

Long Sword (1st Lvl)

+10 OB. Daiotir (Q. "Shadow-guard"). This magical blade nullifies all magical properties on weapons used against the wielder (including weapons of Elf Slaying).

Composite Bow (3rd Lvl)

+10 OB. Dínlalaith favors this shortened version of the long bow for his travels through Middle-earth.

Kynac (5th Lvl)

+15 OB. This magical item casts silence in a five foot radius twice a day. The Silence spell remains in effect until the kynac is sheathed.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Long Sword Composite Bow Kynac Climb Ride Swim Pick Lock Disarm Trap Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Trap Building Brawling Weapon Evaluation Silent Kill Rope Mastery	0 20 10 5 10 5 5 10 10 1 10 20 10 5 10 10 5	5 40 15 10 15 5 10 20 20 3 20 40 25 15 20 20 10	0 52 20 10 25 10 15 30 30 5 30 50 45 25 30 30 25	5 56 30 25 35 20 20 40 40 6 50 54 54 40 40 50 35	15 60 50 45 40 30 30 54 54 9 56 60 60 52 52 58 45

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	31 58 83 94 115	5 5 13 13 14	20 45 45 45 45	N Y Y Y Y	N N N N A/L	53 79 97 107 120	28 49 60 76 105	0 5 0 5 15

Lokish Kiddell

Aka: Kaldigar (Dor. "Current-weaver"); Keldretta (S. "River Dancer").

Race: Dorwinadan.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: The sailing barge Keldov (Dor. "River Wind")

Appearance: Straight brown hair. Hazel eyes. 5'9" tall, 160 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 93; Ag 90; Co 84; Ig 94; It 93; Pr 90; Ap 67.

RM Stats: Ag 90; Co 84; SD 83; Me 99; Re 89; St 93; Qu 85; Pr 90; Em 83; In 93.

Languages: Westron 5, Logathig 5, Sindarin 4.

Born in a small river town near the northwest shore of the Sea of Rhûn, Lokish was trained by his family in the ways of the river. The lad learned to swim at the age of three, and could read currents and row a small skiff at seven. Soon he began to travel on his father's barge during the shorter shipping trips, and quickly picked up the skills needed to be an able boatman and trader. When not working with his father, Lokish hired out to other barge masters along the Celduin River as a helmsman and navigator.

Lokish's innate skill in reading the current and eddy lines, the telltale riffles of shoals and bars, and the pillows and V-breaks off underwater obstructions soon gained him a reputation as Sanor-blessed (D. "Ulmo"), and one who's presence on board always ensured a safe journey. This caused some amusement to Lokish, since he gave little thought to either the Balagini (D. "Valar"), the Dark One, or the ancestor spirits of the Dorwinrim while he went about his work. While not as superstitious as many boatman, he still makes offerings to Sanor several times a year, as do all the river folk, to "cover his docking fees," as he was oft to comment. Lokish however, trusted more to the messages entwined in the river's flow than in any belief in help from either Balagini or men. Following a philosophy of 'going with the flow', Lokish bases his actions on the lessons taught by the river and is fond of telling would be boatmen: "You can't fight the river. If you do, you'll always lose. But you can use it's currents and eddies to take you where you will and land where you are wont. What else could you ask, eh? The river is a strict lover, rightly enough, but treat her with respect and she'll be good to you."

At the age of twenty, Lokish managed to buy the controlling partnership of a sailing barge. He found that managing the barge's eight man crew was to his liking and talents. Using the single triangular sail when the winds were in their favor, or the long sweep oars when the wind was quiet, Lokish moved trade goods northwest along the Celduin river as far as the confluence with the Carnen river. Soon he gained complete ownership of the barge, and had enough working capital to buy and transport Dorwinion's most sought after product; Dorwinion wine. Lokish pushed his shipping route ever further, and became one of the few rivermen that traded as far north as Long Lake by the northeast edge of Mirkwood.

A shrewd businessman and bargainer, Lokish soon realized that the size of the cargo had little to do with the size of the purse received for delivering it. He refitted his barge for "cargo of worth," as he called it, adding several hidden compartments and a somewhat unique passenger quarter that remains quite concealed to curious eyes along his trade route.

Lokish divides part of the profits from any venture among the members of his crew, and in return, the crew think of the barge as their home and family dwelling. All are quite capable fighters and ready to defend the barge's security when the need arises.

Features:

A boisterous and jovial host, Lokish is a gregarious soul that enjoys the company of others, especially when they are interested in buying his cargo. He wears his long, straight hair tied back in a leather thong as protection against wind and sun. His hazel eyes take on the color of the water he travels through; brown when the river is swollen by muddy floods, blue when the river runs fast and clear, and a dark green when the river is deep and still. His wide set eyes, and large nose and mouth are framed by a face tanned to a deep golden tint by constant sun. His loose fitting, heavy cotton shirt and britches are common wear among the rivermen of the Celduin. Over his shirt, a half-sleeved vest of oil-treated canvas is belted with a sash made from braided rope. The sash holds twin scabbards at either side of his waist that carry his two short swords. His Dorwinadan sandals woven of waxed hemp wear well when wet and provide good footing on slippery decks.

Principal Items:

Canvas Vest (1st Lvl)

+5 DB. This magic item has been passed down through Lokish's family and protects as a rigid leather breastplate (AT 9).

Short Swords (3rd Lvl)

+15 OB. This matched set of short swords was taken as a partial payment for a cargo Lokish delivered. Lokish fights with a short sword in each hand (see Arm's Law, Two Weapon Combos).

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM (Sl) Short Sword (R.H.) Short Sword (L.H.) Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Boat Pilot Navigation Star Gazing Sailing Rowing Appraisal Trading Trading Lore Leadership Public Speaking Diplomacy Weather Watching First Aid	15 15 15 - - 10 - - 10 10 15 10 5 5 - 5 5 - 5 - 10 5	20 30 30 5 - 20 - - 20 30 30 15 10 15 10 15 15 5 10 5 20 10	20 45 45 5 5 30 1 5 30 45 45 20 15 25 20 25 25 10 20 10 30 15	20 54 52 10 10 40 2 10 40 52 52 30 20 35 30 35 35 15 30 15 40 20	20 64 60 10 10 50 4 15 52 62 58 40 35 50 45 50 50 30 40 25 50 35

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	2nd OB	Mov M
1 3 5 7 10	21 37 55 69 95	RL/9 RL/9 RL/9 RL/9 RL/9	15 15 15 15 15	N N N N N	N N N N N	26rh 58rh 75rh 86rh 99rh	26lh 58lh 75lh 84lh 95lh	15 20 20 20 20

Tasarë

Aka: Willow.

Race: Dúnadan/Northman.

Profession: Ranger.

Home: Lamedon in Gondor, later Southern Mirkwood.

Appearance: Dusky red hair the color of maple leaves in the fall, moss green eyes. 5'10" tall, 130 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 87; Ag 101; Co 81; Ig 90; It 90; Pr 71; Ap 92.

RM Stats: Ag 101; Co81; SD 91; Me86; Re74; St87; Qu95; Pr71; Em88; In90.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Westron 5, Sindarin 4, Waildyth 3, Eothrik 1.

Born in Gondor before the kin strife to a Dúnadan father and Northman mother, Willow is Valacar's cousin thrice removed. After observing their daughter's love of the woods and surrounding countryside and fearing the murmurings of the coming kin strife, her parents sent her to Edhellond for training among the Elves. This unusual occurrence was possible only because of Willow's family's friendship with an Elf at Edhellond.

The Elves soon discovered the girl's latent talents, and trained her as one of their own. Since she did not have the inclination towards becoming a warrior, she was led down the path of a Ranger. She showed a love of the woods as strong as any Elf, and made up for her dislike of open combat with a remarkable ability at sensing and detecting awaiting danger. This, combined with her innate ability to use a bow, made her a formidable opponent in the woods. She was often sent out as the advance scout of a party of Rangers, since it was well known that she would warn the party of impending danger or die in the process.

When the kin-strife tore Gondor asunder, the Elves requested that she leave their holdings. This she did, following her cousin to her mother's lands. Willow may be found travelling the roads and paths in and around Southern Mirkwood. She is one of the few rangers in the area that is actually willing to go into Southern Mirkwood for a price. Avoiding open combat whenever possible, Willow will deliver a party safely to their destination.

Features:

Dressed in a soft leather, moss green tunic and britches that match her eyes, Willow resembles the tall, supple tree she is named after. Her straight, dusky red hair is neatly trimmed at a angle that flows from the base of her skull to the bottom of her jaw covering her ears. During the fall, her hair, the color of turning maple leaves, helps her in fading into the woods and aids in secreting her from prying eyes. Her Dúnadan blood appears to outweigh her Northman stock. Her bearing, the color of her eyes, and stately features softens her rugged beauty and shows her Dúnadan ancestry. When in the wilds she carries her bow strung and at the ready, and much prefers to detect danger ahead of time rather than use force of arms to counter it when it occurs.

Principal Items:

Long Bow (1st Lvl)

+15 OB. This bow was a gift from the Elves of Edhellond. Its dark wood is unaffected by moisture, as is the bowstring. It may be fired once every round without penalty.

Rope of snaring (5th Lvl)

Magic. This rope will lend +25 to all attempts to snare man or beast. If it is used to simply tie up a captive, it lends only +15.

Vial of scent (7th Lvl)

Magic. As long as a single drop of deer musk is left in the vial, it will refill itself with very potent smelling musk overnight. The musk will mask a person's own scent.

RM Spells

1st Level: Nature's Guises

5th Level: Path Mastery

7Th Level: Detection Mastery

10th Level: Concussion Ways

MERP Spells

1st Level: Nature's Guises

5th Level: Path Mastery

7th Level: Essence Perceptions

10th Level: Physical Enhancement

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Long Bow Long sword Climb Ride Swim Track Stalk/Hide Perception Detect traps Herb Lore Flora Lore Fauna Lore Navigation Star Gazing Sense Ambush Direction Sense	35 25 15 10 10 10 10 15 20 5 5 15 10 15 5 - 10	40 40 25 20 20 20 20 25 30 15 15 25 20 25 10 5 20	40 50 35 30 30 30 35 40 40 25 20 35 30 35 15 15 35	40 56 40 35 40 40 50 45 50 35 25 45 40 45 20 30 50	40 68 52 45 50 50 56 52 56 45 35 54 52 50 35 50 56

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	21 36 47 63 91	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	15 15 15 15 15	N N N N N	N N N N N	21 33 45 52 67	56 73 85 93 108	35 40 40 40 40

5.0 Rohan

Rohan is a beautiful land lying between the Anduin to the east, the River Isen to the west, the White Mountains to the south and Fangorn Forest to the north.

Since early T.A. 2500, the land of Rohan has been held by the Rohirrim, the Horse-lords. Prior to this time, it was a province of Gondor. Cirion, King of Gondor, gave the land of Rohan to the Éothéod as a gift for their help in the Battle of Parth Celebrant.

Wídfara Deneson

Aka: Nahaldane (R. "The Secret One").

Race: Rohir.

Profession: Warrior/Fighter.

Home: Aldburg.

MERP Stats: St 101; Ag 86; Co 98; Ig 87; It 89; Pr 54; Ap 62.

RM Stats: Ag86; Co98; Sd84; Me87; Re91; St101; Qu99; Pr54; Em83; In87.

Languages: Rohirric 5, Adunaic 3, Haradaic 1, Westron 3.

Wídfara was born to Dene in Aldburg in T.A. 2993. His father came from a long line of bounty hunters that originated in the East Bight of southern Mirkwood. Wídfara was named after one of his ancestors who was instrumental in hunting down Balchoth assassins circa T.A. 2510 in the Anduin Valley. True to his ancestor's name, Wídfara is a dogged individual who will never give up the chase. As a young boy, he took to his study of arms like a kitten to cream. He excelled in his craft and was admitted into the Riddermark a season before his time.

His exploits during the War of the Ring and especially at the Battle of the Pelenor Fields earned him the praise of many of his fellow warriors. After the death of the standard bearer of Théoden, he carried the standard for Éomer, the new King of the Riddermark. And, true to the blessing of Théoden, he lived to see the battle turn against the Dark Lord's forces.

After six full years of military duty, Wídfara left the active service to follow in his father's footsteps as a hunter of men. With peace in the land, the older members of the Riddermark were allowed to pursue other ventures until they were actively needed again. As the elder son, his was the responsibility for continuing the family bounty hunting business. His younger brothers Aeftwine and Eathelred assist him in his duties. The three brothers travel from their home to Tharbad in the north and the farthest reaches of Gondor to the south, plying their trade. This trio, and especially Wídfara, are well known for their success in hunting down the hardest prey. For the right price, Wídfara will hunt down any individual, at any distance. It is said that he has even travelled into Mordor itself.

Features

Wídfara is a nondescript man. This is a benefit to his work. He is 5'11" tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. Small for his people, Wídfara is often overlooked in a crowd. His hair is a light brown and his eyes the color of cold, blued steel. He trims his hair and moustache to a reasonable length (hair cut at the shoulders and tied back when necessary, moustache trimmed at the corner of the mouth). He prefers loose clothing that help to hide the implements of his trade (long dirk, garrote, sand-filled leather bag for subduing, rope, manacles). Over his tunic he wears a light shirt of chain and a travellers cloak.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM (Ch) Long Sword Short Bow Spear Climb Ride Swim Track Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Acting Weather-watching Animal Training Distance Running Disarm Foe (Armed) Subduing Rope Mastery Trap Building First Aid	-10 20 10 10 5 40 5 5 -- 5 5 -- 5 5 -- -- -- 5 -- 5	0 30 20 15 10 50 10 15 1 15 20 -- 10 5 5 5 -- 10 5 10	10 40 30 20 15 52 15 25 2 25 30 5 20 10 10 10 5 10 5 15	10 50 40 30 15 54 15 35 3 35 45 10 30 15 15 15 10 15 10 20	15 52 50 40 20 56 20 50 4 45 54 20 40 25 30 30 25 20 25 30

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	24 44 68 99 124	Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/13	20 25 25 35 35	Y Y5 Y5 Y15 Y15	L L L L L	51 63 75 87 92	16 28 40 52 65	-10 0 10 10 15

Vês-Ora-Vês

Aka: Veesa.

Race: Drúadan.

Profession: Animist/Animist/Witch.

Home: Drúadan Forest.

Appearance: Black hair, black eyes. 4'5" tall, 128 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 42; Ag 76; Co 63; Ig 100; It 101; Pr 59; Ap 31.

RM Stats: Ag76; Co63; SD88; Me93; Re95; St42; Qu71; Pr59; Em101; In100.

Languages: Pûkael 5, Westron 3, Dunael 2.

"Veesa looked at the bones she had just thrown and smiled. When was the first time she saw the bones? When did she learn the use of root and herb? Veesa's mother had been a good teacher and luckily Veesa was born with the gift."

Veesa comes from a long line of Drúadan witches. Her home is located in the very western edge of the Drúadan forest some 2-3 miles in from the eaves. Veesa lives a simple life. Her sustenance is supplied by the lands around her home. Honey from the hives found in the forest, fruits and vegetables from her gardens and herbs from the numerous hidden grottoes of the woods.

Veesa's mother knew shortly after the young girl's birth that she had the gift. Strange dreams, foretellings and the girl's innate knowledge led her to start Veesa's formal training. By the age of 23, Veesa had learned all that her mother could teach her. Taking her scant belongings, she moved to the fogu (P. "Earth-home") of her betrothed and his family.

Over the years, Veesa has continued to grow in her knowledge of herbs and the arts that her mother taught her. A gregarious individual (a rarity amongst the Drúedain), Veesa will endeavor to assist any and all that come to her.

Features:

Veesa's most striking feature is her long black hair. Her hair is braided and would fall to her knees if hanging down her back. Veesa, however, drapes the braid over her right shoulder and it rests between her painted breasts. When practicing divination with the bones, she uses the end of her braided hair like a brush, to first clean the ground in front of her. In the classic manner, Veesa wears only the pigments she uses to adorn her body. While the eyes of most Woses appear to be pupiless pools of darkness, hers always seem to hint at a red, fiery glow even when she is not angered.

Principal Items:

Scrying Bones (1st Lvl)

+15. These enchanted bones, given to Veesa by her mother, aid in all divinations.

Leather Pouch (5th Lvl)

Magic. All herbs placed in this pouch will retain their potency until they are used.

RM Spells

1st Lvl: Nature's Mastery

3rd Lvl: Purifications

5th Lvl: Candle Magic, Concussion Ways

7th Lvl: Potion Magic

10th Lvl: Blood Law, Muscle Law

MERP Spells

1st Level: Nature's Lore

3rd Level: Purifications

5th Level: Surface Ways

7th Level: Blood Ways

10th Level: Bone/Muscle Ways

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Climb Swim Perception Runes Staves/Wands Divination First Aid Foraging Herb Lore Mid Wifery	5 10 20 25 35 10 10 15 5 5 10 5	10 10 30 25 40 20 20 35 15 15 30 15	10 15 35 30 50 30 30 52 25 25 50 25	10 20 40 35 54 40 40 60 35 35 58 35	10 25 50 45 60 50 50 64 50 50 62 50

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	14 23 34 41 52	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	0 0 0 0 0	N N N N N	N N N N M	10 10 15 20 25		5 10 10 10 10

6.0 Gondor

The Stone Land (Q. "Gondor") lies south of the White Mountains along the Bay of Belfalas. A province of Gondor also lies along the northern flanks of the White Mountains adjacent to Rohan. This kingdom spans many ages. Founded by the Sea Lords of Númenor, Gondor's lands are ruled by the High-men of Middle-earth, the Dúnedain.

Esta

Aka: Fire, Shrew.

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: Lamedon.

Appearance: Short, dark brown, bobbed hair. Green eyes. 5'11" tall, 153 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 99; Ag 93; Co 97; Ig 53; It 73; Pr 42; Ap 67.

RM Stats: Ag93; Co97; SD64; Me84; Re62; St99; Qu101; Pr42; Em38; In53.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Westron 5, Sindarin 4.

Her father always said she was a "royal pain in the arse." In fact, if her parents had not hired the finest midwife to help in the breach delivery, the girl and her mother would have died. The difficult delivery set the tone for the remainder of the girl's life.

The first word that Esta learned, even before mamma or papa, was NO. Even though she was raised in a loving home, Esta was a very difficult and demanding child. She constantly fought with her siblings and always did the opposite told, if she decided to do anything at all.

Years later, Esta turned into the quintessential tom-boy. Much to her mother's chagrin, Esta wrestled and fought with the boys her age, and usually won. Cooking and sewing were not to her liking she would always say. Her every possible moment was spent in her father's forge or harassing the boys. She wouldn't be "one of those girls" who was made a virtual slave to a man.

Esta's skill at wrestling progressed and the young girl even found someone to teach her skill at arms. She took up the long sword and bow and was as adept at those as with wrestling. Her desire was to become a famous warrior. This might have come to pass were it not for the fact that she was so obnoxious. Even though her natural skills in combat were great, her abrasive personality typically resulted in her being thrown out of Schools of Defense at Arms.

At the age of 18, Esta escaped a marriage planned by her parents. Dressed as a man she escaped her home town and she took to travelling about Lamedon and the other provinces of Gondor before taking up residense in Lond Ernil. There, she began hiring herself out as a mercenary. Going from job to job, Esta makes just enough to get by.

Features:

Dressed in the garb of a male warrior, Esta appears to be a clean shaven younger man who wears his years well, yet still shows healed facial scars and nicks from past battles. Her dark brown hair is bobbed short enough that none shows from beneath the metal skull cap that she normally wears when travelling. Her chain shirt is well polished, as is her silver embellished sword hanger. Her emerald green eyes lead many to believe that the young man they speak with has a trace of Elven blood. She neither admits nor denies these rumors.

Principal Items:

Dagger (1st Lvl)

+10 OB. A gift from her father, this dagger is a well balanced blade suitable for throwing or thrusting.

Long Sword (6th Lvl)

+15 OB. This blade was given to Esta by a spurned lover. Although the blade aids in combat, as long as Esta owns the blade, she will not find love in the arms of another man.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Perception Climb Swim Stalk/Hide Long Sword Bow Dagger Cookery Smithing Seduction Brawling Crafting First Aid Riding	15 15 5 10 5 15 10 10 10 5 - 15 15 5 10	20 35 15 20 15 25 20 20 15 15 - 30 20 15 20	20 50 25 30 25 45 30 30 15 25 5 45 25 25 30	20 58 35 40 40 54 45 40 15 30 10 52 25 35 40	20 64 50 52 54 64 54 54 20 40 25 60 35 50 52

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	25 38 52 69 101	No/1 Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/13 Ch/13	30 50 50 50 50	N Y Y Y Y	N N N N N	28 54 80 95 114	23 39 55 76 94	15 20 20 20 20

Alcar

Aka: Moredhel, Curinir.

Race: Noldo.

Profession: Mage.

Home: Lorien, then Edhellond, then Minas Ithil, then Minas Anor.

MERP Stats: St 53; Ag 86; Co 95; Ig 105; It 53; Pr 61; Ap 78.

RM Stats: Ag86; Co95; Sd42; Me72; Re90; St53; Qu106; Pr61; Em105; In53.

Languages: Quenya 5, Sindarin 5, Adunaic 4, Haradaic 4, Westron 3, Black Speech 3.

Born to the Noldo family of Elindor of Lorien at the end of the Second Age, Alcar was orphaned when his parents were killed in the War against the Dark Lord. He was taken in by a Sinda family to be raised as their own. The family moved from Lorien to Edhellond in Gondor within a few years. Alcar always felt that he was worthy of greater things than those his new family could offer. While still in his youth, Alcar met and began taking training from a rogue mage who was in hiding in Edhellond. Alcar learned as quickly as he could and although he had an affinity for the magical arts, it was very difficult for him to remember the intricacies of the spells. He studied for almost a full century before he mastered his first spell list. Shortly thereafter, his mentor died.

Alcar's distaste for the "simpletons" of Edhellond fueled his desire to relocate somewhere more prudent for a mage of his calibre. Without a word to his foster family, he gathered his few possessions and travelled to Minas Ithil. There, he studied the arcane arts, until the fall of the city to the Dark Lord's forces.

Leaving the beleagured city behind, Alcar travelled to Minas Anor. With the profits from his prior work, he was able to buy a small residence on the Fifth Level adjacent to a bookbindery.

Using his new home as a base, Alcar travels northern and southern Middle-earth, ever searching for more knowledge and arcane items. He simply takes what he can, and as a last resort will pay for the things he desires. For, as a Noldo, he feels that only his race and he especially are all that matters. All others are below contempt.

Today (circa T.A. 1640), Alcar continues his search for the arcane and will stop at nothing to achieve his ends.

Features

Alcar is tall, even by Noldo standards. His passionless, cold, blue eyes, give no indication of his emotions or abilities. He prefers dark robes, embroidered with scarlet and gold. When travelling, he wears a simple hooded black cloak. Alcar takes arrogance to the extreme. He will only deign to communicate with someone if they are of equal stature or if they have in their possession some item or information that he desires. Amongst many of the Elven groups that Alcar has had contact with, he is called moredhel (S. "Dark Elf"), because of his dour outlook on life.

Principal Items

Ring of Protection (3rd Lvl)

This magical ring aids in protection from undead creatures and entities. The wearer's DB is enhanced by 15 points when a physical attack is made and 10 points when a magical attack is made.

Ni-min's Amulet

This amulet allows to the wielder to store and later use two spells up to 10th level. The amulet is reported to have been fashioned in the Utter East.

RM Spells

1st Level: Shield Mastery, Fire Law

3rd Level: Ice Law, Unbarring Ways

5th Level: Light Law, Dispelling Ways

7th Level: Lofty Bridges

10th Level: Delving Ways, Shield Mastery

MERP Spells

1st Level: Essence Hand, Fire Law

3rd Level: Ice Law, Unbarring Ways

5th Level: Light Law, Spell Ways

7th Level: Lofty Bridges

10th Level: Essence Ways

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Perception Staves & Wands Runes Channeling Swimming Riding Climbing Stalk/Hide Trap Building Signaling Cookery Acrobatics Long Sword Spear Dagger MovM (Sl)	0 10 10 10 5 5 5 -- -- -- 5 5 5 5 -- -- 5	5 10 20 20 10 5 10 5 5 5 10 10 10 10 5 -- 5	5 15 40 40 15 10 10 10 5 10 15 15 20 15 10 5 5	5 15 50 50 25 10 15 10 5 20 20 20 25 20 10 5 5	5 20 60 58 30 15 20 15 5 25 25 25 40 30 15 5 5

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	Mov M
1 3 5 7	12 21 34 51	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	35 35 35 35	n n n n	n n n n	5 10 15 20	-- 5 10 10	0 5 5 5

Anaristar Mîrdan

Aka: Diamond, The Gem Mover.

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Warrior/Rogue.

Home: Minas Anor.

Appearance: Anaristar has jet black hair cut close to the skull and very dark blue eyes. 6'2"; 210 lbs.

MERP Stats: St72; Ag101; Co82; Ig87; It92; Pr; Ap63.

RM Stats: Ag101; Co82; SD91; Me84; Re78; St72; Qu79; Pr81; Em95; In92.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Sindarin 5, Quenya 3, Haradaic 3.

Anaristar was born in Minas Anor, the son of a simple merchant. Since the family was relatively poor, his parents were not able to provide an advanced education. Although lettered, Anaristar was forced to apprentice himself to a merchant that travelled a route from Minas Anor to Bozhisha-Dar in the Far South, buying and selling all manner of fine cloth, clothing, and jewlery. At 15 years of age, the young man's duties included cooking for the caravan workers and performing odd jobs. At 17, Anaristar had learned enough about the workings of the trade business (and since he had learned to write at an early age) to be promoted to a trade hand. His responsibility was to lay out the goods for sale and to keep inventory of those items placed under his care. This he did with a passion that surprised the caravan owner.

During one trip to the Harad, the caravan was beset by a band of raiders. Anaristar was barely able to escape from the camp as the bandits rained death upon those that remained. Of the fate of the caravan master and the rest of the retinue, the young boy never discovered. Armed with only a dagger and supplied with a single water skin, Anaristar wandered through the wastes for many days. Near death, the lad came upon a hidden oasis, where he found sustenance for himself; the menas to thwart the hand of death. During the days that he spent recovering from the harsh treatment of the desert, he discovered a small chest. Two full days passed before he was able to break open the lock. To his surprise he found within a map, a bag of coins and two small locked boxes. Filling his water skin and taking all that he could carry to eat, he made his way north to more hospitable lands, finally reaching Minas Anor.

The two small boxes that he returned with, proved to be his salvation: one box was filled with rare gems and the other with a small glove fashioned of mouse skin and a set of gem cutting tools. With his new found treasures, he set himself up in business as a gem and jewel trader.

Today, Anaristar is a wealthy merchant who wants for nothing. He trades in gems, jewels, jewelry of all types and is rumored to move or reset gems without questioning the origin. He is also known to buy and sell cursed gems and jewels. Anaristar is never without his two body guards.

Features:

Anaristar is a tallish man who looks old for his age. He tends towards flashy clothes, befitting one of his stature in the community. His hair is black, and shot with streaks of grey. He keeps his hair cut very short and normally wears a leather skull cap. The cap is carved and colored with desert flowers. His deep blue eyes appear dark as coal. His many years of work in the Harad have also taken their toll. Anaristar's skin is tanned and scars may still be seen from burns he received while escaping from the desert waste. He wears a large diamond in a loop from his right ear and sports a gem encrusted ring on every finger.

Principal Items:

Mouse-skin Glove (3rd Lvl)

Anaristar found this glove while lost in the desert. When wearing the glove and handling an object, it will make the hand tingle if the item is magical in nature. It will also lend +20 to all staves & wands rolls. Cursed gems and jewels will have no effect on the user of the glove.

Gem cutting tools (3rd Lvl)

Also found when Anaristar was lost in the desert, these tools add +25 when cutting and setting gems. When in use, it is impossible to spoil a gem when cutting.

Dagger (6th Lvl)

+10 OB. This magical dagger was the gift of an individual whom Anaristar assisted. The individual could not remove a cursed gem from his possession.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Long Sword Climb Ride Swim Stalk/Hide Pick Locks Perception Staves/Wands Mathematics Navigation Appraisal Trading Gem Evaluation Gem Smithing Gold & Silver Smithing Power Perception Metal Lore Gem Lore Cooking	30 5 10 5 5 -- 5 5 10 -- 5 -- -- 5 -- -- -- -- -- -- 5	30 15 20 15 15 5 10 15 30 5 10 5 5 10 -- -- -- -- -- -- 15	30 25 30 25 25 10 20 25 40 15 20 15 15 20 -- -- -- -- -- -- 15	30 30 35 30 30 20 20 35 50 25 30 20 25 30 10 10 10 10 10 10 15	30 30 40 35 40 25 25 40 65 40 40 30 40 45 40 30 25 25 25 40 15

** Note - Gem Lore and Evaluation are as Stone Lore and Evaluation.

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	18 37 52 69 91	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	5 5 5 5 5	N N N N N	N N N N N	15 25 35 40 45	10 20 30 35 35	30 30 30 30 30

GEM LIST

Type	Color	Cut(1)	Size	Cost
Amber	Clear to Yellow	C	1-25	1-6bp
Amethyst	Purple	F,C	3-25	2-4sp

Gem List in preparation. The following information is slowly being moved to the table above. Type Color Cut(1) Size Cost Aquamarine Blue, blue-green F 3-15 8bp - 6sp Bloodstone Dark green with red C 10-50 1 - 4bp Catseye Green, yellow, red C 3-10 10cp - 1sp Chrysoberyl Yellow, yellow-green F,C 1-15 20 - 60 sp Coral Varies C,P 1-50 1cp+ Diamond Clear F ½-10 8 - 240sp Diamond Pink F ½-10 12 - 280sp Diamond Green F ½-10 12 - 280sp Diamond Yellow F ½-10 12 - 280sp Diamond Blue-white F ½-10 20 - 400sp Emerald Brilliant to pale green F 1-8 2bp - 40sp Flourite Blue, red, purple F 1-50 3bp - 3sp Garnets green, red, purple, stars F,C ½-15 5cp - 30sp Ivory white to yellow-white C,P varies 1cp - 20sp+ Lapis Lazuli violet to pale blue C 5-25 2cp - 1sp Moonstone Trans. blue to silver-white C 1-50 6bp - 3sp Moss agate moss with dark green C 1-500 10cp - 4sp Mother-of-p. Shiny white or black P Varies 1 - 20cp Opal white, "fire" varies C 1-10 2 - 10sp Opal yellow or red, "fire" C 1-10 1 - 500sp Opal Yellow-green, "fire" C 1-10 8cp - 2bp Opal Grey to black, "fire" C 1-10 20 - 800sp Pearl White, cream or black ½-5 2 - 60sp Rose quartz Rich to pale pink F,C 1-50 5 - 20cp Ruby Red F ½-5 8 - 240sp Sapphire Blue to violet-blue F ½-5 4 - 80sp Sapphire Black star C 1-10 12 - 300sp Sapphire Star, any color C 1-10 10 - 200sp Sapphire red-orange F,C 1-10 2 - 10sp Sapphire green to olive green F,C ½-5 4bp - 10sp Sapphire orange, yellow to golden F,C 1-10 4bp - 6sp Sapphire bright purple F,C 1-5 3 - 12sp Smokey quartz Pale to dark grey F,C 1-500 5 - 10cp Star quartz Clear with weak star C 1-10 8 - 16bp Sunstone Colorless to pale green C 1-30 1 - 4bp Tigereye Yellow/brown C 1-100 1 - 2bp Topaz varies. Purple most valued F 1-15 1cp - 15sp Turquoise varied blues, spiderweb C 1-100 5cp - 5sp

Silmariel

Aka: Naurmîr (S. "Fire Jewel").

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Mage/Alchemist.

Home: Minas Anor.

Appearance: Chestnut hair. Cobalt eyes the color of deep twilight. 5' 11" tall. 165 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 70; Ag 86; Co 59; Ig 99; It 73; Pr 78; Ap 88.

RM Stats: Ag86; Co59; SD83; Me91; Re101; St70; Qu79; Pr78; Em99; In73.

Languages: Adúnaic 5; Westron 4; Haradaic 3; Sindarin 4; Quenya 2, Dunael 2.

Silmariel was born to Elerathiel, Lady of the Stars, and Stahnor the Alchemist. As the daughter of an alchemist and an astrologer, the young girl accepted the workings of magic as a normal part of her daily affairs. This proved hard on the young lass in her early teens, as she found that assimilating with her peers became more and more difficult. Used to her mother's advice and long term views on questions of life, and her father's no-nonsense manipulation of everyday objects, the lass found herself both bored and ignored by others of her age who thought her too pushy and arrogant. The arrogance seen in her by others was simply applied knowledge little understood by them, but it would take years for the girl to understand the difference between those who practiced magic and those who did not.

Silmariel responded to the social pressure and belittlement by retreating to her father's workshop. There, her doting father directed her thoughts away from her troubles by teaching her alchemy and smithing. While little interested in weapons, armor, sewing or cooking (to the chagrin of her mother), Silmariel liked to hammer and play with the metal stock her father provided. She often shaped it into crude jewelry of her own design that she would proudly wear for a day or so before becoming tired of it. Noting her talents, her father provided her with costume jewels and stones of poor value to set into the metal. The girl became more and more fascinated by the art, and by mid-teens was creating bracelets, earrings, rings, and amulets that were being sold in the open markets of Minas Anor.

As her skill with jewelry design developed, so did her understanding of alchemy and languages. Her father's patience and mother's insights into written lore were transferred to the girl. Silmariel moved into an apartment over her own workshop and forge at the age of 20, and soon developed a reputation as a quality jewelry smith among the richer inhabitants of Minas Anor. As her fame spread, she became friends with Anaristar Mîrdan, a well known Dúnadan gem-trader in Minas Anor. Silmariel prefers to deal only with Anaristar when buying gems and rare stones for her work. Many of the items she produces are imbedded with magical properties. She is also known for her ability to create custom items for the right price as long as the purchaser can provide her with the necessary spell to be embedded, or someone capable of casting the necessary spell. While an Alchemist in her own right, she is still close to her father and mother, and woe be to any adventurer that tries to take advantage of her and arouse the family's disfavor. (Treat Elerathiel as a 15th level Astrologer with all base astrologer lists to 20th level, Light's way, Barrier Wall, and Detection Mastery to 10th level. Treat Stahnor as a 20th level Alchemist with all base Alchemist lists to 20th level, Dispelling ways to 20th level, and Spirit Mastery and Gate Mastery to 10th level.)

Features:

Her eyes draw all who are taken by exotic looking women. While not a classical beauty by Dúnadan standards, she attracts at first until her haughty and arrogant manner chills her suitor. Her chestnut hair cascades in waves down over her shoulders. She wears the clothes of her trade; a leather apron, trimmed in arcane symbols, covering the non-constricting dresses that she favors. A more astute observer will be drawn to her deft fingers, each sporting a well crafted ring of her own manufacture.

Principal Items:

Mace (1st Level)

Crafted by her father, this simple mace will glow blue at her command and weighs the same as a small smithing hammer. It will always strike the thing or person that it is swung at (minimum of 1 concussion hit).

Smithing tools (6th Lvl)

These magical implements give her a +15 to all smithing and embedding actions.

*** GM Note - At any given time, she may have a ring or other item that has any spell that she or her mother or father know imbedded in the item.

RM Spells

1st Level: Essence embedding, Detecting Ways

3rd Level: Dispelling Ways, Enchanting Ways.

5th Level: Spell Wall, Lofty Bridge, Delving Ways.

7th Level: Mentalism-Chan Imbedding, Shield Mastery

10th Level: Spell Enhancement, Invisible ways

MERP Spells

1st Level: Essense Ways

3rd Level: Spell Ways

5th Level: Lofty Bridges

7th Level: Essence hand

10th Level: Fire Law

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Mace Climb Ride Swim Stalk/Hide Pick Locks Perception Staves/Wands Runes Appraisal Trading Smithing Gold & Silver Smithing Power Perception Metal Lore	10 10 5 10 10 5 10 15 10 10 5 -- 10 -- -- --	15 15 10 15 15 10 20 25 25 20 10 5 25 5 5 5	15 20 15 20 20 15 30 35 35 35 20 15 35 15 15 15	15 25 20 25 20 25 40 45 45 45 30 25 45 30 25 25	15 35 30 40 30 35 52 54 56 54 45 40 56 45 40 40

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	17 34 51 68 89	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1		N N N N N	N N N N N	10 15 20 25 35		10 15 15 15 15

Melia

Aka: Sapphire.

Race: Dunlending/Dúnadan.

Profession: Scout/Rogue.

Home: Gondor.

Appearance: Reddish blonde hair cascading to mid back, petite features, sapphire blue eyes, 5'8", 132 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 72; Ag 101; Co 83; Ig 81; It 89; Pr 99; Ap 93.

RM Stats: Ag101; Co83; SD98; Me87; Re91; St72; Qu102; Pr99; Em93; In81.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Westron 5, Dunael 3, Haradaic 2.

Melia's life has always been intertwined with rich and influential men, although she shows little from it but trouble. Born the only daughter to a gypsy woman and a noble of Lamedon in Gondor, her father paid for her mother Gunda to move out of the province; knowledge of illegitimate offspring would be damaging. Her mother relocated to Minas Anor when Melia was still an infant.

Gunda received enough funds to buy a home and to set up a fortune telling shop. Melia's early childhood was no different from the other children in the neighborhood. She played hop stick, sewed clothing for her dolls and played court with her friends. And, as any other girl entering her teen years, boys began to catch her eye and she soon realized that she could wrap them around her little finger. However, the simple boys of the city could not fulfill her desire to become a noblewoman.

As her talents and beauty grew, she searched for egress from her lowly state. One day she found it. A noble in search of escape from his travails happened upon this charming young lady. He supplied her with a small flat in a finer part of the city and showered her with gifts. Two years after their meeting, the noble's wife discovered her husband's dalliance and took measures to stop it.

Melia found herself destitute and on the road. She felt that she could not return to her mother for help because her mother had ever told her "do not toy with the highborn for they will use you and then abandon you in your hour of need."

Relying upon her beauty and skills, Melia made a life for herself preying upon those that would use her. Her favorite ploy was to station herself on a road in the cold of the morning and await unlucky travellers. If they seemed to possess sufficient wealth, she would relieve them of it.

After years of working alone, Melia met and fell in love with a successful thief named Jayce, also of Gondor. Of mixed descent like Melia, Jayce supplied talents that made the two a formidable pair. Together, they can accomplish almost any task that they set their minds to.

Features:

Melia's physical features seem to be patterned after the artist's perfect vision of loveliness. Her eyes, the color of new cut sapphires are framed in a pleasantly rounded face. Her reddish blonde hair is the final stroke of the painting as it tumbles to her waist. Younger men, can only wish to court one so literally breath taking as Melia while older men feel twenty to thirty years younger in her presence. Melia favors loose skirts and blouses, hinting at hidden secrets.

Principal Items:

Crossbow (2nd Lvl)

+25 OB. This fine weapon is more than it seems. Smaller than a light crossbow, it is easily concealed and fires two bolts, either simultaneously or singly. It adds +25 to attacks and is of man slaying (any male, any race).

Bracelet (6th Lvl)

This diminutive piece of jewelry adds +30 to her defense and will allow her to turn one missile or melee attack each day.

Shawl of Shanur (9th Lvl)

This magical shawl adds +25 to all stalk and hide maneuvers.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Crossbow Long Sword Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Seduction Rope Mastery Dance Subduing Singing Pick Locks Runes	35 15 20 5 5 10 10 -- 10 20 5 -- 5 -- 5 -- --	40 25 35 15 10 25 15 5 20 35 15 5 10 -- 15 5 --	40 35 50 25 15 35 25 10 30 45 30 15 20 5 25 15 5	40 45 54 35 25 45 30 15 40 52 40 25 30 15 35 25 10	40 50 60 45 30 52 40 25 50 58 52 40 45 35 50 40 25

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	21 34 52 63 89	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	35 35 35 65 65	N N N N N	N N N N N	18 34 50 66 80	53 74 95 105 120	35 40 40 40 40

A Story from the Life of Melia She spied three riders approaching as the fog lifted. If the rumors of the lecherous lord of the manor were half true, she would be able to obtain a new horse easily. As the riders cantered slowly toward her, she adjusted her billowing skirt, cut to above the knee, and her shawl, too light for a day as cold as this one was. She started up the road to meet the riders... "Now what is a pretty maid doing out on such a cold morning?" asked the grinning lord of the manor. "I've been abandoned M'Lord." "Perhaps we could be of some assistance?" the lord stated coyly. "We could offer you some warmth?" The girl touched the tip of her tongue to her upper lip, "Aye M'Lord." "And what doth thou desire, my pretty little maid?" At this the lord's second laughed and, winking at the lord's squire whispered "I'm sure we could light her fires!" "That which lies betwixt thy legs M'Lord..." Not able to contain himself, the lord dismounted and began to remove his baldric. At this, the girl mounted the horse and sped off, yelling over her shoulder "Thank you for that which will warm me, M'Lord!"

Branadil

Aka: Gaerlind (S. "Sea Song").

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Bard.

Home: Pelargir.

Appearance: Dark brown hair. Grey eyes the color of a stormy sea. 6'3" tall. 215 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 89; Ag 94; Co 87; Ig 91; It 82; Pr 99; Ap 91.

RM Stats: Ag94; Co87; SD73; Me100; Re76; St89; Qu91; Pr99; Em81; In82.

Languages: Adúnaic 5; Westron 5; Haradaic 3; Sindarin 4; Quenya 2.

The year of Branadil's birth remains shrouded in mystery. His earliest memories are of the orphanage in Pelargir where he was raised. The records of the orphanage provided little information to the lad when he was old enough to inquire. He was left at the home in T.A. 1614 by a ship's captain that claimed to have found the babe abandoned in an empty room of an inn by the wharves. The description of the captain was jotted down in the records as being, a tall Elven sea-captain from the south. That the captain was not his father is all Branadil could be sure of.

Branadil's youth was as turbulent as the times he lived in. As a teenager, he learned to fight to protect himself from the bullies of the orphanage. Accused of being Dúnadan by some, Black Númenórian by others, and the unwanted offspring of the Corsairs by yet others, Branadil learned early that the world favored no man or culture, at least in mixed company. Confused and doubtful about himself and his own abilities, he turned for solace to the small library housed in the orphanage's halls. His obsessive desire to find some hint of his roots and history led him to learn several languages, all to no avail. The manuscripts available spoke of the history of the area from the point of view of the inhabitants of Pelargir, as all surviving histories do. Yet he continued the search, in time discovering the main library at Pelargir and its rich collection of works.

After leaving the orphanage, Branadil survived as best he could as a dock laborer, barkeep, and part time translator and scribe for the less literate inhabitants of Pelargir's wharf district. In T.A. 1634, becoming depressed with his lot in life, and fearing the news of the increased Corsair activity along the coast, he hired onto a merchant ship as a cook's helper. The ship was bound for Lond Ernil, but the voyage was short lived. The Corsair fleet on its way to ravage Pelargir closed on Branadil's vessel between the Anduin delta and the Bay of Belfalas. As the Corsairs swarmed aboard the doomed vessel, Branadil followed the example of several other crew members, and abandoned ship. Days later, still doggedly clinging to a broken mast tip and spar, he was carried to the southern shore of Belfalas by the currents. Lacking the strength to pull himself above the waterline of the beach, he resigned himself to drowning within a few feet of safety. The sea was cheated of its prize that day by the sudden appearance of a Sinda Elf who grasping both the situation and the drowning lad, quickly hauled Branadil from the waves.

When Branadil had recovered enough to engage in normal conversation, he asked his rescuer why he had saved him. "I'm a relentless beach comber, especially in places far from the cities of men," the Elf replied with a chuckle. "The ocean offers up such fascinating items at times, and since you are what was offered the least I could do was discover what it was I found."

"Then I'm afraid you've found little of value," said Branadil. His curiosity further aroused, the Elf with seeming little effort extracted Branadil's life story, quizzing him on the details. After completing his tale, Branadil grew more dejected than before. "And what is to become of me now?" he said quietly to himself. "Why, to travel with me for a time and learn a trade, of course," answered the Elf. "I am Telerlin the bard, and wanderer and commentator on the tribulations of the time."

Branadil's arguments about his unsuitability for becoming a bard fell on deaf ears, and he soon conceded to apprenticing to Telerlin until something better presented itself. Bound for Lond Ernil, the pair spent many days traveling north to the great seaport. During the journey, Telerlin introduced Branadil to both the lute and the flute, and provided instruction on speaking to an audience, basic musical concepts and singing. Branadil tried his best to learn the crafts that the Elf taught as repayment for his rescuer's efforts. Upon arriving in Lond Ernil, and finding a suitable inn to practice his arts, the Bard instructed Branadil to simply observe for the first night, and learn from a master entertainer. Branadil did as he was instructed, gratefully sipping ale at a corner table and watching Telerlin perform. The Elf's abilities were obvious as he played and sang, but the greatest response from the crowd came as Telerlin recited an epic poem about a wanderer that suffered misfortune at sea. The wanderer of the tale grew to greatness and fame by the end of the poem, and Branadil realized with a shock that he was loosely the hero referred to in the epic.

Later that night, while alone with the Elf, Branadil asked about the poem. "You've turned my misfortune into a hero's tale. How can you speak of something with so little truth in it?" After recovering from a bout of laughter, Telerlin replied, "The first rule of being a bard, Branadil, is to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Never!" the Bard said. "Remember that."

After much prodding by the Telerlin, Branadil accompanied the Bard's singing the next night. Finding great delight in the approving nods of the audience, Branadil relaxed and began to enjoy the performance. Near its end, Telerlin introduced Branadil as "Gaerlammen the Story Teller, here to entertain you with tales of past times." Winking at Branadil, the Bard walked to a table and sat down, calling for a glass of wine. Frozen by fear, Branadil looked out at the expectant faces that surrounded the smiling Elf. It can't be worse than drowning, Branadil thought at last, and remembering all the Elf had taught him about speaking to a crowd, he quickly searched his memories for the many histories he had read in his youth and then began to speak.

He told of the Kin-strife of the Númenóreans, pouring his own feelings of separation and abandonment into the tale. When he finished, all were silent for a moment, and then the audience broke into applause with many a wet eye and quick wipe of the nose.

"I knew you had the talent lad," said the Bard as Branadil joined him at the table. "Never overlook a gift of the sea. And stop worrying about your heritage. The pure blood of the Edain runs through your veins. Never doubt it. And somewhere ages past in your parentage, at least one bright drop of Elven as well, I'll wager."

For the next six years, Branadil travelled with Telerlin and perfected his craft. He learned that the Bard, far from being a simple wanderer, collected information for King Amroth in Lothlorien and regularly sent messages on the events in Gondor, Umbar, and Rohan back to his liege. Branadil began to appreciate the power and value of information for its own sake. He took to heart the Bard's insistence that "all life is a performance," and that "the best performers are paid well, indeed." He found that with his upbringing, knowledge, and the Bard's instructions on acting, he could easily pass as Dúnadan, Black Númenórean, or as a Corsair as the need arose. He turned his newfound talent to good use in acquiring odd bits of gossip, current rumors, and factual information on the areas they traveled through. With some delight, he discovered that information was literally worth its weight in gold to the right party. With some reluctance, Branadil bid farewell to his friend and tutor in T.A. 1640 when the Bard insisted on returning home.

"You are now well versed in the arts, my lad. Hone them to a fine edge and never fear to tell others you were instructed by Telerlin, Bard of the Sinda Elves. Especially when you journey to the north to visit me, as I pray you will some fine day, eh?" Then after entrusting his own lute to Branadil's use and upkeep, the Elf departed his company and waved a warm goodbye to his pupil. Branadil kept his vow to follow in his mentor's footsteps, and ranges from Umbar in the south to the eaves of Mirkwood to the north in his travels.

Features:

Branadil is deeply tanned, lean, and hard of muscle from his constant trekking. He wears his medium length, dark brown hair in various styles depending on the environments he finds himself in. With grey eyes the color of a stormy sea, he uses his classic Númenórean features to project a powerful presence when performing. At other times he appears to be anyone from a dock worker to a ship master as the need arises. When traveling as a Bard, Branadil wears bright silks of sea greens and golds, embellished by a mother-of-pearl iridescent cloak. The golden hued lute slung over his left shoulder is never far from his reach.

Principal Items:

Falchion (1st Level)

+10 OB. Purchased before leaving Pelargir, the weapon survived Branadil's trial at sea. It was later fitted with a grip custom fit to Branadil's hand.

Ring of Reflection (5th Level)

+15 DB, +10 OB. This item adds +15 to wearer's DB and +10 to any OB with an edged weapon. Once a day, the ring may be activated by the wearer. When activated, the ring makes the wearer appear to be the same race as any chosen target.

Lute (7th Level)

+25. This magic item was a parting gift from Telerlin and adds +25 to any bardic skill rolls. +3 spell adder. Lore to 20th level twice a day. The Lute is intelligent and will, if picked up by someone unfriendly to its owner, attack with Song Of Coma (lvl 30, Controlling Songs). Anyone attempting to own the lute must make a Self Discipline roll against a 30th level intelligence, unless commanded to stay with the musician by its original owner (Telerlin).

RM Spell Lists:

3rd Level: Sound Control

5th Level: Lores, Controlling Songs

7th Level: Self Healing

10th Level: Item Lore, Illusions

MERP Spells

3rd Level: Sound Control

5th Level: Lore, Controlling Songs

7th Level: Item Lore

10th Level: Illusions

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Falchion Dagger Climb Ride Swim Perception Cooking Tale Telling Public Speaking Diplomacy Play Instrument (Lute) Singing Poetic Improvisation Region Lore Acting Seduction Brawling	15 10 15 5 5 10 15 10 5 -- 5 -- -- -- 15 10 5 10	20 20 20 10 15 25 25 15 15 5 15 10 5 10 30 20 10 15	20 30 25 15 25 35 35 20 25 15 20 20 15 20 35 30 15 20	20 40 30 20 30 45 45 20 35 25 25 30 25 30 45 40 20 25	20 50 35 30 45 54 52 20 50 40 45 40 35 45 54 50 35 35

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	16 28 37 46 50	SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5 SL/5	10 10 10 10 10	N N N N N	N N N N N	16 28 40 52 65	21 28 35 42 50	15 20 20 20 20

Rilotë

Aka: Viricilla, Bainkin (a male persona).

Race: Dúnadan.

Profession: Mage/Mentalist.

Home: Minas Anor.

Appearance: Long glistening black hair, blue-black sultry eyes. 5'9", 130 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 51; Ag 62; Co 73; Ig 93; It 83; Pr 103; Ap 101.

RM Stats: Ag62; Co73; SD95; Me80; Re87; St51; Qu90; Pr103; Em91; In93.

Languages: Adunaic 5, Westron 5, Haradaic 1, Sindarin 2, Quenya 2.

Rilotë was born the daughter of Kúa and Vinyatar Telecar, a noble family of Minas Anor and friends of Valacar, King of Gondor. Rilotë proved to be a very quick witted and bright child, readily learning the languages of the servants of the house and her nanny, an elderly lay healer named Fanuikurwë. For most of her early years, Rilotë learned the skills of diplomacy and etiquette necessary for a lady of Minas Anor.

Rilotë's life changed drastically at the age of seventeen. Caught in an emerging power struggle between the factions of Minas Anor vying for control of the city, her mother and father were killed and her family name dishonored by enemies of the King. Fearing for her life, Rilotë changed her name and became a pauper, living hand to mouth in the back streets of Minas Anor. In desperation, she was finally driven to seek employment at Madam Melyanna's brothel and become a lady of the evening.

Her self esteem at a low ebb, Rilotë was near the point of taking her own life as the only escape from a degrading existence. Her path was altered by the appearance of Voro, a new patron of the brothel who was instantly attracted to Rilotë's quiet grace. Voro began to spend more and more time at the establishment, and became enamored of the young woman. After giving her a love gift of an emerald ring, Voro tried to convince Rilotë that she should marry him and leave Madam Melyanna's. At first, torn between her desire for freedom and her fondness for Voro, Rilotë argued that it was dangerous for him to think such thoughts for her companionship could only bring him grief. Thinking that she considered herself unworthy of him, Voro continued his quest to win Rilotë's heart. He revealed his true occupation to her, that of a mentalist, and began to instruct her in those arts. After a few weeks, Voro could no longer endure the time away from Rilotë and managed to convince Madam Melyanna to rent him a room in the establishment. Finally, Rilotë agreed to be wed, to the great joy of the other ladies, and even to Madam Melyanna herself.

In the blissful days nearing the wedding, Rilotë was convinced that her life would at last be worth living. But once again, fate dealt her a cruel hand. Two days before the wedding her old enemies, who had been watching her in secret, struck in the night. Her fiance was slain in his sleep, a bloody note pinned to his chest. Through tears of despair and rage, Rilotë read the brief letter, vowing revenge. The words were concise; "Upstart girl, do not seek to raise above your unworthy status."

In sympathy, Madam Melyanna told Rilotë to move into Voro's room and rest for a few weeks. When no one came to claim his belongings after news of his murder was well known, Madam Melyanna told Rilotë to keep Voro's effects for herself. Inside a large trunk by the window, she discovered several items that would later prove very worthwhile, the least of which was a small leather bag filled with mithril coins. That evening in a sweat blanketed dream, Rilotë saw the city of Minas Anor as if through the eyes of an eagle winging its way through the sky above the city. The city danced in flame and a red robed executioner walked among the wailing masses. Her point of view seemed to dive toward the figure in red and with a sudden gasp, she awakened, but realized that the figure was herself.

With her new found wealth, Rilotë left Madam Melyanna's in disguise and purchased an empty building on the fifth level of the city. After several weeks of remodeling, the building opened as the Brothel of the Secret Star, and soon became one of the most popular evening houses of Minas Anor.

Supposedly operated by a fair, thin man of unknown background, the evening house is reputed to be the best place in the city to buy and sell information. It is even rumored that members of the Rogues' Fellowship of Minas Anor are welcomed there, and that the owner has at times been seen at dinners hosted by the head of the Fellowship himself.

It is also rumored that the enemies of a forgotten family in Minas Anor have fallen on the wrong side of the Rogues' Fellowship. Slowly, as though by some predetermined plan, the nobles of that particular family meet untimely, hideous ends.

Features:

Rilotë dresses in red flowing robes belted by a golden sash and is know as Viricilla, chief advisor to Bainkin, the owner of the Brothel of the Secret Star. That Rilotë and Bainkin could be brother and sister is never mentioned by the employees, as one is often seen entering a room, and the other exiting, with the room in question standing empty after the departure. Rilotë is in fact, both people. Using a belt of changing she discovered in Voro's trunk, she appears as a masculine version of herself when she travels to meetings with the head of the Rogues' Fellowship. At these times she wears loose black silk pants and shirt and carries a long dagger in her belt. Whether the Head knows of her two identities is never discussed. It hardly affects the value of the information passed to the Fellowship on the hiding places, layouts, and wealth tucked away by the nobles and richer inhabitants of the city. Many stories are told and secrets related during the wee hours in one of the finest brothels in all of Minas Anor. That a few minor nobles and hirelings were disposed of during the process of one special job was of little import compared to the quality of the goods garnished from the deceased.

Principal Items:

Belt of changing (3rd Lvl)

Magic. This belt allows the wearer to appear as any humanoid figure. The embedded Facades II spell (Cloaking) may be cast three times a day by the wearer.

Spell Book (3rd Lvl)

This tome was a legacy of Voro's, and contains instructions and guidance to mentalists on the following spell lists: Delving, Cloaking, Anticipations, Brilliance, Self Healing, Detections, Illusions, Sense Mastery, Mind Mastery, Mind's Door, Presence, Mind Merge, Mind Control, Sense Control, Mind Attack, Mind Speech.

RM Spells

3rd Level: Mind Merge

5th Level: Mind Control

7Th Level: Presence, Mind Attack

10th Level: Self Healing

MERP Spells

3rd Level: Illusions

5th Level: Essence Ways

7th Level: Spirit Mastery

10th Level: Essence Perception

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Dagger Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Runes Staves/Wands Perception Seduction Diplomacy Public Speaking Subduing Duping	5 15 5 10 5 -- 5 5 10 15 10 15 10 -- --	5 20 10 15 10 5 15 10 15 25 20 25 15 5 10	5 25 20 15 20 15 25 20 25 35 35 35 25 15 20	5 30 25 25 25 25 35 30 35 45 50 45 35 25 35	5 45 35 40 35 40 50 45 50 56 58 54 50 40 52

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	12 19 26 37 42	No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1 No/1	10 10 10 10 10	N N N N N	N N N N N	15 20 25 30 45	-- -- -- -- --	5 5 5 5 5

The Rogue's Fellowship The Fellowship is a well organized collection of thieves in Minas Anor. Built in a two-tier network, the lower tier is composed of common thieves who operate a sizeable black market. The upper tier is composed of a number of key and influential citizens. The members of the upper tier perform audacious heists and control the workings of the members of the lower tier.

7.0 Umbar

In the Second Age, Númenor began establishing colonies on the coasts of Middle-earth, since the Númenóreans were forbidden to travel west towards the Undying Lands. A hold, destined to become one of the most prominent, was Umbar. The Fortress lies on an inlet of the Bay of Belfalas. This magnificent natural harbor provides a safe haven for the fleets of Umbar. The fertile land surrounding the city provides areas for farming. Further inland, lies the Haradwaith, land of the Desert Dwellers. To the south lie Far and Greater Harad.

Darvi Zint

Aka: Zint the Brawler, Oakfist.

Race: Haradan.

Profession: Warrior/Fighter.

Home: Umbar.

Appearance: Brown hair and eyes. His hair is cut short so an attacker has nothing to grab. 5'5" tall, 190 lbs.

MERP Stats: St 97; Ag 83; Co 103; Ig 68; It 60; Pr 68; Ap 80.

RM Stats: Ag 83; Co 103; SD 79; Me 73; Re 64; St 97; Qu 93; Pr 70; Em 78; In 60.

Languages: Haradaic 5, Adunaic 3.

Darvi Zint was born the son of a sailor in Umbar in T.A. 1620. Although short of stature, the stocky youth learned to brawl at an early age. As the eldest of three brothers, Darvi took it upon himself to look after and protect his two younger siblings during his father's long absences on sea voyages. His brother Rudyam had a natural knack for noticing the world around him, and then commenting heavily on whatever he noticed. This trait was considered simply "too nosey for his own good" amongst the dock workers and other inhabitants of the Umbar water front.

Darvi was kept busy rescuing Rudyam from other youths. It was soon noted by the dock folk, that Darvi preferred a tussle more than simply protecting his brother.

Darvi became a welcome sight to the sailors of docking vessels when dropping anchor at port. Always quick to volunteer for errands or willing to polish and oil the weapons of the sea men of the Umbarean ships, Darvi traded odd jobs and services for stories and training from the men while they were in port. While naval tactics and strategy passed through his memory like water through a sieve, he was quick to pick up every underhanded trick and move of the street and bar fighters that was shown to him.

Darvi' was hired at the age of seventeen as a wagon loader and warehouse watchman by one of the larger merchant companies on the docks. Disobeying his orders to alert the guards that patrolled the several warehouses owned by Antar, he single handedly confronted and disarmed a thief twice his size that attempted to break into one of the warehouses. The thief attacked Darvi with a dagger in either hand, while Darvi used the closest weapon he could find; a thick oak prying staff used to move pallets from one position to another within the warehouse. The shouts and the sounds of a fight brought the guards running. On entering, they were shocked to find the battered and bloody thief on his knees begging for mercy as Darvi stood over him, brandishing his staff.

Darvi was promoted to a full time guard shortly after his encounter with the thief. He trained with the rest of the guardsmen and honed his skills with scimitar, dagger, staff, and shield. After several months of service as a guard, Darvi was promoted to caravan duty, and rode with several other men to protect overland shipments to Far and Greater Harad. His continued success in defending the caravan goods from attacks by the denizens of the Haradwaith, soon helped him to rise to the rank of captain of the guard in Antar's caravans. In later years, Darvi became a free lance guard for the many caravans into and out of Umbar. Darvi from this point on was never without work. His reputation as an able guard and warrior are well known in the merchant's circles.

While never seeming to lack for work, gold and silver runs through Darvi's fingers like sand. He always seems to be short on funds. His name is well known in most drinking houses in Umbar, and he is welcomed by the patrons and servants, while often cursed by the bartenders and proprietors. Much of Darvi's income goes to paying for damages in the various establishments, when he is involved in a fight. When caught up in the exuberance of a bar fight, he is often noted to change sides in the middle of the scuffle if the opponents seem close to being overwhelmed to soon. He is quick to buy a round of drinks for all, after the fight is over. He has a natural charisma with other warriors, and many a man that has tried his best to beat Darvi to a pulp will be laughing at his jokes and swapping drinks with him within minutes of the fight's end.

Features:

Darvi has occasionally been mistaken for a clean shaven, very tall Dwarf until the viewer gets a closer look at him. Stocky is the word to describe him. From the outside of his shoulders to his hips, Darvi's lines are almost straight. He appears to have no waist and his neck is also non-existent. His torso is layered in thick muscle, and he can take a pounding with little effect. He keeps his hair short by hacking it off above his ears with an old rigging knife that belonged to his father. He wears a chain shirt under a leather jerkin and when in town, always carries an oak 'walking stick' cut down from the oak prying staff that he fought his first 'paid fight' with. The stick has a steel octagon attached to the top of it that serves Darvi as a handle. He wears bright red, loose britches that allow him easy movement, and low cut, soft sailors boots with non-skid soles that provide excellent traction whether in stirrups, on the deck of a ship, or on the ale washed floor of one of his favorite haunts. When on duty with a caravan, Darvi adds steel bracers and grieves to his outfit, and carries a small target shield with the image of a clenched fist on the surface, along with a scimitar and dagger.

Principal Items:

Walking Stick (1st Lvl)

+5 OB. Thick oak walking stick with a steel octagon handle. (+5 Cudgel). The walking stick was carved down from an oak pry bar and fitted with a fist sized steel octagon by a local smith in Umbar. Darvi carried this before he could afford his own sword, and still carries it on social occasions when he leaves his bladed weapons at home.

Scimitar (3rd Lvl)

+15 OB. Gift from a merchant whose caravan was saved from a bandit attack by Darvi's quick action and fighting abilities.

Target Shield (5th lvl)

+10 DB. The shield cannot be damaged by normal weapons, and reduces all criticals taken to the head, left arm, or torso by one level. Lends a -5 to all spell attacks against the wearer.

SKILLS
Skill	Level
	1	3	5	7	10
MovM Cudgel Scimitar Dagger M.A. Strikes (Boxing) Climb Ride Swim Ambush Stalk/Hide Perception Animal Handling Gambling Leadership Navigation Rope Mastery Sailing Stunned Maneuver Tumbling	5 10 5 10 15 5 5 10 1 5 10 -- 10 -- -- 10 10 15 5	10 30 25 20 30 15 15 20 3 15 25 20 5 20 15 35 15	-15 45 45 35 50 25 35 30 5 25 40 10 25 25 5 30 20 50 30	-5 50 54 45 58 35 50 40 6 35 50 25 30 45 20 40 25 58 45	0 56 66 54 70 40 56 50 6 50 56 40 40 54 35 45 30 70 56

MELEE STATISTICS
Lvl	Hits	AT	DB	Sh	Gr	Melee OB	Missile/2nd OB	MovM
1 3 5 7 10	42 75 93 115 120	SL/5 SL/5 Ch/14 Ch/14 Ch/14	10 10 40 40 40	N N Y Y Y	-- -- A/L A/L A/L	33 59 80 91 106	28 54 80 95 116	5 10 -15 -5 0