Issue 20 January 1998 ISSN: 1081-8359

The International Journal for Middle-earth Gaming I S S U E

20

FROM ENGLAND UNTO EGLAMAR

1 Other Hands

ISSUE 20 JANUARY 1998 Editorial:

In this Issue A Long-expected party

Well folks, here we are at last: Other character and action that invoked and de- Editorial ...... 2 Hands is five years old!!! Above all, it is a pended upon something more than the time to celebrate —to look back over half a mere mercenary motive that so dominated Digital Hands ...... 4 decade of role playing in Middle-earth, and the scenarios in many FRP modules. From England unto to bend our gaze forward towards many As the years passed, this divergence grew Eglamar ...... 5 fun and fulfilling years of gaming to come. into discontent. I needed some outlet for How did OtherHands come to be? Most of these ideas, but found none. In 1987 I ap- The Mystery of the Blessed you have probably read (or have read proached ICE as a prospective author, but Child ...... 9 about) the panel discussion and FRP semi- found that the format of the “Ready-to- nar that took place at the Tolkien Centen- Run” modules then in vogue did not permit Product Review ary Conference that inaugurated this en- the scale and geographical mobility my ad- Hands of the Healer ...... 22 deavor back in 1992. But the real story be- venture ideas demanded. Frustrated, I be- gins with my own twelve-year career as a gan sending out inquiries to various gaming Middle-earth gamemaster which preceded journals in hopes of finding one that would that gathering. be interested in publishing Middle-earth My involvement in fantasy role playing material...to no avail. At that time, most C ONTRIBUTORS games began only a few short years after major gaming magazines were fast becom- Fredrik Ekman my discovery of Tolkien at the age of ing parochialized preserves for the “in- house” products of their parent companies. Jeff Erwin eleven. How these two pursuits were finally joined was a lengthy process which I do not Something had to be done. Middle-earth Jasna Martinovic now fully recall, but I do remember very gamers deserved to have their own voice, Olivier Morelle clearly the moment at which my game was and fantasy role playing deserved a legiti- Jason Vester transported to Middle-earth. While running mately recognized niche within the world of one of those old D&D modules, my players Tolkien fandom. In 1990, I wrote a letter to decided they wanted to leave the immediate Tolkien Enterprises, expressing these senti- vicinity of the dungeon they were explor- ments, and seeking some guidance from the EDITING ing. Argh! Every GM’s worst nightmare: people who ultimately controlled the rights moving beyond the edge of the map. Flab- to publications dealing with role playing in Chris Seeman bergasted, 1 reached in desperation for the Middle-earth. Fortuitously, my query was Charles Watteyne only map book I had in my possession, answered: at that time, Tolkien Enterprises none other than Karen Wynn Fonstad's was reviewing ICE’s Middle-earth license, LINGUISTICS Atlas of Middle-earth. The game continued and so were eager to receive feedback from smoothly as I suddenly found it possible to its primary audience. Over the next two David Salo lead my players across an imaginary terrain years, the legal parameters for the existence that was as familiar and real to me as my of Other Hands were defined. The 1992 Cen- PAGEMAKING own backyard. It soon began to dawn on tenary gave further impetus and visibility to me: why merely use Tolkien’s geography to the prospect, and in April of 1993, the first Quentin Westcott situate my games? Why not game in Mid- issue went to press. ARTWORK dle-earth in its own right? The year was Enough history—and enough about me. 1980. What about you all? No, I’m not looking to Bridget Buxton During the course of the next decade, I start up a “my life and MERP” column. I devoted my energies to drawing out the am hoping, however, to gain a more fo- Quentin Westcott implications of that question. I found a rule cused picture of-what you, the subscribers system that appealed to me, and set to of Other Hands, like or dislike about the con- PHOTOGRAPHY adapting its mechanics to what I was then tent and format of this journal, and to this Alan Dep beginning to learn about the world I had end I have contrived a survey for you all to chosen. The appearance of Iron Crown’s fill out and return to me. (I aim to compile MERP modules was welcome fuel for the and present a summary of the results in our NEXT ISSUE undertaking; but I never fully integrated next issue.) EDAIN OF them, as my own gaming style was moving THE SECOND AGE in a different direction from that of MERP. I wanted epic — a grand tapestry of story,

2 Issue 20 January 1998

There are several reasons for holding this rium, Jeff was preparing an ambitious pro- sponsible for the invention of the Snow- survey. First of all, because it would be neat posal for a Lindon realm module (a project elven tongue of The Northern Waste module). to get a sense of who (besides yourself) which I hope he will continue to pursue for We hope to unveil the rules of this dialect reads Other Hands and what their interests publication as an OH supplement). As part in a future issue, as there has long been a are. More importantly though, budgetary of his research on this region, Jeff has need for an accessible linguistic system for and personal financial constraints have delved to the very roots of Tolkien’s vision creating names for Wood-elven characters made it necessary this year to substantially of the westernmost of Middle-earth’s lands, and other proper names in —for raise the subscription cost (which will roots which go back to the foundations of now, let your ears savor the beauty of green NOT, however, affect existing subscrip- his ever-evolving mythology and its sub- Galbrethin, of shadowy Morwatha and of tions) and to normalize the length of each creative relationship to the world as we dark Muristil. issue to 24 pages. This means that the space know it — and, more specifically, to the You may have already noticed the ugly we do have needs to be stuffed as efficiently geography of England. Although Jeff re- guy in the photo on the back cover. That’s as possible with the kinds of material peo- frains from exploring the ramifications of me with some of my gaming group. I ple most want to see. To accomplish this his argument for role playing in Lindon, thought it would be nice for you to be able goal I need your active feedback. they should be apparent to anyone who to put faces onto some the names who have Whatever betide, I think you will not be wants to set their campaign during the made Other Hands (and MERP) what it is disappointed with the offerings for this is- Fourth or later Ages. All in all, a bold and today. Cheers from all of us to all of you... exciting piece of Tolkien scholarship. sue. We are missing a few regular features Chris Seeman this time round. There is no “Frontlines” Jasna Martinovic, who has been a reader March 9, 1998 because there have been no substantially of OH for several issues, now presents his new developments on the horizon since last first major contribution to our journal. His issue. This month’s “Communications” and adventure, set in mid-Third Age Mirk- “Rastarin’s Log” were a bit late in finding wood, has the honor of containing the first their way to us, so they will have to wait specimens of a Silvan dialect currently be- until next issue. But these absences merely ing developed by David Salo (who was re- mean that we have more space to devote to our main attractions for this issue! Jeff Erwin, the author of our title piece, is a newcomer to OH, but no stranger to his subject matter. Just prior to the morato-

3 Other Hands I think it is a safe guess that Tolkien never saw or used a computer. If he had, he no doubt would have thought it one of parts of the story should be manipulable. ’s contraptions. Computers, even in And this is a source for conflict: the de- the 70s, were large, noisy and very un- signer can either decide to make a very friendly to anyone without a degree in sci- flexible design (as with the MUDs or a ence and a couple of years of computing strategy game such as War in Middle Earth, experience. published by Virgin Games under the Mel- However, he liked electric typewriters bourne House label in 1988) in which case (Letters: 344) and I think he would very the story line will certainly not follow the much have enjoyed the word processing plot of the original book, or he or she can DIGITAL capabilities of today’s personal computers. make a very rigid design, of which the Just imagine all the work it would have Spanish game El Señor de las Anillos, Parte 1: saved him when revising The Lord of the La Communidad del Anillo (Libro 1) Rings and again and again. (shareware game written by Dimas Capar- So in spite of Tolkien’s dislike for ma- rós Gomez in 1991 without a license) is the HANDS chines and other modern inventions—he best example, which results in a dreadfully once said that “Labour-saving machinery boring game. Fredrik Ekman: Ryds Allé 3:106 only creates endless and worse la- In my opinion, is sim- S-584 35 Linköping, Sweden bour” (Letters: 88)—I think that he would ply unsuitable as a basis for a game. Philip ([email protected]) probably have approved of computers as Mitchell (designer of the above mentioned they look today (although he would cer- Lord of the Rings: Game One) discovered this, tainly have disliked the Internet with all its and says that “[TheLord of the Rings] was not Since the late 70s there have been over 100 preposterous Tolkien pages). as well suited to the style of game we were computer games set explicitly in Tolkien’s Mid- doing then as The was — at least we dle-earth and hundreds—probably thousands— As a general rule, Tolkien did not think had a great deal more trouble coming up of others strongly influenced by it (just count the so highly of adaptations of his works to number of games containing ). But would other media. The Letters contain several with an adventure game based on the sto- Tolkien, had he been alive, have welcomed such a comments on the BBC radio dramatization ries (OH 18).” Why is this? I think one development? Or is computer gaming in Middle- and on a proposed animated movie with reason might be the epic scale of the book. earth nothing short of heresy? I am not sure, hut which Tolkien was not pleased. He did not There are few opportunities to take liberties in this article I will bring forth some thoughts like liberties taken with his plot, nor how with the plot without screwing up the spirit on the subject. the characters were handled, how the story of the book. was abbreviated and several other things. If Tolkien computer games are ever to In light of this, I think it safe to say that earn their raison d’être, I think the game de- he would not have approved of nearly all signers must first realize a few things: It is the games that have so far seen the light of easier (in a way) to make a game that is not day. One of the worst examples is Lord of the based on any of the books, but merely takes Rings: Game One (published by Melbourne Middle-earth as the setting of the game. House in 1985, and by Addison-Wesley Additionally, it is not enough just to read under the title The Fellowship of the Ring Soft- The Lord of the Rings and . For a ware Adventure in 1986) where the authors more thorough understanding of Tolkien’s have shown absolutely no regard for the ideas and motivations, a great deal of re- spirit of the original, including in the game search into posthumous publications is nec- such things as photographs, a gramophone essary. player, Radagast living in a monastery in I could go on here and talk about making the Blue Mountains, a heavy metal use of new technology and fancy stuff like band in the Barrow-downs, a cannabis that, but I will not, since I do not think it plant close to ’s house and important. It all boils down to just one three black riders sitting in a pub drinking. thing: respect for the original. I think it ap- In spite of this, the game was licensed by propriate to end this article with the words the Tolkien Estate. of Scott Bennie from the introduction to the It is even questionable if it is possible to manual of The Lord of the Rings, Vol II: The make a computer game adaptation of (Interplay, 1991): “I am not cer- Lord of the Rings which is true to the original. tain that Tolkien would have approved of It lies in the nature of a computer game that computer games....Hopefully, this adapta- it is always something of a simulation. As tion of ‘Lord of the Rings’ will transform such, there is no telling in advance exactly the machine into an object of delight...; what the final outcome will be. It is still, something more fit for than Mor- however, within the powers of the game dor.” I do not know if Tolkien would have designer to decide exactly what liberties the agreed that he succeeded (nor even that I player should be allowed to take; what would) but if more designers showed such respect, I am sure that we would see better games.

4 Issue 20 January 1998 From England unto Eglamar

Jeff Erwin: 13121 Applegrove Lane, In this form the tale was to continue, vicissitudes of our cynical world. It has of- Herndon, VA 22071, USA shifting in detail, but remaining similar in ten been noted that the peculiar timeless- ([email protected]) broad form. The England/Elven association ness of Tolkien’s work is a direct result of was preserved by the development of a new the years of development he put into it. We This essay is a discussion of the physical rela- tradition, which described it as the last set- can imagine it as being “real,” even as hav- tionship of our world (as we know it) and En- tlement of the Elves in the Old World. ing occurred (like the Iliad, say) because it dor—particularly and Lindon. As a Similarly, Tolkien identified the Old World unself-consciously asserts its internal com- personal vision, the relationship of the world of with the Hobbit lands: “Those days, the plexity and depth. Middle-earth to our own was of interest to me Third Age of Middle-earth, are now long Therefore one may suspect that Tolkien since I read . As the past, and the shape of all lands has been recreates the world of his childhood remainder of the History of Middle-earth was changed; but the regions in which (exaggerated and repopulated) in the Third released, I continued to investigate this matter, then lived were doubtless as those in which and earlier ages. His choice of an “Old which can have far-reaching implications for our they still linger: the Northwest of the Old World” reshaped—but never allegorized or ideas about Middle-earth, and particularly for the 1 World, east of the Sea(LotR I: 11).” transplanted to a mythical universe of its Grey Havens. Thanks go to Oliver Schick, Chris Until the publication of Sauron Defeated, own — strengthens that idea. Whatever the Seeman and my brother Jeremy for their proof there existed scant evidence that Tolkien case, it remains a very real issue whether reading and comments. meant this comment to be more than part of the “world” to which Middle-earth belongs his framework of “translations” and tradi- is the actual world of Northern European TOLKIEN’S VISION tions. But “The Notion Club Pa- folklore or whether Tolkien intended it to Any reader of Lost Tales and the later vol- pers” (which make up a large portion of the merely mesh with our modern universe. In umes of the History of Middle-earth latter half of that volume) make clear a ’s Ring, for instance, Christopher (particularly The Lost Road and Sauron De- much more solid contention: that Tolkien Tolkien printed a series of essays dedicated feated) discovers a number of discarded or saw his creation, even at that late date (c. to rationalizing Endor into a recognizable obscured elements of Endor’s history. One 1946) as having a continuing place within “possible past” to our scientific age. of the most prominent and earliest parts of the greater conceit of a ‘real-world’ exist- But Tolkien either rejected or abandoned the legendarium was the Eriol/Ælfwine tale, ence. In essence, the history of Endor was the sweeping consequences of such a pro- a story that Tolkien experimented with and not merely the creation of a linguist and a ject. And ultimately, despite the references refined, but never wholly incorporated into fantasist, but the representation of an an- to the sameness of both worlds, as in “The our familiar history of Middle-earth as pub- cient and mythological reality. Lost Road,” this remains elusive: “Looking lished in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Of course, the pseudo-mythic/historical on a familiar hill, [Alboin] would see it sud- The Silmarillion. Nonetheless, he never element is frequently a vital part to the denly standing in some other time and turned his back upon it, and thus we may creation of alternate worlds, particularly in story: ‘the green shoulders of Amon-ereb,’ he rightly consider the travels of Ælfwine and science fiction, although fewer today at- would say. ‘The waves are loud upon the the related matters of the Notion Club as tempt to justify themselves by making a shores of ,’ ....(HoMe V: 38).”2 having a legitimate place within Endor. fabricated niche in the real world. Lesser But the evidence from purely textual ma- I do not have the space to detail the full literary efforts may be seen in the 30s’ and terial is dense, unhelpful and sometimes evolution of the story, but in its earliest 40s’ sword & sorcery epics (which were misleading.3 The real answer to the place- form it told of a Dark Age Saxon, Ælfwine, superficially influenced by Theosophy and ment of Leithian (the Elven name for Eng- who sailed to the land of Britain, where the Donnelly’s Atlantid). The concept of a pri- land in the evolving Ælfwine tradition) in Elves yet lingered. In that age, Britain was meval world, antedating almost all recorded our world lies in the maps and related mate- further removed from the Continent and human history, in which magic (sometimes) rials drafted by Tolkien. By analyzing these was called Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, by works and monsters (often) roam, was a we may investigate the physical nature of its Elven population. (More about the geog- fertile idea for fantasists. Tolkien’s conceptions. raphy of this will be discussed later.) While Tolkien’s “Notion Club Papers” Perhaps because of the innate difficulties may rightly, I think, be compared to C. S. MAPPING LEITHIAN of such a conception fitting within anything Lewis’ Narnia, which interwove the “real- recognizable as recorded history, the tale world” with fantasy, it should be remem- Any discussion of correspondences be- was eventually revised, so that Ælfwine was bered that Tolkien’s tales, with their ease of tween the geography of our world and that a native of England (of a much later era) invention and imagination, are ultimately of Endor must begin with the following and sailed across the Atlantic, finding his rooted in the fantasies of his own child- passage from Tolkien’s letters: way across a mystic route to Aman and Tol hood. So, consciously or not, Tolkien may Eressëa, now the isle of the Elves in the well have tried to infuse a childhood vision West. with the trappings of veracity and detail, thus rendering it more impervious to the

5 Other Hands The action of the story takes place in the It is evident from all later versions of the and he somehow recalls the deeds of his North-West of ‘Middle-earth’, equivalent in Ælfwine story that, of all parts of Britain, ancestors along those shores. latitude to the coasttands of Europe and the the West Country has the leading role. The importance of Cornwall, Devon and north shores of the Mediterranean.... If Hob- Here I quote from Tolkien’s outline at the Wales is an early conception of Tolkien’s, biton and Rivendell are taken (as intended) time of “The Lost Road” (c. 1937): but it is perhaps enduring because of the to be about the latitude of Oxford, then Mi- “Ælfwine and Eadwine live in the time of underlying real mythology of that region — nas Tirith, 600 miles south, is about the Edward the Elder, in North Somerset. Ælf- a frontier region of foreign, mystical and latitude of Florence. The Mouths of the An- wine ruined by the incursions of Danes. pagan beauty. The poem “The Horns of duin and the ancient city of Pelargir are at Picture opens with the attack (c. 915) on Ylmir” from the Ouenta was apparently the latitude of ancient Troy Portloca (Porlock) and Wæced (HoMe V: written based on poetry composed near the 5 (Letters: 375-376). 80).” Here, for the first time, Tolkien’s tip of Cornwall in the summer of 1914 world enters a definite time-frame and be- (HoMe IV: 214).9 Cornwall was also a gins mentioning identifiable locations. Por- It is important to emphasize that The Hob- common vacation destination for Tolkien. It lock is in western Somerset. Later, the out- bit was originally an interloper to the world is, of course, one of the regions most associ- line mentions Lundy, an island off the north of The Silmarillion. Tolkien often expressed ated with Arthur, but it was also accounted Devon coast. Of course, the most promi- a certain amount of dismay at its heteroge- by the English to be the home of a variety nent topographical feature of this region is 10 neity and its ill-constructed relationship to of fairies. the deep channel of the Severn estuary. “Gondolin” and other artifacts of his earlier Evidently, the Straight Road may still writings. Therefore he came to regard the What is next discovered is hardly acci- endure here, along the broken shores of anachronisms of the Shire more as the cas- dental. If a map of western Britain is super- Lhûn. The obvious answer to the impor- ual references of a storyteller unbound by imposed upon Tolkien’s map of Lindon tance of the channel within the legendaruim the conventions of the Elven legends. But (making adjustments to account for the is that the route remained open here, from at the writing of The Hobbit, the Shire is ob- Earth’s curvature), the size and proportions the last abode of the Eldar, for any strag- viously a part of “England” — a pseudo- given to the Firth of Lune are found to be glers. The Amon Ereb which Alboin re- England attached to a murky Norse- nearly identical to those of the real-world members in “The Lost Road” is the weath- 6 Germanic Wilderland. Severn channel. ered hill of Beleriand itself, standing in the It is notable that The Hobbit does make This identification is bolstered by much west of Britain. While originally, in Lost reference to the sea being near the western circumstantial detail. The early text Tales, it is implied that some Elves yet linger edge of the Shire, but it is hard to discern “Ælfwine of England” (c. 1920) contains in the west of Britain, it is clear that by any concrete reference to Lindon, the Grey references to Déor’s wife’s country of “The Notion Club Papers,” none remain, Havens or anything recognizable from Bel- Lyonesse (the sunken realm off Cornwall in leaving only dreams and some few, half- eriand. Indeed, it cannot be said for certain Celtic myth, the birthplace of Tristram) and enchanted glades. that the Blue Mountains or Lindon were “the lost land beyond Belerion whence there at all: “Not the who was re- Elves at times set sail.” It is from this text THE HAVENS sponsible for so many quiet lads and lasses that the Britain = Luthany/Lúthien/Leithian 7 “BEYOND THE ICE-AGES” going off into the Blue for mad adventures. reaches its final form. For the Tolkien enthusiast, after conceiv- Anything from climbing trees to visiting Further details now emerge regarding the ing of a reasonable physical connection be- Elves — or sailing in ships, sailing to other specific regions involved: “Ælfwine has tween Endor and our own world, it is inter- shores! (Hobbit: 14).”4 sailed more seas than you have heard of; esting to consider the intervening ages, af- But the idea of Lindon was present in and the Welsh tongue is not strange to ter the last ship and the destruction of the Tolkien’s Silmarillion writings. As origi- him....His wife was of Cornwall (HoMe V: .11 Most obvious of the changes is nally conceived, the broken lands from the 84).” It is important that, in Lost Tales, the the shift in the sea-level and the creation of War of Wrath would be transformed into land of Cornwall was the last remnant of Europe. something akin to our Europe: “In those the Elven lands. It is also in Cornwall that However, nothing from Tolkien’s works days there was a great building of ships the Errols of “The Lost Road” have their can resolve this well. In a marginal note to a upon the shores of the Western Sea, and summer home. In “The Notion Club Pa- letter in 1958, Tolkien wrote that he imag- especially upon the great isles which, in the pers,” Arundel lived on the far side of the ined “the gap [since the end of the Third disruption of the northern world, were Severn channel, “in Pembrokeshire, near Age] to be about 6000 years: that we are fashioned of ancient Beleriand (HoMe V: Penian” (HoMe IX: 234). Both Dyfed and now at the end of the Fifth Age (Letters: 331).” This idea was eventually abandoned, Cornwall are (or were) Welsh regions, on 8 283).” This is accurate insofar as the peo- out of the necessity for fitting in two subse- the rim of Britain. ples of Tolkien’s writings could, more or quent ages. The effect of this was to render Later, the following passages occur: “As less, be living then. But it neglects the prob- the distance (in physical form) of our world we crossed the Severn Sea earlier in the lem of geological time — that, by that time, from Endor more acute, for Tolkien never summer, Arry had looked back, along the Europe had already assumed the shape it described the events that remade his world coast to the south, at the shores of Somer- has today.12 into the world in which Arry and Ælfwine set, and he had said something I couldn’t live. quite catch....We arrived in a small boat at If one were to place Third Age geography Porlock Weir on Saturday....(HoMe XI: within our knowledge of geological and 268).” Alwin’s dreams begin in earnest human history, it would fit before the last here, along the northern shore of Devon, (Wurmian) glacial cycle (about 10,000 years ago). Glacial dynamics can account for most (but not all) geographical change.

6 Issue 20 January 1998

The ice age can be directly linked to the collapse of civilization in Endor. Note also that any conception of Endor within our “scientific” worldview requires that the ma- jority of the dramatic events of the pre-Sun era be qualified or omitted (as in Morgoth’s Ring). While such a significant change is not very intrusive in the Third and later ages, it has a large impact on Eldarin history. Cer- tainly Tolkien experimented with a non- literal version where the folk of Men adopted certain Elven tropes as truth; but, of course, the great part of material written about Middle-earth is literal, taking the Sun, the Moon and so on as true in a physi- cal, non-mythical sense. It is important to realize that the myths of the Elder Days are devised according to and adhere to the European strata of myth (i.e., the interconnected folktales and leg- ends which European peoples thought of as recognizable and “real”). This is a good enough reason to explore their “mythical” presence in our world — even if contrived in our own century—since that would be as Tolkien intended: not to mislead but to con- tinue. However, I can justify the “physical, scientific” investigation because of the ways in which Tolkien made efforts to present a physical reality, with maps, language and history. Such an effort has been (as can be seen already) a mixed success. But the fact of any success is noteworthy. Because Tolkien returned several times to that theme, it seems proper to imagine the last Dúnedain as enduring in Lindon, perhaps mixing with the few Elves still there. This would serve to derive the Dúnadan/Elvish strain in Arry and Alboin, and in Ælfwine before them. Whether through the inheritance of actual descent or rather by the lingering Elven character of Britain, a little of the Elder Days has been preserved. A less effective argument can be made that the Danwaith (Nandor) of Lindon are in some way akin to the Tautha dé Danann of Celtic myth or the mythical (possibly ries, it is unclear whether he conceived of THE MAP Celtic) proto-Danes. This seems to fit with these groups as having a link with the his- The map presented on the preceding Tolkien’s references to the last lingering torical Anglo-Saxons. page represents a hand-sketched rendering companies, doomed to fade. A primitive In the end, the relationship of Endor to of England superimposed on Pete Fenlon’s conception of Tolkien’s derived from the our world depends on the reader. Some northwestern Middle-earth map. Although fragmentary Germanic tradition about Ing may prefer something alien, others yearn some discrepancies exist between this map (w), whom he included as a progenitor of for myth and the Eldar (as I think Tolkien and Tolkien’s own, it must be kept in mind the Anglo-Saxons. This aspect of the my- did), having a place more rooted to Euro- that the various maps of Middle-earth, both thology is overshadowed by the presence of pean folk traditions, independent and ulti- of Tolkien’s devising and not, have some- Ingwë of the Vanyar, who has a contradic- mately greater than a mere fiction. what variable scales. The comment that tory past. Since Tolkien eventually created Tolkien makes about the distance between a “translation” device that accounted for the Pelargir and Hobbiton is not reflected in Germanic names and language in his sto- the scale to the ICE map used in MERP

7 Other Hands and MECCG, but it is inaccurate within there is a town by that name (or a vari- and-nail culture, and a disgusting lan- the bounds of the UT map as well. ant, Linton) in Somerset. guage with no echoes for you, unless In any case, it seems likely that Tolkien • The Shire. Situated (based on all the those of food-noises.’ ‘Would you?’ said was looking at the map from The Lord of the other measurements) in southeastern Alboin. ‘I wonder’ (HoMe V: 40).” Rings at the time, not his own drafts. Were England. The Water is roughly placed one to use the latter, Lindon and the Shire around the Thames valley. would be substantially larger than Britain. • Warwick Chiefly notable as the home of Because the map from The Return of Tolkien’s Lúthien (Edith Tolkien) and as the King seems to be most detailed in scale, the germ for Kôr. the scale from the larger map of all of the northwest may be assumed to be Gondor- centric. FOOTNOTES In order to avoid the infamous “Green- 1. The title of this essay derives from an land” effect of a Mercator projection, the early draft of “,” de- firth region has been adjusted to fit a scribing the width of ’s kingdom curved world (as that was the origin of my (HoMe III: 157; Broceliand = Beleri- map of Britain). and). • Amon Ereb (Skomer). This hill from The 2. As is described later, the mentioning of Silmarillion is placed according to meas- these places is critical in our placement urements approximated from Pete of Lindon within our world. Fenlon’s map. The island of Skomer off 3. Here, for instance, the text is not clearly Pembrokeshire (Dyfed) is quite near to indicative of a memory awakened by like the estimated location. or by the actual location. • Broceliand. The Breton forest associated 4. Collaborative detail may be found in with Morgan le Fey and her ensorcell- HoMe IV: 41, 72, 159, 174, 199. ment of Merlin, in the Continental ver- 5. Wæced = Watchet. sions of the Arthur cycle. It is also, of 6. When the maps are superimposed, it be- course, Tolkien’s first name for Beleri- comes apparent that the Shire is also em- and. braced by the isle of Britain. In general • Lundy. An island off the north Devon outline, the areas surrounding the Shire coast. It is mentioned in “The Lost remained stable as Tolkien worked on Road.” The Lord of the Rings. The most prominent • Glastonbury. Reputed resting place of feature of the First Map in this region is Arthur. the Firth of Lune (HoMe VII: 302). • Oxford. Tolkien places Rivendell and 7. Although the meanings of the words Hobbiton at the latitude of Oxford, change. In the latest form of the somewhat south of 52° North (Letters: “Etymologies,” Leithian signified “release 376). from bondage” and Lúthien “enchantress” (HoMe V: 368, 370). • Pembroke (Forlond). A town in Wales situated in the same location as I esti- 8. Cornwall was historically known by the mate for Forlond. It is mentioned in “The Anglo-Saxons as “West Wales.” Until Notion Club Papers.” the 18th century a Brythonic (Welsh) dialect was spoken there. • Porlock (Harlond), A village situated on the western spur of Somerset (near 9. For Tolkien’s relationship with Cornwall, enough to Tolkien’s placement of Har- see Carpenter's Biography. lond). It is mentioned in “Ælfwine of 10. Tolkien was, in fact, aware of this dis- England,” “The Lost Road” and “The crepancy, but found the problem insolu- Notion Club Papers.” ble—the imaginary geography had be- • Scilly Isles (Lyonesse). A group of small come too closely interwoven with its my- islands off the coast of Cornwall, and one thology for it to be brought into accord of the two most common spots associated with the findings of geological science. with sunken Lyonesse (the other is St. 11. To a certain extent, there is some irony Michael’s Bay, off Land’s End). that in Lost Tales the Celtic peoples were • Shugborough & Great Haywood. A described as inimical to Elves and the old manor and village near Stafford. Appar- ways — but this germ was abandoned ently elements of the surrounding geog- rather quickly, and replaced by a much raphy were used by Tolkien when he more positive characterization. created Tathrobel/Tavrobel. 12. “If you went back beyond the Ice-ages, • Somerset. While it is unclear whether it I imagine you would find nothing in had any impact on the naming of Lindon, these parts; or at any rate a pretty beastly and uncomely race, with a tooth- 8 Issue 20 January 1998 THE MYSTERY OF THE BLESSED CHILD

Jasna Martinovic: Orfelinova 18, Powers—Baumya the Hunter, Akranagiba ecy of the Blessed Child and refusing to 11030 Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia the Earth Mistress and Gawerthi the abandon their homeland to the Necroman- ([email protected]) Heater—he will draw our scattered people cer. A valiant gesture, but fatal in its miscal- together, and for a white the Shadow will be culation of the true power of their foe. It forced to withdraw its fingers from our lands did not take long for Sauron to capture the I. THE TALE so that we may recover from its accursed band’ wita and wholly break her spirit upon The Northmen of Mirkwood are descen- ailments and withstand many hardships. His his superhuman will, binding her to his ser- dants of those who, during the Dark Years blood will forever survive in the houses of vice through the bestowal of an enchanted of the Second Age, “took refuge in the fast- our headmen. But if somehow this child artifact, the Gauntlet of the Vengeful nesses of wood and mountain,” seeking ever should die before his appointed time, then Healer. Through its sorcery, the wita suc- to elude the dominion of Sauron of . hope will be lost and our folk will diminish ceeded in cowing the Woodmen into sub- Beneath the eaves of that greatest of for- and wither, so that in the hour of the final mission, compelling her people to abandon ests, these fugitives were befriended by the battle against evil there will be no Wood- the Growithatriggwa and to worship Wood-elves, whose king granted them Warrior to defend the honor of our fore- Nahtafath instead. Only by so doing, said leave to settle there; hence, the tribe came fathers. she, would Wundabringand suffer them to to be known as the Woodmen. wander his lands. Apprenticed to the Elves in the ways of A thousand years and more were to pass Thus the peaceful religious practices of the forest, the Woodmen soon abandoned before the events foretold by the Ai- these Woodmen were slowly manipulated their old tribal structure, dispersing wawitans were to unfold. into an evil cult. Their band became re- throughout their new homeland in wander- duced, in the course of the disastrous inter- ing bands of a few families each, though THE RETURN OF THE vening decades, into a bunch of poor, hope- they did not forget their ancestral ties to SHADOW less people struggling to survive under con- one another. In addition to the lore of the - stant pressure from the Orc of Naquath wild, the Elves also imbued their mortal After a millennium of vanquishment, Hlain and other evils which the Necroman- allies with a profound reverence for the Sauron the began secretly to take cer had brought into their lands. It became Valar and a deep respect for the natural shape again in the world, and Greenwood known to Sauron, however, that though the world around them. This body of tradition the Great, once a refuge to those who Woodmen outwardly paid homage to him, (which they call the Growithatriggwa) the sought freedom from the Shadow, became in their hearts they still hoped for the fulfill- Woodmen received and passed on to their transformed into the very heart of that ment of the prophecy. The Dark Lord felt children through the person of the wita. darkness: Mirkwood. Scarcely a mortal he must lull these reluctant subjects into a generation after his return, whispers began Usually a woman, the wita (or “wise one”) false sense of security—a task for which his to spread among the Woodman bands that was the healer and spiritual leader of her witans now discredited in the eyes of their a powerful wita, or perhaps an evil spirit, band, second only to the headman in au- people because of their allegiance to him, had occupied and laid claim to Naquath thority. Witans were also thought to possess were unsuitable. The Master of Night re- Hlain, a rocky prominence in the southern prophetic insight, and during the Dark quired another servant, an outsider, to reaches of the forest believed by the Wood- Years their counsel guarded their people achieve his end. men to be a gateway to the underworld and against the Shadow. Following the victory the land of the dead. In the parlance of the of the Last Alliance over Sauron (in which outside world, such rumors gave to this THE COMING OF GALLOR the Woodmen played their part), it is said mysterious figure the sobriquet of that the Aiwawitans, the high gathering of The woes of the Woodmen multiplied “ecromancer,”but the Woodmen called him the witans, pronounced this oracle: with the passage of years. The trees and Nahtafath (Master of Night) and Wund- beasts of the forest became unfriendly, and abringand (Inflictor of Wounds). the attacks of the Uruk-torg (the Orc-tribe In the long bright times, our people will Soon well-nigh all of southwestern Mirk- that guarded the passage of the forest nar- grow, spreading from one eave of the forest wood lay under the Shadow, and most of rows for the Necromancer) grew ever to the other, Yet in the dark days that are to the Woodman bands of that region fled bolder and more menacing. It was at this come (and come they shall), a light will north, withdrawing beyond the forest nar- nadir of their existence that the Woodmen arise beyond all hope. In the year when rows to found the fortified settlement of found, as it seemed, a protector. green leaves shrink under darkness and evil Burh Widaus. But one and stood their Winds bring foulness and sickness to the ground, putting faith in the ancient proph- land, a boychild will be born. Blessed by the 9 Other Hands In the midst of one of the Orc-raids, master, sent to govern them by the Necro- newly-born son might be set in his arms for there appeared a tall man cloaked and mancer himself. His pact with the Wood- the first and last time. Miraculously, the hooded in deep blue robes. Invoking un- men was equally farcical. The Children of Woodman did not die, but managed to re- seen powers to aid him, the man brandished the Tithe were indeed destined for his ser- cover his strength without ill-effect. In to- a shining sword before the terror-stricken vice, but they received their upbringing not ken of this, the boy’s mother named him Orcs, who turned back at once in flight. To in Gallor’s keep, but under the strict eye of Wenakran (Fruit of Hope). At this portent, the minds of the Woodmen it was clear that the pedagogues of the Shadow in Naquath the old women in the camp began mutter- this man was a wita of great power and Hlain. By the institution of this child tithe, ing about the long-foretold coming of the therefore a potential ally. When they ap- Sauron hoped to guard against the coming Blessed Child, that it was a final warning proached the stranger and inquired about of the Blessed Child. that they must abandon their present ways his name and tribe, the man said that he Gallor’s true name was Wulfapaida, an and restore the Growithatriggwa of their was Gallor, a loremaster who hailed from evil Northman from the upper vales of An- ancestors. Gondor, and that he desired to spend his duin (then under the dominion of the It seemed that Dwimraqino, the band’s final days in fellowship with the Elves and Witch-realm of Angmar). Born of a clan of wita, agreed with them, because she took the Free Men of the North. Having heard skin-changers who possessed the gift of the boy under her protection, ordering rumor of the darkening of the Greenwood assuming the shape of wolves, Wulfapaida Swintha, the headman, to conceal his exis- the Fair, Gallor had decided to establish quickly rose in the ranks of the Angmarean tence at all cost from Gallor. The boy was himself in a lonely keep, not far from the forces, gaining the trust of his superiors then in the winter of his second year Woodman camp, where he might hold in through his extreme cunning and reliability. (1637), and soon Gallor’s servants would check the depredations of the Shadow. In time, Wulfapaida was sent to Naquath be arriving to claim the tithe. The entire At first the Woodmen called these good Hlain as an able and eager servant to deal band readily obeyed her. tidings, as it seemed that they had gained a with a perennial thorn in the Necroman- But the birth of the child could not be powerful and benevolent neighbor; but cer’s side: the skin-changing Berninga and hidden. Soon enough, an envoy appeared in soon it became plain that their newfound the tenacious Woodmen. the camp, expressing Gallor’s disappoint- savior would demand a price for his friend- ment at the Woodmen’s betrayal ship. Every five years, declared Gallor, the of his trust, and threatening to Woodmen must surrender to him a few of withdraw his protection from their male infants, whom he would raise to them unless the hidden child serve him in his keep, to grow up to be de- were surrendered by dawn of cent, if somewhat recluse, warriors under the following day. Everyone in his tutelage. The proud Woodmen were the camp turned to Dwimraqino loath to accede to this condition; but at last, for insight. The wita responded at the fervent urging of their wita, they confidently, instructing them to agreed to render to Gallor this “child tithe” return to their hearths to pray as tribute for his protection against the while she withdrew with the Necromancer’s minions. child and Bokamawi, her ap- In token of his alliance with the Wood- prentice, to her own hut to en- men, Gallor gave a gift to their headman, a treat the spirits of their forefa- protective charm bearing the device of a Well-equipped to match the strength of thers for guidance. The next morning, running wolf and inscribed with words in a Sauron’s nearest enemies, the Dark Lord Swintha and the other leading members of tongue they did not understand. In fact, the enhanced Wulfapaida’s native abilities the band approached the wita’s hut, waiting words were those of the of through the gift of a powerful artifact, the for Dwimraqino to appear. After a while, Mordor, and they read: I, Master of Wolves, Belt of Living Change, which allowed Wul- they called to her, but there was no answer. grant you the power to calm my servants. fapaida to assume any Mannish or Elven Meanwhile, Gallor’s envoy, a swarthy- semblance he desired (hence his ability to skinned Southron named Malkûsh, re- masquerade as a Gondorian loremaster). GALLOR’S TRUE IDENTITY turned with his armed guard, demanding The only detail of his appearance Wulfa- the child. Receiving no answer from the To all appearances, Gallor upheld his paida’s belt could not change were his yel- Woodmen, they forced their way into the pact with the Woodmen: under his protec- low, wolfish eyes, so that he always wore a wita’s hut — Dwimraqino, her apprentice tion, the Uruk-torg ceased their attacks. hood when outside his keep. and the child were gone! All that remained After several years had passed, some of the to be found on the floor of the hut were Children of the Tithe, now grown-up in the components of wita-rituals and the charred, loremaster s service, began to appear in the THE BIRTH OF THE smoking remains of a large book. A search ranks of Gallor’s quinquennial embassies to BLESSED CHILD of the entire camp was immediately con- the Woodmen (though they were not per- In the winter of 1635, the Great Plague ducted and, soon enough, tracks were mitted to fraternize with their families). All visited itself upon Rhovanion, devastating found, leading off westwards. seemed to be as Gallor had promised. Yet it the Northmen; but in the early spring of the was not so. following year, the prophesied hope of the In truth, Gallor was not a Dúnadan sage Woodmen was born. The identity of the but a servant of Darkness; and far from Blessed Child was discovered by his par- being the foe of the Uruk-torg, he was their when his father, severely wounded by wolves, asked on his deathbed that his

10 Issue 20 January 1998 Malkûsh at once commanded Swintha The fourth wita to lead the Woodmen of thúlé (or life-force) of its victim not to Lord and his hunters to pursue the most obvious Burgan Stath since Sauron brought the of the Dark but to the sacrificiant himself— trail, while he stayed in camp, investigating band under his shadow, Dwimraqino is the purer the victim’s innocence, the greater the remains of the book and sending a cou- unlike her predecessors in her knowledge the channeled power. Later, when the ple of his guards back to the keep to inform and use of writing. (The Woodmen are an Blessed Child was discovered, Dwimraqino Wulfapaida. The Southron suspected that oral culture.) Educated in the depths of immediately recalled these words and be- the treacherous wita was making for the Naquath Hlain, Dwimraqino became con- gan contemplating how she might turn the Vales of Anduin, to bring the child to the versant with sorcerous texts at an early age. hope of the Woodmen to the increase of her Elves of Lórien or to Wulfapaida’s greatest The Necromancer continued to foster own sorcery. With the aid of such power, enemies, the Berninga. Malkûsh would Dwimraqino’s penchant for dark lore after she might bring all the Woodmen under the have led the pursuit himself had not Wulfa- she assumed the role of wita by sending her will of Nahtafath and raise herself in the paida set him in charge of the keep in his gifts of tomes from time to time. Ironically, ranks of his servants — higher even than absence. For at that time Wulfapaida was it was from one of these very tomes that Wulfapaida. about to leave for Angmar, being com- Dwimraqino conceived her rebellion The unexpected arrival of Wulfapaida’s manded by the Necromancer to assist the against Wulfapaida. envoy had taken Dwimraqino by surprise, Witch-king in the wolf-breeding pits of One day Dwimraqino acquired a tome forcing the wita to resort to desperate meas- Carn Dûm. containing strange drawings of altars and ures. Taking with her the pages from Mor- When word of these events reached Wul- sacrificial knifes that intrigued her. Unfor- watha’s Tome that described the ritual and fapaida, he sent instructions to Malkûsh to tunately, it was inscribed in a tongue of burning the rest of the volume, Dwim- continue overseeing the hunt from Burgan which she had no knowledge. Her appren- raqino sent Bokamawi westward, to lead Stath (the Woodmen’s camp), but to tice Bokamawi, however, recognized it as her pursuers astray, while she went north “withdraw Gallor’s protection” (i.e., give being written in the Grey-elven tongue. with the child, donning a pair of enchanted orders for the Uruk-torg to attack and ex- (Bokamawi was not originally a member of boots to cover her tracks, bound for the terminate the band) in case the Woodmen Dwimraqino’s band, but had been raised in ruins of Morwatha’s tower. should openly rebel against him. Then Wul- the town of Maethelburg, where she had All this Wulfapaida extracted from Bo- fapaida, taking on wolf’s form, rushed off learned in the service of the Gon- kamawi before cruelly ending her life. towards the edge of the forest, hoping to dorian legate.) When Bokamawi translated The skin-changer now found himself in a catch up with Dwimraqino himself. the book’s title, the wita was amazed to desperate situation. Too far from his abode learn that it was none other than Morwatha’s Following hard on the wita’s trail against and his trusty servants, and needful of great Tome of Dark Rituals, a long lost work attrib- an oncoming snowstorm, the skin-changer haste, Wulfapaida could only hope, by pure uted to an Elven loremaster once thought to swiftly out-distanced Swintha’s party, leav- luck, to cross paths with others who might have dwelt in a now ruined tower in the ing the exhausted hunters stranded beside a be capable of thwarting Dwimraqino for depths of the forest. newly formed snow-drift which blocked him. Fortunately for the skin-changer, un- their path. Continuing his relentless pur- When her mastery of the language was anticipated obstacles threaten to delay the suit, Wulfapaida finally overtook his prey. great enough to read the tome, Dwimraqino realization of the wita’s designs on the But the tracks led only to Bokamawi; the learned of an artifact that ignited her clever Blessed Child. wita herself and the child were nowhere to and ruthless imagination. Morwatha wrote be found — Dwimraqino had outwitted of an evil altar which had come into his pos- him! Enraged, Wulfapaida ambushed the session. Carven in the shape of a toad, this poor apprentice, forcing the truth out of her onyx altar was consecrated to Morgoth. by torture until she expired. According to the tome, a sacrifice per- formed upon this altar would channel the DWIMRAQINO’S SCHEME The wita’s rescue of the Blessed Child from Wulfapaida’s clutches was hardly mo- tivated by altruism. Dwimraqino’s devotion to the Necromancer is absolute, and her greatest desire is to be found worthy in his eyes. This sense of loyalty to the Master of Night is not, however, incompatible with personal ambition. The wita dislikes being subordinate to Wulfapaida, viewing him as a competitor for her master’s favor. Now, with the Blessed Child under her power, Dwimraqino aims to prove herself a more fervent devotee of Nahtafath and a more valuable asset to Naquath Hlain.

11 Other Hands

THE WOOD-ELVES watched by the Wood-elves, the wita was Though initially hostile towards the forced to seek out allies among the surviv- Wood-woman, Dwimraqino quickly turned The long and horrible winter has done ing Orcs. Using her divinatory powers, the tables on her assailants. Seizing their much harm to the few Elves still residing in Dwimraqino succeeded in locating them leader by the throat, the wita used the sor- southern Mirkwood. Troubled by the mis- before the Elves did. The remnant had cerous power of her gauntlet to melt his fortunes of his subjects, whose woes include taken refuge in a cave in the vicinity of spine before the eyes of his awe-stricken packs of Plague-crazed wolves and rampag- Lonely Hill, a solitary height rising between followers. While the Orcs still quailed with ing Orcs, as well as loads of snow threaten- two parallel ranges some miles from Mor- fear, Dwimraqino took hold of the strong- ing to ruin their flets, the Elven-king watha’s tower. est among them (Shirgûl, bodyguard of the Thranduil decided to send one of his trusty now-paralyzed leader) and proclaimed him vassals, Othor, with a turnin (military com- pany) of 100 soldiers to assist his dear southern kin. A few weeks prior to Dwim- raqino’s kidnapping of the Blessed Child, Othor made camp at Galbrethin, a Silvan glade not far from Morwatha’s tower. In the wintry weeks that followed, Othor set his turnin to the task of clearing the sur- rounding woods of Orcs and wolves. Many of these, he came to discover, had made their lair in the ruined tower several miles upstream from Galbrethin. The Wood-elves soon drew their net around Morwatha’s tower and assaulted its denizens, destroying the majority with only minimal losses. Some of the Orcs escaped, however; and in order to prevent them from re-occupying the tower, Othor has set to demolishing it while the rest of his turnin hunt down the surviv- ing Orcs and assist the local Elves and Woodmen against the winter. This turn of events has complicated Dwimraqino’s situation greatly. Seeing no chance of reaching the tower while it is

12 Issue 20 January 1998 their new chieftain. The Orcs were in no acknowledge the rule of the Grey-elven treasures he might gain from Morwatha’s position to argue! dynasty, and yet refused to relinquish their store of gem-encrusted artifacts. Above all, Shirgûl'was relieved to hear that he and claim to the forest. Too few in number to Muristil is most eager to find the toad-altar Dwimraqino had a common enemy in pose any true threat to the peace of his do- since (according to the Tome) it is encrusted Othor’s Wood-elves. Briefly, the wita of- main, the Elven-king for the most part ig- with two huge opals of the finest quality, fered to lend her powers to help the Orcs nored these renegades, commanding his which he hopes to take for himself. capture those Elven hunters who strayed vassals to leave them be so long as they did The Penni know the glens and hollows of from their companions, so that they might no harm to his subjects. their forest more intimately than any other be held for ransom. By this ruse, explained Other Elven kindreds name these Penni ; and so, with some good luck, Muristil Dwimraqino, the Elves could be led into an “Dark Elves” because they are enamored of stumbled upon a possible entrance into the ambush and Shirgûl would have his venge- darkness, yearning for the sunless and underways of Morwatha’s tower. Some two ance. To this plan the Orcs gleefully as- moonless night of the Elder Days, before miles north of the tower, nearby a small sented. the coming of Men, when they alone of the waterfall, a cave was found. After establish- An Orc in a forest is no match for a speaking peoples walked the earth. The ing their camp within its outward recesses, Wood-elf; but an Orc-band aided by sor- Penni regard all Elves as a master race, and Muristil’s band advanced into the dark, cery may well overcome several Elves if scorn as deserters those of their own kind long-forgotten corridors, hoping the cav- these have no cause to suspect that their who heeded the summons of the Valar to erns were somehow connected with the foes have recourse to supernatural power. abandon Middle-earth. They suffer no chambers below the tower. So it proved for the turnin. Within a few overlordship—least of all that of Morgoth days, no less than half a score of Othor’s or his Maiarin crony, Sauron—and so re- II. STARTING THE PCs men were ensnared by the wita and her gard any other power of Darkness as a rival Orkish allies. Soon after the Wood-elves rather than an ally. Of such bent are Muris- This adventure has several potential became aware that several of their com- til and his few scores of companions. points of entry. Given the volatile nature of rades were missing, Othor received a ran- Muristil has long known of the ruined the situation that has developed in and som message (delivered by a bat controlled tower and of the artifacts associated with it around Morwatha’s tower, it is not neces- by Dwimraqino’s will). It read: (possessed, like Dwimraqino, of a copy of sary for the PCs to have any prior knowl- Morwatha’s Tome of Dark Rituals); but he had edge about the Blessed Child to become always thought that the tower had been involved in the action. If the PCs are al- I hold ten of your soldiers hostage, to be plundered long ago, and that its treasures ready within the borders of Mirkwood, executed if you do not surrender to me Mor- had all been lost or destroyed. Recently, they might simply happen upon Galbrethin watha’s toad-altar. Bring the altar at night- however, one of his comrades (who had vale; or they might actually be Woodmen or fall, three days hence, to the summit of journeyed north to spy on the movements Wood-elves native to the region, or sum- Lonely Hill, or your fellow Elves will die. of Thranduil’s folk) brought word that moned from abroad to aid their kinsfolk. Othor had been sent with a turnin into the Othor was greatly troubled by this mes- woods surrounding sage. Although he had no knowledge of the the tower. Believing obscure artifact mentioned by the ransom that some concealed note, he knew enough legends about Mor- plan was afoot, Mur- watha to fear the worst. The ruins of the istil decided to inves- tower had been largely cleared out by the tigate further in the turnin after its capture, but the subterra- company of eleven of nean levels remained sealed off by magical his kmsmen. wards placed there centuries ago by the The Dark Elf-was Elven-king’s loremasters, lest some forgot- sure that the actual ten evil crawl out. Othor was loath to break goal of Othor’s mis- these seals for fear of what might lie be- sion (once problems yond, but with his men’s lives at stake, he with the Orcs were could not afford to ignore the ransomer’s settled) was to unseal demands indefinitely. and explore the sub- THE DARK ELVES terranean chambers Unbeknownst either to Dwimraqino or of Morwatha’s the Wood-elves, a third party has taken an tower — which interest in Morwatha’s tower — and not for strongly hinted that the better. This personage is Muristil, the ruins had not leader of a handful of renegade Penni been completely (Dark Elves) who inhabit Thranduil’s stripped of booty. woodland realm. In ancient times, several Muristil is motivated Penni households joined themselves to the not so much by pure Wood-elves of Mirkwood, and most sub- greed as by the spite- mitted to the rule of Thranduil’s father, ful urge to deprive Oropher. A few Penni, however, refused to the Elven-king of any

13 Other Hands On the other hand, if the PCs have not yet “Were any of you bitten???” seven leagues east of us. I go now to seek entered the forest and have no other moti- After examining the wound(s), Gallor the aid of the good wizard, Radagast the vating connection with the plot, the GM shakes his hooded head regretfully. “Poor Brown; but with the hunters waylaid by the may make use of the following encounter. soul...so horrible. I still quiver when I re- witch’s sorceries, I fear I may not return in member the stories told by old Gondorian time.” women, stories of rotting flesh and of the Gallor bows his hooded head in silent The harsh winter of 1637 finds the PCs in tormented screams of those poor fellows.... despair. Then, suddenly, he lifts it again the snow-laden Anduin vales, scouting the Still, we will talk about this in the warmth with new hope. “Hear me, good sirs!” he frozen countryside on behalf of the inn- of the inn. The disease is contractible only says in hushed anticipation. “Mayhaps in keeper of the secluded repose of Sunna- by blood, so you are safe to return to Sun- helping to save the life of this innocent child gadal. (Run by a firm Northman family, nagadal. But here, imbibe this healing elixir of whom I have spoken, you would be sav- this inn provides shelter for the Plague- now,” he adds, handing the injured PC(s) a ing the life of your own wounded comrade displaced people who got stuck by the win- thin flask. “It is not enough to defeat the (s). For Malkûsh, my servant, carries with ter while passing through the lower vales.) Redrot, but it will hinder its progress for up him an elixir of the same kind as I adminis- Struggling to maintain his business, the inn- to a fortnight. If another dose is imbibed tered to your companion(s) just now. If you keeper is eager to know about the possible before that time, you will survive; if not...” were to go to the Woodman hunters and presence of Orcs or wolves in the sur- he falls silent. “As I said, such matters are help them thwart this witch’s foul designs, rounding area, so he has sent the PCs to better discussed in the warmth of the inn.” Malkûsh would willingly surrender his vial scout it out and tell him what they’ve seen. The inn guests scoff in amazement at the to you. When the Woodmen have rescued Not too far from the inn, as they are re- appearance of a stranger among them the child with your help, they will lead you turning from their patrol, the PCs are vi- (especially under such horrible weather back to their camp where Malkûsh awaits ciously assaulted by a pack of ravenous, conditions) when the PCs return to Sunna- their return. I too will have a message sent half-starved wolves. The beasts outnumber gadal, and the fact that Gallor refuses to to him, instructing him to reward each and the PCs five-to-one—they may never get remove his hood from his face does not en- every one of you with your weight in gold back to Sunnagadal alive! courage their conviviality. (If the PCs ask, pieces and any enchanted artifacts you may If by some miracle the PCs manage to Gallor explains apologetically that he suf- desire from my personal stock.” hold their ground unscathed, still more fers from a rare malady that requires him to GM Notes: It should be made clear to the PCs wolves arrive, and more, until their situa- constantly shield his eyes from light of any that it will not be possible for them to go to the tion is thoroughly desperate. (During the kind.) Woodman camp for the elixir first; before battle, at least one PC— preferably not an Gallor now formally introduces himself fulfilling their mission, since too much pre- Elf or , who are immune to dis- as a scholar from Gondor (from Pelargir, if cious time has already been lost for the hunt- ease — should be wounded by the wolves.) the PCs ask), who has decided to spend his ers to turn aside from Dwimraqino s trail Just when things are beginning to look final days in a lonely keep in Mirkwood grim, a tall figure clad in deep blue robes where he spends his time studying tomes of III. ENCOUNTERS and a hood leaps into the midst of the fray, lore close to his beloved Elves and Wood- interposing himself between the PCs and men. He had been traveling to Tharbad, JOINING SWINTHA the wolves. In a loud, commanding voice he where he owns several ships and merchan- strikes terror into the voracious creatures. dise. The Plague, he remarks, devastated To reach the frozen, demoralized Wood- “Naur dan i nDraughoth!” he cries in the El- that city and turned it into a den of thieves. man hunters, the PCs have to travel vish tongue, as the wolves miraculously Hence he is worried about his possessions. through waist-deep snow in freezing turn tail and run. “But that is not worst of my woes,” he weather through a countryside infested with Orcs, wolves and the like. Their en- After the last of the wolves has dispersed, laments. “I pray you, hear my tale of the counter with Swintha and his poor lot of the imposing figure turns to the PCs. horrible need which has brought me away nine companions should awaken the PCs’ “Greetings, fellow travelers. It is well for from my warm home in these troubled curiosity about Gallor, Dwimraqino and you that our paths crossed when they did! times. Not long after I set out on my road, the child. The Woodmen exercise caution My name is Gallor,” he says, bowing with- my beloved Woodmen (whose camp stands when talking to the PCs, careful not to say out removing his hood. “I seek Sunnagadal. quite close to my keep) brought word to me anything against Gallor. They also avoid Do you know if it is far?” that an evil woman — a-witch—had kid- napped one of their children. She seeks to mentioning the “child tithe” (a source of While the PCs introduce themselves in shame for many of them and a cause for turn, Gallor begins knowledgeably examin- spirit the infant away to Morwatha’s tower, an ancient ruin in the depths of the Forest, reproach should other Woodman bands ing the bodies of any wolves the PCs may hear of it). have slain. “Ah, signs of the Redrot there to viciously murder it in some un- Swintha pretends that he wants to return Plague!” he exclaims with sudden concern. speakable sorcerous ritual! “Horrified, I sent my loyal servant the abducted child (a son of his cousin) to Malkûsh to the Woodmen’s camp to help Malkûsh, thanking “gracious Gallor” for muster a hunting party to stop the witch sending the PCs to help. Convinced they before she could accomplish her heinous are Gallor’s loyal agents, he occasionally scheme. But alas! the witch used her en- lets fall a flattering remark upon the PCs as chantments to lead the hunters astray, and well. In truth, Swintha despises Gallor, but now they are stranded in a snowdrift some has lost all hope of ever breaking the lore- master’s hold over his people. (Swintha’s

14 Issue 20 January 1998 dream is to lead his band north, to the greatest enemies of the Free Peoples of (They believe that Swintha is fighting a safety of peaceful woods where his fellow Mirkwood. Together with their Woodman righteous battle against the evils of the for- Woodmen reside.) Disillusioned and sad, companions, the PCs would instantly be est.) all the old hunter wants from life now is a regarded as foes! If incarcerated at Galbrethin by the heroic death to match his reputation in life. If a turnin patrol detects the PCs, the Wood-elves, any PCs conversant in the Sil- Traveling with Swintha should awaken Wood-elves prepare an ambush, encircling van tongue are able to overhear the discus- sympathy in the PCs for the unhappy lot of them from concealed locations and de- sion of their guards: after an initial success his once noble band. manding that they lay down their arms, against the Orcs of Morwatha’s tower, the Morwatha’s tower may be reached by stating their names and business. If the PCs turnin presently faces a new danger. It one of two routes: 1) by the northward path and their Woodman companions comply seems that some powerful figure has organ- through the Anduin vale, and then east- peacefully, the Elves step out into the open ized those Orcs that escaped the Elven on- ward into the forest following the Wood- and question them further. If no Elves are slaught on the tower, so that it is no longer man path; 2) straight east for the forest, and among the PCs, the ambushers won’t be safe to wander by night. Some of their com- then (navigating with Swintha’s help) con- patient at all, attacking if not immediately rades have disappeared, and now it seems tinuing east, cutting short of the path. En- obeyed. In the case of uncooperative PCs, that this unknown force holds them for ran- counters along the way may include ram- the Wood-elves definitely search the non- som. An altar has been demanded in ex- paging Uruk-torg or other Orcs of the Nec- Elven characters. Discovery of Swintha’s change for the captives. romancer, wild wolves and occasional charm under such circumstances would If the Elves have discovered Swintha’s wargs, starved boars, Plague-displaced mean captivity for them all. Captured PCs wolf-charm, Othor jumps to the conclusion brigands (in the vales), Woodman hunters are taken under guard to Galbrethin and that Garmesgel is the author of the ransom or outcasts suffering from Plague and Elves held there on a flet used by the guards, to note and that the PCs are allied with the (alone or in patrols). If they travel on or in await Othor’s judgment. evil skin-changer. When brought before the vicinity of the Orc-trail, they are at con- him for judgment, therefore, the PCs are siderable risk of encountering a large raid- ENTERING GALBRETHIN VALE accused of being Garmesgel’s spies, sent to ing party. Morwatha’s ruined tower stands at the thwart Othor’s mission, harm the local While Swintha and his hunters know northeastern corner of a broad, open vale, Elves and Woodmen, and to obtain “the their way around the forest and its paths, crossed by a small stream that winds its foul altar.” As proof of their collusion, they are, all the same, mortal, and could way down from an encircling range of Othor produces the ransom note. If the potentially slow the PCs down considera- wooded hills. At the far western arm of the PCs manage to persuade Othor of their bly. As headman of his band, Swintha is in range lies the Silvan glade of Galbrethin, innocence, they are questioned and possession of Gallor’s wolf-charm, which and farther upstream (near to the edge of (hopefully) volunteer their assistance to the will help in most circumstances (short of a the vale) stands a winter camp of the local Elves — either to find the altar beneath the straightforward Orkish ambush). Unfortu- Woodmen. While some Elves of the turnin tower, or to free the hostages before the nately, Swintha’s charm could prove to be may be found at Galbrethin, the majority exchange is scheduled to take place. the worst liability for their quest. If one of (including Othor) are currently encamped GM Note: Unless persuasive arguments are Othor’s patrols should find them and the around the tower. made on behalf of their innocence, Swintha and Wood-elves were to mark the charm, the While stealthy PCs might evade the his men are definitely kept in custody as bearers of PCs would be in a lot of trouble, as the Garmesgel’s sign. For their part, the hunters are charm’s device (the running wolf) is known Elven patrols on their journey, it would be all but impossible to go unnoticed once the hesitant to make a spirited defence, for fear of to the Elves as the sign of “Garmesgel the being forced to confess the matter of the child tithe, Skin-changer” (as they call Wulfapaida in outskirts of the vale have been reached. (Both the vale and the ten miles of forest as this would totally ruin their reputation with their language) —a high servant of the other Woodman bands. Later, however, if the PCs Necromancer and therefore one of the surrounding it are being patrolled by the Wood-elves.) The have proven faithful in helping to thwart Dwim- PCs might want to raqino and her Orkish allies, they regain Elven approach the confidence for themselves and release for Swin- tha’s band. Otherwise, the Wood-elves surrender Woodman camp, the hunters to the local Woodmen, desiring to contacting the maintain good relatione with their allies in Burh Elves who occa- Widaus. sionally come there. As headman of their southern- EXPLORING THE TOWER most kin, Swintha Because he can ill-afford to spare any of would be warmly his turnin from the search to locate his kid- welcomed by the napped men before the ransom is de- Woodmen. This manded, Othor is especially eager to recruit band is unaware the PCs for the task of recovering the altar of the state of from beneath Morwatha’s tower. (In real- things in Burgan ity, Othor plans to use the altar as a lure, Stath, so they and hopes to defeat the Orcs without sur- would question rendering it.) If the PCs volunteer them- Swintha about his selves for the mission, they’re in for a sur- people’s ways. 15 Other Hands prise — Muristil and his Dark-elven plunderers! The main, sealed entrance stands at the opposite end or the subterranean vaults from the secret exit through which the Penni have en- tered, so that the PCs first have to get past some traps and natural obstacles (and maybe enchanted guardians as well) before they discover that they are not alone. The PCs first become cognizant of the interlopers by the ru- mor of fighting. (Muristil’s band is presently attempting to dispatch a group of foul constructs — magically- created guardians, similar in kind to the watch-stones of the Drúedain—left behind by Morwatha to keep his hidden artifacts and altars safe.) The Penni have almost uncovered Morwatha’s li- brary and have seized some lesser artifacts, ranean chambers beneath the ruined tower 2. Study. A suit of fine Elven platemail but have yet to find the toad-altar. (#11 below). It is, however, a fake bereft of stands guard at each of this chamber’s If the PCs confront Muristil or his com- its supposed powers. According to the Tome four corners; in its midst are a dust- rades, the Dark Elves assume that they are (a copy of which the GM might allow the covered chair and table. (Its drawers con- foes — sent by Othor to rob them of their PCs to find in the chamber), Morwatha tain various parchment notes.) Two hard-won loot. However, the Penni, long acquired the altar from one of his Noldorin locked doors punctuate the east (Hard to inured to treachery and deceit, do not nec- colleagues (Maellin of Eregion), who had open) and south (Very Hard to open) essarily answer the PCs with immediate himself obtained the artifact from the Bef- walls; a huge tapestry hangs upon the violence; instead, they endeavor first to as- fraen savages of the Rast Vorn. It was from north wall, depicting the splendor of certain their numbers, strength and pur- these that Maellin learned of the altar’s al- Oropher’s court in its heyday. Elven- pose. Muristil is not above falsehood, and leged powers. (The Beffraen were known wrought, the enchantment of this tapes- may contrive some cunning lie to lull the to have worshipped Morgoth during the try draws its viewers into the scene, giv- PCs into a temporary lapse of wariness so Elder Days.) In fact, the crafty Beffraen ing it the semblance of reality and motion that his group may seize the upper hand or lied to Maellin, conveying to him a counter- for several minutes. If the tapestry is even trick the PCs into helping him acquire feit of the real altar (which still lies hidden touched, two of the armored suits ani- the altar. (He might, for instance, claim that in the depths of the Rast Vorn; see ICE's mate and attack as constructs. he and his companions are one of the turnin Woses of the Black Wood, p. 27, #32). Of patrols that found their way in here 3. Library. Shelves of tomes line the walls course, neither the PCs nor anyone else in of this chamber; at its center stand two through the secret entrance while searching this adventure are likely to realize this until for their missing comrades.) glass-covered cases displaying illumi- after the hostage exchange at Lonely Hill. nated manuscripts. The contents of the In the likely event that conflict between library include titles on history, art, lore Muristil’s band and the PCs becomes immi- and poetry. If removed from its shelf, a TOWER LAYOUT nent, the Dark Elves prefer to wait until the silver-bound copy of the Ainulindalë trig- most opportune moment to attack 1. Entrance. The magically hidden en- gers a secret door to open in the south (preferably on terrain with -which they are trance connecting the subterranean wall, leading to a cramped cell with a more familiar than the PCs). They fight as a vaults of Morwatha’s tower to its ruined desk and chair. The desk contains Mor- well-coordinated unit, pooling their talents foundations is sealed by an enchantment watha’s diary, which tells the Grey-elf’s to gang-up on individual opponents. They which requires the utterance of a word in tale. In a hidden (Sheer Folly to find) do, however, value their lives above mere order to be loosed. This word (“key”) is niche in the wall behind the desk is a sac- booty; and if the Dark Elves are defeated, hinted at by a Sindarin inscription on the rificial dagger inscribed with fiery runes Muristil casts various spells of concealment, door bearing the following riddle: I will (+15, unholy), trapped with a poisonous attempting to run away with as many arti- guard your treasure if you guard me. Once needle. facts as he can carry. the riddle is guessed and its answer spo- 4. Laboratory. Empty, apart from a single ken, the portal may be opened by push- The toad-altar of which Morwatha’s tome shelf and work table. The shelf holds con- ing its stone slab inwards. speaks may indeed be found in the subter- tainers for various elements and com- pounds, as well as a few tomes explaining 16 Issue 20 January 1998 12. Vivisectionary. Once used by Morwa- tha for dissecting and experimenting upon animals, these natural chambers are occupied by three construct guardians (currently being fought off by Muristil’s band). The entryway (now open) is nor- mally concealed as the door to #11 above. 13. Exit to Waterfall. The subterranean passage continues north for two miles until it reaches a concealed opening at the base of a small waterfall (Sheer Folly to detect from without). Muristil’s Elves have sealed this exit with a large rock to prevent anyone from sneaking up on them unannounced.

RESCUING THE HOSTAGES Neither the Wood-elves nor Dwim- raqino’s Orkish allies intend to abide by the terms of the exchange proposed in the ran- som note. Leaving the Elven hostages un- der guard in the nearby cave (with plans to kill them if he returns victorious with the altar), Shirgûl leads 30 of his strongest war- riors against the 10 Elves Othor has sent to bear the altar to the hilltop. Othor, for his part, has, unbeknownst to the Orcs, con- cealed another 30 bowmen and 10 spear- men in the surrounding trees. Dwimraqino, meanwhile, watches from a safe distance, ready to rush back to the cave if the battle goes badly for the Orcs. The wita has left the Blessed Child with the hos- tages in the cave; if the Orcs fail to gain the altar, her first concern is to return to get the child, concealing her movements with spells. If, on the other hand, Dwimraqino their use. The table is covered with the longer poisoned). A single black stone sees the PCs and perceives that Gallor has standard paraphernalia of an alchemist— slab (a replica of a Coentis altar dedi- sent them (seeing Swintha would be instruments, pestles and mixing bowls, cated to Sauron) occupies the east wall of enough), she panics, abandoning the child vials of (still usable) solutions, etc. the chamber. The altar delivers an “A” to save her own life. 5. Museum. This double vault displays sev- cold critical to any who touch it. If the PCs actually confront the wita, and eral of Morwatha’s bizarre acquisitions: 10. Dead End. Morwatha buried an evil she sees her own failure and death drawing paintings, sculptures, (dormant) dagger here (+15, Man-slaying). Adorned nigh, Dwimraqino attempts to persuade the Drúadan watch-stones — even a fallen with rubies, the gilded blade is in pristine PCs of her innocence, exposing Gallor’s meteorite (containing a pound of eog ore). condition. It is buried in a locked casket evil intentions toward the child and dis- crediting Swintha by revealing the entire 6. Antechamber. Lined with 6 beautiful (Sheer Folly to open, trapped with a poi- truth about the humiliating “child tithe.” If vases filled with (non-precious) gems. soned needle) several feet below the floor of the cave. nothing else, Dwimraqino’s main goal now 7. Display Chamber. This second ante- is to throw enough doubt into the PCs’ 11. Underground Stream. The remnants of chamber displays a brilliant diamond minds as to the identity of the true villain so a small boat with a half-rotten oar he on which, if removed from its pedestal, that she will have an opportunity to escape. causes a ceiling slab to seal off the corri- the near side of this icy rill (Very Hard to Given the chaotic situation about to dor, trapping the unfortunate within. swim). Beyond stands the accursed toad- altar, which delivers a “B” cold critical on break out on Lonely Hill, the PCs have a 8. Display Chamber. The display pedestal touch. Its opal eyes are each worth 100 reasonable chance of entering the cave and at the center of this room is now empty. gp. A hidden stone door made to look like rescuing both the Blessed Child and the 9. Cavern Entrance. The door connecting the uncut rock passage around it (Very Elven hostages. Othor is willing to lend the tower vaults to the natural caverns Hard to find) conceals this cavern from them the support of a few soldiers from the beyond is locked (Extremely Hard to the rest. turnin for this purpose. If the PCs learn the open) and trapped with a needle (no location of the cave prior to nightfall of the third day from the time that Othor received 17 Other Hands fied by the Elves, and Whatever the outcome, all PCs should the like. In either case, advance in levels during this adventure and the PCs’ reputation gain experience for dealing with compli- becomes greatly en- cated situations. However, PCs who are hanced throughout the used to plundering the bodies of defeated woodland realm, espe- opponents will be put to a great test, as cially after Othor re- many artifacts wrested from Dwimraqino turns to the Elven- or the Dark Elves might corrupt them! Evil king’s halls. (An Elven artifacts which were still left, deeply con- bard might even write cealed, below Morwatha’s tower include a a song about their he- few fake altars (all of which, though en- roic deeds.) crusted by gold and gems, inflict A or B Cold or Impact criticals upon touch) and some sacrificial daggers. An evil artifact

might also be enchanted with a Charm spell, 2) If the PCs choose to so that the PC feels inclined to hide the help Swintha liberate item and claim it for himself. (The Wood- his people, they must elves endeavor to destroy any such artifacts the ransom note, and decide to enter them, confront Malkûsh and the PCs may point out to them.) the number of their adversaries will be sig- his guard of 20 Children of the Tithe. Any nificantly greater: 40 (albeit demoralized) rumor of an uprising at Burgan Stath Orcs as opposed to a mere 10 weaker Orc- brings the wolf-riding Orcs of the Uruk- guards if they arrive during the battle at torg against the whole village by nightfall. Lonely Hill. If the PCs manage to rescue the band from Wulfapaida’s evil dominion and help them GM Notes: It is up to the GMto determine when to move north, the PCs would earn the and by what means the PCs learn the location friendship of all the Woodmen of the forest. of the cave. They might hear of it from one of They would also earn one awful enemy the Elven patrol, or they might take a more (Wulfapaida), who will seek vengeance active rote by joining in the search themselves. against them once he returns from Angmar. Alternatively, they might have to wait until the Of course, it may take Wulfapaida a while random date, and then track Dwimraqino back to find out what actually happened and to to the cave. explain this to the Necromancer. Once given a new position and a new set of ser- vants, the skin-changer will be eager to IV. OUTCOMES send some of these minions to find and kill Assuming Dwimraqino’s plot is foiled the PCs. This could lead to many other ad- and the PCs succeed in rescuing the ventures in and around Mirkwood, and to Blessed Child, there are at least three possi- the ultimate big adventure, the hunting ble outcomes to the adventure: 1) entrust down of Wulfapaida himself! the child to Swintha’s care and remain un- 3) If the PCs choose to return the Blessed der the protection of the Wood-elves at Child to Malkûsh, the Southron gives them Galbrethin; 2) return to Burgan Stath and their reward (including the healing elixir) help the Woodmen to liberate themselves and sends them on their way. The artifacts, from Gallor’s minions; 3) return to Burgan all created by evil enchantment, are de- Stath and surrender the child to Malkûsh, signed to corrupt their wielders. They con- claiming their reward. sist of rings, +15 swords, swords with addi- 1) If the PCs choose to remain at Galbre- tional criticals (e.g., flaming), axes of man- thin, the Wood-elves allow them to winter slaying, x2 PP multipliers, +2 spell ad- there. Othor, having heard the PCs’ story, ders — whatever the PCs would be most warns them to be careful, even to get out of happy with. As for the promised gold the area for a while, because Garmesgel is pieces, they are actually thinly-plated lead notorious for his cruelty towards those who counterfeits of Gondorian mint — almost have deceived him. The turnin invites any valueless, and highly dangerous to circulate Elven PCs to Thranduil’s halls for the com- were the fraud detected by the authorities. ing spring festivities (or perhaps to study in (It could lead to Gondorian military efforts the king’s rich library, which contains many to capture the PCs in order to ascertain the magical tomes). As for non-Elven PCs, source of the counterfeits.) Othor offers them the hospitality of his own hearth at Telphand (Celebannon in north- eastern Mirkwood) in gratitude for their noble deeds — again, a chance to learn new lore skills or spell lists, get artifacts identi-

18 Issue 20 January 1998 V. STATS GM Note: Bonuses for magical items are already factored into OB and PP figures.

WULFAPAIDA Level: 10. Profession: Mage. Hits: 139, Melee OB: 85bs Missile OB: NA AT: None (15 + Adrenal Defense 68). Stats: Co 89, Ag 91, Ig 87, St 99, Pr 90, It 75. Skills: Climb 40, Swim 30, Track 55, Stalk/Hide 40, Pick Lock/Disarm Trap 20, Perception 50, Disguise 60, Acting 65, Wolf Lore 60, Diplomacy 50, Leadership 60, Public Speaking 60, Region Lore: Mirkwood, Anduin Vales, Angmar 75, Region Lore: South- ern Gondor 40. Spells (10 PP): Physical Enhancement, Unbarring Ways, Essence Hand, Illusions, Spirit Mastery. MovM: 20. Special Powers: • Skin-changing. • Martial Arts. Striking: Novice 85, Standard 80, Expert 75. Principal Items: • Belt of the Living Change. • + 15 broadsword of Man-slaying. Bonus counted in Melee OB. • +2 spell adder. Gold-woven necklace.

DWIMRAQINO Level: 7. Profession: Animist. Hits: 52 Melee OB: 35qs Missile OB: NA AT: Soft Leather (10). Stats: Co 88, Ag 92, Ig 76, St 58, Pr 67, It 96. Skills: Climb 62, Ride Wolf 57, Stalk/Hide 45, Read Rune 37, Use Item 47, First Aid 60, Dark Lore 40, Perception 52, Wita Rituals 65, Region Lore: Southern Mirkwood 50. Spells (14 PP): Surface Ways, Organ Ways, Bone/Muscle Ways, Blood Ways, Direct Channeling, Animal Mastery, Purifications, Creations. MovM: 0. Special Powers: Base Spells +14. Principal Items: • Gauntlet of the Vengeful Healer. Inflicts wounds equivalent to that which the wielder would normally heal. (See Rolemaster Compendium III, p. 37.) • Enchanted boots. Leave no trace. +15 quarterstaff. Also a +2 spell adder for Channeling.

SWINTHA Level: 8. Profession: Warrior. Hits: 109 Melee OB: 115ha Missile OB: 96cb; 94sp AT: Soft Leather (50 w/small shield). Stats: Co 92, Ag 96, Ig 59, St 90, Pr 76, It 68. Skills: Climb 63, Track 58, Stalk/Hide 55, Perception 45, First Aid 30, Region Lore: Southern Mirkwood 65, Leadership 60, Forag- ing 55. MovM: 15 Principal Items: • + 10 hand-axe. Quality steel; bonus counted in Melee OB. • Gallor's seal. Charm of protection against wolves. +5 composite bow.

19 Other Hands OTHOR (“Ohtar;” Cf. Section 14.2 of ICE’s Mirkwood.) Level: 21. Profession: Warrior. Hits: 130 Melee OB: 145bs Missile OB: 1601b AT: Plate (65 + 10 w/shield). Stats: Co 88, Ag 100, Ig 89, St 96, Pr 97, In 91. Skills: Climbing 99, Stalk/Hide 106, Ride Horse 78, Boat-handling 70, Perception 97, Leadership 80, Region Lore: Mirkwood 90, Trading 50, Tactics 87, Military Organization 91, Diplomacy 67, Administration 60, First Aid 89. MovM: 10. Principal Items: • + 10 enchanted shield/breastplate. • +20 broadsword. +20 long bow.

MURISTIL Level: 9. Profession: Mage. Hits: 61 Melee OB: 25da Missile OB: 35da AT: None (25: robes + Shield spell). Stats: Co 67, Ag 81, Ig 99, St 52, Pr 93, It 95. Skills: Read Rune 92, Use Item 77, Perception 20, Penni Rituals 76, Region Lore: Mirk-wood 80, Foraging 60, Leadership 78, Ap- praisal 69. Spells (36 PP): all open/base lists except Water Law, Essence's Ways and Physical Enhancement. MovM: 20. Special Powers: Directed Spells +90, Base Spells +18. Principal Items: • x2 PP multiplier. Opal ring (bonus counted in PP). • +3 spell adder. Bracelet of golden interlocked ornament-work. • + 10 dagger. with decorative pommel, returns via. Long Door; bonus counted in OBs.

MALKÛSH Level: 8. Profession: Mage. Hits: 76 Melee OB: 15sc Missile OB: l0da AT: None (10). Stats: Co 66, Ag 90, Ig 99, St 39, Pr 59, It 78. Skills: Stalk/Hide 35, Read Rune 90, Use Item 66, First Aid 40, Torture 80, Alchemy 60. Spells (16 PP): Essence Perceptions, Fire Law, Earth Law, Light Law, Wind Law, Living Change. MovM: 10. Special Powers: Directed Spells +74, Base Spells +16. Principal Items: • Harkush. A forest rat familiar. • A case of torture instruments. • Small book. Of love poems, in Haruze. • +2 Spell Adder. A desert amber broach in the shape of a dagger.

20 Issue 20 January 1998

Military Table

Name (#) Lvl Hits AT DB Sh Gr MeleeOB MissileOB MovM WOOD-ELVES OF THE TURNIN Bowmen (40) 5 80 Ch/13 20 N N 75bs 951b 10 Axemen (30) 5 75 Ch/13 30 Y N 95ha 80cp 10 Spearmen (30) 5 78 Ch/13 15 N N lOOsp 85sp 10 WOOD-ELVES OF GALBRETHIN Leaders (6) 8 90 SL/5 30 N N 90sp 1001b 20 Veteran Warriors (36) 4 45 SL/5 25 N N 60sp 651b 15 Young Warriors (18) 2 35 SL/5 20 N N 50sp 501b 15 WOODMEN OF GALBRETHIN* Headman 10 120 SL/5 50 Y15 N 125ha 1201b 10 Veteran Hunters (10) 5 70 SL/5 30 Y N 80ha 801b 0 Average Hunters (24) 3 50 No/1 30 Y N 50ha 401b 0 Young Hunters (14) 2 30 No/1 30 Y N 40ha 301b 0 Wita (1) 9 60 No/1 15 N N 45sp 201b 5 SHIRGÛL’S ORC-BAND** Shirgûl 7 80 Ch/14 30 Y Y 90sc 55sb 0 Veteran Warrors (10) 4 50 SL/8 20 Y Y 55sc 25sb 0 Adult Warrors (10) 3 45 SL/8 20 Y Y 50sc 20sb 0 Young Warrors (10) 2 35 SL/7 0 N Y 40pa lOsb 0 Scouts (4) 4 40 No/1 20 N N 50sc 30sb 10 DARK ELVES*** Animist (1) 5 45 No/1 25 N N 50sp 401b 20 Mage (1) 5 30 No/1 20 N N 30qs 301b 15 Scouts (4) 4 40 SL/5 30 N N 45bs 551b 15 Fighters (5) 4 45 Ch/13 20 Y N 60bs 651b 15 WULFAPAIDA’S SERVANTS Apprentice Mages (5) 4-8 25-80 No/1 10-25 N N 20-70da 0-30da 5-20 Tithe Children (20) 1-6 10-80 varies 10-30 varies varies 10-90 10-70 0-20 URUK-TORG Commanders (6) 8 105 CH/14 35 Y10 A/L 105bs 65sb 0 Lurg Leaders (16) 6 70 Ch/13 30 Y N 80sc 50sb 0 Warriors (48) 3 45 SL/8 20 Y CO 50sc 20sb 0 Young Warriors (110) 2 35 SL/7 0 N N 40pa lOsb 0 War Wolves (70) 4 100 No/3 30 — — LBi75 — 30 MORWATHA’S TOWER Constructs**** 5 180 Pl/20 0 N A/L 80sp — -5 * May also be used for the Woodmen of Burgan Stath (minus the headman and wita) or Burh Widaus (double numbers). ** These numbers reflect the strength Shirgûl brings with him to Lonely Hill. The Orcs remaining in the nearby caves may be scaled as the GM sees fit. *** All have good quality artifacts: Mage and Animist have spell adders or daily spell items (maybe even a PP multiplier); Warriors have enchanted armor and weapons; Scouts wear boots of stealth, cloaks of hiding and the like. **** No minds to attack. Reduce the severity of criticals by two steps. Ignore bleeding and stun damage from criticals, except on leg criticals, which can unbalance them.

ENDNOTE The author would like to thank Chris Seeman and Sam Daish for their contributions to the text and stats for this adventure. Certain parts of the original adventure, giving further detail to the character of Morwatha and the fulfillment of the Prophecy of the Blessed Child (in case the PCs met with success) were not included due to requirements of space. Those interested in obtaining these parts of the story should write to the author, who would be most glad to provide them.

21 Other Hands Product

Mark Feil Hands of the Healer Review (#2026) Charlottesville, Virginia Iron Crown Enterprises, 1997 [160 pgs.; $18.00] Before I go much farther, I should make style role playing within a Middle-earth it clear that I am not a language expert, nor setting. have I read ’s ten vol- The promise Hands of the Healer is well referenced, and ume corpus, the History of Middle-earth. makes frequent use of quotes from the of this product My ability to spot inconsistencies between can be found on canon, including Morgoth’s Ring and War of MERP products and the canon is limited. the Jewels. Although many of the most re- page 5: “Hands My talents, instead, lie in running and play- of the Healer is cent MERP releases have remained loyal to ing games: scripting storylines, creating “Professor Tolkien’s legacy,” more effort the first title in characters and shamelessly pillaging RPG ICE’s Lore of has been made than ever to provide refer- products from a variety of companies for ence and citation. These citations provide Middle-earth ideas that I can slip into my own long- series.” The starting points for research on the part of running Fantasy Hero campaign. My bias the reader, and they show that the canon theme resur- noted, let us continue. faces in the dis- does not, indeed, focus exclusively on the cussion of Findegil, loremaster to King There is no doubt that the book’s survey cultures of northwest Middle-earth, as a Eldarion and compiler of the Red Book of of healing traditions is its strongest asset. reading of LotR might lead us to believe. Westmarch. Findegil, it appears, embarked Covering as it does such a wide variety of On the negative side, the text is dense on a quest to gather all the lore of Middle- cultures, many of which are very different and only sparsely illustrated, though the earth together, and Hands of the Healer was than the traditional Gondorian-influenced quality of the art is generally quite good. the first such book. But we all know the lands of northwestern Middle-earth, the Small print with dense text does at least fate of the MERP line, and art imitates life. work is a marvelous sourcebook for fantasy mean that there is much to read, and the There will be no more Lore of Middle-earth games of all types. The cultures are amaz- format of the work makes it easy to jump books, no more MERP books of any kind ingly diverse and potentially very useful. around, reading whatever culture happens for some time, and no 160 page tomes like Although the rules for these new tradi- to interest you. tions—be they Elven healing songs, Dwar- this one ever again. Hands of the Healer is the The catalogue of herbs, though by far the ven jewel-healing, or the Ru-lani monkey sole example of its breed. It is the first and largest such index and undoubtedly useful, dance — are described in the unfortunate the last. is marred by occasional editorial lapses Rolemaster system, most MERP players such as missing Attack Levels for some poi- After a brief introduction, HotH discusses are familiar enough with RPG conversion sons, or other minor errors. Much more four new skills, rule modifications that that we can use the traditions described disheartening is the index to the plants. An bring Lifegiving and other healing spell here for whatever game we happen to be effort has been made to place the herbs into effects more in line with Middle-earth, and playing. I found the sections on Elvish un- 15 categories, and also to list them by ter- some rules for finding herbs in the wild. dead, the “Lingerers” and the “Houseless,” rain found, but the end result is less than Following this is the meat of the book — a to be especially interesting. In a similar satisfactory. An example may serve to illus- survey of the healing traditions found in vein, the undead society of the Oathbreak- trate the situation. some forty plus cultures across Middle- ers is also glimpsed, complete with a Cama- earth, from High Elves to the Mûmakani. rilla-like system of undead clans, providing A Hobbit burglar, while climbing a tree This section occupies some 70 pages, about the unusual opportunity for White Wolf in Mirkwood, accidentally falls and stum- half the work. Many of the cultures de- bles into the den of a venomous snake, scribed are seen for the first time, and are which bites him. Fortunately, his friend the found far to the East or South. An authori- Ranger is trained in healing arts, and has tative catalogue of all useful herbs takes up access to an arsenal of useful plants. Which the majority of the work’s remaining pages, one could be used to treat the Hobbit’s and is capped off by two scenarios for the snakebite? If the player opens up to the MECCG and an attempt at an index. index of HotH, he will find many categories of herbs that might apply, including Con-

22 Issue 20 January 1998 cussion Relief, General Purpose, Life Pres- This is, however, a matter of degree. ERRATA FOR ervation, Drug and Physical Alteration/ Hands of the Healer is a wonderful source- HANDS OF THE HEALER Enhancement. Which of these will relieve book on a subject that has received little poison? There are over 30 different poison treatment by the RPG industry at large. Olivier Morelle antidotes among the nearly 300 herbs pre- Players will find two or three character sented, listed in all of these categories and concepts on every page. Gamemasters will ([email protected]) others. What is needed is an index that lists see adventure possibility and the attraction herbs by ailment: be it snakebite, fever, hy- of new and unusual settings peopled by rich HERB TYPES pothermia or something else. Also, the in- and unique cultures. The healing plants and dex does not reference any of the unique deadly poisons collected in HotH will be Árunya > Drug medical practices listed in the discussion of useful — and dangerous—to PC and NPC Bitterlove > Physical Alteration/En- healing traditions, many of which could be alike. At $18, the book seems a little pricey, hancement very beneficial. but there is a surprisingly large amount of information here and you will not be disap- Like The Northern Waste realm module, ATTACK LEVELS HotH includes scenarios for use with the pointed. Finally, HotH is valuable not only Creagach-chnàimh > 8 Middle-earth Collectible Card Game. It because of what it is, but because of what it also includes 16 new cards, but for some might have been: the first in a series of Deadly Milk-white Trumpet > 8 for pol- inexplicable reason most of these new cards sourcebooks spanning all of Middle-earth, len/10 for seed pods are sites. Why not some of the many herbal packed with cultures, personalities and Dinfuin > 8 other concepts usable in any fantasy game. remedies, poisons, rituals or even character Lothgalen > 2 types described in the rich backgrounds What a delight it would have been to see Madarch (undiluted norechor) > 2 that span Middle-earth? Healers and their Secrets of the Seer or even Methods of the lore are just as applicable to the MECCG Merchant. But the MERP line was not ro- Madwort > 12-15 as they are to MERP. Truly, it is a shame bust enough to support such products, and Metsästäjän Kukka > 20 for that we mourn. to see such an opportunity for expansion Nelthandon > Lvl 5 (-10 RR) ; Mild missed. Perhaps the card game will get its “muscular poison” effect max. On failure, own MECCG expansion set later this year. Reviewer: Jason Vester induce powerful vomiting (target acts at - At first glance, Hands of the Healer appears 30 during 1 hour per 5 failure). On suc- to be a profession manual not unlike cess, induce only limited vomiting (targets AD&D’s Fighter’s Handbook and its descen- acts at -10 on the next 5 minutes) dants, or even the unending series of White Wolfstooth > 5 Wolf Clan/Tribe/Guild books. ICE has cov- ered many of the traditional MERP charac- ter roles in other books, but never before has a single product been devoted com- pletely to the history, character creation and unique rules of a specific PC type. Could we have expected future books on Warriors, , and even Burglars? Was HotH the first in this sort of series? That seems unlikely. The role of a healer is by its nature one better suited to non- player characters, and the format of the book makes it ideal for a company that is traveling all over Middle-earth, interacting briefly with a series of diverse cultures. A book targeted more directly at players who would have gone into much more depth on the cultures of northwestern Middle-earth, at the expense of those traditions found in the South and East. It might have included unique spell lists or famous artifacts related to healing traditions—perhaps a detailed history of the Gondorian “Houses of Heal- ing.” For these and other reasons, HotH may be more useful to gamemasters than the individual player.

23 Other Hands THE ROAD CREW

Gen Chris Bridget Quentin

Fine Print

Other Hands is an international gaming journal devoted to fantasy role playing set in J.R.R, Tolkien’s secondary world of Middle-earth. It is a quarterly, nonprofit publication welcoming submissions dealing with any aspect of gaming in the context of Tolkien’s world: scenario ideas, rule suggestions, gaming product reviews, gamemastering aids, bibliographic resources, essays on Middle-earth, and whatever else our readership would like to see in print. In a word, Other Hands aims to be the definitive Tolkien-related gaming journal for a worldwide role playing communi- tiy. Within the pages of Other Hands, the interested gamer may publish materials with reference to any game mechanics he or she chooses (including Rolemaster and Middle-earth Role Playing). Such gaming material may deal with any time period of Tolkien’s world, and need not be bound to what has already seen print in Iron Crown’s modules. Other Hands provides this freedom because it is a nonprofit publication. Subscrip- tion rates are as follows: USA/Canada ($6.25/Issue), South/Central Amerca ($6.75), UK/Europe ($7.25), New Zealand/Australia ($7.75), For other zones, contact Chris Seeman. Payment should be made to Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213 Novato, CA 94948, USA. No Eurochecks, please! Submissions are welcome in any from (preferably legible), but we prefer if you can to send a file. We use Word for Windows. If there is any question as to the readability of your file, please save it in ASCII or text-only format and include a hard copy. All submissions must be sent to Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213, Novato, CA 94948 [USA]. Please write me or call if you have any difficulties. My phone number is [415] 892- 9066. Please note also that I may be reached on-line at: [email protected].

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