ISSN 1081-8359

The International Journal for Middle-earth Gaming

Issue 12—January 1996 EDITORIAL : In this Issue

Editorial: Because we can ...... 1 BECAUSE WE CAN Frontlines...... 3 naugurating as it does the third In addition to the return of Fredrik year of our publication’s exis- Ekman’s highly informative “Digital Communications ...... 4 Itence, I am proud to announce Hands,” I’ve decided to establish two new that with this issue Other Hands is regular columns for OH. The first of these Digital Hands ...... 5 now available on-line as part of the Vast I have dubbed “A Taste of Things to website (vastus.com). We have high Come,” whose function will be to show- A Taste of Things to Come...... 7 hopes that this will greatly increase the case a particular MERP author’s work on size of our subscription base, and that it a current module project. Wesley Frank The Balchoth...... 10 wall advance our vision of a global com- inaugurates this series with a prospectus munity of Middle-earth gamers. We are of Near Harad, the module that will create The Bozishnarod: still committed, however, to producing OH an interlocking “land bridge” at the inter- Using the cultures of “the old-fashioned way”— as a high qual- section of the Southern Gondor-Umbar- ity, hard copy, gaming fanzine. Khand bloc of new realm modules (un- Far Harad in MERR ...... 21 Let us cut to the chase. Since our last doubtedly the most collaborative effort to date in the history of the MERP series). Aggressiveness and Morale for (double) issue we have reestablished an exchange with Estel, the journal of the The second new column getting its Non-player Characters ...... 29 Sociedad Tolkien Española, and (as our send-off in this issue is “Arda Lore,” a bibliography addendum makes clear) place for ideas-in-progress on any Middle- Mapping Middle-earth: many articles from OH have been trans- earth topic. The concept is that each con- An Interview with Pete Fenlon ...37 lated into other languages and are being tributor poses a question or issue of inter- discussed within Tolkien societies in est, and then attempts to draw the broad Arda Lore...... 41 Europe. Not only that, but several arti- outline of an answer. So, for example, we cles, essays, and reviews devoted to Mid- have in this issue’s column questions such Product Reviews: dle-earth gaming are beginning to appear as “What ever happened to the Blue Wiz- Dol Guldur ...... 49 in journals like Estel, Terra di Mezzo, and ards?” “Whom did the Free Peoples be- Angmar ...... 52 elsewhere. Let us hope that this trend will lieve the Necromancer to be?” “Was Mirkwood ...... 56 continue. Harondor ever forested?” and so on. Since “Arda Lore” does not require a

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Seeman EDITING ARTWORK Fredrik Ekman Patrick "Wynne Chris Seeman Sophia Caramagno SUBMISSION Wesley Frank Tommy Martin Sonia Seeman Jeff Hatch DEADLINE Luke Porter Anders Blixt Patrick Wynne for next issue Mark Thome Steffen Solomon LAYOUT & Jason Mulligan Chris Pheby DESIGN March 1, 1996 Bernie Roessler Jason Vester Lisa Disterheft — OTHER HANDS —————————————————————————

definitive solution to any topic, I hope it be of great practical value to any GM As always, we round the menu off will encourage more folks who would running a campaign in southern Middle- with some reviews of recent MERP re- otherwise not have enough time to con- earth. leases: Dol Guldur, Angmar, and Mirkwood. tribute to OH. Bernie Roessler returns this issue with For next issue, I will be submitting a On to the main pieces for this issue. yet another in-depth piece — this time a voluminous piece on the Kin-strife cam- Luke Potter has given us a richly de- new rule idea for managing NPC combat paign I have been running, complete tailed portrait of the Balchoth and their behavior. Keep up the good work! with synopses and character stats. In invasion of the West (much of which I As promised, I am continuing my in- addition to the interview and the regular hope to incorporate into the Northern terview series on “The Making of MERP.” features already mentioned, I also hope Gondor module). In this issue I converse with master car- to coerce Jason Beresford into giving us On-line MERPlisters Mark Thorne tographer Pete Fenlon on what he does “A Taste of Things to Come” for his and Jason Mulligan have joined forces to best. I think everyone will find his re- revision of the Umbar module. There is create elaborated MERP/Rolemaster char- marks of great interest. Next issue we’ll also a good chance that someone from acter development templates for the three see whether we can land an interview the MERPlist will be submitting an arti- cultures described in ICE’s 1st edition with Jessica. Ney-Grimm, the MERP cle on a Númenórean campaign set in Far Harad module. This will certainly series editor and art director. eastern Middle-earth. See you all in April! Chris Seeman January 31, 1996

BIBLIOGRAPHY ADDENDUM Luis Goñi “No, no hay Eldar en la Cuarta Edad” Estel 11: 34— Reglas Opcionales para M.E.RP: Magia y Habilidades Secundarias (Co- 42 [response to Jorge Quiñonez’ article from OH 2, misión de Rol de la S.T.E.) [20 page pamphlet containing- reprinted in Estel 10] variant magic and secondary skill rules for MERP; inquiries Jorge Qiñonez “Niente Elfi nella Quarta Era?!” Terra di Mezzo 2: should be directed to: Francisco Soliva Garcia, C/ Dos de Abril 22-23 [translated from OH 2] 19, 1a, 46006 Valencia, Spain] Chris Pheby “La corruzione nella Terra di Mezzo: un esame José Luis Goñi “Acerca de los semi-elfos”.Estel 8: 7-13 [makes all’uso e le conseguenze del potere” Terra di Mezzo 2: 56—58 reference to ICE and to Jorge Quiñonez’s article in OH 2] [translated from OH 1] Eduardo Martínez Santamaría “Chris Tubb: su peso en mithril” Mieuel Navarro Mañez “Critica del Juego de Mesa “The Hobbit” Estel 8: 17—21 [discusses the Mithril miniature series] Estel 12: 9 [review of ICE’s new Hobbit boardgame] Pablo Ginés “La Religión en el Reino de Gondor” Estel 8: 39-42 Pablo J. Ginés Rodriguez “Cuando ICE tomó cartas” Estel 12: [discusses the religion of Gondor with reference to Chris See- 10-11 [review of METW] man’s article in OH 2] Pablo de la Torre Plaza “Los colores de Arda” Estel 12: 34— Paco Solvia García “Guia de pintura para miniaturas de Mithril 41 [ideas for painting Middle-earth miniatures] (parte 1)” Estel 9: 49-54 [guide to painting the Mithril minia- Luis Goñi “Acerca del Poder y de la Magia” Estel 12:42—48 tures—the Fellowship and the Gondorian army] [discussion of magic and power in Middle-earth; makes refer- Jorge Quiñonez “No hay elfos en la Cuarta Edad?” Estel 10: 6-10 ence to article in OH 4] [translated from OH 2] Sergi Ibarra “Middle-earth PBM” Estel 10: 27-29 [information Other Hands Errata on the play-by-mail game] OH 9: p. 14 [last column, second paragraph] 250 (not 200) years Jose Miguel Odero “Sobre Gandalf y La Religión en Gondor” should appear as the typical lifespan for Dwarves. Estcl 11: 9-15 [response to Pablo Ginés’ article in Estel 8] OH 10: p. 9 “the above material would meet the heating and Paco Solvia García “Guia de pintura para miniaturas de Mithril COOKING (not “cooling”) requirements for a year...” (parte 2)” Estel 11: 19-25 [guide to painting the Mithril mini- atures — Orcs, Trolls, and Half-orcs] 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 prod- uct 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 community: 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 ol 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. Subscription rates are as follows: inside the USA—1 issue $3/4 issues $12; outside the USA—surface 1 issue $3.50/4 issues $18. Payment should be made to Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213, Novato, CA 94948, USA. No Eurochccks, please! Submissions arc welcome in any form (preferably legible), but arc easiest to edit when received on a floppy disk. Word for Windows is the editing software currently in use, so if there is any question as to the readability of your disk, please save your document in ASCII or text-only format and include a hard copy. All submitted materials remain the copyright of the author unless we are otherwise informed. All submissions must be sent to Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213, Novato, CA 94948 (USA). Please write me or call it you encounter any difficulties, my phone number is (415) 892—9066. Please note also that I may be reached over Internet: [email protected]

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FRONTLINES

There’s been quite a bit of news to relate since our last column, so let us dive into the thick of things. Due to rising paper costs and other marketing considerations, ICE has decided to release Southern Gondor as not one but two volumes (the first to be subtitled The People, the second, The Land—each about 200 pages in length). The first volume has already gone into production, and my rough guess is that it will be in the stores within a month’s time. The second volume will be released approximately one month after the first. A re-issue of Arnor based on the same principle of division is currently being planned. Among the virtues of this publication strategy are: 1) more reasonably priced products and 2) more space for detailing the various realms of Middle-earth. Modules of under 200 pages, however, will probably still be released as single vol- ume works. Another happy consequence of this turn of events for Southern Gondor is that ICE can now afford to commission a full-scale color map (1" = 20 miles) of Harondor for the second volume, along with improved versions of all the other pre- viously published maps covering Gondor south of the White Mountains. A contract for the NearHarad module will have reached Wesley Frank’s doorstep by the time you are reading this, and Wes hopes to have a manuscript ready for pub- lication by this August. Meanwhile, Jason Beresford, having done more than his duty for Southern Gondor, has at last found time to return to his own Umbar project in earnest. At the moment, the triumvirate of Umbar, NearHarad, and Khand authors are continuing their collaboration in order to work towards a consistent chronology for the highly interconnected histories of their respective regions. A similar coordination of efforts has begun between myself and Pete Fenlon, who will soon be preparing the Rohirrim and other Northmen peoples book. I have sent him a prospectus of issues raised by that module’s predecessor (Riders of Rohan) for my own Northern Gondor work. Together, Pete, Wes, Jason, Jesse Dallin, and myself all hope to bring inter- module consistency to an unprecedented height for the entire span of territory from Rhovanion to Umbar. Other Hands subscriber Jason Vester has responded to Jessica Ney-Grimm’s search for new MERP authors. He has sent in a proposal to ICE for a Nazgul source- book, based on Pete Fenlon’s bios in Lords of Middle-earth II, which will more fully detail the history, realms, and powers of the Nine Ringwraiths. This promises to be an exceedingly fruitful endeavor. As for future projects, Jessica has informed me that an Athelas and Other Herbs sourcebook is being planned. Also, Pete Fenlon has made some overtures to myself and Patrick Wynne regarding the possibility of expanding the linguistic sections of the existing Middle-earth Campaign Guide book. This would be a particularly exciting development, since (as some of you may know) Pat has access to a significant corpus of unpublished material by Tolkien pertaining to the languages of Middle-earth, which he has been preparing for eventual publication with Chris Gilson and other Tolkienian linguists of lofty repute. That’s all for now. I hope someone will send us a review of Southern Gondor: The People for our April issue. Until then...

Reporter: Chris Seeman ————————————————————————————————————— 3 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— COMMUNICATIONS

Nancy Martsch: the city to allow a population of 50K. before my first MERP session, I was over- Enjoyed the latest Other Hands. A few Also, it was built as a fort, so you’ve joyed when I discovered that, despite comments: Since you mention ICE prod- probably got a high proportion of the Tolkien’s death, his world was continuing ucts so often, it would be nice to include population living in barracks, which are to grow and develop. To me this is the their address. Prices too. I particularly not normally renown for luxury and spa- most important and fascinating part of enjoyed the interview with Laurie Battle ciousness. playing and collecting MERP. It is as and Fredrik Ekman’s column. Keep it up! On a more general point, to what ex- though we, the gamers, are creating and On page 20 of “The High Cost of Living,” tent do OH readers think we should rely living the history of a real world. reference is made to a “chatelaine.” He on Tolkien’s pictures? My own feeling is I agree with Brian Carlton when he ex- must be very gay, as chaltelaine is femi- that rough drafts such as the Minas Tirith pressed his desire to see nontra-ditional nine. Perhaps you want settings developed, primarily chatelain, or the English those to the East and south. version castellan (“the keeper These areas are wrapped in a of a castle”). mysterious fog of untold and Regarding “The Streets of unwritten possibilities. The Minas Tirith” (good article), it’s histories, lives, and cultures of as probably true that the yet unknown peoples are waiting Dúnedain built up the walls to to be brought forth, and only we defend against Sauron. But — the game players and creators people have a tendency to — can do it. It has always been a overbuild in reaction to past fanciful dream of mine to see all disasters (“By golly, this one’s of Middle-earth (as imagined in going to last!”) and the Pete Fenlons map) detailed and destruction of Númenor would brought to life. still be fresh in their memory. After reading Other Hands, I You should see some of the realize that there are probably stuff that went up after the LA many other people out there who earthquake (my bookshelves, for in- drawings should be wish to see this “dream” realized. stance)! An excavation in Greece re- used on a level -with, say, The Book of Hopefully some of these people might vealed the ruins of a city, evidence of a Lost Tales II, and only finished paintings try their hand at authoring a MERP tremendous flood, rebuilding, and a truly as “canonical.” To accuse the module, or an article for Other Hands. Professor of “vertical exaggeration,” tremendous and awesome dam upstream. 4055 West 12th Avenue You figure. on the other hand, smacks of text criticism.... Vancouver, B.C. Regarding “The Power of Spells in Canada 68 Pinner Road Middle-earth,” Wesley Frank states in his ([email protected]) “Invisibility” entry that etheralness (cre- North-wood ated by wearing the One Ring) causes a Middx HA6 1BT SamDaish “general blurring of the senses” (p. 14). UK Just a quick note that I thought you Actually, scent and hearing were en- ([email protected]) hanced; only vision was blurred. might want to pass on to the readers of OH. The Arcane Companion contains a PO Box 55372 Jesse Dallin: reprint of certain pages of the Rolemas- Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 My initial reaction to Other Hands may ter Standard Rules, where there were USA be influenced by a long yearning for a mistakes or a clarity problem. They also Middle-earth fanzine. For years I have contain a fairly major rule change con- Sarah Storch: scoured game stores and book shops, cerning certain types of skills, and have It occurs to me that population figures hoping in vain to find anything containing included a Transcend Armor skill. for Medieval cities are probably based on information on role-playing in Middle- (Yay!) earth. And here it is. A journal for Mid- quite low buildings, rarely more than 7/38 Cleveland Street dle-earth gaming. Fantastic. three stories, whereas the architects of Brooklyn Minas Tirith would have had no diffi- Ever since I began playing and collect- Wellington ing MERP modules, I have been amazed culty with seven or eight-story buildings. New Zealand This doubles your living space, so you by their ability to embellish and solidify don’t need to double the area covered by Tolkien’s world. A fan of the books long ([email protected])

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DIGITAL HANDS: News from the front

Fredrik Ekman s those of you who read Other Hands they released a completely reworked Ryds Allé 3:106, S-582 51 10/11 will remember, this is a new version of the game for Super Nintendo regular column about computer Entertainment System. Linköping, Sweden games set in Tolkien’s world. This Quite apart from Interplay and offi- email:[email protected] Asecond article will be about what is going cial licenses, many games are developed on today. Before we start, allow me to by the Internet community. For those mention that the list of Tolkien computer who like wargames, there is a Middle- games that I described in the first article earth module for the recently released has been adapted into a set of WWW version 7 of the very popular game pages. If you have Internet access, try Xconq. Another wargame where players connecting to can develop their own scenarios is War- http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/ lords II. Middle-earth seems to be a very to view them. There you can find further popular choice for such scenarios, and information about all the games men- there are currently at least four available tioned in this article and many others. on the Internet. One RPG constantly At first glance, not much seems to under development (though not exclu- happen with regard to Tolkien computer sively based on Tolkien) is The Pits of games these days. The Tolkien Estate’s Angband. current computer games licensee is Beam Yet perhaps the most interesting Software, who in turn have licensed In- games today for Tolkien computer gam- terplay. Interplay-released The Lord of the ers are the MUDs. “What is a MUD?” I Rings, Vol I, based an The Fellowship of the hear some of you ask. Well, I described Ring, in 1990. It then took another year text adventures in the first installment of for The Lord of the Rings, VoL II: The Two “Digital Hands.” A MUD is simply a Towers to appear and, since then, all com- text adventure for several players. In puter gaming Tolkien fans have been one such, you may choose to go on awaiting the third part. quests to rescue fair maidens or find According to unofficial sources at In- treasure, you can hack-and-slash all the terplay, the game developers first wanted monsters that usually inhabit the MUD, to do a RPG, then decided on a wargame you can role-play a character or you can and finally ended up making Warcraft, a become a creator and further expand the game in the Dungeons & Dragons’ “Forgot- MUD yourself. Especially this last pos- ten Realms” series. Currently, both pro- sibility is what makes the MUD envi- jects have been put on ice. Why have we ronment so unique. Since the players yet not seen the third part? We can only themselves program the game, MUDs speculate, but perhaps the first two tend to be extremely large and extremely games did not do as well as expected. diverse. Unfortunately, this also means Still, a few things have happened after considerable diversity in terms of qual- 1991. In 1993 The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I ity. was re-released for MS-DOS computers Three examples of popular Tolkien as a CD-ROM game, enhanced with MUDs are The Two Towers (not yet offi- animation from Ralph Bakshi’s animated cially open), MUME and Elendor. I will movie, and in 1994 not here describe them in detail, nor will I try to mention the countless other MUDs that are more or less based on Tolkien’s world. That will ————————————————————————————————————— 5 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— have to wait for future articles, but I will Wizards (previewed in Other Hands In conclusion, even though there are say that all three are good in their own 10/11). It is played on the World Wide no new official releases to be expected ways, and each deserves a try by the Web and the user must find the answers within the near future, there are many Tolkien gamer. to a series of riddles. The player could interesting games to play and to write Finally, I would like to mention one originally win decks of cards, but now it about. Do you know about others? Do rather unusual game. It is actually a con- can only be played for fun. not hesitate to contact me through the test to promote Middle-earth: The address above.

Cnlotsdq f`ldr ldmshnmdc hm sgd sdws Elendor, MUSH, telnet to elendor.sbs.nau.edu 1892 The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I, available for MS-DOS (disk, $12.95; CD-ROM, $29.35) and Super NES ($5935), and The Lord of the Rings, Vol II: The Two Towers, available for MS-DOS ($29.95). Call 1-800-INTERPLAY to order. Middle-eartb: The Riddles, available on the Internet at http://iquest.com/~tstevens/saratosa/riddle.htm MUME, Diku MUD, telnet to 128.178.77.5 4242 for a list of available servers. The Pits of Angband, Freeware, available for all popular machines and operating systems from. ftp://ftp.cis.ksu.edu/pub/Games/Angband/ The Two Towers, LP MUD, telnet to empires.stanford.edu 9999 Warlords II, available for MS-DOS and Macintosh ($49.95). Call 1-904-469-8880 to order. Warlords II scenarios available from http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~shikore/Warlords2/scenarios/ Xconq, Freeware, available for UNIX and Macintosh from ftp://ftp.uu.net/pub/games/xconq/

Dhfhs`k H`mcr dqq`s` enq k`rs hrrtd 1. D&D was released in 1974, and Gygax made it in cooperation with Dave Arneson. 2. Rogue was NOT the first RPG (I thought the year looked a bit late). The first one was proba- bly Akalabeth, released in 1979.

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rial was in the Third Age history of the Nazgûl Adûnaphel. Since, in the open world I was creating, she would have been an obvious target for the Gondorian army, her Third Age “kingdom” went underground, becoming a source of con- spiracy and terror. Lesser changes included a rationalization of Ûvatha of Khand’s story—there were contradictions even in the published version of LoMe II—but that was to be left for the first Wesley Frank draft. 949 North Humphrey After progressing this far, I went to Oak Park, IL 60302, USA work on my other two projects. Much happened in the intervening time, and the ([email protected]) Haruze (the Northern or Near Ha- radrim) pretty much vanished from eve- ryone’s thinking. Most of the writers involved in the new-generation of mod- ules focused on Gondor, then on the Variags and Umbar, because they were the people Mr. Fenlon and ICE had writ- ten about, and that was where interest was concentrated. By the time the Nortbwestcrn Middle-earth Gazetteer came out, Harondor and Near Harad were flat, desolate, and empty. The writers of the NWMG, as far as I have learned, sketched their entry solely on the basis of Mr. Fenlon’s lack of reference to the region and two of Tolkien’s notes stating that the country was “desert” and “contested.” When Chris Seeman, Jason Beresford, presented Jessica Ney-Grimm well after Pete Fenlon drew up the Anders Blixt, and company put the South- with the outline for the Near Nazgûl histories, but I realized at the ern Gondor module together, they followed Harad module some five years time that many additions and some this lead and all the references to this part I changes would be necessary to provide a of Middle-earth assumed that little hap- ago, along with my proposals for Arnor and Shire. While I thought that Near more realistic view of Gondorian knowl- pened in Near Harad and the only rele- Harad, being farther from the heartland of edge and interests in the northern Ha- vant players—in politics, trade, and ad- The Lord of the Rings, would be less risky radwaith, as well as to create an enter- venture—were Gondor, Umbar, and as a introductory project, ICE had differ- taining story. The most obvious problem Khand. ent needs, and the two northern modules was that the northern Haradrim, while a When I got permission this fall to do came first. The situation in west-central frequent threat to Gondor in The Lord of the Near Harad module, my assumption - Endor has changed somewhat -with time. the Rings timelines, were not mentioned was that it would be on the original terms Other writers have taken up the cause: in the available ICE background mate- and something like the original outline. The Kin-strife and Southern Gondor, both rial, save for (I think) the single reference My e-mail contacts with the other writers dealing with this part of Middle-earth, to “Merchant Princes” in the Ûvatha showed me how drastically things had have been completed, and Umbar and entry. changed. The barrenness of northern Khand are well under way; Northern Gon- To flesh out the module and fill up the Harad as it was described in SG left me dor and Mordor will soon take shape. Near territory, I sketched out a far-flung, civi- with little or nothing to tell stories about, Harad, rather than being an isolated pro- lized nation, with cities, kingdoms, and a so the primary writers of SG and Umbar ject, is now somewhere near the center of long history of tragic interaction with agreed to several months of frantic re- a grand strategy. Merging the old outline imperial Gondor. The “Outhame,” the writing and editing to make room for the with the new ideas has taken a bit of exotic frontier population of Gondor, Haruze (the Northern Haradrim) and negotiation, but it should prove well added some color, and various Maiar and their world. We have added several worth the effort. other supernatural creatures added ranges of hills, a lot of water and cities, The Near Harad outline was written magic. The most significant change and needed in the Lords of Middle-eartb II mate- ————————————————————————————————————— 7 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— some 4-5 millions of population to the rele- • The lands of Harad should offer out a (less-plausible) storyline involving vant parts of SG. Chris Seeman, as editor, many layers of history to serve as Thorin Oakenshield and Bilbo’s mother, has altered a number of references from seed for adventures, including al- the remarkable Belladonna Took. “Khand and Harad” to “Harad and Khand,” lies, encounters, sites, and evils dat- My outline for Near Harad hopefully to reflect the primary importance of the local ing back to ancient Númenor, and will advance all of these goals. If it works, Haruze power over the more distant beyond to the Maiar who wandered it should lead players out of Gondor to Variags. Jason Beresford, the writer of before the rising of the sun. Khand and Umbar, increasing interest in Umbar, and Jesse Dallin, currently working • To serve as a proper game book, it all the other modules, and possibly gener- on Khand, agreed to a division of labor and ating interest in the presently unpublished interests along our respective frontiers. should provide mobility for a vari- ety of player character races. That realms of Farther Harad and the Chey The design for the Near Harad module is is, because it lies surrounded by and Chy lands as well. The geography of intend to serve several purposes: other gaming areas, there should be Near Harad, as it has been worked out, • It should provide, for the gamemas- some means of travel during some runs something like this: ter and players, a sophisticated, alien time in history for Dwarves, Hob- The Harnen has its source in the civilization only a day’s ride or so bits, Elves, and several varieties of Caradhram Nurn (the eastern extension away from the familiar, safe lands of Men. of the Ephel Dúath), just about a hundred Gondor. • The players should have at least the miles east of the Caradhram’s junction • In addition to an interesting and unique possibility of contact with characters with the main north/south spine of the country to wander about in, the module from Tolkien’s writings. None of the range. Fifty miles downstream, at the site also must include a variety of story links well-known characters are native to of Lugarlûr, the old royal seat of the Sec- to the primary campaign area Harad, but Saruman, Aragorn, ond Age Kingdom of Ard (Adûnaphel the (Gondor/Arnor/Mirkwood) and more Faramir, and Éowyn all traveled here. Nazgûl), it is joined by the Ode Auchel, to regions covered in other modules, Other, lesser characters, kings of the river that collects the drainage from such as Khand, Umbar, and Far Harad. Gondor, princes of Rohan, and some the rest of the Caradhram and the south- western corner of the Plateau of Khand. of the better-known Elves, had cause to travel to Harad. I have even sorted At Amrûn, a hundred miles farther

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——————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — downriver, the Harnen turns westward lower Khand, 4000' in Upper (northern) geography of Lurmsakûn is intended to and is joined by the Ode Pezar (Noz Khand, high enough to produce a dry meet the requirements given above Near Peka), doubling in size and flowing di- grassland for the Variags. Below the es- Harad, while allowing Jesse Dallin a rectly westward to the sea. carpment, at 1000' — 1500', Chelkar and free hand in creating the bloody enter- All the lands from the sea, up the Lurmsakun are desert areas inhabited by tainments of Variag politics. All of the Harnen and Ode Pezar to the Chey Haruze irrigators. writers involved get an interesting multi- plains beyond the peaks of the Ered My placement of Sturlurtsa Khand— racial mix of enemies on their borders. I Harmal, inland for a thousand miles, are the capital of Ûvatha’s Variag empire can also hope for an interesting mix of known to Dúnadan traders and (in T.A. and, in the Second Age, the largest city in geography and stories in Near Harad. 1640) open to travel by all races. The central Endor—puts it on the southern Collectors will note that the NWMG map basin of the Harnen below Lugarlûr end of the plateau, on the headwaters of includes the two big rivers I mentioned makes up, in the Second Age, the (Ode Auchel and Ode Pezar) but no the Noz Peka and in the foothills of the Númenórean province of Harnendor. other terrain south of Gondor. The ar- North and west of the Harnen are the Ered Hannal. This makes it hard to reach rangement of the names is a little un- lands known in the Third Age as with a Haruze/Dúnadan army from the usual (tributaries longer than primary Harondor or the Harmaka. South of the west, and allows it to dominate all routes branch, for instance,) primarily because Harnen and Ode Pezar lay dry hills and over the mountains at the elbow and the Tolkien, in his original maps, put the the major deserts of northern Harad. trails northward into the Gap of Khand. Harnen in without sorting out the drain- The Haruze lands along the Ode There would also be well-watered valleys age pattern in western Endor before- Auchel are called Chelkar, those along here to support the half-million or so hand. Like the inhabitants of Near Ha- the lower Ode Pezar are known as peasants/serfs/slaves needed to support rad, it was originally intended only as a Pezarsan. Between them lay the dry hills Uvatha’s capital. element of his greater central story. of the Emyn Gonngaran (the Ausk Du- In the later Second Age, at the height The authors have permission from bat,) in the west, and the Bursk Mereg, of Ûvatha's power, Lurmsakûn was a ICE to add in physical features as in the east, bordering on Khand. East of Variag province and Pezarsan served as needed (within limits), as long as it aids Pezarsan, past a series of rapids some a buffer region between the Variags and storytelling and doesn’t violate the three to four hundred miles from Am- the Númenórean colony of Harnendor. Tolkien canon. The escarpment of rûn, is Lurmsakûn. This is a rough basin Chelkar was the larger part of the King- Khand and the Ausk Dubat derive from that collects waters from the Plateau of dom of Ard and served a similar role this loophole. I would hope to add some Khand and the southwestern face of the between Harnendor and Mordor. The canyons, dead-end rivers, salt lakes, and Ered Harmal, just south of the “elbow” interesting crags and potholes to go with Rath Khand, the Númenórean road from shown on ICE’s continental map of En- them. We also, of course, can add crea- Umbar, took its name from Ûvatha’s dor. tures and inhabitants as needed. In this empire, then in absolute control of west cluttered land, we can meet wayward Beyond Lurmsakûn to the northeast central Endor. Before and after this pe- is Khand proper, to the east the elbow of nomads, cynical city dwellers, knights in riod of stability, the rule of eastern lands white armor, evil cultists, religious war- the Ered Harmal. To the southeast lie changed from dynasty to dynasty. The the valleys of the Rysis and other smaller riors and fanatics, giant birds and scor- largest city in Lurmsakûn is named the rivers, all of which drain into the deserts pions, dark sorcery, the Will of Eru, “City of Heroes” because so many of its of Harad and disappear into the legen- Spirits of the Air and Spirits of Fire. dary Mirror of Fire. Hidden in the leaders (and others) get slaughtered in Harad and its neighboring lands, mountains along the upper Rysis is the periodic Variag conquests, while while more crowded than before, has Valarith, a strange little domain of my more become martyrs driving them out a room for all of this. own design, the home of Shepherd Gi- generation or a century later. During the ants, Great Hawks, and stray Dúnadan time of Gondorian hegemony in Near and Elvish refugees. Caravans crossing Harad, Lurmsakûn is generally inde- the mountains enter the Chey prairies. pendent, as Ûvatha is loath to challenge Those jumping the Rysis southeast to the might of the Dúnedain until other valleys eventually reach the Chy Adûnaphel has destroyed their prestige lands and the Bay of Ormal on the great in Harad through subversion and terror- southern ocean. ism. She manages this about the time of All of these lands are troubled by the First Wainrider War, and the cycle of harsh climates and blessed by grand dynastic squabbles begins again in ear- scenery. The boundary of Khand, on my nest. sketches, is a grand escarpment that The situation on the Gondor-Umbar runs, on the continental map, from the frontier, focusing on the coast around the point of the elbow of the Ered Harmal mouth of the Harnen, is part of Jason dead northwest to the Caradhram Nurn. Beresford’s sphere in his Umbar module Above the escarpment the elevation is and I need not get into it here. However, about 3000' in the history and

————————————————————————————————————— 9 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— The Balcloth

Luke Potter THE HISTORY OF tribal people that named themselves the 12470 Rose Street N#9 Pults. Revealing himself to them in a Seminole, FL 34642 USA THE BALCHOTH time of great peril as Maladûm, their traditional god of war, Sauron person- [email protected] his tale begins in T.A. 2063, when Gandalf went to Dol ally delivered them from their peril, In the year 2510 of the Third Age, Gondor Guldur in an attempt to dis- cementing his position among them. and its allies together confronted and overcame T cover the true identity of the Until his return to Dol Guldur in a great peril from the East. Spurred on by Necromancer. Because he wanted his 2460, Sauron repeatedly sojourned with Sauron himself, great numbers of Easterlings strength to be greater before declaring the Pults amid his other journeys in the gathered on the Talath Harroch in southern himself, Sauron abandoned Dol Guldur East, gradually centralizing political Rhovanion with the intention of overrunning and withdrew into the East. Since the authority in the hands of a king (the Gondor and seizing its lands for their own. Battle of the Camp, in which the Wain- Bôm), enhancing the prestige of Following much the same path as their Wain- riders were utterly defeated, there had Sauron’s own cult there (the Sarshen rider predecessors, this new wave of Easterlings been no great stirring in Rhûn, and it was Meltek, or “Crimson Order”), and in- first persecuted Gondor’s Northman allies at least partly for the purpose of finding creasing the size and power of the Pul- along the East Bight of Mirkwood and later new allies that Sauron fled in that direc- tic military. By 2203, this once-tribal assaulted Calenardhon itself. It was only tion. Far beyond the Sea of Rhûn, the culture had brought through the timely arrival of the Éothéod Dark Lord came upon a plain-dwelling, cavalry that disaster was averted and Gondor saved. In gratitude for their valor, Cirion the Steward granted the fields of Calenardhon to the horse-lords, and thus was born the Rid- dermark. These events are described in Appendix A of The Return of the King. A similar (though not identical) account can be found in “Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan” which is part of Unfinished Tales. Unfortunately, these are the only two primary sources I have been able to locate in my con- struction of a campaign setting for my play- ers. The two accounts are very simple and sometimes contradictory. Undaunted, I used a little common scnsc, a little creative license, and all the help I could find in past and cur- rent ICE publications to recreate the military campaign itself as well as the events preceding and resulting from it. I hope that the informa- tion that follows will help other gamemasters open a new period of Middle-earth’s history for their players.

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under its authority many of the weakened always used to snare the hearts of Men— During this decade, the Pultic military wain-tribes to the west of it. In 2300, the that of unending life. He said that the received renewed strength from Variag, Pults had grown from their original people of Gondor once enjoyed this gift, Logath, and Sagath recruits. In the twenty-three tribes into an Easterling em- but had lost it when they shunned Pultic empire, many young Easterling pire of over sixty tribes, many of which Maladûm. He foretold that the Pultic men saw the promise of glory that their were wain-tribes that had once belonged to empire would one day destroy the over- grandfathers had once seen in the the Wainrider Confederacy. proud men of Gondor and would thus Wainriders. In the blood of these people It -was around 2300 that Sauron, having claim the gift of Maladûm, taking their an ancient enmity for the Men of the returned from a foray into the Far East, rightful place as lords of Men. Sauron West stirred again. The prophecies of found the state of his new empire not to his also devised a script for their language the Sarshen Meltek, the lies of Sauron, liking. Many of the Pultic conquests had and taught it to his cultists; and they, in rang true in their ears. occurred more than a century before; and turn, delivered it to the tribes as the first In 2469, the principally Sagath town Sauron perceived that as long as these gift of their dark god. Later, Sauron of Kravod (formerly Gondorian tribes enjoyed economic success in their would add his requirements of dark rit- Thorontir) welcomed the armies of the homeland, they would never move west in ual and sacrifice to the cult’s literature. East, and thus began the long rule of the significant numbers and, thus, would never As the words of Sauron took root in the Pultic empire on the Talath Harroch. By come to challenge the Dúnedain of Gon- hearts of the people, the drought peaked 2473, the westernmost Pultic army had dor. Sauron then began a great sorcery that and the tribes began to look west. reached the Anduin, and was advancing changed the wind and precipitation pat- In 2370, the Bôm launched a new age north towards the Gladden Fields. The terns of the plains, causing the gradual of fire and war, renewing his campaigns main populace of the empire had mi- onset of a terrible drought. Keeping his against those wain-tribes that remained grated to the Talath Harroch, and Kra- presence a secret, he observed the Pults, unconquered. In 2392, the Pultic armies vod became its new capital. A newly determining what next to do. reached the eastern shore of the Inland crowned Bôm ruled the combined East- As the years passed and the climate Sea of Rhûn. There they fought a thirty- erling peoples from an old Gondorian steadily worsened, many began to say that year war with the Logath tribes. When watchtower in the hills east of Kravod. Arud, their ancient goddess of agriculture, peace was brokered between these two The priests of the Sarshen Meltek and Pael, god of the hunt, had become peoples in 2426, the Pultic armies turned walked among the people and were both angry with the tribes’ singular devotion to south to the lands of Khand and Nûrad. feared and profoundly respected. Word Maladûm. The counsels of ancient and long The first war with Khand lasted from of this new Easterling threat spread discredited shamans of Pael and Arud were 2441 to 2445, and ended with an uneasy through the Gramuz Northman settle- sought by the Bôm. Being angered by this peace between the two nations. This was ments from the East Bight all the way to unlooked-for reaction to the drought, also the period when Pultic scouts first Esgaroth and Dale. The Northmen Sauron began a series of visitations upon reached the plains of the Talath Harroch. named this new force from the East the the people. When war once again broke out with Balchoth or “Terrible Host” (a word half common speech and half Sindarin Thus, in 2341 began the years of the Khand in 2450, the empire found itself in origin). Prophecies of Maladûm. Sauron appeared stretched too thin and suffering grievous to individuals both within and outside his losses. The northern frontier with the THE MEN cult, breaking their minds with his terrible Logath was deserted, the western armies presence. The prophecies he handed down pulled back, and the people moved to the OF THE WEST plains south of the Inland Sea. Khand to those he visited told of an ancient and The Wainrider Wars of T.A. 1851- could withstand the full strength of the glorious kingdom of stone, where vast and 1899 and 1940-1944 had left many last- Pults for only one season of war, before it fertile fields were left untilled and yet ing imprints on Gondor and Wilderland. was forced to sue for peace in 2457. guarded jealously against others. These The losses among Gondor’s Northern fields were the gifts of Arud and Pael to The second peace with Khand was an Army were serious enough to have a their new peoples, for they had deserted earnest one, and relations with that na- long-term impact on the overall strength forever the Pultic tribes. Maladûm, how- tion gradually normalized. In later years, of the South-kingdom in its coming ever, had not deserted them; and if they the Pults would welcome mercenary trials. Because the numbers in the properly dedicated themselves to him, he cavalry units into their ranks, thus in Northern Army were only sufficient for would grant them victory on the field of some manner renewing the ancient pact a full garrison at Angrenost, Tir Anduin battle and thus deliver to them the lands between the Wainrider kingdom and and Tir Limlaith (the hill-forts that the they coveted. Khand. After the second war with Undeeps) had to be unmanned. The In later prophecies, Sauron (in the guise Khand, the strength of the Pultic armies forces available to the Ruling Stewards of Maladûm) also said that he had a gift was low. The Bôm then called a halt to had been insufficient in 2475 to stop a for the Men of Middle-earth. This was the the advance of his armies until 2468. host of black Goblins of Mordor from very gift that Sauron had smashing Osgiliath,

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while southern Gondor was in constant HE RGANIZATION OF The first additions to the empire had fear of attacks from the Corsairs of Um- T O little impact on its organization. These bar and their Haradrim allies, and could THE BALCHOTH were small tribes along the west bank of rarely spare any strength for military the Kol. It was at this time that Sauron In their eastern homeland, the Pultic efforts outside its own regions. first appeared as Maladûm and led the nation comprised twenty-three large and tribes to victory. Given their enemy’s On the plains of Rhovanion, the op- closely related tribes. Of these, the Pultai devotion to (and dependence on) Kol, pressive rule of the Wainrider kingdom was the largest and most influential. The these first wars (later called the Wars of drove the large majority of Northmen empire was led by a council consisting of Formation) had profound ramifications either into the Grey Mountains or Mirk- two patriarchs from each tribe, with a on the cosmology of the conquered wood. Only the hardiest refugees sur- senior representative (the Bôm) presid- people. The river-tribes were integrated vived to settle again in the upper vales of ing as head of state. The religious pan- as lesser subjects, and Kol fell out of the Anduin with the remainder of the theon of the Pults consisted of four major favor among the original tribes. Éothraim tribes to form a new nation, the deities: Arud, Pael, Maladûm, and Kol— Maladûm, who had personally led the Éothéod. Here they lived in relative se- the lords of agriculture, hunting, war, armies in battle, was suddenly-chief clusion from even their old allies, gradu- and the River Kol (Talathrant) respec- deity of the empire and personal patron ally adapting to the pressures of their tively. Each tribe had a shaman devoted of the Bôm. new environment. to the deities that were considered most “Those Northmen that persevered important to them. Arud and Kol were As wain-tribes were either converted through the harsh rule of the Wainriders goddesses—the former married to Pael, or conquered through the policies of the revolted and helped to defeat the Easter- the latter perpetually opposed to Bôm and the blessing of Maladûm, the lings. The towns that were left along the Maladûm. nation was taken by an expansionist and East Bight in the wake of the Wainrider martial fervor such defeat were of mixed Northman (Gra- muz) and Easterling (primarily Sagath) population. These people had no formal communications with the realm of Gon- dor, though merchants undoubtedly con- tinued to trade. The Talath Harroch between the for- est, the Inland Sea, and the Ash Moun- tains was a grave and constant worry to the Ruling Stewards of Gondor. As long as there was no buffer population on the plains, the fields of Calenardhon would be open to attack from that direction. Certainly the Stewards meant to strengthen their army in that quarter, but constant threats from other directions kept them from doing so. This was the strategic situation Gon- —Arud — — Pael — dor faced when Boromir the Steward died in 2489, his life shortened by the lingering effects of a Morgul-knife wound received fourteen years before. Upon succeeding him, Cirion immedi- ately sent spies and scouts into Wilder- land to validate rumors he had heard regarding a new people from the East. He also sent skeleton garrisons to reopen the old hill forts of the Anduin and to guard the Undeeps. It was only through these small, cautionary steps that Gon- dor’s peril was realized and the certain disaster of a surprise invasion of the Calenardhon prevented.

—Maladûm — — Kol —

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Monk Healer Priest that none of the tribal patriarchs dared —givers of the dark benedictions of thousands. During the Wars of Forma- challenge the Bôm on any issue. The Maladûm, seekers of blasphemy, and tion, the Darmin Belen (Pu. “Army of emerging Pultic empire would be ruled oftentimes wielders of black magic chan- the Falcon”) was formed of partisans by a monarch with explicit divine sanc- neled directly from Sauron. Day to day and trainees. After the conquest of the tion. This authority structure would last internal decisions were made by a single river-tribes, the Naidan Belen (Pu. until the Pultic defeat on Parth Cele- High Priest, who was elected from “Army of the Serpent”) was founded and brant in 2510. among the ranks of the third house. All of sent west to conquer the wain-tribes. In his efforts were directed towards the After the years of visitation and the formation of these two armies the basic needs and objectives of the cult. prophecy (T.A. 2341-2345), the cult of Keshak was greatly reduced in num- The highest ranking cult official was the Maladûm was established as the one bers, many of their soldiers becoming Primate. Decisions on cult theology and true religion of the empire. In 2344, the officers in the new armies. other sensitive issues were made by the division of the cult into three houses was During the initial campaigns of the Primate exclusively. He could always be established. The first and smallest house Wain-tribe Wars, a fourth army was found advising the Bôm on the will of was that of the monks. These were created, the Tolig Belen (Pu. “Army of Maladûm, who kept the Primate in his scholars and recorders of the prophe- the Ox”). This was made primarily of closest councils, desiring to carry out the cies, decrees, and laws of Maladûm. wain-tribe recruits, and the remainder of will of his dark god in all things. The the young officers of the Keshak. There- The second house was that of the Primate -was appointed by the Bôm, and after the Keshak was no longer consid- healers. These were certainly not the was always of pure Pultic descent. quality of Gondor’s healers, being ered an army, but instead a personal The Pultic military fluctuated between probably closer to those of the Goblins. guard unit for the Bôm, committed to one and five armies during the history of Their methods emphasized quick heal- battle only at the discretion of the Bôm the empire.1 The original army was called ing, and were little concerned with pain and never sustaining a defeat until Parth the Keshak (Pu. “Great Fire”), and was or scarring. They were surgeons and Celebrant. Service in the Keshak was a commanded bv the Bôm himself. This herbalists, and their services were in- reward for long years of service and was the army to which Sauron first ap- tended only for the politically or socially valor, and was seen by young officers as peared, and at one time it numbered in important, members of the cult itself, a period of formal training in the doc- the tens of and other military personnel. trine of Maladûm and a fast track to a Belen command position. The last house was that of the priests ————————————————————————————————————— 13 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— Each Belen was composed of two or The Pultic armies were always poorly recruit was discouraged by the thought three tomens of 10,000 men, excluding armed and armored. Initiates served in of fighting on foot. The only instance in commanders. (The Tolig Belen once had the scout irbins, and were trained only in which the Bôm authorized the use of four tomens during the height of wain- saber and composite bow use. They cavalry on the battlefield was in 2510, tribe recruitment.) Each tomen was carried no shields and wore no armor in when 2,000 Variag mercenaries were subdivided into ten manghins of 1,000 battle. More seasoned warriors served in deployed. men each. The manghins were further the light irbins, which made up the vast subdivided into five scout and five war majority of the Pultic troops. These wore jigons. A war jigon had six light irbins a jerkin of soft leather, carried wooden and four heavy irbins, each consisting of shields, and were trained to use the ten men and a commander. A scout jigon battle spear and throwing javelin in had four scout irbins, four light irbins, addition to saber and bow. and two heavy irbins, each also com- Distinguished veterans fought in the prised often men and a commander. heavy irbins, and were given leather helms to distinguish their rank. In addition, they were trained to wield the battle mace, a weapon considered sacred by the Pults. Officers carried large black shields that bore in red the device of their unit as well as the insignia of their rank. Keshak Competent manghin commanders were selected for the guard unit of their respective armies, from which they could hope for a promotion to the Keshak. The guardsmen wore black rigid leather armor with silver studs. Their maces were of higher quality than the rank and file, with a pommel of polished obsidian. Members of the Keshak Darmin belen earned bright red shields, and their maces had pommels inset with garnet. The dress of tomen and Belen com- THE YEARS PRIOR TO manders was more individually deter- THE INVASION OF mined, but all bore a shield with their rank upon it, as well as their choice of CALENARDHON the best weapons of the Bom’s armory. As has been already told, the formal What the Pultic armies lacked in occupation of the Talath Harroch began weapons and armor they made up for in in 2473, with the occupation of Kravod organization and sheer numbers. The by the Bôm and the main body of the older units were well drilled in large unit Pults. The Darmin Belen and the Ke- Naidan Belen maneuvers and inter-unit support. They shak then became the Kravod garrison, brought discipline to the battlefield, and and the Army of the Serpent was sent that in itself was enough to defeat many west to occupy the Vale of Anduin, both of the wain-tribes they faced on the east- in the Wold and north all the way to the ern plains. They were also exclusively Gladden Fields. The Army of the Ox infantry. Being mobile, their culture took position north of Kravod, and sent depended on horse, cattle, and oxen as scouts into the Northman and Sagath draft animals. They could not afford to settlements along the East Bight of the lose large numbers of animals on the forest. The Bôm was content to rest Tolig Belen battlefield. This fighting style may have here for ten years, concentrating on fur- saved Gondor in the end, for many a ther recruitment of the Sagath popu- potential Sagath, Logath and Variag lation of the plains. In 2483, he

— 14 ———————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — fiothraim tribes of old and the hardy organized in the hills, or in towns not yet Northmen of Esgaroth and Dale, people taken by the invaders, while townsmen that honored their ancient tradition of of Easterling descent welcomed the Pul- friendship with Gondor. These were also tic army, and many young males joined a people whose grandfathers had en- them. With each season of war, another dured long years of oppressive Easterling town was occupied, and those Northmen rule under the Wainriders. They were with a mind to fight soon found them- not well disposed to the call to arms selves pressed against the Celduin and issued by this new wave of eastern in- the . eastern eaves of the forest. In 2492, formed the Leptek Belen (Pu. “Army of vaders, and many spoke of armed resis- the leader of the Tolig Belen abandoned the Great Cat”) from units that had been tance against them. Within this popula- the notion of recruiting among the added to the various armies as the popu- tion, however, was a minority of Sagath Northmen, and began an offensive de- larity of Pultic rule increased. A year descent whose ancestors, after the fall of signed to annihilate the rebels and secure later, under advice from the leader of the the Wainriders, had come back to settle the north frontier against any future Tolig Belen, units of that army began among the Northmen. To these, the attacks on the rear of columns, which moving north into the lands of the prospect of renewed Easteriing rule were then forming for an invasion across Northmen. Once again, the move was promised redress for the prejudiced poli- the Anduin. cies of Northman town rulers. made in the interest of attracting further By 2495, the Northman rebels had allies, but this time met with less fervor What was intended to be a slow and been broken and driven out of their and more hostility. peaceful occupation of northern lands lands. The Tolig Belen continued the The towns along the East Bight were soon spiraled into an armed invasion. recruitment and training of the Easter- inhabited principally by people that The old rifts between townsfolk re- ling population until in 2505, when their traced their heritage to the opened. Northman rebels numbers were judged sufficient between the East Bight and

——————————————————————————————————— 15 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— the Talath Harroch to organize a fifth The Balrog was a mighty spirit of flame, themselves, for the garrisons of the hill- army, the Kelten Belen (Pu. “Army of the among the active servants of Morgroth forts learned little from within their own Horse”). This new army then traveled second in might only to Sauron himself. walls. It soon became apparent that spies south -with the Tolig Belen for the general Much of Sauron’s former power, how- would have to be sent east for the situa- mustering of the armies. In the north the ever, had been diminished by the loss of tion to be made any clearer. In 2490, Tolig Belen was replaced by units from his Ring, and the Balrog must have scouts were first sent onto the Talath the Army of the Great Cat, which would sensed this. It is probable that from his Harroch to discover the intentions of stay behind on the Talath Harroch and throne in Moria, Durin’s Bane judged these new arrivals. Little, however, was serve as a rearguard for the empire. himself to be the chief servant of Dark- learned, since few returned. It was not ness in the world, and sought some way In 2507, the Army of the Serpent, hav- until the spring of 2493, when the first to assert his dominance. What Sauron ing thoroughly scouted the eastern Wold refugees from Northman rebel bands may have lacked in personal strength, and both banks of the Anduin, made large made their way through peril to the however, he more than made up for in lumber camps along the southern edge of Undeeps, that Gondor received some subtlety of mind. He perceived the the forest. For the next two years they hint of the intentions of this new people, thought of the Balrog, and used this to would build great barges upon which the whom the fugitives named “Balchoth.” his own design. whole of the Pultic armies would cross in At the time, this was only a warning of secret and come upon the fortresses of The Balrog had gathered a great host the presence of large armies and gather- Gondor without warning. The invasion of of Orcs and Trolls to himself in the years ing strength. Calenardhon had been set for the spring since his awakening. The majority of News of the persecution of the of 2510, and all was now ready. these Orcs had migrated from the north- Northmen reached Cirion, and though ern reaches of the Misty Mountains, grieved at this maltreatment of valued where they had once served the Witch- HE ACHINATIONS OF allies in the north, strength could not be T M king in his wars against Arnor. A few spared to intervene. In 2496, he did SAURON among these still served the Dark Lord begin a general strengthening of the as spies among the Moria host. Thus, garrisons of Angrenost and the fortress- All plans of the Necromancer had Sauron was able to plant the rumor of the towns of Calenardhon with troops mus- seemingly come to fruition in 2510. His coming invasion of Calenardhon in such tered at Calmírië, but could do little else. new Easterling allies were poised along a way as to seem a piece of intelligence It was not until the winter of 2509, when the Anduin to strike a great blow against gathered abroad by the Balrog’s own spies returned from the east with a the South-kingdom. His servants were spies. Further, the idea was planted that translation of the prophecies of once again occupying the citadels of Mor- by sending an army to aid these invaders, Maladûm, that Cirion truly realized dor in strength. The last King of Gondor the Balrog might share in the plunder of had been slain by the Lord of the Nazgûl, Gondor and assume his place as chief who had captured Minas Ithil. The once enemy of the Free Peoples. In this way, proud city of Osgiliath lay in ruin, and Sauron strengthened the invaders, caus- Gondor’s greatest captain, Boromir the ing further harm to Gondor, while con- Steward, had been himself wounded by cealing his actions from the Morgul-blade and his life shortened. Now, Wise. at a time when they would face their greatest test, the Gondorians were ruled by a young and inexperienced steward. THE This was seemingly Sauron’s master blow, STRENGTH OF yet some lingering doubt still troubled the Dark Lord. GONDOR AND Whether he still judged his own per- ITS ALLIES sonal might insufficient to face the White Council or he foresaw the events of 2510, When vigilance along none can tell; but something prevented the Anduin was renewed Sauron from committing his assembled and its forts reopened, it strength against Gondor. The Orcs of the soon became apparent that Red Eye were conspicuously absent from a large population of the invading forces of Calenhardhon. Easterlings had occupied Whatever his reasons, Sauron thought this the plains just to the east. a bad time to openly declare himself, and These new Easterlings either sought to disguise the part he had played remained some distance off or in the invasion. Instead, he involved were careful not to show Durin’s Bane, the Balrog of Moria.

— 16 ———————————————————————— —————————— ——————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — the intentions of the Balchoth and the north, the Éothéod. Cirion knew that the by a large company of conscripts. There immediacy of Gondor’s peril. He then Vales of the Anduin were patrolled by they waited, and were joined by Cirion’s issued a general call to arms throughout the scouts of the eastern enemy, so he Southern Army at midday of Tuilérë, the the realm and took counsel with his sent six pairs of messengers. Each rider quarter-year festival day. On the 1st day generals. was a valiant warrior and had committed of Gwirith, the combined strength of to memory the steward’s message to Eorl, Gondor marched for the Brown Lands. Throughout the winter months of the young Althegn of the Horse-lords. There they planned to hold the line of 2509 and continuing into the new year, The first pair rode on the 10th day of the the Anduin against invasion. preparations were made and troops month, and another pair set out each day gathered. Slowly, companies began On the very same day that the North- thereafter for five days. On the same day trickling into Minas Tirith from the ern Army reached Calmírië, the lone that the last pair rode (the 16th of southern fiefs. Even Cirion agreed, how- survivor of the twelve messengers of Gwaeron), the Southern Army of Gon- ever, that a large portion of their Cirion reached Eorl’s capital of Frams- dor, led by Cirion himself, left Minas strength would have to be held in re- burg. He was Borondir Udalraph, one of Tirith for Calmírië, where it would meet serve in case of some attack from Um- the first pair to be sent on the journey, the gathered Northern Army. bar. Though early in the season, there and had ridden hard for fifteen days. had already been probing attacks on the The various companies of the North- The story of his conversation with Eorl, southern coasts. As more solid intelli- ern Army had marched four days prior and the subsequent mustering and jour- gence began to arrive on Easterling and, on the 17th, met the main of the ney of the éoherë, has been told else- numbers in Rhovanion, Cirion realized garrison of Angrenost at Dunlostir. where in full and will not be repeated that the available strength of Gondor Strengthened by a large company of here. Suffice it to say that the éoherë would probably be insufficient to protect conscripts from the surrounding country- rode, fully 7,000 strong, on the 6th day Calenardhon. side, the combined army marched for of Gwirith, for the North Undeeps. Calmírië. On the 25th they reached that It was in the early days of Gwaeron town, and again their strength was aug- (March) that Cirion resolved to seek aid mented from Gondor’s ancient allies in the

————————————————————————————————————— 17 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————

the Naidan Belen fell upon Tir Limlaith, THE BATTLES OF THE completely sealing its garrison within its walls. A three-day assault on the fort WOLD began, which culminated in its burning The assembled might of the Pultic and the complete destruction of the men armies was vast. Between the Armies of trapped within. Word of the fort’s de- the Falcon, Ox, Horse and Serpent, the mise didn’t reach Cirion until it was too Bôm had ten tomens of full strength late. (100,000 troops). The Army of the Great In the early hours of the 13th, the Cat (two tomens) would serve in a rear army of Gondor crossed the lowest guard capacity, and would cross the shoulder in a ridge of hills to find the river with the Pults once the conquest valley beyond filled with the armies of was complete. Scouts of the Naidan their enemy. Drawing up in a dirnaith or Belen had long since mapped out much assault wedge, they drove into the for- of the western Wold, and the Pultic wardmost ranks of the Darmin Belen, battle plan was drawn up. but were halted by the Darmin guards. On the 4th of Gwirith, the forces of Here the battle reached a standstill until the Bôm crossed the Anduin in two the green troops of the Kelten Belen places. The main host, comprising all but charged into the fray, reinforced from one tomen of the Naidan Belen, crossed irion behind by arriving veterans of the Tolig thirty miles north of the southern “C Belen. Demoralized by the sheer num- boundary of the Wold, where a rough bers of their enemy, the Calenardhon path left the western shore and wound conscripts broke, and Cirion ordered a its way through the hills going west. It slow withdrawal back over the ridge to followed this path for a day and a half, land more favorable to the defensive after which it took a sharp bend south- realized battle he realized he would have to fig- wards. Here the Bôm made camp, wait- ht. ing for word of the movements of his It was in the midst of Cirion’s with- enemies. The other tomen of the Naidan drawal over the ridge that the southern Belen crossed roughly forty miles further tomen of the Naidan Belen fell upon his north, just north of a sharp westward that his forces from the south and west. At this turn in the river. From here they picked point Cirion realized that his army had their way through the hills along a well- fallen into a trap carefully laid by his scouted course winding northwest, with enemies. For though small, this new the intention of coming upon Tir Lim- army had southwestern force would slow down his laith from behind. withdrawal enough to prevent separa- On the 8th of Gwirith, mounted tion from his enemies in the valley. Re- scouts arrived at the camp, having solving to break out of this trap and find sighted the approaching columns of a battlefield more advantageous to his Gondor two days earlier. The Bôm then fallen into men, he committed his own guards, sent the second tomen of the Naidan strengthened by a company of mounted Belen on a great looping march to the knights from Belfalas, against the ex- south and then west. This army was then tended right wing of his enemies. Punch- to turn north, and cut the enemy off ing through and rolling back the enemy’s from an organized escape. On the 10th, line, they turned east and held the flank, the armies of the Bôm were drawn up in a trap... while the main body of troops began a order and advanced west to meet the retreat to the north. enemy. ” The day was now growing late, and It was also on the 8th that the col- Cirion drove his columns hard through umns of Gondor entered the Wold from the hills. Throughout the afternoon and the west, making a straight line for Tir evening the main host of Gondor picked Limlaith. Not having received any warn- their way north, while Cirion and his ing of the enemy's crossing, they guards fought in the rear, holding the marched under the assumption that the enemy back. At nightfall the enemy Easterlings were still on the east side of broke off their pursuit, but Cirion still the river. Cirion’s mounted scouts had drove his troops north, and climbed up reached the fort two days earlier and had through a final canyon and onto the since returned to the column, reporting floodplain of the Limlaith river. There, no sign of the Balchoth. just on On the 11th, the northern tomen of

— 18 ———————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 —

the northern edge of the Wold, they Thus, at mid-day of the 14th, a second to cross the river and forming up again halted. On the horizon to the east, a dull battle of the Wold was fought in sight of when sounds of the battle reached them. glow told them of the burning at Tir the North Undeeps. Though they fought Confused in the fog and thinking that Limlaith. valiantly through the day, by afternoon it part of his own force had joined in battle Early on the morning of the 14th, was clear that the Balchoth armies en- with the enemy, the Bôm ordered the scouts were sent east to gather news of joyed a greater advantage in numbers units that were already across the river Tir Limlaith. As they approached the than was originally thought, and the men to attack while the others crossed. Thus charred ruins, however, they sighted the of Gondor began to give ground. By late the Balchoth arrived on the battlefield northern tomen of the Naidan Belen afternoon, Cirion’s men had their backs piecemeal and confused. forming up and marching west. The to the southern bank of the Limlaith, and It was also in these first hours of light scouts returned to Cirion and gave their were utterly cut off from escape in any that the éoherë broke its camp and cov- news. Seeing an opportunity to catch a other direction. So once again, the most ered the last few miles to the North Un- portion of his enemy separated from veteran companies of the army held the deeps. Seeing the charred ruins of Tir support, Cirion ordered an eastward shore while the rest fled over the river. Limlaith on the opposite bank, the march, and battle was joined. Anger and Many men were lost in the crossing and Éothéod hastened across the ford and the desire for revenge was hot in the many more in holding the shore, but in onto the western bank of the river. There blood of the Dúnedain, and they the end, Cirion and much of his guard they met a few men of Gondor who had smashed the single Balchoth tomen, but unit crossed during the night and reorga- somehow floundered in the night’s cross- not before the armies that had defeated nized on Parth Celebrant. ing and ended up getting washed by the them the day before had gained the river down to the Anduin where they southern edge of the plain, advancing in PARTH CELEBRANT had reached the western bank. From good order. The 15th of Gwirith dawned grey and these men they learned tidings of all that cold. Much of the night had passed in had happened in the Wold, and also of confusion, with Cirion’s men the disposition of the enemy and how trying to find their best to come behind it. companies. Though they had They turned north immediately and made it across the Limlaith, crossed the Limlaith near its confluence most of their gear they had with the Anduin. Once across, they used left on the further bank or, the river fog to conceal their advance more commonly, had until they came to the battlefield. En- thrown into the river, gaged from the first by the Orc-host, the rather than let the Dúnedain had not been able to contest enemy have it. Such the enemy’s crossing of the Limlaith. The was the state of Orc-host had slowly driven them east Cirion’s men: tired, toward the Vale of Anduin. Now joined cold, hungry, by units of the Balchoth from the south, demoralized, the Orcs were hemming them in and — and now more as Cirion realized— ensuring the ulti- poorly equipped mate doom of his army. And this was the than the enemy turning point of the battle. that pursued The day being now hours old, the sun them. And still burned through the fog and suddenly they were shone bright on the battlefield. The Orcs hopelessly cringed and shielded their eyes, and their outnumbered. chieftains began to think of withdrawing By first light, most until evening, when they could return had found their units and finish off -whatever enemies the — and just in time; for Easterlings might not defeat. The Bôm, a great fog rose out of however, was enheartened by the change the river in the early of weather and directed his Keshak to hours of the morning, help put in order the Kelten Belen which further confusing things. In these first had just crossed the river. They were in hours of dull light, the Balrog’s Orc-host the midst of reforming the lines of the found the men of Gondor. Their attack green Kelten Belen troops when the first was met with much confusion, and many charge of the Éothéod took them by men died looking for their weapons. The complete surprise. Easterlings were using the fog’s cover

————————————————————————————————————— 19 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— In the initial charge of the northern WHAT FOLLOWED Pultic tribes, as well as for those cavalry, what little of the Kelten Belen which originated in lands further east, that had survived the Wold was wholly A very thorough account of what fol- there could be no return. These people broken and driven from the field. Cast- lowed between Eorl and Cirion is given stayed in the drear hills around Kravod. ing away their weapons, they were the in Unfinished Tales. They took great The land here was poor, however, and first to run back into the Limlaith, mak- oaths upon hallowed ground, and both they were ever casting an envious eye ing easy targets for Eorl's horse-archers. peoples were greatly strengthened. This toward the rich fields of Calenardhon. was the end of the Balchoth, but certainly The Keshak, which were scattered here It was not until many years after not the end of the Pultic tribes or even and there, trying to put the Kelten Parth Celebrant that these tribes began their warriors. Belen's ranks in order, were unable to to make raids into the lands of the Rid- properly defend the Bom, and the eohere Many of the Easterlings that fought at dennark. Crossing the Anduin by the drove straight through its ranks to the Parth Celebrant made it across the Lim- Wold, they would come infiltrate the Bom's standard. There the Bôm was laith and took refuge in the Wold. There plains and raid the fortified towns and ridden down and pierced by the lance of they were led by commanders and great homesteads of Rohan, burning and loot- Eorl, throwing the Keshak into complete warriors who had also escaped, and were ing as they went. It was in a reprisal disarray. joined by more than half a tomen from foray into the Wold against these very Eorl and his men continued through the . Naidan Belen which had not ad- Easterlings that Eorl was slain. vanced over the Limlaith. Instead of the rear ranks of the Balchoth and onto The Balchoth invasion might be seen further challenging the Dunedain and the battlefield that the Ores, Dunedain, as an brief episode in the history of their newfound allies, the Pults and their Darmin, and Tolig Belens were fighting Middle-earth ending in 2510 at Parth allies made their way back to their camps upon. Being in the rear of the committed Celebrant. The Pultic migrations into and later their rafts, eventually returning Balchoth armies, the soldiers of the Tolig the lands south of Mirkwood, however, to the Talath Harroch, where waited the Belen heard the battle cry of the eohere constitute an important and long-term Leptek Belen and the tribefolk. and turned to meet their charge. But change m the cultural geography of seeing the tall horse-lords with their long After the failure of its prophecies, the Wilderland. lances, the Ore-captains ordered their Cult of Maladûm fell into disfavor with companies to break off the attack and most of the populace. The monks, being FOOTNOTES 1. The basic organization or the Balchoth retreat from the field. The Dunedain the keepers and chief promoters of the prophecies, were seen by many as the armies was given in ICE’s Riders of Rohan were rallied by this sudden change of adventure setting. I have used and ex- root of the people's problems. .Many died fortune and forgot their weariness, panded upon that material. charging into the ranks of the Darmin at the hands of cruel mobs wanting re- venge for their lost husbands, sons, and 2. Full accounts are given in Unfinished Tales Belen and crushing its guard—the very and ICE’s Riders of Rohan. unit that had turned them back in the fathers. JVlost of the priests found them- Wold. selves outcasts among their people and The Balchoth. units now began to were eventually drawn to Dol Guldur, rout in mass. Word of the Bom's death where they entered the service of their spread through their ranks, further de- master. The healers, being farthest re- moralizing them. The eohere pursued moved from the cult's teachings and pos- them to the river, where archers shot the sessing the most practical skills, contin- fleeing enemies as they swam. The ued to find a use for their talents among Horse-lords and what remained of the the general populace. knights of BeLfalas pursued the Ores Having heard tidings of the victory at across the plains until the afternoon Parth Celebrant, many Northman rebels turned to evening. There, upon the Parth made their way back to old homes and Celebrant in the evening of the 15th of families along the East Bight. Thereafter Gwrnth, Eorl and Cirion met, and their there was a great friendship between friendship was begun. these men and the men of Dale and Esga- roth. Easterling and Northman gradually relearned the art of coexistence on the plains. Along the East Bight and elsewhere in Rhovanion, life returned to normal; but the Talath Harroch had been changed forever. Many of the tribes of the former Pultic empire melted back into the East. This was especially true of the western wain-tribes, whose lands had not been devastated by drought. For the original

— 20 ————————————————————————————————————

The Bozishnarod: Using the cultures of

Far Harad in MERP

Mark Thorne he land of the Bozisha-Miraz their ancestors have for centuries. Only 4575 Braungate Drive (Apy. “Dowry of the Goddess”), in the cities do the influences of other known as Far Harad to the places become apparent. The Bozish- St. Louis, MO 63128, USA T sages of Northwestern Middle- narod are considered by many outsiders ([email protected]) earth, lies south of Umbar, beginning to be both heartless and cruel, but this somewhere amongst the endless miles of is not so. They are actually a pious and the Dune Sea. While much of the land is honorable people in their own peculiar Jason Mulligan indeed desert wasteland, in the center of ways. The religion they follow, the wor- 1 Hann Street the nation is an area of relative fertility ship of the goddess Ladnoca, unites all called the Raj (Apy. “Paradise”) due to. the Bozishnarod together. The popula-

Mayfield 2304, Australia its position at the mouth of the great Bay tions of the Raj can be split into three (manwe@valinor.hna.com.au) of Tulwang. The people of this land call quite different cultures: the urban themselves the Bbzishnarod (Apy. “Peo- populations, the outlying Hillmen, and ple of the Goddess”) and are as culturally the desert nomads. diverse as they are physically similar. [For more information, read ICE's Thev are an amazingly stable people as - Far Harad: The Scorched Land. Most of well; they live in much the same way that the following information was drawn from the above source and from the

CULTURES OF THE BOZISHNAROD

Harnerim

Tuktani Haradrim Mûmakani

Kirani apysani haruze

adena drel drel bozishnarod

ayten Sirani harani

Pel

Urban folk of raj Narodbrijig Covshek-Pust

————————————————————————————————————— 21 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— Haradrim listing in the MERP rule- strengthened with the lands to the south Urban Folk such as Tulwang, Hyarn, Mirëdor, and book (Second ed.) published by ICE.] The more civilized people of Far Ha- Drel. The Bozishnarod (sing. Bozishnorad) rad live in the area’s few cities. How- are an Apysan people who migrated ever, despite the wide distances which across the Ered Harmal very early in the Common Characteristics separate these urban centers, there is Second Age. The above diagram shows Although fragmented culturally in still a significant amount of cultural how they are related to their northern many respects, most Bozishnarod share similarity among them. Within the cities and southern neighbors. When they the same common physical characteris- themselves, there also exists a noticeable crossed the mountains they settled in the tics. These are summarized below. cultural shift between the wealthy and Raj, the only fertile region of the poor classes of the population. Bozisha-Miraz. The Raj is the cultural Build: In general, the people of Far Ha- rad are tall and wiry with sharp, angu- Many of Far Harad’s city dwellers and agricultural center of the whole are of mixed blood, containing elements region and is located at the mouth of the lar features. Men average 190 lbs., and women average 145 lbs. of blood from the old Númenórean Rijesha, the river that empties into the colonists, their lighter-skinned Coloring: Medium to dark brown skin is Bay of Tulwang. neighbors in North Harad, and espe- the norm; eye color is either dark cially the Mûmakan to the south. The brown or black. Their hair is black and information below can apply to the Languages can either be straight or curly. As the Bozishnarod are an Apysan inhabitants of the cities of Bozisha-Dar, Endurance: The Bozishnarod are used to Bûr Esmer, and Tresti. people, their native language is Apysaic harsh climates and stifling weather. The notable exception is the city- (abbreviated as “Apy.”). However, it is They are not unfamiliar with the desert state of Tul Póac on the Ogladalo Vatra distinguished from the Apysaic spoken and.its ways; they are able to travel (Apy. “Mirror of Fire”); its inhabitants by their Apysaic cousins to the south; long distances in hot climes without are a mix of the urban and Covshek- the Bozishnarod’s language has envel- much water and still maintain their en- pust cultures. They also oped much Haruze influence over the durance level. Naturally, the city centuries and is now more properly dwellers would be less apt at desert referred to as Northern or New Apysaic. travel than the indigenous nomads. Among those people living to the north Height: Males average 5'11". Females of the Raj, the Haruze influence be- average 5'5". comes more pronounced, creating a mixed language which is spoken by most Lifespan: The harsh climate of of the northern desert nomads who still Bozisha-Miraz takes its toll on the reside within the bounds of the Bozisha- region's inhabitants, the average Miraz. lifespan is about 45—65. As the Adûnaic-speaking Númenóre- Resistance: +10 DB and RR ans interacted with the local Apysan bonuses versus heat/fire peoples of the coast-lands, a common attacks; -10 DB and RR bo- speech known as Ansith (analogous to nuses versus cold/ice the Westron tongue of Gondor and attacks. Arnor) gradually came into being. It has become the common trade language of Far Harad and all of the coastal lands between Umbar and the Yellow Moun- tains. The other main languages spoken by the Bozishnarod are Varadja from Khand, Nûradja from the Nûrniags (an Easterling tribe), and Tazinain from Greater Harad to the southeast. All of them are in use as inland trading lan- guages. They are also the primary lan- guage of a few isolated settlements where groups of Variags, Nûrniags, Sirani, or Ayten have established their own communities within the Bozisha- Miraz. Lastly, some of the Southern or Old Apysaic dialects have come into use along the coasts as trade ties are

— 22 ———————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — worship Tulimi, the Master of Fate and oftheir northern neighbors (Rank 3). Weapon smithing, gold smithing, fletch- Prophecy, rather than the goddess Lad- Most know Ansith, an Apysaic/Westron ing, boatmaking. Influence Skills: Lead- noca. dialect commonly used throughout the ership, conning, bribery, trading, pub- land for trade (Rank 4). Skill Develop- lic-speaking. Lore Skills: Animal and Physical Character ment: Through commerce and trade, plant lores, local geography, local his- Special Abilities: The lifeblood of Far they have great opportunity for learning tory, other geographies, warcraft and Harad's cities is commerce. +10 bonus the languages of foreign lands. The lan- tactics. to Appraisal and any activity-involving guages of Varadja (Rank 3), Logathig Stat Increases: Any stat may be increased. trade. (Rank 2), Tazinain (Rank 3; Rank 5 for Extra Languages: Under special cir- Culture those living in Tul Pdac) and Adûnaic cumstances, a Bozishnorad may come to Clothing and Decoration: The people of (Rank 4) are not uncommon in the bus- learn Avarin (Rank 3), or any of the Far Harad dress practically for their tling markets of Far Harad’s cities. many varied Apysaic dialects of the na- location; comfortable, loose garments Prejudices: The Bozishnarod view all out- tions to the south (i.e. Tulwang, Hyarn, of light cloth is common garb. One's siders with some degree of suspicion and Chennecatt, Isra, Mirëdor, etc.) such as wealth is usually worn in the fashion of mistrust, calling them poganin (Apy. Sederi (Rank 3). gold rings, Bracelets, and necklaces. “pagans”). They are especially mistrust- Reds and golds are more popular col- ful of Dwarves, Elves, and anyone else Narodbrijig ors, although white and black are the who appears and acts significantly dif- (Apy. “Hill People”) most common during evervday life. ferent from themselves. Living in the hills of the Bozisha- Headdresses of some kind'are also Restrictions on Professions: None. Miraz, the Narodbrijig (sing. Narodbrijig) quite common among both men and Outfitting Options live their lives -without the hustle and women. Only the richest can afford Weapons: Scimitar (favored weapon), bustle of their urban neighbors. They true jewelry such as gems. dagger, composite bow, sword, and make their homes in the Brij-Mijesec Fears & Inabilities: None. spear, and javelin. RM options: Blow (Apy. “Hills of the Moon”) and in the Lifestyle: Although often outwardly cold gun, longsword, falchion, darts. scattered small towns and villages of the to outsiders, amongst their own the Armor: Soft Leather and loose chain are region. There are three main divisions of Bozishnarod love laughter, partying, common. the Narodbrijig: the traditional farm- and games both of the mind and of the Clothing: Cotton clothing of all types ers/goatherders, the folk living in the body. Warcraft is taught at an early abound, although some silk is available towns and villages of the Bozisha-Miraz, age. The skills of commerce and trade to the more wealthy. Loose clothing is and the influential warrior/bandit clans. are also taught, as commerce is the ba- the most practical for the environment; The following information applies to the sis of urban life in Far Harad. The loose tunics and pants are the norm. native inhabitants of the Brij-Mijesec and “poor” classes comprise the work force Tassles and some embroidery is also not the towns and villages of the area. and the merchant class, while the uncommon. Gold bracelets, leather boots wealthy attend to their own affairs of Physical Character or sandals, and light cotton head-wraps Special Abilities: Due to their southern business and government. Amongst all finish up the usual attire. the classes, Family ties are extremely latitude, their eyes are accustomed to Money: Money is usually found in the form important. bright light. They also receive a +20 bo- of goods and personal ornamentation, Marriage Pattern: Not strictlv monog- nus to Animal Handling or any related such as jewelry and gold. Desert amber activity. amous, as the possession or more than or gold bracelets or necklaces worth an one wife is acceptable but terribly ex- equivalent of two gold pieces. Culture pensive. They follow a patrilin-eal kin- Clothing & Decoration: Practical clothing ship pattern (line traced through the Background Options is a must for the Narodbrijig; cotton is male). Normal, 5 background options. the most common fabric. Whites, Religion: All Bozishnarod share a com- Special Abilities: All available. blacks, and tans are used most of the mon religion, that of the worship of the Special Items: All available. Usually with time, although they prefer more vivid goddess Ladnoca. This religion serves fanciful engravings but without gems, attire for special occasions. Such activi- to bind all the people in a land which etc. Finely-made weapons and armor is ties as weddings, religious ceremonies, would otherwise be fragmented cultur- not uncommon. Their locale allows them and clan celebrations bring out the ally. The epic poem from which this re- to come into contact with many of the more favored colors of red, purple, blue, ligion is derived is the Kat Polazaj more exotic trading wares of Middle- and especially the respective clan colors. (Apy. “Story of the Land”). It embod- earth. Fears & Inabilities: None. ies the moral and judicial code that all Extra Money: Exotic goods or coinage Lifestyle: Despite the widely varying the people (generally) strive to live by. worth 2-200 gp. lifestyles among the Narodbrijig, there Other Factors Hobbies: Primary Skills: M/M in no armor are some characteristics shared by all. and chain; 1-H edged, missile, and pole- Demeanor: Cheerful, fiery, realistic, An affinity for sports and any other arm weapons skills; riding, tracking, and calculating, shrewd, fatalistic, and even physical activities, a love for celebra- stalk/hiding skills; perception; and body pious. They possess a peculiar sense of tions and parties, a deep sense of reli- development. Secondary Skills: Acrobat- honor and morality strongly tied to gious piety, and a strong devotion to ics, appraisal, boat-handling, gambling, their religious doctrines. one’s work and clan are but a few. The and trickery. Artistic Skills: Singing, sto- Language: Starting Languages: The majority of them herd goats for a living, rytelling, cooking. Athletic Skills: Jump- Bozishnarod speak Apysaic as their na- especially around the city of Tresti; the ing, sprinting, tumbling. Craft Skills: tive tongue (Rank 5) and the Haruze number of goats a ————————————————————————————————————— 23 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— man owns is often a good indicator of and they also know a good deal of tumbling, jumping. Craft Skills: his wealth and power. Those living in Haruze (Rank 3). Ansith is in common woodworking, blacksmithing, fletch- the towns and villages usually support use among the townsfolk (Rank 3) but ing, carving, influence Skills: Public themselves through either personal much less so among the farmers and Speaking, trading, trickery, leadership. farms or shops. Among the warrior and goatherders (Rank 2). Skill Lore Skills: Local geography and bandit clans, warfare is a common way Development: It is possible for a history, clan history, animal lore of life, both against traveling caravans Narodbrijig to come to know Varadja (primarily goats), and weather lore. and amongst themselves. (Rank 2) or some of the Southern Stat Increases: Any stat may be Marriage Pattern: Some clans allow Apysaic dialects (Rank 2). increased. polygamy, while other do not. The line is Prejudice: They are naturally mistrustful Extra Languages: In addition to the traced through the male. All of the of all foreigners except those who have tongues listed above, a Narodbrijig Bozishnarod live in a very male- come to trade. They are especially might learn Tazinain (Rank 3) or dominated society. mistrustful of Dwarves and Elves. Logathig (Rank 3) through the trade. Religion: The Narodbrijig follow the same Restrictions on Professions: None. religious practices that the urban folk Outfitting Options COVSHEK-PUST do. However, in general the Narodbrijig Weapons: Sword, dagger, scimitar, short (Apy. “Men of the Waste”) follow a slightly more pious lifestyle. bow, javelin, and spear. RM Options: The Covshek-pust (sing. Covsheki) are Even the bandit clans lead a pious life in Long Sword, Falchion, halberd. a reclusive lot, living- in the arid deserts to their own peculiar way. Armor: None. the north of the Bozisha-Miraz and on the Other Factors Clothing: Long sleeves and pants are the fringes of the Ogladalo Vatra (Apy. Demeanor: Stoic, practical, deter- norm. Tunics of cotton with leather “Mirror of Fire”). They are nomadic, mined, rugged, and aggressive. boots and cotton headwraps are the most moving where the water will let them. Of Language: Starting Languages: Their common attire, although more festive all the Bozishnarod, these are the true native tongue is Apysaic (Rank 5), clothing is favored for celebrations and desert dwellers, and theirs is a hard life. similar events. For these, silks of red, Physical Character blue, gold, and purple are used. Special Abilities: Their eyes are natu- Embroideries are common on all rally accustomed to very bright light clothing. and will not be affected by light Money: Jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, displays which would blind ordinary etc.) or desert amber worth 20 silver people. Also, they are very familiar coins. with the desert and its ways and can Background Options usually find water when needed; they Normal, six background options. are excellent trackers. +5 bonus to Special Anilities: All available. Foraging and Tracking attempts; +15 Special Items: All when in the desert. available. +5 or +10 Culture weapons are common Clothing S: Decoration: The Covshek- among the more pust have little access nor desire to wear privileged members of anything but the most basic and society. practical of clothing. Only for the most Extra Money: special of occasions do they wear fancy Gold or silver jewelry and colorful attire. All parts of the body or actual coinage are covered unless indoors. The most worth 2-200gp. striking aspect to their attire are the Hobbies: headwraps; the Covsheki use them as Primary Skills: M/M means of identification. Not only do with no armor, 1-h different colors distinguish clans and edged and pole-arm individuals but so do the way in which weapon skills, ride, they are wrapped. The Covshek-pust do climb, not wear much personal decoration save stalk/hide, tracking, for the occasional necklace of desert perception, and body amber. development. Fears & Inabilities: For these people, Secondary Skills: severely cold weather would effectively Animal Handling, incapacitate them. Appraisal, Cookery, Lifestyle: During the day, their time is Foraging, and Sky spent traveling the area, either looking Watching. for desert amber with which to trade for Artistic Skills: goods or tending small flocks of goats storytelling, singing, where there is enough water and and dancing. Athletic vegetation to support them. They Skills: sprinting, sometimes act as guides

— 24 ————————————————————————————————————

—————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 —

across the vast expanses of the desert. are common. Leather boots or sandals are They are able to make virtually worn to protect the feet. The everything they need. Each clan headwrapping signifies clan and position supports itself with the essential arts and within the clan as well as profession. crafts necessary for their lifestyle, and a Almost all the clothing is made of cotton small few make a living producing and except the footwear. Embroideries are trading glass. They are also not not common, and personal unfamiliar with the ways of war. At ornamentation is also sparse. night, the clans gather together to Money: Desert Amber or gems worth 20 discuss the day, events, and to celebrate silver pieces. another day of life. Although outsiders Background Options would perhaps consider them extremely Normal, six background options. boring and unblessed, the Covshek-pust Special Abilities: All do not mind their lot in life. They take a available. rather fatalistic view of the world and do Special Items: All avail- not complain or gripe over their own able. Magic items will be condition. This outlook shows in their very rare. unique culture. Extra Money: Gold, Marriage Pattern: Monogamous. While desert amber, or jewelry not outlawed in any way, tradition has worth 1-200 gp. kept polygamy to a minimum as well as Hobbies: Primary Skills: the fact that almost nobody could afford M/M in no armor, 1-h a second bride price. The line is traced edged and thrown through the male. weapon skills, track, Religion: Of all the Bozishnarod, the stalk/hide, body develop- Covshek-pust are perhaps the most ment, perception. outwardly pious. They follow the same Secondary Skills: Animal religious practices that the urban folk do, Handling, Cookery, with the addition of a pilgrimage to Forasing, Signaling, Sky- Tresti, the holy city of the goddess Watcning. Artistic Skills: Ladnoca, every 10 years. Storytelling, dance. . Other Factors Athletic Skills: Sprinting, Demeanor: Fatalistic, calm, shy, dedicated, jumping. Craft Skills: pious, practical, hardworking. Fletching, glass-blowing, pottery, sand

Language: Starting Languages: Although sculpture. Influence Skills: Public

somewhat isolated, the Covshek-pust speaking, leadership. Lore Skills: Local Dwarves and elves as well as Dunedain know their native tongue Apysaic (Rank geography, clan history, religious or Black Niimenoreans would garner the 5) and the Haruze spoken bv their history, desert lore, local road lore. most mistrust due to their substantially northern neighbors (Rank'5). Skill Stat Increases: Any stat may be increased. different appearance. Development: It is quite possible and Extra languages: In addition to the Restrictions on Professions: In general, often likely for traders or travelers to tongues listed above, a Covsheki might there are no Covshek-pust mages. learn the Tazinain of Greater Harad learn an Avarin tongue (Rank 2) or (Rank 3), Varadja (Rank 3), and Ansith Outfitting Options Nuradja (Rank 3). (Rank 2). Weapons: Scimitar, broadsword, dagger. Prejudices: Covshek-pust are immediately Spear, Short bow. RM Options: Cutlass, wary of all strangers, as they are both falchion, darts (throwing), blow gun. unfamiliar and potential trouble-makers. Armor: None. Traders are usually welcome, although Clothing: tunic or shirt with white, tan, or common adventurers are usually not. black pants. Cuffs at the wrists or ankles

————————————————————————————————————— 25 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— Bozishnarod Sample MERP Adolescent Table (MERP) Character Skill A B C NAME: Tejic Palutz Race: F.H. Urban Folk PROFESSION: Scout HT / WT: 5’7” / 160 lbs. Movement and HAIR / EYES : Black / Brown GENDER / AGE: Male / 16 Maneuver DEMEANOR: Fiery PERSONALITY: Suspicious No Armor 1 1 1 MOTIVATION: Destroy ALIGNMENT: Neutral Soft Leather 1 2 2 SPECIAL: Scar above right eye Rigid Leather 0 0 0 SPELL LISTS % Chance Chain 1 0 0 1) ______[____] 2) ______[____] Weapon Skills 1-H-Edged 2 1 1 3) ______[____] 1-H-Concussion 0 1 0 4) ______[____] 2-Handed 0 0 0 5) ______[____] Thrown 1 1 1 6) ______[____] Missile 1 1 1 7) ______[____] Pole-Arms 1 1 1 8) ______[____] General Skills 9 ) ______[____] Climb 0 2 0 10) ______[____] Ride 3 2 1 LANGUAGES RANK Swim 0 0 0 1) Apysaic ______5 2) Haruze______4 Subterfuge Skills 3) Ansith______5 Ambush 1 1 3 Stalk/Hide 1 1 3 4) Nûradja______3 Pick Locks 0 0 0 5) ______[____] Disarm Traps 0 0 0 6) ______[____] 7) ______[____] Magical Skills 8) ______[____] Tejic Palutz Reading Runes 0 0 0 9 ) ______[____] Use Items 0 0 0 10) ______[____] Miscellaneous Body Development 2 2 2 STATS (Abbr.) Value Normal Bonus Race Bonus Total Bonus Perception 1 1 2 Strength (ST) 79 +5 +5 +10 Agility (AG) 99 +20 –– +20 % Chance to get a Spell Constitution (CO) 80 +5 –– +5 List 3 2 2 Intelligence (IG) 68 –– –– –– Additional Lng. Rank 3 4 2 Intuition (IT) 72 –– –– –– Background Points 5 5 6 Presence (PR) 59 –– –– –– * NOTE: A – Urban Folk; Appearance (AP) 65 –– –– –– B – Narodbrijig; C – Covshek-pust

Current Level: 1 Experience Points: 10,000 Realm: Channeling Power Points: 0 Stat Items Special Total Bonus Defensive Bonus (DB) AG +20 +20 DB Essence RR IG +0 RR Channeling RR IT +0 RR Poison RR CO +5 +5 RR Disease RR CO +5 +5 RR Encumbrance Penalty +0: 0-15 lbs. -10: 16-25lbs. -15: 26-35 lbs. -20: 36-45 lbs. -30: 46-60 lbs. -35: 61-80 lbs. -40: 81-100 lbs. -60: 101-120 lbs.

— 26 ———————————————————————————————————— ————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 —

father screamed out in agony. As I ran into venture outside the poor district to try to find the room, I saw the strange man sheathing out the significance of the shield symbol—

Tejic Palutz his bloodstained scimitar over as he stood precious information that will set me one Background: above my father’s now-lifeless corpse. For the pace closer to finding that man.” “My name is Tejic Palutz. I was born rest of my life, I will remember most vividly Equipment: eighteen long summers ago in the port city of that man’s face and the shield he bore—a Total Weight: 22.1 lbs. Bozisha-Dar. As a young boy I was taught to black dragon on a red field. He tried to kill me fish, swim, and sail, I was also taught how to Without sack: 11.1 lbs. too, but I barely managed to evade him and 2 Daggers (2 lbs.) be a silk merchant like my father. I have no run into the streets. I knew the shop was not Scimitar (4 lbs.) memories of my mother. Father always told safe, so I ran to the poor district to hide. I still Sling (0.5 lbs.) me that she had gone away on a long journey do not know what became of my sisters. Clothes and personal effects (includes when I was young and never returned. None- “Living in the poor district ever since, I boots, cloak and weapon belt) Beltpouch (w/money -30 sp) (1.1 lbs.) theless, life was good for me and my father and have learned the ways of the streets. I have sisters until I was fifteen years old. Then Lockpick Kit (+5 to Pick Locks and had to steal and kill to survive, yet survive I Disarm Traps) (0.5 lbs.) Pouch (with tragedy struck. must. For one day I will exact my revenge on 12 stones in it) (3 lbs.) “One day when I came home early from our that hated man with the red shield who so Sack (holds 50 lbs) (2 lbs) shop I overheard a strange-sounding man suddenly ruined my life. His face still burns Waterskin (1 lb) arguing loudly with my father. Suddenly my hot in my memory. I have recently decided to 25' rope (3 lb) Bedroll (5 lb)

SKILL TOTAL RANKS RANK BONUS STAT PROF ITEM SPEC SPEC BONUS M & M No Armor 2 (2) +10 AG +20 –– –– –– +0 +30 MM Soft Leather 1 (3) +5 AG +20 –– –– –– -15 +10 MM Rigid Leather 0 (5) -25 AG +20 –– –– –– -30 -35 MM Chain 1 (7) +5 ST +10 –– –– –– -45 -30 MM Plate 0 (9) -25 ST +10 –– –– –– -60 -75 MM Weapon Skill 1-H-Edged 3 +15 ST +10 +1 –– –– –– +26 OB 1-H-Concussion 0 -25 ST +10 +1 –– –– –– -14 OB 2-Handed 0 -25 ST +10 +1 –– –– –– -14 OB Thrown 2 +10 AG +20 +1 –– –– –– +31 OB Missile 2 +10 AG +20 +1 –– –– –– +31 OB Pole-arms 1 +5 ST +10 +1 –– –– –– +16 OB General Climb 1 +5 AG +20 +1 –– –– –– +26 MM Ride 3 +15 IT +0 +1 –– –– –– +16 MM Swim 3 +15 AG +20 +1 –– –– –– +36 MM Track 1 +5 IG +0 +1 –– –– –– +6 MM Subterfuge Ambush 1 –– –– –– –– –– –– +1 SP Stalk/Hide 2 +10 PR +0 +2 –– –– –– +12 MM Pick Lock 2 +10 IG +0 +2 +5 –– –– +17 SM Disarm Trap 0 -25 IT +0 +2 +5 –– –– -18 SM Magical Read Runes 0 -25 IG +0 –– –– –– –– -25 SM Use Item 0 -25 IT +0 –– –– –– –– -25 SM Directed Spells 0 -25 AG +20 –– –– –– –– -5 OB Miscellaneous Perception 2 +10 IT +0 +3 –– –– –– +13 SM Body Development 3 +21 CO +5 –– –– –– +5 +31 SP Base Spells OB –– –– –– –– –– –– –– +0 OB Secondary Skills Boat Handling 5 +25 IT +0 +1 –– –– –– +26 MM Foraging 5 +25 IT +0 +1 –– –– –– +26 MM ————————————————————————————————————— 27 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————

Observation; Body Development; Rolemaster Standard Acrobatics; Appraisal; Boat Pilot; Bozishnarod Adolescent Table Rowing; Gambling; Trickery; (RMSS) System Statistics Singing; Tale-Telling; Cooking; Category/Skill A B C Races/Cultures Metalcrafts; Fletching; Armor – Light |1 | |2 | |2 | Character: Tejic Palutz Shipwright; Leadership; Bribery; Soft Leather |1 | |2 | |2 | Hits: 48 Melee OB: 45 Missile OB: 45 Trading; Public-Speaking; Fauna Rigid Leather | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | AT(DB): 1 (27). Lore; Flora Lore; Region Lore; Armor – Medium | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |0 | |0 | Warfare and Tactics [Lore - Chain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |0 | |0 | RMSS Profession: Thief. Technical] Athletic – Brawn | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | RMSS Stats: Ag 99, Co 80, Me 70, Re 60, SD Athletic – Endurance | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | 70, Em 68, In 72, Pr 59, Qu 99, St 79. Background Options Swimming | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Common Men get six background Athletic – Gymnastics | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | RMSS Skill Categories: Armor - Light 24, Climbing | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |2 | |0 | Armor - Medium 19, Athletic - Brawn 18, options; Mixed Men get five back- ground options. Awareness – Perception | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Athletic - Endurance 18, Athletic - Alertness | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 | |2 | |2 | Gymnastics 34, Awareness - Searching 16, Extra Languages: Avarin (S5/W4) Awareness - Searching | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | Communications 3, Lore - General 8, Out- or southern Apvsaic dialects Body Development | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 | |2 | |2 | door - Animal 15, Subterfuge -Mechanics (S6/W5). Communications | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | 27, Subterfuge - Stealth 30, Technical/Trade Talents: All available. Language | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |8 | |6 | |4 | - General 6, Urban 7, Weapon - 1-H Edged Lore – General | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |3 | |3 | 33, Weapon -Missile 36, Weapon - Pole Narodbrijig “Own” Region Lore | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |3 | |3 | Arms 29, Weapon - Thrown. “Own” Culture Lore | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |3 | |3 | Physical Character Outdoor – Animal | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |2 | |1 | RMSS Skills: Acrobatics 40, Alertness 19, Special Abilities: They also receive Riding | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | 2| | |1 | Boat Pilot 18, Body Development 48, Chain Outdoor – Environmental | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |2 | |2 | 22, Dagger (Thrown) 40, Foraging 18, Hid- Power Awareness | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | ing 52, Observation 16, ‘Own’ Culture Lore a +20 bonus to Animal Handling. Science/Analytical – Basic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | 17, ‘Own’ Region Lore 17, Pick Locks 38, Animal Healing, Animal Mastery, Spells – Own Realm Open (1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Pick Pockets 36, Riding 24, Scimitar 45, Herding skills. Subterfuge – Stealth | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Sling 45, Soft Leather27, Staff 30, Stalking Other Factors Stalking | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | 42, Trading 17, Trickery 36. Hiding | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Starting Languages: Apysaic Languages: Apysaic (S8/W6), Haruze Tech/Trade – General | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | (S8/W6), Haruze (S6/W5), Urban Skills | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |0 | |0 | (S6/W6), Ansith (S6/W5), Nuradja Ansith (S4/W4). Allowed (S4/W4). Wp – 1-H Concussion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |1 | |0 | Adolescent Development: Varadja 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |1 | |0 | RM Spells: None. (S6/W4), southern Apysaic Wp 1-H- Edged | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 | |1 | |1 | Appearance: 50. dialects (S5/W4). 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2 | |1 | |1 | Wp – 2 Handed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Tejic’s Principal Items: Cloak, +10 to hiding. Special Skills: Everyman: Herding; Animal Handling; Tale-Telling; 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |0 | |0 | |0 | Tejic’s Lesser Items: 2 Daggers, Scimitar, Restricted: none. Wp – Missile | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | Sling, Clothes and personal effects (includes 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | boots, cloak and weapon belt), Beltpouch Hobby Skills: Any 1-H Edged or Wp – Pole Arms | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | (w/money - 30 sp), Lockpick Kit (+5 to Pick Polearm Weapon skills; Riding; 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | Locks and Disarm Traps), Pouch (with 12 Climbing; Stalking; Hiding; Wp – Thrown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | stones in it). Sack (holds 50 lbs), Waterskin, Observation; Body Development; 1 Weapon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |1 | |1 | |1 | 25’ rope, Bedroll Animal Handling; Appraisal; Hobby ranks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |12| |12||12| Cooking; Foraging; Star-Gazing; BG Options | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |5 | |5 | |6 | Tale-Telling; Singing; Dancing; * NOTE: A – City Folk; B – Narodbrijig; RMSS Sprinting; Tumbling; any Wood- C – Covshek-pust Crafts Skills; Fetching; Public CONVERSION NOTES Speaking; Trading; Trickery; Leadership; Hobby Skills: any 1-H Edged or Thrown Urban Folk Region Lore (local area); Clan History Weapon skills, Tracking, Stalking, Hiding, [Lore - General]; Fauna Lore Body Development, Observation, Animal Physical Character Background Options Handling, Cooking, Foraging, Signaling, Special Abilities: The lifeblood of Far Harad’s Star-Gazing, Tale-Telling, Dancing, Sprint- They get six background options. cities is commerce. +10 bonus to Appraisal ing, Jumping, Fletching, Glass Blower, and Trading skill rolls. Extra Languages: In addition to those listed Sand Sculptor [Crafts], Region Lore, His- Other Factors above: Tazinain (S6/W5) and Nûradja tory (Religion). Starting Languages: Apysaic (S8AV6), Ha- (S5/W4). Background Options ruze (S5/W4), Ansith (S7/W5); Allowed Covshek-pust get six background options. Adolescent Development: Varadja (S5/W5), Talents: All available. Extra Languages: In addition to those listed Nûradja (S4/W3), Tazinain (S6/W4; S8/W7 Covshek-pust above: Avarin (S6/W5), Nuradja (S6/W4). in Tûl Póac), Adûnaic (S6/W6). Other Factors Talents: All available. Special Skills: Everyman: Trading, Appraisal, Trading Lore; Restricted: None. Starting Languages: Apysaic (S8/W6), Ha- ruze (S8/W6); Allowed Adolescent Devel- Standard Hobby Skills: Chain, any 1-H opment: Tazinain (S6/W5), Varadja Edged, Missile or Pole-Arm Weapon (S6/W5) Ansith (S4/W2). Skills; Riding; Tracking; Stalking; Hiding;

— 28 ———————————————————————————————————— Aggressiveness and Morale for

Non-player Characters

ortal combat is a common slaughter one another on sight, it must Bernie Roessler (some may feel too common) be determined whether one or both 1113 West Hermosa Moccurrence In most role- sides has sufficient provocation to re- Tulare, CA 93274, USA playing games. Conflict al- sort to combat. Of course for the most always takes place between the player character side, the decision is player characters and a group of non- made by players themselves. However, player characters (NPCs), usually if the players are attempting to have controlled by the gamemaster. For any sort of a believable game, they will combat to occur, three requirements make their decision in much the same must be met. First, both sides must way the gamemaster ought to do for have the means to engage in combat. the non-player side. Both the players (If only one of the participating sides and the gamemaster should attempt to had such means, it would not be com- “get into the role” of the characters bat but murder.) Fortunately, most they control and establish realistic characters that travel outside of civ- motives for their actions, not only in ilized areas are wise enough to go well- deciding whether they should enter armed, so this requirement is usually combat, but in all that they easily satisfied. do. The second requirement is moti- vation. Since not all the inhabitants of Middle- earth attempt to There was a horn-blast and a rash, of feet, and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber. How many there were the Company could not count. The affray was sharp, but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence. Legolas shot two through the throat. Gimli hewed the legs from under another that had sprung up on Balin’s tomb. Boromir and Aragorn slew many. When thirteen had fallen the rest fled shrieking, leaving the defenders unharmed, except for Sam who had a scratch along the scalp. A quick duck had saved him; and he had felled his orc: a sturdy thrust with his Barrow-blade. A fire was smouldering in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards, if he had seen it.

— LotR I: 339

————————————————————————————————————— 29 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— (Personally, no aspect of role-playing is Aggressiveness in this context is not Middle-earth combatants, but for all more frustrating than when a player in the same as belligerence or blood lust, times and places. your group acts in such a manner as to which I would categorize as being more a Other factors which influence aggres- get everyone into as much trouble as part of motivation. Nor is aggressiveness siveness are spiritual in nature, such as possible.) synonymous with courage, though cour- belief of reward in an afterlife or in the What exactly a “realistic motivation” age may certainly influence it. For exam- righteousness of a cause; emotional fac- may be, however, will vary greatly, de- ple (as I will argue), neither Hobbits nor tors, such as a state of frenzy or hatred pending on circumstances. In the case of Drughu are very aggressive. I doubt, of an enemy; and also (often overlooked Orcs, for example, one may be inclined however, that many would say that they in historical accounts) the level of in- to believe that they indeed are a group are not courageous. Gollum too, by my toxication. that would attempt to slaughter every- definition, would not be considered ag- I would like now to examine the mo- one else on sight and for the sheer gressive, though he certainly was a nasty rale of combatant non-player characters. pleasure of it. On closer examination, little fellow and quite courageous as well, Morale in this context is a measure of however, it seems that Orcs are more I feel, in his own way. the depth of a character’s aggressive- inclined to take ness. In other words, morale is the others prisoner if willingness of the at all feasible. Orcs NPCs to remain in combat will fight alongside after suffering a setback. human allies if Morale, then, could just as ordered to do so by easily be called a strong leader. “discipline” by this They will just as definition. If cir- quickly turn on cumstances began to each other if the turn against them, motivation were a NPCs—almost great enough prize regardless of type— (such as a mithril would be very coat). unlikely to continue fighting Similarly, one until all were either slain or may view Elves as a incapacitated. Self- highly cultured, peace- preservation would soon loving people. Yet, even have a group of beaten in Aman, the Noldor NPCs looking for the most found the motivation to expedient method of escape attack the Teleri in order to from the fray. Again, I believe acquire their ships. (I wonder the cultural background of a how the Fellowship would have group heavily influences their fared on the borders of Lórien had morale and determines just when they they not been expected.) Aggressiveness, I believe, is actually will consider themselves “beaten” and Motivation of a group of NPCs will dependent for the most part on a “style” decide that discretion is, after all, the also be greatly influenced by the actions of combat behavior, which is learned and better part of valor. and speech of the players. Shrewd play varies according to the cultural back- The following notes and rule sug- can make a friend of an enemy, while a ground from which a character origi- gestions offer guidelines to gamemasters social blunder may invite immediate nates. Some cultures glorify the attack, for determining when certain non-player attack. Since motivation is dependent on and at least pay homage to the idea that character types will fight, and when they so many variables, I will turn to the death in combat is unimportant, as long will begin to break. Of course, since we third—and, I believe, most neglected— as one dies bravely. For other cultures, it all have different interpretations of how requirement, which I call aggressive- is the end result that matters, and the best the various peoples in Middle-earth may ness. victory is that in which one’s own side react, gamemasters are free to engage in Aggressiveness is, by my definition, has taken little loss. that other major creative aspect of role- the likelihood of a motivated group of Aggressiveness is greatly influenced by playing and modify the rules to reflect characters to actually take that final step leadership and peer pressure. I believe their particular taste. Perhaps a similar and initiate combat, rather than to seek a that, even with a great amount of motiva- set of rules has already appeared in one means of avoiding it. Self-preservation is tion, it is the desire to belong to the of the later Rolemaster Companion; but, if a common instinct to all thinking crea- group, to aid one’s comrades, and not to so, I am not aware of it. tures. Since the outcome of combat is disgrace oneself, that actually brings an very often quite final, I believe that, individual into the kill-or-be-killed insan- realistically, even motivated NPCs will ity that is the reality of combat. In my not attack unless an aggressiveness opinion, this would be true not only for threshold has been crossed.

— 30 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — COMBAT STYLES history of shared persecution makes for a ers lies in their overdependence on this As I began analyzing the behavior in close bond between Zealot fighters. They initial assault. If it fails, they have al- combat of the members of the various will attempt heroic attacks to save com- ready spent a great deal of their physical cultures found in Middle-earth, I no- rades, and will almost never leave their and emotional energy. Other setbacks, ticed that they could be divided into four wounded behind. In addition, the higher such as the loss of a popular leader or the basic categories or “styles.” I have called level of civilization of many Zealot cul- sudden appearance of an enemy in an these the Zealot, the Barbarian, the tures tends to give their fighters a more unexpected place, will also unsettle Bar- Mercenary, and the Irregular style. The professional view of combat. Many will barian fighters more than others. The following is a general description of have training in standing armies, with the fury of the Barbarians is therefore quite each. tight discipline and command structure fragile. One of the primary reasons for inherent in such groups. Even if this is not this is that Barbarian cultures are usually Zealots the case, simply living in a higher civiliza- more loosely structured in terms of au- The Zealot fighting style is one which tion requires familiarity with and a recog- thority and leadership. Members of Bar- is not only aggressive but has high mo- nition of an organized division of labor. A barian cultures are often individualistic, rale as well. Zealot cultures feel they certain discipline is also required among and may follow a leader only as long as have a special mission to perform. Quite members of such cultures if they are to be he is successful. For these reasons, Bar- often they may believe that they have successful. All these factors give the barian fighters will tend to break in been chosen by a higher power for this Zealot cultures of Middle-earth the high- combat more easily than others. mission. Although a Zealot culture may est morale in combat, and make their greatly espouse peace as a virtue, they members the least likely to break and flee Mercenaries will resort to arms with little hesitation in a fight. The Mercenary style of combat is less and great determination if they feel the aggressive in attack than that of either need has arisen. Zealots also have the Barbarians Zealots or Barbarians. This is not be- comfort that they are serving a noble The Barbarian style of combat is also cause Mercenaries are cowardly. They cause; and if they are killed battling highly aggressive. The initial onslaught of simply have a more pragmatic view of their enemies, they often believe that Barbarian-style fighters will be fierce and combat, and feel they are best serving they will be rewarded in an afterlife. For often accompanied by a great deal of their cause if they refrain from attack these reasons, although in Middle-earth screaming. This is intended to both em- unless they have an advantage. In fact, the Zealot cultures are the most civi- bolden the Barbarians and to frighten Mercenary-style fighters tend to have lized, they are also among the most ag- their enemies. In fact, the initial charge of better discipline, and are less likely to gressive. Barbarian-style fighters, whether on break after a setback, than Barbarian Zealot cultures are often relatively horseback or (more commonly in Middle- fighters. This is largely due to the fact small in population by comparison with earth) on foot, can be quite terrifying, and that Mercenaries usually come from cul- neighboring peoples and/or have suf- will often cause panic among poorly disci- tures which have a higher degree of fered tragic misfortune in the past. This plined combatants. The weakness of Barbarian-style fight-

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— OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— civilization than Barbarians (or at least regulars often choose to disengage — not ual fighting prowess, the Faithful Dúne- have more contact with a civilized cul- out of fear, but to lead their pursuers into dain make the best soldiers. Disciplined ture), with the inherent advantages this an ambush. Irregulars seek to win, not by and professional, the Faithful have both gives to a fighter’s discipline. I also want face-to-face battle, but by wearing down great aggressiveness and morale (though to emphasize that although I have named and forcing their enemies to realize that one of their favorite tactics is to exhaust this style of combat the “Mercenary,” by the cost of victory would be more than its an enemy that tries to hack through no means is it limited only to true merce- worth. their superb armor and shields, before naries. Many Mercenary-style fighters moving in for the kill). are quite dedicated to whatever motiva- Aggressiveness and tion brings them to combat. King’s Men Morale by Race and Contemptuously referred to by the Culture Faithful as “Black Númenóreans” and The following is a series of short (and, “renegades,” the King’s Men never- admittedly, incomplete) descriptions of theless believe themselves to embody the the combat characteristics of the various authentic legacy of Númenor. Unlike the cultures found in northwestern Middle- Faithful, however, the King’s Men are earth. I have presented the cultures in a warlike by choice. Their fighting nature more or less “Dúnadan-centric” order. tends to have more in common with The commentary is based on both their Southron neighbors than with their Tolkien’s writings and ICE’s work, ancestors, yet they retain their forefa- though I have made my own interpo- thers’ fear of Death, and will attack only lations. Much more could be written on if they feel they have a distinct advan- each of the cultures, and I certainly do tage. Still, they are a disciplined bunch, not mean for this to be the last word on and will remain in combat after other the matter. servants of the Enemy have fled (though this is perhaps due to their tendency to I. MEN wear heavier armor and ride heavier horses than the Haradrim.). I would characterize the King’s Men as having a Númenóreans Mercenary style of combat. The Men of Númenor (the Dúnedain) colonized Middle-earth, spreading their Corsairs of Umbar culture and world-view to the indigenous Although originally a haven of the peoples they interacted with. However, King’s Men, Umbar was conquered by as time drew on, an ideological rift came the kings of Gondor, and remained un- to divide the Númenóreans into two der the control of the Faithful for much Irregulars parties: the Faithful and the King’s Men. of the Third Age. In T.A. 1448, how- The Irregular style of combat is even Although a minority m Númenor, the ever, Umbar became a lordship inde- less aggressive than that of the Merce- Faithful later became the dominant group pendent of Gondorian power, having nary. On the other hand, Irregulars are in northwestern Middle-earth, whereas long been a stronghold for the confeder- often as disciplined as Zealots. Irregulars the influence of the King’s Men was more ate rebels of the Kin-strife. In T.A. 1540, are the guerrilla or partisan fighters of predominant along the coastlands to the seaborne raiding of Gondor’s coastlands Middle-earth (though I refrain from East and South. received open support from Umbar’s calling them that, because of the modern ruling Council of Captains, and for this historical images those names bring to Faithful reason the rebels became known as cor- mind). Irregulars will definitely seek to The Faithful (the Elendili) include not sairs. They were, however, the conserva- avoid combat unless it is on their own only those possessed of Dúnadan blood tive faction among the Faithful, and so terms. The reason for this is that Irregu- but also those influenced by their culture. should be reckoned as Zealots up until lars are often from cultures which have They are the most civilized of Men. They their defeat in T.A. 1810, after which certain disadvantages in combat. These are also archetypal Zealots, especially Umbar returned to Gondorian control. disadvantages may be in weaponry, or in when fighting the servants of Darkness. Many of the confederates continued small physical or population size by com- Like all Númenóreans, the Faithful view to cling to their ancient ideals while in parison with their neighbors. themselves as a chosen race among Men, exile from Umbar, but in T.A. 1940 their Irregulars, like the Zealots, often share and feel that they are carrying out the leaders made an alliance with the Cult of a history of persecution. This fact, along will of the Valar in their pursuits. Quite Melkor to recapture the haven. This with their small numbers, makes them a often they are actually correct in this. event marked how far the Corsairs had close knit and disciplined bunch. But Although individuals from other hu- while less likely to break in combat, Ir- man cultures may equal them in individ-

— 32 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 —

Rivermen of Eriador These trappers and traders of Eriador are too few in number to fight like Bar- barians or Zealots and too stubborn to be Irregulars, so by default I will classify them as Mercenaries.

Daen Peoples Daen society never did become quite civilized, and as such the Daen have al- ways had a Barbarian style of combat, albeit more temperate than the Easter- lings. In addition, the Daen peoples were never naturally xenophobic (as many other Barbarians tend to be). Most Daen fighters require a personal reason to at- tack, and are just as content to raid a neighboring Daen clan (with which they may be feuding) as anyone else. While the Daen suffer the same weakness as most Barbarians in lacking discipline, in de- fense of their homes they are second to none, and the Gondorians were wise enough to leave them alone for most of degenerated from their Faithful origins, chieftains. Beijabar will fight their ene- their history, and many Daen were con- and thereafter they continued to decline mies no matter what the odds, and tend to quered by cultural absorption rather than until they were indistinguishable in their remain in battle until victory is theirs. The military action. The Rohirrim made a outlook from the King’s Men. During this one possible exception to this would be if mistake by not following this policy and later period, then, they may be treated as their chieftain were killed. The Beijabar so making for themselves a persistent Mercenary in their combat style. belief system and small population make enemy. This may have changed after them quite suspicious of strangers. Théoden’s merciful treatment at Helm’s ORTHMEN Probably the best defense against Beija- Deep, but that would have been the task N bar is not to give them any motivation for of future generations. attack. Horse-lords Hillmen of Rhudaur The Rohirrim, Éothéod, and Éothraim Woodmen Caught as they are between the Dúne- all represent different incarnations of the Although they are the zealotic Beija- dain and the forces of Angmar, these same horse-riding culture. These North- bar’s closest relatives among Men, the Daen-folk have been forced to adopt an men could be considered Barbarians in Woodmen have an Irregular style of Irregular style of combat. their early history, but slowly the influ- combat. There are two primary reasons ence of the Dúnedain changed their soci- for this. The first reason is their closer Dorwinrim ety into a more highly civilized one, and proximity to Dol Guldur. The second The Dorwinrini I will classify as Mer- they became true Zealots. While on reason is the extremely close terrain cenaries. This is not because of anything horseback, the Rohirrim are almost fear- found in Mirkwood, which best lends Tolkien wrote about them, but is based less in the attack; on foot, they are a little itself to Irregular-style tactics. After an rather on their description in the ICE more hesitant; in both cases, they are ambush, only a Wood-elf could possibly modules as traders and travelers. I feel a more likely to break than the Dúnedain. catch a Woodman in his native environ- Mercenary style would best fit such a On the other hand, the Rohirrim seem to ment. culture. have a degree of fatalism, in that (if they feel they have no other choice) they will Lake and Dalesmen launch seemingly suicidal attacks that I really am not sure how to classify Drughu most Dúnedain would never attempt. these urban Northmen. They are related The Drughu are an extremely reclusive to the Éothraim and must originally have people and are seldom encountered hy Beijabar been Barbarians. Their early urbanisation other folk. They are, of course, the ulti- Complete Zealots, no other Men are as would have soon changed this and made mate Irregular-style fighters. Drughu ready to attack as the Beijabar when them at least Mercenaries. Bard and his will almost always shrink away deeper motivated. Like the Númenóreans, the descendants are clearly Zealots, however. into the woods rather than engage an Beijabar feel they have a special relation- Probably a Mercenary style for most enemy, using traps and snares to do much ship with the Valar, which is manifested inhabitants, with a Zealot elite, is the best of their work. Their superb skills in liv- bv the skin-changing abilities of their fit. ————————————————————————————————————— 33 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— ing off the land enable them to abandon sphere of influence. Although there are Hobbits their villages with little hesitation (were important cultural differences between Hobbits are Irregular-style com- an enemy lucky enough to find these the various Easterling cultures, in terms batants who, due to their small size and dwellings in the first place). The of combat style they are all Barbarians, high agility, prefer missile weapons. Drughu usually strike only when they as one would expect. Easterlings are even Although reluctant to offer open battle, can ensure the complete annihilation of more ready to initiate combat than the Hobbits are surprisingly resilient once their foes with poison darts and arrows. Daen, primarily because the “glory” of riled, and refuse to be intimidated by The Drughu are quite successful in em- combat receives greater value among larger opponents. ploying these tactics which are meant to Easterling cultures, but also due to less instill terror in their enemies. experience with the consequences of engaging in combat with the Dúnedain. II. ELVES Beffraen Unlike nomadic incursions in (real- The primitive Beffraen of the Eryn world) European history, Easterling Noldor Vorn, because of their small numbers attacks against the Westlands of Middle- The Noldor consider themselves the and environment, have naturally earth were caused not only by population most dedicated foes of Morgoth and his adopted an Irregular style of combat. or military pressure from people even servants and, like their human allies, the farther to the east, but also from the Dunedain, are Zealots, and will show Haradrim machinations of Sauron’s servants. Most little hesitation to attack once they have Although the peoples collectively re- Easterlings would probably prefer fight- decided that combat is necessary. Some ferred to by the Dúnedain as the Ha- ing other Easterlings in their homelands. may say that holding up in their havens radrim actually consist of many different Because of this, the elimination of an for centuries does not seem very zeal- nationalities, they share much in com- Easterling war-leader is enough to send ous. This, however, is a human point of mon, including a Mercenary style of them scurrying back in the direction they view. It is also made with reference to combat. The poor natural resources of came. strategic action, whereas this article is much of their homelands encourage concerned with tactical behavior. The raiding as a way of life for many. Com- Variags apparent inactivity of the Noldor has, bat for the Haradrim is viewed, then, as As one would expect from the location however, led some men to consider all a practical means for gaming material of their homeland (between the Easter- Elves unwarrior-like. This is based on resources. ling and Southron homelands), Variags ignorance, for those Noldor and other While the Haradrim have certainly fall somewhere between a Mercenary Elves who choose to become warriors been enemies of Gondor, at times they and Barbarian style of combat. Those exhibit the same expertise in that field have also been its allies. Of course, the who know the Variags are aware that that is shown in all their work. The history of the Haradwaith is also full of their slightly greater hesitation to launch Noldor are the proudest of the Elves, infighting among its various peoples. an attack than other Easterlings is cer- and have clear memories of their griev- This history, along with the tendency for tainly not due to any lack of bloodthirsti- ances with the servants of Darkness the Haradrim not to risk their lives un- ness. going back to the First Age. They are necessarily and their emphasis on mate- the first to fight among the Quendi, and rial gam, has led some to regard them as Lossoth. the last to break due to morale. The Lossoth are probably Irregulars, untrustworthy. Those who know them Sindar personally, however, have found the due to their small population size. (Also, The Sindar (or Grey-elves) also make Haradrim to be courageous and hon- why bother fighting to defeat your ene- fine warriors, but are more difficult to orable warriors. mies when the weather will probably kill classify with respect to combat style. The wide expanses of the Haradwaith them for you?) For the most part, they seem to exhibit have led to a strong cavalry tradition an Irregular style, and are content to among the Haradrim. Their horses are Bandits remain on the defensive. At other times, light and fast, and second in quality only Regardless of culture, bandits engage they have marched to open battle and to those of the Rohirrim (and, of course, in combat for one purpose—loot! Hence fought in a Zealot style. In the First those of the Elves). Missile weapons (not surprisingly) they have a Mercenary Age, many Sindar fought under Noldo (especially bows) are highly favored by style of combat. Getting killed in the lords. I think it would be safest to clas- the Haradrim. What better weapon for process of striving for even the greatest sify the Sindar as having an Irregular the practical warrior than that which treasure does a bandit little good; there- style unless a strategic decision has been allows one to strike at an enemy at a fore, bandits are quite selective in whom made by a leader to go to open battle, at distance without endangering one-self? they attack and, unless desperate, will which time they will fight like Zealots. only go after what they perceive to be an Easterlings easy target. Avari Like “Haradrim,” the term “Easter- Most Avari (and, by definition, the ling” refers collectively to several cul- Silvan-elves of Rhovanion) are found in tures found to the east of Gondors woods, and this alone is enough to make me classify them as having an

— 34 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Aggressiveness and Morale Tables The Aggressiveness and Morale tables are based on standard Superbly armed and MERP rules and should be familiar to most players. In order to armored, Dwarves decide whether a group of NPCs will initiate attack, determine usually have little their Aggressiveness Rating, based on their race/culture and other reason to retreat modifiers. One roll should be made for the entire group. Once anyway. engaged in combat, separate rolls are made for each individual, this Umli time using the Morale Rating. A Morale roll should be made when- If you use Umli in ever one or more of the following events occur: 1) the individual your game, you are receives a critical hit that causes additional damage; 2) the leader free to run them as receives a critical hit that causes additional damage (Roll for each you choose, since member of the group observing the hit. If the leader runs away, they were not invented subtract 50 from Morale rolls.); 3) 20% of the group becomes un- able to continue fighting (i.e., roll at 20%, 40%, 60%, etc.). by Tolkien. Their small numbers would tend to make Racial/Cultural Modifiers* them Irregulars. If their Race/Culture Aggressiveness Morale Dwarven blood has any Irregular influence, however, they NÚMENÓREANS style. Just must certainly have Zealot Faithful +40 +50 like Sindar, However, there tendencies. King’s Men +10 +20 are times when they will Corsairs of Umbar** +40 +50 march to open battle and IV. ORCS NORTHMEN fight like Zealots. They cer- Common Orcs have a Horse-lords † +40 (+20 on foot) +30 tainly did so at the Battle of Barbarian style of combat. Beijabar +50 +40 Five Armies. Their initial assault will be Woodmen -10 +20 fierce and loud, but if things Lake/Dalemen +10 +20 III. DWARVES turn against them, they enjoy Rivermen — + 10 The Khazad are true being killed no more than DAEN +20 -10 Zealots, and are always any other race and will Dorwinrim — — ready to attack. No race has break. Often the only thing Hillmen -10 + 10 a higher morale than the driving common Orcs to DRUGHU -20 +50 Dwarves, who will stand and attack is the compulsion of a Beffraen -20 +20 fight when all others have leader whom they fear even HARADRIM — + 10 fled, as shown more than their enemy. EASTERLINGS +40 -20 Uruk-hai are more Zealot- Variags +20 — like, but their morale is still LOSSOTH -20 +10 not as great as the Zealots found among the Free Peo- BANDITS -10 — ples. All Orcs are essentially HOBBITS -30 + 10 slaves, and a slave can never ELVES have the dedication or mo- Noldor +40 +50 rale of a person who is free. Sindar + 10 +50 Avari — +30 V. TROLLS DWARVES +50 +70 Trolls fight like true Zeal- Umli — +30 ots, and that may seem to ORCS +40 — belie the last sentence I Uruk-hai +60 +20 wrote concerning Orcs. In TROLLS +70 +70 actuality, however, Trolls are * Naturally, each culture will have exceptions to these ratings, of a different kind than all such as elite guards and raw levies. the other races described ** These ratings apply onlv to the first period of Corsair history (including Orcs). They have (T.A. 14/5-1810*). With the resumption of Corsair activity fol- no real “morale” because lowing the loss of Umbar in T.A. 1940, King's Men ratings they have no real free will. In should be substituted. combat, a Troll is simply a † These ratings apply,only after T.A. 2510 (the founding of killing machine, and will Rohan). Earlier Éothéod and Éothraim morale ratings should fight until either victorious be downgraded to reflect the more or dead.

————————————————————————————————————— 35 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— NPC Panic Table Modifiers Roll* Outcome ± Presence bonus of leader (-5 to +35)* 100 Throws weapon at opponent and turns to run. +10 if NPCs outnumber enemy 96-99 Attempts to surrender.** +20 if NPCs outnumber enemy > 1.5 to 1** 80-95 Runs off alone and is unable to regroup with +40 if NPCs outnumber enemy > 2 to 1 others. +60 if NPCs outnumber enemy > 3 to 1 41-79 Runs off but is able to regroup. +80 if NPCs outnumber enemy > 4 to 1 15-40 Throws weapon and shield to the ground and -30 if NPCs are outnumbered by enemy runs off. Unavailable for later use. -60 if NPCs are outnumbered by enemy > 1.5 to 1 05-14 Incapacitated with fear. (Treat as though -100 if NPCs are outnumbered by enemy > 2 to 1 stunned.)† +20 if the majority of NPCs have shields while while only 02-04 Drops weapon but remains in place, frozen with 25% or less of the enemy have them as well. fear.† ±10 for each level of armor above/below that worn by the 01 Throws self to the ground and grovels for enemy† mercy.† * Roll separately for each individual NPC. * A leader must be visible to NPCs in order for them to ** Re-roll if NPC is an Orc or a Troll. receive this bonus † Re-roll if NPC is a Troll. ** The ratios are based on the number of individuals capa- ble of engaging in combat, and are adjusted as casualties Aggressiveness and Morale Chart are taken or as individuals run away. Roll* Outcome † Groups with mixed armor levels should be averaged: no 176+ Absolute Success: Charge! NPCs put 100% of armor = 1, soft leather = 2, rigid leather = 3, chain = 4, melee into attack. plate = 5 (E.g., if NPCs wear chainmail while the enemy 111-175 Success: NPCs attack, putting 65% of melee are all in soft leather, add 20 to the NPC rating) into attack. 91-100 Near Success: NPCs fire or throw any ready missile weapons. Roll again in two rounds with a +10 bonus for every missile that hits. If already engaged in combat, NPCs put 50% of melee bonus into attack. 76-90 Partial Success: NPCs hold their ground, but do not initiate attack. If already engaged in combat, NPCs put 75% of melee bonus into defense. 05-75 Failure: NPCs begin a slow, organized with- drawal from the enemy. If already engaged in combat, no withdrawal takes place, but NPCs put 100% of melee bonus into defense and will not pursue if enemy breaks contact. -25-04 Absolute Failure: NPCs begin immediate re- treat. If already engaged in combat, they at- tempt to break away to safer ground nearby. -26 > Blunder: NPCs are routed. Roll on Panic Table.

* If NPCs are attacked, rather than initiating combat, use this chart to determine their actions, but subtract an additional 30 from the roll. Special Rules 1. Groups with an Irregular combat style are immune to Blunder when making an initial Aggressiveness (not Morale) roll. 2. If a Zealot leader becomes incapacitated, another NPC automatically takes his place. A Morale check must still be made for the first leader’s loss. 3. No NPC will be the lone individual to run from a fight; hence, If only one NPC rolls a Blunder or Abso- lute Failure, reduce the outcome to a simple Failure.

— 36 ———————————————————————————————————— Mapping Middle-earth:

An Interview with Pete Fenlon

Chris Seeman Chris: Do you have any previous back- terpretation, which is based on a rea- PO Box 1213 ground or experience in cartography and sonably good grounding in geology, Novato, CA 94948, USA map-making that contributed to your weather, and the like. I am a generalist ([email protected]) work for the MERP stuff? in the strongest sense of the word. These things are highly interrelated; and, in a Pete: Well, in terms of formal carto- This is the second installment of the series sense, I tried to apply all that knowledge graphic training, no; in the sense that a of interviews I will be conducting with those as best as I could. Then I had to twist it geological survey guy might have carto- individuals at ICE and elsewhere who have a little bit, given the fact that I was try- graphic training, I have studied it quite a played an important part in the development of ing to apply it to a globe instead of a bit as a hobby and pastime, and in that the MERP line. In this issue you will be flat earth map. As a result, that gave it a context have been drawing maps since I eavesdropping on a conversation I had with Pete little bit different shape—a little “per- was about five. I have been a map collec- Fenlon, former MERP editor and the skilled verted,” if you will—because I was using tor as well, and for as long as I can re- hand behind those beautiful color maps we have real distances. all come to know and love. On numerous occa- member. Also, I have used maps of every sions, Tolkien underlined the centrality of kind and ilk in the context of traveling in Chris: Did you also play a role in deter- maps to the evolution of The Lord of the the wilderness (which I have spent a mining the linguistic bases or real-world Rings. Tolkien himself insisted that the ex- great deal of time in) — using geological analogies that were going to be used for perience of fantasy was, in its pure form, an survey and topo maps and that sort of the different place-names that appeared aural rather than a visual affair; this notwith- thing, and traveling around the world, in the east and the south of that map? which is one of my other hobbies. In standing, I think it would not be going too far Pete: Yes. I have to confess that was either case, I have had ad hoc classes in to say that, as an “auxiliary” medium, maps really a matter of simply taking what graphic arts of this sort (that is to say, in have performed an invaluable role in bringing limited knowledge we have of these re- the drafting of maps) and a little work - Tolkien’s world to life for millions of readers gions, and applying it in a broad stroke with regard to different map theories (and role-players) the world over. One of the theme. The only issue I was dealing with (bent earth versus flat earth), but noth- most enduring strengths of ICE’s treatment of there was that of Mannish (or “Hildo”) ing of the sort that a true cartographer Middle-earth (I believe) has been its awareness versus Elvish groups, assuming that the would have in the modern sense. of and attention to this all-important dimen- place-names in most areas would have sion of Tolkien’s sub-creation. Chris: One of the first things that came some sort of Hildo origin, and the names out of the MERP series was the Endor in the old Elvish areas might still reflect continent map. What sort of considera- some connection with the Quendi. Then tions went into deciding the shape of my main goal was to create names that Middle-earth, outside of what we know were evocative, wild, and dissimilar from Tolkien own maps? from the sorts of names that you might find in common fantasy. I think Tolkien Pete: I had access to a photocopy of a was quite good at blending the original sketch map from a guy from Oxford that fantasy—the original creation—with later appeared in The Shaping of Middle- historic creation (and quite a bit better earth; that was a pretty important thing at it than the run of the mill fantasy to have. Using it as a rough outline, tak- guy), and that really was my principal ing into account and weighing the simi- concern. I did not want a bunch of “yel- larities versus the differences with our low” guys running around in the east by own world, I started to work on my own the name of “Chung,” and a bunch of rough outline. I think I went through guys running around in the south by the about three of them before I was able to name of “Bantu,” so the names were a reconcile the rough shape with what I big factor. I did go back and play understood to be the migration and around with some dictionaries: Indo- weather patterns, extrapolated distances, European and others. (I collect dic- and the like. So, reconciling all three of tionaries—everything from Hawaiian to those, I came up with the published in- Basque — and, as ————————————————————————————————————— 37 — — OTHER HANDS —————————————————————————

discussion on the MERP Tolkien was, I’m a big fan list about the map for of language, although I Ardor. am not the linguist or phi- lologist that he was.) Pete: Which was a rene- There is some word-play gade module. in the map names, and Chris: I was uncertain as some names reflect to its status, but I remem- ecosystems and places ber that John Curtis from which might be analogous ICE was saying that there to our world, but which were some objections to it don’t on the face of it from Tolkien Enterprises, resemble anything that because it was not one of you might commonly the areas that Tolkien him- come across in our his- self had described. I was tory. wondering whether that Chris: Let’s move now objection came from or from the big map to the included the actual map- more detailed ones you’ve ping of the area. done for the individual Pete: The objection wasn't modules at the 1” = 20 really from Tolkien miles scale. What led you Enterprises at all. John to present the maps the wasn’t really here then. All way you did—in a way the objection to Ardor that evokes the visual really came from me, be- character of the places cause I was the original they represent; rather Reprinted with permission Middle-earth editor. Ardor than, say, a topographical was done during a period style? sense one gets from your maps has been very useful, especially in the module of my absence by one of our older de- Pete: Obviously the scale is a tough call work I myself have been doing. signer-founders, a guv who ran an El- in and of itself. I have found in my years vish campaign in that area. This was of running Middle-earth games (since Pete: Tolkien was very much an advo- Terry Amthor, and his module had a 1975) that small, quarter inch hexes— cate of good maps, and maps say a very different sense of Tolkien and, in and I use transparent hex grids some- whole lot. Frankly, for somebody who is that respect, created a fairly impactual times superimposed on these things — thinking about another world and who piece. It’s a pretty heavy piece of work work real well as far as running a cam- is actually trying to visualize it, one has and pretty controversial internally. In paign. Twenty miles is also a pretty to have some basic idea of the landscape that sense, Ardor was an experiment common increment in terms of daily — some feel, some flavor, is simply in- that I would not repeat. I addressed a travel times for people. (This is to say, dispensable. I might note also that the part of it in Shadow in the South. I’m a people who have horses or wagons.) So map style of the eastern map-makers — big advocate of rationalization as an art it just seemed like a natural sort of mile- particularly the late colonial map- form, because, to a large degree, I have age thing. As far as the rendering style makers through the Civil War map- a Zen or Taoist sense of things. Things of the map, it really evolved over time, makers — evolved the sort of style that just happen. Sometimes the best things but was originally essentially a style that I have adapted into my maps, with the come out of these controversies (or I drew from Tolkien’s own maps. (That idea of depicting ridgelines and canyons mysteries, or dilemmas) and, in recon- is to say, a “twisted view” style, which in a certain way (having lived amid ciling and dealing with them, you dis- was used in our own world by cartogra- Civil War and Revolutionary war battle cover and sometimes create things that phers to depict fanciful places and real field areas, and having collected the are actually better in many respects places going way way back. It’s a pretty maps pertaining to them). They are than something designed out of new or commonplace style, although I obvi- pretty flavorful, and give you a good whole cloth. In either case, Ardor was a ously have my own little twist on it.) I compromise between a topo map (which rather bizarre piece, and very different have adapted it over the years but, gen- has to be read in a certain way) and a than most of the other things in the erally speaking, I was trying to create a photograph. line. flavor that is somewhat true to the large Chris: You’ve also mapped some of the Chris: But as far as Tolkien Enterprises maps of Christopher Tolkien, and that areas outside of northwestern Middle- is concerned, there aren’t any restric- would be usable by a role-playing earth for modules like Greater Harad, tions about actually mapping the east group. Shadow in the South, and The Court of Ar- and the south? Chris: I think the detail and the visual dor. In fact, there was a recent on-line

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—————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — and changes I would make in it now. I would try and keep it as consistent as I could. The different areas outside of northwestern Middle-earth are areas we would like to explore sometime in the future, but they would need to be done very carefully and, as noted before, in the proper context. We like to think of our- selves as adept explorers with regard to role-playing themes, and mapping them. It is something we haven’t done yet, be- cause we really have to have the right maps and the right program, and lay it out very carefully. Chris: I get a sense from talking with Jessica Ney-Grimm about potential MERP projects that there is an imperative to “finish up” with northwestern Middle- earth before proceeding on to the other parts of Endor not described by Tolkien. Pete: I don’t think we can effectively tackle the unknown places without really having a lot more experience with the known places. I am pretty-confident in my secondary creative ability; but the point is that there is still much to be ex- plored in the northwest. We still have to learn a few more tricks and get a better grip on things before we move on to the rest of the continent. It is our hope that by the time that we do reach that point, we will employ a much broader team of people, a fairly strong team of folks who come from a variety of Tolkien-related Reprinted with permission interest groups, to put together a compre- hensive program. Pete: We have never incurred any restric- course, that’s a gray area in and of itself; Chris: Were the maps that have already tions. The main point with these maps— because if one uses sound cartographic been drawn for northwestern Middle- and this is the main point I want to make and anthropological methods, then one is earth conceived with any particular date to any reader— is that they are not probably going to create something that in mind? In other words, were they writ- Tolkien’s maps, nor do they represent is pretty good and consistent; and beyond ten to correspond to the T.A. 1640s, or to Tolkien’s interpretation of specific places; that, that is all one can do. some other period? these are our interpretations on a broad Chris: You have put together an (unpub- canvas (and a view that sometimes may Pete: They were drawn to correspond lished) gazetteer for all the names that not be altogether perfect from another with the very late Third Age (about the you have come up with for the continent vantage point of how these places might time of the War of the Ring); however, it map. Are there any plans at present to be). In that sense, the only thing we can is not quite so simple. You will note that, publish it? do is speculate. To have anybody take it had they been drawn for the 1640s, many to heart as Tolkien’s own would be tragic. Pete: If it is to be published at some point, of the sites that are ruins on these maps I would not advocate that, and we try to this gazetteer will probably appear along would actually be inhabited. That is your be clear in each of our pieces about this. I with a revised map of the continent. I am first clue that they are drawn toward the think that everyone we have ever dealt not sure what our immediate plans are in later Third Age. In addition, some of the with knows that. The bigger issue is: 1) that area. town symbols, which indicate that towns do we make that point clear, and 2) how were still occupied—at least in part— Chris: By “revised,” do you mean you do we go about doing what we do? Be- during the War of the Ring, don’t neces- would be redrawing it? cause if we are to describe Middle-earth, sarily reflect the size of the town at that we have to do it reasonably well and (to Pete: I would re-render it. It is a thirteen- my mind) with a pretty consistent scheme year old map, and there are a few tweaks that doesn’t conflict -with Tolkien. Of ————————————————————————————————————— 39 —

— OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— time. Tharbad and a lot of the towns in Gondor gazetteer, one of the first rupted” with the waning of knowledge Cardolan would be a case in point. things Patrick Wynne and I had to pos- of the Elven tongues over the centuries. Town sites there really reflect Cardolan tulate was the date and occasion for This exercise had the unexpected effect when it was better populated so that, which those maps were produced. of making the maps themselves seem all while the physical site is there, the peo- Given the “late” time frame of some of the more “real” and part of the history ple may not be. To take another case, the sites (like Henneth Annûn) and the which they depicted. the tower at Amon Sûl is depicted as a temporal scope adopted by our gazet- Pete: Which is good. Any good histo- ruin because it really was a ruin for a teer entries (which cover all the way up ry— even any fanciful history—must while back; whereas some of the places through the reign of Aragorn), we de- deal with sources, as Tolkien did. I did that fell into decay -were depopulated or cided that the maps had been drawn up a history major and an anthro major whatever are depicted as towns. Roads and compiled by the Cartographers’ both, and got appropriate degrees at are there; but we know that at the time Guild of Minas Tirith in honor of the UVA here. I remember that at least the of the War of the Ring a lot of these seventy-fifth anniversary of King Elda- first third of one’s history paper dealt were in disrepair, as were the great non’s ascension to the throne. Pat, then, with the sources. hedge walls of Cardolan and Eregion. assumed the persona of Findegil, the King’s Writer, in order to provide a Chris: Thank you very much for your Chris: In order to account for the forms linguistic commentary on names whose time. of many of the place-names that appear forms appeared to have been “cor- on the maps covered by the Southern

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Arda Lore

Lately I have been coming across short esdays CHRIS SEEMAN: WHAT tress” into Sindarin, they could have or notes devoted to the interpretation of various easilv done so (Carnost or Ost Garan); 2) topics of Tolkien’s world, and thought it might DOES “CARN DÛM” MEAN? the authors of the Angmar module were be refreshing to publish some of these in 've recentlv acquired the Ang- presumably thinking of the analogy of OH—to stimulate and provoke further dis- mar module, and have been Khazad-dûm; yet, if Tolkien had in- cussion, I hope. So I decided to invent this new Iunconvinced at the explanation tended such an analogy, why did he not column for people who want to get their given by its authors as to the hyphenate the name to make it clear that thoughts on a particular question out there for meaning- of the place-name Carn Dûm he was doing so (i.e., Carn-dûm)? others to contemplate and respond to. Of (the Witch-king’s stronghold). In the An alternative solution might run as course, this is one of the general goals for ALL module, it is suggested that the name is a follows: The Goldogrin dictionary sup- of the articles in this journal; but not everyone yoking together of caran (S. “red”) with plies the form tum for “valley” (Cf. Sin- has the time or inclination to flesh out an idea dûm (Kzd. “mansion, fortress”), and that darin Tumladen). Is it possible that, as the into a full-blown essay. the Dwarves were responsible for it. second element in a name, turn under- Hence, “Arda Lore” will be devoted exclu- Two points militate against this inter- went a consonantal change to dûm, such sively to “work-in-progress.” Its purpose is to pretation: 1) Dwarves, like anv other that Carn Tum > Carn Dûml If so, then raise perennial issues and pose interesting speaking people in Tolkien’s world, cer- Carn Dûm would not mean “Red For- questions —not necessarily to resolve them. tainly had their own word for “red,” and tress,” but instead “Red Valley.” The Submissions to this column should be short didn’t need to borrow it from the Elves. change in meaning would, of course, and sweet, but at the same time sufficiently Had they wanted to render “Red For- have sig- documented (where relevant; e.g., with page citations from Tolkien’s writings) for others to engage and respond to the question addressed.

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nificant implications for the topography then this is another of those rare mixed WESLEY FRANK: WAS of the site as imagined in the module. forms. HARONDOR FORESTED? Response by Texts pertaining As we “fill out” Tolkien’s Middle- Patrick Wynne to this interpretation earth in the Iron Crown realm mod- The form Carndoom (“Red Valley”) and [Gimli speaking] “’Yonder stands Barazinbar, ules, a number of running controver- the Redhorn, cruel Caradhras; and beyond him sies have sprung up. The following its flock of variants may be found in Re- are Silvertine and Cloudyhead: Celebdil the turn of the Shadow (p. 433, note 13). Doom White, and Fanuidhol the Grey, that we call puts forth an argument for forest cover (“valley”) is probably just a spelling vari- Zirak-zigil and Bundushathûr. There the Misty in the lands immediately south of the ant for dûm in the usual orthography—Cf. Mountains divide, and between their arms lies Ethir Anduin and the River Poros, on the deep-shadowed valley which we cannot for- the borders of Gondor. In the new dûm (“vale”) in Narodûm (“Red Vale”) get: Azanulbizar, the Dimrill Dale, which the (ibid.) in which the first element is narw, Elves call Nandunirion.’” (Fellowship of the Southern Gondor module, the strip of naru (N. “red”) (Lost Road: 374). Tolkien Ring: 226) land across the rivers from Lebennin and Harithilien is named Laergaladrín apparently intended the form to recall “’Well, anyone who did look at the map,’ said English “doom.” The noun without leni- Gandalf, ‘would see that away there stands Ta- (S. “Summer-light’s Memory”), and tion of the initial consonant may be the ragaer or Ruddyhorn, — that mountain with the the hills rising beyond the river valleys, red side. The Misty Mountains divide there and same as tum “deep valley, under or among about ten leagues to the south, are the between their arms lies the land of Caron-dun Emyn Annûn (S. “Hills of the Sunset”) hills,” seen also in Tumladen (“the Level the Red Valley...’” (Return of the Shadow: 419) Vale”) (Lost Road: 394), though I cannot along the coast, and the Emyn Laer (S. “The name of the vale was first Carndoom the “Hills of Summer”) reaching inland to account for the difference in vowel Red Valley; above was written Carondûn and length. Doon-Caron, but these were struck out. Else- the Ephel Dúath. Beyond the Hills of Summer lies the dry, grassy plateau Carndoom was originally the Elvish where on this page is Narodûm = Red Vale; and the name in the text was corrected in red ink to called the Aegardh (S. “Fell Region”), name of the Dimrill-dale. Its subsequent Dimrill-dale: Nanduhiriath...” (Return of the the heart of the old Gondorian prov- use as the name of the capital of the realm Shadow: p. 433, n. 13) ince of Harondor. Somewhere between of Angmar makes sense—the first element the Poros and the Harnen, north and in Angmar appears to be ang (S. “iron”), south of Harondor, the pleasant lands so Carn Dûm (“Red Vale”) might be an of Gondor become the deserts of Near appropriate name for a valley in a land Harad.) rich in iron deposits. Note that if the sec- ond element is mar (Q. “home”),

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There are three important viewpoints serts, and rocky barrens, all temperate answer as an unqualified yes, because of involved in looking at the ground cover dry land is naturally forested. Keeping it the literal way these modules are read. I problem in this region. The first is J.R.R. unforested requires significant effort on am generally careful to give a clear de- Tolkien’s, the second is Peter Fenlon’s the part of local populations. In northern scription of my landscapes because, in (ICE’s primary map-artist), and the third Minnesota, where I was brought up, un- my experience, most people lack the is the readers of our modules. grazed grassland turns into brush thicket geographical background to fill in the within a year or so after abandonment; it blanks themselves. If trees, hills, and Tolkien (like, I suspect, his cartog- returns to dense, second-growth forest in ravines are present and not clearly indi- rapher-son) was a great lover of trees; he a generation. This is in a country on the cated somewhere, most gamemasters or even wrote poems about them, and re- edge of the Great Plains, one that gets players assume a playing field as fea- gretted that the wooded countryside of only twenty inches of rain in a year. Most tureless as the map they are staring at. his youth was being “shabbily destroyed” of northwestern Middle-earth is posi- by the development of its wooded land- If anyone thinks I am giving an tioned, relative to the sea, to get much scape. He marked few woodlands on his overly lush view of the hill country, then more consistent rainfall than this. maps; primarily, I believe, because it was by all means we can alter the descrip- of little interest to him outside of the A corollary of this situation occurs in tion from “forested” to “lightly forested” specific areas he was discussing, but hill and mountain country all through our or “wooded.” However, there are barren partly because it was not a custom in the temperate zones. The slopes of the hills hills aplenty in farther Harondor, where kind of map he was using as a model. are rarely plowed and generally gain more the desert begins, and no need for any moisture from the ground and air then more here on the borders of Gondor. Certainly neither J.R.R. Tolkien or surrounding flat land, so they support his son Christopher try to show all the trees even when the low country is farm physical details of the countryside on OMMY ARTIN or prairie. Tolkien, who was familiar with T M : their maps. Indeed, big chunks of Mid- the Alps, certainly knew that the lower WHAT EVER HAPPENED dle-earth are blank spaces, because clut- slopes of his mountain ranges would sup- tering them up would simply have made TO THE BLUE port extensive woodlands. I expect that the maps unreadable. A glance at the he didn’t show them because his map- WIZARDS? Atlas of Fantasy, or almost any nineteenth making and artistic conventions did not The East is a part of Middle-earth century map of England, or a map of require it. Ground cover was not what he that is not written about too much. All World War I France (where Tolkien was drawing. we know about it is that there are East- served) shows the kind of symbolism erlings of different tribes, and that it is favored by Tolkien’s contemporaries. The question, in the case of the Emyn Annûn and the Emyn Laer, is whether mostly an evil land. In fact, ICE put out General ground cover tends to be left these hills support woodlands and, if so, a map in the Middle-earth Campaign Guide off political maps of western Europe; do they do so in such a way that Mr. that divided this land into realms of the significant woodlots, groves, and forest Fenlon would have to map them as for- Nine Riders. It is helpful for GM’s who preserves are included, because they ested. I would say yes to the first question want to give their characters a different have political or military significance. and no to the second. The descriptions in atmosphere to adventure in. The first The reader of the time would know that Tolkien of Lebennin and Ithilien suggest thing that should be taken into consid- these carefully marked forests are not the a lush country, as well watered as any in eration is that the East is not a kind only woodlands in the area; they are just southern Europe, but most often cleared place. the interesting ones. for cultivation. Laergaladrín would be The Istari are emissaries of the Valar When Mr. Fenlon drew up his maps, only marginally drier, but somewhere in that were sent to Middle-earth to bal- he had to generate more information (for Harondor there would have to be a “tree- ance things out, since Sauron was stir- role-playing purposes), use more color line” where naturally forested lands fade ring again. Two of these newcomers (for aesthetic reasons), and at the same out into steppes. were sent to the East and the South. time keep the maps readable and remi- I chose to mark that boundary with the Their names were Alatar and Pallando, niscent of Tolkien’s illustrations. In my Emyn Laer and the Emyn Annûn. Like and which one went where is not writings I have assumed that, in order to the coastal mountains of Anatolia, Iberia, known. The only thing we have about accomplish all of this, he accepted and northern California, they are wooded them is that they were chosen by the Tolkien’s old conventions, marking only on their seaward side, and also in their Vala Oromë the Horseman. It seems significant or symbolic woodlands, and valleys and high knobs, but grassy on most likely that these two became ser- was not attempting to convince us that their landward side. The woods here vants of Sauron. the entire area of his maps was bereft of would not be as dense as lands further A quote that backs this belief up is trees and undergrowth. north, but they would be continuous if Tolkien’s words on the two Blue Wiz- Consequently, both of my modules not cleared for farmland. The locals, as ards: “I really do not know anything (Arnor and The Shire) include a mix of long as their society was healthy, would clearly about the other two, since they ground cover in the lands of north- cultivate them as a precious resource. do not concern the history of the north- western Middle-earth. In our own world, Given that trees are present, should west. I think they went as emissaries to aside from semi-arid steppes, arid de- they be mentioned? I would give that distant regions, East ————————————————————————————————————— 43 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————— and South, far out of Númenórean range: away with them on the spot, which would some guy called the Necromancer was missionaries to ‘enemy-occupied’ lands, as possibly have led to civil war among the their next-door neighbor in Rhovanion, it were. What success they had I do not Easterlings. But, then again, there is no how did they react? What was their know; but I fear that they failed, as Saru- hint in Tolkien of such a thing. perception of this personage, and how man did, though doubtless in different A centering of worship upon them- did their perception affect their frontier ways; and I suspect they were founders or selves would also lead to the same fate, policy in that direction? Part of the beginners of secret cults and 'magic' tradi- since this would make Sauron their op- answer to this question would depend tions that outlasted the fall of Sauron (Let- ponent. No, they had to foster Sauronic on what the word “Necromancer” con- ters: ?).” cults. “The ‘wizards’ were not exempt, noted to them, and that is what I want Now, their failure could be interpreted indeed being incarnate were more likely to give some thought to here. many ways. Maybe they blundered as to stray, or err. Gandalf alone fully passes Before considering the question, let’s Radagast did; they didn’t do what they the tests, on a moral plane anyway... recall that while Tolkien may have used were sent to do. Instead of taking an inter- (Letters: 202).” Gandalf was the only Necromancer in the generic, non- est in the speaking people and their poli- Istar that did what he was supposed to. technical sense of an evil sorcerer tics, he chose to settle in Rhosgobel and Saruman, Radagast, Alatar, and Pallando (Hobbit: 121), he may also (if only after tend to the Olvar and Kelvar. So, the Blue failed. Note that the quote says “on the the fact) have returned to the name and Wizards could have found it more intrigu- moral plane,” which implies relating to, given it some more specific meaning (as ing to rule over people instead of helping serving, or teaching in accordance “with he did with the Istari, emphasizing the them. the principles of right and wrong.” Gan- etymological connection between “wiz- Elsewhere, Tolkien says, “Away in the dalf succeeded conscientiously, but the ard” and “wise”). Let us assume then, (to these tales) uncharted East...are the others (with the exception of Radagast) for the moment, that it is legitimate to countries and realms of wild or evil men, bungled in this regard; in other words, look for a more exact sense for Necro- alike only in their hatred of the West, de- they went to the evil side. mancer. We are aided in this by the fact rived from their master Sauron...(Letters: Saruman, of course, turned corrupt that Tolkien did not invent the word, 157).” As this passage states, there are evil and didn’t turn back. It is not said and so he presumably used it (rather men in the East who have the Dark Lord whether the two Blue Wizards eventually than some other term for sorcerer) to as their master. Tolkien also pointed out saw that they were going down the give Sauron’s alias a distinctive shade. that the East in general is subject to wrong path and turned onto the right The English form we are familiar Sauron; Tolkien didn’t name specific places one. But there is proof that these two with is cognate with Greek nekroman- or people. No, the East in general is failed like Saruman and became baneful. tos, one who practices nekromanteia. Sauronic in its beliefs (as in the United If this is the case, then that would make (nekros “dead” + manteia “divination, States, which is generally Christian in its the East and the South even more haz- oracular utterance”). Manteia is a ge- philosophy—there are other religions that ardous. neric term for all kinds of prophetic and aren’t Christian, but they’re not the major- oracular arts (which were as common ity.) and accepted in Antiquity as television HRIS EEMAN If Alatar and Pallando had made cults C S : and news reports are for us today), so that were against Sauron, I think they WHO IS the qualifier nekro- indicates a more would have made a considerable impact in THE NECROMANCER? specific kind of activity: divination by the East; yet Tolkien never says there was means of communication with the spir- such opposition. I take it that their cults For the greater part of the Third Age, its of the dead. were in league with Sauron, and only Sauron’s existence was hidden under the Without even considering the social added to the influence he had over these alias of “the Necromancer of Dol Gul- context in which nekromanteia usually barbarians. Two Maiar would no doubt be dur.” The Wise surmised that this myste- occurs, we can infer from the bare a thorn in his side if they were against him. rious figure might have been one of the meaning of the word that it could only The Easterlings would have been divided Nazgûl, but apparently they didn’t let on have originated with the Northmen of among themselves and would have some about their suspicions to anybody else, Rhovanion (and, more specifically, with sort of civil -war, but there is no account of since the kings of Gondor and Arnor the Woodmen, who would have been such an occurrence. were incapable of perceiving any unified the first to have become aware of and threat to themselves until c. T.A. 1940, If a cult is defined as devoted attach- suffer from Sauron’s presence). Beliefs and it was not until the Nine Ringwraiths ment to, or extravagant admiration for, a about communication with the deceased actually manifested themselves in the person, principle, etc., then the Blue Wiz- was not part of the worldview of Elves, invasion of Minas Ithil in 2000 that the ards’ cults could have been focused upon Dwarves, or the Dúnedain. (I grant the Dúnedain figured out that the “Witch- themselves, the Valar, or Sauron. Most exception of the Paths of the Dead, but king” was one of them. likely, it was Sauron, and it would have at the moment we are speaking in terms been excessively flattering for him. If they One of the questions that has been of universal assumptions, rather than would have revered the Valar, vexing me lately is: When rumor came to anomalies.) Sauron would have most likely have done the Gondorian kings that

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This accords well with what is known Response by Anders Blixt. times and, after 1375 it is said, Rivendell about the (real-world) setting of necro- was besieged—most convenient for the Every Dúnadan “knows” that Sauron mancy; namely, that it occurs most often attack in 1409.) So, the Witch-king has, and the Úlairi perished a long time ago, in the context of ancestor worship in most likely, some personal enmity with so the Necromancer must obviously be societies dominated by kinship. The the Dúnedain and the Elves. The con- something new and different—maybe Woodmen fit the bill rather nicely. Given clusion is that he must be one that ex- some mysterious evil creature from the Tolkien’s assumption that the Northmen perienced defeat at their hands, during roots of Arda, creeping up to the surface of Rhovanion were related to the Edain the wars of either the Second Age or the through the Amon Lanc’s dead chimney that made it into Beleriand during the First. (cf. Gandalf telling of the horrors of the First Age, it may be interesting to note depths below Moria and the legends of- Of such defeated beings, the Elven- that when Túrin appears to the folk of Shelob). lords would know several lesser Maiar Brethil after slaying Glaurung (and hav- who had once served Morgoth or ing been thought dead), they think that Sauron. Also, it is not made clear in he was the unquiet spirit of Túrin, not STEFFEN SOLOMON: AND Tolkien’s account of the War of the Last yet departed from the world. By contrast, WHAT ABOUT THE Alliance that its survivors actually wit- the later Dúnedain assumed (following nessed the passing of the Nazgûl into the teachings of the Elves and Valar), WITCH-KING? the shadows. I imagine that several that mortals departed the world irrev- I am running my MERP campaign a Elven-lords (Elrond included) might ocably, unless constrained by incon- few years before the Second Northern have suspect that the wraiths managed ceivably powerful magic (like the cove- War of T.A. 1409. The players have sev- to wander the world in hiding for sev- nant stone of Erech, enhanced by the eral ideas as to who the “Necromancer” eral centuries, just as Sauron did in the binding power of Isildur’s oath). is—a powerful sorcerer from a distant early Second Age. So, if we assume that the Woodmen land, a twisted Elf from the East, a lesser If we assume that the Wise and the professed a belief that their dead ances- Maia (akin to Sauron, but much less Dúnadan kings knew that the Witch- tors could be communicated with, how is powerful), or one of the Nazgûl (under king was a Nazgûl—even the chief it that they would have attributed such the assumption of the diminishing legacy Nazgûl—what would they do? In the powers to the strange new evil presence of Morgoth). Having placed myself in the Arnor module, it is suggested that the in Dol Guldur? Perhaps we could imag- shoes of the Wise (so to speak), all of King of Arthedain adopted a defensive ine that Amon Lanc (the hill that became these possibilities exist, but I imagine military stance, waiting out the war of known as Dol Guldur after Sauron built that, with information from spies and eye- attrition in the hopes that Providence his tower there) was originally a burial witnesses, the “powerful foreign wizard” would give a clue to the Witch-king’s site for the 1st Age ancestors of the and “evil Elf” hypotheses would be dis- defeat via the stars or the visions of the Woodmen. Sauron’s occupation of the carded for the following reasons: seers. Certainly no army could march site prevented them from communing By T.A. 1640, the Witch-king has deep into Angmar and besiege Carn any longer with their ancestors’ spirits; lasted close to 400 years. It would be Dûm with any real hope of capturing and, having no other explanation for why 1 considered by the Wise highly unlikely and slaying the Witch-king. Perhaps, if this evil had driven them out, the that a living man could, even with magic, he could be lured out into open combat Woodmen assumed that he too (though extend his life that long. on the fields of Arthedain. for more wicked purposes) had chosen Now, regarding the Necromancer, that site in order to communicate with Spies and eyewitnesses would report the Wise may have made several inter- (and probably dominate) the dead. 2the powerful aura of dread, fear, and despair encountered by those who see or esting observations. First, the Necro- Once he became aware of the Wood- live near the Witch-king. The Wise would mancer had not created a political em- men’s reaction, Sauron could then ex- come to see this as a sign that the individ- pire with the goal of destroying any ploit it as a means of threatening them to ual was a supernatural being, since no Mannish or Elven realm. Instead, the do his bidding (or, more realistically, not Elf-Lord ever had that kind of an aura. foul influence of the Necromancer to oppose his will in the Greenwood). spread through Mirkwood slowly, like a Spies and eye-witnesses would give Playing upon their religious beliefs, cancer. As a matter of (gaming) fact, the the extent of the Witch-king’s empire Sauron was in effect “holding their an- 3 Wise could compare it to the effect that — from Angmar to the far lands of the cestors hostage.” (As a footnote, another Blogath the Blood-wight had on the Sagath and Asdriag Easterlings; yet feature of Amon Lanc—as described in Yfelwyd in ICE’s Dark Mage of Rhudaur, Angmar would be observed to be de- the MERP modules—that might making the place a creepy den for foul pendent on food and manpower imports. strengthen this scenario is the fact that it creatures to breed. is a volcano, a “gateway to the under- After four centuries, it becomes apparent Second, I believe Sauron would take world” and the land of the dead in the to the Wise that Angmar’s only true pur- every precaution that his actions occur minds of the Woodmen.) pose is the destruction of the Dúnedain and Elves of Eriador. through a third party. (E.g., the assassi- (While Angmar has not engaged in nations of wizards and other wars with Lindon, it has raided it a few ————————————————————————————————————— 45 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— practitioners of magic would be carried After all, while he was certainly a wraith, much attention to the ever secretive out by a Gondorian cult or by Southron he could well have been an impersonator. Sauron). As far as I am aware, Tolkien merchants who were in no way connected In the case of the Necromancer, I never stated that the Black Númenóre- with Dol Guldur.) would emphasize that no serious military ans “worshipped” Sauron as distinct Third, eyewitnesses would have de- threat was ever mounted from Dol Gul- from Melkor — they certainlv scribed the master of Dol Guldur dur until the forces of the Free Peoples SERVED him as military allies (Sil: (Khamûl the Easterling) as an armored were too weakened to attack the place. 293), but this was in continuity with man with a fearful aura. These reports Sauron had resources collected there their original connection to him via the would sound similar to those of the that he could not afford to lose. It also Cult of Melkor (or whatever permuta- Witch-king — perhaps another Nazgûl? seems to me that he cast enchantments tion of the cult that may have survived into the Third Age). Fourth, I imagine that if Dol Guldur that took years of concentration and lent any manpower or material assistance effort. Somewhere in his Letters (I haven’t to Angmar at any time, it would have been got the page reference off-hand), Tolkien states that, upon his return conducted under the pretense that the RESPONSE BY CHRIS Witch-king was demanding tribute (e.g., from the Downfall of Númenor, Sauron by showing up publicly with a show of SEEMAN: claimed to be Melkor redivivus, and was force). This would confuse the Wise as to One thing that occurred to me in worshipped as such — recall how the power hierarchy. reading through the Angmar module was Sauron defied the lightning sent by Manwe to destroy the Temple of Finally, after T.A. 1981, when the Bal- the prominence and visibility of Black Melkor “and in that hour men called rog of Moria is released by the Dwarves, Númenóreans among the ranks of the him a god and did all that he would the Wise would consider the possibility Witch-king’s generals (i.e., the com- (Sil: 277).” It seems most likely to me, that a similar being could have been re- manders most likely to be encountered in then, that the deity allegedly wor- leased by the Dwarves of Amon Lanc. the field by the Dúnedain), as well as the shipped by the Witch-king and his Also, it is only after 1981 that Galadriel Iron Sorcerer (the principal mediator minions was none other than Melkor comes to Lothlórien and slowly begins to between the Witch-king and his sub- (or, rather, Sauron-qua-Melkor, in wrestle in spirit with Sauron; possibly his jects). Finally, were Mûrazôr himself to whatever form(s) that worship might attempts to hide his spirit caused enough wear his battle-helm in open war (as in have assumed in a mid-Third Age con- “static” before Galadriel began to recog- T.A. 1409), it would probably not be too text). nize it’s identity. difficult for the loremasters of Arthedain to identify it as none other than Tar- In the course of establishing his do- Whew! That was long winded! But I Ciryatan’s karma (at least, according to minion, Mûrazôr and the Iron Sorcerer hope these ideas can provide a perspective Mûrazôr’s bio in the module). might have united their many allies and of what the Wise know and do not know. servants under a “messianic” theology, I would agree, however, with the criticism This proliferation of Black in which the destruction of the realms that in several ICE modules Saurons iden- Númenórean adversaries might have led of Melkor’s most hated foes was a nec- tity is considered public knowledge. Per- the Dúnedain of Arnor to interpret their essary precondition for ushering in the sonally, I treat the Wise as only having hatred in terms of a desire to avenge return of their deity in power, the ful- the suspicion that Sauron MIGHT be themselves for their ancient defeat in the fillment of the cult’s promises of immor- present in the physical world after 2000, War of the Last Alliance. This percep- tality, and the like. Again, given the when several Nazgûl conquer Minas Ithil tion would then be reinforced by the high visibility of the religious compo- and then do nothing but hold it for several presence of other old “Sauronic” allies nent of the Angmarean war machine (as centuries — an important clue that there among the Black Númenórean-led Ang- described in the module), it would not might be a Master Planner above the marim, like Orcs and Easterlings. The be difficult for the spies and scouts of Witch-king (who was one of the four to Dúnedain may have assumed that these Arthedain to piece together a pretty occupy Minas Ithil). ancient enemies had survived among the Númenórean colonies of the far eastern clear picture of their enemy (at least, so or southern coasts of Middle-earth. far as Mûrazôr WANTED them to see it): Saurons ancient servants have re- Beyond this assumption, it seems to RESPONSE BY united under some powerful Black me that Dúnedain interpretations of WESLEY FRANK: Númenórean league from out of the Angmar’s motives would be governed in distant East and South, inspired by a Steffen has covered most of the argu- a large part by the ideology of Ang- revived Cult of Melkor that preaches ments I considered when writing the sec- marean religion (which, as I argued in the “cleansing” of their former master’s tions of Arnor that deal with the Witch- my review of the module, would most principal enemies—the Eldar and the king. Let us say that the Wise, in the time certainly NOT have focused openly on Elendili—as a step towards the hoped- of Angmar s power, had made a pretty the Necromancer of Dol Guldur—that for return of their god. As for the good guess as to the Witch-king’s identity, would have been a dead giveaway that Witch-king himself, who knows? Per- but couldn’t prove it beyond a “shadow” some “international conspiracy” was at haps a living man aided by some great of a doubt, unless someone bagged him. work, and would have drawn far too sorcerous power or an undead wraith.

— 46 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — One further comment. Steffen’s idea the hand of Ûvatha the Horseman, I that an Umbar-Angmar alignment during about Dol Guldur “paying tribute” to believe). So Gondor would attribute their the final period of 1940-1975 might have Angmar is brilliant! This is EXACTLY aggression to “natural” causes — migra- been the key event provoking Gon- how Sauron would want the world to tions and ambitions. dorian/Arthedainian perception of “a perceive it! However, given the already Gondor’s southern neighbors would single power and will” hostile to the “high profile” of Angmar on the global also be a cause for concern. Despite the Faithful survivors of Númenor. scene (and Sauron’s own imperative to taking of Umbar in the T.A. 900’s, there Response by Steffen Solomon: stay hidden), I would tend to think he would be continual raids and opposition My note on how the Witch-king would want to avoid ANY evidence of from the tribesmen of the Haradwaith. would appear to the Wise (that is, to the contact between Dol Guldur and the Such raids would exist even without the Elven-lords and Wizards) would not North — especially since all of Angmar’s eventual influence of Adûnaphel the necessarily apply to Dúnadan percep- basic needs were already being ade- Quiet. And, naturally, after the Kin-strife tions. Individuals such as Elrond and quately met by trade and tribute from the (which needed none of Sauron’s influ- Galadriel could see from experience that East. Perhaps the “tribute” deception ence to start), Gondor was preoccupied such longevity for humans was probably could be ready for use as a ruse, should with this bitter enemy for centuries. any of their covert connections ever in impossible. But remember, the tip off is So, in conclusion, Gondor would fact be discovered. the aura of fear that the Witch-king gen- likely view Dol Guldur as a strain upon erated. its eastern roads/borders, but not as a Also, the perceptions of the Dúnedain direct invasionary threat. And Sauron RESPONSE BY was colored by their desires and lack of would keep it that way. Occasional Ork- personal experience in history. (Such STEFFEN SOLOMON: ish raids from Mirkwood would generate beings as Nazgûl were legendary charac- Thanks for thinking through on the counter-raids by Gondor into Mirkwood, ters to them, whereas Elrond had proba- Cult of Melkor. I was always uncomfort- but Sauron would make certain never to bly met a few in Mordor.) I suspect that able with there being an active cult of antagonize the Gondorians too much nor the Dúnedain would entertain the idea of Sauron, who would easily reckon that if to appear as a real threat. Black Númenórean wizards discovering the Wise and Kings heard his name the key to immortality, because many of brought up too often, they might sooner the Dúnedain themselves secretly desired guess his return. However, I do imagine RESPONSE BY this. that he gained some power from some CHRIS SEEMAN: religious rituals, and that the symbol of The estrangement between Elves and the Red Eye acted as a rough “channel” My thought exactly. Gondor never ex- Men made it difficult for the Wise to to him. The Eye would not tip off his tended its power into Mirkwood; and, as truly get across their perceptions and enemies because it was a quality of long as Sauron did not expand outward guesses as to what was going on. The Sauron’s appearance only after his return from the eaves of the forest, there would kings of Arthedain may have conversed in the Third Age. be little friction. Gondor was concerned with the Istari and Elrond, but may not primarily with the Vale of Anduin as an have been wholly convinced of their Now, I’ve given a little thought as to economic corridor (as evidenced by arguments. (Note that Ponce de Leon got the reaction of the lords of Gondor to the Romendacil’s building of the Argonath); many of his men to follow him in the presence of Angmar and Dol Guldur. in Gondorian eyes, southern Greenwood search for the Fountain of Youth in the Sadly, Angmar would be mostly seen as was originally “Elven territory”—hence, wilderness of Florida, when he was ac- Amor’s problem, and Chris makes a very not to be messed with (like Lórien across tually looking for gold. What glitters good point that Sauron would avoid mak- the valley). more than gold? The promise of immor- ing visible the connection between Ang- tality!) mar and Dol Guldur. If the kings of A brief caveat regarding Umbar and Gondor saw that there was a direct con- the Haradrim. Haradrim hostility be- CHRIS PHEBY: tween T.A. 1448 and 1940 was largely a nection—even a tributary one—they WHAT IS THE NATURE OF would believe that Angmar had now function of the Haruze alliance with come to their borders. This would trigger confederate Umbar, which (prior to MAGIC IN MIDDLE-EARTH? a powerful military response (and Sauron 1940) was devoid of Black Númenórean In his article of Other Hands 10/11: 11- still feared them). influence. (Remember that the confeder- 12, Dirk Brandherm suggested that we ates of the Kin-strife were the “ultra- Now the lords of Gondor, through classify magic as “petty” spells (which conservatives” among the Faithful in require little effort to cast) or as words of spies and conversing with Arnor, would Gondor.) It’s only with the final loss of initially suspect that Angmar was behind command (which were symptomatic of Umbar in 1940 to “Sauron’s minions” spells of power). He also put forward the westward advances of the Sagath and (the Haruze and the hitherto exiled Cult Asdriag peoples. However, as has been some mechanisms for using these sys- of Melkor) that the haven might have tems. His article failed to mention how noted in the Riders of Rohan module and become a significant source of support elsewhere, the Sagath and Asdriags were rarely such powerful magics are prac- for Angmar. Jason Beresford (the Um- ticed outside of the ministry of the Istari moving due to pressure from the people bar author) and I are currently debating of Khand and Nûrad (Guided by and Maiar. For the majority of Middle- the possibility earth's inhabitants, access to ————————————————————————————————————— 47 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— such knowledge and power is not even would serve to prevent some of the fall- Word of Command could become the dreamed of. Indeed, where the practice of out resultant from such an expenditure of focus of an entire quest. Most charac- magic is known and accepted, cultural power. In effect, Gandalf had prepared ters in Middle-earth live out their lives circumstances usually render the label of his staff for a variety of uses—its crea- in blissful ignorance of the existence of “magic” inappropriate (as in the example tion, and hence the root of the words such words, and even of the most petty of the Elves of Lórien). power, lie in the past, artificially separat- magics. Magic shouldn’t be taken for Magic in Middle-earth Role Playing faces ing cause and effect. Such foci are ineffi- granted in a Middle-earth game, but a more complex stumbling block: that the cient, and the toll of such magics remains earned, treasured, and quested after. majority of magic practiced (particularly terrible. (Gandalf rarely resorts to them.) in the Third Age) is characterized by a In The Hobbit, when accosted by the wide divide between cause and effect. wargs, Gandalf did not simply throw Thus, Galadriel can use her mirror to see fireballs at the wolves; instead, he threw distant things (and perhaps influence flaming pine-cones — once again, distin- them), as can Saruman with his palantír. guishing cause and effect (the cause: the The Elves can make enchanted cloaks, lighting of the pine-cones, the effect: a whose virtue of concealment need not be fireball). drawn upon immediately and not neces- This principle does not correspond to sarily by their makers. The Dwarves can the style of magic-use implied by MERP store magic in great artifacts, confident If PCs must plot out their magics in ad- that their power will be used in a very vance—and most role-playing campaigns different environment from their manufac- will last years at most, rarely decades— ture. The Great Rings are the epitome of how are they to usefully apply them in a magics imbued in objects intended for use game? Is there any value in choosing to after their manufacture. play a mage, when the skills of a ranger From the viewpoint of a reader of seem far more practical? Tolkien, this concept seems to make sense. There are variety of solutions which To most of Middle-earth’s inhabitants, preserve the sense that the world in magic is but a fairy-tale and cannot be which we adventure is a real world. As I practiced in public (a consideration that have suggested, the setting of Middle- applies as much to the forces of evil as earth does not allow for the use of one’s good—Sauron can be such a brooding own power directly; but, channeled distant figure, and Saruman likewise must through foci, artifacts, prayers, and rely upon an army rather than spells to through the unlocking of secrets of the further his tyrannical aims). This inacces- ancients, magic can play a part. With this sibility of magic helps to account for the thought in mind, magic becomes more a proliferation of artifacts in Middle-earth; test of a character’s knowledge and intui- it also imbues the world with a sense of tion than a question of magic, (e.g., Does real, believable magic, and provides a he know the language and can he dis- clear physical law which magic must fol- cover the word that unlocks the gate of low. It explains how, away from observa- Moria?) Words of Command and direct tion in their pits and dungeons, the lords spells of power still play a part, but their of the world can work their power and use should be restricted. Great power is exploit the labors of the past. Sauron is too corrupting, and should not needlessly strongly tied to Mordor, since there he has be abused. already labored mightily in forging the I have published two articles in Other foundations of his power. Similarly, the Hands which reflect my views on this Elves are tied to their havens, in which topic. My article in OH 1 examined the reside the best part of their magics from corrupting nature of magic, while that in the past. OH 6/7 addressed the inevitable decline Thus, when Gandalf sought to open the in magical power during the lifespan of door of Moria through songs and simple its user. Generally, these two rule options incantations, he was merely seeking to would apply to Words of Command; unlock through his knowledge magic that although lesser magic might lead to was already present. A Word of Com- limited corruption. Words of Command mand, as Dirk identified it, would perhaps are prized and highly secret—it is involve the use of a magician’s own en- thought that the Dwarven tongue ergy. A focus (such as a staff in this case) Khuzdul holds many—and to discover a

— 48 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — PRODUCT

David Woolpy Dol Guldur REVIEWS (Citadel of Middle-earth #2014)

Charlottesville, Virginia of his slow recovery from the shadows. corpus of MERP modules. Woolpy’s Dol Guldur is an achievement to be execution of this goal is without a doubt Iron Crown Enterprises, 1995 emulated. the most sensitive and consistent [224 pages; $25.00] A seventy-one page orgy of floor-plans treatment to date of the all-important and site descriptions occupies the center issue of Sauron’s anonymity prior to of this tome, covering sixteen distinct Gandalf’s discovery of his true identity levels of the Necromancer’s hidden in 2850, an imperative which finds fastness as well as the subsidiary expression not only in the history of Dol fortifications of the Nan Lanc which Guldur, but in its very design, and even guard the approaches to the Hill of Dark its iconography. To be sure, there are a Sorcery. But Dol Guldur offers much few unresolved matters (which I will more than a mere cataloging of chambers address shortly); but they do not seri- and passages; it provides an extensive ously detract from the author’s positive pre-history of the site, when Dwarves accomplishment. delved the roots of the dead volcano for As far as the nuts and bolts of the precious ores. Woolpy also presents an actual fortress description go, the elaborate account of Sauron’s chief logistics of Dol Guldur are quite sound. minions who command the hierarchy of Meticulous attention is given not only to Dol Guldur, and details the internecine the layout of the place, but also to the strife (sometimes counterproductive to methods by which essential the Necromancer’s designs) that plagues preconditions for light, heat, water, and their ranks. On top of this, the module waste removal are met— no small task includes a three part adventure (set in for a citadel that garrisons thousands of T.A. 1640) for use as a vehicle to draw the Dark Lord’s minions over a vertical Every villain needs a lair, and every player characters into Dol Guldur’s stretch of more than seven thousand feet lair should reflect the magnitude and intrigues, and a lengthy narrative of (from the lookout posts near the summit wickedness of its villain. Sauron is the Gandalf the Grey’s two famous forays of Amon Lanc to the boiling sulfuric biggest and baddest villain in Middle- into the dark stronghold (in T.A. 2063 pools of the “Fifth Stratum”). We are earth; a citadel module that sets out to do and 2850 respectively), which ultimately also given a highly intricate account of justice to that fact has assumed no trivial led the wizard to the climactic revelation the internal chain of command by which task. With Dol Guldur, the first original of the Age: SAURON LIVES! Dol Guldur’s hosts are ordered, with the release in ICE’s “Citadels of Middle- names of all ranks given in Black Speech earth” series, author David Woolpy suc- In a lucid preface to his overview of and/or Orkish (as they ought to be for a ceeds admirably in plumbing the vast, the site, Woolpy writes: “The history of module that purports to adopt the unknown depths of what served as Dol Guldur is to a large degree the viewpoint of the subjects it describes). Sauron’s inner sanctum for the greater history of Sauron in the Third Age (23);” This is the ultimate “insider’s guide” to part of the Third Age. Although based in and part of the great value of this module the villain’s secret base. part on conceptions and floorplans that is that it provides the reader with a originally appeared in ICE’s 1983 release masterful interpretation of Sauron’s A final feature which I want to single Southern Mirkwood, Haunt of the evolving strategy over the course of his out for special praise is the section Necromancer, Woolpy has gone far beyond two thousand-year exile from Mordor — entitled “Gandalf’s Tales” (mentioned the initial design to render a fortress a much needed synthesis that has been above), which comprises a twenty-one befitting the grandeur and power of the absent from or addressed only in a page story of Gandalf’s uninvited Lord of the Rings, even in the weakness rudimentary fashion by the existing ————————————————————————————————————— 49 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— visits to the Necromancer’s stronghold. not all the inhabitants of Dol Guldur channel. Dol Guldur would have been an Apart from their intrinsic entertainment were servile Orcs or superstitious “Lesser ideal occasion to explore this aspect of value, these two episodes serve an Men;” Black Númenóreans, whose Sauron’s presence during the Third Age. important integrative function for the historical connection to Sauron had In fact, in Dol Guldur Woolpy does module as a whole. In the author’s own always been via the Cult of Melkor, provide some food for thought on this words: “They reflect the dangers facing occupy central leadership positions in the question — through his detailed anyone bold enough to embark on the hierarchy of the Necromancer’s hold. description of the religious iconography secret penetration of the Necromancer’s This lacuna leads me to criticisms and the visual representation that daunting lair (137).” As a reader, I found which I have voiced elsewhere (See my accompanies the many shrines and Woolpy’s high-paced prose to be review of Angmar below.) concerning the temples that pervade the Necromancer’s extremely helpful for envisioning how depiction of Sauronic religion as a citadel. Woolpy himself devotes quite a Dol Guldur’s defenses might operate in motivational force for the Dark Lord’s bit of thought to these, as he makes use an actual game. (It was also a great way minions during the Third Age. In taking of them as the critical turning points in to reinforce my mental picture of the issue with the author’s treatment, “Gandalf’s Tales,” which lead the wizard vastly complex layout of the fortress, however, I want to emphasize that to his awful realization of the after having experienced overload from a (unlike the authors of Angmar and other Necromancer’s true identity. The first of forced march through the seventy-odd MERP modules) Woolpy stands these indicators is fairly straightforward pages of floorplans and room practically alone in sustaining (within the (a representation of the lidless eye); but descriptions.) Despite the length of framework of his own assumptions) the second, more determinative sign “Gandalf’s Tales,” I found it to be (in its complete consistency in his conception of appears to my mind more problematic, own way) a highly effective way of Sauron. and in fact nicely illustrates my overall communicating ideas to a GM desiring to My own view is that, in a fantasy criticism. This is a statue of Ar- run an infiltration scenario. universe, religion (like magic) should Pharazôn which bears an inscription Now, what would I like to have seen “work.” The problem with Dol Guldur is reading: “Great Betrayer of the Edain more of? First of all, given the amount of that it postulates that the worship of the (112).” In “Gandalf’s Tales,” Woolpy Black Speech that gets bandied around Necromancer — the Burlaugash (B.S. has the wizard react in the following in this module, a Black Speech dictionary “Dark Sorcerer”) in the lingo of the way: “To Gandalf, who knew well that (modeled after the Orkish dictionary in natives — is the main ideological “glue” Sauron’s beguilement of Ar-Pharazôn the Angmar module) would have been a that holds the military hierarchy of Dol led to the Downfall of Númenor, the nice touch. The setting, of course, is Guldur together, without defining what statue told much. One thought then ideal: prior to Sauron’s reoccupation of that deity is, what he promises to his dominated the Wizard’s mind: who but Mordor, Third Age Dol Guldur was the worshippers, and how he makes good Sauron would display such a grotesque living “heartland” of that secret language, those promises -with genuine, “Spell mockery (153)?” used only by the Dark Lord’s most Law” efficacy. The basic premise of I don’t follow this logic. The Faithful trusted servants. religion is that power is bestowed upon Dúnedain-in-Exile also viewed Ar- Secondly, I would like to have seen the worshipper directly from his or her Pharazôn as their betrayer, as is more “bird’s eye” views of the exterior of deity (“Channeling,” in MERP/Rolemaster evidenced from The Akallabêth Dol Guldur (of the centerfold sort that mechanics); and yet the officiants of the (supposedly written, by Elendil). appeared in all of the 1st edition MERP Necromancer’s cult (like the “priests” of Conversely, the only Númenóreans that citadel modules—very-handy for Angmar) are not priests at all, but DIDN'T view Ar-Pharazôn as the Great orienting the players to the spatial sorcerers (33). If this is the case, then Betrayer would have been those that relationships involved in complex there is no cult of the Necromancer. It’s continued to serve Sauron after the fortifications). all a sham to delude the weak-minded. Downfall. To them, Ar-Pharazôn was Thirdly, I would like to have heard By contrast, the “good guys” have cults their greatest hero, a man who had more about Sauron’s own conception or that do actually work. For instance, as helped to establish the Cult of Melkor, intention regarding the alias he chose to Tolkien points out in his Letters, the kings and who suffered “martyrdom” for it at adopt in order to fool everybody of Gondor function as divinely sanctioned the hands of the Valar. If Sauron hoped including the majority of his own priests for their people: they have the to retain the allegiance of such men servants). Just who WAS this power to bless and curse, to damn or to (much less command their religious “Necromancer” supposed to be, if not the heal. Or take the Elven veneration of devotion), he would hardly have allowed Lord of the Rings? This (it seems to me) Elbereth, the utterance of whose name such a statue to be set up in the foyer of must have been a central key to Sauron’s does real damage to evil creatures. Of the main temple of Dol Guldur. successful two thousand-year course, Sauron is not Ilúvatar, nor even This leads me to my final criticism concealment. And it is not at all a moot one of the Valar; but he is a powerful regarding the problem of sustaining the question, since Woolpy (like the authors Maia, and if he expects to keep his more religious loyalty of Sauron’s chief of the Angmar module) posits religion as intelligent allies on his (or “Melkor’s”) servants; namely, the presence of the Sauron’s principal tool for guiding and side, he had better be able to demonstrate Mouth of Sauron as one of the main controlling people’s perceptions of him. (under whatever alias) that he possesses “overlords” in Dol Guldur in the T.A. In this regard, it is well to remember that tangible power that his worshippers can

— 50 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — 1640s setting. To begin with, Tolkien record in future MERP modules; this, principal power that differentiates “the clearly states that this Black however, is impractical, given the central Great Rings” (i.e., the Nine, the Seven, Númenórean did not enter Sauron's (and, indeed, fascinating) role the Mouth the Three, the One) from the many service until T.A. 2951 (RotK; 164; the plays in Dol Guldur. Therefore, other “Lesser Rings” that had been year the Dark Tower “first rose again;” following Pete Fenlon’s “rationalization” forged (56). Woolpy wants the Lesser cf. RotK: 370). Putting that issue aside method (cf. this issue, pp. 38), let us Rings to extend natural longevity, for a moment, Woolpy’s dating of the attempt to account for the presence of which is the one thing they most Mouth’s involvement in Dol Guldur to the Mouth of Sauron in 1640. The easiest certainly cannot do. However, Woolpy T.A. 1035 raises the central problem of and most satisfactory solution that also narrates at least one episode in the religious expectations of all occurs to me would be to reconceptu- which Sauron recovers one of the Seven Númenóreans that worshipped Melkor: alize the Mouth as an office rather than a Dwarf Rings during his sojourn at Dol the promise of deathlessness. This goal single individual. In this respect, the Guldur. So why not give the Mouth et. was the entire raison d’etre for “amnesia” of the Mouth towards his own al. recaptured Dwarven Rings? As I Númenórean allegiance to Sauron in the individuality works to our advantage. said, this is a less-than-ideal solution, first place; and, paradoxically, it was the The other argument in favor of this is because that would make the Mouth a one thing that Sauron could not in truth that the emissarial function which the Wraith by the time of the War of the grant. Mouth serves is something Sauron Ring, which is exactly what Tolkien If indeed the Mouth of Sauron entered would have had need of even before the says he was not (op. cit.). the service of Sauron several centuries Gorgoroth/Dol Guldur candidate had been Whatever logical flaws may exist in prior to the time when Tolkien says he born; this makes it all the more likely Dol Guldur, it remains a massive did, then an explanation for his longevity that others had acted in the same achievement. If nothing else, it is the must be provided. The explanation capacity at other periods of Sauron’s best possible warm-up one could ask for Woolpy gives (following that outlined in Second and Third Age dominion. for tackling the ultimate evil citadel we the Gorgoroth module)—that, as a The other alternative (less satisfactory are all eagerly awaiting: Barad-dûr! mortal sorcerer, the Mouth was in fact as far as Tolkien’s writing is concerned, Reviewer: Chris Seeman able to prolong his life by his own sorcer- but more in keeping with Woolpy’s ous arts—is unacceptable within the portrayal) would be to give the Mouth a underlying assumption of Tolkien’s Ring of Power. Now, on a few occasions mythology. Mortals must die, otherwise in Dol Guldur, the author draws upon this they can no longer exist as “living men,” ploy to immortalize a select few among but become undead (e.g., the Nazgûl, the Sauron’s servants. Unfortunately, this Oathbreakers). too openly contradicts Tolkien. In the For myself, I would much prefer that opening discussion of the Rings of Power this glaring contradiction with Tolkien’s in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf published writing be excised from the singles out mortal longevity as THE

————————————————————————————————————— 51 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— and the people that live there, then moves Earthy.” The same names have been PRODUCT on to politics, war, and settings such as replaced with “Dairkan,” “Sakalurë” and strongholds, towns and Orc-holds. Only “Driuecared.” I’m no linguist, so if the REVIEW ten characters have full descriptions: the new names are more accurate to Black Witch-king and his most powerful Númenóreans, Umbareans and lieutenants. A couple of new character Northmen, who am I to argue? The old types are detailed: Angmarean Military names can still be found in the character Graham StapleKurst Priests and MERP Orc characters. Other descriptions, explained away as Orkish and Heike Kubasch small articles are dropped in at the end: a corruptions of the generals’ true names. few adventure seeds, some herblore But other changes do not have even Angmar summaries, languages, etc. this much justification. The Witch-king (Realm of Middle-earth #2018) Some innovative work has been done has had his magic lists circumcised, in this book; I particularly liked the reducing his highest level spells from Charlottesville, Virginia “Awful Fragment” of the lamp Illuin, 60th to 30th. (I know, at that power Iron Crown Enterprises, 1995 corrupted into a weapon of evil by the level, what’s the difference? And no one [160 pages + pull-out color Witch-king. The maps of Carn Dûm, is going to survive a direct confrontation both inside the book and in the pull-out, with the Witch-king anyway.) But why map; $25.00] are handsome and clear. Most of the the change? It certainly wasn’t for rea- work is solidly written, showing the same sons of his sanitary health. Mystifying. laborious work that we have come to Several of the “corrections” have, in expect from the upper echelon MERP fact, been bungled as badly as “illo #21.” products. Angmar is not as excellent as, All of the magic-using characters have say Gorgoroth or The Kin-strife, but it is a had their Rolemaster spell lists defined fine product and will serve gamemasters precisely in the new RM mold — a nice of any fantasy RPG well. help, so far so good. But when the All right, the honeymoon’s over. Let’s authors wrote the new lists they forgot talk about the editing. to delete the old ones, which can still be For those of us familiar with the first found buried in the MERP spell lists! In version of Angmar, titled Empire of the many cases, such as the Witch-king’s Witch-king, it would not be out of line to stats, these multiple RM lists are have high hopes for this revision. Empire contradictory; and what are RM spell was an excellent book, and expectations lists doing in the MERP section anyway, are that a revision will be at least as good when MERP plavers are supposed to be or better than the original. Alas, I have using a simpler system and shouldn’t many minor editorial quibbles about this have to be familiar with RM terms? I thought this is exactly what the revised most recent treatment of Mûrazôr’s realm. format was supposed to fix! I enter the game store and walk Other contradictions abound; I won’t immediately to the ICE section. My eyes As mentioned, the cover is sharp. tire you with more. Well, okay, I’ll bring flick to the MERP shelf for a cursory Angus McBride is one of the best Tolkien up one more that really irks me because glance, fully expecting to see the same old illustrators I have ever seen, and the new I do a lot of wargaming in my campaign. stuff: the 2nd edition hardback, Creatures MERP trade dress is powerful in its red The number of soldiers assigned to each and a left-over Lake-Town. Then my eyes and black glory. The book will look good of the Momarturi is detailed in their widen: three copies at Angmar. I had on the shelf. Which was, I suppose, the character descriptions, but in the forgotten that a revision was coming out. point. “Warcraft” section new numbers are Quicklv I snatch it up and flip through. Inside the cover the euphoria drifts given for each of these commands, and The cover is handsome, the text looks away. There are—and this is my major they’re all different. Argh. familiar. Then I see it, printed right complaint with the book—no new text across the Angulion’s breastplate: illo #21. sections at all. No new characters, no One final note. Readers of Other A clumsy and inexcusable production new adventure seeds or complete Hands mav recall that in Issue #3 Anders gaff, and the first sign that all is not -well scenarios, no new histories or locales. No Blixt identified much of the Empire of the in the Witch-king’s lands. Nonetheless, I new nothing. However, many minor Witch-king’s Orkish dictionary as buy it. It is my only purchase for the day. things have been altered. cribbed directly from Icelandic, Danish, German and Swedish. While it is I have many problems with Angmar, For example, several of the Witch- perfectly reasonable for Middle-earth which I’ll get into later, but first a little bit king’s generals, the Mornarturi, have languages to be based on real languages, about the contents. Angmar is a fine been renamed. Apparently the editors felt the use of Scandinavian tongues for the treatment of the region. In common ICE that names like “Dancu,” “Cykur,” and rude and guttural speech of Orkish is a fashion, it begins with a bit about the land “Durkarian” were not suitably “Middle- slander most foul, and without much

— 52 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — basis. Apparently, the authors of its own undoing. The result is an uneven Angmar either don’t read OH, or PRODUCT and, at times, disjointed product. What is else decided not to meddle, because most frustrating to me is that the vast the Scandinavian Orkish REVIEW majority of these shortcomings could remains. Angmar: have been remedied by a minimum of Oh, what could have effort. It is a missed opportunity that can been done here! What A Second The long-awaited revision only be mourned, since it appears missed opportunity! Why Review of ICE’s highly successful unlikely that we shall ever see yet couldn’t the Mornarturi Empire of the Review Witch-king another edition of this important module. have gotten real character descriptions (1989) has finally arrived. This reissue But let us examine first the module’s with history and plot hooks, instead of features fine new artwork and some new strengths. To begin with, as I have said, one paragraph reprints? Why not some text, but much of it is identical in content Angmar is a true “Realm” module in that new adventures for people who know the to its predecessor. Jason Vester has it describes the region through the eyes Angmar of old? One new stronghold or already evaluated the similarities and of its own people. In their account of Orc-lair and I would have felt like I’d differences between these two editions; Angmar’s Rhunnish peasants, for bought something new. by contrast, my review will deal with the example, Staplehurst and Kubasch Angmar is a worthwhile product; a overall cogency and success of the write: “The climate of Angmar does not thorough treatment with powerful (if module as a unified work. This is easy for encourage a friendly or generous underdeveloped) antagonists, details on me, since I have never actually read temperament. The growing season is Mûrazôr’s army and tactics, interesting through Empire (though I retain a fairly short, and the winters long. Most adventure seeds like the Zaugthrakash, acute memory of its ancestor, the 1982 individuals never travel farther than and beautiful maps of Carn Dûm. In Angmar: Land of the Witch-king release, nearby villages, even in the summer short, everything good in it was already and will have cause to comment on some months—a circumscribed life that makes there in the original edition, and if you persistent discontinuities between the the villagers insular and suspicious of already have that book I do NOT two works which have — regrettably— strangers. The war against the Dúnedain recommend buying this new one. If you not been overcome by the present has reinforced this provincial attitude— don’t have Empire of the Witch-king, and release). for reasons unclear to the Witch-king’s can’t buy it in one of ICE’s fire sales, Even though it has been at least a subjects, the Dúnedain and Elves seem then I suppose you might have to get the decade since I read the original module, determined to destroy their home in new one, but that’s an expensive shame it is crystal clear to me which parts of the Angmar. Although they come originally at $25. current Angmar are survivals and which from diverse cultures, insular village life has narrowed their outlook (20).” Oh well, it has satisfactory art I are innovations. The difference in quality suppose, and the Lord of the Rings and perspective could not be greater. The Having established a set of circum- Adventure Game stats might be useful to 1982 module was a dungeon crawl, pure stances conducive to the militant stance someone, somewhere. and simple. This is baldly epitomized by of the Angmarim, the authors go on to the “Suggestions for Adventures” section tackle an even more critical issue; Reviewer: Jason Vester (retained from the original), which namely, how was the Witch-king able to assumes that the only reason for running sustain such attitudes uninterrupted over a role-playing game in Angmar is so that the course of six centuries? A glance the PCs can sneak into enemy fortresses, through the module’s table of murder their inhabitants, and collect contents witnesses to the centraliry of their treasure. religion to this equation. It is no accident The new material adopts quite a in this regard that the “Power and different set of assumptions. It focuses Politics” chapter begins with a discussion upon the inhabitants of Angmar of the religion of Angmar and its themselves, depicts how they live out organization. Rather blatantly modeled their lives, and profiles the religious after the monastic hierarchy of medieval convictions and rituals that motivate Tibet, Staplehurst and Kubasch have them. It even contains rules for the given concrete substance to the Cult of creation of Orcs and Angmarean priests Sauron, which has received such as player characters. It bestows superficial treatment in previous MERP individuality and personality to the modules. hitherto nameless and faceless hordes of The Witch-king governs his realm the Witch-king—both Men and Orcs through a priestly figure known as the alike. Iron Sorcerer, a sort of “understudy” to The chief crime of Angmar '95 is that it the Nazgûl, who mediates between him doesn’t go far enough. It leaves and his subjects. This sorcerer-priest unchanged or undeveloped too many of stands at the head of a bureaucracy the flaws of its inferior ancestor, often to manned by priests who have been trained for their offices in ————————————————————————————————————— 53 — — OTHER HANDS ————————————————————————

Litash, the great monastery-town nes- Certainly the cult serves to celebrate mightiest and most awe-inspinng citadel tled against the heights of the Misty and reward the military services of Middle-earth. And now, if you’ll Mountains in the desolate fastness of the rendered to the Dark Lord, but I’m follow us this way, we’ll have a look at Nan Angmar. The college of priests speaking here specifically of magical Er-Mûrazôr’s new pit trap...”) And on functions not only as the bureaucracy of power. For instance, the priests of the top of that, everywhere else in the the Witch-king’s domain, parallel to its cult are trained in various domains of module we are given a contradictory military chain of command, but also sends magic (116), but we are not told whether foundation story for Carn Dûm (based its emissaries far into the East, where they this power actually comes from the deity on the original 1982 release), claiming seek to win new recruits for the worship they worship, or whether such that it was in origin a Dwarf-hold (61). of the Dark Lord and his centuries’ long attribution is mere Machiavellian What is a reader to think of this war against the Dúnedain. In short, pretense. This is, of course, a debatable inconsistency? Didn’t someone bother to Staplehurst and Kubasch have engaged issue, and any attempt to answer it must proofread the module before sending it the first and foremost task of any MERP deal with Tolkien’s remarks on the off to press? author: to seize upon a theme or motif subject of Sauronic magic in Morgoth’s Angmar contains many fine descrip- from Tolkien (in this case, the notion of Ring; the problem with the Angmar tions and layouts for the villages, towns, Sauronic emissaries) and to give it module is that it can’t make its mind up and fortresses of the Witch-king’s concrete meaning and historical depth by on this point—and it is no laughing domain. Unfortunately, the innards of elaborating on it. matter, if we are to believe that this cult Carn Dûm, the capital, seem unworthy The bold step taken by our authors is managed to command the loyalty of thou- of the undead horror they supposedly an important one, but its execution is not sands for more than half a millennium. house. Carn Dûm is essentially a four- without flaws. For starters, it is highly There are two other very cool ideas level dungeon, filled with traps, magic questionable to my mind that the the authors have come up with, one more items, and gold pieces. (Indiana Jones adherents of the cult would go so far as to successful than the other; both are would feel right at home.) Its design (at identify their deity with the Necromancer intended to account for distinctive least on paper) does not evoke for me of Dol Guldur (29) — how can Sauron aspects of Angmar as described by the presence of Sauron’s greatest and possibly keep his identity secret if it is Tolkien. The first is the Witch-king’s most terrible servant. On top of that, it being openly proclaimed on the lips of ability to control the weather. In keeping manifests a certain illogic of design and thousands of worshippers?!? Equally with the epic character of this power, residence. There is a subterranean lake incredible is the suggestion that, on Staplehurst and Kubasch have adduced that lies directly above one level special occasions, the Witch-king would an equally epic explanation. They posit (apparently without leaking), and the publicly manifest himself as Sauron (30). that a fragment of the primal lamp, Illuin, denizens of the level require the use of a Remember that it –wasn’t until circa T.A. was buned bv the cataclysm of its rowboat to make it to the next level— 1940 that the Dúnedain even began to downfall in the mountains of Angmar, what a damn inconvenience, especially if contemplate that “some single power and and that the immeasurable energies a lot of people or things need to get will was directing the assault from many contained within this fragment were moved in between the two levels! And quarters upon the survivors of Númenor manipulated by the Witch-king to alter then, of course, there are the Witch- (LotR III: 329),” and it took another the climate of Eriador, so that it would be king’s “astrologers”—what does he need THOUSAND years (T.A. 2850) before more difficult for the Dúnedain to astrologers for?!? To predict the they would realize that this power was inhabit. weather that he controls anywav? To read his fortune? And why keep your Sauron. If the chronology of Tolkien’s The second neat concept is that the star-gazers locked up in a windowless drama is to be even REMOTELY Witch-king’s stronghold of Carn Dûm labyrinth? Maybe I’m missing some- believable, we can’t have the Witch-king was built upon the ancient foundations of thing here. announcing his master’s return to his Angband, the fortress of the original subjects as a contemporary event — it Dark Lord (thus following the And now we move from the good and would only invite the suspicion of Tolkienian theme of degenerative the bad to the ugly. (Yes, it gets worse!) Sauron’s ancient enemies. recurrence—history repeats itself, but on Let’s take the “History” section, which This leads me to my second criticism of an ever-diminishing scale). This, does not give us the basic background Staplehurst and Kubasch’s portrayal of however, cannot be the case, since information on the Witch-king’s domain the cult; namely, their hesitance to decide (according to even conservative and his wars until a THIRD of the way whether the cult is “genuine” or whether estimates) Carn Dûm stood at least seven into the module (52). For me, that was a it is a cunning priestly sham. In other hundred miles east of Angband’s location long time to wait for a SINGLE page of words, does the cult really DO anything (and Angband, in any case, sank into the history (most of whose contents are a for those who participate in it, or is it all sea with the rest of Beleriand). More summary of Appendix A from LotR in just propaganda to dupe the credulous troubling than this, though, is the fact any case). We get a reiteration of this and the weak-minded? (This is a good that, whatever the validity of this idea, same brief history in the Witch-king’s test case for the degree to which a module NOTHING IS MADE OF IT biography, a seven-page epic tale (lifted adopts the viewpoint of the people it is ANYWHERE IN THE MODULE! word-for-word from LoMe II) of which describing.) (“Oh, by the way, we happen to be SIX pages had absolutely nothing to do standing on the ruins of Angband, the with Angmar. — 54 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 —

The practical uselessness of this unconvinced: anyone who can say misplaced treatise is compounded by “Dancu” can probably just as easily say other internal deficiencies. The author of “Dairkan.” Finally, the authors insist on the text mistakenly states that the referring to the Daen Lintis portion of palantír of Osgiliath was lost in the the Angmarim as Dunlendings, even waters of Anduin as a result of the though the word “Dunlending” is Nazgûl’s raid of that city in T.A. 2475. Rohirric, a language that did not come (That misses the mark by just over a into being until nearly six centuries after thousand years.) It gives us a physical Angmar was annihilated. description of Er-Mûrazôr prior to his But the greatest incongruity of all is metamorphosis into a Nazgûl—not the claim that the Iron Sorcerer was a much use as a description of him as the millennia-old mortal who managed to Witch-king, is it? Finally, the biography stay alive merely by virtue his own continually refers to him as the Witch- magical powers. Well, if you don’t need a king before and after his tour of duty in Ring of Power to live forever, why Angmar, and is equally careless about bother sacrificing your life to become a referring to him as the Lord of Morgul. wraith! ?! “Witch-king” was not a personal A few final miscellany. It is said that designation, but an alias that Mûrazôr the Estaravi, the Northmen subject to the hid under only while he ruled Angmar; Witch-king on the remote eastern side of at any other time, it is as inappropriate the Misty Mountains, “believe Darkness to refer to him by that title as it would to possess greater power than Light and be to call Sauron “Annatar” during the have developed a strong antipathy to the War of the Ring. The same goes for Calaquendi (18).” Now, when was the Morgul. This Sindarin (Dúnadan) name last time YOU saw any of the only got attached to him as a result of Calaquendi visiting the Gundalok his capture of Minas Ithil in T.A. 2002. plateau? If the Estaravi are as parochial One need only browse through Richard as the Rhunnish peasants mentioned Blackwelder’s Tolkien Thesaurus to see earlier, I hardly think they knew who the that Tolkien was careful to make these Calaquendi were —to most Men, an Elf distinctions. is an Elf; they’ve all got pointy ears as far These all may be quibbling details, as your typical Northman is concerned. but the fact remains that seven pages Ulrac, the Witch-king’s Asdriag were wasted that could have been used general, wields a Japanese katana rather to provide richer and fuller bios for the than your everyday Easterling scimitar. Witch-king’s underdescribed generals. The Quenya word “Roquen” is said to Rogrog, the Troll-warlord of all be Sindarin (81). Angmar, does not even appear in the biography section, despite the fact that The Half-ore Ulduin has no Orkish the authors elsewhere assert his blood in him at all (according to his bio); importance to the Angmarean military. instead, he’s a “Half-dog.” Go figure. And then we come to the names. I I don’t want to get lost in Angmar’s find it surprising that the Witch-king faults, because in spite of them I have and his military staff—many of whom enjoyed the overall picture it gives of the are Adûnaic-speaking Black Witch-king’s realm. As a MERP author, Númenóreans— should so stoop however, I am particularly sensitive to beneath their dignity as to use hated the weaknesses or errors that the second Elvish terminology in describing their edition modules have failed to eliminate own organization (e.g., Mornarturi, because they are now set in stone for a Angûlion, Mor-sereg) —whatever long time to come, and other authors became of the Black Speech? To the must now-live with them as best they authors’ credit, they have attempted to can. utilize a real Adûnaic dictionary to come Reviewer: Chris Seeman up -with real Adûnaic names for the Witch-king’s generals. Unfortunately, the old forms have not been jettisoned; instead, they are said to represent the half-hearted attempt of the Orcs to pronounce their true names. I remain ————————————————————————————————————— 55 — — OTHER HANDS ———————————————————————— not one, but many realms — and realms make use of an Elven refuge as an PRODUCT that cover a vast and varied geographic ancestral burial site, and it is equally expanse. Even were Mirkwood to rival the illogical that a Northman site would be REVIEW Arnor module in size, it would inevitably given a Sindarin name. Yet no effort has fail to measure up to the high standards been made to reconcile this with the set by its peers for the Realms of Middle- view adopted in Dol Guldur. At the very Mirkwood earth series. Between Thranduil’s realm, least, some remark about two divergent the Necromancer’s domain, the Dwarves traditions concerning the site might have (Realm of Middle-earth #2019) of the Iron Hills, the Northmen of the been given to acknowledge the plains, the nomadic Easterlings, the inconsistency. As it is, the reader is left Charlottesville, Virginia secluded Woodmen, the mystical wondering which parts of the module to Iron Crown Enterprises, 1995 Beijabar, and the mercantile Lake-men, trust and which to discount. While Cor there exists no single thread with which Angálaladh is a fairly minor discrepancy, [160 pages to weave this tapestry with the same it is indicative of a lack of authorial + 2 pull-out color maps; elegance that binds Arnor, The Shire, and and/or editorial attention to consistency $25.00] Angmar. The result is a much thinner that becomes visible elsewhere in the treatment which in the end is less than module. satisfying. Far more consequential for the overall In passing this kind of judgment, shape of Mirkwood is the authors’ however, I do not want to suggest that scarcely concealed yearning for a late the republication of Mirkwood is a Third Age (rather than a 1640) setting. mistake; on the contrary, the amount of Were we to envision the Third Age as an time and labor it will take for the new epic drama conducted in several generation of MERP writers to movements, we would soon discover adequately flesh out the many realms, that the Mirkwood authors want citadels, and peoples of Rhovanion in all everything to happen in Act 1, leaving their richness and diversity (a task little or no innovations to take place already set in motion with the Lake-town after 1640. Their Rhovanion is the land and Dol Guldur modules) demands that that Bilbo and the Dwarves traversed in some kind of overview be made available The Hobbit — Thranduil has already during the interim. Mirkwood of necessity abandoned the Mountains of Mirkwood fulfills that role. (which, according to the Dol Guldur Nevertheless, considered even as a chronology, “were not within the surrogate, Mirkwood is a seriously flawed Necromancer’s shadow until T.A. 2770); product. Many of its faults are intrinsic to the town of Dale has been in existence from time immemorial (in spite of the Like the new Angmar module, Mirkwood the original works on which it is based; fact that Tolkien set its founding represents a “third generation” product, others, however, are manifestly SUBSEQUENT to the emergence of revised and updated to conform to 2nd attributable to their most recent revision. the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor in T.A. edition MERP game mechanics. The “ur- In this sense, my frustration with the new 1999); Galadriel resides in Lórien when text” (or, rather, texts) upon which the Mirkwood resonates a great deal with my Sauron enters Dol Guldur (contrary to current module is based were released in criticisms of the new Angmar. The the account given in Unfinished Tales, 1983 under the titles o£ Northern principal weaknesses of Mirkwood are upon which ICE’s Lórien module was Mirkwood, The Wood Elves’ Realm and fourfold: 1) internal contradiction, 2) based, that she did not return there until Southern Mirkwood, Haunt of the incongruence of temporal setting, 3) T.A. 1981). Necromancer. Later on, these modules organizational inconsistency, and 4) were joined into a single conflict with the works of J.R.R. The desire to have a module that is revision/expansion: Mirkwood, The Wilds of Tolkien. As with Angmar, I believe that applicable to both late and mid-Third Rhovanion. That module, like its these blunders could have been avoided Age contexts achieves neither purpose; predecessors, is now out of print, had just a little more attention been paid instead, the one setting detracts from the superseded by the current realm module. to them. other and vice versa. For example, Mirkwood provides a layout of Dwarven As a straightforward reprint of the old One example of internal contradiction Erebor, and yet neglects to include even Mirkwood module, there is little to be said is the treatment of Cor Angálaladh, the barest sketch of the mysterious about the new Mirkwood; when considered which is alternately identified throughout caverns of that mountain as they would as a realm module in the company of the module as a site of Elven origin have existed for adventurers in 1640. Arnor, The Shire, and Angmar, however, I (Oropher’s first dwelling place in Similarly, the claim that Dale existed fear that the new Mirkwood is doomed to Mirkwood) or as an ancient Northman prior to the neighboring Dwarven realm be superseded and replaced. The reason funeral ground. (In the Dol Guldur disrupts Tolkien’s underlying conception for this is simple: in a mere hundred and module, it is identified as the burial field of the site — that it was a center of com- sixty pages, Mirkwood sets out to describe, of the Waildung princes.) It is unlikely that a Mannish group would dare to — 56 ———————————————————————————————————— —————————————————————— ISSUE 12 JANUARY 1996 — merce made possible by its symbiotic possibly function as a buffer against the Detailed site descriptions of Lake- relationship to the King under the Easterlings if their realm lies nowhere town, Thranduil’s halls, and Dol Guldur Mountain (Hob: 28). Prior to the near the invasion corridor?!?!?!? The are conspicuously absent from the establishment of Erebor, the site of Dale entire military history of southern module (no doubt because these places was far from any major artery of trade Rhovanion would be changed! have since been made the subjects of (being eclipsed by Esgaroth). It is perhaps worth pointing out that citadel modules). Still, it would have So, by ignoring Tolkien’s published the political map appearing in Mirkwood been nice to have had even a simple writings, the authors have created an nullifies not only Tolkien’s conception, overview map or layout, given the illogically placed settlement. They but also that of the Northwestern Middle- importance of these sites. Their absence attempt to explain this away by asserting earth Gazetteer, which attempted to correct unbalances the module, which that the Lonely Mountain had religious this error by pulling back the borders of consequently gives more attention to significance for the Northmen (59) — Dor Rhúnen so that the Northmen could minor or secondary sites like Dale. Not fair enough, but this claim does not mesh occupy the Inland Sea-Ash Mountain all sites that are singled out for with the character of the town as corridor like they were supposed to description include numbered layouts. portrayed in the module; instead, Dale is (144). Which is to be the “canonical” Dale, however, contains numbers but no presented as a simple pit-stop for version, we may well wonder? descriptions corresponding to them. (If you’re not going to describe sites by treasure hunters on their way to the I want to move on now to the orga- numbered locations, then don’t put Grey Mountains (61). Moreover, if nizational aspects of the module. Three numbers in to confuse the reader.) Erebor were sacred to the Dale-folk, sections in particular evince imperfect why would they permit Dwarves to attempts to harmonize different stages of The biographies of the important claim it as their own? revision/expansion: the people individuals of Rhovanion (past, present, The pattern of dismissing what descriptions, the site descriptions, and the and future to 1640) suffer from the same Tolkien has written, only to generate a individual NPC bios. As for the profiles unevenness as the culture descriptions, contradictory scenario that undermines of the various cultures to be found in only more so. Many bios are given, but the logic of the primary sources, is Rhovanion, the Mirkwood module not all (and, in particular, not many of repeated in the authors’ treatment of the employs two overlapping modes of those for the 1640 NPCs) are Gondorian presence in southeastern presentation: straight narrative texts and accompanied by full MERP and RM stats. Rhovanion. The module’s Tale of Years more rigidly organized, shaded boxes of We are given complete stats for Beorn dates the acquisition of Gondor’s eastern information — some peoples get shaded from The Hobbit, but none for his 1640 territories to T.A. 379-389. According to boxes, others do not. (Why?) Where both counterpart Beoraborn; for Gimli and Tolkien, this event took place more than formats are employed, a good amount of Dáin Ironfoot, but not for Azaghal and a century and a half later (RotK: 324). unnecessary repetition results, rendering Fulla, the Dwarf-lords of the Iron Hills Why this change? Is Tolkien’s the section less efficient as a quick at the time when the module is chronology not good enough? reference tool for the GM. supposedly set. (Indeed, these two get no bios whatsoever.) Alterations of this sort are maddening— Content-wise, there are also some less because they are made than because notable omissions. For instance, we are As in the Angmar module, a lengthy they are made without any justification given a great deal of information about Nazgûl biography has been imported and without any apparent purpose in the various Easterlings “who have from Lords of Middle-earth II for Khamûl, mind. (Neither the date nor the event migrated into Rhovanion from Rhûn, yet the Lieutenant of Dol Guldur, none of are ever referred to again in the module.) no description whatsoever is provided for which has any bearing upon his role in More serious difficulties arise when the Dorwinions (who are supposedly so Rhovanion at large—and, since Khamûl the authors set out to describe the crucial for the economic life of the spends most of his time beneath the boundaries of Dor Rhúnen itself. In region). This is unfortunate, seeing that a cinder cone of Amon Lanc, the full Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings (our beautiful description of the folk of description he gets serves little purpose primary source for the history of the Dorwinion has been given in the River for this module. By contrast, no bios are Third Age), Tolkien writes: “The kings Running module (which will probablv given for the Mouth of Sauron or the [of Gondor]... gave [the Northmen] never be reprinted), which could have Grimbúrz (i.e., those minions of the wide lands beyond Anduin south of easily been imported into the Mirkwood Necromancer most likely to be Greenwood the Great, to be a defence module. encountered in Rhovanion beyond the against the men of the East. For in the gates of Dol Guldur). past the attacks of the Easterlings had A final incongruence of the Mirkwood come mostly over the plain between the module lies m its handling of linguistic Inland Sea and the Ash Mountains matters. The authors of Mirkwood are to (326).” In complete contradiction to this, be praised for their very thorough the Mirkwood authors have placed the development of indigenous Northman Northmen to the EAST (rather than the names. In stark contrast to this, they south) of the forest, leaving the defense display little knowledge of Tolkien’s own of the strategic invasion corridor to invented languages. One need look no Gondorian-occupied and ruled Dor farther than ICE's own Elvish dictionary Rhúnen (51). How can the Northmen in ————————————————————————————————————— 57 — — OTHER HANDS —————————————————————————— the Middle-earth Campaign Guide to realize that the authors treat page after page of Quenya words as though they were Sindarin (especially 46). They even suggest that Vagaig, the name given for the Gondorian governor of Dor Rhúnen, is Sindarin for “Sharp Sword;” according to the . Elvish dictionary in the Campaign Guide, however, this would be rendered into Sindarin as Maegvegil. Taken individually, these and other errors may not seem all that heinous; taken together, they demonstrate that the authors of Mirkwood have not done their homework. When measured up to ICE’s standards, Mirkwood is found neither to have been “based on extensive research” nor to have been “developed so that no conflict exists with any of the other primary publications (4).” But, for the moment, it’s all we have. When all is said and done, Mirkwood remains the antiquated work of 1983. It is to be hoped that the more positive trend begun by Dol Guldur and Lake-town will be carried forward by other new works devoted to this region. Reviewer: Chris Seeman

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“Bert” (Burat) Hazard ...... U Arouse Minions Hazard...... CA2 Bifur Character...... CB “Tom” (Tuma) Hazard ...... U Arthedain Region ...... CB2 Bilbo Character ...... R “William” (Wuluag) Hazard ...... U Arwen Character...... R Bill the Pony Resource...... U A Chance Meeting Resource...... CB Ash Mountains Resource...... CB Block Resource ...... CA A Friend or Three Resource ...... CB2 Assassin Hazard ...... R Blue Mountain Dwarf-hold Site...... CB Abductor Hazard ...... CA Athelas Resource...... U Blue Mountain Dwarves Resource...... U Adrazar Character ...... Fl Awaken Denizens Hazard ...... CA2 Bofur Character...... CB Adûnaphel Hazard...... R Awaken Minions Hazard...... CA2 Bombur Character...... U Agburanar Hazard ...... R Awaken the Earth’s Fire Hazard ...... U Book of Mazarbul Resource...... U Akhôrahil Hazard...... R Bag End Site...... F2 Boromir II Character...... F2 Alatar Character ...... F2 Balin Character...... U Bree Site...... Fl Align Palantír Resource ...... U Balrog of Moria Hazard ...... R Bridge Resource...... U Ambusher Hazard ...... CA Bandit Lair Site ...... F3 Brigands Hazard...... CA2 Amon Hen Site...... CA Bane of the Ithil-stone Hazard...... R Brown Lands Region ...... CB Anborn Character...... U Barad-dûr Site ...... R Call of Home Hazard ...... CA2 Andrast Region ...... CB Bard Bowman Character ...... F2 Call of the Sea Hazard ...... U Andrast Coast Region ...... CB Barliman Butterbur Character ...... U Cameth Brin Site...... CB Anduin River Resource...... CB2 Barrow-downs Site...... Fl Cardolan Region ...... CB2 Anduin Vales Region...... CB2 Barrow-wight Hazard...... U Carn Dûm Site...... R Andúril Resource...... R Bay of Belfalas Region ...... CB Cave-drake Hazard...... CA2 Anfalas Region ...... CB2 Beautiful Gold Ring Resource ...... CA2 Caves of Ulund Site ...... U Angmar Region ...... CB Belfalas Region ...... CB Celeborn Character...... Fl Annalena Character ...... F2 Beorn Character...... Fl Choking Shadows Hazard ...... CA Anórien Region ...... CB2 Beorn’s House Site...... Fl Círdan Character ...... R Aragorn II Character ...... Fl Beomings Resource...... Fl Cirith Ungol Site ...... R Arinmir Character ...... U Beregond Character...... Fl Clear Skies Resource ...... R Army of the Dead Resource...... R Beretar Character ...... U Clouds Hazard...... R Arouse Denizens Hazard ...... CA2 Bergil Character ...... U Concealment Resource...... CA

Corpse-candle Hazard...... CA Fell Turtle Hazard...... R Corsairs of Umbar Hazard ...... U Fell Winter Hazard...... CA Cracks of Doom Resource ...... U Fellowship Resource...... CA2 Crebain Hazard ...... CA Fíli Character ...... U Daelomin Hazard...... R Fog Resource ...... U Dagger of Westernesse Resource...... CA2 Ford Resource...... CA Dagorlad Region...... CB Forlong Character ...... CB Dáin II Characte...... R Forochel Region...... CB Damrod Character...... U Foul Fumes Hazard...... CA Dancing Spire Site ...... U Frodo Character ...... R Dark Quarrels Resource...... CA2 Galadriel Character...... R Dead Marshes Site ...... U Galva Character ...... R Denethor II Character ...... R Gamling the Old Character ...... U Despair of the Heart Hazard ...... CA Gandalf Character...... F2 Dimrill Dale Site...... U Dodge Resource...... CA Gap of Isen Region ...... CB2 Dol Amroth Site...... CB Gates of Morning Resource ...... F5 Dol Guldur Site...... R Ghân-buri-Ghân Character...... U Doors of Night Hazard...... F5 Ghosts Hazard...... CA Dori Character ...... U Ghouls Hazard ...... CA Dorwinion Region ...... CB Giant Hazard...... CA2 Dragon’s Desolation Hazard...... U Giant Spiders Hazard...... CA2 Dreams of Lore Resource ...... CA2 Dw. Ring of Thrar’s Tribe Resource...... U Gildor Inglorion Character...... Fl Drowning Seas Hazard ...... U Eagle-mounts Resource...... R Gimli Character...... Fl Drúadan Forest Site ...... CB Eagles’ Eyrie Site ...... CB Gladden Fields Site...... CA Dunharrow Site...... R Earth of Galadriel’s Orchard Resource ..U Glamdring Resource ...... U Dunland Region...... CB Easterling Camp Site...... R Glittering Caves Site...... U Dunlendings Resource...... F1 Easterlings Resource ...... R Glóin Character...... U Dunnish Clan-hold Site...... F1 Edhellond Site ...... CB Gloom Hazard...... CA Durin’s Axe Resource...... U Edoras Site ...... F1 Glorfindel II Character...... Fl Dwalin Character...... CB Elf-song Resource ...... R Goblin-gate Site ...... F2 Dwar of Waw Hazard ...... R Elf-stone Resource ...... CB2 Dw. Ring of Barin’s Tribe Resource ...... R Elladan Character ...... F1 Dw. Ring of Bavor’s Tribe Resource .....R EIrohir Character...... F1 Dw. Ring of Dniin’s Tribe Resource ...... R Elrond Character ...... R Dw. Ring of Durin’s Tribe Resource...... R Elven Cloak Resource ...... CA2 Dw. Ring of Dwalin’s Tribe Resource ...R Elven Shores Region ...... CB Dw. Ring of Thelor’s Tribe Resource.....U Elves of Lindon Resource ...... R Enedhwaith Region...... CB Ent-draughts Resource ...... U Ents of Fangorn Resource ...... Fl Éomer Character...... U Éowyn Character...... U Eriadoran Coast Region...... CB Erkenbrand Character...... F1 Escape Resource...... CA Ettenmoors Site ...... CA Eye of Sauron Hazard...... R Fair Gold Ring Resource...... CA2 Fair Sailing Resource ...... R Fair Travels in Border-lands Resource CA Fair Travels in Dark-domains Resource. R Fair Travels in Free-domains Resource.. R Fair Travels in Shadow-lands ResourceCA Goldberry Resource ...... U Fair Travels in Wilderness Resource... CA Gollum Resource ...... U Fangorn Region...... CB Gollum’s Fate Resource...... R Far-sight Resource...... CA Faramir Character...... F1 Gorgoroth Region ...... CB Favor of the Valar Resource...... R Great Ship Resource ...... R Fell Beast Hazard ...... R Great-road Resource ...... CA Great-shield of Rohan Resource ...... U Greed Hazard...... CA Lost at Sea Hazard...... R Mount Doom Site ...... U Grey Havens Site ...... CB Lost in Border-lands Hazard...... CA Mount Gram Site ...... F2 Grey Mountain Narrows Region...... CB Lost in Dark-domains Hazard...... R Mount Gundabad Site...... U Gundabad Region ...... CB Lost in Free-domains Hazard...... CA Mountains of Shadow Resource ...... CB Gwaihir Resource ...... R Lost in Shadow-lands Hazard...... CA Mouth of Sauron Hazard ...... R Halbarad Character ...... U Lost in the Wilderness Hazard...... CA Mouths of the Anduin Region ...... CB Haldalam Character ...... R Lucky Search Resource ...... R Mumak (Oliphant) Hazard...... R Haldir Character...... U Lucky Strike Resource...... CA Muster Resource...... CA Half-trolls of Far Harad Hazard...... CA Lure of Creation Hazard ...... U Muster Disperses Hazard...... CA Halfling Stealth Resource ...... CB2 Lure of Expedience Hazard ...... CA Narsil Resource...... U Halfling Strength Resource...... CB2 Lure of Nature Hazard...... CA2 Háma Character ...... CB Lure of Power Hazard...... R Harondor Region...... CB Lure of the Senses Hazard ...... CA Hauberk of Bright Mail Resource...... CA Mablung Character ...... U Healing Herbs Resource ...... CA2 Magic Ring of Courage Resource...... U Heart of Mirkwood Region...... CB Magic Ring of Lore Resource...... U Henneth Annún Site...... Fl Magic Ring of Nature Resource ...... U Hiding Resource ...... R Magic Ring of Stealth Resource ...... U High Pass Region...... CB2 Magic Ring of Words Resource...... U Hillmen Resource ...... U Men of Anfalas Resource ...... U Himring Site...... U Men of Anórien Resource...... Fl Hoarmûrath of Dír Hazard...... R Men of Dorwinion Resource ...... IT Hobbits Resource...... R Men of Lamedon Resource...... U Hollin Region"...... CB2 Men of Lebennin Resource...... U Horn of Anor Resource...... CB Men of Northern Rhovanion Resource . U Horse Plains Region...... CB Merry Character...... U Horses Resource ...... CA Minas Morgul Site...... R Huorn Hazard...... CA Minas Tirith Site...... F2 Imlad Morgul Region...... CB Minions Stir Hazard...... U Imrahil Character ...... U Mirror of Galadriel Resource...... U Indûr Dawndeath Hazard ...... R Miruvor Resource...... CA Irerock Site...... U Misty Mountains Resource...... CB2 Narya Resource...... R Iron Hill Dwarf-hold Site...... Fl Moon Resource...... U Nenya Resource...... R Iron Hill Dwarves Resource...... Fl Morannon Resource...... R New Friendship Resource...... CB Iron Hills Region ...... CB Morgul Night Hazard...... R New Moon Hazard...... U Isengard Site ...... F2 Morgul-horse Hazard...... R Night Hazard ...... CA Isles of the Dead that live Site ...... R Morgul-knife Hazard ...... R Nori Character ...... CB Ithilien Region ...... CB Moria Site ...... F3 Northern Rhovanion Region...... CB2 Khamûl the Easterling Hazard...... R Numeriador Region ...... CB Khand Region ...... CB Nurn Region ...... CB Kíli Character...... F2 Oín Character...... U Kindling of the Spirit Resource ...... CA Old Forest Site...... CA Knights of Dol Amroth Resource ...... U Old Friendship Resource ...... CB Lake-town Site...... CB Old Man Willow Hazard ...... U Lamedon Region...... CB Old Púkel Gap Region...... CB Lapse of Will Resource ...... U Old Púkel-land Region ...... CB Leaflock Resource ...... U Old Road Resource...... CB2 Lebennin Region...... CB2 Olog-hai (Trolls) Hazard ...... U Legolas Character ...... U Orc-guard Hazard ...... CA Lesser Ring Resource ...... U Orc-lieutenant Hazard...... U Leucaruth Hazard...... R Ore-patrol Hazard...... CA2 Lindon Region ...... CB2 Ore-raiders Hazard ...... CA2 Lond Galen Site ...... CB Orc-warband Hazard...... CA Long Winter Hazard ...... CA Ore-warriors Hazard...... CA2 Lordly Presence Resource...... CB2 Ore-watch Hazard...... CA Lórien Site ...... CB Orcrist Resource ...... U Lossadan Cairn Site ...... CA Ori Character ...... CB Lossadan Camp Site...... CB Orophin Character ...... CB Lossoth Resource...... U