ISSN: 1081-8359Issue 22 July 1998

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

22

THE BALROGS

1 Other Hands

ISSUE 22 JULY 1998 Editorial: On-line

In this Issue Ack! My brain is reeling from the im- that has been hitherto neglected by the Editorial ...... 2 mensity of it all. I mean the prolificacy of pages of this journal. I hope this very inter- MERP-related sites on the Internet. But esting conversation will rectify that ab- Communication ...... 2 most of you probably know this already, sence. since more than 80% of Other Hands’ read- The Balrogs ...... 4 In lieu of an adventure scenario, we have ership enjoys access to the Internet. Why for this issue two shorter pieces: one a trea- Dwarven Magic ...... 12 am I telling you this? Because Other Hands tise on game mechanics, the other a collec- now has an all-new webpage which will tion of campaign ideas for the TA 1640 pe- Interview ...... 15 soon offer a plethora of great stuff you riod. A recent subscriber to OH, Carl won’t find in hard copy. It's not fully opera- Brodt had originally written “Dwarven The TA 1640 Campaign tional yet—we’re shooting for August 1st— Magic” as a submission for Grey Worlds Facts and Problems ...... 17 but you can take a peek at it at http:// magazine (which never materialized). I al- www.netcom.com/~mrboy/OtherHands/ ways find it refreshing to read an article Rastarin's Log ...... 21 Index.html. (This URL is temporary, the that approaches the “Magic in Middle- final version will omit “~mrboy/”.) earth” question from a specific vantage Cramped for space...must move onto intros point, in this case, that of a particular race. for this issue... I hope to see others apply a similar ap- A couple of months ago I was asked to proach to the particular magic of other write the “color texts” (topical mini-essays) races or cultures. C ONTRIBUTORS for ICE’s Balrog Player Guide (intended to For his part, Jason Vester takes on a accompany the not yet released MECCG critical issue for campaign design: what Carl Brodt expansion deck of the same name). In the themes or elements are unique to or em- Bridget Buxton course of researching various aspects of blematic of a given temporal setting in Mid- Chris Seeman Balrog-lore, I stumbled upon enough inter- dle-earth. The indeterminacy he finds in esting tidbits that I thought I might write Chris Tubb many of the MERP modules on the distinc- up in an organized fashion. This issue’s tive character of the 1640s is surely Jason Vester background essay is the result. grounds for undertaking the kind of explo- But the real feature for this issue is the ration of adventure possibilities he does. interview we have been granted by Chris And as always, we wrap things up with EDITING Tubb, designer of Mithril miniatures. another episode of Rastarin’s Log, in which Miniatures have traditionally been an im- our heroes run amok with Black Chris Seeman portant component of fantasy role playing Númenórean nasties in Umbar, with more games. It is a facet of Middle-earth gaming Star Wars references a-flying...

AGEMAKING P Chris Seeman Quentin Westcott 1 July, 1998

ARTWORK COMMUNICATIONS Bridget Buxton Quentin Westcott Jason Vester: else lacking in-depth development. I’d Patrick Wynne much rather read another article on “Magic Congratulations on another solid issue of in Middle-earth” or someone’s campaign OH! I truly never expected the next issue premise. But in this case, despite my start- to be out on time. A few comments on spe- ing bias, I found the adventure remarkably cific articles follow. strong, easy to pick up and drop into an- NEXT ISSUE Adventures have always had a very other setting, and self-contained. Every site prominent place in OH and, while I do not and NPC had a write-up, and the illustra- DRAGONS! dispute this position, they have never really tions added considerably to the written ma- been all that useful to me. Many have been terial. If I had a criticism, it would be this: rather ordinary stories without purpose, or it’s too bad we don’t see more original mon- 2 Issue 22 July 1998 sters and menaces in M-e. Too often we employed some of your artists. A great tal- amount of PPs to cast this spell. resort to the familiar (Giant Spiders, Orcs, ent, I think, is the author of your last three 3) The caster loses 1D10 temporary Co Wargs, Wights, etc.). Just because JRRT covers. points and may cast no further magic for didn’t describe it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t The scenarios you produce I really enjoy, the next 10 minutes. The Co points exist! But until I submit an adventure of and in some respects my poor efforts pale (regained at the rate of 1 point/10 min- my own, perhaps I shouldn’t throw stones. by comparison. Rastarin’s log I enjoy im- utes) further strengthen the WC by of the The survey results were interesting, but I mensely—I was in tears after the last issue. caster’s lost Co at a 1:1 ratio. would encourage you to not give up com- Plainly Bridget is a fan of the prince of Example: A 2nd level mage is being pletely on articles that rested at the bottom thieves. I think I should respond with chased through Mount Gundabad by sev- end of the scale. An occasional article on something from Men in Tights: “Unlike eral Orcs led by a 5th level Uruk. Though M-e computer games, or CCGs, especially other role players I could mention, at least I he has the lead, the mage is tiring fast and if they relate to table-top role playing, speak with a English accent.” knows it is but a matter of time before they would still be welcome. Lastly, the picture at the back of Issue catch him. Seeing a door in front of him, he Keep up the great work, and remember 20: I am sure I have seen it before, Chris. rushes through it and slams it shut. Unfor- that we all appreciate you. Were you starring in “America’s tunately, it has no lock. Hearing the Orcs Mostwanted”(?)!! closing in, he decides he has no option but to cast Magic Lock (from Unbarring Ways); 4250 S. Arville #280 Now I would like to offer a rule sugges- but he also knows the Uruk should be able Las Vegas, NV 89103-3726 tion for handling Words of Command to break through this easily, so he opts to [email protected] (WCs), a topic that was originally broached by Dirk Brandherm in OH 10/11. If one use a WC. Since Magic Lock is a 2nd level

recalls Gandalf’s shutting-spell on the door spell, using it as a WC knocks it up to Level Andy Alack: of the chamber of Mazarbul (LotR 1.341), 4 RR (probably still to weak to hold them). the following observations may be made: Groaning at the telling effect of the spell on his body, he looses 8 Co points, 3 of which I thought I would just drop you a line or • “To do things of that kind [i.e., shutting- go to reinforce the spell (thus raising the three so I can say how I’ve just finished spells] rightly requires time (ibid).” reading all 21 issues of OH — and what a RR to Level 8 —much more respectable). read!! What can I say? • A WC is precisely that—one word. Using the door to bar the Orcs’ progress, Excellent! And the quality of the material • Casting WCs is physically draining. he stumbles away from the door, recovering produced increases with each issue. Well • A WC harnesses incredible power (truly from the ordeal (constitution-wise) some 1 done! the sledge hammer, as Brandherm men- hour and 20 minutes later. Now the praise is over, some thoughts for tions), the use of which can cause struc- What happens when the spell is broken? you. It is with regret I heard from you tural damage (cf. Gandalf’s shattering of If the duration expires there should be no about the moratorium, but in some respects the Bridge of Khazad-dûm). ill-effect; but if the spell is broken by vio- I can understand ICE’s reasons (even if I From these I draw the following conclu- lence, give it a percentage chance of quite dislike them). One of your writers to OH sions: literally bringing the house down! If the mentioned that MERP was more popular focus of the spell’s power (i.e., the spell ad- 1) The time taken to cast a normal spell der, PP multiplier, etc.) happens to be de- in Europe than the US. This, unfortunately, should be increased (x2 seems a good does not seem to be the case. Where I live stroyed, that should also be factored into ideal, so that a 1st level spell would take 2 the equation. in England there are around 175,000 people rounds to cast, 4 rounds for a 2nd level, and only one gaming shop (if you exclude etc.). Incredible as it may seem, this option Games Workshop) and, according to the could technically work using the MERP 2) A WC will not increase the damage a owner (whom I know quite well), I seem to stats for Gandalf and the Balrog in Lords of spell might do (no super fireballs and the be the only person in Swindon who buys Middle-earth I (35th and 60th respectively). like); rather, it might extend range, MERP products. I GM for about three So, if you use the above suggestion, it strength or duration. groups which consist of about 10 people in would, as in “History,” stop the thing! total. I also know of one other GM who 3) In game terms, the strain involved in Yes, I know there are holes. Yes, I still uses MERP/RM for about another 4-5 peo- casting a WC might also carry the risk of have to put this to the practical test with my ple; so, as you can see, whilst we have the the caster loosing something of value (e. own group. But it is a start. Any (civil) sug- people, it seems we do not have the interest g., Gandalf’s staff being broken on the gestions are always welcome. Feel free to there. bridge). send uncivil suggestions as well—I’m not I think, however, that the quality of the Practical game mechanics: fussy! MERP product line cannot be matched— 1) Decide which spell lists would have the maps are a marvel and Angus WCs. (By all means, let the players have 63 Ashford Road McBride’s artwork second to none, giving input into this, but in the end, the GM is you the impression you re really there. (If Eru.) A PC who has access to an ap- Swindon ICE produces posters of this and the like, I proved spell list also knows the appropri- Wilts would be very interested.) If I have one ate WC. United Kingdom criticism, it is of the internal artwork: it 2) A WC takes 1 round to cast, no matter [email protected] looks too “lumpy,” too primitive. I think what the level effects. Upon casting it, the MERP would have done far better to have spell’s level immediately doubles the RR needed to pass it. It costs 2x the normal

3 Other Hands THE BALROGS

Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213, Novato, CA greatness, and remained in that alle- have been corrupted by lies and gifts in ad- 94948, USA ([email protected]) giance down into his darkness; dition to being drawn to Melkor’s splen- dour.) The chronological difference, how- and others he corrupted afterwards to ever, is essential for appreciating certain In a letter from 1954, Tolkien described the his service with lies and treacherous resonances that may obliquely elucidate the Balrogs as “primeval spirits of destroying fire, gifts. Dreadful among these spirits were nature of the Balrogs; because it is possible, chief servants of the primeval Dark Power of the the Valaraukar, the scourges of fire that if one adopts the view that the Balrogs were First Age (Let.180).” Balrogs may be regarded as in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, “late -comers” to Melkor’s allegiance, to “primeval” in yet another sense, for they were demons of terror. (Sil.31) read an earlier passage related to the present (in very full detail) already in The Book Utumno reference cited above as the incep- of Lost Tales (1916-17),1 when Gothmog led the tive moment of their corruption: hosts of Melko against the doomed city of Gon- I believe that the phrase “splendour ir the dolin. But if the Balrogs were primeval, they were days of his greatness” alludes to the follow- also subject to significant alterations within the ing passage in the Ainulindalë: Therefore [Melkor] gathered to himself evolution of Tolkien’s larger mythology. An spirits out of the halls of Eä that he had awareness of these developments can often provide Some of these thoughts [Melkor] now perverted to his service, and he deemed clues to a more accurate understanding of wove into his music, and straightway himself strong. And seeing now his time Tolkien’s “final” conception of these creatures in discord arose about him, and many that he drew near again to Arda....And he The Lord of the Rings and in the (unfinished) sang nigh him grew despondent, and passed therefore over the Walls of the literary efforts that followed its publication. their thought was disturbed and their Night with his host, and came to Mid- The aim of this essay is to offer a synthesis of music faltered; but some began to at- dle-earth far in the north....Now Melkor the Balrog tradition in this “final phase,” making tune their music to his rather than to the began the delving and building of a vast reference to earlier layers where these can help thought which they had at first. (Sil.16) fortress, deep under Earth, beneath clarify how Tolkien intended it to be read. Since dark mountains where the beams of Il- the tradition often raises as many questions as it luin were cold and dim. That stronghold answers, I have found it convenient to deal with a While it is possible to read the was named Utumno. (Sil.36) variety of topics piecemeal. Wherever practical, I Valaquenta passage as identifying the Bal- reproduce the passages cited, so that the reader rogs only (or primarily) with the “others” will not have to repeat the labor of searching out that he corrupted “afterwards” with lies and If, on the other hand, the Balrogs began and assembling disparate fragments. gifts, a later passage from The Silmarillion their allegiance before they were sum- moned to Utumno, before the creation of I would like to express my thanks to Michael suggests that the first kind of Maia is Arda, the following texts assume signifi- Martinez, who read through and critiqued an ear- meant: cance for interpreting the genesis of their lier version of this essay. While he and I may still characteristics, inasmuch as these Balrogs- not agree on all points, I hope I have at least fac- And in Utumno [Melkor] gathered his to-be “attuned their music” to Melkor’s and tored in most of his observations. demons about him, those spirits who “became most like him in his corruption.” first adhered to him in the days of his To begin with, we are told in the ORIGIN splendour, and became most like him in Valaquenta that Melkor: In his commentary on the Valaquenta, his corruption: their hearts were of fire, Christopher Tolkien notes that it is in this but they were cloaked in darkness, and ...began with the desire of Light, but story that his father for the first time identi- terror went before them; they had when he could not possess it for himself fied the Balrogs as “primeval spir- whips of flame. Balrogs they were alone, he descended through fire and its” (HoMe X.203).2 This passage, as it ap- named in Middle-earth in later days. wrath into a great burning, down into pears in the published Silmarillion, reads as (Sil.47) Darkness. And darkness he used most follows: in his evil works upon Arda, and filled it It may, of course, be splitting hairs to with fear for all living things. (Sil.31) ...of the Maiar many were drawn to insist upon too sharp a distinction between [Melkor’s] splendor in the days of his the two types of Maiar referree to in the Valaquenta. (Some Balrogs may indeed

4 Issue 22 July 1998 “feigned, even to darin form of “Utumno.” himself at first, that he desired to go thither and order all HISTORY things for the good In the same passage in which Tolkien of the Children of recounts the building of Utumno, he writes Ilúvatar, controlling that “Melkor made also a fortress and ar- the turmoils of the moury not far from the northwestern shores heat...that had come of the sea, to resist any assault that might to pass through him come from Aman. That stronghold was 3 (Sil.l8).” In the se- commanded by Sauron, lieutenant of quel, of course, Melkor; and it was named Angband Melkor “kindled (Sil.47).” Although it is not stated explicitly great fires (Sil.20),” here, later developments make it clear that hindering the shap- at least some of the Balrogs were appointed ing of the Earth. to this western fortress, since it is from While there is no Angband that Balrogs come forth to save explicit statement their master from the webs of Ungoliant: that the Balrogs as- sisted Melkor in the Deep in forgotten places that cry was primeval struggle heard. Far beneath the ruined halls of for Arda’s forma- 4 Angband, in vaults to which the Valar tion, the parallel in the haste of their assault had not de- emphasis on fire, scended, Balrogs lurked still, awaiting darkness and terror ever the return of their Lord; and now between Melkor and swiftly they arose, and passing over those who emulated Hithlum they came to Lammoth as a his discord cannot tempest of fire. With their whips of be accidental. This is flame they smote asunder the webs of significant, as not all Ungoliant... (Sil.81) of Melkor’s allies manifested these three qualities. Un- The Valar laid siege to Utumno soon af- goliant, for instance, ter the awakening of the Elves (Sil.51). exuded darkness “Nonetheless the Valar did not discover all and terror, but was the mighty vaults and caverns hidden with inimical to fire. Only deceit far under the fortresses of Angband What is interesting about this passage is the Balrogs embodied all three elements— and Utumno. Many evil things still lingered not Melkor’s association with darkness per and a fourth, that of “might,” the coercive there, and others were dispersed and fled se, but rather the connection it establishes use of power denoted by their very name into the dark and roamed in the waste with “fire” and “burning,” and also with the (Melkor = “He who arises in Might;” places of the world, awaiting a more evil 5 fear that the dark inspires in living things. Valaraukar = “Demons of Might”). hour...(Sil.51).” Since there is no hint that Here are yoked together the three essential To summarize, the Balrogs are those Melkor made any attempt to re-occupy elements of a Balrog’s makeup: fire, dark- Maiarin spirits who attuned themselves to Utumno after his escape from Valinor as ness and terror (Sil.47 cited above). A simi- Melkor’s discord in the Ainulindalë and Morgoth, it is likely that, once he had re- lar association is to be found in the descrip- who most closely emulated his own corrup- established his power in Angband, all of the tion of Melkor’s fana at the close of the tion. In their dual embrace of destroying Balrogs that had survived Utumno’s fall Ainulindalë: “...he also took visible form, flame and terror-inspiring darkness the Bal- would have removed there as well (unless but because of his mood and the malice that rogs resembled Melkor more exactly than they had been imprisoned beneath the earth burned in him that form was dark and terri- either Sauron or Ungoliant, and are thus by its ruin). ble (Sil.21).” Similarly, when he returns to distinguished from the differing themes of The Balrogs of Angband played promi- Arda to destroy the Lamps, the Valar “did evil which these latter came to manifest (for not perceive the shadow in the north that nent roles in the Wars of Beleriand that Ungoliant, devouring darkness, for Sauron, followed. They served as Morgoth’s court was cast from afar by Melkor; for he was sorcery). The Balrogs may or may not have grown as dark as the Night of the Void guard (Sil.167), a position dramatized in participated in the First War of Melkor and The Lay of Leithian: (Sil.36).” the Valar, but at any rate they first acquired

The theme of “destroying fire” is empha- a distinctive presence among the Dark sized throughout the First War between Lord’s hosts in his subterranean fortress of About him sat his awful thanes, the Bal- Melkor and the Valar. Prior to the out- Utumno. The association of this site with rog-lords with fiery manes, redhanded, break of hostilities (during his momentary the origin of the Balrogs in Middle-earth mouthed with fangs of steel; (HoMe repentance, when Ilúvatar revealed the vi- may be seen when Gandalf, on the bridge III.296) sion of Arda to the Ainur), Melkor of Khazad-dûm, names his foe “flame of Udun (LotR 1.344),” that being the Sin- 5 Other Hands Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, also served as Turgon and Húrin aside towards the Recall, moreover the earlier-cited passage “high-captain of Angband” during the Fen of Serech. Then he turned upon in which Melkor “gathered to himself spir- Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Sil.193). Apparently, Fingon. That was a grim meeting. At its out of the halls of Eä that he had per- not even Sauron himself, “greatest and most last Fingon stood alone with his guard verted to his service, and....seeing now his terrible of the servants of Morgoth,” en- dead about him; and he fought with time he drew near again to Arda....And he joyed that honor (Sil.155-156). Gothmog, until another Balrog came passed therefore over the Walls of the Balrogs are recorded to have made their behind and cast a thong of fire about Night with his host, and came to Middle- appearance on five of Morgoth’s most criti- him. Then Gothmog hewed him with earth far in the north (S.36).” Do seven cal battle-fields, in the course of which they his black axe, and a white flame sprang Balrogs constitute a host? ? ? managed to slay or overcome the greatest of up from the helm of Fingon as it was Similarly, if a “few” Balrogs survived the the Elves: Fëanor, Maedhros, Fingon, Ec- cloven. Thus fell the High King of the War of Wrath (and I take a “few” to mean thelion and Glorfindel. I reproduce here the Noldor; and they beat him into the dust more than two), then clearly the flat state- sections that explicitly mention Balrogs: with their maces, and his banner, blue ment “The Balrogs were destroyed” cannot and silver, they trod into the mire of his be accurate — if there were only seven to blood (Sil.192-194).” begin with, and two of those seven perished DAGOR-NUIN-GILIATH (F.A. 1) 7 in Gondolin, and “some few” escaped the “Thus it was that [Fëanor] drew far fall of Angband, that means only two Bal- FALL OF GONDOLIN (F.A. 510) ahead of the van of his host; and seeing rogs at most were destroyed in the War of this the servants of Morgoth turned to “At last, in the year when Earendil was Wrath. Clearly, then, there exists an unre- bay, and there issued from Angband seven years old, Morgoth was ready, solvable discrepancy between the tradition Balrogs to aid them. There upon the and he loosed upon Gondolin his Bal- as it stands and Tolkien’s projected inten- confines of Dor Daedeloth, the land of rogs....of the battle of Ecthelion of the tion to modify it. To be sure, one need not Morgoth, Fëanor was surrounded, with Fountain with Gothmog Lord of Bal- choose between the extremes of a thousand few friends about him. Long he fought rogs in the very square of the King, and seven—the Balrogs might still be com- on, and undismayed, though he was where each slew the other....Along that paratively rare, and yet number substan- wrapped in fire and wounded with narrow way their march was strung, tially more numerous than a mere handful. many wounds; but at the last he was when they were ambushed by Orcs...

smitten to the ground by Gothmog, and a Balrog was with them....Many are Lord of Balrogs, whom Ecthelion after the songs that have been sung of the HOW BIG? slew in Gondolin. There he would have duel of Glorfindel with the Balrog upon What kind of stature did Balrogs com- perished, had not his sons in that mo- a pinnacle of rock in that high place; mand? The evidence is sparse, and is frus- ment come up with force to his aid; and and both fell to ruin in the abyss trated moreover by the changeability of the Balrogs left him, and departed to (Sil.242-243).” their fana; yet something may be said. The Angband....but Morgoth sent there Balrog that Glorfindel fought in Gondolin

more, and there were Balrogs. was said to double the Elf’s stature, so that Maedhros was ambushed, and all his WAR OF WRATH (F.A. 545-587) his dirk “pierced the Balrog’s belly nigh his company were slain; but he himself was “The Balrogs were destroyed, save some own face...(HoMe II.194).”8 Tolkien’s de- taken alive by the command of Mor- few that fled and hid themselves in cav- scription of the Balrog of Moria is less pre- goth, and brought to Angband (SU. erns inaccessible at the roots of the cise. The published text depicts: “a great 107-108).” earth...(Sil.251).” shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater (LotR 1.344).” This description derives DAGOR BRAGOLLACH (F.A. 455) HOW MANY? from an earlier version which ran as fol- “Then suddenly Morgoth sent forth The recounting of the Balrogs’ role in lows: “A figure strode to the fissure, no great rivers of flame that ran down these battles raises a thorny issue: what was more than man-high (HoMe VII. 197).” swifter than Balrogs from Than- the size of Morgoth’s Balrog-contingent The changed wording resulted from gorodrim, and poured over all the and how many in fact survived the War of Tolkien’s marginal note to “Alter descrip- plain....In front of that fire came Glau- Wrath to trouble later ages of the world ? tion of Balrog. It seemed to be of man’s rung the golden, father of dragons, in Early versions of the Silmarillion make their shape, but its form could not be plainly dis- his full might; and in his train were Bal- number 1,000 (HoMe IV.302; V.137, 310; cerned. It felt larger than it looked (HoMe rogs....Thus ended the siege ofAng- XI.74). Against this figure is set a late VTI.199).” band...(Sil.l51).” (post-LotR) marginal note Tolkien ap- The malleable quality of the Balrog’s size, pended to the Annals of Aman: “There then, is directly related to its ability to mod- should not be supposed more than say 3 or NIRNAETH ARNOEDIAD ify its own fana, as is seen in the published at most 7 ever existed (HoMe X.80).” This (F.A. 473) version: explicit statement of Tolkien’s intention “But even as the vanguard of Maedhros would seem to close the matter; yet, in fact, came upon the Orcs, Morgoth loosed it was never fully integrated into the Sil- The Balrog made no answer. The fire in his last strength, and Angband was marillion tradition.6 it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. emptied....and there came Balrogs.... It stepped forward slowly onto the To begin with, if there were so few (and a Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, high-captain bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to definite number) of them in existence, why of Angband, was come; and he drove a a great height, and its wings were leave so many references to an unspecified dark wedge between the Elvenhosts, number in place? surrounding King Fingon, and thrusting 6 Issue 22 July 1998

7 Other Hands spread from wall to wall. (LotR 1.345) would have required spoken language in order to coordinate and command Mor- It is not clear, however, that Pengolodh’s statement would apply to the Balrogs, who goth’s hosts on the battlefield. It seems logi- WHAT LANGUAGE? did not assume “forms like those of the cally necessary, therefore, that, under cer- In a 1958 letter to Forrest J. Ackerman, Children of Eru.” Granted, the Balrogs are tain circumstances, Balrogs could and did 9 a film producer who had sent him a screen- of vaguely “man-shape,” but surely this is use mundane speech. play for a projected LotR movie, Tolkien different from the “normal” forms which But what language would they have spo- criticizes a Mr. Zimmerman (the screenplay the Valar assumed in Aman. By this I refer ken? Certainly not one of the Elven writer, abbreviated “Z”) for his adaptation to the ability of the Valar and Maiar to tongues. Gothmog, Balrogath,10 Valarau- of Gandalf’s encounter with the Balrog in “clothe themselves in their own thought,” a kar—these are simply linguistic artifacts Khazad-dûm: more primordially elemental manifestation devised by the Elves (or Men) who com- than the forms which they wear in the pres- posed and transmitted the Silmarillion tradi- The Balrog never speaks or makes any ence of the Elves: tion, and do not represent the names actu- vocal sound at all. Above all he does not ally used by the minions of Angband. If, however, a Noldo such as Finrod was able laugh or sneer.....Z may think that he ...their shape comes of their knowledge to “read in the minds of Men such thought knows more about Balrogs than do I, of the visible World, rather than of the as they wished to reveal in speech, so that but he cannot expect me to agree with World itself; and they need it not, save their words were easily interpreted him. (Let.274) only as we use raiment, and yet we may (S.141),” it seems not unlikely that a Maia, be naked and suffer no loss of our be- possessed of native telepathic powers, could ing....But the shapes wherein the Great all the more easily understand (and perhaps This is a curious remark, since in fact the Ones array themselves are not at all respond in kind to) the speech of any Incar- Balrog does emit “a terrible cry” when he times like to the shapes of the kings and nates it might encounter. plummets into the abyss (LotR 1.345). Pre- queens of the Children of Ilúvatar; for sumably, Tolkien’s censure applies to the at times they may clothe themselves in CAN THEY FLY? representation of the Balrog before his fall. their own thought, made visible in The question this passage raises is whether forms of majesty and dread. (S.21) Does a Balrog’s fana grant its wearer the Balrogs have the capacity for speech and, if power of flight? This question is raised by so, what language (s) they use. I have not Tolkien’s description of the Balrog of found any other references apart from the This description seems to fit the alter- Moria, which possesses wings (or, at least, Khazad-dûm scene where a Balrog makes nately shadowy, alternately fiery form with the shadowy semblance of wings). Doubt any noise, much less speech. However, it is which the Balrog appears in Moria. The may arise, however, when it is noted that safe to assume that, being Maiar, Balrogs question, then, is whether this elemental the Balrog does not actually use these ap- were certainly capable of communication. manifestation precludes the capacity for pendages as a means of locomotion: In an appendix to the essay “Ouendi and vocally-articulated speech, just as assump- Eldar,” the Noldorin loremaster Pengolodh tion of an Elven form enables it. Returning ...with a rush it leaped across the fis- makes the following statement concerning to Pengolodh, we learn that: sure....The dark figure streaming with “the language of the Valar and Maiar:” fire raced towards them....For a mo- Even when using bodily forms [the ment...the fiery shadow halted. Then Even if we had no knowledge of it...we Valar] had less need of any tengwesta than the echoes died as suddenly as a flame could not reasonably doubt that the had the Incarnate; and they had made a blown out by a dark wind, and the en- Valar had a lambe [tongue] of their own. lambe for the pleasure of exercising the emy advanced again....The Balrog We know that all members of their or- powers and skills of the bodily form, and reached the bridge....[it] halted again, der were incarnated by their own de- (more remotely) for the better understand- facing [Gandalf], and the shadow about sire, and that most of them chose to take ing of the minds of the Incarnate when they it reached out like two vast wings....It forms like those of the Children of Eru, should appear, rather than for any need stepped forward slowly onto the bridge, as they name us. In such forms they that they felt among themselves. For the and suddenly it drew itself up to a great would take on all the characters of the Valar and Maiar could transmit and receive height, and its wings were spread from Incarnates that were due to the co- thought directly (by the will of both par- wall to wall....With a bound the Balrog operation of hroä [body] with indwelling ties) according to their right nature; and leaped full upon the bridge....With a feä [spirit], for otherwise the assumption though the use of bodily form (albeit as- terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and of these forms would have been need- sumed and not imposed) in a measure made its shadow plunged down and vanished. less, and they arrayed themselves in this this mode of communication less swift and (LotR 1.344-345) manner long before they had any cause precise, they retained this faculty in a de-

to appear before us visibly. Since, then, gree far surpassing that seen among any of the making of a lambe is the chief char- the Incarnate. (HoMe XI.406) Only after it has reached Gandalf does acter of an Incarnate, the Valar, having the Balrog’s shadow assume the form of wings. Manipulable in size, spreading “from arrayed them in this manner, would in- As Maiar, the Balrogs thus possessed the wall to wall,” these appear to function more evitably during their long sojourn in capacity to communicate telepathically as a manifestation and extension of the Bal- Arda have made a lambe for themselves. among themselves and with their master. rog’s horrificpresence, rather than a means (HoMe XI.397) However, one would think that as “high- for getting from one place to another. As a captain of Angband,” Gothmog at least

8 Issue 22 July 1998 matter of fact, however, in the Appendix on It should become apparent that the issue free to do as he would. He was still subject Durin’s Folk in LotR III, Tolkien does of whether or not Balrogs could fly is a to Morgoth’s dormant will: write: complex one. I do not presume here to pre- sent an exhaustive analysis of all the argu- One of the reasons for [Morgoth’s] self- Thus they roused from sleep a thing of ments on both sides, only to alert the reader weakening is that he has given to his terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, to the fact that the debate exists, and to il- ‘creatures’, Orcs, Balrogs, etc. power of had lain hidden at the foundations of lustrate some of the more common argu- recuperation and multiplication. So that the earth since the coming of the Host ments. they will gather again without further of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth. specific orders. Part of his native crea- (LotR III.353) LOYAL TO WHOM? tive power has gone out into making an When the Fellowship recounts their mis- independent evil growth out of his con- Yet nowhere, neither in The Silmarillion adventure in Moria to Celeborn and trol. (HoMe X.391) nor in LotR, does Tolkien actually depict a Galadriel in Lorien, Legolas identifies Gan-

Balrog in flight—they leap, they run, they dalf’s adversary as “a Balrog of Morgoth... plummet over precipices to their deaths, of all elf-banes the most deadly, save the BALROGS IN MERP but they are never seen to fly.11 This con- One who sits in the Dark Tower (LotR Having reviewed and discussed what is spicuous absence, combined with the I.371).” The Balrog is not here associated known about Balrogs from the canon, let us (apparently) immaterial quality of the with Sauron but with Morgoth. Although see how these creatures have been inter- wings of the Balrog in Moria, has led many the Appendix on Durin’s folk surmises that preted in the MERP series. Balrogs are dis- to question whether the reference to the Balrog “had already been awakened by cussed primarily in Middle-earth Rote Playing “flying” in the above-quoted passage was the malice of Sauron” prior to its release by (p. 180), Valar and Maiar (pp. 106-116) and intended metaphorically rather than liter- the Dwarves (LotR III.353), there is no Creatures of Middle-earth (pp. 84-86). Addi- ally. indication that the Balrog was ever subser- tional information on individual Balrogs The metaphorical reading is certainly a vient to Sauron, in spite of the latter’s appears in Moria (pp. 111-113) and The reasonable possibility. On two other occa- greater power.13 Northern Waste (pp. 61-62). sions, Tolkien recounts the same escape The independence of the Balrogs from With the exception of The Northern from Angband without any reference to Sauron, both during and after Morgoth’s- Waste, all of these books maintain that Bal- flight. In The Silmarillion we read that the reign, is explained by Tolkien in the follow- rogs can fly “albeit clumsily (Valar. Balrogs simply “fled and hid themselves in ing passage: 106).”14 They also appear to adopt the caverns inaccessible at the roots of the view that the Balrogs were corrupted to earth...(S.251).” Similarly, in one of his let- Melkor’s service only after the creation of ters Tolkien writes “But it is here found It will be seen that the wills of Orcs and Arda, rather than during the Ainulindalë. (there is usually a hang-over especially of Balrogs etc. are part of Melkor’s power This is suggested by the fact that the Bal- evil from one age to another) that one had ‘dispersed’. Their spirit is one of hate. rogs are said to have “once served the Valie escaped and taken refuge under the moun- But hate is non-cooperative (except un- Vana (Valar. 106).” tains of Hithaeglin (the Misty Mountains) der direct fear). Hence the rebellions, The rationale for this connection is un- (Let. 180).” Moreover, in LotR Tolkien mutinies, etc. when Morgoth seems far clear, since Vana’s association was not with describes Shelob too as “flying” from Ang- off....Also (n.b.) Morgoth not Sauron is fire but with youthfulness: “All flowers band’s ruin (LotR 11.332), and yet no one the source of Orc-wills. Sauron is just spring as she passes and open if she glances would imagine this literally. Clearly, then, it another (if greater) agent. Orcs can re- upon them; and all birds sing at her coming is not the “flight from Angband” passage bel against him without losing their own (S.29).” Perhaps what was intended was to alone, but rather reading it in the context of irremediable allegiance to evil link the Balrogs to Arien, the Maia who the Balrog’s wings in Moria, which sug- (Morgoth). (HoMe X.411) gests the possibility of a literal interpreta- later guided the Sun, since earlier she “had tion. tended the golden flowers in the gardens of Vana (S. 99).”15 In other words, ICE wants Another passage may have some bearing However, it does appear as though some to depict the Balrogs as having been cor- on the question. In The Silmarillion, the kind of alliance or tacit agreement of non- rupted from an originally “good” fire spirit. Balrogs of Angband manage to “pass over interference existed between Sauron and Yet this creates chronological difficulties, Hithlum as a tempest of fire” (S.81) in no the Balrog of Moria, as it is Sauron who since Arien’s association with fire did not time flat to rescue Morgoth from Ungoliant “begins to people Moria with his creatures” begin until the creation of the Sun (long (a good 300 miles according to Fonstad’s some five centuries after the Balrog ex- ages after the Balrogs had joined Melkor’s estimation; Atlas.14). This text was altered pelled the Dwarves (LotR III.368). Since allegiance in Utumno).16 from an earlier version that read: “Swiftly the Orcs and Trolls of Moria seem to oper- they arose, and they passed with winged ate in concert with (if not in subordination While well-intentioned, this attempt to speed over Hithlum, and they came to to) the Balrog at the time of the War of the situate the Balrogs within a larger Maiarin Lammoth as a tempest of fire (HoMe Ring, some degree of concord between the context seems to me to miss the point. As I X.297).” Assuming the omission of the ex- two Maiar must have existed. On the other have argued, the distinctive features of the pression “with winged speed” is to be at- hand, the contrariness of the Orcs of Moria Balrogs—darkness, fire, terror — appear to tributed to Tolkien himself and not to when acting in concert with those of Mor- derive from Melkor himself, not from any Christopher Tolkien’s editorial hand, this dor underlines that the Balrog was no mere lesser “fire spirit.” Their corruption pre- may be an indication that Tolkien wished slave to the Dark Tower (LotR 11.50 et al). ceded the creation of the World, and had its to avoid the connotation that Balrogs Nonetheless, the Balrog was not entirely could fly.12 9 Other Hands source in the discord of the Ainulindalë. tence of Balrogs in Middle-earth after Ang- the vision: “And Ilúvatar spoke to Ulmo, One final detail of the MERP treatment band’s fall -was unknown even to Gandalf and said: ‘Seest thou not how here in this of Balrogs needs to be reconsidered: the at the end of the Third Age, so the intro- little realm in the Deeps of Time Melkor statement that the Balrog of Moria knew duction of a Balrog (whether one of the hath made war upon thy province?.... the Black Speech of Mordor (Valar.108). above or something new) should be han- Melkor hath devised heats and fires with- This attribution ignores two facts: 1) that dled with some sensitivity to their need for out restraint...” (Sil. 19) the Black Speech was spoken only during obscurity. Naturally, it is possible that deni- 4. See Sil.22. While the opposite view (that the Second Age (throughout which the Bal- zens of Middle-earth who are unaware of the Balrogs did participate in the First rog “slept” in the bowels of the earth); 2) it the history of Beleriand in the Elder Days War) might be argued on the basis of was only spoken by Sauron’s servants might encounter a Balrog and yet not rec- Sil.31 (“...so great was the power of his (which the Balrog certainly was not). ognize its true nature. uprising that in ages forgotten he con- Moreover, no one during the Third Age Another consideration is motive. Múar tended with Manwë and all the Valar, used (or remembered) the Black Speech aside, Balrogs replicate Morgoth’s nature, and through long years in Arda held do- except perhaps the court of Barad-dûr. In not Sauron’s. In Morgoth’s Ring, Tolkien minion over most of the lands of the other words, there is no plausible context in drew a strong distinction between two ori- Earth. But he was not alone. For of the which the Balrog would speak or have entations: Sauron’s lawful evil (i.e., driven Maiar many were drawn to his splendour knowledge of this dead language — not by the desire for ordered domination of the in the days of his greatness, and remained that he couldn’t comprehend it or any other world and its inhabitants) and Morgoth’s in that allegiance down into his dark- language if he heard it, given his telepathic chaotic evil, which ultimately desires anni- ness...”), it should not be forgotten that ability as a Maia. hilation, not dominion (HoMe X. 394-398). the expression “through long years” im- All told, the MERP series details five Consequently, Balrogs are appropriate can- plies the count of Time (cf. Sil, pp. 38- Balrogs. These are: didates for thematizing an incredibly pow- 39), and might refer only to the ages fol- erful antagonist driven by an instinct for lowing the destruction of the Great 17 • Felagrog: The Balrog of Moria. destructiveness (but one distinct from that Lamps, when Melkor did in fact control • Gothmog: Lord of Balrogs, who perishes of dragons, for whom anarchic violence is “most of the lands of the Earth” in the in Gondolin’s fall. but a means to an end—the accumulation of Valar’s despite (Sil.47). In other words, • Lungorthin: A Balrog-lord of Angband wealth). while the Balrogs may well have acquired who appears in “The Lay of the Children A final consideration to factor in when their destructive disposition and charac- of Húrin” (HoMe 111.98, 102). His in- contemplating a Balrog in your game is the ter by their emulation of Melkor in the vented bio does not specify whether he magnitude of its power. Unless your PCs Ainulindalë, they may not have actually survived Angband’s fall (Valar.111). are Eldarin lords or beings of comparable entered Arda until “he gathered to him- power, it is unlikely they would be able to self spirits out of the halls of Eä that he • Múar: This invented Balrog (not derived had perverted to his service, and he from Tolkien’s writings) was stationed by survive proximity with a Balrog unless there were some extenuating circumstances deemed himself strong. And seeing now Morgoth in the eastern reaches of the his time he drew near again to Arda.... Iron Mountains. Having survived the fall involved. Morgoth’s Well provides a good example of this. The enchanted wards em- And he passed therefore over the Walls of Angband, Múar awoke from dormancy of the Night with his host, and came to around S.A. 1100 and proceeded to forge placed around its circumference serve to mute Durlach’s power, so that (provided Middle-earth far in the north (Sil.36).” a vast (though short-lived) territorial em- Both positions are defensible. The former pire in the East of Middle-earth. Eclipsed they do not walk foolishly into the heart of his lair) PCs can have a fighting chance to (that the Balrogs participated in the First by Sauron’s own nascent continental do- War) seems logical, given their fiery na- minion during the Dark Years, Múar is perceive the Balrog’s will and evade its in- fluence while still being subject to its threat. ture, but the latter (that they entered slain by vengeful Dwarves in S.A. 2741. Arda only after that war) has more ex- Balrogs do not present insurmountable • Durlach: Another invented Balrog, Dur- plicit textual support. obstacles to realistic, challenging role play- lach was trapped within the collapsing 5. These glosses are given on Sil.31, 318. ruin of Angband, but was roused in S.A. ing situations involving PCs of less than 512 by a Noldorin explorer of the North- superhero status; rather, it is the very dan- 6. Whether this was because Tolkien had ern Waste. The Balrog, however, re- gers that Balrog-level antagonists pose second thoughts about the change or sim- mained imprisoned in “Morgoth’s which drive a GM to greater creativity and ply did not have enough time to alter it Well” (a volcanic lake encompassing cunning plot twists. satisfactorily before his death is another Angband’s remnants), a peril to any who issue which cannot be discussed within the scope of this essay. ventured into his lair. ENDNOTES 7. In the Book of Lost Tales version of the 1. The actual conception of the One of the main considerations in using Fall of Gondolin, “ere that day never had “Malkarauki,” in fact, has even earlier one of these Balrogs in a role playing , any of the Balrogs been slain by the hand linguistic origins (QL: forthcoming). game, then, is temporal setting. Apart from of Elves or Men (HoMe 11.179).” While Lungorthin’s unknown fate, only Durlach 2. The same origin is implied by the desig- perhaps not much authority should be is available for use in T.A. 16-40. (Of nation of the Balrogs as Umaiar, which given to such an early reference that was course, a GM may simply invent other, appears in the Annals of Aman §30 not carried into the subsequent versions hitherto unknown, survivors.) Bear in (HoMe X.79). of the tale, the statement nevertheless mind, though, that the very continued exis- 3. This passage refers (apparently) back to does not conflict with the published Sil- the Discord of Melkor as that unfolded in marillion tradition. Michael Martinez has

10 Issue 22 July 1998 suggested that Balrogs underwent exten- occurs in the last version of “Ouenta Sil- sive revision in Tolkien’s conception dur- marillion.” Since GA doesn’t cover the ing the writing of The Lord of the Rings. early material in depth, Christopher had The original description of the Moria to merge the two texts together. He Balrog, given in “The Mines of Moria makes no mention of the change in word- (2): The Bridge,” underwent considerable ing with respect to the flying Balrogs, change. Balrogs themselves evolved from which leads me to believe he was not creatures manufactured by Melkor in the aware of it. Or else he felt the “winged 1930s to fallen Maiar in 1952 (two years speed” was unnecessary. Perhaps this is prior to publication of The Lord of the one of Guy Kay’s contributions. I can Rings). It therefore may not be justifiable only speculate about what happened to draw direct connections between the there.’ Naturally, if Michael’s supposition Balrogs of early stories with those of later is correct, the passage in question would stories. weigh rather heavily as evidence in favor 8. Michael Martinez expresses some reser- of Balrog flight. vation as to the value of descriptive de- 13. The superiority of Sauron’s might vis-à- tails taken from Lost Tales. On the other vis the Balrogs is implied in HoMe X.410. hand, there is nothing about this Balrog 14. The rulebook elaborates thus: “Balrogs description which contradicts what is “fly” over obstacles and don’t have to said in LotR; in both stories, the Balrogs touch the ground except in a restricted are greater than man-size. I am unaware space (MERP.180).” of any precise height calculations Tolkien 15. One of the Balrogs is described as hav- may have given for the Noldor apart ing been “a servant of Vána and compan- from that of Galadriel, “the tallest of all ion to Arien (Valar.113),” and another as the women of the Eldar of whom tales “a powerful cohort of Arien (Valar.lll).” tell,” whom he estimates to have stood 6’4” (UT.286). If we assume that Glorfin- 16. It is perhaps this chronological problem del stood rather higher—perhaps 7’— which led to the error in the rulebook that would render his Balrog adversary that the Balrogs originally “came from around 14’ (comparable in stature to an the Undying Lands, just as the Istari and Ent or Troll). Sauron had...(MERP.180).” Yet even if one interprets the Almaren tradition that 9. One such circumstance might have been Melkor “had secret friends and spies the Balrog’s casting of the counter-spell among the Maiar whom he had converted to Gandalf’s shutting-spell in the cham- to his cause (S.36)” as referring to the ber of Mazarbul. I am indebted to Mi- Balrogs — rather than identifying them chael Martinez for pointing this out to with the spirits Melkor summoned from me. the halls of Eä to destroy the Lamps 10. This Sindarin collective plural form ap- (ibid) —the fact remains that it was only pears in HoMe X.79, alongside the after the destruction of the Lamps that the Ouenya form “Úmaiar.” Valar removed themselves to the Undy- 11. The tradition that Balrogs move about ing Lands (i.e., the very same time we are by leaping or springing is attested already first told of the Balrogs in Utumno) in Lost Tales (HoMe 77.178, 194), and is (S.47). repeated in Gandalf’s recounting of his 17. The name “Felagrog” is invented. It is pursuit of the Balrog after their fall from said to be a Sindarin form meaning the bridge: “Out he sprang, and even as I “Demon of the Cave.” came behind, he burst into new flame....I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain- side where he smote it in his ruin (LotR II.105-106).” Recall also Tolkien’s de- scription of the Dagor Bragollach, where the rivers of fire ran faster than Balrogs (S.151). 12. In a personal communication, Michael Martinez wrote: ‘One of the reasons why I believe Christopher Tolkien is responsi- ble for dropping the “winged speed” ref- erence is that he says he took most of the text for The Silmarillion from “The Grey Annals.” The “winged speed” reference

11 Other Hands Dwarven Magic

Carl L. Brodt: PO Box 7104, San no resistance roll, but can only avoid the three Dwarven spell-casting professions — Francisco, CA 94120-7104 results of the curse by their actions. For each with a spell list from a type of evil ([email protected]) example, the curse “May those who have magic-user. These three professions are stolen my gold return it or suffer as I have that of the Tenders, the Delvers and the suffered at its loss” clearly leaves the pos- Alchemists. Although a Free People, the Dwarves of Middle- sessors of the gold with a way to avoid fu- Tenders are animist-like spell-casters earth have a distinctly dark and unpleasant side ture grief. If this condition is not met by the to their nature. Small and stunted in body as well who have devoted themselves to the nurtur- possessors, as Andróg said, “The curse of a ing of Dwarven life beneath the ground as spirit, they are “stone-hard,” grim and quick to Dwarf never dies...(UT: 106).” The sponta- resentment, dangerous if displeased, materialistic through the use of detection, protection and neous nature of a Dwarven curse means healing spells. This commitment has caused and possessive, unforgiving and unforgetttng, se- that it is, of necessity, brief; and cannot in- cretive and calculating, and usually insensitive few Tenders to travel outside of their un- volve multiple conditions or be a compound derground community, and when they do, and uncaring for any but their own (Sil 42, 103, sentence. The “natural” fulfillment of the 132; HoMe XII: 327; cf HoMe IV: 174; HoMe they are usually part of a larger Dwarven curse also precludes time references in the group such as any army. 1:236; Letters: 207; Hob: 204). Because the magic curse. of a race ultimately reflects its nature, this unique In battle, Tenders function as medics and side of Dwarven nature provides the basis for the work to retrieve the bodies of the dead unique characteristics of Dwarven spells and DWARVEN PROFESSIONS (especially royal dead) for burial. When spell-casters of Middle-earth. Beyond this seldom-used ability to lay a this is impossible and when the Tender has curse, few Dwarves show spell-casting sufficient power, he will try to petrify the corpse to prevent its desecration. Petrifica- THE DWARVEN CURSE abilities. Dwarves’ preoccupation with crafts and technology has diverted them tions of this sort are what gave rise to the The most noteworthy Dwarven spell is from developing those more natural abilities old Elven belief “that dying the Dwarves that of a curse uttered when a Dwarf suf- to manipulate the Secret Fire (Essence) in returned to the earth and the stone of fers the loss of that which he holds dearest all Creation, and their past conflicts with which they were made; yet that is not their at the hands of an unrepentant foe. Unlike Sauron and Elves have led them to view own belief (Sil: 42).” an Evil Cleric in RM (who channels an evil with suspicion anyone who does develop Delvers are rangers who function pri- deity’s power to lay curses), Dwarves have them. In cases where such magical abilities marily as underground explorers. They also a rarely used but innate ability to twist the exist, they derive their power from the often serve as auxiliaries to mining opera- Song of Fate to their ends one time in their Channeling realm and take the form of lives — an ability which stems from the Dwarven willingness to observe no natural limits in their efforts at settling a score. As Tolkien puts it, “there is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own (Hob: 193).” The Dwarven power to curse also differs from that of the Evil Cleric in a number of ways: (1) by having the flexibility to focus itself upon an item, such as a ring or a horde (rather than just toward people), (2) by being a spontaneous (rather than learned) utterance, (3) by having to be fulfilled in a strictly natural (versus para-natural) way, and (4) most importantly, by being strictly conditional in nature.

Anyone touched by a Dwarven curse gets TENDER

12 Issue 22 July 1998 tions and underground combat expeditions SPELL LIST COMPARISONS to help protect other Dwarves from subter- ranean hazards such as lack of oxygen, Below is a comparison of the spells of the Dwarven spell-casters and their MERP harmful gasses and flooding. Delvers have counterparts, and the description of three unique Dwarven spell lists. superior caving skills, even by Dwarven standards, and receive a special +25 bonus to the secondary skill of caving. NORMAL OPEN CHANNELING SPELLS DWARVEN OPEN CHANNELING SPELLS Alchemists are the closest thing in Dwar- ven society to a Mage, and differ from RM Detection Mastery Detection Mastery alchemists in numerous ways. Because of Surface Ways Surface Ways the abundance of Dwarven talent in the Sound/Light Ways Sound/Light Ways area of making things, Dwarven alchemists Calm Spirits Calm Spirits are able to focus more completely on the Nature’s Movement Physical Enhancements analysis and practice of converting matter (OE: MERP/RM) and embedding magic in crafted items than Protections Damage Resistance (OM: RM) their RM counterparts. This magic does not Spell Defense Spell Defense include the impressing of empathy or intel- Nature’s Lore Delving (OM: RM) ligence into items; for Dwarves see such magic as unnatural and inconsistent with the lessons learned by Aulë at their crea- ANIMIST LISTS TENDER LISTS tion. The magic does, however, include cer- tain rune-related abilities. Blood Ways Blood Ways Organ Ways Organ Ways One of these abilities is setting up spell trip-wires. The door which appeared in the Purifications Purifications rocky wall of Lonely Mountain in The Hob- Bone/Muscle Ways Bone/Muscle Ways bit is an example of such a work by a Dwar- Plant Mastery Living Earth (new: see below) ven alchemist (Hob: 201). Another is the Direct Channeling Direct Channeling power to inscribe and embed their runes in Animal Mastery Flesh Destruction (Sorcerer: RM) runestones made from organic rock like Creations Creations coral limestone, coal and chalk. These runestones must be cast upon the group to RANGER LISTS DELVER LISTS activate the spells, and have a relatively high chance of defacing, chipping and Path Mastery Divination (new: see below) breaking when cast. The exact chance de- Nature’s Ways Fluid Destruction (Sorcerer: RM) pends upon the rock in the runestone and the surface upon which it is thrown. Moving Ways Air Purification (new: see below) Nature’s Guises Nature’s Guises Finally, some Dwarven alchemists choose to develop the secondary skill of writing moon-letters. Elrond describes these moon- MAGE LISTS ALCHEMIST LISTS letters as “rune letters, but you cannot seem them, not when you look straight at them. Fire Law Warding Ways (Runemaster: RMII) They can only be seen when the moon Ice Law Essence Imbedding (Alchemist: RM) shines behind them, and what is more, with Light Law Mentalism/Channeling Imbedding the more cunning sort it must be a moon of (Alchemist: RM) the same shape and season as the day they Water Law Sigil/Runes Imbedding were written. The Dwarves invented them (Runemaster: RMII) and wrote them with silver pens...(Hob: Wind Law Symbol Ways (CC: RM) 62).” Earth Law Item Lore (Bard: MERP/RM) Living Change Living Change Lofty Bridge Matter Destruction (Evil Magician: RM)

13 Other Hands deep into organic material, 10. Commune With Earth (I) Duration: C even “organic” stone, like Range: S Caster receives from the earth a coral limestone, coal or chalk. “yes” or “no” to a question of a single At least part of the caster’s topic; usable lx/day. body must be within 1’ of the surface of the material. The spell requires the caster to be AIR PURIFICATIONS inactive but still aware of sur- 1. Breezes (F) Duration: C Range: 10’/lvl rounding activity. The caster R Causes a light cooling breeze as long as cannot move while merged, the caster concentrates. but may exit at any time. 2. Disburse Dust (F) Duration: P Range: 9. Earth/Stone (F) Dura- 100’ Disperses all dust in a 10’ radius/lvl. tion: P Range: 100’ Changes 3. Airwall (F) Duration: 6 rounds Range: 100 cu’ of packed earth to 100’ Creates a 10’ x 10’ x 3’ wall of dense stone; change is gradual and churning air, cuts all movement and at- takes 3 rounds. tacks through it by 50%. 10. Earthwall True (E) As 4. Airstop I (F) Duration: C Range: 100’ Earthwall, except duration is Cuts all generalized air movement (i.e., permanent. wind) by 30 MPH in a 10’ radius (will not affect breathing). DIVINATION 5. Gas to Air (F) Duration: P Range: 100’ 1. Detect Harmful Gas (P) Changes any gas to oxygen at a rate of 1 Duration: 1 min/lvl © cu’/rnd as long as the caster concentrates. ALCHEMIST Range: 50’ Detects any harm- 6. Airstop II (F) Duration: C Range: 100’ ful gas; caster can concentrate on any 5’ As Airstop I, but in a 20’ radius. NEW SPELL LISTS radius each rnd, even if s/he cannot see it. 7. Oxygenation I (F) Duration: P Range: 2. Detect Water (P) Duration: 1 min/ lvl 100’ Adds oxygen to air in a 10’ radius at LIVING EARTH © Range: 50’ Detects water; caster can a rate of 1% of original air/rnd. concentrate on any 5’ radius each rnd, 1. Earth Lore (P) Duration: — Range: S 8. Settle Dust (F) Duration: P Range: even if s/he cannot see it. Caster knows the name and nature of the 100’ Settles all dust in a 10’ radius/lvl. 3. Detect Flaws/Cracks (P) Duration: 1 minerals and other items composing a 9. Airstop III (F) Duration: C Range: min/lvl © Range: 50’ Detects cracks or piece or earth. 100’ As Airstop I, but in a 100’ radius. flaws in stones or an earthen structure; 2. Harden Earth (F) Duration: P Range: caster can concentrate on a single small 10. Oxygenation II (F) Duration: C 100’ Hardens 100 cu’ of soft ground to stone or up to any 5’ radius each rnd. Range: 100’ As Oxygenation I, but in a packed earth. 20’ radius at a rate of 1% of original air/ 4. Stone Analysis (I) Duration: — Range: 3. Stone Speech (I) Duration: 1 min/ lvl rnd. 10’ Caster learns the nature and history Range: S Caster can communicate with of any one stone. any one stone if it possess any animate qualities (e.g., a holy stone which pos- 5. Metal Analysis (I) Duration: — Range: sesses some sort of intelligence, etc). 10’ Gives nature and origin of metal, and when and how metal was obtained and 4. Earthwall (E) Duration: 1 min/lvl worked. Range 100’ Summons a wall of packed earth up to 10’ x 10’ x 3’ at base, 1’ at top; 6. Gas Analysis (I) Duration: — Range: must rest on solid surface. 10’ Gives nature and origin of gas in air. 5. Heal Earth/Stone (F) Duration: — 7. Earth Sense (I) Duration: — Range: Range: 100’ Any previous cracks or 50’ Caster acquires visual image of any flows in material up to 10’ x 10’ x 10’ sec- entity transversing area or any unusual tion seal completely. occurrence in area within a period equal to 1 hr/lvl. 6. Mineral Location (P) Duration: 1 min/ lvl © Range: 50’ Detects any mineral; 8. Liquid Analysis (I) Duration: — caster can concentrate on a 5’ area each Range: 10’ Gives nature and origin of rnd, even if s/he cannot see it. liquid. 7. Stonewall (E) As Earthwall, except wall 9. Detect Minerals (P) Duration: 1 min/ is up to 10’ x 10’ x 1’ of stone. lvl © Range: 50’ Detects any mineral; caster can concentrate on a 5’ area each 8. Merge Organic (F) Duration: 1 min/lvl rnd, even if s/he cannot see it. Range: S Allows caster to merge up to 1’ DELVER

14 Issue 22 July 1998 An Interview with Chris Tubb

Chris Seeman: PO Box 1213, Novato, CA one of my personal favorites.) 94948, USA ([email protected])

Chris S: I understand that Mithril has just While it could be said that fantasy role playing is Chris T: The question of what falls precisely reached its 10th anniversary. How did the first and foremostly a matter of words —of creating an within the ambit of the Tolkien license is some- range get started? imaginary universe by people talking to one another— what ill-defined in some areas. Although, strictly let us not forget that FRP was born the step-child of speaking, the license covers The Hobbit and miniature-based wargaming, a medium in which visi- LotR, it can be argued that the latter work con- ble, material representations of characters are an essen- Chris T: Mithril started in a sense quite by acci- tains some of The Silmarillion’s contents, both in tial element. The use of lead figures as “props” for FRP dent, from an erroneous remark overheard at textual references and in the various appendices. continues to this very day, and MERP is no exception. GenCon in the summer of ‘87. Lars Edman (the Also, one can argue that the use of some of the Beginning in 1987, the Irish-based Prince August Ltd. owner of Prince August) and myself heard a background material is essential to the interpre- launched “Mithril,” a range of miniatures based on whisper at the end of the show that ICE was tation of many aspects of LotR. This is the quite Tolkien’s works, and designed especially with a view to planning to produce a game based on the Mad legitimate justification for ICE’s use of First Age ICE’s MERP series. Chris Tubb, one of the prime Max films. We thought this might be a good material in items like the Lords of Middle-earth movers of this endeavor, has graciously granted us a few opportunity to obtain a high profile figure li- series. Hence, the two Mithril series based on moments of his time. cense. Because it was the end of GenCon we the Turin story. I have made some lists of other decided to drive down to Charlottesville, where First Age ranges which may be produced, but ICE were based, to discuss this with them. there are no definite plans in this regard as yet. However, when we got there, we discovered Chris S: What is your involvement in the that they had had problems with the license and Mithril range? When did you first become that the whole project had been abandoned some weeks before. But having gone all that Chris S: Excepting the Mithril Classics series, interested in Middle-earth related miniatures? individual releases in the Mithril range have a What sort of background did you have in way, we spent a couple of days with the folks there and discussed (inevitably) amongst other limited circulation before they go OP. Just miniatures when you began work on the se- curious: about how many units get produced ries? things their Middle-earth projects, which were at the time going very well for them. I discov- for each release? On the average, how long do ered a remarkable similarity between my own they remain in stock? Chris T: I have designed all the Mithril range, views of Middle-earth and those of Pete Fenlon written most of the promotional material, de- (then the CEO), and was delighted when he asked us if we might be interested in making a Chris T: It’s difficult to be precise about this. signed the packaging and sculpted all the minia- The original idea was that the price list should tures except the tables and chairs for the Pranc- range of Middle-earth miniatures for use with the game modules. Apparently, Grenadier Mod- always contain the same number of items so that ing Pony. So that’s pretty much everything when a new series was added to the end of the really, except spinning the figures. I have been els, the most recent possessor of the license, had decidec not to expand its range any further. This list, the one at the top would be removed. So in designing miniatures since the late ‘70s, produc- the old days, when Mithril appeared every two ing mostly historical figures. I had done a lot of prospect seemed to have a great deal of poten- tial, and we secured the Middle-eartl license months, the lifetime of each release was theoreti- work for Prince August Ltd., the parent com- cally one year and eight months, given a list pany of Mithril, including, in the early to mid shortly thereafter. So really by accident and an incorrect rumor Mithril was born. length of a hundred. I say theoretically, because ‘80s, a fantasy range of character figures and other factors always came in and disturbed generic types called Fantasy Armies which were things. For instance, an individual figure with an for use with AD&D. In the latter part of the ‘80s unacceptably high reject rate, and one for which I did a couple of licensed ranges for some Chris S: In the descriptions of the range that I the spin-mold would have to be constantly re- French fantasy games, both of which have long have read, I notice that you say Mithril is placed (like M16) would be withdrawn early. since disappeared without a trace. The first was based upon LotR and The Hobbit. I take it this Also, it was always too tempting for Mithril to a post-apocalypse survivors game called Bitume, reflects the boundaries of Tolkien Enterprises’ retain a series which contained good-selling fig- the second, Légendes Celtiques, a fantasy game license to JRRT's legacy. I also noticed that at ures longer than it should, and instead cut an- based on mythological characters and events. least two series of the range relate to the Túrin other series out of sequence. This, I think, was a For what it’s worth, the one game I would have cycle from The Silmarillion. How did you mistake in the long term, as a definite and cer- loved to produce a figure range for at that time manage that? Do you plan on covering any tain lifetime for each miniature would have en- was GDW’s Traveller 2300. other First Age themes in the future? (Túrin’s 15 Other Hands sured the sell-through of the figures a lot faster. did not prove to be anything as large in number always been human-oriented, with the non- As for the number of produced units, this also as the latter, the collectors. Our core collectors, human races representing a fairly small propor- depends on various factors. When the series whose number has remained remarkably stable tion of the range. Again, this has been a con- appeared six times a year, with regular adver- during all of Mithril’s fluctuations in the last scious policy designed to reflect the points made tisement backup etc., Mithril was producing years, have always been and still remain our above. between 1,000 and 1,500 units of each figure as most important customers. This is the reason an initial release. Now, of course, with only one why our emphasis gradually moved from the Mithril release last year, the numbers have de- game-related releases to one more concentrated Chris S: Has your vision for the range evolved clined quite considerably. Bear in mind also that directly on LotR and its characters, and then over time? What are the prospects for the fu- the above numbers are an average. A Gandalf onto vignettes and other collectable items. ture? figure would, of course, always quadruple the sales of a Dunlending chieftain. Chris S: Mithril is not the first miniature Chris T: My vision of what Middle-earth should range to devoted itself (exclusively or in part) look like has remained more or less the same Chris S: About how many new releases come to Tolkien’s mythology. What, to your mind, since Mithril’s inception. As explained above, out each year? has Mithril contributed to this legacy? What the items in the range have made a move from most distinguishes it (artistically, thematically, gaming to collector’s items in the last few years, etc.) from other major ranges on the market and this trend will continue. As for future pros- Chris T: A decreasing number in the last couple today? pects—well, I think I can end on a positive note of years and, as I said above, only one in the last in this regard, in that Mithril has commissioned twelve months. Prince August, the parent com- me to create an entirely new line of detailed pany of Mithril, has had other agendas recently Chris T: Several companies have produced lines 54mm scale characters from TheHobbit and LotR, and Mithril has not received much priority. based on LotR (both with and without a license) the first six ot which are standing on my desk as since the release of the animated film back in the I write this. I hope their release at the end of this mid ‘70s. One of the reasons that I was keen to year will give Mithril a new spin and form the Chris S: In your perception, has the audience obtain this license, even though such high-profile basis of a completely new collectable range of for Mithril increased or decreased over the companies as Games Workshop and Grenadier Middle-earth characters. As for the 32mm fig- ures, I feel there is still much scope for new years? What do you think are some of the Models had already produced licensed ranges products and hope to finalize some new releases causes for this change (or continuity) in the from this material, was that none, I felt, had within the next few months. range’s popularity? I noticed that some of really done justice to the enormous scope of your series in the past have been explicitly Tolkien’s epic. A work as complex and layered in both its own internal histories, and its huge related to ICE’s MERP line (e. g., Thieves of diversity of cultures and races, deserved a huge Tharbad, Far Harad, The Ghost Warriors), Chris S: Thank you very much for your time. figure range to do it any justice. In my opinion, etc.). What factors brought about this coordi- one of the keys to Tolkien’s success in weaving nation? Why has it not continued in more re- such an atmosphere of believable magic and cent years? enchantment, is the internal realism of LotR and the very understated nature of all the fantasy. It is precisely because Elves and wizards are so Chris T: The Mithril audience has decreased uncommon, and because they appear against a over the years. This is due to various factors, not quasi-realistic background of descriptive coun- least of which is the relative decline of the role tryside and the feudings of Dark Age societies, playing games and the recent ascendancy of that this underplayed enchantment becomes so gaming cards. It became clear to us early on in believable and seductive. I hope that in some the lifetime of Mithril that there were two dis- measure I have been able to reflect this balance tinct audiences for the range, the gamer and the in the Mithril range itself. I have constantly re- Tolkien collector. The former, whom we had sisted not inconsiderable pressures to make the initially considered as our prime customer, line more fantastic, with more grotesque mon- hence the initial tie-ins with the MERP modules, sters and exaggerated heroes. The range has

16 Issue 22 July 1998 The TA 1640 Campaign Facts and Problems

Jason Vester: 4250 S. Arville #280, heralds of our new 1640 campaign. NOTES ON THE RED BOOK Las Vegas, NV 89103-3726, USA The same effects of adversity on the fab- It is the Red Book of Westmarch that tells us ([email protected]) ric of society have been noticed by others. all we know for certain about events in the James Westfall Thompson compared the Third Age. Although a manuscript in re- Traditionally, MERP has always been set in aftermath of the Black Death and World markably good condition, it was impossible the year 1640 of the Third Age. Avoiding the diffi- War I, and found “economic chaos, social for such a work to survive for so long with- culties of playing during the War of the Ring, and unrest, high prices, profiteering, depraved out sustaining some damage. Perhaps the forbidden by contract from dealing with Second or morals, lack of production, industrial indo- most glaring loss to the book -was a single First Age topics, the original MERP authors un- lence, frenetic gaiety, wild expenditure, lux- folio consisting of four pages of what is now fortunately chose a time period no less problem- ury, debauchery, social and religious hyste- known as “Appendix A.” These four pages atic. The 17th century has no conflict, wars or ria, greed, avarice, maladministration, de- detail the events of the post-Plague years quests, and indeed is most notable for one event: cay of manners.” Knowing as we do of and the reign of King Tarondor in some the Great Plague, a decidedly unheroic challenge. Tolkien’s struggles with the Great War and detail, and would have been forever lost to It has been said that “nothing is going on in 1640, his altered perceptions of England after his us had not a version of the pages, no doubt except for people dying.” return from it, such themes may strike further corrupted by copyists, surfaced MERP players as particularly poignant. only recently. This article is, therefore, an attempt to solve the biggest problem of the Third Age: a lack of con- There are other reasons to look to Euro- The break occurs in Appendix A, section flict. Some MERP products, notably the Arnor pean history as a model for Middle-earth. iv, “Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion.” Af- th books, are amply stocked with adventure potential In the 19 century of the Third Age, Arnor ter describing the Great Plague as the and need no further aid. For that reason, this arti- made a claim to the crown of Gondor based “second and greatest evil” to strike the cle will primarily focus on Gondor and its imme- on a line of inheritance through the female; South-kingdom, it is related that the king diate neighbors. a situation very similar to the Sallic Law and all his children died, the watch on Mor- I must acknowledge that, in my effort to drum controversy that became the pretext for dor failed, Sauron began to arise in the up battle and civil strife during this period, I am Norman England’s invasion of France (and Greenwood, and the White Tree of Minas taking Middle-earth in directions its original which Shakespeare dramatized in Henry V). Anor perished. Tarondor, nephew to the chronicler never intended. However, it is my goal Indeed, the cultural similarities between king, took the throne, removed the royal to avoid any blatant contradiction with the canon, Arnor and Gondor, coupled with the paral- household to Minas Anor due to the gen- and instead work story potential into the grey lel geography (substitute the English Chan- eral abandonment of Osgiliath in the wake areas of Appendix A. I have felt free to ignore or nel for the wilderness of the Enedhwaith of the Plague, and replanted a seedling of retain anything published by ICE on this time and the relation becomes clearer) makes an the Tree. The manuscript continues thus: period, as it suited my purpose. Arnor = England, Gondor = France rela- “Few of those who had fled from the Plague tionship very workable. The model must into Ithilien or to the western dales were

not be pushed too far, but it serves as a willing to return. Tarondor, coming young BARBARA TUCHMAN’S DISTANT splendid jumping-off point. Along these to the throne, had the longest reign of all MIRROR same lines, Umbar, the Holy Grail of Gon- the Kings of Gondor, but he could achieve The starting point for any analysis of the dor’s foreign policy, is analogous to the little more than the reordering of his realm TA 1640 campaign must begin with the Crusader States. Although raids or inva- within, and the slow nursing of its Plague, and it is here that the seeds of our sions sometimes conquered it and trans- strength.” Here, the text breaks off and the search for conflict may be found. Our own formed the haven into a colony in a distant, fragment begins. (Scholars will forgive this world also suffered a terrible plague in hostile land, the new state never lasted long author’s translation, which is drastically which, as the Medieval chronicler Jean and Gondor was inevitably left gazing at inferior to the work of the Red Book’s Froissart tells us, “one third of the world Umbar with longing eyes from across the original translator, Professor Tolkien.) died.” In the wake of the Black Plague, sea. The free city of Tharbad can even Europe was reduced to a pathetic mess, a serve the role of Italian city state, promot- No one had expected Tarondor to ever place trod over by, as Barbara Tuchman ing conflict and reaping the profits. wear the crown of Gondor, and he was relates in her well-known history A Distant With these analogies as a base, and work- unready for kingship. His reign was Mirror, “the four horsemen of St. John’s ing with Tolkien’s own “lost manuscript” vision, which had now become seven— marked by great troubles; it was not un- format, it is therefore possible to create a til his own life was threatened by them plague, war, taxes, brigandage, bad govern- much more lively 17th Century. ment, insurrection and schism in the church.” These seven horsemen become the

17 Other Hands that he began to grow into the monarch themselves for power. Those few heirs compact fell apart. He fought three that the land so sorely needed. The of Vidugavia who survived lived on in pointless battles on the road to Umbar Plague left a great many homeless, and Minas Anor, and they pressed Tarondor before, his army shattered and the fleet those that survived were driven to des- for aid and a return to rulership, promis- sorely pressed, he abandoned the project peration and madness. Many said the ing him a Northman bride and the in- and fled. It was during this time that Valar had forsaken Middle-earth at last. heritance of lands given to them by Tarondor at last saw the folly to which Laws and ancient customs kept since the Tarondor’s royal ancestor Romendacil. his line had come, and when he returned arrival of the Faithful were abandoned, By this argument, and by the prospect of to Minas Anor he aspired to be a king at and the people were possessed of a fre- many Northmen rising in arms should he last. netic gaiety even in the midst of death. refuse, the king was swayed. He sent There were few good men left in Gon- Violent men arose to lead the mobs, and silver north, and gold, then weapons and dor by this time, but Tarondor drew many innocents suffered under their finally armed men. In time, he found them to him. He stripped his petty coun- thoughtless rule. The unnumbered refu- that he had sent an entire army. selors of rank and title, casting them out gees strained the kingdom’s rulers, who Now the king was in his 27th year, and of his domain. Although it grieved him, found little support in a king who was he wished to show proof of his manhood he hired the diverse companies of ruth- not yet a man. and of the noble blood in his veins. So it less bandits that preyed on the people of Royal pleasures were more important was that he called up an army of many his domain, and sent them into Ithilien to Tarondor than governing his realm, diverse soldiers, took his place at its and into the western vales, keeping what and others followed his example. Evil head, and journeyed to Rhovanion to put was left of his army to defend the bor- and corrupt counselors, eager to steal an heir of Vidugavia at the head of the ders. Only after many towns were from the royal treasury, surrounded him. horse-clans. But many of the greatest burned, innocent people killed and left The lords of Gondor’s provinces chose lords stayed behind, and those that went homeless, did the proud lords of Anfalas to be masters of their own domains, ig- were careless and underestimated the and Ithilien come to Minas Anor and noring royal commands. Unwilling to strength of the Northman cavalry, so that bow before the king in homage. reduce the glory of his realm, Tarondor Tarondor’s army was shattered, the heir The rest of Tarondor’s reign was spent met every new trouble by raising taxes, slain, and the king captured. in this way: bringing to heel the unre- though little of the money ever went to The road to Minas Anor was open, but pentant lords and rebuilding the army the purpose he intended. The lords of the horse-lords wanted no part of that from disaster. In later days the mobs dis- Ithilien and Anfalas were most contemp- realm, and kept Tarondor prisoner persed and the riots ceased, as the people tuous of the king. The prince in Minas against further invasion. The king came to see that their king had not for- Ithil garbed the royal army in the livery proved blind to the lessons of his defeat. saken them, and neither had Ilúvatar. of his own house, and ignored com- He found pleasure in his northern halls, mands to continue the watch on Mordor. and dismissed the governance of his own FURTHER INFORMATION Soldiers, unemployed, joined with ban- realm and the cries of his people. In dits and other cruel men. They wandered The Red Book cannot provide all the de- time, unable to bear the cost of their th the land, looting when they could not royal guest and anxious to be rid of him, tails that players in this new 17 century find pay for their swords. In time, the the horse-lords negotiated a ransom that require. Additional plot seeds and informa- lords of Gondor were forced to hire was never fully paid and let him go. tion follow, focusing on each of seven social them, and send them away where they evils so common in the post-Plague years. For a time, Tarondor was content, but would do harm only to the enemy. his need to triumph in battle had not It was in this time that bandits from been sated. He eyed an even grander PLAGUE across the Enedhwaith seized a caravan conquest: the monuments of Umbar. Much has already been said on the bound for Tharbad, and with it all the Prompted by foolish and greedy coun- Plague in ICE’s published works. It was a pay for the royal garrison there. Other selors, and a dream that he claimed he physical malady, but the damage it left was bands, inspired by the success, imitated alone could interpret, the king vowed to also psychological. Many of its victims were them. The garrisons of Orthanc and Har- retake the haven from the Corsairs. For convinced that the Valar had left them, and nost were drawn into battle, and the three years the invasion was planned, life was without meaning. In adversity, the royal army at Tharbad very nearly disap- while ships were built and the army common man became more ruthless, des- peared altogether. Although the com- massed. The fleet set sail late in the year, perate and immoral. The Plague also crip- mander of the tower pleaded with the and arrived at a shelter ruled by a Cor- pled the royal house, seemed to strike hard- king and his ministers for aid, those few sair well-bribed and friendly to the king. est in Gondor’s most crucial centers, and messages that reached Tarondor’s ears There, Tarondor learned that the politics left the army prostrate. It was the direct were met only with disdain. The king of Umbar were many-sided and that its cause of everything that followed. had his eyes on far more fertile fields captains quarreled with each other, al- than the wight-plagued wilderness. ways just short of open war. For a year WAR The line of Vidugavia, stalwart North- his army did nothing while the king man allies and supporters of Anarion’s struggled with the captains of Umbar, In TA 1643, the princes of Cardolan de- line, had collapsed in the Plague, and trying to forge an alliance that would see feated the Warlord in their midst. But no now the horse-tribes fought amongst him all the way to the havens. In time he sooner had this been accomplished when felt he mastered them, but his fragile Fiorel, the guiding hand to King Lanaigh of Saralainn, died of the Plague. Forced to

18 Issue 22 July 1998 confront a new rebellion in his capital city, tion if they lost Tharbad. Meanwhile, the older, wiser Tarondor to rebuild. Lanaigh grieved privately and quickly. garrison of that city stepped to the edge of Able to keep his fragile military alliance mutiny when they were unable to collect SCHISM together with loot from the Warlord’s lair, pay, and those few who would fight on and aided by a loan from Finduilas of Dol credit had their hands full resisting the sud- The rise of the “Pseudo-Túrin” known as Caladir, the Daen potentate hired the Rag- den push from Arthedain and Umbar to Olby is a good example of the sort of messi- gers, using them to re-take Sudúri from the force Gondor out of the city altogether. The anic fanaticism that overtook many Gon- peasant forces of the “Pseudo-Túrin” entire situation was balanced on a razor’s dorians in the Plague’s aftermath. “The known as Olby. edge, made worse by the increasing in- Forsaken,” one of the larger such move- ments, is another example. During the mid Lanaigh and Finduilas had a curious rela- volvement of Cardolanian mercenary units, 1640s, mobs in Osgiliath were driven into a tionship that strengthened over the next and no one was able to predict the outcome frenzy by a tall, lanky Dúnadan calling several years. Both felt intense pressure until the very end. himself “Mule.” Citing the death of the Tree from Plague refugees and the wights that The second conflict to strike the South- as his ultimate proof, Mule insisted that haunted their lands. What happened next kingdom during this time was the Rhovan- Ilúvatar and the Valar had completely was probably Lanaigh’s idea, but the en- ion War. Northman families, given land by abandoned the Faithful due to their pride chantress certainly supported it, for it Eldacar in Gondor and now holding posi- and indulgence. They were in need of hu- seemed to serve her aspirations well. Sail- tions of great wealth and influence, pressed mility, and to abase himself Mule had given ing up the Greyflood in Caladirian vessels, Tarondor to use the army to put an heir of up his own name for that of a beast of bur- Lanaigh led his own clan alongside Findui- Vidugavia back on the throne. In return, a den. He insisted Gondorian society was las’ Marcaich Chruaidh mercenaries across daughter of the line would marry the king, without meaning or moral value, and en- the river at Tharbad. The raid was origi- and he would personally inherit the better couraged his followers to take matters into nally meant simply as a “fishing expedition” part of the Northman lands (essentially re- their own hands. His message fell on recep- along the Old South Road, but it succeeded versing the endowments Eldacar had given; tive ears, and within a few months his beyond expectations, resulting in the occu- this was the price that the Northmen were movement had spread to nearby towns and pation of Larach Duhnnan and the capture willing to pay, assuming that they would cities on both sides of the river. Mule led of a Gondorian shipment of silver bars (or have plenty of land to divide amongst them the mobs in riots that toppled any symbol of “pigs,” as they were commonly called by once the royal army was done in the north). pride and accomplishment, starting with soldiers) intended as salary for the royal Tarondor’s involvement in Rhovanion was rich buildings and proceeding to bridges, army in Tharbad. The result was the so- a sort of “Gondorian Vietnam;” he began by monuments, and even minor fortifications. called “War of the Pigs.” sending money, then veteran officers meant In the process, neighborhoods and entire to rally, train and equip supporters among Lanaigh handled the military side of the towns were looted, innocents were raped or the horse-lords, but when this failed for prolonged raid-cum-invasion, anxious to be murdered, and estates were burned. The obvious reasons it became necessary to away from the political entanglements of people were possessed of a desperate mad- send military force or lose all that had been ruling his homeland and looking for an- ness, an utter disregard for social mores. invested. Tarondor himself led the invasion, other treasure as profitable as the first. Fin- Local magistrates tried to capture Mule, with disastrous results. Needless to say, he duilas joined him on a few occasions, refin- but he avoided them for over half a year, never collected on that bridal promise. ing her manipulative skills by building an until finally he disappeared as quickly as he alliance of the local tribes of Dunfearan and During the years that he spent in prison, had come, and the Forsaken movement col- cowing them with her magic. Her third visit Gondor was ruled by a constantly- shifting lapsed. Some whispered that he practiced turned out to be her last, however, when mass of ministers, famous soldiers, well- dark sorcery, but the truth is that no one Gondorian troop movements forced the spoken seers and greedy aristocrats. A few ever got close enough to him to be sure. Saralainn warriors to withdraw from their sought to stabilize the realm and preserve it base at Larach Duhnnan. But the ground- for Tarondor’s return; the vast majority just work for the migration into the Enedhwaith wanted to milk the royal treasury for as BAD GOVERNMENT had been well-laid, and Lanaigh’s men much as they could while the good times Traditionally, heirs to a Dúnadan king- found temporary refuge with allies among lasted. ship served for many years as administra- the clans. A protracted series of skirmishes Finally, Tarondor made his bid for Um- tors under their fathers or even grandfa- and sieges began, in which Lanaigh led raid bar, the eternal goal of every Gondorian thers before taking the throne themselves. after marginally-profitable raid on the Gon- monarch. Very little is known of the spe- In the wake of the Plague, this system col- dorian road, with the poorly-organized and cific details of this invasion, save that the lapsed. Not only had Tarondor not been undermanned Gondorian forces in the king’s resources were squandered and, de- trained as a king, his branch of the family Enedhwaith trying to keep travel open and spite the efforts of a few well-meaning and had never seriously considered the possibil- pin down an enemy that moved without experienced soldiers, great effort was ex- ity. When he came to the throne, the heir roads or even discernible lines of supply. pended for very little gain. In the end, was too young, whimsical, easily influenced Gondorian interests in Tharbad demanded Tarondor had to be satisfied with a treaty by others, but also amazingly stubborn. His action, but the king blamed the garrison at that allowed Gondorian merchants and pil- first goal upon assuming the crown was to Orthanc for the disruption, refused to send grims to visit the haven in relative safety. A consolidate power in his office, but the aid from Minas Anor, and threatened the series of battles whittled the army to a frac- lesser lords rebelled and Tarondor proved commanders of the local troops with execu- tion of its might. Fortunately, the core ele- too inexperienced in the command of an ments survived, and it was possible for an army to stop them. As he grew he became 19 Other Hands only more convinced of his own privileged no new taxes would be initiated. one of those who is still honorable and loyal status; he waged war after pointless war, to the monarchy (if not the throne’s current taxed the people into oblivion, and watched occupant). In this way, they will be able to INSURRECTION his realm fracture into its component parts. preserve relative calm, and make their Beset by waves of refugees, and with Sadly, Tarondor was not alone. Nearly home a haven from the many hazards of their pleas for aid from the Crown falling every lord, with only a handful of notewor- war, banditry and mob rule. As the cam- on deaf ears, leaders in Ithilien, Anfalas, thy exceptions, followed his lead and were paign matures, the heroes may be drawn and other lands along the White Mountains exceeded in graft only by their disregard into royal politics, participate in the took more and more of the government into for the people whom they served. The proc- Rhovanion War and help guide the realm their own hands. By the 1650s, these prov- ess fed on itself; princes competed to back- during Tarondor’s imprisonment. inces were essentially independent, hiring stab and double-deal. Naturally, it was the Alternately, the GM can focus on the sovereign militaries and paying them out of common people who suffered the most. “Sauronic conspiracy,” turning the South- harsh taxes (which were no harsher, it must kingdom’s woes into a plot of Sauron or the be said, than those elsewhere in the king- Nazgûl. In this instance, Tarondor’s dream BRIGANDAGE dom). Ithilien, in particular, was eager to of conquest in Umbar is sent by a manipu- abandon the pointless watch on Mordor, When the watch on Mordor ended, and lating sorcerer, the Saralainn raid finds the which consumed so much time and effort. the army was reduced to save expenses, pigs due to a carefully placed spy for thousands of soldiers were suddenly unem- It took decades for Tarondor to bring Sauron, Mule is leader of a Sauronic cult, ployed. These men were joined by the des- these rebellious provinces back under full etc. This sort of campaign also lends itself perate and homeless whose families had royal control. Such a victory was only to another quest: finding the source of the died in the Plague, and also by bandits who achieved after years of diplomacy, massive Plague, described in Appendix A as “an ill found that lords would rather spend money bribes of land and gold, and even armed wind.” In what foul pit was this wind born? on the luxuries of court than on securing military raids. These raids were aimed at Is it of Sauron’s making, or his master’s? A the roads. Following the lead of Cardolan, taking critical castles along travel routes, company of brave and clever adventurers mercenary companies formed, typically led interrupting the flow of cash into rebellious might be able to answer these questions, by a single charismatic (and absolutely treasuries, and sometimes threatening the and bring back a cure. ruthless) individual. To feed and clothe rulers themselves. They were led by clever Eventually, the players may prove to be themselves, the companies looted whatever professional fighters loyal to the king (by the only people loyal to the king, and take village they came across, and by wintering this time, Tarondor had managed to build a on roles as mentors, guardians and confi- in a town they effectively destroyed it by corps of loyal commanders; although he dantes to him. By the time that Tarondor the thaw. matured as a ruler, he was never an impres- returns from Umbar, they may find posi- sive fighting man) and were made up of a Although little more than glorified crimi- tions as Peers of the Realm, and help him combination of the King’s Corps and the nals, the mercenaries had to be dealt with, reconstruct the realm through diplomacy, mercenary bands which ravaged the South- and in time even Tarondor hired them. It bribes and armed might. was he who eventually perfected the best kingdom. It was Tarondor’s hope, and the strategy for dealing with the companies: hope of his close companions, that the mer- hire them and send them to make war on cenary bands would be broken up in the CONCLUSION your enemies, as far away as possible. No fighting and, if they did survive, would at It is no simple task to convert a literary matter the cost, it was cheaper than letting least prey on the rebels. The policy worked, locale to a game setting, and a place as big them stay at home. after a fashion. Some suggest that the inde- as Middle-earth is all the more challenging. pendent-minded provinces returned to the When doing so, it is inevitable that the set- fold just so that the king would end the ting will be “stretched,” as will the words of TAXES looting of these brigands. the author, but so long as nothing in the Tarondor’s answer to most problems was canon is directly contradicted, I consider to spend money, and that meant more CAMPAIGNING the effort to be an honorable one. The re- taxes. But tax levies to increase the size of sult is a more confusing place, one where The TA 1640 campaign described above the army, to make up for the interruption in heroes and villains are perhaps not so differs in many respects from traditional moneys from independently-minded prov- clearly-drawn as MERP players are used Tolkien stories. It focuses less on Sauron inces like Ithilien, to rebuild and pay com- to. Players and GMs run the risk of losing and the actions of malevolent supernatural pensation to victims of the Forsaken, to pay focus, just as the people of our own world foes than on the greed and desperation in mercenaries, deal with Plague and war did in the 14th century when the Black every human heart. There is a lack of epic refugees, and eventually even to pay the Plague destroyed their society. But in a set- sweep. This is intentional. By turning from king’s ransom, far exceeded the people’s ting such as this, heroes become all the a single great story to a number of impor- means. The rage and frustration felt more necessary. Good luck. throughout Gondor at these crippling taxes tant, but lesser, struggles, the GM provides contributed to the “general madness.” more for players to do. However, players Many towns revolted, driving out or killing must also be careful not to lose sight of ba- the king’s men, and one of the best ways to sic heroism in a setting as dysfunctional as secure the loyally of a town was to relieve it this. of taxes for a year, or just to promise that The obvious tactic is for the GM to place the players around a single powerful lord, 20 Issue 22 July 1998 Rastarin’s Log

Bridget Buxton: 40 Central Terrace, While her crew are being Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand unbound and tended to, Rastarin gazes out to her dark and mournful ship and CHAPTER FOUR: sighs. “Someone must go TCBS GOES SOUTH aboard TCBS to discover Departing the Vale of Morthond, Ras- whether Hardon has left any tarin, Lytta, Clennan, Daeron, Rassimus lethal traps for us. It’s a and Telcontar begin the long journey back dangerous job, but some- to Rastarin’s ship, The Calm Before the body’s got to do it — some- Storm (TCBS), eager to bring the deadly body who knows TCBS bet- secret of naurnen to the beleaguered cities of ter than anyone else. And as Dol Amroth and Pelargir. For Rastarin, captain of the ship, the task too, there is an even more pressing obliga- falls to me.. .to entrust to my tion: the planned assignation with her arch- first mate. Clennan?” nemesis, Captain Hardon of the Black Ser- The ship is clean (luckily pent. Haste turns to urgency, however, for Clennan) and the jour- when chance discovery at an old campsite ney home is a time for re- reveals the body of a messenger earlier sent flection over the tumultuous to inform TCBS of Rastarin’s plans. Upon events of the last few weeks. arriving at Dol Amroth their worst fears Rastarin decides to post- are confirmed. No message from Morthond pone delivering the has reached Prince Celdrahil, but Tarassis Elendilmir to King Taron- and his men passed through there only a dor in favour of seeking in- few days ago, and Hardon’s ship was later formation about her uncle observed leaving the Corsair fleet accompa- Neithan and the Gwaedhel- nied by five smaller vessels. At dusk on sword, a quest that leads Cerveth 29th they finally reach the cove TCBS back via Tolfalas to where TCBS lies hidden, but the ship is the Balimur Swamps. In the dark and silent. Captain Hardon has pre- course of these adventures ceded them! Cursing her imprudent mes- they learn that Neithan’s sage, Rastarin rushes down to find her crew last known destination was Fuinur’s Well in Lytta asks. pinned spread-eagled on the sand, where the great desert south of Umbar, where he “Herod’s not a city, he’s a man. A Black the Corsairs have left them to perish from disappeared shortly after the Kin-strife. In Númenórean sorcerer, and just the sort heat and thirst. Four are already dead, the Balimur they obtain one of three parts who would know where to look for the among them the helmsman Caldir, with a of a small ornate device known as the Kara- missing pieces of our Karajaz. We used to bloody note nailed to his chest: jaz, a star-map for crossing the Mirror of do quite a lot of business together, before Fire to Fuinur’s Well. Neithan’s trail now I...uh...well, I’m sure he’s forgotten about that...” My dear Rastarin, leads them south, and here they must part company with Daeron who is returning to “Do you trust him?” asks Rassimus

Pelargir. Rastarin posts her excuses to doubtfully. Your womanly scheme to entrap me had failed Tarondor with vague promises of returning “No,” Rastarin replies. “But he is my miserably. Perhaps this deed of mine which you soon, unwilling to admit even to herself a friend.” now witness will motivate you to face me on the strange reluctance to give up the Elendilmir high sea, ship-to-ship, Storm to Serpent. Then at has now come over her. They arrive that evening at castle Vamag, least I shall think it worth my while to watch you Herod’s fortress, and Rastarin cautions The next day TCBS sets sail for Umbar. them before they leave the ship. “Herod has die by my hand. Yes, I can see that you pine for— th indeed worship — the power that runs in my On 11 Úrui they come within sight of no love for Gondor or the Rebels in Umbar, loins, but I’ll have you know that I do not consort land: the barren coastline and looming cliffs but be careful how you speak. I wouldn’t with members of the weaker sex such as yourself. of Umbar’s cape. Rastarin searches her put it past him to steal the Elendilmir for charts for a likely place to stop in and pick himself if he learned that we have it.” Ras- up fresh supplies. “Herod!” she says at last. simus remains dubious. “Are you sure that —Hardon “Is that one of the Corsair cities?” this is a good idea?” “Don’t worry about a thing!” laughs Ras- tarin. “Herod and I go way back.” At the 21 Other Hands replies quickly, and tells Herod “The Laughing Reaver!” Rastarin scowls. of her quest to find the Well of “I swear that soon he shall laugh no more.” Fuinur and the Gwaedhel- But that is not the worst of it. Even now, sword. “Yet who knows what Tirieth reports, one of Gedron’s passengers other artefacts of awesome is conferring with Sangahyandion’s brother power may lie beyond the Mir- Arkhâd m the Tower of Eärnil—a ship- ror of Fire?” she enthuses. wright from Pelargir by the name of Taras- “Join us, and a share of all this sis! could be yours. What’s more, The companions are alarmed at the it’s a perfect opportunity for thought ofwhat the traitor may reveal to you and Nubjub to get out Arkhâd, and Herod suggests they hide out more, get some fresh air, and at the castle of Lord Mírëadur, one of his perhaps even turn over a new Umbarean friends. There they must pre- leaf. You could do something serve their disguise as Herod’s Haruze ser- good for Middle-earth for a vants, a fact the sorcerer takes shameful change, and a public service for advantage of by ordering Rastarin and your Númenórean kindred!” Lytta to perform numerous menial and hu- “Yes!” cries Herod, becoming miliating tasks during Mírëadur’s splendid misty-eyed with emotion. banquet in his honour.... “Finally, a chance to serve “I am NOT going to dance, you bastard,” Middle-earth, and to give Rastarin hisses. something back after this life- “Oooh, she’s so shy,” Herod laughs, and time of apathy, acquisition and Mírëadur smiles indulgently. “Don’t try to conspicuous consumption! I run away now!” can see it now.. .Herod the Great! The Herod! Herod the “I have to go shopping,” Rastarin retorts Philanthropist! Aaaaah dear,” coldly. “My Lord.” gates of Vamag they are greeted by Herod’s he sighs, wiping a tear from his eye. “I “Of COURSE, my dear,” says Herod huge doorman Malik, who leads them think not.” with an evil wink. “We must have supplies through halls devoted to all manner of “Would you settle for just going in and for the night’s pleasures. This trip is turning wealth and hedonism until they are brought plundering the place, then?” out to be more enjoyable than I ever imag- ined !” before Herod himself. The Black “It’s a deal,” he answers. Númenórean lord reclines on an opulent “I’m not going to forget this, Herod,” What’s more, Herod possesses the second couch with his familiar Nubjub, a grotesque Rastarin mutters darkly, storming out of piece of the Karajaz, and with Lytta’s some- monkey with a wizened and preternaturally the hall with her shopping basket. Herod what reluctant help he summons a powerful intelligent face. They notice that Herod ap- catches her at the door. “Don’t be so spirit to discover the location of the third. It pears pale and rather sick, and one of his grumpy, Rastarin,” he says. “Once lies hidden in the catacombs under Eärnil’s hands wears a black glove and seems to Mírëadur gets me in to see Arkhâd, finding Tower in Umbar. TCBS drops the adven- twitch with a life of its own. Rastarin bows the Karajaz and disposing of Tarassis is turers off in Umbar on the evening of Urui low, greeting him in the most obsequious going to be easy.” 15th with orders to return and pick them up and flattering terms, and introduces her on the 18th. True to his word, Herod obtains an invi- companions. tation to Eärnil’s Tower for the following “Umbar,” says Clennan with relish. “You “Ah yes,” drawls Herod, yawning. “The morning, where he goes accompanied by will never see a more wretched hive of dread pirate Rastarin. Now how could I Telcontar and Nubjub. Together they are scum and villainy.” forget her, after she sold me that adulter- brought before Arkhâd, who is deep in con- ated worm’s blood?” At these words Nub- “I always liked this town,” adds Herod. versation with Tarassis and an older man jub snarls, and Herod’s gloved hand Their first stop in Umbar is the Drunken whose features suggest the blood of both twitches violently. Rastarin does some fast- Goose, where the beer and conversation Númenor and Harad. Herod recognises talking as her companions glance around always flow freely, scrumpy is seldom in him at once as a sorcerer of great power, uneasily at the large number of armed short supply, and one never has to wait and notices that he, too, wears a single guards hovering in the shadowy recesses of long for a good brawl to start up. Especially black glove on his right hand. the hall. with Rastarin, who picks a fight with some “Greetings to you, most honoured “...And of course, Lord Herod, as I have drunks within minutes of entering and acci- guests,” the man says, bowing deeply. always said: if there is anything you desire dentally cuts her brassiere straps in the re- “Allow me to humbly present myself. I am in the way of compensation for this terrible sulting melee. When things settle down a Zimrakhil, Ambassador for the Southron accident, which resulted from circum- bit, Tirieth the proprietor provides them Alliance, and I am, as always, by your com- stances quite beyond my control, you need with some disturbing news: Gedron Moon- mand.” Herod and Telcontar introduce only to name it.” stone, ally of Captain Hardon, has just themselves, and Nubjub, as instructed, sailed into port. “Very well,” says Herod. “I desire that seizes the opportunity to leap upon Tarassis you should pledge your service to me in and pluck out a few of his hairs. After castle Vamag for one year...in my harem.” “I'm afraid that’s impossible,” Rastarin 22 Issue 22 July 1998 apologising for the excessive friendliness of sniffs Herod, producing the hairs. of naurnen. “Another time, Captain!” cry the his monkey, Herod expresses his desire for “With these I can destroy him any time I singed survivors, as they scatter into the vengeance against Gondor, and he and Tel- please.” maze of Umbar’s twisting streets. contar are invited to join ‘the cabal’. But the most urgent problem remains “Well, this is just great,” complains Ras- “Then meet us here at the dark of the recovering the missing piece of the Karajaz. tarin when they re-assemble in the parlour moon in two weeks time, and you shall be Tirieth comes to the rescue, and introduces to patch up their wounds. “Now Tarassis bound into our order with oaths and ties of them to Captain Delbo, an old alcoholic will have Umbar’s Council of Captains blood,” Arkhâd promises. They part with who knows (he claims) a secret way under thinking I’m a Gondorian spy, and I’ve courteous words, and on the way out Nub- Eärnil’s Tower. They arrange to meet him blown my only disguise. I haven’t got a jub slips off to explore the tower. Unfortu- on the docks at midnight the following eve- ship, Hardon’s men know I’m still in town, nately, the monkey is not able to discover ning. TCBS is going to come sailing into their any obvious access down to the catacombs open arms the day after tomorrow, and the “On time and sober, if you don’t mind,” where last piece of the Karajaz lies hidden. only man who can help us get the Karajaz is Rastarin adds without much confidence. probably too drunk to remember who we They have been drinking steadily for are!” At nightfall the parry re-assembles at the some time when suddenly who should show “Hey, I haven’t forgotten,” slurs a Drunken Goose and exchanges the day’s up but Rastarin’s old ‘friend’ Gedron, who drunken voice, and they see Captain Delbo news. Rastarin is still anxious, for if Taras- is given something to really laugh about rise from a corner of the tavern with a pint sis has told Arkhâd about her commission when he receives the dread spoon of justice of scrumpy in hand. He laughs and tries to from Tarondor, the TCBS may be in great through both eye sockets. There follows a approach but promptly trips up over his danger when she returns to Umbar on the bar fight of epic proportions when the th own feet. The adventurers all take a triple 18 . Reaver’s crew join in the drunken fray and shot of scrumpy, and wonder what to do “I told you not to worry about Tarassis,” Clennan warms things up with a few bottles next...

23 Other Hands Thus spoke Malbethh the Seer, in the days of Arvedui, last king at Fornost

Over the land there lies a long shadow, westward reaching wings of darkness. The Tower trembles; to the tombs of kings doom approaches. The Dead awaken; for the hour is come for the oathbreakers: at the Stone of Erech they shall stand again and here there a horn in the hills ringing. Whose shall the horn be? Who shall call them from the grey twilight, the forgotten people? The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the North shall he come, need shall drive him: he shall pass the Door to the Paths of the Dead. The Oathbreakers is an Other Hands Supplement for incorpo- rating the Men of the White fountains into your MERP cam- paign. It details all 15 clans of the Daen Coentis, cursed by Isildur to sleepless death, and includes complete MERP/RM stats for more than 50 NPCs. The price of this publication wall be heavily influenced by printing costs,which in turn hinge on the number of copies printed. The more copies, the cheaper they will be. So, if The Oathbreakers sounds like something you would like to own a copy of, please contact me so that I can add you to the tally. The Oathbreakers is already in production. Publication is ex- pected to take place late in the Fall of 1998. Updates will be mailed to those who express interest in obtaining a copy. Chris Seeman: 415-892-9066 ([email protected]) THE OATHBREAKERS

Fine Print

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

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