Issue 5: April 1994 ——— IN THIS ISSUE Editorial: Round Two... Frontlines . Semper Fidelis: Some Ideas for a Second Age Campaign .. Before the Trial: An Introduction toa Second Age Campaign...... 11 Middle-earth Gaming EDITORIAL: RouND Two ‘As we begin the second year of Other Hands? ceetence, | thought that a “sate ofthe union Seve might be appa. As of Apt, our journal as «total of hrf subsripsions {wo of them complementary four exchange- bated). Our reader ange throughout the LIS and Europe: twenty-six in Ameria, fur in Ea fend te others in Germany, Sweden, Spiny Ausra, andthe Netherlands. (Our financial situation (and that of vas pub> lchers) has evened out somewhat since ls is- sue, leaving less dependent on sheer sumbers of subscribers to keep us allot Although we are repulaly noted in the pags of Ed and Beyond ‘re it never ceases to amaze me that Anon Hen has managed to remain oblivion t cr existe ence for more than a year now (specially given the face that copies of UH were sent to it eator for reew many moons a0), Tellsen specly shops fear to sock us (wih the paral excep Son of Thoratn of Onlord, who promised to notice usin their next Tolkien xtalogve). But Tete Cask, a newcomer to Oe Hands has given us permision t reprints naratve back {round vo another pre-Abalabeth campaign which he ha ben running with the Oxford Tolkien Societe Normally we dont publish purely cna” paces but paaprei l teat Pete to tellus ore about die capalgn fn Fture ome, We ar lo joined by Seo Stan, who has sent in 4 "bio" ofa very iter sng characer—Ineesing, rater Her proves that it’ posible wo set an cagaging Middle earth game even in 20 remote sting as Vabnor inthe Fest Age haven’ been able to consbate much this ssue beau of my work wath the Kan-rfe rmadule, be id manage mo wie a chor pice on the history of Unbur No adventre scenario for this isu, because no one sent mean. Sart verng you wane continie wo erie {hay and Se you ia hee modi! ste lng in he fc of aes aaa ton: Apri 1, 1994 Tarma Tar-Calion: CContining on our campsig theme from at [A Historical Note sie, Ander ie heared oo ale on the Haven of Umber that caput! upon des i a nh ener | aril "Beyond the Third Age” (OH 17-19). | The ie preset an otine fr» Scand Ags campaigner in Mdl-arth hte he foe The Queen of Shadow: hon af Goodoy, we sx yes anne in-depth background mater or is Fourth A Fourth Age Campaign von 17 | (Ri congue Conebstore: lng: Chis Semen “Aron ‘eden Ble, Pe Crk, ee Jats Submission Deadline Seo Some, Che Sama iz Duarte Soba for next issue: Nel Ser, September 7, 1994COMMUNICATIONS Dear Chris, “Thank you very auch for your Kind ys w the roleplaying game commision ofthe Social Takin Espafols (STF). We have dlicuedl the {iret wo izes of Usher Hands, and all gre that the journal vl become the main deusion forum for Tolenian role-plaer in coming yeas. {wil be wetting an article about Osher Hands in El (our society bullet) to inform all members of STE about eubscrption information. We are Ippy w see dat wea no dane in our estimation ofthe Mlddle-wanh Rae Piping syem——ICF's Midler Inks very dere fom hat of The Lard of be Rig. Thieve that there ae wn main reasons why ICFs meatment of Thlien's world does nor differ subsrandely from other conventional fine tary sings: the treatment of recs and magic. These topics wil be the principal subject of our commission's tive ity whch wl nce: 1 a complete dessipdon ofall rae, wih spe auention devote w the treatment of language and manners (both very important, we ‘rele, since role-playing is an orl actin). Of course, races not vented by Tk himsel will be omitted from our eaminaton TCE's Ural and alfarols, at wel a Hales, since these donot propery constitute a “race. 2) conversion of the magi sytem, This isan enormous problem, in pare because the members ‘uf our ovat wun are emscives dived. As for myzell I believe thatthe correct approach would run a follows: there ae oni five wizards (he Isar); Men and Habits are noe a mages by ‘ce, 30 they cannot work magic (although may ate magi tame thy come ars Ehsan nse sang af power to create mageal artefacts, Dare cat te mac yr th ‘creations (eg, the magic toys described in The “obit and took), But tis tonly my own interpre ‘ation of Talkien (others on the commission de~ fend other postions) At present, we are discussing the Noldor (a eagly rocca een four cman sion are spread ovr six diferent cites) We plan to celebrate our Frnt National Convention in ‘Pamplona fn March, which should speed up our Adsoussions, Iam the mai-keeper for die Comven= tion, zo you can get more information about it from me, if you ae interested Eduardo Martinee Santamaria ‘ the king of [Némenar Qomeser fie), Sauron ceded to hi that of rl. After Alallabéth, the ingle poner of Umbars Temple (which tnd become the sion dt integrated the —————————————————form of sve-domination over the men of he Hiarad) began to crumble, and the weakened rniliary power of the lors of Umbar led to rebelon among the Haradrim, who sought to reauter their independence from the ‘Nimenérean yoke “The contradiction inherent in there “wars of iberaton” was that the royal wadition of Independence to wich the Hardan keders appealed was itself «eration of Nimendrean patronage and hegemony. The Dunedan had ‘originally ugh the men of Haral agiculure, forging technology and edminstrave sls All necessary ingredionts for langdoms—and then acully assisted the most powerful ofthe erat eatabl such kings by inte~ grating them into a tibutary tem. “The cllentckings of Haradwaih reused Némeadrean military suppor for thei royal claims over their own people, and they mn tam fave to the collection of fue for thee for fign masters. “Independent” Haradan king: Gms could ot ext without Nimenean power to back them up. Some bind ofpll- Exlamileary arrangement therfore had to be ‘eblised in the wake of the loss of Niimenor Ftocll Oath of eliance and protection were sworn besieen the lords of Umar an the ngs of lara a Ure hil of Ure cyt be ‘ease of the awe in which it was held in the ‘memory ofboth 1 wat om the bass ofthese oats thatthe lords of Umbar were abe o maintain Haradan support agains the Gondorian ivesurent of Unnbar by King Earn and his uccesors for cover a century of protracted war. When CGryaher urery deseroyed tis allance in 1080 and herame Hyarnesnlacl he had to co-opt the central symbol of thet lance in fonder to ensure that all future politi rela ‘ons would be conmoled by Gondor. Theze- fore, he ordered the globe reared fiom its Iuill “in the midst ofthe land” and brought t© ‘Umbar, where he caused tt beset atop 2 ‘commemararing Sauron (and, nov aradwas) submission to Dénadan power. twat Hyarmendac who rerumed the Dimenérean tadion of patronage towards Ac Kigglons ofthe Harad as gurantee of tribute, This he di by holding the sons of ‘ese lange “hostage” in the cour of Ogliat, and hy forcing cher fathers w sweat allegiance ad friendship tothe line of Anion betore the pil. The eibutary rstem of “homage” to Nimenor was thereby recesablished by revue ta sacred relic ofthat astem, ‘twas only later (around the year 1940), tha Sauron’ power ever the Faradrim king- ddoms had grown great enough to create new Forms of internal polities! ability (probaby calteath-based). Only then could the Haradan [engs afford to destruy de old syeabu of their Teghtimacy in Unbar, by assisting in its over throw It wat this decisive act which Jed the Jkings of Gondor and Arnor to realize forthe fiat ume tht “a single wall and power sought the destruction of the survivors of Némenot.” FOOTNOTES 1. Tote hg epee maa fori se of acing the source document Soumes that they ae not inter aarbons ‘wan earlier source, which cannot witi- nately be detaruned wah eran “Plken denies “insertion of ter date" by the ncluson of bracers (Rox +313). It is not entirely clear, however, “whether these brackets refer tothe cln~ n of the sources themselves, oF to herr icorporsuon ito "The Annas uf the Kings and Ralen” by thew Fourth Age compilers 2, Tebhen wats: Mn that war ars congpee of Umabar ia 110%, Uber war aun bel for 3 wile bythe ings Burin he new evs that s00n befell Gondor Umbar wat apuin los, 5+ and fll im the han of the Men of the Harad (Roth 329)” Ifthe Men of the Hiarad are m be idcatied with the Her S28 iru pa, hen he bow es” of which ct teas wold seo oer the Winder imation of 18511944. 1 hoose 1940 a thr moxie caniate for tn Harsdan conquer of Umber b= Cause of rather increig correspon ‘Slee of even, winch may wel a the erthrum of de monament men Soned i our primary pange traci she mgr Araphnt inthe Noch Ind Ondoher Son of Cameo he Sas dat the two Kingdoms pin tok Shel ite er pce sl rupert rr hy on th See aint nie SUS tne tat Avedon eof ‘Arapiant wedded Tire! daughter of Giaher (580), Roce gon thle te sed help othe oer for Angst Fence io sted upon Arcsin of he ‘Sv eme athe Water is (pen fee (Rous 33) my emplacs). ‘isan aden ss 10 ost eer since their foundation, so themere ht foie em om hemies would not be siffeient wo Sine the peer emphasis of thi gh Facer, something ee must have bape ‘ened in 1940 (or immediately before) ‘hat eriggered sudden recognition of the relationchip between the aniy of the at- ‘eke and their focus upon the Dinedain precisely ae sunivon of Namencr. The cast Jog down of the memorial of Sauroa’s Inumibaton by Numenor isthe perfect ‘occasion for such a realization. 3 a 4 (One might have expected Ele tn have Sten to estore the downflen drone i lem eaten Sas wrowed a4 mb) of Sauron’ defeat Hevee four soarce had come from after the Vr of te fang, we would hor ected sme Kin of reference 16 Bitar ccomplete subst" of Umar (RotK. 327). 1 would refer the reader to Richard F Blcovelder'sTollen Theor (1990), wii deg rr he rictns used by Taisen eR tog: On se merelaion oF pila and "sexing wp" to tower we Ppiintetoe 24% iamnld be atl eat comparative nite Soe Rests nips doc sot, 7p anument of thi sorter wep iad ave home the point Ba he burden of pause fals rather tri he peren who ev oer an Txprettion of patoge om Tallin srdchopenky contact itera sese oe eee Spiny mpents the mater of here meee cis semen eate pie corrat ae ect comii Eia, Spcaeees See ay eee scotia oe ih tee Er eho Sap eeces fone of them Commissioned the consirut- inate ora fact that the wife of Gondor’s firet occ actie Erie bre inh sao (oh OF 3; 13-18). Thiet conceived of a a direc paralll to de Stone of Erech, which Iidur had Drought with him from Némenor ad m which the Oathbreakers gave their of maltary alliance with the jeain against Sauron: upon the top of the hill} stod a hlack Shey sound as great globey the eight of ‘Donan. though te half was burid th ie “Unearthly ook, 3 tough Fad fallen fom the ay as some belived but those whe remembered sa de kre of Wietrnese told dat t had been brought fur of the rin of Ninnenor and here et by Usldur at bis landing (Roe: 62). ——‘THE SHADOW: A FOURTH AGE CAMPAIGN Anders Blixt: Bagervagen 16, 12239 "Enskede, Sweden Redouce of ender dager of Scant (ie any RG ton a 189 by my fd Yen, Sbe Bd Raed bray te {So ip hg er sect cee wae Ed med oh Seen dager ne hme doe Sufi aoe ‘inn to el Oe ae) a (aad pelted dat i sul go ing a eet, Beng np! be rs of ee eves tm fom le neat puphndelirscivhnns Ts ply es wad pen i pany Bd eh So ara De ands oc 10 Hot fora fee deel darn of ln lar ee ad te eal tao serene ee 13 ye areedag nese eee sag poe ana fanaa 0 thar wea Te epi teal be neigh odo Fierce wl ie gre (roto nade far ae et ipso ity et ab en at set he hs far on er ten, ys ad) QUEEN OF BXEXAXR XXX KX Jag sing en nat ex manskensnat, com [uftens haw i dans, jag sfng om stormy som shape sig till ina tankars lans ‘Fran bortom mane, bortomt sol from kraften vill mite sin: pa stranden invid Nuomens svall ‘appstod en svartkonsterind Den blaste under stjamnomna i Mordorslandets matt till Barad-dar pa Gorgoroth, den soarta borgens wall, dar hopplas skugga ruvar tungt ‘vart hart oh dystert ay, och yrde runtow tomens stal: 2a dog alle bopp om var. Isang a wight, a moonlit night of airy sea in ance sang of storm which made itself ta my mental Lance From beyond moon, beyond sum power came tw my mind: on the beach beside Nuomen's wares arouse a necromantic wid, 1: blew under the stars in Mordor's night. to Barad-dir on Gorgorath — the Hack fortress wall where Despair shadow broods heavily each harsh avid gloowng year — and swept all around the steel towers: thus died all hope of spring. BXkBKBXR XB XKAX KKNortHwesTerN ENDOR: FA ISL ‘The reunited Kingdom of Gondor & Arnor possesses de fcw hegesony over northwestern ‘endor. Formally the sister realms possess the Jands between the Ered Luin, Forochel, the ‘Misty Mountains, Ephe! Diath, and Umbar (apart from the independent but allied state of ‘Rohan and the semi-autonomous Shire). In practice, however, he King's suthoriter exer- ‘ise very litde conuol over the Dunnish tribes cof Enedisith and cach harsh and gloomy and swept around the thus died all hope of ‘Dedwaih Tur and the narives of sparsely. populated Harondor, ‘Alshongh unlted under the same monarch, Gondor aud Aruor retin separate legidative, ‘administrative, and military establishments. Xing Eldarion resides im Minac Tirith and has “appointed his son and heir Eldacat to the posi- ‘on of Viceroy of Amor at dre rebuil capital (of Fornost Erain. iraditionally the King travels north every summer to bnefly sojourn in his northern lads, ARNOK, Amor remains « sparsely populated land espe the King’ encouragement of Gouri colonia shngh avantgeout ‘mation pobcis Its population centers ate Like Brandim, andthe Barons and Lin rales. es nly major cys Formos Erin, though thereat serous plan to eld Thabo, whose bridge has already been r- pated at has the Greeny running fom Founos. Erin w the Gap af Rohan Thee is abo « new fortes at Weal iu, Lat by the ‘Dwarves of Moria some decides oo, Gonpor | Gondor has changed lite since the War of i Rigen pty ig pe Jnted under Prince Boromin son Fira wo rule Bel fom eno. Ini capa Orn-En-rad in the Eas ‘Aves, bn’ pr ‘wiearn Princess of Dol Armroth and fieF olde uf ‘Doreen-Eri. Her cousin Era i Capin ofthe Knights of Rea. Minas Tint fora cations were repre and srengghened by the Dvarves of Aglarond in carly and the iyi now the mot well defended location in the region “The ey of Umber ands rural su oun ings are ruled by 2 governor (curently Prince Boromi's brother Rere) who ls direct e- sponsible to the King. The rego has been Sli ranted io Gondor tor I Hing Eton bebe amore foe i at be tre en 3 repli province ofthe realm. He is worried about feceanonit strmange among locals ence the leading citizens of Umbar, even without ‘the interference of Sauron, clearly have other polital prorties that Minas Tinth: Gondor Taos wo the northeast while Umbar lok 0 the south, ROHAN ‘The Riddermack bas grow stronger over the past cantry die the demie of r= rong foes the War the Ring, dogh the eae ofthe riders has not changed {apart from a growing prige which oczaionaly taker chains appenrances) The res Is ‘utr ruled by Ux Ord Ky of ie hind Line, the aged Ebel, son of Hfwin Out inde the Homburg thre snow a gown tw which serves ax 3 center for Wee ‘The Dwarves of garond have thing busi- rect intake and weapon, which they ex Change for food and eter supplies fromthe locale THe DUNLENDINGS The Dusnish clans are the dominating ‘Mannich group in the area between the ‘Gwe, the Miny Moma, be White ‘Mountains, and the Sea Technically, they are subjects ofthe Winged Crown, and thet chieftains have occasionally expressed words of loyalty to the King in Minas Tit. In practice, the follow thei own leaders and tadtons. In secret, most harbor strong hatred towards the Dintlain and the Rohr for denying them what they consider to be Dunnish rights Gondor defeno only controls the Green, the rest ofthe region being the natives ut, thre tomar Korea rele have some ‘mes disappeared without a tace. Morvor ‘After the War ofthe Ring, King Besar {ge the and of Nurnen tot slaves. They established the Kingdom of itl, censely populated agrculral country. 1s dosely Allied to Gondor, and the population has « ‘erong pro-Dinadan tte in consequence of their recent Hheration. Gorgoroth, however, {san abandoned wasteland. As la as everyone Jenows, Souron's strongholds toppled when his power was broken, and Orodrui sep. RHOVANION “The peoples ofthe per Anduin vale, Eryn Lasgalea (formerly Mikword), the phins of Rhovarion, and Dorwinion have re sumed many oftheir anaent contac with Gon The disperse f ol Galdurs SUE main Shadow has opened the region for wade and {yowth, and the Norehmen maintain ther old friendship with Gondor RHON AND HARAD Lite has changed in the old realms of ‘hin and Harad. Their inhabitants view Gondor with mixed felings and worry about the possbilty of rexewed Dinadan domina- tion, however benevolent i might be. Many of the realms have long traditions of fighting the Diinedain and such ealtral memories wl linger for many centuries. THE ELVEN LANDS: The Ehes ofthe Fourth Age show litle concern for the affairs of Morals, knowing at eis power as wane with the departure oftheir mightiest Lords and the deseuedon of the One Ring, Ever dominate four regions luring the exly Fourth Age: Laren (which es the southern Eryn Lasgalen, or East Lien”), the northern Eryn Lagglen, Lindon, sd Rivendel Elladan i Prince of Lien. His Sivan populated realm the rain of Dol Gado, which Is kepe under dighe sarvel- 1knce.King Thrandul continues to rule his porte woodind elm, which sf fe change since the Wat se far vein i he mer gn ope and other fll reatures in the aes. Lindon, ‘whose people maintain the Havens fom which the Ees depart for Aman, Is rled hy Cirdan Eohir ha asumed the position of ‘Lord of Rivendell, which continues to serve as 2 refuge forthe very few Noldor and Sindar ‘har ll ell eat ofthe Blue Mouncains ‘THE DWARVEN REALMS ‘Moria has been re-populated ad is once agin the most imporant Dwarven setlement ‘northwestern Middle-earth, andthe ‘Dwarves af he Rie Monmeain cine fm ‘umber as many migrate there. Agarond has frown into «small but prosperous enclave, Wile the Lonely Mountain and Iron File re alm thei former imporance. THE SERVANTS OF THE SHADOW Sauron's dow didnot bring sbout the complete end of hs servants. Oret and lls survived many plac, expecially in thir ‘mountain srongbolds t Gundabad and elc~ where inthe Hithaegie Since the War ofthe Ring, they have lacked » rong leader and ave bean reduced to squabbling among them seve, and therclore do not pose a major| threat to the Free Peoples. This, however, does not opell an end tothe periodic Orkichralde ‘upon the upper Ando vale. There is tlk of Dragons ad other idcous creatures in the northern wastes, but they have co far proven rere rumors. But matters might noe be so wel Trt DARK QueeN Inthe Second Age, Sauron came tothe ves of Hollin as Aniatar, Lord ofthe Gifs, claiming rm he a erwinary of the Vala” Many belicved him, among them Celebrimbor's sister Ane, whom Sauron seduced. Soon after his final deparsre Trou Ercyiou, she bore daughter, ‘Aclindur Ariel died and the cid was brought up by her uncle “Many years later, when Sauron’s armies seized Celebrimbor’s smithy, Aelindur was faptired and hroughe ta Mordor, where she was given a mansion to dwell in by the thore of Nurnen. In its gordon che cult ‘ated evil herbs and smadied Narare’s lores. She fled ro the East at Sausun's defeat at the end of the Second Age, and went into hiding. Uver the centunes, Aelindur has become almoce as evil as her father, if not as powerful? ‘When Sauron fallin the War of the Ring, Aelindur saw an opportunity coming, The most powertul foes Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf-departed from Middle-earth “The only current eeriows opponents are the Uucee remaining Istari, but of these only Radageet resides in northwestern Middle- arth, and hie interest is mainly dlrecred zo the nature. Pallaudy aud Alatat long since departed for eastern lands. Hence she ‘would have no significant competitors, or at least so che thought. THER DARK DREAMS: Unite her father, Aclindur possesses rcther a state nor an arm, but instead re lies on her black arte and cunning to achieve her ambitions” She intends to uce the thoughts and accions of indi viduals by fell means. She knows some very powerful mind-bending epells Aelindur desires to throw Guador into domestic chaos and then seize control over the rem. fants, using ditcontented Southron and Danadan nahlemen as her primary tools, When the Haredrim revolt under the leadership of her priests, many Gondortan robles will turn upainst Uae King aud civil war will ensuc. The royal line wil perish tnd many contenders wil vie for the ‘throne, causing much hardship for the alm. Aelindur intends to appear as Gondor’s “savior” usurp the throne, and begin a long-laring Dark reign ‘Actindur possesses the immortality and patience of the First bora, and resides in the ruins of the ancient Nitmenérean hare bor af Land Daer at dhe mouth of the Gwathlé (a Ioestion chosen so that both Dannish and Southron agents can reach tt ‘easly, pretending be ant eremetc LIE From this dwelling place, Aelindur care fully prepares her echemes and ponders uu reports from her wusted underlings. Ocea- sionally, she has to travel to some important plac, since there are vital actone that her Renchmen are unable to perform. The most lunportant ones being the application of her sorcerous wil breaking with which she can compell loyalty tn marals.© IDEOLOGICAL STRATEGIES ‘Aelindur ls Uaidestcly established « variant of Sauron’: old Melkoran cult rong Gondor's nobility. [ts priests preach the coming of a Moon Princess, who will Save the Dinedain from their current deca dens way, reeabh er ancient Namenorean powers and might, wit eres yal flloners® Another {ariant ofthe cult is sucessfully preached Tong te Hardin, epesting of appeing ‘the Diinedain and returning to Southron teaditons! MILIIARY STRATEGIES Rohan’ doe ea rout problers for And becase eis the owe powerfl Sat niin orden MiSecarch tod the ards ar unable Bld» matching fore. emit be newtralined oF destroyed, and Aelindar pursue sever strcges to ater this One ito develop Stoves horse pages» scheme eich helindur woud pure from Lond Daer* Another orn ola. etie the Dunlendings to once again se a western iddrman to sep er onsen pose ‘Aelindu also tries to invent gun-powder weapon Saruman wae working on Whee fore he perihed wed Aclndur as fared tions when visting the rune of Tnengard She betes tat muskets ad {intr have god elect mba formas Sins nd fried pits, expeialy the appear aap Tan ear projects undertaken by some dicomtent ot his aml Dwarves that have been recruited by the lure of weslth and power, who work in 3 abandoned settlement in southern Fred “TROUBLES IN ARNOR While Armor lacks the strength to sue cessfully intervene in a Gondorian civil war, ‘"pelindur nevertheless secks wo divest the attention of any potential northern allies {including the Heornincs ofthe uppermost Anduin vale and Thranduil). To this end, she has attempted to strengthen the Ores of Mount Gundabad, inorder to make them appear as rigifcant 4 theear to deer Armor's Viceroy from sending an army to the aid of Gondor. Aelindur has alco sent gente t9 look for Dragons inthe far north.” DFVELOPMENT AND CLIMAX, The mae challenging way wo run this campaign would be fo let the player-charac ters igh Asindurs schemes, though in tually not having the Fanner een what they ave up against. The PCs should perhaps not ‘elon w the crust of Gondor's politcal lite, but rather to its middle yer, some of {hem being noblemen. The folowing cxamgle how the campaign could be started. “There are strange rumors coming uut of Harad. Prince Boromir sends a team of trusted underlings (the PCs) to Umbar to Collet information from Governor Reren ‘When they reach the city Berea bas just heen mutlered under apterous eircum- stances, causing worries among the Diinedsn, The PCs stare Investig the matters and nds clues of dhe Great Queen alt ‘When they retarn to Tehillen and tll thelr story to their patron, they suddenly Tad chat «lot of other noblemen are be- coming cold or even hosule guards chem. The Pes hive ape muse of seem ingly wncoanected politcal adversaries. This shouldbe «bait fora continued inves- tigation, whic, though dogged wich mumer- ns abwacey, would ea wrdiacvery of the Moon Princes cult in Gondor. However, they are running short on Uine for Aelndw's plan are soon to materialize. Interestingly the PCS inially do not know wn ther chief enemy it, nor docs she now that che PCs ae preuing her. ‘Whether dey wil Gd out about her before she learns of them depends entirely on how the adventures develop. Successful payers smiht be able to nip Aelindur’s plans inthe ————————TD ‘bud, while less fortunate ones would end helpers, or that Uic gamemaster introduce ‘The gamemaster can use another I ‘up fighting inthe cil war: Aelindnr hopes aut entirely new NPC of his own design. ary source as inepiation ben pope” Feat lin prone pedo sem so hae payed aty ‘ai arpa, Male ee, satel 8 fellows below onc ring he Ted Age end ay ee reco Abin well be that he 1s some kind of surprise Jed certain of bi methods and talents TOE RETURNING HELPER Bart ien bythe Consider ie fl- ap any be moved oles nae Hreeeetiey wes anndicd wth e Os ¢. Syerrmeege ur tnduwentaly de THEME (CF. OH 8 ee ne ae canal he ee ee en In Or Hands 4, Gert Nuckton dit atevetuly Reems bis chie adverary” gf Nefenor seve thousand yer ge ca ee Stam rm ee PothRaags and Ain we wsoeated ain swat orgoten ees Shere inter works bit comment= wath Ge free of matine andthe cement Holy Br far uae those eat Igoe ts appcaton to hit campaign oh earth tee gs magne ln ete With rlernce to my orginal treatment of Fleoud is anther good choice ence ‘town word ‘Alindur, he suggests that one of the e100 re ig plenty on him in The Lord ofthe 7. Eventually the Southrons wonldl “bredh Ae kee pe ach en eee eo veniadt ig the duces of the Normen under Galadriel, or Gandalf, might surprisingly aay for the gamemastr to role-play him, the leadership ofthe feedom-yiy cease ney a een ore Great Queen and retake win a los Peoples inter sragge apn the Dark Nemes lst te power Frond ean One nda RAEN) a Queen."* Personally I would suggest that ated with the element uf water and the R Aelis m ihr Hond or id ae steed ESE ME Cems ecru reas aslo, and esse of scription of Adidas above fo change Per YES of the Third Age devestated ar is well-versed in animal and 2 afiaton tm that element, too such of Middle-earth ro she wil ‘The returning helper should act Grobably not have wo work for belore 1, The Southrons revolt and massacre all as Gandalf did during the Third finding what she wants. Gondorians they End The lead ‘Ager a an adver wth no inte os a Sorin arvons a in e005 See apelin eis oc °° Aelndurwses che sme methods tat ae he responsibility ofthe peoples tions and propagana to ignite the 2 Ring Eldaron orders the sbi pyegeeuaretet, | Cnerligeopepency art cof an army near Pelargir to deal foe. Smrawheads.” the Farad coubles. Rohan Is asked w Mra ee ee a 5 prvi te , many gunsiaster’ and players’ con- : asrembles an Goer 2 Tepuck of Middiecearh Tes au i fe Kig Elm aceite” | FOOTNOTES fran forthe pot 9 fel fe te 1¢ strikes the camp and kills most 1, Men are not welcome to visit nove st. Eeokan's war-horet Bl Gud, sme late fuss 41 Rods because oft smal population 4, As Gondor’s noblemen mobilize their Sets sll hdden below te and the hostility of the Dunlendlings, lcyics to send them to Pelargir, many rubble. 12. If she could establish contaet with such cof them rebel and instead make war : 1 beac, she might persuade it to suthe i war | 2.Since she is pare Noldo, he is me tipon the King, Some seize impo oes Se ae Ne Fovnoat Eran at an opportune mo- fortfiatons by seatgem A new fant and crest 4 grand diversion for Renvuie has Cepun, ihe rebels may | 3.She has gree knowlege of he alzo suddenly poses 2 lot of new- and talent with of magic 30) 45. The shrewd Aeindur might actual fangled weapons never seca before in EE (oe pert Lie, a Le nee eed Gondor.) as ood au vert them fom the right rack and 5. The whale royal amily (preferably 4, She radiates so much power Tarn diem into ber wmvitong tool. Pag whole orl ary Greet, | tat she anne pretend lobe > 14, isda good ad can cen be Erain) i murdered, There ino clear | "ere moral. She bas bid, "Tel the gamemaster however, suvcector to the throne-the perfect tos of her abode verywelland TAS edgier some lmtaiom SS ae emingly sin ade. cote “Hould consider some iminows mg 3g cel war tage, Unite mot of Sosron's, ete eae 6. The Dunlendings attack Rohan. (That | fervans, she does nor fear die ee ee does not require mach increment Secon (Perheps Uimo no longer cEmpleted by Seuron's downland ‘when they ear ofthe Forgel’s horses | interferes with the events of ee ane oe a dae Sang) Middle-earth), She Knows how 1 the Nala for atv Se ee ee foul and she has gone ts naty REM Fo ee return fo 7 laces by see. Valinor. Hence, it seems unlikely that tastrn nor fppreveat en nterven ; fon in the confi (aerate 2 Be eace aun would goto Mie Brag shen Furnat Era) on 8. Chaos enocs Acnda simply waite for an opportine moment for fre arabe commands ung the armed might of eamared noblemen Seppe sneer 2CALL FOR REVIEWS!!! ‘We would like to have our readers submit reviews of the 2nd aditon MERP rules, as well as for the draor realm module Gk hal Ge orl te cr at Aa Ao it vould be ood if emenpe a review of Moots Rag the in the “Hi eee cause it contains matens 8 eardeala a PS aglrmed” which wl hve sgubeant mplcatons for how we Tolkien's world in a gaming context. So start wating! SuBSCRIPTION RATES TIONAL SURFACE $350 Four Issues $1200] $14.00] | $1800 “Prodacoon see labo cont fave necestted an increase in the bask uimcription pce of Or Hand, cectve as of lage sae Those cf our US readers wiv have subscribed to Othr Hands at the previous pice ($2.00/88.00) wil snot be alec by this price change until their current subscription expres. 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