Source Material for Middle-Earth

Aldern
© Joe Mandala 1999

Level: 11
Race: Eothrik
Profession: Nightblade
Home: Maethelburg, Bereg Thumalos
AKA The Whispering Sword

Born in T.A. 1606, Aldern was born to a woman widowed two months on a
farmstead outside of Maethelburg. The farm soon failed, and the woman moved
into town, where she worked at a tavern, "entertaining" visitors and serving ale.
Aldern grew up an outcast among his fellows, but this did not seem to bother him.
He spent long hours alone exploring from the eaves of Mirkwood to the foothills of
the Hithaeglir. He also became an accomplished thief by the age of 15, making a
decent living robbing visiting caravans and merchants. At the age of 16 he left
home and traveled down the Anduin to Gondor. There he learned much of the
underworld and its ways. The years passed, and
Stat RM Stats MERP Stats
he left Gondor (amid a crackdown on street
St 98 98
crime) and decided to return to Maethelburg. He
learned that his mother had died, a broken Qu 88
destitute woman, and had been given a pauper's Em 63
burial. Pained but resolute, Aldern set up shop in In 97 97
Maethelburg where he trafficked stolen goods to Pr 95 95
and from Lake Town and other Northman Ag 90 90
settlements around Mirkwood. He often visited Co 100 100
these other towns, and developed a reputation as Me 97
quite a good "country doctor" (his cover). Soon Re 88 88
the local authorities in Maethelburg and several SD 92
other surrounding towns began to suspect his Ap 60 60
involvement in a large smuggling ring, and
Aldern began to look for a way out. He found it
with a local merchant and mover of goods, Taurthalion, who proposed to travel to
the Gundalok in search of disappearing Gramuz markets. Travelling with
Taurthalion and his companions opened Aldern's eyes, but just long enough for
them to be captured and enslaved in Gundabad. They escaped, and had a series of
adventures and misfortunes leading them back to Maethelburg (where the heat was
still on), across the Misty Mountains, to the slaying of Thorkung the Dragon, into
the Barrow Downs, and eventually to the founding of Bereg Thumalos and the
defeat at Herubar Gular (where Aldern led the team of infiltrators and saboteurs -
the Dindak - who were trapped against the river and slaughtered). Through all of
this, Aldern never really became close to any of his companions except perhaps for
Feando, who seemed somehow to understand the sullen Eothrik. Crippled after the
disaster at Herubar Gular (Aldern lost the use of his left arm and was left with a
pronounced limp), Aldern is a bitter, lonely man who rarely speaks, even to his
friends. Trusted by few, and trusting fewer others, he spends his time alone in
Bereg Thumalos, wrapped in his own misery. The death of Feando at Herubar
Gular has truly left him alone in the world.
Skill (Rank) Bonus
Shortsword 141
Thrown Dagger 84
Body Development 142
Climb 46
Swim 52
Disarm Traps 60
Pick Locks 68
Stalk/Hide 77
Ride 76
First Aid 61
MA Sweeps & Throws (rank 2) 65
Lock Lore 62
Tactics Sabotage 42
Herb Lore 34
Detect Traps 69
Silent Kill 67
Important dates:

 Born T.A. 1606

 Left home T.A. 1622
 Captive in Gundabad T.A. 1627-1628
 Founding of Bereg Thumalos T.A. 1640
 Battle of Herubar Gular (death of Feando) T.A. 1644.

Aldern's Principal Items:

 Whispering Sword
o ithilnaur short sword (+20)
o Floats on water, whispers unintelligibly when swung.
o Strikes as 2-Handed sword
 Lock Picks
o exceptional make, +20.
Aldern's Spells: 44 PPs

 Open Mentalism
o Brilliance 1-5
o Mind Visions 1-10
 Nightblade
o Phantom Movement 1-10
o Phantom's Face 1-15
o Adrenal Focus 1-10
o Poison Mastery 1-10
o Distractions 1-10