rogueblade0729 Posted February 11, 2023 Clone Share Posted February 11, 2023 (edited) Middle-earth is a massive place, with thousands of years of lore and stories behind it. I am nowhere near an expert in this lore, and I do not expect any of you to be. If you are, great! If not, don't worry. The purpose of "The Lore" folder is to compile whatever setting information that we as Player-heroes and Loremasters should have readily available on a need-to-know basis. This is because, as characters in Middle-earth, you will likely not know very much about places that you've never even heard of, or the differences between Angmar orcs and Moria orcs, or anything akin to that without having done some research. Even Gandalf had to take years to confirm that Bilbo's trinket was indeed the One Ring. To keep with the spirit of the game, please be careful if you choose to read into parts of the Bree-land and Rivendell Region Guides beyond the two additional Cultures. These resources contain specifics about the setting that I may want to keep hidden from you as players, in order to help immerse you into the mindset of your characters! I will be sure to transplant sections of those books as they become relevant, as mentioned above. If your character is from a particular area, and you would like to know more than what the Player's Guide explains, we can make a new thread for that! Again, most of that will be drawn from those resources. With that being said, here's a couple of extra resources for your general interest in all things Tolkien: Encyclopedia of Arda LOTR Project Middle-earth Art Caeora's Map of Middle-earth Tolkien Language Dictionary and Translator Edited February 11, 2023 by rogueblade0729 (see edit history) Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueblade0729 Posted February 11, 2023 Author Clone Share Posted February 11, 2023 Silver & Gold Source: page 146 of the Player's Guide In the North, for many years barter was the rule. Small settlements traded their labour and the goods they produced for whatever they needed from their neighbours, with what small coins they had going to the occasional travelling pedlar for what they could not make themselves. The only coins in circulation in Wilderland came then almost entirely from the Kingdom under the Mountain before the coming of Smaug. With the re-emergence of Dale and Erebor, along with the rebuilt Lake-town, commerce has returned in earnest and new currency has begun to circulate once more, especially along the most used trade routes. The coins most often exchanged generally fall into three (broad) categories: gold pieces, silver pennies and copper coins. Gold pieces are very valuable and relatively rare. The majority found in the North come from the Lonely Mountain. Indeed, older coins near invariably come from the Dragon’s treasure and many people have shown some propensity to hoard them and secret them away. King Dáin ordered portions of Smaug’s hoard smelted and minted anew, meaning there are new gold pieces about bearing the Ironfoot’s grim visage, but so vast was the wealth of Erebor that it simply wasn’t practical to try to render the entire hoard down. Silver pennies are the most common currency of the North, in use from the streets of Dale to the inns of the Shire. Silver coins from Erebor and Dale of old were used throughout the Anduin Vales and in Esgaroth throughout the Dragon’s ‘reign’, and new silver pennies flow from the Lonely Mountain regularly now. Indeed, most other folk say (quietly, out of the earshot of Dwarves) that Durin’s folk are far more willing to part with silver, than gold. Copper coins have the least worth. Many aren’t even properly struck coins, just bits of vaguely circular copper. A decent meal and a mug of ale can be had for a few coppers. Exchange 1 gold piece = 20 silver pennies 1 silver penny = 12 copper coins 1 gold piece = 240 copper coins In the following equipment sections, the various coins are abbreviated so: gold piece = (g), silver penny = (s), copper coin = (c). While coins are how most monetary transactions take place, gem stones of various size and type are frequently used if particularly large sums are involved. The jewellery smiths of the North have long produced beautiful work and with the new wealth arising in parts of Wilderland, they are hard at work once more. Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueblade0729 Posted February 11, 2023 Author Clone Share Posted February 11, 2023 (edited) The Long List of NPCs Any noteworthy NPCs that you have met in your adventures will be listed here, along with a portrait and brief description to help jog your memory. They are listed in order of chronological appearance. You are more than welcome to visit them (the friendly ones, at least!) during your Fellowship Phases, or perhaps you can seek aid from them in the form of Audiences during the Adventuring Phase. They will also be categorized based on where they can be found in the wide world of Middle-earth. Remember also that you all provided me with a small handful of NPCs specific to your characters' backstories! If they should ever come up during play, they will make an appearance on this list. Bree-land Barnabas Butterbur Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Prancing Pony Description: Barnabas Butterbur is one of the most important men in Bree, and cleverer than he seems. He may have a thousand things on his mind, nine hundred and ninety of which are errands and orders and shopping lists and gossip from Bree, but he knows that Bree is but a small place in a wide, wilder world - he knows something about Mordor for example, and has met Gandalf, and more besides. Butterbur welcomes guests of all lands and places to his inn, so long as they do not cause trouble and pay their bills (and if there is trouble, he can call on a troupe of regulars at the inn who will throw troublemakers out). He is an excellent judge of both a traveller’s character and immediate needs, and he is ready to offer lodging and services tailored to his clientele, knowing well the requirements of a hungry Hobbit, or the thirst of a travelling Dwarf, for example. He hears all sorts of gossip and rumour, and delights in sharing stories and telling tales, but knows when to keep his mouth shut too, which is a rare gift. More than anything else, he takes pride in his hospitality. He would stand between a Wraith and its prey, assuming its prey had paid for a room at The Pony that night. Robin Hayward Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Prancing Pony Description: The patriarch of the Hayward family and the owner of a large, prosperous farm, Robin is among the wealthiest farmers in the Bree-land. He is the husband to Daisy Appledore, the father of young Samwise Appledore, and the employer of nearly a dozen young farmhands. While he maintains many of the superstitions of his people, he is friendly to those who treat him with respect, and believes in fairness and justice. He is willing to house travelers in his barn-loft, should they ever find themselves that north along the Greenway, and is always accepting of helping hands. Tom Appledore Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Neutral First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Streets of Bree Description: Young Tom Appledore is the youngest son of a family of horse farmers. When they began to fall short of coin after his older brother, Ceddrick, caught a bog-fever, he made the unwise choice of getting himself hired as the messenger for Bill Skunkwood and his gang. Upon realizing the dishonesty of his employers, he tried to quit, but was forced to stay under the threat of his home being burned to the ground. He was freed of their service by the Harry Talltree and the Company, and was last seen in the company of the Forester heading towards Archet. Harry Talltree, the Forester of Archet Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Southern Chetwood Description: Harry Talltree hails from Archet, and has been given the village's most significant role: the Royal Forester. Although there has not been a king in these lands since the fall of Arthedain, Archet still maintains the tradition of appointing one individual as the Royal Forester. It is primarily ceremonial, but the Forester does have a good deal of responsibility as well. They are in charge of guarding the Chetwood, protecting its wildlife should the king ever unexpectedly return and wish to go hunting. Threats that have been faced range from poachers and brigands to trolls and winter wolves, and perhaps even stranger threats. In summary, no one hunts deers or boars near Archet without the Forester's permission. As for Harry himself, he is quite the formidable warrior. Despite his astounding size (seven feet if he’s an inch) and prodigious girth, he is quiet as a mouse when moving through the forests. He carries a huge wood-chopping axe with him everywhere he goes, and knows how to use it on more than just trees. It is said that he single-handedly slew a troll with his axe, hewing its head clean off and sticking it on a pike in front of his house. That is, until his neighbors complained enough about the smell and the flies for him to remove it. The patrons of the taverns and inns he visits, however, often beg him to tell the story of his troll-slaying adventure, and he usually obliges, albeit gruffly. It is clear that it is not the first time he will tell this tale, nor will it ever be the last. Baranor Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Male Standing: Neutral First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Southern Chetwood Description: Baranor is a hearty Ranger, often found in the company of his fellows. He rarely travels further east than Weathertop, however, and can usually be found in the far west of Bree or near Lake Evendim. To the Bree-landers, he is known as Catch, for he is often seen fishing along the Brandywine River and is known to the fishermen of both Bree and the Shire. Bill Skunkwood Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Hostile First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Southern Chetwood Description: Bill Skunkwood is a rotten man from a rotten family who was kicked out of the Wardens of Bree some years ago. His displays of excessive brutality and poor demeanor made Sergeant Tickleburr, one of the more experienced Wardens, seem like a kindly hobbit-lass from Staddle. He's been on the run from the law for some time now, following one particularly nasty incident that natives to Bree only heard rumors and tall tales about in the Pony. He and his gang were mostly subdued and captured by Harry Talltree and the Company, the former bringing them back to Bree proper for judgement by the Reeve. He now bears the wounds of that battle, deep scarring and blindness in his left eye, and a deep grudge against those who defeated him. Daisy Hayward Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Female Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Hayward Farm Description: A woman in her mid-30s, Daisy is the wife of Robin Hayward, and a voice of authority and reason within the family. She has a single child, Samwise, who is younger than all the farmhands who work in the fields. She has shown herself to be somewhat knowledgeable in herb-lore, a talented animal handler, and possesses excellent homemaking skills. While she seems to have little to nothing in the way of fighting skill, she is always one whistle away from sticking a small gang of angry sheepdogs on unwelcome visitors. Tom Sprigley Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Hayward Farm Description: The eldest of Hayward's farmhands, Tom Sprigley is an honest, hardworking teenager. He has proven some skill with archery and hunting, but he hasn't the experience or the wisdom that comes with age. At the same time, the prejudices of Bree have not fully settled in with him, and he has shown a kindness in his heart that welcomes folk like the Rangers more readily than the adults in his life. Eraniel, daughter of Eradan Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Female Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Northern Fields/Eraniel's Camp Description: Eraniel is a young Ranger, young by Dúnedain standards, only being a few years out of her errantry. When seen in the wild, she typically wears a green cloak that blends with the sping leaves, brown and gray clothing, and a sturdy leather corslet. She carries with her a long hunting bow, a simple broadsword strapped to her belt, and a knife cleverly sheathed to the side of her right boot. She has keen grey eyes, and appears to possess a sharp vision for things far away. Out of desperation, she stole chickens from the Hayward family in order to lure a Barrow-wight out of hiding, and though the Wight was defeated, she was sentenced to two years of service to the Haywards, guarding their caravans to and from Bree. Agnes Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Female Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Southern Bree-land Description: Agnes is an old woman in her twilight years, blind and bent with age. However, unlike most of her people, she was an adventurer for many years, traveling to many lands and visiting many peoples in Middle-earth. She seems to hold a certain fondness for Rohan, likely the rose-tinted view of her days there. In her house can be found many items to act as memorabilia from her journeys. Her children are all moved out, and many in Bree think her to be cracked from all the years she spent on the Road, but in truth she couldn't be happier spending time with peoples from distant lands, sharing stories until the wee hours of the morning. Eradan, son of Erglim Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Sping 2946 T.A., The Brandywine River Description: Eradan is the father of Eraniel. He first met Amdiran and Fallfyre under the guise of a fisherman called "Skipper". He has been keeping watch over the Brandywine Bridge from a nearby hilltop for years, and he has grown rather fond of the hobbits of the Shire. Indeed, he has even come to befriend one such hobbit: Prudence's father, Mr. Whitfoot the Bounder. He is also in service of a captain of the Rangers, Hallas, who is establishing a refuge for his people on Girdley Island. Hallas Dúnadan Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Outlands Description: Hallas is a captain of the Rangers of the North, sent to lead the men put on watch over the Shire. Wise in old lore and a shrewd tactician, he carries himself as a man with many winters and many battles under his belt. His main task as of late is to complete the construction of the refuge on the borders of the Shire, not only to safeguard his people, but to provide a hidden place to coordinate the watch over the lands as far north as Lake Evendim, to as far south as Sarn Ford. Halbarad, son of Hallas Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., The Outlands Description: Halbarad is the son of Hallas, a captain of the Rangers of the North. He is a young man in his early twenties, and is often found in his father's company, learning the ways of leadership, old lore, and combat. While he is as of yet unproven, he is patient and attentive, and is as loyal to his father as he is to his friends. Bregil of Dol Amroth Culture: Men of Minas Tirith Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., The Prancing Pony Description: Bregil is a man of Gondor, tall and fair, around the same age as Léofwyn. They had naturally become friends along their journey, sharing stories and tales beside the fire. Bregil was a scholar, born to a wealthy family in Dol Amroth. He explained the he was interested in traveling to Eriador to study it's history. His family was originally from the great lost kingdom of Arnor, from which they fled long ago. Tomas Heatherton Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., The Prancing Pony Description: Young Tom Heatherton is a strapping youth, with a mop of dark hair and the start of what might be a beard one day. Like most young men, he fancies himself to be wiser, cleverer and more dangerous than his elders. For a Bree-lander, he's impatient and ambitious. When the Company first met him, he was surrounded by rumors concerning the death of his uncle Timeas, and what trouble he's gotten up to since. After a troll-hunt, they discovered he's pursuing his inheritance in the form of a treasure map, kept by Timeas. He led them on a journey into the Midgewater Marshes, where after an ill-favored encounter with Gorlanc's brigands, he was left lame with no further desire for adventure. Nick Heatherton Culture: Men of Bree Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., Bree Graveyard Description: Nick is a farmer from Bree-land, yet as of late he is grim and dour. Considering the loss of his brother, Timeas, and the misadventures of his son, Tomas, his mood is understandable. However, Nick seems to have more awareness of the truth behind Timeas than he is willing to let on. He confessed to the Company that his brother once traveled abroad with unsavory folk, but that he returned and lived a quiet life for the rest of his days. His concern is for his son, and he fears that Tom will go down the same path as the boy's uncle. Though he was gravely wounded after the brigands' betrayal, he has since recovered and resigned himself to work on his farm, his son at his side. Dancer Culture: Dúnedain Gender: Female Standing: Neutral First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., The South Downs Description: Dancer is an enigmatic yet wise traveler. She stands just north of 6 feet tall, clad in a gray hooded cloak, and her clothing is a blend of browns and dark greens. When the Company first met her, she was carrying a bow and quiver, a well-used sword in a rough black leather scabbard, and a lightweight journeying pack. At first glance she appeared no older than her mid-twenties, yet her keen gray eyes betrayed many more years of experience. What her purpose was in these lands she would not say, yet she did not seem to hold any malice for the Company or the Bree-land. Perhaps one day, she may prove a valuable ally. The Old Troll Culture: Stone-Trolls Gender: Male Standing: Hostile First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., The South Downs Description: How old is the Old Troll? Not even he knows. The Trolls, it is said, were made in mockery of the Ents, and Ents live long indeed. Even the counterfeits of the Enemy might measure their lifespans in centuries or longer. The Old Troll's heavy mail and knife come from the forges of long-vanished Angmar, and he vaguely recalls fighting in one war or another, but the details are as hazy and forgotten as his true name. He is, as far as he can recall, the oldest of the Stone-trolls in Eriador. After a deadly encounter in the South Downs, the Old Troll was forced away from the Bree-land under penalty of death... though whether he intends to keep his word forever remains to be seen. Grór Culture: Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain Gender: Male Standing: Hostile First Meeting: Fall 2947 T.A., The Prancing Pony Description: A roguish outsider, Grór is a servant of the villainous sorcerer Gorlanc. He came to Bree-land on orders of his master, seeking vengeance for the death of his brother Grón years ago by Timeas Heatherton. Due to complications with the Old Troll, the map to the Black Barrow (authored by Grón) was lost. When the Company recovered it with Tomas, Timeas' nephew, he trailed them into the Marshes with a band of brigands, accompanied by Nick, Tomas' father. After betraying Nick with an arrow to the back, he sought to murder the Company and claim the treasures within the Black Barrow for his master, but was ultimately overcome by their martial prowess and the aid of old Arnorian specters, summoned by Amdiran using the Black Tablet. He now sits in Bree's prison, awaiting the day his master will either free him, or kill him. ... The Blue Mountains Bruni son of Bróthir Culture: Dwarf of the Blue Mountains Gender: Male Standing: Neutral First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., East Lune Description: Bruni is a warden of the dwarves in the northern stretch of the Ered Luin, akin in skill and intent to the Rangers of the North. He leads a band of his kin through the wild, guarding the roads and fending off lesser threats, or reporting back to Baraz-dum after scouting larger ones. While he is friendly enough to his own kin, he may seem less trusting off other folk, at least until they have proven themselves. Orn's Western Relatives Culture: Dwarves of the Blue Mountains Gender: Male Standing: Friendly First Meeting: Spring 2946 T.A., Baraz-dûm Description: Orn's family is divided between two regions of Middle-earth: his direct relatives in Erebor, and his cousins in the Ered Luin. Those who live there are summarized here: Thorum: Uncle, youngest of his generation. Lives in Baraz-dum. Warrior. Thorm son of Thrain: Cousin, 5 years older than Orn and eldest of the cousins. Armorsmith. Dorm son of Thorum: Cousin, 1 year older than Orn. Warrior of lower authority (akin to a sergeant). Gorm son of Thrain: Cousin, 4 years younger than Orn. Weaponsmith. Dorum son of Thorum: Cousin, 12 years younger than Orn. Gate Guard. ... Edited January 16 by rogueblade0729 (see edit history) Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogueblade0729 Posted February 11, 2023 Author Clone Share Posted February 11, 2023 The Company's Inventory Listed here will be important items you've gathered on your adventures, for future reference. This does not include any treasures or items you are keeping in your inventories, that is up to you to track (or forget). A mysterious letterMister Skunkwood, You do not know me, but your escape from the clutches of the Bree-wardens was no mere accident. It was I who killed those three men and collapsed that tunnel in the quarry behind you. The Skunkwoods have long been a family of strength, and with no shortage of connections to dark secrets. All qualities I seek for in allies. With this letter, I provide you several of my best men and an offer. Pursue your ambitions in Bree, any to your heart's desire. My men will ensure you are well-equipped, well-guarded, supplied. In return for this support, you will afford me twenty per-cent of all profits, and you will keep your operations to the east of the Greenway. I have designs in the west that have already been set in motion, and I needn't have you risk your life by blundering into them. I eagerly await word of your cooperation. ((The only signature present is the seal of a black bird)), found here A rune-scored black tablet marked with a black bird's symbol, found here ... Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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