Halldor - Ranger of the North - sent to Staddle
Designated to keep watch on Fay Foxglow and Anna Wintermoss (see Session 20)
Sigurd- Ranger of the North - send to Combe
Hergrim - Ranger of the North - sent to Archet
See Session Seventeen for more details.
Teelia - Woman of Bree - Works at the Prancing Pony
Her long hair a mixture of soft earthly browns, streaked with blond, like falling stars, green eyes
Ellwin Greenland - Man of Bree Tailor
Barnabas Butterbur - Man of Bree, Patron owner of the Prancing Pony
Note: This character comes from the Lord of the Rings 5e game and not a creation of my own.
Harry Goatleaf - One of the Bree Gate Guard Keepers
Mith Tirin - Mith Tirin was a tower that once stood between Gramsfoot and Gabilshathûr known as "The Grey Tower"
Anna Wintermoss - Woman Of Bree, Teacher, who has vanished. Taught Fay and Teelia (as well as Lenny Appleton).
Anna was rescued by the party heroes (see Session 16)
Note: Anna Wintermoss was a part of the player Fay's background (that they had created). The character Anna Wintermoss originally appeared in Adventures of Middle-Earth RPG, and not a creation of my own.
Fred and Harry Stoneacre - Men Of Bree (Ruffians) - Twin brothers (Fred has a scar over his right eye, Harry tried to give himself a scar to match his brother but it never kept)
Harry was confirmed to be the "crazier" of the two
Fred and Harry fled Bree in Session 21.
It was revealed that Harry appears to have been captured by giant spiders in Chetwood during Session 25, and Fred fled, leaving his twin behind. Fred perished during the battle against William in Session Twenty-Nine.
Lenny Appleton - Man of Bree (Ruffian) - Drunkard, who got into the wrong crowd. Went to school with Fay.
Captain Percy Skyhawk - Warden of Bree, Male, Blond Hair, long, pulled into pony tail, stubble: the-adventure
The Broken Hand - A group of ruffians that recently came into being that has been gaining some reputation for violence. Fred and Harry Stoneacre are believed to be members, as well as Lenny Appleton: the-adventure
The Greenway - Ellwin Greeland's tailor shop
Lasgalen - Elven Tea, known as "Green-Leaf" served in Prancing Pony (given to Nob by Bilbo)
Felyadûr - A cave system in the South Downs who had gotten its name because of the forbidding feeling the caves emanated. The entirety of the cave systems had never been fully explored, due to that sense of foreboding that slithered from the cave's main entrance. There were rumors (mostly from the people of Bree) who believed the cave system was so vast that it extended down into the Barrow-Downs, which was why there was a sense of evil and foreboding. The cave system had initially become home to wolves of the South Downs, until the increased population of the Wargs, which seemed to have made the cave system their home. Some even believed the cave system crawled beneath Bree and went as far as Chetwood. But all of this was wild speculation and stories told by many who dared face the entrance - and ran.
Gabriel Greyfield - A young ruffian who was slain during an ambush. He had attended the same school of learning, specifically for herbalism, learning from Anna Wintermoss.
Svior Arcflame - A Dwarven Merchant who travels to and from Blue Mountain to Bree, selling and trading. Loves to talk about the glory of the Dwarves. Last seen in Bree by Gandalf. Had been ambushed by ruffians and had his wares stolen in the most recent trip. Recovered by the party.
Durindem, son of Throrroum, titled "Trueforge" - Dwarf crafter of Rukhsfelak the battle axe known as Orc Hewer, forged for his father in 2793, during the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. His fate remains unknown. His father perished during the war.
Thuri - Dwarf who forged Azanfelak - the dark hewer, and the goblin hewer - a shimmering blade that emits light in the presence of goblins, only when held by an elf as it had been intended to be a gift from dwarf to elf, against the common enemy of goblins. However, even after so long, the goblins inheritely know and fear the blade.
Azanfelak - A dwarf who had forged a sword also named Azanfelak; the sword had been forged as a token of peace. Azanfelak had named the blade after himself, as a token of giving himself to the Elves. However, on the way to deliver the blade, Azanfelak was ambushed by goblins. Azanfelak had managed to kill an unknown number of goblins with the blade; more than what should have been possible for one dwarf alone. As such the blade became known to goblins far and wide. Azanfelak was found by a mysterious figure (read: Gandalf) as he lay dying who said his weapon would go on to hew many more goblins to come and that his story - and the sword's story - did not end with his death.
Magic Item - Rukhsfelak, the Orc Hewer - A battle axe forged by Dirindem, son of Thorroum.
Axe [Cleaving] - You can make one melee attack with this magic weapon as a bonus action on each of your turns.
Lodin possesses this weapon.
Magic Items - Azanfelak, shadow hewer, or goblin hewer - A longsword forged by a dwarf named Azanfelak, intended to be a gift to the Elves as a sign of peace.
Sword [Gleam of Terror] - You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. As a bonus action, you can cause the weapon emit dim light in a radius equal to its reach until the start of your next turn. The light is sunlight. While the weapon gleams, it also deals radiant damage instead of its normal type.
Maethordan possesses this weapon.
Magic Item - Liantefaikar, the Spider-Bane - A magical bow against Spiders. The creator of the weapon has not yet been revealed.
By studying the items, Frerin was later able to identify the creator in Session Twenty-One as Isilmë.
Session Twenty Five reveals more about the bow's origins.
Bow [Luminescence] - You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The weapon glows with a pale, cold light when a bane creature is within 500 feet of it, shedding dim light in a radius equal to its reach. While the weapon is glowing, you and any of your companions within 30 feet of you that can see you cannot be surprised by these creatures, and have advantage on initiative rolls. Note: Thanks Lodin for reminding me that normally Luminescence is for melee, but what I had in mind is the bow string glows in the presence of spiders - tying the idea to spider webs. Limitation: The bowstring must be knocked for the Luminescence to work.
Arthanar possesses this weapon.
Magic Item - Draugfaikar, the Warg-Bane - A magic dagger against Wargs. The creator of the weapon has not yet been revealed.
Dagger [Superior Keen Weapon] - You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. In addition, attacks using this weapon score a critical hit on a roll of 19-20, or 18-20 against bane creatures (if Elven). (Suspected of Elven Make, but unconfirmed by Frerin).
Welton possesses this weapon.
Gwathpind ("Shadow Ridge") - An ancient set of ruins that faced a massive ridge, her original purpose long forgotten over the ages, ruffians had begun using it as a base of operations.
Frerin Stonecliff, son of Vidar - Dwarven Captain who had been sent to investigate the recent brash raids by ruffians and brigands. His path would cross paths with Lodin, Fay and Maethordan at Gwathpind ("Shadow Ridge") ruins, and he was pursuing the same ruffians they had been investigating. Note: I introduced him as an NPC to travel with the party because Hobart Rushlight had departed the game.
More information on Frerin's Player Profile page.
Beleram - The leader of a trio of Great Eagles who came to the aid of the party as they fought the brigands in Gwathpind ("Shadow Ridge").
After the brigands had been defeated, Beleram revealed that he'd been sent by Strider to retrieve them and return to Weathertop for "grim news."
Note: Beleram, Baranthor, and Armanel are all Great Eagles that appeared in the game War in the North and not a creation of my own.
Baranthor - One of the Great Eagles who helped attack the ruffians, and faithful follower of Beleram.
Armanel - One of the Great Eagles who helped attack the ruffians, and faithful follower of Beleram.
Welton Wayland - A Southern ruffian who is captured. He is taken to Weathertop to speak with Strider and organize a deal that he would become one of the Rangers of the North, and swear a vow to serve Strider for information he can provide. He joins the others in their journey to Archet after speaking with Strider and Gandalf.
William Stanwick - Former mayor of Archet. Was lured out by a Cargûl who provided him something known as a "huine-blade" as Gandalf called it, that corrupted William and brought him into the Shadow. He murdered a Ranger of the North by the name of Hergrim and now suffers paranoia while holding the dark blade. Gandalf eluded that when William is slain, he will turn into a Wraith and need to be slain again.
William was defeated during Session Twenty-Nine.
Captain Brackenbrook - A retired sell-sword who settled in Archet. He was the one who discovered something had bewitched William Stanwick and had tried to capture him after discovering William holding a bloody sword and ranting madly that "enemies are everywhere" and swinging wildly at innocent people. Captain Brackenbrook has a son named Jon Brackenbrook.
Note: Both Captain Brackenbrook and his son Jon Brackenbrook are characters from Lord of the Rings Online and not my own creation.
Cargûl - A powerful wraith that has arisen and works with a mysterious agenda. It'd taken over command of orcs, and then used the orcs to seize a ruffian operation. One of the plans revealed was that it had hoped to poison the water supply to Bree.
Note - the Cargûl do not appear in Lord of the Rings proper - however, they appear in the Lord of the Rings Online game. Because I did not want to use the Nazgûl, which I felt might have been too powerful for the party -I opted to use the idea of the Cargûl instead - and in regards to how it would fit with Lore, Gandalf did tell Frodo in Rivendell, after he'd recovered from being stabbed with a Morgul-Blade that had he succumbed to the shard in the wound he would have come a "wraith like them, only lesser and under their power." So essentially the Cargûl is just a stronger form of Wraith, but nowhere near as powerful as the dreaded Nazgûl. This would allow me to create a stronger enemy without too much concern of stepping all over "proper Tolkien lore."
huine-blade - This is a dark blade that corrupts any who possess it. The blade creates a state of paranoia that the wielder begins to believe enemies are all around them and reality becomes obscured by fear. Gandalf noted - The huine-blades were thought to have been destroyed after the Elves and the Dúnedain, formed the Last Alliance and, in S.A. 3441, Elendil and Elven High King Gil-galad died fighting Sauron. And so, one yet exists, a shadow to extinguish the light, and fall to a darker master.
William's blade was recovered in Session Twenty-Nine.
Torwald Farsong - This is the name of the ruffian that the Cargûl slew and decapitated in Session 18 and had been one of the two ruffians the heroes had encountered earlier in Session 7 and later fled (two of them going separate ways) in Session 9. He was found again by the Cargûl, and murdered (his head decapitated, his body brutally pinned to a tree, his innards cut out from his abdomen) and his head placed on a stump facing his body; a message to all who serve the Cargûl, to say, this is what failure looks like.
Cedivar Greenhand - A hobbit, in Buckland, who according to the rumor had ignored the summons from Gandalf and been turned into a frog. This is, naturally, a rumor. The truth of the matter is that Cedivar Greenhand was terrified to leave Buckland and went into hiding and waited a week before coming out of hiding and proclaiming that he "dared" defying Gandalf's summons and that the "crazy, old wizard" had turned him into a toad for a week. Now, whenever Gandalf comes to Buckland, Cedivar Greenhand makes himself scarce (believing Gandalf is there to confront him about the false rumor, but truth be told, Gandalf is amused by the rumor and the fact that Cedivar Greenhand cowers from him and will often playfull shout, "If I ever find that Cedivar Greenhand again! Why, I will turn him into a toad for two weeks!" knowing that Cedivar Greenhand is close by and can clearly hear Gandalf). He lives in Crickhollow.
Isilmë - A female elf who created “Liantefaikar, the Spider-Bane” as a peace-gift for the Dwarves. However the Dwarves never arrived and Isilmë was greatly saddened and said to have put the bow aside awaiting the dwarves (who would never arrive). It's unclear how to bow would eventually end up in the hands of the ruffians that would be found later by the party-heroes.
Allan Bywood - Man of Bree who is a lumberer for Bree. He had met the party heroes in the Prancing Pony and had been discussing how unusual Chetwood had become and the eerie silence of the woods.
Oswald Breeker - Oswald is a farmer who has a home outside of Combe. He is a wizened old man who lives alone in his ancient family estate on the edge of the village. He is the master of much of the farm and grazing lands of Combe, and extracts a heavy tax from those who tend these fields and hills. A widower who lost his only child over twenty years ago, he offers the people of Combe little more than cross words and demands for prompt payment. He is well-versed in old lore, maintaining a vast library of ancient books and tomes in his estate. In secret, he meets with Rangers of the North, who patrol the land around the ruined High House of Combe, trading news and providing aid where he can.
Note: Oswald Breeker is from the Lord of the Rings 5e game and not a creation of my own. The above is pulled from the official Free League Lord of the Rings 5e game.
Thlingril - One of the favored children of Shelob herself, who had ventured into Moria and spawned hundreds of giant spiders. Isilmë, a great huntress herself, tracked down Thlingril and slew her - and from her, drew the silk web, which makes this bow string. When pulled taut, it illuminates and spider-ilk who bear witness to it, hear Thlingril's death-cry.
Thlingril was defeated during Session Twenty-Nine.
Camellia - Female human farmer (and herbalist) who works for Oswald Breeker on his farm, she has a lithe body and light brown hair. She came to Archet's aid (along side one of the Rangers of the North) when it was sieged by goblins.
Timothy Thistle - One of the farmer hands who works for Oswald Breeker. He's notably in everyone's business (hearing and spreading rumors) and generally a good source of information. If there's something happening between Bree and Archet, there's a good chance Timothy knows about it.
Sinella - Sinella was a female, human tanner located in Archet. Not much is known about her, other than her skills as a tanner, and that during the siege against Archet, she fell to the goblin attack.
Fitch Talltree - Fitch is not quite thirty, though his wild beard and fierce eyes make him appear older. He wears a mixture of leathers and furs, none of which match and look to be from several different kinds of animals. His beard is his most noticeable trait however, as it is as long as it is wide, and unkempt. Like his father before him, he held the protection of Archet and its people as a sacred duty, and would gladly lay down his life to protect anyone in the tiny community; however, over the years, his obsession with finding the troll that slew his father consumed him and he left Archet and began to wander through Chetwood and the Weather Hills in search for the troll. He blamed himself for the untimely death of his father nearly ten years ago, when the two were hunting a brutal Stone-Troll from the Weather Hills that his father had nearly bested in combat previously. Not only was Fitch unable to aid his father in defeating the Troll, but the elder Talltree died saving his son from a particularly grievous blow from the Troll’s massive stone club. To this day, Fitch seeks to alleviate his guilt over the death of his father, and where he once feared to face the Troll alone, he now seeks to find the troll on his own and fight it to the death; the fear removed, or perhaps, accepting he would die as well.
Note: Fitch Talltree is from the Lord of the Rings 5e game and not a creation of my own. The above (with some modification to fit for my campaign) is pulled from the official Free League Lord of the Rings 5e game.
Note Two: Fitch's father is never, to my awareness named in any book that he's mentioned in, so I gave his father's name of Redwald.
Redwald Talltree - The father of Fitch Talltree, who was slain while he and his son had been hunting a Stone-Troll that Redwald had nearly bested. The Stone-Troll was able to strike Redwald with its massive club, killing Redwald. Fitch seeks to hunt down this troll and get revenge.
Ornendil - Elf from Rivendell, send by Lord Elrond to deliver news about how to contain the cursed huine-blade in William's possession. Orendil arrived by the wings of the Great Eagle, Baranthor. He revealed that the dense flesh of a troll could be used to contain the weapon without fear of its corruption. His eyes are as green as the forests and he is a tall, slender elf, whose long brown hair flowed past their waist line, woven with golden weaves that appeared to be leaves that glistened in the faint light.
Halligan - Brother to Halldor, also a Ranger of the North, he too is a Dúnadan. He was called to Weathertop by Strider as they gathered plans to track William in Chetwood. He is tall, with brown eyes, his black hair pulled back into a pony tail.
Pallis - Pallis was once a guard to Bree, who saw the signs of danger encroaching closer and closer. He strived to do more, and one day met Strider in the Prancing Pony and knew him to be a Ranger of the North. He spoke with Strider, and though Strider spoke of great danger, Pallis did not fear the shadow. He knew if he did not do something, the growing darkness would not only consume Bree; it would consume the world. His wife (Nevinel), an expert healer and hunter herself, joined him.
Nevinel - Wife of Pallis, she is a bold hunter who once provided food and furs to the people of Bree. Her husband, Pallis, was a guard in Bree and helped keep the city safe. Nevinel shared how she'd seen goblins and wargs becoming far more bolder, and she and her husband strived to tell the Reeve of Bree, though he would not hear of it, and proclaimed Sauron was defeated and would never rise again. Pallis met with Strider one night in the Prancing Pony, and Strider recruited both Pallis and Nevinel after much hesitation and debate, for the road ahead would be full of danger; but neither recoiled at the idea, and soon became Rangers of the North.
Iloreth - Maethordan's mother, who like Maethordan had been a Ranger of the North. She was killed when Maethordan was only ten years old.
Leaftop - A Huorn (not to be confused with an Ent) that had left Fangorn in a search for the Entwives, who had gone to the Brown Lands. Leaftop traveled and saw the devistation of the Brown Lands and believed the Entwives to have been destroyed by Sauron. He then wandered aimlessly, moving slowly over the land, stopping in various woods where he would sleep for years upon years; before awakening and moving again. He had stopped in Chetwood many years ago and slumbered once more until the presence of Thlingril had awakened him once more.
Lore Master Note: The name "Leaftop" comes from a character I had created back in the late 80s/early 90s when I used to write with a friend of mine named Lindsay Archer. She and I used to write ElfQuest stories together (fan fiction) with our unique characters, and Leaftop was one of the first characters I'd created.
Frida - Lodin's mother. (Her name is revealed in Lodin's origin, but she is brought up during Lodin's nightmare sequence due to the William's Wight Song)
Reinald - Lodin's younger brother (his name is revealed in Lodin's origin, but he is brought up during Lodin's nightmare sequence due to William's Wight Song)
Darren Mossborn - Darren Mossborn runs The Explorers of Bree shop which has survival equipment (Candles (set of 10) - 1c, Climbers Kit - 25c, Fishing tackle - 1s, Flask/tankard - 1c, Jug/Pitcher - 1c, Lantern (Bullseye) - 10s. Oil (Flask) - 1c. Pot/Pan (Iron) - 2s, Rations (1 Day) - 5c, Sack - 1c, Tent (Two Person) - 2s, Whetstone - 1c). He is a human (Man of Bree) who is middle-aged with brown eyes and dirty blond hair. He revealed his right leg was injured by a boar, and that he had not gone out exploring since then. He also noted the world felt more "queer and uneasy" of late. He has a wife, who does not enjoy when he trades goods rather than sells them. Items in his store are a mixture of his own and other traded goods.
Borin Flameforge,son of Oriin Flameforge - Dwarven travel that met the Company along the road. He traveled with his brothers, and one of his brother's wives. He is a merchant on his way to Bree. It was revealed that his wares were some of the wares recovered from the ruffians which Welton was a part of. Borin is quite friendly, but lacks the business sense. For the business sense, he relies on his brother Lorin. His eyes are amber in color, almost like flickering forges, and his beard is long and red, mixed with a few strands of grey. He braids his beard in three in the front.
Dorin Flameforge - Brother of Borin. He is the older brother of Borin. He is an experienced explorer. His eyes are as grey as the stone he calls home, as is his hair and beard. He braids his beard, one braid on each side of the beard, with the center untouched.
Forin Flameforge - Brother of Borin. He is the younger brother of Broin. He has been learning from Borin. His eyes are a faint hazel/green color, his beard as brown as the earth. He does not braid his beard.
Lorin Flameforge - Brother of Borin, husband of Dagrún. He is the older brother of Borin, and he is socialable. He often is the one who haggles the deals with other merchants. His eyes are blue, while his beard is grey. He has multiple braids in his beard.
Dagrún Flameforge - Wife of Lorin and renowned chef among the dwarves of Blue Mountain. Her eyes are green, her hair red.
Moro Bunce - A Hobbit who is a bounder in Crickhollow. He is younger, brown hair and brown eyes. Husband to Daisy Bunce.
Fun Note - Back in the days of EverQuest, the wife and I used a Hobbit Name Generator to name our Halflings - mine came up as Moro Bunce and so I've used that name as Halflings / Hobbits in every MMO since. Figured I might as well put them in this game.
Daisy Bunce - Young, female Hobbit with brown hair and brown eyes. Husband to Moro Bunce.
Fun Note - Back in the days of EverQuest, the wife and I used a Hobbit Name Generator to name our Halflings - mine came up as Moro Bunce and hers came up as Daisey Bunce. Figured I might as well put them in this game.
Tolman Greenburrows - A hobbit who lives in Crickhollow whose land got "cursed" - turning the soil brown and black, and plants on the farm died. Several of his livestock had gotten sick, but nursed back to health by Daisey Bunce. He has brown hair that looks like the earth, with his eyes of the same color. His farm had apple trees and he and his wife harvested wool that was traded among the hobbits.
Mirabella Greenburrows - The wife of Tolman Greenburrows. She is a beautiful hobbit, with long, curly blond hair and eyes as green as the rolling hills of the Shire.
Primula Greenburrows - The daughter of Tolman and Mirabella Greenburrows. She has her mothers long, curly, blond hair; but the soft brown eyes of her father. She is prim and proper, but easily talked into adventure.
Isengar Greenburrows - The son of Tolman and Mirabella Greenburrows. He has his father's brown hair but his mother's green eyes. He is an extremely adventurous hobbit, especially after hearing the many tales of Bilbo Baggins. He has an extremely active imagination.
Zerikahn - A human agent who served the Witch-King during the Third Age, after Sauron's defeat by the Last Alliance, when the Witch-king eventually reappeared in the Third Age's 14th century to found the evil realm of Angmar. He was killed by a Huorn in the tunneling system he and the Hillman of Rhudaur named Alligarius, were creating so that the Witch-King's armies could move freely about Middle-Earth without detection.
Alligarius - He was a Hillman of Rhudaur who served the Witch-King when he reappeared in the Third Age's 14th century and founded Angmar. Alligarius practiced dark sorcery, and was able to train and control the spawn of a nameless beast, that he and Zerikahn used to burrow beneath the ground so that the Witch-King's armies could move freely without detection. However, in the Old Forest, Zerikahn was killed by a Huorn who sensed his evil presence, and used a root to snap his neck. When Zerikahn was slain, Alligarius panicked and perished as well (though how he died in the tunnels remains unknown). The nameless beast, known as the Crawler of the Pit, remained dormant in the tunnels until a young hobbit named Isengar, took the necklace token from Zerikahn's neck and awakened the beast, which then began to burrow and despoil the land, tracking the relic.
Inzidishadi - A magical ring of insight that Maethordan possesses. It was originally held by one of the three Númenóreans kings that eventually became Ringwtaiths. It was passed from this King to his son when the king received Sauron's ring as he would wear no other rings but the one he received. As the king fell under the ring's influence the son passed it to his son and sent him away, to make sure that his son would know who was speaking the truth to him. This was passed down through the generations to Maethordan.
Note: The name and the ring's origin were created by the player who controls Maethordan, as a part of the character's Wonderous item related to their heritage upon reaching the level that granted this.
Greyroot - A Huorn in the Old Forest that had pursued Alligarius, Zerikahn and the Crawler of the Pit (Nameless Beast). Greyroot had successfully killed Alligarius, then killed Zerikahn by using a root to hang and snap his neck. However, Greyroot could not defeat the Nameless Beast due to its foul, dark sorcery, and instead succumbed to the shadow and began to taint the soil, and its roots creating carnivorous plants (similar to the Blood Vines now found in Moria). Greyroot aided the Company against the battle with the Nameless Beast (Crawler of the Pit), but in doing so had used up the last of its remaining life force - and asked to be burned, so that all the vile plants he had unwillingly created would die with him in the tunnel. He was burned, and the tunnel collapsed behind the Company.
Vírún - Daughter of Dirindem. Dirindem, son of Thorroum had forged the magic weapon, Rukhsfelak, the Orc Hewer. When the weapon broke in Lodin's hands during a battle against Thlingril, Lodin asked Gandalf to deliver a message to Ferin, whom he'd previously traveled with and had been called back to Blue Mountain by Balin, to help deal with recent goblin attacks. Frerin revealed that Vírún was Dirindem's daughter, but not many knew it because Dirindem brought great shame to his family by defying orders and returning to Khazad-dûm (Moria) in search for Mithrill (having grown tired of working with inferior metals). He had not been heard from since. Frerin warned that should the Company seek Vírún out in the Blue Mountains to not ask for her, but rather instead ask for Frerin and he would take them to her.
Ost Hecil - The name translates to City of the lost/forsaken by friends. The true name of Ost Hecil has long been lost to history. The great city that may have once stood where the ruins now lay, as a refuge for criminals and the unfortunate, has long been buried, along with whatever other secrets Ost Hecil may have possessed. The rumor is that the people who call this area home are primarily the same people who visit the Forsaken Inn. Many of them are people on the run, escaping the law, and seeking refuge among others. However, the rumor also states that there are good people at Ost Hecil, who misfortune has led them to find a home where they could find no other, for it was safer to be among humans and dwarves, who may be thieves, then the horrors that walked Middle-Earth after the sun vanished. Perhaps for a small amount of coin, a trade, or doing a job, one might find shelter for a night or two in Ost Hecil. Ost Hecil lies between Weathertop and the Last Bridge, three days east of Weathertop between 'the vale.'
Forsaken Inn (Lone-Lands) - The Last Inn was abandoned and ruined not too sometime in 2941. Formerly known as the “Last Inn”, the ruined and abandoned structure that had once acted as an outpost, had been recently reconstructed as the “Forsaken Inn.” The Last Inn, prior to this, had been used, even in its state of ruin, as a place to camp. Eventually, a small band of travelers who had lost their home to orcs began to stay in the Last Inn, and began to make it their home. As others passed along the East Road and sought refuge, the people began to take the coin that people offered and put it into rebuilding the Last Inn. These people then renamed the Last Inn as the Forsaken Inn, a nod to the barren Lone Lands. Many of the patrons were people who now called Ost Hecil, to the north of the Forsaken Inn, home. Even Ost Hecil, whose name stood for the Forsaken appreciated the irony of the Inn’s name. Many of the people from Ost Hecil were people who fled from the law or lost everything they had, and had nowhere else to turn and because of that, the Forsaken Inn had an ill reputation because of the patrons who stayed there. The Lone-lands were a largely desolate, dangerous area formerly part of the Kingdom of Rhudaur, but its desolation allowed wildlife to flourish. Many who called this barren land home hunted these animals for meat and skins, which they have used for trading near the Forsaken Inn.
Note: The Forsaken Inn is actually created by Tolkien, however there is very little known/mentioned about the Forsaken Inn in the Lord of the Rings. Since the Company was traveling to Rivendell, I decided to expand on the Forsaken Inn and use lore that I had introduced during the game, such as Ost Hecil being north of the Forsaken Inn, and the patrons being the people from Ost Hecil.
Dogan - He is one of the many Dunlendings who frequent the Forsaken Inn and live in Ost Hecil. He is a tall, muscular man, with light, blond hair, tied in braids, and a handlebar mustache. He speaks well, despite his appearance of being adorned in bear and boar skins. He was present at the battle of Archet and has expressed his displeasure with the people of Bree who refuse he and his kind entrance because of their "wild-men" appearance.
Bloodtusk - While at the Forsaken Inn, Maethordan heard several Dunlending hunters speaking of a "over sized boar" that they called Bloodtusk that roamed the Lone-Lands. The boar was known for extremely aggressive behavior, even slaughtering other animals that crossed its path. During one of the hunts, one of the Dunlendings had been fatally gored by Bloodtusk. The Company was able to track down Bloodtusk and bring its remains back to the Forsaken Inn.
Kaitacala - Among, the elves, we believe they are the spirits of Kaukaeldar - the false Elves created by Morgoth... they lure people to their death... separating the wary... usually into bogs. For an unaware traveler, who is exhausted from the dark roads, especially those fearing they may have got lost, there is little that can inspire more hope than the sighting of a light – especially come night-time. This is the lure of the Kaitacala... the name comes from the words 'kaita' which means to lie, and 'cala' an old word for light...
Lore Master Note: Essentially the Kaitacala are Will o' the Wisp. The Kaukaeldar is a thing from Lost Tales. Originally when I was looking for a "Tolkien'eseque" name for Will O' The Wisp and looked up "false" - Kaukaeldar came up because the word means "false fairies." So I looked up other words Tolkien had used and found the 'to lie' and 'light' to make a new monster. I figure the Lord of the Rings 5e doesn't have much in terms of monsters. So I looked through the D&D Monster Manual and marked some things that could be made to be Tolkien'esque - and spirits luring people to their demise certainly felt like something that might have existed.
Session Thirty-Two:
Gahlyda - A female elven Messenger in Rivendell. Noticeably different is that her skin is the color of the soft brown of earth tones and her hair is long and black. She is asked by Lord Elrond to accompany the fellowship to Melthinorn, the Golden Tree, which several trolls were spotted by.
Lore Master Note: I had my wife create an Elven character in Lord of the Rings 5e because we were bored one night. This was her character's name, and I based the rest of the description of her on my wife.
Melthinorn - "The Golden Tree" is an ancient tree just outside of Rivendell (located in the Trollshaws), unique in that it is similar to the Moreton Bay Fig tree, however, it's leaves are golden in color throughout the seasons. During the spring it bares a unique fruit which is used in creating Miruvor by the Elves of Rivendell.
Lore Master Note: I based the tree on a tree located in Balboa Park in San Diego. The name of the tree, in Tolkien's lore means "Golden Tree." The leaf color of gold is something I made up and the unique fruit being used for Miruvor was to tie it to something the Rivendell supplement says is created by the Elves of Rivendell to aid with healing and exhaustion relief.