101 The Secret Manor Hiraval’s fortress is nothing short of unusual. Built by the best stonemasons living in Arthedain at the time, the structure is composed of different levels built one on top of the other, against the north wall of the cleft. From their vantage point atop the opposing side of the fissure, the company can easily see the various parts of the fortification, as they emerge from the leafy fretwork of the thick vegetation covering the rock wall. 1. Watchtower This narrow, round stone tower constitutes the highest structure of the manor, and is easily the first thing the companions notice as it emerges from the foliage. It used to be three storeys in height, but its topmost floor collapsed at some time in the past. Arnulf and Folulf keep watch here during the day. By night, one of them in turn returns to the manor ruins, leaving the other on watch. From here they enjoy a good view of the bottom of the cleft and the stairway leading to the manor house. 2. Manor House Constituting the main part of the construction, the manor house is built on two floors above the stables, and is reached from the bottom of the cleft by a flight of stone steps. The manor house comprises family rooms, servant quarters, the main hall, kitchen and library. All rooms are deserted and mainly devoid of any furniture. Large fireplaces gape open against the blackened walls, and carven timbers crisscross the ceilings above. Debris litter all floors, making it almost impossible to move about stealthily. It is in these places, among the shadows of forgotten traditions that Elwin’s company make their camp. 3. Stables Occupying the lowest level of the manor on the surface, the stables open on the floor at the bottom of the cleft. A single horse is stabled inside, well looked after by Elwin. She is a large cart-horse, built more for strength and stamina than speed. Elwin got her from his father, as a parting gift, and he has named her Drum. During the night Drum is often nervous and skittish, requiring Elwin to remain with her, calming her with soothing words. Those with some skill in horse husbandry or perhaps an Elf may see deeper meaning in the horse’s behaviour, for she senses the presence of Húldrahir in the dark of the night. 4. Cellars Although extremely damp and flooded in places, the cellars remain largely intact. They are infested by rats that nest within rotten crates. 5. Family Crypt Beneath the cellars there lies the family tomb of the Dúnedain who were once masters of these lands, the ancestors of Hiraval. These crypts are not reached from What Lies Beneath
102 Ruins of the North the cellars, but by a hidden stairway, whose entrance is secreted among the vegetation on the cleft bottom, a few yards from the entrance to the stables. This is the resting place of Húldrahir and it is from under these grounds that he extends his malice (see page 107). Entering the Manor If the companions still trust Hiraval’s word, they will see the adventurers occupying the ruins as a group of craven brigands, probably to be dealt with swiftly. Looking at the situation from the opposing side, the men from Elwin’s company will think the same about the companions, and react accordingly. The Loremaster must consider the approach chosen by the companions carefully, and select the most appropriate response for Elwin and his men. Violence will most likely generate violence, while a more friendly attitude will give a chance to the ‘brigands’ to identify the threat they are facing and possibly let them make an attempt at resolving the situation peacefully. The following paragraphs examine two options: a direct assault and a stealthy approach. A Direct Assault This is Hiraval’s preferred course of action, one he will propose and advocate as soon as the companions start discussing their options; the Ranger openly resents the ‘bandits’’ intrusion in what he feels is his own house and wishes to get rid of them as quickly as possible. He does not seem to mind the likelihood of a bloodbath… what the player-heroes will think of the inevitable increase in Shadow points is entirely another matter! The following paragraphs consider the challenges the companions will face when attacking the manor. • Look-outs in the Tower. Folulf and Arnulf regularly man the tower as their company’s look-outs. They have an excellent vantage point and can shoot arrows down upon any attacker at will. • The Lay of the Land. Given the unusual structure of the manor, it will be difficult to scout the land in or around it. Considering such circ*mstances, all Battle rolls made to gain combat advantages are set at TN 18. • Protecting Edrahil. Although capable, Edrahil is still just a boy and not hardened to the dangers of battle. Hiraval insists in him not joining any fight, but what if he should be spotted or targeted by an attack? • Recklessness. The ‘brigands’ are unlikely to flee or surrender if attacked openly, as they feel they hold the better position. They will resist at least until both their leader Elwin and Herbert are slain. • Brigand Tactics. The Woodmen will stay in the watchtower, peppering the companions with arrows as they advance on the outlaw camp, while the others hold their line within the manor, using it as cover against any ranged attacks. Once the player-heroes close the ground the ‘brigands’ will engage them in close combat. A Stealthy Approach If the companions persuade Hiraval, they may approach the manor stealthily, in order to ambush the ‘brigands’ as they rest. Hiraval openly demonstrates his impatience, and might even voluntarily give away the presence of the player-heroes to force the companions to attack instead. • Approaching the Manor. Even in darkness, it will be a difficult task to approach the camp without being spotted: Elwin’s men may be young, but are are not fools and they do place a watch during the night. If Arnulf is on watch, he is Wary, and this makes all attempts at sneaking more difficult by one level (see Loremaster Characters as Obstacles, on page 216 of The One Ring). • Identifying the Brigands. If the companions enter the manor without being spotted, they may spy upon the group of ‘brigands’. A successful roll of Riddle, Insight or Battle will identify Elwin as their leader, and should lead the companions to put their identity into question, especially if there are Hobbits or Woodmen in the company. • Brigand Tactics. If the companions profit from a successful infiltration to attack the ‘brigands’ by surprise, the would-be adventurers will not be as organised as if they were defending themselves
103 from a direct assault, and might actually consider surrendering if confronted by a violent onslaught. If they are ambushed, Fay will promptly disappear into the shadows. Meeting Elwin If the adventurers identify Elwin’s band for what it really is, either during a fight or because they got a chance to give them a good look, they might want to interact with them. If they choose to do so, the encounter can be set up using the usual rules. What do the companions want to achieve from this encounter? The best outcome they may get may be to have Elwin and his men agree to leave the manor, but it won’t be easy; Hiraval will hinder any attempt at a peaceful negotiation, as he is firmly convinced of the ill-will of these ‘brigands’. The Ranger would rather have them stripped of their weapons and armour, if not put in chains and thrown down into the cellars. Set Tolerance Elwin is impressed by Valour, so the base Tolerance rating is set equal to the highest value among the companions. But the encounter suffers from the strain that is put on all negotiations by the suspicious Hiraval (-2 Tolerance). Moreover, if the heroes approached the ‘brigands’ with weapons in hand, decrease Tolerance by 1 further point; if anyone among Elwin’s men has been harmed, decrease the rating by 2. Finally, the Loremaster should take into account the Standing rating of any Woodman or Hobbit character, as their names might not be unknown to Folulf, Arnulf or Fay. Introduction The player-heroes are free to present themselves in the way they see fit. Elwin is True-hearted, and thus appreciates plain speech, possibly given by a spokesman. When the heroes are done making their introduction, Elwin introduces his companions: “I am Elwin, an adventurer from Bree, and I am the leader of this group of... free spirits. The one who looks like he wants to stick a knife in you is Herbert, my right-hand man. Our Hobbit-lass with eyes of steel is Fay. Those ready to pin you with arrows,” he nods briefly towards the watchtower, “are Folulf and Arnulf, hailing from distant Wilderland. Now speak freely; why are you here?” Interaction Confronted by the real deal, Elwin and his aspiring adventurers adopt a competitive attitude towards the companions. They are easily awed by them, and will probably be very impressed if the companions start recounting something of their deeds, but at the same time they will feel the need to impress them on their part. What Lies Beneath
104 Ruins of the North The Loremaster should consider the direction the conversation takes, to find the appropriate moment to set up one or more challenges, pitting one companion against one of the ‘brigands’. These challenges may be of different nature, from a drinking contest to a round of archery. Two examples follow: • Fay challenges an archer in the company. She places a full waterskin against a wall as a target. The difficulty to hit it is TN 16 – the player-hero goes first. If he scores a great success or more, Fay declares herself beaten and congratulates the companion. If the hero fails or scores an ordinary success, Fay shoots an arrow and scores a great success! A great or extraordinary success counts towards the encounter’s total (see Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter below). • Herbert draws his dagger and challenges a hero to a ‘fake’ duel with knives. The contestants lunge, dodge and slash, trying to surprise their opponent, but refraining from actually doing any harm. This works as an opposed action using the Dagger skill (see The One Ring, page 148); the contestants roll against a difficulty equal to 10 plus the Parry rating of the opponent. The first contestant to win three times is declared the winner. If Herbert wins, his final strike is a real thrust, dealing 5 points of Endurance loss! If the player-hero wins, add three successes to the encounter’s total. Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter Once the interaction has been played out, the total number of successes is compared to the following: 1: If the player-heroes proposed that Elwin leave the manor, Hiraval demands that they leave their weapons and armour behind when they do so. Elwin will not accept it, unless threatened by the prospect of an armed confrontation. If this happens, Elwin commands his friends to drop their weapons; he does not want them to die this way. The companions have gained an enemy, and it is possible that Elwin and his friends will actually turn into real brigands one day, failing to find another opportunity to gain fame and fortune. If the heroes deny Hiraval’s request, he erupts in a rage and can be calmed down only after a prolonged effort. 2-4: The companions succeed in negotiating peacefully with Elwin, and he promises to leave the manor the next day. Hiraval does not say anything against the decision, but he secretly feels betrayed by the heroes and takes another step towards darkness. 5-6: Elwin agrees to whatever the companions proposed him, and Hiraval seems to go along with the decision. 7+: The encounter has progressed splendidly, and Elwin and his men are impressed by the heroes so much they propose to help them in their task, should they consent for them to join up temporarily. Hiraval seems gladdened by their presence, as if the meeting made him think of how many strangers became friends under that same roof in the years when the manor stood intact and his family ruled. - Part Four - A Night of Treachery and Madness This part of the adventure considers that Elwin and his men are still at the manor, either as prisoners of the company or as friends. During that same night, following the encounter, the malice of the shade Húldrahir threatens the companions and Elwin’s men. The hungry ghost seeks to stir everyone up against each other, in particular acting against those whose spirit it has weakened already: Hiraval and Herbert. Húldrahir may naturally also target a player-hero, should his Shadow rating make him a suitable victim. In the case of Herbert and Hiraval, the consequences of Húldrahir’s malicious actions are detailed in the paragraphs Breaking Herbert and Breaking Hiraval, respectively. Ideally, the two episodes will take place shortly one after the other, in a chaotic crescendo. If a hero is targeted, Húldrahir employs its Dreadful Spells (Madness) special ability, to increase its victim’s Shadow point score or to trigger a bout of madness, should a hero fail a Corruption check with an C result (see Húldrahir’s description on page 108). Húldrahir will employ a maximum of 3 Hate points to fuel his Dreadful Spells before the final confrontation with the companions is initiated.
105 Breaking Herbert Long, finger-like shadows stretch out amongst the manor ruins. As the companions and the ‘brigands’ finish eating a supper of weak broth around the fire, Herbert drifts into an uneasy sleep. As he lies by the fire, the evil will of the shade Húldrahir reaches out to the young man, filling his dreams with fear and delusions. A hero with an appropriate Trait (Wary, Keen-eyed or similar) may be allowed a roll of Insight: a success notices that Herbert’s rest seems very troubled; if the issue is raised with Elwin or Fay, they can both confirm that Herbert has been sleeping fitfully since they started staying inside the manor. If any companion is keeping an eye on Herbert, a few hours later he wakes up and approaches the group leader to engage him in small talk. If no one is spying on him openly, Herbert suddenly and silently plunges a dagger deep into Elwin’s chest, killing him! If the companions do not witness this foul deed, Herbert returns to his resting place and raises the alarm claiming that he has just witnessed one of the player-heroes kill their leader… A Confrontation As the alarm is sounded, Herbert points to the playerhero he has accused (the Loremaster should choose the character acting as the company’s leader or Guide), while Fay cries out in dismay and rushes towards the stricken Elwin. With the camp in disarray, Herbert shouts, “I saw him just now. He buried his knife deep in Elwin’s chest”. The companions need to think fast, as Hiraval sees the opportunity to finally get rid of these ‘brigands’ with the help of the companions – the Ranger quickly sides with the player-heroes and draws his long sword, ready for battle. Seeing the impending threat, Fay, Folulf, Arnulf and the deranged Herbert are left without a choice and must stand against the company. The Loremaster may allow one of the following options before the battle begins: • A hero succeeding at a Riddle test will notice that Herbert’s scabbard is empty, the weapon now lodged in Elwin’s chest. If accused, Herbert shrugs, stating that the player-hero must have taken it from him while he slept. Unconvinced, Fay will attack Herbert as the fight with the heroes erupts, killing him instantly with a well-placed arrow to the back. • The player-heroes may attempt to intimidate (an Awe test at TN 16) Elwin’s men, counting on their superior strength. A great or extraordinary success results in both Folulf and Arnulf laying down their weapons. If this happens, Fay takes the chance to put her art of disappearing into use and vanish into the darkness. If left alone, Herbert will madly charge into the companions, only to be cut down mercilessly by Hiraval. If a full fight with Elwin’s men erupts, the battle will probably be short and bloody. The ‘brigands’ will fight desperately, believing they are facing the murderers of their leader and friend. As the battle reaches its tragic conclusion, the Loremaster should consider a Shadow points increase for each companion, as killing Elwin’s men qualifies as a misdeed (the amount must be weighed by the Loremaster, as the circ*mstances are certainly going to vary wildly for each group of players). If that was not enough, when the unfortunate fight with Elwin’s men finally reaches its conclusion, the heroes start perceiving an oppressing presence weighing down upon their spirit, a feeling that finally hints at something more sinister working amongst the shadows of the manor. All companions must pass a Corruption test: those who fail gain a point of Shadow. A Dark Night As the night deepens, a storm breaks overhead, distant thunder quickly followed by a light rain that progressively worsens. If any of Elwin’s men are still alive, they will now talk of many nights here filled with restless sleep and dark dreams. A darkness rests over this place, they say, even on the brightest day. With a little cajoling, Folulf or Arnulf will blame the tragic occurrences of the last few hours on What Lies Beneath
106 Ruins of the North this darkness, adding that they are now certain that the manor is cursed, and that they all should leave. At these words, Hiraval will burst into laughter, his apparent mirth turning quickly into scorn. The Ranger will again accuse the ‘brigands’ for everything that occurred so far, and bid them leave his house, if they do not like it here. Searching the Ruins It is highly likely that the player-heroes will at some point search the ruins. Perhaps the concerns raised by Elwin’s men match what they feel about the manor or maybe they simply want to explore the area before once again bedding down for the night. The Loremaster should use the map and manor description at page 100 to describe what they find. In particular, a Search test made near the stables will discover the hidden gate leading to the tomb, an opening covered by overgrown roots and underbrush. A sturdy wooden door reinforced with iron blocks the entrance. A great or extraordinary success in the Search test identifies sinister signs and figures scrawled above the doorway, their carvings too dim to read. If the heroes are searching the ruins through the night the storm is now at its height, making it impossible for the player-heroes to see anything. Hiraval insists they continue any investigation at daybreak, and he and Edrahil return to the ruins to spend the night inside. The rain continues unabated, quickly turning the grass and earth at the bottom of the cleft into thick mud. Each flash of lightning casts stark and eerie shadows, the dark ruins reaching up like claws… Dark Portents In the middle of the night, Húldrahir reaches out to the sleeping adventurers, darkening their dreams, and puts fear in the hearts of those who are awake. Everyone sleeping must pass a Corruption test at TN 14, TN 16 for those who saw the uncanny signs carved in the stones outside. Those who fail the test dream of walking towards the wooden door. As they approach they hear a chilling voice, as if carried on the wind: “To my house of old you roam, Usurpers to my noble throne, To rouse me from my longest sleep, Your blood and sinew mine to keep!” If anyone is keeping watch, the Loremaster requires them to pass a Fear test, as the thunder crashes with such unnatural violence that the companions believe they can perceive an evil wrath behind it. Those who fail cover their ears in fear, while those who still have their wits about them are allowed to make an Awareness test with TN 16: on a success, a hero hears the splintering of shattered wood and cracked stone. If the player-heroes wake Hiraval to discuss these sounds and dreams, the Ranger seems oblivious to them at all. Edrahil sleeps soundly as the companions discuss these events and Hiraval will not wake the boy under any circ*mstances. “Let the child rest,” the Ranger will say. “He has seen much these past days. Too much for a boy of his years.” Perceptive characters succeeding at an Insight test will see that dark circles underline Hiraval’s eyes and his brow is furrowed with concern. Should a character raise these issues he waves them away with a comment: “Dark eyes and furrowed brow are a Ranger’s lot in life.” Should any player-hero mention or especially recite the poem heard in dream, then Hiraval’s reaction will be more severe. Quickly rising to his feet, he hisses, “Do not speak aloud of such things in the dark watches of the night!” After a terrible moment passes, the Ranger composes himself and sits down again, raising his hand in placation. “Please, be still. I am troubled by mere thoughts and will speak of them in the morning, but no sooner! Now sleep”. Breaking Hiraval Unknown to the player-heroes, Hiraval has suffered far greater than everyone else at the hands of the restless Spectre haunting the manor. By now, the cursed Ranger believes he has struck a bargain with Húldrahir that will see the curse laid upon his family be finally lifted. All the Ranger needs to do is to bring his own son Edrahil down into the crypts of his family…
107 As the turn of Hiraval to keep watch comes, Húldrahir instructs him to bring Edrahil to him. Carrying the sleeping boy, the Ranger will make his way towards the entrance to the crypt and their doom. If the player-heroes have no one on watch with Hiraval during such time, then they will notice his absence and that of his son only when the Ranger is but a shadow in the night. If someone is awake when Hiraval takes Edrahil, then questioning the Dúnadan will result in no response; the Ranger’s eyes are fixed to a distant point, his face set. The Ranger must be tackled physically to prevent him from entering the crypt, something that the assembled companions succeed at automatically. If a companion tries to stop Hiraval by himself, he needs to succeed in an Athletics test (TN 18); upon a failure, the Ranger pushes away the intruder and presses on. Edrahil’s Fate as a Revelation Episode If you are using the optional Eye of Mordor rules found within Rivendell, you might tie the fate of Hiraval’s son to a Revelation episode. If such an occurrence is due to the rules for Eye Awareness, then the Ranger might disappear with his son without the player-heroes be given the chance to stop him at all. In such a case, the heroes will be left with just the option of running after the deranged Ranger, in the hope of finding him in time. A much harsher application of the principle that a Revelation episode always worsens the company’s predicament, might be that of having the attempts at saving Edrahil actually harm the boy, or even kill him. The boy might fall from his father’s embrace and break his neck upon a stone as a companion tries to restrain or attack Hiraval, or an attack aimed at Hiraval might hit his son instead. Into the Crypt This part of the adventure is written on the assumption that Hiraval has brought Edrahil into the crypt, and has been followed by the player-heroes soon after. The storm rages around the companions as they make their way to the crypt. Thunder shakes the ground, lightning flashes across the black sky and the rain beats down upon them all, quickly drenching their clothes. Reaching the gateway, they discover the door has been torn asunder; charred and blasted wood lies scattered around the archway while the long iron hinges are bent and twisted like an old crone’s fingers, beckoning in the dark. As the companions stand before the opening, the storm suddenly quiets and the rain stops, its place taken by a freezing wind that rushes past them and beyond the blasted crypt door. The light from the companions’ torches flickers in the night and long shadows dance about them as they take the stairs and descend into darkness. Inner Darkness Fear flows out of the opening like a cold vapour. The flight of centuries-old steps climbs down into the ground. As the companions make their descent they see the light of a torch ahead mixed with an eerie, sickly glow. Those who previously heard the poem in their dreams must now pass a Corruption test (TN 16) or be overwhelmed by a sense of ill-omen – they gain a point of Shadow (the TN is normal for those who didn’t hear it). The companions follow the steep and low-ceilinged stairway into the earth for about sixty feet before they step out into a large room, approximately thirty feet in width and stretching out into the darkness ahead. Many torches illuminate the chamber, as they hang from iron-wrought wall brackets. In two columns stretching out beyond the light cast by the torches are the tombs of Hiraval’s ancestors, laid to rest over many centuries under their manor home. But it is something else that grabs the attention of the companions. Twenty feet away, between the two columns of tombs stands Hiraval, his back to the approaching companions. Before him lies the boy Edrahil, his sleeping body stretched upon the floor. At the edge of torchlight stands a dark, vague figure wrapped in ghost-like and torn robes; and where a head should be, two points of sickly green light burning with wicked intent. “…Your blood and sinew mine to keep,” a dreary voice rasps. “Slay the boy and the spell will be broken, the MorgulWhat Lies Beneath
108 Ruins of the North lord’s curse finally lifted. For too many centuries the wind howling in the halls of your fathers has been black.” A claw-like hand reaches out, pointing to the child and you see Hiraval visibly shaking and trembling, moaning as if in pain, as he draws his sword and looks down upon Edrahil. The Doom of Hiraval The ghost-like apparition in the crypt is the Spectre of Húldrahir, an ancestor of Hiraval who once was cursed by the Lord of the Ringwraiths himself, the Witch-king of Angmar. The restless spirit haunts the ruins of his former abode, and drives to madness all those who linger here. Suffering from the Witch-king’s curse himself, Hiraval has been slowly consumed by the dark presence of his ancestor, and he is now on the verge of taking the last step towards madness that will end his line and curse him forever. When this finally comes to pass, the will of the Lord of the Ringwraiths will be done, and the shade of Húldrahir will be all that remains of a once proud and noble family. The scene set before the companions has them facing the Spectre, but also a deranged Hiraval. The Ranger is under the thrall of the Spectre and is considered to be suffering the effects of a Bout of Madness: he will attack anyone who tries to prevent him from killing the boy (the characteristics of the Ranger are on page 95; additionally, consider him to have a Parry rating of 6, and an Armour rating of 2d). With all that has gone before, the player-heroes should now be conscious that the Ranger is not in control of his actions and might wish to stop him without killing him (see Non-lethal Attacks, opposite). Other options include attempting to disarm him and then wrestling him to the ground (using an opposed Athletics test). Incapable of attacking the companions physically, Húldrahir the Spectre will employ his Dreadful Spells and Visions of Torment special abilities to harm them. If the companions do not do something about it, Hiraval will kill Edrahil before their eyes, and then break under the weight of his demented deed and succumb fully to the Shadow: he will turn against the heroes, sword in hand, and attack them relentlessly, searching for release in a quick death. Non-lethal Attacks Sometimes a companion may wish to refrain from dealing potentially lethal damage to an adversary – for example, by using only the flat of a blade, the haft of an axe, and so on. When this happens, a successful attack deals only a loss of Endurance, but cannot inflict a Wound (regardless of the result on the Feat die). Húldrahir, Dúnadan Spectre Húldrahir appears as a tall, ghost-like figure shrouded in a threadbare cloak and rusted chain armour, once finely wrought. Beneath a helm of silvered metal his eyes burn with a green and sickly light from where his head should be. Attribute Level 6 Endurance Hate 35 9 Parry Armour 7 2d Skills Personality, 3 Survival, 1 Movement, 4 Custom, 3 Perception, 3 Vocation, 2 Weapon Skills None (incorporeal) Special Abilities Ghost-form Dreadful Spells* Strike Fear Visions of Torment *Madness: A hero who fails a Corruption check (TN 16) due to Dreadful Spells experiences harrowing visions, causing him to gain 5 Shadow points. If the check failed producing an C, then the player relinquishes the control of the hero to the Loremaster for a full round of combat, as if he experienced a Bout of Madness (see The One Ring, page 225).
109 Húldrahir can be harmed only by heroes wielding a weapon possessing an Enchanted Quality (see Ghostform, in Rivendell, page 76). If the heroes cannot defeat the Spectre, at least its plans may be thwarted by saving Hiraval and his son. - Epilogue - Húldrahir Defeated Achieving victory at Hiraval’s manor may come at a great cost. The body count may be high, including some (or all!) among Elwin’s men, or Hiraval and his son Edrahil. If the Ranger and his son (or one among them) end up dead, the Loremaster will most likely have the companions gain a number of additional points of Shadow, based on the circ*mstances of their demise and the type of relationship the heroes had with the deceased; 1 or 2 points should be enough, to represent the guilt and regret felt by the playerheroes. If Hiraval survives his son, the Ranger will be wracked with grief. He won’t survive the experience, unless the companions think of escorting him back to Rivendell, in order to rest and heal. If Edrahil survives his father, the player-heroes should feel duty-bound to bring him back to the safety of Rivendell. It will take some time for the boy to recover but he will never forget; in years to come, Edrahil will become a Ranger, to redeem the name of his father and that of his family. If Húldrahir is not defeated, the deaths of Hiraval and/or Edrahil will spell the end for the ruins of the manor and the surrounding lands. The region will become a dark and blighted place, shunned by everyone who wanders across Eriador. If the Spectre has been banished, the Ranger might leave the secret manor to the companions as a gift with his dying words. The ruins and the surrounding land can be set up as a rating 9 holding (see the rules for holdings on page 8 of The Darkening of Mirkwood). Should both Hiraval and Edrahil survive, the Ranger will have miraculously succeeded in reclaiming his heritage. Within weeks, other Rangers and allies will arrive at the ruins of the former manor and a small settlement of tents will quickly spring up with more permanent structures added during the later years. Although it will never reach the past glories of the manor, the settlement will prove vital to the Rangers as a waypoint just north of Weathertop and a place to recuperate and replenish supplies. What Lies Beneath
110 Ruins of the North Shadows over - Tyrn Gorthad - • When: The company starts this quest in the Summer of 2975, though this can be moved a few years forward or backwards as necessary. • Where: The adventure starts in Rivendell, but eventually ranges across much of Eriador, from Angmar, to the edge of the Old Forest, before eventually ending in the Barrow-downs. • What: Barrow-wights are passing far beyond the Barrow-downs and growing bolder all the time. Gandalf the Grey asks the characters to help him discover what can be done to put them to rest permanently. • Why: All of Eriador is in mortal danger from freeroaming Barrow-wights. Worse still, they may very well represent the vanguard for the return of the Witch-king of Angmar. Rivendell would certainly be one of the primary targets for such an army. • Who: The ultimate aim of the quest is finding a way to help Gandalf permanently deal with the Barrowwights of Tyrn Gorthad. Stout Hearts Gandalf will not approach a company that hasn’t already impressed him – though they may not know it, or have ever met him personally before. Before starting this quest characters should have already completed several of the other adventures from Ruins of the North, particularly Nightmares of Angmar, or equally harrowing Loremaster originals. Alternatively they may be adventurers from Wilderland who impressed Gandalf during the events of The Darkening of Mirkwood. Additionally, there should be at least one Ranger of the North or High Elf of Rivendell in the party, and one or more characters with either a Valour or Wisdom score of 4. Foreword Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad is structured a bit differently than other adventures for The One Ring Roleplaying Game. It is not played out over a single Adventuring phase, indeed, it will take several in-game years before the company is ready to confront the danger at the heart of this adventure; but ready or not, they will have to act before the danger grows too great for all of Eriador. After being approached by Gandalf the Grey to undertake a vitally important quest, the company will travel across Eriador, frequently into great peril, as they seek out key pieces of ancient lore that they will need to set right a terrible menace. They will learn more than even most of the Wise know about the Barrow-downs, in Sindarin “Tyrn Gorthad”; a place of sacred burial mounds, now long haunted by evil spirits. The spells that once bound the undead to their tombs are fading with the slowly waxing power of the Shadow. Gandalf needs the company’s help to gather the lore he needs and, ultimately, protect him while he attempts to enact them anew. Time, though, is not on their side. The characters will have just over two years to gather the knowledge that will help the Grey Pilgrim enact the rites. Correspondingly, there are portions of Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad that some companies may never get to, it will entirely depend on how much they learn and the choices they make along the way. Adventuring Phase Part One – The Vigilance of Mithrandir The first part of the adventure describes Gandalf’s fears and sees him asking the company if they will undertake a quest to retrieve vital information about how the Barrowwights of Tyrn Gorthad were summoned and bound to the Barrow-downs. Part Two – Return to Angmar This section deals with the long journey from Rivendell to the Grey Waste of Angmar. The company may have to deal with fierce weather and fiercer foes along the way. Part Three – The Valley of the Dead In the easternmost reaches of the Mountains of Angmar rests the valley of Nan Gorthrim. There, a sorcerous tower
111 holds the secrets that the Grey Pilgrim seeks, along with a lot of Goblins and a terrible Great Orc. Part Four – On the Downs Depending on what they learn in Rivendell, the company may wish to journey to the Barrow-downs to study them and learn all that they can about them in the hopes of helping Gandalf with what needs to be done. Part Five – The Hidden Vault at Fornost The company may decide to return to Fornost Erain, in order to find the hidden vault of the chronicler Egalmir and see what information they can learn from his family’s dedicated scholarship. Part Six – Mirabella’s Song The company may hear rumours of a Hobbit girl who spent a night on the Barrow-downs and despite assault by a Barrow-wight, miraculously survived. Interviewing the young lady seems to be in order. Part Seven – Oldest & Fatherless The company is sent by Gandalf the Grey to meet with Tom Bombadil and receive his blessings before they confront the Barrow-wights. Part Eight – Casting Out the Shadow Gandalf the Grey must reinforce the ancient magic that binds the Barrow-downs. He can only succeed if the company manages to protect him from a horde of Barrowwights lead by the terrible master of Tyrn Gorthad himself, the evil being known only as the Wight-king. Staging Events While running adventures in an ongoing campaign of The One Ring, Loremasters are encouraged to speak of news and tidings of distant events that come to the company’s attention each year. The recent events in Eriador that will eventually lead to the opening of Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad should be introduced two years before the adventure proper begins. Year 2973 In early autumn, dark rumours spread amidst the Dúnedain. Stories tell of how two Rangers dealt with the threat of a Barrow-wight that was seen wandering along a street leading to Bree. If the story is to be given credit, it relates a most unusual occurrence. Year 2974 In the spring, several witnesses see a ghostly apparition wander into the northern reaches of Buckland. A group of Rangers investigate the matter, and reportedly destroy a Barrow-wight before it could ford the Brandywine into the Shire. The fight attracts the attention of several Hobbit Shirriffs, but the Rangers manage to conceal their deed. Word is passed through “unobtrusive” channels to the Master of Buckland that he should set a few more stout souls to watching the boundaries. In the late winter, a Ranger named Cirion (alternatively, a friend of the company’s – see page 113) is attacked and killed by a Barrow-wight at the base of the Weather Hills. The creature then flees west before other Rangers can track it. Year 2975 (In this year, Gandalf asks for the company’s assistance in the early summer.) A Hobbit girl from Bree loses her way and wanders into the Barrow-downs at night early in the autumn. She survives the experience, and upon her return she tells the tale of how she found refuge atop one of the hills, and how a Barrow-wight came for her, but did not get near until daybreak. The story swiftly became the talk of the town in Bree. The company first hear this tale told in late spring or early summer of 2976, unless their adventures took them somewhere near Bree (see Mirabella’s Song on page 131). Year 2976 In the spring, a determined group of Rangers fights off a group of Barrow-wights wandering along the East Road. The Rangers speak with some apprehension of how close the Wights were getting to Weathertop, and how difficult it was for them to stop them. In the summer, Rangers watching the Shire report ghostly figures spying the land of the Hobbits from a distance. Year 2977 More and more witnesses report seeing Barrow-wights in full daylight. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
112 Ruins of the North - Part One - The Vigilance of Mithrandir It is the lot of all Wizards to ponder, ruminating over scraps of news and lore for long, wearying hours, far past the point when other less-wisdom filled heads would have sought their rest. Even so, Gandalf the Grey is far more frequently given to brooding than others, and with good reason, for his cares are greater. Tidings from the west have been troubling of late: Barrow-wights have been seen beyond the borders of the Barrow-downs… As the Grey Pilgrim’s thoughts once lingered in the East, contemplating the dangers of a Dragon running rampant throughout the North, they have recently, unexpectedly, turned to the West and not just towards his friends in the Shire, but to the dark land not so far from their borders. If the Dragon of Erebor could have been used to serve the Shadow’s purposes, how much worse could come from an army of the undead rising in the very heart of Eriador? Little, in truth, is known of what really happened to Tyrn Gorthad. Many hold that the Witch-king of Angmar was behind its blight (see The History of Tyrn Gorthad box below), but where is the proof of this? And why did it take him so very long to enact his evil against a people that were already beaten? Why did the greatest of the Nazgûl go to such lengths, if not part of a move of a grander scheme? Gandalf the Grey slowly puffs away at his pipe, thinking, and a plan begins to form... Elvish Singing & Dark Tidings The company has been invited to Rivendell, to take part in a celebration commemorating the anniversary of a legendary victory from the First Age. There is to be a great The History of Tyrn Gorthad Characters with the appropriate Traits will doubtless want to know exactly what they do know about the history of the Barrow-downs. What is generally known by the folk of Eriador is that the Barrow-downs are a place to avoid if you wish to stay alive. The perpetually fog-shrouded hills are covered with grave markers so weathered that whomever they once venerated or whatever they once represented is long lost to time. Stone doors in the sides of the hills mark the greatest of the tombs, but robbers that seek after such things are considered to be fools, one and all. The barrows are cursed and their owners are restless. Nothing good ever comes of interfering with the dead. If a traveller must pass through the Barrow-downs, they go quickly and only by day. Generally folks take the extra time to travel around them, especially since the great East Road lies immediately north of the Downs and the Old Forest borders them to the west. Those whose lore or memory reaches back into the past (those with the appropriate Lore Traits) may be considered to possess a knowledge comparable to the information about the Barrow-downs presented in Rivendell on page 60 and 61, and here further detailed. Tyrn Gorthad was once one of the most sacred sites in all the West. The Great Barrows were originally built by Men living in Eriador before the Men of the West came to the shores of Middle-earth. Their funerary tradition was maintained by Elendil and his heirs, until the wars with Angmar many centuries later. When in the year 1409 of the Third Age the armies of the Witchking destroyed the Tower of Amon Sûl and ravaged the kingdom of Cardolan, the few surviving Dúnedain took refuge in the hills of Tyrn Gorthad where they made their homes for two more centuries. Then, a terrible plague from the south devastated their numbers. Not long after, evil spirits arose from under the barrows and slaughtered or drove out all that remained. From that time forth, the Barrow-wights ruled the Barrow-downs and the Dúnedain only tread there with great care. Many among the Wise and the Rangers of the North believe that the Witch-king of Angmar sent the evil spirits that dwell in the Barrow-downs. Others hold that the many deaths caused by the plague awoke something sinister that already slumbered beneath the barrows.
113 deal of singing, along with feasting, and the telling of ancient legends that are seldom recounted in the twilight years of the Third Age. The valley of Imladris is dotted with great silver and gold lanterns that shine like stars even by day, but more so at night when they flare bright holding back the dark, save where the Elves have purposefully dimmed them to create a continuous twilight amidst the trees. Wine and good cheer fills the valley, along with fair voices raised in hymns to Elbereth. The characters all have glasses of whatever they most like to drink thrust into their hands as they wander down towards the House of Elrond. The companions are hailed by friends and acquaintances (the more so if Master Elrond is one of their Patrons or Rivendell has been opened as a sanctuary) with a few asking what news they bring. A successful Insight roll notices that some of the Elves are hiding some sorrow. When asked at first, they avert saying it isn’t the time for grim tidings, but if pressed they will sadly note that news of the death of a Ranger who was greatly esteemed in Rivendell has recently come to the valley. His name was Cirion, a kindly Dúnadan, and he was well loved for both his wisdom and his singing voice. (If possible, this should instead be a Ranger the player-heroes knew and liked – perhaps Randír from The Company of the Wain). They don’t know any of the details as yet, other than that he was apparently killed near the Weather Hills. Master Elrond’s Summons After the characters have had a few hours to enjoy themselves, perhaps during a break between tales, a messenger comes to them saying that Master Elrond requests their presence. The player-heroes are led to a beautiful library on the second floor of the house, a room with enough comfortable chairs to serve as a meeting room. Elrond already stands in the room, holding a long tapering crystalline wine glass and turns, smiling, to greet the company as they arrive. “Ah, here they are. Welcome and thank you all for coming. May I present my dear friend, Mithrandir, or as he is frequently called in the North, Gandalf the Grey.” Gandalf! There is not one child in the north that has not heard at least one remarkable tale about the Wandering Wizard. He steps out of the shadows of the room, where he was hidden in an alcove, and regards the company with his penetrating dark eyes beneath long, bushy white eyebrows. He wears a simple grey cloak and his immense silver beard which hangs to his waist. In one hand he holds a glass twinned to the one Elrond is drinking from and with his other, he gestures towards a small assortment of similar ones along with a decanter of wine, while asking the company to join them. Set Tolerance Gandalf values Wisdom and Valour both, so the Encounter’s initial Tolerance is equal to the highest of either attribute in the company. Increase the Tolerance of the encounter by 1 if there are any Elves in the company, and by an additional 1 if there are any Rangers of the North. Finally, if Master Elrond is well disposed to the party, add another +1; if Elrond is a formal Patron of the party, add +3 instead. Add similar bonuses for far-travelling groups, if they are friendly with Beorn or Radagast. Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter This encounter is a bit different from most adventures for The One Ring Roleplaying Game: Gandalf has already chosen the company for his quest (whether they like it or not!) or he wouldn’t be meeting with them at all. The successes rolled throughout the encounter allow the Loremaster to determine just how far into his confidence Gandalf is willing to let the characters at this time. Far too often, treachery has undone his plans against the Shadow. What the Wizard has learned about the company gives him hope, their past actions are inspiring, and the assessment of Master Elrond means much to him, but still, he must judge for himself how far he can trust them – this is vitally important, because Gandalf will have to place his life in their hands before the end… Introduction Gandalf already knows perfectly well who the members of the company are and has no particular need to hear their presentations embellished upon. All the companions need do is have a spokesman give their names. An Insight roll will easily reveal this. Otherwise, Courtesy will do. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
114 Ruins of the North Playing Gandalf the Grey "Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." Stare right at members of the company when they are talking to you, as if weighing every word. When considering your own words, stroke your long beard, or take slow, thoughtful puffs off your pipe. You have more cares than most will ever comprehend, yet mirth and hope still bubble up within you, appearing at unexpected times. You can play the doddering old man if it suits you, but most times, you’re swift of action and razor sharp of tongue. You always know more than you let on. Always. Interaction After the group has become acquainted, Gandalf settles himself into one of the cushioned chairs surrounding the table, gesturing for the company to do likewise. Elrond also sits, but for the most part, he only listens to the rest of the conversation, though he responds when spoken to; however, his keen glance seldom leaves the company as they interact with the Wizard. Gandalf steeples his fingers and asks: “What do you know of Barrow-wights?” The company can answer as they will. They may have faced such creatures during their adventures before, which they can recount with an appropriate task (a roll of Inspire, Song or using the Story-telling Trait). Otherwise a Lore test will bring up what they heard about them: that they are undead, walking in the hollow places under the Great Barrows of Tyrn Gorthad. A Ranger making a Riddle roll can recall rumours, in Dúnedain circles, of a Barrow-wight having been encountered outside Bree within the last few years. When the party is finished, Gandalf says, “Late this past winter, a Ranger named Cirion was slain on the Weather Hills by a Barrow-wight, over a hundred miles from the Barrow-downs. Early last year, a Wight was destroyed inside the borders of the Shire. Within the last two years, another one was encountered on a street leading to Bree. One or two can be chance. Three?” Gandalf pauses and looks about the room. “You are, none of you, fools or you would not be here. The Dark Lord openly declared himself nearly three decades ago now, though his plots and agents were in motion long years before that. We cannot claim to know what is on his mind, but one thing is certain – Sauron would see the valley of Imladris dealt with once and for all, along with those who dwell within it. I once spent a very long time indeed thinking about how to remove a live Dragon from the North, lest see it one day be used against the House of Elrond.” “The Barrow-wights are an evil to which we have long grown accustomed and we think of them but little. Their recent restlessness made me start asking questions. This winter I woke to a sudden fear, one I had not yet considered: what if they are more than the cursed guardians of tombs? What if they are an army, sitting in the very heart of Eriador, awaiting their master’s call? I resolved to know more and opened my mind to Master Elrond.” “Here in this place of lore I have discovered much, yet there might be more that is hidden from me, secreted where I cannot go without the Enemy immediately knowing; in the north, where the witch-realm of Angmar once stood. Now, I know you’ve been to Carn Dûm itself. A touchy business that, yet here you all are. For the safety of all Eriador and this house, I must ask you to return to Angmar and retrieve the information I seek.” Below are some of the company’s likely questions and Gandalf’s responses; an Insight, Persuade or Riddle roll is suitable for each. What do you hope to learn? “Many scholars and the wisest among the Dúnedain assume that it was the Witch-king who cursed the Barrowdowns. But there is no irrefutable proof of this, and I need more than speculations. If that proves to be the case, then I need to learn what sort of spells the Black Captain wrought in order to have any chance of undoing them.”
115 How do you know what you seek is there? “After the fall of the Witch-king, much of his realm was destroyed. But a measure of lore about the lay of that land survived and was preserved here in Rivendell. Among the figured maps of Master Elrond there are some marking the location of many fastnesses and watchtowers that once stood throughout the Mountains of Angmar.” “The location of one of such places, located furthest away from Carn Dûm, has been annotated by the Elven scribe who drew the map, and identified as ‘Nan Gorthrim’. As Master Elrond here can confirm, that is Sindarin for ‘Valley of the Dead’, a name that other tales associate closely with the Witch-king and the working of sorcery.” What will we be looking for? “I am seeking a writing, or maybe a collection of writings, inscribed using a peculiar set of symbols. They could be carved on stone walls, worked in metal or penned on rolls of parchment perhaps. I will show you drawings of such symbols and teach you how to recognise them.” Where is this Nan Gorthrim? “North-east of Mount Gram, below one of the southeasternmost peaks of the mountains of Angmar. Its distance from Carn Dûm is another reason why I think it is the place we seek. The Witch-king needed a secret place, away from the chaos of ruling a kingdom and mustering armies of Orcs and Trolls.” Why aren’t you coming with us? “The journey will take you deep into a Shadow Land, a place where there might be watchers set to spy upon any trespassers. If I was to enter that land, then the purpose of our quest, or at least its significance for the Free Peoples, would be immediately revealed.” How much help are we going to receive? “Master Elrond has already agreed to outfit our expedition. I shall accompany you to the edge of the wastes and there await your return.” Compare the number of successful rolls the companions have made during their conversation with Gandalf against the entries below. While Gandalf was fairly certain that the company was his choice, the number of successes indicates just how far into his confidence the old conjurer is willing to bring them. 0-2: Gandalf is wary. Something is amiss with this company: they seem to be somewhat less than he was led to believe, which makes him fear that the heroes have weaknesses that the Enemy will be ready to exploit. Gandalf is willing to accompany the characters, but will say little of what he thinks, spending most of his time studying them closely. He will escort the characters to the camp of the Rangers, but will leave promptly when the company’s “three weeks” is up (see page 118). 3-5: Gandalf is satisfied with the player-heroes. He confesses to them that he fears there might have been more encounters with the Barrow-wights beyond the borders of the Barrow-downs than have been signalled, and that they’ve been increasing yearly. He will lead the company all the way to the shadow of Mount Gram, sharing much of what he knows and strange tales besides. He will await the player-heroes’ return beyond the time he says he will. All companions gain an additional Experience point from travelling with Gandalf. 6+: Gandalf is impressed. The entry for 2-5 applies, but all the characters will instead get 2 extra Experience points, as Gandalf will be particularly informative during the journey. Gandalf and Elrond are aware they’ve just asked the company to go into a great deal of peril on an uncertain mission with little reward. If the company refuses, they’re disappointed but understanding. If this happens, Gandalf eventually determines he must go himself, despite the consequences. This has repercussions later in the adventure: see page 137; however, the Loremaster may still contrive for the company to get involved, see the end of Part Three – The Tower of Icy Flame on page 126 for details. The Dark Heart of the Matter If the company agrees to undertake Gandalf’s quest, they spend a few weeks at Rivendell planning, going over old maps, talking to Elves that had been to Angmar long ago (including Glorfindel, whose recent forays in Nightmares of Angmar took him back to that realm), and speaking to a few Rangers who’ve been there more recently. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
116 Ruins of the North The general consensus is that things are getting worse in the North: the Shadow is slowly lengthening, Trolls are a growing menace, and are occasionally seen far from the Coldfells and the Ettenmoors. Before the company sets out, Gandalf makes sure to find the time to illustrate to the heroes the runic marks he is seeking. The Grey Pilgrim arranges for a private meeting with Erestor, Rivendell’s foremost expert on written languages, and one or two companions, those whose abilities distinguish them as the more scholarly types – heroes possessing at least three ranks in the Lore skill, or a relevant Trait. The chosen characters are subjected by Erestor to an erudite examination of the many tongues of the Elves, Men and Orcs that were ever used to weave spells of sorcery. The skilful scribe of Imladris delves deep into the subject, showing the characters several examples of manuscripts taken from the collection of Elrond. Then, Gandalf takes on the subject most pertinent to the quest at hand: the tongue of the Black Land. Erestor takes out a handful of withered scrolls, held by several waxen seals and passes them over to Gandalf. With a worried look creasing his brow, the Wizard carefully proceeds to break the seals, and to unfold before the companions a number of sheets of parchment, their surface thickly covered by covered by evil-looking runes arranged in spiralling patterns. “In the Dark Years, Sauron devised a language for his servants to use.” Gandalf explains. “In his pride he envisioned a world united under his rule and populated by slaves knowing no speech than his own. But Sauron knew many defeats, and the Black Speech of Mordor failed to spread even among his servants. Today, no Orcs know how to speak it, save for their captains and foremost champions, and they do so use a debased form, appropriate to their curses and profanities. “Only the Nazgûl know the tongue of the Black Land in its ancient form, and only their Black Captain had the cunning to conceive and develop letters to write it. “The writings you will look for are composed using the symbols that the Lord of the Nazgûl himself devised for the study and application of sorcery. These Morgul-runes are foul signs, created to carry the meaning of a detestable language and to preserve the power of ancient spells.” Gandalf makes sure that everyone has had a good look at the scrolls, then he hastily rolls them up again, setting them aside. “What I am asking you is to bring back to Rivendell any scroll or book written using the runes of the Lord of Morgul, or to otherwise copy any such writing you encounter. Be careful, as such is the malevolence of these sorcerous runes that you might find yourself able to read them, even if you have never encountered such writ before. The Lord of the Ringwraiths used this ruse before to enthral many of his current servants… “Let me repeat this: do not attempt to decipher the runes, nor do not linger to look at them for too long. And if you find yourself able to comprehend their meaning, by no means utter any of the words they represent! Spells of ancient sorcery are not things to be trifled with…”
117 - Part Two - Return to Angmar Summer has begun when the company sets out from Rivendell accompanied by Gandalf the Grey. They all ride the best of horses that the stables of Imladris had to offer: clever, swift and sure of foot. Their packs are filled with provisions and their spirits are high. Additionally, their horses are laden with full sets of winter equipment for each of the companions. The Journey The first leg of the journey takes the company west from Rivendell to the south-western end of the Trollshaws and the Last Bridge. On the second leg of their trip, they head almost directly north across the Lone-lands of Eriador, veering a little west so as not to come too close to Mount Gram. The Rangers of the North have a small outpost there, hidden amidst the hills along the edge of Angmar’s waste. There Gandalf will remain with the horses as the company sets out on foot north-east towards the supposed location of the valley of Nan Gorthrim. From Rivendell to the Last Bridge The company heads west along the East Road making good time. Brightly coloured butterflies flit across their path and it’s hard to imagine that there are troubles elsewhere in the world. Gandalf is mostly lost in thought, though he eventually responds cheerfully if spoken to. • 120 miles lie between Rivendell and the Last Bridge. Fair company and swift horses on a good road reduce this to a mere 2 days and a single Fatigue test. Hazard Suggestions Travelling with the Grey Pilgrim along a sunny road in the summer doesn’t exactly conjure up thoughts of “danger” other than from an overly hot sun, but the Wild is the Wild… Summer Storm (All Companions – Fatigue) After passing under the forest eaves, the company can’t see the rapidly changing weather patterns sweeping south from over the Trollshaws. A sudden squall catches them unaware as they gallop along the road. The company must make Explore rolls to quickly find shelter, or their next Fatigue test is increased in difficult by one level (TN +2) due to all of their gear being thoroughly soaked. n a Rivendell E c The Angle The Troll-Hole E The Last Bridge Castle Hill E E The Refuge of the Dúnedain n Lone-lands Mount Gram The Peak of Mount Gram The Grey Waste o o Mountains of Angmar o E Golfimbul’s Gully E E The Burial Bog E n The Refuge of the Rangers E Nan Gorthrim Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
118 Ruins of the North From the Last Bridge to the Hidden Refuge of the Rangers The company passes north over green grasslands and wooded hills all but abandoned by man. These lands clearly once held many people, for ruins dot the landscape, but they are all covered in greenery now. The summer sun grows steadily colder and soon ceases to give any cheer as the characters continue over the grasslands to the wastes south of Angmar. • This leg of the journey is 160 miles over pathless wilderness. Fortunately, Eriador is green in the summer and the rolling hills make for fast going. It takes 12 days to reach the secret refuge west of the long shadow of Mount Gram and two Fatigue tests at TN 16. Gandalf leads the company to a hidden Dúnedain camp some 40 miles west of the foothills of Mount Gram. Distant enough, but still, perhaps too close for comfort. Hazard Suggestions The farther the company travels north, the more their gloom increases and the terrain, which started bright green, slowly fades to a dull grey and turns increasingly hostile. Unfriendly Eyes (All Companions – Dangerous Meeting) Gandalf brings his horse to an abrupt halt, his gaze set sharply to the east. He suddenly leaps off his horse, swiftly pulling it into the cover of a copse of trees, while telling the company in a low terse voice, “Swiftly, into the trees. Hide!” All the character must make either Athletics or Stealth rolls to swiftly conceal themselves. A dust cloud appears in the distance and sharp eyed characters can see a hunting party of Orcs from Mount Gram running over the hills. Note any failures – the characters won’t be attacked at this time, but the Orcs scent them on the wind… and recognise the smell on the waste on the next leg of the company’s journey! (See the Stalking Orcs episode opposite). The Refuge of the Rangers The refuge is hidden in a small gully, beneath a natural optical illusion. It appears to be nothing more than a few boulders set amidst some sparse trees, but if approached at just the right angle and taking the right turn, a maze of stones (with several dead ends) leads down into a small natural cavern. The horses must enter one at a time, but there is more than enough room for them, plus the company and their gear. A small natural stream runs along part of the cavern, which Gandalf indicates is safe to drink from. No one else is currently there, but the place looks like it’s occupied from time to time. Gandalf kindles a warm fire and tells the companions tales of heroes long past, whose deeds have been forgotten by all but him. The voice of the Grey Pilgrim softly lulls them into a deep sleep. In the early morning the companions awake with a surprising zest, as if they slept on deep mattresses: they all reduce their Fatigue rating by 1 point, if they’ve gained any so far. After breakfast, the Wizard passes over a rough map showing the location of Nan Gorthrim, handing to the scholarly heroes he selected for the task several rolls of newly scraped parchment and writing implements.
119 “We come to it at last. I shall await you here. If you have not returned after three weeks, I shall deem that you are not returning at all. Know that I would not ask this of any of you, if it was not of the greatest importance. Go quickly, quietly, and with my blessing.” From the Refuge of the Rangers to Nan Gorthrim The final part of the company’s journey is by far the most dangerous. The characters swiftly pass into the barren lands that mark the southern outer reaches of Angmar and eventually into the perilous region known as the Grey Waste, a desolate country filled with grey scrub and stunted, gnarled trees. It is swiftly obvious why it would have been dangerous to bring horses here: the broken ground conceals countless holes and pockmarks where a horse’s leg would readily break. The sky is perpetually overcast and gloomy. It is hard to believe that it is summer in Eriador, for there is no trace of it here. (For more information about Angmar and the Grey Waste, see Rivendell, page 48.) • Travelling on foot from the hidden camp of the Rangers to Nan Gorthrim is a daunting task, sure to put to the test the hardiest of adventurers. It’s a 100-mile trek, heading north-east across the Grey Waste. It takes 25 days for the company to reach the Valley of the Dead. It requires 5 Fatigue tests at TN 18. They also have to make a single Corruption test, as the valley of Nan Gorthrim is considered Blighted (see The One Ring Roleplaying Game, page 223). After a few days of travel over their wastes, snow drifts appear and flurries occasionally assail the company. The cold gets steadily worse as the southernmost of Angmar’s mountains grows continually higher on the horizon as they pass east. Hazard Suggestions The Grey Waste of Angmar is a Shadow Land and conceals many perils. See Rivendell, page 55 for further inspiration. Blinding Glare (All Companions – Strain) The company is traversing a plain of bone-white ashes, and the light of the summer sun reflects upon its surface even if the sky is overcast. All companions must make a Travel test to limit their exposition to the blinding luminescence. Failure indicates they lose a Success die’s worth of Endurance. Mourning Shade (Look-out Man – Misery) A moaning spectre visits a Look-out man every night, to tell the tale of how he and his family died when Orcs fleeing the advance of the Men of the West put his village to the torch. The companion must pass a Fear test or be considered temporarily Miserable for the length go the journey. Wolves (All Companions – Dangerous Meeting) A pack of starving, ferocious wolves is wandering the waste, led astray from the mountains by an ash storm. The hungry beasts follow the heroes from a distance, but won’t attack them openly. They look for stragglers instead, or consider attacking a Look-out Man at night. These wolves are Wild Wolves, as described on page 246 of The One Ring Roleplaying Game. Packs generally have 4 to 6 members. Stalking Orcs (All Companions – Dangerous Meeting) If the company experienced the Unfriendly Eyes hazard during the previous leg of the journey, they are now ambushed by the band of Orcs of Mount Gram that smelled them before. The Loremaster must set up a combat encounter based on the company’s current circ*mstances (rules for the Orcs of Mount Gram can be found in Rivendell, page 73). - Part Three - The Valley of the Dead Mithrandir’s research was accurate; the frozen valley that the company enters upon leaving behind the Grey Waste of Angmar is indeed worthy of being called “Nan Gorthrim”, for it is here that the Witch-king worked his foul sorceries of old. The Morgul-lord studied his dark matters behind the stone walls of a tower, and that tower miraculously escaped the destruction of Angmar and is still standing today. The Hill-men who used to live in the valley named the tower the “Icy Flame” for the eldritch energies that ignited the sky about the fastness and made it appear as if the snow itself was burning with blue-green flame. Nan Gorthrim opens at the southernmost end of the Frozen Path, the hidden road that runs across the Mountains of Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
120 Ruins of the North Angmar (see Rivendell, page 52). Fortunately, the company doesn’t have to walk that cursed trail: rather, they pass through the foothills and up a winding track that eventually leads into the valley itself. It is a long and narrow dale, cut by many streams of dirty or even poisonous water, flowing down from the sides of the dark mountain range. The land is lifeless and empty, nothing seems to grow here, and no sound can be heard echoing against the sides of the valley as the company makes its progress. Eventually, the companions arrive in sight of their destination: the stonework of the Tower of Icy Flame is barely visible through the ice and snow encrusted about the side of the mountain that it is carved from. It seems to have no discernible “door” or entrance that can be seen from a distance. Windows sealed with great iron shutters and rimmed with ice open about the very top of the tower. Gandalf’s map roughly indicates the location of a tunnel entrance at its base that eventually leads to the tower itself, but there are no details of the interior. The Stairway A successful Explore roll will bring the company to the right winding track: a treacherous staircase that winds steadily upwards along the mountainside. A failure indicates they have taken the wrong path: they still reach the staircase, but each member of the company gains 1 point of Fatigue as they spend many hours climbing a frozen rock face. When they reach the staircase, they find that it is cut from a reddish stone, and that it emerges from the surrounding snow and ice because a rivulet of water runs along its steps like a diminutive waterfall. Wisps of vapour rise from the thin film of running water, twisting about the staircase. To climb the stairs, the companions need to pass an Athletics test. It is a hard climb, made worse by the wet, slippery steps (TN 16). If a companion fails the Athletics test, he slips off the steps and falls! If this happens, the player-hero must the Feat die and consult the table below: C The companion falls off the winding stairs and hits the frozen ground. suffering a Wound. 1-4 Several of the ancient steps shatter and fall away! The companion on them loses a number of Endurance points equal to double the Feat die result as they fall hard onto the next stillintact steps. Additionally, the Target Number of the climb for any companion behind them on the stairs is immediately increased by +2 as they must now navigate the huge gap. 5-10 The companion slams down hard on the icy stairs, losing a number of Endurance points equal to the Feat die result. A The companion slips, but finds a handhold before falling off the stairs.
121 At the top, the stairs reach a stone ledge that seems made out of a single, gigantic slab of dark red marble. Here, the companions find the source of the water that trickles down the stairway: it drops from high above right on the stone ledge, probably from the thawing of the ice crowning the top of the tower. Before the heroes, a wide entrance gapes like an open wound along the western face of the mountain, leading into a vast tunnel. Under the Tower The tunnel leads straight into the mountainside, until it reaches a ’T’ junction. The left-hand path leads into a maze of rough-hewn stone passages, the other heads up towards the upper levels of the Tower of the Icy Flame proper (see The Tower, on page 123). The maze to the left is empty and dark, and most passages lead only to dead-ends; a thorough and wearisome search will locate a narrow corridor that gradually slopes downward, until it reaches a steep staircase leading to the underground dungeons beneath the tower. A draft of cold, rank air blows from below. A Patch of Midnight It is completely lightless inside the Tower of Icy Flame. Characters without light are at a severe disadvantage. • The difficulty of any roll using a Perception, Movement or Survival skill is raised by one level (TN +2). Fighting companions are considered to be severely hindered when attacking and defending. Fortunately, Gandalf thought this circ*mstance likely. Every member of the company carries two torches that Gandalf prepared himself. They burn brightly and long, but not forever: • Whenever a player carrying a torch gets an C result in any roll, he must spend one point of Hope or the torch sputters out and cannot be relit. The Goblins of the Tower of Icy Flame The Tower of Icy Flame and the complex of underground passages that wind beneath it is the domain of a group of Goblins of Carn Dûm. These weak but canny creatures were abandoned by their slavers long ago and have led a quiet life ever since, never getting too far away from the protection of their underground lair. They fully intend to continue this way, and will consider with attention how to proceed against a group of well-armed intruders such as the companions. The Goblins discover immediately that someone has entered their domain, but they know that strength is not on their side. They will then try to exploit their advantage of knowing the territory. They know every nook and cranny of the ancient structure, and will use every secret passage and spy hole to observe the companions from a distance, being careful not to give away their presence. For the length of their stay, the companions will always feel like they are being watched, but they will be unable to identify the reason why. They might at times spot small movements at the corner of their eyes, or hear distant scuttling sounds, or the soft thump of furtive steps above them, but will unable to actually see the Goblin scouts that track their every movement. The Goblins will continue to watch the heroes until they commit a mistake, like splitting the party or leave someone behind. When this finally happens, the Goblins will summon the Deadly One and ask him to solve their problem. The Deadly One is a very old monster, a Great Orc so ancient that he was among those who fought alongside the Lord of the Nazgûl himself when he was the king of the witch-realm of Angmar. There are another 60 Goblins or so deep down in the bowels of the mountain. The company has a fair amount of time to finish their business and be gone before the Goblins take action, but if the companions linger too much the Loremaster will take action and set up a confrontation. The Deadly One The Deadly One is a Great Orc with only one eye on his misshapen face, a baleful red orb that is so eerily positioned that it looks like it is set in the middle of his forehead. He is a cruel and dangerous creature, and he doesn’t like to be awakened from his slumber… When the Loremaster considers it appropriate, he will ambush the companions, and attack with a small horde of Goblins to precede him. Considering how well they Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
122 Ruins of the North know the tower, the Goblins will always choose the best place to set up their surprise attack, and will exploit any available advantage. The stats for the Deadly One are based on those of a Great Orc, reinforced by two new special abilities taken from the Rivendell guide (see the Powerful Adversaries chapter, page 67). Attribute Level 7 Endurance Hate 48 8 Parry Armour 5+2 (shield) 4d Skills Personality, 3 Survival, 2 Movement, 2 Custom, 2 Perception, 3 Vocation, 3 Weapon Skills Heavy Scimitar (2h) 4 Broad-headed Spear 3 Special Abilities Deadly Elusiveness* Great Size Hideous Toughness Horrible Strength Commanding Voice - *The Great Orc can be engaged in close combat only by heroes fighting in Forward stance. The Deadly One maintains this special ability as long as he is fighting alongside a horde of Goblins (see their description below). Weapons: Weapon type Damage Edge Injury Called Shot Heavy Scimitar (2h) 7 9* 17 Break shield Broad-headed Spear 5 10 12 Pierce Heavy Scimitar : * The Deadly One’s Heavy Axe is augmented by the Deadly* special ability (its Edge rating is lower than normal by 2 points). Broad-headed Spear: The Deadly One always initiate combat by hurling his spear at a target wielding a long range weapon (if available). Goblins Horde (Goblins of Carn Dûm) Attribute Level 2 Endurance Hate 10 2 Parry Armour 3 2d Skills Personality, 1 Survival, 2 Movement, 3 Custom, 1 Perception, 3 Vocation, 1 Weapon Skills Broad-bladed sword 2 Bow of Horn 1 Special Abilities Craven Hate Sunlight Hatred (Dúnedain) Hatred (Elves) Special: When the Deadly One attacks, he is preceded by a small horde of Goblins. There is apparently no end to their number: the Loremaster allocates 2 Goblins for every
123 companion, always leaving 4 Goblins to shoot the company using their bows. Whenever a Goblin dies, another takes its place the following round. When the companions have slain at least 12 Goblins the reinforcements stop. Additionally, the Deadly One ceases to enjoy his Deadly Elusiveness special ability. Weapons: Weapon type Damage Edge Injury Called Shot Broad-bladed sword 5 10 14 Poison Bow of Horn 4 10 12 Poison The Tower If the companions take the right-hand tunnel from the entrance, they find that it winds upward, soon turning from exceedingly crudely formed to skilled stone work. Ground Floor 1. The Broken Entranceway: Once there was an imposing entranceway carved out of the rock here, designed to look like a leering face, with vast doors set within its jaws. No more. The doors are long since rotted away and the ends of the rock have been broken, as though something burst through them long ago. A Dwarven player-hero can immediately tell that the stonework is of Dwarven make. Something is slightly wrong with it, though. A successful Riddle test suggests the exact flaw: there is no joy in this work, it was doubtless carved by Dwarven slaves. 2. Guardroom: Beyond the entrance there is a room that once served as a guard post. It’s door is still intact. Stone alcoves line the room, evidence of rusted weapons remain, but it has long since been picked clean by Goblins. 3. Main Hall: A huge circular hall, with a once-polished marble floor, now cracked and pitted with age. A few pieces of broken masonry lie about the room, but it is mostly clean. A massive staircase sweeps up along the wall disappearing to the upper floors where it touches the 40-foot high ceiling. A small cupboard of sorts is under the staircase, but it holds nothing of value. Three great lanterns of wrought black metal hang from the ceiling, suspended by heavy chains affixed to the walls at different points. A Craft test will readily figure out how to lower the lanterns, which hold candles that will still burn, lighting up the room with a sickly yellow light; however, the sounds of a lantern being lowered and raised will alert the Deadly One that someone is about. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
124 Ruins of the North First Floor 4. Landing: At the top of the stairs, there is a wide landing on the first floor of the tower. A shuttered and barred window is set in the wall. It is inoperable (the outside is covered with ice). A massive, broken doorway leads into a room beyond and the vast staircase continues up in a spiral along the tower wall. 5. The Lair of the Deadly One: Whatever purpose this room once served, it has since been turned into the lair of the Deadly One. A huge makeshift bed built using bones, pieces of shattered furniture, blocks of marble and a hundred different types of cloth, furs and skins occupies one corner. Here the Deadly One normally slumbers, but the bed is now empty, as the Great Orc has been warned of the company’s arrival. In the centre of the room, set within an alcove where he can view it, is the hoard of the Deadly One: a wealth of icy gems, ill-gotten silver, and old armaments worth Treasure 100**, piled up here by the Goblins of the Tower who accumulated it in years of plundering and searching ruins. There is a stout door on the far side of the room, across from the alcove. Strangely, it is clearly untouched. 6. The Sorcerer’s Study: Characters attempting to approach this door find their hearts racing faster and faster, with icy tendrils of dread running through them as they reach for the handle. Player-heroes must pass a Fear test (TN 18) to open this door. Failure means they cannot bring themselves to do it. The room beyond is a high-ceilinged chamber with no windows nor tables or chairs. Several hollows dug into the walls were clearly used as a bookshelf, as a number of those still have scrolls of parchment sticking out of them. An ornate lectern of wrought iron lies toppled on the floor. If the companions unroll them, they discover that a number of scrolls are written using the same runes that Gandalf showed them in Rivendell. 7. Conjuring Chamber: The top of the tower is a wide chamber with a smooth floor and featureless walls of dark red marble. Four mullioned glass windows are set at each of the four cardinal directions. They are tall and narrow, and currently sealed with heavy iron shutters. The atmosphere here feels particularly oppressive and suffocating, the darkness hard to dispel by torchlight. The cold that permeates every other part of the tower is replaced here by a sinister warmth that emanates from the walls themselves and explains the thawing of the ice trapping the top of the structure. A character who proposes a Search roll and succeeds discovers that there are four levers concealed at the base of each window; operating each lever opens the corresponding iron shutter. If the companions open one or more windows during the day, the light washes over the chamber walls in shades of many colours, revealing an intricate web of finely etched runes covering every smooth surface in the room. The signs correspond to the symbols that Gandalf is searching for. Copying the Black Speech To accomplish what the Grey Wizard asked them to do, the companions must bring back documents written using the Morgul-runes they have been shown in Rivendell. As described above, several scrolls in the Sorcerer’s Study display such writing, and these are easily taken and added to the company’s carried gear. The runes etched on the walls of the Conjuring Chamber are a different matter: if they want to bring proof of this find back to Rivendell, the companions must take out their writing implements and patiently copy the markings on the parchment provided by Gandalf, a pen in one hand and a candle in another. • After every two hours of patient copying each character is allowed to make a Lore roll. The Loremaster should take note of the number of successes obtained by any companion writing down the runes, as this total will later influence the research of Gandalf the Grey (see page 137). A great success equates to two successful rolls, and an extraordinary success to three successful rolls. But copying sorcerous spells is a dangerous endeavour; to their dismay, the heroes discover that the more they look at the spiralling script the more they seem to comprehend the meaning of the various symbols… for every Lore roll, the copying companions must pass a Corruption test. If the roll is failed the companion gains 1 point of Shadow and cannot continue to copy (he cannot make any further Lore rolls).
125 The Witch-king Sees The first time that a player-hero rolls an C on any roll while in the Conjuring Chamber, something uncanny happens: the companion is first heard muttering under his breath, and before anyone can intervene, he unwittingly utters a few words in what sounds like a harsh, menacing tongue: the Black Speech of Mordor! When this happens, a cold draft of air snuffs out all the candles at the same time, and the chamber grows dark. Then, thin lines of fire appear on the chamber walls. They soon race across the room, symbols and runes appearing as the fire traces over the stone. The room flares with eldritch light and the companions see clearly how the symbols that Gandalf was searching for cover every surface of the room: floor, walls and ceiling. There must be hundreds, maybe thousands of lines of Morgulrunes. With a final blinding flash, the darkness returns, weighing upon the heroes with a new sense of oppression, as if a malevolent will was bent upon them, gazing into their souls. • All companions are now considered to be temporarily Weary. Each companion will remain Weary as long as he is inside the tower, or until he rolls a A on a following die roll. If that was not enough, the commotion caused by the sorcerous conflagration probably offers the best occasion for the Goblins of the Tower to take their chance and attack the company in the Conjuring Chamber... Getting Out Alive After they’ve gotten what they came for, the company still has to get out. If they dawdled too long in the Icy Flame and they haven’t been attacked yet they run the risk of being ambushed by the Deadly One as they are trying to leave. If this is the case, the Great Orc will ambush the companions as they enter the Main Hall. A swift-thinking character can try to drop one or more of the hall’s lanterns onto the Deadly One. It takes a Craft test to disengage the mechanism at just the right moment to hit the Great Orc with the falling lantern. On a success, the monster suffers a loss of Endurance equal to the roll of three Success dice. If the Craft test is a great success add two Success dice, four on an extraordinary success. Once the Great Orc gets hit, he won’t fall for this trick again. The stairs leading down the valley of Nan Gorthrim are far easier to navigate on the way back down than up and the company can automatically traverse them. Return to Rivendell Presuming all went relatively smoothly, Gandalf meets with the company as they leave the Grey Waste. The night they spend in the refuge of the Rangers is the first comfortable rest the company has had in weeks. When the player-heroes show Gandalf what they found in the Tower of Icy Flame, he studies briefly every sample of writing by the firelight, muttering to himself with interest as he skims every parchment over. He then quickly lays everything aside, saying, “Best if I look at this far from here.” In Imladris It is still high summer in Eriador when the company sets out the following morning and the heroes make excellent time, returning to Rivendell some two months after they set out. Once there, Gandalf confers with Master Elrond and Erestor for several days, always in the company of one or more of the scholarly companions he prepared for the quest. One morning, Gandalf, Elrond and Erestor invite the company to meet them in the eastern porch to share their early conclusions. Master Elrond states: “Alas, it as is we have long suspected: the fears of the Dúnedain are not unfounded, the Witch-king is responsible for the darkness that plagues Tyrn Gorthad.” When he speaks at first, Gandalf practically spits the words in his anger. “Dark and terrible is the will of the Lord of the Nazgûl, exceeded in cruelty only by that of his Master. The Shadow over the Barrow-downs is not the work of a single curse. The Witch-king summoned hundreds, perhaps thousands of evil wights, dark and accursed, to haunt the hollow places beneath the green hills. It was the work of centuries of malice.” The Grey Pilgrim sighs deeply and calms down. “Yet there is a glimmer of hope – we do not think all went as he intended. From what we could glean from his writings, Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
126 Ruins of the North in the barrows the Morgul-lord encountered a power he wasn’t expecting to face, a force whose nature and purpose he didn’t understand, for it is older than he.” Erestor adds: “There is still much to learn yet from the scrolls you brought back from the cold and dreary lands of Angmar, and much we don’t yet understand. We thank you for the service you have done to the House of Elrond, and we encourage you to continue. If you will keep searching for answers on your own, you might well provide us with the key that will unlock the many riddles wrought by the evil cunning of the Lord of the Nazgûl.” “Erestor is right. There is much yet to unravel here,” concludes Gandalf, “but other pressing errands call and I must be off. If you were to look for me in these halls at the onset of winter, you may very well find me.” With a smile and a wink, he departs. On the following day, Mithrandir heads out from Rivendell. How to Continue Depending on how the Loremaster wishes to structure Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad another adventure could easily be inserted here, as it is still only mid-summer. The Trolls of the Ettenmoors have certainly been acting up of late, as have other less-than-savoury sorts and Master Elrond may wish the characters to look into various troubles that have come to his attention. Otherwise, it would be appropriate to conclude the Adventuring phase here, and initiate a Fellowship phase for the end of the year. Despite the dark times, the winter is bright in Rivendell. Characters choosing to spend their Fellowship phase in the Last Homely House may select any of the options listed on page 21 of Rivendell, and have a new option available to them – to confer with Gandalf himself! Good as his word, Mithrandir does indeed return to Imladris for the winter (see nearby box). Researching the Barrow-downs in Imladris Heroes spending the Fellowship phase in Rivendell may choose the Researching Lore in the House of Elrond undertaking to further investigate the mysteries of the Barrow-downs (see Rivendell, page 22). Should the undertaking yield one or more ‘useful elements of information’, the Loremaster may use The History of Tyrn Gorthad box on page 112 to fill his players in, along with one or more stories from the three tales detailed below. Secrets in Stone: Records kept in Imladris indicate that the Dúnedain of Cardolan buried many of their honoured dead in Tyrn Gorthad over the years. Following the tradition of that kingdom, the names and heroic deeds of those who were interred there were traditionally inscribed onto the stones placed atop their barrows. Some stories tell of Dúnedain who encountered Wights that emerged from barrows of individuals they knew in life – when hailed using the names of their departed friends, the Barrow-wights would look confused, as if struggling with themselves and occasionally let people flee, unharmed. • Studying the stones of the Barrow-downs might provide some useful answers. (See Part Four – On the Downs). The Story of Egalmir: Egalmir was a descendant of the chroniclers of the royal house of Cardolan. He lived in Arthedain at the time of the last war against Angmar. During his long life he continued the tradition of his family and preserved a wealth of lore, including a great deal of information about the evil spirits that came to infest the Barrow-downs. When the Witch-king seized Fornost in New Fellowship Phase Undertaking: Confer with Gandalf When companions spend a Fellowship phase in a location where Gandalf can be met, they may go and swap stories with the Wandering Wizard. A companion who has spent a Fellowship phase talking with Mithrandir may gain his next Lore or Travel level (player’s choice) at half the cost in Advancement points. Alternatively, they learn less, but have more fun and pick up one of Gandalf’s bad habits, acquiring the Smoking Trait.
127 1974 of the Third Age, Egalmir sealed his family’s records in a hidden vault. • Egalmir died before he could return to Fornost and his notes on where the vault was located, along with hints at the means required to open it, found their way to Rivendell (see Part Five – The Hidden Vault at Fornost). A Númenórean Tale: A tale of the Second Age, hearkening back to the time when the House of Elrond was founded, tells of a Númenórean captain who passed through Tyrn Gorthad returning home from the battle fought at Sarn Ford where Sauron himself was routed. Traversing the hills the captain stumbled upon a place where a fierce battle had recently taken place. The bodies of many Orcs and other fell creatures were strewn across the hills, amidst the remains of a number of Elven warriors. The greatest number of dead enemies were arranged in a wide circle about the remains of a single Elf-lord, clad in a bloodsoaked, once-golden cloak and wielding a bright blade (see also Part Six – Mirabella’s Song). “Mighty he must have been, even among the Eldar, though we knew not his name. I have never seen the like of his blade, silver run through with a black metal we could not identify. It had a curious name, engraved in the script of Eregion: ‘Dambeth Medui’ – ‘Last Answer’. We thought his people dead, it was long before we learned that some had survived, passing north. We buried him with honour in one of the eastern hills, his blade with him. A curious thing, one of my men told me that mallos flowers eventually grew on that hill, though otherwise, they have only been seen growing far to the south.” The mallos is a small, lovely wildflower, its name means “gold-snow” in Sindarin. None of the lore-masters of Rivendell can recall any blade named “Dambeth Medui” – but the last years of Eregion were dark ones and much knowledge was lost. Wherever the Road Leads Us The next three parts of Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad (Parts Four, Five and Six) are all optional – if the players never research the events behind the recent activities of the Barrow-wights and ignore rumours that come their way, they might never get to play them. Or, they might play through only one or two or them, based on what they deem to be worthy of their investigations. If the Loremaster is using the default pacing for this adventure, it is now the year 2976. The company may set off on exploits having little to do with Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad. If they do participate in a different adventure, one of the following parts could still be undertaken in late summer or early autumn. If the player-heroes do concentrate on investigating the Barrow-downs, they can complete two parts in one year. Gandalf encourages the company to learn whatever they can, especially if anything interesting was turned up during research over the winter. He has errands “away to the East” and will not be back in Eriador till the following year. - Part Four - On the Downs The green hills of the Barrow-downs hold no cheer. Wet and dreary, even in summer, they stretch out into the distance in a long line of monolith-crowned hills and oddly shaped tors. Fog fills the reaches between hills in the morning, shifting upwards to reform on the hilltops as the sun burns it off in the vales, before spilling back below to cover all again at twilight. Those who have visited the Barrowdowns before find them even more oppressive than they remember, as if the world is holding its breath, waiting… To Find You Must Seek A company seeking more information about what is going on with Tyrn Gorthad has a difficult task, in the main, because they don’t entirely know what they are looking for. Finally, the Barrow-downs are a blighted place, and their dark atmosphere threatens to mar the spirit of the most hardiest of adventurers: all companions must pass a Corruption test each day, or gain 1 point of Shadow (this presumes that the characters are regularly leaving the Barrow-downs at night to avoid camping directly on the Downs, which is probably an unattractive idea, to say the least). • Searching companions may choose to roll Explore or Search; each hero is allowed to make two rolls for Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
128 Ruins of the North every day of searching. A great success equates to two successful rolls, and an extraordinary success to three successful rolls. • For every six successful rolls accumulated by the company, the Loremaster reveals one clue from those listed below as the result of their search (the items are revealed in the order they are presented). • Each time the company learns something, the difficulty of any subsequent roll goes up by one level, thus it is TN 14 to learn the first useful piece of information, TN 16 to learn the second and TN 18 to learn the third. The more the company learns, the more the Barrow-downs seem to actively hinder them, fog shrouds what they seek in odd ways, and they easily lose track of which stones they’ve already inspected if they aren’t very careful… The Eye of Mordor If you are using the optional Eye of Mordor rules found within Rivendell, rolling an C while investigating the Barrow-downs increases the Eye Awareness by 3 points instead of 1. Needless to say, all revelation episodes during this part of the adventure will result in the Barrow-wights taking action against the trespassing adventurers. Companions researching Tyrn Gorthad directly among the barrows can unearth the following pieces of information: • Shrouded Names: If the companions inspect those barrows that were erected at the time of the kingdom of Cardolan, they discover that the names of those interred beneath them have been deliberated defaced from the stones on top of the hills. They frequently look as if they were clawed away. • Ancient Truths: The oldest tombs of the Barrowdowns are said by the Wise to date all the way back to the First Age. The majority of these ancient burial mounds lie undisturbed. In fact, it looks like very few of them have ever been opened. The symbols on their monoliths are defaced only by time and weather. However, several of the tombs have been ruined; not opened, ruined, as if the earth and stones of the barrow had been deliberately dug out and scattered. • Lines of Power: Unlike the barrows of later eras, the First Age tombs do not lie across the Barrow-downs randomly. Their placement seems deliberate, part of a vast symbol that stretches for many miles. All of the damaged tombs lie along the outer boundaries of this pattern. Whatever the massive “rune” might once have been, the ruined tombs clearly disrupted the pattern in several points. See page 137 for how all this information helps Gandalf and the company. Watchful Eyes After the company has discovered the first piece of lore, they are approached by Mad Ostley, an old treasurehunter whose lust for gold often brings him in the Barrowdowns (see also Rivendell, page 62). The crazed-looking wanderer is interested in what the adventurers are doing, and if they manage to impress him, he will give them advice that gives them each a free Attribute bonus on their next Explore or Search roll in the Barrow-downs. Accidentally, it was Mad Ostley who brought the lost Mirabella Thorndike home (with the help of the Rangers, see page 132) and he knows where the ancient barrow covered in small golden flowers is to be found. Mad Ostley will study the company for a while before approaching them. Characters who are honest with him about their intentions will find him a ready ally, if a little unhinged. He says that tombs he knows were sealed in the past have now been re-opened; far too many in fact. The fog has also been troublesome of late, carrying strange sounds, and moving in unnatural ways even more so than it had in past years. - Part Five - The Hidden Vault at Fornost At the southernmost tip of the North Downs, the ancient road known as the Greenway ends in the ruins of Fornost Erain, Norbury of the Kings. It is now all but lost to nature, its fallen stone towers covered in greenery, its former grandeur forgotten. Whatever the forces of the Witch-
129 king of Angmar did not break in its siege long ago, time has since reclaimed. The majority of the folk of Eriador think of the ruins as a haunted place where no sane man ventures. The Bree-landers call it “Deadman’s Dike” and shudder at the thought of willingly going to such a place. If the companions have studied the story of Egalmir and have unearthed his notes, they will certainly travel to Fornost Erain to find his vault. Egalmir’s notes are fairly clear, but the passage of time has destroyed many landmarks that would have helped finding the right place. Been There… The story of Fornost Erain is detailed in the Rivendell supplement. If the companions played through the events of Concerning Archers (see page 61) they have visited its ruins already. They might also have encountered Talandil, the Ranger of the North Downs (see Rivendell, page 59). If the Loremaster wants to involve the old Dúnadan with the company, he may follow the suggestions given at page 66 (the Where is Talandil, the Ranger of the North Downs? box). Searching for the Vault Companions looking for the vault using the notes left by Egalmir roll Explore or Lore; each hero is allowed to make two rolls for every day of searching in Fornost (all searching companions must also pass a Corruption test each day, or gain 1 point of Shadow). A great success equates to two successful rolls, and an extraordinary success to three successful rolls. It takes a total of five successful rolls for the companions to pick their way through the greenery to find the right location. When they finally succeed, the companions navigate their way down to a plant-filled cellar. Its ceiling collapsed a long time ago, but the entrance to the vault of Egalmir seems undisturbed. It takes a Riddle or Craft roll to discern how to undo the latch that allows it to open. Once triggered, the door of the vault slowly swings open to reveal… nothing! Sort of. In fact, the empty chamber is filled with rubble, as a roughly dug tunnel opens on its floor. Someone has clearly tunnelled into the vault from below and removed any content it might have still been there. A character with the Tunnelling Trait automatically notes that the passage can’t be more than a few months old; any other character will need to make a Craft roll to recognise this. Rogues Beneath the Ruins The majority of Dwarves are hard-working sorts, gruff, but honest. There are some Dwarves though, that never quite fit in… and then there are Dwarves like Lófar. Lófar Light-finger is considered to be disreputable scum by the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains. He was banished many years ago for his larcenous tendencies. When his sobriquet was laid on him it was meant to be an insult, but he embraced it with pride. In Lófar’s mind, a life spent digging deep into the earth for uncertain profit was a total waste of his days; but digging with a real chance of treasure though, now that is a worthwhile endeavour. Lófar turned his skills as a miner to tomb-robbing, though he’s clever enough not to have plied his trade on the Barrow-downs. The ruins of Fornost Erain seemed a perfect location… Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
130 Ruins of the North Gathering a small band of like-minded Dwarves, Lófar slipped into the ruins of Fornost and went to work. Swiftly discovering that if they tried to excavate from above the Rangers would surely catch them, Lófar and his thieving band moved their operations underground. They have been tunnelling for two years now and business has been terrific! Or so Lófar would claim if asked. In truth, while they have recovered many treasures, Lófar and all of his Dwarves are slowly becoming more than a little unhinged, due to the creeping Dragon-sickness that their ill-gotten gold has awakened in them… In Deep Places It takes a Hunting test to follow the trail left by Lófar and his Dwarves. They weren’t bothering to conceal their trail, thinking no one would ever come looking. The tunnel is cramped and it’s pitch black, meaning the characters will have to figure out some sort of illumination or suffer the penalties described on page 121. It only takes fifteen minutes or so to get to the centre of Lófar’s operations. The Dwarves found a submerged chamber that was once likely a meeting hall of some kind and dug outwards from there in multiple directions. All characters should make an Awareness test (TN 18) in order to identify the sounds of mining in the distance. It’s so difficult because the Dwarves work carefully to avoid detection from above. Lófar has half a dozen Dwarves working for him. At any given time, three are sitting about drinking while the others are working. Thieving Dwarves: Attribute Level 4 Endurance Hate 18 3 Parry Armour 4 3d Skills Personality, 0 Survival, 1 Movement, 2 Custom, 0 Perception, 2 Vocation, 3 Weapon Skills Mattock 2 Lófar Light-finger: Attribute Level 6 Endurance Hate 22 5 Parry Armour 6/9 (+3 underground) 3d Skills Personality, 3 Survival, 1 Movement, 2 Custom, 1 Perception, 3 Vocation, 3 Weapon Skills Mattock 4 Special Abilities Commanding Voice - The company can attempt to ambush the Dwarves if they wish, or negotiate. Lófar’s reaction to the arrival of the company depends on how they approach him. If they just attack, he fights for long enough to take their measure and if it looks like the battle is turning against him, flees, abandoning his fellows without compunction. If the company’s approach is to talk, Lófar first studies, then goes one of two ways: he either tries to persuade them to take a
131 share and move on, or he claims to have the permission of the Rangers to be working here. He lies very well. It takes an Insight roll (TN 20) to determine that he is lying. Whatever the company says, it doesn’t matter truly – Lófar is so gone into Shadow that he assumes everyone lies just as much as he does. The second the characters let their guard down, he and his Dwarves attack without warning. A company that claims they’ve come for book records and nothing else will give him pause though. A Persuade test (TN 18) will convince Lófar that maybe the company does consist of weird scholars, in which case he’ll admit that he does have some interesting books (including Egalmir’s records) stored nearby… so what are they worth to the company? Lófar and his Dwarves have amassed enough assorted grave-goods to have a hoard equal to Treasure 50*. Egalmir’s records contain much of value, including diagrams of the layout of the tombs of the Barrow-downs and even sketches of the interiors of several barrows along with notes on who was buried where. See page 137 for how this helps Gandalf and the company. However the company ends up handling the situation, the Dúnedain will also be very interested to hear about Lófar and his operation. - Part Six - Mirabella’s Song Rumours have spread through Eriador that in autumn of the previous year (2975 by default) a Hobbit girl from Bree was caught on the Barrow-downs after her uncle’s caravan had some sort of terrible mishap. Lost in the heavy fog, she ended up deep in the Barrow-downs where she eventually took refuge on a hillock to sleep for the night. A Barrow-wight came for her, but apparently never approached her closely, calling her from a distance, and so she lived to see the morning. The story was the talk of the town in the village of Bree for a time. The company will have heard this rumor in the spring (possibly earlier, if they visited or stayed in Bree last year) and may wish to follow up by heading to Bree to talk to the Hobbit girl, to hear what actually happened without all the inevitable embellishments that such stories acquire. How About Bree? Every player of The One Ring can easily picture the village of Bree… but no information has been provided so far for the game. In the meantime, the information found in The Lord of the Rings and the summary below will suffice... Bree is a big village that sits on the west side of Bree Hill in central Eriador, part of a group of settlements with three other communities, Staddle, Combe and Archet. Bree is the home of an old famous inn, the Prancing Pony, and rests at the crossroads of two ancient roads, the Greenway and the great East Road. As used as they are to foreigners, Bree-landers tolerate outsiders so long as they don’t make any trouble, but they aren’t passing fond of them: “Asking after things what aren’t none of their business, as is.” Bree and the other three villages are unique in that they are communities of both Hobbits and Men living together. While outsiders might say “Bree-hobbit” or “Bree-man” to differentiate them from a Shire Hobbit or a Man from elsewhere, they refer to themselves as the “Big Folk” and the “Little Folk”. Looking for Mirabella The Hobbit girl in question is one Mirabella Thorndike, a brave lass who got very lucky indeed for she took refuge on the Hill of the Elf Prince which still has great power to hold evil at bay (see overleaf). To find her, the companions will have to ask about for where her family might be. A Persuade or Courtesy roll will do, though using Song in the inn may prove fruitful too. The Thorndikes are pedlars who sell some Shire goods to Breelanders along with simple crafts made in the four villages. Presuming the company finds them, it isn’t just Mirabella they have to win over, it’s her uncle, Moro too. While they have both had quite enough of adventures, Mirabella and Moro both found they’re kind of fun to recount after the fact. Moro is a stout Hobbit of late middling age. He hooks his thumbs behind his braces when he talks, occasionally rocking back and forth on his big feet. Getting to hear Mirabella’s story (see overleaf) means persuading her uncle. This takes a Persuade roll (TN 18), lowered by one level if a Hobbit or Dúnadan is asking. While Breelanders Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
132 Ruins of the North normally look down upon the Rangers, Mirabella was ultimately rescued and brought home by Mad Ostley and a group of Rangers so her family now looks on them with more favour. When Moro asks why the companions want to hear the tale as plenty already know it, honestly answering that the heroes want to stop the Barrow-wights will automatically convince both him and Mirabella that the characters are, “Heroes, like from the old tales.” Mirabella is just 10, a slender young Hobbit girl with bright, inquisitive hazel eyes and dark hair. Mirabella’s Story “We were coming back from getting supplies in Buckland, on the border of the Shire. We were trying to hurry along the East Road, and we hadn’t cleared the Downs proper. It was getting dark, and no one likes to be on that part of the road after sundown. “At some point, the fog starts spilling over that wall that runs alongside the road to the south… it’s an old wall, but it’s tall. Uncle Moro said it was nothing, but he looked very upset. Thistle, that’s our pony, Thistle was awful upset, whinnying and carrying on so. “The later it was, the thicker the fog got. We heard sounds in the distance, like someone crying, and then metal clanging. Thistle took such a fright he bolted and we hit a runnel. Off came a wheel. Uncle could barely calm poor Thistle, we thought he’d hurt himself straining so. Uncle tried to calm him, took off his bridle and someone came out of the fog. I saw burning eyes, like fires, but so cold. I saw a pale sword, heard Uncle yell ‘Run, girl!’ and Thistle screaming. “I ran, fast as I could. I kept hearing sounds and I was so frightened. So worried about Uncle and Thistle. The fog was thick, so thick I could barely see. I hit a stone while running and I couldn’t figure out which way the road was. I looked up and saw the sky and stars. The fog cleared a little and I saw the hill, it didn’t look like the others. I made my way there, quick as I could. It was covered with little golden flowers, they smelled real sweet. I climbed up the hill, leaned against one of the stones and I think I fell asleep. “A while later, I heard a voice and saw one of the Big Folk, down in the fog. He called me, said he’d take me someplace safe, but when I asked him to come up, he wouldn’t. He kept looking at the hill and then me, insisting that I come down to him. When I asked him why, he snarled at me and his eyes burned right through the fog. I knew he was a Barrowwight, then. I closed my eyes and sang an old song, so I couldn’t hear him any more. Eventually, he went away. “In the morning, the sun came. A man with white, wild hair found me. He was a little scary, too, but not at all like that Barrow-wight. He asked who I was, and he said he had some friends who could get me back to Uncle. We walked for a while among the hills until he found his friends. Uncle said they were Rangers.” Mirabella can recall little else of her ordeal; she cannot remember exactly what song she sang, but she is absolutely certain that the stars were burning brightly above her, comforting her as she kept her eyes upon them while the Barrow-wight roamed about the base of the hill without touching it. The Hill of the Elf Prince The barrow that Mirabella took shelter on is a tall hill covered with small golden flowers called mallos, which typically grow far to the south. In all the Barrow-downs, they only grow on this singular hill. Companions that read
133 the Númenórean Tale of the Elf Prince from page 127 will instantly recognise this as the same hill from that story. Any character who searched the Barrow-downs (On the Downs, on page 127) may very well have seen the hill already. An Explore test will recall its exact location, not far from the East Road along the north-eastern side of the Barrow-downs. Mad Ostley also knows where it lies. For millennia a blade and a suit of armour were buried beneath the ground here that had great power against the Shadow. The blade was removed many centuries ago, the armour long since eroded, but its enchantment has slowly passed into the very earth itself. The hill now acts as a ward against Barrow-wights and other unclean spirits. Unless forced on by a greater will, they will not approach it and to stand upon it causes them great anguish. - Part Seven - Oldest & Fatherless In late spring or early summer of the year 2977, Gandalf the Grey seeks out the company in Rivendell, as he has returned to Eriador with grave news for the great task that lies ahead. But before Mithrandir meets them, word may already reach the company that some Barrow-wights have been spotted in daylight away from the Downs. This is completely unprecedented and Master Elrond is openly troubled by the implications. Alternatively, depending on what the company has been up to, the Loremaster may wish to inform them that Barrow-wights have been seen during the day by setting up a combat encounter featuring one, just after lunch, after an C triggers a Hazard episode, for example. The Counsel of the Grey Pilgrim Mithrandir greets the company cheerfully, though his face looks grim. “Well met, indeed!” He inquires after all they’ve learned, asking sharp questions about everything. He will be especially pleased to receive Egalmir’s records noting that he’ll have to study them at length. Eventually, he will tell the company (or they will perhaps tell him) that Barrow-wights have been seen in the daylight. He nods. “Truly, it is as I feared. We must act soon. I’ve had many concerns that have kept me occupied, but this matter has never gone far from my mind. While I was east of the mountains, I spoke with a very old friend about this problem and she gave me much to think on. I had to return to Rivendell, there are some ancient texts here I must read again to refresh my memory, which is not what it once was, and some materials I must gather for our task, if you will help me once more.” The company are Free Folk and can answer as they will – though they’ll likely want to know what he wants them to do. “For centuries, a powerful and ancient magic has prevented the Barrow-wights from straying far from their hollows under the earth. But what force once restrained them is failing, its efficacy disrupted. Whether this is happening by design or due to the wear of time I could not say. But what I do know is that the wards of Tyrn Gorthad must be reinforced, and that to do this I will need your help. It will be very dangerous. We must reset the boundaries…” Gandalf falls silent, as if stunned, allowing the company to think a new thought has crossed his mind. “Of course. Boundaries. Of course! There is someone else I would have you seek out, if you will. His house lies on the western edge of the Barrow-downs, on the edge of the Old Forest.” Gandalf tells the company that they should seek the house of Tom Bombadil, which lies near the headwaters of the Withywindle, a stream that flows from the Downs and almost neatly splits the Old Forest in twain. Characters that succeed at a Lore test (TN 18) have heard the name “Bombadil” before. He is thought of by the Dúnedain as a guardian of the Old Forest, bigger than a Hobbit, smaller than a Man. Gandalf declares that after they’ve talked to Tom Bombadil, he’ll meet them at the Prancing Pony, in the village of Bree, and they’ll discuss exactly what must be done next. Finding Bombadil It’s over 400 miles from Rivendell to the House of Bombadil; depending on where the characters start out from, the journey could take a while. Hazard episodes don’t necessarily have to involve Barrow-wights, but the Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
134 Ruins of the North characters should soon realise it’s a near cheerless summer this year. The weather is frequently overcast throughout Eriador, summer storms continually lash the road, making it less safe than usual and gloom is omnipresent. The weather about Tyrn Gorthad is, if possible, worse than the rest of Eriador. The clouds are near black with rain and ominous to behold. The company may well decide that, while it will take longer, going around the Barrow-downs and then heading south along the border of the Old Forest is the safest way to find the House of Tom Bombadil. The Old Forest is widely famed as a strange land, the final remains of a wood that once stretched from the sea all the way to the Gap of Rohan in the distant south and beyond. Queer creatures are said to roam inside and rumour has it that the trees within it frequently move of their own accord. Fortunately, the company doesn’t have to enter the woods; however, they should all make Awareness tests. On a success, they realise that all of the animals they see along the edge of the woods, whether birds or beasts, watch them as they pass in eerie silence. As they are wandering, the player-heroes see several bright rays of sunshine slip through the clouds to touch down in the distance and a clear voice comes to them, ringing along the trees: Ho Tom! Swift Tom! Tom Bombadil! Dancer over fields and glens, singer to the hills. Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. Tom saw you coming from afar, no need to bellow! Encountering Tom Bombadil The companions don’t know quite what to expect as Gandalf didn’t give them a lot of details, mainly because no amount of warnings could quite prepare anybody for Tom Bombadil. As the companions approach where they heard the voice from, a short man with a bushy brown beard and happy blue eyes bounds out of the woods before them. He does indeed, have a bright blue jacket and yellow boots, along with a rumpled hat, crowned by a long feather. Set Tolerance The basic Tolerance for this encounter is based on the highest Wisdom rating among the company, modified by +2, for Tom already knows of the company’s quest and approves, after his fashion. Standing rating in any culture means very little indeed to Tom. Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter The successes gained by the company over the course of their time with Tom Bombadil will determine exactly how much help he decides to give them on their quest. Once they exceed the Tolerance, Tom won’t boot them out, but he’ll have made up his mind on what he will do for them.
135 Introduction The companions can introduce themselves to Tom using either Courtesy or Song. They quickly find, no doubt to their surprise, that he already knows something about each of them. He knows all about any Hobbit from the Shire, including details about their families. He also knows a fair amount about the company’s larger exploits throughout Eriador. If they try to explain themselves, or why they’ve come, Tom stops them, waggling a finger while casting his eyes eastward. He’ll smoothly take the arm of any Ranger, especially those who typically hang back because they are used to disturbing “civilised” folk and says with a grin, as he drags them along: Wandering fast, far, and free, between the mountains and the sea. Bright sword in shadows swinging! Ancient oaths in heart still ringing! Lay down your burdens for one night. Sing with us in the candles’ light! Interaction Tom swiftly brings the company to his home nearby, which rests at the top of a grassy knoll overlooking the Barrow-downs from the edge of the Old Forest. His home is solid, built of stone and the inside is filled with brightly shining lamps along with a wide variety of merrily burning candles. Tom sings out as they approach: Hail lady of cheerful rains! Star of my days who never wanes! Fairer than the sun on water! Queen of my heart, the River-daughter! A beautiful maid, more like to an Elven lady than a mortal woman, welcomes the characters into their home. Her long bright gold hair is loose about her shoulders and she wears a silvery-green dress that almost looks like brightly coloured fish scales, twinkling in the many lights of the house. Water lilies float in earthen jars filled with water and set about the room. Tom introduces her as “My pretty lady, Goldberry”. Tom and Goldberry rush about in a merry, coordinated dance seeing to their guests needs (putting horses in a small stable Tom keeps if the company has them), putting drinks into their hands, removing their cloaks and so on. Goldberry speaks in a melodious voice and seems gracious and kind. At some point, someone will ask the obvious – “Do you know why we’ve come?” or something along those lines. Bombadil turns very solemn for a moment and responds: “Aye, Tom knows why you’ve come.” Bold wights, mouldy wights, slipping out their hills. Running here, striking there, travelling where they will. Malice that will not rest, nor accept their ever after. Cursed souls walking in the night, cold fingers choking laughter. He shakes his head sadly, but his mirth swiftly returns. “Time enough for such things. Eat! Drink!” Tom excuses himself to return with a crown of leaves in place of his hat. Hey dol! Merry dol! Caper or be stillo! Sheath your swords! Choose your chords! Now it’s time to trillo! Sing along, ring along, with Tom Bombadillo! Tom laughs. “You want my help, noble heroes? First you sing with us!” Tom expects all company members to join in with him and Goldberry in a Song test. If someone tries to beg off due to lack of skill at singing, Tom laughs and says: Come Orcs, come Trolls, never a quaver! But ask for a jolly tune and your friend needs a saviour! All characters find they enjoy a free Attribute bonus to their Song rolls – even the most tone-deaf find that they can sing merrily in the House of Tom Bombadil. All of their successes directly add to their final success during their interactions with Tom. After many hours of singing, drinking and good cheer, Tom and Goldberry insist that their guests spend the night. The company finds that beds have already been laid for them, ones appropriate to their sizes. In the morning, after serving the company a big breakfast, Goldberry disappears and Tom sits with the characters to talk. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
136 Ruins of the North Tom speaks of the Barrow-downs as they are, Tyrn Gorthad as it was, and the hills as they were before the first of the Edain chose to bury their dead within them. His voice murmurs on, telling them great truths of the earth and old secrets that the characters can never after directly recall, but something of the wonder and the majesty of Bombadil’s words remains with them after. Bombadil speaks of the Barrow-wights, their epic greed, and terrible loneliness. Finally, Tom tells the company that what they are to attempt is a noble endeavour, for many have been hurt and many more will be if the Wights are not confined to the Downs once more. He gives direct answer to few questions. He laughs if asked who he is. “Why, I’m Tom Bombadil of course! All that you see of me, I am! Eldest, that’s what.” He concludes: “Tell Gandalf that he has tarried long enough. Mid-summer is when he must act, farthest from the winter in which they were bound. Tell him the Wightking will come before the end.” Characters that make a Lore test (TN 18) know the Wight-king as a terrible legendary figure, the greatest among the Wights of the Barrow-downs. Parting Blessings When it is time for the company to depart, compare the number of successful rolls they achieved against the following entries: 0-1: Tom regrets that such grim souls had to be called in to handle such a sad task, but some things cannot be helped. All companions regain 1 point of Hope. 2-4: Tom’s words and songs linger deeply within the company, comforting them against darkness. All companions regain 1 point of Hope, and on the night of the renewal of the wards the company is immune to the Barrow-wights’ Dreadfuls Spells, as the songs of Bombadil echo in their mind and drive away the weariness. 5-7+: Not only do Tom’s songs linger, but so does the outrage at what the Barrow-wights have done and may yet do. As 2-4, but the company is also immune to the Wights’ Strike Fear special ability. Tom walks the characters to the edge of the Barrow-downs and waves them goodbye with a final song: Heed no shadows, my hearties. Be bold, but be wary! Old Tom’s songs are about you now, But no more time to tarry! - Part Eight - Casting Out The Shadow Gandalf the Grey meets the company at Bree as promised so they can discuss what must be done and exactly what he thinks will happen. To renew the wards of Tyrn Gorthad the Wizard will have to concentrate over the ancient magic for many, many hours. In fact, Gandalf isn’t entirely certain how long it will take him to succeed – there is too much he does not know about the old spells he is about to cast. Gandalf will start at noon on Mid-Summer’s Day, following Tom Bombadil’s advice. He is certain that it will take to midnight at least to finish, if not far later into the night. He is equally certain that the Barrow-wights will attack in earnest when they realise what he is up to… Gandalf declares that there will be little he can do to help the company once he starts. On the contrary, he will rely on the companions for his own safety: they will need to protect him as best they can, and they will be on their own until he finishes. Finding the Right Spot Gandalf isn’t entirely certain where he should begin. Clearly atop a tall hill, perhaps in the middle of the Downs? The characters can say as they will, but if they’ve discovered it, the absolute best answer is the Hill of the Elf Prince. The effects of the hill are listed throughout the section detailing the hours of the fateful day and night that the magic is being performed. If the company doesn’t know about the golden-flower covered hill, they’ll likely want a high topped hill that is easily defended. A successful Explore test will show several likely candidates for this and allow the characters to make their Battle tests with a modifier of +2 before they
137 engage the Barrow-wights as they will have picked their chosen ground well. The Explore roll is automatically successful if they know about the Hill of the Elf Prince. Many Preparations To help the companions in their difficult task, Gandalf has procured a cart-load of gear. For the occasion, the Grey Wizard has spent several sleepless nights applying his skills in the creation of fireworks and assorted explosives to ignite some blazing fires to chase away the darkness (perhaps with the aid of Larry Appledore, if no ill befell him in The Company of the Covered Wain - see page 85) “To ward off the night and to help you against Wights as well!” Using Gandalf’s preparations, the companions may be able to set up multiple bright bonfires, fuelled by special powders that will have them blazing all through the day and night. The bonfires might be placed about whatever hill the magic is to be performed on, and atop the surrounding ones too. • If the Loremaster deems that the companions exploited the ruse efficiently, the Wights won’t be able to profit from their Denizen of the Dark special ability. Gandalf also gives each member of the company a gleaming glass vial, closed by a cork stopper. Inside is a yellowish waxen liquid. “When things look darkest for you, hurl these against the ground, but mind you don’t look!” • Gandalf’s vials burn with a bright incandescent light when shattered. Barrow-wights engaged in combat with a character who breaks a vial are set on fire and are considered to be Weary for a Success die’s worth of combat rounds. Multiple vials do not stack effects, other than the longest time rolled prevailing. Mithrandir’s Magic Gandalf the Grey knows many spells, but this time he will be tackling a power he does not know fully. The company’s help over the last two years proves itself now. To reseal the mystic boundaries that prevent the Barrowwights to leave Tyrn Gorthad, Gandalf will start weaving his magic on Mid-summer’s Day. • In game terms, the Loremaster will make a number of rolls using the Feat die and 5 Success dice. The first roll is made at four o’ clock, followed by three more rolls, one every four hours (at eight o’clock, midnight, and at four in the morning). • Gandalf must last out the night, or accumulate 7 successes, whichever comes first, to succeed and send the Barrow-wights back to their hollows. A great success counts as 2 successful rolls and an extraordinary success counts as 3 successful rolls. On an C result, the difficulty of all subsequent rolls is increased by one level (TN +2). The base difficulty for the rolls depends on the previous deeds of the companions: • If the company didn’t journey to Angmar at all and left Gandalf to his own devices, the difficulty is equal to TN 28. • If the company only brought back the scrolls found in the Sorcerer’s Study, the difficulty is equal to TN 24. • If the company copied the Morgul-runes in the Conjuring Chamber of the Tower of Icy Flame the difficulty is equal to TN 24, minus the number of successes rolled by the copying companions (to a minimum of TN 14). Other modifiers can change the base difficulty: • Reduce the TN by -1 if the company told Gandalf about the Shrouded Names they found. • Reduce the TN by -1 if the company told Gandalf about the Ancient Truths they learned. • Reduce the TN by -1 if the company told Gandalf about the Lines of Power they discovered. • Reduce the TN by -2 If the company recovered Egalmir’s Records and gave them to Gandalf. Protecting Gandalf Gandalf needs to concentrate on his magic, and for the purposes of combat counts as if he is in a Rearward stance. If attacked, Gandalf cannot Parry, but is considered to Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
138 Ruins of the North have a Protection value of 4d. If Gandalf suffers a loss of more than 20 Endurance points during any four-hour block, he doesn’t get to roll the dice at the end of it. The following paragraphs detail the various events occurring on Midsummer’s Day. The Loremaster will have to adjust the various descriptions to the current circ*mstances of his own playing group. Noon till Four Gandalf and the company are assembled, all is in readiness. The sky is overcast, with patches of blue glimpsing through occasionally, but it grows progressively worse as the day wears on. As it gets later in the day, the fog begins to swirl about the base of the company’s chosen hill in odd patterns. Gandalf stands at the top of the hill, in the middle and begins to speak a chant of words that roll out of him in a measured tone, occasionally waving his staff toward the various cardinal directions as a punctuation. The characters can understand little of what he does, though they may occasionally recognise words of Sindarin or Quenya, the language of the Noldor Elves. Gandalf accomplishes the first part of his magic undertaking. Four till Eight As the sun begins to set but it is still light out, the swirling fog comes to a sudden halt and voices start whispering out of the growing darkness. The first probing wave of Barrowwights emerges from the fog to assault the company. There are a number of Barrow-wights equal to the number of companions, minus 1. Based on the companions’ preparations, the Barrowwights might or might not benefit from their Denizen of the Dark ability. The Barrow-wights will try to use either Strike Fear or Dreadful Spells: Wight Song before they attack with their cold blades. If the company stand on the Hill of the Elf Prince, the Wights stop at the base of the hill and will come no closer. They do try to use their Dreadful Spells on each one of the characters from a distance. Even if it is successful, they will not approach, but they’ll note which companions seem more susceptible to their voices. At no point do any of the Barrow-wights attempt to interfere with Gandalf at this time, though some time during the fight one of them will look as though it is going to approach the Grey Pilgrim, but then it clearly thinks better of it and turns elsewhere.
139 Eight till Midnight One of the most terrible powers behind the Barrowdowns has become aware of what the companions are doing and moves directly to stop Gandalf. The fog returns with a vengeance, racing over the Downs, and making what’s coming difficult to see. Sounds echo strangely off the stones of the hills, further distorting movement. The company’s bonfires roar to life about their chosen hill. A wave of Wights equal to the number in the company (including Gandalf) stalk out of the fog. If Gandalf has already accumulated 5 or more successes, they are accompanied by the dread Wight-king (see Rivendell page 80 for more about the Wight-king). The terrible undead king will move directly to try to cut down the Grey Wizard. If the Wight-king loses more than 40 points of Endurance, he withdraws, for the moment. Wights forced to move onto the Hill of the Elf Prince by the fierce will of the Wight-king automatically become Weary (that includes the Wight-king himself). A Barrow-wight (not the Wight-king) that is already Weary (for example due to one of Gandalf’s silver vials) loses a Success dice worth of Hate points instead. Midnight till Dawn The fog partially rolls away and the company can see Barrow-wights coming from every direction, their eyes like dull stars approaching over the Downs. The light from the bonfires seems pale and barely stretches beyond the hill. The Wight-king returns, or if he has not yet attacked, he does so for the first time now. He leads a seemingly endless spectral horde of Wights. They have come to kill. Two come for every player-hero and the Wight-king himself comes for Gandalf. Every time a Barrow-wight is struck down, it is replaced by another within three rounds. Gandalf’s voice raises to a thunderous roar. As his left hand holds his staff high, light blazing from it, his right hand waves and all the bonfires burst into brilliant life. All characters regain 2 points of Hope as they feel their hearts surge within them. Amidst his singing Gandalf gestures at the Wight-king. To end the onslaught, the company must either end the Wight-king or collectively destroy a number of Barrowwights equal to the following: 7 minus the number of successes Gandalf has achieved so far, times the number of heroes in the company. For example, in Gandalf’s first three tests, he has accumulated 5 successes. There are 5 company members. 7 – 5 = 2 and 2 x 5 = 10 Barrow-wights that must be slain. If the Wight-king falls and there are Wights standing on the Hill of the Elf Prince, they explode in blazing balls of greenish light. Everywhere else, the Barrow-wights swiftly retreat into the fog. If the company manages to kill enough Barrow-wights to rout them without destroying the Wight-king, he retreats with measured steps, his terrible eyes never leaving those of the company. His voice hisses through the early morning air: “We will meet again.” The companions know they’ve made a deathless enemy, who will not forget his defeat at their hands… Either way, dawn comes as the Barrow-wights slip away into the fog. The Wight-king: Attribute Level 6 Endurance Hate 74 12 Parry Armour 7 +1 (Buckler) 2d Skills Personality, 5 Survival, 2 Movement, 4 Custom, 4 Perception, 3 Vocation, 3 Weapon Skills Ancient Sword 3 Chilling Touch 3 Special Abilities Black Dread Denizen of the Dark Hate Sunlight Dreadful Spells* Darker than the Darkness Thing of Terror Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
140 Ruins of the North *The Wight-king Song: The Wight-king sings a song composed of sad but horrible sounds, with a voice that seems far away and dreary, as if it was rising from the ground. A hero who fails a Corruption check (TN 20) due to Dreadful Spells first finds himself separated from the rest of the company, and then falls into a deep slumber and is considered unconscious. Sleeping companions are dragged into the Wight-king’s barrow to be sacrificed; if found, they may be roused with a successful Healing roll. Weapons: Weapon type Damage Edge Injury Called Shot Chilling touch* Att. Level C 18 Pierce Ancient sword** 6 10 14 Disarm * The cold, bony hands of the Wight-king grasp at exposed flesh – often the neck or face – and send an unnatural chill up that leaves their foe frozen to the very centre of their being. ** These ancient, pitted blades are still sharp and dangerous, their blows often stinging with an unnatural cold. Barrow-wight: Attribute Level 4 Endurance Hate 54 6 Parry Armour 4 2d Skills Personality, 2 Survival, 1 Movement, 3 Custom, 1 Perception, 2 Vocation, 2 Weapon Skills Ancient Sword 3 Chilling Touch 1 Special Abilities Hate Sunlight Dreadful Spells* Denizen of the Dark Strike Fear *Wight Song: Barrow-wights chant a low, chilling song to subdue their foes with the dark enchantment of their voice. A hero who fails a Corruption check (TN 16) due to Dreadful Spells first finds himself separated from the rest of the company, and then falls into a deep slumber and is considered unconscious. Sleeping companions are dragged into the Wight’s barrow to be sacrificed; if found in time, they may be roused with a successful Healing roll. Weapons: Weapon type Damage Edge Injury Called Shot Chilling touch* Att. Level C 18 Pierce Ancient sword** 6 10 14 Disarm * The cold, bony hands of the Barrow-wights grasp at exposed flesh – often the neck or face – and send an unnatural chill up that leaves their foe frozen to the very centre of their being. ** These ancient, pitted blades are still sharp and dangerous, their blows often stinging with an unnatural cold.
141 Success! Gandalf has reinstated the magical wards! A blue-white luminescence surges up from the hill and ripples far into the distance along the edge of the Barrow-downs. Any Wights immediately flee, if the Wight-king is present, he snarls and curses, before swiftly retreating. The weather improves tremendously over the space of an hour. In the morning, the sun shines through the breaking clouds and rainbows dance about the hills. Barrow-wights can no longer pass beyond the boundaries of Tyrn Gorthad, though alas, they do remain dangerous throughout the Barrow-downs. Renewed but Flawed Dawn comes and Gandalf finishes his magic, but he knows that the boundaries are unsound. If Gandalf doesn’t achieve 7 successes by his fourth and final roll, the Barrow-downs are contained, but there are ‘cracks’ in the mystic wall. The Loremaster should take note that the Wight-king can leave the Barrow-downs when he chooses and may be able to occasionally force a breach, allowing a small group of Barrow-wights to pass beyond the Downs to work his will… Failure & Death The company is struck down to the last and Gandalf cannot complete his magic before he is assailed and forced to retreat from the Barrow-downs. A Loremaster willing to abandon Tolkien canon should plan for an assault on Bree and, not long after that, the Shire… Otherwise, Gandalf retreats to Rivendell and calls a council of the Dúnedain to explain what happened. The company are mourned and remembered in song. Their deaths certainly count as heroic and Gandalf makes a point of looking into the doings of their chosen heirs. The Rangers spend much of the rest of 2977 fending off attacks by Barrow-wights. In summer of 2978, Gandalf returns with a small troop of Dúnedain volunteers to Tyrn Gorthad to finish what he started. He succeeds, but the ranks of the Rangers are diminished by that many more brave souls… unless the player-heroes’ heirs help out, that is. Epilogue If any of the characters fell during the night, Gandalf mourns their passing with the rest of the company, but otherwise he is pleased with how things went. “They did not die in vain.” The weather throughout Eriador improves tremendously and the year 2977 ends up being remembered as a fair one, all things considered. The threat of the Barrowwights has finally been contained and while it may not be entirely resolved, they are no longer a large-scale problem for Eriador. Gandalf gives each surviving member of the company a pouch. The pouches contain small, but exceedingly wellwrought gemstones from Erebor of old. The contents of each pouch are worth 30 Treasure, but they incur only 1 Encumbrance. Mithrandir is returning to Rivendell to rest for a time before moving on to other concerns, and the company is most welcome to accompany him if they wish. Over the following year, the company’s renown is widespread B among the Rangers and the Wise. Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad
142 Ruins of the North - index - (The) Company of the Wain 75 Adventuring Phase 75 (The) Adventure Begins 82 Áinfean, the Apothecary 78 Armed Men of the Company of the Wain 84 Armed Villagers 86 Attacking the Caravan 83 (The) Bound Man 82 Brigands! 86 (The) Captive is Handed Over 84 Caradog, the Bear-baiter 77 (The) Companions Confer with Gandalf 91 (The) Companions Confer with Saruman 91 (The) Company of the Wain 77 (A) Dark Dawn 88 Deal directly with Uathach 91 Dealing with the Spies 90 Del’s Dwarven Spirits 78 Dunlending Warriors 85 (The) Dunlendings 84 Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter 87 (The) Eye of Mordor 75 Fellowship Phase 91 (The) Folk-moot 87 Following Covertly 83 Following Openly 82 Following the Caravan 82 Foreshadowing 90 Freeing the Captives 83 Infiltrating the Caravan 83 Interaction 87 Introduction 87 Investigating Further 91 Larry’s Fireworks 81 Let the Company Be 91 Lodin the Toymaker 82 (A) Lone Rider 88 Osbert the Woodturner 81 Part Five: When Dark Things… 90 Part Four: She Sees, She Knows 88 Part One: A Travelling Fair 76 Part Three: False Accusations 85 Part Two: Investigating the Caravan 82 Prisoners 86 Questioning Idderig 88 (A) Regiments of Crows 89 Setting Tolerance 87 Shell Game 80 Thelred the Rider 80 Thelred, Renegade Rider of Rohan 89 Terry’s Menagerie 80 Thugs 80 (The) Town of Road’s End 85 Traps 78 Uathach the Seer 78 Uathach, Treacherous Fortune-teller 79 Uathach’s Secret 76 Wilma’s Furs 81 (The) Wain Ring 82 (A) Weariness of the Heart 89 Who is the Bound Man? 85 (The) Wose 81, 83 Concerning Archers 61 Adventuring Phase 61 Archers in the Night 67 Bilbo and The Ring 64 (A) Chance Meeting 63 Confustication and Admiration 64 (A) Conversation Among Friends 62 (The Hall of) Eärendur 68 (The) Encounter 63 Epilogue: Bringers of Tidings 74 Exploration Hazards 66 (The) Eye of Mordor 61 Fell Wraiths 70 Fellowship Phase 74 (Exploring) Fornost 65 (Getting to) Fornost 65 (The Ghostly Voices of) Fornost 65 (The Coming of) Gishnak 72 (Who is) Gishak Gashnaga? 71 Gishak’s Charge 73 Interaction 63 Introduction 63 Harrowing Memories 67 (A) Little Footpad 69 (The) Marching Song of the Green Company 74 (The) Northern Valley 71 Part Four: The Last Battle of the Green Company 70 Part One: Riddles in Rivendell 61 Part Three: Into Darkness 68 Part Two: The Dead and The Fallen 65 Rufus’ Bow 73 Rufus’ Song 72 (A) Secret Hoard 69 Set Tolerance 63 (About the) Spectres 68 (Where is) Talandil, the Ranger of the North Downs? 66 (The) Throne Room of Arvedui 69 Unexpected Guests 70 Victory 73 Wise Counsel 64 Harder than Stone 36 Adventuring Phase 36 (Dealing with) Amos 40 (The) Bandit Camp 39 (Ruthless) Bandits 40 Bound by Honour 60 (To the) Broadcleave 56 (The) Broken Keep 47 Choices and Challenges 40 (Into the) Coldfells 45 Concerning Trolls 55 (Sergeant) Cyrnan 40 (By) Daylight 57 (Meeting) Elrond 42 Elrond’s Task 43 (The) Encounter 52 Epilogue: The Black Voice 60 Ettin Guardian 58 (The) Eye of Mordor 36 Feredrûn 52 (What) Feredrûn Knows 54 (What if the Companions Attack) Feredrûn? 55 (The) Fort 48 Gondril 37 (Attacking the) Guards 51 Hazard Suggestions 45, 46, 56 (The) Hunter of the East 52 (The) Hunter Returns 57 Hunting the Captain in the Coldfells 46 Interaction 43, 53 Introduction 42, 53 Many Questions 54 (By) Moonlight 57 (Captain) Mormog 59 (Captain) Mormog’s Speech 58 Our Hope is in Secrecy 57 Part Five: Bargains in the Night 51 Part Four: Deep Plans 47 Part One: Road Maintenance 36 Part Six: Into the Ettendales 55
143 Index Part Three: Picking up the Trail 44 Part Two: At the House of Elrond 42 (Entering the) Ruins 50 (The) Search 60 Set Tolerance 42, 53 (The) Shadow Is Not Lightly Denied 60 (The) Shattered Caravan 37 Sneaking Around 51 (The) Surface 48 (The) Survivors 41 (Dealing with the) Trolls 51 (Back into the) Trollshaws 44 (Into the) Trollshaws 38 Underground 48 (An) Unhappy Hour 56 (The) Vault 47 We Can Take ’im! 59 “We’re the New Guys” 50 What Really Happened Here? 38 Introduction 4 How to Use This Guide 6 (The) Passing of Years 6 (The) Return of the Witch-king 5 Target Numbers 6 Nightmares of Angmar 7 Adventuring Phase 7 Among the Hill-men 10 Bedwyr 10 Before Departure 21 (The) Black Helms 12 But We Do Not Know The Way 20 (Ruins of) Carn Dûm 28 (A) Celebration Ruined 14 Companies from Eriador 8 Companies from Wilderland 8 Company Interjections 18 Complications 15 Continued Nightmares… 27 Cowardly Retreat 16 Crossing the Great Bridge 31 Cynbal the Chief 10 Cynbal’s Farewell 19 Discovered in the Hills 9 Durthacht and Madacht 11 (The) Enemy 15 Epilogue: To Rivendell 35 Essylt 12 Essylt the Fair 18 Essylt’s Reply 32 Essylt’s Resolve 19 Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter 20 (The) Eye is Watching 24 (A) Fateful Meeting 35 (After the) Fight 16 Finding the Secret Tunnel 31 Fight Events 15 Finding a Way In 28 Fire and Anguish 14 Forgall 11 Forgall’s Hatred 15 Fráech 10 Freezing Fog 15 (The) Eye of Mordor 8 (The) Gift of a Guide 23 Goblin Frenzy! 32 Goblins of Carn Dûm 32 Gwal 11 Hazard Suggestions 23, 26 Heddwyn, the Witch-servant of Angmar 33-34 (Fighting) Heddwyn 33 Heilyn, Sul and Uthecar 10 Hill-men Wrestlers 14 Hwalda: The Mixed-blood Guide 20 Interaction 21 Introduction 20 (The) Journey 22 Key Moment: Test of Courage 19 Key Moment: Test of Sacrifice 14 Key Moment: Test of Sympathy 13 Key Moment: Test of Will 33 Key Moment: Test of Zeal 21 Key Moments 8 Killing Forgall 15 (Journey to the) Last Homely House 35 Loremaster Characters in the Company 22 (The) Lurker in the Long Valley 24-26 March 11 Meeting Hwalda 20 Memorial Circles 9 (Crossing the) Misty Mountains 23 (Into the) Mountains of Angmar 26 Navigating the Ruins 31 (The) Nightmares Begin 16 Part Five: Carn Dûm 27 Part Four: Mountains & Monsters 22 Part One: Black Helms 8 Part Six: An Unexpected Foe 33 Part Three: Concerning Hill -women 18 Part Two Orc-work 14 Running the Fight 13 Savage Wolfdogs 9 (A) Second Nightmare 22 Secrets of a Resurrecting Kingdom 17 Sending a Message to a Patron 22 Speaking with Cynbal 12 (Where is the) Steward of Carn Dûm? 28 Taredd 11 Tribal Council 18 Wait! It can’t be Hwalda! 20 Warg Attack 15 Wrestling with Hill-men 13 Shadows over Tyrn Gorthad 110 Adventuring Phase 110 (Researching the) Barrow-downs in Imladris 126 Barrow-wight 140 Been There… 129 (Encountering Tom) Bombadil 134 Copying the Black Speech 124 (The) Counsel of the Grey Pilgrim 133 (The) Dark Heart of the Matter 115 (The) Deadly One 121 Eight till Midnight 139 (Master) Elrond’s Summons 113 Elvish Singing & Dark Tidings 112 Epilogue 141 Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter 113, 134 (The) Eye of Mordor 128 Failure & Death 141 (New) Fellowship Phase Undertaking: Confer with Gandalf 126 Finding Bombadil 133 Finding the Right Spot 136 First Floor 124 Foreword 110 Four till Eight 138 (Protecting) Gandalf 137 (Playing) Gandalf the Grey 114 Getting Out Alive 125 Goblins Horde 122 (The) Goblins of the Tower of Icy Flame 121 Ground Floor 123 Hazard Suggestions 117, 118, 119 (The) Hill of the Elf Prince 132 (The) History of Tyrn Gorthad 112 How About Bree? 131 How to Continue 126 (In) Imladris 125
144 Ruins of the North In Deep Places 130 Interaction 114, 135 Introduction 113, 135 (The) Journey 117 (From the) Last Bridge to the Hidden Refuge of the Rangers 118 Lófar Light-finger 130 Looking for Mirabella 131 Many Preparations 137 Midnight till Dawn 139 Mirabella’s Story 132 Mithrandir’s Magic 137 Noon till Four 138 Part Eight: Casting Out The Shadow 136 Part Five: The Hidden Vault at Fornost 128 Part Four: On the Downs 127 Part One: The Vigilance of Mithrandir 112 Part Seven: Oldest & Fatherless 133 Part Six: Mirabella’s Song 131 Part Three: The Valley of the Dead 119 Part Two: Return to Angmar 117 Parting Blessings 136 (A) Patch of Midnight 121 (From the) Refuge of the Rangers to Nan Gorthrim 119 (The) Refuge of the Rangers 118 Renewed but Flawed 141 (Return to) Rivendell 125 (From) Rivendell to the Last Bridge 117 Rogues Beneath the Ruins 129 Searching for the Vault 129 Set Tolerance 113, 134 (The) Stairway 120 Stout Hearts 110 Success! 141 Thieving Dwarves 130 To Find You Must Seek 127 (The) Tower 123 (Under the) Tower 121 Watchful Eyes 128 Wherever the Road Leads Us 127 (The) Wight-king 139 (The) Witch-king Sees 125 Year 2973 111 Year 2974 111 Year 2975 (In this year, Gandalf asks for the company’s assistance in the early summer.)111 Year 2976 111 Year 2977 111 What Lies Beneath 92 1. Watchtower 101 2. Manor House 101 3. Stables 101 4. Cellars 101 5. Family Crypt 101 Adventuring Phase 92 (The) “Brigands” 99 (A) Confrontation 105 (Into the) Crypt 107 (A) Dark Night 105 Dark Portents 106 Developing the Relationship with Hiraval 95 (The) Doom of Hiraval 108 (A) Direct Assault 102 (Playing) Edrahil 96 Edrahil, Son of Hiraval 96 Edrahil’s Fate as a Revelation Episode 107 Elwin 99 (Meeting) Elwin 103 Epilogue: Húldrahir Defeated 109 Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter 95, 104 (The) Eye of Mordor 93 Fay 100 Folulf and Arnulf 100 Hazards Suggestions 96 Helping a Ranger 93 Herbert 100 (Breaking) Herbert 105 (Breaking) Hiraval 106 (Playing) Hiraval 93 Hiraval the Ranger 95 Húldrahir the Spectre 92, 108 Inner Darkness 107 Interaction 94, 103 Introduction 94, 103 (The) Journey 96 (Entering the) Manor 102 Non-lethal Attacks 108 Part Four: A Night of Treachery and Madness 104 Part One: In Rivendell Where Elves Yet Dwell 93 Part Three: The Secret Manor 99 Part Two: The Journey West 95 Playing the ‘Adventurers’ 99 Rangers on the Road 98 (From) Rivendell to Weathertop 96 Searching the Ruins 106 (The) Secret Manor 101 Set Tolerance 94, 103 (A) Stealthy Approach 102 Travellers in Need 97 B Weathertop in Sight 98
