To test out Against theDarkmaster, and possibly run a sporadic mini-campaign (during the “gaps” in Loz's Mythras group's "Return to the Mountains of Madness" campaign), I’m going to use some of my old MERP stuff.
(Yes, I am lazy.)
Today's post provides some notes on the setting. Tomorrow I'll post the character options (adapting the Against the Darkmaster rules to Middle-earth).
[All maps and pictures are from long out-of-print MERP products.]
----------------------------
Against
the Witch-King
The
Setting (Eriador, 1964 Third
Age)
The adventure
will start in the year 1964 of the Third Age. It will take place in
north-central Eriador, specifically the contested lands between the Kingdom of
Arthedain and the Witch-King’s Realm of Angmar. 1964 is the first year of the
reign of King Arvedui. The Dúnadan Seer Malbeth foretold that Arvedui would be
the last ruler of Arthedain. But does this mean that Arthedain ultimately will
fall to the Witch-King’s hordes, or instead that Arvedui will defeat Angmar and
resurrect the greater realm of Arnor?
The adventurers
will start in either Bree or Fornost (you can choose, but all of you will start
in either location). From there, the first session will involve travel to the
town of Northva Rhaglaw. Northva Rhaglaw supposedly was once the heart of a
small mannish kingdom in the Second Age. Now it is a modest settlement of the
descendants of Northmen mercenaries from the Anduin Vale who travelled to
Eriador centuries ago to fight in the wars (first among the successor states of
Arnor – Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur – and later, on the side of Arthedain
and Cardolan against Angmar). Nearby, according to rumour, is a strange
settlement of reclusive forest-dwelling hobbits who chose never to migrate to
the Shire.
Middle-earth in
1964 resembles the world of 3019 (the time of The Lord of the Rings)
in some respects: the Shire exists (most hobbits settled there after the lands
were granted by King Argeleb II of Arthedain to Marcho and Blanco in 1601; others
remain in Bree and elsewhere), the Kingdom of Gondor is the strongest bastion
of the free peoples in the West, the Necromancer casts a dark shadow over the
southern reaches of Mirkwood, and a few strange “wizards” are known to travel
throughout the lands. But it also differs from the world of 3019 in other
respects: the Kingdom of Rohan does not exist yet (the people who will become
the Rohirrim, the Éothéod, currently dwell in the Anduin Vale), the dwarven
kingdom of Khazad-dûm is at the peak of its wealth and power (and the Lonely
Mountain near Long Lake in the east has yet to be touched by dwarven miners),
and the realms of Arthedain and Angmar fight their seemingly endless war.
In Eriador 1964,
the dominant realm is Arthedain. It is the last kingdom of the Dúnedain in the
north, and cleaves to the ways of lost Númenór more strongly than its brother
realm of Gondor to the southeast. The kingdom of Arnor, which was founded by
Elendil in 3320 of the Second Age, was tragically divided into Arthedain,
Cardolan, and Rhudaur in 861. The Northern wars began shortly after the
Witch-King established the realm of Angmar around 1300. Rhudaur quickly fell to
the Witch-King. Its northern region is now a puppet regime under the control of
Angmar. The last king of Cardolan was slain during the Battle of the
Barrow-Downs of 1409. Its surviving Dúnedain subsequently emigrated to
Arthedain and Gondor, and its remaining population came to be ruled by petty
warlords. Cardolan subsequently was devastated by the great plague of 1640 and
is now a wild, largely empty land. The exception is the city of Tharbad. While
a shadow of its former self, the city is an important centre for trade. Order in
the crumbling city is maintained by a force from Gondor.
Within Arthedain,
the realms of Bree-land and the Shire enjoy considerable autonomy, as do the
noble fiefdoms around Lake Evendim (Nenuil). The royal lands around Fornost are
well-protected. While the former capital of Annúminas was overrun and largely
ruined in 1409, its great library remains occupied by sages and is protected by
a royal guard.
Arthedain’s
primary allies in Eriador are the Elvish realms of Lindon and Imladris. While
both provide support for the Dúnedain, their numbers now are too few to contribute
significantly to the wars. Friendly trading relations are maintained with the
dwarves of Khazad-dûm and the Blue Mountains, but Durin’s and Thrár’s people
generally do not participate in the wars. The descendants of Northmen
mercenaries have established small holdings in parts of Eriador, especially in
the Angle, and are loosely allied with Arthedain against the Witch-king. The
Lossoth of the far north sometimes interact with Arthedain traders but
generally keep to themselves. They loathe the Witch-King but are not in any way
a military force. Away from Eriador, Gondor affirms its friendship with and
support for its northern counterpart but is preoccupied with its own struggles
with hostile peoples to the east and southeast.
Some
Important Dates in the History of Eriador
Second Age
1693-1701
The War between
the Elves and Sauron. After the fall of Eregion, Elrond leads refugees north to
found Rivendell. Tar-Minastir leads a Númenórean army that, with the Elves of
Lindon under Gil-Galad, ultimately defeat Sauron.
1793
The Númenórean
captain Pharconatar begins the construction of Tharbad.
3319
The destruction
of Númenór.
3320
The two Realms in
Exile, Arnor and Gondor, are founded by the Faithful under High King Elendil.
3430-3441
The Last Alliance
of Elves and Men wage war against Sauron and eventually defeat him, although
Elendil and Gil-Galad are both slain. Sauron is defeated for the final time,
his ring cut from him by Isildur. Everyone is quite certain that there is no
way that Sauron will ever return. His time is most definitely over. Yes, there
is no way that he can recover from this defeat.
Isildur become
High King of Arnor and Gondor.
Third Age
2
Isildur is slain
in Gladden Fields. Arnor and Gondor no longer share a High King.
861
Death of King Eärendur of Arnor. His realm is divided among his three sons
into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. In subsequent decades
many Northmen mercenaries emigrate to Eriador to serve in the petty wars
amongst the three kingdoms.
1000
Around this time
reports of “Wizards” start appearing. Only one (“the Grey”) is commonly found
in Eriador. The others travel further east.
1100
First reports
that a Dark Power, known only as “the Necromancer,” has built a stronghold at
Dol Guldur. Greenwood the Great comes to be known as Mirkwood thanks to the
Necromancer’s malign influence.
1275
Around this time
the Witch-King settles in the abandoned dwarven settlement of Carn Dûm in the
far north. The realm of Angmar subsequently attracts evil forces to its service.
1300
Around this time
many Hobbits begin to settle around Bree. The Stoors settle in the Angle and
the empty lands of Eregion.
1352-1359
The First
Northern War pits Arthedain and Cardolan against Angmar and Rhudaur.
1408-1410
The Second Northern
War.
King Arveleg of
Arthedain is killed in fighting in the Weather Hills. Annúminas is sacked and
the capital is moved to Fornost. Amon Sûl is besieged and falls, although its
Palantir is saved. King Ostoher of Cardolan and his sons fall in battle on Tyrn
Gorthad. Cardolan ceases to be a united realm. With Elvish help, the Arthedain
gathered at Fornost beat back the Witch-King’s forces.
1432-1448
A civil war, the
Kin-Strife, erupts and divides Gondor.
1601
King Argeleb II
grants the Hobbits the Shire in southern Arthedain.
Year One of the
Shire Reckoning.
1630
Most of the
remaining Stoors leave Rhudaur to join their brethren in the Shire.
1636-1637
The Great Plague
devastates Gondor and Eriador. Cardolan in particular is depopulated.
1856-1899
Easterlings
called the “Wainriders” invade Rhovanion, driving Gondor's armies out of the
southern plains. A Wainrider kingdom is established.
1940
Arthedain and
Gondor form an alliance against the Witch-king.
Prince Arvedui
marries Gondor’s Princess Firiel.
1944
Gondor battles
the Wainriders in her eastern provinces. King Ondoher and his sons fall in
battle.
1945
Prince Arvedui’s
claim to the throne of Gondor is denied.
1964
Arvedui becomes
king of Arthedain. The present.
