Ranger of the North in Wilderland

[Curulon]

Hey all.

Long time lurker here finally getting around to posting.

I'm going to be playing in a One Ring game fairly soon and access to player-created supplements is allowed, so I chose to play a Ranger of the North from the wonderful PDF supplement provided by RichH and Diogo Nogueira. I just wanted to get some opinions on the idea that I have for how he came to be in Wilderland, which I've cleared with my Lore-master.

I came up with the idea that when Thorin's Company set out from the Shire, the Rangers at Sarn Ford became aware and Halbaron (the interim chief of the Dunedain while Aragorn was hidden in Rivendell, partially inspired by the wonderful fan-film Born of Hope) gives Curulon, my Ranger, the task of silently tracking and following the Company of Dwarves on their quest.

Eventually, Curulon ends up in Wilderland and fights in the Battle of Five Armies, disguised as a Barding. He travels around Wilderland during the interim time between the battle and the start of the campaign, and determines that the land could use the assistance of a Ranger. He befriends the Woodmen of Rhosgobel and Radagast the Brown and settles in Rhosgobel when he is not otherwise keeping watch or traveling around the forests and lands of Wilderland.

I thought it was a fairly decent idea and hardly lore-breaking, but I always enjoy others opinions, approving or not.

[SirKicley]

While not a sage nor scholar on all things Middle-earth, I will say that as far as I can tell, this is a great back-story and ties nicely into the setting for the game.

As a player I would want to create a story like this for my character. As a LM, I would definitely appreciate a player who creates a story like this.


Good job (FWIW),
Robert

[Otaku-sempai]

Your Ranger disguised himself as a Barding? Technically impossible, as the Bardings wouldn't exist before the re-founding of Dale No Beornings yet either). He would have known better than to disguise himself as a Lake-man. Esgaroth was small enough that he would have been easily caught-out. I suggest that he took the role of a Woodman claiming to be a descendant of the survivors of Dale. Then you could later have him declare himself as a Barding.

[Curulon]

Your Ranger disguised himself as a Barding? Technically impossible, as the Bardings wouldn't exist before the re-founding of Dale No Beornings yet either). He would have known better than to disguise himself as a Lake-man. Esgaroth was small enough that he would have been easily caught-out. I suggest that he took the role of a Woodman claiming to be a descendant of the survivors of Dale. Then you could later have him declare himself as a Barding.

Ah, my mistake! Right, Woodmen makes more sense, and I should have known. Ah, well, my mind must have blanked on that.

Thanks!

[Thig]

But the people who would become the Bardings would surely have been in large enough numbers, among the people of laketown and scattered elsewhere for it to be reasonable to claim descent from a line of Dale I feel. I would be comfortable with a character claiming to be from a bloodline of Dale and yet be a stranger in town at Esgaroth. It would be a pretty strong cover story especially if he claimed his folk had dwelt in far off parts since fleeing the ruin of Dale. For a Dunadan Ranger I think that kind of story would appeal because they could relate to it and pull it off with a sense of empathy for that same rootlessness. It would also give the LM oportunities to make you sweat potentially too. Always a good thing!

[Curulon]

But the people who would become the Bardings would surely have been in large enough numbers, among the people of laketown and scattered elsewhere for it to be reasonable to claim descent from a line of Dale I feel. I would be comfortable with a character claiming to be from a bloodline of Dale and yet be a stranger in town at Esgaroth. It would be a pretty strong cover story especially if he claimed his folk had dwelt in far off parts since fleeing the ruin of Dale. For a Dunadan Ranger I think that kind of story would appeal because they could relate to it and pull it off with a sense of empathy for that same rootlessness. It would also give the LM oportunities to make you sweat potentially too. Always a good thing!

While I can see what you're saying, as I think about it more, a Dunadan would probably fit better amongst the Woodmen and just claiming he was of Dale-blood. The obvious physical differences (height, eye color, ect.) would probably stand out like a sore thumb in Esgaroth, and any Mirkwood Elves learned enough that might be around could spot him.

Hiding out with the Woodmen just seems a better option, for both lore and personal story concerns. And, like I said, he eventually befriends them and dwells there for a time, and this gives it more credence.

[Otaku-sempai]

But the people who would become the Bardings would surely have been in large enough numbers, among the people of laketown and scattered elsewhere for it to be reasonable to claim descent from a line of Dale I feel. I would be comfortable with a character claiming to be from a bloodline of Dale and yet be a stranger in town at Esgaroth. It would be a pretty strong cover story especially if he claimed his folk had dwelt in far off parts since fleeing the ruin of Dale. For a Dunadan Ranger I think that kind of story would appeal because they could relate to it and pull it off with a sense of empathy for that same rootlessness. It would also give the LM oportunities to make you sweat potentially too. Always a good thing!

Yes, but many of the surviving Lake-folk and the local Woodmen (especially those with Dale-blood) are exactly the ones who would join with Bard to rebuild Dale. You are essentially suggesting the exact same thing that I did.

[Curulon]

But the people who would become the Bardings would surely have been in large enough numbers, among the people of laketown and scattered elsewhere for it to be reasonable to claim descent from a line of Dale I feel. I would be comfortable with a character claiming to be from a bloodline of Dale and yet be a stranger in town at Esgaroth. It would be a pretty strong cover story especially if he claimed his folk had dwelt in far off parts since fleeing the ruin of Dale. For a Dunadan Ranger I think that kind of story would appeal because they could relate to it and pull it off with a sense of empathy for that same rootlessness. It would also give the LM oportunities to make you sweat potentially too. Always a good thing!

Yes, but many of the surviving Lake-folk and the local Woodmen (especially those with Dale-blood) are exactly the ones who would join with Bard to rebuild Dale. You are essentially suggesting the exact same thing that I did.

And a sound suggestion it is.

[Eluadin]

@Curulon,

Terrific back-story. I would like add another suggestion that combines two elements from the rules as written: The Barding background 'Patient Hunter' combined with the Woodmen characterization as "the frontiersmen of the North." Maintain your backstory that Curulon disguises himself as a Barding. Base this on the Barding background 'Patient Hunter'; that is, other Bardings would identify with him using the backstory found in 'Patient Hunter'. Indeed, this could become part of Curulon's own story about himself, and I assume you would pick an appropriate Barding name to support the disguise. Play him like a Woodmen of Wilderland. Born of the blood Dale could account for physical features, the 'Patient Hunter' background account for his obscurity, and the frontiersmen attitude accounts for why he eventually settles with the Woodmen at Rhosgobel. Re-founding Dale does not interest him so much as the Heart of the Wild that inspires him!

Moving to Tolkien's later writings on Middle-earth, and those outside the canon that undergirds TOR. A Ranger of the North might share a common ancestry with the folk that became the Bardings. This common ancestry provides a foundation to explain physical similarities and shared cultural memories. Something that your character might not set out knowing, but comes to realize upon entering Wilderland. This might become an interesting motivation for your character as the game progresses.

Regards,
Scott

[Curulon]

@Curulon,

Terrific back-story. I would like add another suggestion that combines two elements from the rules as written: The Barding background 'Patient Hunter' combined with the Woodmen characterization as "the frontiersmen of the North." Maintain your backstory that Curulon disguises himself as a Barding. Base this on the Barding background 'Patient Hunter'; that is, other Bardings would identify with him using the backstory found in 'Patient Hunter'. Indeed, this could become part of Curulon's own story about himself, and I assume you would pick an appropriate Barding name to support the disguise. Play him like a Woodmen of Wilderland. Born of the blood Dale could account for physical features, the 'Patient Hunter' background account for his obscurity, and the frontiersmen attitude accounts for why he eventually settles with the Woodmen at Rhosgobel. Re-founding Dale does not interest him so much as the Heart of the Wild that inspires him!

Moving to Tolkien's later writings on Middle-earth, and those outside the canon that undergirds TOR. A Ranger of the North might share a common ancestry with the folk that became the Bardings. This common ancestry provides a foundation to explain physical similarities and shared cultural memories. Something that your character might not set out knowing, but comes to realize upon entering Wilderland. This might become an interesting motivation for your character as the game progresses.

Regards,
Scott

Excellent suggestions!

This really helps to flesh out and solidify what the others have suggested. I'll likely have him disguise himself as a Woodman of sorts, but maintaining the idea that he is of Dale-blood and those who preferred to remain hunting in the wilds. I imagine he would take the name Hafgrim, Son of Hord, also known as Hafgrim the Watcher or simply "The Watcher", the name he might use amongst the Woodmen.

I will definitely use your second suggestion as a character motivation and I'm sure my Lore-master will love that I have that aspect to his character.