Go See A Lore-Master Undertaking

[DavetheLost]

For Elven crafted items, Cirdain, Galadriel, Elrond, Thranduil, Celibrimor, et al.
For items of Dwarf make Dain, King Under the Mountain, the Companions of Thorin, et al
For Rings of Power Sauruman

By the way, not counting the various Open Sanctuary undertakings I have indexed 43 Fellowship Phase Undertakings. I will be making a spreadsheet.

[zedturtle]

I had Lady Irimë (who in my game has not yet departed over the mountains) serve as a Loremaster.

I think Radagast, Thranduil and (maybe) Dain (or better, Munin) might work. Of course, Galadriel would be an excellent choice as well, but I hear invitations are hard to come by.

[Falenthal]

Ah! So you think it's fair to say the King Under the Mountain would be an appropriate Lore-Master if a player-hero wanted to Go See a Lore-Master to learn more about that Mithril Coat he found in a Troll-hoard?

Yes, that's how I play it. In fact, some people might be Lore-masters of just one object. For example, in my campaign Ingomer Axebreaker was to one who broke Wolfbiter, and one of its former owners. In that context, when the players find Wolfbiter, Ingomer works a suitable Lore-master. On the other hand, he would be of no use if the heroes had found some swords of Gondolin.

Also, some NPCs might be more difficult to be willing to act as Lore-master than others: Thranduil might help elven characters with elven artifacts, but a human or dwarven hero might first need to make him his patron. And that would require the hero to make some quest for Thranduil first or impress him (Those Who Tarry, The Questing Beast, Words of the Wise,...).

The Meet a Patron Undertaking gains some value when used this way. Not that it should be a rule, but it can help make the NPCs from the campaign more interesting, and not just a Google with human or elven form.

[beckett]

Ah! So you think it's fair to say the King Under the Mountain would be an appropriate Lore-Master if a player-hero wanted to Go See a Lore-Master to learn more about that Mithril Coat he found in a Troll-hoard?

Yes, that's how I play it. In fact, some people might be Lore-masters of just one object. For example, in my campaign Ingomer Axebreaker was to one who broke Wolfbiter, and one of its former owners. In that context, when the players find Wolfbiter, Ingomer works a suitable Lore-master. On the other hand, he would be of no use if the heroes had found some swords of Gondolin.

Also, some NPCs might be more difficult to be willing to act as Lore-master than others: Thranduil might help elven characters with elven artifacts, but a human or dwarven hero might first need to make him his patron. And that would require the hero to make some quest for Thranduil first or impress him (Those Who Tarry, The Questing Beast, Words of the Wise,...).

The Meet a Patron Undertaking gains some value when used this way. Not that it should be a rule, but it can help make the NPCs from the campaign more interesting, and not just a Google with human or elven form.

Thanks! This is helpful.

[beckett]

For Elven crafted items, Cirdain, Galadriel, Elrond, Thranduil, Celibrimor, et al.
For items of Dwarf make Dain, King Under the Mountain, the Companions of Thorin, et al
For Rings of Power Sauruman

By the way, not counting the various Open Sanctuary undertakings I have indexed 43 Fellowship Phase Undertakings. I will be making a spreadsheet.

Thank you for this, and for that spreadsheet!

[Deadmanwalking]

For Elven crafted items, Cirdain, Galadriel, Elrond, Thranduil, Celibrimor, et al.
For items of Dwarf make Dain, King Under the Mountain, the Companions of Thorin, et al
For Rings of Power Sauruman

By the way, not counting the various Open Sanctuary undertakings I have indexed 43 Fellowship Phase Undertakings. I will be making a spreadsheet.

I'd be shocked if Elrond and Galadriel, being ring-bearers, couldn't also help with knowledge of Rings of Power. Gandalf would also obviously be an option...if he weren't constantly on the move.

[Majestic]

I've been a bit less restrictive than just the big names (Galadriel, Gandalf, etc.), though my PCs have met most of them, many of them are Patrons, etc. They just raided a couple of Wight barrows and took their stuff with them to Dale at the Gathering of Five Armies. I figured there were so many visitors in town that it wasn't difficult for them to track down some wise person to help them figure out what their newfound stuff did.

One of our PCs - a Rivendell Elf - is a Loremaster himself. Cue the many jokes where the PCs wonder why their fellow adventurer can't just use his vast Lore skill to suss out what their new weapon or ring can do!

[zedturtle]

One of our PCs - a Rivendell Elf - is a Loremaster himself. Cue the many jokes where the PCs wonder why their fellow adventurer can't just use his vast Lore skill to suss out what their new weapon or ring can do!

I will quote myself from when of my players (Rocmistro) asked a similar question:

While Lore 3 represents a trove of knowledge about the world, more than most people acquire in their lifetime, it is primarily concerned with practical matters of trade routes and dynasties of kings. The provenance and powers of long-forgotten objects would be only a best guess for such a person.