[RotN] Harder Than Stone Question Spoilers

[barefoottourguide]

I'm intrigued by the concept of Feredrun in Harder Than Stone but am not satisfied with the conditions provided. First, Sauron's entrampment of her seems too quick. He leads people on, giving them what they want before trapping them... and in this case it reads like he summoned her and snagged her. Second, this is a huntress of the Valar Orome. Why didn't Orome do anything? This is the type of event that got the Greek gods off the bench in the Iliad. How was this hidden from the Hunter?
I'm greatly enjoying the adventures but want to have answers to those questions, as I have a player who's amazingly versed in Tolkein and will ask these things.
Garrett

[Bram Corolev]

I have been grappling with the same questions as you. I love these adventures but I know this particular aspect of this adventure is only going to make trouble with my players.

[Tolwen]

From the POV of Arda Lore, the provided background is quite lacking IMO as well. While superficially OK, with some thinking (and not only detailed Tolkien lore) upon it, personally I deem the provided reasoning not really salvageable. I will definitely bin that in favour of something more fitting to Middle-earth as encountered in the texts (especially the histories and lore of the Elder Days).

Cheers
Tolwen

[zedturtle]

I think the best thing to do in these sorts of circumstances is to try and expand upon (or rebuild) the story, and make it to be as consistent with the given materials as possible.

So, Feredrûn was of the host of Oromë, once upon a time. She probably went to Middle-earth, and was there ensnared by Morgoth (the Dark Lord referenced on page 52). When she tried to rebel against Morgoth, he bound her with an iron collar and made her subservient to Sauron, his most trusted servant.

[[ Someone else's turn to continue, or revise... ]]

[Andrew]

Let's take a look at the original text for a moment and see what it says:

The creature’s name is Feredrûn, the "Hunter of the East", and was once a huntress of the host of Oromë. The Dark Lord invited her centuries ago to return to Middle-earth and assume a physical form, seducing her with lies and promises. Then, Sauron bound her to his will by setting about her neck an iron collar, inscribed with powerful sorceries of obeisance and submission; thus spell-enslaved, Feredrûn could not choose but submit to the will of any loyal servant of Sauron.

The key word is "Then." Now, you could read this to mean the very moment she succumbed to his lies and promises and set foot on Middle-earth he bound her. Or it could have been hundreds, thousands of years later, all the while he tempted and corrupted her. Your call!

As to why Oromë didn't get stuck in - well, it says she was "once" a huntress in his host. Did the Dark Lord lure her away from the host, or had she left Oromë beforehand? And how big is Oromë's host - is she one of many of his servants? Does he go chasing after every wayward follower? I don't know the answer to this one either...

Anyway, I don't profess to be an expert on the legends and lore of Middle-earth - I'll leave that to the likes of Francesco - but I think there's sufficient ambiguity and sense of mythology there for you to interpret it however you like.

[barefoottourguide]

Thanks Andrew. The then does make a bit of a difference.
Garrett