Question for the Tolkien Scholars: Spirits

[TheMonarchGamer]

Fantastic! I love it! I think until the stag becomes more friendly to the players, I'll probably have him use riddle. Once he decides they're worth helping (for whatever reason), I'll probably stop having them make riddle checks. Yeah, I meant all dice (feat and success) reroll one time per attack.
Thanks so much!
-TMG

[Otaku-sempai]

You are most welcome! Feel free to modify or replace anything I suggested with your own ideas to see what works for you and your game. But I'd like to see what your final version looks like, if you don't mind.

[TheMonarchGamer]

Sure - I'll post that (hopefully) later today.
-TMG

[TheMonarchGamer]

Here's the LM version. The players would obviously be able to discern varying amounts of information depending on their research and experimentation. For instance, they might not know about the strong bond unless one is actually forged, they wouldn't know the Corruption Test DC or for that matter, even that there is a corruption test. As I said earlier, I really appreciate you taking the initiative to write this up. Left to my own devices, I'd probably just jot down a couple points.

The Winter Stag
A nature-spirit in the form of a hart wandered the region of Gondor, especially the Eastern Mark, in the winters of the Elder Days. The spirit became known to Men of the region, and it is said that the constellation called the Winter Stag was named for him. After Sauron’s defeat in the Last Alliance, the Winter Stag was captured by servants of the Enemy and imprisoned within a finely engraved silver charm with a single small diamond embedded in its center. However, the charm has since been lost to history – scholars among ancient ways have all but forgotten about it.

The possessor of the necklace can bid the Stag to take spirit form to explore an area within one day's travel and return in no more than twelve hours to relay his findings through speech. This speech may only be heard by the wearer of the charm or by one with whom the Stag has forged a strong bond (unless another observer could naturally communicate with spirits). Unless the Stag has forged a strong bond with the charm’s user, the user must make a Riddle check opposed by the Stag to determine the Stag’s answer. When the Stag is in spirit form the wearer, by expending a point of Hope, can see through the Stag's eyes as per the Beorning virtue Night-goer. If the wearer is fighting Fell spirits, he/she can use one point of hope to reroll all dice once and use the second result. If a second point of Hope is used, then the wearer may reroll the dice and use the better of the two results. The wearer must make a corruption test every day the charm is worn for more than one hour at DC 10 (DC 12 if the spirit has been sent to explore the surrounding area and is not present).

Attribute level: 5
Specialities: Anduin-lore, Beast-lore
Distinctive Features: Elusive, Swift
Relevant skills: Stealth 5, Riddle *Special, Awareness 3

*The Stag uses a riddle skill proportional to the complexity of the message he is trying to convey. If it is a simple message, then his riddle skill is 1. If it is a complex message, the skill is 2. If it is a complex message with detail, the skill is 3. The Stag may choose how complex he would like his message to be.

-TMG

[Otaku-sempai]

That looks good, but I'm a bit confused about what region represents the Stag's old haunts. Where is the Eastern Mark? Is it either the Eastfold or East Emnet in what later became Rohan? Or is it south of the White Mountains between the Hills of Tarnost and the Mountains of Shadow?

I wonder if Anduin-lore covers a broader territory than what you intend since the River Anduin stretches all the way from the Grey Mountains to Gondor and the Bay of Belfalas. Perhaps that Speciality should be changed to Gondor-lore.

[TheMonarchGamer]

That looks good, but I'm a bit confused about what region represents the Stag's old haunts. Where is the Eastern Mark? Is it either the Eastfold or East Emnet in what later became Rohan? Or is it south of the White Mountains between the Hills of Tarnost and the Mountains of Shadow?

I wonder if Anduin-lore covers a broader territory than what you intend since the River Anduin stretches all the way from the Grey Mountains to Gondor and the Bay of Belfalas. Perhaps that Speciality should be changed to Gondor-lore.

Good question. I'll change it to Gondor lore, I agree that's more fitting. By Eastern Mark, I did indeed mean east Rohan. Isn't Rohan still sort of technically part of Gondor, since Gondor gave them the province a long time ago or something like that? I'm a bit fuzzy on the details there.
-TMG

[Otaku-sempai]

By Eastern Mark, I did indeed mean east Rohan. Isn't Rohan still sort of technically part of Gondor, since Gondor gave them the province a long time ago or something like that? I'm a bit fuzzy on the details there.
-TMG

Rohan used to be a province of Gondor called Calenardhon. According to Robert Foster's The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, "the land was given to the Men of Eothéod by Cirion of Gondor in TA 2510 in return for their aid in the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant and their swearing to the Oath of Eorl. Rohan, as the country was then called in Gondor, was ruled by King Eorl and his descendants." It may be that what you need to give the Stag is Rohan-lore. Only you know for certain.

[TheMonarchGamer]

Ok, interesting. Eh, considering the whole roaming beast thing, why not give it both? Although I picture it being more familiar with the land than the customs. Is there a simple word for that entire area?
-TMG

[Robin Smallburrow]

The MonarchGamer

Did this idea come from one of your players deciding to visit a 'magical charm shop'?

This concerned me, as this is not D&D where such shops are easily found - in Middle-earth the reverse is the case, such places are only found 'by those in the know'. And even if your player managed to find such a shop (certainly in Lake-Town), how much of the merchandise would be really magical would only be a small percentage in reality, and priced to match!

Your player would be more likely to find a temporary stall at the marketplace (that wasn't there the next day!). Just as conjurors were mostly con-men of dubious repute (as Frodo was assumed to be by the Breelanders), so too were purveyors of 'magical trinkets' etc.

Robin S.

[Rich H]

Corruption Test DC

at DC 10 (DC 12 if the spirit has been sent to explore the surrounding area and is not present).

DC is used in some editions of D&D, not TOR. I believe you mean TN or Target Number.

Also...

After Sauron’s defeat in the Last Alliance, the Winter Stag was captured by servants of the Enemy and imprisoned within a finely engraved silver charm with a single small diamond embedded in its center.

If the charm was made by servants of the enemy I'd reconsider its appearance or give an excellent explanation as to why it bears such a fair appearance - eg, was it made for someone in particular, was it made by a specific person/adversary, etc. I think if you develop this idea you can provide the players with clues if they are so inclined to investigate the background of the item.