Question for the Tolkien Scholars: Spirits

[TheMonarchGamer]

If you're one of my players (Arendir, Wulfred, Nalrandir, Odo, or Hilde), don't read this.

So recently, I decided to give one of my players a necklace containing the essence of a spirit. It was actually given to him by a foe of Saruman, so it's not entirely inconceivable to think that it might also be acting as a spy on them, at least in the beginning, since he might be trying to figure more out about Saruman. I don't want to get into too much detail since I know some of my players peruse the forums.

Eventually, I'd like it to grow closer to the party, and maybe even break free of Saruman's bonds to help them. How should this spirit be portrayed in middle earth? My first idea was that it should be like the stag in Harry Potter that leads Harry to the Horcruxes. The player's spirit animal (based on when he was born), or so said the foe, was the winter stag. While it's possible he was lying, I think it'd be cool to eventually explorer this later.

Basically, is there a famous dead person in LOTR that you think it might be? I'm thinking of allowing the selection of some additional virtues to represent it mechanically. Any suggestions on these virtues?

-TMG

[Glorelendil]

Wait for me; I gotta go make some popcorn...

[Otaku-sempai]

Clarificaion? The necklace was given to the player by a foe of Saruman. Who imprisoned the spirit within the necklace? Saruman, the possessor of the item or someone else? Has Saruman's betrayal of the White Council become known in your campaign? Who or what is the winter stag and why is he a foe to Saruman?

I'm not aware of any precedent in Tolkien's lore for trapping a Mannish (or Elvish or Dwarvish) spirit within an object; although it doesn't seem outrageous to tie a spirit to Middle-earth through a connection to such an item.

I can't think of any candidates who would have had a strong connection to Saruman (either positive or negative). The White Wizard has made a study of Sauron and his servants, so the spirit might have some connection to them. Perhaps it could be King Eärnur of Gondor who rode to Minas Morgul in TA 2050 to confront the Lord of the Nazgul and was never seen again. I tend to think that he might have been turned into a lesser Wraith if he wasn't killed outright, but this might be an alternative.

[Stormcrow]

I don't see any problem with binding a spirit into an object, but I would avoid physical manifestations like Harry Potter's white stag. Keep it subtle. "Unclothed" spirits in Middle-earth tend to be invisible. Also, if the spirit is bound in an object it probably can't get out to do stuff. If it CAN get out, why does it return?

[Valarian]

It wouldn't have to be a physical, or even a generally visible manifestation. The PC with the necklace could see a White Stag during a manifestation of the spirit, similar to the way Frodo does when he's influenced by the Ring and the dagger wound. Of course, this means that the PC is gaining some visibility in the spirit world and will gain the notice of Elves as well as the Enemy.

[TheMonarchGamer]

Thanks for the responses.

Saruman has not been revealed to have fallen from light, this guy gave Wulfred the charm as payment to deliver a message to Saruman, but I don't think that this guy was the one who trapped the Winter Stag in the charm. The Winter Stag was originally the 'spirit animal' associated with Wulfred's birthday, the month of December the year of his birth. I like the idea of the Winter Stag being some kind of manifestation of the spirit trapped inside it, through. Hence my question for who could it actually be, and how to handle it mechanically (if at all).

I like the idea of it being King Eärnur, and unless someone comes up with a better idea in the next week, I'll probably go with that.

Both Stormcrow and Valarian have good points about the manifestation of the item. I'm probably going to have it go this way: the Spirit is bound to the necklace and can't really leave, but it can manifest part of itself rarely outside of the charm, and it's the charm that allows only the charms wearer to see it. Allowing for some cool stuff with the elves and the Enemy since Wulfred will be touching into the spirit world.
Thoughts?
-TMG

[Otaku-sempai]

I'm a bit confused. You've already decided that the entity imprisoned within the necklace is something called the Winter Stag. Perhaps it is not the soul of a deceased person at all. The Winter Stag could be a nature spirit or a Maia or other Ainu that had a physical manifestation. Mainly, I don't know why a Mannish spirit would take the form of an animal totem.

It might be better to save King Eärnur to eventually use as a Spectre, a Fell Wraith, or some other form of Ghost or Undead.

[TheMonarchGamer]

Good points. To allay confusion, here's the situation.

There is some kind of spirit (previously undetermined) inside the charm. The player's Zodiac sign, for lack of a better term (I've been using the word 'Spirit Animal' there, which is probably the source of the confusion), is a Winter Stag. Now, like I said, the spirit inside the charm doesn't HAVE to have anything to do with the Winter Stag, since that's like me saying that I am, say, a Gemini, and got a 'magical charm' from a street vendor in New Orleans. It doesn't mean the charm will have anything to do with two twins.

My point was originally that I think it will be COOL, BUT NOT NECESSARY to have the "Winter Stag'' reflected in the charm's spirit, like a sort of 'fate' thing. Does that clear it up?
-TMG

[Stormcrow]

Perhaps it is not the soul of a deceased person at all.

It should not be this; that's controversial enough as it is. There are plenty of "spirits" in Tolkien that aren't the fear of the Children of Iluvatar.

[Otaku-sempai]

My point was originally that I think it will be COOL, BUT NOT NECESSARY to have the "Winter Stag'' reflected in the charm's spirit, like a sort of 'fate' thing. Does that clear it up?
-TMG

Okay. I do think that having a human spirit be perceived by your player as his animal totem might be too complicated and involved. Often, simpler is better. A nature spirit or Maia (although not all lesser Ainur were counted among the Maiar) might still work better in this instance. And their more malleable nature even compliments your concept.