Spell-casting characters

[BILBOBAGEND]

Adding on what Corvo supplied:

http://blogs.wylfing.net/coronas/2013/1 ... -one-ring/

[Oskar]

Aragon was no mere fighter type!
Being of Dunedain-desent, athelas-leafs had some effect in his hands, had it not?

[jeremy]

Aragon was no mere fighter type!
Being of Dunedain-desent, athelas-leafs had some effect in his hands, had it not?

That was a natural ability based on his physical heritage and his being destined to be king, not actual spell-casting, which entails rituals, speaking words, etc.--i.e., things you learn how to do.

[Rich H]

Aragon was no mere fighter type!
Being of Dunedain-desent, athelas-leafs had some effect in his hands, had it not?

That was a natural ability based on his physical heritage and his being destined to be king, not actual spell-casting, which entails rituals, speaking words, etc.--i.e., things you learn how to do.

Although it was his heritage he certainly channelled the leaf's power through words when applying Athelas to those laid low by the Nazgul's black breath.

[jeremy]

I didn't recall him saying words as he broke the athelas leaves, but maybe he did. At any rate, it still seems like it was something that only Aragorn could do (hence a natural power of his rather than a spell he learned) because of his heritage and his kingly destiny ("The hands of a king are the hands of a healer"). When Gandalf referred to spells for opening doors, he indicated a body of knowledge that had been previously existent and circulated, since he said the spells were in various languages.

At any rate, for game purposes, I could see the healing power belonging to others besides Aragorn or perhaps being used like a spell. It would be plausible.

[Mim]

Well, since this is an important point for many of us, I just looked up every reference to athelas in the LOTR .

When Aragorn use the leaves to attempt to heal Frodo in Rhudaur, Rivendell, & just after Moria & before Lothórien, he only crushes or boils them - he never says anything per se, certainly not a spell.

His efforts at the Houses of Healing after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, however, are different. Here's what he does to heal Faramir:

Then taking two leaves, he laid them on his hands and breathed on them, and then he crushed them, and straightaway a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy. And then he cast the leaves into the bowls of steaming water that were brought to him, and at once all hearts were lightened.

So, I guess you can say the whole "breathed" thing means some type of power passes through him, though he never actually utters a spell.

When he heals Éowyn:

But he bent and kissed her on the brow, and called her softly, saying:

'Éowyn, Éomund's daughter, awake! For your enemy has passed away!'

He then:

...bruised two leaves of athelas and cast them into steaming water; and he laved her brown with it, and her right arm lying cold and nerveless on the coverlet.

It gets trickier, because he 'calls' her as already described & then again & leaves the room, commanding Éomer to also call her. He does, & she awakens. Thus, if Aragorn has some forgotten power of Westernesse, as the text somewhat implies, then he may be casting a spell when he calls her, but how do we explain that Éomer does as well? It seems to me that it is because he is her brother & does so from love, rather than any magical ability - which Éomer otherwise never displays. Therefore, my two pence is that Aragorn does not cast spells per se, but uses his healing skills with athelas.

In game terms, this is probably best played by providing an appropriate numerical bonus or success dice to Healing for someone of the blood &/or using athelas, say, plus 1 or 2 (or whatever works for your game).

[Corvo]

I think Aragorn got the third of the Herbal Remedies (Aventurer's Book, page 132)

[Hermes Serpent]

If you really need more guidance on the type of magic in Middle-earth the things done as boons by Radagast in Tales from the Wilderness fall into that category.

The only two spells mentioned are the Spell of Concealment and the Travel Blessing spell. The other aids are enchanted items, the Bag and Cordial while the Beast Protection/Animal warnings aren't described as a spell but implied as no more than asking the animals to assist the party.

The spells are mentioned as being dangerous with the spell of concealment hiding them from some things but acting as a beacon for others. I suspect that using magic spells of any description as opposed to enchantments will light up the wielder as something that the foul minions of the Necromancer will come to seek out, and not just spiders or orcs but truly dangerous and ancient evils.

If you must have magic then it is likely to be dark, dangerous and powered by the life force of a sacrifice or the wielder.

[Robin Smallburrow]

Hi Jeremy!

I hope you like the rules in my sig (and the other fan -produced ones), as like you there have been some fans who wanted a bit more magic - from my POV I wanted a comprehensive rules that explained all the different types of 'magic'.. As I have said to others before, I am still working on this and it probably won't be finished until next year (sorry!). Currently working on Part 3 (New characters etc. stuff).

I understand from Cubicle 7 that they may have some 'official' stuff on magic when the Rivendell supplement comes out....

Robin S.

[Hermes Serpent]

Coming back to the Athelas thing again the Professor obviously knew about the medieval (mostly) idea where the touch of an anointed king was supposed to cure the disease known as 'the King's Evil' - scofula.

The anointed bit is the application of the holy oil as part of the coronation ritual, no doubt you could find a video of the last British coronation on Youtube if you wanted to know more. It signified the installation of the monarch as God's Anointed and was part of the process that royalty felt entitled them as their God ordained Divine Right that got Charles into so much trouble with Parliament in the mid 17th century.

Anyway history lesson over, the power of being God's Anointed was the source of the supposed Royal healing cure and no doubt the Professor was emulating that in his writing of Aragorn's ability to use Athelas for healing. The fact of his not being 'anointed' but just being of the right heredity was a concept thing not really any different from the medieval idea that you got to be king (or queen) because your ancestors/relatives were.