Scholar Mirkwood-Elf ideas?

[farinal]

Mae govannen!

For a new campaign I will be playing an Elf of Mirkwood with the Noble Blood background as my character. I think the background implies Sindar blood so I have named him Thingol as a nod to the great Thingol King. He will be a Scholar with a passion for lore and "Wood Elf magic". One of his biggest desires is to study with Saruman (maybe Radagast would be more fitting for wood elf magic though) and/or Elrond.

I am thinking to select The Speakers and Wood Elf Magic virtues. He will carry a great spear and a throwing spear and we will tweak the Stinging Arrows to also work with a throwing spear.

It is a proud elf who wishes to see the Woodland Realm elevated and recover it's lost strength and he is fascinated with studying more lore and even some dangerous ones such as Ring-craft and Woodland magic.

I am afraid to cross the line to be a jerk to the people because of his noble blood and proud trait so I want to play it as a balanced way, a mix of an elven scholar and a passionate nobleman.

Do you have any ideas on what other virtues/attributes to take for this character to expand upon the Wood Elf magic theme? Maybe to compose some songs in Rivendell that will have "magical" effects on the company? Has anyone ever played such as Scholar Elf character? What were your impressions?

[Tuska]

It depends entirely on his interactions with the people around him. He may feel Woodmen as little more than savages while those in Dale or Lake Town as civilised, at least for Men.

What does your character want to achieve, what knowledge interests him, is it other cultures, the old ways, records from Old Dale or even Erebor, does he seek access to the tomes of knowledge buried deep inside the Lonely Mountain or perhaps caches inside lost Elven settlements within lost Mirkwood?
Put together a list of questions asking what drives him and could ultimately be his undoing and that should lead you down the right path or at least a path.

[bluejay]

My only feeling is that as an elf if he truly desires more knowledge of magic and ring craft then perhaps he would first look to his kindred in Lorien. Certainly there are Elves there who fled Eregion after its fall and so perhaps there would be some who still had some knowledge of ring craft (assuming that it isn't widely known that Galadriel wears a ring of power).

[Majestic]

In my game we have two Mirkwood Elf Scholars, though neither are nobles. The nobility part matches up better with our third Elven Scholar, who happens to be a High Elf from Rivendell.

Your description in many ways matches our most experienced character, Me'lereal. He is an Envoy of King Thranduil who first chose The Speakers and he's explored all the ways of Wood Elf Magic. He even uses a spear! He's also developed some interest in darker things, and has trained with both Ormal the Lampmaker and under Saruman a bit. He's kind and very understanding with the other Free Peoples, especially his fellow companions (which have included many cultures of Men, a Dwarf, and even a Hobbit).

[Glorelendil]

I'd tread carefully around the "arrogant elf" theme. It's a bit overused and can easily be overdone.

[farinal]

I'd tread carefully around the "arrogant elf" theme. It's a bit overused and can easily be overdone.

True. I don't want to do it either.

My only feeling is that as an elf if he truly desires more knowledge of magic and ring craft then perhaps he would first look to his kindred in Lorien. Certainly there are Elves there who fled Eregion after its fall and so perhaps there would be some who still had some knowledge of ring craft (assuming that it isn't widely known that Galadriel wears a ring of power).

In my game we have two Mirkwood Elf Scholars, though neither are nobles. The nobility part matches up better with our third Elven Scholar, who happens to be a High Elf from Rivendell.

Your description in many ways matches our most experienced character, Me'lereal. He is an Envoy of King Thranduil who first chose The Speakers and he's explored all the ways of Wood Elf Magic. He even uses a spear! He's also developed some interest in darker things, and has trained with both Ormal the Lampmaker and under Saruman a bit. He's kind and very understanding with the other Free Peoples, especially his fellow companions (which have included many cultures of Men, a Dwarf, and even a Hobbit).

Good suggestions and ideas. I think it might be intriguing for an Elf of Mirkwood while his realm seems to be getting "diminshed" and the Realm of the Lady is preserved. I think someone interested in Wood-Elf Magic and preservation would be very interested in the Lorien. Also a good idea to study the Lampmaker since one of the Wood Elf Magic is actually making of lights.

Do you guys think we will get some additional Wood Elf Magic in the Adventurer's Companion?

[Majestic]

Not sure, though it would be fun to see one more.

[Falenthal]

Maybe the Elves of Lórien could have the same Virtue, but with different spells. In fact, we only know of the use of enchanted lights and flaming arrows in the Hobbit. The galadhrim might have their own magic, but different from that of the mirkwood elves.

I expect the Lorien elves to be a slight variant of the Mirkwood elves, as the Iron Hills and Grey Mountain dwarves are from the Lonely Mountain ones. So one or two Virtue and Reward changes will appear for sure: Elven Magic might be one of those.