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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dlsharrock" data-source="post: 4142745" data-attributes="member: 55833">The Third Age of the Sun, and long have the sons of Numenore struggled against the tides of evil. The Witch King of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgul, holds dominion in the north and threatens the diminishing kingdom of Arnor. He seeks an end to the age of Men. In the south, King Umbardicil of Gondor battles to maintain his country's borders against the barbarian hordes and especially the Wainriders of Rhun. The Dwarfs of Moria have vanished, and the Elves of Lorien, Rivendell and Belfallas are enshrined, unwilling or unable to help the ailing Dunedain. Moreover, something evil stirs in the shadows of Mirkwood.The Eve of Mirkwood is a Middle-Earth game set in the realm of Tolkien during the latter centuries of the Third Age of the Sun (TA 1874 to be precise). I'm looking for players who are fans, or who just fancy the chance to explore Third Age Middle-Earth. Knowledge of chronology and mythology are not requirements! In terms of posts, please don't be afraid to use your keyboard. One line players or abbreviated turns (ie Foobar goes NW and KOs the orc) are definitely not my preference.Expect the setting to be historically accurate, with everything you'd expect to find during this time period within north-western Middle-Earth, including the relevant races, political infrastructures, prominent protagonists and enemies. Having said that, I don't intend to impose linear restrictions on players. If you want to battle the Witch King of Angmar and hunt down the unmentionable evil haunting the twisted depths of Mirkwood then that's fine by me. If you'd prefer to avoid tangling with known chronological events and would rather  just adventure in the dungeons, mountains, cities and wilderness of Middle-Earth that's fine too.I haven't yet decided on a method of bringing the group together. I intend to look at the characters suggested first, then come up with a reason the group might come together. Please submit character ideas to this thread using the character guide below, or email to me if you feel more comfortable doing so (davidATfarcountryweb.co.uk). I'll get in touch with you by email probably. I'm planning on using D&D 3rd ed.CHARACTER CREATION GUIDEPlease no known protagonists like Gandalf or Elrond, no members of the Ainur (Valar or Maiar) and no kings, queens, princes or other politically prominent characters who might throw a spanner in the works of existing chronology. Feel free to ask me about possibilities for any unusual character ideas you have.PCs you may consider includeHobbits (Falohide) adventurous folk from the Shire or thereabouts. Those with strong Falohide blood include Tooks, Brandybucks and Bagginses. (Race/subrace suggestion: Gnomes, minus the engineering tendencies. Halflings, possibly, though they are more aggressive than Hobbits. No subrace suggestion).Hobbits (Stoor) riverfolk and fishing hobbits from villages in and around Middle-Earth's many rivers. The Brandywine, Anduin and Lune are all good. (Race/subrace suggestion: Gnomes again, minus the engineering tendencies. Halflings are more likely as the Stoor are quite combative (Smeagol was a Stoor Hobbit). No subrace suggestion).Dwarfs Durin's folk are in Moria and have closed their doors to the outside world. Dwarfs may be scattered in small groups elsewhere around Middle-Earth but there are no large contingencies of dwarfs abroad in Middle-Earth during this period. (Race/subrace suggestion: Dwarf, Middle-Earth dwarfs fit the template well. Subrace: Deep Dwarfs might work for those who have delved deep into Moria, but they are very much entrenched in Moria, so very unlikely to be usable as an adventurer)Elves (Silvan) from the Greenwood region, ruled by Thranduil the Sindar lord and father of Legolas. Greenwood, at this time, is in the grip of an unknown evil and is widely known as Mirkwood. (Race/subrace suggestion: Wood Elf subrace (also known as Sylvan)Elves (Falathrim) the sea-loving elves, led by Cirdan the Shipwright. They live in Grey Havens in the Gulf of Lune. (Race/subrace suggestion: Gray Elf).Elves (Sindar/Noldor) the elves of Lothlorien ruled by the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. (Race/subrace suggestion: Grey Elf)Elves (High elves/any) the elves of Rivendell, ruled by Lord Elrond. (Race/subrace suggestion: Gray Elf)Elves (Any) there are some elves in Edhellond, an elf haven in the Bay of Belfalas, and some in the enclave's main city of Dol Amroth. (Race/subrace suggestion: Gray Elf)Men (Dunedain) Arnorians or Gondor Men. The rangers, disenfranchised men of Arnor, are yet to appear in numbers,  but there may be a few rangers who have removed themselves from Fornost etc. because of plague and subsequently wander the wilderness Aragorn-style.Men (Dale Men/Bardings) Men from the Dale, the town on the edge of Lake Esgaroth and in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain (The Hobbit).Men (Éothéod) Northmen and horse masters. In this period they live in the vale of Anduin, most notably the north of Mirkwood. They will one day become the Rohirrim of Rohan.Men (Atanatari) Scholarly men from any region, but preferably Arnor or Gondor.Men (Dunlendings of Eryn Vorn) hostile to Arnorians and Gondor Men, suits foresters and tracker/burglar type characters.Men (Dunlendings of Tharbad) less prejudice against the Dunedain, but still uneasy around men of Arnor or Gondor. Originating from the town of Tharbad.Men (Rhovanian) refugee nomad from the Wainrider oppressed lands of Rhovanion.Men (Beorning) huge, gruff, black haired and grizzle bearded Men of Mirkwood. The Beornings are woodsmen and hunters. Men (Dorwinians) refugees fleeing the Wainrider Easterling barbarians. Come from the west shore of Rhun, the inland sea, and are famed as makers of fine wines and strange alcoholic drinks.Men (Forodwaith) Men of the icy kingdom to the north  known by most as the Lossoth or Forodwaith. High endurance to the cold,  but should be a reason why a lone Lossoth has ventured into Middle-Earh.Men (Lakemen) Men of the stilted town in Lake Esgaroth, as encountered by Bilbo in The Hobbit. Men (Woodman) From Southern Mirkwood. Hunters, trackers and natural rangers, at home amid the trees, but particularly the trees of Mirkwood.</blockquote>

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