Who he is isn't known. What he does is Legend.
He is known among the snow tribes only as Baran-Randir (a name which any speaker of Elven will recognize as "Brown Wanderer"), or sometimes Elrandir ("Man of the Randir"; Randir being the name of a species of large animals similar to reindeer, which inhabit the local area). He is sort of a "Nanook of the North"-type figure.
"Since before the time of the Grandfathers, he has waondered these mountains, with the Randir. That is why there are no giants or goblinoids here, to trouble the tribes, anymore. Since before our tribe came here, the Baran-Randir was here. He walks upon the snow, he cannot be tracked, and the cold does him no harm! He hunts the humanoids, and aids any tribe, in times of trouble... But his people are the Randir. Do not hunt them! The Chief of our tribe says that he talks to them, and knows all that they see! Sometimes, in the dead of winter, when the goblinoids follow the herds into the hills, he goes down to meet them, in the form of the great white bear that does not dwell in these mountains... Then the snows are red."
The tribes of the local area are mostly Barbarians, with a few Rangers and Druids, and perhaps some Fighters and Rogues mixed in. "The People" are a cross between land-locked Vikings, and Celts/Scottish Highlanders. They are larger-than-life, loud, and respect skill at arms. They are more open to outsiders than the Elves, above, because they are less pressed for resources. Without the humanoids to trouble them, food isn't as scarce (although they will expect the PCs to provide their own, they will gladly trade lodging or help for preserved food, or game).
"The Baran-Randir" (or "Elrandir") is a figure of awe and legend, among the tribes of the area. Claiming to have met him will be disbelieved, and scoffed at. On the other hand, tales of a rescue by a mysterious man in brown hide, riding a giant Randir, will produce wide eyes, and the desired results. Being led into camp (any camp!) by the Baran-Randir will tend to "rub off" on the PCs, who will be held in a bit of awe, themselves.
Elrandir could be either a Druid, or a high-level Ranger. Most likely, he is a high level Ranger with Goblinoids, Orcs, and Giants as his Favored Enemies. He isn't much for conversation, and definitely not a people-person, but his Knowledge (Geography, Local, Nature) is high, and he can easily survive, running with the herds of Randir. (I would also give him Boots of the Northlands, a Ring of Warmth, and either access to Shapechange, as in 3e, or an item allowing him to change into a Polar Bear).
One reason why he would help the party is the Orcs, coming up into the mountains. He has hunted them through the hills for at least the last century, anyway. Obviously, he is old, and could be a Half-Elf, or more likely an Elf.
Another reason, unknown to everyone, could be that he was - long ago, in a different lifetime - a member of the royal guard, who fell into disgrace when his charge died, on his watch. Thereafter, he wandered for a time, and settled here, outside(?) the Empire, where his past was unknown... Perhaps the Kinslayer's ancestors were even involved in his being stripped of title and lands, who knows? That was all so very long ago...
So here he sits, and what does the winter bring him? A Rag-tag bunch of adventerers, pursued by a horde of Orcs, a few assassins... AND the great-grandchild of the Emperor he failed to protect!
Elrandir could certainly find a way through the winter passes, regardless of how much snow was blocking them. With a century to map the local area, he probably knows every cave in the mountains, and how they connect... He would certainly be willing to get the PCs through (although the wagon would probably have to be abandoned - maybe wrecked, and left with the bodies of dead Orcs, to give the assassins a tale to tell - if they are known of, by that point). He could also probably raise the tribes to block the passes for the winter... assuming he wanted to... (not a people-person, remember?)
Since you don't want "Super-NPC" solving the party's problems for them, you could have him killed fighting the Orc tribes (wiping them out, in the process), or returning safely after the war, only to be taken out later, by the assassins, or just use him to get the PCs through the mountains via secret, circuitous routes...
On the other hand, if you want to get RID of the Empress and child, Elrandir could be revealed as an ancient Knight of the Kingdom, stripped of title and lands, and the new Empress could appoint him Regent, until such a time as her son is of age... He could then be left behind as a new, mysterious force to oppose the Kinslayer (and she would owe meeting him to the PCs)!
OR, he could just remain the mystery-man that he is, get the PCs out of trouble, and disappear with the herds of Randir, once again...
Baran-Randir is probably an Elven Ranger of 20+ level, but he could also be a high level Druid, of any race, who doesn't age due to Druidic power. If you want him to be an Orc-slayer, Ranger is probably better, but either will work...
"Yes, we have heard of your Emperor-Regent... We knew him, here in these mountains, many years ago... Before our Grandfathers were born, The People knew him as the Baran-Randir... He roamed these hills with the Caribou, and kept the mountains free of evil giants and humanoids... One day, when your Emperor is of full age, he will return to us, and lead the Randir back into the mountains... Those will be good days!"
He is known among the snow tribes only as Baran-Randir (a name which any speaker of Elven will recognize as "Brown Wanderer"), or sometimes Elrandir ("Man of the Randir"; Randir being the name of a species of large animals similar to reindeer, which inhabit the local area). He is sort of a "Nanook of the North"-type figure.
"Since before the time of the Grandfathers, he has waondered these mountains, with the Randir. That is why there are no giants or goblinoids here, to trouble the tribes, anymore. Since before our tribe came here, the Baran-Randir was here. He walks upon the snow, he cannot be tracked, and the cold does him no harm! He hunts the humanoids, and aids any tribe, in times of trouble... But his people are the Randir. Do not hunt them! The Chief of our tribe says that he talks to them, and knows all that they see! Sometimes, in the dead of winter, when the goblinoids follow the herds into the hills, he goes down to meet them, in the form of the great white bear that does not dwell in these mountains... Then the snows are red."
The tribes of the local area are mostly Barbarians, with a few Rangers and Druids, and perhaps some Fighters and Rogues mixed in. "The People" are a cross between land-locked Vikings, and Celts/Scottish Highlanders. They are larger-than-life, loud, and respect skill at arms. They are more open to outsiders than the Elves, above, because they are less pressed for resources. Without the humanoids to trouble them, food isn't as scarce (although they will expect the PCs to provide their own, they will gladly trade lodging or help for preserved food, or game).
"The Baran-Randir" (or "Elrandir") is a figure of awe and legend, among the tribes of the area. Claiming to have met him will be disbelieved, and scoffed at. On the other hand, tales of a rescue by a mysterious man in brown hide, riding a giant Randir, will produce wide eyes, and the desired results. Being led into camp (any camp!) by the Baran-Randir will tend to "rub off" on the PCs, who will be held in a bit of awe, themselves.
Elrandir could be either a Druid, or a high-level Ranger. Most likely, he is a high level Ranger with Goblinoids, Orcs, and Giants as his Favored Enemies. He isn't much for conversation, and definitely not a people-person, but his Knowledge (Geography, Local, Nature) is high, and he can easily survive, running with the herds of Randir. (I would also give him Boots of the Northlands, a Ring of Warmth, and either access to Shapechange, as in 3e, or an item allowing him to change into a Polar Bear).
One reason why he would help the party is the Orcs, coming up into the mountains. He has hunted them through the hills for at least the last century, anyway. Obviously, he is old, and could be a Half-Elf, or more likely an Elf.
Another reason, unknown to everyone, could be that he was - long ago, in a different lifetime - a member of the royal guard, who fell into disgrace when his charge died, on his watch. Thereafter, he wandered for a time, and settled here, outside(?) the Empire, where his past was unknown... Perhaps the Kinslayer's ancestors were even involved in his being stripped of title and lands, who knows? That was all so very long ago...
So here he sits, and what does the winter bring him? A Rag-tag bunch of adventerers, pursued by a horde of Orcs, a few assassins... AND the great-grandchild of the Emperor he failed to protect!
Elrandir could certainly find a way through the winter passes, regardless of how much snow was blocking them. With a century to map the local area, he probably knows every cave in the mountains, and how they connect... He would certainly be willing to get the PCs through (although the wagon would probably have to be abandoned - maybe wrecked, and left with the bodies of dead Orcs, to give the assassins a tale to tell - if they are known of, by that point). He could also probably raise the tribes to block the passes for the winter... assuming he wanted to... (not a people-person, remember?)
Since you don't want "Super-NPC" solving the party's problems for them, you could have him killed fighting the Orc tribes (wiping them out, in the process), or returning safely after the war, only to be taken out later, by the assassins, or just use him to get the PCs through the mountains via secret, circuitous routes...
On the other hand, if you want to get RID of the Empress and child, Elrandir could be revealed as an ancient Knight of the Kingdom, stripped of title and lands, and the new Empress could appoint him Regent, until such a time as her son is of age... He could then be left behind as a new, mysterious force to oppose the Kinslayer (and she would owe meeting him to the PCs)!
OR, he could just remain the mystery-man that he is, get the PCs out of trouble, and disappear with the herds of Randir, once again...
Baran-Randir is probably an Elven Ranger of 20+ level, but he could also be a high level Druid, of any race, who doesn't age due to Druidic power. If you want him to be an Orc-slayer, Ranger is probably better, but either will work...
"Yes, we have heard of your Emperor-Regent... We knew him, here in these mountains, many years ago... Before our Grandfathers were born, The People knew him as the Baran-Randir... He roamed these hills with the Caribou, and kept the mountains free of evil giants and humanoids... One day, when your Emperor is of full age, he will return to us, and lead the Randir back into the mountains... Those will be good days!"
Last edited:
?
