In Time Of War, MERP
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In Time Of War
The Cast.
Melyanna,
(s. "Dear Gift") Dunedan Animist, 1st Level. The seventeen year old daughter of a
noble house sent North by her elderly father to marry a lord of Arthedain, one Faramis Eketta, to
whom she has been betrothed since infancy. The apple of her fathers eye Melyanna is wilful,
headstrong and used to getting her own way, this trip into the frozen north is not her idea of fun
and she is inclined to tempers and sulks, and when in towns, to lavish shopping sprees. She has
developed a schoolgirl crush on Dimrod her bodyguard and constant companion from infancy,
but aware of the difference in their rank is too proud to reveal it to anyone.
Dimrod,
Rural man Warrior, 3rd level. The captain of her fathers household guard, aged thirty
five. As a young man Dimrod met and fell in love with the teenage bride of his already aged
master, a miserable and lonely, yet stunningly beautiful creature, who desperate for a truly
friendly face in the household, fell for him in return. For a while they were truly happy and yet
managed to keep their love a secret from all but the girls nurse turned handmaiden, until, alas,
she died of a childbed fever. Dimrod is really Melyanna's father but cannot tell her. With each
day that passes she becomes more like her poor dead mother, filling Dimrod with a sense of loss
as well as a fathers love. Dimrod has charge of two fair sized chests containing Melyanna's
dowry and funds sufficient for the journey.
Eoden,
Nineteen year old Eothraim (Rohirrim) groom (scout 1st level) wide boy and lothario,
intent on seducing the beautiful Melyanna without getting murdered by Dimrod. Eoden is
devilishly handsome and knows it, the kitchen maids have all swooned over him for some time
and a cheery rogue he has been happy to enjoy their favours, he has his eye firmly on the main
chance though.
Matha Fallowhide, Halfling scout of indeterminate age, hired ladies maid to Melyanna fierce
chaperone and outstanding cook. (Matha was an NPC in my campaign but was such a useful
character to have, even though I made her mute, that I have included her here.)
Sit with each of the players individually as you prepare them for the quest talk through their
secrets and remind them that they must not reveal to the others the secret they hold.
The course of the story
Chapter 1
We arrive at The Shire in the rain, Melyanna's maid falls ill and must be replaced. We have tea at
the Golden Perch and are introduced to Matha.
Chapter 2
An uncomfortable night lost in the Barrow Downs ( avoiding an armed party in the dark and fog,
the PCs wander off the road onto a side track to a ruined tower, there they are discovered by a
couple of minor wights.) Make the most of the fear, aspect of this, Glowing eyes in the dark,
whispers out of the mist etc.
Chapter 3
Bree, its population swollen by refugees and its largely dunnish garrison is busy.
Accommodation is hard to obtain and of course Melyanna and the chests containing her dowry
and funds attract some unwelcome attention. The night of their arrival a gang of deserters from
the king's army attempt to kidnap the girl and take the money.
Chapter 4
The Greenway north is a dangerous road and the journey north full of encounters with refugees,
signs of raiding parties and burnt farms. Where fortified farms remain armed men ride out to
identify the group and the players should get the message that the war is not going well.
Chapter 5
:
Mid Autumn
Fornost Erain, capital of the northern kingdom is very different in flavour to the country around
it. The nobility and most of the population are relaxed and happy. An "it'll all be over by
Christmas" attitude pervades the city and few are seriously worried by the Witch Kings
increasingly daring raids. Melyanna and her attendants arrive at the town house of the Eketta
clan to find Faramis is away at his garrison Ilmaryen, one of the forts closing the North Downs to
Angmarim attack. The only family member in residence is Faramis' grandmother, the Dowager
Baroness Eketta.
The baroness is ancient, thin, ill tempered and rude to Melyanna's entourage before banning
them from the house to the servants quarters. The household is a truly miserable one, the old
harridan turns out to be mean with money, critical of everything and the servants are terrified of
her acid tongue. And of course she will not hear of Melyanna going to join Faramis at his
garrison, yet further north.
This was a great episode in the story with Melyanna forced to sit through long, silent meals of
unappetising gruel or stringy, congealing stew produced by the Baroness' thin, weepy and truly
awful cook and the idiot kitchen boy who dribbles on the food from time to time. The others,
relatively happy to goof off drinking during the day would stage daring dashes through the house
to keep Melyanna company in her rooms or late night creeps across the roof to bring food
parcels to the poor girl and all in mortal fear of the old lady who stalks the house uncannily
quietly and flings doors open unexpectedly.
Chapter 6
While stuck in the city Melyanna must endure a Ball to introduce her to society. To which the
most important
clans of the kingdom are invited, The house is filled with stout old matrons,
boring old men, silly rich girls and gormless chinless wonders strutting about in their cavalry
uniforms feeling important and denying to themselves the dire state of the kingdom. The only
high points of the party are the food (outside caterers) and the presence of Crown Prince
Aranarth, a charming, gentle witty giant of a man who is a contemporary and friend of Faramis
and who takes it apon himself to rescue the hapless Melyanna from the Baroness' clutches.
Chapter 7
Aranarth makes an excellent co-conspirator for a lonely and rebellious child and arranges a
number of entertainments and distractions for the PCs while he arranges a supply train to
Ilmaryen to which the party can attach themselves: a hunt, a shopping trip for comforts to make
Faramis' quarters at Ilmaryen tolerable for a lady etc. He also gives Melyanna a fantastic coat of
Dwarven made Adarcer mail +15 (protects as Plate) as a parting gift.
Chapter 8
The party, assisted by some of Aranarth's elite Rangers, make a midnight escape from the house
to join the mule train Aranarth has procured to escort them to Ilmaryen. The journey through the
North Downs is uncomfortable (the weather is foul) and full of unease; wolf howls are heard
closer each night and the derelict farms and burned villages are more and more common. Signs
of Orcs are found and the train is even shot at from the woods by Angmarim scouts on one
occaision. Eventually the attack comes whirling out of the rain, Warg riding Orcs of the Uruk
Khosh and some dunlending chariots, and the group, outnumbered and outpaced take shelter at a
small fortified manor as their only hope of survival. Eventually after two assaults are beaten back
and all looks hopeless rescue comes in the form of a troop of cavalry led by Faramis himself.
Chapter 9 Days at Ilmaryen
Ilmaryen (s. The house that shall never be home), one of the chain of forts closing the North end
of the North Downs to approach by Angmarim forces from the Oiolad and Rammas Formen, is
almost a citadel besieged:- Rationing is strict, the garrison is reduced by the casualties of
aggressive patrolling to just fifty effectives and twenty some yeoman farmers and the livestock is
brought in at night. The population of the fort is largely made up of local farmers dependants,
women children and the elderly who have come to the great stone keep for protection.
Arrival
Bone weary, bruised and saddle sore the Lady Melyanna and the remains of Eresgal's caravan
crested the last ridge, slumped in their saddles or clinging grimly to the sides of the captured
dunlending chariot as it jolted wounds, causing more pain to its bloodied occupants . pausing
slightly, shocked a little by the prospect of an end to the journey the travellers observe a group of
horsemen leave the tower and come racing towards them. Bringing his horse to gravel spraying
halt the leader of the troop leapt slightly down and strode forward.
" by the powers! What happened? Where is.... Melyanna? But.... Dimrod! It's good to see you
again." The huge man pumped Dimrod's hand with almost painful enthusiasm though his eyes
strayed back to Melyanna, gazing almost dumbstruck back at this heroic figure that must be
Faramis Eketta " my Lady, you've, er, grown " Faramis grins, reddening at his own inane
remark and then apologising in a deep, velvety voice " I'm sorry, stupid of me, I didn't expect you
come further than Fornost or at most Barreketta . But I forget myself again, you have wounded
and must be exhausted come within and rest. I bid you welcome to Ilmaryen." Turning to take
Melyanna's bridle he leads the way into the shadow of the tower.
As the riders dismount at the gate it becomes apparent just how big Faramis Eketta is, topping 6
ft 8 broad in the shoulder and narrow of hip he lifts Melyanna down without effort and
beckoning attendants then sets to work moving the wounded into the barrack room hospital and
seeing the beasts unloaded and cared for, with efficiency and speed but without fuss or shouting.
Moving in a flurry of skirts and with a towheaded child on one hip a blonde Northman woman of
perhaps forty summers approached the now largely abandoned travellers and drops a curtsy to
Melyanna saying with a smile, " welcome my lady, I'm Fimalca, housekeeper here, if you would
follow me Madam I'll take you to a chamber, though I'm sure but for the wounded, my Lord
would see to it himself"
Fimalca opened the door on a huge chamber well lit by window and lamp and with a hearty
blaze in the grate. The room, though well furnished and attractive was cold this far from the
fireplace but with a moan of gratitude Melyanna simply tottered up to the bed and fell upon it
fully clothed asleep the moment she hit the cool, starched pillow.
Oh! What time was it? Melyanna awoke, eyes opening to find the room almost dark, lit only by
candles and the glow of the great fire. Matha laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and softly
snapped her fingers. Close to the fire in one of the wing-back chairs a great shadow moved,
coming closer to the bed and sitting on the edge of the mattress next to the diminutive figure of
the Halfling. Again the soft voice, almost a caress "Melyanna, no! Don't speak, your faithful
friend Dimrod has told me the important bits." he smiled " You know when I first met you in
Gondor all those years ago I wondered how on earth they could marry a child such as you, no! "
he stilled the fiery retort that sprang to her tongue with a gentle, warm finger touched to her lips
" let me finish. Now I know- you are courageous, compassionate and clever, and by the powers
you are fair. Now I must leave you to sleep or your Guardian will have my hide. We shall talk
properly at the midday meal. Sleep well Lady " and after planting a soft kiss upon her forehead
he slips away to his own chamber.
Faramis Eketta, gilded youth, beloved of all that know him, Lord of Ilmaryen and gifted leader,
presents a striking figure- almost 6'8" tall and broad in proportion is 25, with raven hair and eyes
the colour of storm clouds.
Generous, courageous, kindly and always ready to give encouragement, tireless in his leadership,
Faramis is the embodiment of all that is best in the Arthedain, and his men would follow him to
the very gate of Carn Dum should he command it.
Determined not to force himself on Melyanna, but to woo her for himself, Faramis decrees that
Melyanna should be provided every comfort, and himself picks fresh flowers for her chamber
each day.
Faramis also organises picnics, parties and candlelit dinners (such as the meagre tower stores
provide) to entertain his Lady, and when the snows come he even builds her a sledge.
The first day
At this point, because it seemed appropriate I put the cat among the pigeons so to speak:
The first day opens to heavy depressing sleety downpour.
Fimalca and Matha, already fast friends, share the morning routine attending Melyanna and
serving her breakfast.
Fimalca (who is a very clever and observant lady) prattles in a cheery way, offering the bath
house (bliss!), prophesying snow and saying.....
"I am surprised at the lord your father my Lady,- he slept last night in the barracks with the
men."
Matha drops the breakfast tray and runs to search Melyanna's face, while Fimalca, eyes wide
with shock, covers her mouth with her hand "Oh Powers!"
So now Melyanna knows but Dimrod doesn't know she knows.
The rest of the day is spent with Faramis in the library,
-Are you rested?
-Welcome to Ilmaryen - sorry about the house - my mother always hated it but she hated
grandmother more.
-What di you think of Aranarth?
-I see from his letter that he approves of you.
-Lady the situation is grim here and I would not wish you a widow. Please accept an engagement
ring as a sign of my good faith. (+10 db , casts blood ways to wearers level 1x per day)
Faramis can then show the party the maps, explain the strategic importance of Ilmaryen and give
them some idea of the doom hanging over the kingdom. His disgust at the lack of concern back
in the capital is evident when the party tell him of the situation in Fornost.- "Idiots, are they
blind!?"
Faramis will also give the PC's a tour of the defences and show them the secret tunnel which is
the escape route if ever the tower should fall. The secret passage leads from the cold room of the
baths (where a sprung mosaic tile releases the door) following the water outlet for some way
before swerving away to the south and surfacing under a dolmen in an ancient righ (small
earthwork circle) of the Baeffraen, fenced with an impenetrable hedge of wickedly spiked holly,
the home of an elderly Ent named Furimrilmahumbra...........In the small enclosed space rest a
dozen horses and stores for a fast journey to Fornost.
Falconry
The party and Faramis hunt to the North of the tower and have some success bringing down a
hare with Faramis' Goshawk Spearwing and a brace of rabbits with the Gyrfalcon he lends
Dimrod. Aha (Q. "Rage") takes a fine cock pheasant after a chase.
As the triumphant Melyanna rides to pick up her kill however an Angmarean ranger
camouflaged with the spell
hue
stands from cover and looses a crossbow bolt at her.
A visit to Niniel
Faramis' nearest neighbour is Niniel the Seer and Animist and he plans a visit with Melyanna to
introduce her to the woman whom he hopes will officiate at the wedding ceremony.
Niniel is rather a recluse and not given to travel though her maid Treva does ride over to
Ilmaryen on rare occaisions for essentials and for company.
Six weeks ago Sunil and Coerba and their gang of bandits, escaping from the law in Fornost
arrived at Niniels tower and conned their way in as guests. At dinner however they managed to
poison the old lady and have taken up residence, treating Treva as a slave. See Haunted Ruins of
the Dunlendings )
Picnic
Planned as a treat for Melyanna Faramis asks Matha to set up a campsite at the edge of the wood
and prepare a hot picnic.
The trip coincides with the first real deep snow and Faramis takes Melyanna on the sledge he has
made arranging to meet the others at the campsite for a meal.
Seated on the sledge enfolded in Faramis arms Melyanna can feel warm and loved. At the foot of
a slope they roll off laughing into the snow, their eyes meet and he lowers his head to give her a
lingering kiss. Until she starts a snowball fight that eventually includes everybody.
Chapter Ten- The Tower Attacked
Determined to clear a path for an assault through the downs Rogrog the Angmarean General
sends a mixed force of men and Orcs to besiege Ilmaryen.
PHASE 1 SURPRISE ATTACK
At night some of the humans backed by cloaked and cowled Uruk Hai approach claiming to be
travellers. A sentry goes to meet them however and manages to raise the alarm before he is
clubbed down. The village is burned and the sentry's screams last till dawn.
PHASE 2 INVESTMENT
The Angmarim spend a week firing arrows, building breastworks and siege engines and
preparing to assault the tower. Faramis sends via a magical messenger to Aranarth with warning.
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