Report to Erkenbrand V: The Black Rider

Dear Father,

My body is bitten by the freezing cold of the high and impressive Misty Mountains and I can hardly hold the quillpen in my hand. Not only is the hand trembling from the cold, thinking back on our last meeting with the Enemy is even more cause for shivering limbs.

Last time I wrote we were heading out of the Elven Kingdom of Rivendell to hunt down a Black Rider. The mountains led us to an outpost of dwarves seeking refuge in a camp where we met Lord Gloin. Gloin's people live in constant battle with both the unforgiving nature of the peaks of the Misty Mountains and the increasing number of goblins dwelling there.

In return of helping Lord Gloin recover some odd heirlom of his he told us of a traitorous tribe of dwarves that had turned againt him. What was worse, the evil dwarves had welcomed the Black Rider we were hunting. We followed the Black Rider and ended up fighting the Dourhand's wicked Dwarf Lord. The Black Rider escaped but Lord Gloin told us, after reading some parchments we returned to him from the Dourhands, that the Black Rider was likely hiding in some ancient dwarven stronghold named Helegrod, or rather in the treassury of that fortress.

We should never have followed. It was folly and I know it. But we were too deeply involved in the wellbeing of the bitter but not unfriendly dwarves, and there was still no sign of Strider. We rode out of Gloin's camp one morning, it was colder than usual. When we had managed to locate the entrance of the old treassury I saw on the large stonedoors and understood we would have to leave the Maeras behind. I should have turned back then. But we went on. After having led Riverfoam and the other steeds into the entrance and left them with blankets on while we continued into the maze, and towards our own doom.

After having lost our way countless times, at last we entered a huge hall, comparable even to Meduseld allthough carved out in the rock, and saw the Black Rider speaking to a few minions of his. On the ground in front of him was the dried up corpse of a long dead dragon. We should have run but stood almost paralyzed in the doorway when the Black Rider and his minions started to chant and reading out curses aloud.

What happened next is as much of a miracle as the fact that I am still alive to write you this letter. The dragon, obviously dead since decades, maybe centuries, slowly came alive. I am not lying to you. There, right in front of our eyes, the dragon was awakened by the Black Rider. How utterly foolish of us to have tried to hunt down such an invicible creature! The dragon soared up into the darkness of the cave and left the same way I presume it must have entered many years ago allthough I did not myself see any openings out into open air.

Then, at that moment, the Black Rider reliazed he wasnt alone with his minions any longer. He turned slowly in our direction and I felt the blood freeze to ice in my heart. He was upon us as rain or snow come out of the White Mountains, in no time. I barely got my shiled up before he cracked it in half with his ill-tended blade. The struggle, it would not be correct to call it a fight, was over in less than a minute. The Eored broke. Without our steeds we were like young boys fencing with wooden sticks against a foe that grabbed hold of your heart with a cold invisible hand, and squeezed your life out of it.

I awoke hours later. A deep cut in my shieldarm but no other visible wounds. The men were scattered on the cold dark rock. Less blood were covering it than fill six men. My hope returned quicker than I thought possible. I could see Fridgrim sit in a corner, pale face, like life was drained from him, mute. I walked around and checked on them one by one. Gundred, face painted with horrible nightmares. Thraindir in a cowering posture on the floor. Beotatha shield covering his head, knuckels gone white holding the sheiled. Wraecca, pale as ice, his right leg soaked in blood but not mortally wounded. It was a sad sight.

And still, we were all alive. Why the Black Rider spared us is a mystery. Not that there is much left of us. Our steeds where still in the entrance and on our ride back to Gloin I pondered much on whether we should simply return to the Mark. I dont know how we will react if put to a fight again. Maybe we will all break. I know not the answer while I write this to you from Gloin's camp but I will find out.

Perhaps we are not far from you, on our way home, when you read this. I have failed to honor You and your realm.

Your loyal blood
Therowan

Muster of Rohan, part III: Sharkey's Men

The third event in the Rohirric campaign. The event will start monday September 1st 2008 at 1900 hrs BST (British summertime) and 2000 hrs CST (central european summertime) in a ruin on Eastern Breefields with a campsite.

Previous events
The Rohirrim have arrived into Breeland via Bruinen and Rhudaur sent out by Erkenbrand, the aging now former Marshal of the Mark (Muster of Rohan). While not suspecting Théoden King of in any way having lost control - the king's son Théodred is still patrolling the green hills of the Mark - Erkenbrand sense the immediate need to clear out who is Master of the 'White Hand Orcs'; naturally it cannot be the old ally Saruman, but someone hiding his true nature behind Saruman's well-known symbol. And tracks lead north into Eriador.

Rohirrim living in exile in and around Bree learn that a handfull of 'Horselords' of the south have arived to the lands. One by one, some decide to search for the rumoured Eored. Why have the come? Has war broken out at home? Is Théoden King alive and well? Are they simply new fugitives from the homeland after having commited some hideous crime? The Eored have continued to the Weahtherhills, east of the city of Bree. During their ride Thérowan, son of Erkenbrand, and his Eorlingas have thus recieved unforeseen reinforcements in form of exiled kinsmen.

The growing Eored is camping in the Eastern Breefields. Numerous orccamps in the region have been razed to the ground. In the last attack evidence of a traitor, possibly from Rohan and working as an agent for Saruman, was found in forms of orders he was delivering to the orcs. The orders need to be translated from some foul orc lagnuage to reveal more of Sarumans schemes in the north. Meanwhile rumours of the traitor living with the brigands in Chetwood have reached the Eored, and among them Freiwyn, who was stabbed by the traitor and left for dead, is looking for revenge.

The Event
We start at the camp with some swimming by the lake and awaiting word from a man helping out with reading the captured orders from Nan Watheren. The growing Eored then mounts up and rides to Combe and then further into Chetwood with a guide leading them to the Brigands outposts in Chetwood looking for signs of the traitor. Traces lead away from Chetwood and the Bree outsits and into the west. Somewhere near a little village of Oatbarton brigands have settled in and driving away the 'little folk' from their homes. The closest way there would supposedly be across some river named Brandywine, and then to the north. Hopefully we get the chance to meet some live little folk (whatever that is!) on our way to the new brigand lair.

Non Rohan characters
We are hoping to get a guide into Chetwood that will most likely be a Rohirrim. When riding into the Shire, however, we hope to get in touch with the growing Hobbit community, hopefully some bouders and an occational fisherman pointing the way. We very much hope for some planned interaction with the bounders allthough that has not yet been arranged when I write this. We will set up a time when we will come to the Bridge and we will be there on time.

Well met!

Thérowan,
Son of Erkenbrand

PS 1. Sharkey is the name Saruman goes by in the Shire after having been banished from Isengard, which has not yet to come, as we all know (allthough it can allready be seen in Galadriel's Mirror in Lothlorien). Hence the name of the event 'Sharkey's men should not be taken literally. The name only reflects that we are moving into the Shire and dealing with Sarumans henchmen.

PS 2. People have gotten this right by now but I ad it for possible newcomers.
To try and get rid of the 'classical lotro looks' we will use [i]round shields[/i]. Those who have other shileds - even 'horsehead decorated' ones - will get replacements as long as there is enough in stock. I also wish for people to [i]drop the most significant high level cloaks [/i] when joining on this type of events. Having Hammers, the Tree of Gondor and what not on the cloak does only painfully remind us (at least me and I guess otheres as well) of the limited line of gear there are in game. Get a new rag on you back, please, or just leave the one you own in your backback. ;)
We also [i]leave the bow/crossbow at home[/i] on mounted assautls. We arent going to hunt for food, nor 'pull' anything.

Memories of Old

While we plan Muster of Rohan III that will be around end august beginning september we offer you to relax with the memories of "Mae" of Rohan. Epic scenery in a nice, artistic video. You will long for the rolling hills of the Mark ...

Muster of Rohan, part II: Hunting a Traitor

Muster of Rohan Part II: Hunting a traitor

The second event in the Rohirric campaign. The event will start Monday June 2nd 1900 hrs BST (British summertime) and 2000 hrs CST (central european summertime) in the ruin in Eastern Breefields with a campsite, next to the lake.

Previous event
The Rohirrim have arrived into Breeland via Bruinen and Rhudaur, sent out by Erkenbrand, the aging now former Marshal of the Mark (Muster of Rohan) While not suspecting Théoden King of having lost control in any way - the king's son Théodred is still patrolling the green hills of the Mark - Erkenbrand sense the immediate need to find out who is Master of the 'White Hand Orcs'. Naturally it cannot be the old ally Saruman, but someone hiding his true nature behind Saruman's well-known symbol the White Hand. The tracks lead north into Eriador.

Some 'Horselords', living in exile in and around Bree, learn that a handfull of their kinsmen from the south have arived to the lands in the north. One by one, some decide to search for the rumoured Eored. Why have they come? Has war broken out at home? Is Théoden King alive and well? Are the kinsmen simply new fugitives from the homeland, having committed some hideous crime? The Eored itself has travelled from the source of Bruinen (where it arrived following the mighty river from the south) to the Weahtherhills, east of the city of Bree. During their ride Thérowan, son of Erkenbrand, and his Eorlingas have thus recieved unforeseen reinforcements in form of exiled kinsmen.

The Event
The growing Eored strikes camp in an abandoned ruin in the Eastern Breefields north of Far Chetwood. This will turn out to be their camp for the entire campaign. The event will mainly take place in, or revolve around the ruin. Horsebreeders in the nighbourhood have traded supplies for the increased security brought to them by Rohirrim hunting down the occationally sighted orcs.

There will be one, or possibly two simultaneous, scouting expeditions to the White Hand orc encampment north of Bree and possibly one into the Weatherhills. The scouting will be done by only a few people and during a limited time (to not keep everyone else waiting) while the others gather at the camp. Hopefully there will be a few newcomers that we can spend time on getting to know while the scouts are out. Low level Rohirrim are welcome to take part in the campbased activities as well.

The scouts return with information that lead to a discussion about the given information. Thérowan makes a decision to attack (if we are not too few) a bigger orc encampment further north in order to try investigate a rumoured 1) traitor of Rohan acting as a messenger for some unknown Master in Rohan (Gríma? or Saruman himself?) and 2) to figure out why he is in contact with orcbands from other tribes than the White Hand (and perhaps alter their success with steeltipped spears).

Before such a big assault Captain Thraindir demands that every Rohirrim wishing to take part in the mounted attack will accept a spear, a round shield and a full mailshirt (not only reinforced leather which is otherwise the everyday armour of the Rohirrim kinship) saved from a few fallen Eorlingas of the Eored. Horses could also be borrowed IC for the horseless - naturally you need to actually have a horse due to the game design - this is no offer of 4.25 gold coins. Rohirrim that rather wish to fight in some 'individual' fashion (read: with their personal gear that they feel is nice and 'Rohirric') have no place in the mounted Eored and will not be allowed to ride out with it. The mounted troops simply dont fight well carrying two swords or a big club and Captain Thraindir is not having unfit mounted fighters in his lines as long as it can be helped. Nor will he accept unarmoured riders that quickly will leave gap in the ranks as a result of stray arrows. We will make sure there are enough spears/shields and breastarmour from fallen eorlingas for those that wish to ride out. An occational exception will be made. But genereally be prepared for this.

The Call to Arms
Last event was, as I understood it, very much appreciated by all players that look for a somewhat low intensity Rohirric way of life. Some players replied to the last Muster of Rohan that they were somehow 'on the run' and preferred to 'avoid people from home' in order not to get caught. Do reconsider wether it might not be worth taking a risk to meet with the kinsmen that ventured so far and if their task might not be important to the loved ones at home. If you want to risk getting caught (you actually play you are on the run not only as an excuse to be in Breeland but because you want to be some kind of outlaw) then we can arrange to actually be loking for you and make your life more exiting!

Non Rohan characters
Last time some people not from Rohan met up in the start but took off quite soon seeing they didnt fit very well into that event. Any non-Rohan players that would like to meet Rohan characers are welcome, of course, but in that case it would be very good if you could send an in game message (or post here) in order for us to be prepared a little for your arrival. Typically this event would be a good moment for some Breeland militia or Knights of Gondor to stumble upon the camp of the Rohirrim, during a patrol for example, while we are still there.

Well met!

Thérowan,
Son of Erkenbrand

PS. To try and get rid of the 'classical lotro looks' we will use round shields. Those who have other shileds - even 'horsehead decorated' ones - will get replacements as long as there is enough in stock. I also wish for people to drop the most significant high level cloaks when joining on this type of events. Having Hammers, the Tree of Gondor and what not on the cloak does only painfully remind us (at least me and I guess otheres as well) of the limited line of gear there are in game. Get a new rag on you back, please, or just leave the one you own in your backback.
We also leave the bow/crossbow at home on mounted assautls. We arent going to hunt for food, nor 'pull' anything.

Whatever problems you get with metagaming, your character having to swap clothes, shieled, armour and what not for a day is, and will remain, a problem for you and you only. If you cant stand it, this might not be for you. The fact that characters need some gear to survive gamewise isnt an excuse for sticking with is when RP. There are for example no lvl 50 round shields, hence a Rohirric player might select the horsehead shield at that level since another one cannot be equipped for outlook purposes. Champions and other classes dont have shileds at all but will be required to have them in this event (25% of the fighters in Middle-Earth were not ambidextrous but on Laurelin they are). As you see all of this are a game issues, not an RP ones. We are hoping to see some Tolkien Eorlingas, as opposed to LotRo Eorlingas

The Muster of Rohan

On arriving to Eriador along the river Bruinen a group of Eorlingas met up with Théorowan's Eored and guided them in their chase for the orks of the White Hand.

Read more about The Muster of Rohan at LRPA forums.

The Maera Riverfoam, steed of Thérowan, Son of Erkenbrand.

Report to Erkenbrand IV: Elrond's Deep

Dear Father,

Dark news from the land of long nights. One of my men has fallen in combat. Isenrid no longer light up our path nor does he find me safe passage or campsites hidden from brigands and orcs.

How it came to happen I cannot tell you since I do not know. He was scouting for traces of Whitehands in a remote place, by the elves named Evendim, and he never returned. We searched through the forests for him and his steed Hardmane for days and weeks but to no avail. He was my best, not to say my only, tracker and without him we can find little in the wilderness - not even the corpse of a fallen Eorlingas. We lit a bonfire nevertheless and sent his soul across the fields and hills. Hopefully he will find his way back to Westfold, to the Mark, to the restingplace of his ancestors.

Last time I reported to you I was heading to the realm of Rivendell. I have seen it now, Rivendell, home of the elf Lord Elrond. I named it Elrond's Deep, not because it is as magnificent a fortress as Helm's Deep, but the valley is similar and impossible to conquest by anyone including the forces of Darkness. There elves dwell in a strange happiness and delight. I honestly do not understand the folk of elves. Not one bit. They live in eternal light and dream and cannot fathom, if you ask me, the most simple idea.

Strider seem to be a good friend of Lord Elrond, not that I can really see why. So is father's friend Gandalf Greymane who sit in their uplit library reading, muttering or jesting around with some little folk who dwell with the elves as well. At first I didnt manage to get anything concrete out of Strider who seemed heavily burdened with some unspeakable task. Instead he had me promise to go to the land of Evendim, where I lost Isenrid, to help him find the answer of some ancient prophecy. Once I returned to Elrond's Deep Strider was nowhere to be found. Instead Lord Elrond decided I repay his generosity by talking to his sons about an evil Shadow hiding in the Trollshaws of Rhudaur surrounding his realm.

The Black Riders, save one, seem to have drowned in the river Bruinen. Believe it if you will, it comes from elven tounges. The survivor has somehow awakened the forest and the Sons of Elrond, both less elvish and more sturdy, have tried to track him down. I offered them my services naturally. Who better to track down a Rider of the shadow than men of the Mark! I hope you agree it was the only decent thing to do regardless of our actual task up here. So far we managed to drive, or shall I say follow, the Black one out of the Trollshaws and he seem to have taken refuge in the northern Misty Mountains. Somewhere among the dwarves of the mountains if I understood Lord Elrond correctly.

Neither Elrond nor the old Greymane seem interested in telling me where Strider might have taken off to. Only that there is a blade that need attention and that I need to be more patient. Awaiting his return - I cannot linger in Rivendell, it make me and the others far too uncomfortable - I have decided to finish the hunt on the Black Rider. In the hunt we made a new friend in another elf named Legolas who promised us to keep an eye out for Strider and traces of the White Hand alike, whilst we are off into the mountains.

If Strider will not turn up within short and we do not fall prey to the Black Rider should he turn and bite I feel the need to return home. Soon. Little there seem to be to find out about the White Hands up here in the Fallen kingdom. More there seem to be that is stirring north of here, north of Esteldin and beyond. I fear we are only wasting our time searching for signs that will not come clear, and pursuing tracks further than can be of any help to you. At worst, ending up in a war that is not ours to fight.

I will let you here from me again before I ride home. Until then I will honor You and your realm.

Your loyal blood
Therowan