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Four Heroes for The One Ring

Four Heroes for The One Ring

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I’ve been rather badly under the weather for the past few days, and not inclined to work too hard. Today, to take a break from outstanding projects, I decided to sit down and tinker with a recent purchase: the second edition of The One Ring, possibly the best tabletop RPG ever published set in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

The four starting heroes I drew up this afternoon are based on characters I ran in the Lord of the Rings Online MMO years ago. Leonore and Morlindiel are taken almost directly from the online game, Reinald is a looser adaptation of another online character, whereas Náli is more or less original to today’s effort. In any case, I think this group would make a pretty decent starting party for the tabletop game.

I don’t know what, if anything, I’m going to do with these characters. I’ve been known to write some Tolkien fan-fiction in the past, but in recent years I’ve been trying to get away from fan-fic in favor of original work. Still, the new edition of The One Ring has certainly attracted my interest. I may even go looking for a group to play the new game with . . . in my copious free time.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s a small band of adventurers, ready to set out into the wilds of Eriador in the decades leading up to the War of the Ring.

Leonore Rushlight

Leonore is the daughter and only child of an alderman of Bree. Her parents took the unusual step of educating her as best they could, even acquiring books for her to read. She grew up rather quiet and thoughtful, and the other Bree-folk think her a bit strange, but she has already learned as much about the true history of Middle-earth as any of her people. Recently she met Gandalf the Grey at the Prancing Pony. Her long conversations with the wizard have encouraged her to seek out knowledge wherever she can find it, even if it means leaving the safety of Bree far behind.

Culture – Men of Bree

Blessing – Bree-blood (+1 Fellowship Rating)

Calling – Scholar

Standard of Living – Common

Distinctive Features – Fair-spoken, Subtle, and Rhymes of Lore

Shadow Path – Lure of Secrets

Flaws –

Rewards – Cunning Make (Leather Corslet)

Virtues – Confidence

Strength 3 (TN 17)Endurance 23Valour 1
Heart 4 (TN 16)Hope 16Wisdom 1
Wits 7 (TN 13)Parry 17

Skills

Awe 0Enhearten 2Persuade 2
Athletics 1Travel 1Stealth 1
Awareness 1Insight 2Scan 1
Hunting 1Healing 2Explore 1
Song 1Courtesy 3Riddle 2 (Favored)
Craft 2 (Favored)Battle 1Lore 3 (Favored)

Combat Proficiencies

  • Axes 2
  • Bows 1
  • Spears 0
  • Swords 0

Gear

  • Treasure – 30
  • Axe (Damage 5, Injury 18, 2 Load)
  • Bow (Damage 3, Injury 14, 2 Load)
  • Leather Corslet (Protection 2d, 4 Load, Cunning Make)
  • Travelling Gear, balm to soothe pain (Healing), book of history (Lore)
  • Pony (Vigour 1)

Morlindiel

Morlindiel is a latter-day Elf, descended from Sindar who survived the fall of Thingol’s kingdom in the Elder Days. She has many years of experience as a ranger in the wilderness, protecting the Grey Havens and the borders of the dwindling Elf-realm of Lindon. In recent years she has taken to wandering far and wide across the lands of Eriador, sensing that great events are stirring and there may yet be a part for Elves to play. She has just arrived in Bree, only to meet Gandalf the Grey and a young woman named Leonore, soon becoming snarled in an adventure.

Culture – Elves of Lindon

Blessing – Elven-skill (Spend 1 Hope to gain a Magical success on a skill roll)

Calling – Champion

Standard of Living – Frugal

Distinctive Features – Keen-eyed, Swift, and Orc-lore

Shadow Path – Curse of Vengeance

Flaws – The Long Defeat (Lose maximum 1 Shadow during Fellowship Phase)

Rewards – Close-fitting (Leather Corslet)

Virtues – Mastery

Strength 5 (TN 15)Endurance 25Valour 1
Heart 4 (TN 16)Hope 12Wisdom 1
Wits 5 (TN 15)Parry 17

Skills

Awe 2Enhearten 1Persuade 0
Athletics 2 (Favored)Travel 2 (Favored)Stealth 3
Awareness 2Insight 0Scan 0
Hunting 3 (Favored)Healing 1Explore 1 (Favored)
Song 2 (Favored)Courtesy 0Riddle 0
Craft 2Battle 0Lore 3

Combat Proficiencies

  • Axes 0
  • Bows 2
  • Spears 0
  • Swords 1

Gear

  • Treasure – 0
  • Sword (Damage 4, Injury 16, 2 Load)
  • Great Bow (Damage 4, Injury 16, 4 Load)
  • Leather Corslet (Protection 2d+2, 6 Load, Close-fitting)
  • Travelling Gear, knife for skinning and cleaning game (Hunting)

Náli Silvertongue

Náli was born in the Iron Hills, moving to the renewed kingdom of Erebor after the death of the Dragon. There he has prospered, serving as an envoy and trade representative for King Dáin Ironfoot. Náli left Erebor early this year, traveling with a company of Dwarves on their way to the old mines in the Blue Mountains. On the journey, he met and befriended Reinald of Dale. Now that the Dwarf-caravan has reached Bree safely, Náli seems prepared to join Reinald on any adventures he might find.

Culture – Dwarves of Durin’s Folk

Blessing – Redoubtable (Halve the Load of any armor or helm, rounded up)

Calling – Messenger

Standard of Living – Prosperous

Distinctive Features – Fierce, Proud, and Folk-lore

Shadow Path – Wandering-madness

Flaws – Naugrim (Cannot use great bow, great spear, or great shield)

Rewards – Grievous (Great Axe)

Virtues – Hardiness

Strength 7 (TN 13)Endurance 31Valour 1
Heart 3 (TN 17)Hope 11Wisdom 1
Wits 4 (TN 16)Parry 14

Skills

Awe 2Enhearten 1Persuade 1
Athletics 1Travel 3 (Favored)Stealth 1
Awareness 0Insight 0Scan 3
Hunting 0Healing 0Explore 2
Song 1 (Favored)Courtesy 3 (Favored)Riddle 2
Craft 2Battle 2Lore 1

Combat Proficiencies

  • Axes 2
  • Bows 0
  • Spears 1
  • Swords 0

Gear

  • Treasure – 90
  • Great Axe (Damage 8, Injury 20, 4 Load, Grievous)
  • Short Spear (Damage 3, Injury 14, 2 Load, can be thrown)
  • Coat of Mail (Protection 4d, 6 Load)
  • Helm (Protection +1d, 2 Load)
  • Travelling Gear, fiddle (Song), fine tools for personal grooming (Courtesy), magnifying glass (Scan)
  • Pony (Vigour 2)

Reinald of Dale

Reinald comes from a prosperous trading family in Dale. As a younger son, he was never likely to inherit a big share in the family trade, so he sought out a position as one of King Bard’s huscarls instead. He served the king for several years, earning experience as a warrior and war-captain. Early this year, he (apparently) left the king’s service to join a band of Dwarves traveling to their old dwellings in the far-off Blue Mountains. During the journey, he met and befriended Náli Silvertongue. Now that the Dwarves have arrived safely in Bree, Reinald has left their company, and intends to seek adventure in the lands of Eriador.

Culture – Bardings

Blessing – Stout-hearted (Valour rolls are Favored)

Calling – Captain

Standard of Living – Prosperous

Distinctive Features – Bold, Generous, and Leadership

Shadow Path – Lure of Power

Flaws –

Rewards – Fell (Sword)

Virtues – Dour-handed (+1 damage on a Heavy Blow)

Strength 6 (TN 14)Endurance 26Valour 1
Heart 6 (TN 14)Hope 14Wisdom 1
Wits 2 (TN 18)Parry 14

Skills

Awe 1Enhearten 2 (Favored)Persuade 3
Athletics 1 (Favored)Travel 1Stealth 0
Awareness 1Insight 2Scan 1
Hunting 2Healing 0Explore 1
Song 1Courtesy 2Riddle 0
Craft 1Battle 3 (Favored)Lore 1

Combat Proficiencies

  • Axes 0
  • Bows 1
  • Spears 0
  • Swords 3

Gear

  • Treasure – 90
  • Sword (Damage 4, Injury 18, 2 Load, Fell)
  • Bow (Damage 3, Injury 14, 2 Load)
  • Mail-shirt (Protection 3d, 9 Load)
  • Shield (Parry +2, 4 Load)
  • Travelling Gear, coil of rope for climbing (Athletics), lodestone (Travel), fine pipe for relaxation (Insight)
  • Pony (Vigour 2)
A Character Sheet

A Character Sheet

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Making good progress on the proposed Cortex Prime sourcebook for the Human Destiny universe. The character rules, in particular, are pretty much done in a rough draft. To test them out, I worked up a character sheet for my usual protagonist in those stories: Aminata Ndoye, the young woman from Senegal who is destined to be the first human starship captain.

What follows is pretty crude – Cortex Prime normally emphasizes the use of well-designed “character files” and this is just text – but it should get the idea across.

A bit of notation: anywhere I have a number in parentheses, that indicates a character trait that contributes one die of that size to the player’s dice pool. So, for example, “(6)” means that trait contributes a 6-sided die. Cortex Prime builds dice pools out of 4-sided, 6-sided, 8-sided, 10-sided, and 12-sided dice, and the bigger the die the more likely it is to produce a good result.

Aminata Ndoye

Student at the École supérieure de l’astronautique in Toulouse, province of Midi de la France.

Stands 168 centimeters tall, masses about 60 kilograms, age 17 Earth years. Her skin tone is deep brown, her eyes are such a dark brown as to be almost black, and her hair is black and cut very short.

Aminata is invariably cool, collected, and rational. She has already demonstrated courage and decisiveness, even under pressure. It is rare for her to lose her temper or otherwise display uncontrolled emotion, and she deals with others with calm, unshakeable courtesy. Strangers often find it difficult to get to know her, as she is something of a workaholic and appears to have little sense of fun or humor.

Distinctions

(8) Devoted Sunni Muslim

Islam is just as important to me as science when I try to make sense of the world around me.

  • Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s (8) for a (4).
  • Spend a PP to step up a Value when you reconnect with your core identity.

(8) Going to the Stars Someday

Nothing and no one will keep me tied down to the Earth.

  • Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s (8) for a (4).
  • Spend a PP to reroll your dice when the test or contest is in direct pursuit of your core ambition.

(8) Life is an Equation to be Solved

It’s all about figuring out the unknown variables.

  • Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s (8) for a (4).
  • Spend a PP to double your Skill die when you embrace your personal style.

Values

  • (8) Sympátheia
  • (10) Logismós
  • (6) Prónoia
  • (6) Prokopé
  • (6) Andreía
  • (4) Evexía

Relationships

  • (10) The Hegemony (Gold card)
  • (6) Valérie Chauvin
  • (6) Nguyen Thi Mai

Skills

  • (6) Influence
  • (8) Know
    • (6) Astronomy
  • (6) Move
  • (6) Notice
  • (6) Operate
  • (6) Play
  • (6) Survive

Resources

                None

Some commentary, for the Cortex-unaware among my readers:

Distinctions are core pieces of a character’s identity. It’s expected that just about any test or contest the character gets into will involve one of their Distinctions.

Values are kind of like “attributes,” but they measure the character’s commitment to certain ethical or philosophical principles. I’m taking a small risk here by defining six Values for characters and naming them in a language most players won’t know (Classical Greek). I’m hoping to convey the alien-ness of the values system that people in this universe are trying to live under.

In this case, Aminata’s higher Values indicate that she’s good at understanding other sentient beings, empathizing with them, and persuading them. She’s very good at rational thinking and taking an objective viewpoint. On the other hand, her main weakness is evexía, which means something like “hygiene,” “self-awareness,” or “self-care” – she’s a bit of a workaholic, and tends to throw herself into problems without taking proper care of her own needs.

Relationships are ties the character has to other people or institutions. In this case, Aminata has a very strong Relationship with the Hegemony, the alien empire humans live under in this universe. She has an unusual level of privilege under Hegemony law. She also has Relationships with two other students at the “space academy” where she is currently studying.

Skills should be fairly straightforward. Cortex Prime encourages creators to name Skills with simple action verbs, to help make it clear when one of them comes into play. I’ve drawn up a list of Skills that’s a little longer than the default one in the core book, but for a space-opera setting that should work well.

Here, Aminata is just starting out at said “space academy,” where she and her fellow students are going to spend several years going through a grueling schedule of academic study and physical training. It occurs to me that Cortex Prime would have no trouble supporting a series of game sessions based on that situation . . .