New: Eve of Mirkwood From: david@farcountryweb.co.uk Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:17:38 +0000 Name: Eve of Mirkwood Costs: FREE Frequency: Once per day, every other day, minimum once every three days. Email: david(AT)farcountry.co.uk URL: - Type: Middle Earth Keywords: free, open-ended, email, human moderated, fantasy, Middle Earth Description: 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 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 Pbem set in the realm of Tolkien during the latter centuries of the Third Age of the Sun. I'm looking for players who are fans, or who would like a chance to explore this most famous of all fantasy settings, albeit in an unfamiliar age. Knowledge of chronology and mythology are not crucial requirements. More important are the desire to have fun, the ability to post at least once every other day (every three days minimum), and dedication enough to stick with it! 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. If you'd prefer to avoid tangling with known chronological events and would prefer to just adventure in the dungeons, mountains, cities and wilderness of Middle- Earth that's fine too. (To answer a question posed by a previous applicant, I'm not setting the future in stone, so actions players take may change the outcome of future Middle-Earth). I'm recruiting players as of... well.. as of now. But I want to do some pretty thorough research on some of the finer aspects and draw up a map specific to the period, all of which should take about a week. I'm then away for a week in Austria, but intend to start the game, or at least gather players together into some semblance of a game group, when I get back (13th April). If you don't receive a response to an application before this period it's because I'm out of contact. Please rest assured I will get in touch when I return. Please send character ideas only at this point and only mortal or Elven characters. Please 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. Possible characters (FYI): Elves, men, hobbits (with strong Falohide blood, so Tooks, Brandybucks and Bagginses of the Shire), stoor hobbits (riverfolk) and dwarfs, though for obvious reasons we'd have to come up with a bit of a back story for why one of Durin's Folk is out and about in the world during this period and not holed up in Moria. Also, another player has already expressed an intention to play a dwarf, so a different character might be a better idea to keep things interesting. Possibilities for 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.) Dale Men/Bardings (a wandering maverick originating from the Dale) Breeman (an adventurer who grew up in Bree?) =C9oth=E9od (horsemen of north Anduin, destined to become the men of Rohan) Wainrider/Easterlings (I'm planning a neutral/goodly game, so any barbarians should have good reason why they are not under the evil influence of Sauron.) Atanatari (a scholar of men) Dunlendings of Eryn Vorn (hostile to Dunedain's people, suits foresters and tracker/burglar type characters). Dunlendings of Tharbad (less prejudice against the Dunedain, but still uneasy around men of Arnor or Gondor. Originating from the town of Tharbad). Rhovanian (refugee nomad from the Wainrider oppressed lands of Rhovanion) Minhiriath Fisherfolk (largely barbarian, so this would also be a maverick striking out on his own, probably with limited vocabulary/ brains, akin to Conan but excellent at catching fish! Easier to consider neutral due to their distance from the easterlings and the dark lord.) Beornings (black haired, black bearded men dressed in coarse wool garments, hailing from the Ford of Carrock and the high passes in Rhovanion. Large, gruff and good woodsmen, though there should be very good reason why one is abroad in Middle-Earth because the Beornings are currently otherwise engaged in Mirkwood.). Dorwinians (refugee fleeing the Wainriders. Come from the west shore of Rhun, the inland sea, and are famed as makers of fine wines and strange alcoholic drinks). Forodwaith (people of the icy kingdom to the north known by most as the Lossoth or Forodwaith. High endurance to the cold, but should be a very good reason why a lone Lossoth has ventured into Middle-Earh.) Haladin (a rare survivor of the Haladin holocaust? An adept woodsman and ranger.) Lakemen (northmen of the stilted town in Esgaroth). Woodman (of Mirkwood. Like the Beornings and the Silvan Elves, a ranging traveller of this race is unlikely as all the woodmen are likely caught up in the goings on in Mirkwood). System wise I'm undecided but may use D&D or Key-RP (a free system available on Drive Thru RPG). Look forward to hearing from you. Up