Shorecon
scenario: Ranger’s Rescue Mission in Harendor / Player characters:
All
characters will be in the range of 6th to 8th level;
veterans approaching heroic stature.
Player characters of the Stalkers mercenary
company
Rohn, Captain of the Stalkers: An acknowledged bastard
son (5th of 8 children) of Duke Barthanon, Lord of House Branduin.
You have been named ‘Prince’ and have your own sworn Guardsmen. Your family
bought you a commission in this mercenary company, but that was so you could
fade into obscurity. The Duke did not expect you to rise to it’s leadership, or
to lead a raid against the Corsairs, whom your father pays vassalage to. He
would not be pleased, little do you care; he never paid attention to you
before.
Mandor, Lieutenant of the Stalkers: You’re swarthy skin gives
hint of your Khandian ancestry. You are the executive officer of the Stalkers
and many believe you the real power. You have contacts to the local underworld,
secretly own multiple businesses and are driven to succeed or perish. You all
this turmoil lies below a smooth, polished surface. While Rohn plays at
being Captain and Nobility you prefer to thrive in the background.
Carluin, Sergeant of the Stalkers: Drill-master and senior
member of the Stalkers, you are called “Sergeant Stick” for the wooden baton
you carry on the drilling field. Tough exterior, renowned disciplinarian, you
are also Mandor’s hatchet man for ‘unofficial’ operations. Not the
tallest or strongest, quickest or prettiest (far from it), but you are as tough
and unforgiving as stone.
Tallman, Sergeant and Scoutmaster
of the Stalkers: After seeing all the tall and muscular troopers, no one would expect
a 5 ½ “ tall aborigine in this company, much less leader of it’s scouts. But
the Stalkers know your toughness and have trusted their scouts to you. Your
scouts follow you loyally and fearlessly, after you told them you would work
them mercilessly but make them into the best squad in the company.
Seth, Scout of the Stalkers: You don’t appear on any
company lists, and are specially attached to (and only answer to) Mandor.
If someone was to see you un-cloaked during the day they would barely notice
your non-descript appearance. But rarely are you seen, rarely during the day,
and never without your cloak pulled around you. Those that do may notice a
strange glint in your eyes, never look long, and are glad when you are gone.
Your home is the shadows, night is your friend. And death is just the
beginning.
Ibn
Haruz,
Scout and lay-healer of the Stalkers: Half-Harendor, half-Haruz, all outcast. No family
loved you until you joined the Stalkers. Now these rough, callous mercenaries
are your brothers, even when you argue and fight, as all brothers do. Then you
came under the tutelage of the Company Physician ‘Walker’. Now you are a
novice lay-healer of the “Dru-atan” following the balance of nature. But to
take the final steps you will have to forego war-making and bloodshed – and the
Stalkers.
Andram, former guardsman and
Stalker, now Knight of the Order of the Spear of Sorrow: Born and raised among
House Branduin, your ambition was to become a Guardsman like your father and
grandfather. Your proudest day 2 years ago was being named a Guardsman to
Prince Rohn, … but you now follow another calling. You bear the “Spear
of Sevith”, and while fighting raiders in a ruined keep had a vision. You
became the last follower of Laran of the Spear of Sorrow, a warrior cult
defending the weak. Now you are re-kindling this ancient Order, re-building the
ruined Keep, and are First of the Order.
Valandil, former Stalker, now Squire
of the Order of the Spear of Sorrow: Simple man of Harendor from a large family, you
became a sellsword when your family could no longer feed you. Next joined the
Stalkers and made the cut after a grueling entry test, especially from Carluin.
Yet you never have witnessed anyone as brave or blessed as Andram, so
you have become Second of his order, loyal unto death.
Player characters of the Ithilien Rangers
Ryanar, Lieutenant of the Ithilien
Rangers:
Gondorian from Linhir, veteran of Ithilien, Dunland and Harendor, survivor of
Durthang (fallen Watch-tower in Mordor). You volunteered to go south into
Harendor to start an insurrection, without your King’s consent, so that
Harendor may become free. This noble dream died slowly (it took 2 years for the
Corsairs to corner you) and with the blood of many brave friends. Against long
odds you survived yet again, but you are going back to free those that didn’t
escape.
Bergil, Ithilien Ranger: Gondorian born in Anorian,
raised in the shadow of Minas Tirith, long-time friend of Ryanar, survived
Durthang with him. Wry, sardonic sense of humor, risk-taker, admittedly a
loose-cannon, not officer material, wit as deadly as your bow. Ryanar
asked for volunteers to return to Harendor for this very risky rescue mission
and knew you’d come. You wouldn’t miss this for all the fish-wives (courtesans)
in Pelagir….. Well, maybe…
Isilmir, Ranger of Dol Amroth: A Nobleman from Dol
Amroth, an echo of the Numenorians of the past, you are a special volunteer for
this mission. Despite his respect, Ryanar is not happy you are here, since he
feels he has to keep an eye out for you. Even if you are the best swordsman in
the ‘team’.