Copyright Joe Mandala 1998

Source Material for Middle-Earth

Taurthalion
Level:
Race:
Profession:
Home:
AKA:

12
Woodman
Rogue/Leader
Mirkwood, Maethelburg, Bereg Thumalos.
Captain of the Crimson Shield, Slayer of Thorkung the Small

Captain of the Crimson Shield, a mercenary company currently in Stat

RM Stats
MERP Stats
the employ of the Prince of Calantir in Cardolan, Taurthalion was
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90
born to a well-to-do Woodman merchant in a backwater village St
Qu
92
on the eaves of Mirkwood. He soon represented his father's
concerns in Maethelburg, where his Silvan name (the result of an Em
91
obsession of his father's with the Folk of the Wood) earned him
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73
the nickname "Torch" following an unfortunate incident at a local In
Pr
86
86
tavern.
He soon became fast friends with several mercenary sorts who
Ag
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90
frequently visited the town. Dindal the Silvan ranger, Aldern the
Co
99
99
Eothrik assassin, Aradan (a veteran Gondorian soldier),
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Thuidimer (a mountaineer) and his wife Clarissa Belroe (who had Me
an uncanny knack for gathering information), and Feando, a
Re
95
95
strange fellow who studied spirits and held great reverence for
SD
102
Mandos, the Summoner.
85
This group decided to travel north to the lands of the Gramuz in Ap
an attempt to find out why contact with this most northern of
Anduin peoples had slowly been disappearing. Upon mounting the Gundalok Shelf, they were captured by
the Yrch of Gundabad and imprisoned deep within the bowels of the mountain. Escaping with barely their
lives, and with a new companion, Khuri the Dwarf, the companions returned to Maethelburg for a short time,
then crossed the Hithaeglir into Eriador.
There they faced trouble in Rhudaur, where Aradan was lost to them, followed by an ill-fated foray into the
Barrow-downs at the behest of a local noble. Hearing tell of trouble in Nothva Rhaglau, an isolated town in
the Oilad, the motley group traveled there only to find the town in near-ruins. Thorkung the Small, a young
and inexperienced dragon, had razed half of the town, in search of a fabled hoard there. While Taurthalion
and his companions talked to the surviving folk, Thorkung attacked the town again. A fierce battle ensued,
and though Khuri was slain, Taurthalion thrust a spear deep into the breast of the dragon, slaying it instantly.
Thorkung swore a curse on him then, saying, "For each victory you earn, sorrow will strike you threefold.
You shall live in joy and die in utter desolation." Taurthalion took a horn of the beast and with it had made a
wand of great power. He took the hide of the beast and with it made a strong shield. He took the teeth of the
Skill
(Rank) Bonus beast, and with it made a fearsome necklace.
Mace
117
Shuriken
120
They next traveled to Fornost Erain and enlisted for a time in the
struggle against Angmar. By this time, Taurthalion had become
Ambush
(11) 52
Body Development
Climb
Stalk/Hide
Perception
Ride
Acrob
Hunt
Detect Traps
Herb Lore
Stunned Maneuver
Tracking
MA Strike
MA Strike
MA Strike
MA Strike
Leadership
Military Organization
Tactics
Shield Bash
TWC Mace/Shield
Important dates:

156
52
131
74
88
71
48
52
43
108
60
(1) 71
(2) 58
(3) 51
(4) 38
84
39
45
33
43

the leader of the group, and soon outlined his vision for their
future. They would travel to Cardolan, and gather together what
men as they could to form a mercenary company. For a time, he
planned, they could lead these men in battle for profit, and then
retire on what money they could. So they traveled to Cardolan,
and all went well with their plans. They founded a keep in the
north of Feotar, near the Angle, and named it Bereg Thumalos.
Naming themselves the Crimson Shield, they participated in the
struggles in Cardolan, ultimately helping to bring down the
Warlord's Realm. Emboldened by their successes, the Crimson
Shield then struck deep into Rhudaur, being paid handsomely by
the Canotar of Tharbad to rescue several key players in the
current political games in Cardolan.
The Crimson Shield, however, found itself quickly overmatched.
Thuidimer, Dindal, and Feando were killed in the Battle of
Herubar Gular, but Taurthalion himself bested and took prisoner
the enemy commander, who turned out to be a much-changed
Aradan. Disconsolate at the loss of his friends, and confused at
the continued belligerence of his refound companion, Taurthalion
led the rag-tag remnants of the Crimson Shield back to Bereg
Thumalos in defeat. Embittered, aging, and depressed,
Taurthalion rarely takes the field, but when he does his foes quail
at his desperate visage and wild mien. The curse of Thorkung is
strong.

born T.A. 1602,

captive in Gundabad T.A. 1627-1628,
slaying of Thorkung T.A. 1633,
founding of Bereg Thumalos T.A. 1640,
Battle of Herubar Gular T.A. 1644.
Taurthalion's Principal Items:
Dragon Wand
gives wielder AT-3, DB +10, with no encumbrance, if no other armor is worn.
+50 Dragon Fire (takes 50HP/50EXH from wielder) - fire ball in 30 degree arc extending to 100'
strikes as +25 mace
Dragon Shield
if an attack vs. this shield yields a "0" result (no damage, but strike scored), weapon must make
RR vs. lv 10 at 1st lv (+1 lv per +5 bonus) or shatter into many pieces;
+30 vs. heat and fire attacks.
Gauntlet of Might
as mace, using ST bonus as OB.
NOTE: this gauntlet, when worn using martial arts, allows free mace weapon kata.
Elven Cloak
+20 Stalk/Hide.