NPCs of the campaign

 

NPCs of Nothwa Rhaglaw;

Walvoric

Walvoric is the elderly Thegnongar of Nothwa Rhaglaw. A man and chief of fair speech and fair dealings, he is well liked by his people. His father Waleslag was also Thegnongar, and Walvoric hopes that his eldest son Theneslag grows enough for the role before he himself has to pass it on due to age.

Walvoroc used to be a fierce warrior, but age has taken its toll. When the mood takes him, he can still wield the ancestral axe of the tribe.
Walvoric is tall (6’4”) and used to be strong, but as this strength wanes and wisdom grows, he feels his role is more that of a governor than a battle-leader of his people- a role now taken over by his son. Walvoric rules by gentle persuasion and influence, and can almost always sway the council and Thing to his point of view.

Notable skills: Public Speaking 55, Stalk/Hide 40, Ride 35, Leadership/Influence 30, Track 25.

Theneslag

þheneslag was born on the day Walvoric became Thegnongar at the invitation of the Thing, 23 years ago. He hopes one day to take the role himself, and believes that he is both destined and ideal for it. He is a brave man and obsesed with his own fighting skill and warrior brotherhood, but has not inherited his father’s intelligence, wisdom and ability to talk to and inspire people. And he lacks close friends about him or a woman by his side to help guide him and make up for his weaknesses in those areas. Hence, he struggles to learn to lead by other than just axing things, and is thus aware of his inadequacy, but his ego and immaturity does not allow him to admit it and ask for advice. And it makes him resent others who excibits the abilities he lack. He is also slow to trust, believing that people have to prove their mettle in battle a few times, before he will accept them and treat them anything but scathingly. His mediocre intelligence often makes him get fixed ideas, which he stubbornly retains in the face of all contrary proof. Ideas that can be planted by a skillful manipulator who wants to lead the young warrior down a certain path, by making him believe that they are his own ideas. He will never admit any lack of iontellect in himself, and will become enraged if anyone suggests and persists in showing that he is wrong, or picks an argument with him that he loses. Such fools might easily end up arguing with his sword or Daneaxe.

Notable skills: Public Speaking 5, Stalk/Hide 30, Ride 45, Leadership/Influence 10, Perception 25.

Withberht

Withberht is a rangy, white-haired, elderly man in his seventies. He has a pleasant face and an engaging smile, and a strong, deep voice. He prefers blue clothing, and his walking staff too, is painted blue. He used to be a doughty fighter and still carries a sword, but generally relies on his authority and friendlyness to get his way. Withberht is talkative, friendly and strongly devoted to his temple, a deity much like Frej of our own history, and the spirits of the Chieftains and heroes he believes resides in that temple still. Withberht offers shelter and food in the shrine to any in need, and expects only to be joined in his daily prayer in return. Though any donation of the temple is welcomed with joy, as such is what keeps food on his table and the shrine maintained. With him lives an acolyte named Oswif, and a female servant named Elwyna.

Notable skills: Public Speaking 15, Ritual 55, Leadership/Influence 30, Perception 41.

Geir Bairhid

The 48-year old leader of the hunters’ guild is on the small side for a Northman, with a sinewy, lean build that reveals his strength, speed and life in the woods.

Geir is usually clad in subdued colours of brown, grey and green, and fights with the spear and bow he also uses for hunting. He is the prime archer and spearman of the village. When not hunting or tracking, he will often be doing household crafts, with hands rarely standing still. He especially likes to work in bone, antler and wood, in which he produces beautiful, functional and beautifully decorated items for houses; everything from beds and tables to combs and spoons- he just likes to work with his hands. His personality is open and friendly, almost jovial, but like þheneslag, it takes a while to earn his trust and friendship. Everybody is welcome at his fire though, drinking mead and beer and swapping stories. Geir is thus a popular man in the area, and never lacks for drink when he visits ”The Limpid Pool inn. His friendly face is usually smiling, and as his copper-red hair is thinning, he usually shaves it often.

Notable skills: Any outdoor skill 60-70, Perception, spot traps, etc 50, woodworking 55

Bessandis

Bessandis is outsider who, after a life as a shieldmaiden, spent the gold she earned to buy ”The Limpid Pool”, and settle down. She is in her late middle years, with greying brown hair from her mixed forefathers and a ready smile, revealing her kind and caring nature that endured her time as a warrior. A mediocre cook, Bessandis’ brewing of mead makes up for her cooking by far- her mead is famous far and wide. Bessandis combines her kind and caring nature with a hardness that makes her employees and many villagers jump, including Walvoric at times. But as she is always kind first, and strictly fair, the hard edge only makes the people of the village appreciate her and her friendship more- and she brews fantastic mead. Bessandis is competant with bow, spear and sword, though she prefers a peaceful life these days. She and Geir are lovers, and villagers will often ponder why they do not move in together, but they are both strong personalities and Geir is often away, so he lives in the Lodge, in the woods, or with her, but not officially in her household.

Notable skills: Brewing 65, Leadership 20, 

Odelard The Healer

Odelard is in her late twenties and a both strong and forceful woman whose beauty belies an iron will and keen intelligence. She is probably the smartest person in town (and would be in most towns), and despite having spent the fortune her father made on horse-breeding on a small hospital next to the Shrine in Tathesdalur, she has achieved a place on the council- replacing Flosi the smith who is infamously dull-witted. She is not merely a skilled healer, but also cares for the sick horses of the village. 

Despite her good looks, Odelard is not known to have any men in her life, and has turned down quite a few suitors (including the younger þheneslag for whom she has little patience). She follows a deity known as Idun (an aspect of Yavanna), cares for the sick, and dreams of something more than this little town; perhaps one day a true hospital in Arthedain where one of her great-grandparents was from.

Notable skills: First Aid 65, Second Aid 60, Surgery 45, Animal Healing 50, preparing herbs and potions 62, healing spells. Ring that can heal 6-10 HP once per day.

Dunhuet

Another guest with dreams of something greater in the area is Dunhuet The Shieldmaiden. In her case, the dreams are of honour and glory in battle as she is younger and not as intelligent as Odelard. She has travelled from her native Eothod lands to the wild border regions of Arthedain, as there is more fighting and rumours speak of war coming. She will say nothing of her past (and nor will I), but her clothes, weapons, equipment and deceased horse are of very fine quality, hinting at a wealthy background. She too has rebuffed 

þheneslag's advances, and even laughed in his face at them. She is very beautiful though- enough to turn any man's head, and a skilled and brave fighter with a warm heart, great honour, and dreams of glory. And she will never give her favour to anyone but the perfect hero she dreams of and believes is the only one worthy of her. Till then, she fights like a devil, helps those in need, and upholds the highest ideal of "Drengrskabr". Dunhuet has travelled here guarding Derven, but does not want to be constrained by that duty now she is here and things are heating up.

Notable skills: Riding 61, Perception 21, Animal Handling 42, Animal Healing 37.

Sidroc

Sidroc is an adventurer, prospector, trapper and peddler of Dunnish descent. He has travelled through the area for many years and gained a knowledge of the lands and people, though he is friends with few, being a reserved man. Not that he is unfriendly, and he is always gracious in buying drinks and food for people around him and listening to their woes or telling tales from the rest of the north.

Sidroc is a somewhat Swarthy man of middle height and build, with black hair and soft words, except when talking of Tharbad and its independence of any masters. In that cause, he tends to get excited and will argue strongly with anyone. Which is not a likely occurance out here in the borderlands.

Notable skills: Stalk/Hide 64, 

Derven

Derven is a Lesser Dúnadan trader from Tharbad, who plies the roads between Bree, Fornost Erain and Nothwa Rhaglaw with his wagon and two- three guards. Often in company with other travellers for safety on the perilous roads and tracks outside the borders. He is a smiling, friendly and charming man in a floppy hat over long hair. But while he is friendly and kind with small gifts for children, he is shrewd and cunning in his trade deals. 6'1" tall and end lean, with brown hair and a constant stubble, Derven could sell sand in Harad. He is also able to fight in defence of his wares- mostly with a heavy Crossbow, and hires reliable guards that he pays well upon the end of each tour, so they do not take the money and run, all his current guards has travelled with him for long.

Notable skills: Teamster 51, Haggling 56, Lie Perception 43, 

Verigar

Verigar is an ambitious sellsword from Dunfearan who has travelled to Arthedain to earn glory and improve his fighting skills, at which is a natural talent learning from the High Men. When he had learned as much as his funds allowed, and became restless, he signed on as a guard for Derven to get some money and action. Verigar is popular with the young warriors of Nothwa Rhaglaw for his impetous bravery, friendly demenaor, and ability to hold drink, and he always has friends to greet him, when he arrives. Tall, for a Dunman at 6'2'' and athletic, he is a good hand with a sword, if not always making the smartest decisions- till now his skill has gotten him out of them, and when with Bressal he follows the latter's direction out of respect for his experience.

Bressal

Bressal is a mixed man and son of a serf in Cardolan. He ran away to serve in Arthedain as a soldier when he was 16, and after 10 years of service, retired to become a sellsword in pursuit of better pay to gather enough money to buy his own farm in Saralainn. He is a calm man of middle height, and few words. And a grizzled veteran rarely making rash decisions, which has kept him alive for many years. His favourite weapon is a Heavy X-Bow or spear and shield. Middle height, heavy build and not that remarkable, one of his survival skills is not being noticed in crowds. 

Alfward The Ranger
Alfward is a Dúnadan Ranger who keeps secret that he tried to enter the Royal Rangers and failed due to lack of intelligence, and thus became a bow for hire in the borderlands to live his dream and seek fame and fortune. He is the son of an Othar in the Royal Army, and has the build of his father at 6'8'', and ripples with muscles. A good swordsman and a fair archer, he has little concept of strategy, cunning and stratagems, and worse; he is a bore. He speaks four languages somewhat, and has nothing interesting to say in any of them, for which he compensates by chatting on forever on this, that and the other while stumbling for words. He is thoughtless and incompetent, and likely to mess up plans by it. Despite all this he is not a bad sort, and his incessant talking is balanced by his ability to play a lute, though his singing is not up to his playing.

Notable skills: Play Lute 45, Sing 10, Climb 39, Track 34, Stalk/Hide 26