Erik Larson, Chris Helmick and Rod Knutson have resumed play of the beginning module after more than two years off. In addition, Andy Ranum has joined our group. Rod is acting both as a player character and as Game-Master, which arguably hinders his performance in both roles.

Our player characters are:

Acli Peylau: a Black Númenorean Warrior

Yujak Falcrod: a Corsair Warrior

Wrâex Gilthoron: an Eriadoran Ranger

Abdul Pointbar: another Black Númenorean Warrior

Our non-player followers are:

Madoc Brockhouse: a Hobbit Scout

Tylest Filder: a Silvan Elf Mage

Brundin Gordall: a Dwarf Animist

Some background information on our characters:

The current year is T.A. 1640. Four years ago, the great plague devastated Gondor, killing nearly half its people. It then spread north and west. Nearly the entire population of Cardolan was either killed or forced to flee. The Kingdom of Rhudaur has fallen into complete disarray, and the only rulers there are bands of hill-men and the puppet King Ermegil, ruling under the influence of the Witch-King of Angmar from the north. The surviving Dúnadan kingdom in the north of Middle-earth is Arthedain, and the current king is Argeleb II.

Abdul Pointbar left his home south of the havens of Umbar nearly two years ago, after his mother and father were killed by the plague (a rarity that far south). He took a ship that was bound for Tharbad in the north. He was seeking love and adventure that he had failed to find at home. He eventually acquired a job at the King's Rest Inn in Bree as a bartender. Later, finding the Bree life too dull, he moved on to the Forsaken Inn at Iant Methed, the last bridge. There, he learned to speak Dunael, and mix the harsh liquors that the Dunmen love. One of them invited him to come along on a spring hunting trip for Losrandir (a Rhuduaran form of reindeer), and he agreed, seeing it as an opportunity for adventure. He has not been heard from since. Only one of the Dunmen returned from that trip, badly wounded, telling of a surprise raid by a large party of orcs.

Yujak Falcrod was a soldier in the army of the Corsairs. Since his peace-loving father was unwilling to teach him the use of the sword, he became the squire of Hyarmenel ("south-star"), one of the greatest Corsair generals of the previous generation. He learned the use of many weapons at Hyarmenel's feet, and learned to be quick to use them as well. A year ago, during an ill-fated raid on the bridge over the Poros river, his older brother was killed. Yujak held his brother's commanding officer to blame, and nearly killed him in a brawl. He could have been legally executed, but owing to his former good conduct, he was simply dishonorably discharged. He returned to his home and began making plans for making a name for himself. When a fellow soldier who had once saved Yujak's life told him of his quest to the north of Middle-earth, Yujak gladly joined up.

That soldier was Acli Peylau, a Black Númenorean warrior. In addition to a general goal of adventuring to become a powerful Lord someday, Acli was interested in determining what happened to his cousin Abdul. Abdul had been sending regular messages until the time of his abduction. Eventually when Abdul discovered that his cousin was abducted or killed by orcs, he swore to thwart the creatures of Sauron wherever he may find them. Acli acts as the unofficial leader of the party.