THE SAGA OF MAETHOR Mat Ward provides us with a new hero for your games The journey of the Fellowship is the most awe-inspiring tale from Middle-earth, yet there are others ‘whose feats were no less noble, if not as widely known. The documents of this unknown scribe describe one such man; Maethor, son of Baranir. TEL ante A“ stat fl upon dhcp a titel ations if pul pen to paper Should the White City fall and the free world eome 10 rin, who will remember those who defended agains the Shadow, if no record is made? While the kings of old were renowned across the world, deeds both igallinand foul will go unnoticed in these dark days where so many of cach sme performed every day. Heroes walk amongs( us nonethcless, though their ‘names be largely unknown and lunfemembered. Indeed, some folk call Macthor, son of Barinir; one of Gondor's ‘most able capuains, Such esivem is bought with no great ease, partculsely in Gondor, ‘where «thousand valorous deeds are performed eiween the rising and setting of the sun, s0 the question does arise as to what tis that Maethor has done to ear such recognition and why his name should be remembered. Foc posterity Twill tell as best ea, what T know of this man ‘Macthor’sorixins, at leas, are easly ‘addressed, fr he was born into one af the noble houses of Dol ‘Amrath, This also is hardly remarkable in Gondor, for this land creates claims of lineage more swiflly tea ny Other that I have known. In Mactor’s case however his lineage ean be traced back (othe day’ of Namenor ‘not to some proud, but ultimately fnsignifieant, house. Baran. his father, was cousin 0 Findy ble lady of the swan-ety who was later wedded Denethior, Steward of Minas Tiith. Tt was doubtless throneh this connection that ‘Maethor was given an officer's rank in the (Citadel Guard of that city at such an early and unproved age, for evento be a mere _guardsman in that order isto hold great hhonout. Ihave little knowledge ofthe time the spent in the Steward’s service, and so it seems that ici several years before Maethor becomes truly masked by destiny TLis early inthe year 3005 that Mfaethor’s tale truly begins to take shape, Baranir haat taken charge af the defences that He on the border between Harad and Gondor It was his anisfortmc that, shortly after his arrival, the slumbering hatred that the Haradri felt for their northern foes erupted into a series of vicious hatles, Macthor's father finally fell in defence of the fortess of Velsinir, mere days before Prince Imrahil led great anmly out of the north to secure the borders once more. Though the Haradrim were broken and scatiered, Baranie’s slayer, a mighty and batlle hardened chieftain named MOrvar CCharie, escaped the fury of the Prince of Dol Amroth and slipped away to the south. Thnrahil sent word novth to Baranir’s surviving kin and gave instruction thatthe lord should be buried beneath the fortress walls, so that his spirit might guard the Harnen yale as he had 80 ly defended iin life. As [ now Understand it, upon receiving tidings of aranie’s death, Macthior wont before his Steward and begged to be released from the service of the Citadel. He claimed that he wished co travel south and pay his respects before the graye of his father. ‘Denethor felt sympathy for the young Fioutenanc but, being not altogether lunperceptive in deeper meaning to his request and reised hhim, ‘Twice more inthe following month did Maethior present his request before the Steward, and twice more his plea was steadfastly refused. However, on tis final ‘ggasion, the Steward’s eldest son, Boramis, counselled his father 0 grant Maethor’s request and Denethor finally relented; and yave Macthorlesve to depart to avenge his father. se males, feared 2USING MAETHOR wiygh Maethor does not exist as a ‘named Hero in the The Lord of The Rings game, he can be fielded in any sven involving the defence of Gondor, He is @ perfect example of an ‘unnamed’ Hero, whose actions are ‘not insignificant, but not on the same scale as those of Boromir or Aragorn, Below we present stas for fielding ‘Maethor. You 100 can easily invent your own characters, either by naming a generic captain, or even clianging Uieiestatisties@ litle, But, as always, get your opponent's permission before doing this. (Gadel Guard (Man) Points Value: 8 FSDAWC Citadel Guard We 3 5-1 1 9 Inthe esily yeas of bis service to Gondor, Macthor joined the ranks ofthe Citadel Guard, Here be has yet to lear any special skills and so hus hase Points Value: 25, Ranger of the North (Man) Fspawe : Ranger oftheNorth 4/34 405 1 15. ‘A Ranget of The North is perfect for Masthoras he travels across Hara ‘and rides with Boromir aginst the Great Army of Harad. Here we're ‘using the Ranger profile to represent our feo. Points Value: 65 ‘Captain of Men Might: 2 Rees: DAS WoC will: 1 Captain ofMen 48 4 6 2 2 5 Fate: 1 By the time Macthor inherited his father's old position as garison commander he had Ina a varied military career and thus alot of experience, To tepresent this, we took the Ranger’ higher Courage, Defence and Shoot stuistes and gaye them to a regular ‘Captain. Such prowess comes ata price, however, ad we have increased the ‘Captain's value by 25 points to take into account Maethor’s skill at arms AR | Wy by ewhy Asian ifcer inthe Ciuadel Guard, Macihor watches vigilant over the city of Minas Tait‘A Capt of Men, Megthor fought amy bales against the evil Haradrin. “If my position were exchanged for his, would you wish my request to be thus denied?” “Were I to grant his petition and so give hha leave to travel to his death, both his honour and mine would be poorty served.” “Your honour is already poarly served by your choice to deny him what he seeks. ‘Let him choose what isto be, and find whatever peace he may.” = Roromir to Dencthor ‘Thuily released from his lord's service, Maethor emt south anid, after many days? travel, came to Velsinir. In the shadow of the ruined Keep he bade farewell to is father's memory and then, as Denethor had feared, crossed the border into Harad in search of Baranies Killer. Qver a period of ay months, Maethor sought Chasie im the land between the Ephel Diath and [Narfarat, No mean task was this, forthe ‘common folk of Harad had no reason to aia him, and every reason to betcay him should he be discovered as a soldier of Gondor In this seemingly impossible task, he wvas fortunate in the events that had overtaken him. The Lords of Umbar were ‘gathering a great army far inthe north of Hirad, and mercenaries were drawing nigh from all neighbouring lands. Bur forthe ‘gubhering ofthis great amy, Macthor ‘would surely have been discovered, but so ‘many peoples from so many nations were abroad along the Arn road that he was but ‘single man concealed within a tide of strangers, Ho travelled by night and slept in the wild hills, venturing into towns and villages only whan he sought nows of Chtrie’s whereabouts. Few dotails are known 9 me of Macthor’s search, and L believe that he himselF Tost sek of the passing days and siecks, AST ‘understand it, eventually his winding tail Jed him further eastward until al last it crossed Harad’s border with Khand. Twas ‘onthe edge of the wainland as the Maethor finally y seem ie was travelling so far ‘rom hme with few companions, bot | tumderstand that he bad himself heen ed at the command of anewly jan\ chieftain by the name of ‘Chari had Jed his followers on a series of isastrous raids in the borderlands, and pow searee a dozen wounded and ‘exhausted men remained at his side. The sky had deepened into velvet night before: Macthor sprung his ambush. In the ‘gonlit gloom, his aim was true, for his arrows struck down several of his foes before they had time to react. Using the poor light as his shield, Maethor ghosted from tree to rock, picking each target with deadly skill. By the time another two of CChitie's companions had fallen, the remainder turmed and fled into the night. (Chirie alone remained, cursing atthe night, hurling coarse insults and challenges atthe man who refused to fight him face twface. “Reckless eoward! Slay me with arrows if you must shall go happily to my death knowing my killer has not the rexolve for ‘afairor contest.” = Mérvar Chitric, chieftain of Harad i yas then that Macthor set aside his bow, and met Chiric in a contest of blades that tested both men o their limits, Charie was ‘huge man, as strong as an ox, and a veteran of many batles and eampaigns, ‘while Maettior was younger and driven by his desire for eovenge. As the fight drow fon, Maeshor was breathing heavily having taken the other's measure but unable to pierce his guard. Charic sensed his foeneared defeat and, mustering all bis siren, savagely cut at Macthor’s blade With a dall chime, the young wacrior's sword shattered, leaving Macthor with less than a foot of jagged sivel to defend hhimself, but the impact threw Chavie off balance and his defences were left open. Grasping this opportunity, Maethor thrust forward and the broken remnants of his sword pierced Chire’s hear. So it was that Baranir was avenged and Maethor’s sprit came to be ut peace. With his goal achieved, Maethor set out for Gondor and, some months Inter, stood. ‘once more at Harmen vale, Tt was ere that hie met again with Boromir, who was’ riding southwards with a mere two dozen knights to discup the musteriig of Harad’s Great Army, The Steward’s son was ‘overjoyed thar the younger man still ived, for Maethor had long been thought dead by the Steward’s court. Boromir bade Macthor join him, and together they rode southwarts ‘Three nights later they crossed the Harnent ‘and came to Karnvakd, where the Great ‘Army lay encamped. On that moonless night, they rode Tike avenging demons, Aieir horses straining with effort as they galloped deep into the eneamipment. Like a Tot wind they rode through the enemy entries, who were not expecting am atick ‘hy so fe, so deop in their own territory. ‘Addied by sleep and liquor, the Hsradrimn and theie mercenary allies Were slow 10 reve. AS the eamp sted around the attackers, te bravest of the Hararim ‘warriors assailed Roromir and his ‘companions, but could not prevail inthe Face oft 1's furious valour. For ‘each knight pulled from his saddle, scone ‘of Haradrim were cut down, and all the While food wagons and tents were sot ablaze. Only whem the supplies were burnt, the horses scattered, and the boldest Hiradrin slain, dit Boromir eal the retreat, The Stewarl's son snl Macthor out through the press of men to safely. Though fully two-thirds of Boromir’s companions isd fallen in battle, and none whio returned fo Gondor did so unwounded, vel the Groat Army was in chaos. Tunderstand that in tho day that followed, a great famine fell upon the camp for what litle food that had escaped the flames could not Stistiin the rm for Tong. Many of the ‘aradrim tribesruen abandoned the eamp, ‘hile those that remained starved 0 death ‘Masthor and Boromit returned 10 ‘Minas Tirth, vhere Denethor gave them ‘reat welcome. A few days Inter, Micihor {eft to assume command of the garrison ‘guarding the border with Hacad, where his duties have bound him ever since, hut T holieve that he and Boromir remained fast friends for many years?” MODELLING MAETHOR By Nick Kyme Inspired by Maethor’s saga, I decided that rather than simply use some existing ‘models to represent this mighty hero of Gondor, I wanted to convert completely ‘unique models to show his progress through life, These could also double up as some hero models for my upcoming Gondorian force too. Here's how I did it. Citadel Guard Macthor's first incarnation was based upon a Citadel Guard with ‘bow. [cut the bow hand off with clippers and altached ‘Theoden’s sword (perfect, as 1 syunted him to hold the sword in has 22nd). The right i ‘vas then drilled, o that the ‘model could hold a burning torch from Weathiertop Aragorn, To make Macthor look younger, L replacod the hed with that OF Beregond Ranger of the North For a suitably wild and! dramatic look, I used ‘aramir as the basis fo this ‘mode. To take imo account that Maethor was older and 4 Ranger of the North 1 used Aragom's head Captain of Men Now a hero of Gondor, Fused a Capisn of Minas Trt model for Maethor’s inl incarnation, ‘Older now, Theoden’ head was perfect forthe veteran wartior Although characters aren't allowed to cary barners, noe el does Maethor have decided (o give hin banner as it seemed a fitting and heroic stance for him to adopt. 1 ‘imagine Meethor batting the hordes of Mordor, taking up the fallen standard, To make it, 1 simply used some brass rod, drilling Methor's hand so he could carry it and then added a Minas Ticth banner 1p.}Maethor’s Revenge Relive Maethor’s fight against his father’s slayer in this scenario Mat Ward provides you with rules allowing you to refight Maethor’s epic pursuit of the Haradrim chieftain Charic, which ended in bloody vengeance upon the borders of Khand. Description Muethor lias racked his quarry, Haralsin chieftain named Chive, for several months, Hoping to avenge the death of his fhe the young warrior of Gondor bas not urn fromm his task, no mater the obstacles with Which fe hus heen Fibed. Afra Tong and riclingjoumey ina hostile aud foreign Kingdom he filly picks up his foe's ri hire’ arb has dd 0 a faction of its former strength ater «series of fruitless ‘aids, aking Maethor's task merely Ciel, rather than impossible. 1s inthe hills of westem Khand where Chivi's fate je to play out, fr among the rocks and trees tha iter this land, stalks silent shadow who bas but single wos. Before Cri and his followers ean react Maetlorsatrows have claimed the les of several Llradrim and in the darkness, the advantage of superior numbers has become all the more tenuous. hire i, deploys aes ee Good Deplasment Zone bYscm 24 7S6m ‘Maethor wakes 01 his moe! bute ow i hand-to-hand combat,Participants Good Mavihor (Ranger of the Nosth on foot) Evil Morvar Chiric (Chieftain of Harad) 3 Haradtim Warriors with spear 3 Haradrim Warriors with bow Points Match To play this gaine wit ether forees, choose ‘ote Hera for the Good side ad about thie times 4s many points of Warriors and Heroos for the Fvil side, The most expensive model on the Evil side takes the role of Charic. No more than 33% ofthe Evil force may be Wartiors with bows. Layout ‘This game splayed on aboant 2 246m This sceaio i sc just within the Khandish border, amongst he ili Fills of tat region. Accordingly, place as ‘many hills as posible within the playing area, The board should also inclu the Seeasonal rock or re. Starting Positions The Evil player deploys Clie in the ‘centre and the Haradeims Warriors within 3°/Rem af him, The Good player deploys Macitior within 6'/14em of « board edge Pron the dente frees, Macihor lawns hls anbush, Objectives The Good side wins if there cles ett om the board and Mac sail alive. Any other result isa vietory for the Evil side, Special Rules Nighitall’s Embrace. Though the moon Shines down upon the combats, the Tih is stl poor enough tobe a grea inconvenience, Shooting stacks or ‘magical powers may not be used unless the users within 2D6'74D6em of Heir tare (ell each time a model wishes to Shoot or use a magical power. Tn Aakiion, models may not charue unless they a within 2D6°Dem of their target. Note hat as Maethor has silently stalked his foe and prepared ci for his ambush, the Good player may eo ne result each tum to reflect this sd, Weary, and Ambushed. Charie and his men are exhiusted, ready to collapse from several unsuccessful recent raids in western Khand. When Miethor attacks and several men fall to his arrows, theif courage fils thom. The Evil force stats the samme broken je, as if it had already lost 50% of its starting numbers.