THE KNIGHT-WIVES OF CALENARDHON

Jason Tondro: 2233 Luann Ln Apt 5, Madison, WI 53713-4550, USA ([email protected])

©1997 Jason Tondro; first published in Other Hands 18.

A couple of things bothered me.

First, the opportunities for heroic warriors in Middle Earth were almost exclusively male. During the War of the Ring, a woman who wanted to wade through an Orc-horde could at least choose the route of the shield-maiden, but in the official 1640 setting even this was unclear, and the Northman tribes are simply not as appealing as the later Rohirrim would be. Why should the two great Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor both be without outlet for the occasional female fighter?

Second, the Hornburg, which is so well documented during the War of the Ring, is undeveloped for the 1640 setting. This seemed like a terrible shame.

Here, I have put two and two together. This is a work in progress, and it is my hope to see its refined inclusion in the Northern Gondor sourcebooks planned for 1998. My thanks to Chris Seeman, who served as a sounding board and historical reference checker while these concepts congealed. Another nod of the head to the Oxford English Dictionary, in which the definition "Knight-wife—a female knight or warrior" first caught my attention. Finally, I must acknowledge "Bodicea's Daughters," an order of warrior women in the Pendragon game, which served as further inspiration.

 ORIGINS

The Knight-wives had their origin in one of Gondor's most terrible tragedies—the Kin-strife. In 1437 Osgiliath fell to the Usurper, and with it fell the flower of Gondorian nobility. Among the casualties was Hendiril, a nobleman and famous companion to Ornendil. His wife, Finlaurë, was imprisoned in Osgiliath along with the rest of Castamir's political enemies.

Over the next few years, Finlaurë became the center of a resistance movement comprised of the widows and daughters of Dúnedain slain by the Usurper. This group, which came to be called the "Knight-wives" by their supporters within the prison city, organized rebellion within the old ward of Wilwarin, which was occupied predominantly by displaced refugees from Calenardhon. When Eldacar's army returned with a chance for liberation, the population of Osgiliath rose up against the garrison forces; the Knight-wives orchestrated and led the assault on the Eastern Fort. Finlaurë slew the lieutenant of that garrison, Aldacar, in personal combat.

Although Osgiliath was liberated, Eldacar still had much to do, and so did the Knight-wives. Leaving their birthplace behind, the small band of women wore arms and armor in Eldacar's army of re-conquest, eventually coming to the King's attention. He briefly attached them to his personal guard after a foiled assassination attempt, where they made a profound impression on Eldacar's Northman allies. In the final battle with Castamir, the Knight-wives fought in the front ranks of Eldacar's center.

Aglarond and Harnost

When the war was over and the King restored, Finlaurë petitioned to return to her home at Osgiliath and begin rebuilding there, but Eldacar had other ideas. Calenardhon, too, had risen in revolt during Castamir's weakness, and most of Eldacar's chosen commanders there had died in battle or in the purges of the Usurper. To make matters worse, Castamir's foreign mercenaries had settled in Cardolan in large numbers, and preyed viciously upon the Enedhwaith. Restoring order there was critical for the returning King. He therefore asked Finlaurë to go to Calenardhon and take command of the fortress at Aglarond, known at the time as Harnost ("South Fortress"). If she would do this, he offered to grant her the rank of Commander, to make the Knight-wives a part of the Gondorian army, and support them out of the royal treasury as the garrison of Aglarond for so long as they served the King's will.

Perhaps it was the lure of this new challenge, a desire to leave behind the devastation of her previous life in Osgiliath, or simply the lure of armed political might, but Finlaurë agreed. She led thirty of her followers to Aglarond in 1448 and took formal control of Harnost from the temporary custodians that had ousted Finglong, Castamir's local appointed stooge. Thanks to her work with the Calenardhon deportees in Osgiliath, her reputation proceeded her and she was hailed as a hero.

In her efforts to make a professional military unit out of thirty embittered and embattled women, Finlaurë encountered the expected difficulties. She sent for aid from the King, and received in reply one Sergeant Bethorn, a vocal misogynist but the best trainer in the south kingdom. For six months he drilled the women into the ground, showing no mercy nor pity, and by the end of that time the Knight-wives were the equal in discipline of any Company in Gondor. Bethorn remained in Aglarond for another year while he trained a successor, then he fled to the normality of Minas Anor.

The Knight-wives grew into a Company of professional fighting women, organized along traditional Gondorian lines. They were numbered among the King's Corps, and their upkeep was paid by the Crown, not the Governor of Calenardhon. The Knight-wives were, if not famous, at least well enough known to attract applicants from throughout Gondor, young women of Dúnadan descent, escorted to Harnost by their fathers or brothers. Quality was routinely very high within the Knight-wives—women who were too frail, timid or undisciplined to fit in were sent home or directed towards less martial trades. Occasionally notable women who were not of Gondorian descent nonetheless found a home among the wives.

Due to the strategic importance of Aglarond, Finlaurë and the Knight-wives did not answer to the Provincial Governor of Calenardhon, but rather directly to the King, through the intermediary of the Steward of Orthanc (who had access to a palantír and thus the luxury of instant communication with the crown). The Company's greatest obligation—besides the maintenance of Harnost itself—was the policing of the road to Tharbad. Thanks to their close relationship to the King, the obvious responsibility with which they had been entrusted, and the uniformly high caliber of their membership, they generally avoided criticism despite the unusual nature of the Company.

The Stone Maiden and the Growth of the Company

The death of Finlaurë in 1470 found the Wives in their first major crisis, for there was no clear successor to the Commander of the Company. Captain Edheliel, the popular candidate, was nonetheless unsure of her ability to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, and intended to decline the new office. Tortured by indecision and the pressure of her fellow soldiers, she announced her intention to stand a vigil in seclusion within the Glittering Caves. It was in that night of isolation, surrounded by wonders, that Edheliel discovered the Stone Maiden.

The true nature of the Maiden remains unknown to the Wise at this time, but it is apparent that she was a Maia of some sort, perhaps imprisoned or in voluntary retreat from the concerns of the Age. It is unclear whether the Stone Maiden was freed by Edheliel that night, or whether the plight of the Wives sufficiently moved the spirit that she chose to return to mortal affairs. Whatever the case, Edheliel emerged from the Caves a changed woman—exhibiting an enlightened spirit that was quite evident to all who knew her. She offered to take command of the Company, and to further strengthen it through ties with the ancient power that had so transformed her. Under her leadership, the bodies of Finlaurë and the rest of the Company's dead were interred within the Caves, where the Stone Maiden watched over them. The Glittering Caves served as the burial place for the Wives from then on, and it is believed that they rest there still.

Edheliel's leadership greatly transformed the Knight-wives, and led to a renewal of their self-imposed mandate to protect the Enedhwaith and its people. The Wives labored as tireless guardians, and their fame began to spread. Inspired by the Wives heroism, and the reputed mystic talents of its most enlightened leaders, recruits flocked to Harnost in ever-larger numbers. Many were turned away as unfit for the rigors of duty in the Company, but those who remained enabled the Wives to become a real presence in the vast Enedhwaith, where rapacious mercenaries and murdering brigands were a constant danger to the embattled population. With their success, revenues from the King increased, and the Wives eventually constructed additional forts throughout their ward, serving as bases of shelter and re-supply for errant Knights. For centuries they were identified as the pre-eminent representatives of Gondor west of Angrenost.

During the Great Plague, the Knight-wives achieved a sort of golden age. The magic of the Stone Maiden sheltered Aglarond and its environs from the Plague. Although a few instances of disease were reported, no one sheltered within Harnost or the caves themselves perished from the Plague. This left the Knight-wives strong and numerous at a time when most of Gondor, including the rest of Calenardhon, was reeling. The Knight-wives sheltered victims of the Plague within the caves and the citadel itself until the catacombs were full to overflowing, and much of the devastation was averted—at least in this small corner of Calenardhon. Under the guidance of Imrahis, their Commander at the time, the Knight-wives continued to keep the roads safe, and even assisted the garrison of Orthanc when the soldiers there succumbed to disease.

The Last Charge of the Knight-wives

The Knight-wives lasted over 500 years, until the Second Wainrider War. By that time the Wives had grown into a powerful and wealthy political faction, anxious for social reform in the Gondorian military. Their Commander, Turmawen, argued for the acceptance of women throughout the ranks of the King's Corps and Territorial Regiments, and thanks to her vigorous and impassioned speeches, she nearly succeeded. Such a revolution, however, was not to be.

The final hour of the Company came during Eärnil's northern confrontation with the Wainriders, in Ithilien. His line made brittle by repeated assaults, the King's cause was nearly lost when a Sagath charge was directed against his weakened center. The Knight-wives, under Turmawen, mustered their forces and led a counter-charge. They bought time for Eärnil to reinforce and strengthen his line, but the Knight-wives were cut off and slaughtered in the process. Some of the foot-soldiers survived, but the Wives themselves all perished—all but one Narnoma, who returned to Calenardhon after the war was over. Narnoma would continue to travel the province, telling and retelling the legend of the Knight-wives to all who would hear, until she died in seclusion over fifty years later of age and heartache. Her efforts perpetuated the Company's fame, however, and when the Eorlingas settled the Riddermark five centuries later these stories were still told. Recalling ancient myths of Eldacar's bodyguard of refugee warrior women, the Knight-wives helped contribute to the rise of Rohan's shield maidens.

After the destruction of the Knight-wives, Eärnil was forced to replace them as custodians of Aglarond. He chose followers indigenous to the area, of local Daen stock, to become wardens of the fortress, and the Dúnedain character of the fortress was forever changed. It would remain in steady decline until the arrival of the Northmen.

ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING

The Knight-wives began as a single Company, or Ohtarrim, of combined infantry and all-female cavalry, but their numbers swelled until, by the 16th century, a new organizational structure was required.

After that re-organization, the Knight-Wives were composed of three Companies under a single Commander, each Company having grown from a single Troop in the original structure of the Wives. Although traditional Gondorian rank structure permitted the leader of each Company to be called a "Commander," tradition within the Wives reserved that title for Finlaurë's chosen successors, and the Company commanders used the term "High-Captain," instead. Each Company consisted of three or four Troops, led by a Captain. Each Troop numbered between 60-100 warriors, divided into 20 man lines led by a lieutenant.

The First Company was the Knight-wives themselves, warrior women mounted on horse and fighting with lance, sword and composite bow. The First was always the smallest of the three Companies, only growing to four Troops during the height of their power in the mid 17th century and near the end of their history. The Second and Third Companies were the infantry; they were composed of both men and women, with the Second containing the more veteran troops. They fought with sword, spear and composite bow, and were garbed in chainmail with tall shields.

Men were in the majority within the lower ranks of the infantry, generally numbering about 60% of the common soldiers. They were usually locals who, if they excelled in arms, later went on to join the garrison at Orthanc, or take officer positions with the Territorial Corps. Male officers within the Wives were very, very rare, and even then found only within the infantry.

Typically, maidens desiring membership in the Wives arrived in their young adulthood—when it became clear that the usual life of a pampered noblewoman would not suit them. After a cursory physical inspection the woman was put into the Third Company and began a life of drill, arms training and physical conditioning. When not in training they served guard duty on the walls of Harnost or the Wives' other forts, or acted as servants to the Knight-wives themselves. The Third rarely saw military action except as reserve troops, or in a general call to arms during times of great crisis, such as the Wainrider Wars. Nearly all applicants were initially accepted, but many were rejected or left on their own within the first year.

In time the woman, if she survived, rose to the Second Company, a place of some honor and distinction. The Second manned watch posts along the road, acted as personal bodyguards to the Knight-wives, helped to train and supervise the younger recruits, carried messages east, escorted merchant caravans, and conducted patrols throughout the Aglarond region. Many women never rose above this rank, and lived out their lives as professional infantry in Aglarond.

The highest rank, however, was the Knight-wives themselves. Requirements to join this elite Troop were exceedingly high and unforgiving. At least five years of previous service was expected. Mastery of the longsword, lance, and bow were only the first of many talents needed to rise to this rank; the applicant was further assumed to be skilled in emergency battle medicine, to demonstrate profound leadership ability, and to be an adept horseman. The Knight-wives insisted on strong moral character, determination and a bearing that set a good example for women throughout Gondor. A candidate could only be nominated for full membership in the wives by two acting members of the Company. All of the Knight-wives gave their opinion of the candidate, but the final decision always belonged to the Commander. If rejected, the applicant's name could not be resubmitted for a period of three years.

After twenty years service to the Wives, in any of the Companies, a soldier was entitled to retirement and a modest pension. Most of the older women remained in Aglarond, working as servants, advisors, priestesses and grooms to the active troops.

All the High-Captain and Captains were chosen from among the Wives proper, with the lieutenants coming from the ranks of the line they commanded (this was, therefore, the highest rank that any male warrior might attain). The Commander also appointed additional officers with authority over particular areas of activity—these positions varied during the history of the Company, but frequently included one Seneschal of Harnost (also acting as treasurer, and assisted by Castellans in charge of the Wives' various Enedhwaith forts), one Captain responsible for the road to Tharbad and a High-Captain to organize security within the Enedhwaith in general, a Sergeant-Major in charge of Training and another as Standard Bearer, and a final High-Captain who acted as chief aide to the Commander, and served in her stead during illness or other misfortune.

If, at any time, the Commander felt that a Knight-wife (including any member of the infantry Companies) had become a shame to her unit, the offender could be stripped of her status and exiled from Aglarond. The dishonor of such an exile was so great that the woman usually could not return to her family, and typically became a bandit, religious hermit, or suicide.

TACTICS

Recognizing that they will never be as physically powerful as their male counterparts, the Knight-wives instead emphasize speed and cunning over raw power. Their typical weapons are very traditional for Gondor—longswords, composite bows, lances and shields. Archery tactics are emphasized more than the Gondorian norm, and Knight-wives have a habit of wielding hollowed-out wooden lances just a few feet longer than their male counterparts—an advantage in reach that often takes their opponents by surprise. The women armor themselves in bright coats of glittering chainmail, forsaking heavier plate armor. Most of their equipment is acquired in Osgiliath, and is of very high quality. Medium war-horses are the standard mount—a blend of speed and power. A handful of knight-wives forsake traditional weapons and armor, and go into battle in full or partial plate, or wielding battle axes, morningstars, greatswords or other curiosities. Before any such weapon is permitted, the Knight-wife must be proficient with the standard arms of the Company.

PERSONALITIES

 Finlaurë

The founder of the Knight-wives became a warrior only under duress. As the wife of Lord Hendiril, Finlaurë was a Gondorian noblewoman in the classical mold. She was proud, strong-willed and the product of an excellent education. A natural leader, she was trained in the basics of strategy so that she might organize the defense of the family estates in her husband's absence. These traits were put to good use by her in Osgiliath, when she organized a band of resistance fighters from the widows and daughters of Castamir's victims.

Finlaurë's band was distinguished from other female resistance groups because of their tactics. She avoided the usual methods of seduction and espionage, preferring to arm her companions and strike at her oppressors through ambush and even open battle. Many of her recruits were filled with despair over the death of their loved ones, and longed for death themselves. Fatalities among Finlaurë's warriors were high.

But those that survived earned the profound respect of other resistance fighters, and Finlaurë soon found herself in a position of leadership. True to her nature, she welcomed this role. When the possibility of an armed uprising in the city became a reality with Eldacar's return, Finlaurë's "Knight-wives" (for so they had by now come to be called) were one of the few combat-ready bands within the city. Thus, they proved instrumental in the city's rise, and word of Finlaurë's valor was brought home by the refugees to Calenardhon, where the Commander of the Wives would later reside.

For the length of her years as leader of the Company, Finlaurë remained a stoic, enigmatic commander. Few of her companions could claim to truly know her. However, she inspired an almost unreal level of loyalty from her people, thanks to the unquestioned devotion that she herself bore them. Although many Gondorians from the east, unaccustomed to a woman in such a strong social role, accused her of madness or witchcraft, there were no such insults from the people of Calenardhon, who considered her their greatest living hero.

Finlaurë was named after her long, golden hair, which was the subject of song long before she became a warrior. She was further possessed of a long, lean, athletic frame that greatly aided her in her new career. Although age eventually weakened her and she lost much of the strength of her youth, her beauty never faded, and she had many admirers. Despite them, she never remarried after the death of her husband.

Finlaurë

Level: 18.

Race: Dúnadan.

Whereabouts: Osgiliath; Aglarond.

Finlaurë in MERP

Hits: 141 Melee OB: 145 ls Missile OB: 119 cb AT: Chain (62)

MERP Profession: Warrior.

MERP Stats: AG 98, CO 94, IG 90, IT 92, PR 98, ST 71.

MERP Skills: M&M/Chain 101, Pole Arms 108, General/Ride 82, Miscellaneous/Perception 90, Secondary/Standard First Aid 92, Secondary/Lore (Aglarond) 90, Secondary/Influence (Leadership) 102.

MERP Spells: None.

Finlaurë in Rolemaster

Hits: 141 Melee OB: 145 ls Missile OB: 119 cb AT: 15 (62)

RM Profession: Fighter.

RM Stats: Co 94, SD 97, Ag 81, Me 85, Re 90, St 71, Qu 98, Pr 100, In 92, Em 77.

RM Skills: Armor • Medium/Chain 101, Awareness • Search/Observation 90, Combat Maneuvers/Mounted Combat 124, Combat Maneuvers/Quickdraw 100, Influence/Leadership 102, Lore • General/Region (Aglarond) 90, Outdoor • Animal/Riding 82, Self Control/Adrenal Speed 98, Special Attacks/Jousting 88, Technical/Trade • General/First Aid 92, Weapon • Pole Arm/Lance 108.

RM Spells: None.

Appearance: 98.

Edheliel

The Captain of the 1st Troop at the time of Finlaurë's death, Edheliel was understandably unsure of her ability to lead the Wives in the Commander's absence. She was the youngest woman ever to rise to her level of authority, having been knighted at only 18 years of age and made Captain five years later. Her heroic exploits against the remnants of the Usurper's foreign mercenaries—as well as an oft-repeated encounter with a rampaging Olog out of the Misty Mountains—ensured her reputation, and the Knights under her command would follow her anywhere. Nonetheless, she was certain that her youth and relative inexperience as a leader of others would hamper her, and perhaps cause the destruction of the fragile order Finlaurë had worked so hard to build.

Born to the house of the Prince of Belfalas, Edheliel grew up surrounded by chivalric example. Her desire to emulate her father, brothers and uncles led her to a martial career, and her knowledge of knighthood as it was practiced in Belfalas was very significant in the growth of the Company. Other Knight-wives sought to emulate her valor, her courtesy, and her devotion to the welfare of others.

In her solitary vigil within the Glittering Caves, Edheliel was forever transformed. She encountered a spiritual presence more profound than she had ever experienced before, and she forever after understood that the Valar had not forgotten their people, nor left them unprotected in Middle Earth. With the assistance of the Stone Maiden, Edheliel rekindled the Wives after Finlaurë's death, and led them to even greater heights.

Edheliel retired as Commander of the Wives in her old age, and retreated to the Glittering Caves to serve and maintain that holy site. She died alone in the grotto of the Stone Maiden, and was buried there beside Finlaurë.

Edheliel

Level: 23.

Race: Dúnadan.

Whereabouts: Dol Amroth; Aglarond and the Enedhwaith.

Edheliel in MERP

Hits: 156 Melee OB: 173 ls Missile OB: 154 cb AT: Chain (53)

MERP Profession: Warrior.

MERP Stats: AG 97, CO 99, IG 81, IT 85, PR 95, ST 94.

MERP Skills: M&M/Chain 118; 2-Handed 110, Pole Arms 142; General/Ride 119, Miscellaneous/Perception 97, Secondary/Standard First Aid 99, Secondary/Lore (Aglarond) 95, Secondary/Influence (Leadership) 99.

MERP Spells: See "Edheliel's Special Powers," below.

Edheliel in Rolemaster

Hits: 156 Melee OB: 173 ls Missile OB: 154 cb AT: 15 (53)

RM Profession: Fighter.

RM Stats: Co 95, SD 99, Ag 100, Me 88, Re 72, St 96, Qu 93, Pr 90, In 79, Em 83.

RM Skills: Armor • Medium/Chain 118, Awareness • Perceptions/Alertness 28, Awareness • Searching/Observation 97, Brawn/Power Striking 115, Combat Maneuvers/Mounted combat 136, Influence/Leadership 99, Lore • General/Region (Aglarond) 95, Outdoor • Animal/Riding 119, Special Attacks/Disarm (Armed) 112, Special Attacks/Jousting 112, Technical/Trade • General/First Aid 99, Weapon • 2-Handed/Greatsword 110, Weapon • Pole Arm/Lance 142.

RM Spells: See "Edheliel's Special Powers," below.

Appearance: 101.

Edheliel's Principal Items

 The Stone Maiden

The original identity of the Maia now known to us as the Stone Maiden is, and perhaps forever shall be, a mystery. What is known is that she once served Vairë, wife of Namo, who acted among the Valar as mistress of Time and Fate.

Somehow the Maia spirit came to reside within a pillar of stone deep within the Glittering Caves. This may have been a voluntary self-imprisonment, a natural decay associated with her slow decrease in power over time, or the result of some outside hostile enchantment. Whatever the case, she rested within the rock for centuries until Edheliel found her during a solitary vigil. Making contact with the brave young warrior woman, the Stone Maiden entered into a sacred pact with the Knight-wives. She became a living symbol of the Valar and the love they bore their children—a conduit through which the Wives could continue to hold faith with Eru. In exchange, she extended what protection she could over Edheliel and her successors.

To most mortals, the Stone Maiden is completely unidentifiable. She is manifested as a massive stone stalagmite more than six feet across at its base, rising twelve feet into the air. She is a milky white in color, stained with long streaks of pastel reds, blues and greens, beautiful but by no account extraordinary. However, for those who know better, or those who have some memory of the Elder days, her true form is visible. The conical slope of the stone betrays her magnificent, moon-white gown sewn of otherworldly, silken strands by Vairë herself, and decorated with jewels of many colors—ruby, sapphire and emerald. Her pale white hair is luminescent, and frames a face possessed of transcendent wisdom and beauty. The Stone Maiden can move, and will speak with a quiet and severe voice to those whom she chooses to recognize, but she cannot leave the grotto, and may be bound to the stone for all time.

In her role as the Knight-wives patron, the Maiden granted powers of prophecy and foresight to her followers, powers which she possessed as a servant of Vairë. During the height of their power, she was also able to extend her blessing to the land and people surrounding the Caves that were her home, protecting them from the effects of the Plague.

Imrahis

The Commander of the Knight-Wives during the time of the Great Plague, Imrahis was another descendant of the House of Lond Ernil in Belfalas. She maintained close contact with her family in Dol Amroth, despite the fact that few of them understood her choice of careers.

Imrahis was a tireless knight errant even during her tenure as Commander of the Companies. Her greatest enemy was the Plague, and the devastation wrought by it upon the land she guarded was a constant spur to her. Rather than dwell upon the injuries that had befallen her people, she roused herself to ever-more industrious labor. Under her supervision, thousands of Plague victims were escorted to the Glittering Caves, where they rested and were restored by the grace of the Stone Maiden. She organized construction works throughout the Enedhwaith and Calenardhon, especially in the field of irrigation. These projects served two ends: they allowed families who had been devastated by the Plague to continue to farm and harvest despite their hardship, and they provided cleaner water to urban centers whose outdated sewage systems had proven fertile ground for the Plague.

Although a great warrior and heroic knight, it was not Imrahis' feats of arms which made her so capable a ruler. She had an incredible talent for mobilization and organization, a way to maximize the efforts of everyone under her command. If she had a flaw, it was the single-mindedness of her devotion. Although she had many male servants and allies, her personality was too strong for most suitors. Tradition amongst the Knight-wives also disinclined her to marriage, and if she had a husband or consort it is not recorded.

Commander Imrahis had pale golden hair, long and straight, with deep blue eyes. Although of only moderate height, she possessed a well-proportioned and heroic frame, as well as a commanding posture and bearing.

Imrahis

Level: 20.

Race: Dúnadan.

Whereabouts: Dol Amroth; Aglarond and the Enedhwaith.

Imrahis in MERP

Hits: 141 Melee OB: 157 ls Missile OB: 128 cb AT: Plate (68)

MERP Profession: Warrior.

MERP Stats: AG 88, CO 90, IG 95, IT 99, PR 100, ST 83.

MERP Skills: M&M/Plate 126; Pole Arms 118; General/Ride 106, Miscellaneous/Perception 106, Secondary/Standard First Aid 97, Secondary/Influence (Leadership) 108, Secondary/Influence (Military Organization) 99, Secondary/Lore (Aglarond) 91, Secondary/Lore (Lie Perception) 92, Secondary/Lore (Tactics) 97.

MERP Spells: See "Imrahis' Special Powers," below.

Imrahis in Rolemaster

Hits: 141 Melee OB: 157 ls Missile OB: 128 cb AT: 20 (68)

RM Profession: Fighter.

RM Stats: Co 90, SD 97, Ag 88, Me 70, Re 95, St 83, Qu 93, Pr 100, In 99, Em 79.

RM Skills: Armor • Heavy/Plate 126, Awareness • Perceptions/Alertness 39, Awareness • Searching/Lie Perception 92, Awareness • Searching/Observation 106, Combat Maneuvers/Mounted combat 124, Influence/Leadership 108, Lore • General/Region (Aglarond) 91, Outdoor • Animal/Riding 106, Self Control/Stunned Maneuvering 111, Special Attacks/Jousting 97, Technical/Trade • General/First Aid 97, Tech/Trade • Professional/Military Organization 99, Tech/Trade • Vocational/Tactics 97, Weapon • Pole Arm/Lance 118.

RM Spells: See "Imrahis' Special Powers," below.

Appearance: 99.

Imrahis' Principal Items

 Imrahis' Special Powers

Foresight, Prophecy, Invocation—As with Edheliel, above.

Turmawen

Turmawen was the last Commander of the Knight-wives, a brave and cunning war leader devoted to her land and her King. Five centuries of the Knight-wives work had made her position a highly respected and well-entrenched one, despite its non-Gondorian character. Wealthy and with a degree of influence normally found only among male rulers, Turmawen labored hard to create social change and a stronger female presence in the Gondorian military. To this end, she spent much of her time in Minas Anor, Osgiliath and the other great cities of the Kingdom.

Unfortunately, her success did not materialize before her untimely death in the Second Wainrider War. When news came of the invasion she returned immediately to Harnost, where the Wives had already marshaled in her absence. She led them to Eärnil's side in time to prove instrumental in his battles with the barbarians. She led a counter charge into the Sagath lines when their assault threatened to break the King's already embattled troops, and although her mission succeeded, she and her soldiers were cut off from the main body of Eärnil's forces. Two rescue attempts failed before the third was successful, but by that time the Wives had been virtually exterminated. Turmawen was one of the first to fall. Only her close friend and companion, Narnoma, survived.

The last Commander was a tall, statuesque beauty with well-tanned skin, long, straight black hair and dark eyes that gave hints of the depths of her resolve. Amongst all the talents of knighthood, there were none that she did not master, but she was especially brilliant as a horseman and archer. Many men would brave her forceful will to seek her hand, but she denied them all. The great numbers of fallen Knight-wives made a burial in the Glittering Caves impractical, and Turmawen was the only Commander who was not placed beside Finlaurë, in the sacred chambers of the Stone Maiden. Instead, she was buried with the rest of her soldiers on the site of her death.

Turmawen

Level: 19.

Race: Dúnadan.

Whereabouts: Dol Amroth; Aglarond, Osgiliath, Minas Anor.

Turmawen in MERP

Hits: 147 Melee OB: 171 ls Missile OB: 139 cb AT: Chain (64)

MERP Profession: Warrior.

MERP Stats: AG 93, CO 95, IG 82, IT 89, PR 97, ST 98.

MERP Skills: M&M/Chain 120; Pole Arms 130; General/Ride 106, Miscellaneous/Perception 94, Secondary/Standard First Aid 93, Secondary/Lore (Aglarond) 87, Secondary/Influence (Diplomacy) 94, Secondary/Influence (Leadership) 94.

MERP Spells: See "Turmawen's Special Powers," below.

Turmawen in Rolemaster

Hits: 147 Melee OB: 171 ls Missile OB: 139 cb AT: 15 (64)

RM Profession: Fighter.

RM Stats: Co 95, SD 100, Ag 93, Me 82, Re 77, St 98, Qu 90, Pr 97, In 89, Em 72.

RM Skills: Armor • Medium/Chain 120, Awareness • Searching/Observation 94, Combat Maneuvers/Mounted combat 126, Combat Maneuvers/Reverse Stroke 104, Influence/Diplomacy 94, Influence/Leadership 94, Lore • General/Region (Aglarond) 87, Outdoor • Animal/Riding 106, Self Control/Adrenal Speed 109, Self Control/Adrenal Strength 109, Self Control/Frenzy 109, Special Attacks/Brawling 72, Special Attacks/Disarm Foe (Armed) 72, Special Attacks/Jousting 104, Technical/Trade • General/First Aid 93, Weapon • Pole Arm/Lance 130.

RM Spells: See "Turmawen's Special Powers," below.

Appearance: 95.

Turmawen's Principal Items

 Turmawen Special Powers

Foresight, Prophecy, Invocation—As with Edheliel, above.

Narnoma

Previously known as a close friend and nearly constant companion to Turmawen, Narnoma earned the dubious distinction of being the only Knight-wife to survive the charge of the Sagath. Heartbroken at the death of her Commander and long time companion, she returned in quiet pilgrimage to the Glittering Caves. In the middle of the night she emerged from the grotto of the Stone Maiden, and she never returned there for the rest of her days. She spoke of that vigil with no one, and to this day the subject of it is unknown.

However, Narnoma did not forsake her sisters. She traveled throughout Calenardhon and the Enedhwaith for half a century, telling the tales of the Knight-wives' deeds and ensuring that they would pass forever into legend. She remained an enigmatic figure, often changing her name and identity, almost as if she wished to divest herself of her life under the banner of the Wives. Her tales spread, and legends of her appearance continued to circulate long after she must have surely perished.

Narnoma was a woman of plain appearance, with brown hair cut short, long slender fingers and an expressive face. Her hair streaked gray, her stride weakened, and her voice wavered as she aged, but in many ways the years did not touch her. Nonetheless, she was frail and bedridden for a year before her handmaid, her sole companion in her last days, emerged from her bedroom to announce that she was dead.

Narnoma

Level: 12.

Race: Dúnadan.

Whereabouts: Aglarond, Calenardhon and the Enedhwaith.

Narnoma in MERP

Hits: 88 Melee OB: 76 ls Missile OB: 47 cb AT: None (6)

MERP Profession: Bard.

MERP Stats: AG 81, CO 72, IG 97, IT 94, PR 90, ST 60.

MERP Skills: General/Ride 78, Subterfuge/Stalk Hide 70, Miscellaneous/Perception 72, Secondary/Standard Acting 110, First Aid 73, Foraging 78, Secondary/Artistic Poetic Improvisation 110, Tale Telling 110, Secondary/Craft Disguise 69, Secondary/Influence Begging 73, Propaganda 92, Public Speaking 92, Secondary/Lore Aglarond 87, Calenardhon 87, Enedhwaith 87.

MERP Spells: None.

Narnoma in Rolemaster

Hits: 88 Melee OB: 76 ls Missile OB: 47 cb AT: 5 (6)

RM Profession: Bard.

RM Stats: Co 72, SD 92, Ag 81, Me 97, Re 79, St 60, Qu 89, Pr 90, In 94, Em 98.

RM Skills: Artistic • Active/Acting 110, Poetic Improvisation 110, Tale Telling 110, Awareness • Perceptions Alertness 27, Awareness • Searching/Observation 72, Combat Maneuvers/Mounted Combat 65, Influence/Propaganda 92, Public Speaking 92, Lore • General/Aglarond 87, Calenardhon 87, Enedhwaith 87, Outdoor • Animal/Riding 78, Outdoor • Environmental/Foraging 78, Survival 78, Self Control/Mnemonics 85, Subterfuge • Mechanics/Disguise 69, Subterfuge • Stealth/Hiding 70, Stalking 70, Tech/Trade • General Begging 73, First Aid 73.

RM Spells: None.

Appearance: 85.

CHARACTER CREATION INFORMATION

 Racial Background

Most Knight-wives, though not all, had the bloodlines of a Dúnedain noble family. Depending on the strength of the bloodline they might be classified as Dúnedain (MERP)/High Man (RM) or as Gondorian (MERP)/Mixed Urban man (RM).

Profession

Knight-wives and their attendant foot-soldiers should be either Warriors (MERP) or Fighters (RM). Depending on the level of reliable magic-use in the campaign, Knight-wives who labor in the service of the Stone Maiden may be better generated as Paladins or Seers (RM). Otherwise, spellcasters are not found amongst them. However, the Knight-Wives emphasized speed and agility over strength; it is recommended that the prime stats for Knight-wives be either Agility (MERP) or Constitution and Quickness (RM, instead of Constitution and Strength).

Backgrounds, Role Traits and Adolescence Skill Development

All of this information should be calculated as normal for the character's racial background.

Apprentice Skill Development

In MERP, all characters have the same number of apprentice skill points, and Knight-wives should spend them as follows -- 1-Handed Edged Weapons (2 ranks), Missile Weapons (1 rank), Pole Arms (1 rank), Chain (3 ranks), Ride (2 ranks), Body Development (2 ranks).

Rolemaster has many more variables, and it is impossible to predict how many development points the character will have. However, Knight-wife training is exceptionally rigorous, and candidates with less than 71 Development Points will be turned away. For those that have 71 or more DP, the points should be spent as follows:

Armor • Medium (2 ranks) 4 points

Armor • Medium/Chain (2 ranks) 4 points

Body Development (2 ranks) 7 points

Combat Maneuvers/Mounted combat (2 ranks) 12 points

Influence (1 rank) 2 points

Influence/Leadership (1 rank) 2 points

Lore • General (1 rank) 1 point

Lore • General/Region (Aglarond) (1 rank) 1 point

Outdoor • Animal (2 ranks) 5 points

Outdoor • Animal/Riding (2 ranks) 5 points

Special Attacks/Jousting (1 rank) 2 points

Technical/Trade • General (1 rank) 3 points

Technical/Trade • General/First Aid (1 rank) 3 points

Weapon • 1-H Edged (2 ranks) 6 points

Weapon • 1-H Edged/Long Sword (2 ranks) 6 points

Weapon • Missile (1 rank) 2 points

Weapon • Missile/Composite Bow (1 rank) 2 points

Weapon • Pole Arm (1 rank) 2 points

Weapon • Pole Arm/Lance (1 rank) 2 points

MASTER MILITARY TABLE
Name Lvl Hits AT DB Sh Gr Mel Mis MM Notes
Knight-wives
Commander 17 151 15(+15) 65 Y(+15) Y 167ls 142cp 0 Dúnadan Warrior
Finlaurë's chosen successor and leader of all the Knight-Wives. Wields +20 Holy longsword, +15 composite bow, shield and chainmail.
High-Captains 15 145 15(+15) 65 Y(+15) Y 152ls 132cp 0 Dúnadan Warriors
One leads each Company (including infantry) and are also chosen for special offices (Seneschal, Wardens). Armed with +15 non-magical longswords, composite bows, chainmail, and shields, riding superior medium war-horses and equipped with up to five lances.
Captains 13 137 15(+15) 60 Y(+10) Y 142ls 122cp 0 Dúnadan Warriors
One leads each Troop of 60-100 warriors (including infantry Troops). Armed similar to High-Captains above, reduce shield bonus to +10.
Lieutenants 11 127 15(+10) 55 Y(+10) Y 127ls 109cp 0 Dúnadan Warriors
Each commands a line of 20 Knight-wives. Armed as above, but reduce all equipment to +10 bonus.
1st Troop 9 121 15(+10) 50 Y (+5) Y 117ls 97cp 0 Dúnadan Warriors
Numbering 50-100, the 1st Troop contains the toughest and most capable of the Wives. Armed as above, but reduce all equipment to +10 and shields to +5.
Other Troops 7 107 15(+5) 45 Y (+5) Y 98ls 81cp 0 Dúnadan Warriors
Numbering from 180-400 women depending on time period. Armed as above, reduce all equipment to +5.
Infantry
Lieutenants 7 89 15(+5) 40 Y Y 98ls 76cp 0 Gondorian Warriors
Armed with +5 non-magical longswords, composite bows and chainmail, carrying shields. Lead Lines of 20 warriors, may be male or female.
2nd Company 5 77 15 35 Y Y 81ls 55cp 0 Gondorian Warriors
Veteran men and women of the infantry companies. Patrol Aglarond, carry messages, etc. Number 240-400 men and women.
3rd Company 4 74 15 35 Y Y 72ls 47cp 0 Gondorian Warriors
New recruits busy with training and garrison duty. Reserve troops only. Men and women, numbering 240-400, depending on time period.
Characters
Finlaurë 18 141 15(+15) 62 Y(+15) Y 145ls 119cp 0 Dúnadan Warrior
Wields +15 longsword, composite bow, shield and chainmail. Founder of the Knight-wives.
Edheliel 23 156 15(+15) 53 Y(+15) Y 173ls 154cp 0 Dúnadan Warrior
Wields +20 Holy longsword, +15 composite bow, shield and chainmail. Prophetic powers. Finlaurë's successor.
Imrahis 20 141 20(+20) 68 Y(+15) Y 157ls 128cp 0 Dúnadan Warrior
Wields +20 Holy longsword, +20 plate armor, +15 composite bow and shield. Prophetic powers. Commander during the Great Plague.
Turmawen 19 147 15(+15) 64 Y(+15) Y 171ls 139cp 0 Dúnadan Warrior
Wields +20 Holy longsword, +15 composite bow, shield and chainmail. Prophetic powers. Last Commander of the Knight-wives.
Narnoma 12 88 5 6 N N 76 ls 47 cp 0 Dúnadan Bard
True fate unknown, last survivor of the Wives.
Stone Maiden 200 200 20 100 N N 200 200 0 Maia Bard/Seer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jason Tondro has written articles for Adventurer's Club, and is the author of Blades: Immortal Steel, the first supplement for Black Gate's Legacy RPG. His next work, Broken Kingdoms, is the official campaign setting for the Fantasy Hero game and is scheduled for release this fall. He has been GMing tough women for over fifteen years.