Hoarmurath

Hoarmurath's mortal life

Born in S.A. 1954 to Emurath of Uab in the forest of Dir in northern Endor, Hoarmurath was of a race of rugged mountaineers and trappers. His mother was the great Matriarch of the Urdar until she died in the Umli Wars (S.A. 1962-75). Her daughter Amurath ascended the throne according to the ways of the Urd, and Hoarmurath became Master of the Household. His position as brother to the Queen was the highest honour that could be granted to a male in Urd.

Yet Hoarmurath's close association with the Avar Elves in south influenced his views, and caused him to rebel against his sister and the Urdar traditions. His brash words caused many an upset, and earned him disfavour with his family. His views were heard by some, and he soon led a faction that advocated his position. Eventually, Amurath ordered her brother exiled, but he flatly refused. In the ensuing struggle, Hoarmurath retainers slew the Urd Queen. Rather than facing a penalty of death, Hoarmurath declared himself the King of Urd and with support from the Avari crushed the opposition. In S.A. 1992, he became Lord of the Urdar, completely reversing the known traditions of his people.

Though his alliance with the Elves proved helpful, Hoarmurath longed for immortality and eventually turned on his allies. He sought help from Mordor, and in S.A. 2000 Khamul the Easterling visited the North King. While glowing from the power of his own ring, Khamul offered the Ice King his master's gift of immortality. Hoarmurath accepted, and immediately fell under the sway of the Shadow.

Hoarmurath the Ringwraith

Over the next two centuries, he built a strong realm in the North. He defeated the Elves, and then controlled a truly massive kingdom. In S.A. 2250, he departed, his new realm firmly established. He lived in Mordor for the next millennia, at the side of his master in Barad-dur. When Sauron was imprisoned in S.A. 3262, the Ice King temporarily returned to his homeland of Urd.

Hoarmurath participated in the campaigns in Rhovanion after the Downfall of Numenor, and then helped defend the Dark Tower during the siege promulgated by the Last Alliance of Men and Elves.

The Third Age

Returning to Endor and his homeland of Urd in T.A. 1050, he refounded his lost kingdom. He ruled from his hold in the Forest of Dir, and slowly regathered his strength. By T.A. 1640, Hoarmurath's kingdom had recaptured its old glory. It was this same year that Sauron called the Ice King to return to Mordor and help prepare for the Dark Lord's own rise to power. He met with seven of the other Nazgul (minus the Witch-king) at Ostigurth, and then travelled to the abandoned citadel of Durthang and made it his home. In his later absence, the demonic werewolf Gaurhir took command of the citadel and remained as the Sixth's servant.

The Cold One resided at Durthang until T.A. 2000, though in T.A. 1975 he met with the other Ulairi at Ostigurth to coordinate the Host of Gorgoroth. Hoarmurath was instrumental in assembling the Uruk-udun confederation, and the assembly of the Army of the Crater. In T.A. 2000, Hoarmurath took part with his companions in the assault upon the City of the Moon. After the victory, the Ice King joined the Witch-king, Akhorahil and Indur in permanent residence at Minas Morgul. He was responsible for training and commanding the newly formed garrison at Mordor's new outpost.

During the War of the Ring, Hoarmurath joined in the assault upon Ithilien, the search for the Ring, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Battle of Morannon. The Ice King met his end when the One Ring perished in the Flames of Orodruin.

Hoarmurath's features

Hoarmurath was a large and stocky individual; he stood 6'1'' and weighed over two hundred pounds. His height was unusual among the short statured Urdar, but his blue eyes and exceptionally fair skin exemplified the ideal among his people. As an Animist of the Urd, he wore priestly garb. His pale grey robes covered armour sewn from the hide of Cold-drake His helm resembled the head of an Ovir, the great white Northern Bear.

MERP statistics

Race	Level	Profession
Urd	33	Animist

Primary OB	Secondary OB	DB	At	Hits
150wm	80sp	95	SL/11	185

St	Ag	Co	Ig	It	Pr	Ap
51	79	99	95	100	84	92

Hoarmurath's principal items

War Mattock ("Snow Hammer") - A +25 Dragon-slaying war mattock forged out of clear laen and inlaid with the horn of a Drake. Wielder is immune to natural cold and receives a +25 RR bonus versus magical cold attacks. Mattock serves as a fine ice axe, and wielder receives a +25 bonus to all assisted ice climbing maneuvers.

Spear ("Hue Changee") - A +25 dirwood spear which can be thrown 200 without suffering a range penalty, it is useful as a fine harpoon. Wielder and all he carries can change colour with 1 round's concentration (up to 2x per day).

Helm ("Ovir Crown") - A special helm that adds +15 to the wearer's DB and serves as a x5 Channeling PP multiplier.

Morgul-knife - +15 dagger which strikes as a short sword. Its long, thin enchanted blade gleams with a cold glint. It dissolves when exposed to sunlight and breaks off whenever the knife yields a critical strike. Once the blade is embedded in a victim, the victim must roll a RR versus the wielder's levek 1. Failure results in the blade finding its way to the victim's heart within a number of days equal to 50minus the RR failure number (e.g., RR failure by 9 means 41 days). Should the shard reach the victim's heart, the victim becomes a wraith?servant (i.e., an undead slave) of the knife-wielder, operating thereafter at -50. Failure also results in a debilitating poisoning, and the victim operates with a penalty equal to twice the RR failure number (until he becomes Undead).

Hoarmurath's special powers

Spells - 99 PP ; x5 Channeling multiplier. Hoarmurath knows all the Base Animist lists to 30th lvl as well as all Open Channeling lists to 30th lvl and all Ranger lists to 5th lvl (MERP). He also knows all Closed Channeling lists to 20th lvl (RM). Base spell OB is 33, directed spell OB is 25.

Heat-sense - Hoarmurath can gaze at any object and know its exact temperature.