Treasure

Travelling across a land that has seen three Ages of the world, the adventurers are sooner or later bound to discover some form of treasure, and possibly claim it for themselves. Whether it is the forgotten hoard of a dead Dragon, a pile of gold and gems closely guarded by a Troll, or the loot accumulated by generations of raiding Goblins, treasure provides the Company with a focus for their adventuring, a means for the Player-heroes to raise their personal prosperity, and another way to bring to light obscure tales from previous ages of Middle-earth.

But there is more than just gold and precious stones to be found in deserted caverns and dark dungeons under the earth — in past ages of the world, Men, Elves, and Dwarves long laboured to craft marvellous things from metal and stone, and put into their work all their lore, power, and subtle skill. These wondrous jewels, famous blades, and suits of armour were given to sons and daughters as gifts, hoarded as treasures by greedy kings, and lusted after and even stolen by thieves and burglars. Finally, they were lost, and passed out of the memory of the living.

Such remarkable things are not meant to remain lost forever. Their original purpose may have been forgotten with the passing of centuries, together with the name of their makers, but a day will come when a worthy blade will be found in a barrow among swords of lesser lineage, ready to serve a new fate in the hands of a hero; or, if the treasure had been left to rot in the shadow for too long, to work a curse upon them and draw them to a miserable end!

See the Magical Treasures compendium listing for examples.