Twilight of Memory | Middle-earth’s Second Age — RMU on Roll20
Beneath dimming stars and crumbling oaths, old shrines whisper with forgotten power. Step forward, before silence finishes what the sword began.
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$25.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Sunday - 9:00 PM UTC
Dec 21 / Session 8
Session Duration / 3 hours
3 / 4 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
3/4
About the adventure
🎲 Twilight of Memory A Second Age Middle-earth Campaign (MERP/Rolemaster Hybrid) Mythic • Lethal • Unforgettable There was someone you once swore to protect — a friend, a love, a soul bound for the West. Now no one else remembers they ever lived. Only you… and a few others. And now the dreams have begun. East of Mithlond, where sea-winds harden and the land rises toward the Blue Mountains, lies the broken Echo Shrine of Tirith Narn. Once it preserved the names of those who passed into the West — now it whispers only one name: Arvagôr. A detachment of the warband known as the Black Crown has occupied the ruins. They seek only conquest. But in breaking the shrine, they cracked something deeper — a memory you thought lost… or never truly knew. You remember a hand grasping yours at the quays. You don’t remember the voice. But you know you made a promise. That promise still binds you. And something — in the stone, or the silence, or yourself — is beginning to stir. 🎭 What to Expect 🔪 Lethal Combat: Every choice matters. Every scar tells. 🌬️ Fading Magic: Ten of twelve allowed professions still touch the old power. 🧙♂️ Myth-Bound PCs: No superheroes—only those who might echo in lore. 🎓 Custom MERP/RMU Hybrid: Built on Rolemaster Unified core mechanics, enriched with MERP’s deep Second Age lore. Guided character creation included. 📜 Narrative Systems: Fellowship phases, memory corruption, and oath-binding rituals. ⛰️ Setting: Middle-earth, S.A. 3295 • The final generation before the Fall of Númenor • Travel through Lindon, Eriador, the Blue Mountains, and beyond • Face cults, echo-wraiths, and crumbling oaths • Choose what is remembered… and what is lost 🎲 Play Structure • 1–4 Players • Deep Character Focus • Integrated VTT • High Crunch, High Emotion • Session 0 Included • Stars & Wishes Used • Full between-session support + tailored lore briefs 💰 $25 per player, per session For players who seek meaning, not just survival. ⚠️ This is not a safe adventure. It’s the last breath before the dark. ✨ For Players Who Want To… • Protect (or defile) relics of fading houses • Walk where memory lingers and oaths still burn • Wander under stars that may never rise again You don’t need to know Rolemaster or Tolkien lore—I’ll guide you. Just bring curiosity and a character concept. We’ll build the rest together.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(17)
2 years on StartPlaying
68 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Knows the Rules
About me
I got into roleplaying games because of the thrill of simulated danger to an alternate persona. In other words, a character I was attached to could die. How brilliant! From there, I learned from other players and game masters how to fully inhabit that character. World-building was a trial and error process, with much flattery by imitation. I run games to create a shared imaginary space that comes alive through our collective storytelling. My approach emphasizes deep character immersion, dynamic world-building, and a balance of challenge and fun. Join me to experience richly crafted narratives and meaningful gameplay.
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Creating your character
🧝♂️🎲 Character Creation Characters will be created before the first session. This ensures we can begin the game in-scene, with the world already moving. You’re encouraged to come to the table with a concept, not just stats — something that feels rooted in the twilight of the Second Age. Are you a Faithful courier from Rómenna? A Silvan path-watcher? A Dwarf of the Blue Mountains sent to uncover what should remain buried? 🔢 Stats We use the Rolemaster Unified (RMU) stat structure, which includes: ⁕ Temporary and Potential stats (10, not MERP's 6) ⁕ Rolled using standard percentile dice (d100) per attribute ⁕ Stat bonuses apply to skills and resistance rolls 🎓 Starting Level ⁕ All characters begin at Level 2 [!] * Characters are competent, not raw recruits — think well-trained, emerging legends, not farmhands with a dagger 💰 Development Points (DP) Characters receive 60 Development Points (DP) to spend each level, beginning at level 1. At lower levels additional bonus DP may be available according to one’s race. The cost of developing a skill is determined by the character’s profession. 📚 Approved Source Material We use a hybrid of MERP and Rolemaster Unified (RMU) Referenced books include: ⁕ Rolemaster Unified: Rolemaster Core Law, Rolemaster Spell Law, Rolemaster Treasure Law, Creature Law 1 ⁕ MERP setting material (e.g. Lords of Middle-earth, Treasures of Middle-earth, and Campaign modules) Avoid spell lists with teleportation, raw elemental blasts, or overt “gamey” mechanics — these break the tone ✨ Tone Reminder Magic is rare, ancient, and felt like a shift in the wind — not cast from a glowing staff with a shout You are not a superhero. You are a flicker of light in a world beginning to dim (It’s rare, but possible: if you want to play an orc, this world has space for it. Not as comic relief — as tragedy. As danger. As memory twisted and half-forgotten. There are orcs who remember the stars before the fall. Maybe you’re one of them.)
What to expect
Preparing for the session
🧰 How Should Players Prepare? ⁕ No need to be a Tolkien expert! I’ll provide the lore you need in-game, but if you're curious and want to dig deeper, I recommend https://tolkiengateway.net as a great resource for exploring Middle-earth. ⁕ No rulebook required. You do not need a copy of MERP or Rolemaster Unified to play. I’ll walk everyone through character creation and mechanics step-by-step. ⁕ You’ll need Discord for voice and text chat. ⁕ A working mic is required. * Fully integrated Rolemaster Unified Compendium available on Roll20 for our VTT. ⁕ Camera is optional—I’ll be on video, but it’s totally your call. This is a collaborative, story-rich campaign—come ready to shape the world and explore its fading edges.
What souldiver brings to the table
⁕ I provide custom lore-rich docs explaining character options and mechanics, so you’ll always have a reference without needing to learn Rolemaster or MERP from scratch. ⁕ Character sheets will be located on Roll20 and intergrated into the VTT. ⁕ I frequently use evocative imagery—landscapes, NPC portraits, ancient ruins—to bring the world to life. ⁕ I differentiate characters clearly, and you’ll always know who’s speaking. ⁕ Expect moments of tactical tension, with consequences that matter—but not every session will be a combat grind. ⁕ Above all, I lean on rich worldbuilding, emotional stakes, and player-driven choices. The rule of cool has a place, but the feel of Tolkien’s world comes first. I’m diving deep into the Second Age lore to build a campaign shaped by fading wonder, looming tragedy, and the small moments that echo across ages. If you bring your character’s heart, I’ll bring the rest.
Homebrew rules
🛠️ Homebrew Rules – Twilight of Memory This campaign uses narrative-driven mechanics to reflect the tone of Middle-earth’s fading Second Age. Power is spiritual, not just numerical, and choices carry long echoes. 🧬 Character Creation Houserules * Orc available as a PC option, dependent on backstory. * Full twelve class list: astrologer, bard, dabbler, druid, fighter, lay healer, magician, mentalist, ranger, rogue, seer, and warrior mage. 🧾 Power Points (PP) Recovery – Echo-Aware System * Natural rest (safe camp, no threat): 1 PP/hour (max 8/day). Only possible when true rest is achievable. * Sacred locations (shrines, ancient sites): +50% recovery. Resonant places enhance memory. * Ritual aid or meditation: 2–3 PP/hour (max 10+). Requires uninterrupted spiritual focus. * Corrupted areas or danger: No recovery; in some cases, PP loss or memory degradation may occur. * During travel or stressful conditions: No recovery. You must still the world to regain your inner harmony. 🔮 Oathbinding & Echo Shrines * Characters may forge sacred oaths for mechanical or narrative benefits (bonuses, protections, insights). * Breaking an oath can cause spiritual backlash, corruption, or personal narrative consequences. * Echo Shrines may amplify, bind, or destabilize oaths—and often draw the attention of hidden powers. 🌑 Corruption System – The Weight of Memory * Exposure to dark magic, broken oaths, corrupted shrines, or certain enemies increases Corruption. * Corruption affects the body, spirit, and memory. Effects may include strange compulsions, forgotten skills, or warped class abilities. * Severe Corruption can alter character progression or open new (often dangerous) paths. 🎭 Fellowship Phase – Narrative Downtime * Between major arcs, time advances through structured downtime phases. * Players may spend this time healing, researching, training, strengthening bonds, or confronting inner struggles. * Actions taken during the Fellowship Phase shape personal arcs, alliances, and the evolving state of the world. ⚔️ Combat Adjustments * We will use the individual weapon and expanded crit charts of RMC. * Called Shots: Allowed narratively, with bonuses or penalties based on situation. * Initiative: Roll 2d10 and add your Speed bonus. If either die rolls a 10, reroll and add once. Higher goes first. * Action Economy: On your turn, you may take one major action — strike, cast, move, aid, or act. Free actions (like drawing a weapon or shouting) are allowed at the GM’s discretion. There is no action percentage. Combat is fast and decisive.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Microphone
Computer
Platforms used
Safety
How souldiver creates a safe table
🛡️ Safety Tools & Session Structure ⁕ Session 0: We'll cover tone, expectations, character fit, and discuss Lines (hard limits) and Veils (fade-to-black content) together as a group. ⁕ Stars & Wishes: At the end of each session, players can share highlights and hopes for future sessions. ⁕ Breaks: Mid-session break included; feel free to request additional breaks as needed.
Content warnings
Safety tools used