Dúnedain Cultural Heirlooms

Heirloom of Elder Days

Prerequisite: You must be at least 8th level to take this Cultural Reward.
You have been entrusted with the keeping of an ancient relic, an artefact going back to the ancient days of your people. You should create an interesting story and description for the object with the help of the Loremaster. It will be a wondrous artefact generally of Mannish craftsmanship, but might even be of Elven or Dwarven make. See the Loremaster’s Guide for more on such wonders.

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Star of the Dúnedain

The Dúnedain have opened uncounted paths in the Wild, and have created many refuges and encampments. The need for secrecy is so vital for their survival that it is a command of their captains that no one may reveal the whereabouts of these places, nor be taught to decipher the signs and runes leading to them, before they have earned their place among the veterans. You have been recognised this honour, and you are now entitled to wear a silver brooch shaped like a rayed star upon your left shoulder.
When you are within the ancient boundaries of the realm of Arnor, you may make a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) ability check in order to find one of these hidden refuges. If successful, the refuge is within two day’s march; on a natural 20, it is mere hours away.
The refuges of the Dúnedain are always safe places, but their nature varies wildly: a refuge may be nothing more than a dry clearing on a hilltop, a shepherd’s hut, a natural cave hidden by a waterfall or the ruins of a hill-fort. Player-heroes repairing there may find shelter, supplies of firewood, stores of dried food, medicinal herbs, and, if the place is inhabited, the possibility of exchanging tidings with other Dúnedain, or receiving or sending out messages.
Resting in a Ranger’s refuge allows each companion to immediately recover hit points as if they had spent one of their Hit Dice, without expending any from their pool. Such places are deemed safe enough to allow for a long rest.

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Númenórean Arrows

For many long centuries, the “Men of the Sea” sent cohorts of archers to deluge their enemies under a rain of steel. Their long, black-feathered arrows can still be discovered inside burial mounds, among the tall grass of Eriador or where long-forgotten battles were fought across Gondor.
You start each Adventuring phase (see pg. 198) with a number of Númenórean Arrows equal to half your proficiency bonus (round up). When you attack using a great bow, you may declare that you are using one of them. If you succeed on your attack roll, the arrow does additional damage equal to your Wisdom bonus; moreover, your target’s next attack is made with disadvantage.
At the end of the battle you can recover your used arrows if circumstances allow it, unless you rolled a 1, in which case, that arrow is lost or broken beyond recovery.

Player Note

These items are not for sale at any price – they are treasures of the respective Free Folk. Usually, they are awarded to Player-heroes who take the Cultural Heirloom virtue, but they might also, in rare circumstances, be found as treasure or awarded as a gift to an honoured ally. If lost, they can be replaced at Sanctuaries.