Ilme by Rob Barnes and Edwin King is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with Hârn and HârnMaster. This is a bestiary article.
The supplement is available as an eight-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.99 but was purchased at a reduced price during a sale.
The first page of content explains that the Ilme, also called meredragons, are one of the most unusual intelligent races. A sidebar shows the only location they live in on a map of Hârn; their population is small. Few know that the Ilme really exist and that’s the way they like it.
History explains that the Ilme once lived in a place called Ssanimar, where the true dragons kept them in thrall. They bear little resemblance to true dragons, though most do not know this. There are Sindarin and Khuzan legends about the Ilme, and they may predate the coming of the Sindarin. There is also a possible connection to the Earthmasters in the Ilme’s history, which is all oral. There were apparently two other colonies of Ilme on Hârn, though nothing has been found of them. A sidebar briefly covers a human, of the Guild of Arcane Lore, who lives amongst them.
Biology covers this for the Ilme, including their warm-bloodedness and size, which is substantial; their only natural enemies are gargun and men. The sidebar covers an oil they secrete and the fish traps they make.
Way of Life explains how the Ilme live; males and females live separately, and males are much more social with each other. It looks at the Ilme language and how the males prefer not to fight, given any sort of other option. A sidebar covers their mating habits – females look for and overpower a suitable mate – and the Ergath, an Ivashi that can be found with the male Ilme.
Culture explains that as males are placid, they rarely have disputes, and males consider adventurous behaviour to be improper. This also looks at their early life. The sidebar looks at music, botany and art.
Religion & Myth covers the origin of dragonkind and the Ilme, and the Ilmean pantheon of five gods.
Pathways to Ssanimar explains that this exists and is connected to Kethira through a series of Barasi Points. It explains that the Ilme of Hârn guard one such point. The sidebar covers dreamwalking, something males do with a plant that allows them to see the world outside their home.
The final page has stats for Ilme.
Ilme in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text is either single column with sidebar or two column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white illustrations. Presentation is decent.
Rather than being a pure bestiary supplement, this also provides more details, given that the Ilme are intelligent with their own culture. There are quite a few threads to different things that could result in characters seeking out the Ilme. Ilme covers an interesting new species and it can be found by clicking here.
Leave a Reply