A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Siem: Uthriem Roliri

Siem: Uthriem Roliri by Brent Bailey is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with Hârn and HârnMaster.

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 explains that the Uthriem Roliri, the Sindarin for Brotherhood of the Forest, is a covert brotherhood of human woodsmen who aim to protect the wilderness and its wildlife. It is a small, secretive group and elite in its skills, which has resulted in them becoming creatures of folklore. The sidebar has their symbol and explains their relationship to Siem and Siemist beliefs in general.

Origins and History has the group founded when Lothrim’s empire collapsed, its activity and near destruction during the Migration Wars and the new kingdoms, such as Kaldor, founded after them. A sidebar gives details on a martyr, the tale of one of the founders and Lothario’s an acceptance that human destruction of nature is inevitable, but the only failure is not trying.

Current Situation looks at the relationship of the Uthriem Roliri with the Sindarin, the barbarian tribes and human kingdoms. The sidebar looks at the tricks and talents of the Uthriem Roliri, and an example of scaring people away rather than doing harm.

Organization divides the Uthriem Roliri into Rangers, Guardians and wardens, explaining what each does. The sidebar looks at allies who are not part of the group, Uthriem Roliri outposts and the Council of Wardens.

Uthriem Roliri Characters looks at how to become a brother, from a PC standpoint, and the different levels of membership; apprentices, Rangers and Guardians. The sidebar lists their skills.

Uthriem Roliri Equipment looks at their common equipment, weapons and armour and herbal preparations, and the sidebar looks at their symbols and regalia.

Special Equipment has details on the special gear Uthriem Roliri can have.

Ritual Invocations has some new spells.

Siem: Uthriem Roliri in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though short, has enough sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text is either two column or single column with sidebar and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white illustrations. Presentation is decent.

This supplement describes a group that characters could encounter, potentially, given the Uthriem Roliri’s objectives, as either friends or foes; though the group does protect people, they also protect the wilderness. Characters might also become members. There are more HârnMaster stats in this supplement than is usual, with the skills, special equipment and rituals. This makes it less useful with other systems, but not impossible to use. Though the Uthriem Roliri could be used in other settings, enough details would need changing that this would be difficult. Siem: Uthriem Roliri is a decent supplement describing a Hârn organisation and it can be found by clicking here.