So, I'm planning to run my first TOR game soon, and I wanted to run my ideas by the wonderful people on this forum to get some opinions and ideas, insight and observations, from my fellow TORists.

The whole story begins 5 years after the Battle of Five Armies at the great celebration. I am considering even using the intro adventure so my players can get their feet wet with the new mechanics of the game.

But, the real adventure begins when the PCs learn that the Dwarves of Erebor are whispering that the beloved Arkenstone is acting oddly. Its legendary ability to glow at the coming of a great evil is acting oddly. In spite of a recent great glow piercing the Tomb of Thorin, the Dwarves have been unable to find any sign of goblins or other foul creatures within the caves of the Lonely Mountain.

The PCs are asked by Balin (whom they assisted in the opening adventure) to investigate this matter, particularly as it relates to one Kithi - a well respected dwarf explorer who recently went into some very deep caverns and has become lost. Balin believes his disappearance is somehow connected to the oddities in the Arkenstone.

The PCs discover that in a lost cavern of the Lonely Mountain a small camp of goblins is holding Kithi captive (perhaps they've even killed him?) and that they are being lead by a strange Man. This Man is using sorcery to conceal their presence within the mountain, though they appear to be less interested in the treasures of Erebor and more interested in tunneling the very deepest, hottest caverns of the Lonely Mountain.

What they seek to discover is something great and terrible: The unhatched dragon egg of Smaug's unborn off-spring. The PCs do not learn this, yet. Instead, in their early adventures they are able to drive off the goblins and the man, delaying thier efforts. Amongst the things left behind are a journal, or log of events during this group's time searching for the egg.

It, unfortunately, is written in the Black Speech, and no one in or around Northern Mirkwood can translate it. Balin, or any other mentor figure the characters have, suggest taking the tome to Radagast the Brown - but such would require a long journey across the Wilderlands. The PCs patron sends word to Radagast (via carrier bird), that the PCs are coming with a tome written in an unknown script.

The journey is long and terrible, of course and the PCs patron encourages speed, but warns of them traveling too close to Dol Guldur. When the PCs finally arrive (after a long and terrible journey, of course), they discover that Radagast never recieved the messenger bird, and he fears the carrier may have fallen into Enemy hands. He himself is not knowledgable in the Black Tongue, but councils them to wait for the spring thaw and travel over the Redhorn Pass to Rivendell and seek the wisdom of Lord Elrond. (This allows for a Fellowship phase)

Departing for the Redhorn, the characters find their steps hounded. Indeed, the enemy has learned that they have acquired the book and the Dark Lord's Lieutenants have told all orcs and goblins in Wilderland that great rewards will be given for its recovery. After facing avalanches, storms, orcs, goblins, and maybe even giants on the mountain pass, the characters eventually reach Rivendell and are able to consult with Master Elrond. (Perhaps another Fellowship phase?)

Elrond tells the PCs that this book details the orcs search for the dragon egg. This concerns Elrond greatly, for even if the egg does not hatch it contains great magical power and could be used to add to the power of Dol Guldur. He bids the PCs travel with great haste back to the Lonely Mountain and warn the King Under the Mountain.

Again, the PCs must trek across the Wilderland. This time, they arrive back at the foot of the Lonely Mountain to discover a mass of orcs and goblins is marshaling near the base of the mountain and King Dain is preparing to defend his keep. The PCs, of course, get to participate in the battle. However, it is only after most of Erebor's warriors have come to the main gate to fight that the PCs are able to find the King and inform him of the dragon egg's power laying deep in the mountain! They rush to the now unguarded passage to find the last of a secret force of goblins and other foul creatures are escaping with the egg! A great and heroic battle occurs, but not before the goblins manage to escape with the egg.

The egg itself will be taken to Dol Guldur, but what exactly will be done with it and how the climax of my campaign goes, I'm still not sure. So what do people think? Does this sound good? Any insights or critiscisms? Any ideas for the closing act?

Thanks in advance,
HS

One thing jumped out at me ... I'd believe that someone in King Thranduil's realm would be able to translate Black Speech. BUT, I also believe that Balin would NOT recommend anything to do with that realm (nor would any Dwarven member of Thorin's Company).

So, I'd recommend having the journal written in some sort of heretofore unknown variant of Black Speech (not as good an explanation) or (better yet) it is written in a cipher code that hasn't been able to be broken by the Dwarves. Then, the player-heroes go seeking Radagast's help in deciphering the code.

Too, if the Elves are suggested as being of likely help by your player-heroes, have the Dwarven contingent reply, "Dwarves want no help from Elves ... Dwarves need no help from Elves."

Hope this is of use.

This is a great idea about the Arkenstone - very original. I've often wondered about its ability to warn the Dwarves of impending attacks, since the only subsequent one in canon involves the Easterlings during the War of the Ring.

That said, however, you may need to work-up a plot line concerning the Orc attack, in case your heroes wish to investigate further. You have a free run because it's not in the books, though inquisitive heroes may decide to trounce off after the gobbos toward Gundabad or some such place, & you'll need to be ready . Just think of the fun you can have leading it into something else.

At any rate, I like the use of the Arkenstone.

It's Orcrist that glows at the approach of enemies, not the Arkenstone.

Technically there is no real description of properties from the text of the Arkenstone, beyond the light that it gave out.

Whether there are further properties (heck, I read a rather long essay suggesting that the Arkenstone may have been one of the missing Silmarils) we really don't know, which fosters the idea that you can generate whatever special abilities you wish out of it.

Having an item that is akin to an Elvish blade warning of orcs/evil is hardly precedent setting and possible.

Commentary:
- Dragon's egg - neat idea
- You may find the party opting to go elsewhere besides Radagast. Independent buggers they can be Might want to be prepared for that and reward creativity.
- Good ending hook for another adventure. If you want to continue the saga into something more epic, don't have it go to Dol Guldur. That is a bit cliche and formidable. Besides you've already brought in the mystery of the 'Man' with sorcery. Who is he? Is he allied with anyone? The Necromancer? They don't know and if they don't go to DG then that mystery can be milked. You could sustain a bit of drama in the closing chapter by only having fallen Dwarves and Orcs around where the egg was and the egg gone forcing a search, the Orcs bearing an unknown standard. Perhaps they could travel to the North in the mountains - maybe to have the 'egg' fostered by a cold drake there. The Man could still be an agent of the Necromancer, or maybe a disciple of the Blue Wizards and is an Easterling come after hearing of the fall of Smaug. Would he be departing to the East with the fledgling dragon? Would he be trying to establish a power base of his own to challenge the Necromancer - men being who they are and all. Is he secretly supposed to raise up the dragon(s) to be used when the Necromancer is ready to move and move on the Mirkwood Elves with the drakes/smaug's spawn?

Lots of possibilities to bring in mystery and further chapters. Good job.

The part that immediately jumped out at me is: Smaug was a girl?

Unless his mate is somewhere around as well...

Doubtful, Thranduil would have noticed that and the Hobbit would have ended in a much different way. Besides the Silmarils gave off light of their own, not the refraction and reflection of light.

I think that Stormcrow is right. I believe that you may have confused the two items. I also believe that Orcrist glows in the presence of Orcs specifically(although i can't remember for sure).

It's a nice idea for an extended adventure over several seasons.
One thing that springs to mind is that Smaug blocked up all the passages into the Lonely Mountain except the side door that Bilbo used to gain entry (I think?)
Perhaps a corrupted Dwarf could be aware of the side door and have admitted the goblins to the catacombs under Erebor?

I think the side door exited from the Hall of Thrain specifically if I remember corectly.

Wondrously epic idea...!

A first thought deals with timeline. Synchronize your campaign with the Darkening of Mirkwood. With your culmination at the Lonely Mountain after all the trials and travails of your player-heroes as a new and visible sign of this Darkening. A significant force of orcs besieging the strongest realm in Wilderland...! That definitely conveys something has shifted in the balance between the Free People's and the Shadow. Plan for three or fours years of game time for your campaign and this could dovetail right into the official release of the Darkening of Mirkwood when it arrives. Nicely done...!

That leads me to your climatic confrontation between an Orc host and King Dain's people. Where do they come from? How is a host of orcs marshalled and encamped at the Lonely Mountain? Would Sauron want the White Council's attention focused on Wilderland. Maybe this is more of an elite unit of Uruks that have come out of the Grey Mountains. And, instead of forcing entry into the Lonely Mountain through open might, they plan to assault it under the cover of night with secrecy as their order of engagment. The player-heroes' return is in time (or maybe not) to warn Dain. Another possibility if this event is closer to 2951, this event could be at the ending of the year 2950 and part of a master stroke to divert attention from the entry of the Ringwraiths in Dol Guldur. Either way, tie this into the larger machinations of Sauron's return.

With this connection to the larger events that are unfolding and working the timeline backwards, maybe your player-heroes travel back from Rivendell as Gandalf and Balin are traveling east to visit Bilbo. Their meeting and exchange becomes significant to the tenor of Gandalf's visit and the growing alarm that weighs upon him. This could set Gandalf up as a patron for your follow-up campaign (whatever that might be).

The journey east from the Lonely Mountain might tie nicely with Gollum's emergence in search of the ring. The dread his presence casts might provide good tangential stories that attempt to distract the player-heroes from their driving purpose.

Along the way, also have plenty of stories (like something dealing with the rumor of Gollum) to submerge your main storyline into the background. This works wonderfully if these distractions are planned by the Enemy because of the capture of the carrier bird. In fact, as they journey east to Rhosgobel, a string of unforeseen challenges especially noteworthy for the presence of Evil might give the player-heroes the opportunity to discover that their mission has been compromised. This might be a sort of, "if they put the pieces together."

Here is another twist that might be really interesting for a follow-up campaign, if you want to split the time before the Darkening of Mirkwood intot two campaigns. The player-heroes follow the orcs into the Grey Mountains after the theft of the Arkenstone. There, a whole campaign unfolds while events in Mirkwood progress on to their culmination in the Return of the Shadow. The player-heroes, after a prolonged absence from Wilderland return to the area (their homes) and it is a significantly altered world. The bright light of day that the Free People's started to thrive under after the Necromancer's defeat has been replaced by a lengthening Shadow and the rumor of war. With the player-heroes away and returning to a different world than the one they left, this could be great drama tense with danger for the future.

Regards,
E

I think you are right Telcontar. Still, a corrupted Dwarf with knowledge of the guard rota might still be able to sneak in a smallish group of goblins to do his master's bidding.....

Between Hobbit Scholar and Eluadin, there is a mini epic brewing here.
What if it wasn't a horde of Orcs, but a horde of Easterling riders. They could cross the Carnen and be at Erebor in a short enough time. The Uruk infiltrators could then be deployed. This could be used to include Khamul in the proceedings, the horde drawing the White Council's attention away from his taking up residence in Dol Guldur.

It was most certainly Orcrist that glowed when enemies approached:

However, there is some indication that the Arkenstone had a light of its own:

But that light has nothing to do with nearby enemies.

Wow! The passionate and detailed replies I'm getting are fantastic! I specifically appreciate all the ideas about expanding the scope and scale of the story as well as pointing out the details regarding Arkenstone and Orcrist.

An interesting idea, though not sure if it would be canon-breaking: What if, during the distracting siege, one of the PCs got the chance to actually wield Orcrist. Does this seem a bit... heavy-handed, or silly?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. THe sword is of no use on the tomb...


If I remember correctly in the Hobbit the dwarves mention something about old dwarven forts along the spures of the mountains. Maybe the orc warband has reclaimed a forgotten one or have infiltrated beneath one using the underdeeps.

Another idea would be that the orcs have rediscovered an old series of tunnels and underdeeps that connect the Iron Hills and Erebor underground. Such a seceret would be valuable...

"Yhe battle goes I'll Dain, the fortress-outposts are falling and the orcs will not meet us openly." the messenger pauses to catch his breath and wipe the sweat and grime from his forehead. "We need to rally my King..."

"Enough,"says Dain in grim determination. "Seek my kinsman and bring forth his sword, then let us see what these upstart goblins have to say when the flame of Orc-cleaver is once again unsheathed...!"