After the Watch on the Heath: What to do with Raenar?

[Glorelendil]

In my campaign, I want to move the action west to the Vales of Anduin after the Watch on the Heath, since that's where most of the PCs ended up keeping their "home bases", as it were. Raenar's a good villain though, and I get the feeling it'd be easy to needle the players into action against him since they let him off without a fight the last time around. So I figure Raenar, maybe he's not as much of a loner as Smaug was. Maybe, in addition to his not-inconsiderable hoard of gold up in Zirakinbar, he'd like to keep some servants as well, some people to bring him meat and gold instead of him having to go out to get it for himself. He knows from the old days that Orcs make for better servants than humans or dwarves, provided you keep them on a short enough leash. And the Vales of Anduin would make for much more pleasant hunting grounds than the Withered Heath or the wastelands north of Mirkwood.

So I'm planning for Raenar to head west for Gundabad, to usurp the vacuum of power that currently exists there as described in Heart of the Wild. So, in the following years the Beornings note larger and larger Orc warbands roaming the east bank of the Anduin further and further south, with a strange white dragon device painted on their shields... And if that's not enough to spur the players on, I'll have Gandalf turn up on their doorstep to tell them some variation on the theme of "You absolute clowns have undone all my hard work with regards to Smaug, fix this fast or you're in for a wizarding." I'm planning to tie this in with a trip to Rivendell and a quest for the Last Watchtower, which seems like a really cool location in general.

Raenar at Gundabad makes some sense, both logically and narratively. That could make a whole new campaign in itself.

[Falenthal]

So I'm planning for Raenar to head west for Gundabad, to usurp the vacuum of power that currently exists there as described in Heart of the Wild. So, in the following years the Beornings note larger and larger Orc warbands roaming the east bank of the Anduin further and further south, with a strange white dragon device painted on their shields...

You could also take a look at the hillmen of the adventure Nightmares of Angmar (Ruins of the North) and decide what would happen to them if Raenar took Gundabad. They can be a good addition to the problem for the heroes.
Probably they'd pay some kind of "taxes" to Raenar to be spared, enduring less goblins raids that would be natural for their closeness to Gundabad. But ultimately, most of them are proud enough that they don't like the agreement. If a company of heroes would come and offer them a reasonable proof that Raenar might be overcome, the bravest among them might even join the rebellion against the dragon and keep the goblins at bay while the heroes handle Raenar themselves.
I think the adventure Nightmares of Angmar could be tweaked fairly easily so as to apply to your idea with Gundabad and Raenar.

[Elmoth]

Since the Dragon has slept quietly for decades now, I'm sure some (the PCs?) will argue that he should just be left alone!

#JeSuisRaenar

[Rich H]

Daft question, do dragon's eat the gold and treasure to transport it to other locations? If Raenar's going to move house then what would he do with the hoard of Laketown treasure?

[Elmoth]

That is what minions are for.

And I guess that this is why dragons tend to move themselves to a big preexisting hoard, even if they have to level a few buildings to put it all together.

[Glorelendil]

Daft question, do dragon's eat the gold and treasure to transport it to other locations? If Raenar's going to move house then what would he do with the hoard of Laketown treasure?

Fire drakes can fuse it all into a lump of slag and then carry it.

[Rich H]

That is what minions are for.

And I guess that this is why dragons tend to move themselves to a big preexisting hoard, even if they have to level a few buildings to put it all together.

So, no minions available, would a dragon leave a treasure hoard? If not then it calls into question the whole idea of Raenar going anywhere else.

I personally like the idea of them devouring their treasure (assuming it isn't too big) to take it elsewhere.

Would his desire to extend his dominion, or claim a larger one than the watchtower at Zirakinbar, outweigh his desire to remain with the gold he had already acquired there?

[Glorelendil]

I personally like the idea of them devouring their treasure (assuming it isn't too big) to take it elsewhere.

Hmmm...well, since sometimes my attempts at using humor to illustrate paradoxes don't go over well or are missed entirely, perhaps due to their nerdy obliqueness, let me be more plain: I also like the narrative imagery of dragons consuming treasure, but given that we know dragons also covet treasure, and like to use it for a bed, I find it unlikely that they are willing to destroy it permanently. This raises certain issues of, um, biology and suggests a variety of processes (none of them fit for polite company) to explain how dragons reconcile the two competing inclinations.

[Rich H]

I personally like the idea of them devouring their treasure (assuming it isn't too big) to take it elsewhere.

Hmmm...well, since sometimes my attempts at using humor to illustrate paradoxes don't go over well or are missed entirely, perhaps due to their nerdy obliqueness, let me be more plain: I also like the narrative imagery of dragons consuming treasure, but given that we know dragons also covet treasure, and like to use it for a bed, I find it unlikely that they are willing to destroy it permanently. This raises certain issues and of, um, biology and suggests a variety of processes (none of them fit for polite company) to explain how dragons reconcile the two competing inclinations.

Different stomach, perhaps? Belching it back up; a quick lick clean and its, pardon the pun, golden? I completely agree with what you're saying and would like to accomodate the idea of them devouring their treasure (or at least Raenar; perhaps Smaug couldn't because he could fly) to transport it but also agree that would mean it had to remain (slightly) clean, although Raenar is described as a particularly revolting creature - what with the foul stench that accompanies him and the slime covering his underside. So perhaps he isn't too bothered about his gold's cleanliness?

[Glorelendil]

Different stomach, perhaps? Belching it back up; a quick lick clean and its, pardon the pun, golden? I completely agree with what you're saying and would like to accomodate the idea of them devouring their treasure (or at least Raenar; perhaps Smaug couldn't because he could fly) to transport it but also agree that would mean it had to remain (slightly) clean, although Raenar is described as a particularly revolting creature - what with the foul stench that accompanies him and the slime covering his underside. So perhaps he isn't too bothered about his gold's cleanliness?

After I posted I thought of this as well: an additional stomach just for treasure. It kinda makes sense.