Departure and Homecoming: Campaign Structure

[Eluadin]

With Darkening of Mirkwood on the horizon, and Heart of the Wild coming next month, I thought I would post a prelude campaign I wrote as a lead into Darkening. Now I haven't seen Darkening of course, so this is based on the little we know from the LB and incorporates some of the adventures out of TfW adapted to my Fellowship. A Fellowship by the way made up of two Hobbit lasses, one a wanderer and the other a treasure-hunter; a Woodmen wanderer who is also a healer, a Dwarven slayer whose kin are traders roaming far and wide, and a Barding Wordweaver waiting to make his mark on the Wild.

I. Introduction

Departure and Homecoming spans the six years that lead up to the Darkening of Mirkwood in 2951. It serves as a prelude to Darkening and sets the stage, nay determines the very Hope still burning within Wilderland prior to the Enemy's return to Dol Guldur. In these years, the accomplishments of the player-heroes may significantly affect whether the North is forewarned; and how prepared the Free Peoples are when the Shadow returns. The very fate of the Woodmen of Wilderland and Radagast the Brown might hang in the balance. Will the Woodmen be strong enough to answer the call sent far and wide for the weapon-take at Dunharrow? Will Radagast's absence from Rhosgobel when sought by Elrond's messengers return as ominous tidings or a tale of Power still at work against the Enemy?

Three campaign arcs combine to create the story envisioned by Departure and Homecoming. Each arc ends in a significant event involving the Wise and chief powers of the North as told in the Tale of Years: Gandalf's tireless travels between the courts of Elves, Men, and Dwarves in 2948; the visit by Gandalf and Balin in 2949 to The Shire; and the arrival of an emissary fair of face and sweet of voice at the Gathering of Five Armies in 2950. The three combined create a grand weave where the Enemy in secret works to undermine the Hope still flickering after the passing of its Shadow. Without realizing such dire plots are still in play, the Wise strive to renew the Hope that led once to the crushing defeat of the Orcs and Wolves of the North; and, might yet again, lead the Free Peoples of the North into bonds of friendship and alliance. For the Wise know better than to confuse the Enemy's flight from Mirkwood with defeat. The razing of Dol Guldur was nothing more than an opening move. The great struggle to come shall be fought in the hearts of people as much as the fields of battle, and that shall define the Twilight of the Third Age. If the Free Peoples are to stand strong and united, then the Hope that flickers so tenuously must be guarded and preserved, nourished and strengthened for greater challenges await.

The first arc, The Grey Pilgrim, leads up to and culminates in the events of 2948 as the Grey Pilgrim travels the courts of Wilderland. Will Gandalf undertake this momentous and difficult task knowing that the drifting apart of Elves, Men, and Dwarves is more than the caprice of time and chance, old enmities rising to the surface? The first three adventures in the campaign deal with this arc. The adventures themselves provide the clues that could substantiate the doubt of some that, in fact, the Enemy may have fled but his Shadow remains. And, that Shadow still fills Mirkwood with a menace that secretly acts in opposition to all the plans and strategies of the Free Peoples. The first adventure takes place in the Spring of 2946, and the second in the Fall of that same year. The former adventure ends with a brief respite (Fellowship Phase) in the land of the Wood-folk of the Western Eaves as Summer wanes. While the second adventure ends at the Gathering of Five Armies and a long Winter-rest in Dale (another Fellowship Phase). The third adventure, last in this arc spans all of 2947 as the player-heroes follow whisper after rumour and hunt the bane plaguing the people who live in among Mirkwood's dusk. It culminates in a fast paced adventure where unbeknownst to the player-heroes, the constant raiding and pillaging, wanton destruction and senseless violence riddling Mirkwood's western bounds is nothing short of the Shadow's opening challenge: A test of its strength against the Will of the West.

The second arc, An Unexpected or Long-expected Trip takes place throughout 2948 and into Summer 2949. As a growing disquiet overtakes the hearts of Gandalf and Balin, the urge to visit The Shire moves them to take the Westward-road for an overdue visit. Much of their fears are hidden, unvoiced and unproven. When the time comes for their journey, do these fears remain or travel with them over the Mountains. Does silence prevail on the eve of a king's departure into the Wild? How much of the player-heroes trials will prove Gandalf and Balin's fears are true, that the Shadow is rising once again? What will become of the North if the Enemy in its malice leads the player-heroes astray, and the Wise into complacence? Three shorts adventures each matched to a season of the former year leads into a furious fourth adventure as 2949 opens with a late winter freeze in what should have been an early spring. The adventure that opens this arc of the campaign begins after a scouting expedition to the Heart of Mirkwood goes awry and ends at the Easterly Inn with a surprise visit from the Woodland Realm. After hard sought counsel and summer journey to the Woodland Realm, the next adventure carries on with a great quest that leads the Fellowship onto the Westward-road leaving Mirkwood as the leaves turn red and gold. Autumn of 2948 consumes the Fellowship in an adventure crossing the nether vales from the Gladden Fields to Mountain Hall. Should hope prevail and a little bit of luck, the Fellowship will spend the winter at Mountain Hall for a much needed Fellowship phase. Winter breaks as 2949 dawns upon an idyllic spring. Wait, what is this? A late winter freeze sweeps down from the bitter wastes and a messenger's horse is found dead on the banks of the Anduin. Did the news reach Radagast and Gandalf of the Fellowship's findings? Hasty preparations send the Fellowship off to Rhosgobel then the Woodland Realm for battle unexpected sweeps down upon Woodland Hall. Should the Woodmen and the Fellowship prevail against a secret shadow amidst the gloaming woods, they may yet bring news to Gandalf and Balin before the two pass west. Against all hope, Rivendell may yet open its doors as a sanctuary to road worn and weary travelers from the Wild, a brave Fellowship that has risked much these past four years.

The third and final arc, Fair is the Emissary, brings the Tale of Years to the end of 2950 and the last Gathering of Five Armies before a shadow falls once again across Mirkwood. A single adventure spans 2950 that ends with a fair lady arriving in Dale for the Gathering. But all is not as it should be: a Hound of Sauron is at large in Mirkwood, a fell-whisper flits between the Houses of the Wood-folk of the Western Eaves and a shadow has brought war to Woodmen Town. King Bard, the Grey Pilgrim and emissaries from the Houses of the Woodmen of Wilderland confer with Balin, and Galion of the Woodland Realm. A raven arrives from the Mountain, an enemy marches to war. Can it be their Enemy, or a mere shadow of its malice...?

[Rich H]

This looks excellent but it currently just reads like a sales pitch. I think it'd be better if you wrote it up as adventures or an actual play like others do here. Really hope you're going to expand!

[Eluadin]

Not so hasty...!

[jamesrbrown]

It will be a lovely story, one worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.

[Eluadin]

Rich, thanks for the encouragement. My creativity and speed of composition isn't quite that of others on the forum. More than likely, I'll continue to plod along outlining this campaign with the Loremaster's Book as my guide. It has served me well these past few years, and I might as well stick with it. (Or, is it the Loremaster's Guide as my guidebook of choice...? Where's Gandalf or Strider when you need a good guide...?)

James, thanks for the affirmation. This one might be less a work of Courtesy and more a test of Riddle!

Regards,
Scott

[Garn!]

Elaudin,
This looks interesting and I will be looking forward for future installments. I'm glad you've decided to share.

[Beleg]

This sounds brilliant, and I'm hungry for more. I want to know all the things in minute detail, and I greatly envy your players for the ride they get to enjoy