Marsh Bell timing

[modsr]

I'm beginning to get the pre-first session panic...

Just checking, would the Marsh Bell work if it happened AFTER the Gathering of Five Armies? I want to start off with Blood in the Waters, which kinda uses up the Gathering. I don't want the Gathering to be a yearly event (I'm going with 5 years in between), so using it on the following year won't work either. I'm not terribly familiar with Marsh Bell; is there anything in the plot that would be messed up if it happened in spring 2947? It would have Balin and Oin visiting the Eagles to bring news (and a formal account of what happened at the Gathering) to the Eagles as soon as the snow melts.

Any issues (or better ideas how to fit Marsh Bell in spring 2947, when there's no second Gathering until 2951)?

[Rocmistro]

You'll be fine if you want to run it afterwards.

[Hermes Serpent]

The plot device is that the dwarves you seek are taking an invitation to the Eagles to come to the first Gathering of the Five Armies which takes place at the beginning of Summer.

LMB p126 "He was meant to
personally deliver a letter, a formal invitation from
King Dáin Ironfoot to the Lord of the Eagles for the
coming Gathering of Five Armies, an important
meeting to be held at the beginning of Summer."

This means that the bearer(s) of the message have to reach the Eagles by the end of Spring in order for the Ea;ges to get to Erebor in time. Now the implication is that if you start in 2946 then you start in Spring of that year with Marsh Bell. However by running something before that you just move the start of your campaign back by six months or a year to some time in 2945

[Arkat]

I also started with Blood on the Water, but didn't link it up with Gathering. In my campaign the scenario starts with the fellowship travelling from Dale to Esgaroth and discover what has happened at the Dragon's Head when they reach the long lake. By the end of the adventure they report to Bard and his court. As I see it there is no need make the adventure end with the gathering. There is enough fame to be had by being praised by Bard.

[Majestic]

I just got done finally getting back to running the Marsh Bell, after nearly a two year hiatus.

For mine, I just simply made the letter the Dwarves were sending to the Eagles some other formal document (instead of the invitation to the Gathering, as that had happened earlier in the campaign). My players considered reading the letter, but fortunately they didn't (as I'd have had to improvise what it said).

[Rich H]

For mine, I just simply made the letter the Dwarves were sending to the Eagles some other formal document (instead of the invitation to the Gathering, as that had happened earlier in the campaign). My players considered reading the letter, but fortunately they didn't (as I'd have had to improvise what it said).

I think that's the crux of the matter that the OP needs to consider. The motivation for the journey is to invite the Eagles to the gathering so if you're moving it after such an event then you need to create a different reason for the dwarves being on the journey. As long as you do that then you'll be fine.

There's also the jewel that they were going to give the eagles as a gift referenced in the adventure but it isn't as fundamental as defining the reason for the journey (and then getting lost/in trouble).

[Majestic]

That jewel made for a lot of fun in our adventure. The eyes of our Hobbit (a Treasure Hunter) lit up at that large stone, and he immediately plunked it in his pack.

When the party returned to Gloin, he was quick to give the letter back. But it took some prompting from the other heroes to remind him to return the jewel as well.

[Glorelendil]

Just a thought about the Marsh Bell treasure trove: what do LMs think of allowing players a single Magical Treasure roll before fleeing? It's probably a two or three star trove, but given the urgency a single roll might be in order?

[Falenthal]

Just a thought about the Marsh Bell treasure trove: what do LMs think of allowing players a single Magical Treasure roll before fleeing? It's probably a two or three star trove, but given the urgency a single roll might be in order?

The adventure says that it is possible to take some treasure if the players come up with a good plan. IIRC, it was just 1 or 2 Treasure Points per player.
That said, if it is contemplated that Treasure can be taken from the hoard, then I would admit the chance of finding some valuable object. Thus, a rolling would be accepted.

[Majestic]

If I had the Magical Treasure rules, I'd probably have considered it. As it was, my PCs got out of there pretty quick, with only the mesmerized treasure hunting Hobbit grabbing a few coins for his pockets. I gave him 1 Treasure for doing so.