Additional Adventures For DoM Project (spoilers)

[Aeglosdir]

The Last Good Years

Year 2947

• Accompany a party of Dwarves heading along the elven-path, and witness the horror of the werewolf of Mirkwood.

In a month or so I plan to develop an adventure where the party accompanies Bofri, son of Bofur, along the Old Dwarven Road, [...]

I also plan to include the encounters found in Don't Leave the Path, except for the Spider's one.

I've posted some thoughts on the Old Dwarf Road in another thread. In this case perhaps it would be better to stick to the Elf-path as indicated in DoM? Also, if I may suggest, including encounters from published modules in additional adventures may make them harder for others to use (not that you actually said that you would include encounters from TfW in a contribution to this project!).

[poosticks7]

Arthadan sounds good - will be interested to see what you come up with for Man's Bane (the material seems to suggest it might be able to fly).

Indur yep that's the kind of thing I had in mind. Perhaps add a subplot about one of Una's advisors wishing to stop the union between her and Bard - which can lead on the other adventure in that year.

Falenthal - the adventure idea in 2947 is on the elven path rather than the dwarf road - it is a foreshadowing of the werewolf, hence why it is so early in the timeline. Although I must admit your adventure sounds pretty cool, so if you'd like to add it in that would be great.

I am willing to act as an editor for those who struggle with English. It would be a pleasure in fact.

I suppose I should pick an adventure myself - I'll have a think.

[Falenthal]

Falenthal - the adventure idea in 2947 is on the elven path rather than the dwarf road - it is a foreshadowing of the werewolf, hence why it is so early in the timeline. Although I must admit your adventure sounds pretty cool, so if you'd like to add it in that would be great.

My main concern with using the Elf Path is that I want it to be a safe path. It is used by traders and probably is the main option for travelling from the Anduin Valleys to Dale/Esgaroth/Erebor. Why should there be adventures in such a path? It is protected by elves and magic after all. As long as you don't stray from it, don't piss the elven guards and bring enough food and water, it should be a safe travel.

Whatever the case and opinions, I'll try to submit the adventure as soon as I have it ready. I hope something can be salvaged from it!

[Arthadan]

Arthadan sounds good - will be interested to see what you come up with for Man's Bane (the material seems to suggest it might be able to fly).

I was looking to Grendel legend for inspiration.

Adventure One – Mists and blood (any year between 2947 and 2950)
A powerful monster is troubling the East and West Anduin Vales, the company will be asked to stop it. With the assistance of Radagast, it will be driven away.

Adventure Two – Scion of evil (year 2952)
In exchange of healing him, Angrboda has persuaded Mansbane to have offspring worthy of his power and she has found a suitable match. Duskwater, one of the River Maidens has been chosen, so the monsters make a deal with the Parliament of Spiders: Mansbane will capture the Maiden with a magic net made by Angrboda and the great spider Tyulquin the Weaver will put a spell on her to break her will. Once Mansbane has offspring, Tyulquin will have the Maiden to do her bidding. The remaining River Maidens ask for help.

Adventure Three – The Shadow-goer (year 2953)
Mansbane’s attacks have become so wild and bold that he has destroyed a small town. The threat he poses cannot be ignored and a group of brave adventurers is sent to hunt down the monster. At the same time, the Messenger of Dol Guldur has noticed Mansbane’s power and will offer him an alliance. If that ever happens, the Free Peoples of the Wilderland would have to face a well-organized Hill Troll warband. Facing the monster will prove a bad idea and only through ancient legends the company will discover the antagonism between him and Beorn himself. But the chieftain of the Beornings thinks his enemy is dead long ago and he will be hard to persuade otherwise. If the company manages to convince him that the monster is alive, the last of the bear-folk will have his revenge!

Adventure Four – The Mother of Monsters (from year 2955 until defeated or Beorn is dead)
Mansbane is dead, but Beorn is severely wounded. Angrboda will recover his body and then she will seek revenge plotting to bring havoc to all the Beorning lands and have Beorn skull decorating her cave. She will pledge alliance to Dol Guldur to get support for her revenge, use her sorcery to assist the Viglundings in their quarrel against the Beornings and instigate the Hill troll clans to raid the Beorning lands… and when they are on their knees she will tear apart Beorn’s head herself!

[poosticks7]

Sounds good Arthadan. Two questions though. Who is Angroboda? Did I miss that name in the book or is it someone you've made up? And I'm not sure how the adventurers take part in 'adventure 2' I'm sure you'll come up with something. I like the general idea you've set out.

Just a thing to keep in mind when writing these out, I'm looking for about the same level of detail as the adventures in DoM, so there should be some wiggle room for LMs to modify as needed.

Falenthal - my 2947 idea is directly mentioned in DoM - a group of dwarves are hounded by the Werewolf of Mirkwood while travelling the Elven path. I suppose they likely wander off the path at some point as like you said the path itself is safe.

[Aeglosdir]

My main concern with using the Elf Path is that I want it to be a safe path. It is used by traders and probably is the main option for travelling from the Anduin Valleys to Dale/Esgaroth/Erebor. Why should there be adventures in such a path?

Well, Bilbo and the Dwarves managed to have an adventure or two along the way.
Also it says in DoM that the Elf-path is no good for trade as it 'twists and winds and vanishes amid the trees'.

Falenthal - my 2947 idea is directly mentioned in DoM - a group of dwarves are hounded by the Werewolf of Mirkwood while travelling the Elven path. I suppose they likely wander off the path at some point as like you said the path itself is safe.

Yes, it says that the Werewolf attacks a party of Dwarves from Erebor 'after they foolishly stray from the Elf-path'.

Which incidentally I choose to take as corroboration of my view that some people were overly optimistic in 2946-47

[poosticks7]

Falenthal - my 2947 idea is directly mentioned in DoM - a group of dwarves are hounded by the Werewolf of Mirkwood while travelling the Elven path. I suppose they likely wander off the path at some point as like you said the path itself is safe.

Yes, it says that the Werewolf attacks a party of Dwarves from Erebor 'after they foolishly stray from the Elf-path'.

Which incidentally I choose to take as corroboration of my view that some people were overly optimistic in 2946-47

I think you might be on to a theme there for the early years Aeglosdir. 'Wishful thinking' - Reality Check

[zedturtle]

I think I will try to spend some time with 2950 - Go to the Mountains of Mirkwood, looking for records and clues left there.

[poosticks7]

Okay I'm going to put a next to the ones that are being worked on - so people can see at a glance.

I'm going to work on the Toft adventure I mentioned - got a good idea for that one.

[ravenpolar]

Wish I had found this thread before last night as i'm running DoM at the moment and last night had the party complete the run into Dol Guldur in 2950. After this I came up with a short adventure to tide me over till next week where they decided to help find the chicken thief / bloody ghost and rid the Woodsmen of this nuisance.
Little did they know who or what was happening and so I led the party on a hunting mission, looking for clues around the farm where the farmer was killed by a cow stampede, finding one solitary footprint looking a bit like a hobbits foot leading from the river. (the hunter rolled really well)
Tracking back into the forest on the other side of the river they managed to find a small cave with chicken and fish bones scattered around and were investigating when the party Dwarf made a very poor search roll and caught the attention of some Forest Goblins who were in another nearby cave linked to this one via a hidden passage.

If people are interested I'll flesh this out a bit so others can use it for their own DoM campaign.