DoM 2954: The Lost Path

[Corvo]

+++BIG SPOILER AHEAD. STAND BACK O PLAYER+++




I'm about to play the Lost Path adventure from DoM (year 2954).
The players had been generically informed about the task they are asked to perform in the next adventure: "the elders ask you to find a new path through the Narrows of the Forest".
The fellowship (Woodmen and Beornings) will perform the task out of loyalty for the woodmen elders, but they have already defined the mission "a fool's errand".

Now, they are perfectly right. As revealed in the adventure, the path they are about to explore is too dangerous to be of common use for Woodmen, let alone for "fat traders from Dale" (page 35), the supposed aim of the elders. It's a no-win situation: if you fail to cross the forest, you failed. If you cross it, you can attest that the path is too dangerous to use.

What is the problem with that? The problem is that I don't want to paint the woodmen elders as a band of fools, and they would look foolish if they send these generous folks in such mission after said folks forewarned them that the Narrows are infested with spiders and orcs.

It's a pretty common problem in rpg: the NPCs should often looks ineffective so that the heroes can shine, but I would like to avoid such trope here.

Can someone share some idea about that?

[Rôg]

Actually, the journey isn't hopeless at all, just difficult. Re-read the section - the heroes are (hopefully) hardy enough to survive the consequences of not immediately finding the right path. There is a safe route, it is just difficult to find. Once they make enough successes (after encountering some nasty side-trips) they can find it.

But you may want other explanations for the elder's decisions, so....

One or more of the woodmen elders are out to eliminate the heroes. Why? Did they supplant the elder's heir in the hearts of the people? Are they worried about a coup attempt? Is one or more already under the baleful effects of Dol Guldur? Perhaps one is in thrall to the River-maiden Duskwater?

[Indur Dawndeath]

Hi Corvo,

I think this one is pretty easy: There was a safe path through the Narrows of the Forest, but now this path is not so safe anymore, because of Tyrants Hill or Fenbridge and the newly risen Wood-wights.
The Elders just know that this path was safe, but now it isn't. Could there be another one? Heroes please investigate...
After investigation... Well that is up to you the LM. Did they find a safe path? That really depend on what kind of success they've had in exploring. They will find several places to avoid, so let them look for another route, when they run into something dangerous.
Is it completely safe. I would say no, since not even the Elf path is safe. Will fat merchants from Dale pass this way, perhaps not, but Woodmen from East Bight will and that is good enough and will be measured as a nice success by the Elders

Hope you can use this Cheers

[Indur Dawndeath]

Nice ideas Rôg. I think I will use that for my game But then I will add a determined attack from Fenbridge to let the players get an idear of the betrayal (One of the Orcs is carrying a description of the heroes), not just let the normal Hazzards take care of the players.

[Corvo]

Thank you both for your answers

Rog, about the "hopeless" mission, well... I'm no native speaker, so maybe I was unable to clear my point: i think the Heroes will probably succeed, yet I'm not complaining about the difficulty.

My "problem" is that the players already assessed the mission as useless. And they are correct.
It's better to keep to the old, dangerous paths. So close to Tyulqin's nest, this is one of the worst path in Mirkwood )

My problem is that I want the elders to be wise and reliable. There they looks oblivious of their surroundings

[Indur Dawndeath]

My "problem" is that the players already assessed the mission as useless. And they are correct.
It's better to keep to the old, dangerous paths. So close to Tyulqin's nest, this is one of the worst path in Mirkwood )

The new path should not go anywhere near Tyulqin's nest.

They will find several places to avoid, so let them look for another route, when they run into something dangerous.

But if you as a LM have decided that there is no safe path, then it is another story...

[Corvo]

My "problem" is that the players already assessed the mission as useless. And they are correct.
It's better to keep to the old, dangerous paths. So close to Tyulqin's nest, this is one of the worst path in Mirkwood )

The new path should not go anywhere near Tyulqin's nest.

So say we all

They will find several places to avoid, so let them look for another route, when they run into something dangerous.

But if you as a LM have decided that there is no safe path, then it is another story...

Was combing the book to find that citation, then realized it's from your previous post
I suppose you are telling me that -after escaping Tyulqin, for example- I should say them: "two days ago you took the south fork at the stream... better go back and try the northern one..."

[Indur Dawndeath]

Yes
That would work

[Corvo]

To this effect, it's better to state up front that they aren't looking for a trail... They are going to explore a region where there is a veritable maze of criss-crossing trails, to find one that is less threaded by their enemies.
Think about a sort of "Ho Chi Min Trail": hundreds of paths going in the same general direction.