LM Advice: Weaving Tales, Darkening, and Ruins Into An Epic

[Curulon]

Hello there, fellow LMs.

Do any of you have suggestions regarding which year to begin in if my intention is to weave the last three adventures in Tales from Wilderland with the last years in Darkening of Mirkwood, in order to continue on with Ruins of the North?

The intention is to have the same heroes span the epic - within reason - and since I'm using Rich H's wonderful rules enhancements there's enough to invest experience in so that they won't max out their traits with the rate of experience I use. They've already adventured a few times, with the last significant adventure being Kinstrike & Dark Tidings.

The Fellowship is a Ranger of the North, Elf of Mirkwood, Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain, and Hobbit of the Shire - all of them on the relatively young side so they've some years of adventuring left in them.

Any suggestions with this would be very helpful!

[Curulon]

Anyone?

[bluejay]

Honestly I would have a tendency to set Crossings of Celduin quite early. At the very least when tying in with Darkening of Mirkwood I would set it before the events of 2969 (not trying to be obscure here just trying to avoid spoilers).

That's my first thought regarding tying them together. I think it's possible to get into Ruins before completing Darkening (if you want).

[Curulon]

Honestly I would have a tendency to set Crossings of Celduin quite early. At the very least when tying in with Darkening of Mirkwood I would set it before the events of 2969 (not trying to be obscure here just trying to avoid spoilers).

That's my first thought regarding tying them together. I think it's possible to get into Ruins before completing Darkening (if you want).

That's an interesting idea, but I particularly like how well the end of Darkening can flow into Ruins, so I think I'd want to do Darkening first, but that date can certainly be a good starting point.

Thanks for your view!

[Curulon]

So, my initial thought is as such - possible spoilers below:

Year 2967

• Treachery In The Woods
• Those Who Tarry No Longer

Year 2968

• A Darkness In The Marshes
• The Crossings of Celduin
• The Watch on the Heath
• Nine In The Hall

Year 2969

• Wheels Within Wheels

Year 2970

• Slaying The Forest Dragon

Year 2971

• The Dying Of The Light

Year 2972

• The Hame Of The Vampire

Year 2973

• Nightmares Of Angmar
• Company of the Wain - Part One

Year 2974

• Harder Than Stone
• Company of the Wain - Part Two
• Concerning Archers
• Company of the Wain - Part Three

Year 2975

• Company of the Wain - Parts Four and Five
• What Lies Beneath
• Shadows Over Tyrn Gorthad

Obviously, I will need to adjust certain plot elements within adventures that are moved forward in time, but I think this should be a satisfactory epic for my players. I'm open to suggestions or alterations, of course!

[bluejay]

Mostly good here. Don't forget that Shadows Over Tyrn Gorthad should ideally be broken down into various parts spanning at least a couple of years.

I think you will need to do a good job of getting a fair amount of info and context in your early adventuress to make sure it all makes sense. For instance very early on you want to set up the following points:

Tensions between the Bardings and the Elves, particularly the wayward Elves. Important for a few of the adventures you mention. I would consider introducing it in conversation in Those Who Tarry No Longer.

The existence of Sunstead and settling of the East Bight. Also worth introducing Ceawin the Generous as early as possible. Perhaps have him attend the Five Armies celebration?

The huge threat the werewolf is and has been to the forest folk, particularly the woodmen. He is a major problem throughout most of the DoM and is a legendary foe that really needs to be built up in the minds of the Fellowship.

Similarly the forest dragon's existence needs to be foreshadowed.

I might consider taking sections of the tale of years and making sure relevant info is either provided as a prologue or dropped in the early adventures.

Hope this is useful!

[Curulon]

All of that is great! I'll definitely take your advice! Thank you!

[Corvo]

Bluejay wrote:
"Similarly the forest dragon's existence needs to be foreshadowed".

Interesting. How do you did in your campaign?

Btw, in my campaign the Chain of Tangorondrim (spelling? I'm at mobile now) is for the Forest Dragon, not for Raenar: I played the adventure of the Dwimmerhorn in 49 or such (again, I'm far from my desk), and the players realized a Nazgul (in my campaign the GK is the false identity of a N) got hold of a dragon-binding instrument...
This is all I got as foreshadowing atm, but I would like to put in game something else.

[bluejay]

If you play DoM as written then the dragon is already foreshadowed a couple of times in the tale of years. I also added evidence of the dragon's movements in other early adventures.

[Falenthal]

I'm planning to make the Greydelve the lair of the Dragon Forest.

Ancient and lost dwarven holdings need their share of gargantuan monsters.

So far the heroes only know, from word of Thranduil, that there's some big and dark beast lurking in the deepest dungeons of the Greydelve. It still hasn't awakened, and the elven king advises against actions that could stir it.
But Frár, the exiled dwarves from the Questing Beast and my own players are not known for listening to cautious words from elves...