Idea for a fan created campaign

[Otaku-sempai]

Well, I would not call myself a scholar, but I do think that Raenar, the Cold-drake introduced in Tales from Wilderland might be a good candidate to possess one of the lost Dwarven Rings.

Far off in the Withered Heath, a great Cold-drake slept. More than three hundred years ago he plagued the Grey Mountains, killing and stealing from the Dwarves who lived there. They called him Raenar, the plunderer, for he had smashed the gates of many halls since the reign of Náin the Second. In 2589 he killed King Dáin the First, together with Fror his second son, but was grievously hurt in the battle. Soon after that, he abandoned the region.

[Wbweather]

Reasonable choice.

[Tolwen]

I am having a hard time figuring out at what time and in what locations the dragons would have detroyed or taken the rings, but somewhere around the Grey Mountains Between 2000 TA and 2700 TA would make the most sense. Any scholars out there who can help out on this one?

Tolkien provides no info on this himself, so any details are original indeed
In this context we have to consider that the chronicles we have deal only with the western Dwarves and the eastern ones must be considered as well. The Grey Mountains and Erebor are the territory of Durin's Folk and it is less likely to find an "eastern" Ring in this area. Concerning the placement of mansions (and accordingly dragon attacks) and history of all these houses, Issue 4 of OM might be helpful for you.
In Decipher's LotRRPG excellent Moria supplement (at least concerning dwarven houses and history), the author develops a long-lasting feud between the dragons and the Dwarves, called the "Dragon Wars". These began in the mid-17th century in the North (beyond Tolkien's map) and lasted (with pauses in between) until Smaug's time in Erebor, though this would probably be an isolated (and very strong) last event. The main era (concerning the number of clashes between Dwarves and Dragons) of this conflict would have probably ended with the expulsion of Durin's Folk from the Grey Mountains in TA 2590.
The "dragon events" in the Third Age provided by Tolkien in which the western houses were involved were Scatha - killed in TA 1999 by Fram - who had troubled Durin's Folk for an unspecified time before his demise. This is probably the base for starting the above mentioned "Dragon Wars" relatively early. Next we have the unspecified number of dragons and their battles with the Dwarves in the Grey Mountains between TA 2570 and 2589 and finally Smaug's attack on Erebor in TA 2770.

EDIT: Issue 5 of OM also contains some corrections to the sites from OM4, so it might be an idea to check that out as well.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Wbweather]

I'm looking to build an adventure in the regions covered by the C7 material and so I think the Grey Mountains and the Withered Heath would be the best local for such an adventure. Scatha's lair was looted by the Eotheod and so it is unlikely that a ring would have gone undiscovered there. Raenar does seem like a goof fit.

[Otaku-sempai]

I'm looking to build an adventure in the regions covered by the C7 material and so I think the Grey Mountains and the Withered Heath would be the best local for such an adventure. Scatha's lair was looted by the Eotheod and so it is unlikely that a ring would have gone undiscovered there. Raenar does seem like a goof fit.

There is also the unnamed Forest Dragon of Northern Mirwood, but she has not acquired any reputation of note and I would think it unlikely that she would have a lost Ring. However, we don't have any kind of detailed history for her and perhaps she had previously raided a Dwarven hall in the East. If nothing else, it would be unexpected. In the Darkening of Mirkwood campaign the Forest Dragon first awakes in TA 2960.

[Wbweather]

That is also an interesting idea. Thanks for the ideas.

[Otaku-sempai]

That is also an interesting idea. Thanks for the ideas.

Glad to be of service!

[Robin Smallburrow]

WbWeather

This is from my Fan Supplement (in my sig:)

Saruman as a Good Guy by Vidugavia
In 3019 TA Saruman is clearly the great traitor, without doubt. But what about 2946?
Saruman the White in 2946 is generally seen as one of the main leaders of general goodness in Middle earth. In 2941 he was among the leaders who drove the shadow of the Necromancer from Mirkwood. His advice is sought and given far and wide.
Since 2851 he has been monitoring Dol Guldur and the Anduin Valley in search of the ring. Probably both personally and through others. One of his main faults is his distrust in others and because of this he must have made rather a lot of traveling himself, especially around the critical area of the gladden fields. He has without doubt many contacts along the Anduin and most of them are probably decent folks, oblivious of the gradual corruption of Sarumans character.
Our sources of his motives in 2946 are rather sparse and problematic as they are written "in universe" after the fact of his treason in 3019. Remember that Gandalf seemed truly surprised by Saruman's treason and that the "Tale of Years" was put together by Meriadoc Brandybuck, a friend of Rohan. A rather large dose of hindsight bias is to be expected.
I would like to think that Saruman in 2946 hadn't really fallen yet. His motives where still mainly good but his character got more and more twisted and corrupted by his pride, distrust, jealousy, lust for control and disappointment in his allies. I think Saruman has great potential as a problematic ally and patron. He soaks information like a sponge and hordes it. He might employ adventurers to but will never tell them the full extent of their mission. They are tools, not friends, who works best at a need-to-know basis.
Example: If Saruman suspects that a ringwraith might have taken control over Gundabad after the death of Bolg he might not exactly say that to the poor adventurers who volunteer to go and have a look.

Individual adventurers might be on secret missions (surveillance, information gathering, transport) for Saruman during their travels with the rest of the group. He probably has a large network of contacts which often continue over generations.
Example: The dwarven adventurer Drorin trusts and willingly helps Saruman with a “small task” because of the great help given to his beloved uncle by the white wizard during the War of Dwarves and Orcs. What he doesn’t know is that the morality of said wizard might have deteriorated since.
A more sympathetic Saruman timeline with some personal inventions and extrapolations:

2463
Saruman returns, after more than a thousand years, from the east where he might have seen the corruption of the two blue wizards. The situation in north east Middle Earth, whose guidance he left in the hands of Gandalf and Radagast, is rather grim. The mannish kingdom(s) of Arnor are no more and Gondor is but a shadow of its former self. The ancient realm of Khazad-Dûm empty and the dwarves of the west are shattered.
Gandalf mostly hangs around with elves who are stuck in the past and seems to have acquired a strange fondness of some childlike rural midgets. Radagast sits in a cottage and talks to birds.
Saruman is chosen to be the leader of the new white council, since he has studied all the arts and ways of Sauron and his servants most deeply, but is also opposed by Galadriel who would have preferred Gandalf as leader. His jealousy of Gandalf, who despite his lower rank got Narya from Cirdan, is renewed. Saruman begins his study of the Rings of Power and their uses and history.


2759
Saruman takes up his abode in Isengard as a warden of Gondor. His main objectives are to safeguard the fortress as a neutral power, get hold of the palantir and make peace between the rohirim and the dunlendings. He sees the war between Wulf and Helm Hammerhand as a senseless waste caused by barbarism on both sides.


2793-2799
Saruman lends great help to the dwarves during their war against the orcs and strengthens his contacts with the dunlending clans that support the dwarves. He succeeds in convincing the dunlending not to attack Rohan with weapons received by the dwarves.

2800-64
Saruman aids Rohan in the struggle to eradicate the orcs in the white mountains during the reigns of Folca and Walda. The peace with the dunlendings are held in large because of Saruman’s advice and persuasion. Among the most horrendous effects of the orcish brutality and plunder are a number of half orc children born of rape victims. A few of them survive childhood but are hated and shunned by their societies. Saruman takes them in; in part because of genuine pity but mostly as interesting objects of study in his struggle to understand the ways and powers of the enemy.

2851
The White Council meets in Imladris. Gandalf urges the Council for an attack on Dol Guldur. Saruman overrules him and lies to the council:

”For I believe not,’ said he, ‘that the One will ever be found again in Middle-earth. Into Anduin it fell, and long ago, I deem, it was rolled to the Sea. There it shall lie until the end, when all this world is broken and the deeps are removed.”

He makes this lie as he has come to deeply distrust the motives of the two ring bearers Galadriel and Gandalf. He projects his own desires for power unto them. He can’t trust anyone but himself with the secrets he has unfolded about the powers and location of the master ring. Saruman then keeps a watchful eye upon Anduin and he begins to search near the Gladden Fields in hopes that it will reveal itself with it’s master so near.

2864-2903
Saruman’s advice is not heeded by king Folcwine of Rohan. He breaks the peace and re-conquers the West-march between the rivers Adorn and Isen from the Dunlendings.

2903-2953
King Fengel of Rohan is unwilling to hear good advice, regardless of source. His long rule are filled with gluttony, avarice and internal conflict. Saruman is met with scorn rather than friendship when visits Edoras. His growing household and military forces are now mainly staffed by Dunlendings and people from Rohan who are discontented with the rule of Fengel. He decides that the time of only giving advice is over and starts to act more like a independent power.

2939
Saruman discovers that Sauron’s servants are also searching the Anduin near the Gladden Fields, and that Sauron therefore has learned of Isildur’s end (maybe from Orcs). He is alarmed, but says nothing to the Council.

2941
The White Council meets; Saruman agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur, since he now wishes to prevent Sauron from searching the River. This becomes Sarumans first campaign as an independent military commander but the effort is seriously hampered by the unwillingness of Fengel to let him pass through Rohan.

2944 - 2946
Saruman at first felt more relaxed after Saurons flight from Dol Guldur which made his search for the ring easier and less dangerous. He has also increased his number of contacts in the north by help of Radagast. But Saruman has seen many worrying things in the Palantir of Isengard. Things move both in the south, north and the east. When viewing the happenings in Wilderland he gets more and more aware of the doings of Gandalf whose hand seems to be involved in all important events in the region. Is Gandalf trying to build his own realm?
According to both reports and the palantir Gandalf has periodically clearly been searching for something [Gollum] and even acquired the help of wood elves in said search. Does he also search for the ring? Was there a hidden reason to the Elvenkings refusal to join the white council in 2463, at the same time Gandalf “modestly” declined Galadriels nomination of him as its leader? At his worst days his paranoia knows no boundaries.

Hope this is of use to you! The only other thing I will add, this campaign will be a problem if you have knowledgable players (about Middle-earth).

Robin S.

[Otaku-sempai]

2944 - 2946
According to both reports and the palantir Gandalf has periodically clearly been searching for something [Gollum] and even acquired the help of wood elves in said search.

Robin S.

Hmmm. My understanding is that Saruman did not make use of the Orthanc-stone until around the year TA 3000, and his mind was captured by Sauron the first time he did so. Thoughts or comments?

[Falenthal]

2944 - 2946
According to both reports and the palantir Gandalf has periodically clearly been searching for something [Gollum] and even acquired the help of wood elves in said search.

Robin S.

Hmmm. My understanding is that Saruman did not make use of the Orthanc-stone until around the year TA 3000, and his mind was captured by Sauron the first time he did so. Thoughts or comments?

I also think the story is like Otaku says. But I can't recall the exact source where I got that idea. I'd had to look at the Appendixes, probably.

On the other hand, it wouldn't break canon that much to use Robin's assumptions, I guess.