Campaign Idea Assistance

[Curulon]

So, I've settled on the main, years-spanning antagonist for Tales of the North - Aharnum, Scourge of the North.

He's a Black Númenórean who has long since been in the service of the Enemy. He's a formidable warrior and sorcerer, taught by both the Witch-King and Sauron himself. I've created him as an Adversary below, though I expect to refine and expand upon some of his abilities as I further develop the campaign.

Aharnum, Scourge of the North

Attribute Level: 7

Endurance: 72 Hate: 15
Parry: 9 Armour: 2d

Skills
Personality, 5 Survival, 3
Movement, 3 Custom, 2
Perception, 3 Vocation, 4

Weapon Skills
Long sword 4
Spear 3

Special Abilities
Cruel Stroke Dreadful Spells
Fearsome Savage Assault

I also plan to have his chief lieutenants include Zimraphel and a great Orc commander whom I have yet to name. In addition, I will also have many creatures in his ranks, including the dragons mentioned earlier in the thread.

I am still deciding on whether or not I want to use Tolkien's earlier writings on the Blue Wizards - which would allow them to become lieutenants of Aharnum - or his later writings, which sees them prove pivotal in the downfall of Sauron by disrupting his efforts in the East. I welcome input on this matter, of course!

[Otaku-sempai]

I am still deciding on whether or not I want to use Tolkien's earlier writings on the Blue Wizards - which would allow them to become lieutenants of Aharnum - or his later writings, which sees them prove pivotal in the downfall of Sauron by disrupting his efforts in the East. I welcome input on this matter, of course!

You could split the difference and have one of them succeed or partially succeed in hampering Sauron and his servants. Or both of the Blue Wizards could see some success only to ultimately fail, give in to their own temptations and weaknesses or, worse, fall under the sway of the Enemy. Whatever works best for your campaign.

The Istari were incarnated fully in the flesh. What if one of them fell in love and sired one or more children? That in itself might have led to a tragic fall from grace as the wizard's mission was side-lined in favor of home and family.

[Curulon]

I am still deciding on whether or not I want to use Tolkien's earlier writings on the Blue Wizards - which would allow them to become lieutenants of Aharnum - or his later writings, which sees them prove pivotal in the downfall of Sauron by disrupting his efforts in the East. I welcome input on this matter, of course!

You could split the difference and have one of them succeed or partially succeed in hampering Sauron and his servants. Or both of the Blue Wizards could see some success only to ultimately fail, give in to their own temptations and weaknesses or, worse, fall under the sway of the Enemy. Whatever works best for your campaign.

The Istari were incarnated fully in the flesh. What if one of them fell in love and sired one or more children? That in itself might have led to a tragic fall from grace as the wizard's mission was side-lined in favor of home and family.

Interesting, I hadn't thought to separate them, though it could certain prove interesting. I suppose once I flesh out Zimraphel and Guzbash - the commander and chieftain of Aharnum's orcish forces called - I can better gauge what I want to two with the Wizards.

[Otaku-sempai]

Here's a question: how do you envision the lands of the East? Tolkien seems to have imagined the primary lands of Middle-earth in the First Age to cover significantly less area than Eurasia.

Illustration by Karen Wynn Fonstad

What if, by the start of the Third Age, new lands arose east of the Orocarni expanding the surface area of Middle-earth. It might have even happened as early as the end of the First Age when Beleriand sank. The Dark Land (South Land) might have already broken up in to a proto-Antarctica and proto-Australia.

[Curulon]

Here's a question: how do you envision the lands of the East? Tolkien seems to have imagined the primary lands of Middle-earth in the First Age to cover significantly less area than Eurasia.

Illustration by Karen Wynn Fonstad

What if, by the start of the Third Age, new lands arose east of the Orocarni expanding the surface area of Middle-earth. It might have even happened as early as the end of the First Age when Beleriand sank. The Dark Land (South Land) might have already broken up in to a proto-Antarctica and proto-Australia.

Hm, good question. I had always envisioned them as they are on the best maps we have - such as the one found on Tolkien Gateway - but the idea of new lands having arisen could be interesting. I had thought of new realms, though not any physical changes to the land itself.

I have always been curious about adventures that could take place in the south in Harad or beyond the Orocarni, but I never took them further than ideas. I suppose if the Blue Wizards became key characters, then I'd have to explore and expand such ideas.

[Curulon]

So, I've got Aharnum's chief lieutenants fleshed out with stat blocks!

Guzbash, Chieftain of Mount Gundabad

Attribute Level: 7

Endurance: 48 Hate: 8
Parry: 6 +3 (great shield) Armour: 4d

Skills
Personality, 4 Survival, 3
Movement, 2 Custom, 2
Perception, 3 Vocation, 3

Weapon Skills
Heavy scimitar (2h) 4
Orc-axe 3

Special Abilities
Commanding Voice Great Size
Hideous Toughness Horrible Strength

Zimraphel, The Sorceress of Mirkwood

Attribute Level: 5

Endurance: 20 Hate: 7
Parry: 4 Armour: 1d

Skills
Personality, 4 Survival, 2
Movement, 3 Custom, 3
Perception, 2 Vocation, 5

Weapon Skills
Dagger 3

Special Abilities
Craven Dreadful Spells
Wicked Cunning

[Otaku-sempai]

So, you plan on starting your campaign soon? Tolkien was mostly quiet on events in the Anduin Vales during the War of the Ring other than what Elrond's scouts reported before the Fellowship left Rivendell. Things seem to have been fairly stable at the time of the Council of Elrond, but I can imagine Orcs from Gundabad harassing the Beornings and trying to seize control of the High Pass and the road(s).

[Curulon]

So, you plan on starting your campaign soon? Tolkien was mostly quiet on events in the Anduin Vales during the Lord of the Rings other than what Elrond's scouts reported before the Fellowship left Rivendell. Things seem to have been fairly stable at the time of the Council of Elrond, but I can imagine Orcs from Gundabad harassing the Beornings and trying to seize control of the High Pass and the road(s).

Not especially soon, but certainly within the next few months. I need to hammer out the potential story beats, plus a few other things.

I also plan to have the Fellowship active in both Eriador and Wilderland, and since I'm starting in 3001 - there's time to develop stories in both lands. Speaking of the Fellowship, I know I will have at least a Ranger of the North, Elf of Mirkwood, High Elf of Rivendell, and Hobbit of the Shire. I expect maybe one or two more to be included, as well.

[Ernst-Jan]

A tip - as far as I remember it was not Beorn who was chieftain during the War of the Ring, but his son Grimbeorn. Which may imply that Beorn had died or departed in the preceding years. Or retired. There is some material there, surely.

[Otaku-sempai]

A tip - as far as I remember it was not Beorn who was chieftain during the War of the Ring, but his son Grimbeorn. Which may imply that Beorn had died or departed in the preceding years. Or retired. There is some material there, surely.

Yes, in Tolkien's collected letters, he asserted that Beorn would have been dead by the time of the War of the Ring. He suggested that Beorn might have been a bit of a magician, but he was still a mortal man.