The One Ring vs. Adventures in Middle Earth

[Majestic]

Well, one of the gray areas I was talking about was Moria. But the big one is Mordor. I wonder if a supplement is published about the Black Land, if going there would be considered a death wish.

Someone has to say it...

One does not simply walk into Mordor!

[Wbweather]

It does make one wonder how accessible Mordor in the decades following the Battle of the Five Armies. Certainly not a place you could "just walk into", but also probably not as difficult as when Frodo and Sam made the journey. What adventure might be worth the risk of danger? What need might take a party of adventurers into that dark land?

[Mim]

What if Ecthelion II, the Steward of Gondor (or his emissary) requires information -- since he presumably has not gazed into a certain stone -- and dispatches the heroes to investigate who or what lurks within? While the heroes spy, as it were , they may discover the gradual return of the Dark Lord and his servants, depending on when you set your chronicle. If they want to roll-up their sleeves and go to work, they might also learn of the slaves within Mordor, especially Nurn, and they may decide to attempt to inspire them to rebel. Yep, they're probably doomed, but at least they can wreak havoc a bit. Just some thoughts...

[Enevhar Aldarion]

It does make one wonder how accessible Mordor in the decades following the Battle of the Five Armies. Certainly not a place you could "just walk into", but also probably not as difficult as when Frodo and Sam made the journey. What adventure might be worth the risk of danger? What need might take a party of adventurers into that dark land?

Seeing as how Sauron had returned in secret to Mordor in 2941/2942 after his defeat at Dol Guldur, and TOR starts in 2946, and the place is garrisoned with many of his troops, though not in the numbers they would grow to by the time of LotR, traveling around Mordor would be very difficult and probably deadly. And it would be even more difficult if your game is set in or after 2951 after Sauron has openly declared himself again.

[Rue]

Seeing as how Sauron had returned in secret to Mordor in 2941/2942 after his defeat at Dol Guldur, and TOR starts in 2946, and the place is garrisoned with many of his troops, though not in the numbers they would grow to by the time of LotR, traveling around Mordor would be very difficult and probably deadly. And it would be even more difficult if your game is set in or after 2951 after Sauron has openly declared himself again.

One thing that could be entertaining (if your characters wanted to go to Mordor), is to have them there when Sauron returns, and thus they have to escape from a much more deadly/active area than it was when they entered it.

[zedturtle]

Seeing as how Sauron had returned in secret to Mordor in 2941/2942 after his defeat at Dol Guldur, and TOR starts in 2946, and the place is garrisoned with many of his troops, though not in the numbers they would grow to by the time of LotR, traveling around Mordor would be very difficult and probably deadly. And it would be even more difficult if your game is set in or after 2951 after Sauron has openly declared himself again.

One thing that could be entertaining (if your characters wanted to go to Mordor), is to have them there when Sauron returns, and thus they have to escape from a much more deadly/active area than it was when they entered it.

That's a fun idea. I wonder what Mordor looks like, in the spring of 2940...

[Otaku-sempai]

I wonder what Mordor looks like, in the spring of 2940...

'Some here will remember that many years ago I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and secretly explored his ways, and found that our fears were true: he was none other than Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking shape and power again. Some, too, will remember also that Saruman dissuaded us from open deeds against him, and for long we watched him only. Yet at last, as his shadow grew, Saruman yielded, and the Council put forth its strength and drove the evil out of Mirkwood--and that was in the very year of the finding of this Ring: a strange chance, if chance it was.

'But we were too late, as Elrond foresaw. Sauron also had watched us, and had long prepared against our stroke, governing Mordor from afar through Minas Morgul, where his Nine servants dwelt, until all was ready. Then he gave way before us, but only feigned to flee, and soon after came to the Dark Tower and openly declared himself. - Gandalf at the Council of Elrond

So the Spring of 2940 is probably not too early for Sauron's servants to be actively (though secretly) preparing Mordor for their Master's return (though still a year and a half away).

[Glorelendil]

Seeing as how Sauron had returned in secret to Mordor in 2941/2942 after his defeat at Dol Guldur, and TOR starts in 2946, and the place is garrisoned with many of his troops, though not in the numbers they would grow to by the time of LotR, traveling around Mordor would be very difficult and probably deadly. And it would be even more difficult if your game is set in or after 2951 after Sauron has openly declared himself again.

One thing that could be entertaining (if your characters wanted to go to Mordor), is to have them there when Sauron returns, and thus they have to escape from a much more deadly/active area than it was when they entered it.

Agreed! That would be great! And very Tolkien-esque: you aren't expected to kill the BBEG and take his stuff, you just have to survive.

[fjw70]

Seeing as how Sauron had returned in secret to Mordor in 2941/2942 after his defeat at Dol Guldur, and TOR starts in 2946, and the place is garrisoned with many of his troops, though not in the numbers they would grow to by the time of LotR, traveling around Mordor would be very difficult and probably deadly. And it would be even more difficult if your game is set in or after 2951 after Sauron has openly declared himself again.

One thing that could be entertaining (if your characters wanted to go to Mordor), is to have them there when Sauron returns, and thus they have to escape from a much more deadly/active area than it was when they entered it.

Agreed! That would be great! And very Tolkien-esque: you aren't expected to kill the BBEG and take his stuff, you just have to survive.

Tolkien stories are really about killing the big bad guy. Maybe not through direct conflict however. In the Hobbit the dwarves weren't just trying to survive. They wanted the treasure and the big bad guy was killed to get it. In LotR the whole purpose was to kill the bad guy and save the world. Just trying to survive wasn't really a theme in Tolkien's work that I can see.

[zedturtle]

Hmmm?

Bilbo was hired because Gandalf and Thorin saw no hope in trying to get a Hero to kill the Dragon. Admittedly, their plan is quite a bit vague anyways, but it did work out in the end.

Frodo isn't trying to destroy Sauron, just the Ring. Aragorn's entire ploy at the Morannon is a distraction... there is no serious effort to confront Sauron directly. Of course, it does work out in the end.

Eowyn doesn't quest to defeat the Witch King. She's just protecting her King and father-figure. Of course, it worked out in the end.

Frodo refuses to strike at Saruman, even though he's personally responsible for the torment of his friends and the death of Boromir. Of course, it worked out in the end (sort of... Wormtongue died too).

You're right, the heroes do end up destroying their enemies. But it's mostly by happenstance and the response (most of the time) to "There's a Big Bad over there!" is to avoid it if possible.