The Chain and the Nazgul (minor TfW and DoM spoilers)

[Summerhawk]

So my campaign is mostly made up of original stuff with occasional things pulled in from Tales and Darkening. My players recently did an adapted version of a darkness in the marshes and so the Chain of Thangorodrim has entered my story. The thing is, at this point in the timeline, the Nazgul have reoccupied Dol Guldur. This raises a couple interesting points to my mind.

1. What do you think the relationship between the Gibbet King and the Nazgul would be like. Would he fall in line as they are servants of his old master, or would his new found freedom inspire some infighting (oft evil will evil mar after all). Has anyone run into this situation. What are your thoughts.

2. On a related note, if the players are successful in defeating the Gibbit king, am I right to think the Nazgul would immediately use whatever means available to get the Chain back? I realize that at this stage they are still concealing their presence, but it seems to me that the Chain would be of utmost importance to them. Anyone have thoughts on this? What to do with the chain after the GB is defeated is obviously left open, but I can't imagine many players would just leave it behind once they understand it's power.

[Scrollreader]

If you are using the gibbet king (and not replacing him with a sorcerously inclined Nazgul), I suspect he will have no love for his former master Sauron, and his servants. You could potentially use one or the other as a spoiler, or even a source of information for the party (possibly through Mogdred, depending on his status). As for the chain itself ... On the one hand, it is incredibly powerful, and will attract hella attention from the Nazgul, as they attempt to recover it.
On the other hand, seeing as how it was forged by Melkor in the Elder Days, it is not subject to Gandalf and Eldrond's supposition that the Valar would not get involved with the Ring (as it was the result of the actions of the inhabitants of Middle Earth). So if you want to get rid of it, the Valar could intervene, either directly or via the Eagles.

Personally, I'd be tempted to have the Eagles bring word from Manwe that the Chain must be sent across the Sea, to be unforged by the Valar, and then run the 'The Lamp Goes to Rivendell' adventure from the end of Darkening.

Of course, there is also the Wise to consider. The Elves will not take a thing of their oldest enemy, but Saruman the Wise has many deep vaults beneath Isengard, where it can be kept safe, and far from the Enemy's grasp ...

Or if you prefer not to have to worry about a World Altering Artifact of Doom, you could have the enslavement of the chain's master by the chain be the condition that shatters the spells forged into it.

"Long have the Wise despaired, for Melkor was, and is yet beyond any power that remains in Middle Earth, but often by the malice of our foes are their greater evils avoided. Little did the Gibbet King think, as he labored for long years to steal the Chain, that he was working towards its destruction. Had he not worked so hard to command the Chain, it would trouble my heart greatly, for it is a thing beyond any power I can command, and in the hands of Sauron could have worked evils you can not comprehend" - Gandalf

[Finrod Felagund]

In TfW it is stated that the Necromancer personally entrusted the Gibbet King with the chain, so the Nazgul wouldn't necessarily take it from him. I do think that the Nazgul are much more powerful than the Gibbet King, so if they are ordered to take the chain then they can do so. I'm almost tempted to keep the Nazgul and the Gibbett King separate - they are both working for Sauron but in different ways.

If the Adventurers defeat the Gibbet King then the Nazgul might indeed attempt to regain it, and you could have a series of adventurers around this - it depends whether you want to make the Chain the centre piece to your cycle, or whether you have other ideas long term. We're not told how the chain can be destroyed - as Scrollreader says it could be sent across the sea or hidden with the Elves, but if you want something simpler then maybe it could be smashed in the forges of the Dwarves in Erebor.

[Summerhawk]

Very useful suggestions, both of you. Thanks! If I decide I want it's destruction to be achievable by mortals, I would probably need to alter it's back story (the characters do not know itso nature yet). The Valar are an interesting option, particularly considering the events of Beorn's Quest in DoM.

I had considered Saruman, especially with him at Rhosgobel at this point in the timeline, and considering his expertise in Shadow Lore, there could have been any number of terrible artifacts under Orthanc by the time he is evicted.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughts, lots of good fodder for brainstorming

[Majestic]

The adventure itself does have a possible resolution for the Chain, I think. If it is used to wrap around the Gibbet King (which is what my heroes did) both the villain and the Chain implode!

[Summerhawk]

The adventure itself does have a possible resolution for the Chain, I think. If it is used to wrap around the Gibbet King (which is what my heroes did) both the villain and the Chain implode!

I did see that in the adventure. I may be proven wrong in the end, but it did not strike me as something my group was likely to attempt unless I offered some pretty heavy hinting. It is a pretty ingenious out though.

[Majestic]

Yeah, I don't recall exactly how it worked out in our game, but I likely hinted at it to a player in the heat of battle.

[Summerhawk]

Here's my adaptation of the Chain for my campaign.
1. My players really don't have a lot of interest in Eriador, so I've cannibalized some of the Ruins of the North and moved aspects of it to Wilderland. My players had not yet encountered the Gibbet King (the didn't sneak into the temple on the Dwimmerhorn, but heard of the chain from prisoners and went on to defend Mountain Hall). So I've decided to drop the Gibbet King and skirt the whole question of his relation to the Nazgul. I'm replacing him with Captain Mormog from Harder than Stone as the one moving things in Wilderland with the goal of destroying the rising power of Dale. Part of my reasoning for this is that I don't want too many 'wraithlike' villains running around since the Nazgul are already back in the picture and I don't want to take any of the impact out of encounters with them.
2. Mormog has been entrusted with the chain by the Lt. of Dol Guldur and has used it to enthrall Feredrun. A couple sessions ago my players tracked Mormog and overheard his pitch to trolls in the Grey Mountains and encountered Feredrun.
3. After escaping and warning Dale, the players sent word to Rhosgobel and later had an encounter with Saruman in our last encounter. Saruman has told them that if they can recover the chain, he can use it to free Feredrun from her collar after which he will lock it away in the vaults of Orthanc where it will be safe if he cannot unmake it. I decided to do this because it tortured my players, who know very well what become of Saruman, but are good enough roleplayers to know their characters have no reason to mistrust the Wizard. They and I really enjoyed the dramatic irony.

So now the players intend to track down Mormog to find a way to thwart his building of a troll army, and either steal the chain or kill Mormog and take it. Unless they pull off something spectacular, I doubt they will manage to get a hold of the chain prior to the events of Crossing of the Celduin and a Watch on the Heath. If the do I'll have some improvisation to do.

Anyway, that's how I've decided to play it. Thanks for all the advice, it was of great help.

[Majestic]

3. After escaping and warning Dale, the players sent word to Rhosgobel and later had an encounter with Saruman in our last encounter. Saruman has told them that if they can recover the chain, he can use it to free Feredrun from her collar after which he will lock it away in the vaults of Orthanc where it will be safe if he cannot unmake it. I decided to do this because it tortured my players, who know very well what become of Saruman, but are good enough roleplayers to know their characters have no reason to mistrust the Wizard. They and I really enjoyed the dramatic irony.

Excellent summary, Summerhawk!

My players studied under Saruman and I agree, it's really fun. The players know the direction the Wizard is headed, but their characters have no idea. That tension is fun to explore.

[Scrollreader]

I've decided to drop the Gibbet King and skirt the whole question of his relation to the Nazgul. I'm replacing him with Captain Mormog from Harder than Stone

This is an excellent idea, for those who want to use the Chain and don't want to muddy the Nazgul waters. I'm not certain if I'll do this, or else replace him with one of the more Sorcerously Inclined one of the Nine, but it definitely bears thinking about. Particularly since the Tales arc is focused more on Dale and Erebor, giving it a different 'feel' for the bad guy is worth considering, if you don't want everything coming from the Nazgul.

You have a bit of difficulty with the heads, and the Crossing story, but you could have Feredrun be the one spying/linking the bad guys (maybe replace the heads with defiled and sorcerously marked animal skulls, for the Hunter spirit to reach out to), and either replace the King at the Crossing with Mormog (who retreats), another big troll baddie, or else use Feredrun as the animating spirit (again, changing the possessee to be thematically tied to her)

The chain is also a great way to explain her servitude better, and offer a way to free her which is pretty intuitive to players.