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Perhaps it could also be an idea to make it clear for them that it is very likely there will be casualties and thus it'll be almost certain that not all will make it out again.

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Thomas

People are posting some great ideas. Here's one I've written for the foolhardy, though it occurs somewhat closer to the War of the Ring, depending on your time frame:

By the Dark Sad Waters of Lake Nûrnen
Neither he nor Frodo knew anything of the great slave-worked fields away south in this wide realm, beyond the fumes of the Mountain by the dark sad waters of Lake Nûrnen; nor of the great roads that ran away east and south to tributary lands, from which the soldiers of the Tower brought long wagon-trains of goods and booty and fresh slaves.
Red Book of Westmarch, VI, The Land of Shadow, 923.

The companions’ patron or Belegorn of Embers (he runs a posh bed and breakfast in Minas Tirith) secretly summons them to Turgon or Ecthelion II the Ruling Steward, who charges them to find the Jackal, a man who was last seen within Nurn and reputed to be friendly to Gondor. They are to venture through Mordor to Thaurband (Abhorrent Prison) on that dark shore, where they learn of the plight of the captives. Thus, their seemingly simple 1D scouting venture turns sinister and they weigh the choice of attempting to rescue some of the slaves, or to lead some in rebellion against the Enemy. Yes, they're likely doomed, but it is Mordor.

Finrod Felagund wrote:Y'Know, why not just buy into what they want to do and let them enter Mordor? You could have them meet a certain Ranger who is hunting for Gollum, who is believed to be in Mordor? He asks them to pursue and perhaps tells them about rumours regarding a lost pass under the Ephel Duath....

I know it's not canon, but stuff it, the game is meant to be fun for your players as well as you!

As you yourself point out, Aragorn should not be hunting for Gollum during his time of service with either Rohan or Gondor; however, there's no reason why he might not be patrolling on the borders of Mordor on some other mission. I'm sure you could think of something suitable such as chasing down a spy or traitor.

Tolwen wrote: Thus, you should be aware of two differences: First the area within Mordor (Gorgoroth vs. Nurnen) and the era with differences in the amount of control exercised by Sauron and his servants over the land and its resources.

I will pay attention to that, especially on the scale of power Sauron has during the period, since after a preliminary research I found out about the region's differences. Thanks for your comment, much appreciated!

And Mim, thank you for sharing By the Dark Sad Waters of Lake Nûrnen, I'm sure it will be useful, since my idea is to keep them in the safe part of Mordor.

Otaku-sempai wrote:As you yourself point out, Aragorn should not be hunting for Gollum during his time of service with either Rohan or Gondor; however, there's no reason why he might not be patrolling on the borders of Mordor on some other mission. I'm sure you could think of something suitable such as chasing down a spy or traitor.

That's actually a good idea, but I'm saving Aragorn for a special mission in the future

Faeron8 wrote:

Tolwen wrote: Thus, you should be aware of two differences: First the area within Mordor (Gorgoroth vs. Nurnen) and the era with differences in the amount of control exercised by Sauron and his servants over the land and its resources.

I will pay attention to that, especially on the scale of power Sauron has during the period, since after a preliminary research I found out about the region's differences. Thanks for your comment, much appreciated!

And Mim, thank you for sharing By the Dark Sad Waters of Lake Nûrnen, I'm sure it will be useful, since my idea is to keep them in the safe part of Mordor.

Otaku-sempai wrote:As you yourself point out, Aragorn should not be hunting for Gollum during his time of service with either Rohan or Gondor; however, there's no reason why he might not be patrolling on the borders of Mordor on some other mission. I'm sure you could think of something suitable such as chasing down a spy or traitor.

That's actually a good idea, but I'm saving Aragorn for a special mission in the future

If not Aragorn, maybe the young Denethor, or create a new character who is head of the Rangers of Ithilien at this time. OS's idea of chasing spies is a good one, but another might be that some Gondorians went into Lake Nurn area to stage a slave revolt and they've disappeared. The Ranger Head wants some Heroes (read: idiots) to go in and find out what happened to his soldiers. There could be a secret tunnel known to the Rangers at this time; it later gets discovered or there's a cave fall which is why it was never mentioned to Frodo 50 years later.

Finrod Felagund wrote: If not Aragorn, maybe the young Denethor, or create a new character who is head of the Rangers of Ithilien at this time. OS's idea of chasing spies is a good one, but another might be that some Gondorians went into Lake Nurn area to stage a slave revolt and they've disappeared. The Ranger Head wants some Heroes (read: idiots) to go in and find out what happened to his soldiers. There could be a secret tunnel known to the Rangers at this time; it later gets discovered or there's a cave fall which is why it was never mentioned to Frodo 50 years later.

Great idea! I'm sure they would be blindly excited to the request and enter Mordor right away.
You guys gave me plenty of options and material to work with, it's getting easier every post

Okay, your game is presently set in the year 2953. Hmmm, Tolkien has Aragorn still wandering in Eriador and perhaps Rhovanion at this time. He first meets Gandalf (at least as an adult who knows his true name and heritage) in 2956, and the young Ranger begins his period of great journeys and errantries the following year (2957). TOR's "Errantries of the King" has Aragorn as 'The Eagle' serving under King Thengel from 2957 to 2965; then traveling to Gondor as 'Thorongil' to serve under Ecthelion II for the next fifteen years to early 2980.

Denethor II was born in 2935 and would have been a youth of about eighteen years at the time of your game (Prince Théoden of Rohan is even younger, born in 2948). Tolkien described him as tall, proud, valiant and kingly; however, he might be a bit young and untried to be leading a patrol on the border yet. Perhaps in a few years he might be placed in a position of leadership in the field. The older Denethor was said to be very unlike either of his sons, though in his thoughts he favored Boromir over Faramir.

Young Denethor might still be part of a patrol, but you might be better off using all original NPCs instead.

I'd use NPCs that are the forebears of known characters. The timing can be a little tricky though. For example, it would be fun to meet an NPC who has a little boy named Beregond back home in Minas Tirith, but that probably couldn't happen until ~2980.

Faeron8 wrote: Great idea! I'm sure they would be blindly excited to the request and enter Mordor right away.
You guys gave me plenty of options and material to work with, it's getting easier every post

See, my players never, never ask me for things like this, because they know better.

"You want to start in Mordor right away? No problem."

"You were all taken as slaves, your horses, except the black ones, we're slaughtered in front of you and eaten by your Orc captors. You know you are somewhere in Mordor - but you have no idea where, as the brutal Orc overseers tell you nothing and your dispirited fellow slaves know little."

"All you want is to get home to Rohan."

T.S. Luikart wrote:

Faeron8 wrote: Great idea! I'm sure they would be blindly excited to the request and enter Mordor right away.
You guys gave me plenty of options and material to work with, it's getting easier every post

See, my players never, never ask me for things like this, because they know better.

"You want to start in Mordor right away? No problem."

"You were all taken as slaves, your horses, except the black ones, we're slaughtered in front of you and eaten by your Orc captors. You know you are somewhere in Mordor - but you have no idea where, as the brutal Orc overseers tell you nothing and your dispirited fellow slaves know little."

"All you want is to get home to Rohan."

Sounds like fun! I'm in!