A Matter of Trust

[zedturtle]

Well, my players in the Darkening of Mirkwood campaign have got themselves into a pickle and no doubt about it... they're being pursued through southern Mirkwood by the Ghost of the Forest, having rescued Mogdred and Valdis from Minas Raug (long story). So they've found a way out and are almost at the edge of the woods and have been ambushed.

One hero had a Bout of Madness thanks to his battle roll. Another player (our perennially overloaded dwarf) went unconscious before getting a single hit in. And now Mogdred and Valdis have begged the remaining heroes for their spare weapons, so that they can join the battle...

Fun stuff!

[Vuriche]

That's... incredibly suspenseful! Do tell us more!

[blankrubix]

They're being pursued through southern Mirkwood by the Ghost of the Forest, having rescued Mogdred and Valdis from Minas Raug (long story).

I would love to hear that long story

[Falenthal]

And now Mogdred and Valdis have begged the remaining heroes for their spare weapons, so that they can join the battle...

I'd make them sign a contract, at least a few pages long, explicitly stating who can and who cannot be engaged as a foe using said weapons, and when to return them to their legitimate owners.
Also, I'd add a point declaring misuses that can end up in breaking the contract one-sided.

My name is Otho Sackville-Baggins, by the way.

[zedturtle]

That's... incredibly suspenseful! Do tell us more!

They're being pursued through southern Mirkwood by the Ghost of the Forest, having rescued Mogdred and Valdis from Minas Raug (long story).

I would love to hear that long story

Maybe later... after GenCon. Been a long time in the making, pretty much the whole campaign.

And now Mogdred and Valdis have begged the remaining heroes for their spare weapons, so that they can join the battle...

I'd make them sign a contract, at least a few pages long, explicitly stating who can and who cannot be engaged as a foe using said weapons, and when to return them to their legitimate owners.
Also, I'd add a point declaring misuses that can end up in breaking the contract one-sided.

My name is Otho Sackville-Baggins, by the way.

Hmmm. While I allow my heroes to have comic-book style bouts of exposition during combat, I think that's pushing it just a little. They're just going to have to trust them... what could go wrong?

[Falenthal]

Jokes apart, it's an interesting situation, specially for the LM. I think that, in other "worlds", a the LM would solve the situation thinking "what would be logical for Valdis and Mogdred to do?" Probably both would use the battle to escape and return to their groups. Of course, depending on how your campaign has evolved and the relationship of your characters with them.

But here, I think that the LM has to solve the situation regarding to "what would happen in Middle-earth?".
Thinking of Frodo unleashing Gollum, or Gandalf releasing Gríma after uncovering his treachery, or the iconic Bilbo not stabbing Gollum from behind, as a LM I'd make Valdis and Mogdred respect the heroes if they willingly give them the weapons (fighting along them, and returning the weapons after the battle), and trying to flee in the battle confusion if the heroes refuse to trust them. You get what you give, and all that. In Middle-earth, I think that's the spirit that has to guide those situations.

"See, Théoden, here is a snake! With safety you cannot take it with you, nor can you leave it behind. To slay it would be just. But it was not always as it now is. Once it was a man, and did you service in its fashion. Give him a horse and let him go at once, wherever he chooses. By his choice you shall judge him."

[zedturtle]

Precisely. That's why I love playing in Middle-earth so much. One of the players said this:

Death by spiders: assured.
Death by Mogdred: questionable.

An easy decision. Plus there's the added benefit that demonstrating our trust in Mogdred may actually help turn him to the side of the good guys.

[Indur Dawndeath]

Precisely. That's why I love playing in Middle-earth so much. One of the players said this:

Death by spiders: assured.
Death by Mogdred: questionable.

An easy decision. Plus there's the added benefit that demonstrating our trust in Mogdred may actually help turn him to the side of the good guys.

Depending on where Mogdred is with regards to the Nazgul, then I could see him repay the trust with. "I let you live, now run..." and keep the weapons.
I cannot see him returning weapons, unless the players are still the strongest...

[cuthalion]

Sounds like a well crafted/dramatic moment Zed--will you post what happened?

[zedturtle]

Sounds like a well crafted/dramatic moment Zed--will you post what happened?

Once it does, absolutely.