First the disclaimer: The thread is for the game itself. Questions and peanut gallery stuff should go in the setup thread:
Middle Earth D&D Game on Domebo: FA63 Setup Thread
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It is November 14[sup:35znkdzp]th[/sup:35znkdzp] and the party has answered a call for help from Rivendell. Both are returned from a failed scouting mission but there are a few that are new.
The new mission: Macsalin will lead the group. Goblin Gate has been largely cleared and the Dwarves are busy securing it. The Dwarves need some help, there is somewhere nearby a pocket of goblins operating at night to harass the eastern side of the pass. They are using stealth and caution and mainly sabotage. They also mainly use poison arrows and bolts. The good news is it is a poison that does only 10 or 5 on a save made by only 2 or none at all on a good save. Lanellen has 23 doses of antidote to share with Mel. It takes 2 rounds to cure the poison effect is successfully applied with a +20% to the roll. In a pinch Giles could try it, but should not normally.
It is known the goblins are operating from the south and probably in the mountains around the Giants Table or Flat Top Mountain. (see the red oval for the area suspected.)
The party needs to watch out for giants and avoid combat with them at all cost. They cannot win. It is better to stay out of sight. Rüdan suggests the party goes without mounts this time. We will cut through the Goblin Gate to #7 Deep Valley and then start looking for camps and tracks in the valley between Deep Valley and Flat Top. The primary larger wild life in the area are bears, mountain cats or a stray warg perhaps. We need to find the goblin camp or camps and clear them out. If we are lucky we will find some treasure as a reward. Finally if we need help, we are to light a fire and a Giant Eagle should arrive to relay a message.
We’ll need a marching order for single file and a watch schedule.
Macsalin is a resident of Rivendell. Theogrim is a brave knight of Rohan and with him comes Sabert of Wold a Holy Knight of Rohan and recently released from service as part of the King’s Guard. Mellowbeorn was sent to Rivendell to help by the request of Radagast via a Falcon as Bjorn and Ghân are otherwise engaged and Mellowbeorn was nearby. Duger is fresh from the War on Goblin Gate and has been working in the Smithies of Rivendell. He is quite pleased to exchange techniques with the Elves. Lanellen was studying with the Healers of Rivendell and had helped in the Goblin Gate War in the camps. This will be her first journey in the caves for combat support. Lyall is new to Rivendell and was hoping to learn new spells. Giles has been in and out of Rivendell for nearly two decades. A friend to the Rangers of the North and Tom Bombadil. Barazinbar is a Dwarf that was of course part of the recent war but was even part of the Battle of the Five Armies.
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The Role Call
Lyall - CatInASuit - Man of Dale - 3rd level Mage age 24 (Has a large Raven)
Giles Maggot - NAF1138 - Hobbit - 3rd level Ranger age 52
Theogrim – OneCentStamp – Knight of Rohan – 4th level Fighter age 24
Sabert of Wold – RoOsh – Rohirrim Paladin of Eönwë – 3rd level Age 38
Mellowbeorn – Malacandra – Beorning Druid – 3rd level Age: 35
Macsalin – glee - Noldo Bard – 3rd level Fighter/Thief Age: 363
Barazinbar son of Kibil-Nâla – glee - Khazâd - Fighter: 3rd age 184
Duger – WhtWulf – Khazâd (Dwarf of Erebor) – 3rd level Fighter Age 85
Lanellen - Healer of Estë 3rd Age 25
Rüdan – Dwarven Fighter 4rd and Tracker Age 115.
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Some background, it is 63 years since the Bearers of the Three Rings left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West and 65 since Sauron and Barad-Dûr fell.
King Elessar & Queen Arwen are in their prime and young Prince Eldarion is in his early training at age 20. There is still a constant struggle to tame the brown lands, Umbar, Harad, Nurn and the North. The court summers in Evedim near the lake and spend 9 months in Minas Tirith. Aragorn has campaign more often than not in the last 63 years, but far less than the prior 67. He and Arwen have had 4 daughters. Silmariën (FA45), Gilraen (FA47), Telperiën (FA51) & Fíriel (FA55)
Legolas has removed a small number of his people to Ithilien to support Prince Faramir in this fair land. He visits the courts of Faramir, Elessar, Éomer and Gimli son of Gloin often. His beautiful sister Elenwë is adventuring and rides a Minaras (Unicorn)
Faramir and Éowyn have two sons: Elboron (60) & Caramir (56). Both are hardy Warriors. They say that Prince Elboron has the look of his father and Caramir of his mother’s people. Prince Caramir is a great Horseman and loves his visits to his Uncle. Both appear to take strongly after Faramir as they are aging slowly. It has been noted that Éowyn has remained very youthful for all her long years. She could be taken for Éomer’s daughter or even granddaughter rather than his sister. She looks to be in her 50s more than her late 80s. Some wonder if this was a gift of King Elessar’s healing or a reward for slaying the Witch King of Angmar. Faramir is of course still a hale and hardy man. A little over a hundred he too looks to be in his 50s.
Currently Minas Tirith and their allies are fighting a two front war in the South and a Campaign wiping out orc lairs in Ered Lithui and near Cirith Ungol. Gondor is expanding and trying to build up a large force of horseman to supplement the Riders of Rohan. They are building a great road to Rhûn to create trade and build an alliance. They also hope to increase trade to Erebor & Dale. There is a project underway at a slower pace to improve travel along the Anduin. It is expected to take decades. Dark tidings arrived out of Rhûn brought by Hodwain the Beorning Bard. There is apparently unrest and some organized evil activity out near the Sea and beyond.
In Rohan: King Éomer has passed away. His Queen, Lothiriel of Dol Amroth, survives him. His eldest son Elfwine is now the King of Rohan and has been leading them in war for yeas and did most of the duties of the King. He is possibly seeking the hand of Silmariën. Elfwine is a tall man of 6' 5" with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His features show a bit of elvish influence of his mother's side. He speaks with a deep voice and looks to be no more than 30 years old but he is probably 50. He uses a long sword and a fine chain mail shirt that was a gift from Gimli. The Chief Mearas was worried about the human King. He feared that the human King would not see another winter and he was correct. They were all rather fond of the old King. The Chief Mearas does approve of the son and his best son is Prince Elfwine's partner. They think he is a very good human.
In 61 Samwise Gamgee left Middle-earth via Mithlond. Merry and Pippin got their affairs in order and headed south to live in Gondor. Mulligan Took was among their escort. Samwise’s eldest Grandson Elfstan Fairbairn is another young adventurer. Faramir Took son of Pippin is the Thain and the Shire’s greatest Warrior since Meriadoc the Magnificent. Mulligan’s Brother Ponto Took is an excellent archer and a good treasure finder. Rorimac Brandybuck is Meriadoc’s youngest son and a promising Ranger.
Arnor is repopulating, as is the Anduin Valley. The Shire’s population is growing and their produce is helping to feed the North and even the South. They have steady wains heading to and from the Dwarves of Ered Luin. They are even supplying produce and pipe weed to the Grey Havens in exchange for salted & smoked fish.
Elladan and Elrohir of course remain the Masters of Rivendell and assist in the running of Arnor. They in no way have finished with hunting Orcs. Indeed, they have driven the Goblins far underground with their constant attacks on Goblin Gate and often roam north against Angmar itself. Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel seem tireless these days in hunting the scattered remains of these ancient enemies to the North. They often leave the care of Rivendell to the wise Celeborn. He did leave a thriving Sindarin kingdom in Southern Greenwood from where Gil-Gandel most recently hailed.
Thorin III Stonehelm rules the Durin Folk (Khazad). He rules from Erebor of course. His lords include Gimli in Aglarond, Lord Gíon of the Iron Hill and some lesser lords in the Blue Mountains and Fornost. The Dwarves are again thinking of Khazad-dûm. Dori and Bofur are still alive, but quite venerable and rich. Bofur is acting as the ambassador to Rivendell and Arnor as needed.
A bridge at Tharbad has been built and the great bridge is nearly rebuilt. Tharbad is already a thriving and growing town under the command of Lord Mayor Ianthír (Bridge Lord). He is Ranger of the North and the son of Aragorn's most loyal friend Halbarad. The population is mostly just men of Eriador. There are small Dwarven and Hobbit communities.
The Great South road is rebuilt and maintained from Fornost to Minas Tirith. All the additional trade has brought much prosperity to Bree and the town and the Prancing Pony have both expanded. Fornost is still small, but growing. Most of the remaining Northern Dúnedain have moved near Fornost.