| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 18:45:09
I could really use some help with a new campaign I'm planning. First some background. We had a Myth Drannor campaign for several months. It was loads of fun and we got to fight the Army of Darkness, deal with the intrigues of the city, and all that. During one little adventure, our DM at the time had us go to the Thunder Peaks for some reason or another. Our halfling companion, Milo snowtoes(Nephew of the famed Halfling Ellidor), got separated from us. During his time away from us, he ran into a strange, gangly creature and found a simple looking gold ring. Now obviously this is a reference to Gollum and the One Ring and our DM admitted it. He had no plans to actually do Lord of the Rings. However, I've decided to run with it.
Fast forward to the present Realms. Our latest adventuring group is going to participate in this one. (my own character is semi-retired, thus I'm DMing). The one Green elf and dwarf in the group already have a Legolas/Gimli relationship(something they chose from the start). Basically, the group has to make sure that 'Frodo' and the other 'hobbits' make it through the FOTR part, then they split up and are the main focus for the 'Two Towers' and 'ROTK' sections.
Now, you may be wondering who 'Aragorn' is. That part is taken by another elf in our group, Nuathiana Mistwalker. Only a handful of people know her family name is Vyshaan. This is something, for obvious reasons, she has kept secret. She is the heir to the thrones of Uvaeren and Myth Drannor. (This is campaign specific, obviously. There was one Vyshaan descendent who survived the destruction of Uvaeren and founded the ruling house of Myth Drannor. Next post will have more info).
Other characters such as Gandalf and Galadriel are being played by old pcs of mine. 'Gandalf' is my paladin from the Myth Drannor campaign. She lived due to being trapped in a 'Temporal Stasis' that was created by the mythal's magics and Fflar's battle with Aulmpiter. She was released 3 years prior to this campaign.
For other characters, 'Bilbo' is Milo Snowtoes(obviously since he found the ring ) and 'Elrond' is Khelben Arunsun(rather fitting I feel). There are others, but I still need to come up with ideas for who plays what role. |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kazzaroth |
Posted - 16 Sep 2006 : 18:46:10
Hmmm, it sounds very nice indeed :). Keep us reported about the progress how the game goes! |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 12 Sep 2006 : 16:37:27
Well, after days and days of thinking and working things out, I think I've finally figured out how I'm going to work this. Of course, things may still change. Only a handful of character names are left and that's it.
The halflings start out in Barrowsmorn in the Purple Hills of Tethyr. From there they travel to Myratma where they meet a few of our intrepid heroes, including our 'aragorn'. Then the group takes a portal to Nesme. From there, they travel east towards Silverymoon. Silverymoon is where the 'Fellowship' is formed.
I've decided to situate 'Isengard' at the south end of the Moon Pass. 'Saruman' is an elven mage from Myth Drannor, Kuornos Durothil. That elven clan dates all the way back to the Crown Wars and Uvaeren. He's listed in the Cormanthyr:Empire of Elves book. 'Moria' is underneath the Nether mountains, basically an ancient Delzoun outpost.
'Boromir', 'Faramir', and 'Denethore'. I struggled with these for a bit before deciding on a familiar gold elf noble family, the Nimesin clan. Yes, I know about a certain gold elf villian. I just felt the family would be perfect.
'Rohan' is Cormyr with 'Helm's Deep' as Castle Crag. 'Theoden' is obviously Azoun IV and 'Eowyn' is Alusair. (yes she gets to rumble with the Witch-King  ) Kuornos and the Devil Dragon forged a pact and attack Cormyr together. However, Azoun will survive only to meet his fate on the fields outside of Evereska, aka 'Minas Tirith'. Certain things from The Death of the Dragon will obviously be changed to suit my needs. The uruk-hai? The tannaruuk and the goblins/orcs that follow the Devil dragon.
I've decided the fey'ri will only play a small part at this time since they are few in number(at this point anyway).
'Turlang' is Treebeard, Gaulguth is the 'Balrog' (yes, the trio nefarious is doing a reunion tour of Faerun), 'Grima Wormtongue' is the head of the Cormaeril family of Cormyr. (for the life of me I can't recall his name at the moment).
The 'Paths of the Dead' is in the Greycloak Hills. There, thousands of cursed elven souls from the time of the Crown Wars wait for the time they will finally be allowed into Arvaandor.
Now 'Mordor' was a real tough nut to crack. I originally had it around the Spine of the World mountains, but that's not going to work now. What I ultimately chose to do was 'redesign' Anauroch just a little bit so I could fit a Mordor-style area with a Mount Doom within the desert.
As for Nuathiana (our Aragorn), she will receive the Crownblade (the reforged blade of Elarandril) from the Srinshee, who will urge her to accept her destiny and travel to the Paths of the Dead.
Well, I hope this works out and I hope my fellow scribes here found this interesting also. Now to actually run this montrosity. *gulp*  |
| ShadowJack |
Posted - 25 Aug 2006 : 20:01:59
Lenora, Very good job tying LotR elements in with Realmsian history and storylines! Very well thought out! |
| Kazzaroth |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 18:15:40
Well, like I said Saruman msut be someone who Sorsha Redblade trusts and thinks as good guy who then betrays her. When cosnider that Saruman was great mage but then again your char is not great mage either so it can be possible a another champion of Tyr who have turned into Blackguard secretly (A arrogant sun elf perhaps who thinks ressurect Vyshaanti empire to cleanse world from humans around Cormanthor).
Helm's Deep battle msut occur in well fortified fortress whcih is hard to sige but whcih can be bringed down whit numbers. Myth Drannor would have worked if it would have not already ranshacked few centuries earlier :P.
My suggestion goes to some well fortified ancient fortress which wood elves know and wood elves would be the Rohan riders (altough whitout horses :P) in plot wise and they would run to some safe location when fey'ri starts blast things up to them and then fey'ri enmasse onto the Helm's Deep and there the intense figthing occurs (the fortress is likely deep in Cormanthor, perhaps near abaddoned Elven Court?).
Anycase as some idea how fey'ri should fight could be found in Last Mythal series as tip. |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 18:13:16
Ya know, now that I think about it, I wonder if I can tie in the whole Death of the Dragon into this. With Cormyr as 'Rohan' and Azoun IV as 'Theoden'. We haven't reached that time yet in our campaign. So, instead of Azoun dying in Cormyr, he could perish while assisting the elves of Evereska. The Devil Dragon (can't recall the elf's name) could easily have been seduced by Malkizid.
Oh, I do have the Nazgul in this. They're the former Vyshaani lords who received the 9 rings. The Witch-King? The last Vyshaani emperor . The shards of 'narsil' were later reforged and became the Crownblade of Myth Drannor. Yes, I know about some of the events in the Last Mythal. But like I said earlier, we change things to suit our needs.
Meanwhile, Rivendell and Moria are still up in the air. The former could be Silverymoon now or even somewhere in the Dalelands.
*goes off to ponder some more* |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 18:01:39
Some very interesting ideas here. Thank you. The campaign takes place about 1373 DR, btw. That's the plan anyway. Also, I haven't had time to read many of the novels that have come out in the past year or two. Besides, we tend to keep what we want and toss the rest.
I originally was going to use Hill's Edge, but one simple line in the Lands Of Intrigue box set, in the Tethyr book, made me choose the Purple Marches instead. On page 73 it says 'There are only three major products that come from these hills: wine, cider, and pipeweed'.
As for Elminster as Gandalf. I'm very reluctant to use him. After all, he has a lot to deal with on a day to day basis. I can't see him taking a few tendays off to help a halfling and a group of adventurers trying to destroy a ring.
I am also reluctant to use Cormyr, tho Castle Crag sounds interesting. Let's face it, the nation has been through enough lately.
My original intent was Silverymoon as Minas Tirith, but Evereska would be a better choice. My paladin, Sorsha Redblade, is a paladin of Tyr and favored by her god. Plus she was well known amongst the elves for her courage and helping any elves in need of assistance. Hmm, Fey'ri. Will definitely have to use them 
Saruman is someone I'm still thinking about. Same with a 'Boromir' type npc that accompanies the group. He will be a sun elf. Perhaps the son of a highly ranked noble house of evereska.
Anyway, thanks for the ideas and help. |
| Sian |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 18:35:39
bah ... double post i know
Saruman could be Caligarde ... he learned the art in Myth Drannor and for some reason have a burning hatred ageinst all elvenkind |
| Sian |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 14:13:17
i would also place it over at Vaasa ... maybe with Thaymount as the goal :P |
| Zanan |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 14:04:38
Matter of factly, IMHO, Damara and Vaasa have LotR written all over it. Savage lands beyond a mountain ridge, a large gate to stem the tide of orcs and other beasts and a "fiendish" leader who does not reside on Mount Doom, but in Castle Perilous. |
| Kazzaroth |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 13:38:35
Umh, I just recalled that we could have the Everaskan elves as Gondorians while riders of Rohan as Cormyrians. If we follow the plot Rohan comes aid in fight against the white city and army of the dead can be the dead souls of the hundreds buried elves around Everaska.
Saruman msut be a traitor....and if we want a treant figth sequence then the FR Saruman must reside close to the Nameless Dungeon (in Cormanthor basically) and be pwoerfull elven arcane spellcaster whit connection or invented connection to Malkizid. But when consider that few fey'ri houses blended to present elven noble houses, a one fey'ri who disguised as elf and becomed elven highmage (used alot magic conceal his identity and trueform the other elven high mages) could be intresting :).
Of course any events msutoccur after 1374 DR becuase in that year Last Mythal Series are based onto and then fey'ri got beated down quite low, or simply ignore that piece of information for sake of gaming experience?
Also in my opinion Gandalf was whitout question a wizard, he had some divine resulted abilities but they were more given by god as blessing than as strappings of a cleric.
So I thinked Elminister because he is epic, well known, wizard, sage and appears as old man, carries a sword and can also carry a staffand also is favourite of Mystra and also haves somewhat similar personality to Gandalf AND also likely lived in during the period of Army of Darkness but would not have any idea about the 'one ring' or it's legend outright (so he need study). Also Elminsiter is close friends of the elves so him being around should not be big deal, just make the Saruman powerfull enough swap floor whit Elminister :P.
But a another fitting npc (self made) togandalf should be fine also but it must be a chosen (favourite) to a god/goddess, or minor chosen via PrC, how else some 'god/goddess' would ressurect him and become 'Gandalf of the White'? |
| Mace Hammerhand |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 13:25:14
Nice idea, nothing I'd have done myself, but a great implementation of lore.
As for Felbarr being Helm's Deep... Felbarr, depending on the time of the campaign, is an orc stronghold for a couple of decades.
If you wanna keep the entire adventure/campaign basically dealing with elves, Minas Tirith should be Evereska, it does have that fable-feel. Maybe turn the orc hordes of "Sauron" into Fey'ri. It would be closer to the corrupted elf thing that Sauron did to create orcs. Having an ocean of fey'ri/daemonfey attacking Evereska would have more impact.
I agree that El would make a nice Gandalf, but I'd refrain from doing so, take your pick basically...maybe Baerauble (I just *know* I spelled him wrong!), he had the elven connection, ok, so he is dead, but who cares? =)
As for Saruman... ever thought of Sammaster?
The riders of Rohan...I have no idea |
| Sian |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 04:28:54
maybe he should be a mystic theurge :) |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 00:59:56
Interesting.
I especially like the FR/LotR connections between Malkizid and the realm of Shanatar.
As for *your* Gandalf, are you following the path that suggests Gandalf was actually more of a divine hearler than a wizard, or was this just because your paladin idea seemed appropriate for Gandalf?
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| Kazzaroth |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 22:57:24
Hmmm, very intresting. I would advice that Malkizid haves still body of it's own in the dimension where yugolloths are but he can physicall exchist in Faerun soil whit no fear of banishment nor dismissal and become demigod alike in power when he dons the ring.
Anycase Sunset Vale haves big population yes, and I would advice that Gandalf could be also old El (hehe, it would fit well) but also using the old charrie can be good.
Hmm, Saruman I would think should be someone who has been ally to the elves for long time, would know the history of the Crown Wars and be powerfull mage. Also instead that the 'elven hearts easy to corrupt' you should say 'Vyshaanti blood holded seed of corruption and ring finds that blood easy to seduce'.
Helm's Deep could be also be the The Great Rift (I know, it is dwarven city/ford but if we think of epic fortress battle that would be a good place for it). Other palce would be if you want make the Cormyrians as Gondor then Castle Crag would be excelent (it is on canyon and it is huge fortress preventing horde of hobgoblins over running into Cormyr).
Also I think you should add fey'ri as special agents for Malkizid (replacing perhaps uruk-hai? Of course them not being brutes but rather a more savage demonic versions of elves whit keen intelect and cunning and using devastating magic). So my advice is not follow in hand to hand completely according LotR and change slightly this and that but it would definently have the pattern.
The Two Towers would be harder to do, but you can whit reason create epic magicall tower ruled by elderly sun elf wizard (Saruman who is also having levels as Elven Highmage epic PrC) and other tower being Malkizid's tower near at forge where he forged the master ring himself.
The Return of the King battle to white city can be Everaska, I firstly toughted Silverymoon but the ward of the city would make any idea of siege a long stretched. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 19:16:07
I am not the greatest Tolkien fan in the world, but this is interesting. Some comments of the top of my head; The Sunset Vale also has large halfling communities, would it not be an idea to have the shires away from the politics of Amn and Tethyr? There's also the Tun-lands that can be used as Rohan. Cormyr would then function more or less as Gondor. Others can help you more than I with this though.
PS I would like to hear the finished version of this. |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 19:06:42
As you can see, I have put a lot of thought into this. I am having some trouble, however. The 'Shire' is the Purple Hills of Tethyr. From there, it gets a bit hazy. I still haven't full decided where many of the events will occur. I don't even have a 'Saruman' yet. (perhaps Nezras in disguise?). What about Rohan or Minas Tirith? Helm's Deep could be Citadel Felbarr. Thought of Evereska being Rivendell while Moria could be Ammarindor. What about Turlang as Treebeard? There are so many locations I still have to choose, that I'm slowly losing my mind  . And thus, I have come to these halls for assitance. Help! |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 18:58:57
Malkizid was shocked as he screamed in agony. His connection to the Ring was severed. He had poured so much of his life force and power, along with other foul magics, into the Ring that, with the connection lost, Malkizid’s form suddenly glowed brightly then exploded. With his defeat at Elithador’s hands, the Vyshaan elves and yugoloths fell swiftly and the Fifth Crown War ended. The Ring passed to Elithador, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of elves are easily corrupted. Despite the pleas from the few elves who witnessed Elithador take the Ring, the elf kept it, lured by the Ring’s subtle seduction.
Many of the surviving sun elves of Aryvandaar chose to travel east to found a new kingdom, which would later become Uvaeren. They considered Elithador to be their coronal, and the elf who had slain Malkizid agreed to lead them. The shards of Elarandril’s sword were carefully gathered and taken east to the new realm.
However, the Ring has a will of its own. Only a few short decades after the founding of Uvaeren, Elithador and a group of retainers were traveling through the lands that would later be known as Sembia when the retinue was ambushed by a large group of drow. Fearing for his life, Elithador donned the Ring and became invisible. However, the Ring betrayed Elithador. As the elven coronal attempted to swim down the nearby river, the Ring slipped off his finger and floated gently down towards the sand below. Now visible, Elithador reached desperately for the Ring. But it was too late. The drow spotted the coronal and slew him.
And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth and for over eight and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Even when the three yugoloths servants of Malkizid returned to Faerûn in search of the Ring, the Ring remained lost. The fiends had been summoned by Aldlas Sodhese, a Netherese wizard to search for the lost Nether Scrolls. Or so he thought. Although Malkizid’s physical form had been destroyed, his spirit lived on. It was Malkizid who subtly convinced Aldlas to summon his servants. The quartet rampaged throughout Cormanthor until finally being defeated. Aldlas was killed while elven high mages bound the three yugoloths in a sub-dimensional prison until a red dragon that never knew malice or greed in its heart flew over the coronal’s throne. The Ring was sorely disappointed by the failure, but it waited for another time.
Then it ensnared a new bearer. The Ring came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Thunder Peaks. And there, it consumed him. The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For one thousand years it poisoned his mind. In the gloom of Gollum’s cave, it waited. Darkness crept back into the forest of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow to the east, whispers of a nameless fear, and the Ring of Power perceived. Its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. The Trio Nefarious, servants of Malkizid, had been freed from their millennia old prison above Myth Drannor. The conditions for their freedom had been met when Garnet, a red dragon of good heart, flew above the coronal’s throne. The yugoloths plotted and waited for the time to strike as they gathered an army around them.
But something happened then the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable. A halfling by the name of Milo Snowtoes found the ring while trying to return to his friends after being separated from them. He escaped from those tunnels and from Gollum, who attempted to recover the Ring, and returned to Myth Drannor with his companions.
The Trio Nefarious sensed the Ring was in Myth Drannor and finally put their plan into action. The Army of Darkness attacked Cormanthyr and caused Myth Drannor’s downfall. However, the yugoloths could not find the Ring until their defeat at the hands of the surviving defenders. Milo escaped to Silverymoon with the Ring in his possession to live out the rest of his life in peace. But the time will soon come when halflings will shape the fortunes of all.
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| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 18:54:12
It was at the start of the Third Crown War when Malkizid chose to reveal himself to the Vyshaan lords. At the fallen solar’s side were three of his mightiest servants, the nycaloths Aulmpiter, Gaulguth, and Malimshaer. These yugoloths were used by Malkizid to assassinate important elves in other kingdoms, such as Coronal Ynloeth of Shantel Othreier; as spies, and mentors. They worked hand in hand to conquer Faerûn. It was Malkizid’s suggestion to use the foul magics that destroyed Miyeritar and created the High Moor. Malkizid delighted in the fall of the Ilythiiri, for his loathing of Lolth and those who followed her was just as keen as his hatred for the other elven races.
The Crown Wars had caused so much death and destruction that the free elves prayed and called upon the Seldarine for assistance. After centuries of prayer, the Seldarine finally acted. Over one hundred elves gathered in a forest far removed from the conflicts at the apparent insistence of Corellon Larethian. This area would later be known as Elven Court. For many months the elves and the Seldarine conferred. When the meeting was finally over, the Seldarine pronounced judgment. The Vyshaan lords were found to be the true culprits and instigators. The sentence was harsh - they were to be stripped of their nobility and their lives forfeit. Thus began the Fifth Crown War. With the Seldarine’s mandate behind them, a last alliance of elves marched against the armies of Aryvandaar, and within the High Forest they fought for the freedom of Faerûn.
Despite all this, Malkizid did not leave the Vyshaan to their fate. At his behest, he convinced the High Coronal Giilvas Vyshaan to murder all the wizards and high mages who stood against them. As the war raged for two hundred years, many of the elves of Aryvandaar left their homes and abandoned the Vyshaan, knowing that the elven realm’s end was near. It was only when the elven alliance’s armies approached the capital that Malkizid and his yugoloths strode forth to do battle openly for the first time. Despite the mandate and the seemingly hopeless outlook, Malkizid sensed that victory could still be achieved. However, the dwarves of Shanatar were not lured into the conflict. The rings had not been donned by the princes like Malkizid had hoped. The dwarves had been skeptical of the gifts though each prince still had them in their possession. Victory was near for the free peoples of Faerûn.
Even without the dwarves aide, Malkizid and the Vyshaan fought fiercely. Many elves perished at his hands. Hope seemed to be fading as the armies fell back to the power of the Ring. Then one elf separated himself from his fellows. His name was Elarandril Vyshaan, brother of Giilvas Vyshaan. Elarandril had never agreed with his family’s lust for power. The sun elf had taken his family away from the conflict before the start of the Fifth Crown War. When the war started, Elarandril knew in his heart that he must help the free elven kingdoms.
A bloody fight ensued. However, Malkizid slew Elarandril as easily as so many others. With a cry, Elithador, son of Elarandril, ran to his fallen father. His heart broken, the elf reached for his father’s blade to smite Malkizid. The fallen solar simply sneered and laughed evilly as he casually sundered the sword, then reached down to strangle Elithador. However, Elithador did not lose hope. The elf held aloft the broken weapon, and swung desperately to ward off Malkizid. Whether it was fate or luck, what remained of the sword struck Malkizid’s right hand, slicing off three fingers, including the one that held the Ring. |
| Lenora Ilvastarr |
Posted - 22 Aug 2006 : 18:50:01
This is the back story I have created for this campaign.
I amar prestar aen… (The world is changed)
Han mathon ne nen…(I feel it in the water)
Han mathon ne chae…(I feel it in the earth)
A hannoston ned ‘wilith. (I smell it in the air)
Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.
The history of the Crown Wars is lost in the mists of time. Only the elves know the truth, and they do not discuss that part of their history with non-elves under any circumstances. What the vast majority of elves do not know is the how and why they started.
Malkizid the Branded had hated the elves ever since his fall from grace after being seduced into betraying the Seldarine by Araushnee, who would later be known as Lolth. Though Lolth and the Seldarine were beyond his reach, the elves were not. His plan was to bring down the great elven kingdoms of Faerûn. Thus, he arrived on Toril and began his machinations before the sun elves of Aryvandaar even thought of conquering their neighbors. Malkizid disguised himself as a wandering elf and visited the many kingdoms. A chance visit with a large number of migrating dwarves gave him even more ideas? Why just control the elves? So, Malkizid expanded his plot. To the elves and dwarves, who founded the realm of Shanatar during this time, he was a friendly, humble elf willing to help anyone and who seemingly appeared at will throughout Faerûn.
With his false identity established, Malkizid went to work. The fallen solar quietly commissioned a number of rings to be crafted under his direction. When the rings were completed decades later, Malkizid secretly murdered the craftsman. Malkizid then traveled to the many realms with rings in hand. Four were given to the elven kingdoms of Shantel Othreier, Illefarn, Miyeritar, and Keltormir. Eight more were gifted to the dwarven princes of Shanatar, who had become known as great miners and craftsmen within those mountain halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the elves of Aryvandaar, who above all else, desired power. For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each realm.
However, Malkizid deceived them all, for another ring was made. In the Spine of the World mountains was a volcano of immense size and power. It was in this place that Malkizid forged, in secret, a master ring, to control all others. And into this ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life.
One ring to rule them all.
Malkizid had sensed early on the Vyshaan lords thirst for power. The rulers of Aryvandaar were ripe for corruption. He became their secret patron. Over several centuries, Malkizid wove an intricate web of deceit and taught the elves many secrets of high magic. Within that time, Aryvandaar invaded Miyeritar and threatened the same to other kingdoms. The Crown Wars had started. One by one, the free elven kingdoms fell to the power of the Ring.
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