Forum

Hi all,

I have a party that will start soon to go to Moria with Balin an about 200ish dwarves.
They party will be scouting before the large group of dwarves.
I already thought about a few things that can form a problem on the road, but more ideas are welcome.
In Moria self I will use much from the new Moria book. I hoped it had a campaign build in, but well, at least there's enough info to make something out of it.
They will be a scouting party in Moria itself or help around the base camp at the entrance, enough to be done there.

A few things to consider (I also have the old AiME books) is to:
- meet some evil men on the road, but... if an army is comming within a few days, how would a few dozen men be a problem?
- the crossing of the river (Old Ford), they have to negotiate with the beorning, what will they want?... not much gold I guess, where can they help with?
- maybe an eagle needing help, no time to wait on the rest of the host, they have to act now!

Thanks in advance!

Hi Gimli, I don't think you directly asked a question for interaction. I'll answer anyway because a lot of ideas come to me while reading your post...

- Sauron's forces are gathering at Dol Guldur, so Sauron's Orc scouts could be waiting for such a large group of dwarves to move around...
- Thranduil's elves could also intervene with such a large group of dwarves.
- The Beorning will also intercept them as the dwarves pass through their lands. There will be negotiation involved, that's for sure.
- Saruman's Crebain (black crows) could also spy on the group of dwarves to learn more about their movements...
- A group of spiders (spawn of Ungoliant) could also surprise the group with a surprise attack...
- The White Council could send a messenger to find out what a large group of dwarves is doing in this sector and that they should have asked the White Council for "permission" on this matter...
- A LORIEN reconnaissance group could also intercept the dwarves for the same reasons, what are you doing here...
- If you're short on events, you could also have a NAZGUL fly over the region, but these are very rare events at this time in history, but... not impossible...
- A GOLLUM searching for the ring could be very funny too... it will have to work with the official dates...

P.S. unexpected encounters with the wizard Radagast the Brown or Beorn the skin-changer could also happen.

There are some good ideas in this...
Enjoy your games.

Arthur.

'Indeed,' said Gloin, 'if it were not for the Beornings, the passage from Dale to Rivindell would long ago have become impossible. They are valiant men and keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock. But their tolls are high,' he added with a shake of his head; 'and like Beorn of old they are not over fond of dwarves. Still, they are trusty, and that is much in these days.' - LotR, "Many Meetings"

Negotiating for such a large number of Dwarves to pass through Beorning lands could indeed become expensive!

The scouting party could encounter a giant, troll(s) or ogre in the foothills of the Misty Mountains. A giant might be willing to cut a deal, depending on their disposition.

If you are running a long-running campaign that began with TOR 1e then perhaps repairs to the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood were completed; that would allow Balin's group to circumvent the Elf-path.

48 years after the Battle of the Five Armies, Balin went to Moria with Oin and Ori. It was Ori who wrote the last lines of the "Book Of Mazarbul" when the orcs took Moria for good.

Here are the 10 dwarves alive after the Battle of the Five Armies...

https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136174
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136182
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136188
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136200
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136210
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136216
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136227
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136245
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136254
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136268
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136280

Arthur.

Thanks Arthur for your answer.
I'll use your quotes to ask questions.

Hi Gimli, I don't think you directly asked a question for interaction. I'll answer anyway because a lot of ideas come to me while reading your post...
True, sorry, didn't asked indeed, but I want to have the scouts fix things for the group of dwarves.

- Sauron's forces are gathering at Dol Guldur, so Sauron's Orc scouts could be waiting for such a large group of dwarves to move around...
One idea is to have a big battle with goblins from Moria on one side and Orcs from Dol Guldur (or maybe Gundabad) on the other side. But I'm not sure how to work around with armies with hunderds of figures. Certainly not moving/rolling one at a time... I want some big battle somewhere in the story, but I could first let some scouts encounter them (scouts vs. scouts I guess), I can work with that. But if someone has ideas about a big battle I am interested to know how that is possible.

- Thranduil's elves could also intervene with such a large group of dwarves.
They will move around the forest, I think Thranduil will have them followed by some of his scouts, but I'm not sure if he would intervene. Why would he do that if it's not in the woods itself? Will he feel cornered/pressured?

- The Beorning will also intercept them as the dwarves pass through their lands. There will be negotiation involved, that's for sure.
Yes, they will ask a lot of money I guess. But I don't think they want only money, they could ask for help somewhere. Maybe helping build a bridge across the river (location of the Old Ford seems good). Or maybe other ideas where they need help? The players could have a part in the necotiations.

- Saruman's Crebain (black crows) could also spy on the group of dwarves to learn more about their movements...
I could use that, though Saruman isn't a big deal in my part of the story, I can foreshadow it and maybe he can have some roll late on...

- A group of spiders (spawn of Ungoliant) could also surprise the group with a surprise attack...
Usefull, I think I will let some spiders surprise them when they are close to the forest.

- The White Council could send a messenger to find out what a large group of dwarves is doing in this sector and that they should have asked the White Council for "permission" on this matter...
I think this is like the crebain, I can let some elf or human talk to the group in behalf of Saruman/Gandalf. What would the white council want from the group? Would they help? Do they only want intel about how the quest goes?

- A LORIEN reconnaissance group could also intercept the dwarves for the same reasons, what are you doing here...
I think Lorien will have more problems with the dwarves being there, close to their forest, more then Thranduil. Becuase some elves, at least Galadriel/Celeborn would know something about evil beings in Moria and they don't want it to be disturbed... What would Galadriel do? Send Haldir? With what kind of orders?

- If you're short on events, you could also have a NAZGUL fly over the region, but these are very rare events at this time in history, but... not impossible...
Like you said, rare, so I like the idea, but I think I will not use it. Although... could be interesting, Sauron would want to know more about this group... So, it wouldn't be that weird if it happened.

- A GOLLUM searching for the ring could be very funny too... it will have to work with the official dates...
Oh, nice, I like this idea. I will look up how the dates overlap.

P.S. unexpected encounters with the wizard Radagast the Brown or Beorn the skin-changer could also happen.
Good point! If they roll well on the journey table I will let them encounter one of them.

Thanks for all the ideas! As noted above I have some questions to know how to work with those ideas, but I will use some for sure!

'Indeed,' said Gloin, 'if it were not for the Beornings, the passage from Dale to Rivindell would long ago have become impossible. They are valiant men and keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock. But their tolls are high,' he added with a shake of his head; 'and like Beorn of old they are not over fond of dwarves. Still, they are trusty, and that is much in these days.' - LotR, "Many Meetings"

Negotiating for such a large number of Dwarves to pass through Beorning lands could indeed become expensive!

The scouting party could encounter a giant, troll(s) or ogre in the foothills of the Misty Mountains. A giant might be willing to cut a deal, depending on their disposition.

If you are running a long-running campaign that began with TOR 1e then perhaps repairs to the Dwarf-road through Mirkwood were completed; that would allow Balin's group to circumvent the Elf-path.

Thanks!
The Beorning would indeed want much for such a large army. But maybe they are in need of something else? Something they can not fix themselves? I thought about making a bridge across the river, but other ideas are welcome.
About the giant, what kind of deal are you thinking about?
And the first year of the campaing they worked for Balin/Bofri to get connected with the woodmen and to restore the old forest road. That's somehting that's not finished yet, so they will move around the forest for now.

48 years after the Battle of the Five Armies, Balin went to Moria with Oin and Ori. It was Ori who wrote the last lines of the "Book Of Mazarbul" when the orcs took Moria for good.

Here are the 10 dwarves alive after the Battle of the Five Armies...

https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136174
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136182
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136188
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136200
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136210
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136216
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136227
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136245
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136254
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136268
https://www.deviantart.com/wizardrhosgo ... 1174136280

Arthur.

Thanks. I will make a list with important character who are going with them. I allready made a new undertaking where they could muster more dwarves for the quest. So the group is about 15% bigger as I first thought that would go with Balin. They rolled very well on the persuasion checks. So, more axes to chop goblins, but also more mouth to feed...

Hey Gimli, thanks for your replies.

I already have an idea for Sauron's orc troops in Dol Guldur. It's a bit odd to start an adventure with a big war or a big confrontation between the dwarves and Sauron's orcs.

So, I would have the dwarves followed by a large detachment of orcs from Gol Guldur. Don't forget, in this time-frame, there are Sauron's orcs who control Moria, the Orcs of Moria, and the Orcs of Udun (in the depths). Sauron's orcs control the Mountain Galleries area. I would have the orcs from Dol Guldur enter there to follow the dwarves into the depths. The leader of the orcs from Gol Guldur is smart. He prefers that the dwarves stick to fighting the orcs from Moria at the eastern entrance (Dimrill Gate). This way, the victor will be weaker; it's better to wait for the dwarves and orcs of Moria to fight among themselves. It will be easier to eliminate the rest. There are several actions you can take simultaneously afterward. The orcs of Dol Guldur could be the villains of the story.

1-Because of the dwarf threat, the orcs of Dol Guldur (Sauron) could have arguments to convince the orcs of Moria to join their cause.
2-The leader of the orcs of Dol Guldur will kill the leader of the orcs of the Mountain Galleries, Har the Dwarf. Or ask Naglur to kill him and take control of these orcs.
3-The dwarven troop is a blessing for the orcs of Dol Guldur. Finally, by playing the game of chess and letting the dwarves exhaust their strength fighting the orcs of Moria, Sauron's orcs will finally have a chance to seize Moria once and for all.... finally.

That gives you a lot of ideas to start with and for the campaign,
Arthur.

Thanks!
The Beorning would indeed want much for such a large army. But maybe they are in need of something else? Something they can not fix themselves? I thought about making a bridge across the river, but other ideas are welcome.
About the giant, what kind of deal are you thinking about?
And the first year of the campaing they worked for Balin/Bofri to get connected with the woodmen and to restore the old forest road. That's somehting that's not finished yet, so they will move around the forest for now.

I didn't have anything specific in mind for a giant; I was thinking of Gandalf's statement in The Hobbit that some giants could be friendly(ish). An offer of food (maybe a barrel of ale?) might be enough. Or perhaps the company could provide some other service.

I already have an idea for Sauron's orc troops in Dol Guldur. It's a bit odd to start an adventure with a big war or a big confrontation between the dwarves and Sauron's orcs.

True, but I want to recreate the story a bit, as in, they go with Balin and the quest is doomed, but with their influence it could maybe take 10-15 years instead of 5 for the doom happend, or 1 if they are not smart... And the story started with a battle, a big group of orcs/goblins form Moria is killed and then they enter Moria. In this battle it is said that Floi killed a chieftain, I thought, maybe I can let them (the party, with or without Floi, he is part of our story, even a patron from some of them) try to kill the chieftain by having two armies clash and focus on the party who goes either straight through some orcs to the chief or around the army if the chief is just screaming orders from the back.

1-Because of the dwarf threat, the orcs of Dol Guldur (Sauron) could have arguments to convince the orcs of Moria to join their cause.
2-The leader of the orcs of Dol Guldur will kill the leader of the orcs of the Mountain Galleries, Har the Dwarf. Or ask Naglur to kill him and take control of these orcs.
3-The dwarven troop is a blessing for the orcs of Dol Guldur. Finally, by playing the game of chess and letting the dwarves exhaust their strength fighting the orcs of Moria, Sauron's orcs will finally have a chance to seize Moria once and for all.... finally.

Aren't the orcs at the gallerie on the same side as Dol Guldur orcs? Like Har is bound to Sauron as are the DG orcs? Maybe some orc can try to make a deal with the dwarves and backstab them, although that seems very easy to figure out, because who would trust orcs...
But I can let the orcs in the mountain gallaries (with DG reinforcements/allies) and the orcs of Moria use in some pseudo-political warfare, where everyone is eachothers enemy, the Udun orcs are too, but they will come way later in the story, as I don't think they are much at the entrance from Moria.