This RPG occurs in FA 4 (Shire reckoning), or four years after the end of the War of the Ring. It involves the ring of Saruman which was an artifact never explained by Tolkien, a Balrog, and the third darkness. When I get over 8 people I will post a starting date and the Saruman's Legacy thread.
Starting Date: TBD
Max players: 16
Setting: It is FA 4, and Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Frodo have departed Middle-Earth
several years previous. Under their new kings both Gondor and Rohan are seeking to
re-build a world wrecked by war whilethe Shire under Sam Gamgee seeks to grow out
of its xenophobic shell and form firm ties with Gondor and Rohan.
Who's up for the challenge?
Prelude:
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Location: Underground cave below Orthanc
Date: August 8,
TE 3014
Saruman sat near his furnace and held up a pair of tongs. In them was a ring, black and white gold mixed together in fanciful designs, which, if you looked close enough were encircled letters that read:
One Ring, not bound to any other,
One Ring, hidden from the sight of men
One Ring, master of ancient power
One Ring, the servant of Curunir.
Curunir wrought it, Curunir brought it, the doom of Sauron.
One Ring to enslave Gothmog the Mighty. Shall not the Istar rule?Saruman smiled. All who called Middle-earth home would bow to him.
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Location: Plain of Isengard
Date: March 3, FA 3019
Saruman had been at the gates to watch his army march. It was a glorious sight; 10,000 Uruk-hai
2,000 Men of Dunland and 4,000 Orcs on Wargs. The last horn had sounded, the last orc marched through the gate before it clanged shut. A few minutes later, Saruman was startled out of contemplation by the sound of someone banging on the gate, and a voice… …the voice of Treebeard. Orc archers on the ramparts immediately began to fire on Treebeard, and there was soon revealed to be at least a score of ents with him.
Saruman fled as the ents broke through the southern walls and launched a mass attack on everything in sight.
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Location: Plain of Isengard
Date: July 16, FA 4
The noon sun shone brightly on the backs of the working men as they attempted to fill in the gaping holes in the plain of Isengard. Every pit was filled with hundreds of men, occupied filling in the scars in the ground with fresh dirt. Gimli had been put in charge of the re-building of Isengard and seven hundred dwarves from the Lonely Mountain were re-building the walls of Isengard with dwarvish precision. The sun reflected off the spire of Orthanc high above the plain, as deep underground, men using some of Saruman's blasting powder were collapsing tunnels filled with feral Wargs. One man, stooping to dig heard his shovel clink against something metallic. Looking down, he saw that it was a jet-black ring with lines of white gold surrounding it in complicated traceries. The man said nothing, and pocketed the ring.
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Location: Minas Tirith
Date: July 1, FA 4
Aragorn, king of Gondor thumbed through the well-worn book Gandalf had given him before he left Middle-earth. In it were a detailed summary of his travels and much lore of men, dwarves, and elves. There was also much ring-lore of Saruman that Gandalf had added saying "Aragorn, when I was imprisoned by Saruman I noticed a ring on his hand. When I cast him out of the Order he was no longer wearing it. I want you to be on your guard, though I doubt it is as powerful as the enemy's ring was. It could cause great destruction and should e destroyed at once if
discovered." Aragorn immediately sent a message to Isengard, to Gimli via palantir to and King Eomer, via scout