Outlined Summary Thus Far:
Mirkwood scouts (whether by orders from Thranduil or not) have been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance. They detect movement at Dol Guldur, and observes an army as it marches toward Lorien. They also observe a smaller force making its way in a loop to reach the forest on the northern/southern side. (Either the ‘Sauron special forces’ party remains with the army for a time and then breaks off, or they head off on their own right away.)
At this point a decision must be made: to report back what they have seen, to continue following the army, or to follow the smaller party. The scouting party from Mirkwood decides to follow the smaller party, as it is much more stealthily making its way to Lorien. Also, the fact that it contains easterlings and uruk-hai (and the main force does not?) could be seen as something that is due attention.
-Of course, the Mirkwood elves could receive information from the rescued envoy we talked about earlier. See ‘Concerning the envoy and its rescue’ below.-
The scout party moves with the greatest possible speed to Lorien, to reach the forest ahead of the ‘Sauron special forces’. They warn of this special, unforeseen attack. Most likely after studying the evil party’s movements for a time, they could guess approximately where they were headed. So the troops holding Lorien are prepared to resist both attacks. (It could be that by the time the scout troop reaches Lorien, the main force marching from Dol Guldur has reached, or is about to reach, the line of battle, as they would be marching in a much straighter route.)
From here, the battle could work out in many ways:
The scout troop from Mirkwood and soldiers that could be spared from Lorien’s lines successfully fend off the ‘Sauron special forces’ party, then:
The survivors of this skirmish could then make their way around to attack the attacking army of Dol Guldur from behind, and using the cover of the trees, scatter them. (Think ‘The Patriot’…
)
Or, the soldiers of Lorien could fend off the main force, for as they continue to fight, and there is not sign that the separate evil party was successful in their mission, morale wanes until they flee or are driven back.
Concerning the envoy and its rescue:
The ‘Sauron special forces’ party remains with the army for a time. The Mirkwood scout party follows the army. The army finds the envoy and captures them. Then what happens to them? If they are taken back to Dol Guldur, the Mirkwood scout party cannot follow if they are to reach Lorien in time to either warn of the separate evil party, or to come to the rescue.
Concerning trolls:
I know you love your trolls Fordim, but now that everyone has come to like this story, the trolls do not work out as well. Of course, if the scout party moves fast enough, they could reach Lorien in time to warn the defenders of the odd movements of both the main forces (the main force to the north – the ‘special forces’ to the south – with trolls to set up the pontoon bridge as you said) and the ‘special forces’. Again, though, this completely rules out the possibility of the envoy, as far as I can see. Well, maybe that’s not too far…
To bring all the summary, the ‘concerning envoy’ and ‘concerning trolls’ together:
If we do have the ‘special forces’ loop rather widely to the south to surprise attack the center of Lorien, and have the main force looping to the north and setting up the pontoon bridge using the trolls, I believe the delays these loops and river crossings will cause will give the scout party enough time to high tail it back to Lorien after rescuing the envoy, in time to either warn or come to the rescue of the defenders.
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Quote:
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who may come to the sudden realisation that they have been tricked, at which point some of them may attempt to hot-foot it out and, pretty inevitably, be slaughtered in the process.
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I don’t understand what you mean by that, Aman. They most likely were not aware that this would be pretty much a suicide mission (though most likely many of them would still volunteer for it!), but I don’t understand why this realization would cause them to run. Sauron (or whoever is ultimately leading this army) would not have bothered to send the party if there was no chance of success. It seems that when the easterlings and orcs come to believe they have been tricked that the whole plan was to get rid of them. Though they could
believe that they had been tricked, and then give up.
Okay, now I’m blathering.
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The Player Groups (expanded from Roa’s nifty list):
- Mirkwood scouts (open story)
- Lorien envoy (to Woodmen? - captured)
- Main force of Dol Guldur
- ‘Special forces’ party of Dol Guldur
- Defenders of Lorien: Front lines & Elite Guard/Bodyguard(minor roles/NPCs)
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Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):
Mikwood scout party follows army for (days 1 – 3?)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (days 3 – 4)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (day 4 or 5?)
Race back to Lorien (days 4/5 – 8/9?)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (day 9 or 10)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9 or 10)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)
How does that sound?
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We’re almost ready to being working on characters…promise. And I’m sorry for my lack of presence, but I’ve been extremely busy. I have been checking up on the thread, but have not had the chance to post until today. Unfortunately, it always works out that no one is able to post when I am able to post…and then I am not able to post when everyone else is able to post…If you follow me.
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I dearly hope that much of this post made sense. My life is pretty crazy right now (crazy in a good way, but crazy!), and I also have a great deal of trouble collecting my thoughts. Most likely some of the things present in this post are irrelevant, but that is just an example of my way of thinking. I hope you can sift through all this rather random contemplating for the actual important information.
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A Pending RPG Proposal:
Title: Bloodstained Elanor/Elanor Agarwaen
Historical Background: TA 3019, February - March
Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back.
Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood.
With destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.
On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Mirkwood, and Celeborn receives southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.
This story tells of one of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.
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Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus bringing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.
In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain the beautiful leaves of the mallorn.
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The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur and reach Lorien in time. Drive back the orcs from Lorien.
This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.
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Starting Location: Mirkwood(?)
Likely destination: Lorien
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Timeframes:
This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.
The storyline itself or plot covers 11(?) days, weeks, months.
This game requires a time commitment of 3 months(?) from me, the game owner and from the major players.
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Characters needed:
_#_ Elves:
- Soldiers
- Scouts
- Envoy members
- Female?
- Of Mirkwood
- Of Lorien
_#_ Orcs:
- Elite Orcs (of some kind)
- Uruk-hai
- Grunts(?)
_#_ Easterlings:
- Elite
- Leader of ‘special forces’ party?
- Male and Female??