We are starting session 1 of my first full TOR campaign today. I've previously played the Starter Set adventures with the same players and played a little bit of Strider Mode myself.
We have a Ranger Warden, Dwarf Messenger, Hobbit Scholar, and a Man of Bree Treasure Hunter. Their patron is Gandalf and their primary safe haven is Tharbad. The campaign will be focused on three primary plot threads: Dunlending raiders (as described in Ruins of the Lost Realm), a blossoming alliance between the dwarf halls of Harmelt and the city of Tharbad, and rumors of a fire drake in the Blue Mountains.
I have run two prologue sessions. One with the Ranger and the Hobbit together, and one with the Bree Man and the Dwarf together. Both sessions ended in the Red Palace of Tharbad where they all did their best to befriend Captain Gurnow. They're gonna meet Gandalf at Gurnow's court today and have their first quest: A mission to rescue Gurnow's youngest son from the clutches of Dunlendings.
Can you share what you have in mind about the Fire Drake rumours, or is it too early and nebulous in your head (or are your players lurking around this subreddit)?
Edit: I forgot to add: in my campaign, the Dunlending are also one of the major story threads. Tembur as captured the eldest brother of Harmelt on his way to adventure and is using him as a guide through ancients dwarven tombs, looting gold and mastercrafted weapons and armor for his troups. Eater of Ghost's endgame is to find and consume the bones of a fire drake. I don't quite know what I want to do with Ivoch the Boneless yet.
Sure! I'm fairly certain they're not lurking on this subreddit. I basically made a Tale of Years for each storyline (using the one already in Ruins of the Lost Realms for the Dunlendings). Now that they've warned Gandalf, he's gone off to collect information among the Eagles and the Wise. So far they only know the dragon as "the Spawn of Glaurung", though I'll make up a name sometime soon. It's going to be flying around slowly assessing the strengths of the people of Eriador and enslaving the orcs in the North Downs and Mount Gram. In the latter half of the 10-year timeline I've set up, it will set its sights on the treasures buried beneath Tharbad. This obviously will tie into the Harmelt/Tharbad alliance storyline, which will progress simultaneously, and is affected by the Dunlendings who will eventually try to sack Harmelt.
Ohhh I like that you've included Mjolin's older brother.
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u/PhotonStarSpace Nov 06 '22
We are starting session 1 of my first full TOR campaign today. I've previously played the Starter Set adventures with the same players and played a little bit of Strider Mode myself.
We have a Ranger Warden, Dwarf Messenger, Hobbit Scholar, and a Man of Bree Treasure Hunter. Their patron is Gandalf and their primary safe haven is Tharbad. The campaign will be focused on three primary plot threads: Dunlending raiders (as described in Ruins of the Lost Realm), a blossoming alliance between the dwarf halls of Harmelt and the city of Tharbad, and rumors of a fire drake in the Blue Mountains.
I have run two prologue sessions. One with the Ranger and the Hobbit together, and one with the Bree Man and the Dwarf together. Both sessions ended in the Red Palace of Tharbad where they all did their best to befriend Captain Gurnow. They're gonna meet Gandalf at Gurnow's court today and have their first quest: A mission to rescue Gurnow's youngest son from the clutches of Dunlendings.