Message:Bojangles picked up some spells for his book; he also got clobberd by recovered in the Shire. But enough about me (I had fun).
We played Gygax’ Game, been a while. I have made some card flip additions that capture the feel w/o me having to spend too many hours drawing on graph paper. The cards here are more beneficial than not.
===Tales of Book One===
We started with a test battle in which the group defeated eight Orcs and took one hit. That hit was full six damage (to Bojangles). He stayed in the rear for a while. This battle could be funsy and ignored or for Xp and treasure and be real. Guess what was selected. A scroll, potion and magic items for Bojangles suffering (good decision).
Our first decision was where to land our skiff? We tried sailing past the Gulf of Lune (bad Idea) and hit a storm. Now shipwrecked in Dunland, attacked in combat Hard with Warg Riders. We won with only the loss of a single stat from evil stave magic. Loot was even okay. Game too easy? Some scrolls were added to spellbooks. Party has an 18 and 17 INT (nice). Our WIS is low, but we did add Cure Light Wounds to one character.
Greeted after fight in Dunland on Shoreline by the two Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando. Actually this is just a projection formed out of sea foam. "Our task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir-up rebellion. After the Dark Lord's first-fall, we searched for his hiding spot. This we never found, even as we scoured all lands east of the Misty Mountains."
The blue Maiar will say Expect the Unexpected; you know the story in your heart but not all of the details of those who labored in roles outside of a certain Fellowship.
Our Honor was assessed. Initial prizes were awarded, though some loss of Stat resulted. The victors reached into the ocean foam for prizes. Had we known that our Honor should be without question…Gains a Scroll, Potion and Magic Item for anyone who chose not to roll a single Stat test.
Alatar and Pallando fall back into the waters. Pick a direction and go.
Brandywine River: Players are being followed by a very noisy Cuckcoo. Chase it away (CHR test), Capture (DEX test) or ignore (WIS test). Capture is only bad and results in loss of one from a random stat from Elf Dave. We know the bird is not truly harmless and not truly evil.
Master of crossing at Bucklebury, reports that Dark Riders tried to pay for passage. He refused their silver and sent them to Brandywine Bridge. Wee folk routinely cross the ferry, and he knows of nothing suspicious. Ferryman tends to sing silly songs like a bard. He was recruited by Elf John as Hireling and is the campaign's NPC Sagely Loremaster. "I been looking for a job change, a change of scenery."
Ferryman is a loremaster of sorts and will tell the players a different legend of the campaign when first recruited and one more per session to follow. Players select from these ten:
Altar for Maiar
Arcane Quill
Damnation Cross
Elven Printing Press
Goblet of Elixirs
Handle of Melkor's Whip
Lullaby on Birch Bark
Palantíri of the North
Purse of Travel
Ring of Barahir
Storm Runes
***Lullaby on Birch Bark: Book Three, Long Way Round Mirkwood (on side with Raft Elves). Reputed to place all who are agitated into slumber, wailing babe or snarling dog.
We reached the Shire and Bojangles (and a few points for others) were healed.
Our visit to discover that the Esquire of Bag-End, Frodo Baggins, has left for undisclosed parts. He may be traveling alone or with friends. Meet Lotho Sackville-Baggins (evil). We had an OPTIONAL ACTION, and failed, causing the loss of half of Elf Jake’s WIS. We never learned the result of Success and gained no important clue.
A contingency of elves on its way to the Journey to Valinor, can report that Black Riders, suspected servants of the Eye, are hunting for something.
We accepted our first Quest to rescue an Elf separated from group and thought to be held by goblins in mountains. The caves where these gobbies will be found were originally created by nameless things. They were once content to live by an underground lake and feast on blind bats and raw fish. Now something has made them aggressive, ambitious in aim.
Enter Dungeon Path to battle with Goblins. Gain another roll to add Hirelings if quest accepted (here).
After about a half dozen card flip events (mostly bad rolls) and a couple of fights, we have reached the climax. Extra loot and XP await.
More later….
Yours,
IronRed
06-Jul-2025