LOTR Chronicle Seeds

Let's make a thread for chronicle ideas. While adventures are usually either one-shots or short-term games, chronicles could be a series of related adventures strung together in one long epic story.

Let's come up with some chronicle ideas! (Adventure seeds have a thread of their own.)

Let's use the following format, unless someone comes up with something better.

Title
Recommended Age--When is the chronicle set?
Key Locations--Where most of the action takes place.
Description--One to three paragraphs about the chronicle, maybe more if it's highly detailed.

(Moderators, please make this a sticky thread.)

The Blight

Recommended Age

Early Fourth Age

Key Locations

Gondor, Rhovanion

Description

King Elessar is new on the throne, and he has been challenged at every turn to rebuild the Free Lands. To make matters even more difficult, reports are trickling in from Dorwinion and Ithilien that animals and some people are being affected by some strange disease. Afflicted people have made their way to Minas Tirith in the hopes of being cured by the Houses of Healing or the King's own hands.

But no cure has been found. The loremasters and curates are stumped; what could be causing this blight and how can it be stopped?

King Elessar assembles a group of heroes for a mission--seek out Radagast the Brown and explain the situation. Attempt to bring Radagast to Minas Tirith or at least acquire some of his lore and hopefully, the cure.

The big question: Where is Radagast?

The Fellowship of the Decoy

Time Period: During the War of The Ring

Key Locations: Misty Mountains, Rhovanion, ??

Description:
A company of nine -- representing Men, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits -- has been assembled in Rivendell to undertake a mighty task.

No, not that company. These are their understudies.

Elrond, knowing Rivendell was watched by spies, sent out two decoy groups to mask the movements of the true Fellowship. One (composed of Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, Halbarad and others of the mighty) rides with great majesty towards the Grey Havens. The other (composed of the motley group that is our heroes) slips out the back door at the same time the real Fellowship and head north over the High Pass and into Rhovanion.

However, the High Pass is snowed over and the decoy company is forced to take a detour through a re-occupied Goblin-Town. Once they reach the other side, they discover the Beornings under assault from evil forces based in the ruins of Framsburg -- an army of orcs and wargs led by a werewolf. This army will threaten Lorien, the Mirkwood elves, Dale/Erebor, or possibly even Eriador unless the company infiltrates and eliminates the leader.

After that, who knows? On to the Lonely Mountain to make a stand with Brand and Dain? Help Celeborn raze Dol Guldur? Make it to Minas Tirith in time for the big battle there?


Edit: Me spell pretty some day

I have posted this before on Decipher's board

The Mother of Hope

Time period: 2907-2912 TA

Key Locations: Bree, Eriador, Rivendell, Angmar

Description: Gilraen, Aragorn's mother is born in 2907 TA.
In 2911 TA the Fell Winter ravages Eriador, a year later when the snow and ice melts massive floods destroy Tharbad and other parts of Eriador.

The characters, a group of young Men and Hobbits from Bree, possibly aided by a Dwarf or Elf help an old Ranger fighting off some bandits. They arrive too late, for the man is already mortally wounded. Later that night, just before he dies, the man stiffens and speaks strange words in a strange language: “Teith i Forodril o Hrîw a Nen danath i Anna Estelo” (Draw the Fire of the North or Winter and Water will take the Mother of Hope).

The characters must locate the Fire of the North, an ancient artifact of power, befriend the Rangers, and be close enough to Gilraen in 2911 to defend her against the massive hordes of Orcs and Winterwolves that invade Eriador.
If they succeed, they might be invited to Gilraen's wedding years later, or become Aragorn's godfather. Who knows, one of them might even marry a Dunedan girl and become father of a son they call Halbarad ;-)

I just came up with this idea today, so it is not very formal or finished (even as an idea). BTW, by no means is this even attempted to be cannon worthy material.

The Elfstone War
Chronicle 1: The Heir to the Ring
Chronicle 2: ???
Chronicle 3: The Return of the Elves

Time period: TA 3119

Key Locations: Middle Earth

Description: These Chronicles are intended to be of an epic scale worthy of the LotR title. They are intended to give the players the feeling that their characters are along the same lines as Frodo, Aragon, etc. The story really is intended to be a follow up to the War of the Ring. I intentionally put this story directly after the war of the ring and replaced some of the stuff that is considered cannon because this story wouldn't work if I didn't. If you have some ideas to help this fit better in the cannon material, let me know. Also I might get a lot of the story wrong because I haven't read the last book and I have been awaiting the next movie to tell the tale before i read it.
I assumed Mordor was vanquished and Mt. Doom's fires are extinquised. The ring is supposedly melted down to nothing and has become part of the rock that cooled inside of Mt. Doom. I am working a story around this legendary Elfstone thatgives the user complete control over elves. The heir to the ring is one of the wizards that went into mordor and never returned. Instead of having him disappear I have him become the heir to the ring. He doesn't actually get the ring, instead he gets an army that has weapons he developed from the rock the one ring was melted into. The chronicle revolves around a war where elves cannot be trusted. One hero has to make a voyage across the ocean and face many perils in order to find elrond because he knows something about this elfstone. Unknown to him elrond has alreay died (This story might need to be pushed foward in years because I do not know when he died). Instead The player find a relative who helps them. Eventually late in the story the elves are released when the stone in destroyed and many elves come back from across the ocean to help fight this new meance.

This story needs a lot of work because i do not know what eventually happens in tRotK nor do I know of anything that happens after the war of the ring. Maybe it will work, maybe it will not, but I think this idea has the potential to give the players that epic feel with their characters. Any help with this idea would be nice.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Lord Scythican
I assumed Mordor was vanquished and Mt. Doom's fires are extinquised. The ring is supposedly melted down to nothing and has become part of the rock that cooled inside of Mt. Doom. I am working a story around this legendary Elfstone thatgives the user complete control over elves. The heir to the ring is one of the wizards that went into mordor and never returned. Instead of having him disappear I have him become the heir to the ring. He doesn't actually get the ring, instead he gets an army that has weapons he developed from the rock the one ring was melted into. The chronicle revolves around a war where elves cannot be trusted. One hero has to make a voyage across the ocean and face many perils in order to find elrond because he knows something about this elfstone. Unknown to him elrond has alreay died (This story might need to be pushed foward in years because I do not know when he died). Instead The player find a relative who helps them. Eventually late in the story the elves are released when the stone in destroyed and many elves come back from across the ocean to help fight this new meance.

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There are many things with this plot which contradict Tolkien's writings:

1. Going over the ocean is the equivalent of going to heaven. You don't fight your way over there - it's almost a pilgrimage, and you don't come back. Over there, you live forever.

2. I can't remember offhand if Mt. Doom actually cools or remains active. I think it did remain an active volcano, even after the fall of Sauron.

3. The Elfstone already exists in two ways - it is a gem found by Aragorn, and it is the title he takes when he becomes the new king.

4. None of Tolkien's wizards went into Mordor and didn't return - two vanished into the East, Saruman goes evil and dies later, Gandalf goes over the ocean with the Elves, and Radagast drops out of sight completely.

Of course, you're completely free to make any changes you want to your world - it is your game, after all - but these are some major contradictions and will become apparent after you see the third film, or read the actual novel.

If any of your players have read the novels, they will probably let you know how far from canon your story is.

Reclaim Moria
Post War of the Ring
Moria

Mithril is not easy to come by. The dwarves spread throughout the realm of Middle-Earth are in need to reclaim their lost honour. By their own greed, they dug to deep and disturbed that which should not be awakened. Now that Gandalf has slain the Balrog, the dwarves are ready to reclaim what was once theirs. Drive out what is left of the Orcs, Trolls, and other fell beasties. If there are indeed other things that not even Gandalf would poison the world with mention, then perhaps finding some spell slingers would be of great use.

Such a reinforced strong-hold can reunite the Dwarves and give them a sense of belonging to Middle-Earth again. After being broken by Smaug and the Balrog, reclaiming Moria would be a step in once again bringing Dwarven kind into the fore of Middle-Earth.

The dawn of Man may be upon them, but when did you ever know a Dwarf to yield?

This could also tie into other dealings with men, hobbits, and whatever other races get thrown into the mix. Not wanting to be seen as invading, but as reclaiming what was taken by another, they would need to send out delegations to the other races and kingdoms. Not many a King would find it reasuring that a new Dwarven stronghold was reforming without prior notice.

During these delegations, the Dwarves are asked to render their survices in ridding the other Kingdoms of the remnants of the Shadow. With the Elves retreating beyond the Viel, the Dwarves would be a logical race to watch over the Shire (Shire-watch as Grutos refers to it).

Moria would be the central point, but a lot of political and social intrigue can easily be intertwined. Plus, for s&g the DM can have the party go through Moria before the Balrog was awakened - "Fine, you think yer big & bad...OK....*xerox copy CSs* now try to defeat the Balrog after your comrades dug too deep".

==========================

Darkness Falls
War of the Ring
Middle-Earth

You are chieftans in support of the Nazgul and in league with Sauron and Sauruman. Elves, dwarves, Gondor have never been overly kind and no-one has provided proof against the fire-side stories that the Gondor raiders made off with the village wives and children so many ages ago.

Your mission - find and destroy the Fellowship. If you find the Ring, excellent, but the Nazgul may object to you picking it up and not just pointing to it.

Men, Orcs, Trolls, turned Dwarves and Elves (WH40K does an EXCELLENT job with Chaos turning) - whatever you would play in a "light" campaign - make yerself evil.

Ok this is a little raw but here is the basic idea:

The Big Rock Candy Mountain
Recommended Age: Late 3rd Age (After the Battle of Five Armies)
Key Locations: Similar to the Path Bilbo took in The Hobbit: Arnor, Bree, Misty Mountains, Mirkwood and Long Lake.

Description: The new King Under the Mountain wishes to repopulate his kingdom and has spread the word that grants are available to all skilled dwarves who wishes to come swear fealty to him and live in Erebor.

The PCs are dwarves of the Blue Mountains possibly related to Thorin and Company. PCs could be of virtually any class but an emphasis on non traditional "adventuring" classes is intended. Craftsmen should make up the bulk of the party although others may be interested in a new life Erebor as well.

Adventures could closely mimic the adventures of Bilbo or Frodo as they cross Arnor and Eregion along the Great East Road. The Path though Mirkwood along the Old Forest Road could be strewn with encounters with Spiders, Elves (who may or may not be friendly) and refuges from Dol Guldur.

The chronicle culminates with the PCs arrival in Dale/Erebor where they must use the skills they gained on their travels to defeat a threat to the new kingdom. After which they will live "happily ever after..."

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

Recommended Age—Third Age sometime after the Witch King of Angmar and long before the War of the Ring.

Key Locations—A large sheltered valley somewhere in the north of Eriador, possible close to Angmar.

Description—Early in the Third Age Dwarves searching a silver deposit discovered a sheltered valley with small forests and very rich soil. Not being the types to farm the land the Dwarves alerted some nearby Humans who, after the Dwarves built a tunnel entrance, agreed to work the land and provide the Dwarves with needed supplies.

Over the years the Humans and Dwarves had a great relationship, noble houses were established to protect the peasants, the Dwarves discovered a huge vein of silver and not a small population of Hobbits migrated from the Shire to live in the foothills at the edge of the forests.

Many years passed when a massive earthquake destroyed the Dwarf mines and cities, closing the tunnel to the outside world. The only way out of the valley was a mountain pass that was dangerous to cross in the best of times and impossible for six months out of the year.

Many of the PC’s are from the valley that had left to find their own fortunes years hence. The PC’s discover that their peaceful valley has fallen on hard times and the benevolent nobles (possible family of a Noble character) has been overthrown and replaced by a despot and possibly his orc cronies. The PC’s main goal is to return to the valley and overthrow the despot and return the valley to its former state.

Title: Border Patrol

Recommended Age: Fourth Age

Key Locations: Ithil, Mordor, Gondor, Harad, and the Lands of the East

Description: The PCs lead a border patrol, keeping a watch on the barbarians of the East, with which a fragile treaty has been made. One of the PCs is the company's captain, the other's are his lieutenants controlling different sections. The party can be as big (probably 200 at the very, very most) to as small (a couple dozen at the very, very least) as you can handle and feel comfortable with.

The PCs orders should most likely be Barbarian, Noble, Rogue, or Warrior; although they may be the company's physician (Loremaster), cook (Craftsman), or bard (Minstrel). Magicians and Mariners are doubtful. However, they can pretty much be any race (tough-dwarves from Erebor, archers from Mirkwood, archers from the Shire, archers from Dale, rangers from Ithil, knights of Gondor, and so on). The more variety in the group, the better.

Their initial objective would be to raid the Haradrim rebel villages, burning their hide-outs. They could be given special assignments, such as infiltrating Southron society, scouting the Eastern Lands, or eradicating Mordor of a lingering evil. Eventually, Harad could go to war and they would be holding the front line, slowly retreating to gain time.

They could even meet up with old friends such as Legolas (who's building an Elf haven in Ithil), Aragorn (King at the time), and Gimli (he could come from Aglarond to aids his old buddies at war).

This chronicle allows for small infiltrations with only the PCs (or even only one or two of the PCs), larger skirmishes with several men under their command, and large-scale battles between Gondor and Harad.

If you run out of ideas for those places (i.e. they defeat all the many evils in the area), they could be moved to border patrol somewhere else, such as Angmar (which has about as many options itself!). Or they could be turned into secret agents for Gondor, and could infiltrate cults, rebel hold-outs, drug gangs, and the like (you could even throw in a 'corrupted-official-in-charge-of-the-organization' plot twist!).

Quote:

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Originally posted by ben hur
Aragorn (possibly King at the time)

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Good chronicle idea, KoR. Just one comment...if this is an early Fourth Age chronicle, Aragorn is king. He's crowned right at the tail end of the Third Age and is king for the first 120 odd years of the Fourth Age (don't have the exact numbers in front of me).

Rest of it looks good, except that I think you might be selling mariners and magicians a little short. A young magician could be sent on the patrol to determine if there is any more shadow magic still at work. A mariner could be very useful if the patrol ranges along the Anduin, the Sea of Rhûn, or along the coast of Harad. Not all adventures have to take place over land. :)

You're quite correct, Jim. Aragorn passes on March 1st in FA 120, and Eldarion is then named King of the Reunited Kingdom.


Greg, who doesn't let any Tolkien-related texts rest easily on his bookshelves... :)

Holy cow, I got it in one. :D

Here's a lesson for you, folks, you CAN go from zero Tolkien knowledge to competent distiller of Tolkien facts in a year. :)

Really, Greg, if I could put my LOTR texts on my desk at work, I would in a heartbeat. As it is, I take my core book with me every day for reference.

Yes, sorry, I didn't say that right; I knew Aragorn was King for a long time into the Fourth Age, I promise! :)

I put that in for the (now that I think about it) very small amount of people who will play in the late Fourth Age and might have Eldarion or someone else as the King. I meant to put probably, not possibly, my bad. :D

Ah, good point about magicians and mariners too; I know they could be used, but it probably wouldn't be as suggested, seeing as their are seven other orders which would probably do just fine. But I'm sure you could find a reason for a magician or mariner to be down there. :D

Thanks for the feedback!

War of the Woodmen

Time: The War of the Ring
Places: Anduin Vale, Western Mirkwood, Mountains of Mirkwood, Redhorn Pass, Moria, Dol Guldur.

In the time before The War of The Ring, the woodmen of Western Mirkwood find themselves threatened by enemies on all sides. Sauron has openly declared himself Lord of Men, his shadow deepens in Mirkwood, and throughout the region. Goblins from the mountains are massing. A dark presence has returned to Dol Guldur. Orcs from the Mountains of Mirkwood are becoming more bold and the Spiders of the dark wood seem more aggressive than ever. The treat of War looms forebodingly.

There is great need for brave adventures. Possible adventures include:
1) scouting missions or raids against the many enemies of the Woodmen.
2) rescuing allies, prisoners or hostages from various enemies.
3) Diplomatic missions to various Woodmen villages to gather support or muster an army to defend the region.
4) Diplomatic mission to neighbors including Beornings, Radagast, Thranduils Elves or Lorien to gain advice, arms, warriors, or supplies.
5) Diplomatic or scouting mission into Moria to contact Lord Balin and seek aid in the form of warriors or arms.
6) skirmishes led by PCs with newly mustered Woodmen warriors against various enemies.
7) defense of a village against a siege.
8) siege on an enemy stronghold.
9) spy/sabotage missions against enemy strongholds.
10) culminating in a grand battle where the shadow of Dul Guldur reveals himself: (a Ring Wraith / Black Numenorian / Minor Demon / evil ring bearer?)

When: Late Third Age, at least within a few decades before the War of the Ring.

Where: Anywhere; Rhudaur, Bree-land, Ithilien, and other parts of Gondor are best.

What: The player characters intercept a small band of orcs, and after battling them they discover one with a bizarre bundle in a backpack. The bundle is about the size of a Man's head and appears to be simply a big ball of string. If cut open, it is filled with a viscous, foul-smelling goo. A character that succeeds on a TN 15 Lore: Mirkwood test will recognize it as the egg-sac of a giant spider.

Why: The orcs, under the orders of their master (his identity is up to the Narrator) have gone into northern Mirkwood and collected several spider egg-sacs. The Master's plan is to transplant the horrible Mirkwood Spiders to other places in Middle-earth. All the orcs bear the symbol of a spider on their shields. Inquire tests and other methods of information gathering reveals stories of other groups of these orcs in the area. The players must track down these scattered bands of orcs and destroy the spider egg sacs before they hatch -- or battle the spiders themselves in areas where they already have hatched!

I'm kind of new to this whole chronicle writing, and to this board as a matter of fact. Any help you could give me would be much appreciated.

Name: War of the Dragon
Suggested era: fourth era
Where: (First Chapter) Mirkwood Forest, Outer lying Orc stronghold of the North, The Gray Mountains. (Second Chapter, starts as the heroes approach the gray mountains) Dwarven kingdom under the gray mountains, Erebor caverns, Erebor peak. (Third Chapter starts after the slaying of the Winged Drake) Erebor, Outer Lying village of Isengard, Ruins of Isengard. (End)

What: The PC's (I believe my group likes elves so that's why they started out in Mirkwood forest) begin with a simple quest from the king of Mirkwood to infiltrate a Orc base up North to try and find out why their ranks have been bolstering so lately. Infiltrating the base, not only do they find that the orcs are planning to take Mirkwood, but they also find that someone else is pulling the strings. Immediately they must kill the leaders, and signal for reinforcements from men (whom they had met along the way). They also find an enchanted blade, the Drakerim, a powerful blade indeed, with an important purpose later on. So they depart for the Gray mountains where the dwarves greet them.
Chapter 2: PC's find out about a Winged Drake gaining power (need a dragon name) and already taken the Mountain of Erebor. So they PC's travel down to Erebor, and traverse through it's maze like caverns. They are currently too weak to take on the dragon head to head, but they do have a weapon that can take it on. So long story short, Drakerim is used as a way to destroy the dragon.
Chapter 3: PC's claim hoard of treasure and realize that the dragon and the orcs are connected. Using information found at both sides they realize a powerful sorcerer is taking refuge somewhere in the ruins of Isengard (the last place any one would look), while his own sanctum of power is being constructed. The heroes travel to a village near Fangorn, learning that they will have to sneak in through a Fangorn. Emerging from the forest (passing through by the ents), they make they're way into the New tower and fight the sorcerer, who was planning to enslave the cold and fire drakes of the north along with a few winged drakes, and unleash it upon the kingdom of man. They defeat him and everyone's happy. (any suggestions to help me out?)

This is just a new idea I've had, and still didn't had the time to write it or think if it could make a good chronicle.

The Search of Smeagol

Recommended Age--3009 TA, just before Smeagol enters Mordor and Gandalf and Aragorn are already searching him or
3017 TA, the year Aragorn found him when he was released from Mordor and taken to Thranduil's palace.

Key Locations-- Rhovanion, Anduin Vales, Dagorlad, around Mordor...

Description-- It can be played at three times....still don't know which one is better for a chronicle:

3009 - Aragorn and Gandalf (new friends) ask the players to try to find Smeagol, and they tell them the path or the places to look.

3017 - Before Aragorn captures him, the players are asked the same as above.

3017 - After Smeagol escapes from Thranduil's palace, the players are asked to find him again.

In any of the three cases, the group of players will one amog many groups with the same mission. The groups can meet at times and share information, even with Gandalf or Aragorn.

You can let the players have him found without interfering in Tolkien's writings, for if they find him, all the glory will be for Aragorn, of course, and Gollum WILL escape from Thranduil.

Let me know what you think.

Alkarion
-Barcelona-

Name: Friend or Foe
Suggested era: End of the 3rd Age
Characters: Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin and Sam.

The game starts with the breaking of the fellowship. Boromir and Frodo wandered away into the woods. The party hear an orc horn blowing, and on their arrival find signs of orcs near by, but Boromir and Frodo are nowhere to be found. The orcs appear to have captured Frodo and made off with him, but Boromir has gone in another direction.

If the group pursue the orcs with Frodo, they will find that Frodo is dead (or mortaly wounded) and nolonger has the ring. Boromir took it and has headed towards Gondor, intending to use it to confront Sauron.

What to do?

Simon Hibbs

Alternative Fellowship (sorry no fancy title)

Time Frame: War of the Ring

Key Locations: Shire, Bree, Troll-Shaws, Rivendell, Misty Mts, Moria, Lothlorien, Rohan, Ithilien, Gondor, Mordor

Description: Now is the time for Heroes. Gandalf the Grey and Saruman the Wise have called a Council at Rivendell to discuss the destruction of the One Ring. How will you go about this task?

This is a sort of alternative history of the Fellowship, a chance to give players the opportunity to be in the spotlight. It will obviously veer away from Tolkien canon, but I think it would be fun.

The Chronicle depends upon a few things to keep events mixed up.
-Saruman does not reveal his plans to become a new Dark Lord. Indeed he has struck a deal with Sauron as is acting as a spy and sabotuer (sp?). Along those lines he doesn't amass an uruk-hai force at Isengard but instead marshalls the leaderless Moria Orcs (see below)
-using what Saruman knows about the Shire, Sauron doesn't send the Nazgul there but instead dispatches half-orcs and Southron spies. However instead of becoming bandits or brigands they seek to establish themselves as honest citizens of Bree.
-Gollum doesn't escape from Mordor. He is instead put on a leash and given an Uruk-hai escort. He is held in reserve as a Ring-Finder.
-Sauron contacts the Balrog of Moria and makes an alliance with it. The Balrog replaces Gothmog as the leader of the Black Armies, but not before stirring up more horrors in Moria should the party pass through it.
-Using the Palantir Sauron forms a treaty with Denethor. Osgiliath will be left alone but it is the now the new eastern most border of Gondor. The poisoned mind of Denethor agrees.
-Gandalf isn't captured by Saruman and so is in Bree along with Strider to meet the hobbits.
-The Council includes Faramir (who left Gondor without telling Denethor or Boromir), Gloin, Gimli, other Dwarves (possible PCs), Elrond, Elladain, Elrohir, Glorfindel, Legolas, elves from Lothlorien or the Grey Havens (possible PCs), Frodo, Gandalf, Saruman, Aragorn, possibly some Men of Rohan or Dunedain of Dol Amroth.

Players will pick from a group of elligible members to form the Fellowship. Aragorn is sent by Gandalf to muster and army of the remaining Rangers and the seek out the Paths of theDead. Saruman is staying in Rivendell for a short time, but will meet the party at Orcthanc if they choose. Gandalf and Frodo are NPCs.

What route will the party take? CAn the party overcome the traps that the Enemy has laid? Can they sniff out the traitors amongst them?

I was writing this for a LotR campaign when one of our regular players, an avid fan of the works of JRRT, passed away earlier this year. The rest of my players have opinions of his work ranging from indifference to dislike so I am shelving this idea in favour of creating a new world and using the LotR rules there.

Dedicated to Mark Ferelli

Timeline

3019 iii: the One Ring is destroyed and Sauron defeated.

3021 iii: the end of the Third Age

120 iv: death of Aragorn, beginning of the reign of Eldarion son of Aragorn

237 iv: death of Eldarion, beginning of the reign of Aldamir II son of Eldarion

274 iv: the Great Plague and the War of the North

302 iv: death of Aldamir II, beginning of the reign of Arathorn son of Aldamir II

317 iv: the current date

The Waning of the West

Men

The reign of King Ellessar was a shining time at the beginning of the Fourth Age but after he passed events turned to the worst. It was as if the spirit of resolve and strength that had served the men of Gondor for so long had finally been exhausted in the war against Mordor. Fewer children were born and the people turned to idle pleasures or even the study of forbidden and dark lore. Greed and avarice became more common. It was as if some perverse element of the men of Numenor could not keep from the path of darkness.

In the year 284 a great plague swept Middle Earth, hitting Arnor the hardest. Roughly 40% of the population died, more in the Northern areas.

In that same year a mysterious woman called the Crone lead an army of orcs and other fell creatures in an attack on Arnor. She was reputed to be a sorceress and necromancer. The conflict was savage, and Fornost was destroyed again. At great cost the evil army was defeated but the Crone deserted her troops and disappeared when it was clear that the final battle would go against her utterly.

As Gondor lost her grip of the lands between Isengard and Tharbad bandits moved in, as well as other less wholesome things. The Southrons have shaken off the control of Gondor as well. Pirates lurk off the coasts and raid up undefended rivers.

Arnor is sparsely settled now, with the population of Arthedain primarily around Annuminas and Lake Evendim, and that of Cardolan near Tharbad and between the Greyflood River and Bree, mostly East of the Greenway. Rhudaur is wholly deserted except for beasts and fell creatures. The kings’ sister Eowyn rules as Duchess of Arnor and the duchy is almost fully independent of Gondor, but the Duchess is completely loyal to her brother.

Elves

Almost all the elves have gone West. A small number still live in Rivendell, and there are wanderers here and there, that is all. Lorien is deserted and Mirkwood overrun with Evil things. The Grey Havens has the largest elvish population, such as it is, and a few ships still stand ready to take any elf over the sea.

Dwarves

Dwarves can be found in the Lonely Mountains, the Glittering Caves beneath Helm’s Deep, in isolated mining outposts, and a small colony in the Dimril Dale seeking Mithril from Moria.

Hobbits

The hobbits withdrew entirely into the Shire in 277 after the war and plague. A thick hedge had been planted along the borders of the Shire in 251 that helped isolate the halflings from the outside world.

Hidden and unknown things

The hobbits are gone, the entire population slipped away to the Grey Havens and with the approval of the Elves, took ship West. The Shire was abandoned, though the hobbits, per their ways, tidied up their homes and left everything in good order.

The Alantaru: the descendants of the kingdom founded by Alantar in the East far beyond Rhun. Their culture is now decadent, baroque, very ritualized, expansionist, and looking westwards for somewhere to conquer.

What about the other toys held by Sauron? What items and knick-knacks might he have left behind to cause trouble in the current age?

The unresolved fate of the Crone.