Okay so I have decided my villain isn't good enough to the be the "New Shadow". The more I read about Giant Spiders the less I think they have what it takes to be anything more than a Lieutenant.
So while I try and create a new enemy, I am left making sure all my other ducks are in a row...
1] a new Shadow has arisen in Mordor, and its agents in the Mirkwood, Misty Mountains and Angmar are hard at work troubling the lands of Men, Elves and Dwarves.
2] The primary new race being shown are the Quenuhuine, or the Shadow Elves. Elves who have had the light of Valinor taken out of them (way back when) and now serve this new Shadow as they are corrupted to their core.
3] The Silmaril tossed into the sea has resurfaced in the Hobbit town of Downbywater, not to be confused with the area of Bywater. Downbywater is nearer to the White Towers.
4] King Daerion of Gondor has assembled a company of 8 to travel to Rivendell and seek guidence on the movements of Orcs and Urks through the Gap of Rohan, Mordor and Angmar.
Now I had a whole thing worked out of Shelob (come Morlob) trying to use the Silmaril to turn out the sun, but have decided that doesn't work at all.
It is called Lord of the Rings, so now I think my new Shadow should be trying to create a new Ring of Power, using the magic of the Silmaril to enchant it.
The characters are still the same, a Hobbit minstrel, a Captain of Arnor, a Shieldmaiden of Rohan, a ranger of the North and a Knight of Dol-Amroth. They are accompanied by a magician, a dwarf and the last-born of the Sindar elves.
I just to rework the story to a certain level.
Ideas, opinions and help is greatly appreciated.