The Tale of Years

The OOC Forum for the Tales from Wilderlands campaign using The One Ring RPG system.
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The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:45 pm

THE TALE OF YEARS

Two timelines have been included in this thread: the first (Old Lore) presents facts mainly concerning the ancient history of relevant areas of Middle-earth and the folks inhabiting it; the second (Recent Past) offers information that is considered common knowledge to most starting adventurers.

OLD LORE
“Long ago in my grandfather Thrór's time our family was driven out of the far North...”

The information presented in most entries below may be revealed to a character belonging to the folk most concerned with the information and possessing the Old Lore Trait, or succeeding in a Lore roll. Entries in italics are reserved for the Loremaster's eyes, as they relate facts known only to a few (if anyone at all). I include them here because this an OOC post anyhow.

Year 1050
About this time, a shadow takes shape in Greenwood the Great. The forest is darkened and Orcs and Spiders begin to spread from the Naked Hill in the south. The Silvan Elves confine themselves to the northernmost regions of the forest, and Men begin to call it Mirkwood. The earliest tales of the Hobbits relating to their Wandering Days seem to indicate that they once came from these areas.

Year 1980
The Dwarves of the line of Durin delve too deep under the Misty Mountains and awaken an ancient evil. After millennia of prosperity, the vast halls of Khazad-dûm, Wonder of the Northern world, are abandoned the following year, its inhabitants driven out by fear and death.

Year 1999
Thráin I, King of Durin's folk and distant ancestor of Thorin Oakenshield, comes to the Lonely Mountain and founds a dwarf-kingdom. There, the Dwarves discover their most prized treasure, the Arkenstone, known also as the Heart of the Mountain.

Year 2063
In the past centuries, the increase in power of the Necromancer of Dol Guldur has been responsible for the slow but steady diminishing of the inhabitants of the vales of the Great River. In the year 2063, the wizard Gandalf finally enters the fortress to investigate the matter (songs and legends of the Woodmen have him led through Mirkwood by the young son of a hunter).

The evil power dwelling in Dol Guldur retreats when faced by Gandalf's challenge and flies to the East. The wizard returns from the pits of the fortress carrying a treasure, and gives it to the Woodmen for safekeeping. It begins the period known to the Wise as the Watchful Peace, a truce that will last for four hundred years. The shadow over Mirkwood weakens and many folks that were forced to leave return to their lands: the Woodmen multiply and prosper in the following years, establishing settlements both east and west of the Great River.

Year 2210
Thorin I, son of Thráin, removes the royal house of Durin's folk from Erebor to abide in the Grey Mountains. He carries the Arkenstone with him, as part of the royal treasure.

Year 2460
After four centuries of hiding, the Dark Lord secretly returns to Dol Guldur. His strength is increased, and his dark thoughts are felt by all malevolent creatures. The Ring heeds the call. Mirkwood darkens once again as evil things are called back and creep into the forest. In the following decades, many people choose to leave the region and go south.

Year 2463
At the request of the Lady Galadriel, a White Council of the Wise and Powerful is formed to unite the forces of the West against the Shadow. Saruman the White, who has long studied the Enemy and his servants, is chosen to lead it. The Elvenking of Northern Mirkwood is invited to join, but refuses.

It is around this year that Déagol, a Stoor Hobbit, finds the One Ring while swimming in the Gladden River. It does not remain in his property for long, as his friend Sméagol murders him to get it for himself. In the following years Sméagol is estranged from his people, and eventually seeks refuge under the Misty Mountains.

Year 2480
Answering commands issued from their master in Dol Guldur, the Orcs begin to spread in the dark places beneath the Misty Mountains. From Mount Gundabad in the north to Moria in the south they secretly strengthen every stronghold, barring all the passes into the lands west of the mountains. To respond to the increasing threat from the mountains, the Woodmen of the western river vales raise their burg at Mountain Hall, building upon the foundations of an older fortification.


...
Last edited by Vardaen on Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:56 pm

...

Year 2510
Following a great battle, Eorl the Young, lord of the Horse-folk of the north, leads his people from the upper vales of the river Anduin to live as free Men in the plains of Calenardhon, far in the distant south. He becomes the first King of the Mark of the Riders.

Year 2570
Late in the reign of Náin II, a plague of Dragons begins to afflict the Dwarven mansions in the Grey Mountains. The Dwarves face a long and terrible war.

Year 2589
The Dragons of the northern waste spread south to prey on the Dwarves. King Dáin I and his second son Frór are slain by a Cold-drake while barring the gates to their halls.

Year 2590

Thrór, the eldest son of Dáin I and heir to the kingship, restores the royal house to its ancient seat in Erebor. The Arkenstone is brought back to its place in the Great Hall of Thráin, and with it returns a great part of Durin's folk. They mine and tunnel the roots of the Mountain, enlarging the subterranean kingdom building huge halls and greater workshops. Another group of Dwarves is led eastward by his brother Grór, the third son of Dáin: under his rule they eventually settle in the Iron Hills. About this time, several clans of Northmen living along the River Running move north to be closer to the Lonely Mountain. They befriend the Dwarven colony of Erebor, attracted by the opportunities offered by the prospering trade with the Iron Hills. The city of Dale prospers, and the following hundred years see it become the capital of a strong kingdom extending far and wide to the East and South.

Year 2740
Dismayed by the increasing forces of both Dwarves and Men of the North, many Orcs resort to raiding the regions west of the Misty Mountains. This threat comes mainly from their stronghold of Mount Gram.

Year 2747
At the Battle of Greenfields, Hobbits of the Shire face and defeat an Orc-band from Mount Gram. Their king, the Orc Golfimbul, is killed by Bandobras Took, better known as the “Bullroarer”.

Year 2758
About this time, the wild folks of the East move against their enemies. In the North, the armies of Dale muster under the banner of King Bladorthin, but between the end of 2758 and the first months of 2759, stiff, relentless winds hit the North, covering the lands with snow and ice. The Long Winter has come, and King Bladorthin dies before he sees the end of it. He is succeeded by his young son Girion, who drives his enemies back to the eastern frontiers of the realm. In five months, the Long Winter causes great suffering and inflicts grievous losses on many peoples. Gandalf the Grey himself intervenes, coming to the aid of the Shire-folk.

Year 2770
One night, Smaug the Dragon descends on the Lonely Mountain spouting flames. The Dwarves are caught by surprise and Erebor is sacked, its inhabitants slain. Warriors from Dale are destroyed too, and Girion their lord is killed. Thrór, the King under the Mountain, escapes the slaughter by secret means with his son Thráin. They are joined in exile by Thorin, the young son of Thráin. The Dragon claims the underground halls of Erebor as his lair, and its treasure becomes his hoard. From the Mountain, Smaug starts preying upon the neighboring lands, killing people and livestock and reducing the surrounding area to a wasteland. Some time later, Dale becomes deserted and slowly crumbles to ruins.

Year 2790
Thrór, Dwarven King in exile, is captured and slain in Moria by the Great Orc Azog. Preparing a war of vengeance, his son Thráin calls for a great muster of Dwarves.

Year 2793
The Dwarves of Durin's Folk, strengthened by great forces sent from the Houses of the other Fathers of the Dwarves, begin a long and cruel war against the Orcs of the Misty Mountains.

Year 2799
The final battle of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs is fought before the East-gate of Moria. The Dwarves are victorious, and a very young Dáin Ironfoot distinguishes himself by killing Azog single handedly. But victory has a bitter taste: the war has greatly reduced the number of Orcs still dwelling in the mountains, but at the cost of a frightful number of lives.
After the battle, the various Houses part ways without attempting to reclaim Moria, and the Dwarves are dispersed again to the four winds: Dáin Ironfoot returns to the Iron Hills. Thráin and his son Thorin wander westwards, to eventually settle in the Blue Mountains to the northwest.

Year 2841
A lust for gold slowly takes possession of Thráin. He resolves to return to Erebor and convinces Balin and Dwalin and a few others to leave the Blue Mountains with him. Their wanderings bring them again beyond the Misty Mountains, until on a dark night Thráin disappears in Mirkwood.

...
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:59 pm

...

Year 2850
After almost eight hundred years, Gandalf the Grey once again enters Dol Guldur in secrecy. Inside the evil fortress, he finds his darkest fears to be true: the dreaded Necromancer is indeed the dark lord Sauron. Before fleeing the black stronghold, the wizard encounters the missing Heir of Durin: a dying Thráin entrusts him with a map and a key and then dies.

Year 2851
The White Council meets in Rivendell to confer about Gandalf the Grey's discoveries in Dol Guldur. He urges a move against the dark lord, proposing an attack on his fortress. Saruman opposes Gandalf's advice, asserting that the Council is not yet ready and that for the moment Dol Guldur should not be molested for fear of worse repercussions (at this time, Saruman has already discovered that the One Ring was lost in the Gladden Fields, and does not want any interference in his attempts to find it).

Year 2890
Bilbo Baggins of Bag End is born in the Shire, son of Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took.

Year 2900
Despite the danger of these lands, many bold men and women make their way back into the vales of the Great River from the South. They are welcomed by Radagast the Brown to ‘live in amongst the more pleasant woods in the valleys and along the river-shores'.

Year 2911
An extremely fierce and long cold season begins in November. Remembered as the Fell Winter, its frozen grip doesn't release the regions of the North from snow and ice for five months. Rivers and lakes are frozen over, and white wolves descend from the frozen wastes of the far North.

When the frigid winds finally relent in March of the following year, rivers overflow with the melting of the snow and many lands are flooded as a result. It is about this time that the Long Marshes spread extensively, extending from the Old Forest road to the Forest River.

Year 2931
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, is born on May 1st. He is the direct descendant of Isildur, the last High King of the Men of the West. Two years later, his father is killed while riding against the Orcs of Mount Gram with the sons of Elrond Halfelven. His mother Gilraen takes Aragorn to Rivendell, where he is received by Elrond as foster-son. He is given the name Estel (Hope) and his lineage concealed.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:03 pm

RECENT PAST
"...there came one day to Bilbo's door the great Wizard, Gandalf the Grey, and thirteen Dwarves with him..."

The following entries report the relevant events that have occurred in the past five years. Entries not in italics are to be considered common knowledge for any character coming from the North, as this great news has spread far and wide in Wilderland.

Year 2941
The wizard Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and thirteen Dwarven companions visit Bilbo the Hobbit in the Shire: they set upon a quest to recover the treasure of Durin's Folk and free the North from the threat of the Dragon of Erebor.

Gandalf temporarily abandons the expedition to persuade the White Council to strike decisively against Dol Guldur: this time, Saruman approves and the council sets upon the difficult task. But Sauron yet again anticipates the moves of his enemies and retreats from his fastness: the Dark Power leaves Mirkwood.

A series of unlikely events lead to the death of Smaug and to the destruction of Lake-town. Dáin of the Iron Hills becomes King of the restored Kingdom under the Mountain, while Dwarves, Men and Elves collaborate in rebuilding new cities in Dale and upon the Long Lake.

Year 2942
Bilbo returns to his peaceful life in the Shire. He carries the One Ring with him, not suspecting its true nature. News of the great events that have come to pass spread across the land as he travels home.

The Dark Lord returns to Mordor. He is received by his most powerful servants, the nine Ringwraiths, who prepared for his return in their stronghold of Minas Morgul.

Year 2943
The Master of Lake-town falls victim of the dragonsickness and leaves, carrying with him most of the gold given to him by Bard for the help of the Lakepeople. Initially helped by some companions, he is then abandoned and dies of starvation in the Waste.

Year 2944
The creature Gollum leaves his lair under the Mountains and begins his search for the thief of the Ring. Some time later, he enters Mirkwood, to eventually reach Esgaroth and even the streets of Dale. For a while he is watched closely by the Wood-elves.

Years 2944-2945
Bard completes the reconstruction of Dale and is crowned King. A new Lake-town is completed on the Long Lake and trade resumes up and down the Running River. Beorn establishes his rule as a great chief at the head of his new followers, soon to be known as the Beornings.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:53 pm

GATHERING SHADOWS

"One autumn evening some years afterwards, Bilbo was sitting in his study writing his memoirs..."

The following entries describe events concerning Wilderland from year 2945 to 2951.

In the year 2951, the first seeds of the War of the Ring are planted, and a new era for Middle-earth begins.

Year 2946

The Gathering of Five Armies
In the last days of November, on the fifth anniversary of the eponymous battle, a great feast celebrating the victory at the Battle of Five Armies is held in Dale for the first time. People from all neighbouring lands are expected to participate in the revels, as the feast has been arranged to coincide with local celebrations held for the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the colder months of the year.

The Council of the North
During the first Gathering, envoys from Lake-town, the Woodland Realm and the Kingdom under the Mountain meet in the presence of King Bard to debate matters concerning Wilderland.

Book 1: Act 1 - Don't Leave the Path
During the celebrations a new group of heroes is born. Your Fellowship is founded. Outside Dale the group meeting Baldor and his son Belgo and helps the merchant with a group of local thugs. It is decided that they will aid Baldor is making the long trip through Mirkwood to Woodland Hall in the lands of the Woodmen. Through many dangers and trouble, the group comes out on the west side of Mirkwood at the Forest Gate not too much worse for wear. The Fellowship continues south to Woodland Hall where they look to spend the winter.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Mon Sep 15, 2014 10:32 pm

Book 1: Act 2: - Winter with the Woodmen

May 25th, 2947 The Third Age, Late Spring

Five months have passed since you arrived in Woodland Hall. After presenting the axe shard from Wolfbiter to Ingomer Axebreaker your fellowship was welcomed into the woodmen's land with open arms. It has been an average winter here, snow comes this far south and the warm hearths of the woodmen have kept you throughout the winter months.

Your wealth, both from Baldor's caravan trip, and the reward from the council of elders has kept you living comfortably here over the last half year. The road from Woodland Hall to Woodmen-town is not to long or hard to travel, and you've explored both settlements during your stay making yourselves known in some manner or another.

News from outside the lands is scarce in the winter, as few travelers make the trip. You in fact bring much news to the area about the lands of Dale. Telling about the festival of the Gathering of Five Armies, and how envoys from Lake-town, the Woodland Realm and the Kingdom under the Mountain met in the presence of King Bard to debate matters concerning all of Wilderland.

You see one another often, but from time to time you split up on your own undertakings, all in or about the Woodmen lands. Aerth joins the Woodmen to compete on the field of heroes come spring time, while Pipkin gains access to Wuduseld again spending days if not weeks studying the carvings there. Others work their trade, enjoy the time, or seek to lift the shadow of Mirkwood that still lies heavy on their hearts.

Book 2: Act 1 - Words of the Wise

May 25th, 2947 The Third Age, Late Spring


The characters have wintered at Woodland Hall following their first adventure together. They met at the Gathering of the Five Armies, where a number of young idealistic individuals congregated in the hopes of contributing to the resurgence of the Free Peoples. Adventure soon followed when they were tasks with escorting a caravan from Dale to Woodland Hall by a merchant Baldor and his young son Belgo.

The group arrived in Woodland Hall after many trials. Unsure of how to proceed, and with winter closing in around them, the company remained in Woodland Hall to see out the cold weather. The Woodmen welcomed the company to their settlement and gave them shelter over the winter. Idle would be the wrong word to use about the days of the fellowship in Woodland Hall. Now however with the promise of spring it is time once more for men and elves and dwarves and hobbits to take to the world.

Having made a name for themselves the Woodmen ask the company to help them gather in some food on one of the many hunting expeditions setting out into Mirkwood.

As the various hunting parties gather inside the gates of Woodland Hall's wooden palisade, a crowd gathers to celebrate the occasion and wish for a bountiful day. Children laugh and scream as they chase each other through the assembled throng. Dogs bark in excitement, eager to be off. Woodsmoke adds a pungent texture to the crisp morning air.

In front of the gates, the chiefs of the village's most prominent families draw their conversation to a close and bid each other good hunting. As they return to the parties they are leading, the gates are unbarred and swung open to the sound of hunting horns and the cheers of the settlement. The cheering continues as the Woodmen depart on the first hunt of the year. You take your places in the procession, following Amalric, the leader of your party. Once you are outside the palisade he leads you east, towards the forest.

The day is overcast and dew is thick on the grass as you approach Mirkwood. The world has the feel of having not yet fully woken up. The Woodmen seem in good spirits, competing with ever more outrageous claims of what they will be bringing back to the village at the end of the day. The hounds are racing ahead, chasing each other through the meadow, periodically returning as though demanding that you try to keep up with them.

Book 2: Act 2 - Of Leaves and Stewed Hobbit

August 10th, 2947 The Third Age, Late Summer


It has been two months since the Battle of Woodland Hall and the great feast where first was sung the song "Saviors of Woodland Hall" in your honor. The summer months have been kind to you and to the Woodmen. Hunting has been good with the defeat of the Orcs in southern Mirkwood. Often have the Woodmen invited you on their trips into the forest. The wealth from Baldor's caravan that brought you here has slowly dwindled, but the Woodmen people are kind to you, ever being generous in remembrance for what you've done for them. The fact that Radagast the Brown has spoken highly of your actions those many months ago also still rings in their ears, and so you've lived a comfortable life among the Woodmen.

In fact Radagast the Brown has taken a bit of a shine to you, and you to him. The Bird Tamer has asked you to take a few letters north to the Easterly Inn to leave for his friend Gadalf the Grey. Since your first trip to the Inn was short and pleasant everyone has agreed to this simple task from Radagast. It is a chance to refill pipeweed pouches, get news from Erebor, and the East. Its summer, and the weather is fine, so you've packed lighter, but not without the proper supplies.

You expect the trip to take between ten and fourteen days depending on the weather and the speed that you can travel. You've know made this trek several times and that helps with your planning. Gathered at the gate of Woodland Hall you say some good-byes to the friends you've made over the last year here and put foot to path and start off north!

A few woodmen scouts lead you along the hidden road north of Woodman Hall, shaving a few hours off your travel time until you exit the eves of Mirkwood and head out into the Vales of the Anduin proper. The men turn back there waving once then ducking into the dark forest. You stride north, with a half full belly Pipkin already is worried about his next meal but he says nothing about it and instead lights a pipe as he walks. You lead your lone pony through the late brown summer grasses and you look north back the way you came only this past spring.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: The Tale of Years

Post by Vardaen » Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:08 pm

Late November, 2946 Prelude: The Gathering of Five Armies

Late November, 2946 Book 1: Act 1 - Don't Leave the Path (Success. Baldor and Belgo Survived)

December to May, 2947 Book 1: Act 2: - Winter with the Woodmen

May 25th, 2947 Book 2: Act 1 - Words of the Wise (Success. Woodman Hall Saved)

June to August, 2947 Book 2: Act 2 - Summer with the Woodmen (New Patron: Radagast)

August 10th, 2947 Book 3: Act 1 - Of Leaves and Stewed Hobbit (Success. Dindy Rescued)

September 5th, 2947 Book 3: Act 2 - (New Sanctuary: Easterly Inn) (Establish Holding: Easterly Inn)

Spring, 2948 Book 4: Act 1 - Kinstrife and Dark Tidings (Success. Beorning Lands Saved)

Summer, 2948 Book 4: Act 2 - Fellowship Phase (A Scattered Fellowship)
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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