We've been playing a Lord of the RIngs Campaign for near 3 years of real time and now 13 years of game time from Year 2947 to now 2961.
This evening's game was 12 years (of Middle Earth time) in the making. A decision made by the characters all that time ago, battles fought over the years, enemies made, and the rescue of revenge fueled woman in the year before all played a part in the decision and outcome tonight.
Unlike any of the previous adventures, the years gone by, there was no combat tonight. No character was in mortal Peril and yet the Peril was for the future. An enemy returned to claim a title they believed rightly was theirs by descent - their father had died and they were next in line.
However, the characters have run into them before and battled their followers in the depths of the Mirkwood. They know of his evil, they are aware he served the Necromancer of Dul Guldur and cannot be allowed to become the War Leader of the Woodmen. Yet, the young warriors speak Mogdred's name in awe, appreciate his commitment to the old ways, the respect he shows his dead father, and the gold he showers them with.
At the council to decide the new War Leader, Ceawin and Munderic have already made their pitches for the title, Mogdred has spoken and now a hush falls across the council. The bonfire crackles and wood snaps as it burns.
Theodwin speaks up, asking to be considered as War-Leader. He has travelled the Mirkwood, fought with spiders, Orcs, Goblins and worse. He has the ear of Radagast the Brown and has worked tirelessly to protect the homes of those who call the Mirkwood home.
Hallas stands to weight to the words spoken - and Mark, who plays Hallas, had a speech prepared which he delivered in the manner of Aragorn at the Gates of Mordor. This was the first time that Hallas had really embraced his disposed royal status, stood up and made himself heard, led by example.
If Dungeons and Dragons can have beautiful moments, then this was it!
Hallas's speech: My dear friends and fellow wanderers of Middle Earth, as I stand before you today, under the vast expanse of the heavens that have witnessed the rise and fall of countless kingdoms, I am reminded of the weight of our shared history.
I am Hallas, once the king of a realm now lost to the mists of time, a name that echoes in the hearts of few, but in the spirit of many. I do not come before you clothed in the fineries of a sovereign; instead, I don the raiments of a wayfarer, for my kingdom exists no longer within the bounds of stone walls and gilded halls. My lands were swallowed by shadows and my subjects scattered like the autumn leaves upon the wind.
Yet, amidst this desolation, I have found strength not in gold or glory, but in unity with those who share this world we cherish. We live in a time fraught with danger and uncertainty. Dark forces gather at the fringes of our/your lands, and whispers of power seek to poison the very air we breathe. But let us not despair! For I stand here not as a king of fading memories, but as a harbinger of hope. If we unite—Elves, Men, Dwarves, and all the free folk of Middle Earth—then the legacy of our diverse peoples will shine brighter than the greatest treasure ever forged, Theodwin has the council of Rhadagast, friend of the woodman realm
As we stand at this crossroads, it is imperative that we reflect on the choices that lie before us. The shadow that looms—threatening to creep further into our lands south of Woodman Hall—is not merely a darkness to be ignored. It represents a promise of tyranny, servitude, and despair. We must recognize that those who allow this menace to encroach upon our homes and our hearths cannot be true friends to the free folk of Middle-earth. We have fought long and valiantly against the forces that seek to bind us.
Remember the tales of valor from our ancestors; the victories won on the fields of battle are not merely chapters in a story, but lessons that echo through time. They teach us that inaction is complicit; that turning a blind eye to growing darkness only seeds despair among our people. To those who ponder the consequences of their silence, remember this: the fate of our land lies not in the hands of those who would see it divided, but in each one of us who stands united against oppression.
We must be the light that pushes back against the encroaching shadow. Let us not be swayed by fear or indifference. We must rise together, hand in hand, as guardians of our freedom. For it is in our unity, our willingness to fight for a brighter tomorrow, that we will reclaim the spirit of Middle-earth.
Let it be known that those who permit the shadow to grow are no allies to the free folk.
We shall not be silent.
We shall not stand idle. The legacy of our courage shall be the beacon that drives the darkness away! Theodwin is that beacon at this time.
Together, we must forge ahead, unyielding and steadfast, declaring to all that the light of freedom shall prevail over any shadow!
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