The Hills of Evendim Planning/Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Elora, with littlemanpoet, invites you to play:

The Hills of Evendim

Historical Background and Basic Storyline

The historical background of this RPG is the War of the Ring and its aftermath. The year is the same as that observed in The Green Dragon Inn RPG: Fourth Age 12. The three remaining Hobbits of the Fellowship of the Ring have risen to leadership in the Shire, King Elessar is on his throne in Minas Tirith, and the realms of men are advancing in orderliness and peace, in the west.

It being Fourth Age year 12, 1434 in the Shire Reckoning. It is two years before King Elessar rides north, and Fornost and Lake Evendim, and the Hills of Evendim surrounding it, have not yet been cleansed and brought to order. Elessar had first sent surveyors to Lake Evendim, in FA 6, to take stock of the needs for repair, intending to rebuild the tower of Fornost into a summer residence. The surveyors returned with their report, and Elessar sent wrights north in FA 8, to prepare for rebuilding. These wrights were never heard from again. After a year, Elessar sent scouts to discover what they could in the Hills of Evendim. They did not return. For the following years, twice per year, Elessar sent out more scouts, only to never hear of them again. Rangers of the North went out in force in FA 11; it was hoped that their stronger numbers would be enough for their protection as well as discovering the cause of the former parties' disappearances. These Rangers were also never heard from again.

When meeting together informally in the autumn of FA 11, King Elessar spoke of his troubles in the North to King Eomer, by way of relating a frustrating situation. Eomer offered his Messenger, Eodwine, who was eager to go North adventuring at any rate. Elessar reluctantly accepted the offer, not wanting to put his friend's trusted man in needless danger; Eomer, thinking that Eodwine being Rohirrim instead of Gondorian, might prove some small benefit. Elessar accepted his friend's offer at last, and Eodwine departed with both their blessings, and warnings to take great care. Eodwine was to report back after a year and a day, being as circumspect as he could. On his very first foray into parts north, yet far from Evendim, he was captured, barely outside the borders of the Shire.

Unknown to his capturers, there was a witness, one Falowik, a lone wanderer, who had left Breeland 12 years before. This Falowik reported the capture to the nearest village, and so the Shire was warned. Mayor Samwise Gamgee passed on word to the Thain and and the Master of Buckland; Master Meriadoc Brandybuck determined to take matters into his own hands, trusting fully in Samwise, but not the slowness of his shirriffs, and ordered a party to be formed to rescue the beloved servant of his friend, King Eomer, and to discover once and for all, the cause of the disappearances.

[ October 22, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]