A light from the shadows shall spring (Tolkien AU)
Among the Powers that dwell in the uttermost...
Among the Powers that dwell in the uttermost...
A Light from the Shadow (Tolkien CKII)
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ganonso
Compulsive Quest Starter
- Location
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A light from the shadows shall spring (Tolkien AU)
Among the Powers that dwell in the uttermost West and keep watch over Middle-Earth there is one that is not renowned in stories or song and wrongfully for her part into the world is great. Her name is Nienna and she is sister to Mandos and Lorien, the lords of death and dream. Her power has always been the light of compassion and pity and when her siblings sung the world into creation, she was already crying in remembrance of what will never was, what should have been and what never shall be. The elves depict her as a fair maiden always in tears, not for herself, but for the whole of Arda Marred. However as the Third Age of the Sun nears its ending, Nienna the Mourner decides to act openly in Middle-Earth for the first time of her eternal existence.
Dreams she send, portents and omens, not to those who walk the righteous path, for they do not need her gifts but to those broken by the discord of Melkor, those he enslaved and mutilated beyond all recognition and those he seduced to his service. She gives them a chance to redeem themselves, to join the forces of light and rise against the menace of Sauron. Her net is cast very wide, encompassing all orcs not under the direct dominion of Mordor to the evil men that worship Sauron as a dark god of fire and shadow. Even the last of the Valaraukar in Moria is contacted, albeit more directly than the others.
In the end, you are the only one to understand and answer. More exactly you and many of your direct servants. So who are you?
[] High Chieftain Gulghash of the Remnants of Angmar:
Long ago there was a kingdom of darkness ruling over the North of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Nazguls reigned since its fastness of Carn Düm, hewn in the northern peak of the Misty Mountains. His troops devastated the heirs of Isildur and reduced their kingdom to ruins. In this year 2980 of the Third Age, you eke a living in the ruins of the ancient citadel, leading the orcish tribes that do not pledge allegiance to Mount Gundabad, what pitiful remains of the Hill-Men of Rhudaur still endure and some spectres and wraiths cursed by the Witch-King. The dreams played on your desire to build a mighty kingdom not subject to any of Sauron's tyranical whim but also the regrets of a long life. For even by Orcs' standards you are old, remembering the fall of Arnor and the atrocities you comitted at the behest of a master that fled and abandonned you as soon as it was expedient for him to do so.
Pros: Vestige of Sorcery: In time gone by, your leader was know as the Witch-king and he altered you as he later altered his servants in Minas Morgul. Your orcs carry more elvish or even Umaia blood than normal and enough Dunedain's blood remain in your men to allow them the use o magic. Nothing as impressive as the arts of the Elves but still an ace in the hole if you need one.
Cons: Deserted Lands: While your redemption will ease the burden of the Rangers, many dark creatures still haunt the wastes of what was Arnor. You'll need to cleanse these lands and perhaps more difficult find a way to make peace with both the Dunedain and the hidden realm of Rivendell to rejoin the community of the Free People
[] Saruman the White of Isengard
There was a time where you would have denied the mere thought you needed redemption. After all you only sought what was the original project of the Ainur: Order, Rulership, Peace, all these things in which your allies hindered you rather than help you. The might of the West was too in decline, the power of your ennemy too great and to destroy him, you convinced yourself you needed the Ring of Power lost so long ago to turn the tide, banish Sauron and bring order to a chaotic universe. Lady Nienna's rebuke was perhaps the most embarassing moment of your entire immortal life but after that, you knew what choice was offered. You could help once more the Free People and ensure they remain free, free even to make their own mistakes. Or you could be the second of the Aulendili to walk the path of the Discord. You chose Harmony, recognzing at last the vicious inferiority complex you have concerning Olorin. You know it will take time but you are confident you can help to turn the tide.
Pros: Chief of the Wise: Even if the last meeting of the White Council occured 27 years ago, you still have influence over people as diverse as the Dunlendings, the Rohirrims, the Stewards of Gondor and the Istari. You still entertain a vast entourage of spies and informants who could be repurposed to be more directly useful to the war efforts. And let's not forget your greatest asset: The Palantir.
Cons: Father of Lies: Let's be honest in the past centuries you lied to all your allies. Some of these lies are not important and served the greater good but others, like the fact you guessed before everyone than Sauron was at Dol Guldur and did everything to not oust him before you had no choice will cause trouble.
[] Castamir of the Havens of Umbar
You are heirs to both greatness and darkness. Indeed while you bear the name of he who should have been the rightful king of Gondor, the blood that flows in your veins come from the Numenoreans that founded the city of Umbar. Most of them ended worshipping Melkor and making war upon the Elves and the Faithful until the kings of Gondor conquered them. Still you are mightier than most men, tall and grey-eyed like a northen Dunedain and even possess some small ability in magic. Recently you dreamt of the doom of the proud island of Numenor destroyed by Pharazon's folly, how the cult of Melkor not only did never bring the immortality it promised but caused your race's days to wane and diminish. You have made your decision, the descendants of Numenor will stand united and once again defeat Sauron. In exchange you will remain an independant kingdom, subject to no lord but yourself. At least if you can convince the Princes of the West of that solution.
Pros: Heirs of Numenor: Umbar is the foremost naval power of Middle-Earth in this age and your corsairs are feared on every coast. In addition you managed to retain most of the warlike traditions of Numenor intact, girding your elites troupes in thought mail and arming them with deadly swords. You are a military powerhouse able to heavily contribute to the war.
Cons: A Legacy of Hatred: One of the main reason the kingdoms of the South have participated in the wars of Sauron is that the Numenoreans enslaved them and sacrificied them to Melkor. The other is that you ruthlessly opress them into doing so for the past 1500 years. The Haradrim that surround your lands hate you, and righfully so. And they vastly outnumber you
[] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
You served Melkor who Arises in Might before the creation of the world, you were part of his entourage in the times of his splendor and followed him in his fall. You took a form great and terrible to help him make war upon the Valar and were present at the fall of both his fortresses. At the end of the First Age, you escaped the War of Wrath by fleeing to the roots of the world. There you slumbered until the dwarves dug too deep and too greedily. You lashed out, killing their kings and herding the goblins tribes to attack their mansion of Khazad-Dum until you were alone in the darkness surrounded by the oricsh swarm. You were contacted directly by Nienna that you had almost forgotten. She showed you how much of your power had dissapeared since your rebellion and how your life would one day end if you continued in your ways. The choice was deceifully simple. Make your penance here and now or wait for the day a hero would kill you and your naked spirit would be send under the eyes of the Valar for judgement. Unlike your master and Sauron, you chose redemption. Now what to do with a goblin kingdom at your orders.
Pros: Shadow and Flame: You are the most individually powerful being on Middle-Earth with the exception of Sauron. You tower over your troops like a vast shadow wreathed by flame, only blades forged by the Elves can harm you and you can defeat all but the most powerful lords of the Firstborn. As a being a primeval shadow, the creatures of Melkor tend to obey you instinctively.
Cons: Broken Instruments: The Moria Goblins are willful but not the smartest of Orc breeds, even in the ruins of the dwarves you will struggle to build a civilizaiton worthy of the name and of use against the armies of Mordor. Also surrounded by Orcs you cand dominate at your leisure, you are in danger of relapsing.
Among the Powers that dwell in the uttermost West and keep watch over Middle-Earth there is one that is not renowned in stories or song and wrongfully for her part into the world is great. Her name is Nienna and she is sister to Mandos and Lorien, the lords of death and dream. Her power has always been the light of compassion and pity and when her siblings sung the world into creation, she was already crying in remembrance of what will never was, what should have been and what never shall be. The elves depict her as a fair maiden always in tears, not for herself, but for the whole of Arda Marred. However as the Third Age of the Sun nears its ending, Nienna the Mourner decides to act openly in Middle-Earth for the first time of her eternal existence.
Dreams she send, portents and omens, not to those who walk the righteous path, for they do not need her gifts but to those broken by the discord of Melkor, those he enslaved and mutilated beyond all recognition and those he seduced to his service. She gives them a chance to redeem themselves, to join the forces of light and rise against the menace of Sauron. Her net is cast very wide, encompassing all orcs not under the direct dominion of Mordor to the evil men that worship Sauron as a dark god of fire and shadow. Even the last of the Valaraukar in Moria is contacted, albeit more directly than the others.
In the end, you are the only one to understand and answer. More exactly you and many of your direct servants. So who are you?
[] High Chieftain Gulghash of the Remnants of Angmar:
Long ago there was a kingdom of darkness ruling over the North of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Nazguls reigned since its fastness of Carn Düm, hewn in the northern peak of the Misty Mountains. His troops devastated the heirs of Isildur and reduced their kingdom to ruins. In this year 2980 of the Third Age, you eke a living in the ruins of the ancient citadel, leading the orcish tribes that do not pledge allegiance to Mount Gundabad, what pitiful remains of the Hill-Men of Rhudaur still endure and some spectres and wraiths cursed by the Witch-King. The dreams played on your desire to build a mighty kingdom not subject to any of Sauron's tyranical whim but also the regrets of a long life. For even by Orcs' standards you are old, remembering the fall of Arnor and the atrocities you comitted at the behest of a master that fled and abandonned you as soon as it was expedient for him to do so.
Pros: Vestige of Sorcery: In time gone by, your leader was know as the Witch-king and he altered you as he later altered his servants in Minas Morgul. Your orcs carry more elvish or even Umaia blood than normal and enough Dunedain's blood remain in your men to allow them the use o magic. Nothing as impressive as the arts of the Elves but still an ace in the hole if you need one.
Cons: Deserted Lands: While your redemption will ease the burden of the Rangers, many dark creatures still haunt the wastes of what was Arnor. You'll need to cleanse these lands and perhaps more difficult find a way to make peace with both the Dunedain and the hidden realm of Rivendell to rejoin the community of the Free People
[] Saruman the White of Isengard
There was a time where you would have denied the mere thought you needed redemption. After all you only sought what was the original project of the Ainur: Order, Rulership, Peace, all these things in which your allies hindered you rather than help you. The might of the West was too in decline, the power of your ennemy too great and to destroy him, you convinced yourself you needed the Ring of Power lost so long ago to turn the tide, banish Sauron and bring order to a chaotic universe. Lady Nienna's rebuke was perhaps the most embarassing moment of your entire immortal life but after that, you knew what choice was offered. You could help once more the Free People and ensure they remain free, free even to make their own mistakes. Or you could be the second of the Aulendili to walk the path of the Discord. You chose Harmony, recognzing at last the vicious inferiority complex you have concerning Olorin. You know it will take time but you are confident you can help to turn the tide.
Pros: Chief of the Wise: Even if the last meeting of the White Council occured 27 years ago, you still have influence over people as diverse as the Dunlendings, the Rohirrims, the Stewards of Gondor and the Istari. You still entertain a vast entourage of spies and informants who could be repurposed to be more directly useful to the war efforts. And let's not forget your greatest asset: The Palantir.
Cons: Father of Lies: Let's be honest in the past centuries you lied to all your allies. Some of these lies are not important and served the greater good but others, like the fact you guessed before everyone than Sauron was at Dol Guldur and did everything to not oust him before you had no choice will cause trouble.
[] Castamir of the Havens of Umbar
You are heirs to both greatness and darkness. Indeed while you bear the name of he who should have been the rightful king of Gondor, the blood that flows in your veins come from the Numenoreans that founded the city of Umbar. Most of them ended worshipping Melkor and making war upon the Elves and the Faithful until the kings of Gondor conquered them. Still you are mightier than most men, tall and grey-eyed like a northen Dunedain and even possess some small ability in magic. Recently you dreamt of the doom of the proud island of Numenor destroyed by Pharazon's folly, how the cult of Melkor not only did never bring the immortality it promised but caused your race's days to wane and diminish. You have made your decision, the descendants of Numenor will stand united and once again defeat Sauron. In exchange you will remain an independant kingdom, subject to no lord but yourself. At least if you can convince the Princes of the West of that solution.
Pros: Heirs of Numenor: Umbar is the foremost naval power of Middle-Earth in this age and your corsairs are feared on every coast. In addition you managed to retain most of the warlike traditions of Numenor intact, girding your elites troupes in thought mail and arming them with deadly swords. You are a military powerhouse able to heavily contribute to the war.
Cons: A Legacy of Hatred: One of the main reason the kingdoms of the South have participated in the wars of Sauron is that the Numenoreans enslaved them and sacrificied them to Melkor. The other is that you ruthlessly opress them into doing so for the past 1500 years. The Haradrim that surround your lands hate you, and righfully so. And they vastly outnumber you
[] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
You served Melkor who Arises in Might before the creation of the world, you were part of his entourage in the times of his splendor and followed him in his fall. You took a form great and terrible to help him make war upon the Valar and were present at the fall of both his fortresses. At the end of the First Age, you escaped the War of Wrath by fleeing to the roots of the world. There you slumbered until the dwarves dug too deep and too greedily. You lashed out, killing their kings and herding the goblins tribes to attack their mansion of Khazad-Dum until you were alone in the darkness surrounded by the oricsh swarm. You were contacted directly by Nienna that you had almost forgotten. She showed you how much of your power had dissapeared since your rebellion and how your life would one day end if you continued in your ways. The choice was deceifully simple. Make your penance here and now or wait for the day a hero would kill you and your naked spirit would be send under the eyes of the Valar for judgement. Unlike your master and Sauron, you chose redemption. Now what to do with a goblin kingdom at your orders.
Pros: Shadow and Flame: You are the most individually powerful being on Middle-Earth with the exception of Sauron. You tower over your troops like a vast shadow wreathed by flame, only blades forged by the Elves can harm you and you can defeat all but the most powerful lords of the Firstborn. As a being a primeval shadow, the creatures of Melkor tend to obey you instinctively.
Cons: Broken Instruments: The Moria Goblins are willful but not the smartest of Orc breeds, even in the ruins of the dwarves you will struggle to build a civilizaiton worthy of the name and of use against the armies of Mordor. Also surrounded by Orcs you cand dominate at your leisure, you are in danger of relapsing.
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Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Castamir of the Havens of Umbar
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
Send a Maiar to deal with a Maiar.
Send a Maiar to deal with a Maiar.
- Location
- USA
A lot of good and interesting choices. Will have to think and decide
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
Fascinating. We need just get a bit creative with getting decent quantity and quality troops.
Zooboss
The White Tree
- Location
- Minas Tirith
[X] Saruman the White of Isengard
Finally! A Tolkien Quest that shows some promise.
I would have gone balrog, but I figure the power of Saruman and his influence will be too good to pass by. The weakened voice of Saruman managed to let him take over the Shire in a matter of of months with no one the wiser. Using its full potential for good would be very game changing.
And we also start off with a Palantir.
Finally! A Tolkien Quest that shows some promise.
I would have gone balrog, but I figure the power of Saruman and his influence will be too good to pass by. The weakened voice of Saruman managed to let him take over the Shire in a matter of of months with no one the wiser. Using its full potential for good would be very game changing.
And we also start off with a Palantir.
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
Kinda want to choose the Orc, but that Balrog option is tempting as all hell.
Especially considering that's essentially the cranky old man telling those little bastards to get off his lawn, only with a tad bit more murder.
Especially considering that's essentially the cranky old man telling those little bastards to get off his lawn, only with a tad bit more murder.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
While I very much like the idea of being able to use strong intrigue to get actions done (Saruman), I've always been fascinated by the Balrogs, and the ability to command the obedience of Melkor's spawn is fascinating, on top of our own individual power.
[X] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
Let our shadows lengthen and our flame burn.
Though it is going to be awkward to say the least when the dwarfish expedition shows up.
Ghashudun: Sorry for wreaking your greatest hold and setting your people wandering.
Balin: You will pay for that you monster!
Ghashudun: You know I don't see any of you carrying elf weapons and there are a lot of goblins around... Just saying.
Let our shadows lengthen and our flame burn.
Though it is going to be awkward to say the least when the dwarfish expedition shows up.
Ghashudun: Sorry for wreaking your greatest hold and setting your people wandering.
Balin: You will pay for that you monster!
Ghashudun: You know I don't see any of you carrying elf weapons and there are a lot of goblins around... Just saying.
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- Location
- Iceland
[x] Saruman the White of Isengard
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
[X] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
[X] Saruman the White of Isengard
Come on guys Saruman has it easy. Imagine how mind-blowing it will be for an army of Moria Goblins let by a creature of Shadow and Flame to show up at say the Hornburg.
Doomed Wombat
Let's go Darling!
- Location
- Dancing on wires!
[X] Ghashudun the Balrog of Moria
I'm pretty sure that when it comes to the dwarfs' oppinion of Durin's Bane it is going to take a lot more time than that to make a difference.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
So we have 9 years to reign in our Goblins and once he arrives we need to figure out how to be diplomatic while being a giant monster of fire and death.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
Yes by that time we will have a top hat and a monocle, we would be the Dapperlog.
If we do go with the Balrog I think one of our first actions should be to kidnap... er.... I mean recruit some humans so we can have some servants that can stand up for themselves to prevent Ghashudun form falling back into old habits.
