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You Are Zog (LotR Uruk-Hai Quest)

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Need a tie breaker on SV! I'll leave the vote open for a couple more hours while I think things through, there may be another mechanics related vote afterwards. I was in the middle of adding up the votes when I realised there might be chance to try something pretty fun, it will have a large impact on the future of the quest.
 
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[X] Orc of Mount Gundabad!

[X] Arnor!

Will THIS be the Angmarim Orc quest to succeed where others have fallen? Time will tell.
 
Adhoc vote count started by AzureShogun on Dec 6, 2020 at 12:15 PM, finished with 35 posts and 29 votes.
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And the results from SB are as follows:
  1. [X] Plan: Dreams of Grandeur
    -[X] Uruk-Hai of Isengard! (Start as an Uruk-Hai in Isengard. All physical and mental stats +, no real tradition to rely on, but you can start one of your own. All allies and yourself are under Thrall of Saruman and must make a wisdom check to deliberately break Thrall, chances increase with distance from Isengard, and with ill health of Saruman.)
    -[X] Arnor! Fabled Kingdom of Men, which had fallen most drastically in ages past. (Bonus to Elf, Men and Hobbit diplomacy, bonus to researching and buildings wonders to compare to the First Age, bonus to fighting Thrall effects and whatever you view as evil.)
    9 people have voted
  2. [X]Plan: Mongol Orcs
    -[X] Uruk-Hai of Isengard!
    -[X] Rohan!
    2 people have voted
  3. [X] Plan Say no to Industrialization
    - [X] Orc of Mount Gundabad!
    - [X] Gondor!
    1 people have voted

So, the reason I delayed for a bit was to see if SV would finalise on Gundabad or Isengard as an origin, if Gundabad had been chosen, I would have tried to run quests on SB and SV concurrently. A Zog of Isengard and a Zog of Gundabad, and the quests would have been synchronised because it would have been in the same world, I'm kinda sad to see it won't be happening, and also kinda glad that I won't have to split my attention between two different quests haha. And I don't even want to think about how SV or SB voters might try to sabotage each other when each Zog made contact with the other, thought I'm definitely going to have to explore this concept once I'm a bit more confident with my writing.

So, as it is now its a pretty clear winner for ISENGARD as our Origin, and ARNOR as an Inspiration for Zog. Going to start working on the chapter now, thanks for the interest so far!
 
Well, the shores of Isen river are good grounds for a newfound state, two (if not... inconvenient for a Reunited Dunedain Kingdom). I've read an Isengarder Orc quest on SB once, let's see how it goes.
 
I do hope we stay loyal to Saruman. There was an Uruk-Hai quest with a very similar premise. We played an Uruk-Hai at the battle of Helm's Deep which partially thanks to the reader's actions turned into an Isengard victory. Then we had to to start rebuilding the power of Isengard with Saruman stuck in Orthanc. It was fun sure Saruman said "Go kill the Rohani." or "Go rally the men from Dunland.", but whatever those were sound directives either way and we had a lot of freedom.

True shame the OP of that quest got perma banned for...whatever reason.
 
TheShadowOfZama said:
I do hope we stay loyal to Saruman. There was an Uruk-Hai quest with a very similar premise. We played an Uruk-Hai at the battle of Helm's Deep which partially thanks to the reader's actions turned into an Isengard victory. Then we had to to start rebuilding the power of Isengard with Saruman stuck in Orthanc. It was fun sure Saruman said "Go kill the Rohani." or "Go rally the men from Dunland.", but whatever those were sound directives either way and we had a lot of freedom.

True shame the OP of that quest got perma banned for...whatever reason.
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That's the one I remembered. Last time I heard of it, I think the whole game got shut down because the OP was cross-running it on an ERP forum/discord and it ended up NSFW.
 
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Character Creation 2
  • Threadmarks
    • Isengard and Arnor

    It has been 2 years since the Manling who spoke of Arnor was moved from his cell, and now you are finally an Adult of your people.

    It remains to be seen where Lord Saruman will assign you, but that doesn't mean you spent all your time listening to the prisoner, no you've spent most of your days for the last 20 years-

    (Pick TWO. They can be from either or both categories, as in you can go for two training actions, two learning actions, or one of each. These will influence the choices for where Saruman assigns you.)

    [X] Training
    • [X] Pike (You will learn how to stand, march, and fight in tight formations on an open field. While it might not be the most flexible of formation, if given time to form it can present a bristeling wall of points 5 layers deep to any enemy. An impossible fight for enemy infantry and a cavalry army's worst nightmare.)
    • [X] Sword (Your focus will be on fighting one on one over irregular terrain or in a crowded environment. Additionally you will train to use a shield at the same time, and the only formation you will learn is the shield-wall to offer some protection against enemy missiles and infantry charges, though nowhere near as effective as a pike formation it is something at least.)
    • [X] Crossbow (First comes learning how to reload, over and over until you can loose a bolt downrange 4 times a minute, then comes training how to hit a target more accurately than a regular bow would ever allow. Finally, comes learning how to loose and march in formations, how to tell when it's best to shoot while supporting friendly infantry close up, and when it's best to retreat from a position and relocate versus fighting it out with swords.)
    • [X] Warg-riding (Training on a Warg doesn't start off very difficult, while the other younger Uruks were off bashing each other with wooden sticks you were handed a floofy pupper and told it was your partner. Since they you've done everything together. Soon enough you had to learn how to fight a little too, but mostly your training revolves around being able to ride your Warg for hours on end, and maneuver with them across the sort of rougher terrain that would break the ankles of any horse who dared try. You've seen how the goblins and orcs (not URUKS) train their wargs, no partnership and no working together, you can only shake your head in disbelief.)
    [X] Learning
    • [X] Leadership (From a young age you were able to take charge of your group of friends easily, and as you grew up so to did you grow ever more adapt at leading. It didn't take long for your teachers and trainers to notice your talent, and soon enough you were put into specific leadership classes, learning more and more about what had come to you naturally. By the time you had become an adult there was an undeniable charismatic air about you, and Orcs, Hillmen and even Uruks would jump to obey your commands.)
    • [X] Administration (Numbers had always fascinated you, from your earliest days of arithmetic testing, to see who among your generation was even worth teaching, you excelled. It wasn't long before you learnt how to read the story told by the numbers, how the ebb and flow of supplies and demand could either shape, or be shaped by the activities taking place anywhere. Soon enough you had learnt how to wield these numbers until you could effectively run a major project and ensure that by the end of the day, all the numbers would line up as you demanded. As you approach adulthood your teachers are eager to see where your talents lead you.)
    • [X] Engineering (Lord Saruman has always been interested in the crafts of metal, and it wasn't so long ago, for him, that he lived amongst the dwarves and was able to observe their natural talents at work. And yet, never did they go beyond such meagre pursuits, never did they dream to make the work of many into the work of one, or to put shame to what could be accomplished with fickle fingers or weak muscle. You dare to dream higher. You are one of Lord Saruman's new 'Engineers' and it is your great joy to have been able to learn how to make artifice that renders obsolete the strength and weakness of muscle,and the nimbleness and dexterity of fingers. Your creations can do the work of 10 strong orcs all day long, and do it exactingly and precisely long after mortal hands would have fallen to exhaustion. And yet your thirst for machination grows even now.)
    • [X] Thaumaturgy (Much has the magic of the land been diminished since the Elder Days of Numenor that the Manling spoke of, and yet still it remains. And while it might be hidden to most mortal races of the world, and even most elves, your People are a young one, made long after those heady days of High Magic, and yet you have also had it woven into your very existence by Saruman. These circumstances have come together to allow your own people some meager acknowledgment of what dregs yet remain in the world, and Lord Saruman is ever eager to exploit that which remains. Long has he toiled over the rituals needed to breed more of your number, and while it has become easier as time has passed he is only too eager to hand over some of the responsibility to his budding Cabal of Sorcerers, so that he might devote his time more appropriately, and so you are taught and educated to see beneath the surface of the world, to hear the songs of years gone by that echo forever more in the tapestry that is reality, and you are taught the rituals and signs that might draw on some of that meager echo to help birth more of your kind, and preserve the strength of both body and mind that Lord Saruman laboured day and night for long years to create.


    The day after you celebrate your passage into adulthood, and before you have been assigned your new position, you hear a great cry in the Upper Hall, making your way there you are greeted to a new Announcement that has been attached to the door, a momentous proclamation that-

    (Ok, so this is where we pick exactly WHEN the Quest starts. You will be starting off age 20, and an adult Uruk-Hai, who has been trained in the things mentioned above. These will affect the position Lord Saruman gives you. Next chapter there will be choices you can make towards the specific position or role you want, but they will be influenced largely by the choices you make regarding your education and/or training. I will say it now, but if you want to be able to join the army from the get go with an officer position you will need to have both a learning AND a training action, having both of either would make you a grunt in the army if that's what you chose to do (there are many options that don't involved joining the army straight off.))

    [X] TA 3019 February - King Theoden of Rohan has declared War on Isengard, and has begun a relocation to Helm's Deep! Lord Saruman will mobilize the Army to depart as soon as possible towards Helm's Deep, while sending Scout and Warg Parties immediately to try and delay Theoden's march as much as possible and deny them time to prepare for siege. Meanwhile Isengard itself will immediately boost production of weapons and armor in the coming weeks while the Army is mobilised and last minute training and conscription takes place. The Forest of Fangorn will also have to be cut down to the edge of the mountains to fuel this huge effort. The energy of the Uruks and Orcs is palpable as excitement races through the crowd, the time for war has come, and with it the realisation of Lord Saruman's dream of dominion over this land! (So we start just a month of two before the Battle of Helm's Deep, it'll take a few weeks for the army to prepare to leave and then a few more to actually get there. Actions will be taken to try and slow Theoden's Host as it makes its own way to Helm's Deep, and while they started a lot sooner and lot closer than us, remember, they are just manlings, not Uruk-Hai, and they are moving with non-combatants too, which will slow them down a lot.)

    [X] TA 3019 March - There is nothing to fear in the Fangorn Forest, any such malicious rumours are the result of enemy sabotage. Hmm, kinda of strange, anyway the Army has just left, and you have been left behind, born just a month too late to take part in the war against Rohan. However, life does not stop just because others are at war, and indeed despite having Lord Saruman's full confidence in success, orders have been left for an expansion of the Iron Works and deepening of the Mining Pits to prepare ever more weapons. In fact, a new Army is already being formed, trained, and equipped. However disturbing rumours have begun to spread amongst those Orcs who work in the Forest, and none of the resident Hillmen will enter it any longer. Regardless, you have no time for silly rumours and fearful manlings, you have missed your chance for Glory at Helm's Deep and must instead work twice as hard now to find accomplishments in Isengard itself. (So the army has already left for Helm's Deep, and you missed the call for action! How tragic, still apparently funky things are going on in the forest, and Isengard has been left nearly defenceless. Yep, this start means you are going to be up against the Ents (and two hobbitses). Saruman will be busy using magic to support the Army at Helm's deep, so you will have to balance dealing with this yourself, versus potentially distracting Saruman and allowing the forces of Rohan to break the siege and strike back at Isengard. Lots of possibilities here.)

    [X] TA 3014 January - Lord Saruman has sequestered himself in Isengard, stating that he has important matters of the Arcane to see to and that he is not to be disturbed before the year is over. This announcement naturally has many Orcs and Uruks uneasy; without Lord Saruman there to direct them how will they get anything done!? Meanwhile the Industrial efforts Saruman has put in place are beginning to see results as the Mining Pits around the Orthanc are put to use to house the Ironworks in a sheltered area since unlike your own noble people, the regular Orcs of Isengard cannot work in the daylight, for the sun burns them as surely as fire held directly to the skin would. Efforts to Dam the river Isen and put it to work are also reaching their final stages as plans begin to reach completion and the Council Lord Saruman put together before his leave of absence has to make a decision if work can begin the moment the Spring floods are over. (You become an adult right as Saruman decides to use his magic mojo to weaken and enthrall King Theoden, this will mean you can get in on any number of projects while Saruman is otherwise distracted. The Industry of Isengard is just getting started, the big Dam is going to be built, or at least start building, later this year, and the Army is being formed, with doctrine being established you could get your foot into the door of any one of these very early on, and even have a fair amount of time left over to prepare for the attack on Rohan, or anything else you want to do. It will be less immediately action filled and interesting than the other two options though, no imminent crisis to deal with (though obviously I won't just make it boring hopefully)).



    AN/ So, magic. Pretty exciting huh? Yeah, LotR is a pretty magical setting and I wanted to capture some of that, however this stuff isn't 'battle magic' AT ALL. It's going to be simple rituals, and maybe some Alchemy later on, but you will never be able to cast magic on the fly like Saruman or Gandalf could, so just be aware of that. Magic as you will be encountering it acts as a much more subtle, supporting thing. Think of it like civil engineering, instead of any of the other interesting disciplines :p A joke, but it should cover what this magic will be like. You can scale it up, yes, and it can be very useful, but it's not going to be 'miniaturised' or otherwise worth wielding in battle. And don't worry too much, even if you don't pick it some other Uruks will be doing it, which is important since the Uruk-Hai need magic rituals to assist with population growth.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Administration (Numbers had always fascinated you, from your earliest days of arithmetic testing, to see who among your generation was even worth teaching, you excelled. It wasn't long before you learnt how to read the story told by the numbers, how the ebb and flow of supplies and demand could either shape, or be shaped by the activities taking place anywhere. Soon enough you had learnt how to wield these numbers until you could effectively run a major project and ensure that by the end of the day, all the numbers would line up as you demanded. As you approach adulthood your teachers are eager to see where your talents lead you.)

    [X] Engineering (Lord Saruman has always been interested in the crafts of metal, and it wasn't so long ago, for him, that he lived amongst the dwarves and was able to observe their natural talents at work. And yet, never did they go beyond such meagre pursuits, never did they dream to make the work of many into the work of one, or to put shame to what could be accomplished with fickle fingers or weak muscle. You dare to dream higher. You are one of Lord Saruman's new 'Engineers' and it is your great joy to have been able to learn how to make artifice that renders obsolete the strength and weakness of muscle,and the nimbleness and dexterity of fingers. Your creations can do the work of 10 strong orcs all day long, and do it exactingly and precisely long after mortal hands would have fallen to exhaustion. And yet your thirst for machination grows even now.)

    [X] TA 3014 January - Lord Saruman has sequestered himself in Isengard, stating that he has important matters of the Arcane to see to and that he is not to be disturbed before the year is over. This announcement naturally has many Orcs and Uruks uneasy; without Lord Saruman there to direct them how will they get anything done!? Meanwhile the Industrial efforts Saruman has put in place are beginning to see results as the Mining Pits around the Orthanc are put to use to house the Ironworks in a sheltered area since unlike your own noble people, the regular Orcs of Isengard cannot work in the daylight, for the sun burns them as surely as fire held directly to the skin would. Efforts to Dam the river Isen and put it to work are also reaching their final stages as plans begin to reach completion and the Council Lord Saruman put together before his leave of absence has to make a decision if work can begin the moment the Spring floods are over. (You become an adult right as Saruman decides to use his magic mojo to weaken and enthrall King Theoden, this will mean you can get in on any number of projects while Saruman is otherwise distracted. The Industry of Isengard is just getting started, the big Dam is going to be built, or at least start building, later this year, and the Army is being formed, with doctrine being established you could get your foot into the door of any one of these very early on, and even have a fair amount of time left over to prepare for the attack on Rohan, or anything else you want to do. It will be less immediately action filled and interesting than the other two options though, no imminent crisis to deal with (though obviously I won't just make it boring hopefully)).

    Da Powah of Science!
     
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