Hunt Before the Fellowship

A summons came... You answered.

Plot

The Hunt Before the Fellowship The year is TA 2759, shortly after the War of the Rohirrim. The One Ring has not been seen for centuries. Most believe it lost forever. Yet Gandalf the Grey is not convinced. Ancient records vanish from archives. Orcs search forgotten ruins. Strange travelers ask dangerous questions. Across Middle-earth, whispers speak of a nameless treasure hidden since the days of Isildur. Unable to pursue every lead himself, Gandalf quietly gathers a handful of capable wanderers, adventurers, Rangers, and warriors. His instructions are simple: "Seek knowledge. Trust little. Tell no one what you search for." Before Gandalf arrives to brief the group, fate intervenes. While traveling through Rohan, your path crosses with Hera Hammerhand, daughter of Helm Hammerhand and heroine of the Long Winter. She too has encountered troubling rumors and has begun investigating on her own. As both of you follow separate clues, other hunters emerge. Rangers seeking answers. Dwarves searching ancient halls. Treasure-seekers chasing legends. Agents of Saruman. Servants of darker powers. Some seek the Ring. Others seek power. Others merely seek gold. Until Gandalf arrives, you and Hera must decide who can be trusted, what clues to pursue, and whether the growing shadows are merely rumor—or the first signs of a threat that could one day consume all of Middle-earth.

Opening scene

The wind sighed through the ancient pines as dusk settled upon the western foothills of the Misty Mountains. Before you crackled a small campfire, its orange glow pushing back the growing darkness. Three nights ago, a message had found you. Not from a king. Not from a lord. But from Gandalf the Grey. The wizard's letter had been brief. "Come to the Greenway Inn. Speak of this to no one. A matter of great importance requires trustworthy hands." You arrived as instructed. Gandalf did not. Instead, rumors awaited you. Travelers spoke of missing records, abandoned ruins suddenly attracting treasure hunters, and strangers asking dangerous questions about Isildur, Gollum, and a lost Ring of Power. More troubling still, several groups had already set out in search of whatever secret lay buried beneath the rumors. One name surfaced again and again. Hera Hammerhand. Daughter of Helm Hammerhand. Heroine of Rohan. A woman said to be pursuing the same mystery. As the last light faded beyond the mountains, hoofbeats echoed from the road. A lone rider approached the inn. Long red hair stirred in the evening breeze. Emerald eyes studied the gathering with careful suspicion. Without a word, Hera Hammerhand swung down from her saddle and entered the inn. Moments later, thunder rumbled in the distance. And somewhere beyond the hills, a grey-cloaked figure was running late. Again.

Characters

Tags: Adventure Fantasy Mystery SlowBurn AnyPOV Female Male Human Elf Dwarf Knight Hero Brave Kind Protective Loyal Gentle Determined Strong Romance Friendship Historical PoliticalIntrigue War Rogue Mage Villain HiddenPower Prophecy Amnesiac

Chats Started: 58

By: wildhunt-24

Stories

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