The battle for Lórien raged on for weeks. The first army came out of Dol Guldur, striking from the East. Were it not for the heroes’ warning, the elves of Lórien would have been caught by surprise when Ufthak’s army attacked from the north a day later. Though eager to help, the heroes were forbidden from combat, with the elves assuring them that the situation was under control. Instead they spent their time recuperating and planning for when they would get a chance to rescue their captain from the orcs. The last they’d seen of her she had been captured by Chieftain Ufthak during their battle at the shores of the Anduin. They could not know for sure if she was still alive, though none of the heroes allowed themselves to say so openly.

While the heroes planned, the emissary spent his time in the counsels of the elves. The heroes assumed he was advising them on the war, but the truth was quite different. He was surprised to see how little Galadriel worried about the ongoing battle, as if there was no chance for the enemy to succeed despite their overwhelming numbers. And indeed, as each successive attack on the forest failed, the emissary began to believe her. Instead, she asked him about the group of heroes, their quest, and their captain. She seemed impressed that a group, with members from all corners of Middle Earth, consisting of different types of peoples, would work together for the good of all.

“Do you intend to join them on their rescue mission?” Galadriel asked him during one of their meetings.

“They have no chance to succeed. They’d have as much luck rescuing her from Mordor itself” he responded.

“That is not what I asked” Galadriel prodded. “Do you plan to join their mission.”

“Yes” he said with a sigh. “They have a better chance of succeeding with my help, and despite our differences, I’ve come to respect them and their cause.”

“If your friend is still alive, she will be held within the dungeons under the fortress. The only person who has knowledge of the fortress’s layout, aside from Sauron and his minions, is the wizard Gandalf.” Galadriel informed him.

“Do you know where he is?” The emissary asked.

“No, and you and your companions do not have the time to find where he is wandering. But I know he mapped out the twisting passages of the fortress. That map should still be somewhere within Dol Guldur if you can find it. And if you do so, and brought the map back to me, it could prove to be a valuable asset in our fight against the enemy.”

At that moment one of Galadriel’s captains came to give his report, and with that Galadriel turned back to coordinate her defense. The emissary was left to wonder how they would find a single map deep within the stronghold of the enemy.

At long last, the orcs’ assault ended, and the heroes were allowed to depart on their mission. As with their departure from Thranduil’s realm, they were to receive no help from the elves other than supplies and well wishes, not that the heroes would have asked given their slim chances for survival. And like the previous journey, they were approached at their departure by the emissary, carrying a full pack of supplies.

“Have you come to sidetrack our mission again?” One of the heroes asked. “Perhaps this time you’ve come to order us to Isengard.”

“On the contrary.” The emissary responded. “With your permission, I’d like to join you.”

The heroes took a moment to glance at each other, before one of them reached out to clasp the emissary’s hand. And with that they set off, leaving behind the safety of Lórien to journey to the darkest heart of Mirkwood.

With the armies of Dol Guldur shattered, the heroes found little opposition as they traveled to the fortress. The few times the heroes did encounter any orcs, it was their foes who fled from them. Once they came within sight of the fortress, however, they realized that their mission would become much more difficult. Orcs, spiders, and wargs could be seen all around the fortress, to say nothing of the horrors the heroes expected to find within. Driven by the determination to rescue their friend and captain, the heroes could do nothing but clasp their weapons tighter as they made their way closer.

Quest Stages

1A You have come to Dol Guldur to rescue one of your friends which was captured and is being held inside.

2A Finding a hidden entrance to the dungeons of Dol Guldur at last, you attempt to make your way through the caverns beneath the hill, searching for your imprisoned friend. The denizens of this labyrinth stand in your way, while the jailors protect the prisoner.

3A Following a thread of sunlight, you discover a cavern opening leading out through the side of the hill. Stationed outside the cave-mouth, however, is a large group of orcs.

Do not read the following until the heroes have won this quest.

It wasn’t until the fortress of Dol Guldur had left their sight that the heroes allowed themselves to rest. Completely exhausted, they hid in a small clearing to catch their breath and let the fact that they actually survived sink in. As bad a condition the heroes were in though, the captain was faring worse. She had clearly been tortured at the hands of her captors, and could barely stand without help.

But they were not to have much rest, there or anywhere else on the road back to Lórien. Clearly spurred on by the nazgul, and under the leadership of Ufthak, the orcs of Dol Guldur tirelessly pursued the heroes and their rescued friend. It wasn’t until they were free of the forest, and back under the protection of the elves of Lórien that the heroes allowed themselves to let down their guard. Infiltrating Dol Guldur, rescuing the captain, and returning alive had taken everything the heroes had, and they were more than happy to return to the care of the elves, where they slipped into a deep sleep.

“Our healers report that all of your friends, including their captain are on the road to a full recovery.” Galadriel and the emissary were once more meeting, following his recovery and release from the elvish healers.

“I noticed that you visited her after we arrived. You wouldn’t have had anything to do with her return to health, would you?” The emissary asked.

“She has a strong will, it wasn’t hard to strengthen her body as well.” Galadriel said.

“Whatever you did, I thank you. The world is all the safer for it.”

“Yes, I’m sure that her and her band of heroes will be off on their next adventure soon. But what about yourself? Do you plan on returning to your people?” Galadriel asked.

The emissary took a moment to consider her question. “My duty to my people requires that I return and inform them of these developments. But I must admit that the life of these heroes intrigues me. I would not be opposed to joining them again if our paths cross join in the future.”

“If you ever want to return to Lórien, I’m sure I could find a use for you.” Galadriel smiled. “That is, if you want to go on any more adventures.”

“All you have to do is ask.” The emissary answered, returning her smile.

“If you are being sincere with that promise,” Galadriel said. “If you could delay returning to your people, I was speaking with your friends and their captain about something that has been on my mind…”



The adventure continues in The Hunt for Gollum, the first adventure pack of the Shadows of Mirkwood cycle.

Conclusion

And there it is! From the barest of bones in the core set, we’ve now got a more fleshed out group of heroes, who we’ve been able to follow in a harrowing journey across the Wilderland. Let me know what you think of the changes that I’ve made through the story, and if there’s anything you would’ve done differently. This whole process has made me much more appreciate all that it takes to try and create compelling narratives given the limitations.

Up next will be a story review for one of the later cycles, before I dive into the Shadows of Mirkwood review and rewrite.



