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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 1540841" data-attributes="member: 3146">If you do this, it's important to maintain the same cosmological assumptions as Tolkein did in order for your game to remain Middle Earth rather than Midnight or Athas or whatever else using the Middle Earth map. Middle Earth is defined as much by what kind of world it is as by its characters and geography. I think that one of those cosmological assumptions is that evil will not triumph completely. In the first age, the Valar came to earth and destroyed Morgroth. In the second age, Elendil and the faithful of Numenor were warned of the island's destruction by prophecy and were bourne to Middle Earth on the wings of the storm bearing the power to defeat Sauron. In the third age, the Istari were sent to Middle Earth to strengthen men to resist the Shadow and, eventually, someone caused Bilbo to find the Ring and to pass it to Frodo and Bilbo spared Gollum's life as did Frodo and that mercy enabled Gollum's treachery which made up for Frodo's failure to destroy the ring at the Cracks of Doom.I think it's fair to say that Evil was not meant to triumph and that, had Frodo failed, help would have arisen for Middle Earth from another quarter.So, let's examine the branching paths and see which ways they lead:1. Sauron does not have the ring. Either Sam has it (Frodo was killed in the Tower of Cirith Ungol and his head sent to Sauron along with his mithral shirt or perhaps he really was killed by Shelob) or someone else does.1.1 Sam has the ring. Now, Sam might go to the Cracks of Doom and destroy the ring himself. It's conceivable that he could succeed where Frodo failed. But it wouldn't make for a good campaign if he did. Its resolution would hang on the decisions of an NPC. So, if Sam has the ring, he has to be corrupted by it. Now, what if Sam is wrong about his own strength and he does have the strength to wield the ring for a little while. A great warrior (though short of stature) arises in the south wielding a flaming sword and commanding great loyalty from the men who follow him. Could this (Dark Sam) be the ally that Faramir and Imrahil need to preserve their people? Could they together resist Sauron or cast him down? And if they do, will Dark Sam's limited command of the ring's power mean that his grasp of it is weak enough that, unlike Sauron, he is able to be cast down after his triumph.1.2. It has fallen into the hands of Gollum. Despite what others here have said, I don't think this is a promising possibility. Sauron mastered Gollum and Gollum would not go back to his cave under the mountains. Sauron would swiftly get the ring if Gollum had it.1.3. One of Sauron's free-willed servants got the ring and claimed it for his own.1.3.1. One of Sauron's great servants got it (The Mouth of Sauron, or someone like Saruman--Saruman himself can't get it because it's passed out of his power by the time Frodo reaches Mordor). In this case, I think it goes something like this. The expected hammer-blow never falls. Shortly after Sauron's victory at the Morannon, the Black Gate is sealed and his forces withdraw. Minas Tirith is waiting for an attack that doesn't materialize. Rumors grow of fighting in the East. Sauron's forces are fighting among themselves some say. Do the PCs, Eowyn, Faramir, and Imrahil seize the opportunity to attack? Do they wait for the rebel forces and Sauron to exhaust themselves in battle and then attack? If Sauron defeats the rebel, then all is lost. If the rebel defeats Sauron quickly, the situation doesn't look good either for the new Dark Lord will also be too strong. But if the rebel ascends to Sauron's throne in a pyrhic victory, they might assail him at that point and even the power of the ring might not avail him--especially if Gondor and Rohan had good allies.1.3.2. One of Sauron's lieutenants got the ring but did not have the forces to immediately assail Sauron. Instead, he fled to the east and south to build up his army. This will play out more like the Dark Sam scenario (though perhaps more believably since it doesn't distort Sam's character).2. Sauron acquired the ring. All hope appears lost. This isn't a very good ending for the tale and doesn't fit in Middle Earth. So:2.1. Rumors of a Silmaril have surfaced. The Silmaril are not suited for war like the Ring but perhaps the power of the Ring is negated in it's presence. Or perhaps the Silmaril could be forged into a weapon of war. Or perhaps it's the passkey to entreat the Valar for help like was done in the first age.2.2. The darkness grows until Eru does something about it. Perhaps the world is sundered once more. Perhaps the Valar invade Middle Earth. Perhaps the end of the world is at hand and the armies of Numenor that were entombed upon the shores of Valinor are released.  The ships of Ar Phazon once more sail the seas and land upon the shores of Middle Earth to claim the Ring for their liege's war against the Valar. Will the PCs and the men of the West march under his banner? Will they resist? Will they hope desperately to sieze the ring from his forces at the moment of his victory over Sauron and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom?In all of this, there's time for more rumors. They could add to any of the above scenarios:Perhaps Gandalf has been given a new body and sent back to Middle EarthPerhaps Eomer or Aragorn survived the Battle of Moranon and is hiding in Ithilien or even in Mordor making his way back to Gondor. If he does, is it really the king that they hoped for or an imposter claiming his title?Perhaps one man escapes with Anduril. It's not enough but perhaps it will hold back the shadow for a little while.</blockquote>

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