It has been many months since our fellowship gathered in Fionn MacCools Tavern in Minas Tirith to answer the calls for adventurers from King Eldarion.

“It was a busy but a quiet night at the Tavern. There were many observers but few adventurers that had answered the call. King Eldarion and his advisors were seated at the main table on the dais and observed the gathering crowd. Soon it became difficult to tell the adventurers from the observers. King Eldarion stood up silently and the entire room fell into a hush.

“Thank you for answering Gondor’s call!”

“Our need is dire and all we have it but whispers in the wind. We have but one Palantir and memories of where the others were last known to be. One lost in Isengard, One lost in Minas Ithil, One lost in Osgiliath, One last seen at Amon Sul, One sent from the Grey Haven to Lorien, One lost in the realm of the Angmar, and One stolen from Numenor by the Dark Lord’s Strega”

‘We must find them all and destroy them to prevent Sauron from once again gaining power. Although the One Ring has been destroyed, his malevolent spirit again gathers. The Nine are no more, but the Three have also left Middle-Earth. The board is even”

“Our seer has felt new dark magic through the Palantir. The White Witches are abroad. We know a few of their names, The Dweller, The Nomad, The Ascetic, and their leader The Acolyte. Beware the coven. They are seeking the Palantir as well.”

“We will gift this map and bag of holding to the party to hide the Palantir once found from Sauron and the coven. We also must hide our Palantir in case Sauron recovers all the others.”

The new Fellowship was formed:

• Arbun Bottombarrell – Halfling Rogue
• Hallamir Caidithas – Half-Elf Ranger
• Jesoc Fireber – Human Paladin
• Kifak Battleborn – Dwarf Cleric

The Fellowship set off for Osgiliath and were met by Elberon who provided them with horses. Elberon informed them that the Palantir was sent to the Paths of the Dead and gave them coins to use in the Paths of the Dead. The party took their leave and set off for Rohan.

The Fellowship were received by Elfwine and set off for Dunharrow. They entered the Paths of the Dead and were given a key in exchange for the coins by undead. The Fellowship continued to Sarn Erech and used the key to retrieve the first Palantir in a sculpture of an orb.

The Fellowship returned to Edoras and heard stories of Isengard exploding and the exodus of Orcs. The Fellowship set out for Isengard with 8 Rohirrim riders.

The Fellowship rode to Isengard and found that only a crater remained. They defeated the remaining Orc’s and freed Aenwyn – a scout from the Wood Elves realm. Aenwyn informed the Fellowship that they recovered a Palantir and sent it back to the Wood Elves realm.

The Fellowship agreed to escort Aenwyn back to the Wood Elves realm and made their way through Fangorn Forest where they defeated a band of Orcs and encountered and old crone living alone in a cabin in the woods who granted them immunity from cold. The cabin disappeared behind them as they exited Fangorn Forest and made their way to Maethelburg.

The Fellowship arrived at Maethelburg and were greeted by the town and asked to see the mayor. They were welcomed by the mayor but felt dizzy during dinner. The Fellowship passed out hearing the apologetic words of the mayor as everything went dark.

The Fellowship awoke in a cell and soon learned they were in Goblintown. The party were able to escape and fight their way out of GoblinTown and leave the Misty Mountains behind them.

The Fellowship entered Northern Mirkwood and found it was a winter wonderland and came upon dead spider carcasses that seem to have been exploded from the inside. They soon found a new horror that caused these deaths and defeated the Horror Hunters. The Fellowship continued on and came upon the Elven King’s Halls and found it was deserted and a frozen wasteland. Aenwyn discovered a hidden panel in the King’s throne and discovered the second Palantir along with this note:

“Dear Aenwyn, I hope you find this note and this Palantir. Please take the Palantir to the King in Minas Tirith and seek out the line of Dain in the Grey Mountains. Do not use the Palantir, I peered into the Palantir and unwittingly brought our doom. Beware the Curuni eight. But also in doing that I saw a Palantir in Nor Dumm in the Grey Mountains. Time is short. Go to them before the dark one does”

The Fellowship went north to the Grey Mountains and the town of Celeb-Ost. The soon heard that around the fortress of Nor-Dumm, the Ice Orcs and Ice Drake have created a blockade under direction of a Winter Witch to starve and kill the Dwarves. The Fellowship decided to attack the Ice Orc Fortress of Kula Dulakurth.

The Fellowship set out for Kula Dulakurth and found the fortress was occupied by Ice Orcs and a winter witch named Helka. They defeated the Orcs and Winter Witch and freed Lord Talin. The Fellowship found a Gateway Ring and a note on Helka:

“Ice Sister Helka, picked up a trail in Eriador. Staying in Bree before seeking out the Barrow Downs. Will join our Blood Sister, Serke, in Dol Goldur once my quest is complete. Serke has her seeing stone and we will gather our forces. Ice Sister, Nixe, encountered a hapless band of Eldarion’s fools in Fangorn – nothing to worry about. Join us when you are worthy – Blood Sister Agarwaen”

Lord Talin informed them that he sent the Palantir to Steel Fall to protect it from the Ice Orcs. His bravest warrior journeyed there and placed it in the Lair of Uruial – an ancient Red Dragon. He never returned. Even the Ice Orcs do not dare to venture there.

The Fellowship decided to head to Steel Fall but first explore Bar-en-Bairanex – the lair of the white drake that also created the blockade of Nor-Dumm. On the way Talin, shared the tale of the Hollowed Ones:

“In the candlelit corners of the world, where long-forgotten evils fester, there exists an undead horror that moves unseen among the living. They do not shamble like zombies, nor do they howl like wraiths. Instead, they wear the faces of those they consume, replacing friends, family, and rulers without a whisper of suspicion. These creatures are known as The Hollowed Ones—undead parasites that steal souls and assume the forms of their victims, perfect in every way except for the cold emptiness behind their eyes.

No one knows exactly where the first Hollowed One was born. Some legends claim they are the result of a necromantic experiment gone wrong, an attempt to cheat death that instead created a fate worse than undeath. Others whisper that they are the remnants of souls rejected by the afterlife, forced to steal new bodies to exist. What is certain is that they are not natural creatures. They do not breed, they do not eat, and they have no memories of their own. They are empty husks, always seeking a new life to steal.

A Hollowed One cannot simply kill and take over a body—it must first consume a soul. This process, called Hollowing, occurs when the creature locks eyes with a victim. In that moment, the victim’s soul is drawn out, leaving their body a lifeless husk. Then, the Hollowed One reaches out, touching the cooling flesh, and in mere moments, it becomes them.

This transformation is flawless. The Hollowed One takes the victim’s voice, memories, habits, and even their scent. They remember everything the victim knew—except for emotions. They can fake love, fake sorrow, fake joy, but they do not feel.  When cut they bleed, but after a few minutes the blood disappears.

However, this mimicry is not perfect. Small inconsistencies can reveal their deception:

• They avoid mirrors and reflections, where their true form flickers for an instant.
• They struggle with deeply emotional memories, recalling facts but not feelings.
• Animals sense their wrongness and react with fear or aggression.
• If mortally wounded, their stolen flesh peels away in unnatural, waxy strips.“

The Fellowship were unnerved but continued the next day to Bar-en-Bairanex. They defeated the horde of Hobgoblins and Ice-Sister Losse who was a transformed White Drake. They also found the following note on Losse:

“Dear Engwa  – the filthy dwarves delivered the Palantir to Urial. Awaiting Helka from Dula Kuladurth before destroying negotiating with Urial. Once we have the Palantir we will use the Gateway Ring to join you at  the Ruins of Annuminas so we can finally return home to Gerlkuneshe.“

The Fellowship continued to Steel Fall, the lair of Urial. They encountered Urial, were gifted treasures, retrieved the third Palantir and avoided a battle. The Fellowship thanked Urial and left. Arbun then snuck back and stole the necklace of Varda’s tears without Urial knowing.

The Fellowship decided to return to Maethelburg for revenge and discovered their horses at the edge of Mirkwood. They discovered an abandoned town and a graveyard with an open grave. The headstone of the open grave had an inscription of “Thuringwethil”. Hallamir knew the dark legend of Thuringwethil – Sauron’s Strega.

“The origins of Thuringwethil are untold. Her ability to change form suggests that she may have been an Ainu In the form of a vampire, she had at least two great, dark fingered wings with a ghostly appearance and an iron claw at the end of each joint.

Sometime before the Quest for the Silmaril, Thuringwethil became the messenger of Sauron at Tol-in-Gaurhoth, formerly Tol Sirion, often flying to Angband in the curséd form of a great bat to bear messages to Sauron’s own master, Morgoth. She was slain by Huan in Tol-in-Gaurhoth during the Quest for the Silmaril, along with Draugluin, when Sauron sent out his army one-by-one.”

The Fellowship felt an overwhelming feeling of dread but continued to Maethelburg. The Fellowship found the town abandoned and overcome by Ice Trolls. The Fellowship defeated the Ice Trolls and decided to make their way for Bree.

On the way to Bree, the Fellowship travelled through Rivendell and found that it was now inhabited by Ents and Entwives. They continued on the East-West road and easily defeated a band of Orcs and Hobgoblins on Weathertop. The Fellowship finally made their way to Bree and heard stories of a band of Orcs and a crone looking for something in the Barrow Downs.

The Fellowship headed to the North Barrow Downs and discovered a old crone with a Palantir in her grasp. Jesoc grabbed the fourth Palantir and vicious Barrow Wights erupted from the ground. The Fellowship defeated them and found a note on the crone.

“Blood Sister Agarwaen, we have located the palantir of Cirith Ungol – unfortunately the arachnid queen has it in her possession. Awaiting the arrival of Nixe to assist us. – Blood Sister Vasa” 

The Fellowship returned back to Bree when they were unable to find their way to the South Barrow Downs.

Here ends the story so far.