Something Wicked This Way Comes: A Middle-Earth Tale of Fae, Folk, & Fear (The One Ring 2e)
Something stirs in the deep forest shadow & darkens the land. Can you prevent otherworldly forces from exerting their horrific powers over Eriador?
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Thursday – 12:30 AM UTC
Jul 24 / Session 102
3–4 Hour Duration
4 / 5 Seats Filled
Schedule
About the adventure
It was the knocking and scraping, before anything else, that woke Lily Mossbank from her fitful slumber. A sound like dry, dead tree branches shaken by a high wind, a scratching against her bedroom window and wall. Like those dry, dead branches at the edge of the Old Forest . . . like those dry, dead branches that had tried to grab her, crush her, squeeze the life right out of her. But this was Bree and not Haysend; a cozy room at the inn and not her bedroom in the little house at the edge of town; a still summer's night and not the stormy hours that turned her little life upside down only a few weeks ago. Had she not run far enough and fast enough? Had it come after her, found her, run her to ground like a hunted rabbit? Would it make its thwarted promise come true this night? As Lily pulled her covers over her eyes and ears and tuft of tousled red hair, she desperately hoped that her friends would come, would arrive soon and set things to rights again. She had sent out the call . . . but would they hear it and heed it in time? - - - - - - "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is an original campaign for The One Ring (2e), set in Middle-earth, that introduces folk-horror themes into its story arcs. The campaign takes its beginnings in once-bucolic Bree and the Shire, but player-heroes (who do not need to be hobbits) will soon need to leave the no longer secure boundaries of their home and travel across a darkening land in their bid to prevent unfamiliar, otherworldly forces from exerting their horrific powers over Eriador and beyond. Players will have an opportunity to create tailor-made heroes, explore a vast range of new locations, and experience unique story arcs all crafted specifically for this campaign. The campaign will use The One Ring (2e) core rules while adding a range of purposely designed mechanics and features to enhance the game experience. First-time role-playing game players, players new to the The One Ring game system (or new to its 2nd edition), and experienced players are all equally welcome. - No prior experience is necessary: if you are new to the game or to role-playing games in general, you will learn about role-playing, game mechanics, and the world as you play. - No prior purchase of game materials is necessary: I will supply access to all necessary game materials to create your own custom character (pre-generated characters can be supplied upon request) and play the game throughout the campaign. Game-play will focus on the narrative elements of adventuring, on collaborative storytelling, and on role-play, while offering an open-ended sandbox world of intrigue, mystery, and mortal danger.
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(21)
4 years on StartPlaying
364 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling
About me
Dive into Middle-earth in ways unmatched by movies, computer games, or even books! Experience the stories you always wished Tolkien had written! Traverse the lands and go on adventures you imagined lay just around the next corner in Bilbo's road, just out of sight of Frodo and the Fellowship! Take on the role of hero, of protector, of sage advisor in a land perpetually threatened by the Shadow! - - - Hello, I'm Kris! Professional GM and Middle-earther extraordinaire. Welcome to my profile, and thanks for browsing by! If you are looking for an exclusive, immersive journey through the lands of Middle-earth, you have come to the right place. I have been a GM and player of table-top role-playing games for 33+ years, with a particular (though not exclusive) focus on the imaginative worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien. And now I look forward to taking YOU on a journey through magical lands, too. (To get a taste for how I run my games, take a look at the recorded sessions linked from the Twitch and YouTube icons at the bottom of this profile page.) - - - While my main focus lies in offering one-shots and campaigns set in Middle-earth (running game systems like The One Ring, Adventures in Middle-earth, or Middle-Earth Role Playing), I also run games using the Dungeons & Dragons game system (especially 5e, as well as the vintage 1e and 2e rule sets). If there is a specific game you would like to play and I am not currently offering it, simply contact me (select the "Contact this GM" button at the top of this profile page) with details of the kind of session or campaign you would like me to run for you! There are two options for hiring me to run a game for you: - Join me and other players for one of my scheduled one-shots or campaigns (I welcome inquiries for additional games on different days or at different times than those currently scheduled)! - Book my services for a one-shot or campaign according to your own specifications and with people of your own choosing (simply select the "Book This GM" button at the top of this profile page)! A standard session will run 3-4 hours; longer sessions are possible and will be billed as multiples of a standard session (i.e., a 7-hour session will be billed as two standard sessions). NOTE: For custom one-shots and campaigns, I generally ask for 2 weeks' notice to prepare for one-shots and 4 weeks' notice for campaigns to allow for writing and set-up. - For short-notice bookings of custom one-shots, I charge a one-time added fee of $30 (less than 2 weeks to prepare) or a one-time added fee of $50 (less than 1 week to prepare) to allow for writing and set-up. - For short-notice bookings of custom campaigns, I charge a one-time added fee of $50 (less than 4 weeks to prepare) or a one-time added fee of $100 (less than 3 weeks to prepare) or a one-time added fee of $200 (less than 2 weeks to prepare) to allow for writing and set-up. I do not accept requests for a custom campaign with less than 1 week to prepare.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will develop characters in a pre-campaign session 0; I will also use the characters' backstories we develop in that session to customize the campaign for each player-hero in the group. If you want to bring your own pre-rolled character, please contact me ahead of time and I will be happy to accommodate where possible and tweak where necessary.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will at minimum need a basic Zoom account and the Zoom app installed as well as a functioning mic and speakers; ideally you will also have also a webcam, and a larger screen could be useful but isn't strictly necessary (as long as you're not on your phone) to make best use of the digital maps I display on occasion for tactical purposes. Players may acquire the dice set published specifically for use with The One Ring (a customized 12-sided die and customized 6-sided dice), use a digital dice-roller designed specifically for the game system (I will provide the link at the start of the first game session), or use their own generic dice (one 12-sided and at least one 6-sided die).
What Kris || Deserted GM brings to the table
I will provide all necessary rule books and other game materials (pre-generated characters are available upon request). I will send a Zoom link, Lines & Veils checklist, and link to a TOR dice roller to players accepted to the game ahead of the first game session.
Homebrew rules
Homebrewed expansions and additions for combat, player-heroes' reputation, holdings; homebrewed Patrons and Fellowship Phase Undertakings; always expanding and revising to match player interests and story needs.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Kris || Deserted GM creates a safe table
I use safety tools in all my games: I offer players an opportunity to register potential triggers and establish Lines and Veils before the game starts; I always offer players the option to call Script Changes during play. Players can expect a game focused on collaborative storytelling and role-playing, puzzle-solving, and some combat. In addition to the Content Warnings listed above, the campaign may contain other tropes of folk horror, stalking (of the animal predator kind), physical violence (combat), and hauntings; no graphic violence, abuse, or gore ever.
Content warnings
Safety tools used