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.