The Book Of Yrr (1) - The One Ring Solo Play Report
This is the first in a series of play reports for a solo campaign of TThe One Ring using the Moria supplement and the solo rules for playing a band of dwarves. Here we are introduced to the company and their first mission into Moria.
Herein is a record of the expedition of Yrr, daughter of Agda, and her company to join in the retaking of Khazad-dûm with Balin, son of Fundin. We set out from Erebor at the spring thaw in the year 2990 of the Third Age, ignoring warnings from King Dáin against joining this potentially foolish quest. We are convinced now is the time. The forces of darkness are weakened. If ever we are to regain our home, we cannot wait.
Our leader, Yrr, spent years in the Blue Mountains honing her smithcraft, working with whatever was available and producing truly beautiful pieces. She specializes armor, and her drive to work with the ancient secret of the dwarf, mithril, eventually drove her further abroad, and now to the Misty Mountains, where she hopes to finally find some of her own to work with.
We of her company are all cousins of various sorts, but the relationships become too difficult to chart among our trees. It suffices to say we are family and we support her as much or more than any of wish to see the halls of our ancestors ourselves.
I am Úri, a writer at heart, but a miner and delver by necessity. I take some solace in the chance to record this chronicle for our expedition. Bári, our youngest, has taken it upon himself to serve as shield bearer and body guard for Yrr, he admire her to an embarrassing degree. Íri scouts for us with her little crow friend, who she sings with. I’m not sure how the bird will fare in the dark, away from the sky. Galar is the oldest and the second in command. He busies himself mostly with logistics, although I suspect his interest in maintaining adequate foodstuffs is as much personal as professional the way I see him eat. Mondul typically brings up the rear. He’s charming in conversation, but keeps to himself and is hard to read. Lastly we have Farli, the only one of us to have previously fought goblins in any numbers, and our informal war leader. I’ll be grateful to have him around in dark places.
The journey south was uneventful. We passed along the east edge of Mirkwood, keeping our distance from the trees. Fortunately, the plains of Wilderland are peaceful now that Goblintown is destroyed, and the only threats we saw from a distance were bears and the occasional elf. Not sure we can trust them still. We crossed Anduin at the old ford and swung west of the Gladden Fields, crossing the Gladden where it was narrow coming out of the hills. We knew we were close when we spotted the gray trees of Lorien. Beautiful as they are, we gave them as wide a berth as possible, skirting the mountains until we came up to the Dimril Dale.
I cannot describe our joy at gazing first upon Kheled-zâram. Still. Perfec. Clouds and peaks reflected as though on finely ground glass and silver. We didn’t speak until reaching the camp in the ruins of the Dimrill Watch. For now, this serves as the Safe Haven until some of the chambers inside can be reclaimed.
We had precious little time to rest in the camp, and the rest was not much better than on our journey down. Rough straw beds, hard biscuits, and meager fires are all we have for now.
Balin recognized Farli from the war and pulled him aside soon after we arrived. He apparently trusts him more than the rest of us for now. Farli came back with a mission. We’re to head into Khazad-dûm tomorrow, seeking an expedition that is late in returning. The are supposed to have explored the King’s Hall, center of the Dwarrowdelf, and possibly full of treasure if the filthy goblins left any. According to my research, it was Durin II who built the hall, which included a throneroom, hall of justice, meeting place for the Houses of the Dwarves, and possibly a rare artifact allowing direct communication with Aulë, our creator.
It will be a long journey, longer than I expected for our first foray. It appears to be 9 miles in and a level down by the old map I’ve seen, but we’ll find out soon.
I am leaving an extra copy of this first entry at the Safe Haven in case we do not return. Remember us and the cause we fought for. Khazad-dûm!