Thread: Axes of the Dwarves - a Landroval RP/PVM Event

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(Make sure to watch in HD)



AXES OF THE DWARVES - A LANDROVAL RP/PVM EVENT

SUMMARY: a Landroval RP/PvM event featuring the greatest army of dwarves ever seen descending on the Ettenmoors to liberate the Delving of Frór, which is rumored in their legends to sit atop the lost tomb of a dwarven ancestor. The preliminary phase begins immediately and will include RP events, while the battle phase will occur in June 2010.

BACKGROUND

“Aule the Maker…declared to their Fathers of old that Illuvatar will hallow them and give them a place among the Children in the End….then shall the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves return to live again in their own kin and bear once more their ancient names…” Silmarillion 2:42

At the foot of the Misty Mountains, beneath the shadow of Mount Gram, lies the Delving of Frór. From as far back as tales tell, dwarves have mined the flanks of these mountains. The Delving was not the largest of these ancient mines, but it was eldest. Yet in time the power of the dwarves waned. The War of the Elves and Sauron came and the Ettenmoors was overrun by goblins. The dwarves were driven away and the Delving came under the sway of Men of Rhudaur allied to the Iron Crown of Angmar.

Ordered to fortify the Delving against his enemies, too late these accursed men discovered the true intentions of the Witch-king. For the goblins had awakened a dread creature of hatred that had lain slumbering in the deeps. Thus it was not long before the terrible gaunt-men came to roost within the subterranean halls. But before that evil could be unleashed, the Dúnedain and the Elves cast down the Witch-king and banished him from Angmar forever. Leaderless, the gaunt-men fell upon each other and the evil they wrought was sealed within the Delving.

Until now…

The Frosthammers, descendants of Frór the Delver, have long lived in rustic obscurity in the fastnesses of the Blue Mountains, eking out a living mining and hunting. But the Frosthammers have never forgotten their ancient lineage. Their legends trace their origin to Ragni Frosthammer, who fought in the fifth great battle of the First Age wherein Azaghal, Lord of Belegost, smote Glaurung, the wyrm of Morgoth.

When Beleriand was broken, the ancestral cities of the dwarves fell to ruin. Ragni led the surviving Frosthammers east into Eriador. Alas, just as he brought them into the land that would become known as the Ettenmoors, Ragni was slain by a great warg. It was during this time that the Delving of Frór was founded. And there, the legends say, deep within the uttermost cavern where fires spout from the earth, the Frosthammers discovered that which the dwarves hold as sacred above all else - the lost tomb of one of the seven ancestors. And when Eregion too fell at last, and the Frosthammers were driven from the Delving, the eldest son of Ragni turned at the doors, tore his beard, and vowed an oath of vengeance.

Now we come to these latter days. Arcing like a thunderbolt through the hearts of the stone men everywhere, the news of Moria‘s re-opening reaches the ears of Thingvi Frosthammer, Thane of the remnants of the House of Frór. And on that night a vision comes to Thingvi - three river maidens who proclaim that the hour has struck to fulfill the ancient oath.

Thingvi Frosthammer summons all dwarves to a great Althing in Thorin‘s Gate. Great deeds are afoot. For all the strength of the Naugrim will be needed if the resting place of the lost ancestor is to be reclaimed and the crossed hammers emblazoned once more over the threshold of the Delving of Frór.

THE CAMPAIGN

The event will have two parts - a RP side which begins immediately and a PvM campaign which will start June 2010:

1. The RP side involves the House of Frór (The Frosthammers) seeking to gather all the dwarves to commit to this great task. This will take place over several months and involve RP events in places like Thorin's Gate. During this time the House of Frór will also be adding to its ranks, both from those who have existing dwarf characters and those who want to level a new dwarf from scratch.

Some of you may have heard the Frosthammer guild name from other MMORPGs like WAR. These are the same folks and this marks their entry into LOTRO. Here is the link to the Frosthammers page, which is still a work in progress but has further information on joining.

Frosthammers Forth!
http://bywicket.com/groups/thefrosthammerclan/

But of course the easiest way is to message Thingvi or another member in-game;

2. The PvM side will have four sub-parts that have to be completed in sequence. These will be accomplished by an all-Dwarven army aided by any other Free Peoples who wish to help (e.g. the main raids for the event will be all-dwarf but dwarf-friends can participate outside the dwarf army in their own fellowships and raids). The four sub-parts are: establishing a base camp; slaughtering the Grothum goblins to ensure they don't interfere; mining Isendeep Ore to make weapons; then invading the Delving of Frór itself to slay Gaergoth the Unbound and reclaim the legendary lost tomb of the dwarven forefather. Below are further details on each task:

Task A - Setting Up Base Camp
Before the Dwarven Army can successfully operate in Ettenmoors, they need to estabish a base camp and good relations with the local Coldfells dwarves, who are skeptical and suspicious of outsiders. To establish their worth, the Dwarves vow to establish a base camp at the Dwarf Camp southwest of Isendeep. They will do this by spending one entire night at the Dwarf Camp. Task A is completed if any Dwarves of the army manage to survive the entire night at the base camp. The event will occur on a set date and time. If the dwarves fail, they can try again another night. Task A must be complete before they can proceed to Task B.

Task B - Vengeance on the Goblins
Having accomplished their initial task, the Dwarves now need to make sure the local goblins are no longer a threat and also fulfill a vow to help the local dwarves obtain vengeance on Bok, the Goblin Lord of Grothum. The second task therefore involves the Dwarf Army invading Grothum and slaying Bok six times while occupying Grothum. This task must be accomplished over a set four hour time period. The killing blow(s) on Bok must be by a dwarf of the expeditionary army. If the dwarves fail, they can set another date to try again. Task B has to be complete before proceeding to Task C.

Task C - Isendeep Ore
Now that the dwarves are sure the Goblins of Grothum are no longer a threat and that the Dwarves of Coldfells are staunch allies, they need to make the weapons and buy the supplies needed to invade the Delving of Frór . To accomplish this, the Dwarves need to mine Isendeep ore. Again, this has to be done over a set period of time. This Task starts with the Dwarven Army taking Isendeep. Then each Dwarf needs to end up with at least 10 Isendeep Ore. They need not mine it themselves, but can be given the ore by another dwarf of the expedition who has mined it (all participating dwarves must make sure to start out with zero ore in their possession). Mining can only occur, and ore be counted, if it is mined while Isendeep is in Free Peoples possession. Once all the dwarves of the expedition have 10 Isendeep ore, Task C is deemed completed. No dwarf is allowed to proceed to the final task unless they can show their packs contain at least 10 Isendeep ore, mined by them or given by another dwarf who has mined it. Once Task C is completed, the Dwarves are ready for the final task.

Task D - Reclaiming the Delving of Frór
This is the most straightforward but difficult of the tasks. The Dwarven Army will descend into the bowels of the Delving of Frór to slay the most powerful creature there - Gaergoth the Unbound. The Frosthammers claim that if Gaergoth is defeated it will open the Delving up for permanent settlement and also reveal the hidden tomb of the lost ancestor. In order to accomplish Task D, the final task, the Dwarves need to get access to the Delving of Frór (e.g. Free Peoples control at least two outposts). They will of course ask the rest of the Free Peoples (Elves, Men, Hobbits and any Dwarves not part of the expedition) to help make sure this access is obtained and kept so as to keep other enemies out of the Delving. This whole event will take place over a four hour time frame and only Dwarves will enter the Delving at this time. It should set up an interesting situation where the Creeps are trying to get into the Delving while the other Free Peoples keep them out, which means fights at the outposts all over the map. Since it is highly likely many Creeps will log their monsters off inside the Delving ahead of time, the Dwarven Army going into the deeps of the earth is also certain of heavy fighting below. This will be a difficult task, but the Dwarves can repeat the attempts as often as they like until they accomplish it.

The purpose of the Axes of the Dwarves campaign is to set the table for at least a week of nightly PvM events. We tentatively will plan to have these 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. EST. We hope to get as many dwarves as possible, including the leading all-Dwarf RP kinships, to agree to participate.

A huge dwarf army marches into Ettenmoors on a mad quest to recover a legendary tomb that might not even be there. This leads to mass combat in areas of the frozen north of the map that are not typically well-traveled (and hence likely to have less lag). Non-Landroval Creeps are also invited to come swell the ranks of the all-Reaver tribe that will be created for the event. Everything will culminate in a catastrophic final battle deep in the flaming pits of the Delving!

WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

1. Make a new dwarf or join your dwarf to the Frost hammers; Thingvi Frosthammer will be posting recruiting threads;

2. Assist the Dwarves with your existing FP character or kinship - NOTE: you are welcome to participate in the RP events even if you don’t have or plan to create a character to fight in Ettenmoors for the PvM part;

3. Fight with your Monster - existing tribes will be there in force and we also plan to create a new all-reaver Monster Tribe as an option for people who come to fight from other servers. As the monster theme of Oathbreakers was weavers, the monster theme for this event will be hordes of reaver;

4. This is a Landroval event but we encourage people from other servers to make alts, either of dwarves or monsters, and join in the fun.

IN CLOSING…

We will make official announcements of particular RP events. The times for the PvM battles will be finalized and publicized closer to the June 2010 kickoff. RP and storyline threads are planned.

The event is structured so that anyone can participate at any level. Dwarves and non-dwarves, Free Peoples and Monsters - all will have a part to play. You can spend a lot of time or as little as you like. We also encourage anyone from other servers to come join the fun, either by making a new dwarf and leveling it before the event or popping in with a reaver when the campaign starts.

Our modest goal is to make this the ultimate dwarf RP/PVM experience. If you have ever wanted to march with a huge dwarf army or engage your dwarf in hopeless battle deep under the earth on an impossible task, now is your chance!

AND - in the final place of honor - I want to give a deep and heartfelt THANKS to Maegovannen for making the introductory video. Many of you know his work from the Oathbreakers video he made, which drew acclaim and a front page mention on LOTRO.com. All Hail Maegovannen!

We hope you can participate in the fun and please feel free to ask any questions.

The intro video was great!

I am really looking forward to this, Gobble! An all dwarf army...

I wonder how fast I can get my lvl 10 RK up to lvl 65...hmmmmm... June... hmmm I think I might try!

This sounds great, looking forward to it immensely. Tarnorili doesn't have an axe, but he'll bring his hammer.

Well done!
I especially like the Wagner in the video, regardless of who has loved him in the past. And such a lucky feller that dwarf, three maidens!

One question ... are we to understand that you do not carry role playing into your adventures and battles - that it is something separate?

Originally Posted by Dago_Red

Well done!
I especially like the Wagner in the video, regardless of who has loved him in the past. And such a lucky feller that dwarf, three maidens!

One question ... are we to understand that you do not carry role playing into your adventures and battles - that it is something separate?

From reading a bit about their kinship on their Lorebook site, it sounds like they're in RP all the time barring private tells. This would lead me to believe that yes they'd RP when out on adventures too, which i think is grand. Too few folk do this.

Originally Posted by Ruthelia

From reading a bit about their kinship on their Lorebook site, it sounds like they're in RP all the time barring private tells. This would lead me to believe that yes they'd RP when out on adventures too, which i think is grand. Too few folk do this.

We very definitely play in-character at all times in all channels (except, optionally, in private tells).

-- Thingvi Frosthammer

One thing to emphasize - although the event title is hyphenated into "RP/PvM" in reality they won't be separate - they are combined throughout.

The Frosthammers, as Thingvi has noted, are a RP kin. In the coming months they will be RP'ing the preliminaries to the actual invasion of Ettenmoors. In some ways, this is the most crucial part - gathering up a massive army of dwarves and also opening diplomatic relations to secure help from non-dwarven allies. For many people this is also the real fun, whilst others will be more interested in the PvM. So, the RP part is every bit as important as the PvM part (those that participated in the October 2009 Oathbreakers RP/PVM event will recall we put a lot of time into the RP side and accompanied it all with an elaborate storyline).

Everyone on Landroval can participate in some way if they so desire. You can come to the RP events, RP with the dwarves when you meet them as they prepare their army, etc. - you need not come to Ettenmoors for the fighting itself although we hope you do.

The Tolkien role model for what we are trying to capture is the great War of the Dwarves and Goblins, where a bunch of dwarves got so riled up they came from far and wide to make the greatest military effort ever made by dwarves since the Elder Days. The vale of Nanduhirion in the Lorien area was historically the site of this great battle of yore. We would modestly like to make a second Nanduhirion in Ettenmoors for those nights.

Also, aside from the basic framework and setting the times for the battles, none of this is scripted - the chips will fall where they may. In the October 2009 event, despite epic combat, the Free Peoples ultimately failed in the task of releasing the Oathbreakers from their vows...Dar-Gazag and the relics were never taken.

This is a chance for Landroval RP'ers to participate in something where the outcome will truly depend solely on your actions, be you a dwarf of the expedition, a Free People ally helping them, or minion of Sauron trying to thwart them.

Originally Posted by Cembrye

This is a chance for Landroval RP'ers to participate in something where the outcome will truly depend solely on your actions, be you a dwarf of the expedition, a Free People ally helping them, or minion of Sauron trying to thwart them.

This is great to hear. Having it open ended is truly the way these things largely should be in my opinion. Are there any rough/solid dates for the initial RP events as yet?

Originally Posted by Ruthelia

This is great to hear. Having it open ended is truly the way these things largely should be in my opinion. Are there any rough/solid dates for the initial RP events as yet?

No dates as yet - Thane Thingvi will need to decide such things.

But I imagine there will likely be RP events like an Althing of all dwarves in Thorin's Gate and regular marches of the gathering dwarven army through places like Bree, Esteldin and Moria to build buzz (we did these in the Oathbreakers event lead in and people seemed to enjoy them).

But even if there isn't a RP event currently scheduled, people are encouraged to RP anyway, e.g. with any Frosthammer dwarf they see in the coming months. And there is nothing stopping people from setting up their own RP events surrounding the impending campaign, e.g. a meeting of elves to hear from Thingvi what his visions showed him.

And after we're through with the 'Moors...

We sack and burn Rivendell!

This might give me a reason to log back in.

A very cool idea! Sux I am on Brandywhine....

Originally Posted by Cembrye

(we did these in the Oathbreakers event lead in and people seemed to enjoy them).

But even if there isn't a RP event currently scheduled, people are encouraged to RP anyway, e.g. with any Frosthammer dwarf they see in the coming months.

Yes the Oathbreakers were certainly a sight - though not something that you could really interact with. Some Bounders were on watch in Hobbiton the night they came through, actually just had been drinking at the Ivy Bush an' keepin' the peace... When the Oathbreakers appeared outside some dove for cover, others gawked, one raised the alarm. We ended up just following/running them out of town.

These dwarves will be easier to interact with, to RP with... though I daresay the style of this brand of dwarf (having read your rules and backstory) is not one that will appeal to any of my characters. But of course that'll have to be decided on an individual basis maybe some wont be so gruff and ill suited to strangers.

Either way, it's great there are more people playing dwarves that actually RP so long as they are not the kind that just wants to head off to burn down Rivendell.

Originally Posted by Gildonel

A very cool idea! Sux I am on Brandywhine....

If you are on another server, there is plenty of time to level a new dwarf to 65 since the fighting won't start until June. And you can participate in the RP anyway, whether you get to 65 or not...

Also, people from other servers are encouraged to come make a monster for the fighting. We will have a reaver theme, and an orc kinship called the Unbound who will be RP'ing servants of Gaergoth (the Delving Boss) that people from other servers can park their reavers in. So, just make a monster when the time comes and you are good to go...

I am purposely NOT publicizing this for people to transfer their existing dwarves from other servers since I don't want to be accused of poaching other servers. But certainly, of their own free choice, people can decide what they want to do. And many people have unused or little-played dwarf alts they would not mind transferring and this wouldn't affect their presence in their existing main kins. So, as Forrest Gump might say, "that's all I have to say about that."

Originally Posted by Dago_Red

Either way, it's great there are more people playing dwarves that actually RP so long as they are not the kind that just wants to head off to burn down Rivendell.

I find the "wants to head off to burn down Rivendell" to be a fine agenda and enough reason to make any non-dwarf an honorary dwarf*.

*Offer valid to any non elf races of Middle Earth

Besides, interacting with characters who have flaws (not that Ovain does) is fun.

Originally Posted by Ovain

Besides, interacting with characters who have flaws (not that Ovain does) is fun.

Yes, I agree.

However there is a line between "flawed" and just being a jerk. Which I had to find out for myself. *whistles*

The Frosthammers leader advises me that the kinship is now fully up and running with twelve members and growing. Link above updated. See:

http://bywicket.com/groups/thefrosthammerclan/

Something dwarven this way comes...

Hail brothers of Frosthammer! I am overjoyed to learn of this new gathering of Dwarves of Landroval and would be honored if Baruk Khazad could lend any aid needed to these endeavours of such great worth. Baruk Khazad, at your service! I hope we may join our axes with yours in battle soon!

BARUK KHAZAD!

(Hello gobble, nice to see you again =))

Originally Posted by Khallim

Hail brothers of Frosthammer! I am overjoyed to learn of this new gathering of Dwarves of Landroval and would be honored if Baruk Khazad could lend any aid needed to these endeavours of such great worth. Baruk Khazad, at your service! I hope we may join our axes with yours in battle soon!

BARUK KHAZAD!

(Hello gobble, nice to see you again =))

Hail Lord -

The Frosthammer Clan plans to open formal diplomatic relations with the other great houses once we have gathered up our scattered brethren. Baruk Khazad will certainly be one of the first to receive our embassy. The Thane realizes that the goblins are many and we are few. Only the combined might of the Naugrim will suffice.

I ask any other Dwarven kindreds to chisel their names here as well, so that we may know who to contact.

May the Maker guide your path.

I, Petrin Stormhammer will be glad to set my axe alongside the FrostHammer clan! Dwarves on the march!

((OOC: WHiel I'm committed to my kinship, this sounds like a HUGE amount of fun and I'll be there as often as dictates of RL allow, Nice, nice work!))

Vemu, Frosthammers!

I look forward to my axe dripping with goblin blood along with yours. Baruk Khazad! Khazad Ai-menu!

**Hey Gobble... will be nice to fight with you on the other side of things as well. -Yargax**

All dwarves should begin sharpening their axes and polishing their armor - whether you are a Frosthammer, Barukh Khazad or other esteemed kinship, all the strength of the stone people will be needed to accomplish our holy task!

Hahaha, I read this and thought it sounded ridiculously awesome without even realizing gobble was behind another rp/pvmp masterpiece. I should have known!

I will see you out there in June, pouncing you at every opportunity (unless my defiler is ranked by then... or my reaver... or BA...)

((hmm... this definitely sounds like fun. I'm not sure yet if I want to get on my dwarf and start leveling - Im having WAY too much fun on my hunter. If so, I will definitely take up a monster slot against you guys ))

Still plenty of time for those planning to start a new dwarf for this...

If there are any interested in bringing a Dwarrow up from 0 to 65 by June but are on the game in the quiet times of late night, my RK "Eija" just hit 30 last night and I play most nights from around 2am pst til about 5-6am so just send me a tell and even if you are lvl 5 I will come help you level up, I also have a lvl 24 Hunter, lvl 8 Minstrel and lvl 10 Burglar so I would not be helping you power level just running with you and making it faster.

My goal is to hit 65 with Eija by the end of April and I do need some help with the books... yeah, yeah, yeah I know they made them soloable but I prefer fellowships for the books, makes it more fun.

See you in game.

The Mithril Guard are hereby ordered to lend axe & shield to any effort made to reclaim the FrostHammers' rightful possessions. Send word of any gathering or expedition so we may send those guardsmen which may be mustered.

We are honored by the gracious and welcomed offer of the Mithril Guard. Thank You Cousins.

I say this as a person who has never RP'd in a mmo once in his life.

I eagerly await this and look forward to seeing this play out. Hopefully I see you guys around and can jump into some of it with you

The Frosthammers wish to open diplomatic relations with other Dwarven Houses. So far we are aware of two Great Houses who have expressed interest in the cause:

- Barukh Khazad

- Mithril Guard

Are there any other dwarven houses on Landroval we should be contacting? We wish to observe the proper diplomatic protocols.

So say I, Hurok, Thane-Herald of the Frosthammers. Post here forthwith if ye have any information in this regard...

Dispatches should be sent to the Glory of the Longbeards' Lord Garinori and Master Rumnaheim. They have always been at the forefront when defending Khazad interests...

http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.asp...&TabID=2362565

Aye! We Longbeards are firm believers that Dwarves must fight for Dwarves! I shall look forward to the glory of a grand battle once again! Our banner shall fly freely for our brethren!

Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!

Hail Lords -

Baruk Khazad, the Mithril Guard, the Longbeards - I shall pass these names to the Frosthammer himself.

Maker bless you and guide your paths,

Hurok, Thane-Herald of the Frosthammer Clan

Might I suggest, to facilitate communications between Kins and other non-kinned dwarves, that you all join the Khuzdul chat channel (/joinchannel Khuzdul). This was created to permit dwarven RP players to communicate more easily in Landroval. We invite any and all interested dwarven players to subscribe to it and reap the benefits of being able to converse and ask help from their fellow Khuzd. Please stick to a respectfull RP etiquette and use double parenthesis for the OOC stuff.

See the Mithril Guard site on MyLotro for more details...

Thankee and I will pass this on

A truly inspirational idea! Though I hail from Gladden, I will create a new character this night and look forward to joining this adventure!

Originally Posted by Ironcrown

A truly inspirational idea! Though I hail from Gladden, I will create a new character this night and look forward to joining this adventure!

Hail -

If ye need a kinship to join, send a mail to Thingvi so he can arrange for Frosthammers to induct you. But of course there are many dwarven houses of worth, so feel free to shop around. We shall all be battle brothers when the time comes!

Maker watch over you,

Hurok, Thane-Herald of the Frosthammer Clan

The age of Man has ENDED....the time of the DWARVES has come!

The dwarves gather...so far the Mithril Guard and Longbeards have pledged their axes. Maker bless them...