[The Ember of Angmar: Chapter 4] The Dagger of Cardolan

 

Player Notes

Before using other source material than the Core Rulebook, I really wanted to make use of the lone landmark in the Appendix of it, "The Star of the Mist." I think it had a lot of character and depth, and I could bend it - just a little - to fit within my campaign. Even the tone and setting of these Dunedanian ruins, their connection to Dwarves, etc. All of it felt very serendipitous.

I decided to have it be a rumor from Halbarad that would get them up and on the road again. I didn't know as I started how I would incorporate the dagger of Cardolan that is the third part of this growing conspiracy to awaken Angmar (more on that in a moment). I didn't know if I'd have the dagger be in place of the blue gem, or maybe have it found alongside. That part evolved naturally and I had it be a final relic found by my player characters at the end so I could keep the integrity of the landmark and this curse on this Cardolan household.

Now, to this conspiracy for a moment. I know at this moment that I do not want my characters to have a fight with the Witch King. I don't know yet what I want this ritual that Ethelgar, Dorthul and Vurik to perform will even do. I might have the Witch King make a sizeable appearance there, but I don't know what that event will do to my characters or these antagonists OR if I'll even have my characters present to witness it. That's why I thought the existence of multiple daggers (potentially!) was important. The wraith/spirit Elwen alludes to multiple daggers of Westernesse, which - of course - we know that there were. Perhaps Dorthul was successful in finding another and the ritual will be proceeding despite this "win" by Narlos and Ovi. We'll have to see what they hear from Halbarad at Sarn Ford.

Only other big comment: I've done a lot of fighting and a lot of fighting with the undead. Given the antagonists, I don't see that this can be fully remedied anytime soon, but it is certainly taking a toll on my heroes' shadow paths so I'll need to see where I go with those.

ALSO, I almost forgot Sabian. This is an Umbari character introduced in the landmark from the Core Rules set. I was not prepared for a fourth antagonist and I don't fully know his motivations yet. He wants this gem that fueled the curse against Lord Haldirion, that is apparent. But I didn't want to have to deal with his motivations or arc yet so I had him slink away after being injured by Elwen and we will come back to his plotline down the road. I'll have to see how that intersects with our character's stories in the future. For now, the gem is with Narlos and will presumably be left with the Rangers at Sarn Ford.

I'm having a lot of fun discovering this story. It takes hours of writing, dice rolling and interacting with the GPT, but it's given me a new appreciation for the creativity and enthrallment that can come with these table top RPGs.

End of Chapter 4: GPT Summary of Gameplay

Starting Location: Annuminas
Ending Location: Sarn Ford

Key Events:

1. Departure from Annuminas
   After weeks of recovery by the shores of Lake Evendim, Ovi and Narlos set out on their next journey, tasked by Halbarad to investigate reports of Dorthul's thralls moving southward into the South Downs. Halbarad had heard troubling rumors of a faint blue light seen near ancient ruins, paired with reports of missing woodsmen. He suggested the light may herald sorcery or danger tied to Angmar, but neither the location nor the details of its history were known. Narlos and Ovi ventured south to uncover the truth, unsure of what awaited them.

2. Journey South
   Their travels along the Greenway were peaceful at first, but on the fifth day, they stumbled upon an ancient battlefield. A sinkhole exposed the remains of a forgotten clash between Angmar and the Dunedain. Though Narlos recovered a coin of Arthedain, the crumbling ruins caused Ovi to take a fall, leaving him injured and fatigued. The battlefield stirred unsettling emotions in both of them—memories of betrayal and despair, coupled with their current fears.

   The journey through the South Downs proved arduous. Rain-soaked bogs, heavy humidity, and gnats drained their strength, yet they pressed on. One night, while camping near the edge of the Downs, they saw Dorthul's thralls, one of whom lay slain by a band of brigands. Soon after, they glimpsed a blue light in the distance and decided to follow it, suspecting they were nearing their goal.

3. Brigands at the Bridge
   At a great chasm surrounding the ruins, they encountered a camp of brigands guarding a makeshift bridge. Their leader, Sabian, an Umbari corsair, allowed them to parley but demanded they retrieve a blue gem rumored to bind spirits to the mortal plane. Narlos refused to swear an oath to Sabian, prompting a fight. Sabian fled into the ruins, collapsing the bridge behind him.

4. Exploring Narag-Nala
   Descending into Narag-Nala, the ancient dwarven halls beneath the chasm, Ovi and Narlos battled a barrow-wight and marsh dwellers. These ruins held fragments of history:

   • The dwarves, once allies of Cardolan, betrayed the House of Haldirion during Angmar’s invasion.
   • The Dagger of Cardolan—one of several blades forged to combat shadow—had been entrusted to the dwarves for safekeeping.

   Though Narlos’ understanding of dwarven betrayal tested Ovi’s temper, he suppressed his anger, seeing Narlos as distinct from these long-dead men. Still, the tension left a growing bitterness in Ovi, his frustration directed at the shadowed histories of Middle-earth.

5. The Accursed Halls and Tower of the Star
   Emerging from Narag-Nala, they ascended to the Accursed Halls, the ruins of the Cardolan castle. Here, they found the throne of Lord Haldirion, built mockingly by Angmar's orcs. His mummified corpse bore a crown with a blue gem, the same one Sabian sought.

   Confronted by the wraith of Lady Elwen, Haldirion's wife, they learned of the house’s grim fate. Elwen had locked herself away during the castle’s fall, cursing the dwarves and succumbing to despair. Her wraith, sorrowful yet malicious, attacked them. In a desperate battle, they vanquished her spirit, breaking the curse that had bound the house and its people. Narlos removed the gem from Haldirion's crown, causing the mists to lift and the dawn to break over the South Downs. However, the Dagger of Cardolan was not in the Accursed Halls, prompting them to return to Narag-Nala.

6. The Vault and Discovery of the Dagger
   Guided by ancient riddles inscribed on the walls, they discovered a hidden vault deep in Narag-Nala. Within, they found the Dagger of Cardolan, gleaming with the light of Westernesse. This blade was the third relic needed for a ritual of Angmar, joining the Morgul blade of Rhudaur and the stone of Arthedain from Fornost. Now in Narlos’ possession, they knew the dagger could prevent the ritual—but troublingly, Elwen’s words hinted that other such daggers might exist.

7. Final Confrontation with the Brigands
   Returning to the brigands’ camp, Ovi and Narlos were ambushed by Sabian’s remaining men. Weakened from their trials, they still managed to defeat the ruffians, driving the last survivor to flee. Sabian, however, was nowhere to be found, leaving his ultimate intentions with the gem uncertain.

8. Return to Sarn Ford
   Exhausted, Ovi and Narlos made their way to Sarn Ford, arriving by midday the following day. They carried the dagger and the gem, but the journey had left them weary, wounded, and with more questions than answers.

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Major Discoveries:

• The Dagger of Cardolan, the third component needed for a ritual linked to Angmar.
• The blue gem from Haldirion’s crown, capable of binding spirits to the mortal plane.
• The tragic history of House Haldirion and the betrayal of Narag-Nala’s dwarves.
• Confirmation that Dorthul and Ethelgar’s plans depend on relics of Westernesse, each tied to the kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur.

Unresolved Threads:

• Sabian’s intentions and his pursuit of the gem.
• The possibility of other Cardolan daggers existing and whether they too are being sought by Angmar’s agents.
• The whereabouts and next moves of Dorthul, Ethelgar, and Vurik.

Character Arcs:

• Narlos wrestles with the darkness of Angmar and his sense of duty to protect the free peoples of Eriador. He is haunted by the shadows he has seen, yet resolute in wielding the dagger to stop Angmar’s schemes.
• Ovi struggles with newfound bitterness toward the histories of Middle-earth. The betrayal of the dwarves by Cardolan rekindles his fury, though he maintains his loyalty to Narlos and his quest for vengeance against Vurik.