[The Ember of Angmar: Chapter 1B] The Path of Vengaence

 Introducing Ovi (Champion)

Player Notes

I asked the GPT to pause Narlos' story and in a [Meta] command I instructed it that we would be doing the first chapter of Ovi's story. Ovi, son of Orvil, was given an initial backdrop. In TA 2947, his family (including his father, his two elder brothers, and his wife - Nina - were leaving the Blue Mountains to make for the reclaimed Mountain Home of Erabor when they were ambushed by Orcs. In his backdrop, his family was murdered, and he was left with a brand from the Orc leader - named Vurik.

I had given him an initially sympathetic background, a bit of a lover and an artist among dwarves, Ovi was young when his family was slain. He was brought to Torgar's Hollow (an AI generated small trading settlement in the Blue Mountains but south of the Dwarven Halls). I had his heart harden there, and then picked up the story in TA 2965 (same as Narlos). Given his is a Dwarf (and I made him a champion), I thought he would need to have some antagonism with Orcs. Even more so because I want some fun Orc antagonists in my broader campaign.

The introduction of Korin and the connection to Angmar was a prompt I gave to the AI. Basically, "Hey, we need to find a way to make these stories intersect." As it stands, I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but my early head cannon is that Korin was a lackey or associate of Dorthul. Dorthul is an ambitious and aspiring sorcerer, craving to entreat with Angmar and become something. To that end, he has tried to make alliances with other enemies of Men and the Free Peoples. Presumably he entrusted Korin with taking a dagger to the Chieftan of the Moors - a relic of Angmar that he enchanted to give the Orc great strength and willpower. The Orc declined to meet with Korin and threatened him unless he helped them raid a nearby Orc settlement. They killed Korin, took the relic, got what they want, and now we'll have to see what's next. I have questions about Vurik, like why he is nomadic with his tribe of Orcs -- no room in Moria or Gundabad? Is he disliked? To what end was the blade taken after the Raid and not before?

That said, Ovi is not a loremaster so he can have historic familiarity with Rhudaur or Angmar but still need an ally. I locked into his vengeance at the end, and took him out to find a Ranger that can help him kill his longstanding foe. The remaining events - finding a brooch, having a vision - were all prompts from the Core Rules that AI helped connect to the broader story. More to come with Ovi but now they both have +3 Skill and +3 Adventure Points and they are together awaiting the next direction in Bree.

End of Chapter 1B: GPT Summary of Gameplay

Set in the rugged foothills of the Blue Mountains and the desolate roads of Eriador, Ovi’s journey is one of grief, determination, and the gradual rekindling of purpose. A Dwarf hardened by loss and fueled by anger, Ovi is drawn into a shadowy conspiracy that tests his mettle and sets him on a path to confront the specter of his past.

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1. The Tranquility of Torgar’s Hollow

Ovi begins his story in Torgar’s Hollow, a small Dwarven settlement nestled south of the Blue Mountains. For years, Ovi has lived a quiet, sorrowful life among the villagers, throwing himself into mining and occasional skirmishes with nearby Orcs. The weight of his family’s slaughter by the Chieftain of the Moors, an Orc named Vurik, still haunts him.

One night, the arrival of a merchant named Korin disrupts the village’s peace. Though Korin claims to be a wandering trader, his possession of a Rhudaurian dagger—a relic tied to Angmar—sets Ovi’s instincts on edge. Despite his misgivings, Ovi allows Korin to stay, trading for the dagger and securing it in the village armory.

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2. The Raid on Torgar’s Hollow

That same night, Vurik’s band of Orcs attacks the village, exploiting a breach created by Korin under duress. The Orcs ransack the armory and storehouse, stealing precious supplies and the Rhudaurian dagger. Ovi and the villagers fight valiantly, slaying several Orcs, but the cost is high: three villagers die, and much of their winter stores are lost.

In the aftermath, Ovi interrogates a captured Orc, learning that the raid was part of a larger scheme tied to Angmar’s lingering shadow. Worse, he learns that the Chieftain of the Moors is none other than Vurik—the very Orc who branded him and slaughtered his family years ago.

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3. The Call to Action

Fueled by rage and a thirst for justice, Ovi declares his intent to hunt down Vurik and end his terror once and for all. Despite warnings from his kinsmen about the dangers of acting alone, Ovi resolves to seek out the Rangers of the North, believing their knowledge of Angmar and its relics will aid him.

Before departing, Ovi discovers a Dwarven cache in the North Moors, marked with runes that reassure him of his kin’s enduring strength. Inside, he finds a fine green brooch with runes of Belegost, which he proudly affixes to his blue cloak. The artifact fills him with renewed hope and a sense of destiny.

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4. The Dream at the Keep

As Ovi journeys south along the Greenway, he encounters a mysterious lordly man at a keep near the Bree-lands. The man’s warm hospitality and stories of Arthedain’s heroic stand against Angmar soothe Ovi’s weary spirit. That night, Ovi dreams of a Ranger locked in battle with Vurik and shadowy wraiths. The dream ends with the Ranger kneeling outside the Prancing Pony, a sign hanging above him.

Ovi awakens on the open road, the keep and its host vanished. Though unsettled, he feels rested and emboldened, believing his dream to be a sign from Aulë or some higher power.

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5. The Meeting with Narlos

As Ovi nears the Bree-lands, he encounters Narlos, a weathered Ranger bearing fresh wounds and fatigue from his own harrowing journey. Recognizing the man from his dream, Ovi approaches cautiously but with purpose. The two exchange few words, both burdened by their respective trials. Ovi mentions the Prancing Pony, and they agree to rest and speak later.

Together, they enter the town of Bree, their paths now entwined as they prepare to confront the growing shadow of Angmar and the Orc threat tied to Vurik.

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Key Themes and Developments:

• Vurik as the Central Antagonist: Ovi’s journey is deeply personal, centered on his vengeance against the Chieftain of the Moors.
• Angmar’s Lingering Shadow: The Rhudaurian dagger and the references to Angmar’s sorcery hint at a broader, more sinister plot.
• Ovi’s Growth: From sorrowful isolation to determined resolve, Ovi’s path is one of rediscovering purpose and forging alliances.
• Connection to Narlos: The mysterious dream and their shared experience with Angmar’s relics create an organic link between the two characters.