Template:Session Prep/Display

The Setting and Scene

 This section will contain the Session Title and Location, centered on the page.

Recapping the Tale

   This section will contain a recap of the previous session.

   * Weary and battered, the Company limped from the shadowed halls of Dol Guldur, the ancient scroll clutched tightly in Borin's gloved hand. Elara, the Silvan scout, nursed a grievous wound, her normally keen eyes clouded with fever. The loss of vital supplies and the lingering taint of the Necromancer's power hung heavy in the air.

Notable Personages

   This section will contain information about key NPCs.

   * Tom Bombadil - A figure of ancient mirth and enigmatic power, encountered amidst the gnarled trees of the Old Forest. His eyes, like pools of starlight, hold secrets beyond mortal comprehension, and his words, though merry, are laden with cryptic wisdom.
   * The Barrow-wight - A malevolent spirit, bound to the barrows by ancient curses and the hunger for forgotten treasures. Its spectral form, a chilling manifestation of death's cold embrace, guards the barrows with a possessive fury, its whispers like the rasp of grave-dust.

The Player's Path

   This section will contain the player's goals.

   * Find a safe passage through the treacherous Barrow-downs, avoiding the dangers that lurk within their shadowed depths.
   * Discover the source of the ethereal light, hoping it offers a path or a warning.
   * Confront the Barrow-wight, if necessary, and recover any lost treasures or ancient knowledge it guards.

The Adventure Unfolds

   This section will contain adventure hooks, key events, and planned events.

   * A local ranger, his face etched with worry, warns of the barrows' dangers, his voice hushed with fear as he speaks of lost travelers and restless spirits that haunt the mounds.
   * A haunting melody, like the lament of lost souls, echoes through the hills, its mournful notes drawing the adventurers towards a hidden barrow, its entrance shrouded in shadow.

Perils and Rewards

   This section will contain challenges, clues, and treasure.

   * Deciphering the runes on the barrow entrance, unlocking its secrets and revealing the path within.
   * Resisting the Barrow-wight's spectral powers, which drain vitality and instill a paralyzing fear, testing the limits of their courage and resolve.

Interludes and Shadows

   This section will contain interludes and potential conflicts.

   * A brief respite in Tom Bombadil's home, a haven of warmth and light amidst the encroaching darkness, where they learn of the Old Forest's dangers and the ancient powers that slumber beneath its trees.
   * A moment of reflection at the standing stone, where they sense the weight of ancient history, the echoes of forgotten battles and the whispers of long-dead kings.

DM's Guidance

   * Emphasize the eerie atmosphere of the Barrow-downs, using descriptions of shadows, whispers, and the chilling silence that hangs heavy in the air.
   * Use Tom Bombadil's riddles to foreshadow future encounters and challenges, weaving his cryptic words into the fabric of the adventure.

The Larger World

   * The corruption of ancient powers, both those that slumber and those that stir, and the dangers of disturbing the dead, unleashing forces beyond mortal control.
   * The balance between the natural world, represented by Tom Bombadil and the Old Forest, and the encroaching darkness, embodied by the Barrow-wight and the shadows that cling to the land.

The Next Chapter

   * As the adventurers emerge from the barrow, they see a host of shadowy figures gathering on the horizon, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. A chilling wind carries a whispered name: "Angmar."