Chapter 1: "The Opening Salvo", or, "Heads, You Lose!"

(The characters are in the great meeting-hall of Barad-wath, whose huge, fang-toothed doorway looks out northward towards the Barad-dur, Mount Doom, and the victory of Sauron. Some are reveling and feasting, and some may be more reserved, based on their character descriptions. All, though, have a clear view out the door, and a clear view of the High Priestess of the Variags...)

The Variag High Priestess Dagharga is channelling the Will of Sauron as she does for truly momentous occasions, screaming unintelligibly in an unnaturally low voice clearly not her own. The sound of it rises above the shouting, blaring din of the celebration, commanding attention from even the least interested. Thus, when she suddenly stops in mid-screech and says, in her own tiny little voice, "I cannot feel Tumrakhi...He is gone!", the crowd gets a little upset.

(This is the Lapse of Will, that moment when Frodo claimed the One Ring for his own and all of Sauron's considerable mental energy is concentrated on the Crack of Doom and how fast the Nazgul can get there.)

This unsteady situation lasts for all of half a minute. If PC#15, Raisha, is present, she should consider drawing her sword and moving to the priestess. It has been her task, and her honor, to kill those priestesses who grow weak so as to hasten their reincarnation in the service of Tumrakhi, and this appears to be such a case.

As all watch and wait, a sudden earthquake rocks the tower. MM rolls are required (Hard -10) to keep their feet. The Barad-dur collapses, Orodruin belches fire, and the Variag High Priestess Dagharga loses her head, literally: It explodes into flaming, bloody ashes with a deafening report. Subtle characters (roll Perception, 111+) will hear a strong but distant voice intoning:

Characters will be encouraged to evacuate the tower via the close-by main door by the sound, growing louder, of the upper floors collapsing down towards them. (Think: crash-Crash-CRASH-CRASH... and you get the idea.) Feel free to require MM rolls or anything else your sadistic mind can think of in order to get the company successfully outside.

Now the dilemmas present themselves:

• Where do they go?
• Where can they find food or water?
• Whom can they trust?

...and many other questions. Keep them as confused as possible: You have to have your fun at this game, as well. Give them copies of the map if you haven't already, and be sure to point out the features that have fallen down, are leaning over precariously, or have been drowned in a sea of lava. And please, smile as you tell them they're doomed. A friendly smile is always appreciated.

Note: Players may inquire as to their proper rank in the Sauronic scheme of things, be it military or diplomatic. Use this handy listing to figure things out:

Sauronic Military Officers' Ranks:

• Gonon (Black Speech "Warlord"): supreme commander
  
• Urdanuk (B.S. "High Commander"): commander of 4000 to 10,000 troops
  
• Afukaush (B.S. "Commander"):assists the Urdanuki
  
• Kritar (B.S. "High Captain"): commander of 1000 troops
  
• Drartul (B.S. "Captain"): commander of 100 troops
  
• Ujak (B.S. "Sergeant"): commander of 10 troops

Assume that 6th- or 7th-level Warrior or Ranger characters will be at least Kritar, if not Afukaush rank: Lesser levels will have lesser rank. The players who take command with role-playing should be given preference in rank. Characters with strong subterfuge skills may be ranked as high as Kritar, though without true authority: These persons would be prized as "special forces" fighters.
Characters with largely non-combat skills would be ranked and addressed as Gothu (B.S. "Lord") and would exert authority according to their strengths. For example, the Dwarf Threlin, a 5th-level Warrior, would hold Gothu rank over smiths and weaponers rather than any military rank, while the Elf Elwen would hold Gothu rank over lesser members of the diplomatic and spy corps.