The Dark Mage of Rhudaur by AliceNWonder000137  

The Witch-King of Angmar summons the Easterling mage Ethacali and tasks him with destroying any Dunadain resistance still in Rhudaur in preparation for the conquest of the north.  To complete this task, Ethacali must recruit the Dunnish tribes in the region.

Image courtesy of the Dark Mage of Rhudaur RPG.

Armed with an ancient tome, written by Sauron, Ethacali leads the expedition to Rhudaur to unearth a long-forgotten weapon that can be used against the northern kingdoms.  

Ethacali questions the Bloodwights using the runes of binding, but he gets more than he bargained for.  Young Dagar is a ne'er do well in Tharbad, but is given a chance at redemption.  

Dagar is summoned back to Rhudaur.  Ethacali moves to bind Blogath, the greatest of the Blood-Wights.  Will the Necromancer have given him enough power and tools to use?

Image courtesy of the Dark Mage of Rhudaur RPG.

Dunnish for wagontrain or caravan.  Dagar returns home to his parents and is given a task.  

Ethacali prepares for the conquest of the Gondryn, the guard towers along the border of Rhudaur and Cardolan.  Sir Oswy Amrodan prepares the defense of the Tirthon, one of the Gondryn towers.  

The waenhosh slogs along the Dunnish Track, the main road through Rhudaur, to the village of Maig Tuira to trade and resupply.

Members of the Tirthon are beset by nightmares.

Image courtesy of the Dark Mage of Rhudaur RPG.

Dagar weighs his options after the destruction of Maig Tuira and Mercatur reveals part of his past.  Conflict rises among the Dunnish tribes over the spoils of war while snow falls in the summer.

Mercatur leads a group to scout the forest and the Dunnish camp as Dagar comes to grips with his fears.

Ethacali pursues the scouting party, but he finds that he is old and tired and must find the energy to continue.  The waenhosh arrives but Ethacali's plot deepens.  

In peaceful Beleriand, Irime talks with her four children about the future.  But Sauron's beloved, Thuringwethil, has other plans as Thangorodrim erupts, heralding in the Sudden Flame.

We return to the First Age in Beleriand just prior to the Dagor Bragollach and look at the people who became the Blood-Wights.  We begin in the Tower of Tirith Aeluin, in Dorthonion.  This ties in with The Court of Ardor.  Warning, I wanted this chapter to be pretty dark to show the evil of Morgoth's minions.  

Through mental torture, Thuringwethil corrupts the siblings, driving them nearly mad and completing her insane desire for a family.  Eventually, eons pass and the siblings find themselves approached by the Lord of Gifts.  Warning, the next couple of chapters are going to be pretty dark.

Annatar promises a cure for the sibling in exchange for their loyalty.  They visit the fabled city of Ost-in-Edhil and meet an old friend.  Annatar hungers for the secret of the Elven Rings of Power and uses Alquanesse to help him.  The siblings begin to turn on each other.  The settings in Ost-in-Edhil come from another RPG module.  Warning, this will be pretty dark to show Annatar's manipulative evil.

Annatar by Danforth of the RPG module.

Annatar reveals himself as he forges the One Ring and moves to destroy Eregion.  Alquanesse decides her fate.  Warning, this chapter is pretty dark as Sauron's evil shows itself.

Back in Rhudaur, the Tirthon is surrounded and Ethacali's plan unfolds.  He learns the true nature and power of the Blood-Wights.  Skrykalian continues to toy with him.

The Tirthon is surrounded by Ethacali's forces and the defenders prepare for a siege.  Mercatur knows that something is amiss but Dagar can't hear it but young Dagar does find something.  Dagar meets Lady Eanfled where they talk about Cardolan.

The siege lines are drawn and Ethacali's plan advances.  Ethacali learns more about the Blood-Wights and is awed by how ancient and powerful they are and he tries to unbalance Skrykalian.  She continues to work on the mage, weakening his mind while powering his body.  The Blood-Wights invade the dreams of Marendil and Eanfled again, but the outcome is not what was expected.  Warning for a scene of intimacy.

Skrykalian's dreams propel Marendil's madness and drive him to recklessness.  Marendil is determined to end the siege and Mercatur pushes for his inheritance.

Ethacali forces Skrykalian to do his bidding but will she obey him?  The mage launches the final assault on the Tirthon.

The final assault comes to its climax.  But there is still the question of the Blood-Wights to answer.

The battle at the Tirthon rages to its conclusion.  Ethacali still has a trump card to play and he takes his forces back to Blogath's Vale.  Will this be more than he can handle though?

Mercatur's team arrives at Blogath's Sanctuary, having seen a vision of a hostage.  They enter the caverns to face Ethacali and his group, but the Blood-Wights still must be dealt with.

The tale comes to an end at the Festival of Yule at the Palace of Thalion in Cardolan.  The Royal Family celebrates as the bard, Haedorial prepares to perform.