A Kidnapping in Umbar

A Kidnapping in Umbar is an adventure by Tom Davies set in the world of Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings) that will run at Arcanacon 2019.

Prince Elatar of Gondor has gone missing! Can you and your brave companions discover what has happened to the prince? With tensions high between Umbar and Gondor, you are the only ones who might solve the mystery!

Pregenerated Characters:

Introductory Scene:

You were asked by a messenger the previous evening to attend the Gondorian Ambassador at the Assembly the following morning. So with some trepidation as you don’t know why Celin asked to see you, you make your way to the Assembly early the following morning. An usher comes up to you and escorts you up to the Public Gallery above the Main Assembly Hall, and guides you to a roped off area of seating where a few others that look similar to yourself are seated, whereas you notice that the public seats are already full of commoners, already making a fair bit of noise with their talk. In the Hall below after some time you see that the Council of Captains begins arriving, with each being announced beforehand, until finally the Admiral of the Fleet and current President Lord Borathor (who you recognise as he is quite portly) arrives after a few hours. You notice that the loudest cheers are reserved for Lord Arkhad and for Lord Borathor himself. Then the Council Herald announces that the Council is now in session, with the first business of the day being to hear the Ambassador for Gondor.

So Celin arrives. “Greetings, my Lords & people of Umbar. I have some serious news to impart. Firstly, the whereabouts of Prince Elatar, the eldest son of our majesty Tarondor III are unknown (at this point many in the gallery erupt in mirth) and we fear that something may have happened to him.”

Lord Arkhad: “But surely Gondor must be used to this by now, my lord Celin? We all know of Prince Elatar’s previous ‘escapades’, don’t we citizens? (laughter & cheers). And of Gondor’s previous responses to our protests at some of Prince Elatar’s ‘outings’! “ (calls of ‘right on’ and more cheers).

After more discussion amongst the Captains and further derogatory comments about Prince Elatar, the Council finally agrees to issue public notices offering rewards for any who have information as to Prince Elatar’s whereabouts.

“Secondly”, Celin says, “ Gondor is extremely concerned at the latest transgression made by some of Umbar’s armed forces at the Harnen River crossings near Ramlond, and I am here to lodge an official protest in regards to these latest transgressions.” (boos, cries of ‘so what’ and ‘what are you going to do, then? from the gallery). ‘We expect this Council to find the perpretrators and punish them appropriately.”

This results in a long discussion between Ambassador Celin and the Council, the gist of which is that the Council’s argument is that without the Ambassador supplying any names or identities of those he accuses the Council cannot take any action, so no resolution is reached. A similar outcome results from Ambassador Celin also protesting against the actions of pirates attacking Gondor’s shipping and raiding Gondor’s coasts, whilst flying the colours of Umbar. This also provokes angry responses from some Council members (including Lord Arkhad).

So Ambassador Celin then leaves, and a short time later an usher comes and informs yourself and a few others near you that Ambassador Celin is now ready to see you, so the group of you are escorted back downstairs, then down into the basement levels, through various dim corridors until you reach a wooden door marked ‘Ambassador of Gondor’.