The One Ring RPG: "Boromir Lives" Part 2
Actual Play of a fan-made solo campaign
Boromir Lives is a partially guided solo campaign for The One Ring 2e rpg that takes place in an alternate version of the War of the Ring. In this version of events, Boromir is wounded, not killed, at Amon Hen. You will take on the role of Boromir after he makes the fateful decision to follow Frodo and Sam into Mordor... You can buy ( or PWYW) the campaign here
This is the 2nd of the campaign. Read my first part here.
Timeline
We left Boromir when he and Faramir arrived late at night at Cair Andros. Faramir took his brother with him, having the idea of placing Boromir in charge of the garrison there, far away from the lure of the Ring and the hobbits.
9 Ma 3019
When the party arrived at Cair Andros, it was already deep into the night. Yet the garrison and lord Gilhir were still busy preparing the defenses of the fort.
An exhausted messenger waiter for the brothers with a letter from their father. Faramir had sent a messenger to Minas Tirith the moment he found out Boromir was alive. Denethor wanted Boromir on the east-side, escorting the hobbits as far as possible into the dark lands, while Faramir would defend Osgiliath. Faramir’s decision conflicted with that of his father’s, a decision made 2 days ago by Denethor. It looked like Faramir didn’t relay Boromir’s misstep with the Ring. ‘I will ride to him first thing in the morning and seek his council. I cannot go against Father’s wish. It seems here we part again, Brother” said Faramir.
Boromir left on fresh horses, a precious long sword from Lord Gilhir and accompanied by 3 of Faramir’s trusted rangers; Falborn, Norwen and Baranor.
10-11 Ma 3019
The whole day the sky was covered in a foul darkness. The party quickly rode for the Crossroads, where Boromir placed the fallen head of the king back at its place. Meanwhile, Falborn found prints from the hobbits, hardly a day old! The company was on edge as they looked into the direction of the prints, towards the Cleft of Cirith Ungol.
Falborn left the company once they entered that dark valley, he turned and made for Osgiliath. With hardly a spot to hide, the three decided to follow one trail that obscured them from view that led to a flight of stairs. Lots of stairs.
When the stairs made way for a path with a stunning vista, the group held a short rest. The path turned into a wider path with broader, lower stairs. Boromir was leading - it was now dark again, presumably late in the evening, when suddenly a weight fell atop of him, pushed him hard on the rocky ground. Claws and teeth tore through the exposed skin of his face underneath his helm. Still sword in hand, he managed to turn around, facing that vile Gollum! Boromir tried swinging his sword but Gollum was too close and the agile creature managed to avoid his blows, clawing and hissing at Boromir. For a while. Two well positioned blows later, the creature lay death at Boromir’s feet.
12-13 Ma 3019
The party entered a dark, stinking cave. A giant spider was seen, but in time, crossing the tunnel the party was following. Luckily, it was the only encounter with Shelob. Later that day, the party found the hobbits as they were looking for a way out the stinking caves. They looked scared of Boromir and ‘had lost their guide’. Boromir told them how Gollum had attacked him, the creature being on the prowl in the middle of the night. Frodo gasped in horror but Sam seemed to approve. Boromir and Baranor hacked their way out of the cobwebs. While doing so, Boromir heared a voice saying following his fathers command is a folly; Is this how Boromir fights his battles, hacking at cobwebs at the end of the world? Why shouldn’t Boromir carry the ring, surely that would be a better solution?
Maddened with greed, he shared his plan with Baranor, who is appalled and tried to stop him. Boromir tried to argue with Frodo, begging to give him the Ring. When Frodo felt cornered, he slipped the ring on his finger and disappeared. Quickly Sam made off in search of his master, leaving the company of the rangers.
Omen GME linked this scene to the earlier scene where Faramir helped the hobbits escape. Keywords rolled “Reveal Solution”. NPC Attitude for Baranor was “Heavily Opposed”
“Frodo!” Boromir shouted. “Again you leave me Halfling! Again you sneeeek out like a thief in the night, delivering the ring quikly to your master!”
Once the outburst passed, Boromir vision cleared again. Ashamed of himself he ordered Baranor and Norwen to leave him, to return and tell his father how he charged the enemy: “Either I will be slain or I will kill their greatest servant! Let that be the tale of Boromir The Brave, who walked into the dark lands without fear, to knock on Sauron’s door!
So Boromir ended up alone, standing in the shadow of the evil Tower of Cirith Ungol, without the Ring, the ringbearer or any allies.