Having barely escaped from Moria, the Company of the Ring flees into the forest of Lórien where they are welcomed by the Elves of the Golden Wood and supplied with boats and other gifts by their Lord and Lady, Celeborn and Galadriel. Then, after a brief rest, they set out upon the River Anduin.
Setup: Set Frodo's Choice, Seat of Seeing, and Parth Galen aside, out of play. Add The Argonath and Sarn Gebir to the staging area.
Enemies get +2
and cannot be engaged. Skip the encounter phase.
The players cannot advance while The Argonath is in play.
So the Company went on their long way, down the wide hurrying waters, borne ever southwards. Bare woods stalked along either bank, and they could not see any glimpse of the lands behind. –The Fellowship of the Ring
The pursuit of the Uruk–hai has brought the Heir of Elendil to Rohan just as Saruman declares war on that land. Aragorn and his companions travel to Edoras to aid King Théoden, but their arrival is met with suspicion...
Setup: Set The Defense of Helm's Deep and 1 copy of Deeping Wall aside, out of play. Each player sets 1 copy of Soldier of Isengard aside, out of play. Then, the players must choose: either each player shuffles 1 copy of Poisoned Counsels into his deck, or advance to stage 2A (bypassing stage 1B).
When Revealed: Each player chooses 1 ally in his hand that matches the sphere of a hero he controls and puts it into play under his control.
Skip the quest phase and combat phase.
Forced: At the end of the round, advance to stage 2A.
"Hail, Théoden son of Thengel! I have returned. For behold! the storm comes, and now all friends should gather together..." –Gandalf, The Two Towers
Your search for the missing Dorwinions has led you up the mountains of Rh–n. There you discover the remains of an ancient temple built to honor Sauron during the dark years of Middle–earth.
Setup: Shuffle each of the stage 2 quest cards together and place them facedown under this stage. Create The Power of Mordor deck (see insert) and set it next to the quest deck. Add Thane Ulchor and Tribute to Mordor to the staging area. Shuffle the encounter deck.
The journey to reach this place has been difficult and you take a moment to prepare yourself before entering the dark temple.
Skip the quest phase.
Forced: At the end of the planning phase, place 1 resource token here. Then, if there are 2 resource tokens here, add this stage to the victory display and advance to the topmost stage 2A.
Setup: Search the encounter deck for Smaug the Golden, Smaug the Magnificent, The Lonely Mountain and A Bare Patch. Set Smaug the Magnificent and A Bare Patch aside, out of play. Add Smaug the Golden and The Lonely Mountain to the staging area. Shuffle the five Erebor treasure cards and stack them facedown under The Lonely Mountain.
Skip the Quest phase.
Forced: At the end of the round, advance to stage 2.
So one day, although autumn was now getting far on, and winds were cold, and leaves were falling fast, three large boats left Lake–town, laden with rowers, dwarves, Mr. Baggins, and many provisions. –The Hobbit
Having barely escaped from Moria, the Company of the Ring flees into the forest of Lórien where they are welcomed by the Elves of the Golden Wood and supplied with boats and other gifts by their Lord and Lady, Celeborn and Galadriel. Then, after a brief rest, they set out upon the River Anduin.
Setup: Set Frodo's Choice, Seat of Seeing, and Parth Galen aside, out of play. Add The Argonath and Sarn Gebir to the staging area.
Enemies get +2 and cannot be engaged. Skip the encounter phase.
The players cannot advance while The Argonath is in play.
So the Company went on their long way, down the wide hurrying waters, borne ever southwards. Bare woods stalked along either bank, and they could not see any glimpse of the lands behind. –The Fellowship of the Ring
The pursuit of the Uruk–hai has brought the Heir of Elendil to Rohan just as Saruman declares war on that land. Aragorn and his companions travel to Edoras to aid King Théoden, but their arrival is met with suspicion...
Setup: Set The Defense of Helm's Deep and 1 copy of Deeping Wall aside, out of play. Each player sets 1 copy of Soldier of Isengard aside, out of play. Then, the players must choose: either each player shuffles 1 copy of Poisoned Counsels into his deck, or advance to stage 2A (bypassing stage 1B).
When Revealed: Each player chooses 1 ally in his hand that matches the sphere of a hero he controls and puts it into play under his control.
Skip the quest phase and combat phase.
Forced: At the end of the round, advance to stage 2A.
"Hail, Théoden son of Thengel! I have returned. For behold! the storm comes, and now all friends should gather together..." –Gandalf, The Two Towers
"Here will the hammer–stroke fall hardest. And for that reason Mithrandir came hither in such haste. For if we fall, who shall stand?
–Beregond, The Return of the King
Setup: Set Minas Tirith, Grond, The Witch-king, and each copy of Wraith of Wings aside, out of play. Search the encounter deck for a copy of Pelennor Field and make it the active location. Shuffle the encounter deck. The players may attach Esquire of Rohan and Esquire of Gondor to different heroes.
...companies came and were hailed and cheered and passed through the Gate, men of the Outlands marching to defend the City of Gondor in a dark hour.
–The Return of the King
Skip the quest phase and combat phase.
Forced: At the end of the planning phase, place 1 progress here.
Setup: Set each copy of Great Barrow, Standing Stones, and Hollow Circle aside, out of play. Shuffle the encounter deck.
After rescuing the hobbits from Old Man Willow, Tom Bombadil has invited Frodo and his friends to stay the night in his house. There they are greeted warmly by his wife, Goldberry, the River–daughter.
Skip the quest phase.
Forced: At the end of the round, place 1 progress on this stage.
"Let us shit out the night!" she said. "For you are still afraid, perhaps, of mist and tree–shadows and deep water, and untame things. Fear nothing! For tonight you are under the roof of Tom Bombadil."
–The Fellowship of the Ring