Mount Doom, long thought to be dormant, has recently been seen to billow with smoke once more. New cracks formed upon the mountain base, and red hot lava ooze down into the land, killing all organisms that lived there. Fortunately, because this was once Mordor, people were hesitant to settle there, and thus, the human death rate has been low.

What hasn't been well is that in the woods of Mirkwood, a shadow seems to be spreading. The Elven and human folk alike have reported seeing a dark shape, moving in the darkness, terrifying beyond imagination. Human disappearances are becoming frequent, and evil creatures have once again begun to climb in population. From one Dwarvish mine (of two days travel), there hasn't been seen once frequent reports for months. It seems a dead place, and the King's Inquirers who were sent out weeks ago, have not come back.