The World Is Changed (alternate history)

[Inferno]

"The world has changed. I see it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost. For none now live who remember it." -Galadriel, The Fellowship Of The Ring




Alternate History

Here we shall note the diverging pathways of reality itself.

[Inferno]

Recent rumours and evil news of the War still ring in their weary heads. Could it be true?!

"Saruman has betrayed the Men of the West! A vast army of Uruk-Hai has marched forth from Isengard and defeated Rohan, taking Helm's Deep and murdering all within it, including King Theoden!"

"Minas Tirith is fallen! The army of Gondor is destroyed. The steward, his son Boromir, and Gandalf the Wizard are dead!"

"In southern Mirkwood, orcs pour forth from Dol Guldur led by Khamûl, the Ringwraith second in command to the Witch-king of Angmar, and lay siege upon the elves of Lothlorien!"

"To the north, orcs issue forth from the Grey Mountains, and Easterlings cross the Carnen River, and lay siege upon the Men of Dale and the Elves of Northern Mirkwood!"

[Inferno]

...Smaug the dragon has awakened!

The heroes all know that decades ago, a large party of dwarves were killed by Smaug in his lair. But not before their leader Thorin Oakenshield wounded the great wyrm. Since then, lo these many years, Smaug has slept, recovering from his grievous injuries. Until now.

Unbeknownst to our company of young heroes, this one lone alternate event has had far-ranging ramifications, like ripples on a pond emanating wide from one tossed pebble...

If the company of dwarves were slaughtered...
Smaug never burned Laketown, nor was slain.
The Battle of Five Armies never happened.
Bilbo never brought the One Ring home.
The Ring never came to Frodo.
The Nine never went to the Shire hunting for it.
Frodo and his friends never fled to Rivendell.
The Council of Elrond was never called.
The Fellowship of the Ring never existed.
Gandalf never fell in Moria.
Boromir never succumbed to temptation and death.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli never went to Helm's Deep.
Merry and Pippin never awakened the Ents of Fangorn and set them upon Saruman.
Frodo, Samwise and Gollum never went to Mordor.
And on and on and on.

This cascade of resulting alternate events culminated in the fall of the free peoples of Middle Earth... thus rendering Sauron Victorious.

[Inferno]

The heroes all know that decades ago, a large party of dwarves were killed by Smaug in his lair.

Suddenly and without warning, the mound of golden treasure explodes like an erupting volcano! From beneath the dragon-horde comes the great calamity of Smaug, King Under the Mountain!

...The colossal, fiery cataclysm looks upon Elbenwin and roars, "GIVE ME MY PRECIOUS!"

Unbeknownst by the Company, Bilbo's death at the Lonely Mountain means The One Ring passed to Smaug sixty years ago!