The Boneless
~ Razor Tail ~
- Group
-
PROLOGUE
-
The world is changing.
Though the leaves still turn golden in Lothlรณrien and the fires of the Dwarves still burn in Khazad-dรปmโs long-abandoned halls, the winds from the East carry a different scent โ of ash, of iron, of dread. In the borderlands of Gondor, folk whisper of beasts unseen since the elder days. In the North, travelers vanish upon roads that once lay safe beneath star and moon.
Long ago โ so long that even the Wise began to believe it myth โ the One Ring was lost. Not destroyed, as it should have been, but slipped from its masterโs hand and swallowed by the Anduin River. Time buried it. The world forgot it. Even Sauron, in his growing strength, believed it gone beyond recovery.
But evil is patient. And some things lost have a way of crawling back into the light.
For over five hundred years, the Ring has festered in the dark, clutched in the shriveled hand of a creature once called Smรฉagol, now only known as Gollum. In the black hollows beneath the Misty Mountains, it whispered to him. It fed on his hunger, his loneliness, his pain. It changed him โ twisted him, broke him.
And then, one day, it called him to leave.
No one knows what stirred the thing to movement. Some say it was the growing power of the Eye in Mordor. Others say the Ring itself grew restless. But Gollum emerged from the deep, blinking into the world above, muttering to himself in two voices. It was then that the sightings began.
A creature, twisted and sunken, had been seen in the wild places of the world โ clinging to rocks, muttering to himself, ever guarding a small object of curious power.
In the cold hills of Angmar, a shepherd saw him creeping along the stones, sniffing the air like a dog. In the Greenwood, a child vanished near the riverbank, leaving behind only strange footprints. In the marshes, a ranger of Ithilien swore he glimpsed something crawling through the reeds, clutching a golden glimmer to its chest.
These rumors reached the ears of Gandalf the Grey.
And Gandalf โ though often mocked by his peers for his obsession with small folk and smaller tales โ listened.
He listened, and he feared.
He recalled a tale once told by Isildur, written in the fading ink of ancient scrolls in Minas Tirithโs archives. He remembered the Ringโs unnatural pull, its whispering promise of power, and the cold fire in Bilbo Bagginsโ eyes when he spoke of a โmagic ringโ won in a game of riddles โ a game that had never been played.
At least not in this telling. In this telling, the Ring was never stolen from Gollum. It was never brought to the Shire. Never passed to Frodo. The Eye never turned Westward in search of a hobbit. The world had been given a fleeting reprieve โ and now that time has run out.
With dread in his heart, Gandalf rode to Rivendell. There, in the twilight halls of Elrond, he laid bare his fears. They spoke long and in many tongues, and though the White Council had grown fractured and mistrustful, they agreed on one point: the creature must be found. If it was the One Ring he carried โ and Gandalf believed it was โ then time was of the essence. The Enemy would be searching. The Nazgรปl would not rest. And worse still, the Ring itself might call out for rescue.
So a plan was set in motion.
A company must be gathered โ not warriors of glory and banner, for such things move too loudly in a world watched by shadow โ but those whose skills lie in quiet travel, sharp eyes, and hidden strength. What was needed was subtlety. A quiet kind of strength. Elrond offered wisdom and refuge. Gandalf would offer guidance. But the task itself would fall to others.
A fellowship would be gathered. Not of Kings, but of those with quiet skill and a heart strong enough to resist the Ringโs call. From among the Free Peoples, they would come โ not always willingly, not always with trust โ but drawn together by a purpose greater than themselves.
To find Gollum.
To take the Ring.
And, if possible โ to destroy it.
-
OVERVIEW
-
Set during an alternate telling of the War of the Ring, this roleplay invites you into a Middle-Earth where the One Ring was never found by Bilbo Baggins โ instead, it has remained in the possession of Gollum for over five centuries, festering in the dark. Now, with whispers of his movements and Sauronโs power rising in Mordor, a secret council has been called in Rivendell. A small fellowship must be formed to seek the creature, uncover the truth, and if the worst proves trueโฆ destroy the Ring before the Enemy can reclaim it.
Welcome to The War of the Ring!
This is a narrative-driven, character-focused roleplay inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. While canon characters appear as NPCs (and sometimes interact in-character on Discord via tupperbots), the story will center around original characters โ wanderers, warriors, scholars and outcasts drawn together by fate, each with their own stake in the coming war.
The group will travel across Middle-Earth, from the safety of Rivendell to the shadowed lands beyond. Expect mysterious ruins, ancient evils, strange alliances and challenges both physical and moral. This isnโt just a quest to destroy the Ring โ itโs a journey to determine the fate of Middle-Earth.
The main roleplay thread will be hosted on Roleplaynation, unfolding in structured posts with collaborative storytelling.
Discord will serve as our hub for out-of-character (OOC) chat, plotting, updates and minor in-character moments via a dedicated IC Discord space.
Important decisions will be made together, often by group vote, encouraging a shared storytelling experience.
While the story has a general direction, itโs shaped by your charactersโ choices, bonds, and struggles.
This is a roleplay for those who enjoy long-form writing, rich lore and character development. Whether your character is a Dรบnedain tracker, a Dwarven wanderer, an Elven exile, or something more mysterious, your presence will shape the unfolding tale.
If you have any questions about the roleplay or whether or not you should boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew... Don't hesitate to ask!
-
RULES
-
01. NO GODMODDING, POWERPLAYING OR METAGAMING
These practices are unfair and disrespectful. If you're unfamiliar with these terms, please research them before joining the roleplay.
02. RESPECT AND ETIQUETTE
Treat everyone in the roleplay with courtesy and respect. If you plan to leave the roleplay, please inform me in advance and if possible, write your character out of the story.
03. BASIC ENGLISH SKILLS
Proper grammar, spelling and punctuation are important in roleplaying. While perfection isn't required, a basic understanding of English is necessary.
04. CONTENT OVER LENGTH
Quality is more important than quantity. Aim for 2-3 paragraphs per post, with two paragraphs being the minimum requirement.
05. BE REALISTIC AND REASONABLE
Your character doesn't have unlimited arrows or resources. Avoid so-called "Run Nโ Gun" tactics and remember thereโs always a bigger threat. You can use any faceclaims you'd like as long as it's not anime.
06. ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Every action in the roleplay affects the world around you. Consider the moral and practical implications of your character's decisions.
07. KEEP DRAMA IN-CHARACTER
Avoid personal drama outside the roleplay. Feel free to include dramatic elements within the story.
08. DISCORD REQUIRED
You must have Discord to participate in this roleplay. All plotting, discussions and even some in-character interactions will take place there.
Last edited:
