Background

The entire campaign of 6 parts begins in the Second Age 601 and then spans several years from that time period. It begins with the first Númenóreans returning to Middle-earth making their “first contact” after being away on the island-continent for many centuries (569 years). Tar-Elendil 4^th King of Númenor, currently reigns since S.A. 590, and will do so until S.A. 740.

Part I – First Contact

And the Dúnedain came at times to the shores of the Great Lands, and they took pity on the forsaken world of Middle-earth; and the Lords of Númenor set foot again upon the western shores in the Dark Years of Men, and none yet dared to withstand them. For most of the Men of that age that sat under the Shadow were now grown weak and fearful. And coming among them the Númenóreans taught them many things. Corn and wine they brought, and they instructed Men in the sowing of seed and the grinding of grain, in the hewing of wood and the shaping of stone, and in the ordering of their life, such as it might be in the lands of swift death and little bliss.

-- The Silmarillion, Akallabêth. J.R.R. Tolkien.

Part II – No Good Deed...

But for long the crews of the great Númenórean ships came unarmed among the men of Middle-earth; and though they had axes and bows aboard for the felling of timber and the hunting for food upon wild shores owned by no man, they did not bear these when they sought out the men of the lands. It was indeed their grievance, when the Shadow crept along the coasts and men whom they had befriended became afraid or hostile, that iron was used against them by those to whom they had revealed it.

-- Unfinished Tales, Description of the Island of Númenor. J.R.R. Tolkien

Part III – “Ill” Omen

Part IV – Held Hostage

And the evil Men came among them, and cast over them a shadow of fear, and they took them for kings. Then the Valar forsook for a time the Men of Middle-earth who had refused their summons and had taken the friends of Morgoth to be their masters; and Men dwelt in darkness and were troubled by many evil things that Morgoth had devised in the days of his dominion: demons, and dragons, and misshapen beasts, and the unclean Orcs that are mockeries of the Children of Ilúvatar. And the lot of Men was unhappy.”

-- The Silmarillion, Akallabêth. J.R.R. Tolkien.

The dark forces managed through a series of subterfuge, trickery, and betrayal, to take a number of the local village's chieftains hostage...

Part V – The Truly Dirty Dozen

The Númenóreans have dropped by, and helped (temporarily) qwell the recent years of increasing attacks (after the hostage crisis several years earlier causing a serious resumption and escalation of hostilities).

After a several months long campaign, the “troubles” seem to be ended thanks to the might of the Men of Westernesse.

Months, and years go by, and not a sign of dark minions are seen any more, other than in rumors and stories.

The assumption of many is that they have been driven off for good.

Alas, it is not so. The dark forces have been gathering far away in preparation for revenge, but biding their time, assuming the Númenóreans will once again leave. They wait until some time after the Númenóreans leave once again to head to their homeland just to be sure, before they begin the attacks with a vengeance.

The dark forces do not plan to attack until the Spring thaws though, because the current weather slows their forces significantly.

They do not try an all out single massive force assault (yet). Instead they begin systematically attacking a single village at a time in the middle of the night with no warning, and no prisoners, or escapees to warn others. Then, after ravaging the village and all it's denizens thoroughly, they disappear before the sun rises...