After reading the thread by leptokurt for a mono-tactic deck to solve the riddle quest, I tried to use a similar deck for the saga quests, but failed the 1st quest for 5 times. So I switch to a mono-spirit deck for another approach (to burn out the encounter deck) to pass quest 1 first. Here is my deck and it performs well (win 3 out of the 4 games) in the 1st quest, and should be ok to solve the riddle quest. Here is the list (card pool is 1x core set and everything else):

Pure Spirit! Low Threat!

Hero (2)
Frodo Baggins (CatC) x1
Glorfindel (FoS) x1

Ally (28)
Arwen Undomiel (TWitW) x2
Bofur (TRG) x2
Elfhelm (TDM) x1
Escort from Edoras (AJtR) x3
Gandalf (Core) x3
Imladris Stargazer (FoS) x3
The Riddermark's Finest (THoEM) x3
Wandering Took (Core) x3
West Road Traveller (RtM) x3
Westfold Horse-Breaker (THfG) x2
Zigil Miner (KD) x3

Attachment (10)
Ancient Mathom (AJtR) x3
Light of Valinor (FoS) x3
Resourceful (TWitW) x3
Unexpected Courage (Core) x1

Event (12)
A Test of Will (Core) x2
Dwarven Tomb (Core) x1
Elrond's Counsel (TWitW) x3
Hasty Stroke (Core) x2
The Galadhrim's Greeting (Core) x2
Will of the West (Core) x2

Low threat is cool, but how do you plan to kill the trolls?

You don't have to kill the trolls to win. You can quest out the encounter deck instead.

ArachneJericho said:

Indeed, I have just done that, but it is too difficult to get the treasure this way.

Angus Lee said:

I've found that a combination of the two approaches is best for getting at treasure. Controlled tons of questing to turn up key, then damaging one troll in combat to get the key, then questing like the wind into the cave and then through the deck. I believe there's a spirit card in core that let's you send an engaged enemy back to the staging area, so if your threat is very low you can optionally engage, damage, and then disengage.

But if you have to kill a troll for the purse your deck is in trouble. Use Test of Will and Hasty Stroke to kill the More Like A Grocer treachery/shadow effect that removes all Baggins Resources.

Why not adding Good Meal? All the events are Frodo's sphere anyways, I know it is hard to fit all the cards, but I think this one is well worth considering.

@ArachneJericho: There is no need for A Light in the Dark (core 52) to disengage the troll, in fact, it will automatically disengage at the end of the combat phase if you don't pay the 1 threat cost.

@lieimmoen: I think there are only 2 copies of Galadhrim's Greeting (core 46) that can combo with Good Meal, so I don't think it justify to include the meals in this deck.

Angus Lee said:

Doh, you are right! I totally forgot!

O Elbereth! Gilthonial! could be a good way to get rid of some pesky trolls. It even works very well with your secrecy concept and could potentially be an alternative way to win the scenario (unlikely, granted. But IF you should be so fortunate to get enough of them)

Hmm on the other hand, O Elbereth! Gilthonial! combined with some dwarven tomb cards and suddenly this is looking like a plausible way to win this