Storytelling: Book 3, Chapter 4 - Freeing Dori

I reached Othrikar by horse, and I hoped another rider would not take it because it was the only horse available in a stable-full of ponies. Halbarad had told me to find a dwarf-named Dori, whom I vaguely recalled from my scholar studies, and then only because the dwarf had a large stock of items that were of great importance to the scholarly profession.

I knew Hannar, one of the Othrikar leaders, as I had helped him best some of the darkened Dourhand dwarves. Hannar told me grave news that Dori, and his hoard of gems, had been captured by the Dourhands. It was believed he was being held in Ost Galumar, a Dourhand ruinhold, to the west of Othrikar. If I freed Dori, then the dwarves would decide whether to council with the Rangers.

Finding Dori was not hard. I was familiar with Ost Galumar from a prior adventure. I remember raising the flags of the Free People's from the highest stones of the ruins to give my allies hope. The flags, of course, were now down, but it amused me to think of how long and how frustrated the Dourhands had been trying to take down the flags with their short legs.

I killed Dori's guards, and opened the lock to his prison wagon. Instead of running away, something I knew we could do in a matter of minutes, Dori wanted his gems. I did not like the sound of that as I knew tougher guards would be guarding the gems. The dwarves always prized materials over people.

I was seriously considering closing the prison wagon back up, and walking away, when I noticed Moondog sitting high atop the stones peering down at us. He was singing a song about rabbit entering a snake's den to save a mole. A jesting made up on the spot. It did raise my morale enough to decide the correct and righteous course of action, even if it helped the ends of a selfish dwarf.

Dori and I strode through the deeper parts of Ost Galumar, where indeed the guards were better armored and fearsome foes. The only thing that kept me going was Moondog's continuing song of how the rabbit and mole worked together to tie the snakes into knots. Dori and I felled many Dourhand bandits and warriors, and I forgot to keep listening to the song...

But, when we finally reached the hoard of gems, the song had changed. It was a song about the Light cleansing the Dark. A song of Hope. And the tones reverbated through the quieted stones of Ost Galumar. In that moment of clarity, it seemed time stopped. Even the evil birds of the Dourhands watched Moondog's fingers and mouth evoke The Song. Dori spoiled it all with a thunk from a chest opening and an exclamation of materialistic glee.

We got him safely out of the Dourhand hold, and he ran away like a mad man.

Moondog and I also parted ways then. I stayed around Ost Galumar a while longer to gather some ancient pottery shards and dwarven relics. I would have to leave well before sunrise because the dwarves Dori had gone far out of his way to kill were many, and a huge alarm across the Dourhand territory would be raised.

I met with Hannar on my return to Othrikar. He told me that Dori had safely arrived, but he had no news of a hobbit minstrel. Hannar and Dori had discussed the Ranger's proposal before Dori had retired for a long sleep (with his gems). They agreed quickly that the dwarves would lend their might to the council to work furth to fight the Enemy.

I returned to Esteldin to give Halbarad the good news. Thankfully the horse I used was still stabled for my journey to the Ranger encampment. I didn't go in to the story about Dori's riches, and he seemed too distracted to care what I did to get the dwarves to agree. On his small desk was a map with the red markings of the Enemy slashed toward the human settlement of Trestlebridge.

Storytelling: Book 3, Chapter 3 - Fallen Once More

Mincham asked me to quickly return to Halbarad in Esteldin. He explained that because Angmar had captured such a crucial spot all of the North was in danger. The Ranger also hinted at a greater evil in the hallowed halls of Fornost, but when I pressed him, he declined to say more.

It took me longer than I expected to get to Esteldin. I stayed at a farm for a day because the farmer, allegedly the last of the North Downs, refused to give up his land to marauding orcs. I knew he would not last, but he also wouldn't budge. So I helped by killing a small outfit of orcs and returning the stolen grain. The sound of Aegrist's razor edge slicing through the rain and orcs is one I will not soon forget. I hope to return to the farmer after I deal with the Rangers of Esteldin for he is a survivor, and our world needs such tough and hardy men as he.

Halbarad gave thanks for the information, as dire as it was. His tone was respectful, but I could not understand how he could say such words without the sting of sarcasm. With the threat of three separate orc tribes, and the Rangers fighting mainly against the occupation of Dol Dinen, Halbarad believed the only way the North Downs could stand a chance was to call the people of the North Downs to council.

Storytelling: Book 3, Chapter 2 - The Gates of Fornost

We stood at Mincham's camp for a time staring out across Fornost Fields. It seemed as if the sun was still determining whether to appear that early morning or whether Angmar's darkness had crept a little further towards the sunny Bree-lands.

Something being ambushed and killed in the Fields broke Mincham's reverie, and the Ranger asked me to scout out Norbury Gates for agents of The Enemy.

I was glad I was in that mythical time when the nocturnal hunters are heading to their dens and the beasts of the day had not yet awaken because my journey to the Gates was swift. The taint of orcs and the smell of wargs was immediately apparent. The fires of the orcs guided me towards their deaths.

And the wargs, guarding the gates on padded feet, I found. They died as well, although their tough animal bodies were a little stronger than the orcs. Their forms were twisted and crushed as I stepped over them to attack another group of orcs.

My arms began to tire from the slaughter. Even with the blessed strength of my Club of the Champion, with its unearthly red glow, I felt that were an alarm to be raised to a larger force. I would have to retreat a coward.

The mission, though, was complete. I had seen enough to tell Mincham, and so returned to him. I hoped to see the sun rising in my approach, but it seemed my heart was not hopeful enough.

I gave Mincham the dire news, but he seemed to already know. His days of glory were over, and now he was a mere peddler of information. I was sad as he gave me his cloak. It was a resignation of fate. I wish I could have offered him my cloak sewn by the light I know as Goldberry, but my journey is not yet over.

Storytelling: Book 3, Chapter 1 - Ranger of the Fields

Halbarad and I discussed the news of Estelding, the North Downs, and the world beyond through the night. Angmar, to the east, was beginning to grow in power, but Halbarad had heard there were orc tribes moving throughout the many fronts of the North Downs. The falled capital of Arnor, Fornost, was a crucial holding point for the battles raging throughout the North Downs. Halbarad asked me to meet with Mincham, an Esteldin Ranger, camped to the south of Fornost.

I left Esteldin just before sunrise. The farms I passed were seemed more empty than ever. It was a horrible thought that the Free Peoples could not protect the farms, which provided food and warmth to all. It was a worse thought that the farms of the North Downs foreshadowed Bree-land's fate.

I got to Mincham's camp just as the sun was waking. The Ranger's camp was breaking their fast with their fire already well stoked for the coming morning. Mincham told me that he believed Fornost was now occupied by the forces of Angmar. I knew of the spectres and shades that haunted the fields of Fornost, as I had combated them many a nights. It was in my quests to redeem the lost Men that I had first met Mincham and members of his small outpost.

The Ranger asked that I scout Fornost because he was unsure whether a small company had holed up in the old city, or whether a entire tribal army of Angmar had occupied it as a staging ground to start pushing south to Bree.

Storytelling: Book 3, Prologue - Fires in the North

Frideric gave word that I was to meet with a Ranger named Candaith. I had met the Man a time or two before, and even fought side-by-side on Weathertop. Many adventurers in the Lonelands believed the Ranger to be lazy. His camp was hidden in a small copse of trees in the shadow of Weathertop right by a large orc encampment, and it was there he mostly remained.

I bid farewell to Frideric, vowing a return someday. A quick glance at the others in the ruinhold (especially the gruff guards that never warmed up to me) told me ther were no more goodbyes to make. I left Ost Guruth at night without a backward glance.

My way to Candaith's camp was easily made. Although there were no goblin scouts on the way, my name had echoed across the orc-kind's walls in the Lonelands. If they saw me it was likely they pretended not to.

I made camp for the remainder of the night at Candaith's fire. He explained to me that Esteldin, the Ranger stronghold of the North Downs had ordered me... ordered me to return. The threat of Angmar in that region was growing out of control. There were rumors of three different tribes of the orc-kind gathered in the North Downs. A dire situation indeed.

A few nights later, I made it to Esteldin. Like Ost Guruth, it was another ruinhold; however Esteldin was far more defensible than the patch-holed Ost Guruth. It seemed as if the Rangers were expecting me. The stable-hand nodded as I handed him the reins, and then nodded off towards the Ranger's quarters.

Halbarad was one of the commanding Rangers in Esteldin. Word is that Aragorn, chieftain of the Rangers, placed Halbarad in charge of Esteldin. Such a station was a commanding mark in itself, but rumors abounded that Halbarad ran a very tight operation with his Rangers. Any one of the men could fell twenty orcs before falling... if they didn't melt into the countryside before they met orc-blade.

Throughout my ride north I had been mulling being commanded to arrive at Esteldin post-haste. I wanted to storm in and demand apology. A captain of my rank is not commanded by a Ranger, no matter how helpful my arrival is to the Free Peoples. Instead, I chose to let Halbarad speak first. I did not want to harm my reputation with the Rangers of Esteldin by saying something hot-headed. I was just a mere aquaintance, but at least I was that.

My pent-up rage, fled immediately as Halbarad told me of my legend throughout the Rangers of the lands. Although he did not directly ask me for my help, he said that my strength was needed in the North Downs more than ever. With the rumors of the three orc tribes and the recent attack on the human settlement of Trestlebridge, I could only nod in agreement to the unasked question.

Ravric: Momentum

Book 13, an epic update, just came out, and the excitement and furvor of the Free People's bled into the mind of this humble author. Too many times did I forget to press the lovely screenshot button to tell the tales of Ravric, Captain of the Free Peoples.

Prior to the update, only the lowliest caste of people fished for the realms, but now these bottom-dwellers had figured out a way to get adventurer's to feed the masses. A progress bar and trophies. Ravric too was swept up in to the fury of draining the waterways of Eriador of all fishlife, and managed to deplete the pond near Staddle of goldfish, minnows, and pounds of lost rusty daggers. It was all but certain that the hundreds of murderers in Bree-land dumped their blood-stained weapons into the Little Staddlemire, daily.

The developers at Turbine really did well with the simple "hobby" of Fishing. It follows the progress bar of similar MMO's, but it is the small things that make the feature so well done. First, every pull (done at the correct time) will net something... even if it is just a 1 copper Ball of Gunk. Second, you can fish everywhere (some other MMOs forbid you to fish in higher level places until you get better at fishing). Thirdly, and best of all, are the graphics. As you fish you begin to see fish swimming under your line, grabbing your hook, and even leaping out of the water. The more fishing going around the pond, the more lively the graphics for the whole waterway. All-in-all, I consider this feature (that I once thought was a waste of time on the developer's parts) a success.

Ravric's travels took him from east of Bree-land to north of Bree-land, the North Downs. Whereas the Lonelands were lands poisoned by the Enemy, the North Downs were simply won by warring orcs and goblins. The largest human settlement of Trestlebridge, guarded in part by a huge wooden bridge spanning a deep chasm. Ravric's journeys mostly focused on fighting the orcs just north and northeast of Trestlebridge. Ravric slowly made himself northward towards where the accursed ghosts lay, but luckily, he found a small cadre of refugees in Amon Raith to keep company with through the night.

Moondog: Into Angmar

The North Downs represent the frontier of civilized Men in Eriador, but things were not always thus. The western plains of Fornost were once the capitol of the northern Numenorean kingdom of Arnor. Those days are long past now, and only the small outposts of Trestlebridge (on the border of Bree-land) and Esteldin (nestled in the hills to the East) hold the Orcs of Angmar out of the realms of Men.

To the East of Esteldin is a wild and beautiful valley known as Nan Amlung.


This area is uninhabited by Men but some of the creatures known as Earth-kin have small tribal villages here. Some of the Earth-kin are friendly to to the Free Peoples of Middle Earth... some are not.

This valley is primarily inhabited by the large docile (but dangerous) Aurochs. Disturbingly, Wargs have also been moving in... and it even seems that some of the Angmarim Hillmen who have allied with the fell army of the Eye are setting up encampments.

It was time for this humble Minstrel to make his way from the safe haven of Esteldin up into the dire chasms of Angmar.

This Warg things he has something to nibble on, but neither me nor my pony stick around to give him the chance.

One of the less hospitable Earth Kin taking a stroll. The hulking brute doesn't notice the Hobbit scoot past.Into the intimidating labyrinth of ravines in the Ram Duath we go!

The more noble sort of Earth Kin have a village here. I have exchanged aid with them in the past. Today I am just passing through on my way to the more desolate regions of Angmar where the defiant Hillmen make a stand against the Iron Crown of the Witch King.

This is a harsh landscape. Swooping chasms and tough vegetation.

The Earth Kin make a home here somehow. They must be wary of the spiders that haunt the canyon below, and the drakes that creep the crags above. Not to mention the ever-encroaching Orc forces of Angmar.

The harsh terrain of the Ram Duath was practically inviting compared to the grim landscape of Fasach-larran. Here the northron Hillmen are just barely surviving against the evil onslaught of the Witch King's forces. If it were not for their strength in defense of their homeland, the Free Peoples might not have a chance of breaching the Enemy's domain.

In Aughaire they lead a hard life indeed, and are not very welcoming nor trusting of outsiders. I will see if I can aid their cause and ease the pain of living on the brink of such desolation.