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.

Moondog: Fishing in Evendim

Fishing is one of a Hobbit's favorite pass-times. And few places in Eriador are more serene and beautiful than lake Evendim.

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Moondog: Smiting Trolls in Harloeg

The foul abominations were running amok down in the swamps of the Lone-lands. Sure, they didn't bother anyone there, but it was clear they were gathering in preparation for an attack on the civilized realms!

Luckily Ravric mustered Councilmen Moondog, Lorthalin, Ferimgard, and some local allies to go clean up that mess!

Moondog: Carn Dum Carnage! [pt. 3]

Pressing further into the wretched society that the Witch King had built around his orcs, trolls, and other abominations, we encountered much more resistance. Slaves toiled away at vile industry, mining and pumping digusting toxins into the river, turning it bright green and ominous. Simply setting foot in in the poisoned waters would bring an adventurer irrevocably to their knees in disgust and despair.

Yet this vile spew marked our path. We had to infiltrate the city's sewers. But, while such an environment was hopelessly caustic to most decent living things, horrible creatures actually thrived there, like giant slugs!

We pushed through the creeping slimy filth and into the basement of one of the lesser keeps of Carn Dum. We would have to defeat the petty warlord that abode there, and the smattering of servants alotted him that tried feebly to hinder our righteous advance on the capitol of Angmar.

Their resistance was trivial, as exemplified by the poor wretched Pale-folk.

We emerged from the first keep into the streets of Carn Dum proper. There were many crooked roads leading into dark neighborhoods. It was a decidedly urban area that was paradoxically the lead habitably place we'd ever seen. The horror of imagining everyday life here for the Angmarim chilled my soul. No wonder the Enemy had to use the ever present thread of terror, pain, and dread to keep it's society and war-machine rolling.

The scene before us, a Cargul surrounded by supplicating Angmarim priests in the town square must be a regular occurance.

Seeing the Cargul reminded me of poor Amdir... who fell and succumbed to the terrible enslavement of the Nazgul what seemed so long ago. Had we really released his soul? Or did HE prowl these dark streets too, master to even more wretched barely living things?


We knew our struggle to liberate this land had hardly begun.

Moondog: Carn Dum Carnage! [pt. 2] Anatomy of a Beat-Down

Down in the slave pits of Carn Dum, Angmarim, Pale Folk, and Trolls alike slave away in the vile industry of Angmar. The water here is so poluted it glows green and is so toxic that any adventurer who steps one foot in it will overcome and defeated from disease, poison, and dread. What's even more terrifying, though, is that some abominations thrive in this vile spew.

The taskmasters of the slaves are generally patrolling Uruks. These are the fierces warriors of Orc-kind. They may seem from their posture and intelligence less bestial than their less-developed kin, but they are in fact the most barbaricly monstrous fighters to be found in Middle Earth.

This Uruk Lieutenant tried to stop our attempts to free slaves from their prisons in the work area. He found out that despite his skill at combat, the Council's duty was more righteous than his, and we would see it done. Man Guardian Bryandt, Dwarf Champion Gonhsar, and Woman Champion Kaelin drive the point home.

Hobbit Minstrel Moondog sings a song of courage and battle that motivates our heroes to strike with more strength and do more damage with their melee attacks.

Kaelin's blow connects first as the Uruk spins around to respond to Bryandt's taunt. Meanwhile, Gonhsar winds up a double-helping of whoopass.

Gonhsar's fury lands on the Uruk's back, clobbering him a good one. Bryandt brings his spear round for a bite.

The powerful but slow Uruk sets to swing his mace at Bryandt's helmet while Gonhsar and Kaelin reset their fighting stance to strike again. Bryand sees the opening the Uruk has left in his defense.

Bryandt drives his spear into the Uruks gut. Kaelin quickly pounces.

The Uruk is completely harried and overwhelmed. Our heroes quickly finish him off.

As soon as he is smote, another charges in, trying to catch us unprepared. He is met with the combined force of all our warriors, delivered in one fellowship maneuver of ultimate power and precision. His world is rocked to it's evil core!

THAT made him mad! He unleashes a terrible frenzied battle cry to try to unnerve and unsettle our heroes. But they do not waver, and he is ultimately defeated like all the monsters before him.

Ravric: Garth a'goin

Members of the Council of the Secret Fire, led by the oath-sworn originators of the Council - Slashy and Moondog, joined as a fellowship in Ost Guruth with intentions of going into the Garth Agarwen instance to help with some of the quests. The fellowship was fairly well balanced, and there was really no trouble (read: we steamrolled the sucka) with two overleveled members. Especially with a minstrel of such a level. I was lucky to have come along, being a tad underleveled, but since a captain's job is to mostly make the other members better, I didn't have to worry much about my DPS or what not.

Garth Agarwen, like many MMO dungeons, is a melting pot of enemy factions. In our short romp, we mostly hit the Creoth tribes, and only at the end of our journey did we start hitting the Dead.

Like I mentioned earlier, we had relatively no trouble with any of the bosses. Fellowship manuevers were flying left and right with Slashy's burglar skills, and Moondog's healing (minimally supplemented by yours truly) dealt with the high-speed, over-agroing of the two hunters and the champion. It was fairly obvious we were a "green" group of dungeon dwellers, but once Slashy started to control our pace, I felt we started doing pretty well. The Grimbark encounter was over so quickly, I had no idea what was going on.

Unfortunately by the time we got to the twins, Edan and Esyld - two wights that drop a pretty good chest. It was getting late, and after the short battle, Moondog and I had to sign off for some much needed rest. I was lucky enough to gain the zweihander Aegrist from the Brother's Chest - a two-handed sword with pretty good damage. I checked out the forums, and people said it used to be awesome as a level 30 or 31 req, but now it is a level 34 req, which people say makes it much weaker. Time will tell, when I get to that level.

Storytelling - Book 2, Chapter 3

I returned to the wizard a few days later. My bath-given cleanliness had since worn off with the stench of wargs and goblins. Radagast stood up from his study, and told me that far too many wights were abound in Haragmar to be just the play of evil spirits from Angmar. The necromantic gaunt-men were behind this. I had heard rumors of their sightings east of Ost Guruth, but from afar they seemed has hollow as the wights they created, easily mistaken. From an Istari, the presence of the gaunt-men coven was truth. Radagast needed their sigils so that we would know what vile sect of the necromancers we were up against.

Moondog, a hobbit minstrel, and Targimoth, an elven hunter, answered my call. The Council of the Secret Fire, I knew, was closely allied to the Istari, and the kinship was given many delicate tasks from the leaders of the Free Peoples. Maiden had no choice in the matter but to come along.

Our journey through the swamp of Haragmar towards the evil ruins of Nan Dhelu was swift. The denizens of the swamp, natural and unnatural, gave our fellowship wide berth. Any that crossed our path would be swiftly deal with.

Outside Nan Dhelu, I saw a gaunt-man watching our approach. It was likely a rare occurence that any adventurer came close to their wretched haven, but once I pointed the foul creature to my companions, Moondog and Targimoth's reactions were severe. The gaunt-man was felled before I could command Maiden to herald us forth, however, I heard the crawk of a nearby craben and knew the coven of gaunt-men would be expecting our venture.

We smashed into Nan Dhelu with brutal precision. Targimoth's arrows whistled through the hair around my and Maiden's head and hit their intended marks, always. Moondog called forth the power of light and hope, beams of which burned the fell creatures very soul. I later heard that the guards of Ost Guruth had seen the brilliant light from their posts, and it had given the Free Peoples such hope.

After our entrance, the cowardly gaunt-men began to hide. We slaughtered countless of their animated minions, but none could be seen out in the open. Moondog merely shrugged, for he knew their time was coming. I took a few minutes of respite, while Targimoth tracked for footprints of the gaunt-men to pursue some scholarly work. I cannot wait to share my findings with the other Scholars back in Bree, I hope my notes and artifacts further help our case against The Enemy.

At the topmost point of Nan Dhelu was a temple where the gaunt-men were hiding. With our approach, it seemed they had packed many of the valuables and holed up with a few chests where they hoped we would not find them. I am grateful for Moondog's songs of courage, for little if any dread filled my heart, and any doubt I had for our victory was quickly silenced with the screaming arrows of Targimoth. The gaunt-men came at us in wave with their wights. And they died. And they died.

The horn of the Council was heard over the miles at Ost Guruth. We had collected enough of the gaunt-men's sigils to help Radagast decipher their gaunt-lord, and Moondog said it was time we ventured further into the red swamp to push back the treacherous human tribes found in Garth Agarwen. I told my two companions that I would heed the call, and we traveled back to Ost Guruth.

They waited outside while I briefly met with Radagast. He immediately identified the sigils as being beholden to Iver the Bloodhand. The wizard, as always, had more questions, and I told him I would return to him further after our critical strike into Garth Agarwen.

Moondog: Carn Dum Carnage! [pt. 1]

Looking out from the Ranger enclave of Garth Forthnir the grim desolation of the Witch-King can be seen in the wastes of Angmar. We must march now on Carn Dum and see if we may depose the King's Steward, Mordirith, who still plagues these lands in his master's absence.

It is a long road into the city. Our first view upon exiting the wilderness is a long uphill road towards Carn Dum proper. Images of the terrible spectacle of fell armies of Orcs and Trolls and even worse marching endlessly out of this evil city's throat are enough to quake the hearts of our heroes, yet compel us further in. Woman Champion Kaelin, Man Guardian Bryandt, Dwarf Champion Gonhsar, Hobbit Minstrel Meijha, Elf Lore-Master Gorandir, and Hobbit Minstrel Moondog charge to their destiny!

The road has watchers. Mighty trolls and wicked Men try to waylay our advance. Dwarven Champion Gonhsar narrowly avoids the giant beast's mace blow. Cobble stones are kicked up by the impact. Brayndt and Kaelin charge in while Gorandir conjures some scientific machination to turn the tables.

This troll keeps the first gate to the city with power and rage. But, he is no match for the righteous fury of the Council of the Secret Fire! Man Guardian Bryandt and Gonshar harry him.

We make our way into the outskirts of the accursed capital city of the Enemy. Gorandir and his Eagle Companion Zorandir hurry to meet his friends in the deadly square.

This street is guarded by Goblins. Extremely tough little bastards! It takes even Woman Champion Kaelin, Gohnsar, and Bryandt a while of wailing on this one to continue on our way.

Kaelin et al. are surrounded by the gnarly Goblins. They don't have much trouble plowing through.

The wonders of the world never cease! The fellowship's quest is so righteous, and their might so noble, that an Oath-Breaker spirit choses this moment to redeem his wretched soul and aid our cause to defeat the Orcs of Angmar!

The closer we get to the city proper the more vicious terrors we encounter! At the imposing gates of Carn Dum this behemoth guardian provides the ultimate defense!

Of course... the Beast was no match for us in the end...

To be continued!

Ravric: Heavy Lifting

After slaying dozens of glowing, evil spiders under the goblin-held ruins of Minas Eriol, the fellowship of Moondog and Ravric felt the time of the goblins in Minas Eriol was soon at an end. Next stop: dead goblins in Barad Ichiant.

With Moondog's violent, musical muscle the elite goblins were being mowed down like weeds. The lighting effects in Barad Ichiant were wonderful and spooky, and also gave our character's a little dread. The way to the Goblin Leader was frought with peril because a goblin sniper took a potshot at Maiden and she ran off directly into the maze-like camp. A minute later 20 elite goblins came back running towards Moondog and me, and our combine might was not enough to vanquish the goblin horde's gibbering fury. After regrouping and explaining to Maiden that the kind of agro she gave us was only done normally by Champions, we made it safely to the Goblin Leader. And killed him. Dead.

We then hopped a few fences to bypass the remaining goblin guards, and made our way north to Ost Laden, where supposedly the refuged Eglain of the Free Peoples had an ancient artifact of such worth and power that all the problems of the Lone Lands could be due to the this one thing. According to one of the refugees, it was their greatest find.

The keep of Ost Laden was filled with goblins of similar power to the ones we had just faced. Finding the artifact was relatively simple. It was a statute of such enormity that Ravric could only run after Moondog. He could not even help loot the dead bodies. Of course as all things must go, Moondog and Ravric became lost and soon found themselves under the Lornspan bridge staring up at where they were supposed to be. The movement of the statute was causing bits of it to chip off, and if they didn't get the statute to the informant by the end of the day, it would be ruined.

Moondog realized that the way was probably cutting through more hordes of goblin in the eastern reaches of Ost Laden, and soon through the blood-misted haze we saw our informant standing under some trees. He took the statue, ran off, and we were left feeling a little bamboozled.

We ended the blood-filled night peering into Mithenrost, a corrupted dwarf stronghold across the Lornspan, before returning to safety.

Moondog: Gone Fishin'

Moondog, being a good Hobbit. Likes most of all 2 things... Food and Not Moving. So here we combine these two traditional pass-times by fishing. But Moondog cheated a little bit... He did move. Here's the filmstrip from his fishing trip, starting in the Shire.

Here we are in Bywater. Found a nice mossy rock away from the dock where all the other Hobbits were casting their lines. Found me a real swell goldfish here.

Found another place just across this quaint stone bridge. Some less clever anglers can be seen across the way.

Found a nice pool right smack in the middle of the Brockenborings market. Was hoping to bag a Koi but no dice.

So then I headed north across the Greenfields up through Oatbarton and found a niiice quiet beach (except for the Salamanders!) way up near the source of the Brandywine River.

Fishing in the Lake is better than fishing in the river of course. So on up to Evendim!

Borrowed the bow of a rowboat and joined this lass in a cast or two!

Finally decided to head even further north for some ice fishing in Forochel!

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.