When Eärnur and Glorfindel destroyed the hosts of Angmar and Rhudaur and drove the Witch-king from the North, the remnants of the Hill-men of Rhudaur escaped into the hills of the Witch-realm, hiding from the onslaught of the armies of Gondor and the Elves. Each clan pledged to the others an oath of honour never again to serve the Shadow in the East, and to live in peace with one another. As a token of this oath, they built the Cairn of Honour in the hills of Angmar.

The Enemy, however, would not be so easily denied, and one by one the clans fell again into evil, abandoning their pledges. The Cairn remains a symbol of respect and honour to those few Hill-men who have resisted, though the evil clans claim the land surrounding it. It may be that with the help of the Rangers of the North, the few free Hill-men may again reclaim it, but that day will be long in coming.

The Cairn of Honour is one of many landmarks created by the designers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) to develop areas of Middle-earth that are little touched by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Cairn is seen in quests that take part in the revived Witch-realm of Angmar.

In the western reaches of Angmar lies the village of Donnvail, the home of Hill-men friendly to the Rangers of the North. These people, unlike their brethren in Aughaire, live under the direct oppression of the Angmarim and their masters in Carn Dûm, swearing fealty to the Witch-king of Angmar. They spend their dismal lives farming and hunting to feed the evil hosts of Mordirith, the False King.

Though some of the simple folk of Donnvail see through the veil of lies with which the Angmarim have blanketed their town, there is little they can do to throw off the shackles of their oppression. Others readily betray anyone who dares to speak against Angmar, seeking only to curry the favour of their masters.

In The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), the Hill-men of Angmar were descended from the Hill-men of Rhudaur, who served the Witch-king and were overthrown - and virtually wiped out - by Eärnur, prince of Gondor. Though many forsook their thralldom after Angmar was defeated, the new Power in Carn Dûm quickly brought them under its sway once again.

In the midst of Malenhad, the vast, sulphurous bog at the center of Angmar, a great line of statues bars the way into the eastern reaches of that vile land, and thus the passage to Carn Dûm. For many hundreds of years, the Hill-men of Angmar believed them to be mere icons for they seemed to have no power - they were wrong.

When evil returned to Carn Dûm in the form of Mordirith, the False King, a Ranger from the North Downs by the name of Golodir came to lead the Hill-men against their new oppressors. When the army of Rangers and Hill-men crossed the line of Rammas Deluon, the watching stones - for that is what they were - sprang their ancient trap. The spirits that abide within those statues are not mere watchers, but have the power to drain the very hope and life from those caught within their spell. What the fate of Golodir and his army was, none can tell, but ever since none have been able to approach the stones of Rammas Deluon without putting their lives, or at the very least their will, at risk of destruction.

Rammas Deluon is one of many points of interest created by the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), building off of concepts and lore founded in the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien. It will be up to the players of LOTRO to learn the secrets of Rammas Deluon and pass beyond to the darkest regions of Angmar.

From its source in the mysterious Barrow-downs and all along its course through the Old Forest, the River Withywindle is a place of strange happenings and of dark and ancient legends. When adventuring in unknown areas within the Old Forest, travellers would be wise to avoid these winding, slow-moving waters, though doing so may prove difficult - The Withywindle has a way of drawing the unwary toward its deceptively tranquil surface and into its dark depths. It is also said that strange creatures of the forest - and even the very willow trees themselves along the Withywindle's banks - are agents of its ancient evil.

As readers of The Lord of the Rings are no doubt aware, the Old Forest and the journey to the banks of the Withywindle represent some of the strangest and most exciting locales for brave adventurers to explore in all of Eriador. Taking the lead from Professor Tolkien himself, leaving the relative safety of Buckland and travelling the winding paths to the Withywindle in LOTRO is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns, where nothing is truly quite what it seems. Adventurers should travel with caution, keeping an eye out for strange beasts and even the menacing movements of the trees on all sides. Unexpected pitfalls abound for the unwary all through the wood. However, the ancient voices of the Old Forest are not all in opposition to travellers. A keen observer will find the home of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry along the river's banks --but beware, for the wickedness of the Old Forest lies all around, even in these rare areas of friendliness and apparent safety.

Within the Old Forest, just east of Buckland and not far from the protective hedge of the High Hay, adventurers will find a broad, circular clearing amongst the dense and ancient trees. The Bonfire Glade is a seemingly pleasant place of long grasses, surrounded by dense forest and open to the sky; however, one cannot seem to escape a strange lingering sense of woe and foreboding.

The Bonfire Glade reminds travellers of a time long ago, when the relationship between the Hobbits of Buckland and the dark, mysterious Old Forest was openly hostile. It is said that the High Hay was built to defend Buckland from the shadowy creatures of the Old Forest, and perhaps even the very trees themselves. Legends tell of the trees attacking Buckland, looming over the High Hay, and of the Brandybucks' invasion of the Old Forest in retaliation, cutting down many trees and building a huge bonfire. To this day, no tree grows in this space of the Great Burning, serving as a reminder of those terrible events.

The Bonfire Glade is a location of great beauty, and as Frodo and his companions discovered, a seemingly pleasant place of sunshine within the dark and foreboding forest. It is also a place of great sadness - a reminder of the conflict that can occur when civilization encroaches on the land and the creatures of forgotten ages.

The Barrow-downs is a name of dread, but it was not always so. The barrows were originally raised by the Edain, Men of ancient days, and later kept and revered by the Dúnedain of Cardolan. In the Third Age, a great plague swept across Middle-earth, out of Mordor, and the last vestiges of the Men of Cardolan perished. The Witch-king of Angmar sent evil spirits out of Angmar and Rhudaur to stir the bones of the dead and make the Barrow-downs the place of dread and evil it has become.

As Frodo Baggins and his companions made their way through the Barrow-downs from the house of Tom Bombadil, they stopped to rest beside a great stone marker, the Dead Spire. Here they were overcome by the spells of the barrow-wights and taken to a barrow to be sacrificed - the barrow, it is believed, of the last prince of Cardolan: a final insult by the Witch-king of Angmar to the memory of Cardolan. The barrow was, however, reclaimed; and the barrow-wight who dwelt there was destroyed by Tom Bombadil when he came to the rescue of the hobbits.

When players of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) see the Dead Spire, they will know the barrow of the last prince is not far away. In LOTRO, the Barrow-downs play an important role in the story of the rise of Angmar, drawing on some surprising and little-known lore from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

In the Old Forest, between Buckland and the Barrow-downs, stands a welcome sight: the home of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry, the River-maiden. Weary travellers will find this an unusually pleasant retreat amongst the ancient and often foreboding forest and the mist-shrouded downs beyond. Tom Bombadil himself is a person who defies specific explanation, though his intentions clearly favor the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. He is pleasant and affable, warm and welcoming, yet undeniably powerful and as ancient as Middle-earth itself. From the modest surroundings of well-tended gardens and delicious meals, Tom Bombadil commands the respect of all around him, from the creatures of the forest to the very land and trees themselves.

Adventurers in Middle-earth will no doubt want to seek out the home of Tom Bombadil in the Old Forest, as it is a very memorable chapter in The Lord of the Rings. It also represents a critical place to stop and rest, since the areas just outside its welcoming glow contain all manner of dark and uncertain paths. When creating the home itself for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, it was important to capture the warmth that signals a safe retreat, yet also maintain an air of otherworldliness to the home and a physical connection to the land and surrounding forest.

Tom Bombadil has been the focus of much debate over the decades, since he is so uniquely connected to Middle-earth, yet mysterious and powerful beneath his bright clothing and light-hearted manner. He was clearly one of Professor Tolkien's favorite characters, sharing a connection with nature and a need to protect the ancient living things of the natural world against the encroaching darkness.

The North-South Roads runs north from Dunland through Enedwaith and into the Windfells, where it turns somewhat westward into the Gloomglens, passing through the King's Way Gate (currently watched by the Draig-lûth). South-west of the road lies the bulk of the Gloomglens, a stony canyon of bluffs, plateaus, and craggy valleys.

The Ranger Idhrenfair and his companions Himeinor and Prestadir, until recently companions of the Malledhrim in Southern Mirkwood, seek for a more secret way through Enedwaith into Dunland. Rumour has it that long ago a tribe of hobbits of the Stoor family settled in this area, but when the Great Plague swept through the lands, they were wiped out. Nevertheless, the Rangers report seeing strange things in that land, including glimpses from a distance of a strange people. . . .

The Gloomglens are inhabited mainly by wolves and boars - watch where you step, for signs of them are everywhere - but the Rangers have also seen majestic stags, shining white in the forest gloom. There is something unnatural about these creatures, and they hesitate to hunt them.

There is also rumour of a great monster known as the Grey King.

The Mournshaws are a vale of strange and gloomy trees and marshy lands, fraught with mystery. The Derudh (a term derived from the Welsh word for druid) make frequent pilgrimages to this region dotted with great stone rings to commune with the spirits of the forest.

The Ranger Daervunn, a former inhabitant of Esteldin, has come to the Mournshaws from Idhrenfair's camp in the Gloomglens to scout the way ahead. What he has found there has befuddled him. From a lost hunter of the Uch-lûth, he has learned of the Derudh and of the Lords of the Forest - powerful spirits ruled by the Wild Huntsman. If the Grey Company desires to pass that way, they will have to seek the good will of this Huntsman ... or perish in the attempt.

The Mournshaws are a forest haunted by the savage Cun Annun and great Wood-trolls, but also by the ghostly Elhudan. These wild fell spirits seem outwardly not unlike the limrafn of Evendim, but they are far more dangerous. The Elhudan are drawn from the Ellylldan of Welsh folklore, the Welsh version of the Will o' the Wisp. Even this simple model has received new appearances and FX.

Few mortals have ever seen the Lords of the Forest in their natural forms, and even fewer have laid eyes upon the Wild Huntsman and survived . . . what these high beings are remains somewhat of a mystery, though the Rangers believe that they may have once been servants of Oromë the Hunter.

The Mournshaws feature several instance quests revolving around the Wild Huntsman and the Lords of the Forest.

The rolling hills of Nan Laeglin are home to the Uch-lûth (the Ox-clan) and the now extinct Turch-lûth (Boar-clan). The Uch-lûth village of Lhanuch sits upon a hill at the center of the region, and not far to the south-west is the great ruin of Harndirion, a massive tower from the elder days when Gondor stretched from its current realm all the way to Arnor in the north.

An emissary of Isengard has come to Lhanuch, attempting to sway the Uch-lûth to join the Dunlending campaign against the Rohirrim in the South, prompting the Rangers of the Grey Company to send an ambassador of their own to the surviving Algraig clan in order to circumvent Saruman's plans. The Uch-lûth are under siege by Wargs and half-orcs in the service of the brigand-lord Sharkey, though the Uch-lûth do not yet understand that Sharkey is, in fact, the wizard Saruman.

Though for the moment, the Uch-lûth remain neutral in the strife between Dunland and Rohan, outcast to their brethren in the South, they have no love for the Horse-lords and might be swayed to join the ranks of Dunland if the Grey Company fail to dissuade them.

Nan Laeglin features a story-based instance which culminates in the success or failure of the Grey Company's efforts in Lhanuch.

This grim place is a great burial ground, not unlike the Barrow-downs of Bree-land, where many Dunlending and Algraig clansmen were interred long ago. It is even rumoured that some men out of the White Mountains found their way into Enedwaith after the wars between Sauron and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, though they died off long ago. Monuments and barrows of Dunlending origin dot the landscape, a great field of the Dead awaiting the hand of a necromancer.

The Lich Bluffs were once a place of great reverence to the Dunlending peoples, but recently a shadow has fallen upon the barrows. Cun Annun haunt the landscape, and wights rise from their barrows. It is even rumoured that a great evil has entered one of the deepest barrows and is raising an army of wights to the service of the Enemy. In one part of the dark ruins, Oathbreakers dwell. The Ranger Mincham, having long dwelt in the shadow of Oathbreaker-haunted ruins, makes his camp here, seeking to learn the truth behind the supernatural events of the Lich Bluffs.

There are three instance quests in the Lich Bluffs, two of which deal with the tragic story of the Oathbreakers who dwell here, and a third that brings forth a previously unrevealed member of an ancient order intent upon raising his terrible army.

In the eastern reaches of Enedwaith, nestled in the snowy arms of the Misty Mountains, lies Thrór's Coomb, where the people of Thrór, King under the Mountain, temporarily settled after their escape from the Lonely Mountain and the wrath of Smaug the Golden. Abandoned by Thráin and Thorin after the death of Thrór, this vale has become the abode of fell things out of the mountains.

The Uch-lûth of Lhanuch tell of dwarves that have returned to the halls of Thrór over the long years, though none have seen them in years uncounted. The Draig-lûth have established many encampments here, from which they harry the Algraig peoples, taking captives to sacrifice to the gwiber, the drake-breed which inhabits the harsher steppes of Thrór's Coomb.

From deep within the Misty Mountains, a fearsome breed of drake known as the gwiber have come forth to nest among the crags of Thrór's Coomb. This drake was inspired by the gwiber of Welsh folklore (though the Welsh gwiber is actually white).

Giants also have taken up residence within the old dwarf-ruins, threatening to damage or destroy the last relics of Thrór's reign and much lost knowledge of the craftsmen of Erebor.

Thrór's Coomb features both solo and small fellowship content, including an instance which pits players against the Draig-lûth in an effort to free the captive Algraig people.

Situated prominently high above the fine stonework floor of Thorin's Hall, adventurers will come upon the great, empty Throne of Thorin, named for Thorin II, known also as Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain, the last of the line of Dwarf-kings to sit within these halls in Ered Luin. More than 150 years ago (in TA 2845), Thorin ascended to the throne of Durin's Folk after the disappearance of his father, Thrain II. Thorin, however, was a King in Exile, his people having been forced from their rightful home by the great dragon Smaug. It is from these halls that Thorin and Company set out to reclaim their kingdom beneath Lonely Mountain (picking up a certain Burglar along the way). The throne, crafted by the greatest of the Dwarf-artisans, is a work of art unto itself, carved from the very rock that forms the foundation of the towering Blue Mountains overhead.

Thorin's Throne is one of the many discoveries players will find when adventuring within Ered Luin. Thorin's Hall, and the nearby Silverdeep Mines, are areas which serve as an important crossroads and meeting place for many of the races of Middle-earth. Dwarves and Elves frequent the area, along with the mysterious Rangers; many familiar faces from the pages of The Lord of the Rings have also been seen throughout the region on unknown business in these troubled times.

Thorin's Throne and the surrounding halls demonstrate many dramatic architectural and crafting styles, with a scope to suit the grandeur of Middle-earth's greatest craftsmen, the Dwarves. All around are impressive works of stone, intricately carved from beneath the roots of the towering mountains, then meticulously crafted down to the finest of detail. The Dwarf-mansion of Ered Luin is both a practical, common space for adventurers as well as an artistic marvel for exploration and discovery.

After the Longbeards routed them from the stronghold of Thorin's Hall, the Dourhand dwarves scattered, maintaining only their hold upon the port of Kheledûl and several small encampments among the Blue Mountains. Many travelled beyond the Ered Luin at the command of a wight masquerading as their chieftain, Skorgrím. While regathering their strength, they discovered the ruins of one of the ancient cities of their forebears, a long-abandoned delving that they renamed Sarnúr.

In Sarnúr, the Dourhands and their evil allies are mustering their forces to begin a final assault upon the Longbeards of Thorin's Hall and the Elves of Duillond. The dwarves of the Blue Stone Garrison have begun recruitment efforts to turn aside the wrath of the Dourhands by going on the offensive. Until the threat from Sarnúr is removed, the dwarves of Thorin's Hall will be able to lend little aid to the efforts against Angmar.

Sarnúr was created by the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) as a public dungeon in Ered Luin, supporting the reputation system introduced after the game release. Players seeking to improve their reputation among the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains will need to take the battle to Sarnúr.

The great halls of Thorin, delved beneath the Ered Luin in western Middle-earth are amongst the greatest wonders of craftsmanship and building found anywhere in the world. It has been nearly 80 years since Thorin himself journeyed away from this Dwarf-mansion of soaring stone to reclaim his rightful place beneath Erebor, in his noble quest to Lonely Mountain to defeat the dragon Smaug (a well-documented adventure, indeed!). Though Thorin was never to return to this place, having fallen in the Battle of the Five Armies after successfully reclaiming his throne, Thorin's Halls in the Blue Mountains remain a vibrant center of activity in the region.

Dwarf characters new to Middle-earth will begin their grand adventures here in the Ered Luin, within Thorin's Halls and down into the darkness of the nearby Silverdeep Mines. The region, situated along the western shores of Middle-earth, not far from the Grey Havens of the Elves, and also quite close to the Shire of the Hobbits, is designed as a vibrant crossroads of many of Middle-earth's diverse races. The Ered Luin, also known as the Blue Mountains, is an area rich in the history of Middle-earth, figuring prominently throughout the ages, however, there are very few adventures documented in detail here within The Lord of the Rings books, making it a perfect place for new players to discover never-before-experienced regions as they begin their exploration of the lands.

At Echad Dúnann, you'll find a great stone arch where the road meets the edge of the vale containing the Hollin Gate. Beyond that arch, the Dwarf-expedition toils, and the next great part of your hero's tale awaits.

The road runs east through the archway to the now-dry Stair Falls, beyond which sits the cold and eerie Black Pool, from which the Sirannon stream once flowed. Its dry course is now stalked by crebain and wargs that may harry you along your way.

At the Stair Falls, follow the expedition's trail off the road and around the stony rise to the northern bank of the Black Pool. There you'll find Dwarves laboring with carts, scouting the path, and idly throwing stones into the ill waters. These are your allies and quest-givers during the reopening of the Hollin Gate.

As one eager Dwarf in the Hollin expedition camps says, "The real glory lies behind the Walls of Moria." To find that glory, to lay eyes on Moria proper, you must find a way past the beast that guards the threshold, through the Walls of Moria, and into the kingdom of Khazad-dûm itself. The way is perilous, but the Dwarves have a plan.

It is here, at the Hollin Gate, where the heart of Volume 2, Book I of The Lord of the Rings Online unfolds.

Since the early days of Middle-earth, the greatest kingdom of the dwarves lay beneath the Misty Mountains in the halls called Khazad-dûm. In those days, when there was trade between the dwarves and the Elves of both Eregion and Lothlórien, a vital trade route ran through Khazad-dûm from the West-gate (also called the Hollin Gate) and the Great Gate in Dimrill Dale in the east.

The Hollin Gate was special. It was built by the smith Narvi and set with runes and symbols by Celebrimbor, the Elven jewel-smith who also forged the Elf-rings Narya, Nenya, and Vilya. He wrought the signs out of ithildin, a metal that reflects the light of the moon. When moon did not shine, the Gate remained hidden and undetectable to any who looked upon it. Celebrimbor's runes spelled out a riddle, and the doors would only open to a friend who spoke the answer.

It was to the Hollin Gate that the Company of the Ring came and were attacked by the Watcher in the Water. Though the Watcher piled boulders and trees in front of the gate when the Company fled inside, players of The Lord of the Ring Online™ will still have much reason to visit the site of the Hollin Gate.

Mount Gram, nestled at the northwestern edge of the Ettenmoors in the Misty Mountains, has long been an abode of goblins, though their greatest king, Golfimbul, was defeated and slain by Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took at the Battle of the Greenfields hundreds of years ago. Lying at the border of Angmar, Mount Gram has again become a fortress-kingdom of terrible power. Orcs, wargs, goblins, trolls, and other evil creatures now muster there to begin an invasion of Eriador.

The fortress of Gramsfoot is a heavily guarded stronghold at the base of Mount Gram, nearly invulnerable to attack. As the army of Angmar presses southward under the command of War-tyrant Akúlhun, it is here that the power of Angmar can be felt the strongest in the Ettenmoors. Cruel Akúlhun is prepared to sweep through the Ettenmoors and Trollshaws and raze Rivendell to the ground . . . if he can defy the Power that resides in the Hidden Valley.

In The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), Gramsfoot is the starting location for players who choose to enter the Ettenmoors monster-play zone as a monster-player. It is considered a safe zone and cannot be captured by Free Peoples players. While Gramsfoot itself was created by the Turbine designers of LOTRO, it draws from lore from The Hobbit.

After Glân Vraig was firmly entrenched, the Free Peoples of Eriador, led by the elf Lainedhel, pressed further into the Ettenmoors. In the far eastern reaches, they established another, greater fortress - Ost Ringdyr - which houses the main body of Lainedhel's host. Here, the Free Peoples found two new allies: lesser eagles, distantly akin to the Great Eagles of the Misty Mountains, and a great and ancient race of bears.

The leaders of the Free Peoples established their command at Ost Ringdyr, planning, organizing, and orchestrating their defence of the Ettenmoors and the North. Ever do the forces of the Enemy seek to behead the alliance and press through into the Trollshaws, but Ost Ringdyr remains a daunting sentinel against them.

Ost Ringdyr was created to be the counterpart to Dâr-gazag, the mighty fortress of Angmar's army in the western reaches of the Ettenmoors. While battles may take place here and monster-players have quests which may bring them into conflict with Free Peoples players at Ost Ringdyr, this fortress is too strong to be captured.

Far in the north-west reaches of Evendim, in the wooded areas that lie between Evendim and the cold wastes of Forochel in the North, lies Dol Haedir. Here dwell the vicious Gauredain, wild men who have long troubled this region and once warred with the Men of Arnor. Explorers who journey in the northlands of Evendim would be well-advised to avoid Dol Haedir, for it is said the Gauredain are eaters of flesh . . . any flesh.

Dol Haedir is a location created by Turbine to help expand the repertoire of creatures in The Lord of the Rings Online™, by providing outlets for monsters and races drawn from lore.

In the woods beside Lake Evendim can be found a tranquil and ancient grove called the Eavespires. It is said that long ago an Ent, one of the mighty tree-herders of Fangorn, came here in search of something his people had lost. It may be that he dwells there yet, for an Age is but a short time to that most ancient of peoples, and the Eavespires has been a vale of peace for a very long time.

With the recent arrival of the Gauredain and giants out of the North, violence and ruin have left their mark upon the Eavespires, and it may yet be that a sleeping rage will be awakened amongst the trees. Elves have visited the grove, seeking escape from the wars of the world, but war may still find them even here, far from the shadow of Mordor.

In developing the Evendim region, the designers at Turbine drew upon Treebeard's tale of the Ents going abroad in search of the Entwives from The Lord of the Rings to create the Eavespires. Players wanting their first glimpse of a true Ent will wish to visit the forests of Evendim, though it will be a difficult task: Gauredain and giants are not the only threats to the Eavespires...wood-trolls have made their way into those lands as well.

Guarding the crossing of the River Baranduin in Evendim are three great statues, wrought in the honour of the kings of old. The first and greatest of these is of Elendil the Tall, the first High King of Middle-earth. The others are more abstract, depicting the many-pointed star that was the sigil of the North-kingdom of Arnor.

The High King's Crossing has long lain abandoned, ever since the fall of the North-kingdom and the fading of the Dúnedain of the North. The Rangers strive to preserve the mighty likeness of Elendil, lest it fades, and the remaining shreds of their glory fade with it.

The High King's Crossing takes inspiration from the Gates of the Argonath, which appear in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This is a landmark explorers will wish to visit on their journeys.

Rumors of lost treasure brought adventurous Men back into the region surrounding Lake Evendim, where the ruins of Annúminas and the tombs of the Kings of Arnor remain. These treasure-hunters established a town and trading post in the northern reaches of those lands, amongst the ruins of the old fortress of Ost Forod. Here they were content to scavenge for trinkets unearthed by time and weather, hunt the great Harts of the North, and trade with the Lossoth, the strange and sometimes dangerous Snowmen of Forochel.

In these latter days, a less savory element has entered the ranks of the Men of Ost Forod: brigands and tomb-robbers who plunder the very graves of the Dúnedain themselves. Though the Men of Ost Forod have chosen an arbiter from among their ranks to administer some form of law and justice, he can do little to stem the swelling tide of lawless men.

Ost Forod is one of many sites created by Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™, using the little-mentioned region around Lake Evendim, the former seat of power of the kingdom of Arnor. Players of LOTRO will visit this location often while seeking adventure in Evendim.

Since the fall of Arnor, the Rangers of the North - the heirs of Isildur, Elendil's son - have often journeyed to the shores of Lake Evendim to pay homage to their lineage and to protect the tombs that lie amidst the ruins there. Many years ago, Aragorn, the Chieftain of the Dúnedain, came to Evendim himself to reclaim a lost treasure, a jewel known as the Silithar. Though Aragorn did not succeed in its recovery, his companion Calenglad and a small party of Rangers remained in Evendim, establishing an encampment on the island of Tinnudir from which to protect the Silithar from lowly tomb-robbers.

Long years have passed since Calenglad established the camp at Tinnudir, but he and his companions maintain their duty to their lord, even now. With the aid of some of the more upstanding citizens of the town of Ost Forod, they keep vigil over the ruins of Annúminas and the tombs of the kings, waiting for the day when Aragorn will return to claim what is his by birthright.

Tinnudir is one of many locations in the region of Lake Evendim created by the designers of The Lord of the Rings Online™, utilizing a space of land little discussed by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings. Upon entering Evendim, players of LOTRO will find themselves led to the camp there, where the Rangers need their assistance.

One day's journey east of Bree on the Great East Road, travelers will find the Forsaken Inn, and it is likely to be the last outpost of civilized life they will encounter for some time to come. The Inn itself is in disrepair, with a variety of cobbled-together wall fragments and a severely neglected roof - however, any roofed structure (even one with only half of its roof still intact), is a welcome sight in these lawless lands.

Since it is only briefly mentioned in the pages of The Lord of the Rings, the Forsaken Inn had to be designed from the ground up for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar to reflect a once-popular travelers' lodge, now all but consumed by the ages and the elements. In creating this all-but-forgotten social gathering place, the design team at Turbine has scripted a number of pivotal moments of plot development, as well as numerous task offerings and trading opportunities, to make the Forsaken Inn an important hub of activity. The region around the Inn, now known as the Lone-lands, is an expansive grassy wilderness between Bree and the Trollshaws. Once a pivotal kingdom of mighty Arnor long ago, in these darkening days this wilderness is not to be traveled lightly, despite its noticeably sparse population. The surrounding hills are home to brigands and shadowy characters of many sorts. Operating amongst the ruins found in several places throughout the region, these marauders understand the value of the artifacts that can be unearthed throughout the area and fiercely guard the ruins. These brigands also prey upon the unwary, and an adventurer who strikes out on the Great East Road to Rivendell without first knowing the dangers of the surrounding lands makes an all-too-easy target.

Deep in the Lone-lands, a vast marshland stretches across the land, red as the blood that was spilled into its waters during the wars between Arthedain and Rhudaur. The Eglain of Ost Guruth call it the Red Swamp. In the northern reaches of the bog called Agamaur, lie the ruins of an ancient Rhudaurian fortress, now known as Garth Agarwen. Garth Agarwen was one of the chief bastions of the Hill-men of Rhudaur before it fell into decay.

What no one knew -- until it was too late -- was that the streams and rivers of the once-beautiful land were inhabited by a River-maiden akin to Goldberry, daughter of the Withywindle in the Old Forest. Blood spilled during the wars poured into her abode, corrupting the water, the land, and finally the River-maiden herself. From this corruption spread the expanse of the Red Swamp, and the River-maiden arose as a dread and dark presence, taking possession of Garth Agarwen.

Garth Agarwen and the corrupted River-maiden play a major role in the epic story of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO). These ruins and the story told there tie in closely with themes, events, and characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's books. Players of LOTRO should gather some friends if they wish to brave Garth Agarwen - and survive.

The Last Bridge is the easternmost bridge built by the kings of Arnor upon the Great East Road. It marks the border between the barrens of the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws in the shadow of the Misty Mountains, where lies Rivendell, refuge of Elrond Halfelven.

As Strider led Frodo Baggins and his companions to Rivendell they crossed the Last Bridge, and there Strider discovered a beryl - an Elf-stone, or more specifically, an emerald - left there as a sign that friends had passed that way. Indeed, the mighty Elf-lord Glorfindel had left the stone, and later aided in the rescue of Frodo from the Nazgûl at the Ford of Bruinen.

Players of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) will want to visit this landmark from the books, for more than just a bridge might be found there. . .

To the east of Bree-land lies a largely barren and uninhabited stretch of wilderness known as the Lone-lands. Usually the only life seen in these lands are scattered birds and wildlife. On rare occasions a traveller upon the Great East Road may be spied. Hidden among the ruins of the ancient fortresses there can be found the Eglain. These are descendants of an ancient people who have forsaken the towns and cities of "civilized" folk and choose to live as free men in the wild. They scavenge trinkets and relics from the remnants of Arnor to trade for the necessities of life.

The Eglain are wanderers, but they will sometimes stop and make a temporary home in one set of ruins or another, which they call their Ruin-hold. The current Ruin-hold lies far beyond Bree, just off the Great East Road, amid the ruins of the once-great fortress of Ost Guruth. Once a castle belonging to the kingdom of Rhudaur, it fell long ago in the wars between that realm and Arthedain. One tower still remains intact, however, and serves as the home of Aric the Stone-speaker - when he is not abroad in the swamps, seeking ancient lore.

Ost Guruth and the Eglain were created by the designers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) to provide a location from which to perform quests in the Lone-lands and NPCs with whom to interact. Both Ost Guruth and the Eglain play prominent roles in LOTRO's Epic Story.

Long ago, the first King of Arnor, Elendil, built the tower Amon Sûl in the center of his Kingdom, amid the Weather Hills. Its purpose was to house a palantír - one of the seven "seeing stones" through which Elendil, his heirs, and his liegemen could communicate with each other and watch over both the North and South Kingdoms.

In time, when Arnor broke apart into the three Kingdoms of Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur, the sundered realms fractured around this tower, and their leaders often debated over ownership of the Weather Hills. All three Kingdoms desired control of the palantír, but eventually the lines of the Dúnedain in Cardolan and Rhudaur began to fail and Rhudaur fell beneath the sway of the Witch-realm of Angmar. During Angmar's first assault on Arthedain, the watchtower was razed to the ground; however, perhaps in preparation for such a day, the palantír had long been removed.

In latter days, Weathertop, as Amon Sûl was then known, became host to two momentous events. First, as Gandalf the Grey traveled from Bree to Rivendell, he did battle with several Nazgûl and was then pursued from there through the Trollshaws, though not before he left a sign upon a stone to be found two days later, when the Ranger Strider and four hobbits encamped there. The remaining Nazgûl assailed Strider and his companions, and Frodo Baggins was stabbed by the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl, after he put on the One Ring.

In The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), players will learn of a great champion of Angmar, who was defeated and presumed slain at the final battle at Amon Sûl. They will also discover that, after the passing of Strider and his hobbit companions, Weathertop has become the refuge for a band of Orcs scouting the Lonelands and Bree-land . . . a foreshadowing of evils to come. Weathertop is only one of many popular landmarks from The Lord of the Rings to be revisited in LOTRO.

Long ago, when Lothlórien was known as Laurelindórenan - the Land of the Valley of Singing Gold - it was ruled by the Elf-lord Amroth. Before Caras Galadhon was even a thought in the minds of Celeborn and Galadriel, Amroth built his home upon a hill which is now named Cerin Amroth.

Eventually, Amroth left Lothlórien and went south, where he built the haven of Edhellond and awaited the coming of his love, Nimrodel. She never came, and Amroth was lost at sea. It was at Cerin Amroth, in later years, that Aragorn son of Arathorn and heir of Isildur pledged himself to Arwen daughter of Elrond Halfelven and granddaughter of Celeborn and Galadriel.

It was from Cerin Amorth that Frodo Baggins saw his first glimpse of Caras Galadhon, the city of the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings will wish to visit this site and rest from their journeys.

The river Nimrodel was named after an Elf-maiden of old who once dwelt by a waterfall there, and fell in love with Amroth, the Lord of Lórien. Long ago, they left Lothlórien together for the haven of Edhellond, but Nimrodel disappeared in the White Mountains and her fate remains unknown. In later years, the River Nimrodel served as the site of a watchpost of the Galadhrim, kept by the brothers Haldir, Rúmil, and Orophin.

The waters of Nimrodel are said to bring healing to the weary, and some claim they can hear the voice of the maiden singing in the falls. As the War of the Ring has worsened, the waters have been defiled by the filthy feet of Orcs, and the Elves of Lothlórien seek vengeance.

The river Nimrodel is visited by the Fellowship of the Ring after they escape from Moria in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Players of The Lord of the Rings Online™ may find respite - or danger - near its waters.

The Woodman-village of Audaghaim in Southern Mirkwood was once a normal rustic dwelling place with little use for the world outside of the forest. They had peaceful relations with the Elves for many long years, until the coming of the Necromancer. After the Elves were driven from Southern Mirkwood, the Woodmen of Audaghaim fell under the sway of the Dark Lord. Their actions in worship of Sauron brought upon them the curse of the Oathbreakers.

The Haunted Inn is one of the few nearly undamaged structures remaining in the village, inhabited by restless shades who seem not to realize that they are no longer among the living, going through the motions of their past lives. The Malledhrim chose the Haunted Inn to serve as their command post in the Dourstocks, both preparing to press onward towards Dol Guldur and investigating the Oathbreakers of Audaghaim.

Audaghaim and the Haunted Inn were created by the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ as part of the Siege of Mirkwood™ digital download. The Woodmen of Mirkwood are a race of Men which appear in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

When the Golden Host passed through the Mirk-eaves into the Dourstocks, they briefly laid siege to the goblin-camp of Burgûl-stazg. The goblins and their greater leaders fled into hiding at the approach of the Malledhrim, but returned after the Elves had moved on, preparing to fall in behind the Elves... but something went terribly wrong.

Goblins began to desert the Host in large numbers, observed by Malledhrim scouts to be panicked to the point of incoherence. Rumours of strange happenings in the camp have drawn the attention of the Elves, who sent a small party to investigate the goings-on.

While Burgûl-stazg is itself rather insignificant, players of The Lord of the Rings Online™ will find that it contains clues to the terrors of Audaghaim, further to the west.

The ruined fortress of Dannenglor was once a glorious city of the Elves of Southern Mirkwood, before the coming of the Necromancer. It was a storehouse of knowledge and a center of trade for the Silvan Elves.

Now utterly forsaken, it has become the abode of an outcast tribe of merrevail and their morvul slaves. Accompanied by a plague of bats, the merrevail seek to make Dannenglor a place of horror.

Dannenglor was created by the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ as part of the Siege of Mirkwood™ digital download.

Mirkwood was once known as Greenwood the Great while under the dominion of the Elves. When the Necromancer came and drove forth the Elves, spreading his corruption behind them, it became Mirkwood. The corruption of Sauron was complete, tainting the land, the trees, the very water of the forest.

In the bogs of the Drownholt, there is a pool which stands as a warning against carelessly trusting the waters of Mirkwood. The skeletal remains of Woodmen litter the edges of the pool, where they died trying to escape the stagnant waters of the Drownholt, only to perish in the poisoned waters of the Pool of Creeping Death.

The Pool of Creeping Death is a landmark created by the designers of The Lord of the Rings Online™ for the Siege of Mirkwood™ expansion.

Upon a cliff overlooking the Anduin on the eastern banks on the river lie the ruins of an ancient watchtower called Tirnhirion. This crumbled ruin is all that remains of the beacon tower which would summon the Galadhrim to the aid of their cousins in Greenwood the Great at time of need. Unfortunately, Tirnhirion failed when the forces of darkness first swept through the ancient wood.

Tirnhirion was destroyed and left to decay throughout the reign of the Necromancer, the Dark Lord Sauron. Now it is home to the servants of the Enemy - skulking Wargs and spying crebain who keep an ever-watchful eye towards the Golden Wood upon the western banks of the Anduin.

Players of The Lord of the Rings Online™ will find the ruins of Tirnhirion by following the Anduin south from the boat-landing at Echad Sirion.

In the Misty Mountains, far above the hidden Elf-refuge of Rivendell, lies the entrance to one of the strongest goblin-kingdoms remaining in Middle-earth. Called Goblin-town by its vile inhabitants, this subterranean realm was once ruled by an evil creature who called himself the Great Goblin, until he met his doom at the hands of Gandalf the Grey. Wielding the goblin-bane blade known as Glamdring, the Wizard slew the Great Goblin while rescuing the company of Thorin Oakenshield. This fateful event began a new chapter in the history of Middle-earth, for it was within Goblin-town that the hobbit Bilbo Baggins fell into the deep cavern where the creature Gollum lived . . . and his hand fell upon a small golden ring upon which balanced the fate of the world.

The goblins of Goblin-town avoid the sun, preferring instead to remain hidden in their dark caves, but they are not cowardly. They are a vicious breed, full of greed and hatred for beautiful things. Allied with Wargs from the eastern borders of the Misty Mountains, they usually raid small villages, but once they marched upon the Lonely Mountain Erebor to fight in the Battle of Five Armies.

Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings will at once recognize Goblin-town as one of the most famous points of interest in the books. Players will find that the goblins have not been idle in the years since the Battle of Five Armies, as they go down, down to Goblin-town . . .

The vast expanse of the Misty Mountains divides the western and eastern halves of Middle-earth, making travel and commerce between those lands difficult. The few roads across the Mountains are fraught with danger. The first is to travel all the way around the southern end of the Misty Mountains, through the Gap of Rohan, but it is rumoured that Orcs now range freely there. The second path is through the Redhorn Gate, about halfway between Rivendell and the Gap of Rohan, but the stirring of the Shadow in the East has caused even that pass to become an abode of evil.

Neighbouring the vale of Imladris is the third passage, the High Pass. This was once the most-used pass in the North, until the goblins began to stir and giants took up residence in the heights. Now travellers in the High Pass are often assailed by raiders out of Goblin-town or crushed by boulders in games of catch between giants.

The High Pass will be familiar to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit as the pass where Thorin and Company were forced to take shelter from thunderstorms and stone-throwing giants outside the "back door" to Goblin-town. This is only one of several landmarks in The Lord of the Rings Online™ that was created directly from the books.

Durin's Folk long ago came to the great caverns which are now known as Moria, the Black Pit. They delved and built the great realm of Khazad-dûm. Many great and wondrous things were made in Moria, and mithril was discovered there, but a day came when the dwarves delved too deeply and too greedily and awoke the Balrog, Durin's Bane.

But even long before the Balrog had come to hide in the depths of Moria, the deepest holes and caverns were inhabited by countless evil things. Known now as the Nameless, they have arisen and seek to enslave all who walk the halls of Khazad-dûm. A vile and grotesque creature known as the Mistress of Pestilence commands the Nameless of Moria, who strive to spread her fungal plague to the outside world.

Dark Brotherhood - the level 60, twelve-player, radiance-gated Raid which takes place in Dâr Narbugud - features six raid bosses and a second tier of radiance raid armour.

The Twenty-first Hall of Khazad-dûm lies on the Seventh Level of Moria, leading away in many directions including toward the Second Hall and the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Off to one side, a passage leads to the Chamber of Mazarbul, the dwarves' hall of records, though it passes now for the tomb of Balin, son of Fundin.

The Twenty-first Hall was once a mustering hall, but has lain empty since the fall of Moria - though recent stirrings may change that. Recently, the Balrog of Moria came to the Twenty-first Hall seeking the first true challenge to his power since the deaths of Durin and his son Náin.

Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings will recall that the Company of the Ring camped in the Twenty-first Hall as they passed through the Dwarrowdelf, before moving on to investigate the Chamber of Mazarbul.

There are no greater craftsmen than the dwarves, and no greater forges than those found in the depths of Khazad-dûm. For ages, the dwarves of Khazad-dûm mined and wrought mithril in their great craft-halls, shaping great works until Durin VI delved too deep and awoke his bane, a Balrog of Morgoth.

For centuries afterward, the forges of Khazad-dûm lay silent, crumbling from disuse. The Orcs and goblins who came to infest the darkened halls knew not the ways of their use, and stole the valuable metalworks of Durin's Folk. So the forges remain, awaiting the day when dwarves once again kindle their fires - if such a day ever comes.

The forges of Khazad-dûm are a location created by the designers at Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™, expanding upon a landmark sure to exist in the halls of J.R.R. Tolkien's Moria.

In the high North Downs, stretching to the north and east of the Fields of Fornost, where the last king of Arthedain fought a losing battle against the Witch-king of Angmar and the North-kingdom ended, lay the scattered remains of the once-great city of Fornost Erain, the Norbury of the Kings. In the legends of the Men of Bree, these ruins have become the haunt of spirits and robbers and have an ill-omened name, Deadman's Dike. Little is it known that Rangers also go there at times to venerate their ancestors and remember their great deeds.

This watch-tower, its name long-forgotten, once overlooked the eastern reaches of Fornost of which little now remains. Though crumbling and decrepit, it still stands as a grand testament to the architects of Arnor, a monument both carved from the living stone upon which it rests and built from stone blocks and mortar. The ruined tower yet watches over the eastern gate of Fornost, which still stands amidst crumbling walls, bearing the charge of the Seven Stars, though the courtyard beyond has become home to cursed shades, tainted by failure and betrayal.

While in general the North Downs is a largely unexplored territory, that is not true of the place where this tower resides. In the histories of Arnor, the North-kingdom of the Dúnedain, Fornost plays a key role. This is where the kings of Arthedain set up their throne after the decay of Annúminas and held against two invasions by the Witch-king of Angmar and his allies in Rhudaur, only to fall at last. It was briefly held as the seat of the Witch-king's power in Arthedain, until a captain of Gondor and his Elvish allies drove him out again.

When Oskari, brother of Iivari and First Hunter of the Suuri-lehmä tribe, led many of the Earth-kin hunters in a revolt against their brethren, he aided in the creation of a new tribe: the Rauta-lehmä, the tribe of the Iron Aurochs. He led them eastward into lands controlled by the Rauta-lehmä's masters, the Angmarim. There, in the North Downs, they established a war-camp at Fashat Laug, near the ruins of Ost Crithlanc.

At Fashat Laug, the Rauta-lehmä gather their might, recruiting more of their kindred and replacing their crude hunting tools with iron weapons provided by the Hillman-armourers at Ost Crithlanc. When the storm of Angmar's wrath is finally released, the Rauta-lehmä of Fashat Laug will stride forth against their own people and all others who stand against the Iron Crown.

Fashat Laug is a site created by Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) to further develop the giant-race called the Earth-kin. Players will likely find many items stolen from the Suuri-lehmä there.

In the northeastern reaches of the North Downs, near the pass of Ram Dúath, lie the ruins of Ost Crithlanc, a fortress destroyed during the wars with Angmar and Rhudaur. Long these ruins lay undisturbed, but now Hillmen out of Angmar in service to the Iron Crown have begun to move the through Ram Dúath and encamp at there, mustering for Angmar's assault against the Free Peoples of the North.

The once-empty ruins are now dotted with pavilions and campfires, and patrolled by enslaved servants and deadly archers. A great store of provisions, armour, and weapons is stockpiled there, overseen by skillful armourers. Unchecked, this army will march down upon the unsuspecting peoples of the North with a terrible fury.

Ost Crithlanc is a location created by Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO), drawing from the lore surrounding Angmar's invasion of Arthedain and Cardolan. Players who explore it may see behind the ruins, rising up along either side of the entrance to Ram Dúath, Angmar's mockery of the famous Argonath from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Nestled beneath the rocky walls that hide Esteldín, the hidden refuge of the Dúnedain of the North, is a small encampment of Earth-kin called Rusfold. These hunters of the Suuri-lehmä tribe came south from their village in Ram Dúath to procure meat that can feed their people through the vicious northern winter. However, their hunt would not go as planned. They were cut off from their village by armies of evil Hillmen, Orcs, and other servants of the Enemy.

Worse yet, many of their brethren were persuaded by the poisonous words of the Angmarim. Those deceived by the Angmarim, led by the Earth-kin's First Hunter, Oskari, betrayed their brethren and formed a new tribe: the Rauta-lehmä, the tribe of the Iron Aurochs. Now the hunters of the Suuri-lehmä are beset on all sides, without any means of escape.

Rusfold is a location created by Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) to help develop the giant-race called the Earth-kin. Players wanting to learn more about the Earth-kin may want to visit the campsite and aid the hunters against the Hillmen and the Rauta-lehmä.

In the months after Strider brought four hobbits to the hidden valley of Rivendell, Elrond Half-elven sent forth many Elf-scouts and Rangers to search the surrounding lands for signs of the Enemy's servants. One of these scouts, an Elf-woman named Candelleth, established a way-station in Tâl Bruinen, the southern reaches of the Trollshaws that follow the course of the river Bruinen.

From this outpost, called Echad Candelleth, many scouting parties resupply and take much-needed rest from their arduous journeys. Echad Candelleth also sometimes hosts parties of hunters from Bree-land and from the villages east of the Misty Mountains. Recently, the outpost has given succour to hunters frightened by a strange creature seen wandering the woods of Tâl Bruinen.

Echad Candelleth is one of many locations created by Turbine to populate a relatively untouched region of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Lore-savvy adventurers stopping here may discover a familiar, though not entirely welcome presence in Tâl Bruinen.

As travelers head east toward the Misty Mountains, leaving behind the barren Lone-lands and the treacherous hills of the Trollshaws, the roar of the River Bruinen, or "Loadwater," fills the air. At the Ford of Bruinen, where the Great East Road crosses the mighty river as it approaches the Valley of Rivendell, the swift waters can be easily crossed at these shallows just below the picturesque falls. Many adventurers, however, tell tales of sensing the presence of great and natural power emanating from the river, protecting the hidden valley of the Elves, which lies just beyond the ford.

The approach to Rivendell is at once awe-inspiring, tranquil, serene, and also potentially dangerous for travelers through this land. The Ford of Bruinen is well-known to readers of The Lord of the Rings as the location where Frodo made his last flight to cross the waters of the Bruinen in the hopes of making the safety of Elrond's home in Rivendell. It is also well-known that the Elves of Middle-earth, and especially those that dwell in the valley of Rivendell, are fiercely protective of their home against the darkness encroaching on the lands. Travelers would do well to declare their friendly intentions as soon as the roar of the Bruinen is heard, for the guards of Rivendell seldom make their presence known and can strike swiftly and silently at any they do not welcome as friends.

In the protected Valley of Rivendell, near the western slopes of the Misty Mountains stands the legendary House of Elrond, home to generations of noble Elves and a refuge for certain weary travelers in these dark days. Often called "The Last Homely House," this large and beautiful dwelling has been a tranquil yet well-protected and strongly-guarded refuge for as long as most memories can recall. Indeed, the Valley of Rivendell has been the home to Elrond and his people since well before the beginning of the Third Age, more than 3,000 years past. The house itself is expansive, with a seemingly endless array of rooms, libraries, gardens and other tranquil spaces. The dominant room in the home is the Hall of Fire, a large, pillared room so-named for the tremendous hearth in which a roaring fire is ever-burning. The Hall of Fire is a place of quiet reflection for most hours of the day, but is also a vibrant gathering place for lively song and storytelling in times of celebration. It is said that old Bilbo Baggins himself, now a resident of the House of Elrond in Rivendell, often frequents the Hall of Fire for a bit of writing, and, if truth be told, even more bits of napping.

It is here, within the House of Elrond, that the Fellowship of the Ring was recently formed, and from which the journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom is about to depart. Elrond, the wise counselor and master of Rivendell remains here, available to provide guidance and counsel to travelers from distant lands. Adventurers who find themselves in Rivendell would be well-advised to spend as much time as can be spared there to enjoy and explore the house and its grounds, for there are also many celebrated guests staying under Elrond's care and protection at this time. Much can be learned from speaking with those who dwell within, as well as from spending time in the expansive library and marveling at the collected treasures displayed throughout.

The design of Rivendell and its surrounding valley for LOTRO was inspired by drawings made by Professor Tolkien himself. Rivendell, as home to the Elves, the most ancient of all the races in Middle-earth, is a place of extreme reverence and historical significance, so great care was taken in crafting the details of Rivendell and this remarkable dwelling. Throughout the home, there are many areas designed for social interaction with other adventurers and for the sharing of knowledge, gained both in the wilderness of Middle-earth, and also discovered in the ancient books in the home's library, which chronicle much of the events of the history of Middle-earth. Rivendell is a hub of activity for many in-game events, and as such will no doubt be a favored destination of those familiar with The Lord of the Rings and the significance of the region.