Complete List of Lotro's Storylines & Loose Ends That Need to Be Tied Up... Eventually

[TesalionLortus]

First of all, I love this. I'm in absolute love with storylines which can reemerge years into the future and small details from the past that suddenly make perfect sense. I loved Minas Morgul, loved the storylines resolved there, it even brought us full circle back to Shadows of Angmar. Also, in love with Gothmog's death. Even after all this time, even after countless defeats and death of Sauron and the Nazgul... he truly believed he alone deserved to rule Mordor in their place, more than anyone else. On the other hand, there were some subtle doubts and he did stab Ugrukhor in the end but it wasn't a cliche that I was afraid would happen (turning into a shade, regretting his actions, sudden return of love for Gondor and its current king). Truly memorable content and amazing ending for one of Lotro's main antagonists. So yeah, I really like how the loose ends were handled in Minas Morgul. But the way I feel about LOTRO right now is that for every slain major big bad two more appear and for every solved mystery we get three other characters and three other setups for future storylines in distant lands...

and I still LOVE it!

I only hope the devs actually remember about all of these, have interesting plans for them and can resolve most of them in LOTRO's run. Also, the number is growing to insane proportions and therefore becoming slightly confusing...

Hence, I present to you the list of the most important questions and loose ends in LOTRO. A guide to this wonderful world of Tolkien feast and consequential world-building. Maybe one of the devs can take a look and notify us if they notice something that's a actually a dropped plot or badly interpreted as foreshadowing when it's not. Because there is nothing worse in storytelling than waiting for answers and characters that will almost certainly never arrive, right?

PS: I'll update the list with annotations after I'm done with new content (A1, B1, etc).




SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!






ONGOING PLOT (OF MORDOR)


1. The Bugdatish storyline.

I'm interested to see how this illness can affect other Gúrzyul (their mind, body, powers?) and whether their "true" names can actually help. In witchcraft names are said to hold power over things, sure, but I wonder what was Sauron's idea behind this concept and why Ugrukhôr was so convinced it'll help ready to chase Karazgar all over Middle-earth for it.


2. Nûlbanath and Mothgorod... the last two of the Gúrzyul.


3. Black Book given to Karazgar?

I know this was framed as "fun" epilogue choice but... maybe we'll be able to witness cool consequences or different interactions with Karazgar in the future? Harlos Should Stay/Go mechanic but maybe slightly more complex?


4. Karazgar / our character dynamic...

because I can't shake off the feeling something is going on... in some circles this would already have become an ideal shipping material, you know :P First, he is so intrigued with us "...the reek of subservience. I know the Master you serve. I have cast off the shackles (...) Why should you not do the same?" and then in the Vales asks for our help hoping we'll betray Gandalf's trust, even offers his assassin services, also respects our choice to fight alongside the dwarves against him (because they offer gold and gear haha). Furthermore, he accepts all of the terms if given the book and *apparently* upholds the deal. Does Karazgar sympathize with our character? What's up with that? Was Gandalf the "Master" he referred to? PS: And THEN he left us a letter and shared some personal feelings, just because he likes us, yikes... how romantic. Even the quest giver was seemingly surprised and wondered whether a Karazgar-redemption is possible, haha.


5. Lhaereth's storyline.

So many questions and she always escapes. Is she really the main power in Mordor now? Does she control Nurn or is all that just boastful talk, blinded by her quest for the child which will probably be the undoing of her kind? What of the Ithil Stone which was snatched by her merrevail back in Mordor questline? Is that the key to her power?


6. Borangos the Horror and his plan.

Looking for something beneath Mount Doom. Thraknûl and Naerband were supposed to figure in his plan but no idea how. What IS Borangos anyway? He was sealed away by someone, long before Sauron took complete hold of Mordor apparently. Damn, when he got out the guy needed to ask the Nazgul "who the heck is Sauron?" because he got no clue! Also, he's been planning this for a long time now, so I guess he only pretended to serve under Sauron. So yeah, very interesting baddie.


7. The Balrog watching-stone in Thuringwath where we left Gandalf to... ponder. It wasn't part of the epic line and ends so abruptly hence a bit unclear but... it WILL continue, right?


8. Urudanî in Durthang when Eärnur's party arrived. Spying on Ugrukhôr? Not sure whether it'll be picked up but interesting.


9. The orcs in Reclamation storyline briefly mentioned the Matriarch of Nurn.


10. The Nurnoth guy who escaped from Nearband will most likely show up in Nurn.


11. What of Gorgoroth? Which fortresses still stand? What's taken, what enemies remain?

I know Minas Morgul (very briefly) explained Gondor took Talath Úrui and Borangos left but... what of Ugrukhôr's fortress now that he is dead, what of Udun? Is Lhaereth in control of Barad Dur remains? Is Agarnaith still empty and already rid of all orcs? What is the situation on the front, what battles were fought and where?


12. The slaves of Udun storyline and their orc friend, the ones who wanted to flee with Easterlings.

Assuming they survived the onslaught, perhaps they can return but it's more about the concept really... because what happens with all the slaves, evil men and ORCS who *don't want* to labor for their overlords any longer? Tolkien wrote "orcs threw themselves into the pits and died" but excuse me if I'm not satisfied with that answer. With lotro's more detailed world-building for the bad guys and with characters such as Viznak... you can't just leave this like that? And if those orcs can be spared or even entire tribes of them... I need to know what will they eat, where will they live, how do they deal with change and whether they have second thoughts. Damn, someone among Gondorians may even play the bad guy's tune and advocate for orc genocide. Would be something amazing to witness, all these issues resolved in a future storyline.


13. The cure for the Plague / the tome from the Halls of Black Lore.

The Archivist warned such dark knowledge will come at a cost but no idea whether that's for future storyline or just a fair warning concerning the very-very-distant future of men.


14. Who was Thargaun and what was his plan in Thuringwath?

I guess this is largely irrelevant and wrapped up but... quests in Reclamation chain did not clear it up for me, seemed like the weakest part of Morgul Vale content. What was the purpose of the trial stones, what was his scheme? What kind of new body was he trying to create and how? What was he looking for? And the leader of the kergrim in the Deep-barrow, he worked for Thargaun. I guess it's nothing that will come back but it was pretty confusing.


15. Jarl Gurthilm and his men, maybe they'll invade from the East of Mordor for spoils? Or we meet them later, somewhere in Khand.


A1. The creature Narchraw and its realm.

The creature that escaped from prison in Barad Dur. It was said it "will return to his realm in Nan Ogol, the fell-vale in the far western reaches of Mordor, to retake his former throne" and that it was neither beast nor man. Interesting, I wonder if it reappears. Maybe in mountains below Morgul Vale on the map?

A2. Thostír the Rank, a great fire-drake of the East, who escaped Mordath. Yeah, not done with dragons, there is *another* Hrimil out there!



ONGOING PLOT (OF RHOVANION/RHUN)


16. What were the strange whispers Durin heard under the Anvil?

The dialogue with Durin suggested they were NOT of Hrimil's origin so... hmm, I guess we should believe him and expect another neat reveal.


17. Thafar-gathol.

If it remained just a mystery, a mythical city never to be found... it would be fine, even pretty cool. I like how Voin's story ends. Still, with all strange things happening all around Gundabad, Grey Mountains, Iron Hills, so close to frozen wastes of Forodwaith... I get a feeling Thafar-gathol may be found someday... for important plot reasons and in unexpected location, and maybe it's something else entirely than everyone believes it is because all those Zhelruka who originally found it NEVER came back and disappeared without trace... there was only one survivor driven to madness...


18. Blue Wizards and the magic cults they created.

I guess it's Blue Caste among Khundolar and Violet Caste (?) among Jangovar. The Wizards' names are most likely Yirokhsar the Blue and Yetkeyin the Violet. What's their story? Are they corrupt? Are they benevolent but don't care about the rest of Middle-earth? Where were they when Mordor's plagues devastated the Easterlings? They sound like the middle-ground between withdrawn Radagast and corrupt Saruman which is very interesting. Slavery seems to be a thing in Rhun so I guess they need to be fine with the idea otherwise they wouldn't last that long in complete isolation in the Eastern lands. That's probably bad news for Aragorn's future conquest in Dorwinion because it doesn't sound like they would "favor" Gondorian culture. On the other hand, from the accounts of Easterling NPCs and bosses (from both Khundolar and Jangovar sides) seems like they forbade alliances with Sauron. But Easterlings started to serve him anyway because they thought Sauron was the chief of gods, that it was merely a test and the Blue Wizards served him too, at least the Jangovar thought so. Some others wanted to heed their "Masters" but were forced to march for Sauron by their kings. Interesting. Power dynamics in Rhun seem to be completely different and contradicting even.


19. Rozi, the Easterling captain from the Brown Lands questline who agreed to return home, presumably to strike back against their kings/Sauron.


20. The refugees, like the Chayasir and others from closer Dorwinion, I guess we'll need to hear from them again and see how well they've adjusted.


21. The devastated home of Zhelruka and things "worse than dragons"

Second home, I guess. Because the first time they've become "wondering people" was "more than six thousand years ago" when land shook and Hall of Torrents collapsed. During the destruction of Thangorodrim, when Morgoth fell (most likely). Which led to the entire Thafar-gathol business. Now, I think they also talked about their current king Ótek who has replaced Vékun II (who died in the cataclysm?) so he will need to show up somewhere in the East.


22. OH RIGHT, SO... WHAT HAPPENED IN RHUN?

That's the most important question right now and it seems like A LOT has happened. Let's take a closer look, based on the Chayasir account which seems to be the most accurate (since they've travelled from afar and actually seen it all with their own eyes).

'From the ruin we fled and come over high mountains. We were very near the tops when they shook, shook mightily. We fell to our feet, all of us, and watched amazed as the snows flowed cascading like thundering rivers down onto the foothills below.' My guess is the Eastern mountain chain that housed the Zhelruka and Stout-axes of old. They shook and enormous avalanches devastated the lands below. Eastern part of Rhun and the backyard of Mordor maybe (in Khand?).

'Then we came to the sea, the waters roiling and the sands lined with a great wreckage of ships. There was fire among them, and whether they came from strife among men, or great storms, or some other cause, I cannot say.' This is evidently the Sea of Rhun. Sea warfare and infighting? Unnatural storms caused by the cataclysm? Or magic?

'Over green lowlands we travelled, and then up into high dry-lands, swept cold by wind. There the earth had been opened up as if from a wound, and we could not see into the depths.' Nameless? Lava? Someone else mentioned the fires spitting out of the earth. This must be where it happened. So probably north of the sea, somewhere between the green spot of trees in Rhun and the lands adjacent to Iron Hills? Perhaps, but no idea really. Many among the Dorwinion refugees run *because they saw other people run and talk about the destruction.* So it must be closer to Rhun proper rather than rest of Dorwinion or Iron Hills. And... it seems like the devastation occurred in the original starting location of the Chayasir too (they fled from ruin) and that's Far Far East, well beyond the bounds of Middle-earth map, not in Rhun. What the heck happened THERE?

'Armies we saw, gleaming and orderly, as if going off to war. Then we saw other soldiers, wounded and dirtied, wandering as if lost.' Wounded and dirtied must be the defeated Easterlings from War of the Ring in retreat (those who did not linger), there is no doubt. But then... earlier they saw soldiers at the ready? Gleaming and orderly? In the middle of the cataclysm that happened? Are the blue wizards in the middle of war with one another? Is this cataclysm their fault? Or are these armies being raised by a new, twisted force? What force drives the newly raised, well-armored armies of Easterlings?

Taking into account Lhaereth's involvement in the region, Weeping Warrior's reputation and the current strife and cataclysm... this will be land full of tales, tears, madness, sadness, wonder and glory. Perhaps a bit empty as well... so many died in devastation but also so many people died in war. Others escaped to the Dalelands, those who did not seem to be forced into army again. This is also the land of slavery but where orcs and "dark-robed cultists" aren't the ones calling the shots. Orcs taken prisoners and turned-slaves of the Eastern humans can be possible as well, I believe...?


23. Ayorzén the Funny will make a come back, no doubt. In... Karazgar's mask.


24. Rook and his journey East.

I know he is more of a joke character but... but... He was last seen in Osgiliath and commanded a huge number of Easterlings. I mean, he's becoming dangerous and less of a joke. We really need to see him again since this pretty much established his growth as an antagonist of "sorts." Also, what's funny, this piece of dialogue about devastation in Rhun sounds like it has something to do with him: "a darkness coming down from the sky, a thousand, thousand night-black red-eyed crows." Hmm. Maybe the Rhun cataclysm is in fact Rook who finally meddled with something he shouldn't have. LOL.


25 "Pit of the nameless things" somewhere in Gundabad.


26. The history of Durin the Deathless, Mótsog and Greymauls.


27. Strange wars between the nameless and Durin, as evidenced by the Shadowed King storyline.

Really interesting and while Silmarillion stuff is OUT OF THE QUESTION I really like where this Durin business is going. Because yeah... Durin and his folk weren't involved in Beleriand wars. When "everyone's" world was resolving all around Silmarils... was it all a paradise further East? Or there were even stranger dangers lurking in the eastern lands and mountains?


28. Vóin, Magoldir, Eärnur and his knights fought some kind of evil in Gundabad so maybe there is a connection to be made as well, who knows.


B1. What ARE Hobgoblins. And Frost-bound. (I think they're one and the same)

At first, I thought "a new generic race of orcs from Gundabad" or something to do with Hrimil but... seems like there is more to it and maybe an origin story akin to Gash-hai. Only they are frosty rather than fiery.


B2. "The Master which sleeps below" (in Gundabad)

The lines spoken by an icy, "white-walker" Frost-bound boss from the instance. "May the frost and cold bring you closer to the master which sleeps below." Who the heck is that? Something icy and greater than Hrimil even?


B3. The Warlord of orcs (of Gundabad?)

Gorgar calls himself lord of Gundabad but the Frost-bound Emissary mentioned someone else, a "Warlord", who is CLEARLY in charge. It seems like this Warlord, whoever that is, used Gorgar's reputation/strong lineage to rally the orcs - and his Hobgoblins are supposed to keep him and his forces in line.


B4. Hrimil is now an active player...

So many questions. What is her relation with the Frost-bound? If the Frost-bound are loyal to this "Warlord" (or icy "Master which sleeps below") what are Hrimil's relations with those characters? I guess unfriendly since she wants Gundabad for herself... Also, what were the Frost-bound "right about," something Gorgar's orcs mentioned when they heard Hrimir approaching. Did they know she will come? Are they glad she did or... they serve someone else, after all? All so confusing... Ah, and yeah, assuming Karazgar trapped her good with some spells, there is another important questions: how did she escape?


B5. What were the Angmarim hoping to achieve in the War of the Three Peaks? Why align with Gundabad, why relocate near Gundabad?


B6. Brathar Crack-helm and his Dourhands. What the heck is he planning?

Not only an amazing story angle with the Dourhands taking over in Angmar but... another BIG mystery, I believe. They seem only mildly interested in the War of the Three Peaks and one of the tortured Angmarim mentions Brathar has "set his sights far higher." Not only that, he mentions that "it was all inevitable" because "it was foreseen" that "the Iron Crown would be broken and Angmar would be undone." WOW, foreseen how? Brathar speaks about mending the Iron Crown but it's obviously only part of his plans. Hmm.


B7. The gap in the Crystal Journal concerning mysterious chamber and master. Someone or something in Gundabad is the source of powerful necromantic knowledge that helped create the strange, cursed crystals. Those crystals are also mined there.







ONGOING PLOT (OF HARAD)


29. Jajax and his brother.

They may return when Aragorn sails to conquer Umbar and wage war against the Haradrim. That's not gonna be good, I'll be torn. I can't see Jajax asking Aragorn for help and subjugation... it would feel off, they are still pirates who love plunder and they won't part with it easily. This will be a difficult situation and maybe will make Aragorn look like a bad guy haha.


30. The haradrim prisoner who asked us to save his mumakil back in Ithilien. I guess he is a likely candidate to resurface.


31. One of the Far Harad emissaries was murdered in Allegiance storyline, this may have future consequences for Aragorn.







UNKNOWN


32. Search for Corudan

His sister lives so this is unavoidable now... what happened to him? Why did he leave *right before* the battle for the Hornburg under the pretense of "scouting"? Horn, Nona, Galadriel... nobody knows where he is. It's such a big mystery at this point and elves serving Galadriel and Celeborn don't just vanish without trace. So it better be BIG and satisfying. Also, I no longer trust him... I mean... seriously... and if the answer is that he was caught while scouting... that would be pretty dumbass and unsatisfying, he seemed like a capable, stealthy fellow.


33. Nameless Mother and Throkhar, Lord of the Darkest Depths

He hungers. He will devour THE WORLD. That's it, that's the foreshadowing. I have no idea what is this big nameless threat that even the Shadowed King was merely a pawn to.

The deciphered code from the Secret Stone event: "All hail the nameless mother. Her children whisper the name Throkhar. Anxiously awaiting the call of their lord. The day of his return is nearing. The slumbering one shall hear our plea. And on that darkest day you will know despair. He will rise from the depths and devour the world."

I can only hope it'll blow my mind with strange, nameless vibes. Moria nameless level, I mean. Fungus or the Mistress. Or that creepy portal the crazy-looking lesser barlog named Gwathnor came through. Or the Shadowed King's chamber and stones' whispers. Or that strange Emissary. Preferably more. Things you can't possibly understand and comprehend yet still we investigate and we're getting some answers and great pay-offs. Maybe it has something to do with what happened in Rhun... or maybe with Gundabad... or something else entirely. Plot that will make the Blook Book research look like a cup of tea with Gandalf and War of the Three Peaks like a good relaxing afternoon with a hammer. I would also like to know what's the difference between balrogs/lesser balrogs (followers of Morgoth, lesser Maiar) and more alien-esque, strange-looking "Nameless" (world-eaters, faceless, and alike, things completely "out of this world" and definitely NOT spirits/Maiar), and why they seem to be working together to advance goals of the Nameless and satiate their hunger. Also, more of the Void portals and slight insight into the Void maybe?


D1. What happened with other Vandassari?



UNCLEAR


34. Earth and mountain tremors.

What's up with them? The big idea is that something happened in Rhun, including tremors, but they reappear everywhere. There were huge tremors when Iron Garrison fell and orcs descended from the cracks, there were unusual tremors and "the mountains shook" right before Karazgar's attack on Skarhald (which I'm inclined to believe was purely coincidental and nothing to do with Karazgar's little horde of drakes and drakelings!), and of course tremors in Iron Hills that caused damage in Jarnfast that we had to repair and THEN tremors caused by the Nameless in the Howling Pit questline. So many tremors... My guess is it connects to Throkhar but who knows. Someone suggested the destruction of the ring caused some kind of cataclysm which is why the earth shook hence damage in Jarnfast but then again... these tremors seem to reappear so... hmm no idea if Sauron's death was the cause





RESOLVED/DROPPED BUT STILL INTERESTING


35. The history behind Ungoledain and Gauredain tribes.

We resolved Ungoledain (I guess?) but now that we've seen their connection with Shelob and how it led them to ruin... what of Gauredain? It would be interesting to go back given opportunity and learn more about them, their history, connection to the Vales/later Angmar and what kind of "wolf" power/entity they correlate with... I guess they need to have their equivalent of Shelob? The price to pay for mastering Radagast's gift wickedly though torture and dark arts?


36. Will we ever see Horn and Nona again? Gléowine?

This may be complicated since there are two different outcomes but... I guess it's doable with a little effort and right conditions applied to quests. I would love it at some point.


37. Is Mercy (Gun Ain) going to show up at some point?

Maybe as a quest giver somewhere? Maybe she'll finally find home and live up to her new name?


38. Also, I'm sure we all want even more of Bingo haha. New journey towards Gondor and Mordor maybe xD


39. Speaking of which... what about the Cult of the Blood Eye from Bingo's storyline?

They were pretty strange and collaborated with both the white hand and mordor orcs. Their connection to the Rothstone was pointed out multiple times but then nothing happened. We never caught the remaining cultist. Is Rothstone some kind of important, mysterious artifact of unknown origin that could pop up again someday? Maybe someone will pick it up among Draigoch's bones who knows? Hey uh... now that I think of it... *Karazgar* visited Draigoch's corpse not so long ago...





CLASS PROPHECIES

There are still two unresolved prophecies as far as I know, and they are mega interesting as well, none of this has come to pass in the Vales and Minas Morgul and people have been usually pointing to Beornings and Morgul Vale. Ups... turns out not really! My main character is a champ and I still remember the prophecy, hope it's worth the wait and you haven't forgotten, devs


40. Champion prophecy - Sounds like unrelenting assassin, maybe Karazgar.

A shadow beneath the trees -- it moves without sound.
Might will not avail you. It stalks without mercy, unrelenting.
Someone bellows a challenge, and suddenly a beast is by your side…
Whether this beast be friend or foe, I cannot see. I hope you will know the difference.


41. Minstrel prophecy - Cities of Rhun... maybe? Thafar-gathol?

Stairs climb unceasingly into the heights.
A city sleeps, its inhabitants gone.
But not all, not yet. Those that remain dream a restless dream…
Will your songs stir them to wakefulness, Minstrel? Is that to be your fate?






OH AND OF COURSE...
WE GOTTA FINISH THE BOOKS, NATURALLY!

I don't mind it being delayed for so long but even with the "pause button" rule and our character's ability to appear everywhere at all times... I gotta admit War of the Three Peaks and Gundabad reclamation should be happening after the proper end of the third age, after The Scouring of the Shire and Saruman's death. Such a big event and all out war between two races... that's not a matter of days or even months, not something that would go unnoticed. You would think Gandalf or Aragorn or Gimli or elves from nearby Greenwood would be interested or concerned, at the very least. The return of "Epic" questline with the Wedding (titled Volume V - The Peace of Middle-earth) and apparent "separation" from the newdays volumes, as well as Faramir's love doubts about Eowyn (even though they've been together though entire Minas Morgul expansion and she said they'll be together until it's healed... which means for life, she said she wants to marry you! Faramir, you dumbass!), all of this makes the chronology even more contrived atm. I *can* get my head around it but honestly, it kinda destroys the feel and flow... if we must wonder... when exactly we are in relation to Mordor and other recent storylines. Quite a maze!

Also, note that Nurn had very little foreshadowing so... there will be *even more* new plot threads introduced sometime soon to direct us there when the time comes. My bet is with Gandalf in Thuringwath but who can tell for sure. So this list is only going to grow, apparently.

[DavidmeetHal]

#3 and 4 are the ones I'm wondering about! I actually like Karazgar, I think he made a good villain.

[McJones]

Looks like someone read the quest text!

In all seriousness, thank you for compiling all of these plot points. There are so many great stories that it is difficult to remember them all. I, for one, had completely forgotten about the catastrophe in Rhun.

I think the game will end with the conclusion of the scouring of the shire, perhaps with the last epic quest being turned in to Frodo at Bag End. There and back again. Perhaps we will get a short epilogue where we are "transported" to the grey havens to see them depart. When that last update occurs is, practically, a matter of the game's viability. If the game continues to profit the developers, we will likely go to Nurn, Rhun, the realm of the nameless horrors from the Secret Stone event.... there are still years worth of content. When SSG eventually reads the writing on the wall and knows the game will soon be put on "maintenance mode", I imagine they will splurge on one more update: the scouring of the shire.

That's my guess anyway. I hope that day is still many years away.

[TesalionLortus]

There are so many great stories that it is difficult to remember them all. I, for one, had completely forgotten about the catastrophe in Rhun.

Yeah, tends to happen. I too hope there are many years of amazing content ahead.

Not sure whether they have such an "exit" strategy but somehow I'm not keen on the idea of The Scouring as the final chapter/quest. Shire, maybe. But not The Scouring, perhaps not even Frodo. Unless as a Session Play. I don't want the chronology to suffer and seem extremely stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread, which it already does in some matters, mainly due to Gundabad storyline and war of the dwarves and orcs.

At the start of the game it wasn't like we've been tied up to the Fellowship's fate or Frodo in particular, so I don't see any reason we should be now. If we're going to explore even more of Middle-earth and take part in more wars let it be Legolas and Gimli who we say goodbye to in the Grey Havens in the final chapter, not Frodo. Tolkien said Fourth Age was all honey and peace "because Sauron gone" and that's probably what Gondorians wrote in history books, but that's only because they weren't interested in details and new villains defeated by unknown heroes or other races in far away lands. In Lotro, we are interested. But that's Fourth Age content. War of the Ring is the last big event of the Third Age, we can't have other wars or villains overshadow it. Let's enter the Fourth Age, I say. Preferably sooner than later.

[Elmagor]

Spoilers






4. You can find Kazragar lair in Elderslade with note what he leave north and go to the east... so we can meet him again in the future

P.S. Open Iron Gates and allow Angmar invade Forochel!

[wrath247]

Can I just say, thank you for compiling all of this! LOTRO's story has always been one of the biggest thing going for the game. So much untapped potential with the plot points you've listed here. Honestly I hope SSG sees this especially since Gundabad is coming up.

Been wondering if ever we'll get to play as one of the men of Rhun or Nurnhoth at one point since evidently they aren't all evil. And I know the Silmarillion is out of the question but i do recall only one House of East standing as the vanguard of the Houses of Men while they fled. So not far fetched to say wouldn't be lore-accurate.

Good point to with Durin and the Deathless. Outside of two major conflicts, the dwarves were mainly absent from the Beleriand Wars and we've been given hints that it was due to the Greymaul rebellion and then the Shadowed King came up. Honestly while they probably can not outright state the word "War of the Jewels" or anything associated to the FA, they can bring up Beleriand at least it seems so would be a nice plot point to explain why the dwarves did not aid the elves as much as they would.

The east was always unexplored, hope they make it as vast and sprawling as Rohan and Gondor combined, evidently something has been happening there much of we don't know yet.

[swmock]

3. Black Book given to Karazgar?

I know this was framed as "fun" epilogue choice but... maybe we'll be able to witness cool consequences or different interactions with Karazgar in the future? Harlos Should Stay/Go mechanic but maybe slightly more complex?

Anyone notice that if Halros goes, he dies at Pelennor Fields and Horn gets to live?

[Mithithil]

We almost certainly have, if only on Aragorn's behalf, unfinished business with Umbar and the remaining Corsairs and their masters/overlords. Umbar remains a place of Black Numenorieans and although their power is badly damaged by the loss of theor fleet to the Oathbreakers at Pelagir, the source of that fleet remains in existience, strong and with a simmering resentment towards Gondor and Thorongil. Jajax may be very helpful, or so I would hope.

Umbar would be seen by many in Gondor, especially if a final settlement to any lingering issues from the Kin Strife is t be acheived. as somewhere to be reunited with the Kingdom. And yet perhaps the Haradrim are casting ebvious eyes upon this natural haven and trade centre...

[Starsmith]

3. Black Book given to Karazgar?

I know this was framed as "fun" epilogue choice but... maybe we'll be able to witness cool consequences or different interactions with Karazgar in the future? Harlos Should Stay/Go mechanic but maybe slightly more complex?

Anyone notice that if Halros goes, he dies at Pelennor Fields and Horn gets to live?

?! Really?

Horn is canonically dead!

"high lord of the host. Harding and Guthláf,
Dúnhere and Déorwine, doughty Grimbold,
Herefara and Herubrand, Horn and Fastred,
fought and fell there in a far country:"

Unless Horn is Schroedinger's Eorling?

I will have to pay attention to this on an alt sometime...

Re: OP and this point,

14. Who was Thargaun and what was his plan in Thuringwath?

I guess this is largely irrelevant and wrapped up but... quests in Reclamation chain did not clear it up for me, seemed like the weakest part of Morgul Vale content. What was the purpose of the trial stones, what was his scheme? What kind of new body was he trying to create and how? What was he looking for? And the leader of the kergrim in the Deep-barrow, he worked for Thargaun. I guess it's nothing that will come back but it was pretty confusing.

I wanna know just what Agath-Kali managed to necromance there with Morloth's fruit that Laereth wanted so badly. I don't take it that we were fast enough to stop her from doing whatever she planned to do with it, since it lies cut in half on the ground at the end of Bar Nirnaeth and she didn't seem to be too fussed that we were there.

These are all interesting threads to follow up on, and one of the reasons I quite like what the LotRO writers have done--focusing in close on what Tolkien left in broad strokes.

[BigLotroFan]

In my mind what happened in Rhun is some cataclysm related to remnants of Morgoth/his servants that had been sealed under ground but broke free upon Sauron's demise.

Add this to the list:

What is/happened to Narchraw? This is the creature that escaped from the prison in Barad Our and all you see are claw marks.

[TesalionLortus]

What is/happened to Narchraw? This is the creature that escaped from the prison in Barad Our and all you see are claw marks.

I completely forgot about this. Yeah, they said it "will return to his realm in Nan Ogol, the fell-vale in the far western reaches of Mordor, to retake his former throne" and that it was neither beast nor man. Interesting, I wonder if it reappears. Maybe mountains below Morgul Vale on the map?

PS: I'll update the main post later, along with the Three Peaks stuff. Not at the end yet but seems like there are... more mysteries awaiting resolution. Like the whole "why the Angmarim are even there" thingy

[TesalionLortus]

I wanna know just what Agath-Kali managed to necromance there with Morloth's fruit that Laereth wanted so badly. I don't take it that we were fast enough to stop her from doing whatever she planned to do with it, since it lies cut in half on the ground at the end of Bar Nirnaeth and she didn't seem to be too fussed that we were there.

Never noticed but judged by the objective (stop her from performing the ritual) I guess we did manage to stop her. The ritual would probably take some time and seeing how Morloth = some kind of vessel for fell spirits and Sauron's weights, idk, I guess it's possible she was trying to draw out Mordirith and make him her personal asset now that Sauron was gone.

[wrath247]

We almost certainly have, if only on Aragorn's behalf, unfinished business with Umbar and the remaining Corsairs and their masters/overlords. Umbar remains a place of Black Numenorieans and although their power is badly damaged by the loss of theor fleet to the Oathbreakers at Pelagir, the source of that fleet remains in existience, strong and with a simmering resentment towards Gondor and Thorongil. Jajax may be very helpful, or so I would hope.

Umbar would be seen by many in Gondor, especially if a final settlement to any lingering issues from the Kin Strife is t be acheived. as somewhere to be reunited with the Kingdom. And yet perhaps the Haradrim are casting ebvious eyes upon this natural haven and trade centre...

That'll be an interesting expansion for sure. Chance for SSG to show the different povs of the eastern races. Dale set up the idea that not all served Sauron willingly. In a sense not even Ayorzen is inherently bad. At least no one in the lotr starts of as such.

Tbh those expansions should last for awhile, 2-3 expansions at most and not just wrap everything up immediately. It'd be like you built up something for so long, only for it to die in one expansion ala Nurzoth in BFA.

[TesalionLortus]

Updated the list with Three Peaks content. WOW, even MORE questions and mysteries now, some of them very subtly mentioned.

[Celebrawn]

Yeah, tends to happen. I too hope there are many years of amazing content ahead.

Not sure whether they have such an "exit" strategy but somehow I'm not keen on the idea of The Scouring as the final chapter/quest. Shire, maybe. But not The Scouring, perhaps not even Frodo. Unless as a Session Play. I don't want the chronology to suffer and seem extremely stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread, which it already does in some matters, mainly due to Gundabad storyline and war of the dwarves and orcs.

At the start of the game it wasn't like we've been tied up to the Fellowship's fate or Frodo in particular, so I don't see any reason we should be now. If we're going to explore even more of Middle-earth and take part in more wars let it be Legolas and Gimli who we say goodbye to in the Grey Havens in the final chapter, not Frodo. Tolkien said Fourth Age was all honey and peace "because Sauron gone" and that's probably what Gondorians wrote in history books, but that's only because they weren't interested in details and new villains defeated by unknown heroes or other races in far away lands. In Lotro, we are interested. But that's Fourth Age content. War of the Ring is the last big event of the Third Age, we can't have other wars or villains overshadow it. Let's enter the Fourth Age, I say. Preferably sooner than later.

Yeah, there's no need to put off the Scouring, and the Grey havens until the very end of the game's run. Those characters might leave in the story, but if we want to see them again, they will always be hanging around somewhere. When we finally go to mysterious places in the east, Radagast, or even the blue wizards could fill Gandalf's role. Though it's rumored the blue wizards might not be entirely "good".

[TesalionLortus]

Yeah, there's no need to put off the Scouring, and the Grey havens

Yeah, no need to DELAY the end of the Third Age. Karazgar running around and Grey Mountains expedition was a peripheral thing, Minas Ithil similar situation, what happened in Rhun nobody cares (yet). But after experiencing the entire War of the Three Peaks I must say...

Hundred years from now the older dwarf gets asked by the younger: "So how was it? Did you defeat Sauron's forces at the end of the Third Age?"

"Yeah let me tell you... Wait what? Sauron? No idea, I completely forgot about this guy! Something happened in Dale and Gondor, I dunno. But Gabil'akkâ was a mighty force! We fought Hrimil the Frost-Heart and terrible Nameless things of frost and fire in the depths of Gundabad! We put an end to the terror of the Dourhands! Fires raged over the mountains and in the Vales! That was the last great battle of the Third Age, my lad!"

LOL.

And Gorgar's Gundabad forces seem so damn cool and well-equipped with fine silver armor that it ALMOST makes Sauron's army look amateurish... YIKES

We NEED the end of the Third Age. Now. Before it gets even worse...

[Tirian-Hammerfist]

Thank you for this awesome list - I do hope MoL and the rest of the team turn to this when writing the ‘Lost Tales’ quests that Severlin spoke about in the recent Q&A.

Two that I don’t think we’re mentioned (please correct me if I’m wrong) are Amarion and Saeradan. Amarion was missing, but confirmed alive, near Isengard, and Saeradan was heading north with the rangers that had fallen at Tur Morva and on the Forsaken Road. Hopefully we can revisit these (and any other rangers that we cross paths with on the way!) as part of this quest series.

I’m also very excited for a number of the ones that you’ve pointed out, particularly Rohan - given the cull of their aristocracy as a result of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith, what has changed?

[MadeOfLions]

I do hope MoL and the rest of the team turn to this when writing the ‘Lost Tales’ quests that Severlin spoke about in the recent Q&A.

To be honest, we have so many of the items on this list earmarked for future quest stories already! But also, although Sev likes the name 'Lost Tales,' internally I've been calling these 'Further Adventures' in order to distinguish them from the Books of Lost Tales, to which these have no relation. It's been suggested that I write a dev diary about what these are, so at some point I'd expect to see more information.

MoL

[wrath247]

To be honest, we have so many of the items on this list earmarked for future quest stories already! But also, although Sev likes the name 'Lost Tales,' internally I've been calling these 'Further Adventures' in order to distinguish them from the Books of Lost Tales, to which these have no relation. It's been suggested that I write a dev diary about what these are, so at some point I'd expect to see more information.

MoL

Thank you! Honestly it's nice to see this was noticed. And even better to know the possibilities for the future even in in the "further adventures" or lost tales

[wrath247]

Btw not sure if this counts, but in the Abyss raid they mentioned one of the two dragons who were chained escaped after the breaking of barad-dur? It's offhandedly mentioned in the deed for the one of the areas in the raid. Used to be the former prison of the dragon but flew away.

[Baccata]

Btw not sure if this counts, but in the Abyss raid they mentioned one of the two dragons who were chained escaped after the breaking of barad-dur? It's offhandedly mentioned in the deed for the one of the areas in the raid. Used to be the former prison of the dragon but flew away.

Missing Dragons? One of them was Hrímil Frost-heart... The other one though, Thostír, yes that is definitely a plot thread we would like to follow up on

Like MadeOfLions said, we are aware of these loose threads and have plans for pretty much all of them when the time is right. Expect a few of these in the top post to be dealt with next year

[DavidmeetHal]

Unless Horn is Schroedinger's Eorling?

.

I can't believe that I overlooked this. I literally laughed out loud, good grief, that was funny!

[wrath247]

Missing Dragons? One of them was Hrímil Frost-heart... The other one though, Thostír, yes that is definitely a plot thread we would like to follow up on

Like MadeOfLions said, we are aware of these loose threads and have plans for pretty much all of them when the time is right. Expect a few of these in the top post to be dealt with next year

That's the one! Sorry wasn't sure if I got that right or if I read that bit of the lore correctly xD ty for clarifying on that

[TesalionLortus]

To be honest, we have so many of the items on this list earmarked for future quest stories already!

MoL

Thanks, glad to know you remember, LOTRO's writing effort with lingering plot threads is definitely one of a kind. Not even some books are THAT committed, not to mention... games.

Any comment on the Fourth Age and whether we can expect it? I know that if we go by the chronology there is always an excuse "this is still part of the War of the Ring" until we get to Saruman's death at Bag End. Still... if we don't un-pause the time and maybe even do a fast forward to reach there sooner than later, then all of these upcoming big events and struggles will HUGELY overshadow Sauron and his War of the Ring *proper* so that's quite a pickle, would feel strange if it doesn't already.

Missing Dragons? One of them was Hrímil Frost-heart... The other one though, Thostír, yes that is definitely a plot thread we would like to follow up on

Oh... I completely forgot about Thostir, a fire one! Well yeah, that's a big one, definitely. Probably in Rhun... all roads lead to Rhun... it's probably quite a party in there... and not in a good way

[gildhur]

First of all, kudos for compiling all of this.

34. Earth and mountain tremors.

What's up with them? The big idea is that something happened in Rhun, including tremors, but they reappear everywhere. There were huge tremors when Iron Garrison fell and orcs descended from the cracks, there were unusual tremors and "the mountains shook" right before Karazgar's attack on Skarhald (which I'm inclined to believe was purely coincidental and nothing to do with Karazgar's little horde of drakes and drakelings!), and of course tremors in Iron Hills that caused damage in Jarnfast that we had to repair and THEN tremors caused by the Nameless in the Howling Pit questline. So many tremors... My guess is it connects to Throkhar but who knows. Someone suggested the destruction of the ring caused some kind of cataclysm which is why the earth shook hence damage in Jarnfast but then again... these tremors seem to reappear so... hmm no idea if Sauron's death was the cause

There was also mysterious earth-shaking in Tal Methedras when we get revenge on the Falcon Clan (or was it before?)!