May the stars shine on good friends. Lady Tinuariel and I spoke with the Ranger Saeradan, and we pursued a few tasks at his request, including taking care of several brigands. He then asked us to proceed to the Vale of Andrath.

My good friend Lady Tinuariel accompanied me in aiding Saeradan and defeating Sharkey’s lieutenant, whose minions had infested a ruined fortress in Andrath. We used Sylvan Shadows to sneak in and wreak havok.

Then we joined a fellowship with Elician and Rifgar. Sharkey’s Men were trying to forge an alliance with the Orcs in the northern Bree-fields, so Ranger Saeradan asked us “to break the alliance before it can be established.”

We discovered their rogues’ gathering, including Bill Ferny of the brigands and Tarkrip Chieftain of the Orcs, and it was a splendid rout! Lady Tinuariel mesmerized the Orc chief, while I shot the Orc scrapper & attracted his ire. The result was worthy of many songs.

Later, at Saeradan’s camp, I introduced Lady Tinuariel to Lady Aerhinn & Lord Emerion. I am happy to report that she joined as a recruit with the Marchwardens.

Note: the scene above is Bleakrift, not Andrath. And that is a tale for a later day.

In preparing to craft a superlative set of armour for me, Khimli wanted to harvest several “broken roots” from Dreadful Barrow-maple Trees in the Old Forest. I offered to help, which turned out to be a mistake. The trees were indeed Dreadful, and while Khimli is an extremely hardy Dwarf, I am less so. Which led to my defeat several times. Then I found the Old Forest Tunnel entrance in Buckland, leading to a good location for “Bark-shredder” bears and gathering medium hides for the leather armour.

Later in Bree, I spoke with Khimli and shared a flagon of wine in the Prancing Pony, listened to some harp music by Sabraen, and we chatted with her. We were interrupted by a sadly ill person, and left to see Jasmine’s garden. Then we raced to the Ranger Saeradan’s cabin, defeated some brigands and met with a spy, and returned to the South Barrows.

A second trip to Othrongroth, the Great Barrow, was different with only the two of us. This time it was filled with huge spiders, and Khimli taught me about working together in a small fellowship.

We went north-northwest of Saeradan’s cabin, to defeat some Tarkrîp Orcs.

((And I made level 20! Earned the use of the bow, heavy armour, and cosmetic outfits.))

I am remiss; my journal languishes.

I amar prestar aen. [The world is changed.] Events are accelerating.

My travels continue: around the town of Bree, the villages of Combe and Staddle, the Chetwood, Midgewater Marsh (again), the Old Forest, and Buckland. In particular, the Marsh Queen is no more–having learned stealth from my encounters with goblins, I used a stealthy approach to good effect. ((Sylvan Shadow FTW!)) By the by, those goblins with firepots on their heads are quite bothersome. I helped someone defeat the two goblin chiefs Gurzstâz & Gurzrum, and the goblin hermit Zhurpukh. A most surprising thing: some human named “Roderick” actually lives in the Marsh. Exceedingly strange.

Later, Lady Lothlorell and I learned some addled hobbit girl named “Lalia” had gone to find “the lost prince” in the Barrow-downs, so we found and rescued her. Silly hobbit.

My return to the Chetwood ended well: the headquarters of those brigands, the Blackwolds, is well and truly cleaned up. In the process of helping Lord Farsin, I conquered that cursed Warg, Baugarch, twice. Ela! Foul beast.

The Great Barrows

In the Barrow-downs, Andraste asserted that the leader of the black-cloaded riders, the “Nazgûl,” went to “Othrongroth.” So we sought Tom Bombadil in the Old Forest because he is also master of the Barrow-downs. He knew where Othrongroth is, and agreed to show us the way to the Great Barrow. Lady Lothlorell, Lords Tyrthalion and Finthilion helped me assail those tunnels and emerge alive, after defeating hordes of barrow-wights, barghests, Dourhands, and a confrontation with the undead king, Sambrog.

• Serenya Antanyé Len spent her early years in Lothlórien among the Galadhrim, until late in the year 2416 of the Third Age[1], when she was sent with a parcel of dispatches and items for Talagan Silvertongue in the Elven refuge Edhelion. Arriving to Edhelion, she witnessed its fall to Skorgrím and his Dourhand Dwarves. Her mission made moot, she intended to journey generally eastward, confronting the forces of evil on a slow journey homeward.
• Born in Lórien during the year 1300 of the Third Age, she was 1,116 years old at the fall of Edhelion. As the elves account for the passage of time, she is but a youth.
• Amusingly, she longs to be a minstrel. She seems a very talented singer and musician, at least to those who are not.
• Serenyalen’s worst memory was in the year III 1980, when the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm unleashed the horrific Durin’s Bane, and the resulting exodus of refugees in the following year. Many of the Free Peoples fled east of Khazad-dûm, to and through her home in the golden woods of Laurelindórenan.
• After a chance meeting in Celondim with some leaders of the kinship “Marchwardens of Ennorath,” she was impressed with their steadfast clarity of purpose, and how they treated others. Though the elves of Lórien generally distrust outsiders, she found their cause to be noble and just. Now, she is eager to continue learning from her new friends, and confronting the Shadow in the company of Marchwardens.

[1] http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Edhelion

Yuletide has always been a warm and blessed season. This year’s Yule Festivals in Ered Luin and Bree-land were as well, though I missed my family, the Galadhrim, and the golden woods of Laurelindórenan.

Yule was a welcome respite–from the grave events and dangerous enemies that roam the lands of Arda. I celebrated with my kinship and also my good friend Khimli, learned some new dances, played and sang some new songs, and marveled at how different are these lands from my silvan home.

It was also a season of giving, and I gave Yuletide presents to Ladies Aerhinn, Lothlorell, Tinuariel, Lord Finthion, and Khimli. I hope they were pleased, and they were most generous with their time and skill. Several of the Marchwardens gave exceedingly fine presents, and my dear friend Khimli gave me a beautiful cloak for Yuletide, and then made me a new set of Fine Leather Armor!

In Bree, we entered the Prancing Pony, where I met with a ranger named “Strider.” For some reason, Arcolin demurred from our meeting.

Strider asked for aid rescuing his fellow ranger Amdir, from the black riders. Arcolin did assist us and we confronted them, but Amdir fell. It was a sad day.

However, I knew Amdir. He just could not have become that evil red-cloaked … thing. Perhaps he is now dead, but that red-cloaked thing was not him.

Gondamon to Rath Teraig

I met another Marchwarden, Lord Tyrthalion, a lore-master of some renown. Together, we rescued Avorthal, who was a prisoner of the Dourhand Dwarves on a boat in the port of Kheledûl. A noble mission with a happy end.

A large gathering of the Marchwardens continued on to assault Rath Teraig, south of Gondamon, which was infested with goblins. Later that night, we enjoyed an evening around a campfire with music and song in a dark and hostile place.

To Rivendell

The group sojourned to Rivendell, so Lord Emerion could parley with Lord Elrond about an item we found among the goblins in Rath Teraig.

Return to Gondamon

Lady Lothlorell later helped me with some spiders and goblins in Rath Teraig, and with a cleansing draught at the towers of Dol Ringwest. In turn, I helped Suzannora at Thrasi’s cabin, and someone else at Kheledûl.

To Bree

In Gondamon, I met a most unusual guardian named Arcolin. He complained that the mailbox was broken, since he had no mail. Of course. He checked the same mailbox several times, as if hoping his mail would appear inside.

Of my swords, he referred to them as “sharp letter openers.” He was headed for the town of Bree, and since I was as well, we traveled together.

He seemed to check for his mail in every mailbox from Gondamon to Bree.

We encountered some boars, and some bears, and some shady folk at a campsite by the road. We were joyful to finally enter the town of Bree.

At first, the Refuge of Edhelion was lost before my eyes, and I traveled to Frerin’s Court.

Dwalin asked me to help defeat Skorgrim, leader of the Dourhands. Skorgrgrim has allied with Shadow. We fought him and some of his followers, but he escaped.

Then I sojourned to Celondim, by the river Lhûn, and then to the new refuge of Duillond. The waterfalls of Duillond are beautiful, and the Yuletide festival magnificent. I was loath to leave.

However, an evil goblin named Pampraush led his minions to infest the nearby Limael’s Vineyard. My fellow Haldorod and a Man named Rahlas helped me defeat Pampraush, so the vineyard will be reformed.

We continued to assist a woodsman named Thrasi and his pet lynx, moving on to the Dwarf outpost of Gondamon.

In Gondamon, it became apparent that although the Elves of Duillond have lived in peace with the dwarves of Durin’s line in the Blue Mountains, now the situation between Elf and Dwarf seems to be … tense.

The lands of Arda are afflicted. Terrible evils roam Middle Earth.

Many others would lay still or flee, mourning what was, but that path seems fruitless. Rather, evil demands to be confronted, or it will grow.

For me, the days grow filled—confronting evil creatures and spirits, traveling among the lands, building friendships.

I know not how the stories of Arda will end. But I shall attempt to do my part.

The Marchwardens of Ennorath have been gracious enough to grant my application as a recruit with their kinship.

We immediately ventured forth to Rath Teraig, which is a dark and foul land. Many goblins attacked us, but we later told stories and sang by a warm fire late into the night. Eventually, we travelled to Rivendell to warn Lord Elrond of what we had found.

In the morning, a new friend Lothlorell helped me with Cleansing Draught in Dol Ringwest.