A Hobbits Journey

Writing Fantasy – Do’s & Dont’s

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writing-a-bookFantasy is a fun genre of fiction that uses magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are common. Fantasy is generally set apart and crosses paths with science fiction and horror as they all three have sub-genres in the fiction world.

Fantasy is one of those genre’s made up of many creative things and frequently includes elements from the Middle Ages.  Most fantasy is adventure based, with a conflict between good and evil which is usually the common theme of plot.  When you here fantasy you probably think of things like wizards, elves, magic, etc…Fantasy is often based on myths, legends, and folklore, that could stem across multiple cultures.

If you’ve thrown around the idea of writing fantasy then here are a few things to do.  

  • Read a lot of fiction in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genre’s. Soak up as much as you can about the way the books flow, plot layouts, structure, etc.
  • Do the real world research on any folklore, culture, and traditions those era’s had you want to pull into the book.
  • Ask questions, find writing mentors, learn new ways to bring an idea to the page.
  • If you are setting your story in medieval times or using elements from those times, research medieval life in the real world.
  • Plan your fantasy worlds before you start, figure out all the details you want the readers to know about.  This will help you during the writing process as it will become more natural and eliminate any doubt you might have on the topics.
  • Set limits for your world and hero / heroine of the world, as this creates obstacles within the story for readers to be evolved with and helps get to know the world.
  • Bring your fantasy to life with lots of detail.  Give the readers a chance to meet everyone in the book, and make them feel at home like they are actually in the world you are describing.

Here are a few things not to do when writing fantasy. 

  • Don’t disclose everything you know about the fantasy world you’ve made.  The planning you do up front is for you to make sure the story is told correctly, but that doesn’t mean that every detail you write needs to make it to the book.  All the prep you do up front will give the readers something real to look forward to and enjoy. Give the readers some play room with things that you know about the world but they don’t yet.  Let them come up with there own ideas and conclusions about a specific personality of a person, or maybe a place in the book.
  • Don’t break the rules of the world that you have planned.  This in a way will give the readers a false sense of reading and make them feel cheated like what your telling isn’t worth the time for them to read it anymore.
  • Don’t copy people, places, things from other fantasy authors.  Use your imagination to create this magical universe you want the readers to be a part of.
  • Don’t lose track of the story and where you are at with it. Map the book out, the ideas, and all the fun details you get throughout the days while prepping to write.  It’s fun to create worlds with magical tales to tell but don’t get so caught up with the tiny details that you forget to create the main plot of the story.
  • Don’t forget to save MULTIPLE copies of this story and the details, along with any planning materials you have along the way.  You don’t want to lose that work and not have a backup to revert to.

Battling in Battleborn – A Review

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Battleborn_Incursion_Sentry_Combat_02Battleborn is one of the most chaotic shooters I’ve played, which also managed to frustrate and amaze me at the same time. The single-player and co-op campaign was thin and hit and miss at best, plagued with bad jokes from NPC’s and really uninviting once you get into the game a bit. The multiplayer action tries to mix genres like the mechanics from popular MOBA’s but overall was a huge miss, as they tried to do to much.

Battleborn isn’t lacking diversity in characters as you have two dozen of them to pick from, and each has a fun creative look that makes for an enticing push to try each and everyone of them.  Each of the characters has a huge bag of abilities to pull from as well so that is another good selling point.  What gives each of the toons ability sets diversity is that you begin every new excursion at level one and progress through 10 upgrade choices in the course of a single session, with the twist that you have to choose the upgrades on the fly, like in a MOBA.  This was a challenging feature, but a fun feature to integrate into a game like this.

Battleborn_Incursion_FP_Deande_01.jpgBattleborn has a seven-hour campaign which are mostly repetitive with the exception of only a handful of good story moments. Each mission is made up of continuous waves of almost the same enemy with different boss battles or base defense settings. Using currency (called shards) you collect on each map, you also have to purchase turrets and bots to aid in your attack against giant mechs or base defense, which adds an interesting layer of resource management.  With all that you have to manage during the battling, sadly the story the game tries to tell becomes white-noise and easily forgettable. This is a Gearbox game, so the makers of Borderlands had to add loot but this game gives you new gear in between battles. While Battleborn’s loot carries over from match to match, the bonuses you get out of it aren’t as good the in-match leveling system. Overall I think they did a good job with loot and adding a challenge to the levels of combat.

enuwzwuY2cFfwDSoSzZUPP-650-80While the campaign feels empty and pointless to me, the PvP modes you get are a completely different story.  You get three different modes to choose from each with their own unique challenges.  Capture is a domination-style mode good for fast action and lots of frustration at times. Incursion is a condensed version of the campaign that avoids the insanely long battles, but you do get to take down some enemy mechs with some cool toys if you’ve purchased any.  Lastly you have, Meltdown, which is a mix of MOBA and arena style FPS.  Ultimately this could have been a great idea, but the first person perspective brings the action way too close and the map overlay is way too small to keep track of anyone.  It would have been nice to have a free-for-all, or a team death-match but you won’t find it in this game.

One plus is that all the multiplayer maps are instantly available – unlike the hero roster, which you have to unlock as you go. The heroes you do get to choose from at start a bit lacking.  You can though unlock four new characters by completing the seven hour campaign, and you can unlock more during the multiplayer modes by leveling up your profile. With a few dozen hours into Battleborn I’ve only just touched on the surface of earning access to the cast of toons you get.  It’s a big grind and it doesn’t feel very rewarding for the toons you do get with all the time you have to put in to get them.

Overall this is one hybrid MOBA / FPS that doesn’t excite my gaming fancy and one I won’t return to very often.  With no interesting story to take part in, or the lack of interesting stages it’s a bust on this game for me but I might return one day to see if anything has changed.

Until next time gamers!

Sincerely,

Iogro Merrybelly

The Battle of the Gladden Fields

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AnduinThe One Ring Lost

The Disaster of the Gladden Fields was a battle at the beginning of the Third Age, in which Isildur and a group of acompanying Dunedain were attached by a large group of Orcs as they were marching home after defeating Sauron. The king and his three eldest sons Elendur, Aratan, and Ciryon were all slain and the Ring of Power was lost in the River Anduin. Only three men survived this battle, Ohtar being one of them, an esquire of the kings which was able to save the shards of Narsil.

With the death of Isildur, it impacted both Gondor and Arnor as it left both kingdoms seperated and isolated.  Arnor wouldn’t be able to completely recover from this loss of it’s nobles and knights until the kingship of Aragorn in the Fourth Age. Most importantly, Isildur’s death prevented him from passing on the One Ring to the Keepers of the Three, which he had passed on to his brother Elendur to be his chief reason for visiting Elrond in Rivendell.

After the War of the Alliance, Isildur remained in Gondor for one year, taking back lost lands.  He sent a large part of Arnor’s armies back to Eriador through the Fords of Isen to Fornost.  After getting the affairs of the southern realm in order, he handed the South Kingdom over to Meneldil and marched to Rivendell. He chose to leave his wife and son at Rivendell, but also came for counsel from lord Elrond.

ae12The Battle Ground

The Dunedain traveled northwards from Lorien, marching along a path that led to Greenwood the Great where Thranduil ruled. They had to change routes due to the flooding of the Anduin, which led Isildur to take the road on the eastern banks of the river. Isildur’s party was flanked as the enemy used the steep cliffs overlooking the river.

The Dunedain sang cheerful songs but as the evening drew close they began to hear the orcs in the nearby forest. The first onslaught struck quickly so Isildur called for his esquire Ohtar to take the shards of Narsil back to Rivendell for safe keeping.  The second attack from the orcs brought down the Numenorians great defenses, and Elendur convinced Isildur to flee and cross the Anduin if he could and find safety back at Rivendell.

Isildur cloaked himself with the ring, and made a run for the valley parting ways with his armies and tried to cross the river. Unfortunately the rivers waters were flowing to hard and Isildur being exhausted got tangled in the reeds and in doing so the ring slipped from his finger. Nearby Orc’s caught sight of Isildur in the waters and out of fear quickly shot him and fled.

eiszmann42Wake of Destruction 

Only Ohtar, Elendur, Estelmo, and a handful of men survived the battle. Isildur’s body was never recovered, and was presumed captured and mutilated by Sauron’s forces  The orc army that ambushed the Dunedain were scattered among the lands by a relief force but they were to late.  Estelmo after being recovered spoke of how Isildur and Elendur related to each other about the One Ring. Isildur remarked: “I cannot use it. I dread the pain of touching it. And I have not yet found the strength to bend it to my will. It needs one greater than I know myself to be. My pride has fallen. It should go to the Keepers of the Three.”

Probably the biggest fall of the Gladden Fields was the union of Arnor and Gondor were broken by blood, and Isildur never managed to give the ring of power to the three.  Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn if given the chance probably would have destroyed the ring of power long before Sauron would have gathered his spirit and refortified Mordor.  But we all know how this story ends as Sauron does finally fall to the hands of many brave souls, and one very important little hobbit named Frodo.

The Forest of Fangorn

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treebeardThis is one of the most majestic, secluded, and peacful places in Middle Earth and it’s also home to Fangorn which was the original name of Treebeard.  He was the eldest of his species the “Ents” who looked after vast areas of the surrounding land which was named Fangorn Forest. Additionally, Fangorn translated in Sindarin from “fanga” meaning “beard” and “orne” meaning “tree”.  Sindarin was the language of the elves who originally awoke the Ents and taught them language.   In other parts of Middle Earth, Fangorn was knows as the “Entwood” by the Rohirrim.

Treebeard also referred to the forest by many different Quenya names in the Lord of the Rings, some of which were Ambrona which meant uprising, or Tauremornalome which meant sunrise.   Some other names he used were Tauremorna which meant gloomy forest as the folk of Middle Earth had heard many strange stories about Fangorn, some of which spoke about trees who moved and even spoke.

The Forest of Fangorn was located at the south-eastern end of the Misty Mountains near the Gap of Rohan. The mountains formed the western border of Fangorn. At the end of the mountain range stood the tower of Isengard the home of Saruman.  Rohan surrounded this forest to both the south and east, and Lothlorien just to the north.  This was a large forest that stretched many miles, with many paths to be traveled.  Two rivers ran through the forest as well, the Limlight to the north formed the northern border of Rohan which then merged with the much larger Anduin.  To the south, the Entwash spread deep into the forest arriving from Methedras, a mountainous region located near the Misty Mountains. The valley of Derndingle was located just to the south-west which is where the Entwash passed into Wellinghall just past the home of Treebeard.

Fangorn was said to be humid, and the trees trunks grew large with dense foliage which allowed very little to penetrate the forest. Similarly, Fangorn was said to be a dangerous and evil place like Mirkwood where huge spiders roamed the forest and other evil creatures lay, but this unlike Mirkwood had not been corrupted in such a way.  This forest was home to many different creatures but Huorns also lived in the forest, similar to Ents but more discreet and lived very deep in the forest.

hobbitsmeettreebeardOne of the greatest and also oddly sized meetings in the forest was when Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took entered the forest meeting Treebeard and alerted him of the danger Saruman posed to the Ents and their forest. Following an Entmoot, the rest of the Ents agreed to march against Isengard, taking Merry and Pippin with them, and sent Huorns to Helm’s Deep to deal with the Orcs there. Part of the Ents’ anger was caused by Saruman’s Orcs chopping down the trees at the south and west side of the forest. It was especially notable in that Fangorn Forest was embodied by Treebeard.

Other famed visitors to this great forest were Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas as they entered the forest to search for Merry and Pippin. They encountered an old Man dressed in white which at first they believed to be Saruman before realizing that it was Gandalf, whom they thought had been killed at Khazad-dum.

Fangorn forest was, just the easternmost remnant of the immense forest that spanned all of Eriador and Calenardhon in the First Age and early Second Age. Treebeard expressed a deep sadness at the loss of the forest to the Orcs and to the age of Men and their machines. The rest of the forest was destroyed by the Numenoreans and Sauron. This portion of the forest was the the oldest part of Treebeard’s realm, and the Ents’ last retreat.

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Refuge of the Faithful

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1407637422The Great Port

Pelargir, was one of the first settlements of the Numenoreans founded in Middle-earth and was built in the year 2350 of the second age as a haven of the Faithful. The King’s Men established havens farther South but Pelargir was one of the cities that assembled Gondor when it was founded in 3320 by the Faithful.  The great port was was located off the Anduin river, just South of the White Mountains.

As Gondor’s power grew, Pelargir became the home of its navy. But during the civil war, also known as the Kin-strife, the city was besieged by Eldacar, as it had become a stronghold of the sons and supporters of Castamir. The siege was only a partial success, as Eldacar had driven out the enemies, but they escaped and fled to Umbar.  The son’s of Castamir, and the surviving enemies heirs became known as the Corsairs of Umbar.  They plagued Gondor with war and tormented their ports for years to come.

Battle_of_PelargirThe Stronghold was Broken

With the decline of Gondor’s power, Pelargir became weaker by the day and an easy target for the Corsairs, who by this time had made an alliance with Sauron.  Although Gondor’s power was in decline they managed to defend their coasts.  In 1634 of the third age, the Corsairs overtook the city and slayed King Minardil in the process.  Gondor was able to regain the city quickly and drove the Corsairs out once more.

During the War of the Ring, the years of conflict between Gondor and the Corsairs was about to come to a quick end. A great Corsair fleet attacked the city as Gondor’s armies were caught at Minas Tirity, and there were not enough troops to defend the coasts or Pelargir.  At what looks to be a defeat in Pelagir, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, along with the Grey Company and the Army of the Dead, arrived and defeated the Corsairs.  Once they took over the Corsairs fleet of ships, Aragorn released the spell that had bound the dead men of dunharrow.  Aragorn and his men arrived at Minas Tirith to defend it from Sauron’s forces. The Corsairs were driven out and they never attacked Gondor, or Pelagir again once Sauron had been killed.

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The Kings of Gondor – Part Seven – Death to the Corsairs

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Hail and Well Met Friends!

When we left off on our last episode, we had just seen the Kin Strife come to a boiling point and watched civil war break out amongst the people of Gondor.  We also saw the crowning of Aldamir and the beginning of the Corsairs of Umbar.

HaradThe New Kings Constant Battle

Aldamir was the second son of King Eldacar and succeeded his father in TA 1490 because his elder brother Ornendil was murdered by Castamir. Aldamir’s fifty year reign was marked with constant warfare with the Corsairs of Umbar and the Haradrim, which called in Westron the Southrons and once the “Swertings” by Hobbits, were a race of Men from Harad in the region of Middle-earth directly south of Gondor. Aldamir was slain in battle against the Men of Harad in 1540 and had one son who later took the throne.

Aldamir’s son, born as Vinyarion took the throne in TA 1540 and reigned until 1621. Vinyarion wished to avenge his fathers death, which he accomplished in 1551 by invading the Harad and defeated them. It was then when he proclaimed himself Hymarmedacil II, which menat “South-Victor” in Sindarin.  This was a name one of his great ancestors took in the twelfth century.  He died in TA 1621 after a rule of eighty-one years and two hundred thirty years of life and was succeeded by his son Minardil.

The House of Hurin

Minardil was born in TA 1454 during the reign of his great grandfather Eldacar. Minardil’s reign was brief and tormented with conflict. His steward, Hurin of Emyn Arnen, would found the line of the House of Hurin, who became ruling stewards centuries later.  In TA 1634 he was slain at Pelargir when it was attacked by the Corsairs of Umbar. Minardil ruled for thirteen years and was succeeded by his eldest son Telemnar.

Telemnar became king in TA 1634, and due to the growing threat from the Corsairs, he immediately began building up Gondor’s fleets to defeat them but his plans came to an end when the Great Plague struck Gondor.  The Great Plague ravaged Gondor and it’s outlying hold of Osgiliath, and in result the king and his family died. The White Tree also withered and died during this time. He was succeeded by his nephew Tarondor, who was the son of Telemnar’s younger brother Minastan.

gondor treeThe White Tree

Tarondor took the throne at a young age in TA 1636 after his uncle passed.  He was the longest reigning King of Gondor, but war and plague had tortured his country and strove to rebuild the land and it’s great power. The most significant event in his reign was the removal of the capital from the now depopulated Osgiliath to Minas Anor and the replanting of the White Tree. However, Gondor at this time was drained of its resources and man-power and could no longer afford to tend to the forts guarding the ancient entrances to Mordor, thus they fell into decay paving the way for evil things to return.  He died in TA 1798 after one-hundred and Sixty-two years of rule was succeeded by his son.

Telumehtar became king in TA 1798 after his father passed.  His reign was largely uneventful except for problems the Corsairs continued to bring to the land. The long descendents of the defeated king Castamir the Usurper; the Corsairs raided the coasts of Gondor and terrorized shipping in the area. Telumehtar wanted to rid the seas of the Corsairs, so he assembled a large army in 1810 and recaptured their base in Umbar. After this event he took the title Umbardacil, meaning “Victor over Umbar”. In this war, the Corsairs suffered total defeat and the descendants of Castamir all died and Umbar was yet again held by Gondor.  Telumehtar ruled for fifty-two years and was succeeded by his son Narmacil II.

Until next weeks episode, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

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The Kings of Gondor – Part Three – The House of Anarion

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Hail and Well Met Everyone!

Last week we left off with Isildur, the high king of both the kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. Since the death of Isildur we see a direct split in the lines and the title of High King did not fall to the House of Anarion.

tyler-realms-in-exile-01A Kings Line Divided

Meneldil was born in Numenor a year before its fall.  He was the fourth child of Anarion, and was the last recorded child born of Numenor before it’s destruction.  He had three older sisters and became the King of Gondor in the second year of the Third Age, after the death of his uncle Isildur.  Meneldil was the first “King of Gondor” to rule independently from the High Kingdom of Arnor.

It is uncertain whether Meneldil was King by right, because his father Anarion was only co-ruler of Gondor under his brother Isildur, who was the High King.  Meneldil did have a cousin that could have made the rightful claim to the throne of both kingdoms, but he never stepped forward to make such claim.  The people of Gondor accepted Meneldil’s claim over Gondor, but King Valandil of Arnor never made any real attempt to take rule over both kingdoms until Anarion’s line had failed.  Meneldil did serve Gondor from Arnor for 156 years before his death in year 158, but the title of High King still remained with the northern kingship line.

A Rule of Peace in the Lands

Cemendur took the throne after the death of his father Meneldil, but little is known about his reign.  It was a peacful time, and he ruled Gondor for 80 years and died in 238 of the Third Age.  He had one son Earendil who continued the reign of peace in the lands. There were no major events recorded during his time as king, but ruled Gondor for 86 years and died in 324 of the Third Age.  Earendil’s son Anardil took the throne after his fathers death.  The only major event recorded during his reign is he was the last king to dwell in Osgiliath, and his son Ostoher helped rebuild and expand Minas Anor.  Anardil died in 411 of the Third Age and ruled Gondor for 87 years.

Minas-Tirith3Ostoher took reign of Gondor and during his time as king he turned Minas Anor into a great dwelling place for his people, and continued to expand Minas Anor until it bacame a city as well as his fortress.  This city is one of the most renown of all Middle Earth as most people know it as the captial city of Gondor, or better known as Minas Tirith.  The white city became the captial some 1200 years after the great plague that hit the city in 1636.

Ostoher faced some challenges during his reign as in the last two years of his rule the Easterlings planned attacks on Gondor.  Because of the advanced technology and fortified keeps the king sent his son Tarostar who commanded his armies and was able to ward off and the Easterling threat. Ostoher ruled Gondor for 81 years and died in 492 of the Third Age in which his son Tarostar took reign of Gondor.  Tarostar, fought the Easterlings for almost a hundred years before defeating them, and after the victory renamed himself Romendacil, which means East-Victor.

The Line of Stewards Created

It was Romendacil, that created the line of Stewards for Gondor, as they were to be the men of wisdom and learning that would serve as high councilors to the king.  This bloodline of men were known as the House of Hurin, and they would later become the rulers of Gondor when the line of kings failed in 2050 of the Third Age.

Jan_Pospisil_-_Dale_units_vs._RhunAlmost 500 years of peace is what the land of Gondor saw but that was about to come to an end as the Easterlings invaded the land once again in 541 and killed Romendacil.  His son Turambar took the throne at a very young age, probably as a young teenager and avenged his fathers death.  Turambar expanded the lands of Gondor as he took his armies and conquered large parts of Rhun from the Easterlings.  This land became known as the East Land province of Gondor.  Turambar ruled Gondor for 126 years, which was the longest reign since king Meneldil.  He died in 667 of the Third Age at which his son Atanatar took reign over Gondor.

Not much is recorded of Atanatar’s reign other than it was a peacful time of Gondor.  He passed in the year 748 of the Third Age and had one son.

Siriondil took the throne after his fathers death in 748 and had two sons, Tarannon, and Tarciyan.  There were no major events recorded during his reign and was probably a continued time of peace for the land.  He ruled for 82 years and died in 830 of the Third Age.  Tarciryan took his place as the King of Gondor after his fathers death, but his brother Tarannon became the first Ship King of Gondor as he built the kingdoms great naval fleet!

Next week we will continue taking a historical look at the kings line of Gondor, and the great Ship Kings.

Until then, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

A Wizard for Himself – Part Two

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Hail and Well Met Friends!

This week we continue our series of the great White Wizard and one of the greatest Villains of Middle-earth.  Everyone enjoy…

Blue WizardsA Grey Arrival

The five wizards arrived at the Grey Havens around the year 1000. Only the keeper of the havens, Círdan the Shipwright, knew Saruman’s identity and origin. Saruman would later discover that Círdan had given Narya, the Red Ring, to Gandalf upon their first landing in Middle-earth. Even though Saruman was immediately considered the head of the order while Gandalf was not, Círdan had divined Gandalf as the wisest and greatest of the wizards. Saruman’s jealousy of Gandalf grew from these events, perhaps because he feared that he would eventually supplant him as chief of wizards.

Saruman and the two Blue Wizards went into the east of Middle-earth. After one and a half millennia, he returned to the west, just as Sauron’s power was growing again in Dol Guldur.

white-councilThe White Council

When the White Council was formed in the Third Age it was to counter Sauron and Saruman was appointed its leader, though Galadriel wanted Gandalf in this position. Saruman refused to step down due to his pride, while Gandalf had declined.  At this point Saruman had begun to sense the resurgence of Sauron and to envy and desire his power, and especially the One Ring. This was also the same year that the One Ring was taken by Smeagol who later became Gollum, and disappeared with the ring into the Misty Mountains for hundreds of years. It was during the meetings of the Council that Saruman first noted Gandalf’s interest in Hobbits and The Shire, and believing that all his deeds related to some as yet undisclosed plan of his for self-enhancement, Saruman himself began keeping a greater watch on Gandalf and sent spies to The Shire.  At first, he himself visited it secretly but stopped when he realized that its inhabitants had noticed him. Amongst the purposes of his visits was to procure some of the halflings’ Pipe-weed, since in secret imitation of Gandalf he had begun to smoke.

Z_orthanc_04The Isengard Keep

In the year 2759 of the Third Age, Saruman settled in Isengard with the permission of the Steward of Gondor, Beren, although he settled only as Warden of the Tower and representative of the Steward (the stronghold had by then been abandoned by Gondor). There he became important in the informal alliance defending the west of Middle-earth. In the tower of Isengard, Orthanc, he also found one of the remaining Palantiri.

By 2850, Gandalf had entered Dol Guldur and confirmed that the evil presence lurking was indeed Sauron.  By Saruman’s advice, the White Council decided against attacking Dol Guldur.  Gandalf would later remark that it was at this council meeting that he first began to suspect that Saruman desired to possess the One Ring.  Saruman’s real intention was to permit Sauron to build up his strength, so that the One Ring would reveal itself. He later found that Sauron had more knowledge of the possible location of the One Ring than he expected, and by 2941, he finally agreed to attack Dol Guldur.

Ten years after Sauron abandoned Dol Guldur he returned to Mordor and declared himself openly. He established contact with Saruman through the Palantir captured from Minas Ithil, which by this time was now known as Minas Morgul. In this year, Saruman also took Isengard for his own and began to fortify it.

When Gandalf presented Saruman with the discovery and the location of the One Ring, Saruman revealed his desire for it and his secret alliance with Sauron. He had also shed the title of Saruman the White, Saruman no longer had any loyalty to the White Council, or the Ring-bearer. He tried unsuccessfully to gain Gandalf’s allegiance.  When Gandalf refused to join with him, Saruman held him captive in Isengard but Gandalf later escaped with help from Gwaihir the Windlord, and made Saruman’s treachery known to the rest of the White Council.

Stay tuned for next weeks episode of our wizard lore.

Until next time, I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly and I bid you a fine farewell!

A Bards Delight Episode Two – I Hate Caves

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This week we continue in our “Lets Play” of the Minstrel Class in LOTRO.

Sauron’s Deadly Servant – Part Two

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Hail and well met friends!

Last week we left off with the short lived seat of power the Witchking had over over Fornost, and the attack from Earnur that left Angmar leaderless after the Witchking fled.

John_Howe_-_The_Dark_TowerThe Return to Mordor

Having ruined the Dunedain kingdoms in Eriador, the Witchking returned to Mordor. Although Sauron was still hiding in Dol Guldur, the other eight Nazgul rallied around the Witchking. Together, the nine of them rebuilt their master’s power in Mordor, gathering huge Orc hordes.  In the year 2000 they rose out of Mordor and began attacking Gondor, which was recovered from the Great Plague but devastated by the Wainriders.  Two years later they captured Minas Ithil, and took the place for their own. It became known as Minas Morgul and its citadel the Tower of Witchcraft and remained a place of great evil for centuries thereafter.

In the year 2043, King Earnil the II of Gondor passed away and his son Earnur, the Witchking’s old enemy, inherited the throne. Upon his coronation, the Witchking challenged him to combat, but Earnur refused. However, seven years later the Witchking challenged him again—and Earnur accepted. The Gondorian King rode out of Minas Tirith to fight the Witchking at Minas Morgul.  He entered the city’s gates and was never seen again, thus ending the reign of the Gondorian Kings and beginning the rule of the Stewards of Gondor. In the year 2063 the Watchful Peace began when Sauron fled Dol Guldur and hid in the East, and the Nazgul remained quiet in Minas Morgul.

Almost 400 years had passed when The Watchful Peace ended as Sauron returned to Dol Guldur and in 2475 the Witchking led hordes of Orcs and Haradrim against Osgiliath and seized its eastern half. The city was ruined, and the great stone bridge linking the east and west banks of the Anduin river was destroyed, dealing a devastating blow to the morale of Gondor.

The Necromancer was finally expelled from Dol Guldur when Gandalf confirmed that he truly was Sauron in disguise.  Sauron returned to Mordor and began preparations to find his One Ring.  He began the reconstruction of Barad-dur and sent three Ringwraiths to re-capture Dol Guldur.  In 3018, with the capture of Gollum, Sauron learned where the land of the Hobbits lay. Unfortunately, Gollum had lied, and the Ringwraiths went to Saruman, who refused to tell them the location of the land of the Halflings. The Witchking chanced upon Grima Wormtongue in Rohan, who, for fear of his life, told the Nazgul where the Shire was. Sauron opened the gates of Minas Morgul and sent forth the Witchking and the other Nazgul disguised as Black Riders to fetch the One Ring.

nazgul1 (1)The War of the Ring

The Witchking and the other eight Nazgl rode swiftly from Mordor to the lands of the Shire. They continued to search for “Baggins” until they tracked him to Buckland. The Nine Riders raided Buckland but could not find the Ring.

The Witchking led four of the Nazgl to Weathertop where they discovered Frodo, Aragorn, and the other hobbits. They attacked the party and the Witchking wounded Frodo with a Morgul blade. Though successfully driven off by Aragorn, Frodo’s wound threatened to turn him into a wraith like the Nazgul.  Elrond of Rivendell sent Glorfindel to guide Frodo to Rivendell where Elrond could heal his wound.  Glorfindel’s swift pace to Rivendell lured the Ringwraiths into the Bruinen.  Here, Elrond released a Great Flood, with Gandalf giving the waves of the torrent the form of horses. This flood destroyed the physical forms of the Ringwraiths, killed their horses, and sent the Wraiths back to Mordor.

With their return to Mordor, Sauron bestowed upon the Nazgul fell beasts as their new mounts. Sauron used the lesser eight Nazgul for his reconnaissance work and dirty deeds that needed power. The Witch-king, however, returned to Minas Morgul and resumed the role of commander of Sauron’s forces. He then began battles to capture Osgiliath, finally issuing the war command from Morgul with a great army. However, at the bridge over Morgulduin he paused, feeling the Ring nearby.

Stay tuned for next week’s series to find out what happens with the Witchkings command of war, and what happens with the Ring?

Until next time I’m your host Iogro Merrybelly