Poems of the Pine: Echoes of the Dead

Is it possible to deal with the dead? Book 3 – Echoes of the Dead The distant dwarf That dwelt in the comb Recalled the curse On cowardly men That refused to follow Their fervent vows To aid Gondor Against the dark.   As the rangers recalled The ruinous times We received some letters That led us astray. We followed the leads Which faltered our steps...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Assault on the Ringwraiths’ Lair

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Assault on the Ringwraiths’ Lair

Jul 30, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we return to Dol Guldor, for we are Assault the Ringwraiths’_Lair This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 18.2. You can download the PDF here....

Poems of the Pine: Ride of the Grey Company

It’s time for us to journey south. Will our journey go smoothly? Book 2 – Ride of the Grey Company The Company in Grey Gathered to journey South to the forges Of fallen Hollin. There a dwarf did make Duplicate rings To confuse the foe Of the company’s goal.   The first friend They found in Dunland Was Wadu who wielded A weapon of old. But it...

Poems of the Pine: Oath of the Rangers

We start out Volume 3 with a letter from Elrond. Book 1 – Oath of the Rangers We learned of a letter From Lorien Gold That arrived in the valley Of Rivendell fair. To Rohan the rangers Must reach in time To aid their chief In the challenges ahead.   They sent us to search The several lands Of Eriador to find The friends of the west. We cleared the...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Breaching the Necromancer’s Gate

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Breaching the Necromancer’s Gate

Jun 30, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we enter Dol Guldor, for we are Breaching the Necromancers Gate This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 18.1. You can download the PDF here. Now...

Poems of the Pine: The Mines of Moria

With volume 2 of the epic story complete, I have created a PDF that includes the first two volumes in a single document. This is pretty much the same poem that appeared in installments the last few months, though I did perform some editing sand add an epilogue. You can download the text here. The epilogue reads: We returned the axe To the treasury old To cure...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Protectors of Thangúlhad

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Protectors of Thangúlhad

May 28, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we head closer to Dol Guldor as we become the Protectors of Thangúlhad This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 18.1. You can download the PDF here....

Poems of the Pine: Fortress of the Nazgûl

We cross the river and head into Mirkwood. Book 9 – Fortress of the Nazgûl We alighted from our boat At the landing in Mirkwood Where shadow did send Shivers down our back. Our charge was to take The churlish Mazog Into the deepest woods To Dol Guldor.   We slogged through a swamp Sickened with death Where light did lure Our leader to the West. Then...

Poems of the Pine: Scourge of Khazad-dûm

May we finally leave Moria? Book 8 – Scourge of Khazad-dûm We have the head Of the horde of orcs That foul the caves Of Khazad-dûm. But we cannot leave These cruel dens Till we break the relics That blight these halls.   The first we found In foulest dens Where merrovail marred The mirrors of old. We changed their courses And cleaned their sheets To...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Strike against Dannenglor

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Strike against Dannenglor

Apr 30, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we head into Mirkwood to Strike against Dannenglor This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 18. You can download the PDF here.   Now go out...

Poems of the Pine: The Leaves of Lórien

We have returned to the Golden Wood. Will we be able to remain? Book 7 – The The Leaves of Lórien We left the mines And to Lórien returned To find the friends Of the fallen wizard. We hunted orcs That haunted the wood And leaned of the grief Of the Garrison of Iron.   They sent us back To the baleful dark Where we found a garden Fouled by the deep. A...

Poems of the Pine: The Shadowy Abyss

We seek some help from the Golden Wood. Book 6 – The Shadowy Abyss We reached the light And Lórien found Where a plea we gave For the Garrison Dwarves. After testing our worth They told us they sent A team of elves Into the terrible dark.   They started their study In the stony foundation Where nameless and nasty Nightmares did dwell. For the Lóreien...

Poems of the Pine: Help from Lórien

Please note: The following post was an April Fool’s joke and is not real. Will the elves be able to provide the dwarves with any help? Book 6 – Help from Lórien We reached the light And Lórien found Where a plea we gave For the Garrison Dwarves. As time did pass They tested our worth Then chose to send A sylvan host. In force they came And cleared the...

Poems of the Pine: Drums in the Deep

Sometimes, things just don’t go the way you hope. Book 5 – Drums in the Deep Bróin did beg That we bury the axe For it carried a curse Both cruel and sweet. But Bori was sure The silvered axe Would instead do harm To the hordes of orcs.   He led a raid To rout the orcs From the mighty hold Where Mazog dwelt. But Gorothúl gave A grievous blow So...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Battle of the 21st Hall

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Battle of the 21st Hall

Mar 29, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we complete our defense of the Iron Garrison in the Battle of the Twenty-first Hall This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 17.2. Some information...

Poems of the Pine: Fire and Water

We search for an axe and find more. Book 4 – Fire and Water To avoid the failure That fell on Balin A plan we’ll need To prepare for war. We must scout the halls And scrounge for bars And supply our stores Lest we starve within.   Yet hope is found In the fateful book For it spoke of a weapon Of especial might. We searched the plaques Placed at the...

Poems of the Pine: The Lord of Moria

It is time for us to attack the wrong target. Book 3 – The Lord of Moria The Twenty-first Hall Was teaming with dwarves Who strove to strengthen Their stretch of the mines. A battered book We found in the ruins That bore the fate Of Balin’s folk.   To avoid their fate We must find some dwarves To purge the Halls Of the Hand of White. Few joined the...

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Battle of the Way of Smiths

Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing: Battle of the Way of Smiths

Feb 29, 2016

Welcome back to the second edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we continue to defend the Iron Garrison in the Battle of the Way of Smiths This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 17.2. You can download the PDF...

Poems of the Pine: The Heart of Fire

The Iron Garrison didn’t find the welcome they expected. Book 2 – The Heart of Fire We searched the records For rumors of old That spoke of an Axe Of especial might. Of mithril it was made, That majestic ore That brought the dwarves To the depths of Moria.   Yet where was it made And what was its fate? Could the axe be found At the forge it was...

Poems of the Pine: The Watcher of the Water

The Iron Garrison didn’t find the welcome they expected. Book 1 – The Watcher of the Water The mines lay empty For many a year Till Balin did delve Into the dwarven home. But naught was heard From the noble dwarf So the Garrison of Iron Came in greater force.   The entry was blocked Till we broke the stones That covered the door To Durin’s...