Before we go forward, we must look back Canto 2 – The Mines of Moria Prologue – Durin’s Bane In the days of Durin The dwarves did mine In the kingdom they called Rich Khazad-dûm. They mined for mithril, A metal most light Yet strong as steel And stainless as gold.   Yet rumors did ring Around the land That little was left Of the lovely...

With volume 1 of the epic story complete, I have created a PDF that includes the entire poem in a single document. This is pretty much the same poem that appeared in installments last year, though I have added a couple new stanzas and made an additional editing pass. You can download the text here. I suppose that means that I better head into Moria and get...

Jan 26, 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 Moria to help the Iron Garrison in the Battle of the Deep-way. Note that there are a couple changes in the Update 19.2 guides. First, I am using a finer...

Have you ever wondered how useful Boromir’s sword would be in battle? Some swords that you see in fantasy movies and literature are too silly to use in battle. In the two videos below, Theng Thrand puts Boromir’s sword to the test. In the first video, he tests the sword using two hands and in the other he tests it with a large shield. So it appears...

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 will climb one of the peaks of the Misties to begin a Storm on Methedras This is the only skirmish that was not included in the first edition of this series. You...

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 will attempt to survive a night in the Barrow Downs This edition updates the information up to Update 17.1 (the original version was posted on CSTM back when the...

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 will don our winter gear and brave The Icy Crevasse This edition updates the information up to Update 17 (the original version was posted on CSTM back when the...

Will we be able to destroy the ring we have captured? Book 15 – Daughter of Strife Amarthiel was freed From the mastering ring And was named once more Narmaleth the elf. Yet what could we do And where could we go To save the land From the lash of Angmar?   One hope remained To heal the north And drive out the darknesss The dwelt in Angmar. We thus...

Will we be able to destroy the ring we have captured? Book 14 – The Ring-forges of Eregion We have the ring That was riven in two Which must be melted In the moldering forges. Before we went, To the west we were sent To prepare for the road To where the rings were made.   Yet this was a trick To make us travel far So Laerdan could leave Alone to the...

The weather gets a bit chillier. Book 13 – The Frozen Land Frigid Forochel The frozen waste Was a place where ice Paralyzed the ground. We spoke with Lassi Of the Lossoth race To learn what news Would to Narquil lead.   We faced three tasks To test our worth: Strength and stamina So we could stay alive, Plus wisdom to show The way to survive. To make...

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 will make a stand at the Ford of Bruinen     This edition updates the information up to Update 17 (the original version was posted on CSTM back when the...

Can we recover from the setback we had last time? Book 12 – The Ashen Wastes We returned to the city On the south of the lake To look for the place Where Laerden was held. We learned he was moved To the land of dread So to Angmar we went Into the ashen wastes.   We stole the gate key That was kept by a troll Then rescued Laerdan Who languished in a...

We track Amarthiel into the Trollshaws. Book 11 – Prisoner of the Free Peoples The scouts had seen No sign of our foes So we warned them to watch The ways with care. In Tinnudir our guest Soon tore from his cell And killed the guards That kept him there.   We mourned those lost By laying out stones Then learned of the road The ravagers did take. We...

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 will participate in Defence of the Prancing Pony     This edition updates the information up to Update 16.5 (the original version was posted on CSTM back...

What is Amarthiel up to and what can we do to stop her? Book 10 – The City of Kings In Annúminas She nurtured her plan To find the ring Of fell power. Before we could look For the palantir stone We needed to take The town from our foe.   She sought to seal A savage deal With the cruelest folk We faced near the shore. They pressed an attack To purge...

  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 will initiate an Attack at Dawn   This edition updates the information up to Update 16.5 (the original version was posted on CSTM back when the level...

We learn that there was something off with Sara Oakheart. Book 9 – The Shores of Evendim Sara did steal The seeing stone That we kept by Mordirith The malevolent lord. We traced her path Through perilous ruins Where she unmasked herself As Amarthiel the Champ.   Three men of Mordirith Were to march to her aid But we found them first To finish their...

It is time for vengeance. Book 8 – Scourge of the North With Lorniel’s loss Laerdan advised That we find the arms Filched from Golodir. Three ambassadors We brought to an end To take back his shield, Mail shirt, and sword.   Ere we gave the gear To Golodir we had To repair the damage That was placed on it. We searched for smiths To smooth the dents...

Where we finally meet one of the main villains of the first volume. Book 7 – The Key to Death From Lorniel we learned Of the loss of her sire, As her father was kept By the forces of ill. A key we must find For Carn Dûm the foul So that we could find A way to save him.   To enter the gate We must gain a key That is stronger and sturdier Than steel or...

  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 attempt to break up some Thievery and Mischief.   This edition updates the information up to Update 16.5 (the original version was posted on CSTM back...