The first great battle of the War of the Rings happens on home turf for the Rohirrim. Saruman empties Isengard of its vast armies, tens of thousands of orcs and half-orcs and warg riders, in a great push to end the inconvenience of the horse lords and to claim their lands. When King Théoden and his host wish to bring battle to Isengard and call Saruman, the...

I’m just crazy about the smaller villages of the Bree-lands (‘hamlets’, I like to call them). They, in and of themselves, create this quaint, rustic possibility outside of the Bree we read of in the books. They are quiet little hamlets where nothing much happens and, to get news, you have to walk over to the slightly larger village of Bree. In short, and not...

I am joined once again by the inimitable Alberos for a trek through the oldest of forests! We talk about the various locales and its connexion with Fangorn.

Tomeoric joins me for a close look at the brown, grassy ways of the Lone-lands.

Bag End! Most desirable of hobbit holes. The home of the Bagginses is a symbol or entry point into Middle-earth. In this episode we look at the history of the place, its meaning and its layout. Not a bad thing to have to all of you fall festivalers.

This special episode looks not at a region but the Great River Anduin that flows from the far north, all the way to the sea. It’s the great vein of the West of Middle-earth and something we’ll be seeing a lot of with the coming Rohan expansion.

Gil-galad was an elven king of him the harpers sadly sing.This episode, another quick one, explores the beautiful elf starter area of Falathlorn and it’s connexions to the fallen kingdom of Lindon and Gil-galad, it’s former king.

Short and sweet, this episode takes a quick look at the farm of Bamfurlong and its master, Farmer Maggot. What is his connexion to Tom Bombadil, and why is Frodo so very afraid of him? Have a listen and find out.

Starry, of Starry Mantle fame, comes along for a trek deep down into the Misty Mountains, where awaits a trove of history from Bilbo’s buttons to Gollum’s cave to disco goblins and beyond. Have a listen, my lad! Ho ho, my lad! Yeah, sorry…

Enedwaith is a big, unruly zone, so I had to call in the big, unruly podcasting guns. Syp joins me as we explore and discuss the many, many different areas of the ‘middle waste’, from its brief history as a forestry center all the way to its involvement with the Dunlendings and Saruman. It’s a wild, wild wilderness and one that we think you will enjoy.

Theres queer folk in Buckland, or so the saying goes. Looking from the outside in, though, it doesnt appear to be that different from the rest of the Shire. To the Big Folk, the Little Folk all seem rather similar short and plump, abiding in holes or small houses, loving food and agriculture, wary of outsiders. But, on second glance, the Bucklanders are outsiders.

We are getting closer and closer to Rohan! So with this 14th episode, I have a look at the new(ish) Great River region, specifically the Cuthstan a great statue erected to remind us of the friendship between Gondor and Rohan

I’m flying solo again in Episode 13, up and away to the Misty Mountains cold! Join me in a brief look at what makes those Mountains one of the great crossroads of Middle-earth.

”When four hobbits and a ranger find their way over the Last Bridge and into the Trollshaws they come upon a strange but familiar sight: three stone trolls.” Though these three louts are the icons of the Trollshaws, there is a lot more to it than just Bert, Tom, and William. Merric of A Casual Stroll to Mordor joins me as we sift through the autumn leaves and ford-water to find out more of this zone.

Neek-breek! Breek-neek! It rings in your ears like creeping death. The buzzing, the moisture, the stinging and biting, the ruinous spiders and goblins All in a days work for you adventurers passing by Midgewater Marshes. And on the far side comes sweet relief as we find the Weather Hills and its most famousest peak, Weathertop. Have a look around these parts with me and Chris of MMOReporter.com as we go even further beneath your feet like three inches worth of marshy water further beneath.

Ah, lovely West Angmar. It’s like a nuclear waste land, if Sauron had developed the bomb. And who should join me here in this wretched land? Why, Doc Holliday of course! Have a listen and get a better appreciation for the lands of the Witch-king.

Ah, the tail end of the Yule Festival and all the snowballs and goodies that come with it. In this episode I have a look at Turbine’s holiday creation and see how well it fits here in Middle-earth.

Ah, the Bridge. It’s the first sight a traveler sees before crossing the Baranduin into the Little Land. This week I have a long, hard look at that Bridge and we see who’s made it and why, and why it has everything to do with the Shire. Enjoy!

The West Gate, Durin’s Door, the Walls of Moria. For many LotRO players it was a first step into a great beyond, as both the opening to the alien realm of Moria and also as the games first full expansion. This week I have a look at those walls, the story of Bosi and company, and, of course, the Watcher in the Water.Have a listen!

In this weeks episode I take a quick look at the frosty white north of Forochel where lives the spirit of Arvedui Last-king and oh so much more. Winter is come!