Feb 2, 2017

Part 120 – The Threat from the North Darkness filled the lands of the Kingsfell. The hour drew late but the moon had already risen in the mid sky. The stars in the sky gazed down on the lands, brilliantly beside the light of the moon as they slowly passed over the stars and along the black background of the dark night sky. The breeze was cool and rustled the...

Feb 1, 2017

The intentions of these Chronicles, as a compendium to my Live streams on the official LOTRO stream on Twitch, is to explore the created world of LOTRO Middle-earth in the Archet Dale, Bree-land.

Jan 26, 2017

Part 119 – Trials of Eleswith The hours of the day waned as the sun had already set over the western horizon. Only the moon illuminated the fields that laid out before the gates of the ancient fortress of Fornost. A light mist hung in the hills of the ancient land, slightly obscuring the light of the moon, giving the land a sickly strange ethereal glow. The...

Jan 19, 2017

Part 118 – Northern Allies Eleswith looked upon the hat of Helesdir. The brown, brim and base of the band were stained in dry sweat from the brow of Helesdir. The hat signified much more than just the clothing of Helesidr. It was the only material thing left over from him and Eleswith cherished it as an art collector would cherish a priceless piece of art. She...

Jan 17, 2017

Yes, after many months of self-imposed absence, we have returned. Life will not wait for anyone and as things have settled down now, it’s time to return to Rathbairn’s tales. I hope you enjoy the further adventures of our Beorning friend.   “Grandmother, wake up”. Sleep began to fade as the voice returned. “Wake up Grandmother.” Eyes opened and...

Jan 12, 2017

Part 117 – Hope Goes Forth The sky, which was clear, blue, and beautiful, began to cloud in the north while Theomin watched. Around him thatched rooftops covered large stone walls of huts that were placed in a gaggle along thin dirt roads that stretched this way and that from hut to hut up the and down the hills which were laden with green grasses. Everywhere,...

Jan 5, 2017

Part 116 – To Stem the Black Tide “I know I have asked much of you as of late, but I must ask you one more time, ‘Who is with me?” Theomin said as he stood and looked out from his fellow Warriors of Eriador for a rise to arms. “Please,” he pleaded, “we must stem the tide of black that will be flooding over our lands.” They sat, each...

Dec 22, 2016

Part 114 – The Father of Evil Smoke filled the room of the Inn of the Prancing Pony. Many patrons of the inn smoked their pipes as they loudly laughed and ate to their heart’s desires. They drank too. Many mugs of ale flowed into the room as the lady server brought mugs and mugs of them their drinks. Barlamin too brought many mugs of ale to the patrons as there...

Dec 15, 2016

Part 113 – The Girl in Red The morning in Bree was a misty gray one. Heavy fog fell upon the village and not could be seen further than only a few a few yards. They wet air hung heavy on all in the village as it felt as if a great sinister cloud fell upon the whole land of Bree as even the farmers in the lands surrounding Bree, Combe, Staddle, Archet, and...

Dec 8, 2016

Part 112 – Cleansing the Village The day was bright and the clouds were drifting along the sky. The sun had risen like it had many times before, bright and beautiful, clear and warm. The morning was a crisp cool morning in Bree-land. The green grasses and trees were just as bright as ever and the flowers bloomed with radiant colors. Yellows, greens, blues and...

Dec 1, 2016

Part 111 – A Daring Plan The hour was late, past midnight it was. The streets of the village of Bree were empty, save a few watchmen who roamed the cobblestone streets. They carried with them torches and brought with them their dogs. They bore red shirts over silver mail that stretched midway down their arms. The symbols on the front of which was a shield with...

Nov 24, 2016

Part 110 – Tidings of Bree The atmosphere in the dining hall was noisy; thick with smoke of the patron’s pipes. The smoke lingered at the ceiling of the dining hall as it wafted up from their pipes while the patrons gingerly talked and laughed through the evening. The server, a woman who carried four or five of mugs of beer in each hand, hurried through the...

This week LOTRO streamed a lore discussion on their official YouTube channel.  Senior World Builder Chris Pierson and Tolkien scholars Dr. Corey Olsen and Dr. Michael Drout talked about Gondor, Mordor and various other topics. Watch the previous lore talk...

Nov 17, 2016

Part 109 – The Path to Combe. The morning was cool in the valley beside Weathertop. Over the night, the fire had gone out as the wood had been exhausted of all its fuel. No droplets of dew had collected on the dry blades of grass or the leaves of the nearby trees. The dirt below the company was dry and loose. Some portions of it were cracked, choked of all...

Nov 10, 2016

Part 108 – The Dream Before the Awakening “Where were you?” Theomin asked loudly to the man who had helped him before. “You needed to do it yourself,” the man said. “There are many uses of the staff. Some are skills that you use yourself, and some you can already allow the staff to do. But there are also other ways to use the staff besides the use of force. You...

Nov 3, 2016

Part 107 – Skills That Where Lost “Your skills as a staff wielding lore-master are already present,” the man said to Theomin as they traveled north in the planes of Fasach-Larran. “As a young man, you became adept in lore while your brethren became adept at swordplay. Not bad were you at swordplay because of the master swordsman your instructor was, but your...

Oct 27, 2016

Part 106 – Many Dreams Clouds emanated light as they gathered around Theomin as small spheres of light encircled him. They enclosed on him and in moments he felt he was lifted up from where he was. Behind the clouds that encircled him was an empty sky. Below he could see earth far below and all around was the horizon of the earth. It looked as though it was an...

             When he awoke, Zaradanoric had no idea where he was. Opening his eyes, he saw a large piece of leather supported by branches. As his eyes slowly roved the tent the events that had occurred before he blacked out flooded his mind. He sat up and looked around for people. as he did one of the Earth-Kin entered the tent; he appeared to be a healer of...

Oct 20, 2016

Part 105 – Bittersweet Escape Chaos engulfed the cave as it seemed all the cave was falling down on the seven surviving members of the company. They rushed through the tunnels up the steps that led out of the ancient elven city. The city that had once stayed quiet and preserved for thousands of years but which was being destroyed. Up the steps and out, the...

Oct 13, 2016

Part 104 – Seal the Doors The sick sound of slashed bodies splashing into the muck of the black pools of black pitch filled the chamber as Magla, Sergee, Eotheron and Estonethiel fought the dark creatures relentlessly spilling down on them from all sides. During the fight, Theomin spilled out phials of various potions that Estonethiel gave him and refilled them...