LEAD Volume II Book 6: The Shadowy Abyss

Welcome to LOTRO Epic A Day, where I guide you on an epic journey through Middle-Earth, one day at a time. Each Book of the Epic quest is separated into its own Day, with Side-Days for leveling up to the next book. Any plot spoilers are contained within the story overview in “Turning the Pages”. Gather up your belongings and hit the road, a new Day awaits!

The defenses of Moria have held against the orcs, but the dwarves can’t withstand Mazog’s full strength for long. Unusual alliances must be made for the expedition to survive.

Chapter 1: Desperate Times

We discuss the orc attacks with Bósi in the Chamber of the Crossroads as the level 60 book begins. Bósi fears the danger of a protracted siege; Mazog has too many Orcs to deal with let alone the support lent by Dol Guldur. He tells us that we must turn to the Elves of the Golden Wood; although relations are tense between the two groups, hopefully some friendship remains. As a third party we might gain an audience with Lady Galadriel easier than any members of the dwarves’ expedition, so we are sent out of Moria and into Lothlórien. To reach Lothlórien head east through Nud-melek, past the First Hall camp and out the doors into the sunlight (this will take some travel up and around orcs in Nud-melek, but they are easy to run past at any rate).

Outside we travel down a nice path through orc-territory towards the Golden Wood. Head to Haldir across the Nimrodel, but be careful to not go far past the flet he stands atop. The Galadhrim are not welcoming to people they don’t know and will shoot any players traveling into their territory who do not have reputation with them. Unfortunately, Haldir does not let us enter nor may we gain an audience with Galadriel.

Chapter 2: An Enemy of the Orcs

Haldir has little ability to put trust in a stranger in these dark times; orcs have been stirring from Moria and threaten the woods. Perhaps we might convince him of our good nature by defeating enough of the enemy. Complete the basic Goblin-slayer and Orc-slayer deeds in Moria (yes, we have to return back into the dark mines to complete these deeds). Defeat 120 goblins and 120 orcs in any area of Moria to complete the deeds. Depending on how long you’ve been playing in Moria you may have defeated enough enemies already, in which case simply speak to Haldir again. Our deeds remove Haldir’s doubt, and he sends word to the Lady.

Chapter 3: Rúmil and Orophin

We wait for Lady Galadriel to decide how the Elves of Lothlórien will act towards Moria. In the meantime we are sent to speak with Haldir’s brothers Rúmil and Orophin. Though the two speak little we can understand, our common enemy will make everything clear. Rúmil’s post is clear, but we need to defend Orophin from orcs before returning to Haldir.

Chapter 4: Deep is the Abyss

Before Haldir gives us Galadriel’s words he informs us of a stranger company that arrived in Lórien before us, filled with grief and great burdens. The Lady’s message is a request for aid; if we are to save our dwarf friends we must first assist a small party of Elves with a task deep inside Moria. A greater evil than an Orc army lies within the mines and the Elves have been sent to face it.

Climb back down into the mines and travel to the Foundations of Stone, south of Nud-melek and east of the Redhorn Lodes. It is easy to get lost in the Foundation’s strange maze of fungus and mutated enemies. The path leading up to the Shadowed Refuge is found at 12.4 S, 100.7 W; the Elves are found by going into the cave on the left at the top, and the Shadowed Refuge hub and Stable-master are found by heading right. Lenglammel welcomes us into the caverns, though she is not happy about being in this dreadful place.

Chapter 5: The Black Pit

Lady Galadriel commanded the Elves deal with the evil lurking in these shadows just as she has now commanded us. Lenglammel tells us to help members of her company so that all may see what comes to pass, as Lady Galadriel has already seen in her Mirror.

Taken By Madness: Forglinn reports on orcs sent into the Foundations on some mission of Mazog’s. These orcs have not had much success, unless that mission was to become crazy and mutated. They now roam the depths as Globsnaga, much more cruel and merciless than even their normal orc brethren. Defeat 18 Globsnaga to make the Foundations of Stone slightly safer to travel through.

Mazog’s Searchers: Mazog’s orcs have become corrupted, but some might still carry his orders on their bodies. Defeat Globsnaga Pûlpum and loot several copies of their orders for Dithaliwenn.

Return to the Elves to complete their assignments. Lenglammel believes that Gorothúl, the sorceror from Gol Duldur, is driving the orcs deeper into the Abyss, towards the evil beneath Moria that the orcs don’t truly understand.

Chapter 6: Evils Beneath the World

Though the creatures Mazog is attempting to enslave may cause the orcs more problems than they realize, the deadly threats are no boon to us. Lenglammel gives us beryls to ward off the nameless horrors from approaching any closer to the elf camp. We place them in front of the cracks and hope that the monsters will be deterred by the gems.

Chapter 7: Beyond Light and Knowledge

Galadriel’s task for the Elves was to discover the fate of Mithrandir, aka G
andalf. The Wizard fell into the Abyss and Galadriel hoped to find him, but no progress was made and an Elf has now gone missing. Lenglammel sends us out to search for Magor or any sign of Gandalf. Approaching the Black Pool from the eastern side we find a hat burnt to ashes lying amidst remains of the bridge of Khazad-dûm. By climbing the Endless Stairs we find a pile of burned rubble blocking the passage further up the stairs. Take the hat to Lenglammel after vising both locations, giving the elf new cause to worry over the fate of the Wizard and her friend.

Chapter 8: New Devilry

Lenglammel has urgent news of Magor; Dithaliwenn has found an Elf-stone outside the cave Azanarukâr, where Magor must have found the source of the evil the Elves seek. Prepare to face this great evil and speak with Lenglammel again to begin a solo or duo instance inside the cave. Once inside we must defeat several berserkers before facing one of the orc leaders consorting with the evil in these depths. Dhugluk is flanked by two berserkers and can pose a challenge for off-level adventurers, but he is easier to take down if you eliminate his allies first. Dhugluk had been interrogating Magor, whom we find at the back of the cave.

We pause to gather our strength and then follow Magor in clearing the remaining evil from Azanarukâr. At the bottom of the cave we must face more powerful ancient beings of evil: the gloom-walker and flame-drinker. While they inhabit the same room they do not fight together, instead taking turns while you wear their morale down. If you get into trouble you can back out of the room and they will reset, allowing you to take a breather for attempting to face them again. After defeating them we can travel through a passage behind their location to a strange cave full of orcs and flame.

The orcs have summoned a great evil, Gwathnor, from the depths of Middle-Earth. It turns on the orcs, cleaving them down in one stroke before turning its attention on us. Fight the monster as best as possible, staying out of the fire it lays occasionally lays at our feet. When Gwathnor is defeated the Elves show up and help us return to the Shadowed Refuge. Lenglammel is awed by our accomplishments; we have saved Magor, and put a halt to the plans of the Orcs and Dol Guldur.

Chapter 9: The Mirror of Galadriel

Lenglammel sends us back to Lothlórien; Haldir will arrange a meeting with the Lady now that we have done her bidding. Travel across the Nimrodel to speak with Haldir, who takes us into Caras Galadhon.

Galadriel has seen how our path is entwined with the fates of many others. A long journey lies ahead of us and we may look into the Mirror to gain a glimpse of an answer to what we seek.

The Mirror shows us Gandalf and the balrog, battling on the bridge and then the Endless Stairs. The balrog was smote, but Gandalf’s fate remains clouded by darkness. Galadriel cannot see him, but Gwaihir the Windlord has eyes that can pierce the darkness. Speak to him in the garden and the eagle promises to carry him if he yet lives. Return to Galadriel, who ends the meeting by returning us to Haldir. He thanks us for our service on behalf of the Elves and grants us Acquaintance with the Galadhrim (or higher if you already have reputation with the Elves), allowing us to enter their lands beyond the Nimrodel without fear of reprisal after completing The Paths of Caras Galadhon. We can enjoy a short rest in the peaceful splendor of the Golden Wood while we wait for the new day to come and take us back down into the Mines of Moria.

Turning the Pages

There is more than Orcs to fear in the dark places of Middle-Earth. Mazog and Mirkwood have delved deeper than even the dwarves, seeking out creatures of ancient evil to turn to their bidding. These beings do not cater to the whims of small minded orcs and have instead brought greater corruption and danger to Moria than anyone knew of. Seeking help, the dwarves reached out to the Elves for aid and the Elves in turn asked for our assistance in defeating the corruption in the Foundations of Moria. And so we ventured deep into the caverns below Moria and vanquished Gwathnor, putting an end to one of Mazog’s many plots.

The Shadowy Abyss is not just a tale of heroism, however. Our discoveries in this book serve as another reminder of the costs enacted when facing the true dangers of Middle-Earth. Sometimes we draw these dangers to ourselves, paying the price as the orcs did for calling upon forces greater than they could understand or control. Sometimes these dangers are unavoidable obstacles in our way much like the balrog was for the fellowship, nearly bring about the end of one of the wisest and most learned beings in Middle-Earth. Not every task can be accomplished through knowledge or experience, however a good heart and a steadfast spirit work well to provide us the morale to face even the largest of foes. Deep in the bowels of the world we will prevail, not because we know it is a certainty but instead because we know it is a necessity.