LEAD Volume II Book 7: Leaves of Lórien

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!

Now that the Elves of Lothlórien trust us we are welcome within their territory, though they don’t take as kindly to other folk. The level 60 Book begins as we learn the history of the Galadhrim and explore the Golden Wood.

Chapter 1: The Hill of Cerin Amroth

We greet Haldir atop his flet on the eastern shore of the Nimrodel. The Elf advises us to go to the hill of Cerin Amroth and learn some of Lothlórien’s history. Milwen welcomes us at the hill, losing herself in memories of loves lost and happier days.

Chapter 2: Ringbearer’s Respite

Milwen sends us to Frodo Baggins who has recently arrived in Lórien with the rest of his company. The Hobbit is resting from his worries underneath the golden trees of Cerin Amroth. As we greet Frodo again he is happy to see us and share stories of our adventures since our meeting at Rivendell, but Sam is out of sorts in the strange wood.

Meriadoc is walking through a garden south of Frodo and Sam and Pippin is napping somewhere nearby. Merry asks us to find Boromir, who seems to be gloomier than the cheerful hobbits. He bears the frustration of a long journey with little sign of progress and quickly sends us away to speak with Gimli instead. Gimli stands atop the Cerin Amroth tree-flet with Legolas, admiring the golden leaves but still slightly anxious due to the height.

Chapter 3: Sons of Leaf and Stone

The Elf and Dwarf take leave to search for Orcs patrolling the forest. Speak with Legolas to join them on a solo instance.

Travel through the Golden Wood with Legolas and Gimli, joining in to fight against Orcs spotted by Legolas’ eyes and Gimli’s nose. The fights go well thanks to the strong partnership of the Elf and Dwarf. After defeating several groups we travel to the border to meet a Dwarf who has ventured out of Moria to find help.

Bósi reminds us of the Dwarves’ struggle in Moria. He has come to Lothlórien to request aid from the Galadhrim; we speak on his behalf to the Warden, using our standing with the Elves to gain an audience for Bósi, but we will be held accountable for his actions within the Wood. Travel to Caras Galadhon with Bósi, Legolas, and Gimli and watch the audience with Celeborn. The Elves and Dwarf discuss the persistent dangers of Moria and the new threat from Mirkwood; upon hearing of Gorothúl’s involvement, Celeborn promises to send assistance to Moria.

We return to the flet atop Cerin Amroth. Gimli wishes to see the mines restored, but must travel beyond Lothlórien with Frodo and company. However, Galadriel has offered him a choice between remaining with the Fellowship or aiding the Dwarves in Moria.

Chapter 4: A Tense Alliance

Gimli decides that he cannot abandon the Quest, even to help his kin. He hopes we will make up for the loss by lending the Iron Garrison our full strength and sends us to Bósi, who waits in the Chamber of the Crossroads in Moria. Bósi is greatful for the Elves who have come to help, but resents that they blame the dwarves for the current troubles. These elves have established a camp in a passage off of the gardens northeast of the Chamber (4.3 S, 108.6 W). Speak with Orvar, the dwarf assigned to helping them settle in Moria. He is having trouble with the new help, saying that the elves constantly speak of the dwarves’ misdeeds, digging too deep, and leaving the disturbing things of Moria alone. Speaking with Corunothiel reveals much the same, though from her perspective; the Elf wonders why dwarves always dig deeply into places not meant to be reached, revealing evil and corruption that finds its way to the surface and threatens the homes of Elves and others.

Chapter 5: The Wilting Rot

Since Orvar will not close off this strange passage, Corunothiel feels the only thing to do is destroy the source of corruption. Defeat Globsnaga orcs while carrying out Nimpheleg’s plan to cleanse the rot.

Source of the Rot:

The Elves have a sense of duty to remove the unnatural rot. Nimpheleg believes he has a plan to do this: use his beryl to reflect pure light on the rot, causing it pain and drawing it forth. We walk down through Buzun-ghâr’s passages (not back out into the main garden) to reach the source, defeating Orcs along the way. Eventually we come to a chasm and cross it over a small underground bridge of earth and rock. Placing the beryl on a flat mossy stone awakens the source of corruption, a mighty Caerog that swiftly attacks! Defeat the monster and return to the elves to inform them of the cleansing. Nimpheleg worries that there may be stronger Caerog roaming the deep places of Moria, but thanks us for doing what we could. Corunothiel also thanks us, in her words for saving “the dwarves from their own hard-headed determination to delve where they should not”. Finally, Orvar also thanks us and believes that the passage will now be a great benefit for the dwarves.

Chapter 6: Hewers of Stone

Bróin has sent for us, but Orvar warns us that he has not been himself since being returned to the dwarves from the Watcher’s lair. He deserves kindness and understanding due to his troubles, but we also know to be cautious of his requests. Bróin can be found northeast of the gardens/northwest of the Stone Hall in the Peaceful Path (2.9 S, 107.2 W). Bróin doesn’t understand why the dwarves still mine while Bori is held in Mazog’s dungeons, believing that his cousin might still be alive. Because of his focus he cannot bring himself to do mining work for his father and passes the task off to us. Various chambers within the Great Delving hold the mining records Brogur has asked him to find; to find them quickest we travel to the Stone Hall and mount-travel to the Twenty-first Hall and then swift-travel to Dolven-view.  The Chamber of Wisdom is a short hike north of Dolven-view (7.8 S, 112.3 W) and contains a coffer cull of mining records to bring to Bróin. The records reveal the possibility of a secret passage leading directly to Mazog. Might this provide a way to rescue Bori?

Chapter 7: The Lost Workshop

A secret passage could allow us to sneak into Mazog’s fortress and rescue Bori. Bróin sends us to find the way through the passage alone while he prepares for the rescue mission. The passage is found on the side of Zirakzigil, so exit outside to the snowy face of the mountain (the exit is west of the Peaceful Path, marked by a Stable-Master and flag on the map).

Inside the passage there are stacks of papers to pick up and goblins and orcs to defeat. With all the papers in hand you can leave through the door (the one in the final room will take you outside by getting close to it) and return the papers to Bróin.The information pleases the dwarf, but something in the papers confuses him.

Chapter 8: The Secret Road

The secret road turns out to be connected to Buzun-ghâr, the passage in the garden Orvar recently uncovered. Bróin sends us to investigate without him again, giving us vague reasons why he can’t come. The entrance to the secret road is deep within the garden passage to the left of the Caerog’s location.

Orvar reaches Zurr-thurkh ahead of us. We must protect Orvar while traveling down the winding road towards the Orc bases. Eventually you split up, clearing the way ahead by defeating nasty bugs and lizards.

At the end of the road we arrive inside Rushdurinul, the Throne of Durin. Bori might be nearby, so we fight our way into the Orc encampment and search for the missing dwarf. Unfortunately Bori is nowhere to be found – Mazog has sent him to Gorothúl in Mirkwood. Before the massive orc can get the upper hand our allies show up; elves and dwarves rush in to capture Mazog and the mission ends with some victory.

Back in the garden hideaway Corunothiel is glad for the progress made by the alliance of Elves and dwarves. Bróin had recovered from his fear and sought Corunothiel so that they could assist Orvar and us; without the aid of dwarves and Elves working together the ending to this chapter might have been very different.

Chapter 9: The Worries of Lord Celeborn

Our presence has been requested by Lord Celeborn. Haldir will take us to meet him. We travel once more into the sunshine outside of Moria, finding Haldir waiting as always atop the tree on the banks of the Nimrodel. Our successes have surprised Celeborn, as he was not expecting us to unite the elves and dwarves to such great accomplishments. However, he does not agree with the decision to imprison Mazog, saying that the enemy should have been slain. Celeborn has other concerns as well, namely the power growing in Mirkwood, gaining strength but not yet ready to move against Lórien. The Galadhrim must act before the forces of Dol Guldur can make their move. But those are concerns for tomorrow; tonight we rest in the light-filled Golden Woods, safe from the darkness of the Mines of Moria.

Turning the Pages

Tensions between Elves and Dwarves have long been strained to say the least, but friendships are put to their greatest test when enemies come to wreak havoc. The alliance is not certain; both groups have very different outlooks on solving problems and have conflicting goals. We have been thrust into the middle of this situation, going between the Dwarves and Elves as a kind of mediator to resolve the problems swiftly as the Orcs threaten both sides. However, the Galadhrim have little trust to offer and our words meant little – actions would have to prove the strength of the dwarves and sincerity of the elves.

All of these  factors would fracture lesser peoples, tearing apart their alliances and leaving them vulnerable to attack. The Dwarves and Elves are made of sterner stuff (for the most part) and discover a hidden way into the Mazog’s lair, bickering all the way. We manage to defeat the Orc master and even an ancient monster along the way, achieving victory even if our rescue attempt did not go as planned. At the end of the Book we can safely say that we are in a better position than we began. Though darkness lingers on the horizon as our enemies gather in Mirkwood, through our united forces the Free Peoples stand a better chance than ever before.