LOTRO Guides

There are many references in LotRO to the vast lore that J.R.R. Tolkien left behind. Over the course of 50-some years he wrote notes and rough drafts of the history of Middle Earth that comprised many thousands of years of history.

When traveling in Bree-land you will sometimes come upon remnants of the ancient North-Kingdoms of the Dúnedain. By visiting (and in two instances activating) all six of these relics you will gain Idealism + 1.

• Dúnadan Statue (33.4S, 48.8W)

• Ancient Inscription (30.2S, 49.1W)

• Ancient Cairn (26.8S, 46.6W)

• Ancient Crest (30.7S, 52.6W)

• Ancient Altar (31.2S, 44.9W)

• Ancient Obelisk (29.5S, 45.8W)

Lore: The Dúnedain

From Wikipedia:

“… the Dúnedain (singular: Dúnadan) were a race of Men descended from the Númenóreans that survived the fall of their island kingdom and came to Eriador in Middle-earth, led by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion. They are also called the Men of the West and the Men of Westernesse (direct translations of the Sindarin term). They settled mainly in Arnor and Gondor.”

Many of the objects you must find in this quest deal with the fall of Arthedain and the scattering of the Dúnedain. Below is an excerpt from the Thain’s Book which details a few of the events that caused this scattering and subsequent adoption of the “Ranger” lifestyle.

From the Thain’s Book entry, Dúnedain of the North:

“… Arvedui, son of Araphant, was born in 1864. At his birth, it was foretold by Malbeth the Seer that Arvedui would be the last King of Arthedain …

In 1974, the Witch-king attacked Arthedain and seized the capital of Fornost. Arvedui rescued the palantiri of Annuminas and Amon Sul and he fled to the North Downs where he and his men held out for a time. …

In March of 1975, Cirdan of the Grey Havens sent a ship to rescue Arvedui. The leader of the Snowmen advised Arvedui not to go but to wait for the spring thaw. Arvedui did not heed his advice. … A great blizzard came from the north and the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. The palantiri were lost and everyone aboard perished including Arvedui, the Last King.

The North-kingdom was ended and the Dunedain became a wandering people. Arvedui’s eldest son Aranarth took the title Chieftain of the Dunedain and through him the line of Isildur was preserved.”