Revel among Arnorian ruins

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Recently everybody's been talking about a gorgeous lady who had visited the Rangers encamped in Tinnudír. She came just before dusk and seemed to be in a hurry at first - it was clear that dark thoughts burdened her mind. While they were talking, a local treasure hunter heard fragments of her speech like "shadow", "threat to the King", "our support", as well as part of Calenglad's answer: "We stand ready."

This must have reassured the mysterious lady, because a smile suddenly appeared on her face. She stayed with the Rangers until the late watches, contemplating with goblets of wine and dancing. Then she set off for a journey, heading further to the east of Eriador. As she was riding away on the Men Erain (Road of the Kings), the local people could have seen more horse riders joining her. "Who are these people?", they asked. It may take long before they find out the answer.

This is third of Rhûnen ladies we've met in the Middle-earth, bringing mysterious news to the warriors of Eriador. So far they've visited Elves of Falathorn, Lossoth of Forochel and Rangers of Tinnudír. Based on the news we have learned so far they arrived to Ered Luin harbour and are journeying further east into the Eriador. Are there more of them? If so, where will we meet them next time?

It's funny how differently some outfit designs develop. It might seem I wanted to create a matching outfit for the Anniversary steed here, but it's not true. I was tidying up my outfit pieces and ran into Elf-queen's Dress, which is one of not-too-many dresses I really like. I've also recently bartered the beautiful Moria helm and found out it looks beautiful in pastel colours, such as sea blue. I built the outfit around these two pieces and it wasn't until I started taking screenshots for the blog when I realized it matches the Anniversary horse. I'm quite happy how it turned out, because I never really used the horse and didn't have any matching outfit for it (as I didn't like the matching Anniversary cosmetics very much).

Do you like the outfit? Please let me know in the comments! :)

Chest: Elf-queen's Dress, white dye (Store)
Head: Hat of the Stone-student, sea blue dye (Moria level 60 lore-master purple set; shares appearance with minstrel's and rune-keeper's Moria pieces)
Shoulders: Gwir-palvais, sea blue dye (Drop from Isengard instance cluster)
Back: Cloak of the Ibis, sea blue dye (Store)

Shadow of the night

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

A mysterious lady, accompanied only by her horse and snow-white lynx, recently arrived in the night's midst to Great Lodge of Sûri-kylä and requested immediate audience with Lossoth chieftain, Council Elder Yrjänä. Dressed warm for the freezing chill of Forochel winds, she still seemed a little exotic even to southerners traveling by. One of the visiting elves knew her and whispered to his companion: "She looks like one of the Rhûnen ambssador's companions, remember, in the harbours!" The lady disappeared right after her discussion with the chieftain, still covered by shadow of the night, and only the strange feeling of noble presence was left in those she passed by.

This outfit is basically remastered winter version of Lady of Rhûn outfit I decided to make after Hymne shared her discovery that we can put Ettenmoors armour into our wardrobe as well (we just need tradable Spirit Stones to barter for them). I've been in love with this lore-master's hat since I first saw it on My Precious blog, so I must have got it immediately for my lore-master, who is slowly approaching level 50 :)



How do you like this outfit? Please, leave your feedback in comments!

Chest: Herald's Armour, burgundy dye (T6 crafted)
Legs: Clanweave Leggings, burgundy dye (Dunland quest)
Head: Hat of the Learned Master, burgundy dye (Ettenmoors Lore-master trader; shares similar appearance with Stone-reader's Hat)
Shoulders: Disused Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer, burgundy dye (Dunland quest)
Hands: (August) Resilient Gauntlets of the Golden Wood, burgundy dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Embroidered Shoes of the Dunland Healer, burgundy dye (Dunland quest)
Back: Cloak of the Algraig, burgundy dye (Store)

Brave cub of the East

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Phloxie has never cared much about clothes. She is a warden and wardens value utility above everything else - even she as a hobbit prefers protective and flexible attire to fancy mathomy robes. Yet when she saw travelling merchant's goods in Oatbarton, she didn't hesitate for a second and bought this armour. The merchant said he bartered for the leggings and helmet in Celondim harbour (which has been frequently visited by travellers from Rhûn). Phloxie's wary guess is that he'd rather stolen it, but who cares - now, the armour will bear the blood of all who attack Phloxie's friends. She will defend them with her bear strength!

Phloxie is my baby warden, currently leveling in Evendim. Similar to Brewbelly, I've awfully neglected her in terms of outfitting. I have been searching for a nice leathery outfit, which would express the warden character as well as cuteness of a hobbit. I was lucky to get the Survivor's Jacket as nobody needed in it my raid and decided to combine this typical warden piece with more exotic clothes from Dunland.

How do you like this outfit? Please, leave your feedback in comments!

Chest: Survivor's Jacket, rust dye (Drop from Prancing Pony raid level 75; shares appearance with Spear-hurler's Armour - part of Moria warden set)
Legs: Clanweave Leggings, umber dye (Dunland quest)
Head: Helm of the Graduate, rust dye (Drop from School of Tham Mirdain level 75)
Shoulders: Hardened Steel Dunlending Pauldrons, rust dye (Dunland quest)
Hands: (August) Resilient Gauntlets of the Golden Wood, rust dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Vibrant Westfold War Boots, umber dye (T7 crafted)
Back: Heavy Fur Dunlending Cloak, grey dye (Dunland quest)

Lady of Rhûn

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

A few days ago, a ship bearing the most unusual passengers arrived at the Celondim harbour. They were the Avari elves, so rarely seen in these lands. Avari are ancient elves who refused Oromë's summons to Valinor and remained in their lands, dwelling in the forests and discovering the seas. Our visitors come from Rhûn, the area to the far east from Eriador. They didn't want to talk about their business here, they asked for hospitality of only a few particular elves residing in Falathorn, and remained discussing private matters there for days. Who knows what brings them to our lands? News of the Easterlings? Or some worse evil?

I wanted to make an outfit around Clanweave Leggings since I got them as the quest reward. They add beautiful curves even to subtle elven posture, but are terribly hard to match with the chest piece because of both colouring (undyable grey and rust areas) and the body shape they create. Quite frankly, the matching Clanweave Robe looks horrible on female characters - on contrast to the leggings, it makes the body less feminine than any other armour.

So I just couldn't come up with something which wouldn't look too exotic and mismatching with the other pieces. Until I came across the headgear drop in level 75 School of Tham Mírdain run. It is a caster piece, but I was lucky that our minnie didn't want it and I could take it as the most precious treasure for my wardrobe :) It immediately reminded me of pharaohs, and also medieval Arabic ladies from old movies. This outfit is very remotely inspired by Nefertiti, but I didn't want to make it as an inspiration - I aimed for Middle-earth appropriate outfit.

Did I succeed? Please let me know in comments :)

Chest: Scout's Armour, Evendim blue dye (T6 crafted)
Legs: Clanweave Leggings, Evendim blue dye (Dunland quest)
Head: Pageturner's Cap, Evendim blue dye (drop from Library of Tham Mírdain lvl 75)
Shoulders: Disused Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer, Evendim blue dye (Dunland quest)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, Evendim blue dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Golden Host Boots of the Gloaming, sienna dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Embroidered Cloak of the Dunland Healer, Evendim blue dye (Dunland quest)