Guest: Keeper of the Forgotten Fortress by Thoargile

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Somewhere in the cold Misty Mountains, to the north of Rivendell, stands an ancient fortress. It has been standing there for many human lifetimes, covered by ice and snow. Some say that elves built it in the time of constant wars with goblins, but after that it has been left and forgotten. The only inhabitants here are two dwarfs and an elf-scout. From fortress' tall walls he oversees surrounding icy fields, looking for any sign of Enemy's presence. And if he'll find one... he'll send a message to Rivendell with a dove, and will carry out his duty - to the end. Because he is the Keeper of the Forgotten Fortress.

Thoargile has already created two amazing lore-inspired outfits, and now I proudly present you third one. It's my fault it hasn't been published earlier, because it took me a very long time to sort out my e-mails after the big blogging break and I'm just slowly discovering precious guest submissions in my mailbox. Enjoy it, as I have! :)

Please let us know what do you think about the outfit in comments, or simly rate below the post's title :)

Chest: Golden Host Coat, white dye (T6 crafted)
Legs: Leggings of the Brazen Call, white dye (Moria level 60 captain teal set; also available as champion and guardian set parts with very small differences in looks) 
Shoulders: Vibrant Assault Pauldrons of Théodred, white dye (T7 crafted)
Hands: Tawarwaith Gloves of Power, white dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: August Vibrant Boots of the Golden Wood, white dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Dreamflower, white dye (Quest: Vol. II, Book 7, Chapter 9: The Worries of Lord Celeborn)

Watchman of the Brandywine Bridge

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{[["☆","★"]]}

"I can't believe it!" Wasabito yelled in joy when he heard the news. He's spent many years helping the Wardens of Annúminas encamped in Tinnudir. Being the only hobbit, hence small-folk in the squad, he was gathering intelligence about the tomb robbers and Angmarim movements, intercepted some of them and thus helped saving many lives, even the Rangers' ones. For this honourable service, he was given his own Steed of the Dusk-watch by the Wardens and was officially pronounced the Watchman of the Brandywine Bridge. Can there be a bigger honour for a hobbit patriot, born in Buckland, who used to look up to the Bridge's watchmen with admiration since he was a little lad?

For you, coming from far away and not understanding the honour within this duty, let us read from the ancient parchments:
"The Bridge of Stonebows, as the Brandywine Bridge was once called, was built originally by the Men of Arnor as a causeway across the Baranduin River on the Great East Road. When the founders of the Shire were granted their land by the king of Arthedain, the price was simple: to maintain and care for the Bridge so that travel into the West would never be impeded. The hobbits of the Shire performed their duty, even long after the North-kingdom failed, and maintained the great stone bridge, denying none passage, man, elf, or dwarf. Though the river's name was changed to the Brandywine and the bridge itself became "the Brandywine Bridge", the hobbits of the Shire continue to care for and keep watch on the Bridge."

From now on, Wasabito is responsible for guarding the Bridge and overseeing the maintanance. He will only let the righteous pass. He will guide the lost children back to their mothers and lost merchants to their destinations. From time to time, he will have a good beer or two with his good friend Gundering Grubb, but he will never drop his guard. There's this weird feeling in the bones that his warding skills might be once needed even in these peaceful lands...

I'll be quite honest - I don't like the Steed of the Dusk-watch. For me, it has weird, boring colour scheme and it lacks the personality of Nuts :) However, what I really like about it are the glittering bronze-like parts of its harness, so I wanted to make those the main matching element of this outfit.

Most of outfits matching this steed work with the Wardens star, which is very fitting, as the mount was originally meant to be second reputation reward mount for Wardens of Annúminas fraction. However, I wanted to be different, so I incorporated just a little star detail on gauntlets. Otherwise I left the stars for the pony to bear :) I tried to match all the shades of blue blanket as far as I could, so it came handy that the pieces I chose dyed navy in various intensity.

Please let me know what do you think about the outfit in comments, or simly rate below the post's title :)

Chest: Ceremonial Spear-shaker's Jacket, navy dye (Skirmish cosmetic vendor - Helegrod medium)
Legs: Leggings of the Great Bow, navy dye (Moria level 60 hunter teal set; I used this because I didn't have warden's Leggings of the Hall-warden, which would fit the outfit better)
Head: Extravagant Festival Cap, navy dye (Yule festival)
Shoulders: Ceremonial Spear-shaker's Shoulders, navy dye (Skirmish cosmetic vendor - Helegrod medium)
Hands: Worn Ranger's Gauntlets, navy dye (Quest: Volume III, Book 5, Chapter 1: Separate Ways)
Back: Summer Travelling Cloak, navy dye (Summer festival)
Mount: Steed of the Dusk-watch (also called Warden's Steed; Anniversary event)

Emotes:
./think
./toast (Anniversary event)
./look
./mountrearup (Store exclusive)

Song for the willow

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{[["☆","★"]]}

For over two thousand years, a woman of noble origin has been coming to lake Nenuial every year in early summer. She has always been dressed in bright noble colours of the times long gone, bearing crown of old men nobility. As she reached Men Erain, the Way of Kings, she started a fire under an old willow and sang to it, from sunset 'till sunrise. With the first beams of sunlight in the morning she left, occasionally followed by curious treasure hunters, but always disappearing until the next year.

Passing from mother to daughter, this tradition has been kept since the fall of Arnor in T.A. 861. Annúminas was once pride of Arnor, where the noblest of the nobility resided, ruled and bore children. King Eärendur's sons divided the Kingdom, not being able to settle their arguments aside, despite weeping and pleas of their sisters. Although they stayed away from politics and wars of their father and brothers, Eärendur's daughters valued their ancestry very deeply. They managed to prevent Annúminas from being deserted and forgotten until present.

"The city has never been abandoned," Amarilwen said to a curious treasure hunter, whom she was telling this story by a fire in Tinnudir. "For more than two thousand years, my mother, grandmother and generations before them came to sing to the old city and the willows, which too never abandoned Annúminas. We have been watching thieves, grave robbers and enemies invading our long lost home, never surrendering hope that we will once return. And we will, I know that." Amarilwen finished, looking into the fire and then over the water to the Great City's ruins, and a smile settled on her face.

The Steed of the Bright Days looks like it was made to run along the shores of lake Nenuial and roam the ruins of Annúminas. Its brightly coloured blanket shines with colours typical for Annúminas armour. These sets, even after years since they were top armour available, still remain some of most beautiful clothing available in LOTRO.

In this outfit, I wanted to match both the beautiful blanket and the chocolate brown horse itself - I love rich browns and they ground and balance the bunt scheme of the blanket very nicely. I combined pieces from light and medium Annúminas sets with one of the simplest elven shirts, which shares the shade of green with Annu pieces. Bright Anniversary cloak and Circlet of Men as sign of nobility completed the outfit, and I think this is going to be Amarilwen's signature outfit from now on :)

Please let me know what do you think about the outfit in comments, or simly rate below the post's title :)

Chest: Elven Cloth Jacket, sea blue dye (Rivendell light armoursmith)
Legs: Ceremonial Nenuial’s Leggings, sea blue dye (Skirmish cosmetics barter) 
Head: Circlet of Men, default dye (Anniversary gift-box reward)
Shoulders: Ceremonial Nenuial’s Shoulders, sea blue dye (Skirmish cosmetics barter)
Hands: Ceremonial Nenuial’s Gauntlets, sea blue dye (Skirmish cosmetics barter)
Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Seven Stars, yellow dye (Skirmish cosmetics barter)
Back: Cloak of the Shining Star, sea blue dye (Anniversary barter reward)

Mount: Steed of the Bright Days (Store exclusive)

Emotes:
./mountrearup
./lookaround

Lady of Rhûn

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{[["☆","★"]]}

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)

Guest: Nickson of Laurelin

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Burglar Nickson is a rather jolly fellow who likes to hang around people and just enjoys wandering around Bree and other towns and villages. He likes to look good and therefore he is dressed quite well so that he doesn't stand out on parties on which he does some of his burgling to get himself a little some some. Some weaker-minded hobbits even consider him a bounder because of his stylish cap - well, their bad ;)

Chest: Eastern-Cut Hauberk, black dye (Outfitter vendor)
Head: Extravagant Festival Cap, black dye (Winter festival)
Hands: Extravagant Festival Gloves, black dye (Winter festival)
Feet: Leather Boots, black dye (Outfitter vendor)

Guest: Rialo of Laurelin

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{[["☆","★"]]}

A true champion has to be prepared to fight wherever he goes. Freezing cold Forochel climate included. Rialo is a wary traveller who managed to make friends among Rangers of Annuminas and people of Angmar, who provided him with good armour and supplies for his far journey. Let's cross fingers for him and wish him luck!

Chest: Well-Crafted Dwarf-make Armor, black dye (T2 crafted)
Legs: The Climber Legs, white dye (Quest: Warning: Evil Giants)
Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Northern Star, sienna dye (Quest: Sanctity of the Sovereigns)
Hands: Gauntlets of Fém, black dye (Quest: Crannog's Third Challenge)
Feet: Well-Crafted Dwarf-Make Boots, navy dye (T2 crafted)
Back: Ceremonial Cloak of the Ajokoira, umber dye (Vendor: Rusu in the Great Lodge of Suri-kylä, Forochel)

Guest: Ardran Hawkeye of Nimrodel

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

A lot of hunters have been dressing in natural colours, to blend within the environment surrounding them. Today we are breaking this rule. In the depths of Moria or dungeons of Dol Guldur a hunter no longer needs to mask his presence. Ardran Hawkeye knows that and to show the true hunter's nature, he dyed his leather armour bright red. Nevertheless he's not the target as it might seem, but an inevitable source of doom for his enemies.

Chest: Trapsetter's Jacket, red dye (Moria level 60 hunter purple set)
Legs: Leggings of the Swiftarrow, red dye (Moria level 60 hunter purple set)
Head: Dornhador's Helm, red dye (Quest: The Wolves' Master)
Shoulders: Trapsetter's Shoulders, red dye (Moria level 60 hunter purple set)
Hands: Gauntlets of the Swiftarrow, red dye (Moria level 60 hunter purple set)
Feet: Boots of the Swiftarrow, red dye (Moria level 60 hunter purple set)
Back: Cloak of Mordirith's Bane, default dye (Quest: Volume I Epilogue - Laerdan's Parcel)

Guest: Dakohro of Eldar

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Dakohro values tradition - a captain, no matter if man or woman, should always be ready to protect allies, and therefore he or she should be equipped accordingly. She prefers good old fashioned ringmail over fancy elven stuff one can now buy on the market. She values the message of her ancestors, who have won many battles in traditional armour ready to face many enemies. Meet her in the battle, and you'll know she's right.

Chest: Westland Armour of Vibrance, black dye (world drop)
Legs: Leggings of Mirath, umber dye (world drop)
Head: Helm of the Brazen Call, sienna dye (Moria barter)
Shoulders: Shoulder of the Brazen Call, sienna dye (Moria barter)
Hands: Hidden Guard Guantlets, gold dye (Quest: Book 9, Chapter 8: Mazog in the Web)
Feet: Steel Boots, umber dye (T3 crafted)
Back: Thaliongol, sienna dye (Mirkwood barter)

Inspiration: Strider

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{[["☆","★"]]}

"Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange-looking weather-beaten man, sitting in the shadows near the wall, was also listening intently to the hobbit-talk. He had a tall tankard in front of him, and was smoking a long-stemmed pipe curiously carved. His legs were stretched out before him, showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well, but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud. A travel-stained cloak of heavy dark-green cloth was drawn close about him, and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits." 

 J.R.R. Tolkien: The Fellowship Of The Ring - Chapter 9 - At the Sign of The Prancing Pony

For this inspiration, I borrowed Frodo's description of Aragorn, yet only known as Strider, as he first met him in the Prancing Pony. This outfit was truly a challenge, despite my character Maney cooperating very well (he even grew his beard for the matter's sake). Finding a leathery shirt looking well in dark colours and ragged at the same time was an endless struggle. In the end I settled for Crafted Armour, which has terrible texture (looks like low detailed no matter how high graphics quality you set). I thought I could use it as an advantage, as it truly looks like covered in grimy mud (along with Salamander Stomper). I'm very curious for opinions on this post, as I think I got pretty far from the original. If you have any ideas how to make it better, please comment.

Chest: Crafted Armour, black dye (T2 crafted)
Legs: Sturdy Westernesse Leather Leggings, black dye (T5 crafted)
Head: Traveller's Hood, black dye (Store)
Shoulders: Shining Chainmail Shoulder Guards, black dye (world drop)
Hands: Fingerless Gloves, black dye (Winter festival)
Feet: Salamander Stomper, black dye (Quest: Tooth and Scale)
Back: Plain Cloak, black dye (Outfitter shop)

Guest: Lokindir of Snowbourn

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Many years after his departure from Rivendell has Lokindir travelled throughout the woods of Middle-Earth, often seeking solitude amongs the trees. He preferred contemplation over fame, thus did he not wear any fancy clothes. After fighting his way through Mirkwood and finally reaching friends in Ost Galad, he was suggested to dress accordingly to his deeds. He decided to pay tribute to nature which has long been his favourite companion on his travels. Mae govannen!

Chest: Tawarwaith Robe of Knowledge, forest green dye (T6 crafted) 
Shoulders: Treasure-Hunter's Shoulder Guards, forest green dye (T6 crafted)
Hands: Extravagant Festival Gloves, Rivendell green dye (Winter festival)
Feet: Tawarwaith Shoes of Knowledge, forest green dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Wood-Wanderer's Cloak, forest green dye (Store)