Guardian of Imladris

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

The southern passage into Rivendell is called the Gates of Imladris and establishes a clear bastion of civilization and safety in an otherwise wild land. Nevertheless, the Elves of Rivendell guard this approach carefully, and it is not entirely safe for travellers to approach unannounced - those who pass this way with ill intent in their hearts are rarely seen or heard from again.

Sidgrid is a guardian of Sindarin origin. Her family had kept out of politics and wars for generations, being scholars of the times old forgotten. However, their firstborn child had spirit of a warrior, and they didn't object to her joining the Guardians of Imladris. She began her training as a very young elf back in the Second Age and finished it far sooner than her brothers in arms. Over the centuries, she became the leader of the Guardians, who are the key to keeping the pass to Rivendell safe. However brave and experienced, she is still an elven lady and even her unpiercable armour shows that.

An elven female guardian - that's quite an unusual combination. Hard to dress as well - elven maidens tend to look comical in bulky heavy armour, it squeezes them so they look like they were wearing an oversized can. Here I wanted to create a distinguishable heavy outfit, which would look protective and feminine at the same time.

I wanted to use the Helegrod items which are now available in store as cosmetic armour. When I started matching the Dragon-scale breastplate dyed Ered Luin blue, I realized the shoulder part of the piece is violet... I was like - what?! In the default red dye, I've never noticed that, although I don't understand why - now when I look at the chestpiece, the violet is striking my eyes :) However, I started searching for a complimentary colour and ended up with pastel green.

I also used a hooded store cloak - I have to say I hate this kind of hoods and use them very rarely in my outfits. However, here it seemed fitting and served much better than any of the helms I've tried. The whole outfit ended up being cheerful and battle-ready at the same time, I hope.

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

Chest: Ceremonial Dragon-scale Breastplate, dark green dye (Store)
Legs: Leggings of Orod-na-Thôn, dark green dye (world drop; also available from Rivendell heavy armoursmith)
Shoulders: Hardened Steel Dunlending Pauldrons, violet dye (Dunland quest)
Hands: Gloves of Forbidden Love, grey dye (Great River quest)
Feet: Rusted Boots of the Dunland Berserker, dark green dye (Dunland quest)
Back: Hooded Cloak of the Silver Birch, violet dye (Store)

Emotes:
./charge
./look
./roar
./lookaround
./swordsalute
./kneel

Home, sweet home

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Sidgrid is still a very young elf, only a few hundred years old. As one of scarce elven youth, she is a little bit spoiled - however, she works very hard in her studies in order to please her family and satisfy her hunger for knowledge. She is the best rune-keeping apprentice dwarves of the Blue Mountain have seen in recent years and enjoys time spent in snowy land with her friends and teachers. Nevertheless, when she returns home to Duillond for holiday, her heart fills with joy.

Here we caught her setting off for a morning walk with her dear companion, rare Perlino horse named Buttercup by her dwarven gal friend in Thorin's Hall. There are just a few things more beautiful in the Middle-earth than Ered Luin in sunrise and Sidgrid, along with Buttercup, can never get enough of it. It's even worth to wake up early, and that's a lot for our spoiled little girl :)

...and when the sun goes down again, Sidgrid gets back to practice - for the runes are not only tools for her, but also company in which she can reflect upon the day she's spent roaming the flowerbeds of her homeland. Time when she has to go back to school at Thorin's Hall is still far away, so she can enjoy all the delights of Duillond and not think about anything else. What a peaceful holiday :)

A few days ago I tweeted happily that I won a Perlino Steed in @CraZyMuffinIPC's giveaway. I was excited because as an European who spend all her luck in lotteries last year, I had no hopes I could get my hands on this mount. I also promised I'd make a matching outfit, so here it comes, as the final outfit for Galloping Gala celebration. This wonderful event ends today and it was a great fun to concentrate on mount matching outfits all time long - they provide a great inspiration for any outfit fan.

Back to the Perlino Steed - I felt a little like when I had been searching for matching outfits for the Steed of the Rune-keeper (1, 2) back then - I simply couldn't find matching pieces for the lighter shade of blue on horse's blanket. I didn't want to match darker shade of blue, because the steed seems optimistic to me and dull navy wouldn't do it good justice. I also experimented with bright red the horse carries as gems, but on the outfit it was very disturbing. So I settled down with complimentary shade of Evendim blue.

I didn't want the outfit to be gloomy or monotonous, so Fine Shirt and Trousers came very handy - the shirt & pants combo is very lively decorated. It might create impression of unbalance when dyed in bright colours, but I think in blue it serves well. I chose the cloak to match white patterns on the sleeves and common light shoulders from Skirmish camp to bind with the shirt's warm-coloured hem. I'm quite happy about this outfit, considering how easily it can be assembled.

Edit: I realized Helegrod level 65 armour pieces would match the steed nicely with undyable blue parts. However, I couldn't use them because I only have the ugly hunter set and am out of basically any skirmish currency except for marks :(

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

Chest and legs: Fine Shirt and Trousers, Evendim blue dye (Bree outfitter)
Head: White Rose Circlet, default dye (Spring festival)
Shoulders: Esquire’s Light Shoulders of Eruilan, Evendim blue dye (Skirmish light armour barter)
Back: Elf-lord’s Cloak, Evendim blue dye (Store)

Mount: Perlino Steed (PAX East 2012 giveaway, lotteries)

Emotes:
./look
./yawn
./dowse (Treasure Hunt event)

Dawn

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

There are times of peace, and there are times of war. It wasn't long ago when young elf Sidgrid thought she would never see the faces of her loves ones again. In the battle of Orthanc, she was badly injured just before delivering a killing blow to Kalbak, slowly passing out while her fellowship was rejoicing. Right after they found out, they rushed with Sidgrid to Rivendell, for this was the only place where she stood a chance in hands of elven healers.

Luckily, they were as fast as wind, driven by will to save their friend, and managed to hand her over to healers very fast. A few weeks have passed since then and Sidgrid is now enjoying her peaceful recovering in the Last Homely House. After a long time, she can smell flowers, feel the sun on her cheeks and watch sunrise. Dawn has always been her favourite part of the day. After a new dawn of her life, she feels it that way even more.

I've always been in love with this cloak - even when there was only hooded version available. Velvet texture and great depth of any dye used on it made it one of my favourite cosmetic pieces. With the Great River, hoodless version became available and I rejoiced :) I knew I must create an outfit featuring it soon.

I also wanted to create a gentle, feminine outfit for my elf. Pink has never been my favourite colour (although they say it's the new black :), but it fits the sunrise scenery of Rivendell and let the velvet textures stand out.

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 of Vigour, white dye (world drop)
Legs: Tattered Leggings of the Dunland Sage, rose dye (Dunland quest)
Head: Hat of the Concerned Elf, rose dye (Great River quest)
Shoulders: Padded Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer, rose dye (Dunland quest)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, rust dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Rhydhid-lhopan, sienna dye (Great River quest)
Back: Cloak of the Unwelcome Guest, rose dye (Great River quest)

Emotes:
./lookaround
./think

Starlight

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!

O Elbereth Starkindler,
white-glittering, slanting down sparkling like a jewel,
the glory of the starry host!
Having gazed far away
from the tree-woven lands of Middle-earth,
to thee, Everwhite, I will sing,
on this side of the Sea, here on this side of the Ocean!

A Elbereth Gilthoniel, Elven hymn to Varda

This is one of my submission to the Fashion Week 2012. It's basically a variation of this outfit, but in different colour scheme. I sent to to category Formal Extravagance, which awards "Extravagant in Starlight" forum title, and I took the title literally as theme for the outfit. I love the Elf-queen's Dress because of gentle tones it dyes into, and also because parts of it sparkle in appropriate light. I tried to use this and dyed the dress gold. It doesn't shine as much as in white, but adds a warm gentle feeling to the outfit.

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

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

Thuringwethil, Woman of Secret Shadow

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

"Once we were many, now I alone remain. This is the book of my nights that I write in my seclusion during long days in my silent hall which sunlight never enters. For I am vampire, the vampire I suppose these days, the last of my kindred. 
There was a time, in the Spring of Arda, when I enjoyed the feeling of warm light on my wings. The light of Illuin and Ormal and nothing less, and the light of the oldest stars. I was a spirit of the air, a servant of Manwë. A faithful servant I was and as messenger swifter even than Eönwë. I wore white wings like a swan. I weep now to remember my innocence, yet if I lived those times again I would make the same choices."

Thuringwethil's Memoirs, fanfiction.net

Thuringwethil was a Vampire servant of Sauron at the beginning of the First Age. She was his messenger, known for changing form into a bat to find valuable intelligence. For this, she is thought to be a Maia. However, she was caught in the battle between her master and Lúthien at Tol-in-Gaurhoth ("Isle of Werewolves"). She was probably slain by the Hound of Valinor, named Huan. He brought Thuringwethil's hide to Lúthien, which she used to sneak to Angband ("The Iron Prison").

I never knew vampires were mentioned in the Middle-earth's lore, until a reader of this blog,  Beorneoth, mentioned it in the comments on an outfit I've created based on wish for vampire theme. I was excited to find that Tolkien indeed mentioned vampires and werewolves in Silmarillion. It's a huge pity they didn't survive the First Age, but who knows - maybe Thuringwethil's brood is still hiding in the deep caves sunlight never penetrates and waiting for the right time to change the course of the war. 

As I mentioned earlier this week, I've created this outfit with remote inspiration from the True Blood series. In the Season 4 finale, Jessica appears disguised as a Red Riding Hood during Halloween's night. It's one of the most beautiful costumes I've ever seen - although it doesn't really shine on static pictures. The real beauty strikes when she moves, covered in the velvet cloak. Cloak of the Galadhrim available in LOTRO resembles it very much. Unfortunately, I don't know of any red & black top which could simulate the lace corset, so I used red & violet combination instead. I also love the body shape which this outfit creates on an elven maiden.

This is also my first outfit to promote LOTRO Fashion's colour of the week during the Fashion Week! If you want to recreate it, grab a free crimson dye off the store with our exclusive coupon code!

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

Chest: Elven Cloth Shirt, crimson dye (Light armoursmith in Rivendell; short-sleeved variant)
Legs: Tattered Leggings of the Dunland Sage, crimson dye (Dunland quest)
Shoulders: Padded Mantle of the Dunland Soothsayer, crimson dye (Dunland quest)
Feet: Rhydhid-lhopan, violet dye (Dunland quest)
Back: Cloak of the Galadhrim, crimson dye (Quest: Vol. II, Book 7, Chapter 9: The Worries of Lord Celeborn)

The Little Match Girl

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

"Most terribly cold it was; it snowed, and was nearly quite dark, and evening-- the last evening of the year. In this cold and darkness there went along the street a poor little girl, bareheaded, and with naked feet. When she left home she had slippers on, it is true; but what was the good of that? They were very large slippers, which her mother had hitherto worn; so large were they; and the poor little thing lost them as she scuffled away across the street, because of two carriages that rolled by dreadfully fast."

Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Match Girl

The Little Match Girl is a very sad story and I don't really want to make Sidgrid bring it alive (I equipped her with warm headgear, boots and mittens to be sure!). I was even hesitating about using it for the title and the introduction, as this outfit isn't truly shabby, except for the cap. In the end I decided to mention it, as I wanted to express that I like the concept of Christmas in LoTRO - how they made us choose between helping poor people and gaining no fancy rewards on the first sight, and obtaining beautiful cosmetics for the cost of letting poor Little Match Girl suffer.

The cloak is one of two new Yule festival cloaks. I had opportunity to play through this year's Yule festival for the first time today and this cloak seemed to be less used compared to the other one, despite its beauty. I think the reason are undyable parts of dull pink and grey (only the ornaments change colour upon dying). The "dull pink" is exactly the shade which most of cosmetics usually dye in rose, and therefore are very rarely used in this colour (even for girly outfits). This gave me wonderful opportunity to create a match which hopefully pleases the eye even though the shades aren't really popular :)

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

Chest: Burnished Dunlending Chestpiece, rose dye (Dunland quest)
Head: Shabby Stocking Hat, default dye (Yule festival)
Shoulders: Fated Westfold Campaign Shoulders Pads, rose dye (T7 crafted)
Hands: Oven Mitts, grey dye (Skirmish barter - Rift cosmetics)
Feet: Ajokoira Shoes, grey dye (T5 crafted)
Back: Warm Winter Cloak, default dye (Yule festival)

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)

Natural beauty

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Sidgrid has never understood wardens who envied guardians their heavy armour. She thinks a warrior is able to defend his fellows better when he is agile and quick. Therefore she chose a very light armour to protect her, as well as esthetically please her companions. She wouldn't be an elf if she didn't want to look great, would she? ;)

Chest: Elven Campaigner's Armour, dark green dye (T5 crafted)
Legs: Radiant Westernesse Leggings, umber dye (T5 crafted)
Head: Fine Elven Circlet, default dye (Anniversary gift box)
Shoulders: Elven Leather Shoulder Pads, olive dye (Rivendell light armoursmith)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, olive dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Scout's Boots, olive dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Autumn Wood, olive dye (store)

Vain firefly

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Rune-keepers usually use power of words and runes to fight and defend themselves. Sidgrid has one more weapon besides those she loves to use - her charm. A few naughty winks here, a few gentle touches there and every brigand becomes harmless. Orcs are a little tougher, but that's when she relies on the runes.

Chest: Dwarf-make Iron Armour, purple dye (T2 crafted)
Legs: Radiant Westernesse Leggings, purple dye (T5 crafted)
Head: Circlet of Men, default dye (Anniversary gift box)
Shoulders: Traveller's Shoulder Guards, purple dye (T3 crafted)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, purple dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Scout's Boots, purple dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Dragonfly, purple dye (store)

Warrior princess

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Sidgrid comes from old noble Vanyar family. She is a great-grandniece of Indis of the Vanyar and was always raised as an elven princess. Noble, yet still humble, well-mannered and predestined to represent her house. However, this wasn't enough for her, and she decided to join her brothers in hunting and become one of the best sharpshooter. Being a distant relative of Elrond the Half-elven, she often stops at Imladris to rest in his house. Say hello when you see her there!

And please let me know your opinion on the outfit in comments :)

Chest: Protector's Armour, burgundy dye (T5 crafted)
Legs: Footman's Leggings, rust dye (T6 crafted)
Head: Circlet of Men, default dye (Anniversary gift box)
Shoulders: Shoulders of the Swift-Arrow, burgundy dye (Mirkwood hunter purple set)
Hands: Golden Host Gloves of the Awakened, burgundy dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Golden Host Gloves of the Gloaming, burgundy dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Autumn Wood, burgundy dye (store)

Gûlhiril en Hithaeglir

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Gûlhiril en Hithaeglir, Magic Lady of the Misty Mountains, is a powerful sorceress. She wanders the snowy dales and peaks alone, only rarely met by her fellow elves passing through the mountains. It is unknown when she departed from Rivendell and decided to study runes alone, but this pictures were taken when she was still residing in Imladris, only discovering the High Pass. If you meet her on your journeys, do not disturb your studies - only silently admire her powerful magic in action.

Chest: Frostbluff Robe of Thanks, black dye (winter festival)
Head: Quilted Hat, black dye (T2 crafted)
Shoulders: Shoulders of the Swift Arrow, black dye (Mirkwood level 65 hunter purple set)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, black dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Scout's Boots, black dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Dove, black dye (store)

Naughty girl

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

This warden likes to attract attention. It might be just her occupational illness, or maybe she was born that way - but she has to be in the centre of attention even when she's not war-crying or dealing precise blows to her enemy. No doubt she won't be overlooked in this deep crimson red outfit, the question is - will it attract only the enemies, or even her handsome elven fellowship members? ;)

Chest: Shining Dwarf Quilted Jacket, crimson dye (world drop)
Legs: Enduring Leather Leggings of Detemination, crimson dye (world drop)
Shoulders: Pristine Elven Shoulder Guards, crimson dye (T5 crafted)
Hands: Golden Host Gloves of the Awakened, crimson dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Golden Host Boots of the Gloaming, crimson dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Inn League, crimson dye (Inn League reputation reward)

Purity

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

"There came a time near dawn on the eve of spring, and Lúthien danced upon a green hill; and suddenly she began to sing. Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars, seeing the sun behind the walls of the world; and the song of Lúthien released the behind the walls of the world; and the song of Luthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed."

Tale Of Tinúviel (The History of Middle-earth)

Lúthien is the archetype of all minstrels - pure and alluring. Most probably not a single minstrel  currently alive in the Middle-earth could compete with her beauty and skill. Sidgrid does not even try to - but she attempts to keep the same virtues as Lúthien had. She thinks a minstrel should inspire her companions to the greatest deeds done in the best intentions, and that there is always light at the end of the darkness.

Chest: Cotton Armour, gold dye (T3 crafted) 
Legs: Quilted Leggings of Courage, white dye (world drop) 
Hands: Scout's Gloves, gold dye (T6 crafted) 
Feet: Elven Leather Boots of Fleetness, white dye (world drop) 
Back: Swan-Cloak, white dye (Store)

Inspiration: Arwen Undómiel

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond the Half-elven and future Queen of the Reunited Kingdom ruling side by side with King Elessar, has been one of the most inspiring female characters in the Middle-Earth. Her everlasting beauty (truly one of an Evenstar) and goodness have always raised affection in Aragorn and admiration in all the people (or hobbits) she's ever met.

This outfit, modelled by Sidgrid, is my tribute to her. It's very simple, maybe the simplest on this site so far, but it instantly popped into my mind after I saw this picture from Arwen's unfinished journey to Grey Havens. The Elf-queen's Dress and Harbringer's Cloak are both so intriguing that they don't need any supplemental accessories to advance their beauty.

Chest: Elf-queen's Dress, burgundy dye (Store)
Back: Harbringer's Cloak, violet dye (Mirkwood pre-order bonus)

Fiery huntress

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Sidgrid believes in the val en' naur, power of fire. Her arrows always carry seed of flame and cause the most profound wounds to the enemies of the Free People. She draws courage from meditations in Hall of Fire where she asks Aulë for advice and guidance. Her spirit has never been broken and never will be, for she is the daughter of fire, predestined to once face the Dark Lord himself!

Chest: Elven Warrior's Armour, crimson dye (T5 crafted)
Legs: Leggings of Orod-na-Thôn, crimson dye (world drop)
Shoulders: Rock-Climber's Shoulder Guards, crimson dye (T6 crafted)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, crimson dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Golden Host Boots of the Gloaming, crimson dye (T6 crafted)
Back: Cloak of the Raven, crimson dye (Fall festival)

Inspiration: Huntress from loading screen

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Have you ever noticed the lovely huntress on Lotro loading screen? While you are waiting for your connection to be established, the tenderly dressed elf maiden is moving from peaceful glades of Rivendell valley towards Mordor, keeping a wary eye on the rest of the fellowship.

I don't have an elven huntress myself, but I wanted to pay tribute to the artist who created the loading screen picture by imitating this outfit. Hence I sent my rune-keeper Sidgrid to hairdresser and asked her to model for the lovely lady's outfit. She gladly accepted, so I can now present my depiction of this very feminine attire.

Chest: Elven Warrior's Armour, navy dye (T5 crafted)
Legs: Fine Dwarf-Make Leather Leggings, purple dye (T2 crafted)
Shoulders: Rock-Climber's Shoulder Guards, purple dye (T6 crafted)
Hands: Scout's Gloves, purple dye (T6 crafted)
Feet: Elven Leather Boots of Fleetness, purple dye (world drop)
Back: Fine Quiver, purple dye (T2 crafted)

P.S.: Finding the skirt has been the biggest pain. I also considered Steel Legs, but they have weird  undyable red patch on the front of the skirt, so it looked very inconveniently. If you know skirt similar to the one I used, but without the strip on the back side, please let me know.