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)

Reveller's Gilded cosmetics - my preciousss!

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{[["☆","★"]]}

When I learned there were store exclusive versions of 5th Anniversary gift boxes cosmetics, I had to buy them. Right now. I missed the ones given to 4th year players, because I registered 2 weeks later than the eligibility date (you can imagine my disappointment when I found out). So now I had to make myself happy with the most beautiful LOTRO dress ever, and an account-wide steed! Yay!

Edits: After publishing this post, I've received numerous requests for previews on different races, genders and in different dyes. Unfortunately, dressing room preview of this items is broken at the moment. It took me a while but I've added all the previews to this post. Enjoy!

Note: Dyes on woman's preview are: red, white, turquoise, orange, black and pink (below). All other previews were taken in default dye (crimson).

Click the picture to enlarge.

Woman 

Reveller's Gilded Party Dress

As you can see, the dress has really beautiful shiny textures in most of the dyes. I was surprised that in black, it becomes pretty dull compared to other dyed variations, but it's still very pretty.

Reveller's Gilded Tunic & Trousers

Unfortunately, the Tunic doesn't glitter the same way. Quite frankly, it's pretty boring, so I guess the dress will be much more used than the tunic.

Reveller's Gilded Cloak

And finally, the cloak - it's unusual appearance and dyability will surely make it frequently used cosmetic in the near future. It shares the matt textures of the tunic & trousers.

I also added preview in rose per request on the forums:

Man

Elf maiden

Elf sire

Hobbit lass

Hobbit lad

Dwarf

I will surely make outfits matching the mount in future, as well as outfits using Reveller's Gilded cosmetics. I just need a right inspiration for nice combination, not only putting all the pieces together and calling it an outfit :) However, even such straightforward combination will surely yield a lot of admiring looks to anyone wearing the cosmetics.

A tale of acorns and nuts

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{[["☆","★"]]}

When Accornia and her fellow pony Nuts set off for their journey, it seemed that despite his name, Nuts was actually the sane part of the duo. "You're totally nuts," he told to his young mistress (he could, because she had a rare gift of understanding the animals). "We can't go to Forochel! Not alone! I know I've been born there, but when your uncle brought me to Hobbiton, we had traveled with a lot of other hobbits and dwarves!"

Accornia stayed firm. "I am a guardian, I will protect you. You worry too much, Nuts!" she smiled. That almost drew Nuts totally nuts: "I'm not going anywhere! The monsters roaming all the way through Evendim and Forochel are dangerous, they would surely eat us in a bite!" But all his reasoning was useless. Accornia stood with her arms akimbo and uttered: "Ok, I'm going alone then!"

Of course, Nuts couldn't let her go. They were equally old, sixteen, but while a pony is already experienced and wise at that age, a hobbit is still just a kid. So they traveled together through Shire first, passed Oatbarton, Dwalling and dangers of Men Erain, until they finally entered Forochel. They hadn't met a single evil beast, except for one angry squirrel enraged by their presence. "What a relief," Nuts thought just before they met his family and Accornia's distant relatives. "We haven't been devoured after all!"

I don't think I have ever considered using crafted medium armour from the Lossoth before, because of the dull undyable navy parts. Exactly the same parts I now knew I gotta use to match the Steed of the Forochel! I think it's pretty difficult to build a matching outfit around, because its fur is deep black on the bottom and blueish-grey under the blanket. On top of that, the blanket itself is rust and Evendim blue... hardcore combination, for everyone besides the Lossoth themselves :)

This outfit is not aiming to be pretty, but rather promotes usability and tries to fit the environment. I'm happy I won the Forochel pony on a hobbit, because hobbit girls are the best models for fluffy Forochel cloaks, which make them look totally adorable. And when I was going through the screenshots I took and saw the topmost one, I immediately had the story of acorns and nuts in my mind :))

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

Chest: Burnished Dunlending Chestpiece, black dye (Dunland quest)
Shoulders: Leijona Shoulder Guards, black dye (T5 crafted)
Hands: Leijona Gloves, black dye (T5 crafted)
Feet: Leijona Gloves, black dye (T5 crafted)
Back: Cloak of Mammutti, navy dye (Lossoth reputation barter)

Mount: Steed of Forochel (Anniversary event)

Emotes:
./mountrearup
./hail

Note: The night/late watches screenshots were brightened and saturated to achieve the same colour palette as the daylight screenshots.

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

First Mounted Fashion Contest knows the winners!

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Disclaimer: LOTRO Fashion is celebrating Galloping Gala and through the whole event, we bring you news and special mounted outfits for the occasion! You can browse through LOTRO Fashion's mounted outfits here.

As I've informed recently, a part of Galloping Gala event was also the Mounted Fashion Contest. It took part yesterday on Landroval and Kiralynn of Windy Acres Ranch posted a report today! The participants were judged by the audience, so I hereby present the rightful winners!

1st place: Faraleif of Landroval

2nd place: Kaleigh of Landroval

3rd place: Irmohir of Landroval

I'd like to congratulate the winners, but also all participants of this exceptional event, because all of the outfits were distinguishable and well put together! I would also like to thank Kiralynn for organizing this event and his great effort during the event.

LOTRO Fashion is on Pinterest!

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{[["☆","★"]]}

Pinterest is a pinboard-style social photo sharing network that allows everyone to create and manage theme-based image collections. Users can browse other pinboards for inspiration, 're-pin' images to their own collections and/or 'like' photos. Sounds like a perfect place to collect outfits! :)

Today I got an invite and started account for LOTRO Fashion. So far I've pinned my favourite outfits from this year in two separate boards - my own creations and outfits made by the others which I loved the most. The collection is still not complete, even for this year, but I will surely work on building it further.

If you already have Pinterest account, feel free to follow me there. If not, I will be happy to send you an e-mail invitation to speed up the process (Pinterest is invite only at the moment). Contact me on lotrofashion(at)gmail(dot)com.

Noro lim!

Rate:

{[["☆","★"]]}

Just as Glorfindel rode his horse Asfaloth in search of Frodo Baggins, Manequithir saddled his horse-friend in search for his fellowship. He'd found out they left for Sarnúr to hunt, leaving him behind healing from his wounds in Duillond. He was enraged as much as an elf can be, and left to pursue them. He knew they would be facing great dangers they don't even dream of there, because Sarnúr is no training grounds - it's a stronghold filled with Dourhands and their evil allies, capable of the most cruel deeds.

On the way, he saved a few dwarven lives from voracious wolves. The luck was by his side, because the group of dwarves, as they were leaving Blue Mountains to the elven lands, met his friends! Manequithir's friends haven't yet entered Sarnúr per their information, nor have been close to doing it very soon.

"There is still a chance I could catch them before going inside," Manequithir thought. Immediately he called back his horse, mounted it and cried: "Noro lim, noro lim!" His horse-friend didn't need more and set off for a great run, managing to catch the group leaving Noglond. What a relief!

I mentioned I'd purchased the Mithril Edition on sale earlier this week. Since then, I knew I gotta do an outfit around the beautiful Steed of the Horse-lords (some of you might have noticed my passion for red outfits). The only part I was struggling with was the boots choice, until I noticed the leggings have very pretty metallic parts down the trousers.

I didn't notice that before, as I use boots in 99% of outfits and those cover lower part of the leggings. I loved this detail, because together with shoes, the bottom of trousers looks like matching boots. I'm quite happy about this outfit and I'm seriously thinking of copying it on Frey, my little hunter main :)

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

Chest: Tough Elven Steel Jacket, red dye (world drop; also available as Breastplate of Voima - Quest: Vol. I, Book 13, Chapter 4: The Hand of Angmar)
Legs: Golubadanir, red dye (Quest: Dark Vengeance) 
Shoulders: Fine Grey Company Wrap, sienna dye (Quest: Volume III, Book 5, Chapter 1: Separate Ways)
Hands: Gloves of Forbidden Love, red dye (Great River quest)
Feet: Shoes of Determination, sienna dye (world drop)
Back: Cloak of the Mountain Wolves, sienna dye (store)

Mount: Steed of the Horse-lords

Emotes:
./mountrearup
./mountkick