The aim is to get to that old elven watch tower. The way is steep and narrow, and falling, or slipping, down is an ever present danger. But if your steps are sure...
And you can, finally, enjoy the breath-taking panorama of Holin, too!
Monday, 20 April 2009
Holin Ridge
I've enjoyed some off-regular exploring recently, and when I heard about this title, it seemed like a perfect challenge.
The aim is to get to that old elven watch tower. The way is steep and narrow, and falling, or slipping, down is an ever present danger. But if your steps are sure...
And you can, finally, enjoy the breath-taking panorama of Holin, too!
The aim is to get to that old elven watch tower. The way is steep and narrow, and falling, or slipping, down is an ever present danger. But if your steps are sure...
And you can, finally, enjoy the breath-taking panorama of Holin, too!
The Evil in Sejer Tharakh
An enormous Caveclaw lying injured (?) in Sejer Tharakh...
Tho I prefer to think he just hit his head real hard and is fine, just a bit drowsy.
An Epic Fight
At least for me!
I encountered this scary vampire in Morrovail Caves in Eastern Durin's Way yesterday. I'm no Loremaster nor a Minstrel, but still I was able to bring down his 35k morale ass in just... 15 minutes!
Yes, I smacked him to death with my Rune.
...and 15 minutes only because I had Fall To Our Wrath slotted...
Tale of Heroism
Yesterday my friend's Minstrel's Tale of Heroism cought my attention.
Not the skill itself actually, but the icon - my first thought (first, as I have never payed attention to this skill before) was - Beren and Luthien!
Because what else could one think in Middle-Earth, if a Tale of Heroism is illustrated with a picture of a pair, her up the front, fair-skinned, black-haired and clad in white, him behind her? And their story is, indeed, one of heroism way beyond that of their mirrored pair at the dawn of times, Aragorn and Arwen (Aragorn may have been heroic, but Arwen never done anything to remotly deserve that term... yes, I don't like Arwen). Beren and Luthien has both done truly heroic deeds..!
Also the rich green background brings Ossiriand to mind, the green and forested land of seven rivers where Beren and Luthien lived.
...and... do you also think you can see NauglamÃr on Luthien's neck? :)
Hidden Hobbit Village
I've always regretted that I missed out on Hobbit Farmer and Squirrels... I was kinda thinking it will always be there for me to explore, and now it's closed off..
One more reason for me to hurry to explore another hidden wonder, The Hidden Hobbit Village just west of the Shire.
If you manage to fool the Bounders and sneak* pass Ered Luin gate unattended, following the road will finally lead you to this secluded, quiet place (alternatively, you can sneak* pass the gate in Michel Delving leading west...).
The place itself is surrounded with thick foliage of elderly oaks, which make quite a lovely sight as you approach.
Not many know about it's existence so no wonder that the knowledge about it exact location is even more rare, which suits it's shy inhabitants. As you will inevitably notice, they did not agree to pose to any of the pictures I've made.
Rare visitors can leave their mounts at the stable in northernmost part of the village (visible on the right side of the photo) and proceed to the center of the little town, marked by a huge windmill, standing proudly above the fields.
Among cozy hobbit holes a more extraordinary structure stands, clearly showing the influence of long legs architecture on the native art of the Shire folks.
Weary traveler can take a sip of clear, cold water from the village well.
But this building is unique in the whole Shire - you will not find another one like that. Even the Mathom House - itself build bearing strong resemblance to the architecture of Bree - looks totally different. I don't recall a building like that in the whole Middle Earth I've visited so far. The type of windows is unique, so are the ornaments adoring it.
In some distance to the east, digging under the hills of Little Delving, new hobbit holls are being buid. Still unfinished, and for some reason missing doors...
A campsite to the far south end of the area. Secluded, and empty. A puzzling sight, as the fire still burns brightly and the rabbit has just been prepared for roast, but not eaten yet. Who might have camped here?
As gossip goes, the "hidden" Hobbit village was added to showcase the game at E3 many years back - as Liquilla posted about the place of CM Forums (adding but you didn't hear that from me! (...and I may be wrong)).
Some old Shire preview screenshots show area bearing a striking resamblence to this village, but they are not identical. I tried hard to catch the same angle, but it has prooven impossible.
The Windmill Sight looks very alike, and at first glance it may seem that the only thing that has changed was the design of the horses in game, and that the chickens are gone. But the angles are seriously different, bushes have moved and a cart has been placed a bit off.
While trying to reshoot the scarecrow image, I stumbled upon even more difficulties. Apparently the guy has been moved altogether, and so have the fences. Also, there's no bag of grain resting anywhere in place allowing me to get the windmill and hobbit holes with the right angle.
But still, the place looks remarkably the same... Just... recreated?
My guess would be, it's either not the original E3 location, or it has been modified for some strange reason. Anyhow, the adventure was a great one!
* These passages are by no means ment to represent the actual route to Hidden Hobbit Village. It's an even longer trip, I just used Ered Luin and Michel Delving gates for RP and localization reasons.
One more reason for me to hurry to explore another hidden wonder, The Hidden Hobbit Village just west of the Shire.
If you manage to fool the Bounders and sneak* pass Ered Luin gate unattended, following the road will finally lead you to this secluded, quiet place (alternatively, you can sneak* pass the gate in Michel Delving leading west...).
The place itself is surrounded with thick foliage of elderly oaks, which make quite a lovely sight as you approach.
Not many know about it's existence so no wonder that the knowledge about it exact location is even more rare, which suits it's shy inhabitants. As you will inevitably notice, they did not agree to pose to any of the pictures I've made.
Rare visitors can leave their mounts at the stable in northernmost part of the village (visible on the right side of the photo) and proceed to the center of the little town, marked by a huge windmill, standing proudly above the fields.
Among cozy hobbit holes a more extraordinary structure stands, clearly showing the influence of long legs architecture on the native art of the Shire folks.
Weary traveler can take a sip of clear, cold water from the village well.
But this building is unique in the whole Shire - you will not find another one like that. Even the Mathom House - itself build bearing strong resemblance to the architecture of Bree - looks totally different. I don't recall a building like that in the whole Middle Earth I've visited so far. The type of windows is unique, so are the ornaments adoring it.
In some distance to the east, digging under the hills of Little Delving, new hobbit holls are being buid. Still unfinished, and for some reason missing doors...
A campsite to the far south end of the area. Secluded, and empty. A puzzling sight, as the fire still burns brightly and the rabbit has just been prepared for roast, but not eaten yet. Who might have camped here?
As gossip goes, the "hidden" Hobbit village was added to showcase the game at E3 many years back - as Liquilla posted about the place of CM Forums (adding but you didn't hear that from me! (...and I may be wrong)).
Some old Shire preview screenshots show area bearing a striking resamblence to this village, but they are not identical. I tried hard to catch the same angle, but it has prooven impossible.
The Windmill Sight looks very alike, and at first glance it may seem that the only thing that has changed was the design of the horses in game, and that the chickens are gone. But the angles are seriously different, bushes have moved and a cart has been placed a bit off.
While trying to reshoot the scarecrow image, I stumbled upon even more difficulties. Apparently the guy has been moved altogether, and so have the fences. Also, there's no bag of grain resting anywhere in place allowing me to get the windmill and hobbit holes with the right angle.
But still, the place looks remarkably the same... Just... recreated?
My guess would be, it's either not the original E3 location, or it has been modified for some strange reason. Anyhow, the adventure was a great one!
* These passages are by no means ment to represent the actual route to Hidden Hobbit Village. It's an even longer trip, I just used Ered Luin and Michel Delving gates for RP and localization reasons.
Monday, 30 March 2009
All epic stories all build up on countless tragedies
This sight I encountered in Annuminas really caught me...
If playing is a form of storytelling (and I personally do think it is, at least to some degree), this would do for one of those all-time tear-shedding moments in epic movie...
...and yes, the Warden died, we have arrived too late to help him, but we have honored his name by spilling the Gorthorog's blood... and blood of many, many other Angmarim.
If playing is a form of storytelling (and I personally do think it is, at least to some degree), this would do for one of those all-time tear-shedding moments in epic movie...
...and yes, the Warden died, we have arrived too late to help him, but we have honored his name by spilling the Gorthorog's blood... and blood of many, many other Angmarim.
Tribute to one of the icons of XXth century culture
Dark Delvings... one of those MoM infinite farming instances, and a very,very annoying and badly designed one (like most of them, unfortunately). But even in a boring, tedious and discouraging place like that one might find an Easter-Egg (I hope, otherwise it's a ripoff!).
Couldn't possibly be much more Alien than this ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)