The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood

The name Mirkwood refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Mirkwood (disambiguation).

The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood

Video game
Details
Developer	Turbine, Inc
Publisher	Turbine, Inc
Release Date	December 1, 2009
Genre	MMORPG

The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood is the second expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online.

Siege of Mirkwood opens up environments in southern Mirkwood. The level cap is raised to 65. It also includes new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. A new "skirmish" system allows for repeatable, randomised and scaleable combat based instances that can be accessed from anywhere in the game world for 3, 6 and 12 players and a new 12 player raid takes place in Dol Guldur.^[1]

Synopsis

Unlike Mines of Moria, where the epic story line shared the same title as the expansion, Siege of Mirkwood's epic story line is titled Volume III: Allies of the King. The expansion also included the final book and the epilogue to Volume II.

Volume II: Mines of Moria

Book IX - Fortress of the Nazgul

The band of elves known as the Hidden Guard has crossed the Anduin river into the region of Mirkwood, with Mazog as their prisoner. As the elves of Lothlorien set up numerous camps through Mirkwood, they plan their attack on the fortress of Dol Guldur. The Hidden Guard continues to take Mazog through the dangerous forest unseen and through the Scuttledells, where Issuriel and Mazog are seriously wounded by the giant queen spider who dwells in those parts. The elf Achardor becomes furious that his companion has been wounded and threatens Mazog's life if Issuriel falls. Issuriel speaks of a rare antidote that will cure the poison but later refuses to take it instead to let Mazog take it. Achardor is even more outraged with this action taken but just before Issuriel loses her life the dwarf Broin finds more of the rare herb and the quest to Dol Guldur can continue. The Hidden Guard soon arrives at the gates of Dol Guldur where the trade of Mazog for Bori takes place. But Gorothul and Ringwraiths arrive at the scene and refuse to hand over Bori, Broin quickly saves the elves from been slain by Gorothul but the elf Achardor chooses to stand against the Nazgûl and is killed. Mazog is freed and returns with the enemy. The elves of Lothlorien soon strike the fortress of Dol Guldur and free Bori from his cell. The elves capture the outside walls of Dol Guldur now only the tower is left to take. The raid on Dol Guldur continues within the dark tower and at the end of a tremendous battle the orc Mazog is slain by the mithril axe Zigilburk.

Epilogue - Of Elves and Dwarves

The elves and dwarves finish the last deeds throughout southern Mirkwood. The axe Zigilburk is buried yet again where the dwarves found it, to never wield its power again. The Elves of Lothlorien also strike several additional blows against the dark fortress, scouting three key locations and capturing one. Additionally, Gorothul is challenged in another assault within his quarters in Sammath Gul, where he is finally defeated.

Volume III: Allies of the King

Book I - Oath of the Rangers

Book 1 was released on 1 March, 2010.^[2]

Elrond received a mysterious message from Galadriel, telling him to gather the Rangers of the North and send them to Rohan to help Aragorn. The player is summoned to the Last Homely House and given a list of Rangers to recruit: Radanir, Candaith, Saeradan, Halros, Halbarad, Calenglad, Lothrandir, Corunir and Golodir.

Updates include (complete release notes):

The beginning of Volume III in the epic storyline.
The ability to solo the Volume I epic storyline.
A duo mode for most skirmishes.

Book II: Ride of the Grey Company

Book 2 was released on 10 September, 2010 in North America. (8 September, 2010 for subscribers). It was delayed in Europe because of contractual reasons and was finally released on 2 November, almost two months after North America.^[3]

The Grey Company starts its journey south and arrives in Enedwaith. Halbarad has crafted fake copies of the Ring of Barahir, in order to buy Aragorn time, in case one of the Grey Company gets captured. In Enedwaith, they discover an old and confused Dwarf, Nár, father of Ollfardh and companion of Thrór. To everyone's amazement, he knows about the secret road the Company is planning to take.

Updates included (complete release notes):

New region: Enedwaith.
Introduction of the Free to Play system.
The LOTRO store, where players may purchase convenience items. Points either earned through gameplay, through the VIP program or by being purchased.

Update 1: Journey to Winter-Home

In 2010, LOTRO altered its monetization model and became "free-to-play." The first post Free-to-play update was released in November 2010. Due to changes to how updates work this did not contain an epic book.

Updates included:

A Barter Wallet for skirmish marks and anniversary tokens.
Opening of Moria, Lothlorien, Mirkwood and Enedwaith to free-to-play players. Volume II and Volume III will also be available, as well the legendary item system, and the level 65 level cap all to free-to-play players.
Vault improvements.
Tasks: a new quest type for all levels.
Improved reputation mounts.
Updates to the Lore-master and Rune-keeper classes.
Ered Luin starting area revamp.

Book III - Echoes of the Dead

Book III was released along with Update 2, released on 21 March in the United States and 24 March for Europe.

While investigating who can be trusted and who can't, the Rangers receive word that there is a band of Oathbreakers from Erech in Enedwaith. An attempt to remind them of their Oath to Isildur fails horribly when Candaith is killed. Halbarad wants to lead the company on to Dunland, but as they leave Nár, the Dwarf reveals Saruman the White had a hand in these events all along.