'I am ready to continue our journey! I have spoken with a few of the Elves here, and they have told me about a small outpost to the south of Lothlórien. The outpost is called Haldirith, and the folk there can guide us as we move south along the banks of the Great River.
'Are you ready to go, Player? I am very curious to see the scenery, and am hoping for a little more sunshine than the grim canopy of Mirkwood provided us!'1/1
1 Speak toBingo Boffin (Show dialog)
'That was a brisk, enjoyable walk, and I have already noticed a change in the scenery as we leave the Golden Wood behind us. The trees here are still lovely, but they are smaller and their beauty is of a different sort than those in Lothlórien proper. I should write down my impressions before I forget to do so!'
Bingo takes out his jar of ink, removes the stopper, and stares inside with dismay.
'My inkpot has quite run dry, Player! There is only enough ink remaining for the very briefest of descriptions, and that simply will not do!
'Do you remember the books you brought to me from Pennasseth? One of them spoke at great length about the art of the Elves. They must know a thing or two about the importance of ink in creative endeavours, and perhaps can lend us an inkpot's-worth? Ask some of the folk here at Haldirith and see if any of them have an artistic bent and can help us, Player!'
Bert Bartleby has arrived at the outpost of Haldirith, in Thinglad along the Great River.1/1
2 Speak toMaervadhor (Show dialog)
'It is a pleasure to meet you, Player, and I sympathize with the plight of your friend Bingo. For the ink to run dry when the ideas still flow is truly a sad occurrence, one with which I am all too familiar!
'I must confess that I do not have an inkpot for your friend, for this outpost is a place of watchfulness, not of creation, but I may still be able to help. You see, I know of a way to make a high-quality ink from ingredients found along the banks of the Anduin.
'If you grind up a certain type of dark mud with special river-side reeds, you can obtain a thick pigment. Adding water to this pigment will produce a high-quality ink that should serve your friend well. If you do as I instruct, he will be writing again with little delay.'1/1
3.1) Use spawned itemCollect river-side reeds north-east of Haldirith (x/8)8/8
3.2) Use spawned itemCollect dark mud north-east of Haldirith (x/4)4/4
4 ObjectiveWTF1/1
5 Use itemPut Pigment in Water Bucket1/1
6 Hand inInk to Bingo Boffin1/1
7 Speak toMaervadhor (Show dialog)
'Bingo wants to know of interesting places to explore along the Great River? Well, there are a few locations he might find exciting, but I cannot guarantee his safety. I suppose if he has come this far from his home, he must be a formidable adventurer... or be in the company of one, Player!
'To the south you can find the Old Burrows, which were once the home to peaceful creatures of nature. They have recently been claimed by ferocious Wargs, so if Bingo wishes to see them he would be wise to do so with caution!
'To the south-east you will find Foul-maw's Den, where lives a mighty bear grey of coat but black-hearted. You would be wise to stay away from Foul-maw, but he is of tremendous size and an encounter with him might make for a thrilling chapter in Bingo's book.'1/1
8 Enter areaFind Foul-maw's Den, south-east of Haldirith1/1
8 DiscoverThe Old Burrows1/1
9 Speak toBingo Boffin (Show dialog)
'Something occurred to me while we were exploring the Old Burrows and Foul-maw's Den, Player. There is an outpost of Rohan not far from here, but Maervadhor did not suggest that we pay a visit to the folk there. They are neighbours, but I wonder if there is some bad blood between them?
'It would have been rude to ask him, so I do not regret failing to investigate further. But I think I would like to pay a call on these neighbours when we set forth again. It would be nice to get a full picture of the situation here along the Great River for my book!'
Next week: 'Unusual Friends' (Recommended Level: 72)1/1
Bingo Badge (5)