Snow Sentinel

In his final moments serving the land of Gondor, as he draws his final breaths, Gildomir remembers the time when he was but a lowly sentinel in the snow, facing no great threat more than a wild cat or two every week.

'Twas a much simpler time, when he could socialise all he wanted with his fellow guards. No enemy would show up before the gates, and so no guard really required any thick armour more than the mandatory uniform for some - Gildomir was a volunteer, and he felt very cold in the winter, so they permitted thick wraps for him.

No real requirement for hiding either, Gildomir could afford to adorn himself in a beautiful sea blue dyed hauberk that stunningly contrasted the sienna. Most of his armour, let's be real honest, was for the sake of fashion more than protection, which he got all from simply exposing his right shoulder, clad with the shiny shoulderpiece handed down to him from his father, and his father before him: an heirloom of a family of wardens. 

As Gildomir closes his eyes one last time, he relives the warmth of the smoke he puffed on his first night as a snow sentinel.

Head: Medium Nadhin Mask (sienna);

Shoulders: Westemnet Assault Shoulderpads of Balance (sea blue);

Chest: Patched Hauberk (sea blue);

Feet: Vrushed Leather Boots (sienna).

Guardian of Gondor

In his last days, Gildomir gave his all protecting the lands of Gondor. Knowing his time was nearly up, he lead a small command of soldiers on a suicide mission to reclaim Pelargir against the entire corsair host, buying as much time as they could for Aragorn and his host to arrive.

I can't really say which was the main piece of the set, but if I had to make a guess as to which piece I built the outfit around, I think it was the cloak, because when it was released in game, it really struck me as Turbine hadn't made a beautiful cloak like that before as a festival reward. Inspired, I paired it with the Nadhin heavy armour chestpiece and we had our basis of the outfit.

I knew I wanted to buff his shoulders up, and I thought what better way to do that than with the fluff of something, just like the fur shoulders on Celebindil's The Master over Lore and Life outfit. However, the colour just didn't work, and I was ready to give in to using just another piece of metal when I stumbled upon this beautiful shoulderpiece in Lalia's Market. I bought it instantly, and the rest just fell into place.

The helm was one I'd been hoarding for literally years, sending from alt to alt as I deleted them off slowly, until I finally found a use for them. I think I remember them from an outfit on Lotro Fashion and I told myself I just had to use it in a future outfit - about 4-5 years down the road I finally get there! 

Gildomir clutches his trusty spear and shield, weary of the battle he has faced so far, takes a breath, before charging his final charge into the fray...

Head: Strong Westfold Battle Helmet (black);

Ceremonial Stone-reader's Shoulders (steel blue); 

Back: Reveller's Cloak of the Odogil (steel blue);

Chest: Heavy Nadhin Jacket (steel blue);

Hands: Dwarf-make Iron Gloves (white);

Feet: Lesser Cry of the West Boots (walnut brown).

Guy Like Gaston

No one's strong like Gaston,
fights bad orcs like Gaston,
stands and ponders his long life in pubs like Gaston.

I wanted to use Gaston as an inspiration for an outfit simply because we had this beautiful rustic looking town called Bree and it would be a shame not to make use of that. Since Gildomir was mainly a crafting alt, he wouldn't have gone far away, so to give him a nice costume to match his surroundings seemed like the thing to do. I didn't take pictures outside but I felt the Prancing Pony seemed like a great place to stage the pub scene from the movies/musical. All we need is a hobbit playing Le Fou!

The cape was added because I loved the way the crimson mixed with the steel blue just like it did in the cartoon movie, right at the end, as he leads the villagers to the Beast's castle. It kinda pops on out of nowhere but it was a very nice design choice that accentuated Gaston's turn to evil, as he was only ever a douche when the movie began - the deep blue finally cloaks the bright pride of red and consumes him in this darkness.

Back: Cloak of the Unwelcome Guest (steel blue);

Chest: Boar Clansman Sentry's Jacket (crimson);

Feet: Fine Westernesse Protctor's Boots (walnut brown).

You could find gloves dyed gold or ranger green to get it more similar to Gaston, but I felt it would stand out too much, thus why I omitted the gloves altogether.

Savage Strikes

As his final battle, his last stand, Eadhan charges into the goblin-overrun desolation of Minas Eriol to serve his fellow free peoples one last time.

A sorry sight to see a once great land taken by vile creatures. Eadhan dresses in a savage's garb adorned by one sturdy and intimidating helm before charging against the White Hand's pawns.

Without mercy, he cuts them down one by one with the blades of the east, pinning evil against evil in a sadistic irony. After each kill he taunts the rest of the horde by shaking his fist at them, growling for a challenge to feed his bloodlust.

"Come at me!" he beckons at the White Hand Lobbers as they sneer and hiss at him, lighting their flames to consume him with. But Eadhan knows no fear in the eyes of fire, as goblin fire is nothing compared to the dragon breath he has faced in yesteryears.

After finally defeating much of the horde, they call for reinforcements from Weathertop. Eadhan knows he cannot alone defy them, and he lays down his swords, knowing he has done much to hinder them and thin their numbers - he has served Middle-earth well, and it is now time for him to take his final breaths and meet his fallen brothers in the afterlife. He takes one more look to the sky, then...

Head: Heroic Noble's Vibrant Helm (indigo);

Back: Supple Eastement Cloak of Will (turquoise);

Chest: Langhár’s Tunic and Waistcoat (turqoise);

Feet: (indigo).

P.s. I deleted this toon before I rememebr I needed to get the components listed down, so I'll update it whenever I find out what the pieces are, but if you have any idea do feel free to comment them down. Also, I am quite (80%) certain that either the cloak or the chestpiece is of dark green dye instead of turquoise, so feel free to try that out.


Do check out Warlock of Erech by The Starrymantle, as that's where most of the inspiration for this outfit came from!

Jack-o'-lantern Jester

Happy Halloween guys! You're only seeing this because I made this outfit almost right after Halloween, if memory serves. So here it is, almost one year later!

Here, we see the Jack-o'-lantern Jester awakening in his humble slumber-chmber, a comfortable little tomb sized perfectly for him, adorned with cryptic symbols and the countless cobwebs made by his favourite pet spawn of Ungoliant. He wakes, seeking to out-scare the numerous wights and barrow-spirits who share his lodgings.

With his housemates in the backkground of the picture, Gildomir the Jack-o'-lantern giggles as he knows full well how they absolutely abhor having their picture taken. This clown of a creepy quality owns a jest so nonchalant that he wears a smile painted on his pumpkin-helmet face to battle. Thankfully, dread reduces in-combat morale regeneration and fear makes enemies flee in the opposite direction. Ask the Nazgûl - they're pros at it!

Yes, folks - your eyes do not deceive you. He is levitating. While dancing. Very specifically to scare any foolish enough to venture into the barrows (that includes me, the photographer!). But I must say, his choice in cloak is stunning as it gloves with the flame. Perhaps that's why it's called Flames of the Deep...

I honestly think I made this outfit as a joke, because of the many joke-masks in LOTRO, and since Isenbran wore a chicken head for nearly 50 levels. But as I continued to find pieces, I thought it turned out pretty well, considering I spent only about 20 minutes coming up with the outfit (again, if memory serves). The combinations were natural and the colour scheme was simple: green and orange, the colours of Halloween. To me, at least.

Head: Pumpkin Festival Mask (dark green);

Shoulder: Ceremonial Shoulder Guards of the Porbad (grey);

Back: Flames of the Deep (dark green);

Chest: Nelegham (orange);

Hands: Resiliant Eastemnet Battle Gauntlets (rust);

Legs: Greater Valorous Leggins of Penetration (black);

Feet: Threadbare Boots of the Dunland Healer (grey).

The Gathering at Bingo Boffin's

Alas, all great things must come to an end.

Not an outfit post, but I thought this deserved a place on the blog. I never got around to following Bingo Boffin on his adventure because I was too focused on end-game content. However, recently I've been stuck at outfitting due to the lack of new clothe pieces. I sought out Mr Boffins hoping his adventure would provide me some new and interesting armour/cosmetic rewards, but what I found was much more valuable.

I remember when the first Hobbit movie came out, I made a new toon just to re-xperience stepping into the wonderful yet dangerous world of Middle-earth for the first time, just like Bilbo had. Little did I know I would be much more satisfied feeling like a complete amateur adventurer on my almost maxed level Hunter, Eadyth. 

Even though I rushed through what was meant to be taken weekly (like I did with my first season of Gotham), I managed to grow very fond of the many companions I met along the way, Willem Whisker definitely being my favourite.

Yet, so many other characters who joined us were colourful (both in personality and in clothing - yes, I'm speaking about Theodore): barterers, treasure hunters, Dourhands, elves, horse-lords, skin-changers, distant kin, and even an old foe from the past now redeemed.

However, with so many friends met along the way, I have to admit I don't know many of them that well, as some were just passing acquaintances. Despite that, I think I would have appreciated each and every one of these characters as Eadyth would, were they real. 

It's moments like this too that remind me of my inevitable need to leave all my friends behind as Bingo has. The last 5 years in my high school have been the best years of my life, and there are a great many people I wish I didn't have to leave behind. I won't lie that I had not my share of ill-fortunes: falling into darkness, not knowing who I was, dealing with traitors. Thank Eru I didn't face a dragon! But if I've learnt one thing from my adventures with Bingo, it's that "it is difficult to say goodbye, but we had better leave now or we won't." 

Despite that, the fellowships made throughout the journey proves that truly special companions are those that will be remembered for long, especially when hobbit meets dwarf, skin-changer, or even great eagle! 

Perhaps I should have a gathering as Bingo has to celebrate the companionship I've had with my very own unique set of fellows, while not skin-changers or hobbits themselves, noteworthy in their own special ways. But when I do leave, I wish them all the best in their future adventures, and may they be filled with unusual happenings and great companions as well. We will see each other again - I don't leave to the Undying Lands, after all.