The Foundations of Stone

Lore

This deepest region of Moria is a shadowy abyss, a chilling, vast, and strange place made of twisted stones, woeful waters, and creeping fog. Horrifying monsters haunt these dark cracks in the earth, lurking amid swollen and glowing mushrooms, hiding in the shadows beneath strange arches and spurs of living rock. Down here, as far from sun and sky as it may be possible to get in Middle-earth, the screams of agonized heroes echo far and wide…and still go unheard.

Do not abandon hope when you enter here. Hope may be your only protection against the strange perils of this land. The Foundations of Stone are so hostile and strange that even those places to which heroes can retreat in moments of defeat are perilous. Even when your morale has returned, do not let down your guard.

The Foundations of Stone are so called because they make up the bottommost level of Moria. These are the stones upon which all of Khazad-dûm stands and the pits into which all of it may yet fall.

Although deep chasms cut through the spiky, jagged rocks of the ceiling here — linking the Foundations to the likes of Nud-melek above — most living heroes who brave this eerie region arrive through tunnels on the north-west edge of the territory. Look for a hole in the rough eastern walls of the Redhorn Lodes, crisscrossed with spikes of purple-red rock. Follow bridges and trails south through the smoke and fire of southern Nud-melek, down and down, until the sloping floor slips into the blood-hued glow of mushrooms the size of hobbits. By this, you will know when you have crossed the threshold into the Foundations of Stone.

The place is a surreal maze of enormous, spiking rock and strange fungal bulbs. Marbled stone the color of bone and blood bends and juts into walls and spears. Low caves lure explorers into the lairs of bloodthirsty things that have never been seen by the sun above. It is another world.

Between the fog and the bending tunnels, the true size and distance of things become difficult to read. Beware of shadows obscuring hidden cliffs and of stony spurs disguising side passages and lurking beasts. What may seem to be a gently sloping floor may become a slippery drop into some stinking tributary.

At the heart of the Foundations of Stone lies a great green lake, nameless and strange. Fed by the seepage of numerous small waterfalls, the lake is a grotesque and lifeless cistern, gathering filth at the bottom of the world.

A bizarre sky of haze and thorns obscures patches of the distant roof. Enormous hooks of wicked stone grope into the gloom, reaching to snare whatever falls from the world above. It is like an awful, fanged mouth, and if that is true, then all that sits below it serves as the baleful guts and stomach of a giant and evil beast.

Yet, somehow, there is beauty here. There is light. Patches of glowing moss cling to the surface of the lake like skin on a bucket of milk, giving off an eerie iridescence that is peculiarly comforting. The reflection of shimmering mushrooms in the green water is oddly lovely. The vast stillness of the water and its frozen, rocky sky are somehow enchanting. The Foundations of Stone grant visitors a glimpse of a rare and terrible aspect of Middle-earth. [1]

There are also remnants of the Dwarves who delved so deeply here so long ago - their camp, The Shadowed Refuge. The base of the Endless Stair sits here, spiraling upwards towards the pinnacle of the mountain's peak far above in Zirakzigil. A piece of the Arch of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm juts upward from the island in the middle of the lake where it fell from far above.

Locations

Settlements

The Shadowed Refuge

Instances

There is a campsite near Skûmfil at ^{[13.4S, 100.4W]}.
There is a campsite near the Dark Delvings and Dâr Narbugud at ^{[15.4S, 97.4W]}.

Other Points of Interest

Deeds

Quests

Moria: Foundations of Stone Quests

Named Creatures Flake Collectors List

Each of these creatures is the rare, signature, tougher, named version and all have a high change to drop a rare flakes used in crafting.

Foundations of Stone :

Creature	Location	Type
Mithril Flake	Foundations of Stone
Bonetooth ^{[13.2S, 100.3W]}	Foundations of Stone	Kergrim
Gemlingril ^{[14.4S, 96.1W]} or ^{[13.3S, 101.8W]}	Foundations of Stone	Spider
Mirz ^{[14.0S, 101.6W]} or ^{[14.5S, 95.9W]}	Foundations of Stone	Troll

Map

Click for larger image

Settlements, Areas and Landmarks of The Foundations of Stone
Areas:	The Shadowed Cave	Areas:
Settlements:	The Shadowed Refuge	Settlements:
Landmarks:	Dalgum-ru • The Endless Stair • The Bridge-shard • Tunzelgund • Zabad-fakâk	Landmarks:
Interiors:	Gwathrendath • The Crown Chamber	Interiors:
Dungeons:	—	Dungeons:
Instances:	Askâd-mazal • Dark Delvings • Dâr Narbugud • Skûmfil	Instances:

Settlements, Areas and Landmarks of Moria
Areas:	Durin's Way • The Flaming Deeps • The Foundations of Stone • The Great Delving • Nud-melek • The Redhorn Lodes • The Silvertine Lodes • The Water-works • Zelem-melek • Zirakzigil	Areas:
Settlements:	Anazârmekhem • Auti's Camp • Chamber of the Crossroads • Durin's Threshold • Hulwul-nefekh • Jazârgund • Knakk's Camp • Lamâb-dûm • The Crossroads of Ash • The Deep Descent • The Dolven-view • The Door to the Clouds • The Fanged Pit camp • The Orc-watch • The Rotting Cellar • The Shadowed Refuge • The Tharâkh Bazân camp • The Twenty-first Hall	Settlements:
Landmarks:	Durin's Way: Dâr-rukh • Durin's Crossing • Fehem-dûm • Ghâr-khafush • The Glass-hall • Gloku-ru • Gríshurbhrum • Hadâd-dûm • Hadudbâb • The Hall of the High Stair • Jundulbâb • Jundul-dûm • Khulturg • Manarbul • Mokûrzmûl • Mudmulzarâk • The Mustering Hall • Ninknakh Faltor • Salab Nurjundul • Skoiruzg • Sulnul-dûm • Tharâkh Bazân • Tith-maudhûl • Uflûmp-mur • Zabâd-dûm • Zarârgharâf • Zigilnâb • Zurr-thurkh Flaming Deeps: Ânghumu-ru • Bhraf-ru • The Burning Stair • Durin's Court • Gate of the Seven Fathers • Hadâd-mezer • Hudnul-meden • Hurmulkezer • Tanunshush • Umukh-ghâr Foundations of Stone: Dalgum-ru • The Endless Stair • The Bridge-shard • Tunzelgund • Zabad-fakâk Great Delving: The Chamber of Deep Thought • The Chamber of Knowledge • The Chamber of Wisdom • The Deep Way • Durin's Threshold: North Wing • Durin's Threshold: South Wing • The Dwarf-lords' Gate • Gazatmur • Katûb-zahar • The Palace of Náin • Shemeldurj • Snaga-maudhûl • The Stone Council • The Vault of Durin Nud-melek: Balin's Camp • The Bridge of Khazad-dûm • The Deep Crossroad • The First Hall • Khadar-zarâm • Khurjezer • Sigin-tharâkh • Sudulthurkh • Zabadgathol Redhorn Lodes: Ashpar's Command • Budkhul-beken • Burning Altar • The Chittering Hole • Claw Hollow • Fulz-zahar • The Gate of Ruin • Gharâf-fehem • The Great Hive • The Heart of Fire • Malmezel • Menem-mezel • The Ore-house • The Tailing Pit • The Way of Smiths‎ • Tumun-ghâr Silvertine Lodes: Gamil Filik • The Heart of Fire • Menem-berej • Menem-munz • The Stone Council • The Way of Smiths Water-works: The Chamber of Dark Waters • The Chamber of Memory • The Chamber of the Pool • Chamber of Wheels • The Deep Way • The Drowned Deep • Durin's Beard • Gabil-munz • Harâzgund • The Lost Palace • The Lost Treasury • Narag-kheleb Zelem-melek: Baiúrz-mur • The Broad Ways • Budkhul-tharâkh • Bult-kâr • Chamber of Mazarbul • Gabil-hul • Gabil-mamach • Gazatu-ru • The Great Hall of Durin • Hall of Flowing Water • Khufdul-tharâkh • The Lonely Span • Mezer-serej • Mudmul-charâf • Sejer-tharâkh • Skrithûrz-ulíma • Terraced Halls • The Twenty-first Hall: East Arch • The Twenty-first Hall: North Arch • The Twenty-first Hall: South Arch • The Twenty-first Hall: West Arch • Uzbad-bakân • The Wide Halls Zirakzigil: The Broken Cleft • Durin's Bane • Mukhful Thurkh • The Searchers' Eyrie	Landmarks:
Interiors:	Auctioneer's Bunker • The Chamber of Command • Crafting Bunker • The Heart of Fire • The Peaceful Path • Vault-keeper's Bunker	Interiors:
Dungeons:	Crafting: Bult-kâr • Fulz-zahar • Gharâf-fehem • Mekeb-faham • Mekeb-farak • Sejer-tharâkh / Quest: Buzun-ghâr • Chamber of Wheels • Nud-heden • The Old Silvertine City	Dungeons:
Instances:	Mines of Moria: Dark Delvings • Fil Gashan • Filikul • Forges of Khazad-dûm • Forgotten Treasury • Skûmfil • The Grand Stair • The Sixteenth Hall • The Vile Maw / Scourge of Khazad-dûm: Dâr Narbugud • Halls of Crafting • Lumul-Nar • Nala-dûm / Wells of Langflood: Askâd-mazal / Skirmishes: The Battle of the Deep-way • Battle of the Twenty-first Hall • Battle of the Way of Smiths / Quest: Azanarukâr • The Cooling Chamber • The Drowned Treasury • Lost Archive • Rushdurinul • Zurr-thurkh	Instances: