Tyrn Gorthad

Tyrn Gorthad
Region:	Cardolan
Dungeon(s):	Catacombs of Dol Ernil
Landmark(s):	Calarphel Dol Ernil
Connecting Area(s):	Ruddymore Southern Andrath Southern Old Forest
Levels:	Mainly 24 - 30
Resource tier:	Journeyman

Tyrn Gorthad (Sindarin for Barrow-downs) is an area within Cardolan in the western region.

Though it was once the capital of the princes of Cardolan, seated at Dol Ernil, it now is occupied by the shambling dead after the Witch-king of Angmar deviled the tombs of the Dúnedain with fell spirits from Angmar, abandoned and uninhabitable to the living.

This is the southernmost portion of the Barrow-downs; the northern stretches are considered part of the Bree-lands. As such, the landscape is much the same here, though even more draped in fog and hillier overall.

The passage to Sarch Vorn, the Black Grave is located in this area, through a narrow pass to a wooden bridge leading into the Southern Old Forest. ^{[37.7S, 52.3W]}

Locations

Calarphel

Dol Ernil

Catacombs of Dol Ernil

Landmarks

• Calarphel
• Dol Ernil

Dungeons

• Catacombs of Dol Ernil

NPCs

See "list of NPCs" within the area

NPC	Function	Coords
Arnail	Quest	[42.5S, 48.5W]
Faradan	Quest	[43.7S, 51.2W]
Nan Mabli	Quest	[42.5S, 48.5W]

Quests

See "starting quests" and the landmarks for more quests
Starting:

• [25] A Curse Not Lifted
• [25] Trophy-hunter: Withergrip's Finger-bone
• [26] Trophy-hunter: Penthúl's Skull
• [26] Spirits Fell and Terrible

[28] A Pair of Empty Tombs

• [27] Book 3, Chapter 8: The Last Days of Cardolan

Involving:

• [25] The Standing Stones of Tyrn Gorthad
• [26] Chapter 7: The Breaking of Arnor

Creatures

The following creatures are found within this area:

• Barrow-crawler
• Barrow-wight
• Bloated Barrow-crawler
• Craban Scavenger
• Gaunt-man
• Penthúl
• Wandering Barrow-spirit
• Withergrip

Critters

• Copper-back Bullfrog
• Rabbit
• Red-coat Fox
• Ribbon Snake

Lore

When they were part of Cardolan and the kingdom was at its height, the Barrow-downs were governed by lords of Cardolan, the family of Prince Amondir. They were the Lords of Tyrn Gorthad and Keepers of the Barrows. When King Artandil was slain, Amondir was made prince and his seat at Dol Ernil became the capital of Cardolan.

Among the hills and tombs is the Ashmound, a monument to those killed by the Great Plague in 1636 of the Third Age. ^{[44.1S, 51.7W]}

The numerous dead were burned rather than buried, their ashes brought here and piled together.

Maps

Gallery

• 

  Just a couple of the many barrows

• 

  Eerie, white bark trees

• 

  Ruins of a forgotten tower

• 

  The makeshift bridge to Sarch Vorn

• 

  Ruins on the border of Ruddymore

• 

  Standing stones dot the landscape

• 

  Tyrn Gorthad from the Ruddymore mountain ridge