Whitcleft

Whitcleft
Type:	Mountain Pass
Region:	Misty Mountains
Area:	Bruinen Source East
Location:	[23.4S, 0.2E]

Whitcleft is a landmark within Bruinen Source East, in the Misty Mountains. ^{[23.4S, 0.2E]}

This very narrow cleft runs between the western and eastern Bruinen Source. Halfway up the steep trail is a small encampment, at a levelled pocket in the mountain face, now occupied by a handful of goblins.

Quests

Involving:

• [50] Implements of War - Captain

Mission:

• [...] Mission: The Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Chapter 5

Deeds

These deeds can be advanced by travelling Whitcleft:

• The High Passes

Creatures

These creatures are encountered at this location:

Landscape:

• Snowreap Skirmisher
• Snowreap Shield-bearer

Mission:

• Scouting Goblin-skirmisher
• Scouting Goblin-warrior
• Scouting Warg

Lore

The difficult yet unassuming pass of Whitcleft turned out to be the downfall of one of the larger dwarf-realms within the northern reaches of the Misty Mountains. Believing that the goblins to the north would resolutely struggle to find or dig secret tunnels into their well-defended mines to attack, the dwarves to the south neglected the defence of this pass.

A particularly cunning goblin chieftain led a horde of his people through the pass of Whitcleft in the deep of winter, forcing them to dig their way through at a terrible cost in lives -- but using this approach he came upon the dwarves from the surface unexpectedly and trapped them underground through the long months that followed, driving most to their death through starvation or futile attempts to escape the siege.

So many goblins froze during the siege that they too were decimated by it, but Durin's Folk were never able to return to their lost stronghold. — Deed

Gallery

• 
  Entrance from Bruinen Source East
• 
  The southern entrance at High Crag