The History of the Dúnedain

Deed Lore

Explore the history of the Dúnedain Rangers of the North.

To complete this deed perform the following objective(s)

Use The Dúnedain Statue

The worn but noble visage engraved on the statue you discovered belongs to Aranarth, the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain after the fall of Arthedain.

The statue was probably created some time after the wars that destroyed the old Kingdom, most likely by the Rangers who hold Aranarth in great reverence.

It was in good repair suggesting that they tend to it to this day. The memories of the Dúnedain are long, and their respect for the dead borders on obsession at times.

Use The Ancient Inscription

The runes you found seemed to be very old indeed, and in style of ancient Arnorian script that few would readily recognize in these times. While you made out only a little of it, the inscription is likely an oath of fealty taken by Dúnedain to their lords.

The Men of those days put great store in ceremony and oaths, and believed that to break one would bring a terrible curse upon the oathbreaker.

Few Men put much store in ritual and ceremony these days -- save for the Rangers of the North, who are rumoured to have descended from those very Dúnedain who once ruled Arnor. Perhaps they are the ones who have protected the inscription from the wear of time?

Use The Ancient Cairn

The cairn is rather unlike many that the Men of old built, but you recalled a tale of an old battle...

In the time after the fall of Arnor and the defeat of Angmar by the host of Gondor, few men remained in the north. Those who remained loyal to the old kings banded together under the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain and became the forebears of the Rangers who walk these lands today, or so it is rumoured.

In those days there were still evil Men and worse who walked these lands and there was a battle few Men alive today remember. Though the Dúnedain were victorious, their numbers dwindled. The cairn you have found is most likely the resting place of the men who died in that battle, built hurriedly and in secret.

Use The Ancient Crest

You found a carving with an old Arnorian symbol upon it. It appeared to be the crest of the ancient kingdom of Arthedain.

The ruins of that kingdom stretch for miles to the south-west and north. Bree-town itself was built upon a crossroads between Arthedain and its sister kingdom Cardolan to the east. Once they were all one great kingdom, stretching all across the north, but the folly of Men first sundered them, then set them against each other until one after another they fell over the long years of the Third Age.

There are some folk who still remember the tales of Arthedain, but you suspect that the crest may be of particular importance to the Rangers, for it is said that they are descended from that bloodline.

Use Ancient Altar

The strange altar you found appeared to be Arnorian in origin, with signs that some gathering or ritual had taken place there recently.

You've heard rumours that Rangers here in the north occasionally gather for a ceremony to declare the coming of age of one of their number, where they induct the young man or woman into their ranks by way of an oath to the old kingdoms.

Use The Ancient Obelisk

You found an old obelisk out among the Arnorian ruins, seemingly newer than the ruins themselves, with the names of many Men carved upon it. Your only guess is that it must be some sort of memorial.

The design and the style of the names you saw there suggest that it was built by the Dúnedain, and given their reverence for their ancestors there is every reason to believe that it may be a memorial for their fallen.

Some of the names seemed to have been added recently, suggesting that the Rangers are somehow involved...

Rewards

10 LOTRO Points

30 Marks

2,000 Virtue Experience

Increased Reputation with Men of Bree ( 500 )

Additional Information

This deed is available at level 1.
This deed contributes to the Explorer of Bree-land meta-deed.
Using any of the above objects will start this deed.
This deed sometimes fail to activate for higher level characters, and some lower level. If this happens, some workarounds are available:

Log out of the character and log in again.
Exit the game completely and start again.
Stand near one of the objects and attack nearby enemies. The object should become usable, and the deed will open normally once it is used. If this fails, repeat 1 and 2.
Otherwise, file a ticket to have a GM unlock the deed.
See lotro.com for further info.

Locations

Coordinates	Directions / Description
[33.4S, 48.8W]	The Dúnedain Statue is found within Ost Baranor
[30.2S, 49.1W]	The Ancient Inscription is found within the Crumbled Court
[27.1S, 46.6W]	The Ancient Cairn is found within the Blackwold's Roost
[30.7S, 52.6W]	The Ancient Crest is found in the Beggar's Alley within Bree
[31.2S, 44.9W]	Ancient Altar is found within the Marshwater Fort
[29.5S, 45.8W]	The Ancient Obelisk is found within the Woodsedge Ruins