The Ravaging of Cardolan

Deed Lore

Find lost relics and lore of the realm of Cardolan

To complete this deed perform the following objective(s)

Discover the Oath Plaque

Though worn and weathered by time, you are able to make out a few words inscribed upon this plaque. They seem to allude to the oaths that were sworn here hundreds of years ago, when the Hill-folk were forced to submit to Dúnedain kings.

Discover the Stone Seat

The stone walls of this throne room were once decorated with rich tapestries, and lush carpets lined the floors. From here ruled the princes, and one regent-princess, of Cardolan.

Discover the Deadmount Obelisk

Though weathered by time, you can make out faint writing on the large obelisk. It speaks of Artandil and Malgun, kings who met atop this hill, and who felled each other with simultaneous fatal blows.

Thence fell Artandil and Malgun…

Dread thorn pierces heart,

War branch striketh eye.

Raven wine fast streaming,

Deadmount corpse heavy

Battle swellers wholly slaughtered,

Forest slinkers hunger-appeased.

Discover the Ashmound

This site is a memorial to the victims of the Great Plague of 1636. Nearly all occupants of Tharbad, Dol Ernil, and Gond Orchal succumbed to the plague, their bodies requiring burning instead of the usual barrow internment. Fearful of the sickness passing to the living, the bodies were burned in huge pyres without the usual ceremonies. It is said that the sky above Cardolan was grey and that ash fell for days upon the land.

The ashes of the victims were gathered and transported here, mixed together and dumped by the grieving survivors, who then piled stones atop the mound, in hopes of keeping angry spirits at rest. There is no record of the names of the dead, for they were too many in number, and most of those who put the bodies to the torch fell themselves to the illness.

Discover the Scroll of Luilloth

In those days, a fog rolled over the land, from whence emerged a plague of the Dead who slew all before them. Most fearsome of these was a wraith-like figure known as Hithrengor, the Grey Fear, who terrorized Dol Ernil. Luilloth brought her young son Ostir to Fornost for his protection while her husband, Prince Ostecthel, hunted down the source of the evil.

Prince Ostecthel strode into the fog a mighty warrior in his prime... only to later stumble out looking as though he had aged decades. With gasping words he revealed that the evil had been banished and that the land was safe once more. Aggrieved but proud, Luilloth returned and served as princess-regent until Ostir came of age. The people loved her, for she was good and kind, and ruled wisely.

But Ostecthel's words were soon proven wrong! The great evil was not gone, for it returned in Cardolan's darkest hour. Called away to the defence of Amon Sûl, Prince Ostir rode north with much of his household. In his absence, the Grey Fear attacked once more, and Ostir returned to find Dol Ernil merely a ruined shell, its people scattered or slaughtered, and Luilloth nowhere to be found.

Once more, the Dead rose and ravaged Cardolan, while Ostir and his few remaining knights fell back, retreating north. Is it not known where Luilloth had been, but tales say that when Ostir and his army did not return, she set out to aid them. She found only her son's loyal canine howling among the Downs, and Luilloth knew then that Ostir was dead, for Astoryn would never leave his master's side.

Luilloth vowed to put an end to the torments and ravages visited upon the land and her family. She and Astoryn went north to seek guidance, following whispers of some great power that dwelt beneath the sinister bows of the forest. She was never seen again, but the ravening Dead quieted soon after and vanished back into the mists.

The fate of Princess Luilloth is unknown, but those she left behind built this statue in honour of her sacrifice

Discover the Levee Plaque

Carvings on this ancient stonework speak of Prince Amlaith, first born son of King Eärendur, rebuilding the levees in 777.

Rewards

5 LOTRO Points

<name>, Seeker of the Vanished Realm

1,000 Virtue Experience

Increased Reputation with Dúnedain of Cardolan ( 700 )

Additional Information

This deed is available at level 1.
This deed contributes to the Explorer of Cardolan meta-deed.
The Scroll of Luilloth objective is completed by a series of quests starting with Rhiangar at Stonecrop Encampment. ^{[54.3S, 40.2W]} The final quest needed for this deed is Quest:The Deciphered Scroll.

Locations

Coordinates	Directions / Description
[53.5S, 53.5W]	Oath Plaque is on the second floor at Gaervarad
[39.6S, 50.6W]	Stone Seat at Dol Ernil throne room
[44.3S, 29.2W]	Deadmount Obelisk; click the plaque on the south side.
[44.1S, 51.7W]	Ashmound Memorial
[54.3S, 40.2W]	Complete quest chain for Scroll of Luilloth starting at Rhiangar up to Quest:The Deciphered Scroll
[56.7S, 37.4W]	The Levee Plaque; Tharbad-east of the south part of the bridge, under some arches