Sarnúr Expeditionary

In Beleriand, during the First Age of Middle-earth, the Dwarves built two great mansions, or holds, in the Blue Mountains. Tumunzahar and Gabilgathol they were called in the tongue of the Dwarves; these are rendered Hollowbold and Mickleburg in the Common Speech. To the Elves, they were Nogrod and Belegost, respectively. When Beleriand was destroyed during the War of Wrath, these two fortresses were ruined. Yet the Tale of Years tells us that in circa IIA 40, “many Dwarves leaving their old cities in Ered Luin [went] to Moria and [swelled] its number”. The forty-year delay may indicate that the cities were not utterly destroyed or submerged. Turbine seems to have built on this detail that with the idea that perhaps the ruins of one of these great dwarf-mansions has survived into the Third Age, and has even been rediscovered and reoccupied, in this case by dwarves of the Dourhand clan. They are said to have renamed the ruins of their old city Sarnúr (Sindarin for Deep-stone), though we are not told whether Sarnúr might be Nogrod or Belegost.

This adventurous dwarf, one of Dwalin’s thanes, has been granted leave to set out to discover and explore the ancient ruins of Ered Luin. With the expedition beginning in late autumn, the snow already lies thickly piled high up in the mountains, so he is clad in a warm hauberk, fur-lined gloves and boots, and fine, soft fur cloak decorated with dropped bird-feathers. His journey through the high peaks is arduous, but the thought of seeing the ancient halls of his forefathers fills his belly with fire. After exploring many difficult vales and passes, he spots it at last: an ancient Dwarf-ruin, steep carven stairs clinging to a soaring mountainside. It seems goblins and wicked dwarves have claimed these ruins, but our explorer is not daunted. Coming at last through great peril and hardship to the top of the stairs, he finds a great metal gate and enters without fear or hesitation. Could the cavernous space stretching before him be the remnant of Tumunzahar, the Hollowbold of old?

It’s been blazing hot in my neck of the woods lately (well, hot by our standards!) so I felt like doing a cold-weather outfit. I’ve been reading about the possible locations of the old dwarf-ruins of Nogrod and Belegost lately (or more specifically, Mount Dolmed’s possible placement), and a brave explorer searching for them admid the snowy peaks of the Ered Luin seemed the way to go for today’s outfit. I love this hauberk and I’ve used it before; I love how it looks dyed sea blue and I was pleased to find that it can combine really nicely with some of the Mammutti pieces.

• Shoulders: Ceremonial Mammutti Shoulder Guards (crafted — metalsmith T5/Lossoth reputation), gold
• Back: Feathered-cloak of the North-men (bartered — skirmish camp cosmetics quartermaster/cosmetic items), yellow
• Chest: Dwarf-make Hauberk (purchased — Thorin’s Hall outfit vendor), sea blue
• Hands: Ceremonial Mammutti Gloves (crafted — metalsmith T5/Lossoth reputation), gold
• Feet: Silver-thread Slippers (bartered — skirmish camp cosmetics quartermaster/cosmetic clothing), yellow

Tips: The recipes for the Mammutti armour pieces are available from the Lossoth heavy armour vendor in the Great Lodge of Sûri-kylä and can be purchased once you have reached Friend status (for the gloves and shoulders; the other pieces require higher standing to purchase). The recipes allow you to select either a statted armour version or a cosmetic version. They do require special ingredients that are only available from the Lossoth vendors in the Great Lodge, so if you want to craft these pieces, you do have to travel to Sûri-kylä to purchase the required items.

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