SPOILERS: Clarification Needed on Vol III Book 3

Let me say that Turbine has done an excellent job with the latest book for Update 2! The references to Gondor were enjoyable, the housing trophies were a big bonus, the gold reward at the end was nice, and the cinematic narrated by Candaith (R.I.P) was sad and hopeful at the same time, and the lone-lands music added cream on the cake. But there are two points that I need clarification on.

1.) Was Candaith, our lore-monkey, the only ranger that died in the 3.3.10 dungeon?

2.) How was Saruman playing his role in distracting the Grey Company? It sounds like Nar was Saruman in disguise, but I don't know. Was Nar controlled by Saruman?

These answers have been buzzing in my head, and I would like to know them eventually. Thanks =)

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Originally Posted by Gamlieldar

2.) How was Saruman playing his role in distracting the Grey Company? It sounds like Nar was Saruman in disguise, but I don't know. Was Nar controlled by Saruman?

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I was confused the first time I went through this as well. Apparently when you talk to Nar at the end you get other options besides just to do the 'current quest' options. There are other things you can ask him that apparently reveal that Saruman controlls Nar.

I wish that they would actually put that in the Current Quest text because I skipped over the other stuff because I thought it was stuff for other quests.

CANDAITH DIED? He was such an idiot, I'm glad. What, did he stub his toe on the edge of a table and get a horrible infection? Or maybe he died trying to get his bow back when a third grader stole it for the fiftieth time?

Oh, but like, may he rest in peace and stuff.

(I hope Calenglad is next).

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Originally Posted by Chrysoprase

CANDAITH DIED? He was such an idiot, I'm glad. What, did he stub his toe on the edge of a table and get a horrible infection? Or maybe he died trying to get his bow back when a third grader stole it for the fiftieth time?

Oh, but like, may he rest in peace and stuff.

(I hope Calenglad is next).

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I liked Candaith, he knew how to spin a tale. We know Halbarad's fate already. And I have a bad feeling about Dagoras, simply because he's the cheerful one. Calenglad will probably go in the dramatic finale of the next book - the Blue Lady hinted things would not end well for him on the journey as I recall, and then she'll be all "I told you so" when we do her epilogue.

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Originally Posted by Lomeloth

I liked Candaith, he knew how to spin a tale. We know Halbarad's fate already. And I have a bad feeling about Dagoras, simply because he's the cheerful one. Calenglad will probably go in the dramatic finale of the next book - the Blue Lady hinted things would not end well for him on the journey as I recall, and then she'll be all "I told you so" when we do her epilogue.

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Dagoras is the only ranger I don't hate, because I can't remember anything monumentally incompetent that he has done. I don't know what it is, but the rangers in this game are so stupid. I know it's because Turbine doesn't want them to be too powerful so you don't have anything to do, but that means it's a whole bunch of rangers "twisting their ankles" and "oops I dropped my sword fight the boss for me," and "go do a million things that I am too lazy to do," and in the end they just look bad. I took a two-year break from the game and there's a reason I can still remember most of these rangers by name. It's because I spent so many hours smashing my head against the desk over them.

I don't remember what happened to Halbarad, the last thing I remember was him making me fight orcs while he flirted with Nellie Boskins.

And I'll never forgive Candaith for "omg getting an injury," pretending more like it, then locking my group in with that troll to die with no escape. Jerk.

Anyway, this is off topic.

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Originally Posted by Chrysoprase

I don't remember what happened to Halbarad, the last thing I remember was him making me fight orcs while he flirted with Nellie Boskins.

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I didn't mean we knew it in game yet. I meant we the players (who've read the books) know.

I liked Candaith, if only for the fact that he got us into awesome session plays that took place in the past. Who will do that now? :( And man, I still want Isildur's cloak!

I also lost my bet that Golodir, Calenglad, or Mincham would die first. But I would not be surprised if at least one of them died. And yea... we know what happens to Halbarad... *sigh*

As for Nar, he wasn't so much possessed by him as he was charmed by his voice. As, you know, everyone else is. And since he is in the middle of nowhere, he never got the update that Saruman was revealed to be evil. He's also very old, and so easily manipulated.

I would not be surprised if Saruman helped him become even more out there, however.

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Originally Posted by Gamlieldar

1.) Was Candaith, our lore-monkey, the only ranger that died in the 3.3.10 dungeon?

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An unnamed Ranger (i.e. a redshirt) died there as well.

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Originally Posted by Laire

As for Nar, he wasn't so much possessed by him as he was charmed by his voice. As, you know, everyone else is. And since he is in the middle of nowhere, he never got the update that Saruman was revealed to be evil. He's also very old, and so easily manipulated.

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Given his mental state charming him must've been a great feat even for Saruman :) Or maybe he did the same kind of trick he did with Théoden.

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Dagoras is the only ranger I don't hate, because I can't remember anything monumentally incompetent that he has done.

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Dagoras is bonkers! He's like a mad uncle. I love him. He was the one who went to scout the Dunlending camp the moment the GC arrived and got himself locked in a cage, with some fairly amusing dialogue. His request that you gather up clothing "but not all covered in blood and brains and stuff" always makes me smile. (I can't remember the exact wording.)

I did this again last night; 4 or 5 unnamed rangers died, as well as Candaith.

I was quite shocked at Candaith dying. I did notice some other Rangers dead as well, on my second run through I counted 4 "Corpse of Ranger"(s), no named ones.

The last bit with the talking to Nar & the cinematic was not done well imho. Some people missed the reveal about Saruman due to the information being bypassed if they misclicked.

The final cinematic should also have been more about Candaith, his past deeds etc, his loss to the Grey Company. It doesnt help that they have used the same voice actor for all the Rangers, I had no idea who was speaking.

Finally ofc we in the EU didnt get the final cinematic at all at first *cough*.

I should have been happy about the Epic Book. The first hint of Gondor & the turn back towards the main storyline. But I had a faint sense of disapointment after it was done. Maybe it was the pacing, or that the fights didnt seem epic, or no main enemy to defeat, I dont know what was lacking but something felt "off".

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Originally Posted by Lomeloth

Calenglad will probably go in the dramatic finale of the next book - the Blue Lady hinted things would not end well for him on the journey as I recall, and then she'll be all "I told you so" when we do her epilogue.

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Calenglad and his fate is set in stone by Tolkien. You can read about Calenglad in the LOTRs. I believe the only rangers mentioned by name are Calenglad and Halbarad. Both have a role to play

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Originally Posted by Yula_the_Mighty

Calenglad and his fate is set in stone by Tolkien. You can read about Calenglad in the LOTRs. I believe the only rangers mentioned by name are Calenglad and Halbarad. Both have a role to play

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Don't you mean Calenhad, the beacon of Gondor? I'm pretty sure Halbarad is the only Ranger we know by name.

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Originally Posted by Reniannen

Don't you mean Calenhad, the beacon of Gondor? I'm pretty sure Halbarad is the only Ranger we know by name.

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Correct. Halbarad, outside of Aragorn's ancestors (like his mother's father Dirhael), is the only Ranger we know about. I think Yula was mistaking Calenglad for Halbarad :) Other than Halbarad and a couple rangers in session play (again, Aragorn's ancestors...) all the Rangers are made up by Turbine.

I've been wondering about the deed in the cave. We find all these bits and pieces and I thought finding them all would solve what they were. Whats the deal with the small bag and whatnot? I thought maybe it was evidence of Gollum but wasnt sure.

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Originally Posted by Kheld_UK

I should have been happy about the Epic Book. The first hint of Gondor & the turn back towards the main storyline. But I had a faint sense of disapointment after it was done. Maybe it was the pacing, or that the fights didnt seem epic, or no main enemy to defeat, I dont know what was lacking but something felt "off".

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Remember, we're only on Book 3 of this Volume. I'd imagine that things will get more epic as we move further into the Volume and get closer to Isengard.

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Originally Posted by Happyfish

I've been wondering about the deed in the cave. We find all these bits and pieces and I thought finding them all would solve what they were. Whats the deal with the small bag and whatnot? I thought maybe it was evidence of Gollum but wasnt sure.

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Well, it's an exploration deed, I'd think the unlucky adventurer is hardly something you were supposed to find, it's just a bunch of things you stumbled upon on your way through the caves.

And if Gollum was ever there, which he likely wasn't, it would've been way before us, right now Gollum is on the other side of the Mountains.

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Originally Posted by Happyfish

I've been wondering about the deed in the cave. We find all these bits and pieces and I thought finding them all would solve what they were.

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They are significant. I'm glad you found them all. ;)

MoL

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Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

They are significant. I'm glad you found them all. ;)

MoL

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Hmm, well without knowing the secret, it seems 4 of them are more significant than the other 2.

The gap in the bridge and Mud-eater's lair both seem to be directly related to the quest at hand while you're in the cave. The other 4 do not...so they're the clues to some story that we will hopefully get "the rest of" some day:

• An ancient, unlucky explorer...
• A discarded pouch...
• An unfinished dinner...and
• A disturbed earthen slope.

I recall there being something repugnant about the pouch, but don't remember the exact wording. I remember the slope looking like something heavy was dragged up or down it. I don't remember anything significant about the descriptions of the explorer or meal other than what their names reveal.

Hmm..... :)

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Originally Posted by Lothran

Hmm, well without knowing the secret, it seems 4 of them are more significant than the other 2.

The gap in the bridge and Mud-eater's lair both seem to be directly related to the quest at hand while you're in the cave. The other 4 do not...so they're the clues to some story that we will hopefully get "the rest of" some day:

• An ancient, unlucky explorer...
• A discarded pouch...
• An unfinished dinner...and
• A disturbed earthen slope.

I recall there being something repugnant about the pouch, but don't remember the exact wording. I remember the slope looking like something heavy was dragged up or down it. I don't remember anything significant about the descriptions of the explorer or meal other than what their names reveal.

Hmm..... :)

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The slope is disturbed because someone was dragging something on it. ;)

Mud-eater's been most likely eating a rat when he caught a smell of something different - then he ambushed the Dunlending and dragged him to his lair. :)

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Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

They are significant. I'm glad you found them all. ;)

MoL

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Since you're following this thread, I just wanted to say how much I was impressed by Volume 3 - it is definitely my favorite. By tying directly into Book events you made the story more significant, but the fact that it is the First LOTR adaptation to feature the Grey Company at all makes it even more exciting. Not only is the story itself engaging, the phasing technology and unique voiceover for each line add additional realism to it. Also, you made me care for all those Rangers whom I grew to know, so the losses really sink now. I was really worried about Corunir at first, then was relieved to find him okay, but then...

I only have 2 complaints about it. First is that I couldn't find a Reflecting Pool in Enedwaith to replay some chapters and the second is that Update 3 doesn't include Book 4 judging by Bulroarer. Ah well, cannot have ALL the good things...

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Originally Posted by Malachi108

I only have 2 complaints about it. First is that I couldn't find a Reflecting Pool in Enedwaith to replay some chapters and the second is that Update 3 doesn't include Book 4 judging by Bulroarer. Ah well, cannot have ALL the good things...

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It is looking like every other update has a new Epic Book.

Turbine changed the naming of major content additions from Books to Updates so that they could add new stuff without being held up waiting for the Book to be ready.

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Originally Posted by Malachi108

Since you're following this thread, I just wanted to say how much I was impressed by Volume 3 - it is definitely my favorite.

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I'm glad you're enjoying it! I've been wanting to do the story of the Grey Company for a long time now, and there's some neat stuff ahead. No Reflecting Pool in Enedwaith sounds like a bug to me.

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Originally Posted by Yula_the_Mighty

Turbine changed the naming of major content additions from Books to Updates so that they could add new stuff without being held up waiting for the Book to be ready.

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It also means that the Epic Books can be a little beefier than if they had to come along with every update.

MoL

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Originally Posted by Malachi108

I only have 2 complaints about it. First is that I couldn't find a Reflecting Pool in Enedwaith to replay some chapters and the second is that Update 3 doesn't include Book 4 judging by Bulroarer. Ah well, cannot have ALL the good things...

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I'm not sure about this, but you might try the "Chronicle of Events". (I think that's what it is called). It's a book on a table at the "Spire of Meeting" in Rivendell. It won't have everything, but they might have added the session play to it. I haven't had a chance to look, but will try tonight.

As for a reflection pool, I'll have to look, but a quick Google Search didn't turn up anything other then other people not being able to find one.

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Originally Posted by Beladore

Dagoras is bonkers! He's like a mad uncle. I love him. He was the one who went to scout the Dunlending camp the moment the GC arrived and got himself locked in a cage, with some fairly amusing dialogue. His request that you gather up clothing "but not all covered in blood and brains and stuff" always makes me smile. (I can't remember the exact wording.)

I did this again last night; 4 or 5 unnamed rangers died, as well as Candaith.

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He sounds adorable. Finally a ranger who I don't want to strangle.

I haven't even ranted about how dumb Mincham is yet. "Hey, I'll have my wife and kid walk across this dangerous land full of dead junk and orcs with no protection because I need to get it on! Lol oops they died! Rats."

I had to look up what happened to Halbarad since I didn't remember his name being mentioned in the books. Actually, I don't think his story is too sad. He got it on with Nellie Boskins and got to carry the banner into battle, that's pretty sweet.