This is a LOTRO scavenger hunt hobby that I started doing in July, 2020 when the Evernight server was practically unplayable for weeks on end. I play on other servers, too, but they're mostly low level characters there, and I had played the Shire quests so many times already that the game had lost its appeal. I decided to read the book instead while waiting for Evernight to come back online. But I get lost visually while reading Tolkien, utterly confused by so many different names and places that I need the illustrations to help me visually anchor the who, what and where for my own comprehension. LOTRO turned out to be the perfect solution for me. And then it just plain became fun to scout out locations, props and NPC "actors" for the LOTR/LOTRO narrated illustration movie I'm making out of Phil Dragash's work. Because I limited myself to only what I could find within LOTRO, the illustrations are at times a bit quirky, and I'm no artist. But I LOVE THIS GAME!! And I hope LOTRO never ends.
3-9-21: I did some editing for clarity and to move some images into the order in which they belong. I've completed about two hours worth of video as of this writing, (and that's just the first two narrated chapters of LOTR, lol), but the video is sectioned out in 12-14 minute segments, mostly because listening to somebody talk for an hour straight puts me to sleep. And that's where the section names came from, mostly for my own quick find reference.
Some Illustrations from Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Party Section 1.1.1 The Old Gaffer
Chapter 2 is particularly challenging to illustrate because the narration is anchored at Bag End with Gandalf and Frodo, and yet it needs to be free to visually weave the time and place for characters and events of note. I used a couple of different devices there, but the "The Mind's Eye" point of view ended up becoming one of my favorites, mostly because the living room entry way of Bag End looks just like an eyeball.
Some Illustrations from Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past Section 1.2.1 Frodo Wanders, Sam Wonders
Frodo studied the map of the Shire
Sam wonders about dragons, walking trees, and elves
Thank you, Laurel, you're very kind. I still have some polishing work to do on the end of Chapter 2, but I've got a few more jpgs for that chapter that I'd like to share.
Section 1.2.4 Smeagol
Hobbits don't cheat! (Riddles in the Dark)
Section 1.2.5 Gollum
My Precious, My Justification
Felegoth prison interrogation
Gollum refused to say anything more
Trying to discover Bilbo's whereabouts, Gollum had travelled to Esgaroth
Under cover of darkness, Gollum listened in the streets of Dale
Gollum had made his way to Mordor. He was captured, tortured for information, and then released before Aragorn found him.
He knows where Isildur fell. He knows where Gollum found his ring. He knows that it is a great ring... He knows that it is the One. And he has heard of the Shire. I know, this is a repeated illustration, but it brings it full circle.... like a ring... oh, did I say that? lol -- Elebraen
This illustration rightly belongs in section 1.1.2 The Party, but I only just recently discovered the perfect wagon for this classic scene while I was questing in Pelagir.
Small hobbit children ran after the cart all through Hobbiton.
This is wonderful! Looking forward to the next installments!
...when in doubt...twirl...
Crickhollow: Wisa/Weesa, Elvisa/Elvysa and many other Elv's, Reaboj, Sunberry, Altheah, Ooma's and some others. Landroval: Sunnberry, Raynbel, Starberry, Burraberry, Sugarree, Magnolia, and a bunch of others too. Anor: Elviska, Wisa, Elvisa, and more. Laurelin: Sunberry, Wisaberry, Elvisa Gwaihir: Sunberry. Belegaer: Sunberry.
Sirannon: Sunberry. Treebeard: Wisa,Moonberry, Sunberry, Wisaberry, Elvisa and more. Brandywine: Raynberry
This is wonderful! Looking forward to the next installments!
Thank you This illustration hobby has become like catnip to me. I have grown to thoroughly love Bag End now that there's some signs of life having been in it. I can look at the "photographs" and think, oh yeah, someone used to live here, lol.
If you would like to see how the videos turned out (narration included), you can visit the shared folder Illustrating LOTR with LOTRO
The mp4 in the .zip file is about 10 to 13 minutes long, and they contain a lot more illustrations and animations for each section than I posted on this thread.
Merry and Fredegar drive the last wagon to Crickhollow. Falco went home after lunch. Pippin stayed behind.
Frodo's Plan
Lobelia had brought a complete inventory with her, and had come to make sure that nothing she had paid for had been carried off. And she wanted the keys.
Pippin and Sam piled the three backpacks on the porch.
Frodo wandered round the familiar rooms.
At sunset, Frodo walked down to the gate at the bottom of the path.
Last edited by Elebraen; Jul 10 2021 at 01:05 AM.
Reason: edited illustration