Welcome to the first of many Developer Diary installments discussing monster play. We’ve kept the wraps on this aspect of the production for long enough, so here’s your first look behind the curtain at the geography of your monster playground!

Hope is not yet lost in the Gramsfoot. An Elf, Lainedhel, discontent with Elrond’s choice to trust the power of the Elven-ring Vilya to defend Rivendell from the host pressing through the North Downs into the Ettenmoors, has rallied the Free Peoples of Eriador to the Ettenmoors. Their fortress in the southeast stands as a bastion of Light against the ever-growing darkness.

Places in the Ettenmoors

At the southeast edge of the Ettenmoors, the Free Peoples established a fortress. The unwavering stand taken at the forest’s edge gives Angmar’s army little chance to force the Free Peoples from the holding. It is here that the staging ground for the war against the North begins. The fortress is of Elven make and stands out as a beautiful reminder of the lands that lay south of the forsaken and twisted area of the Ettenmoors.

Nestled far to the east, surrounded by a deep trench with only a few paths into its heart, Ost Ringdyr stands as the main keep of the Free Peoples. It is from here that the leaders of the Free Peoples army have reached out to the Eagles and Bears in the north to stand against the tide of Darkness swelling from Angmar.

Atop a rise to the west of Ost Ringdyr, but not yet to the eastern bank of the Hoarwell, you will find Tirith Rhaw’s silhouette rising above the treeline. This tower affords the Free Peoples a long view of the forest, and allows them to see down to the waterway.

Central to the Ettenmoors and positioned on an island in the middle of the HoarwellRiver, Tol Ascarnen is a defensible stronghold. Bridges lead to the island from the east and from the west, and forces may be able to find purchase through the river. To the north, a magnificent waterfall towers high above the fortress at the foothills of the MistyMountains and Arador’s End.

While searching the north for signs of the enemy, at the behest of Elrond, Lainedhel discovered both the Hobbit village and a force from Angmar pressing through the Ettenmoors. Upon returning to Rivendell, Lainedhal made his report on the forces he discovered far to the north. Elrond saw the forces as no threat to Rivendell and wished no one to interfere with their plans, but the innocence of the Hobbits spoke to the Elf’s heart, so he organized a force to enter the Ettenmoors and protect the Little Folk from the ravening hordes of Angmar.

The Hobbits of Hoarhallow are primarily gardeners and hunters. A goodly number were also builders, and until the arrival of Angmar’s army they had a thriving lumber camp in the Grimwood. Now the camp is constantly under siege as the Free Peoples and Angmar fight for control of the location and the rich wood that it supplies.

A grim shadow is cast by this ruined tower at the foot of the Steps of Gram. From within the walls of this tower, Angmar’s forces send raiding forces into the Ettenmoors in search of food and sport. Lugazag is located very near the Hobbits’ village at Hoarhallow, and serves as the main threat to the furry-footed folk.

Long ago, it may have been a troll-hollow; now, the Isendeep is a contested area, where the Free Peoples fight Angmar’s army for precious metal resources. Its location near the goblin village of Grothum makes holding the location difficult for the Free Peoples. Besides the threat from goblins and other lurking beasts of the mountains, one must be on the watch for trolls at all times.

MountGram, once the dwelling-place of Golfimbul and now of the Snowreap goblins, serves as the true home for the goblins of Grothum. Moving from the relative safety of the great mountain to the border of the Isendeep was by the order of the mighty warriors of Angmar, and like the good servants they are, the goblins obeyed it. The village stands far to the northeast of the Hobbit village, above the mountain source of the mighty Hoarwell.

In the far west, the rise and fall of the moors creates natural channels through the landscape. At the crest of a mighty hill, Angmar’s army discovered the shell of a fortress that once belonged to Rhudaur. Digging into the ruins, they fortified their position within and now hold this as their stronghold, standing in opposition to the Free Peoples at OstRingdyr.

Wooden walls, Warg-guardians, and a war-host from Angmar rest at the foot of MountGram. From here, the great Uruk War-tyrant Akúlhun commands the forces of Angmar. The fortress is well-guarded and nearly impenetrable. From this base of power, War-leaders launch their assaults against the Free Peoples and seek to drive them from the land to make ready their war-machines for an invasion of lower Eriador.