Welkin-Lofts

Search for Warlord Dushtalbuk: Although Chapter 9 of the Epic does include an area located in the far southern reaches of Welkin-lofts, I will not be reviewing it in this article. Look for it along with Chapter 10, Chapter 11, and Epilogue in their own post. Instead, most of the zone is catered towards hunting down the leader of the hobgoblins as he ventures south through the Father's Path, the ancient dwarvish road that cuts through the mountain. Your first assignment would be setting up camp. Horin, Dreri, and Nath provide you with a list of things to do including tearing down the abandoned hobgoblin camp, setting up tents, killing nearby wargs, gathering meat from rams, and lighting up a series of campfires. With Ausma out of commission with her wound from battle, you are again tasked to track down and assist her three scouts - Kyrstig, Molkha, and Kluso. Each one will give you a report of what they found (in a private instance). Then Horin decides on what to do with it.

"By the haft from Drasa's axe! These seem to be from the Second Age!" - Dreari

 

Molkha's Report: When you reach Molka down in the valley, he informs you of "A Troubling Report" with the tale of Dushtalbuk, Loknashra, and Ugurad the Harbinger offering up their newly crafted dwarf wights to Foinith the Pale and Grimdoth the Bitter. The Lord and Lady of Flogalith are born from Hrimil and are "siblings to Vethug Wintermind." They accept the gifts to be used as "nest guardians" but are still weary of any proper Alliance. As Horin relates: "Sauron's torture of Hrimil had made his former servants her hated enemies. I remember what she did to Karazgar, the Weeping Warrior!" Horin thinks it would be wise to put an end to the drakes and Molkha spends no time in providing the means to do it. After having a successful run, Molkha relates, "I could hear those bombs from here! BOOM! I am so glad Ausma introduced me to these. And to you, of course! But especially to the bombs." You are also tasked to disrupt the actions of the Angmarim at Mullach Cagar. Small red crystals, like the one you found in Stonejaws, are filled with spirits that need to be shattered. You also find an unbreakable staff that you take upon yourself to carry since "you are the most powerful among us, and we don't have time to cart it off to your Wizard-friend Gandalf!" 

"My blood boils to hear how they use our fallen dwarves as bargaining chips in their games of state-craft." - Horin

 

Kluso's Report: Nearby Bazan-medan, the gate to the Clovengap, Kluso informs you of "The Tipping Point" between the factions. The three are at it again, but this time they are attempting to establish diplomacy with the ice giants! They offer them Angmarim treasures and Hobgoblin tributes. Meanwhile, orcs suddenly appear to wage war with the hobgoblins. "I heard this stomping of many heavy feet!" Horin takes it upon himself to do a little "dwarf-diplomacy" and offer to Chieftain Hrungrod a chance of peace with the dwarves. However, his actions fail when the truth of how it was actually the dwarves that forced them out of the mountain all those years ago. You are eventually captured and lose the unique staff to Loknashra. After some time passes, you are able to break free from their clutches and escape the keep of Thyrstath.

 
"Hah! The Unyielding? The Overwhelming? Neither was true! How do they come up with these titles?" - Horin

 

Krystig's Report: Near the top of the mountain at Ibdekh-burzu, the Thing-fold, Krystig has something important to tell you between Loknashra and Ugurad the Harbinger in "A Clandestine Meeting." It appears that they are discussing "The Secret Ritual" to call forth Drugoth from the staff you discovered from their camp. The first thing you need to do is complete a couple of tasks around the area. There are some beasts at Grymmclúd, or the Roaring Stones, that need to be taken care of. Angmarims are also attacking the warding runes that are protecting the fortress from enemy forces. Once you handle those two things and a few other activities, Hórin calls you forth to interrupt this event outside Bagud-dum. Although your attempt to disrupt the ritual and defeat Ugurad appears to be successful, Drugoth still manages to break free and take Loknashra as his host. She runs out of the building screaming into the unknown.

 
"Where could she have gone? Well, if she lives, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. There are other matters to attend to for now." - Horin

 

Horin's Report: You have reached the end of the Father's Path, and Warlord Dushtalbúk must be ahead. Horin asks you to follow close beside him as the both of you sneak up past the hobgoblin army. It looks like the hobgoblins have Gorgar the Ruthless cornered, but Hrimil Frost-heart shows whose really in command. With the help of her Dragon's Voice, she takes charge of the entire army. Surprisingly, Loknashra shows up to mock them of their situation. Although Drugoth did not take control of her body entirely, his influence kept her immune of Hrimil's influence. "The Angmarim wanted nothing more than a vessel for their master, the dwarves want to slaughter us and take our home, and now the Dragon has taken away our free will. I have been betrayed at every turn, and am now surrounded by enemies. So be it!" You quickly tail it back to the dwarf army at the Gate of Uzdarulzahar and blow the horn for battle.

 
"You forget yourself, Warlord. I rule Gundabad!" - Hrímil Frost-heart

2021-12-24