RotWK: HD Edition mod for Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch King

Erebor, The Lonely Mountain

Dark fills the room, and your fireplace dies down as shadows are lost; still, the Dwarves play on. And suddenly first one and then another begin to sing as they play, deep-throated singing of the Dwarves in the deep places of their ancient homes.

The world was young, the mountains green,

No stain yet on the Moon was seen,

No words were laid on stream or stone

When Durin woke and walked alone.

Their story began long ago, deprived of Gundabad, most sacred of the Dwarf Holds and fleeing from Dwarrowdelf, oldest of the Dwarf Holds. Gundabad had been defiled by Orcs in the Second Age; afterwards, an ancient terror filled the halls of Khazad-dûm and during the Third Age, Durin VI was slain, refugees spoke of fire wreathed in shadow.

The world is grey, the mountains old,

The forge's fire is ashen-cold;

No harp is wrung, no hammer falls:

The darkness dwells in Durin's halls;

A people homeless, Durin's Folk became estranged from kin, scattering across Wilderland; seeking new homes in small, distant outposts (1). King Thráin I settled beyond Mirkwood, in an ancient mining colony in a lonely mountain far away, where he sought to build his kingdom. The diaspora had caused his people to become fractured, and soon the throne removed to the rich Grey Mountains.

The wind was on the withered heath,

But in the forest stirred no leaf:

In new mountain holds, the Dwarves believed their excess of wealth was safe, but cold winds blew from the north, a plague of dragons descended. In the Wars of the Dwarves and Dragons (2), mansion after mansion they fell to ruin. King Thror, unable to unite his people, wide and distant were they, removed what little gold remained and reestablished the throne at the Lonely Mountain.

The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells,

While hammers fell like ringing bells

In places deep, where dark things sleep,

In hollow halls beneath the fells

The Lonely Mountain dominates the eastern lands of Rhovanion, its dark head three and a half kilometres tall, rising from valleys of pine forests. Its body, formed like a star, six ridges stretched far into fertile grasslands watered by high mountain springs.

Goblets they carved there for themselves

And harps of gold; where no man delves

There lay they long, and many a song

Was sung unheard by men or elves.

Erebor became the greatest kingdom in Middle-earth. Stronghold of Thror, King under the Mountain, now the mightiest of the Dwarf Lords. The beauty of this fortress city was legendary. Its wealth lay in the great seams of gold quartz running like rivers through jade marble. And may the heart of the mountain, the Arkenstone, unite all Dwarves in defence of this Dwarf Hold.

Her fate unknown, the Arkenstone

What was stolen, must be returned

With wealth and generosity, Thror traded for elite mannish archers who settled in the merry town of Dale, a booming centre of trade and craft. Thror built high watchtowers on surrounding hills and made a lasting friendship with ravens who would bring him news.

A sickness of the mind grew on Thror, becoming possessive of his hoarded gold. The tale of vast hoards of treasure undoubtedly reached the Withered Heath, where the greediest and strongest of dragons soon took flight towards Erebor.

The pines were roaring on the height,

The winds were moaning in the night.

Fortress Map Features

Experience Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, a new map for The Age of the Ring.

• A full Erebor fortress, with BfME1 style build plots, living cities, working gates, upgradable walls, the Arkenstone and more!
• The City of Dale, with capturable buildings, including the new capturable building the Rhovanion Estate.
• Ravenhill, offering a large sight power and bonuses for the Erebor player.
• Terrain based on Thorin's map.
• Relive the scenes from The Hobbit.
• Brand new AotR original features and art.
• Special thanks to the Ridder Clan mod for the great Erebor statues. Go over and follow them, they have a high quality unique and inspired gameplay and art. You can also view my first Erebor map, with NewErr's epic statues and incredible gate as a brilliant trailer put together my NewErr and myself.

Notes on the Text

^{1. These outposts are to the north and east of Moria in the ranges of the Misty Mountains and the Grey Mountains.}

^{2. In these wars the Dwarves employed the nearby Northmen, kin and ancestors of the Rohirrim to aid in protection.}

Thanks for reading!

Map, new Erebor 3d art and article by Matt Alexi. Erebor Gate Statues by NewErr. Dale 3d art by Mathijs. Many thanks to the rest of the AotR team for art, scripts and code.