Barrow-downs

The Barrow-downs or Tyrn Gorthad are a set of downs south-east of the Old Forest, once the sacred land of Arnor in the regions of Cardolan and Arthedain before the Witch King of Angmar desecrated and burned it. This is a dark and gloomy place covered day and night by a dense fog that contains many barrows of the old kings of Arnor. It is not a nice region to live in, but a fearless treasure hunter can find many treasures (and indeed get rich) in the old ruins and barrows. The Barrow-downs are bordered by the Old Forest to the West and by Eriador on all other sides.

Upon entering the Barrow-downs, you will get the achievement "The Hills of the Dead".

Variants Edit

Standard: Normal Barrow-downs biome.

Hills: Larger hills.

Forest Hills: Larger hills with many trees.

Forest: Barrow-downs with many more trees.

Dead Oak Forest: Forest with many leafless oak trees.

Structures Edit

The Barrow-Downs biome contains two structures among the broken piles of ruined bricks:

• Ruined Dunedain Towers - These towers are often found in Eriador. They have several empty, hole-covered floors and a stone chest on the top floor.
• Barrow-Downs Barrow - This structure is exclusive to the Barrow-downs. The barrow looks like a hill (similar to the Hobbit Hole) but contains a small room inside with a stone treasure chest. Barrow-wights guard the chest, so be wary! This chest contains many valuable things, including barrow-blades, the occasional Mithril nugget and, rarely (as some have reported) one might find a Mithril tool or a piece of Mithril Armour.

Mobs Edit

For some reason, the Barrow-downs contain all the normal animals, including wild boars instead of pigs, even though the animals were apparently driven out by the Barrow-wights. However, no birds or butterflies spawn.

• Barrow-Wight - Deadly wraiths that spawn at night aboveground, and in their barrows whenever the mounds within are disturbed. Because of fear of these wights, few venture into these lands, and some say that when the Fog comes, the wights venture out from their graves....

VegetationEdit

The Barrow-downs contain a few sparse trees that can be oak, spruce, birch or, most commonly, dead variants. There is an increased amount of double tall grass here, which once could also grow inside the barrows. Flowers grow at a mediocre rate in these desolate hills.