Main Gate - p. 1 | Chapter 1 LotR: War in the North Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Warning! On this and the next levels (but only within Chapter 1) you can come across Westernesse Artifacts. These items are hidden in barrels and crates, that's why you should destroy them all. Acquiring the artifact will result in getting a [SIDE QUEST] Work of Westernesse. When you acquire three artifacts you will be able to make an item from them (one of the blacksmiths in Chapter 3 or 5 can do it for you).

Fornost: Find and disrupt enemy forces

Run up the stairs and defeat two goblins. Try to hit them with a powerful blow only when there's a yellow triangle above the enemy - you will get more experience points. In front of the stairs that curve to the left and lead straight into the fortress courtyard, there's a flower on the left. Andriel can pick up flowers and mushrooms to make potions, magic cakes and other things.

Upstairs you'll defeat some goblins. On the right and left there are crates and barrels (there is also a flower on the right) you can destroy. Do it, as inside you will find potions, arrows or bolts (depending on the character you play), coins and other valuable items.

Around the courtyard, under the walls there are even more crates and barrels (there's a flower next to them). Search every corner and then use the glowing portal to pass to further part of the place. In the majority of cases using the glowing portal also means that the game is saved automatically, but it doesn't always happen.

In front of you, in the building, three archers will appear. Practice aiming here. After entering the aiming mode you can zoom even closer by pressing an appropriate button. Remember to always aim at the head when you use a ranged weapon - it will inflict more damage. If you kill an enemy this way, you will receive the bonus in the form of experience points. Three warriors and two archers will appear on the left. Deal with them after getting rid of the first group.

Once in a while new warriors will come running from various directions. Fight with them, keeping in mind that you should use the stronger attacks when a yellow triangle appears above the opponent's head. Soon you'll hear an announcement telling you the gate has been opened. Press the indicated button to look at it. It leads to the further part of the level, but first, finish off four warriors who came through it.

Before you pass to the further part of the level, search this place thoroughly. There's a flower near the square garden on the right. Near the stairs leading to the courtyard, and also on the other side - to the left of the short stairs that lead to the interior of the building - there are crates and barrels. Destroy them, but don't go inside the building yet, go right instead. If you play as Eradan, you will notice some foot tracks on the right.

Follow them. You will enter through the hole in the wall to a small room. On the left there is a room with crates and barrels to destroy and also a chest you should open. Take all the items.

Keep following the tracks, destroying crates and barrels on the way. After a while you will notice that the foot tracks turn to the left and lead to a wall. If you approach the wall with Eradan, you will discover a hiding place with items. This is the first [SECRET 1/5 for Eradan] on this level (at this point, it's worth mentioning that each character has his/her own secrets).

Go back to the stairs leading inside the building and go in. Search the room on the right. You will find there a mushroom and a chest you should search. Return to the larger room and destroy all barrels and crates located there. You will find another mushroom among the ones in the right corner. Go out through the hole in the wall on the left.

Reach the fragment of the destroyed wall and crash some barrels and crates. To the right there is an entrance to the other building through the hole in the wall, but for now run behind the wall. You will find a plant, a chest to be searched, crates and barrels there.

Now, go inside using the hole in the wall. On the right there will be a chest you can search and a crate to destroy, while on the left there's a mushroom.

If you play as Farin, you will notice some golden cracks in the wall on the left. Break it (don't attack, just examine it - the dwarf will destroy the wall himself) and you will discover the [SECRET 2/5 for Farin]. There is a golden treasure chest behind the wall.

Leave this place and turn left. Next to the low wall there's a flower, while a bit further there is an open gate leading to the further part of the level. Go there and climb the stairs on the left. You'll come across some crates and a mushroom. Run following the only path. Soon the floor will collapse you will find yourself in the underground tunnels. You will receive a new objective of the quest.

Fornost: Escape the underground tunnels

Go out of the hall. There are two secrets for two characters in the second hall. If you play as Andriel, then look at the wall on the right. Press the use key so that the Elf will cast a spell. It will turn out that you can go through the wall - it's the [SECRET 3/5 for Andriel]. Behind the wall there are crates and barrels to be destroyed, a mushroom and a chest.

If you play as Farin, you will notice some cracks in the wall on the left. Break the wall and discover the [SECRET 4/5 for Farin]. You will find a heap of items, crate and barrel.

A small goblin will attack you here. It's a very weak enemy. Defeat him and go down the stairs on the left. Destroy crates and barrels in front of you, and then use the glowing portal between the stairs on the left.

The first difficult fight awaits you here. Small goblins will come out from all directions, which means there will be a lot of them. Such a large number might pose a real threat. It's pointless to use a ranged weapon, as you won't have enough arrows or bolts to kill all enemies. That's why it's best to use melee attacks. It's also a great opportunity to get a lot of experience points by performing special attacks.

Don't forget about the special abilities. Andriel's healing sphere will be especially useful here. She casts it once in a while. If you play as the Elf, then use this special ability as often as possible. We suggest fighting behind one of the pillars - this way, it'll be hard for the archers, who will come running to this place, to aim. There will be five archers together, though they will appear one after another.

If one of yours companions falls in the battle, quickly run up to them and hold the use key. This action will get them back on their feet. You'll also unlock the [ACHIEVEMENT] Where there's life, there's hope if you do it. Remember that you mustn't be hit with any powerful blow while bringing your companions back to life, because the process will be stopped. The same applies to a situation when you fall, so keep your fingers crossed for your companions and hope they manage to get you back on your feet as well.

Kill the goblins till they stop appearing. Then run up to five archers. It's vital that you attack them together with your companions. Kill the enemies and then start searching the place. Begin with the second stairs. Behind the ones on the right there's a heap of items. You will come across such heaps quite often and they are worth searching - you will find potions, arrows, bolts and other useful things.

Run to the first stairs (you used the glowing portal between them), On the way you'll find another heap of items, the next by the pillar (on the right there is a mushroom), while near the stairs on the left - one more. Destroy all barrels and crates on the way and also pick up items left by the enemies.

Run up the second stairs. If you hold the appropriate button, the entrance leading to the further part of the level will be shown. But first, search this place. Begin with examining the area where the abovementioned gate is located. There's a barrel, crate and heap of items on the right.

You're likely to find the Westernesse Artifact in one of the crates or barrels will - acquiring this item begins the [SIDE QUEST] Work of Westernesse. Cross the closest bridge. There will be a heap of the items you should search in front of you. Then run left.

In one of the walls on the right the [SECRET 5/5 for Eradan] is hidden. At the end of the path you'll get to a golden treasure chest. If you search five such chests, you will unlock the [ACHIEVEMENT] Expert Treasure-hunter.

There are some mushrooms on the other end of the tunnel. You can collect them if you want to. Go to the tunnel exit. There is a glowing portal in front of you, but before you use it, search a small room on the right. There are two barrels and a chest.