Exploring Middle-earth: The not-so-scary Village of Scary

  

For a village named ‘Scary’, any stalwart adventurer in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar worth his scabbard and boots would expect it to harbor a festering cesspool of rabid trolls, lecherous orcs or any of the more undesirable creatures that skulk in the realm’s bowels. Unfortunately, any adventurer expecting that and more will find themselves disappointed to the core as the village of Scary is in fact, not that scary at all – rather, it’s a peaceful little habitat of hobbits living out their lives.

Aptly-named, the village is a safe haven for those of sword, bow or axe looking for a place to rest. The villagers are friendly enough, too busy with their work at the stone quarry found at the east of Scary to be inhospitable. But for those looking for a challenge, and refuse to believe that the Village of Scary isn’t named as such for nothing, the labyrinth of twisting caves underneath the Scary Hills should prove enough of a worthy adversary.

While the name certainly sounds like some in-joke the legendary Tolkien may have come up with in his writings, the source material for the Village of Scary is in fact quite vague, giving this part of the Shire a token description once or twice in the series. Hence the team over at Codemasters gave the village its own sense of mystery, to spice things up a bit. It’s also to note that the caves in Scary Hills have been mentioned by Tolkien as the hiding place of hobbits from the oppressive Men during the War of the Ring.

It’s always good to see that Tolkien’s masterpiece is being given the digital treatment with care and consideration. Updates as we get them!

  

For a village named ‘Scary’, any stalwart adventurer in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar worth his scabbard and boots would expect it to harbor a festering cesspool of rabid trolls, lecherous orcs or any of the more undesirable creatures that skulk in the realm’s bowels. Unfortunately, any adventurer expecting that and more will find themselves disappointed to the core as the village of Scary is in fact, not that scary at all – rather, it’s a peaceful little habitat of hobbits living out their lives.

Aptly-named, the village is a safe haven for those of sword, bow or axe looking for a place to rest. The villagers are friendly enough, too busy with their work at the stone quarry found at the east of Scary to be inhospitable. But for those looking for a challenge, and refuse to believe that the Village of Scary isn’t named as such for nothing, the labyrinth of twisting caves underneath the Scary Hills should prove enough of a worthy adversary.

While the name certainly sounds like some in-joke the legendary Tolkien may have come up with in his writings, the source material for the Village of Scary is in fact quite vague, giving this part of the Shire a token description once or twice in the series. Hence the team over at Codemasters gave the village its own sense of mystery, to spice things up a bit. It’s also to note that the caves in Scary Hills have been mentioned by Tolkien as the hiding place of hobbits from the oppressive Men during the War of the Ring.

It’s always good to see that Tolkien’s masterpiece is being given the digital treatment with care and consideration. Updates as we get them!