A few days ago, I found myself in a fellowship working my way through the quest chain at Ivorel's Camp in the Scuttledells. Now despite the fact that the group was made up of kinsfolk and allies, it had the dynamic of the most dysfunctional PUG. I think its something about the Scuttledells themselves that seems to purge all sense of navigation and orderly progress. We stumbled about without a coherent plan, frequently got lost, even splitting up to maximise the chaos. In some respects it was like being in an episode of Scooby-Doo (which beggars the question, who was Velma Dinkley). It was immense fun and reminded me of how the game use to be about a year ago, when fellowships were far more common.

The final quest in the chain was a solo instance entitled "A Cornered Foe". Gollum is holed up in a cave in the Scuttledells and imminently about to be captured and taken back to Dol Guldur. For some reason, this is a bad thing, so you find yourself involved in a rescue attempt. Now this is far from an outstanding instance and the task in hand is hardly taxing. But as it involves Gollum, it instantly become a lot more enjoyable. I never tracked down the quest in the Tal Bruinen, where he allegedly pops up in Volume I, and took great pleasure in discovering his pool and Banksy style wall art in Goblin town.