The new addition to The Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO), Legacy of Morgoth, is causing a real stir. The first zone, Ambarul, shown off during a recent developer stream. It is reported that the expansion will take players to little-known areas of Middle-earth. The release will take place in autumn 2024.

The first zone of Ambarul

In Ambarul, players will encounter a unique combination of arid foothills and swampy terrain. The zone attracts the Umbaroo Corsairs, who trapped by an invisible wall in the eastern part of Umbaroole.

The scenario presented in the stream is about the need to create a society that combines four different cultures. Including the Ambaruli people. The Ambaruli are a farming society known for their crucial role in sustaining the region’s armies.

Ambarul, a region in the southern part of Middle Earth, had contact with Númenórean explorers in the Second Age. It may also have ruled by the Gondorian kings and later by the Stewards. In The Lord of the Rings Online, Ambarul is unique in that it experiences sandstorms, which are rare in other biomes. The region also has a regular rain cycle and changes in day and night.

In the preview of The Legacy of Morgoth, LotRO shows the unique landscape of the region. It differs from the typical desert climate. The environment has an arid biome reminiscent of the western regions of the Eurasian steppe. There are palm trees and patches of grass that add visual diversity. The developers are also introducing new enemy types, including a jackal-like creature described in the scenario as a ‘coyote’.

This is just the first of many Legacy of Morgoth previews planned by LotRO. Over the next month, they will broadcast the gameplay in a scenario that demonstrates the four new regions that will appear with the expansion.