Mordor in Flames¶

“You have returned to Nurn to discover that the Black Hand has been here before you.”

When you arrive Talion and Celembrimbor will chat and come to the conclusion that The Black Hand has been here. Being the sentimental dope that he is, Talion’s first instinct is to go check up on Marwen and Lithariel, so fast-travel to the Harad Basin Forge Tower, then head east to check on them. When Talion arrives, he’ll hear more disembodied voices, and see signs of a struggle… or perhaps a hasty retreat and and angry search? More disembodied voices talk, and Gollum shows up to present you with a crown-another relic of Celembrimbor’s that triggers a flash-back.

When you wake up, Gollum will spaz out at you, and Celembrimbor will chastize the demented creature, who then runs off. Celembrimbor gives a cryptic warning, and Talion responds defiantly. Apparently living up to his boast, Talion appears back in Udun, mounted on a Caragor. When you’re back in control you’ll be given the goal of reaching The Black Gate-a fitting place for our showdown with The Black Hand. Ride north past your engaged army until you reach a cluster of your Warchiefs, who will be challenged by a similar number of Uruk Captains, led by the “First Talon of the Hand”, who is a Defender Uruk with some nasty attacks. He can be killed instantly with Stealth Finishers, but in open conflict, you’re not likely to get the chance. Fortunately, he’s not immune to any attack forms. Now is a great time for skills like Storm of Urfael, Flame of Azkar, and Shadow of Acharn, but they’re not necessary. Just try to let your Warchiefs (who are probably individually stronger than the Hand’s Talons) occupy most of your foes, and pick off convenient targets.

Once they’re all dead, grab their Runes, then head north to reach the Black Gate. Talion and Celembrimbor will talk about their goals as the final fight approaches-being victorious here will deprive Sauron the opportunity to manifest in physical form, to the benefit of all Middle Earth. Talion, being somewhat more short-sighted, just wants his revenge, and then the respite of death. When you reach the wall turn west and climb the scaffolding until you reach the quest marker, at which point Talion will perform a climbing feat he wasn’t apparently capable of before in the game-scaling The Black Wall. At the top of which you’ll confront The Black Hand, who blasts us with energy, triggering another Celembrimbor flash-back.

Apparently Celembrimbor attempted the whole “raise an Uruk army and challenge Sauron” thing before, but, whether by freak accident or underestimation of his foe and the ring he created, he failed. The Black hand will offer Celembrimbor another chance to stand at his side, and when he’s refused, The Black Hand will slit his throat and absorb Celembrimbor and manifest as Sauron. Execute a series of QTEs to thwart Sauron and deprive him of his physical body. The game will end with Talion having a change of heart, asking Celembrimbor if he could truly rest easy knowing he had the power to continue the fight against Sauron, but did nothing. As he stares at the malevolent flames of Mount Doom, he declare it’s time for a new Ring of Power.

The Hand is Severed

Kill the Black Hand.

50

Master of Mordor

One has walked in Mordor.

The main game is over, but after the credits roll you’ll find yourself back where you started the game-on the Udun Foothills Forge Tower. You now have the freedom to tackle whatever side missions you may have not completed earlier, as well as hunt Trophies and kill Uruks for Runes. Of course, there’s also the “Lord of the Hunt” and “The Bright Lord” DLC.