U38 – Corsairs of Umbar

Official Release Notes

Update 39 Notes

Chapter 8, 1 through 5 was added to the Song of Waves and Wind. If you’re caught up with the story you’ll get a mail from Caebar with 2 housing decorations and you’ll be able to resume the main story with him at the Harbour-warden’s Tower in Umbar Baharbel.

New Weekly Wrapper: Challenge of Umbar- Complete 6 instances. This one is bestowed by the Makhda Khorbo Quartermaster at Bej Magha (19.9S, 105.7W) – a small village near Khutra. This new hub has the gear traders for the raid sets.

You’re 140 – where do you start?

• Whether you have or haven’t started the new Main Quest arc, dubbed “A Song of Waves and Wind“, back in King’s Gondor: travel to Minas Tirith (Midsummer) and talk to Glindor the Herald by the Stable.
  • You don’t have to purchase King’s Gondor if you already bought the Umbar expansion
  • You’ll find my notes on King’s Gondor – Update 36 here
• If you just want to see a bit of Umbar without being level cap, you can visit the capital city, Umbar Baharbel via the Housing Teleport item! There are no level or sub type restrictions.

What’s new

There’s a new level cap and that means new virtue cap (90*) and new LI caps. An important change was done to Enhancement runes: all quality runes will be usable to upgrade your tracery slots and their quality will only affect how many tiers each opens upon being consumed. Can’t err now… unless you use a +4 on a slot that can only be upgraded 2 or 3 tiers.

*VXP: You'll receive one cap increment at level 141 (88) and then another at 143 (90). That is all for now. And you don't need to reforge your LIs at 140, wait till you reach level 141 and save gold.

New Faction and currency: we’ll get to know more about the Keepers of the Coins and throughout the Shield Isles and Umbar you’ll receive reputation with the Citizens of Umbar Baharbêl and Umbari Támi tokens (750 is the cap, and they’re character bound).

• You’ll start as Outsider and you’ll need 15k rep to reach Neutral – Friend is the current max status.

New dockmasters have been added to the game. Open your map and find the sail boat icon to discover these new locations.

If you’re interested in taking a stroll thru Umbar, the easiest to reach dockmasters are in Pelargir or Dol Amroth (King’s Gondor versions).

Crafting: vocations have been separated from their original trios. You can now individually select what you want to level by talking to the Master of Apprentices in any Craft Hall. And there’s a new crafting tier and guild tier related to Umbar. The recipe scrolls dropping as loot from landscape mobs made a comeback!

• If the changes to crafting are meaningful enough I may make a different in-depth post and link it here.

A new use for Premium Housing Writs: find the Umbari Quartermasters or the Housing Furnisher in Umbar Baharbel to trade 2 to 3 Writs for Crafting Stations, Stablemasters & Dockmasters for your house! No rep needed.

There are gear changes and stat changes but I honestly rather you read that from the release notes linked atop this page. You can also check out the LOTRO Ratings Calculator to help you out.

Update 38.1 added more regional quests to the Hunter’s Expedition Camp in the Cape of Umbar (23.2S, 94.6W) and 10 new missions to the Bloody Eagle Tavern in the City of Umbar (19.6S, 97.5W). 

Shortest way to the Bloody Eagle Tavern: teleport to Halrax, where you appear right next to its dockmaster, use the travel to Umbar’s dockmaster, short ride straight ahead from there.

• Wenda Cranebill (VIP Services NPC) now has been addded to Dol Amroth (King’s Gondor), Lond Cirion, Halrax and Umbar Baharbel.
• Task boards can now be found in most towns in Western King’s Gondor and Outer Gondor in addition to the ones already in the Shield Isles and Umbar. Must be 145 to use them, tho.

Update 38.2 added a Weekly Wrapper for dailies and an Umbari Tami for Embers weekly quest. The Umbar Quartermaster is the bestower for both quests and can easily be found in the Bloody Eagle Tavern and at the Hunter Camp in Aradar (see below under Cape of Umbar dailies for location).

Tips & Dailies

Main Quest: Chapter 5.1 Gather your crew!

You’re given lots of options and you don’t need to do ALL of them to your crew to advance the quest. So I figured I’d let you know what’s involved or where to find them so you can choose whether to do it or skip it:

Candidates to join you abord the Wave-hunter

• Lady Nauriel*: find her in her Hall in Ost Arndir (Pinnath Gelin). She’ll send you to the Armoury which is in the lower level of that same tower.
  • Indoor path: follow the stairs down into the dining room below the throne, go all the way back into the kitchens and then take the door to the right.
  • Outdoor path: there is a door that leads directly into the armory at 53.4S, 84.2W
• Legolas and Gimli* – Gimli is by the docks at Lond Cirion, he sends you to Elestren in Melgobas, who will require some materials (everything can be found near the town).
• Sirgon* in his Manor in West Pelargir; his task doesn’t make you leave the home.
• Sigileth* – talk to Duinhir in Morlad (Blackwood Vale) and he’ll send you to the Dark door – on the way you’ll find Rovalang (55S, 66.3W), you’ll do some killing and then Sigileth will make her appearance.
• Jajax* – go to Dol Amroth and talk to Prince Imrahil. You’ll find Jajax outside Abedec’s Watch where his brother Dax is held hostage.
• Elladan and Elrohir – go to Ost Arndir (Pinnath Gelin) and talk to Tolochir near the stables to find their location. One is at 53.7S, 88.5W and the other at 56.8S, 96.3W.
• Leafshade – the Ent at Tumbamale asks you to find a Limlinn bird named Gwallang that flew away on a ship. Visit Sirgon’s Manor to solve this! There is a cage not far from Sírgon himself, by a door that you’ll need to approach to trigger the quest. And afterwards you’ll have to make your way back to the grove.
• Rossaran – Talk to Bruidis in Tadrent; she’ll mark a spot outside Makham Mijann camp where you’ll find him – and after gathering some items you’ll go back to Tadrent for their decision.
• Galengam is at his shop in Calembel and his request doesn’t take you out of the town.
• Gangur Farwend – a guard by Furukzahar’s entrance sends you to Zarsatrad where you’ll find him. He’ll ask you to kill some foes but everything can be found near the outpost.

The ones marked with * are those you must talk to before sailing away. The rest are optional.

“The Isles” Quests (Optional Companions)

The main quest will mark on the map those objectives related to the companions that are ‘compulsory’ for the story, but if you were thorough and recruited everyone available for your journey, those optional companions won’t be marked in your map after your arrival to the Shield Isles. So, while Rossaran & Bruidis don’t leave the original area, where to find the rest?

Bel Inzul – Repeatables

• The ‘Bounty-board” across the Dockmaster offers 5 daily bounties, rewarding an assortment of goodies that include some Allegiance Rep, 20 embers and Greater Potions of Morale & Power (which are currently unobtainable outside of these quests).
• Quest [A Curious Hammer] – Find the Halrax Rogue at 11.9S, 122.2W for an extra quest line with Ithurga.

Chapter 5.7 – Travel to the Cape of Umbar

No, you don’t need to swim, haha. As long as you are 135 you can just catch a swift boat ride to Jax Phanâl from Halrax, and upon landing on the coast walk a bit north to find the boon companions.

Cape of Umbar (Tips and dailies)

Jax Phanal

• Quest [More than Muscle]: aggro one of the Stinging Sea-fly Swarm near the town and let it hit you as much as you can take until it completes the quest. If you can’t heal yourself enough to wait for all 6 infections then just get 1 – kill the swarm – regen out of combat – aggro another – rinse&repeat.
• NPC Tagar: Completing his quests opens a Daily: [The Lingering Threat] – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami.
• NPC Keteph, Cook: completing his quest opens a Daily [Demand Absent Supply] – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami.
  • There is a deed called Great Aspirations tied to helping him 5 times and its completion in turn changes the daily to [Burgeoning Business]. This one also opens its own deed to help 5 more times. The last iteration of the quest is called Continuous Supply.

Rakhatab

• NPC Elbatra: completing her quest opens a Daily [That Special Shine] – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami.
• NPC Tankho: completing his quests opens a Daily [Sap for Ships and Wood for Fire] – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami.

Aradar’s Hunter Expedition Camp (23.2S, 94.6W)

• NPC Tevurin offers one daily up front (Claws for Excitement) and a second one after completing his quests related to Crocodiles (Crocodile Hunting) – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami (each).
• NPC Abido, completing his quests related to boars opens up the daily Boar Hunters
• NPC Khanai has the daily A Penchant for Buffalo after you complete her buffalo related quests – Reward: Small Gift of Uri (100 Allegiance Points) and 3 Umbari Tami (each)

The 8 daily quests listed above count towards the newly implemented Weekly Wrapper shown below. Proto-bounties do not count.

Main Quest: Chapter 6.5

“The City” (Optional Crew)

Pre-requirement: you have to have completed their corresponding "The Isles" quest (see above) or they won't trigger for you in Umbar Baharbel.

By the East Stable (20.5S, 96.4W)

At Shoreward Stone (22.6S, 96.4W)

At Rovers’ Yard (20.2S, 97.8W)

Fleet-fast (23.8S, 97.3W)

After Bruidis’ quest, he’s at the Lower Ward (21.1S, 97.9W)

At Bor Sema, Observatory (16.7S, 95.2W)

Thank you to Crell who helped me find Gwallang!

The Reveal: Driftwood

I won’t include any photos in this case, to preserve this spoiler. There is a companion that can join your crew later than the others, when you reach the town of Halrax in the Shield Isles. This NPC’s quests are affected by an old choice you may not even remember making, regarding a certain Ranger of the Grey Company.

• If you had chosen the “Halros should go” quest back during level 65: Driftwood’s location in Umbar Baharbel is at the Dawn Market, outside of the East Gate.
• If you had chosen the “Halros should stay” quest back during level 65: Driftwood’s location in Umbar Baharbel, his location will be in the Tor-gardens area.

Deed Tips

Umbar completionist rewards a horse + warsteed cosmetics & a title. It requires completing the Deeds of the Shield Isles (Quest, Explorer & Slayer Deed), the Deeds of the Cape of Umbar (Quest, Explorer & Slayer Deed) and the Deeds of Umbar Baharbel (Quest & Explorer Deed).

Cape of Umbar:

• Lion & Beast Deed can be done together – but don’t forget your Wound Potions!
• Salamander & Worm deed is fixed and the crocodiles you need to kill for the Hunter Camp daily, count towards it!

Umbar Baharbel

Facts And Fictions Quest

After completing Ch. 8.5 of the Song of Waves and Wind you’ll find a few new quests scattered about the Capital. One of these is bestowed by Tafikh in the Upper Ward (17.6S, 98.6W) and it requires you to play a game similar to a True or False where the quest will enter a 15 min cooldown if you make the wrong choice. Below are the answers, so skip it if you’d rather try your hand at it.

• Round 1: Belondor’s spouse – False (Red)
• Round 2: Azagath’s rounds – True (Green)
• Round 3: Abashal stone – False (Red)
• Round 4: Sea-stone mutiny’s beginning – False (Red)
• Round 5: Meaning of Umbar – True (Green)

Allegiances

Umbar added 2 new Allegiances: the Ledger-Keepers and the Order of the Eagle. You are able to join both and you should. Currently, each one caps at level 20. Their respective currencies cap at 500 and are not account wide.

The Ledger-Keepers

They maintain the Books of Balance informing the Kindred of the Coins of the honour gained by the citizens of Umbar Baharbêl.

• After joining the Allegiance, talk to Zarai, bestower of Chapter 1, at Jax Phanal (14.3S, 113.8).
  • Pre-requirements: complete [The Golden Dwarf] quest.
• Barterer: Aphamar (Umbar Upper Ward – 17.4S, 98.3W) offers a couple cosmetic swords, a pet, housing deco & rare gear (chest, gloves & legs)
• Currently you can only complete 20 levels but the maximum will be 30.
• Rewards from its progression (subject to change):
  • Tier 5 – 1 Shattered Umbari Token
  • Tier 10 – Title & Return Skill
  • Tier 15 – Ornamental Sea-Jewel Display (housing deco)
  • Tier 20 – 1 Cracked Umbari Token
  • Tier 25 – 2 Cook Recipes + Title.
  • Tier 30 – Jewellery Selection Box + Sea-farer’s Essence Box ilvl 520 (these rings can also be bartered for 75 tokens at each faction representative)

The Order of the Eagle

Concern over the new powers in control of Umbar and their potential relationship to the Haradrim or the Church of the All-Seeing cause the Order of the Eagle to maintain watch over threats from Umbar Baharbêl.

• After joining the Allegiance, talk to Harthabor at Jax Phanal (14S, 114W), to get Chapter 1.
  • No quest pre-requirements for this, just join.
• Barterers are both Harthabor (Jax Phanal) and Achardis (in Umbar Baharbel 20.2S, 96.7W); they offer: pet, housing deco and rare gear (head, shoulders and boots)
• Currently you can only complete 10 levels but the maximum will be 30.
• Rewards from its progression (subject to change):
  • Tier 5 – 1 Shattered Umbari Token
  • Tier 10 – Title & Return Skill
  • Tier 15 – Captivating Sea-Stone Display
  • Tier 20 – 1 Cracked Umbari Token
  • Tier 25 – 2 Cook recipes + Title.
  • A Jewellery Selection Box + Sea-farer’s Essence Box ilvl 520 (these rings can also be bartered for 75 tokens at each faction representative)

Treasure-seeker deeds

The Shield Isles (14 caches)

Cape of Umbar (20 caches)

Housing!

If you’d like to know which items have been added to Umbar you can use either of these links and access D&Co du Milieu’s Database:

• https://dcodumilieu.com/umbar-housing-furnisher/
• https://dcodumilieu.com/tag/u38/

What happens with Delvings and Mission Ember rewards?

Well, as it is usual with a new level cap, your 140 characters have lost access to these activities and rewards until you hit 150.

• U38.2 Weekly Wrapper: Fortunes of Umbar – complete 16 dailies; and Umbari Tami for Embers. Both obtainable via the Umbar Quartermasters.
• U39 Weekly Wrapper: Challenge of Umbar- Complete 6 instances. This one is bestowed by the Makhda Khorbo Quartermaster at Bej Magha (19.9S, 105.7W) – a small village near Khutra. This new hub has the gear traders for the raid sets.
• The new Umbari Missions can be found at the Bloody Eagle Tavern (19.6S, 97.5W) and all the important barterer NPCs have been added to this hub
  • In the mission Ship of Wraiths, the last boss spawns by the noblewoman.
  • The mission The Ill-fated Cave is timed, and you need to reach the exit before time runs out.

Location of the Great Jewel

Location of the Exit