To Match a Steed...Three Times!

As most of you know, the car I like to call "Inspiration" has been running on fumes for several weeks. It has been a struggle just to make an outfit, let alone log into LOTRO. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to fill in the final Saturday of January with an original outfit. At the beginning of the month, I casually mentioned on Twitter that I had been running out of ideas. One follower, @AraeElimraen, wondered if I'd take a request. I love taking suggestions for concepts as well as a specific piece or two. It gives me a chance to see old skins in from a different perspective or forces me to find new or unusual combinations. Here's what had been proposed:

• Use specific gear--namely the Golden Host Coat of Haleness and/or the Wood-wanderer's Cloak
• Make an outfit befitting of a Mirkwood soldier, loosely based on Thranduil's armored appearance in Battle of the Five Armies
• Make something that matches/compliments the Blue Roan Steed.

The first two ideas ended up going nowhere. Whatever I did create felt, at best, rushed and lacking completion. However, the idea to match this steed intrigued me...especially since I don't own it. It was removed from the Spring Festival token vendors before I started playing LOTRO and I refused to drop 70 mithril coins for one this year when it returned. I had to search for an image, several in fact, that way I knew what I was working with. For those of you who haven't seen it, here's a picture:

Image courtesy of  Wandering Around Arda

It's a dangerous assortment of colors--smokey grey, black, a silvery white, and a dark teal--and they would definitely present a challenge. I wasn't sure of what characters my Twitter follower had either, as this post is mostly for her. It took some time, but I came up with three ideas to suit different styles of clothing, race, gender, and character class while trying to match the steed itself, the caparison, or both.



These outfits are dedicated to those who own the Blue Roan Steed!

Shoulders: Ceremonial Shoulders of the Gloom-bane (White, skirm camp cosmetics vendor - Rift Heavy Armor)
Back: Plain Cloak (Black, any starter area Outfitter)
Chest: Medium Nadhin Jacket (Turquoise, Dol Amroth Medium Armor vendor or post-50 world drop)
Hands: Ceremonial Gloves of the Gloom-bane (White, skirm camp cosmetics vendor - Rift Heavy Armor)**
Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Gloom-bane (White, skirm camp cosmetics vendor - Rift Heavy Armor)

**White is also another alternative for these gloves, though it will make the brown areas of the palms stand out.

Head: Turquoise Summer Circlet (Turquoise, LOTRO Store or Anniversary Festival gift-box reward)
Shoulders: Shoulders of the Westfold (Default, Rise of Isengard pre-order cosmetic)
Chest: Gossamer Dress (Turquoise, skirm camp cosmetics vendor)

Shoulders: Snow-dusted Traveling Shoulders (Black, Yule Festival barter reward)
Back: Plain Cloak (Turquoise, any starter area Outfitter)***
Chest: Sellsword's Hauberk (Turquoise, LOTRO Store or random lockbox reward)
Hands: Dunland Caretaker's Patched Bracers (Black, Dunland quest reward)**
Feet: Ceremonial Shoes of the Stone-student (Black, skirm camp cosmetics vendor - Moria Light Armor)

**Skin is available at Lalia's Market at the time of posting.
***Black is also a lovely alternative for the cloak here, though I prefer the turquoise for color balance.