Bare-chested Bard

It all started in September of 2016 when Gamutdorok, of Crickhollow's amazing Second Breakfast kinship, started the LOTRO hashtag #NakeDwarfGo on Twitter. (Of course, it's safe. I wouldn't intentionally link questionable content on this family-friendly blog!) What was a completely innocuous joke then has transformed into a cheerful, hilarious, and addictive subculture showcasing any and every dwarf encountered using the Bare-chested cosmetic. It's filled with dwarves parading in hot pants, dwarven bands singing and strumming shirtless, dwarves proudly displaying carefully sculpted beards, dwarves that...well, the list is endless. Frankly, I'm surprised nobody started the racy "Dwarves of Middle-earth" calendar, which would have better funded the expedition into Ered Mithrin! (If anyone asks, you didn't hear that from me!)

I couldn't resist and joined the fun, adding my own to the Twitter collection!

Meet one of my model dwarves, Toraden Gamaldorn, drunken bard extraordinaire:

Toraden spends his time in The Great Hall and the Hall of Kings, often seen garbed in red and gold, captivating audiences with skillfully sung ballads or his elaborate and embellished tales of Durin's line. His impassioned and dramatic performances evoke ancient memories carved into the stone halls. They've also awoken a desire within listening dwarves to return to the prosperous days of old, before the curses of dragons, balrogs, and other foul creatures plagued them. When off duty or taking a break from his bardic activities, he's at Thorin's Hall Inn with his bearded mug parked in a frothy mug that seldom remains devoid of ale. And it's here he's listened to the tales of travelers, which became the foundations for his songs...after having taken a few liberties, of course.

And now that I've established a background for Toraden, written specifically for this entry, he could could return. And I may leave all of his outfits shirtless.

This has been an unexpected, yet highly enjoyable experience. I hadn't expected to take the plunge and challenge myself by using the Bare-chested cosmetic. I'd always avoided it because the chest slot has been, arguably, the most important and obvious component in all of my outfits. I'd never left it "empty." Without anything to connect the top and bottom halves of this outfit, I had to be more cautious and more deliberate with my cosmetic choices. I was forced to pay more attention to the legs, which are often covered by onesies, the feet, and the shoulder slots. It's definitely a different approach to outfitting. And I would be willing to do it again!

Head: Ceremonial Circlet of Restoration (Crimson, Lalia's Market)**
Shoulders: Shoulders of the Mighty Verse (Crimson, Minstrel class vendor in the Twenty-first Hall)***
Back: Plain Cloak (Crimson, Bree-town Outfitter)
Chest: Bare-chested (Default, LOTRO Store)
Legs: Leggings of Durin's Guard (Crimson, Guardian class vendor in the Twenty-first Hall)
Feet: Boots of Durin's Guard (Crimson, Guardian class vendor in the Twenty-first Hall)

**This circlet also shared the same appearance as the Circlet of Restoration, a Lore-master's barter item from the Ettenmoors.
***Also available at Lalia's Market at the time of posting.