Ivar the Bloodhand
General QuestSaeradan is surprised to see you again in the Bree-fields, since you're such a strong and studied adventurer now. One of his kinsmen is having difficulties in Agamaur (the Red-Swamp), with a Gaunt-lord. This beast is forming an army of wights and all manner of bad things. Saeradan cannot leave his cabin to help, so he is sending you.
NOTE: For your comparison purposes, here is my fellowship composition: Myself, a 35 Hunter; Aerlyn, a 41 Champion; Grif, a 30 Captain; Drventure, a 36 Champion; Chiron, a 40 Minstrel; and my favorite dorf, Brasse, a 33 Guardian. Many thanks for all the help!
STEPS:
1) Collect Ivar's Helm. Saeradan elaborates for you:
"In the north of Agamaur, far to the east of Bree-land, are ruins called Garth Agarwen. I would search there for Ivar the Blood-hand. If you find him and defeat him, bring his helm to me."
Use Brasse's Garth Agarwen map to find where Ivar hangs out (28.1s, 23.1w). Before you engage him in battle, you'll get to witness his evil doings:
Ivar the Blood-hand says: "By the Eye and the Iron Crown, I call you forth to command this host and rise again in unending service to Angmar and her enemies."
Ivar the Blood-hand says: "Rise again from this flesh, infuse it with putrescence, and rise a wretched fiend."
Defender of Ost Guruth says: "Yeaaaa!"
Ivar the Blood-hand says: "Rise, servant. Rise and fulfill your oath to the Red-maid, to Angmar, and to your lord, Ivar."
Ivar the Blood-hand says: "A new wretch come to fill our ranks, my maiden. And by the smell of living flesh your servant will be tested quickly."
Before the battle, I strongly suggest all in your party consume some food to help keep their stats up. This is a very long fight, and is difficult even if you are higher level than the bad guys.
Have someone (or more than one) focus on killing the Despaired Banner-Wights (level 34 Elite), Wrathful Banner-Wights (level 34 Elite), and Fell Wights (level 33 Elite). Have someone off-tank these to keep them from biting too hard on your healer, while the main tank beats on Ivar.
Ivar the Blood-hand himself is a level 34 Elite Master, with 17,248 morale and 2,703 power. He will summon some regular mobs, level 33 Summoned Servants, during the battle. He'll also taunt you with some lame words of encouragement for his troops such as: "Kill them all, minions!" and "You will not stop me or Angmar, Hobbit!"
We had a couple of losses during the battle (the tank and another), but since we had cleared the zone fairly recently, both of them ran back and quickly rejoined the fight. This helped make a difference, and eventually Ivar was dead, woohoo!
2) Bring Ivar's Helm to Saeradan. You'll find the helm on his body. Make sure all of your party members that need it loot the body.
3) After you speak with them and select "Finish Now", you get your coin reward, XP, and either Ivar's Defeat, Saeradan's Bow or Bloodhand's Doom.
Special thanks go out to Wren for providing this quest writeup!
Wren has entered 612 LOTRO quests.