'I have studied the artifact that Ayorzén stole from the vault of Durthang. It bears a powerful corruption, but it was not made in the land of Mordor. It came from elsewhere, and the corruption that envelops it stems from its stay in the Black Land. If this evil could be cleansed, I believe that Elrond could imbue it with a powerful and vital force for Good.

'Before that can happen, however, we must do something about the corruption that Mordor has worked upon it. There are different methods to accomplish this, though the Wise disagree upon the effectiveness of each. My preferred means for such a cure is to bring the corrupted item to the place where it was made, or to places of some significance upon its path, and to thereby diffuse the foul touch of Mordor that has, in the interim, claimed it. We must learn the story of this heirloom before it came to Mordor.'

The Wizard turns the artifact over in his hands, studying it for some clue to its origin.

'The metal with which it is made is bronze, and fashioned into a hook of some kind. I cannot identify the purpose of this artifact. Perhaps there is none, and it was merely a decorative element of a larger piece?'

You cannot help but smile, for while the Wizard may not have seen this type of artifact before, to your eye it is most familiar. You tell Gandalf that the artifact is a rigging-hook, used by Mariners to rapidly descend along the ropes of their vessels without burning the palms of their hands, made of bronze so it will not rust in the damp.

'You are the Mariner here, my friend, and only a fool would not defer to your wisdom on such matters! But this symbol here tells me where you should begin your investigation, for these markings seem to indicate a number of buildings built upon a bridge over a rapidly-flowing river. Whoever once owned this rigging-hook may have operated out of Osgiliath. Now that the Host of the West has passed through the city, it should be safe to ask sailors in that city if they know about this artifact.'

Nathlad in Osgiliath is waiting for to agree to help him with his work before he tells you what he knows of the rigging-hook you recovered from Mordor.

Objectives

• Talk to Nathlad in Osgiliath and learn what he knows of the corrupted rigging-hook

Elrond is at the Haven of Orladion in Rivendell, north-west of the Last Homely House.

You have cleansed the corruption from the Anchor of the Past, and should bring it now to Elrond in Rivendell.

Objectives