What are Missions?
On the off-chance you are new to them LOTRO Missions are Solo (or Duo) quests that scale the difficulty to your level. They grant tokens and, in some cases (though not this one), reputation. There are a few Mission “centres”, such as the one at Trestlebridge for the Wildwood of Bree-land.
Others are purely storyline-driven such as this one with Bilbo, and the Further Adventures involving Elladan and Elrohir.
Unlocking these Further Adventures
There are two primary ways of unlocking the Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins:
Become/Remain a VIP
VIPs (aka Subscribers) have free access to all Missions quests while they remain a VIP.
Buy from the LOTRO Store
Search the in-game LOTRO Store for “Further”, and you’ll see you can buy these Missions from 495 
. Doing so unlocks the story for all characters on all servers for that account. Remember, you can earn LOTRO Points though Deeds.
Getting Started
Unlike The Further Adventures of Elladan and Elrohir, you do not need to start the story from someone other than the Mission-giver NPC. So, to begin:
Travel to Rivendell
Rivendell can be reached from various Stablemasters including South Bree, all Trollshaws stables and Far-Reaching Stablemasters in housing areas. Hunter Guides and Warden Musters also auto-grant travel here, and (Non-High) Elves can earn the “Return to” as a Racial Trait. You can also buy Return to Rivendell from the LOTRO Store for 295 LOTRO Points.
Failing all that, if you have not yet discovered either the Rivendell or the Last Homely House horse taxis, pay 1 × 
and remember to right click the Stablemaster to “discover” it officially once you arrive.
Find Celeblír
Celeblír is both your Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins quest-giver and the barter vendor for 
Tokens of Further Adventure. He is the same Elf you barter from for Elladan and Elrohir rewards as it’s the same token type.
Celeblír is really easy to find, as he’s on the main path from the Stables to the Last Homely House. This is close to the Stablemaster near Elrond’s home.
Pick Up Chapter 1
Chronological Order
If this is your first time in Rivendell and you’ve not run these Missions before, then it might be neat to run them at the right point in time. As the quest dialog above shows, Celeblír’s quests take place after Foreward: The Fellowship Departs. So, once you’ve done that part of the Epic, come back and pick up these Further Adventures.
How These Further Adventures Work
There and Back Again (Many Times!)
With The Further Adventures of Elladan and Elrohir, you had a seamless journey, with the NPCs moving location as you did. With Bilbo’s misadventures, however, there is slight “immersion breaking.”
Each quest/mission starts and ends with Celeblír in Rivendell. This means, even if the story would not permit it for continuity, you leave your Mission location briefly and then return to it. While a tad jarring, the story is totally worth this mild annoyance!
Currency Cap
Tokens of Further Adventure are server/account-wide. But you can only hold a maximum of 500×, so make sure to spend some so you do not lose any!
Story Overview (Spoilers)
If you don’t want to see story spoilers, then skip to Further Adventure Rewards!
Each of the following tabs (or sections on smaller devices) represents a chapter number. Very rarely do you need specific guidance on these Missions – though there is one in particular where my hint may help. So, I want to give you a quick overview of each chapter. But I am not the Wiki. The Wiki is the Wiki, so at the end of each tab, I’ve linked you to their page in case you need more specifics.
Chapter 1
Twist: None (there is no combat).
Celeblír is concerned that Bilbo Baggins cannot be found. Given his permanent residence in the Last Homely house, however, the most logical assumption is he is somewhere in Rivendell Valley. The Elf first accosts Elrond, which leads to a hilarious exchange about whether it is a good morning or not!
Asking Around
Once that calms down, Elrond suggests you ask others around the valley to see if they have seen Bilbo.
For various reasons, these people have not seen Bilbo, or were not in a position where they would have noticed him.
Return to Elrond
Once you have your news – or rather the lack of it – speak with Elrond again. The Elf-lord wonders if Bilbo sought to catch up with the Fellowship of the Ring. For such a sombre, dark character, I love it when LOTRO put lines in like this:
Our Hobbit may not be in complete control of his feet or his sense of duty.
Chapter 2
Finding the First Scout
When you’re ported into the Chapter 2 Mission, there are no NPCs with you (save the horse to leave the instance). Head North-West down the path.
The first scout you meet is Canaddal, who would dearly love to talk with you, but crazy animals keep stopping you (Reminiscent of The Further Adventures of Elladan and Elrohir).
Find the Other Scout
Conceding that the slopes of the High Moor are not condusive to conversation he sends you after the other scout, Ringhul. Continue North-West and down.
You’ll have to make it back to the top of the hill to meet up with Canaddal again so the scouts can talk. Enjoy some quips along the way.
Is Bilbo Hiding?
After acknowledging neither scout has seen the Hobbit, the only thought they have is that Bilbo hid himself from the scouts. Though that is purely guesswork, to be honest!
Chapter 3
Meet Arifael
This is Celeblír’s friend who, thankfully, is as friendly as you were led to believe.
Meet & Beat
This is Mendorn who, unfortunately, is not so friendly. While you thought you were hiding safely, you did not bank on Giants having a great sense of smell! Who knew? Anyway, he decides to prove his superior strength by trying to crush something “tiny”. That’s you, by the way.
Beat & Defeat
Once you’ve forced Mendorn to back down in defeat, you too are defeated by the knowledge that you’re still no closer to finding Bilbo.
Chapter 4
With this Twist, try to interrupt any enemies casting a call, or running away to reduce how much you have to fight.
Glóin has seen Bilbo!
You enter this instance at Glóin’s (first) camp in the Misty Mountains, which borders Imladris. After speaking with the Dwarf, he tells you that he has seen the missing Hobbit.
He was about to tell you more when scouts arrive saying a snow-squall is coming. This leads to Glóin mocking his Longbeard friends!
Bashing in the Blizzard
This fight is…um, interesting if you have attention-span problems or sight problems. There are seemingly a lot of enemies and visibility is poor, to say the least!
I was playing Warden and I am normally intentional in how I play my gambits. But, I admit to keyboard bashing during this fight!
I didn’t get a great shot, but the battle is at its climax when Hárnthur, a giant Snow-beast appears along with a huge Grim.
It was a Hoard
Glóin is humbled a little that, after ridiculing his Longbeard friends, they had in fact faced a hoard.
On the plus side, you can finally talk uninterrupted. Glóin had seen Bilbo, but had presumed the Hobbit had returned to Rivendell. You know that is not the case, which can only mean he had continued deeper into the Misty Mountain. Dun-dun-duuuuun.
Chapter 5
Follow the Footprints
You may find it easier to put floaty-names on to see the tracks in the snow. I had to, even though it was night time when I ran Bilbo’s Chapter 5.
The Goblin Gauntlet
I think it was after I interacted with the tracks in the snow that a gazillion goblins spawned. Well, we were warned about being ambushed, so we have little excuse! Carve your way through the gauntlet of goblins until you’re free and in the open.
Trial for Truth
If you expected a boss fight, you’ll have to wait as there isn’t one in this chapter. Mission 5 ends with a Goblin Warg-master who had caught Bilbo Baggins, but has now been stolen from him by other goblins.
You’re no longer looking for a lost Hobbit, but a stolen one!
Chapter 6
There are only two key stages this time.
Fight Your Way Through
Goblin strongholds mean fighting in close quarters. Keep an eye out for the casting circle of Goblins calling for reinforcements. Either interrupt them, or defeat them – which is the ultimate (and final) interrupt, really!
Sorrog’s Question
Sorrog Crows-Eye stands at the top after your battles. Bilbo has been stolen from him by…more goblins! He then poses the deal: let him live and he’ll tell you where Bilbo was being taken. What will you choose?
Chapter 7
Celeblír, Master of Stealth
Before you can begin your hunt for the spare key to Goblin Town, you must clear the area of Goblins. Don’t go flying in face first. Celeblír has a plan. He asks you to stay hidden in the camp while he creates a distraction. Here’s his Master plan in all its glory.
Where is the Spare Key?
Once that group of goblins chases after Celeblír, retrieve the spare key. But where is it?
Look for three rocks in a line, on the edge of the pool. The spare key is buried beside the rock in that line nearest to the gate.
(Sorrog Crows-Eye)
In short, this one:
Every time you choose an incorrect location you get swamped by more goblins. Don’t do what I did. Follow the instructions instead!
The Way Is Now Clear
Now you can begin the rescue attempt in earnest. The entrance is clear, so let’s return to Rivendell to talk to Celeblír (who is right there with you) then enter Goblin Town…
Chapter 8
Shut 2 Gates Up
The Twist Never-Ending means you must get the gates closed as quickly as possible. If you can do it in combat, all the better. Some goblins can interrupt, but I was able to close the gates between interrupts. If there are goblins fighting you when you close the gate, they will retreat behind it.
There are two gates like this on your path:
Shut 1 Gate Up
The last gate is much bigger and is made of huge stakes of wood. But the same principle applies – get it shut.
Shut the Orc Up
The final stage of Chapter 8 is when you face the Guardian of the Jails, whose primary concern is that you are doing his job! So let’s stop his wingeing. By that I mean defeat, kill, maim, slice, whatever. Take him down in the name of the Hobbits.
Chapter 9
Rukzot’s Lackeys
Like every great leader, Rukzot the Vicious viciously sends his lackeys to attack you for him. Deal with them in your usual way.
Rukzot the Vicious
What I refuse to spoil for you is how the next few moments pan out. It’s hilarious. Just keep your view panned out so you can see beyond the edge of Bilbo’s cell.
Free Bilbo Baggins!
Hurrah, he’s actually free! Well, he’s out of his cage. You’re not technically free while in Goblin Town. So, the best course of action is to port to Rivendell to speak to Celeblír and then port back to get Bilbo Baggins out. Obviously.
Chapter 10
Trounce the Town’s Goblins
Aside from a brief stop-off so that Bilbo can retrieve some sword or dagger, there’s nothing unusual in this phase. Just try to keep the aggro off Mr Baggins and trounce the Goblins. I found this easier by running ahead and attacking first, rather than keeping at the Hobbit’s pace.
Trounce the Troll
Just when you think you may be facing Bauglam Fork-Tongue in combat, he sets his Troll on you. Trounce it.
Trounce Outta There
Okay that use of “trounce” didn’t work, but I tried. Again I’m not spoiling the end of The Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins; neither the end dialogue with Bauglam, nor your final conversation with him afterwards. Sit back and enjoy.
Final Chat With Bilbo Baggins
That dialogue will officially complete these Further Adventures and I’ll let you read through that yourself.
“Back Again” Title Deed
Title: Back Again- × 30 Tokens of Further Adventure
3,000 Virtue XP
Further Adventure Rewards
As I mentioned before, you can exchange your Tokens of Further Adventure with Celeblír. The full list of barter items can be found on the Wiki here
TL;DR – Jump into the Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins!
You won’t regret it. Often in Middle-Earth, it can appear as though the Elves have all the answers. But, as with many other places in The Lord of the Rings Online, you see they also have to investigate matters, come up with ideas and make mistakes. With The Further Adventures of Bilbo Baggins, SSG have taken a completely plausible reason for the Hobbit to have ended up where he did. A misadventure, really! But these LOTRO Missions are well-written, both in the quest text and the speech bubbles, and full of both threat and humour. Even if none of the Token rewards appeal to you, you should run these Further Adventures for the story alone. Enjoy!
