The Hobbits soon found that what had looked like one vast fen was really an endless network of pools, and soft mires, and winding half–strangled watercourses. Among these a cunning eye and foot could thread a wandering path. -The Two Towers

When Revealed: If the number of locations in the staging area is less than the number of players in the game, discard cards from the encounter deck until a location is discarded. Add the discarded location to the staging area.

Progress cannot be placed on locations in the staging area.

The players cannot advance unless the first player controls Sméagol and there are at least 4 locations in the victory display.

Forced: At the end of the staging step, if the number of locations in the staging area is less than the number of players in the game, reveal the top card of the encounter deck.