Setup: Place Carcharoth the Tormented and Gates of Menegroth aside, out of play. Shuffle all other copies of Carcharoth into a Carcharoth deck. Each player must search the encounter deck for 1 different location and add it to the staging area. Put the Beleg Strongbow objective ally into play.

Forced: After a location is destroyed, place 1 damage on this quest stage. After the 10th damage is placed on this stage, advance to stage 3.

Forced: If there is no location in play at the end of the round, the first player must search the encounter deck and discard pile for 1 location and add it to the staging area.

Players cannot advance to stage 2 unless Carcharoth has at least 10 damage on him.