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After setting out from Osgiliath to continue your quest to retrieve Sauron's most evil cache, "Eye of Sauron", and effectively weaken his power to the point that he can be easily defeated by the armies of Gondor, you travel south following Gollum as he leads you towards a secret entrance to Mordor that few people know about.
The journey will take you into a dark cleft in the mountains wherein lies the city of Minas Morgul, home of the Nazgul.
It's dark here all the time, this close to Mordor. A perpetual cloud hangs over the mountains and the sun has been banished from the land. Turns out that Sauron is originally from Seattle and he was getting homesick, so he made things a little more like home around here. But I digress...
The path into Mordor is by way of a long and steep stairway that leads high above the city of Minas Morgul to the top of the Mountains of Shadow. The climb is long and arduous, and few make it to the top. Once at the top, however, another blackness lurks in the shadows...
Following the coordinates given, you will find yourself at the bottom of the stairway, which lies to the north from the road below. Along the climb you will need to find a cache that will give you light and keep you safe in dark places. To find this cache, you will need to figure out the coordinates for stage 1 using the information Gollum has given you, which is below:
The coordinates for stage 1 of the multi are:
N39 47.ABC
W075 36.DEF
As you begin to climb the stone stairs, count the number of stone steps from the time you leave the road below until you reach the dirt path at the top of the second iron rail. The total number of stone steps is X. Only count those steps that are clearly intended to be stairs. Places where it transitions from dirt path to uneven rock do not count. On your climb take note of how many stairs are between the road at the bottom and the beginning of the first iron railing (do not count the steps along the first rail). This number is Y. Then count the number of stone steps along the second iron rail from its beginning to end. This number is Z.
ABC = (X*9) + (Z-4)
DEF = (X^2) + (Z*3) + Y
As a quick check in the field, A+B+C+D+E+F = X*9/10
You can also check your answer here.
Once you have the coordinates, make your way to stage 1 however you like. You will find the container hanging from a "rope". There is a short but harder way and a longer easier way, but be prepared, because you're not done. You still have to get to the final...
Congrats to MikeOtt on the FTF!