LOTRO for free

[Mati00]

I'm downloading right now LOTRO form www.lotro.com and I'll try to play it, but I have few questions...

I mean, time...when the action of LOTRO is about? Where I can go in Middle Earth with my hero? Can I meet characters from book, or movie?

I hope that making 60lvl is a lot of fun

and yes...I can't download it from lotro.com 'cause some error...where I can find it for free?