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Dawn Comes Early

Original edition: LOTR Adventure Game “Dawn Comes Early” (1991)
Creation: Jessica M. Ney, S.Coleman Charlton (1991)
Cover art: Interior Illustration: Adunakhor, Arthadan and Gaur; Liz Danforth, Marco Aidala, Ron Hill, Lombardo (1991)

Adapted for Fan MERP module & interior design: Adunakhor, Arthadan and Gaur (2006)

Covert art: Britt Martin (2021), with permission

Design cover : Cirdann de Felrive (March 2021) – Release V.2.0. (April 2021)

The work is the intellectual property of the authors, art creators and designers. It is intended for private, non-profit use. No portion of this work or material derived
from it may be used for commercial purposes without the permission of its authors, creators and designers.
This module is a non-commercial, fan-created module designed for the Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP) game by Iron Crown Enterprises (now long out-of-print).
This document is intended for the personal, private use of role-playing game (RPG) players and game-masters (GMs), as an aid for their study and role-playing enjoyment.
All references to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien are the property of Middle-earth Enterprises (M-eE) and/or the Tolkien Estate. All other material is the property of the
authors, and may not be offered for sale, nor altered, without permission.

Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................... 2 5.0 THE ADVENTURE .................................... 14
1.1 Converting Hits & Bonuses .............................. 2 5.1 Prologue: “The Tale” ....................................... 14
1.2 Conversion Chart .............................................. 2 5.2 Introduction.................................................... 15
2.0 PLAYER CHARACTERS ............................. 2 5.3 Scene 1: “At your service” ............................... 16
3.0 NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS .................... 5 5.4 Scene 2: “To find a Finder” ............................. 17
3.1 Friends ............................................................... 5 5.5 Scene 3: “Darkness for dark business”............ 17
3.2 Foes .................................................................... 7 5.6 Scene 4: “Searching for the captive”............... 19
3.3 Some Bree villagers ........................................... 8 5.7 Scene 5: “What lies under the Old Bridge” .... 20
4.0 PLACE OF NOTES ....................................... 9 5.8 Scene 6: “Troll-plunder” ................................. 22
4.1 Bree-Land .......................................................... 9 5.9 Epilogue: “All’s well as ends better!”.............. 26
4.2 Chetwood .......................................................... 9 6.0 GAME AIDS .............................................. 27
4.3 Bree ................................................................... 9
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 PLAYER CHARACTERS

Initially base on LOTR Adventure Game “Dawn
Comes Early” (1991), this adventure has been reviewed to
be used by MERP system in 2006, and design as a “ready-
to-run” MERP adventure, made by fans for fans, intended
for private, non profit-use.
1.1 Converting Hits & Bonuses
Bonuses: When converting percentile values to a 1-20
system a simple rule is: for every +5 on a D100 scale you
get a +1 on a D20.
Hits: This concussion hit numbers found in this module
only represent general pain and system shock. They cover
bruises and small cuts rather than wounds. Critical strike
damage is used to describe serious wounds. The hit figures
shown here are less important than those used in game
systems where death occurs as a result of exceeding one’s
available hits.
Should you use a game system that employs no specific
critical strike results, simply double the number of hits
your character take or halve the hit values found in this
module.
The following chart provides the background for
Player Characters that can be used in this adventure. The
GM has to complete with statistics Characters charts. The
GM wishes to assign his players a character or allow them
to select from the list. Of course, the GM can utilize the
unused PCs as non-player characters. After all, the players
may design their own characters or employ characters
already in use.
Dárim (Dwarf warrior/trader)
Dárim was raised in Merlost: the ruined halls of the
ancient Dwarven city of Belegost in the Blue Mountains.
His mother Lís, whose heart yet burned with the wrongs
done to her people in years past, urged her son to train as
a warrior. The boy grew quite proficient with his battle-
axe, but never fostered the vengeful spirit his mother had.

1.2 Conversion Chart

If you play something other than MERP or Rolemaster and
you do not use a percentile system, use the following chart to
convert 1-100 numbers to figures suited for your game.
1-100 D100 D20 3-18 2-12
Stat Bonus Bonus Stat Stat
102+ +35 +7 20+ 17+
101 +30 +6 19 15-16
100 +25 +5 18 13-14
98-99 +20 +4 17 12
95-97 +15 +3 16 ---
90-94 +10 +2 15 11
85-89 +5 +1 14 10
75-84 +5 +1 13 9
60-74 0 0 12 8
40-59 0 0 10-11 7
25-39 0 0 9 6
Instead, Dárim joined his jovial father, a merchant, in
15-24 -5 -1 8 5
the business of trading. His travels took him far and wide,
10-14 -5 -1 7 4 including many journeys through the town of Bree. Dárim
5-9 -10 -2 6 3 usually stopped at The Prancing Pony and his first
3-4 -15 -3 5 --- encounter with Tolman (where he hired Tolman due to his
2 -20 -4 4 2 skills as a Finder) took place at the inn. Over the years, the
1 -25 -4 4 2

Dwarf became firm friends with both Greenthumbs, as
well as Tatharína, so Lily asked him for help.
Description: Dárim is, like all Dwarves, short and
stocky. His bushy black beard has not grown long yet, for
he is not yet weathered many years. His beetling coal eyes
glare from beneath thick black brows.
Feredir (Dúnadan ranger)
Feredir is somewhat of a specialist among the Rangers.
He has long been enamored of relics, especially those
things that can be used as weapons against the Enemy. Most
of his time is spent searching throughout ancient Arthedain
for the Heirlooms of the Great Houses. At times, Feredir
consulted with the Dwarves on matters of artifacts. It was
through this exchange he came to know Dárim.
One day after bathing in Crooked Creek, he emerged
to discover that somebody had stolen his belt and one of his
boots. Luckily, Tolman was there with her sister and
Tatharína and he helped the ranger to find the thief…a pair
of squirrels! Since then, they all became fast friends.
At the beginning of the adventure, Feredir is resting in
The Prancing Pony.
Description: Feredir has ebony hair and steel- grey
eyes. He has a hard face, but not an unhandsome one,
though he is marked by many scars. He is tall and stern,
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much like the rest of his kin. However, he is not entirely
dour and serious for he is quick to rise at a good jest. Those
around him find it hard to resist joining Feredir when he
laughs his deep, heartfelt laugh.
Gallind (Sinda Elf Bard)
Gallind’s home is in Rivendell, the magical valley ruled by
Elrond Half-elven. All the poetry and song of that place
swirled through Gallind´s early years, attuning his heart to
music. As a Bard, he plays the harp and panpipes, composes
songs, and knows how to use the Art.
His talents drew friends with complementary interests. He
whiled many an afternoon away in the woodlands or the
meadows watching the wild life and improving melodies.
Rilwen, an Elf fascinated by the plants and animals of
Middle-earth, often accompanied him. And Lauriel, a
singer with a golden voice, loved to dance to his music.
Every time he plays his harp Vánalassë (Quenya for
“Inmortal joy”), he remembers his beloved, Eärwin, who
waits for him in the West. She was the one who taught him
to play the harp; all the while she loved him as he didn’t
notice. So sad became Eärwin the harpist that she decided
to leave Middle-earth and only after her departure did
Gallind know for sure he loved her. He tried to reach her
before her ship sailed to the Undying Lands, but he arrived
too late. His song drifting over the waters was the only way
that she knew her was returned.
The years passed and Lothíriel, Gallind’s mother, felt tired
and went to rest in Aman. Airahim, his father, wanted to
go with her but he had an oath to fulfil. Gallind knew how
it was to be separated from loved ones and didn’t want that
for his parents, so he took on his father’s oath as his own.
His parents now dwell in Aman. (Give Gallind’s player
handout #1 “Airalin’s oath”).
At the start of the adventure, Gallind is returning alone
from the Grey Havens. His mother and father have
departed for the West, leaving their son with too few clues
about the location of their stolen family heirloom. But his
heart is not heavy with sadness because tomorrow he will
meet a friend named Tatharína in the wood near Bree.
They met some years ago, when she was wandering alone
in the forest and Gallind was playing his harp. So full of
sadness where her eyes that he played for her songs which
comforted her heart and her warm and true smile was his
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reward. From that day they meet once a year in the very
same place.
Description: Gallind is as most of his folk tall and fair in
visage and voice. By all respects, though, he is lovely even
by Elven standards. His demeanor is merry and light to the
eyes of many, but his closest friends will catch glimpses of
his somber side. Gallind wears his dark hair so uncommon
in his kind at about shoulder length, and prefers to keep his
lithe limbs unhindered by heavy equipment or restrictive
clothing.
Lily Greenthumb (talented Hobbit)
Lily is a talented Hobbit with many interests. She makes
the best embroidered tapestry in or around Bree, bakes
goodies for The Pracing Pony, and cultivates a variety of
herbs in her kitchen garden.
She lives in Bree, sharing the smial (Hobbit- hole) of her
birth with her brother Tolman. Both their parents are now
dead, and save for a bunch of second cousins twice
removed the two have no other living relatives. They are
the best of friends, and are acquainted with many other
strange folks.
Due to her brother’s odd profession and his tendency to
wander, Lily has some unusual friends (a Dwarf called
Dárim, an even some Elves among them). The majority of
Bree- landers are more distinguished in their tastes,
mistrusting strangers as do most parochial folk. Lily
received a troublesome message about Tolman after he
embarked on a search for some missing sheep. She quickly
has asked for help from her friends.
Description: Lily is a bit tall for a Hobbit (over 4 and a half
feet tall!), and pretty according to the lads. A bright shock
of yellow hair tumbles around her face, which is marked by
dark brown eyes. Her sweet and warm smile is
remembered fondly by folks who meet her.
Tatharína (Lesser Dúnadan healer)
Tatharína is a healer of some skill who knows how to use
herbal remedies for most ailments. She learned the
rudiments of herb preparation and application as a child at
her foster mother’s knee. It was in those simple, early
lessons her heart still dwells.
Several years later, Tatharína departed her home to further
her knowledge under the tutelage of Fainura
Edhellammen. She lived in her teacher’s house in Bree,
studying hard in the mornings and playing schoolgirl’s
games with Lily Greenthumb in the afternoons.
Occasionally, Tolman joined the pair for fishing excursions
to Crooked Creek.
She also enjoys walking alone in Chetwood, where she feels
comfort. In one of these wanderings, she listened and
incredible music and it was so great, delicate and attracting
that she followed the sound to its source. This was the way
how Tatharína met Gallind the Elf bard and an Elf maiden
called Rilwen. Since then, they met once a year in the very
same place and he plays his music for her and she feels how
her sadness diminishes. Last year, she dared to bring her
friend Lily to meet the Elves, because the Hobbit was eager
to know them and they were all fast friends. Tomorrow
morning is one of such special days. Apart from the
mysterious forest bard, her best friends are Tolman and
Lily and the three remained friends as the years passed,
making it quite natural for Lily to turn to Tatharína now
that her brother has disappeared.
Description: She is slim and agile. Some people think she
is very serious, but in fact she is merely a bit shy. She has
incredible dark and long locks that contrast with her pale
 5

skin, a hint towards her dúnedain heritage. She likes walk Holfast Bunce (Bree senior Sherriff)
alone in the forest because she feels very removed from the
This old and affable man is the Bree city captain-of-the-
Bree-landers, some of whom call her "witch" because her
guards (if he may be called so). He’s been a Sherriff for
innate healing skills. She only feels at peace with her friend
many years now, and knows many people of both the Big
Lily and Tolman or wandering alone in the forest.
and Little folk in Bree. Holfast is mild and gentle in speech,
calm in his mannerisms, and happy to be friends of the
simple Bree folk.
3.0 NON-PLAYER However, like much of the populace, he is unaware of
CHARACTERS the darker dangers that lurk just outside the borders.
In this section you will find a description for all Holfast is friendly, but remains cautious of strangers. He
important NPCs, stats for some of them and a list with has long had his misgivings about Gil and Nat, but lacks any
some Bree villagers’ names and a short description which confirmation about his suspicions.
you may find useful. Holfast Bunce is a man in his late forties. He has a wide,
rose coloured face and blue-grey eyes. His unkempt hair is
salt and pepper grey, though his long sideburns still hint
towards his once chestnut mane.
3.1 Friends
Hal Peppergrass (Bree farmer)
Odo Underbarrow (Bree Hobbit)
Hal is an elderly farmer, who seldomly leaves his land.
He has not even travelled as far as Staddle. Most of his talk Odo is a Hobbit farmer who is very worried about his
revolves around the weather, the next harvest, his wife that three-missing sheep. He’s not very wealthy and he might
died a few years ago and his children. He is planning to turn have to sell some of his land to make ends meet. He
the farm over to his eldest son- next year, perhaps, or the suspects some wild cat or wolf is behind the disappearance
year after. He won't, of course. Without his work, Old Hal of his flock.
wouldn't know what do do with his time.
Hal is a thin, wiry man with a thick mop of grey, bowl-
cut hair. His old pipe is his constant companion, and the
leaf he's smoking is reputedly the vilest stuff this side of the
Misty Mountains. Rumours about the substances he is
suspected to cut it with are as numerous as they are absurd-
everything from dog hair to liquid manure has already been
considered.

Harry Oatstone (Bree farmer)

Harry Oatstone does, on first sight, more resemble an
innkeeper than your typical farmer. And while the small,
rotund man with the florid face has seen many an evening
in the taproom of the 'Pony', his deep tan hints of countless
hours in the fields. A father of four, Harry is as sunny of
disposition as his wife, Moll, is irascible. Without his
friendly ways, the Oatstones would have found themselves
embroiled in countless neighbourhood feuds. He is also
known to brew the best cider in town.
 6
Odo is caught off-guard by the early winter, and carries
the worry in lines on his face.
Old Fainura (middle-woman healer)
Fainura is ancient; she has been around as long as most
residents of Bree can remember. The years have not been
kind with her- bent and gnarled like an old tree, she stands
not much taller than some hobbits, and her left eye is
filmed over and sightless with cataracts. There is nothing
wrong, however, with her mind. Still as sharp as ever, it is
a treasure trove of medicinal knowledge. Few of it comes
from the mouldy old tomes she keeps in her hovel, most
has been collected over a lifetime from travellers and other
wise-women, even from the Elves that occasionally travel
near Bree.
Most people only deal with Fainura when they are in
need of her remedies, local superstitions as well as her
appearance- and her particular sense of humour- have seen
to that. Especially the children of Bree, tallfolk and hobbits
alike, are very much in awe of her. Few hobbitlings would
dare pilfer berries and apples from her garden- there are
stories told in whispers of children turned into toads- not
for good, but who wants to risk spending a few days as a
slimy, warty animal? It is told that Felmore Rowane, Old
Mat Rowane's simpleminded boy, was once caught stealing
apples from her garden... he reputedly still munches on
flies from time to time.
But over the years, there have been a few who were not
afraid of the gruff and caustic wise- woman. Driven by the
desire to help and heal, those have found Fainura to be a
kind and patient teacher.
Polo Hammidge (Bree Hobbit)
Polo is a well-to-do Hobbit possessing large flocks and
extensive farmlands. He has recently lost one ewe and
three lambs.
You can sometimes find Polo in the Bree commons or
the Prancing Pony conducting business with Barliman
Butterbur. He will lament the loss of his livestock perhaps
a bit overmuch, as it is not such a financial blow to him as
it was to Odo Underbarrow.
Polo is a Harfoot who prefers very neat clothes and long
coats. He has apple-red cheeks and brown hair carefully
parted in the middle.
Prinderton (Bree Hobbit Sherriff)
The oldest of the Breeland shirriffs, Prinderton is
getting a bit long in the tooth. Mostly he runs errands for
Bunce nowadays, or cook’s tea for the other sherriffs. A
small, wrinkled hobbit, he is still a crack shot with a sling,
but would be hard pressed to hurt a squirrel with his club.
Tolman Greenthumb (Bree Hobbit)
Tolman (Tom for short) is a happy-go-lucky Hobbit
with a bright outlook and a knack for making friends. He
makes his living as a Finder (someone who locates missing
things and persons for a fee). Since he is quite successful,
his skills are highly sought after. He lives in Bree, but unlike
most Bree-landers has visited all four farthings of the Shire,
as well as the outlying villages near home.
News of missing sheep caught Tolman’s ear during his
last visit to The Prancing Pony. He took on the job of
finding them and has disappeared.
Wesley Privet (Middle-man, Bree Sheriff)
Wesley has joined the Sherriffs only this spring. A tall,
gawky youth, he is plagued with a shock of unruly auburn
hair and freckles. So far, he has had a hard time getting
taken seriously. Only two weeks after signing up, the
Sherriffs had to break up a brawl in the 'Pony' and Wes
almost immediately got knocked out by a thrown bowl of
porridge and spent the next few days in bed with a
concussion. As well as acquiring a newfound dislike for
porridge, Wesley has taken to wearing an old helmet he
found in a dusty corner of the armory when on duty. He
has trained a lot since then, but would still be no match for
a seasoned bandit- let alone a troll.
Wilcome Hammidge (Hobbit child)
Polo's son, Will (as he prefers to be called), in contrast
to his down-to-earth father, has achieved local fame for his
overactive imagination. A lad of nine, he has regaled the
neighbourhood with stories of dragons, ten-foot chickens,
foxes that talk and many more. Most grown-ups start
smiling and chuckling when they see Wilcome come
running with a new story of what he has seen.

3.2 Foes
Cormac (Dunlending rogue)
Cormac is a Dunlending hailing from the south of what
was once the Princedom of Cardolan. Cast out from his
clan for an affair with the chieftain's wife, he sees himself
as a soldier of fortune and ladies' man. However, he is not
above supplementing his income with a bit of robbery or
strongarm work. Neither has he any qualms betraying or
killing Gil and Nat if they really manage to get their hands
on the ransom money.
He is of middling height and muscular build and
moderately attractive if not for a permanent leer, with
dark, oiled curls and a mustache. He is wearing a dunnish
plaid over quilted gambeson and trousers of rough grey
homespun. The long-handled axe he carries he's quite good
with, though less good than he thinks he is.
Gil Mossgrave (Middle-man rogue)
Gil is a quiet, unobtrusive man, but his hard mouth and
the strange flatness in his brown- eyed gaze scare the few
that really notice him. He is less wiry than Nat, and twists
his long, black hair in a braid (highly unusual for Bree).
Whereas Nat, his partner, is simple and brutish, Gil is
cleverer and crueller. He resents the simplicity of the Bree-
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folk’s life, as well as his orders from the Bandit-king.
Gil sees himself as the most intelligent mind in the Bree-
lands, and uses his wit (which is not as grand as he’d like to
think) to trick a more trusting people. He sees Nat as
creating more general mischief. Gil is more contriving. As
soon as he has the necessary information, he will end the
life of Tolman and make an early winter much more bitter.
Nat Groathusk (Middle-man rogue)
Nat is a skinny, sandy-haired man who always has a
sneer on his lip and malice in his narrow, green eyes.
Gil, with his partner Nat Groathusk, works for Inledair
the Bandit-king. He works as a spy and thug in the Bandit-
king’s plots. Though he would never admit of his dark
affiliations, he is secretly proud of his role in harrowing the
city of Bree.
Lârunag / Lawrence (Stone Troll)
One thousand years ago, Lawrence and his brother
were lulled into a magical sleep by Fiorin. Now that they
have awakened, they are set to satiate their appetites on the
livestock of Bree.Lawrence is as most trolls –
tremendously strong, cruel, and stupid. Lawrence has
vague memories of Fiorin and even times before, but is too
dull-witted to act on them.
He lives near the farmlands in a den under a very ancient
bridge.
Wandering wolves
Although Chetwood is usually a quiet place, when
winter is hard some wolves pack come here looking for
food. Seldom they are leaded by vicious beast such wargs,
so below are stats for normal wolves a more dreadful one.
Wûlafûrad / Wilfred (Stone Troll)
He is one of the pair of trolls that has recently been
plaguing Bree.
Wilfred doesn’t believe his brother, Lawrence, when
he talks of tall Elves or other rubbish. Hunger and lethargy
are the only two forces that Wilfred really obeys. He lives
near the farmlands in a den under a very ancient bridge.
 8
3.3 Some Bree villagers
Little Folk
Boffo Hollohall, a depressed Hobbit.
Gorum Flinthill, a misery Hobbit.
Odo Underbarrow, poor farmer, lost sheep to the
Trolls (see Friends for a longer description).
Cicely Underbarrow, a motherly Hobbit, Odo’s wife.
Dulse Underbarrow, a pretty Hobbit-lass of 21 years,
at the beginning of the irresponsible tweens.
Holly Underbarrow, a merry Hobbit-maid of 15 years.
Polo Hammidge, rich farmer who lost sheep to the
Trolls (see Friends for a longer description).
Nadina Hammidge, Polo’s wife, very elegant.
Halson Hammidge, Polo’s oldest son.
Filibert Hammidge, one of Polo’s middle sons. Moro
Hammidge, one of Polo’s middle sons. Wilcome
Hammidge, Polo’s youngest son (see Friends for a longer
description).
Oleander Hammidge, Polo’s very marriageable
daughter.
Hending Broadtunnel, one of Tolman’s friends.
Tansy Broadtunnel, Hending’s daughter. Erling
Underbluff, one of Tolman’s friends. Clematics
Underbluff, Erling’s wife.
Andman Poggin, an old Hobbit, a neighbour to the
Greenthumbs.
Amaryllis Banks, choleric Hobbit-widow. Mongo
Clayhill, dashing young bachelor. Osmunda Clayhill,
Mongo’s mother.
Hammy Hassock, does odd jobs around town.
Big Folk
Holfast Bunce, Bree senior Shiriff (see Friends for a
longer description).
Myrtle Bunce, Holfast’s wife.
Milo Bunce, a mischievous mite of 6 years.
Wesley Privet, junior Shiriff (see Friends for a longer
description).
Milt Hoary, crotchety widower.
Chas Bitterwilt, detests his wife.
Linda Bitterwilt, Chas’ wife, poor cook.
Harry Oatstone, farmer, Tolman’s friend (see
Friends for a longer description).
Brigida Oatstone, Harry’s wife, weaver.
Henry Reedpipe, runs a little store, Tolman’s friend.
May Reedpipe, Henry’s wife, slow, calm, and staid.
Adelaide Yarrow, takes extraordinary pride in her lineage.
Michael Yarrow, scholar, Adelaide’s brother.
Tobias Eppleworth, runs a grocery.
Pearl Eppleworth, Tobias’ wife, bustling woman. Hal
Peppergrass, farmer (see Friends for a longer description).
Mary Peppergrass, Hal’s wife, happy mother of 10.
Rose Dewberry, proud old lady. Robin Dewberry,
Rose’s grandson. Abbot Purslane, nosy fellow.
Rowan Purslane, nervous young mother.
Bartholomew, the Purslane infant son.
Stefan Broomcorn, millar. Kate Broomcorn, Stefan’s
wife. Hepatica Spurge, crone.
Meter Bluet, a tired man.
Eliza Bluet, Peter’s wife, rigid housekeeper.
Meg Bluet, stuck-up daughter.
Jon Stonewort, interested in military history.
Janet Stonewort, Jon’s wife, hospitable hostess.

4.0 PLACE OF NOTES
4.1 Bree-Land
Bree-land is a small, settled area in central Eriador that
lies just to the east of the Tyrn Gorthad, the ancient
Barrow-downs. The region has been almost continuously
inhabited since the First Age. In T.A. 3000 Bree is not
much different than it has been before in the time of the
Kingdom of Arnor some 1300 years before — a
prosperous, quiet but sometimes threatened farming
community standing near the intersection of the Great East
Road and the Greenway, the two major thoroughfares of
the ancient Kingdom. Bree-land is quite small and contains
four villages within it sboundaries: Bree, on the western
slope of Bree Hill; Staddle, on the other side of the hill;
Combe, a few miles to the east, and Archel, which lies a
few miles northeast of Bree.
The Chetwood, a goodsized but tame forest is also
considered part of Bree-land and lies just north of Archet.
The whole region is a generally pleasant, peaceful, and law-
abiding spot where Men and Hobbits dwell together in
peace, facing danger but rarely — unless one ventures to
the Barrow-downs in search of gold and jewels and magic
items, or is unfortunate enough to run into the bandits that
plague the highways outside of Bree-land proper. But the
people of Bree-land generally ignore the haunted and
foreboding Barrow-downs to the west.
These grassy hills hold the graves of the Kings, Queens,
Princes and aristocrats of Arnor. In the years after the
Plague the mounds became haunted by evil spirits from
Angmar and Rhudaur called Wights. The downs are rich in
treasure and adventure, but it would be prudent for the
adventurous to seek the council of the wise before trying
their luck in the ancient and eerie tombs.
4.2 Chetwood
The Chetwood is considered part of Bree-land and is for
the most part quite tame. The larger animal roaming the
wood is a deer, most of the wolves in the region having
been killed off centuries ago. Pigs under the care of a
swineherd range freely throughout the forest without fear
of predators. The men of Archet do venture on occasional
hunting trips, and venison is a favourite dish.
The well-watered Chetwood is conducive to the
9
growth of mushrooms and is the chief source of edible
fungi for all Bree-land. In the summer months the women
of Archet bring huge baskets of white mushrooms to
market to trade with their southern neighbours. However,
in the long winter nights it is not such a safe place because
in that season some wolves may lurk in the forest, searching
for food.
4.3 Bree
Bree lies on the western slopes of Bree Hill. The hill
shelters the town, and windows of the houses ordinarily
face west and south to catch the afternoon sunlight. There
are about one hundred houses in the village, most of them
built above the road and set into the side of the hill. Because
of this location, most gardens are on the southern and
western sides, in the front of the house.
The central road cuts through a small corner of the
village, since it travels along the foot of the hill. The
Prancing Pony is the only building directly on the Great
East Road; all the other houses are set back from the noise
and bustle of the highway’s traffic.
Most of the houses of Bree are built of honey-colored
stone quarried a few miles away or taken from the remains
of old forts to the south and west. These homes are solid
and comfortable, like their inhabitants. Most of the houses
have at least two stories, since the rear of the first story and
part of the second are set into the hill. The orientation of
the houses keeps them fairly warm and comfortable in the
winter, even if one uses only a fair amount of fire- wood.
Since the houses are set into the hill, they make use of the
earth’s insulation.
Thick, dry thatching brought from the nearby marshes
keeps the homes warm in the winter and cold in the
summer. Almost every house has a small barn attached to
it, since most people tend animals, including hogs,
chickens and a few cattle. Although this does little for the
odor of the home, it does help to keep the house warm.
On the whole the village is prosperous, its streets neat and
orderly, and houses and yards are clean and well cared-for.
Bree’s streets are cobbled, and people take great care
that sewage does not run freely. Sewage is commonly saved
and used as fertilizer, since most villagers are farmers.
Water is plentiful in the area; the town has several wells
that are used and shared by the community.
10
 11

Several families of Hobbits live on the upper slopes of The old woman has a deep knowledge of herbs and natural
Bree-hill, but the majority reside in Staddle. Bree’s remedies for men and animals alike. See the rules, page
Hobbits have dug their small cozy smials (Hobbit-holes) 156, table 6.7: Herbs and enchanted Breads. If the
parallel to the slope of the hill so that their holes get the Turambar wishes and the PCs through good role-playing
maximum amount of sunlight. Most smials consist of a are friendly enough with Fainura, she may heal them for a
series of adjoining rooms with wide windows to catch the lesser price or even for free.
light. Many smials have several doors built for the
convenience of the inhabitants. Quite often, Hobbits tend
pretty, sloping gardens in front of the smial and keep their
cattle and other animals in small sheds.
The men and Hobbits of Bree have close friendly
relationships, often working together on various farm
tasks. Commonly they trade off farm chores, men
accomplishing a task better suited to a mannish height for a
Hobbit farmer and vice versa. The Halflings’ adept fingers
are in particular demand in close quarters or where
extreme dexterity is desired. Someone of the mannish
families even have Hobbit-sized chairs in their parlors;
their children enjoy having their own crafted furniture.
Only the smaller farmers reside in the village proper,
along with agricultural workers, guardsmen and various
craftsmen. There are no real commercial stores in Bree,
since everyone supplies his own needs or makes up the lack
from the market held every two weeks. The village has 3 : GREENTHUMB’S SMIAL
several craftsmen, including a weaver, a carpenter, a This is where the PC Lily Greenthumb lives.
blacksmith and a stone mason. A tamer and leather-worker
has a roomy shop near the town’s wall.
Most farms are located outside the wall and hedge that 4 : THE INN OF THE PRANCING PONY
protect Bree. The farmhouses connected to these farms The Prancing Pony is the central inn of Bree. Because
range dramatically in size from two-story affairs that house of Bree-land’s central location, The Pracing Pony is
the farmer, his family, his servants, and his labourers to frequented mainly by Men from Dunland and Dwarves.
snug cottages that hold a single small family. The farms of
Though the Shire is only 80 miles west of Bree, The
Bree-land are varied; some are only a few acres while
Prancing Pony sees few visitors from there. The Shire-folk
others encompass a hundred acres or more.
tended to keep themselves, and visitors from Gondor or
Described below in more detail, there are some places Rohan are more common than Hobbits from the
in Bree linked to this adventure: Westfarting.
Built into the side of the central hill of Bree, The
1 : THE OLD BRIDGE Prancing Pony is a large, five-story inn catering primarily
to the Men and Hobbits from Bree. A large sign hanging
This bride made of old stones is ont the Old North over the door reads “THE PRACING PONEY by
Road, and crosses Bitter Creek. BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR” and depicts a white poney
rearing up.
2 : OLD FAINURA’S HOUSE The inn is open most days from just before noon to well
after midnight, usually 1:00 AM. Strangers are not only
Fainura Edhellammen is the greatest healer in Bree-land welcome here – they’re expected. A great deal of The
and she is Tatharína’s master, one of the suggested PCs.
 12
Pracing Poney’s success is due to frequent visitors from
those using both the Great East Road and the Greenway for
trade. Even the Rangers of the North, distrusted by most
– including the people of Bree – are frequent visitors here.
Very little violence occurs in The Prancing Pony. The
Men and Hobbits of Bree are quick to throw out any
strangers with a mind to violence, and Barliman views the
odd quarrel that breaks out among the regulars as little
more than an entertainment. The food and drink at The
Pracing Pony are good and plentiful, and few who spend
time here have much to worry about.
Visitors to The Prancing Pony are assured of good meal
and a warm place to sleep. The menu caters to Men and
Hobbits alike, and full-size rooms are available, as well as
half-size Hobbit-rooms. An ordinary meal consists of soup,
slices of roast beef, a loaf of black bread, butter, a chunk of
ripe cheese, and a berry tart. A fine meal includes hot
meat, usually roast mutton, taters and gravy and white
bread with honey butter.
 13

Barliman’s ostler, Bob, can find and procure any of the Goods & Services Cost
listed travel options for customer of The Prancing Pony.
Food and Drink
Also, Barliman is willing to buy game animals from
those who’ve recently been hunting, although he frowns Ale, mug 3 cp
upon people dragging dead animals into his establishment.
Deer and boar are the only wild game native to the area. Food, fine, 1 week 30 CP
Barliman pays 3 CP for a freshy killed boar carcass and 4 Food, ordinary, 1 week 9 CP, 6 cp
CP for a freshly killed deer.
Food, travel rations, 1 week 20 CP
Barliman can be impressed upon to keep anything the
customer feels too valuable to store in his room’s lock-box. Meal, fine 7 CP
However, he is wary of helping those who act suspiciously.
Meal, ordinary 10 cp
Besides Barliman Butterbur, there are a number of
personalities who spend much time in The Prancing Pony. Pipeweed, one pouch 6 CP, 2 cp
They are described here.
Wine, Dorwinion, per glass 20 CP
- Bob: is a Man Breelander and The Prancing Pony‘s
stablemaster. He is an experienced man with brid Wine, ordinary, per glass 9 cp
and bridle and knows well the value of horse and
pony. If the players want to buy horses, Bob’s the
Wine, Dorwinion, per skin 5 SP
man to see.
Wine, ordinary, per skin 24 CP
- Gwendolyn Butterbur: Gwendolyn is as stout and
red-faced as her husband, particularly because she Services
literally spends most of her days slaving over a hot Inn, ordinary, one night’s stay 3 CP, 3 cp
stove. She is in charge of the kitchen of The
Prancing Pony, but she is a bit shy, preferring to let Hot bath 6 cp
her husband deal with the customers while she Clothes washed 3 cp
works behind the scenes.
Beast and Vehicles
- Nob: is a young Hobbit from Bree, earning his
living as a gopher for Barliman. He serves drinks, Boat 9 sp, 6 CP
cleans tables and tends the room for guests. His Cat 3 cp
entire family lives in Bree and is well thought of by Horse, medium 16 SP
the locals. He has aspirations for a greater position
Horse, heavy 30 SP, 10 sp
in the inn, but he hasn’t worked out what will be
yet. Pony 4 SP
Saddle and tack 3 sp, 3 CP
5 : CALLOW MARKET Wagon 3 SP, 3 sp
Callow Market is the place where most of Bree’s
craftsmen live. Here you can find a weaver, an herbalist, a
carpenter, a blacksmith and a shoemaker; but the stone
mason and the tamer and leather-worker don’t live in here.
The village holds a market every two weeks.
 14
5.0 THE ADVENTURE
5.1 Prologue: “The Tale”
(Information only for the Turambar)
Wûlafûrad, a Stone Troll who was often hungry and
always a bully, blinked, yawned and stretched his arms.
He’d been asleep for a very long time, and his joints
creaked with the span of years. Maybe a nice, fat ewe
would wander by his Troll-hole just in time for a midnight
snack. More than likely, though, he would have to hunt for
his meal. Wûlafûrad (or Wilfred) rubbed his eyes and
kicked his brother, who still slumbering beneath a ragged
quilt.
“Lârunag! Move yer blimey arse out o’ the pallet!”
Wilfred delivered another kick. “If it’s grub yer wanting,
you’d better be up before the moon sets.”
The quilt heaved, revealing the grizzly tufts of hair that
cling to the scaly scalps of most Stone Trolls. Lârunag (or
Lawrence) belched and grumbled, “Get yer own midnight
snack. I’m not grabbin’ no ewe just to see yer gobble all
but the bones afore I swallow a mouthful!”
The brothers continued quarrelling while Wilfred
donned a huge (Troll-size) leather jerkin, and picked up an
enormous club. Lawrence opened his big eyes and started
picking his teeth with a splinter of bone. His eyes stared
vacantly at his brother’s ankles, while his thoughts roamed
backward in time. Only when Wilfred hefted a massive
wooden mallet and moved toward the door did Lawrence
stand up.
“Where’d the blighter go?” he asked.
Wilfred frowned. “What blighter? Yer a loon,
Lawrence! There’s nobody in this here hole but me and
you.”
“The booby Elf who sang,” insisted Lawrence. “He sang
and sang, and you fell asleep! Fell right over on yer ear,
Wilfred. Never seen yer look so silly in all the time I’ve
known yer.” Wilfred thumped his mallet against the floor
in disgust. “Yer a dreamer, Lawrie! Once it was Elves
dancing in the glen, now it’s a singer lulling Trolls to sleep.
Give over. And come help me some tucker!”
The pair never did get the sequence of events straight,
but an Elf had indeed charmed the two Troll brothers to
sleep over one thousand years ago, soon after the war
against Angmar. Both Trolls had been in an Angmarin war
party and had survived. After the war, they inhabited in the
Trolls Forest in Rhudaur, but eventually they moved
towards Bree. Firon, a messenger from Elrond the Half-
Elven was returning to Rivendell after delivering a message
for Cirdan in the Gray Havens when he was ambushed by
the Trolls one night near Bree. He had enough time to
climb a tree and from there he sang a Song of Power which
made them sleep, but he was already badly injured and the
strain made him fall unconscious. Later, he was found by
the good people of Bree who helped him, so the Bree-
landers’ sheep and goats that were feeding the Troll’s
voracious appetites were saved.
Since the fight ended short before dawn, Fiorin believed
the Trolls had turned to stone, but in fact they barely had
enough time to reach their Troll-hole. Fiorin’s song was
effective, but only a temporary solution. One thousand
years later, Wilfred and Lawrence have awakened to
trouble the town of Bree again but the Bree- landers have
long since forgotten Fiorin, as well as the Trolls that were
his foes.
Polo Hammidge, a Hobbit possessing large flocks and
extensive farmlands, was the first to suffer a loss. He
reported the theft of one fine ewe and his two lambs to the
Shirriff and hoped that such would be the sum of his
misfortunes for the season. The disappearance of another
lamb within two days buried his optimism. Polo ordered
his sons to pasture the sheep closer to home.
The following week after Polo Hammidge’s animals
disappeared, Odo Underbarrow also lost three sheep
before moving his livestock to the fields surrounding his
barns. Since he is less wealthy than his neighbour Polo,
Odo worries that even these limited losses may require him
to sell some of his land to make ends meet. He is sure that
poachers are not behind the missing ewes, since he saw a
bestial shadow fleeing for the woods while he stood guard
over the flock. Odo suspects wolves or a wildcat are
feasting on mutton somewhere in the Chetwood to the
north.
Odo and Polo are not the only Bree-landers taking

notice of the sheep disappearances. Nat Groathusk and his
buddy Gil Mossgrave share a shack at the edge of town. No
one really knows how the two make a living, but they are
not well liked by either the Mayor or the Shirriffs.
Shortly after the first ewe went missing from Polo
Hammidge’s flock, Gil left Bree for several days. The
townsfolk didn’t know (or care) where he had gone, but
they enjoyed being free of his dark presence. Had they seen
Inledair the Bandit-king who greeted Gil at his journey’s
end, the Bree-landers might have felt more concerned. As
it was, they merely grumbled privately when Gil returned.
He returned with information and instructions for
himself and Nat. The Trolls were to be encouraged to raid
the sheep flocks. The Bree- landers were to be hindered in
their efforts to stop the unknown (to them) menace. Nat
lengthened the hours during which he lingered at The
Prancing Pony to soak up local gossip. His news that the
farmers were moving their sheep closer to town sent Gil
on yet another mysterious errand, this time to the
Chetwood. His actions there caused Wilfred and Lawrence
to move from their Troll-hole in the forest to a sturdy
stone bridge with the shadows so thick under its arch that
the sun never dispelled them even when low in the
horizon. The bridge was closer to town than their hole, and
the Trolls feasted well on the first night after their change
in headquarters.
The next evening Nat told Gil about Tolman
Greenthumb’s promise to find the missing sheep. “Once
that pipsqueak Hobbit Finder gets on the problem, you
know it’ll be solved in a hare’s wink, Gil Mossgrave,” he
concluded sullenly.
“Not if we do our part properly,” insisted Gil. “I have a
plan, and if it works the little ratter will not bother us
again.”
The two rogues planned to kidnap Tolman when he was
outside Bree, ask her sister to rescue him and later kill him
anyway. His body will be abandoned near the new Troll
lair, so nobody can accuse them.
Right now, they keep Tolman alive in the deep of
Chetwood, because they want to interrogate him. When
they captured him, he already knew about the Trolls, so
they believed he has told somebody but they want to find
out for sure (in reality he hadn’t had enough time, but he
knows they will kill him when they have the information).
15
5.2 Introduction
This year, winter has come very early, but that is only the start
of troubles for the Breelanders. Yesterday, Odo Underbarrow, a
poor farmer with a numerous family, woke up with great start.
Last night somebody had stolen three sheep, more than half of his
flock! On top of that, Polo Hammidge, a wealthy and respected
Hobbit livestock farmer also lost some of his animals.
Immediately, the towns senior Shirriff, Holfast Bunce, asked
the famous Finder Tolman Greenthumb to investigate the
disappearances. Meanwhile, the good people of the quiet town of
Bree discussed many theories about the disappearances – wild
animals and bandits being the most popular.
The night has fallen and like every night the town gates are
closed. Tolman hasn’t come back home yet, but nobody is
surprised. The intrepid Finder sometimes spends several days
outside the town. However, his sister Lily is worried. Tolman never
goes out without letting her know how long he will be gone.
Besides, he usually asks her to cook a little something for the road
with that charming smile she knows all too well.
At the Prancing Pony inn, a tall man is sitting apart from
townsfolk in a dark corner. His name is Feredir, but nobody knows
it because he seldom visits Bree. Now, however, he has some free
days before going to Rhudaur to investigate bandit attacks on the
East Road. He slowly drinks his wine thinking about his duty – a
duty to defend these simple people. But they are good people and
must be protected. Such is a ranger’s task; such is his task.
Now it is about midnight and the wind howls like a hungry
wolf. Even the lively conversations at The Prancing Pony have
stopped long ago.
There is someone who doesn’t feel uncomfortable with cold, for
he is one of the Firstborn. He walks under the star’s light, leaving
no footprints in the snow. His heart is sad because his parents and
love have gone far away and so he is travelling alone. Tomorrow
he will visit a friend, a woman named Tatharína in a forest near
Bree.
Meanwhile Tatharína, old healer Fainura’s apprentice, wakes
up startled. Suddenly a window has been blown open by the storm,
making a loud noise that has woken up the hurt, little bear she
found in Chetwood. The cub groans almost like a baby. In the
background, old Fanuira’s snores can be heard clearly. It looks like
even the worst storm can’t disturb her dream.
 16
Some miles away from Bree, a Dwarf curses his bad luck. He’s
name is Dárim and he had hopes to be sleeping this night in a
comfortable bed in The Prancing Pony, but last night’s snowfall
had surprised him and his heavy cart broke down on the badly
repaired road. Resigned, he has made a camp, wishing that dawn
comes early so he can enter the village of Bree and visit some friends
he has there.
Give Gallind’s player the handout #1, “Airalin’s oath”
(this one is part of this PC background and it isn’t related
to this adventure, but it can be used as headline for another
one) and give Lily’s player the handout #2, “a worrying
find” (you should read the handouts before give them to the
players).
5.3 Scene 1: “At your service”
Lily feels something is wrong about her brother’s
absence and she is very worried since Odo’s child delivered
to her part of Tolman’s broken walking stick yesterday.
She gathers all of their friends in the sitting room of the
Greenthumb’s smial, but before the meeting Tatharína
should go to the woods to release the little bear which she
found some days ago wounded by wolves in the forest and
it is healed now. Some Archet herders who were in Bree
yesterday reported they have seen an adult bear in
Chetwood and probably is his mother. Also, she has to
meet with Gallind and asking him for help, since this
morning they have a meeting in the wood. They will have
no problem finding the bear and giving her the puppy.
All of you are gathered in the sitting room of the Greenthumb’s
Hobbit-hole. It’s a cozy place. The armchairs and couch are well-
cushioned and upholstered in a flowery print. Because a cold wind
is blowing outside, a fire burns in the hearth. A wooden cupboard
on one wall holds pewter mugs and stoneware bowls. The front
door of the smial opens right onto the sitting room. An archway
connects the sitting room to the dinning room, and three other
closed doors are visible.
This is how the adventure begins. The PCs should
introduce themselves (they are not all known to each
other) and should make a plan to find Tolman. You can use
the Greenthumb’s sitting room full-page map for this scene
(Map #1 in the Game Aids section).
Note: Bree is a quiet and peaceful town and so is not
allowed to carry weapons larger than a knife and wearing
armour. Any Character doing these things will be seen as a
troublemaker. Bree Shiriffs will ask him to left his weapons

and armour in the jail bulding until he left the town and
people will treat him as a disgusting stranger (Turambar’s
chosen penalties to all Social tests).
5.4 Scene 2: “To find a Finder”
Gil will leave Bree in the morning (while the PCs are
talking with Lily in her smial) and he will spend all the
evening interrogating Tolman. Nat, meanwhile, will stay
in Bree. They plan killing Tolman on the second day of the
adventure.
When Nat notices Lily gathering a rescue party, he will
need to change his plans: They will ask her for a ransom.,
though they don’t really expect Lily to raise a lot of money.
They want to make her believe her brother’s death
occurred because she couldn’t scrounge up enough money
and not because of Tolman’s last investigation. They
probably won’t kill her because they don’t want attract too
much attention. After Tolman’s murder, they plan to leave
his body near the new Troll lair under the old bridge, so
that it looks like the Hobbit was killed by the Trolls.
Meanwhile, the PCs are supposed to investigate the
whereabouts of Lily’s brother. You may find the Bree map
in the Places of note section useful. Here’s what Tolman
did yesterday:
8:00 Prinderton (a Hobbit Shiriff) went to Tolman’s
smial to ask for his help in the case of the missing sheep.
Tolman accepted the task.
8:30 Tolman left his home and said goodbye to his sister
Lily. He planned to come back to dinner, so he didn’t take
his backpack.
9:20 He had breakfast in the Pracing Pony as he usually
does when he is “working a case”. Nob, one of the two
servants at the inn, served him, He can tell the PCs Tolman
had an abundant breakfast even for a Hobbit.
9:35 He went out of Bree by the West Gate. Wesley
Privet, the Sheriff that drew duard duty at the gate this day,
could tell the PCs he didn’t reenter the town that way.
10:20 Tolman visited Odo Underbarrow’s barns while
inspecting the place. The wide snow layer has erased any
of his footprints.
Poor Odo is worried about Tolman, but also his own
welfare, because he will probably have to sell some of his
17
land to make ends meet this winter.
12:20 Tolman talked with Polo Hammidge. The Finder
told Polo the snow was making his task very difficult, but
he had an idea as to the guilty party. Unfortunately, he
didn’t tell Polo more. Wilcome Hammidge, Polo’s little
child, says Tolman has been devoured by wolves, trolls or
dragons. He obviously has too much imagination!
1:47 Finally, Tolman was talking with the others
farmers who have lands near Polo’s and Odo’s (Hal
Peppergrass and Harry Oatstone). He wanted to know if
they had seen or heard something anything unusual the
nights when the animals disappeared. After their talk, they
saw
him go towards the West Gate (really, he went into the
Chetwood).
Please, note that clocks are quite uncommon (probably
expensive Dwarven-made ones, not very useful in Bree)
and so almost nobody could talk about exact times! The
hours are given mainly for Turambar’s reference only.
Give Lily’s player the handout #3, “A sinister visit”.
5.5 Scene 3: “Darkness for dark
business”
It would be a good idea for the PCs to get before
midnight to the meeting point (check the meeting point in
Map #2: Kidnapper’s meeting point, in the Game aids
section), so they can prepare an ambush for the kidnappers.
Is difficult to predict the PCs course of action at this point,
but here some of the most likely ones:
#1 - Lily decides to gather her friends and/or
warn the guards without Nat noticing
Since the kidnappers wait for Lily outside Bree and the
town doors will be closed at night, the kidnappers must
be out by then. If Lily waits until them to gather her
friends, they will have to climb the town wall, pass the
hedge and the ditch to meet the kidnappers or convince
a guard to open the town doors for them. If they chose
the guard, he will ask many bothersome questions.
Either way, meeting at night is the only way they can
talk safely. In this case, the PCs must get out of Bree for
the night. There are two ways of doing so:
-Climb the hedge: they will need to find a hedge section
far from any houses and climb it. After the hedge, they
have to find a way over the defensive ditch. Fortunately,
 18
the water in it is frozen over. Since the Shirriffs don’t
patrol by night (they only guard the gates), they will
have no problems if they don’t make too much noise.
-Through the city gates: They must convince the
guarding Shirriff to open the door for them. He will do
so, but Lily’s and Tatharína’s strange behaviour will be
next week gossip.
#2 - The PCs ignore the kidnapper’s warning
and gather by day and/or warn the guards with
Nat noticing it.
When Nat realises Lily is asking for help, he will leave
Bree and tell Gil what is happening. They will not go to
their meeting with Lily, but they will follow their
original plan (kill Tolman and drop his body near the
Trolls).
Note: This way leads to a dead-end, so the Turambar
should let the PCs make a wisdom roll with TN 12 to
avoid this choice.
#3 - Lily raises the money somehow and pays
the ransom
Nat will be disguised and will take the money while Gil
is hiding in the shadows.
The kidnapper will promise Lily that Tolman will be
released next morning, but in fact the poor Hobbit will
be killed the same night and his body left near the Troll
lair by dawn.
Note: Lily should make a Discernment check with TN
16 to know they are lying.
If the PCs chose option 2, nobody will go to the meeting
point no matter how long they wait. But if they went with
option 1 or 3, read the following text for the players:
You have been walking about two miles in this lonely winter
night, following the Great East Road until you reach the meeting
point. The old paved road could be seen at some places under the
snow layer. A few paces to the right, the tall trees of Chetwood rise
far higher than your heads and to the left there is the beginning
of the narrow way to Archet.
If they arrive before the kidnappers, they surely want to
take positions in order to ambush them when they arrive.
If so, some trees offer a nice cover.
Don’t forget that it’s a dark winter night. In the open
fields the PCs won't have much of a problem, as there is
thick snow covering the ground, but in the woods it is a
quite different matter. They will need lanterns or torches
for travelling through the woods and for fighting or have
serious vision penalities (unless they can see in the dark,
like Gallind). But then, those light sources could be spotted
easily...
Note: Refer to the Core book, Table 9.7: Physical Test
Modifiers: Visibility & Lighting Modifiers.
If Nat thinks something is suspicious about Lily’s
behaviour, a Dunlending rogue will join the two rogues.
They know him from old times in Dunland. His name is
Cormac and he was resting in Archet. Well, not exactly.
He was really evaluating if it would be worth it to steal
some livestock there because Archet has no defensive
wall).
At midnight, the kidnappers will arrive (with Cormac
if the Turambar wishes):
It’s windy tonight, and quite cold, so that it is quite possible
more snow will fall tonight, but you are all far more worried about
Tolman. It’s after midnight and the kidnappers haven’t come yet,
so you feel a bit nervous…
Finally, a lonely, hooded figure with a torch steps out of the
woods, from the direction of Archet. He stops and looks around.
Nat will take the money, while Gil (and Cormac, if he
is present) will wait in the shadows under the trees, with
bows ready.
If the rogues discover the ambush or realise Lily has not
come alone, they will try to flee towards the deeps of
Chetwood. Since they all wear hooded cloaks, and it is dark
the PCs can’t see their faces.
Note: If any PC can see in the dark, he can make a
perception roll to make out any distinguishing features.
The PCs should realise that if they kill the kidnappers,
they will never know where Tolman is. In any case, the
rogues won't fight to the death. They will try to flee if one
of them is killed or knocked out. If they are unable to flee,
they will surrender. The kidnappers will reveal, for fear of
their own lives, that the Hobbit is bound to a tree in the
deeps of Chetwood (check Map 2 “Bree-land” to see the
exact place). When interrogated, they will name Inledair
the Blackhearted and say he will come from the
southeastern downs to kill the PCs for hindering his plans.
The PCs should keep at least one rogue alive so that he can
be better interrogated in Bree (this is a link for the next
adventure, which deals with Feredir’s task in the Great
East Road and the bandit’s raids there).
 19

Note: None of the PCs (save perhaps Feredir and

Dárim) have ever killed a man. Describe how the
doomed rogue screams, slumps bonelessly to the ground,
or lies twitching, blood frothing from his mouth, his heals
beating a staccato rhythm on the frozen ground until at
last he lies still, his glassy eyes staring at you with mute
accusation. Encourage PC reactions, i.e. growing pale
and shaking, weeping or puking their guts out.
Note: PCs with Intimidate skill should use it. It
would be an opposed test of Intimidation vs. Will (feel
free to add some penalties for the rogues Will rolls since
they could be afraid and surely hurt and outnumbered).
Note: Murdering any of the rogues who have
surrendered in cold blood is an evil deed that should be
considered corrupting.

5.6 Scene 4: “Searching for the

captive”
In this scene the PCs will search for Tolman in the
Chetwood and possibly have some encounters. If they
survive, they will find the place where Tolman was
because the Hobbit is no longer there…
You have been walking about five miles in the snow. You
almost can’t feel your feet from the cold and when you see in the
distance some smoke coming from the fireplaces of Staddle, you feel
really miserable. But you can’t stop thinking about your friend
bound to a tree, probably hurt and almost frozen in this terrible
night. Finally, you reach the right place under the dark trees of
the Chetwood. Since one of the kidnappers was with Tolman this
evening, there are some of his footprints in the snow.
The wood seems creepy with all those tall, dark trees bare of
leaves. Outside, the moon and the stars bring some light, but in
the woods it’s really dark and you can hear a wolf howling
somewhere to the north.
The PCs will have to track Gil’s footprints, so Feredir
and any other with the track skill should lead the party in
the forest.
Note: The PCs must pass three track tests with TN 10,
15 and 13 in order to find Tolman. Please don’t forget to
apply vision modifiers.
Some dangers lurk in the deeps of the wood. They will
see a pack of four wolves devouring a deer. These vicious
beasts will attack them if they get too close, defending their
kill, but they are not stupid and won’t fight to death (see
wolves stats in the Foes section). After this encounter or
even before you may want some wolves watching the PCs
in the distance, like they were waiting for the right
moment to attack.
You should have them make perception rolls quite often
to keep the players under strain. If they fail, maybe it’s only
a howling owl, a wandering fox, a little hole in the ground
or a branch which makes a great noise if they step on it. If
you want them attacked by wolves and things go terribly
bad for them, maybe you want to include a bear to save
them (the mother of Tatharína’s wounded little bear).
They are not in Lily’s garden, they are in a fearsome wood
on a cold winter night and they have to feel a bit scared,
mainly those who have never been outside their warm
houses in circumstances like this before.
After a highly unpleasant journey, the kidnapper’s tracks lead
through the dark forest to a big apple tree in a small clearing. You
find a broken rope lying in the snow around the tree.
 20
Whatever broke the rope was strong because it is wide and the
knot is still intact, but what really catches your attention and
worries you is that there is some blood in the snow. Tolman is no
longer here and he is even in direr need of your help!
Near the tree, you quickly discover some huge footprints in the
snow. They are very big, too big for a Man or an Orc, big enough
to belong even to a Troll… but there are no Trolls near Bree, at
least there shouldn’t be!
With no time to find the answer to this riddle, you must
act immediately to save your friend.
Note: An observe test with TN 16 allow the PCs to
notice the rope is not cut by teeth or claw, it was simply
pulled apart. The Trolls' tracks lead to the North and come
back from there (it goes to the to the Troll hole, some
distance from the clearing). There is other Troll track to
the West and the PCs should notice with a tracking test
with TN 15 that this is the direction they should follow
because is the more recent. If they fail the tracking test,
you should let them make an observe test with TN 17 to
notice some small blood drops in the snow in the westerly
track. Remember vision modifiers.
Do not let the player think calmly what to do next,
impose a time limit to choose the course of action (half a
minute or so) because the PCs are in a hurry to save their
friend’s life and they should feel the same pressure. If there
are some of the captured rogues with them (they know
about the Trolls), maybe they make some joke in bad taste
about a half-eaten Halfling to bother them.
5.7 Scene 5: “What lies under the
Old Bridge”
See the Bree land map in the Place of Note or map #2
in the Game Aids section to see the path the PCs must
follow tracking the Troll from the clearing to the Old
Bridge. Almost any of the adventurers know this land and
they should know they are running towards the bridge, so
it may be a good idea to follow the Old North Road instead
of running through the fields as the Troll did.
The Trolls are not stupid and if the PCs are not carefully
and make noise while going near the bridge, they will be
warned and ready for the intruders. They will hide in the
shadows under the bridge as good as they can, waiting for
some PC to enter the area illuminated by their fire. They
will strike first at any dangerous warrior such Feredir and
Dárim (the Dwarf is the most likely target because he is
dangerous and Trolls dislike Dwarves heavily). If the PCs
are wise enough to go to the bridge with care let them
make a Stealth test and the Trolls should roll to notice them
but with a -5 modifier since they are discussing. See the
Core book for opposed tests (page 164).
After another crouching, crackling, rustling passage trough the
woods, you emerge into the meadowlands. The moon is lower in
the sky, and the fields seem dimmer than before. The breeze, muted
at the clearing where you began to follow the Troll’s track, is
stronger outside the Chetwood and bitingly cold. Snow drifts over
the frozen landscape.
Bitter Creek glimmers in the fading light. Its waters skim over
the pebbled beach on its south bank then swirl onward to curl in
white rills around rocks set midstream. Nicely placed to serve as
stepping stones, the rocks will allow you to cross the creek if you
wish.
Farther downstream, on the north bank, a willow tree dips
sinuous fronds into the current and beyond the willow the bridge
where the Old North Road crosses Bitter Creek is visible. Distance
shrinks its sturdy stones down to the size of pebbles. In the darkness
that marks the bridge’s arch, there flickers a spark, a small dot of
incandescence. The Troll is still cooking his prey and you wish it
is some mutton or sheep.
As they approach the bridge, they can hear two Trolls
discussing. Dawn is near and the best choice to defeat the
monsters is making them go out from under the bridge.
Make the scene exciting, with some rounds of dangerous
combat but if the PCs are badly injured, the sun will shine
above their heads. After all is not funny to get killed in your
first adventure!
But if dawn comes while the trolls are still under the
bridge, they will never leave their cover. They're stupid,
but not THAT stupid. They will throw stones at those PCs
who attack them from the sunny ground. Let the PCs see a
badly wounded (probably bleeding) and unconscious
Tolman near the Trolls, so they know there is no time
enough to return to Bree asking for help while the stone
Trolls are trapped by the sunlight under the bridge if they
want to save their friend.
As the bridge draws nearer, the spark glimmering beneath its
arch grows to a coal casting a steady red glow, then a flickering
torch shooting flashes of gold, then a cookfire with two hulking
shadows seated in its light.
An iron pot the size of a stove or a laundry tub hangs suspended
over the fire. Bubbling sounds and delicious smells come from the
stew filling the pot.
One of the Shadowy figures steps forward to thrust a huge
wooden spoon into the simmering mutton. A massive jowl,

flattened nose and jutting brow sprouted with grisly tufts of hair
appear suddenly within the silhouette as the flames leap. The Troll
shovels a spoonful of stew into his cavernous mounth and smacks
his lips.
“I reckon this ‘ere mulligan’s about right, Wilfred. Lemme have
yer bowl and I’ll serve up yer share.” The creature’s voice rumbles
like rocks in an avalanche.
“Mind serve me up a mite more than you serve yerself. Lawrie,
my ewe was good ten pound heavier than yourn,” states his
companion.
“Blimey, Fred! Yer ate two ribs every one o’ mine out o’ that
21
lamb we gobbled yesterday. You owe me!”
“Do not!” protests Wilfred. “Who snabbled the firs ewe? Me!
Who snabbled the second? Me! Who has bringing that delicious
child? Me! And who ate ‘em roasted? You! Gimme that spoon!” As
the infuriated Troll makes a grab for it, Lawrie whacks him over
the head, then scoops another spoonful of mutton into his mouth.
“Ow, ow, ow! You, booby!” yells Wilfred, who then thumps
Lawrie with his empty bowl.
The quarrel looks like it will go on for quite some time and
from that distance there is no sign of your friend.
 22
Tolman is bound and unconscious because the Trolls
plan to eat him later. After the fight ends, the PCs should
go to the Troll-hole in the Chetwood because these
creatures are known to have interesting hoards full of loot
from their unfortunate victims. If they don’t get the idea,
Tolman will make the suggestion. He is a brave Hobbit and
is not so badly injured as it seems, just some bruises. Of
course, to find the hole, they will have to go to the clearing
and follow the other track leading to the North.
5.8 Scene 6: “Troll-plunder”
Because the Trolls slept for a thousand years, almost
everything here are relics from the fall of the Northern
Kingdom. The food they have stored has been rotted over
the years, making the Troll-hole disgusting and unhealthy
even for a place like this. Feredir as well as Jon Stonewort,
who is a Bree-lander interested in military history (see
Some Bree villagers in the NPCs section) who would find
even the most rusted and useless weapons here interesting,
and could provide some clues to link the old objects with
the Angmarim wars and the legend of Fiorin and the
sleeping Trolls as is told in the prologue
If some of the rogues Nat, Gil and Cormac are still alive
and free, they will try to steal as much valuable items as
they can, now that the Trolls are defeated and run away,
or, if the PCs are badly injured, they may even try an
ambush or some spying from outside the cave, waiting for
the PCs to leave the Troll-hole and then scavenging
whatever valuable items they left there. At least one of
them should be captured alive because is a link to the next
adventure.
As the PCs explore the Troll-hole, refer to the floorplan
as needed and describe the chambers thoroughly. Note that
there are some magic items here, but the PCs will need to
discover their properties or give them to a more
knowledgeable person with the appropriate lore skill to
identify them.
When the PCs first enter:
Rough granite blocks, each of the size of a washtub, are pilled
up to form retaining walls on either side of the entry to the Troll-
hole. The door, slightly ajar, is bound with iron straps and hangs
on heavy iron hinges.
Inside, a stench poisons the very air – like something rotten
long ago. In this dim lighted place, the sunshine that forms a
yellow rectangle on the floor adjacent to the threshold does not
penetrate far.
The largest chamber:
Markings in the dust on the floor indicate quite clearly where
the pallets (removed to the bridge) of the two Trolls once lay.
Without the bedding, their nightstand looks rather forlorn against
the chill stone wall.
A sturdy oak table occupies the back corner of the room, flanked
by knot-ridden benches.
It contains: under the table there is a small knife the size
of a letter opener, its blade dulled by age and slightly rusty,
with an onyx hilt adorned with a white enamel flower. (A
smith or even a travelling grinder could easily clean away
the rust and sharpen the blade for a beer or a copper.)
The store room:
Nails driven into chinks between the stones of the back wall of
the store room hold clothing and armour – probably garnered from
victims of the Troll’s stew pot. An iron-bound chest sits in the front
corner.
Above it, an empty and rusted torch sconce protrudes
from the wall. The sconce is placed to ensure that anyone
bending over inspecting the contents of the chest will
bruise or her head upon straightening. Any PC who looks
carelessly into the chest will probably hurt himself with the
sconce.
The PCs will probably want to investigate the contents
of the chest. It is locked and trapped.
Its key is the one in Lawrie’s pocket, which may be
impossible to take if the Troll turned to stone. In that case
one of the PCs with the stealth skill Locks (lockpicking)
will need to pick the lock. (He or she should check it for
traps first, attempt to disarm the trap, and then pick the
lock).
Finding the trap requires a TN 16 Search (Traps) test.
Disarming it needs a TN 17 test of the Traps (Disarm) skill
and picking the lock is a Locks (Lockpicking) test with TN
15.
The trap involves 8 concealed darts, spring- loaded to
spray out if the lock is picked. Anyone in front of the chest
will be hit by at least one of the darts if the trap is sprung
and anyone in front of the lock will be hit by at least 3 darts.
Determine randomly the impact of the remaining darts.
They have a 6/ +2 damage code.
A PC who picks the lock without disarming the trap, or
who attempts to disarm the trap but fails, will suffer an

attack from the darts. Once it is open, describe the
contents of the chest.
An odor created by the mingling scents of old wood, dust and
mould rises from the open chest when you push back ist lid. Within,
a gleam of gold sparkles through the piled valuables.
Topmost of the heap is a roll of parchment secured by a faded
blue silk ribbon. A quartered circle of iron with a chain of fine steel
links that enable it to be worn as a pendant, a wooden mask
painted with reds, blues, greens and yellows, perhaps once garish,
but now the colours have darkened with age and are flaking. A
pouch of dusty blue velvet, a small, tarnished brass box, two
pouches of cracked, crumbling leather, dyed blue and brown
respectively, and a slim black case of mouldy leather are heaped
beneath the scroll. On the bottom of the chest lie a sword wrapped
in the remains of a mouldering leather scabbard and a Dwarven
battle-axe. A thin skimming of coins, some still gleaming, others
dull and tarnished, surround the weapons.
The chest contains:
- A roll of parchment, brittle with age, secured
by a faded blue silk ribbon; anyone handling it
must pass a Deftness test or it begins to crumble
- sure to alarm the PCs. It won't crumble away,
though, due to the enchantment placed on it.
Once opened the following verse may be read:
Wounded be the fleshless! Cursed be the deathless!
Arrow of air to pierce the ghost, Spear of night to do
its utmost
Shivel the spectre, the barrow to bless!
The scroll was written by Gandalf himself for an
Arnorian family in dire need to restore their
family honour and bring peace to the troubled
spirit of an important and evil ancestor buried in
a barrow. In fact, it was made for Feredir’s
family long ago and he is the right one to use it.
Once read aloud under the right circumstances,
however, the parchment crumbles to dust.
- Quartered circle of iron with a chain of fine steel
links to enable it to be worn as a pendant.
- A wooden mask painted with darkened and
flaking reds, blues, greens and yellows. It’s a
Sorcery item made in Angmar which permits
the wearer to see clearly for entities and things
inhabiting the world of shadows; this includes
Ghosts, Spectres, Wights and the dreadful
Ringwraiths as well. It grants a +4 modifier to
offset any test penalties from their indistinct
23
form (combat for example) and for using
Necromancy, but it is a fearsome experience
and the wearer must concentrate while it
works. It war created by and uses Sorcery to
work and so it is a corrupting item.
- A dusty blue velvet pouch filled with a fine blue
powder. When mixed with water, it makes a
pigment of rare blue valued highly by painters.
Any character handling the pouch must be very
careful and make a Deftness test, or the fabric
disintegrates, leaving him standing in a cloud of
blue dust, resulting in 3+1d6 rounds of
sneezing for him or her and any other PCs
nearby.
- A small brass box containing a grey dust.
Possibly the PCs will think it worthless because
it is of Elvish origin and only Gallind may know
what it is (Lore test about Elven culture with
TN 15). One grain of this dust placed in the
earth beside a seed, bulb, or seeding will cause
the plant to flourish under even adverse
conditions, and to bring fruit, nuts, etc of
superb flavour, size, etc.
- A cracked, crumbling blue leather pouch of 17
sling stones. Deftness test, or the pouch
disintegrates in a shower of sling stones.
- A brown leather pouch of 16 sling stones.
Deftness test as above.
- A slim, mouldy black leather case containing a
set of lockpicks.
- Sword of Dwarven craft with Elvish runes on
the blade that spell out Gurthcrist, which is
'death-cleaver' in Westron; the hilt is wrapped
in a tattered cord of textured black silk and
bears a fire opal the size of a walnut; the
scabbard is mouldering black leather and is
ornamented with silver tracery (the lack of
tarnish on the tracery will indicate to the
knowledgeable that is mithril, not silver. The
hilt wrapping and scabbard have to be replaced,
they are beyond repair. However, the mithril
tracery will more than pay for this- it's worth
about 10 Gp. It requires an Appraise (Metals) or
Goldsmith skill test with TN 15 to notice. The
sword is very useful against undead (damage
code of 9/+5 against such beings). It has the
same history as the following battle- axe.
24

- Dwarven battle-axe with a haft of black dir
wood carved with stylized angry faces. The haft
has become slightly unsound with age, which
can be determined with an Appraise (Weapons)
or Weaponsmith- Axes test with TN 14. Until
replaced, it has a 15% chance of breaking with
every blow that connects. It belonged to a
Dwarf lord who’s live was saved by an Arnorian
knight and in return the Dwarf swore to help
him to bring peace to his family’s barrow. It has
a damage code of 10/+5 against undead.
- 95 gold coins, all bearing the ancient imprint of
the Arnorian mint: seven stars
- 16 tarnished, black silver coins, also of
Arnorian mint, bearing three towers
- 18 tarnished, blackened silver coins with the
imprint of Gondorian mint: a tree
- A lump of copper coins baked together by
verdigris; worthless, but when pried apart (a
long, arduous labour) there can be found 2 gold
coins and 8 silver (3 Arnorian, 5 from Gondor
showing a ship) within.
In this room there is also a heap of mouldering, moth-
eaten rags and rotting leather. Anyone rummaging through
this will churn up lots of dust and mould spores, and will
have to make a Stamina test with TN 10 or start a sneezing
fit for 2d6 rounds. PCs smart enough to cover their faces
with a handkerchief will get +4 on their test. Under the
rags there are:
- 3 pairs of damaged and useless leather riding
boots.
- a suit of leather armour sized to fit a Dwarf
oddly in good condition (it is magical).
- A rusty mail shirt sized to fit a slender man can
be found. The mail is still sound, as can be
determined by an Appraise (Armour) or
Armourer- Metal (Chainmail) test with TN 14.
It can be cleaned in an afternoon by putting it in
a sack of sand and beating it with a stick.
The back closet:
A musty smell comes from this room. Jars of undefinable
substances, spilled casks of mummified meat and long, stone-hard
strips of dried mutton fill the sagging shelves lining the back closet.
A variety of moulds grow on the remains. You really doubt that
25
even a Troll could eat this. A mouse skeleton adorns the bottom-
most shelf.
The top shelf which is beyond the reach of any human-
size PC holds a small rosewood box. Any PC in the room
can make a search or observe test with TN 12 to see it
(applies vision modifiers if there is not enough light). They
can take the box only if they climb somehow to reach this
place. Its sides are carved to depict a trellis covered with
flowers. It contains two golden leaves seldom found in
Middle-earth due to its Valinorean origin. It is known as
Golden Queensfan in Westron. One of this leaf placed on
the lips of a dying person will double the time he has left to
live and make him recover immediately from
unconsciousness, at least giving him time for some moving
last words.
The front closet:
Sacks of something which could have been flour some time in
the past, burst bags filled with the dry husks of onions, turnips,
and potatoes, the mummified remains of huge rounds of wax-
covered cheese, and several jugs that originally held ale, but now
contain only dust and dead flies load the shelves of the front closet.
Much of this is covered in mould. The stench here is really terrible
even for a Troll-hole, dry and acrid. A spare stew pot squats on
the floor below a row of nails.
A Stamina test against TN 10 might be in order not to
gag. Also, the PCs better had take care with the sacks of
flour. Lots of flour dust in the air in combination with open
flames (e.g. torches and candles) make quite nice, large
explosions.
In this room there are:
- A human-size hunting horn bound with white
leather bearing bronze studs.
- A rotten, worm-eaten bow staff.
- A mould-covered blue leather belt. However,
under the mould, the belt is quite intact, and, if
cleaned and oiled will look like new. This fact
can be spotted with a TN 15 Appraisal test. It
will fit a slender man or hobbit.
All these items are piled in a corner under a bag. The
PCs may make a search test with TN 10 to find them or
find them automatically if you think they are looking
carefully enough.
 26
It would impossible for the PCs to carry all of this back
to town without a wheel barrow or perhaps a small cart
However, they would do well to choose which items they
wish to keep for themselves (and claim now) before
seeking transport for the rest.
Encourage the players to divide the treasure evenly and
with some thought for which item might be of most use to
which character and suggest that some of the coinage could
be used to reimburse those Bree-landers who lost sheep to
the Troll’s appetites.
Nat, Gil and/or Cormac should be brought to the
lockhouse in Bree and given into the custody of the Shirriff.
Such ruffians certainly cannot be allowed to go free.
Although their legs must be untied to allow them to walk,
they should probably be hobbled (a length of rope, perhaps
14 inches in length, with its ends tied around each ankle)
to prevent them from trying to run away.
5.9 Epilogue: “All’s well as
ends better!”
As the West-gate of Bree draws near, you see a crowd of Bree-
landers, both Big Folk and Little Folk, gathered there. Odo
Underbarrow in his parched trousers stands with his wife Cicely
and their two pretty, chestnut-curled daughters. Polo and Nadina
Hammidge with their four applecheeked sons are there. The
Broadtunnels, the Underbluffs, the Clayhills, the Oatstones, the
Reedpipes, the Yarrows, and the Eppleworths are present too. And
they’re all cheering, and jumping, and laughing, and waving
their handkerchiefs. Even gloomy Boffo Hollohall has a smile on
his face.
At the head of the crowd, beaming with pride, stands Holfast
Bunce. “Hip, hip, hurrah!” he yells. “For the Trolls-slayers, the
shepherd’s champions, the defenders of Bree! Hurrah! Hurrah!”
Then the crowd surges forward, shouting your names, “Dárim
the Warrior! Tatharína the Wise! Lily the Gentle! Hurrah!
Tolman the Clever! Gallind the Far-sighted! Feredir the Brave!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
They swirl around you, sweeping you through the West-gate.
Wesley Privet, the junior Shirriff, takes charge of (Nat, Gil and/or
Cormac if the PCs take some of them prisioners), as Earling
Underbluff and Hending Broadtunnel hoist Tolman onto their
shoulders. Cheering the whole way to the inn, the Bree-landers
pause at the door of The Prancing Pony.
“Master Butterbur! The heroes are here! Bring out your best
ale, your choicest mushrooms, your most savory stew!” calls Polo
Hammidge. “A feast for these brave lads and lasses! Ho, Master
Butterbur!”
As you pass into the taproom, Barliman bustles through with a
fistful of mugs in one hand and a tray of sliced cheese in the other.
“What’s that they’ve done? Half a moment, Master Hammidge, if
you please.” The hurried innkeeper disappears into the kitchen,
then reappears mere moments later, retying the strings of his
apron.
“Killed some Trolls, mercy me! They deserve more than a fine
dinner for that, but you can be sure that The Pony will supply the
best! Come this way, come this way,” insists Butterbur as he ushers
you into a spacious parlor.
Six rounds tables spread with white linen and each set for
twelve people give ample promise of the feast to come. The Bunces,
Polo Hammidge, and Odo Underbarrow sit down with you, eager
to hear the tale of your adventures.
Encourage the players to narrate their exploits. Role
play the responses of Odo, Polo, Holfast, Myrtle, Milo and
Wesley Privet (who joins the celebration after putting the
prisoner/s into the cells of the lockhouse).
Barliman Butterbur and Nob the Hobbit serve the feast
and intersperse comments and exclamations where
suitable. As the banquet progress, and bellies grow full, the
Bree-landers start calling for a speech. Ideally, one of the
PCs will rise and very briefly tell of the encounter with the
Trolls, the wonderful victory, and the dreadful
information from the rogues Nat and Gil about the Bandit-
king Inledair. Much cheering interrupts whoever performs
this task. This is the perfect moment to make a gift of gold
coins (from the Troll-hole) to Odo Underbarrow and Polo
Hammidge to recompense them for their lost sheep. Both
make graceful thank-you’s expressing gratitude for the
PC’s brave action against the Trolls.
It is also a good moment to announce the PCs intentions
to find and defeat Inledair the Blackhearted. Many of the
Bree-landers will offer food and camping supplies to the
heroes!
Before the banquet can drag on or grow tedious,
Barliman chases the excited Bree-landers out to the
taproom, where they can discuss the news over mugs of his
excellent beer. He offers the PCs a free night at The Pony
with breakfast in the morning as part of the reward. After
showing them to rooms above stairs, he leaves them to
their privacy. The PCs should take advantage of the peace
and quiet to determine the exact properties of the treasure
from the Troll-hole and to finally decide what will belong
to whom.
 27

6.0 GAME AIDS

Player handout #1 “Airalin’s oath” (only for Gallind)
Long time ago, in a woodland north of Lórien and west of Dol Guldur, there dwelt in solitude an Elf named
Tathariel (Sindarin for “Willow-maid”). She valued the company of trees more than that of her own kin, and her
solitude more than any treasure. Airalin fled through Tathariel’s grove carrying a message from Thanduil in Mirkwood
to Galadriel of Lothlórien. Three dozen Orcs pursued the messenger. With Tahariel’s help, Airalin brought death to
all of the band, at the cost of the breeches, rowans and hemlocks of the forest wood. Raging fire claimed all but a ring
of willows surrounding a bubbling spring.
Tathariel came to Lórien with Airalin. He sent to Rivendell for the heirloom of his house, a magic circlet. The
Rhîvaran (Sindarin for “Crown of Refuge”) would protect the displaced Elf’s woodland from the depredations of the
Necromancer’s minions once new saplings were planted.
Although the crown left the last homely house in a stone casket carried by Elven warriors, it never arrived in Lórien.
The gold circlet, resembling a wreath twisted from a hickory branch, had been lost. Nor could any trace of its guardians
be found. Airalin took an oath to return the Rhîvaran one day. He made many unsuccessful journeys to retrieve the
item, searching dangerous sites almost at random. Eventually, he sent word of his failure to Tathariel. She forgave him
his oath, claiming to be content to dwell in Lórien. But for Airalin is a matter of family honor.

Player handout #2 “A worrying find” (only for Lily)

You have had some nightmares tonight. So when the sun appears in this cold morning, you feel really lightened.
Your irresponsible brother Tolman has done even more fool things in the past than disappear for a whole night, so
you have probably no reason to worry so much about him. He will probably return soon with a broad smile and some
news about the missing animals. But not even the best of his charming antics will save him from a well-deserved
reprimand!
With that thought in mind, you decide it is time to visit Callow Market and buy some herbs for your cooking. You
are still walking near Bree smials when a young Hobbit runs towards you. He is Wilcome Hammidge, son of Polo
Hammidge, one of the wealthiest Hobbit farmers in the village. You smile at the child because you know him and you
like him too. He is very imaginative and is always inventing incredible stories. You stop thinking such amused thoughts
when you see what he is carrying: a piece of a broken walking-stick, a carved one you know too well…Tolman’s one!
The child tells you a story about a dragon eating your brother or something like that, but you are so shocked that
you pay no attention to him.
Later, his father Polo takes you to his smial and tells you how he found the piece of walking-stick. Really,there is
not too much to tell, because it snowed heavily last night. All he can tell you is that it was foundin his fields outside
the village hedge this morning and there were no tracks. He is a kind man and tries to comfort you, but despite his
words and the tea you are drinking, you feel terribly cold.

Player handout #3: A sinister visit (only for Lily)

A sound in your bedroom wakes you up. It must be very late, indeed and your brother hasn’t come back home
yet and you are really worried about him. You decide open the window.
A dark figure stands outside, darker than the darkness. It’s one of the Big Folk, but you can’t see his face or any
others details because he’s wearing a hooded cloak.
He speaks with a low, menacing voice: “Listen to me carefully if you want to see your brother aliveagain.
Tomorrow at midnight on the Archet road deliver us 20 gold coins and we will release him. You must come alone. If
you don’t give us the money or breathe a word to anybody else, you will never see him again.”
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Map #1: The Greenthumb sitting room (for the players)

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Map #2: Kidnapper’s meeting point (for the players)