Brandy Hills Battle of Five Armies & The Third Age of Middle-Earth The current year for our Middle-Earth campaign is set during the year of 2946 of the Third Age. Inspired By J.R.R. Tolkien

The Brandy Hills are an area of rolling terrain and low hills in the wider Bree-land region, located along the eastern shores of the Brandywine River, north of the densely populated area of Buckland. This region serves as a crucial geographical link, bordered by the river to the west and the heavily wooded area known as the Brandywood to the east. The terrain is a mix of open land and light forests, providing a transitional landscape between the managed fields of the south and the wilder northern reaches.

The appearance of the Brandy Hills is primarily pastoral yet rugged. The hillsides are covered in grass and scattered trees, maintaining a natural, untamed look rather than the manicured farmlands seen in other parts of Bree-land or the Shire. The lack of extensive modern cultivation gives the area a wilder feel. The presence of Girdley Island, a single named point of interest within the river near the hills, adds a minor distinctive feature to the local geography.

Settlement in the Brandy Hills is virtually non-existent, further contributing to its wild character. There are no towns or villages, and permanent residences are rare. This isolation means the area remains largely quiet and remote, primarily utilized by those passing through or local hunters. The only signs of past habitation are ancient stone ruins, remnants of the forgotten kingdom of Arnor that once thrived in this land many ages ago.

The environment here is considered a frontier area, meaning it is exposed to the dangers of the surrounding wilderness. The woods and fields are home to various forms of aggressive wildlife, including boars and bears, whose presence is a constant concern for anyone traveling through the region. Historically, the numerous scattered ruins dotting the hillsides are the most significant aspect of the region.

These crumbling structures represent a bygone era of human civilization and serve as shelter for the wildlife and occasional vagabonds or darker forces that move through the area. The past conflict and eventual abandonment of these settlements underscore the transient and often dangerous nature of the Northern Eriador landscape.

For travelers, the Brandy Hills act mainly as a transitional area connecting the northern part of Buckland and the Shire with the rest of Bree-land. The main travel route here is the segment of the Great East Road and the North-South Road near their intersection, but the hills themselves are off the beaten path. The region is largely defined by its function as a natural boundary and a quiet, albeit perilous, wilderness area adjacent to more populated and famous locales.