Southern Bree-Fields 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 Southern Bree-fields is a region of rolling hills and lowlands located in the south-central part of the wider Bree-land area. Once a rich and flourishing agricultural area with numerous farmsteads, the land now bears many signs of neglect and conflict. The primary natural boundaries are the ominous Old Forest to the south and the rising land of the Barrow-downs to the southeast. The landscape is marked by open areas of tall grass, some active fields near isolated farms like Dogwood's or Old Sweetgrass, and rocky outcrops that hint at ancient geological shifts.

This region serves as a major intersection for travel routes. The significant East-West Road cuts directly through the Southern Bree-fields, connecting areas further west (like the Shire and Buckland) with the eastern wilderness and the town of Bree. Furthermore, the crucial North-South Road intersects the East-West Road near the town of Bree, with a section of its southern stretch running through these fields. This crossroads location made the Southern Bree-fields historically a central hub for commerce and travel, which is still evident by the presence of numerous ruins along the roads.

Settlement in the Southern Bree-fields is sparse and focused primarily on agriculture or utility. The main hub of activity is Bree town itself, which sits on Bree-hill on the northern edge of this area. The fields themselves contain isolated farms and temporary encampments. One such encampment is Adso's Camp, a modest but important stop for travelers offering basic services like vendors and a stable-master. Player housing areas known as the Bree-land Homesteads are also situated near the southern borders of the region.

The environment is currently fraught with peril, making travel a hazardous endeavor. While the fields were once peaceful, wildlife such as bears and wolves have become increasingly agitated and aggressive, attacking travelers on sight. The land, once tamed, is now a frontier where nature is reclaiming its dominance in many places, and the general atmosphere is one of unease due to the prevailing dangers.

Organized threats are a significant feature of the Southern Bree-fields. The area is heavily infested with brigands and highwaymen who set up camps, such as Outlaw's Haven and Brigand's Watch, to waylay merchants and travelers along the Great East Road. These bandit groups appear unusually organized, leading to speculation that a darker force is manipulating them from behind the scenes. The presence of these criminals transforms the seemingly pastoral fields into an active danger zone.

Echoes of ancient history are visible across the landscape in the form of numerous ruins. These stone remnants are all that remain of settlements and fortifications from the ancient North Kingdom that once flourished here many ages ago. These ruins now serve as shelter for the brigands and dangerous animals that roam the fields, adding a layer of historical melancholy to the region's current state of disarray and conflict.