Let's Talk About It 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

I would like to go on record at the start of this post by saying some of what I am about to say is going to offend some folks so . . . if it does, then I guess you'll be offended! If you dislike what I am about to say then move along to something else because I don't need you here trying to force your point of view on me or my players "who also feel the same way" and how we feel Middle-Earth should be. Alright, now that that's been said, on with the post . . .

I understand everyone is going to have a difference of opinions and I respect that but if your opinion does not agree with mine then I guess that is how it goes. This version of Middle-Earth will be 100% homebrew. Why is it homebrew you might ask? Well, I have not read the books so I have no way to remain true to canon. My campaign will be based totally off of the six films but I will be reading the novels in the near future so I will try to hold true as best I can to the Tolkien spirit.

My Middle-Earth will not feed off of a single thing from the Amazon "The Rings of Power" series that has been released #BoycotAmazon. I will not get into the reasons behind why I personally feel like Amazon just gave Middle-Earth fans a hard slap to the face and giving us the middle finger with the other hand, I will let you folks decide for yourself if you like or dislike what you have seen so far concerning that series but one thing is certain ... Amazon took down the video they had on the Amazon channel where the words "representation & diversity" was said a million times . . . this speaks volumes. One other thing I want to point out is how Amazon made it so people could not post reviews on Rotten Tomatoes "hmmm . . . I wonder why that was done" lol. All Amazon is concerned with are the words "representation & diversity" - and with Amazon removing that video from the Amazon channel, it just goes to show you that they realize that they screwed up.

I am also now seeing how they are race swapping main characters, turning white characters into black characters . . . lol ok let's just spit all over the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. They don't care about the actual Lore and it speaks volumes about what they are trying to do with this new series with that video being removed from the Amazon Youtube channel ... nuff said on that.

Personally I feel the entire concept of this new Amazon series to be sad & embarrassing and I personally will not have anything to do with that shit show. I want to also go on record by saying Wizards of the Coast race swapping Aragorn is a disgrace and they can line up right along side Amazon with how I feel about them.

Anyways . . . to finish this thing up, yea my campaign is going to be based off of the films. Sure the Hobbit trilogy was a little silly with the CGI and at times and I see where Peter Jackson added non canon stuff into the prequels, but in the end the films kept with the "flavor and feel" of Middle-Earth and I loved all six films even with some of the rediculas CGI stuff going on in the Hobbit trilogy. All of my current players have not read the novels but are huge huge fans of the films and this will be how they envision what is going on in my campaign so it just makes sense to build my campaign off of the films and just add in as much canon as I can to it.

Middle-Earth is something very close to my heart and with Amazon doing this stupid shit to this new series really upsets me which in turn causes me to speak my mind about how I feel about how my Middle-Earth campaign should and will be. I'm sure if I read the books it would mean so much more to me and eventually I really do hope to be able to find the time and sit down and read the books.

Most if not all of my group know about Middle-earth from the six films so in a way basing this campaign off of the movies works better for my group anyways. I've had multiple movie nights with my players where we sat around and watched the extended versions of all six films "at different times of course" and we had a wonderful time. I am very excited to be bring our own Middle-earth to life for my players to explore. Knowing that at times they will undoubtedly meet some of the iconic characters from Middle-earth which I hope is a real treat for them.

So, be patient with us "especially me" because we still have a lot of perpareration to get done and this campaign blog is just beginning to get worked on so a lot more content is coming to this little corner of Middle-earth. I'll have more news coming soon for everyone so stay tuned.

Timberwheel Wainwright 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

Timberwheel Wainwright stands along the western side of Bree, not far from the West-gate Road. The sprawling workshop is difficult to miss, with wagon wheels of every size hanging from its timber-framed walls and stacks of seasoned oak and ash piled beneath covered sheds. Throughout the day, the sounds of saws, hammers, and craftsmen at work mingle with the bustle of Bree's streets and the distant noise of travelers arriving from the Greenway or the East Road.

The business is owned by Elias Timberwheel, a broad-shouldered Bree-man in his early sixties whose hands seem permanently stained with wood oil and sawdust. His thick grey beard and weathered face speak of a lifetime spent repairing wagons and carts that travel the roads of Eriador. Though his size can appear intimidating, Elias is known throughout Bree for his patience, good humor, and booming laugh that can often be heard across the yard.

Farm carts from the surrounding countryside, merchant wagons from distant lands, and the occasional Ranger's supply wagon can usually be found lined up outside awaiting repairs. Bree's position at the crossroads of the East Road and the Greenway ensures a steady stream of customers. Travelers passing through often claim that a Timberwheel wagon can survive roads that would leave lesser carts broken and abandoned in a ditch.

Inside the workshop, organized chaos reigns. Workbenches are crowded with tools, wooden spokes, iron bands, and half-finished projects. The scent of freshly cut oak mingles with tar, leather, and hot metal fittings obtained from the smiths of Bree. Several apprentices work under Elias's supervision, but he personally inspects every wheel and wagon before it leaves the yard. Besides building custom wagons, he repairs farm carts, replaces broken axles, crafts wheelbarrows, and occasionally produces sturdy household furniture during the quieter winter months.

In recent years, Elias has noticed troubling changes along the roads. More wagons arrive damaged from encounters with brigands, wolves, or other dangers lurking beyond the settled lands. Merchants increasingly request stronger wheel assemblies, reinforced frames, and hidden compartments for valuable cargo. Though Elias dismisses most tavern tales as exaggerated gossip, he quietly shares the concerns of many Bree-folk. The roads beyond Bree no longer seem as safe as they once were, and he has begun adding extra iron supports to many of his wagons. In uncertain times, a dependable cart may prove every bit as valuable as a good sword.

Woodmen-town 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

Woodmen-town is a thriving settlement nestled beneath the dark eaves of Mirkwood, standing along the banks of the Dusky River south of the Old Forest Road. Home to some of the oldest Woodmen families, the village is centered upon the Hall of Balthi, an ancient great hall that safeguards the legendary Lamp of Balthi, a revered artifact renowned for its healing powers.

Surrounding the hall are the Market Green, workshops, homes, and trading stalls, all enclosed within sturdy palisade walls composed of both ancient moss-covered timbers and freshly cut logs. The Woodmen strive to live in harmony with the natural world, preserving traditions passed down through countless generations. Life in Woodmen-town revolves around the Market Green, where merchants occasionally arrive with goods from distant settlements, herders bring sheep and pigs to market, and local craftsmen barter materials and finished wares.

Along the nearby riverbanks, fishermen mend nets, carve sturdy log boats, and prepare coracles for the coming season. The sounds of chopping timber, barking hounds, and busy tradesmen fill the air throughout the day. Bunches of fragrant herbs hang from the palisade walls to ward off evil influences, a reminder that the people of the region remain wary of the darkness lingering within Mirkwood. The settlement's homes are well-built wooden structures with steep shingled roofs designed to withstand harsh northern winters.

An inner palisade encircles the central hill where the Great Hall and council chambers stand, restricting entry to those with official business. Woodmen-town is governed by a Council of Five Elders who meet within the richly decorated hall beneath the watchful glow of the Lamp of Balthi. Well-trained hounds patrol the settlement and its outskirts, for the Woodmen are renowned masters of dogs and rely upon them to warn of danger approaching from the forest. With a population of roughly one hundred and fifty souls, Woodmen-town consists primarily of hardy Woodmen related to the ancient Edain, though a handful of outsiders and traders also reside within its walls.

The settlement maintains strong ties with the Beornings and enjoys friendly relations with the Elves of the Woodland Realm, reflected in several elevated platforms built among the trees in the Elvish fashion. Though the people are welcoming and industrious, they remain vigilant in these troubled times, sensing that the Shadow is once again stirring in Mirkwood. Nevertheless, life continues much as it always has, with hunting, fishing, trapping, and trade providing sustenance through the cool summers and long, snowy winters of the North.

Points of Interest
• Great Hall
• Market Green
• Nightgate Inn
• Blacksmith Shop
• Oakroot Woodworks
• Chissa's Patisserie Shoppe
• Baliver's House of Horses
• General Store

Notable People
• Odo
• Amalina
• Old Ingund
• Barald

Easterly Inn 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 Easterly Inn stands just southwest of the Forest Gate near the western end of the Elf-path, overlooking a small brook that flows from Mirkwood toward the Great River. The inn is owned and operated by Dodinas "Dody" Brandybuck, along with his wife Agatha and his brother Dindy. A proud member of the famous Brandybuck family of the Shire, Dody often jokes that the Easterly Inn is "the eastern-most outpost of the Shire in the Wild." Though situated far from Hobbiton, he has worked hard to create a welcoming haven that reminds travelers of the comfort and hospitality found in the West.

Despite being less than a year old, the inn has quickly become one of the most popular stopping places for merchants, adventurers, and travelers journeying along the forest roads. Built entirely in the Hobbit fashion, the structure possesses a warm and inviting charm that stands out amid the wilderness. The main floor consists of a spacious common room filled with tables of varying sizes, a cozy bar with four stools near the entrance, and a large hearth along the southern wall capable of heating the entire building during the cold months.

Several outdoor tables allow guests to enjoy their meals beside the brook when weather permits. The second floor contains six guest rooms designed to comfortably accommodate both Big Folk and Little Folk. Each room is identical, containing a comfortable bed, blankets, washstand, chamber pot, towels, garment pegs, and a sitting chair. A communal washroom is located at the end of the hall. The rooms are kept exceptionally clean, and visitors often remark that the accommodations rival those of far larger inns found elsewhere in Middle-earth.

The Easterly Inn is particularly famous for its food and drink. A surprisingly large kitchen staffed by cooks of several races produces hearty meals that many travelers compare favorably to those served at the Green Dragon Inn back in the Shire. The cellar and storage room hold a wide assortment of ales, beers, and wines imported from across the region, ensuring that guests are rarely disappointed by the selection. Though prices are somewhat higher than those found elsewhere, most patrons happily pay for the quality, comfort, and rare sense of home that Dody Brandybuck has brought to the edge of Mirkwood.

(All full meals are served with bread and honey, potatoes, and string beans, yams, rum-boiled artichokes, potatoes, and string beans, yams, rum-boiled artichokes, cabbage, carrots, or spinach along with whatever meat and drink the customer orders with it)

BREAKFAST - 7am
Pork Sausages and Cheese: 10sp
Poached Pears (stuffed with Frumenty): 6cp
Beef and Mushroom Stuffed Hand Pies: 11sp
Shire Seed Cake: 11cp
Biscuits (topped with black pudding, eggs, and a smothering of gravy): 5cp
Mini Quiche: 11cp
Honey Nut Cake & Marmalade: 6cp
Hobbit Hash (potatoes, leeks, spinach, and cheese): 7cp
Ham Omelet (made with curry spices, onions, and tomatoes): 15cp
Stuffed Poached Pears: 3cp
Peppered Bread: 4cp
Oatmeal & Fried Potato Wedges: 3cp
Beef Steak: 15cp
Breakfast pie (made with salmon, leeks, eggs, and cream): 5cp

SECOND BREAKFAST - 9am
Strawberry Toast (with a side of sausage): 4cp
Rice pudding (paired with a side of bacon): 6cp
Scones and Clotted Cream: 5cp
Chicken Eggs (pre-boiled): 6cp
Fruit & Cheese: 3 Copper Pieces
Bread topped (with butter and honey served with a side of fruit and bacon): 4cp
Beef and Mushroom Stuffed Hand Pies: 5cp
Mushroom, Beef & Onion Hand Pies: 8cp
Hand Apple Pies: 9cp
Garlic Hand Pie: 5cp
Mincemeat Pie: 5cp

ELEVENSES - 11am
Green Tea: 5cp
Black Tea: 5cp
Herbal Tea: 6cp
White Tea: 9cp

Bread Pudding (with cinnamon): 11cp
Lavender and Lemon Muffins: 5cp
Strawberry Shortcake (with cream): 6cp
Caraway Seed Cake: 3cp
Lemon Tea Cake; 4cp
Shire Porter Cake: 9cp
Plum Heavies (cookies): 4cp
Stewed Hare (with root vegetables and dumplings): 4sp

LUNCHEON - 1pm
Beef Stew (with potatoes, carrots, onions): 8sp
Salted Pork (Made with cheese, bacon, or vegetables): 1gp
Roasted Vegetables (for those that don't eat meat): 3sp
Rabbit Stew: 3sp
Roast Beef with Cranberry Sauce: 4sp
Shepherd’s Pie: 1sp
Stuffed Potatoes (cheese, butter and peppers): 1sp
Roast Mutton: 2sp
Scotch Eggs: 1sp

AFTERNOON TEA - 3pm
Green Tea: 5cp
Black Tea: 5cp
Herbal Tea: 6cp
White Tea: 9cp

Shortbread Biscuits
Ring Cookies: 4cp
Berry Pie: 3cp
Mixed Berry Cobbler: 4cp
Bakewell Tarts: 2cp
Fruit Tarts: 2cp
Honey Cakes: 4cp
Apple Pie: 3cp
Porter Cake: 3cp
Roasted Apples: 5cp
Apple Pie and Cream: 7cp

DINNER - 6pm
Stuffed Roasted Mushrooms: 11sp
Vegetable Soup & Fried Tater Cakes: 17cp
Mushroom, Beef and Onion Hand Pies: 11sp
Bread Pudding (with cinnamon): 4sp
Roasted Chicken (with a cherry tomatoe sauce): 15sp
Spiced Beef and Roasted Vegetables: 11sp
Savory Porridge: 1sp
Chicken Pie (with wine and mushrooms): 15sp
Cheddar Soup: 4sp

SUPPER - 9pm
Pork Pie: 2sp
Mushroom Soup: 1sp
Salad (served with fresh herbs and hard-boiled eggs): 4sp
Roasted Chicken: 7sp
Rabbit Stew: 2sp
Strawberry Shortcake with Cream: 10cp
Lemon Tea Cake: 5cp
Honey Shortbread: 6cp
Rabbit and Potato Plate: 5sp

DRINKS
Coffee: 4cp
Fruit Juice: 5cp
Mile (local variety): 2cp
Beer: 7cp
Beer (Bag End Brew): 1sp
Dark Ale: 8cp
Wheat Ale (or called Wandering Wizard): 11cp
Ale: 4cp
Malt Beer: 6cp
White Ale (Minas Tirith brewed): 1sp
Breeland Wine: 1sp
Red Wine: 1sp
Emerald Palet Wine: 1sp
Fireamber Wine: 1sp
Spiced Ale: 10cp

The upper rooms are very clean, and all rooms are heated. Each room has a fine bed, many covers & blankets, a wash stand, chamber pot, towel, pegs for garments, and several chairs and stools. The larger, more expensive rooms, have arm chairs, tables, footstools, bed warmers, curtained beds, and good rugs on the floor and wall hangings as well.

ROOM NIGHTLY PRICES
(4) Private Suites: 16 Silver Pieces
(6) Standard Rooms: 8 Silver Pieces

Structures 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

Easterly Inn

Nightgate Inn 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 Nightgate Inn is owned and operated by the Halan family and serves as the main gathering place for the people of Woodmen-town. Formerly residents of Dale, the Halan family relocated to Woodmen-town to stake their claim and open an Inn. It is a large, comfortable establishment that serves good food and ale.

The Barkeep, Garek, is a middle-aged crotchety man with a penchant for long winded tales. It is not uncommon to see Garek tending bar on a regular basis.

The Nightgate Inn is a rustic inn found close to the center of the settlement. The Inn is rather ordinary looking but has a warm, comfortable feel to it.

The taproom in the cellar offers drinks to those who enter while the chambers above are available to rent. The prices of the food and drink served here are of reasonable prices but this establishments services are well worth the coin.

The Nightgate Inn may be common in appearance but the food and drink served here is known across the region, even if the inn is of more common build, the food and drink are excellent. Respectable customers are always welcome as long as they have the money for their drinks and meals. Meals are served on pottery, pewter or copper services according to the customers order. Various leather jacks, pottery mugs, wooden tankards, pewter steins, glass flagons, crystal goblets, or silver chalices are used for the beverages. The establishments employees are for the most part family members but a few employees have been hired since the inn opened its doors.

The furnishings in the dining area such as the tables and chairs are worn and smooth from years of use. Many candles are scattered through the main floor for maintaining a comfortable ambience for its customers. The main floor of this establishment is for the most part an open area with a large hearth set into the southernmost brick wall. Despite the rustic appearance of the inn, this structure appears to have been kept remarkably clean and organized.

The locals take great pride in calling this the settlements only Inn and tavern . . . one would be wise to not insult this establisment around the locals. The second floor of the build is where all of the guest rooms are located, a total of six rooms are available. Usually most of them are vacant due to this towns remote location. Each room has a comfortable single sized bed, several covers & blankets, a wash stand, chamber pot, a couple of towels, pegs for garments, and a comfortable sitting chair. All of the guest rooms are identical in appearance, all stocked with the same exact items. Each room is the same price and they each sleep a single person.

BREAKFAST MEALS
Peppered Bread: 12cp
Oatmeal: 8cp
Boiled Goose Eggs: 1sp
Chicken Eggs: 1sp
Fruit and Cheese: 10cp
Fried Potato Wedges: 5cp
Pork Sausages: 1sp

AFTERNOON MEALS
Beef Stew: 1sp
Spiced Sausages: 1sp
Roast Duck with Apples: 1sp
Cheese rolls with a Filling of Nuts, Honey and Vegetables: 8cp
Smoked Salmon Salad: 1sp
Apple Stuffed Mushrooms: 9cp
Kidney Pie: 2sp
Roast Goose: 1sp
Venison Steak: 2sp
Roast Beef with Cranberry Sauce: 1sp
Cornish Hens with Olives: 1sp

BEVERAGES
Local Wine: 11cp
Whiskey: 9cp
Rum: 11cp
Beer: 6cp
Heavy Beer: 6cp
Ale: 7cp
Spiced Ale: 10cp
Mead: 4cp

The upper rooms are very clean, and all except the common rooms are heated. Each room has a fine bed, many covers & blankets, a wash stand, chamber pot, towel, pegs for garments, and several chairs and stools. The larger, more expensive rooms, have arm chairs, tables, footstools, bed warmers, curtained beds, and good rugs on the floor and wall hangings as well.

ROOM NIGHTLY PRICES
Guest Room: 7sp

The Great Hall 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

This massive sized building is the Great Hall of Woodmen-town. Woodmen-town is governed by a Council of Elders consisting of a body of five elders. All council meetings are held within the richly decorated Great Hall located atop the central hill of Woodmen-town. Inside this great hall, the legendary Lamp of Balthi is kept safe, the greatest treasure of the Woodmen.

The hall is a massive four story building made of good quality stone and wood. The roof was made of wood with a bell tower rising from the back. A noticeboard near the front door displays bulletins and information for residents and newcomers to town, some offering rewards for certain tasks. The bottom floor of this building is used for multiple purposes.

The right half of the floor is used for council and town meetings and such with two large oak tables with chairs seated around them. A large hearth in the back of the room warms this side of the floor during the colder months of the year.

The left half of the bottom floor is used as a large dining area for when meetings are held, the guests can eat afterwords. in the back section is a large sized kitchen for preparing the food for these meetings.

The second floor is mainly used as a large lounge area for the not so formal meetings the council might have. A large hearth is in the back of the room which is connected to the one downstairs. This floor of the Great Hall is build for comfort and relaxation foe the council members. Most private council meetings are held in this room where as the bottom floor is where most of the public meetings are held with townsfold or new arrivals to Woodmen-town. Multiple plush chairs and couches are spread out across this room in a circular fashion.

The third floor is the official residence of each of the five elders of Woodsmen-town. Five medium sized bed chambers are located on this floor , one for each Elder of the council. Large designer rugs lay across the floors of each chamber with expensive furniture and such furnishing each room. Chairs, counches and such are arranged through the common room of the floor. It also contains a large hearth that is connected to the lower two floors hearths.

The top floor of this building is used as an open study room for any council member who wishes to use it. Standard furnishings of a room occupy this room. A hearth "not attached to the lower floors hearths" also is along the back wall.

Blacksmith Shop 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

Nornan Bonefoot, a broad-shouldered dwarf with a soot-blackened beard and arms like iron bars, owns and operates the smithy that bears his family mark above the door. The steady ring of hammer on anvil can be heard from dawn until well after sunset, as Nornan rarely allows a day to pass without adding to his stock. Though not a particularly talkative fellow, he takes pride in honest craftsmanship and expects the same honesty from those who do business with him.

The forge itself is a hot, smoky place filled with the scent of coal, oil, and freshly worked steel. Racks along the walls display a wide assortment of practical wares useful to adventurers, mercenaries, and laborers alike. Iron spikes, horseshoes, nails, cooking implements, and other mundane goods are always available, while shields, helmets, and suits of heavy armor occupy much of the floor space. Customers seeking dependable equipment rarely leave disappointed.

Simple weapons such as clubs, spears, hand axes, and similar arms are usually kept in stock and can be purchased immediately. More specialized military weapons require additional work, however. Swords, battle axes, polearms, and other martial implements are crafted to order, with Nornan typically needing a full day to complete them. He refuses to rush such projects, insisting that a weapon's quality is worth more than a customer's impatience.

For those willing to pay a premium, Nornan also produces superior weapons of exceptional craftsmanship. These finely balanced arms are forged from carefully selected steel and finished with painstaking attention to detail. Creating such a piece requires at least a week of dedicated labor, during which Nornan accepts few interruptions. The resulting weapons are highly sought after by seasoned warriors, and many owners proudly claim that a Bonefoot-forged blade has saved their lives more than once.

Patisserie Shoppe 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 Orlane Patisserie Shoppe is one of the village's most beloved establishments and serves as both bakery and home to the Chessa family. The business is owned and operated by Jemma Chessa and her husband Jameson, a pair of talented bakers whose creations have earned a reputation far beyond the village itself. The inviting aroma of fresh bread, pastries, and sweet cakes often drifts from the shop throughout the day, drawing both locals and travelers through its doors.

Despite the growing unease affecting much of Orlane, the bakery remains a place of warmth, comfort, and familiar routine. The building is modest in size but remarkably well-stocked for a settlement of Orlane's population. The ground floor is devoted almost entirely to the business, while the upper floor serves as the family's private residence.

Customers entering the shop are greeted by a cozy storefront dominated by display cabinets filled with the day's baked goods. Fresh loaves rest in a large bread bin, while trays of pastries, pies, tarts, and cakes tempt visitors from behind polished glass counters. A small dining area near the front allows patrons to enjoy their purchases alongside a cup of tea or coffee.

Behind the public area lies the heart of the operation: the bakery itself. Here, cooling racks, preparation tables, mixing bowls, and sacks of ingredients fill a busy workspace centered around a large stone oven. The cellar beneath the building stores flour, sugar, spices, preserves, and other supplies needed to keep the bakery running year-round. Unknown to most visitors, the oven itself possesses a subtle enchantment that automatically regulates its temperature, ensuring every loaf, pastry, and cake emerges perfectly baked. It is the only magical item within the establishment and one of the reasons the bakery's products have become so highly regarded.

Upstairs, the Chessa family's living quarters are simple but comfortable, consisting of a sitting room furnished with couches, a rug, and a bookcase, along with a bedroom and bathing room. The entire building possesses a welcoming, homey atmosphere that makes customers feel immediately at ease. Over the years, the quality of Jemma and Jameson's baking has attracted visitors from neighboring farms and distant settlements alike, and many travelers make a point of stopping in Orlane specifically to sample the bakery's famous creations. Among the village's residents, the Patisserie Shoppe is regarded not merely as a business, but as one of the community's treasured gathering places.

BREADS
• Cheese Loaves: 7sp
• Wholemeal Loaves: 4sp
• Kibble Loaves: 6sp

SMALL CAKES
• Fruit Slices, with Apple, Cherry, or Apricot: 2sp
• Cup Cakes: 1sp
• Cream Puffs: 3sp
• Dwarven Rock Cakes: 8cp
• Cream Cheese Rolls: 1sp
• Elven Mini Sponge Cake: 2sp

LARGE CAKES
• Banana Cake: (When in Season): 2sp
• Chocolate Layer Cake (Wild Cherry Filling): 1stl
• Vanilla Layer Cake (Buttermilk Icing): 1stl
• Orange Cake: 1sp
• Walnut Crunch Cake: 5sp
• Five-Layer Black Forest Cake (with Rum Soaked Cherries): 1stl
• Lemon Chiffon Cake (Lemon-Strawberry Glaze): 1stl

PIES
• Apple Pie: 5sp
• Cherry-Walnut Pie: 6sp

COOKIES
• Sugar Cookie: 2cp
• Frosted Sugar Cookie: 5cp
• Spice Cookie: 2cp
• Orange Almond Cookie 2cp

DONUTS
• Cherry Donut: 1cp
• Blueberry Donut: 1cp
• Apple-Spice Donut: 2cp
• Powder-Sugared Donut: 1cp
• Cinnamon Donuts: 1sp

Riverbend Stables 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

Riverbend Stables occupies a broad tract of land along the eastern edge of Bree, not far from the East-gate where the Great East Road stretches toward the distant lands beyond the Shire. Built from sturdy oak timbers darkened by years of weather and topped with a moss-flecked shingle roof, the stable complex consists of a large central barn, several fenced paddocks, feed sheds, wagon shelters, and a modest cottage where the owner and his workers reside.

Travelers arriving in Bree often see the stables before entering the bustling streets of the town, making it a familiar sight to merchants, wanderers, and caravans passing along the ancient road. Though not a particularly talkative fellow, Garrick possesses a dry sense of humor and an uncommon gift for handling animals. Many in Bree claim he understands horses better than he understands people. Whether calming a frightened pony from the Shire or soothing a restless horse ridden in from distant lands, he seems able to settle beasts with little more than a quiet word and a gentle hand.

The scent of fresh hay, leather tack, and horses hangs constantly in the air, mingling with the earthy smells carried from the surrounding fields. The sounds of stamping hooves, rattling wagon wheels, and stablehands calling to one another fill the yard from dawn until dusk. The establishment is owned and operated by Garrick Stonefield, a broad-shouldered Bree-man whose weathered face and sun-darkened skin reveal a lifetime spent outdoors. Like many of the Men of Bree, Garrick is practical, hardworking, and somewhat cautious of strangers, though he is fair in his dealings and values honesty above all else.

Riverbend Stables offers boarding, feed, shoeing, wagon-team rentals, and care for injured animals. Merchants traveling between Bree and the Southfarthing frequently leave their animals in Garrick's care, while Rangers, traders, and occasional adventurers seek mounts or pack ponies for journeys into the wild. Several local youths assist with feeding and grooming, though Garrick personally inspects every animal that enters his yard.

In recent months, however, troubling rumors have begun to circulate among the stablehands and travelers alike. Horses returning from the Greenway and the wooded lands north of Bree have become increasingly skittish, often refusing to travel certain stretches of road after dark. Garrick has discovered strange tracks near some of the grazing fields beyond the town and has lost several animals to predators larger and more cunning than any ordinary wolf. While he dismisses most tavern tales as foolish gossip, he has quietly come to believe that something dangerous has been moving through the wild country surrounding Bree. As a result, the stable gates are now barred shortly after sunset, and Garrick keeps a stout spear and a well-made hunting bow close at hand whenever night falls over the Bree-land.

Market Green 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

Every other day or so, carts and wagons gather in the Market Green and offer goods to the people of Woodsmen-town. Once each week, the official Market Day acts as a siren’s song, calling most of the townsfolk to shop and socialize in the square. Farmers sell produce, hunters hawk smoked meats, villagers sell crafts, and sometimes a trader from distant locations sells implements or costly goods.

"On any given day, there is a 25% chance that items from the adventuring gear list in the Player’s Handbook are available for sale here." Adventurers will almost never find armor, weapons, implements, or magic items in the market square, however.

General Store 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 General Store stands along the Great East Road near the center of Bree, where travelers, merchants, and townsfolk naturally gather. For generations it has served as one of the town’s most important trading establishments, supplying farmers, craftsmen, innkeepers, and wanderers alike. The large timber-and-stone building features a broad covered porch that shelters customers from the frequent rains of Bree-land, while a weathered sign depicting a lantern, grain sack, cooking pot, and wagon wheel hangs above the entrance.

Though repaired and expanded several times over the years, the store remains one of the oldest and most trusted businesses in Bree. The store is operated by the Elrand family: Elara, her husband Beren, and their two hardworking sons. While Beren and the boys oversee deliveries, inventories, and trade negotiations, Elara serves as the welcoming face of the establishment.

Her colorful patchwork dress is known throughout the town, and many locals claim she can determine what a customer needs before a word is spoken. Whether assisting a farmer, a hobbit from the Shire, or a traveler bound for distant lands, Elara always seems to know exactly where to find the right item.

Inside, the store feels far larger than it appears from the street. Shelves, crates, barrels, and display racks fill the main floor, while lofted storage galleries rise toward the rafters. Lanterns suspended from heavy beams cast a warm glow over polished floorboards, and the scents of pipe-weed, leather, dried herbs, lamp oil, and fresh lumber mingle pleasantly in the air. Despite the vast amount of merchandise, everything remains remarkably organized, and Elara can retrieve even the most obscure item in a matter of moments. The General Store serves as more than a place of commerce; it is one of Bree’s primary gathering places. Farmers exchange news, merchants negotiate prices, Rangers occasionally stop for supplies, and travelers share stories from distant roads.

Nearly every wagon entering Bree eventually visits the store, making it one of the town’s commercial hearts. Through the efforts of the Elrand family, the shelves remain well-stocked with everything from household necessities and farming tools to travel provisions and adventuring gear. In uncertain times, the familiar sight of the store’s open door and welcoming lanterns offers comfort to both the people of Bree and those merely passing through.

Food & Provisions
Trail Rations (1 day): 5 sp
Fresh Bread Loaf: 2 cp
Wheel of Cheese: 8 cp
Dried Meat (1 lb): 5 cp
Sack of Potatoes: 1 sp
Barrel of Apples: 5 sp
Waterskin (filled): 2 sp
Local Cider (jug): 3 sp
Skull-Shaped Butter: 1 sp per pound

Adventuring Gear
Backpack: 2 gp
Bedroll: 1 gp
Blanket: 5 sp
Rope, Hempen (50 ft.): 1 gp
Rope, Silk (50 ft.): 10 gp
Grappling Hook: 2 gp
Lantern, Hooded: 5 gp
Oil Flask: 1 sp
Torch: 1 cp
Tinderbox: 5 sp
Waterskin: 2 sp
Sack: 1 cp
Belt Pouch: 5 sp
Crowbar: 2 gp
Hammer: 1 gp
Pitons (10): 5 sp
Iron Spikes: (10) 5 sp

Clothing & Travel
Traveler's Clothes: 2 gp
Cloak: 1 gp
Winter Cloak: 5 gp
Boots: 2 gp
Gloves: 5 sp
Wide-Brimmed Hat: 1 gp

Farm & Trade Goods
Shovel: 2 gp
Pickaxe: 2 gp
Hoe: 1 gp
Sickle: 1 gp
Handcart: 15 gp
Wheelbarrow: 5 gp
Feed Sack: 3 cp
Seed Grain (1 sack): 1 gp

Hunting & Outdoor Supplies
Hunting Trap: 5 gp
Fishing Tackle: 1 gp
Small Net: 2 gp
Large Net: 5 gp
Skinning Knife: 5 sp
Quiver: 1 gp

Miscellaneous Goods
Candles: (10) 1 sp
Soap: 2 cp
Cooking Pot: 5 sp
Iron Kettle: 1 gp
Wooden Bucket: 5 cp
Lock: 10 gp
Mirror, Steel: 5 gp
Writing Kit: 10 gp
Parchment Sheet: 2 sp
Ink Bottle: 8 gp
Chalk (10 pieces): 1 sp

Special Orders
The Elrands can attempt to acquire uncommon weapons, armor, livestock, tools, books, alchemical supplies, or luxury goods not normally stocked. Such orders generally require 50% payment up front, take 1d4 weeks to arrive, and may cost 25–100% more than normal market value depending on rarity and availability. Magical items are never bought or sold through the General Store.

Archives 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

Campaign Setting 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

In the year 3011 of the Third Age, Middle-earth stands upon a precipice, though few living beneath the shadow of the great mountains truly grasp the depth of the coming twilight. For generations, the lands have known a fragile, weary peace. The shadow that fell with the defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron long ago has been a mere memory, a whisper in old tales.

The world the Free Peoples have inherited is one of fading light and lengthening nights, a time imperiled by a rising darkness that few can yet name. The great powers are distracted: the Elves are dwindling, looking ever westward; the Dwarves are secure within their mountains but few in number; and the Men of the West are a diminished race whose kingdom of Gondor holds a long, lonely vigil.

The North remains a sparsely populated, wild expanse where ancient evils and forgotten ruins lie dormant. The Shire remains blissful in its isolation, and the quiet folk of Bree go about their business with little thought for the world beyond their borders. The Northmen, the Beornings, and the scattered Rangers are the thin line of defense that keeps the remnants of civilization safe. It is into this world that a new age of heroes must emerge, for the established orders are weary, and the old alliances are strained. The map of Middle-earth is vast, a patchwork of kingdoms and wildernesses where destiny awaits those brave enough to step away from the firelight of their homes. Far to the south and east, in the land of Mordor, the enemy is stirring again. The Dark Lord Sauron has been quietly gathering his strength, recovering lost power, and breeding armies in the shadows. He has rebuilt his tower, Barad-dûr, and the air around Mount Doom is thick with ash and evil purpose.

Though his influence is subtle at first, it bleeds outward, corrupting the minds of men in the South and East and gathering fell creatures to his banner. The Nazgûl, his most terrible servants, ride forth in secret, searching for a lost object of power that holds the key to his final victory. This resurgent threat is the true context of the age, the storm on the horizon that will soon break over all the lands.

The signs of the turning tide are everywhere, if one knows where to look. The roads are becoming unsafe, haunted by desperate men and darker things. Whispers of a "Shadow" in Mirkwood are growing louder, a malign influence deep within the forest that drives all light from the canopy.

These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a singular, growing cancer upon the world. The time for peaceful ignorance is ending, and the time for action is fast approaching. The great War of the Ring, though yet unnamed, is an inevitability. It will be a series of conflicts across the entire continent, from Minas Tirith in the West to the distant realms of the North.

Your path, should you choose to walk it, will lead you out of the quiet security of the North Downs and across the vast, untamed expanses of Wilderland. Fate may push you through the shadowed paths of Mirkwood, over the Misty Mountains, and into the sun-drenched vales of the River Running. You will find yourselves drawn inexorably towards Dale and the Lonely Mountain, a beacon of Dwarf and Man resilience in the East. There, the forces of Sauron, having subdued the East, will march to conquer the only free kingdoms left in the region. While the armies of Gondor and Rohan fight for the fate of Men in the South, the North will fight a desperate battle against a powerful Eastern army of Sauron's allies. This is a campaign about the twilight of an age, where hope is a small but persistent flame in the darkness.

It's a story of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times, called to defend their homes and the memory of a free Middle-earth. The road is long, the dangers are great, but the need for heroes has never been more dire. Welcome to the Third Age, adventurers. May your swords stay sharp, and your hearts stay true.

Dawn Comes Early 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

Interested in Being a Player?

Our Middle-earth Campaign

Our Core Game Rules

Playable Races & Classes

Bree-land

Region Map

Bree

The Fellowship

Adventure Introduction

Session One: Suspicious Beginnings

The Herald 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

Independent Towns 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

Esgaroth

Independent Cities 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

Dale

Rivendell

Kingdoms & Nations 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

Locations 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

Bree-land

Lone-Lands

Forests & Woodlands

Mountains

Structures

Tables, Charts & Links 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

Fellowship Phase

Journey Rules

Patrons

Resting

Sanctuaries

The Shadow

Advantage & Disadvantage

Coin Weight

Difficulty Checks

Exhaustion

Old-School Essentials Initiative

Starting Money

Mayor's Residence 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

This small building is the Mayor's residence in Bree, the center of government in the settlement which is where one might find Mayor Zakarias Ormond during the day time hours when he is not out and about the settlement. This location is also the public meeting place for any important meeting that requires the mayor's attention. The mayor's office is located in the center of Bree.

This house is set well back from the road, and is partially screened by a pair of medium-sized elms. This is by far the most imposing house in the village. The walls have been regularly whitewashed and the roof gleams with new wooden shingles. A wide porch crosses the entire front of the house, and columns of wood support the overhanging roof. The columns have been carved into leafy patterns by a skilled craftsman.

The office is used for multiple purposes but is mainly used for meetings and such with a sturdy oak table with chairs seated around it. A large hearth warms the entire office during the colder months of the year. The mayor will meet here monthly with most of the prominent business owners in town to discuss matters of importance. A large designer rug lay across most of the center of the room with well-made furniture and such spread across the room.

All rewards for completed jobs from the job board located just outside the entrance are paid out of the mayor's office by the mayor himself. Outsiders will never gain access without first getting permission. The second floor is mainly used as the lord mayor's home. A small hearth is in the back of the room which is independent from the one downstairs. The upstairs room is a simple room, with only the basic necessities. Zakarias Ormond spends very little time here except for getting needed sleep.

The Fellowship 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

Adventure Introduction 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

Hark, listen closely, for trouble has come to the quiet Shire, a shadow darker than the coming winter. The very air in Bywater has a bite not found in the weather, and its source is a stout-hearted hobbit named Tolman Greenthumb, a tracker of no small renown.

Tolman is long overdue from a venture into the busy lands of Bree, where he went to investigate the disappearance of sheep. His faithful wife, Lily, waits now with a heavy heart for word. Tolman, a hobbit with more courage than most, felt it his duty to aid the farmers whose livelihoods were ravaged by what they believed were mere wolves.

He reached Bree and set about his work, following tracks as large as ponies into the dark Chetwood. He uncovered something far more perilous than any wolf—a "monster," as he called it in a frantic message that found its way to his wife ere his arrest. Before he could speak of his discovery to the authorities, certain malicious Bree-folk saw their chance. They pointed the finger at Tolman, accusing him of the very thieving he sought to stop, claiming they saw him in the dead of night leading the sheep away.

The lies took root. Shirriff Bunce, a man of simple mind and few options, took the easiest path: the accused is guilty until proven innocent, especially when the accusers are locals. Tolman was cast into the lock-up at the Shirriff’s office, where he has languished for two days. The Shirriff, overwhelmed by matters he cannot comprehend, dismisses Lily’s pleas, demanding concrete proof that his witnesses are lying, refusing to believe an esteemed hobbit could be innocent. The true threat, the 'monster' Tolman spoke of, still roams the nearby woods. The disappearances have not ceased with Tolman's arrest; indeed, the local farmers grow more fearful by the hour.

Whatever dark creature moves in the shadows of the Chetwood cares little for the petty squabbles of Man or the laws of Bree, and its hunger is great. The longer Tolman is imprisoned, the more the danger grows, threatening not just the livestock but perhaps the very folk of Bree-land themselves. A simple case of theft has become a matter of life and death, hidden beneath layers of bureaucratic folly and local prejudice. You stand now before the door of the Hobbit's Hearth, a warm inn nestled in the heart of Bree. This very establishment, you have learned, is owned by Tolman and Lily, though managed by others.

You are about to step inside to meet with Lily about her missing husband. The wind howls around the corner, carrying the merry sounds of revelry from the common room, and perhaps, the eerie call of something large and predatory from the nearby Chetwood. The comfortable life of the Shire seems a distant dream, replaced by the immediate danger and rank injustice of the road.

As you reach for the handle and push the door open, the warm light and the smell of hearty food spills out into the dark street. You are about to meet Lily Greenthumb, her eyes red-rimmed and hopeful, waiting behind the counter for capable hands to help clear her husband's name and bring the real villains to justice.

Session One: Suspicious Beginnings 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

Coin Weight 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

Encumbrance is a measure of both the weight and bulk a character is carrying.

• Carrying Coins: Our games will use a common sense ruling for most things dealing with encumbrance. I personally do not want to get bogged down by trying to keep track of each characters total encumbrance so here is what we will do. From what I've seen online it pretty much says fifty coins weigh a pound. That means a single coin weighs 0.02 pounds, or 9.1 grams.

• Carrying Capacity: A characters carrying capacity is the characters Strength score multiplied by 15. This is the weight (in pounds) that the character can carry. To makes things easier we will use this chart, to keep track of encumbrance and movement speeds.

How many coins can a specific container carry before tearing or are to heavy to carry? Below is our table with a "rough" estimate of what we use as a guideline.

Backpack 400gp

Large Belt Pouch 200gp

Small Belt Pouch 75gp

Large Box 200gp

Small Box 50gp

Wooden Chest 15gp/gp of Encumberence

Iron Chest 3gp/gp of Encumberence

Large Sack 400gp

Small Sack 100gp

Large Saddlebag 1000gp

Small Saddlebag 250gp

Lockhouse 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

In the quiet, rustic village of Bree—where the lands of the Shire-folk meet the lands of Men—the notion of a formal jail or "Lockhouse" is a practical necessity for any functioning settlement. Imagine a structure that fits the simple, self-governing style of this isolated community, a place where locals handle their own affairs.

Bree operates as a pragmatic, self-sufficient place, having maintained its peace for centuries through the common sense of its residents and the quiet watch of external protectors. This communal governance suggests that any holding facility wouldn't be a grand institution.

Rather, it would be a simple, sturdy building dedicated to short-term custody, perhaps used more for sobering up a drunk farmer or holding a transient while their story was verified, than for long-term incarceration. The architecture would blend seamlessly with the rest of the village, which sits comfortably on the slopes of Bree-hill. Picture a structure made of rough, durable stone or heavy timber, practical and unadorned. It might be a small, fortified room attached to a main watch-post near the town gates, or a solid, single-story building with a thick, iron-banded door and narrow, barred windows set high up. The design would emphasize function over fear—a necessary corner of a busy, cautious town. This building's importance would spike during periods of local strife, such as when ruffians and unsettling Southern folk moved into the area during times of war and lawlessness. During such chaotic periods, this lockhouse would become a crucial, if humble, center of local order. It would serve as the place where newly deputized townsfolk might secure a captured ruffian or a suspicious stranger found lurking near the gate after dark, highlighting its purely utilitarian role in maintaining the peace for both the Shire-folk and the Big Folk alike.

The name "Lockhouse" itself speaks to the plain, functional language of the common folk of Bree. It’s a term that fits the rugged, self-reliant nature of a community that handles its own problems. This imaginary lockhouse is a vital, albeit humble, part of the infrastructure of Bree, a place for practical people who believe in simple justice and security behind locked gates.

Staddle 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 founding of Staddle predates the mass migration of Hobbits across the Brandywine River. Long before the Shire was a cohesive political entity, small, adventurous bands of Stoors had settled the eastern dales of the region known as Eriador. They found the eastern slopes of the isolated Bree-hill appealing. The existing Men of Bree, accustomed to having quiet neighbors, allowed the little folk to dig their burrows into the soft, sun-drenched hillsides, establishing a peaceful co-existence that would endure for centuries. Staddle was thus a community of two peoples from its very beginning.

Life in Staddle was dictated by the land itself. The men built sturdy stone cottages along the lanes, while the hobbits carved out comfortable smials that dotted the southern face of the hill. Unlike the bustling, central crossroads of Bree town, where travelers from across Middle-earth mingled, Staddle remained a quieter, more agriculturally inclined place. Its people were farmers who preferred to stay close to home, focusing their efforts on the fertile fields that stretched out towards the brooding Midgewater Marshes to the east.

A defining feature of Staddle’s existence was its unique relationship with agriculture, specifically the cultivation of pipe-weed. The warm, well-drained slopes of the Bree-hill proved ideal for the plant, producing a superior leaf highly prized across the region. The Hobbits of Staddle took particular pride in their green thumb, perfecting curing methods that became a local secret. While Bree had the famous Prancing Pony inn, Staddle had The Lamplighter, a smaller, homelier establishment where locals gathered to smoke their home-grown weed, swap gossip, and enjoy a quiet pint away from the noise of the Great East Road.

The settlement maintained a strong sense of independence from its larger neighbor, Bree. While all the settlements of the Bree-land looked to the town for matters of defense and trade organization, the people of Staddle cherished their village identity. They were not "Bree-folk" in the same way the townsfolk were; they were "Staddlers." As the centuries rolled on and the world outside grew darker and wilder with the waxing of the Shadow, Staddle hunkered down. Trade routes became dangerous, and the communities of Bree-land became increasingly isolated islands of civilization.

Staddle remained fundamentally unchanged right up to the defining events of the War of the Ring. Its history was not written in the deeds of kings, but in the soil it tilled and the simple peace its inhabitants maintained. It stands in the lore of Middle-earth as a symbol of the enduring power of community and the quiet importance of home, a small, warm light in the vast wilderness of Eriador that persisted long after the great kingdoms of Men had fallen to ruin.