The Prancing Pony, a renowned and ancient inn, stands as a vital crossroads in the town of Bree, situated where the Great East Road bends around the foot of Bree-hill. The large, three-story building is a hub of activity, a social melting pot where the "Big Folk" (Men), "Little Folk" (Hobbits), and Dwarves all gather, making it the central point for news and tales from distant lands. Its importance is further emphasized by the fact that even such notable figures as Gandalf and Strider (Aragorn) have passed through its doors on their own significant journeys.
The inn's exterior is described as a pleasant and welcoming sight to weary travelers. It features a main front facing the road and two wings that extend backward into the rising ground of the hill, a design that allows the second-floor windows at the rear to be level with the earth. A wide archway leads into a courtyard nestled between the wings. Above this arch hangs a lamp, illuminating the inn's distinctive signboard: a fat white pony rearing on its hind legs.
The inscription "The Prancing Pony by Barliman Butterbur" is painted in white letters over the main door, which is accessed by a few broad steps under the archway. Inside, the heart of the inn is the large common room, a cozy yet bustling space with a cheery log fire and lanterns hanging from the roof beams, offering warmth and light to all who enter.
The proprietor is the busy, talkative, and sometimes forgetful Barliman Butterbur, a portly man who hails from a family that has run the inn for generations. Despite his flustered demeanor, Barliman is an accommodating and important figure who, with the help of his hobbit servants Nob and Bob, ensures all guests are treated well, providing good food, drink, and a place of shelter.
The diverse clientele found in the common room reflects Bree's position as a crucial intersection of the Great East Road and the Greenway, though traffic had diminished somewhat by the time of the War of the Ring. The company includes Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits, with wanderers like Rangers sometimes seen sitting quietly in the shadows. It is this mix of peoples and the free flow of information that makes the Prancing Pony a critical, albeit sometimes dangerous, nexus in Middle-earth's events.
Ultimately, the Prancing Pony serves as more than just a place to eat and sleep; it is a symbol of the wider world beyond the peaceful Shire. It is a unique, lively, and pivotal location where small decisions can have profound impacts on the great workings of Middle-earth's unfolding story, a vital, enduring haven in a world growing ever darker.
MORNING MEALS
Peppered Bread: 7cp
Oatmeal: 3cp
Boiled Goose Eggs: 4cp
Chicken Eggs: 2cp
Fruit and Cheese: 3cp
Beef Steak: 2sp
Fried Potato Wedges: 2cp
Pork Sausages: 1sp
AFTERNOON MEALS
Beef Stew: 1sp
Boiled Crawfish with Drawn Butter: 1sp
Poached Salmon: 8cp
Spiced Sausages: 9cp
Stuffed Pork Chops: 1sp
Stuffed Black Trout: 1sp
Steak and Kidney Pie: 2sp
Venison Steak: 2sp
Stuffed Pheasant: 1sp
Roast Duck with Apples: 1sp
Roast Goose: 1sp
Smoked Salmon Salad: 9cp
Apple Stuffed Mushrooms: 5cp
Roast Beef with Cranberry Sauce: 9cp
BEVERAGES
Whiskey: 6cp
Claw Wine: 5cp
Rum: 7cp
Beer: 2cp
Heavy Beer: 3cp
Ale: 4cp
Spiced Ale: 7cp
Mead: 9cp
Local Wine: 9cp
Fireamber Wine: 1sp
Local Brandy: 1sp
TRAVEL RATIONS
Dried & Smoked Meat, Goat Cheese, Dried Berries, Oats and Honey (wrapped in waxed paper): 5sp
The upper rooms are very clean, and all of the rooms are heated and with the inn only having seven standard rooms and seven private suites, they are easy to maintain and keep comfortable for the guests. Each room has a bed, many covers & blankets, a wash stand, chamber pot, towel, pegs for garments, and several chairs and stools.
ROOM NIGHTLY PRICES
(12) Standard Suite: 2gp
No comments:
Post a Comment