The Lands
Bree
Bree is an ancient settlement of men in Eriador, some 40 miles (64 km) east of the Shire. As Bree lies at the meeting of two large roadways, the Great East Road and the Greenway or Great North Road, it has for centuries been a centre of trade and a stopping place for travellers.
Bree is the chief village of Bree-land, and the only place in Middle-earth where men and hobbits live side by side. The hobbit community is older than that of the Shire, which was originally colonized from Bree. It is nestled into the steep, western edge of Bree Hill. On the other side of Bree Hill can be found the smaller villages of Combe and Staddle, and beyond them the heavily wooded area known as The Chetwood, with its vilage of Archet. To Bree's west are the Barrow-Downs and the Old Forest, neither of which have the reputation that they will gain in the future. Indeed they were used as the last holdout of the people of Cardolan until very recently.
Bree is kept safe by a large hedge and dyke which arcs out westwards from Bree-Hill, around Bree, and then back to the hill again. Two guarded gates are built into the hedge at the point at which it crosses over the Great East Road: one facing to the north-west, the other south-east.
The road is cobbled as it passes through Bree and the town is fairly clean and sanitary.
There are about a hundred houses in Bree, mostly two stories and built from stone, and a smaller number of hobbit holes. Many of the houses and smials have gardens or small fields on their south side, plus a shed or barn. They largely sit above and a small distance back from the Great East Road, on the hill side, as the road passes through the town. Most of them look neat and tidy.
Most of the inhabitants who live in Bree run their small farms. There is a small mix of a dozen tradespeople across the major professions rounding out the population, largely to support the needs of the farmers. Larger farms are outside the hedge.
The King's Rest Inn is the only inn in Bree, and sits directly on the road. Because of the major roads it is always lively with a mix of local men and hobbits, men from Arthedain or who have travelled up from the south to trade, and Dwarves from the Ered Luin. Elves are a very rare sight. It is three stories tall with wings that slope back from the road. The ground foor contains a large common room, with a roaring fire, plus a kitchen, two parlours, two bedrooms for hobbits, and three bedrooms for men. The remaining two floors has a varity of guest rooms, while the servants sleep in the attic. The ale is highly regarded while the kitchen serves soups, roast meats and birds, stews, cold meats, cheese, bread, eggs, and fine apple cakes.
The security of Bree is maintained through four official gatekeepers, and the regular guard, now swollen to seventy-five and equipped in the black and silver livery of Arthedain. They stay at the guardhouse in Bree, or are quartered with families, and rotate out twice a year with colleagues from Arthedain.
Politics in Bree is managed through the Moot, which meets once a year at the end of October to pay taxes, and make laws. The current mayor, Farmer Heathertoes runs things in between the Moots although he has little to do.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:32, Tue 11 Apr 2023.
