A Tour of Lore - Part 1.2 - Bree-land | Combe

Combe

The next location for our bit of tour of lore is the settlement of Combe. This fine town is located at the road from Bree to Archet and a smaller road forks off to Chetwood and Combe's lumberyard. New man characters arrive here on their way to explore the Middle-earth; they will find appropriate services, adventures and mysteries to unwind. The residents are well aware of the tragedy that happened in Archet and welcomes any helping hand to resolve problems or prevent the brigands to spread further.

"Bree was the chief village of the Bree-land, a small inhabited region, like an island in the empty lands round about. Besides Bree itself, there was Staddle on the other side of the hill, Combe in a deep valley a little further eastward, and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood. (...) Most of the inhabitants of Bree and Staddle, and many even from Combe and Archet, were crowded in the road to see the travellers start." — The Fellowship of the Ring, by Tolkien

One of the four settlements that together made up the Bree-land, Combe lay in a deep valley on the eastern side of the Bree-hill. It was somewhat to the north of Staddle, but not so distant from Bree as Archet on the fringes of the Chetwood. Its name comes ultimately from an Old English word cumb meaning a deep valley. Probably founded before TA 1300. — lorebook

Combe being with in a deep valley is indeed portrayed in this area as cliffs are featured on either side of the areas surrounding the settlement.

The entrance to Combe in the North from Archet Dale, you are welcomed by the first banner we have come across in our examination of Middle-earth.

It appears to have a red "gules" with a green "vert" wave in the chief position, and three conjoined white "ardent" and green "vert" trees.

The big question is what does this banner represent. It first appears at the entrance to Combe, in Combe itself, and in Staddle. While the colors and symbols are not the same as seen on the presumed Free Peoples arms, this could be a separate banner representing the Free Peoples as well.

Green "vert" background and Brown "brune" Quartered Shield, with gold devices on the top left and bottom right of the quartering, with smaller gold crest above in the "chief" positoin. Seen in Archet and Combe. The shield appears to be a different design that that which appears in the other Green and Brown and Grey and Brown Free Peoples arms. This appears to be on female Man guards and Crafters and a darker green background on female Man constables.

Green "vert" background and Brown "brune" Quartered Shield, with gold devices on the top left and bottom right of the quartering, with the larger gold crest above in the "chief" position. Seen in Combe warn by male Man Merchants, Crafters and Suppliers. The shield is the same as the Grey and Brown arms in Combe, but with the green background.

Black "sable" background and Brown "brune" Quartered Shield, with gold devices on the top left and bottom right of the quartering, with the larger gold crest above in the "chief" position. Seen in Combe. The shield design is the as to the two other shields warn by men Free Peoples Guards and Constables.

This particular heraldry is found on the Hobbit Constable Underhill. It has a red "gules" background with gold "or" frills with what appears to be a gold outline of a boars snout with 6 leaves hanging off its edges. He is so far the only one found during the series to wear it.