A Tour of Lore - Part 1.6 - Bree-land | Bree-town

Bree-town

No doubt Bree is located at the heart of Bree-land, at the very cross-roads of the important Great East Road and North-South Road, the place where all merchants, royal messengers, explorers, and whoever travelling any of these roads eventually will pass. Thus Bree have survived many hardships over the centuries and its residents have grown tougher. Here Men as well as Hobbits dwell, if not together so side by side, and they make their living from one another

Lore

It was said to have been founded by Men who did not make it to Beleriand in the First Age, having forsaken their relatives who would become the Edain, they remained in Eriador. After the the kingdom of Cardolan collapsed after war with Angmar, Bree became an independent city without any central authority or government for many centuries.

Not long ago, on III 3018 September 29, Frodo Bagg.. eeh.. Underhill and three hobbits of his fellowship arrived to the Prancing Pony, met a (st)ranger named Strider, and hastily set off the next day after an eventful night. Now characters new to the Middle-earth will do their best to support that fellowship on their quest, whether that is to track down curious events in the wake of Frodo's quest, or to support the locals who struggles with new threats from all directions.

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Many relics of Bree-town's past can be found with in its structures and architecture. From the moment you come to it's southern gate from Staddle, you are presented with large red banners that can also be seen through out Bree-land. At one point in the game story these banners were not here. It was only in recent years that "events" occurred in Bree where another faction took over control of it.

It is a red "gules" banner with a gold "or" Boar in the "chief" position with three reversed green "vert" waves and a gold "or" wave below, fimbriated with gold lines and waves further down the field.

This is only found in Bree-town.

Brown "brune" 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 Bree-town on  Free People Town Guards and Trainers on both men and women where the devices are top right and bottom left.

What's with the Dwarf Statue?

Right there in the Stone Quarter looming overhead is a sword and shield clad Dwarf. There seems to be a reacquiring symbol on the shield, chest armor and the standing stone. A 4-sectioned diamond. Perhaps the heraldry of said Dwarf, Kingdom, or a Clan of some sort? Never the less, what is a dwarf statue doing in Bree-town?

All through out Bree-town you can find the typical Old kingdom ruins. We find the same Trident looking symbol, as well as the configuration of the seven seven-sided stars. But in addition to the old ruins that Bree is built among.

With in these ruins up on the Oldstones Gate a stone shield/plaque is found facing the  West. This is the Royal crest of the old Anorian kingdom.

It seems to have the Trident, seven seven-pointed star, which what appears to be a version of the white tree. This could perhaps be the heraldry of the Northern kingdom.

Lore

You found a carving with an old Arnorian symbol upon it. It appeared to be the crest of the ancient kingdom of Arthedain.

The ruins of that kingdom stretch for miles to the south-west and north. Bree itself was built upon a crossroads between Arthedain and its sister kingdom Cardolan to the east. Once they were all one great kingdom, stretching all across the north, but the folly of Men first sundered them, then set them against each other until one after another they fell over the long years of the Third Age.

There are some folk who still remember the tales of Arthedain, but you suspect that the crest may be of particular importance to the Rangers, for it is said that they are descended from that bloodline.

A Tour of Lore - Part 1.5 - Bree-land | Staddle

Staddle

On the far side of Bree-hill from the town of Bree itself, travellers will find the small town of Staddle tucked against the rolling hillocks that stretch east toward the marshes. It is said that the oldest settlements of hobbits in Middle-earth can be found in Staddle, though whether or not this is true is a matter which has been well debated over many a meal, mug, or pipe - and, often, all three.

The village named Staddle is located south of Combe and very close to Bree. At the centre square lies Staddle Arms, also named Weapons and Armour Shop. Also at the centre is a craft-fair with crafting facilities but all trainers are found in Combe Crafting Hall. Staddle also hosts one of the Middle-earth's very few Fishing Suppliers.

The greater Staddle stretches peacefully eastwards all the way to the Midgewater Marshes, cutting the wilder Chetwood in two disconnected sections. Here lives the Novice Farmhand named Ponto Underhill, just by all sorts of farmlands. At the village and within the greater Staddle adventurers will find and do quests of all sorts, eventually leading into the wilder marshes with its goblins and other more aggressive creatures.

Lore

"There were also many families of hobbits in the Bree-land and they claimed to be the oldest settlement of Hobbits in the world, one that was founded long before even the Brandywine was crossed and the Shire colonized. They lived mostly in Staddle though there were some in Bree itself,..." — The Fellowship of the Ring, by Tolkien

"The small villages of Bree-land are doing their best to deal with a rash of attacks by brigands from distant lands. The citizens of these usually peaceful towns have become much less hospitable to travellers, so adventurers in the Chetwood's hills and valleys may find these townsfolk less welcoming than usual. However, should travellers prove their worth by word and deed, they are likely to be welcomed into these communities, as the need for friends - especially friends with strong swords and swift bows - has grown great.

"It is difficult to say who is organizing the usually disparate groups of brigands that roam these lands and threaten these peaceful towns, but old-timers are certain that the attacks near Staddle in recent days are as unusual in these parts as a hobbit saying no to thirds at mealtime."

Staddle, from Old English staðol, referring to a building's foundation. Founded: apparently founded before III 1300. — lorebook

Staddle seems the share a number of the heraldry as seen in Combe and Archet.

Free Peoples of Staddle Banner (right): It appears to have a red "gules" and yellow/gold "or" background with a green "vert" wave in the chief position, 2 waves of red and yellow, with a bottom white border and three conjoined white "ardent" and green "vert" trees. Found only in Staddle.

There seems to be a version found in Combe depicting a different design. 

The heraldry of guards seem to flow over to Staddle 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" position. 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 Free Peples guards and trainers and Crafters and a darker green background on female Man constables.

Brown "brune" background and Brown "brune" Quarted Shield, with gold devices on top left and bottom right of the quartering for men and top right and bottom left of quartering for women. Larger gold crest aboe the "chief: position. Seen ONLY in Staddle. The shield design has been used by the black and brown version of this similar arms.

Two banners which appear to represent the crafting guilds can be found in both Combe and Staddle. One appears to represent Armorsmiths and Weaponsmiths.

See the Heraldry of Middle-Earth to read more about the different heraldry documented so far.

 

A Tour of Lore - Part 1.4 - Bree-land | Ost Baranor

Ost Baranor

 

Further south of the Chetwood of Bree-land, straight south of Staddle, is this ruined fortress. Recently Blackwold brigands and evil creatures have settled within its crumbled walls.

"The ruins of Ost Baranor mark the place where yet another tower of the North Kingdom once stood, now faded into memory. The fortress has long since fallen into ruin, and its crumbling walls are now taken by Blackwold brigands and worse."

Yet again this is another example of a fortress of the old kingdom. Upon the main entrance can be seen the typical seven seven-pointed stars.

Just like the other locations so far, the seven pointed stars are displayed everywhere on the walls as well as on platforms. No details reveal what these platforms where used for, but are commonly used for gathering of the local bandits now.

One of the unique pieces of history found here is a statue found in the NW end of the ruins. This statue is part of the "History of the Dunedain" lore quest. 

The worn but noble visage engraved on the statue you discovered belongs to Aranarth, the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain after the fall of Arthedain. 

The statue was probably created some time after the wars that destroyed the old Kingdom, most likely by the Rangers who hold Aranarth in great reverence. 

It was in good repair suggesting that they tend to it to this day. The memories of the Dúnedain are long, and their respect for the dead borders on obsession at times.

What is this Symbol?

What is interesting how ever, something that many might miss if you don't pay attention, is the design on the back of the cloak of the statue. It appears to be a cross of some sort, with 4 cross arms and 4 points, going away from the frequent seven pointed start symbolism. It's meaning is presently under investigation.