Men of Bree

History of Bree

The history of Bree is a long one, though mostly forgotten to time and the written record. Some time in the Second Age, Men of the Edain (as known as Middle Men) whose ancient kinship includes their descendents in the Men of Dale and the Rohirrim settled around what is now known as Bree-land. They were joined in time by the Men known as the Dunlendings, and their lineage became a shared one as such things commonly happen. Bree-land was ruled by the Dunedain as a portion of the Kingdom of Arnor and later the Kingdom of Arthedain. But after the fall of both kingdoms, Bree-land remained an independent land, and in time the curious beings known as Hobbits (Halflings) also populated it’s borders. Bree (arguably the capital and namesake of Bree-land) is the only place where Man (known as the Big Folk by Hobbits) and Hobbit (who call themselves the Small Folk) are known to work and live side by side.

Location of Bree

The town of Bree is situated along the southwestern slopes and feet of Bree-Hill in Bree-Land and is a town surrounded by a deep-dug dike, lined on the inside by a tall, dense hedge which forms a massive half-circle around town with the hill forming a northern, northeastern barrier. Bree houses not only Men but also the curious beings known as Hobbits and so has the curious distinction of having houses sized for both races. Bree sits at the adjoining corner of the cobble-stoned and wagon-wheel-rutted roads: Greenway and Great East Road in the heart of Bree-Land. To the north east of Bree, beyond Bree-Hill lies Chetwood while to the north and south are the so-named North and South Downs. To the east lies Midgewater March and to the west spans some pastoral fields and the rivers Brandywine and Branduin.

Playing one of the Men of Bree: Quick Tips

- The Men of Bree are predominantly dark-haired of the brownish or reddish persuasion with similarly dark hued brown eyes -  a coloring lent to them from their shared heritage of those with Rhovanion and Dunland. Their hair is mostly curly with straight being an uncommon rarity amongst them. Blond and black hair are extremely rare hues this far west while blue eyes are very rare with green and grey all but impossible in their bloodlines.

- Their features typically take on a round aspect, from their ruddy-touched round cheeks, to the roundness of their face, their eyes, to the short-statured and roundness of their bodies which often range in the realm of curvy, plump, portly, rotund, chubby, pudgy and otherwise barrel-like or top-heavy in comparison to their thinner legs. In many ways, the Men of Bree look like the Hobbits they live side by side with. Whether this is a feature of bloodline or because of their frequent embrace of the Hobbits curious and resplendent schedule of eating seven daily meals (as not participating in an invited fete is seen as unduly rude) remains a question of curiosity.

- The Men of Bree, whether man or woman, are unfortunately prone to balding in old age.

- Beards and mustaches are rarely kept by the Men of Bree. As their Halfling cohorts cannot save very rare occassion grow one themselves, it seems a matter of shared fashion. As such, the keeping of beards and mustaches is looked down upon and seen to be a marking of the poor and unfashionable as regular shaving comes of course with regular costs. Those who keep facial hair are thus assumed to be poor and expected to be covered in some kind of vermin.

- The Men of Bree are typically shorter than the average Man, ranging between 54-64 inches with their women ranging slightly shorter from 52-60.

- The common fashions of the Men of Bree rely on the use of cloth and not leather (save for belts, shoes, and accessories). Typically their cloth of choice is the readily available wool - whether coarse, finer worsted, or felted made from the sheep which they herd over the pastoral expanse of their hill-ridden land or the flax linen or cotton weaves grown from their bountiful crops.

Wealthier merchants are known to import fine angora wool or buy pincord fabric from Hobbiton or local Hobbit merchants or buy the fine lawncloth produced in nearby Archet. Trade in textiles is common between Bree-land and the Shire and the Men and Hobbits therein. Hobbits are known to pay premiums to import fabrics from outside Eriador as they pride themselves on being “smart” and fashionable, but rarely trade directly with Men outside Bree, and thus Men of Bree-land function as importers for their fashions  from Rhovanion, Gondor, or beyond.  These cloth importers tend to be the best dressed Men in Bree-land.

Men of Bree define masculine dress as smallclothes under trousers, tunics under sleeveless vests  or shorter dressing-shirts with braces (a fashion gleaned from their Halfling friends). Overcoats or waistcoats and shoes. Cloaks are worn for particularly inclement weather.

Women of Bree define feminine dress in a number of ways. Women will always wear a shift or chemise as their base layer. Older and married women typically wear the older Edain style and wear sleeveless overdresses over skirts and blouses and build  layered colorful outfits. Younger and more brazen women will follow more Halfling-based fashion and wear blouses and skirts with bodices in the dirndl style. Women wear shoes (of either fabric or leather or mixed-make) and though they wear long skirts their legs are underneath never bear even in the heat of summer as they're fond of wearing a very thin knit hose from ankle to thigh, similar to tights. Generally made from wool or linen, the truly wealthy will import silk. Those who cannot afford something of finer make will knit thicker woolen socks and suffer the heat rather than be seen as improper.

For both men and women long sleeves and rounded collars are much the fashion in their wardrobe as are stone or metal buttons over wood, for the former two are generally imported in and show off one's station in the wealth department. Due to the commonness of balding, hats, caps, wimples, and snoods are a staple of everyday fashions as are mantles amongst the womenfolk rather than cloaks or jackets. Embroidery is the favorite decoration of any fashion trend and the design work is often the plant-life to which the family (or individual) is named for.

- Westron is the common language of Bree and exceedingly few from Bree-land speak another tongue save the highest levels of merchants. A basic level of functional literacy is fairly common as Hobbits are known to pride themselves on the ability to read and write and keep the stories and histories of their families. As such, their presence in Bree and trade with them has encouraged at least basic literacy as an expected practice for those engaged in trades within town itself. Those few hunters, farmers, or otherwise who are unlearned pay for local officials or a sympathetic neighbour to read and write legal documents and letters to distant relations.

- Tobacco (also known as Westmansweed, Smoking-Leaf, or simply Leaf) is the true livelihood of Bree-Land and Bree. According to history, Tobold Hornblower, a Halfling born of Bree was the first to cultivate and domesticate the plant that is known to grow wild in the land of Gondor. While Bree grows it’s own varieties, the Hobbits of the Shire in Southfarthing perfected the art, and grow their own highly sought after varieties including the most famous - Longbottom, Old Toby, and Southern Star. Men of Bree as in many things serve as the middlemen between their Hobbit neighbours and the wider world of Men and profit from the trade.

- Next to tobacco, the second most sought commodity of Bree itself is its ponies and the sweet milk derived from them for cheese, butter, cream and curds.

- Sheep and some cattle are also produced in Bree along with a plethora of vegetable crops especially cabbage to which is the most common food upon every table in Bree-Land. It is said that those of Bree-Land, especially Bree, have a deep-rooted love for cabbage and say that a food dish without cabbage would be better with cabbage.

- The preferred drink of the Men of Bree are beer and brandy over whiskey, wine, or mead.

The most famous tavern in Bree-land - the Prancing Pony has been kept by the famous Butterburr family for years. It is known to serve some of the best beer in Bree-land in both Man and Hobbit sized pints.

- The common animal companions of the Men of Bree vary. On farms or farmsteads, the common animal companions are potbellied pigs, ewes or rams, and ponies while within town, the common ‘pets’ are hedgehogs and some small, local-bred songbirds.

There are two types of dogs common amongst Bree-Land; a small and shaggy-coated herding dog (known as Breeland Herders) predominantly seen on the slopes of Combe and Staddle rather than Bree itself as well as the fields to the west and south outside of town. The other type is a slender, long-legged and somewhat small dog (known as Feistys) bred for speed and used in Chetwood for scattering game when hunting. The latter is not a dog bred for hunting down large game such as the hunting dogs of Rohan, no, these dogs mostly stir-up rabbits and deer and leave the hunting-down to the Men whom hunt alongside them. Cats are kept only as pest-control and are typically barn-cats, not welcomed into the house or kept as pets. The only time a cat is seen as a house-pet in Bree is to the Hobbits, the reason, is that the rumored mischief and ne’er-do-well nature of cats from Gondor have traversed their way even this far north and west.

- Bree is governed by City Hall and its Mayor and Council, the latter of which is made up of three representatives from each from the Trading Council, Farming Council, and the local Watch. The trading council position is usually held by a respected tobacco merchant, and given the low propensity towards crime, the Watchman’s position is generally one of respect than anything.

- Many of Bree and those around Bree in neighboring villages and settlements have not learned to swim and have a common fear of water, or drowning. There are many local superstitions about a pook - a spirit living in the dark shadows of water which commonly take an animal shape or a lovely woman and tempt those of Men into the depths only to steal away their breath and youth, subsequently consuming their life. It is common that those of Bree will leave warding gifts on the shore of streams and rivers when having to cross or do business near the water such as watering their herds and these gifts are usually that of freshly-milked milk, a chunk of cheese, a scattering of flower petals or a tuft of wool – all of which are believed to please water pooks.

- Another spirit similar to pook, called phouka, are common to the farmlands surrounding Bree and scattered about Bree-Land. While pook are murderous, their lighter spirited kin phoukas can be helpful and protective of Men, often attaching themselves to a particular house or family.

The legend of the phouka is said to originate from a tale of a young boy who was lost in the fields during the deepest heart of a long, harsh winter who had lost his coat and boots. Near frozen, the boy had nearly given up when the wind whispered into his ear, asking if he sought warmth and when he nodded, shivering, out of the snow rose a snow-white sheep of massive size who offered him one of his horns to hold onto. The sheep is said to have led the boy into a nearby mill and a pile of hay that there the sheep lay down, letting the boy curl up against his warm belly. When the boy woke, the sheep was gone and he wore a thick coat of woven straw which kept him warm until his family was found. Due to this great gesture of the phouka, it is common that farmers leave out a cup of warm honey or brandy in the winter to warm the phouka and curry favor in hopes to possibly stave off the death of a loved one during the cold season. During the rest of the year the gifts to phouka generally are made up of milk, cheese, or cream which almost always disappears during the dark of night, one way or another.

- The family names (and so to their first names) of the Men of Bree are often references to local plantlife. Only one local family - the Breeborne the prominent traders of tobacco are known to break this tradition, no doubt to see more important to those outside Bree-land. Rumour holds that in the Ages before the tobacco trade began in earnest, their family name was Goutweed which is a plant said to grow only on the crown of Bree-Hill and is a common-used tea amongst the elderly and gout-inflicted folk of Bree-Land.

*Note to Players: The family names of Bree are composed of the following options; Anemone, Appledore, Aubrieta, Arrowleaf, Bellardia, Betony, Larkspur, Primrose, Vetch, Balm, Bogbean, Borage, Bur-reed, Hellborine, Brooklime, Pondweed, Bugle, Bulrush, Butterwort, Buttonweed, Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Dodder, Fleabane, Hempnettle, Knapweed, Mallow, Ragwort, Twayblade, Valerian, Cowslip, Cornflower, Sowbread, Heath, Cranesbill, Dandelion, Dropwort, Pansy, Sage, Stonecrop, Eyebright, Bindweed, Scabious, Lavender, Rue, Hogweed, Speedwell, Mullein, Willowherb, Bladderwort, Celandine, Spearwort, Stitchwort, Hellebore, Elder, Ivy, Harebell, Bedstraw, Hemlock, Agrimony, Honeysuckle, Honeywort, Thistle, Bellflower, Crowfoot, Knotweed, Burdock, Periwinkle, Lousewort, Hawkweed, Lupin, Oleander, Oxlip, Balsam, Bugloss, Toadflax, Goatsbeard, Hawksbeard, Mayweed, Purslane, Sundew, Chamomile, Redshank, Clover, Wintergreen, Saw-wort, Salsify, Saxifrage, Holly, Pea, Medick, Milkweed, Silverweed, Pepperwort, Sow-thistle, Snowdrop, Milfoin, Squill, Goosefoot, Nettle, Teasel, Tansy, Thrift, Tormentil, Wallflower, Starwort, Weld, Columbine, Peony, Avens, Thyme, Yarrow, Rattle, Pickthorn, Rushlight, Goatweed, Thistlewool, Heathertoes, and Loosestrife.

There are several branches of families bearing these names all over Bree-Land so there are chances that distant relations who did not know of each other may run into one another carrying similar family names when outside of Bree-Land. It is a small world afterall!

Men of Bree Reference

- Bree is a city ruled by a local government under the Mayor and his Council, made up of three appointed representatives from the Trading Council, Farming Council and the Watch Council. The Mayor and his Council is responsible for collecting taxes, creating and repealing laws, and the general establishment and enforcement of justice and civility. Following the way of their Halfling cohorts, the Mayor of Bree is elected for a ten year term by general election wherein each considered “household” in Bree gets one vote.

Each of Bree-land’s other settlements (Straddle, Combe, and Archet) is appointed a deputy mayor by the Mayor of Bree. As these settlements are smaller in population and economic importance, these deputy mayors hold or appoint no Councils of their own, and instead rely heavily on the direction of Bree and work with their appointed Watch Captain to oversee the day to day civil and legal concerns of their Big Folk and Small Folk.

Bree-land is made of an orderly society, a combined effort of the general lawfulness and orderliness of the Hobbit half of it’s populace, and it’s imposition of law and order. In general, Bree-landers are good, law-abiding people, and their greatest concern comes from highwaymen and marauders who travel the old East-West road. The petty criminal and civil issues between them tend to focus on drunken ill-behavior, breaches of contract, and concerns of inheritance.

Watch Council

The Watch Council oversees the ‘police’ force of Bree-land and includes the appointed Sheriff of Bree-land, and the the four Watch Captains who operate under him in Bree, Straddle, Combe, and Archet.  They each serve to advise the Sheriff and in turn the deputy mayors and Mayor of Bree about legal and safety concerns of the populace. The Sheriff rarely leaves Bree is generally a venerated man of Bree-Land who is well-rooted in politics and wealth, regardless if he had or hadn’t served as a Watchman himself in a youth (which can be a bit of a sore point for some.)

Each Watch Captain appoints ranked Recruits, Privates, Corporals, Sergeants, and Lieutenants to maintain the gateways in and out of each of the four villages and question strangers for ill-intent and contraband, to patrol a distance outside of each town to ensure the safe passage of travels and trade between them, and to assess petty criminal sentences with fines or times in the village stocks or pillory.  The biggest responsibility for Watchmen in each village is to keep an eye on the coming and goings through the village’s gateways, particularly after nightfall. Watchmen also transfer criminals accused of capital offenses to the Sheriff of Bree-land in Bree for sentencing.

Watchmen of Bree-land wear brown uniforms usually made up of boiled cowhide and marked with a leaf-and-blade motif on their right shoulder. Lines beneath the motif and their color determine the individual’s rank.

Trading Council

The smallest of the four councils of Bree-Land, the Trading Council is predominantly responsible for all business and mercantilism within Bree-Land. Similar to the Artisan Union of Rhovanion, of the famed Fellowships of Gondor, the Trading Council covers manufactured goods by way of sale, export and import. It handles all Licensing of businesses that entail the selling of goods, in very basic terms. The Trading Council is very strict and at times can be described as greedy, particularly in the opinion of the Small Folk. They hold discretion to levy fines to those who shirk their rather cut and dry laws.

The Trading Council is made up of four representatives known as Councilmen, one each from Bree, Straddle, Combe, and Archet. Each office appoints assistant workers known as Tradesmen who work “in the field” and serve as notaries public and litigants for economic concerns in the four larger villages and smaller settlements. The Tradesmen is responsible for ensuring all tithes and fines are paid accordingly when business is conducted in a business which includes what can be sold, what cannot be, and what businesses can be opened or where. Many finer businesses will be declined permits to be built in outlying villages and settlements, heavily encouraging folk bring their business-making specifically to the capital of Bree. (More basic businesses for the survival and livelihood of the smaller settlements are of course allowed.) Some Tradesmen develop quite a reputation as rather ruthless businessmen who are very keen on ‘greasing the wheel’.

Those who are licensed for trading by the Trading Council, similar to the Licensed of Rhovanion, are called Craftsmen. Without proper permits to sell from the Trading Council, one cannot refer to themselves as a Craftsmen. While a woman can be either, and certainly are, the terms Craftsmen or Tradesmen are used in genderless manner. 

Farming Council

The largest of the four councils, the Farming Council controls land and all that is grown or herded within Bree-Land. While the Trading Council permits one to sell in a shopfront, and can lease said shopfront, the Farming Council controls all that which is ground related; land, stables, silos, mills, granaries, crop contracts, etc. Outright ownership of land is exceptionally rare in Bree-Land and only done by the extremely wealthy or those long-borne to said ownership through many generations of deed from time before the Councils in the Kingdom of old. The larger majority of land held in deeded ownership is held by Small Folk who very rarely will sell land held by their families, even during times of true economic hardship.  Land is thus a commodity that is highly prized, even when leased by the Farming Council.

There are two types of leases with the Farming Council; a producing land permit and a producing and trading permit. The producing land permit solely covers the lease of the land and comes with a contract that all excess goods that are produced (minus those used to feed the farm’s livestock/draft animals and employees) are turned over to the Farming Council by way of contracted quota that grants the leasee a fair and predictable payment for the produced goods. If one meets quotas to the Farming Council they generally will always have a stable source of income as long as the quote is met. Overall, the Farming Council is not overly choosy in quality, they’re about quantity and can find uses for even the most bruised and mottled of cabbage heads. The producing land permit in no way permits the selling of said goods from the leased land to anyone but the Farming Council, though creative people find technical ways around that rule through bartering and other “non-sale” transactions.

The other option is a producing and trading permit which is a contract that leases the land to the leasee for their crops or herds, and they then seek out a permit with the Trading Council to become a Craftsmen to sell their produced goods at market by way of cart, stall, or a shopfront. Either permit through the Farming Council costs the same but the payouts can vary widely. Acquiring a Craftsmen Permit with the Trading Council is another cost in the factor and the individual is wholly reliant on their goods being wanted at market. It is certainly the more risky of the two endeavours and can bring higher or much lower returns depending on the year’s crop.

Contracts with the Farming Council are permitted to only one individual, the leasee, often called the Farmer. The Farmer often will have any number of ranchers or farmhands, but none of these are given the official title of Farmer. It is respectful to call someone who is contracted with the Council as Farmer <Surname> and highly disrespectful to not to do so.

Like the other the Farming Council places one Councilman in each major settlement - Bree, Straddle, Combe, and Archet. Farmsmen are employed by the Farming Council to be the representatives “in the field” who tally productions, oversee deliveries to Bree to export from Bree-land, and other tasks. Many smaller settlements hold at least one Farmsmen, as many earn their position through themselves being highly skilled farmers and ranchers and thus a grant resource for knowledge, and it’s the Council’s interest to maximize harvests and thus profits.

The City Hall

The great City Hall of Bree is rather elaborate in its ranks and offices in comparison to the rest of the Councils in Bree-Land. The head of City Hall is led by the Mayor of Breeland, an elected position within Bree-Land that has been predominantly held seat-wise by a particular family that while not a monarchy, and by no means nobility, happen to be the wealthiest family in all of Bree-Land and use that wealth to keep the wheels moving in their favor politics wise. This family is known, rather fittingly, as Breeborne. The City Hall of Bree oversees communication with the other three major settlements through their smaller Deputy Mayor’s offices.

The City Hall of Bree is responsible for the entirety of the government by housing the other three Councils within the Hall. And ultimately, the City Hall controls, in the end, all contracts and legal documents within Bree-Land which include marriages, death certificates, apprenticeships, lease cataloging, and the postal service that oversees the exportation of messages posted for travel outside of Bree-Land. The City Hall is rumoured to be of the oldest standing buildings in Bree save the famed Prancing Pony Inn.

The present Mayor of Bree is a ruddy-cheeked and rather potbellied man named Berimot Breeborne.

- There are no nobility or Kings of Bree-Land, and the agricultural plenty of the land means that “poverty” is a relative term. Instead, the outward appearance of wealth is that which defines if one  is being seen as poor or rich. A ‘rich’ person or family will generally have a stone-wrought longhouse they lease from City Hall which has glass-outfitted windows, have more than two non-work outfits for each season, and the more cloth (in quality and quantity) one wears, the more wealth they must have to manage such costs. Too, a factor in appearing wealthy, an individually will have obtained atleast three ponies and can cover the cost of said ponies’ care.

- Wearing armor or carrying weapons in town when not a soldier of the Watch is generally considered poor-taste and can imply the wearer is up to no good and welcoming trouble on the road.

- Bree is subject to the same laws as the rest of Bree-Land:

1st Tier - Laws

Murder - The purposeful taking of another’s life through direct or indirect means of personal action or conspiracy with other parties.

- Murdering a Citizen of Bree-Land, if found guilty is punished by hanging in Bree’s gallows.

- Murdering a Non-Citizen, if found guilty is punished by hanging in the gallows of Bree.

- A non-Citizen found guilty of murdering a Citizen is punished by being hung at Bree’s gallows.

- A non-Citizen found guilty of murdering a non-Citizen is punished by the removal of a hand and banished from Bree-Land and cut down at first sight if caught within Bree-Land again.

*Note to Players: There are no such thing in Middle-Earth as lawyers or a right to a fair trial as we understand things in modern society. There are no laws requiring a body be submitted or there be substantial evidence. There are no laws about innocent until proven guilty. A judgement is based on a guilty person attempting to be found innocent though the odds are slim. A judgement is simply passed by the Mayor or his choice of representative and their sole decision on the matter will be the outcome of the accused’s existence.

2nd Tier - Laws

Sedition - speaking against the Bree-land’s lawful governments and representatives with the intent or outcome of causing public disturbance, unrest, or danger

- Sedition against the Mayor and the government of Bree-Land is punishable by varying degrees which are dependent on the sedition involved. Branding, public whipping, finger-taking, ear-taking and tongue removal are not unknown punishments for rabble-rouses. The most common punishments are varying levels of fines or times in the public stocks. If a person publicly defames or slanders any of the Councils of Bree-Land they’ll no doubt be slapped first with a heavy fine and should it continue, physical punishments are likely to be involved to further beat it into their skulls to keep their opinions silent. Sedition is always handled at City Hall where the Mayor and Councils can give a tangible example of those whom shirk the law. In these proceedings it is very rare the slanderer can lay claim to any innocence and are forbidden from talking.

- Sedition that involved harming any individual employed directly within either of the Councils in an attempt to harm the Councils or to raise some belief the Councils are infallible is met with a long stay in a gaol or public stocks, a public flogging, and potentially being branded as a rabble-rouser which is a distinctive boot print on their left cheek as though having been stepped on by the Mayor himself. Sedition is always handled at City Hall where the Mayor and Councils can give a tangible example of those whom shirk the law. In these proceedings it is very rare the slanderer can lay claim to any innocence and are forbidden from talking.

3rd Tier - Laws

Adultery

- A married Citizen whom betrays his or her contracted union and commits adultery with another married Citizen is fined up to ten gold, publicly shamed, and often flogged by their spouse whom they have betrayed, or the spouse of the other party involved in said betrayal. Should neither parties wish to do said flogging, it is done by a Sergeant of the Watch stationed in their village, settlement or at City Hall where others can gather to watch. Should a child be produced from the union and it is proven, the father of said baseborn child is responsible to pay the husband of the woman to whom he has bore a child without out of their union two gold a month for the first thirteen years of the child’s life. Should the adultery-committing man refuse, or shirk the payment, he will be denied any contracts or permits with any of the Councils until he has become law-abiding. It is not uncommon, and actually very common, that baseborn children not be desired by the husband of the adultery-committing woman and he can refuse the child’s welcome, legally, within their home and said child will either be raised by the child’s father or released to an orphanage. It is extremely uncommon that the wife of an adultery-committing man will raise his child born unto another woman save in instances where the wife herself is barren.

- A married Citizen whom betrays his or her contracted unions and commits adultery with an unmarried Citizen is fined up to five gold, publicly shamed, and often flogged by their spouse whom they have betrayed or the spouse of the other party involved in said betrayal, depending on who is married in the situation and who is not. Should the married party’s spouse not wish to do said flogging, it is done by a Sergeant of the Watch stationed in their village, settlement or at City Hall where others can gather to watch. Should a child be produced from the union and it is proven, if the father is the unmarried party he is responsible to pay one gold a month to the husband of the adultery-committing woman until the child reaches the age of thirteen, an age of apprenticeship, and like a married man if he refuses to pay or shirks his responsibilities he is deemed unlawful and denied any contracts or permits with any of the Councils. If the father is the married party, he is not responsible to pay the mother any coin, but  will be publicly flogged and shamed for his behavior. The unmarried woman carries her shame and her family does as well, if any are present, to provide for the baseborn child as they or she sees fit. It is very common that baseborn children are relinquished to orphanages for the raising of children are expensive and limit the work a single, unmarried mother can do while raising said child.

- A married Citizen whom betrays his or her contracted unions and commits adultery with a married or unmarried non-Citizen is fined up to five gold, publicly shamed, and often flogged by their spouse whom they have betrayed or a Sergeant of the Watch stationed in their village, settlement or at City Hall where others can gather to watch. Should a child be produced from the union and it is proven, if the father is the Citizen of the party he is responsible to pay no coin to the non-Citzen mother and can deny the child’s existence fully after his punishment has been served. If the mother is the Citizen party and she betrayed her spouse with a non-Citzen and a child is produced and proven by said union, her husband has fully legal right to decline the child from their household and said child would be relinquished to the wife’s family or an orphanage. The adultery-committing woman carries her shame and her family does as well, if any are present, to provide for the baseborn child as they or she sees fit. It is very common that baseborn children are relinquished to orphanages for the raising of children are expensive and a commonly considered a burden when baseborn.

- While not adultery, should a child be born to an unwed mother and to an unwed father, the mother is fully responsible, and solely so, to the rearing of the child and subject to much social problems. The father too, should he be publicly known, will suffer much shame and there will be encouragement from both sides that the pairing marry. Should the pairing refuse or the family’s refuse or one or the other parties be otherwise unaccepting of the other, the father is deemed legally able to deny the existence of the child completely. Should the mother be the one whom denies the child, the father and his family can raise it, though that is rather uncommon as keeping a baseborn child greatly diminishes the chance of getting a marriage contract (families tend to look down on such ‘baggage). Often, in such unions, baseborn children are abandoned to an orphanage.

*Note to Players: Being baseborn is not socially or politically acceptable. Baseborn individuals have no claim to family names, blood, said family’s blood-born contracts, etc. and often are declined office, high ranks, and even contracts for their low social standing. Admitting of being baseborn is considered rather like proclaiming yourself in public a thief, because you are born of a stolen moment from the breaking of a contract. Expect to be ridiculed, shrugged-off and at times ostracized for being baseborn.

Theft - the unlawful taking of another’s property with agreement or compensation

- A Citizen stealing from a Citizen is punishable by flogging, removal of a finger, toe, ear, or branding depending on the severity of the theft and from whom one has stolen from. Atonement by way of repayment as well as a fine to City Hall is the most customary.

- A Citizen stealing from a non-Citizen is punishable by flogging, public shaming, and time in the gaol or public stocks as it is seen as stealing from a child, basically. Atonement by way of repayment as well as a fine to City Hall are customary as well.

- A non-Citizen stealing from a Citizen is punishable by removal of a finger, toe, ear or branding depending on the severity of the theft and from whom one has stolen from. Atonement by way of repayment as well as a fine to City Hall are customary as well.

- A non-Citizen stealing from a non-Citizen is punishable by removal of a finger, toe, ear or branding much like the other levels of the crime. Atonement by way of repayment as well as a fine to City Hall are customary as well and banishment from Bree-Land follows suit.

- Selling without a permit paid unto the Trading Council is considered theft from a Citizen to a Citizen.

- Farming without permit/contract with the Trading Council, unless the land is owned (a very rare thing) is considered theft from Citizen to Citizen.

- Those of Bree are not nearly as hospitable to strangers (the Innkeepers and tavernkeepers the even present exception), outsiders and non-Citizens as others like those of Rohan in terms of travelers and have a ‘stick to your own’ sort of mentality. Non-Citizens who attempt to stay are usually segregated to life in Archet where they can find work amongst the lumberers and timberwrights though any good-standing family would be extremely hard-pressed, socially, to ever accept a marriage contract with such an outsider. There would be some societal troubles with such ‘traveling outside of tradition’.

One is socially and legally considered a “Citizen” of Bree-land when one has worked within for five years, or properly been granted leased property or licensure for business.

- The age of thirteen is considered the Age of Apprenticeship and typically at this age a child of such an age has their lifelong profession determined by their family and they’re sent either to a relative or a friend of the family for apprenticeship in their future profession. Apprenticeships are usually determined in some way to further assist the family’s own doings or to excel their offspring through the life. A family of farmers is likely to have their children Apprenticed in some skill that would assist farming. To apprentice your own child yourself or on your farmlands is a sign of being extremely poor in both money and family connections even if you have superior skill. It is very unlikely and nigh impossible for a poor family to secure an apprenticeship with a wealthy farm or homestead in a skill that is costly. Apprenticeships are funded by the child’s family and usually paid for with coin or bartered goods so as to nearly always keep children in the financial ‘window’ of their parents and family. This means that a family of poor cabbage farmers could not afford to Apprentice their child with a physician or bookbinder nor would they benefit from either by any general and realistic means. It also means that families who have many children generally will forced to downgrade the quality of most of their children’s Apprenticeships and focus on one or two who excel in something particular or are first-born. It is not at all uncommon nor is it somehow socially strange that a family having many daughters and few sons will subject their daughters to early marriage contracts so as to then arrange affordable Apprentices in menial skills to which would cost them very little while pouring what finances the family can manage into a superior arrangement for their sons.

What Would Other PCs Know About the Men of Bree?

- The Men of Bree come from somewhere far to the west of Rhovanion.

- Tobacco, also known as smoke-leaf, comes out of Bree.

- The Men of Bree are dark of hair and eye, similar to those of Dunland and are said to sometimes have red hair amongst them while other coloring is quite rare if not improbable in their bloodlines.

- The Men of Bree, like Laketown and Rhovanion, are led by a Mayor.

- Brandy comes out of Bree-Land or somewhere close by.

- Ponies come out of Bree as does skyr, a specially-made cheese curd from sheepmilk which is made somewhere in Bree-Land.

*Note to Players: Knowing of Hobbits or Halflings is not a well-known subject or race in Middle-Earth especially as far east as Rhovanion and Laketown therein. This means that it is highly unlikely that your character would know what Hobbits are let alone that they live near the Men of Bree or that said Men know much about them.

Suggested Backgrounds and Roles

These roles require certain amounts of RPP and they vary with each role. Use of a background outside of the roles below are by Special Application only and require Elder Staff approval before submission.

Farmer or Herdsman of Bree

Requires 2 RPP.

Strongly Suggested Skills: Farming

Other Useful Skills: Gardening, Handle

Background: You hale from the slopes of Bree-Hill which lies in the heart of Bree-Land and composes the very foundation of for various settlements that lie therein. You were born and raised a commoner and like those around you, you’re brown or red of hair and fair of skin with brown eyes. You served as a farmer or herdsman on a farmstead either leased by your parents and kin from the Farming Council, to which you worked on, in either Bree, Combe, or Staddle. You are familiar with Bree-Land and its famous smokeleaf, the traditions and cultures of your people, it’s histories, and it’s laws. You’ve heard the call of work in the northeast. Whether by fortune or misfortune, you find yourself in Laketown.

+10 to Farming, +5 to Handle or Craft Skill

Lumberer of Archet

Requires 2 RPP.

Strongly Suggested Skills: Woodcraft

Other Useful Skills: Foraging

Background: You hale from the slopes of Bree-Hill which lies in the heart of Bree-Land and composes the very foundation of for various settlements that lie therein. You were born and raised a commoner and like those around you, you’re brown or red of hair and fair of skin with brown eyes. You served as a Lumberer of Archet, a small timber community in Chetwood for one of the various businesses serving the Trading Council. You may have been born there, Bree, Combe, Staddle or a small farm or homestead outside such places; land leased to your parents or family by the Farming Council. You are familiar with Bree-Land and its famous smokeleaf, the traditions and cultures of your people, it’s histories, and it’s laws. You’ve heard the call of work in the northeast. Whether by fortune or misfortune, you find yourself in Laketown.

+10 to Woodcraft, +5 to Foraging or Craft Skill

Retired or Discharged Watchmen

Requires 3 RPP.

Strongly Suggested Skills: Weapon Skill

Other Useful Skills: Sole-Wield, Dual-Wield

Background: You hale from the slopes of Bree-Hill which lies in the heart of Bree-Land and composes the very foundation of for various settlements that lie therein. You were born and raised a commoner and like those around you, you’re brown or red of hair and fair of skin with brown eyes. Born of Bree, Combe, Staddle or Archet on a farm or homestead leased from the Farming Council, you are thus familiar with Bree-Land and its famous smokeleaf, the traditions and cultures of your people, it’s histories, and it’s laws. After your Apprenticeship you joined the Watch and for whatever reason (crippling ailment, age, or criminal activity) you have been removed from service and are otherwise unable to find work in your homeland. You’ve heard the call of work in the northeast. Whether by fortune or misfortune, you find yourself in Laketown.

+10 to a Weapon Skill, +5 to a non-Combat, non-Craft Skill

Tobacco Grower

Requires 3 RPP.

Strongly Suggested Skills: Farming

Other Useful Skills: Gardening

Background: You hale from the slopes of Bree-Hill which lies in the heart of Bree-Land and composes the very foundation of for various settlements that lie therein. You were born and raised a commoner and like those around you, you’re brown or red of hair and fair of skin with brown eyes. You served as a farmer on a farmstead either leased by your parents and kin from the Farming Council, to which you worked on, in either Bree, Combe, or Staddle. Your primary crop was tobacco, also known as smokeleaf, and your livelihood is reliant on your skills in growing said crop. You know the ins and outs of not just growing it, but harvesting and curing it as well as the proper ways of smoking it. It is, to you, an artform. You are familiar with Bree-Land and its famous smokeleaf, the traditions and cultures of your people, it’s histories, and it’s laws. You’ve heard the call of work in the northeast. Whether by fortune or misfortune, you find yourself in Laketown.

Opening Crafts to Tobacco Craftset

Stories and Songs

Players are encouraged to submit songs and stories for the Men of Bree as they’re playing. Please respect all Copyright Laws. If it is someone’s work, heavily or loosely based on someone else’s work, or even that of work too old to maintain a maker’s name – give the source, when submitted, due credit.