The Green Dragon Inn #11 - The Last Chapter

Shaeowyn awoke to the unhappy snorting of her black mare. "Oh, Windungen," the woman sputtered as she bolted from the hay where she had spent the night. Rubbing her aching limbs and eyes ruefully, she muttered about indulging too much in the 'women's punch.' "I must get you some grain to eat, and then see about my own breakfast," she said, putting her arms around her favorite companion's neck. Her dark brown hair held streaks of sunlight interspersed with the creeping grey. It curled wildly about her once pretty face; matted as badly as her horse's midnight colored mane.

"I must find the Innkeeper to see about your grain, and fetch more water for you also," she called to her horse as she shut the stall door securely behind her. She could not remember the names and occupations of the people swirling through the party's evening; she felt alone and somewhat afraid. Animals had always been more steadfast and honest friends, and she seemed to have a special gift for gaining their loyalty; sometimes even their protection. But she brushed her discomfort aside and strode purposefully into the Green Dragon's breakfast scene. Looking about with keen green eyes, she caught sight of the kind woman who had come to her aid the evening before. "Ruby, would you be able to spare a moment," Shaeowyn spoke loudly over the happy morning noises.

[peral]

Sharya woke up with the sun shining brightly into her eyes. She sat up almost immediately and struggled to remember where she was. Of course, the Green Dragon Inn in Hobbiton. She sighed and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She staggered over to the basin and splashed water into her face. This woke her up sufficiently for her to think straight. Her head was throbbing and she thougt back to what she had drunk the night before. "It couldn't have been that strong," she muttered. She heard her stomach rumble loudly. Of course, she hadn't eaten any dinner the night before. She pulled on her only dress, a cream colored gown that was already stained from long wear. She would have to see about getting another dress.

Sighing, she looked into the mirror and tried to make her tangle of curls slightly more presentable. With one last wistful look at her reflection she headed down to the common room to see about breakfast.

The common room was already filled with people, halflings and other races alike. She walked over to one of the waitresses and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, how should I go about getting breakfast?" The girl turned around and smiled, "If you just go and sit down, I can get something out for you as soon as possible." Sharya nodded, "Thank you."

As she sat down, she looked around the room at the other patrons of the inn. There was a boy with a younger girl which looked as if they could be related. The others didn't catch her attention as much but her observation was interrupted by the same girl who she had talked to earlier coming up to her and setting a tray with a huge plate of eggs and Shire ham before her along with a basket of scones with a saucer of blackberry jam beside it.

"Will you be wanting tea with that as well?" the girl asked.

"What type of tea?" Sharya asked warily for she was well acquainted with the not so delectable types which she had experienced before.

"Just normal tea with honey," the girl answered.

"Yes please." And with a nod, the girl left the table, presumably to get the aforementioned tea.

It was only now that Sharya realised how hungry she was and she dug into the breakfast with a vengeance.

[piosenniel]

~*~ GREEN DRAGON INN FACTS ~*~

It is the 4th Age, year 12. By the Shire Calendar it is year 1433 S.R. (Shire Reckoning).

King Elessar is on the throne of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor.

Mirkwood has been reclaimed by the Elves and is now called Eryn Lasgalen.

Paladdin Took, Pippin’s father, is Thain of the Shire. (Thain is an honorary title for the military leader of the Shire. The title has been held in the Took Family since the position was first established in 3rd Age 1979 with Bucca of the Marish as First Thain.) Paladdin Took dies in year 13, and will be succeeded by his son, Peregrin, ‘Pippin’, Took.

Samwise Gamgee is Mayor of the Shire, having succeeded Will Whitfoot in 1427 S.R.

The Innkeeper, in the Green Dragon Inn of this forum, is: Aman – a young woman from Rohan.

Before her, the Innkeeper was Piosenniel, and before her it was Dwarin, the Dwarf.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Other ongoing characters in the Inn:

Ruby Brown, Hobbit – not married – server and maid

Buttercup Brownlock, Hobbit – not married – kitchen assistant and maid

Vinca Bunce, widowed, Inn Cook (character played by Piosenniel)

Derufin, General handyman/jack-of-all-trades round the Inn (played by Envinyatar)

Zimzi (Zimziran), wife to Derufin; a skilled potter from Lindon(played by Pio)

Meriadoc - Stablemaster

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Ongoing characters from outside the Inn:

Halfred Whitfoot – local Shiriff from Bywater and Postmaster for this area of the Shire; his pony’s name is Dumpling.

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Please Note:

No 'SAVES' are allowed in the Inn (except for modifications needed to be made by the Moderators or Innkeeper).

With the exception of the Innkeeper and the Moderators, no OOC (Out Of Character) comments are allowed in the Inn.

Only the Innkeeper, Amanaduial, or the Moderators move the timeline for the Inn forward.

Visitors to the Inn will need to read the posts that come before theirs to get an idea of what time it is in the Shire, what the weather is like, and what is happening.

No violence is allowed in the Inn or on Inn grounds.

Please be familiar with the rules for the Inn and Games in The Red Book of Westmarch, the first topic in the Shire.

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About Elves in Shire RPG's:

Please use this description from Tolkien when crafting an Elf:

Return of the King – Appendix F: Tolkien’s description for the Quendi (The Speakers) – the name given to the Elves by themselves after they first awoke in Middle-earth.

“They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as Kings, who now are gone: the People of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finrod; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that is now heard . . .”

Please use this as a guideline for describing your Elven character’s appearance.

[piosenniel]

TIME IN THE INN . . .

It is now morning.

The sun has just come up. Cook and the serving girls have been up for a while and breakfast is just ready for anyone who comes down to the Common Room.

The day is sunny, so far. Though the breeze is a bit brisk. And far to the west, just peeking over the Tower Hills are a hint of dark clouds.

The front yard of the Inn is rather in disarray from yesterday's party. The little lanterns in the trees need to be taken down and put away in the cellar. Tables and benches need to be brought back into the Common Room. Flower beds inadvertently trampled by the crowds need to be tended to.

But breakfast first!

Eggs and thick slices of Shire ham; hot scones with sweet cream butter and blackberry jam; and pots of hot tea with honey as needed to wash it all down.

[Atarah]

At last, thought a young girl as she walked quietly through the door of the Green Dragon Inn. She'd been walking for a long time now, and didn't even know how she'd managed to find the inn. Her name was Tulip, a rather odd name for a Rohan girl, but then her mother was never a normal woman. Some said she wasn't even human. But Tulip had loved her mother, and the shock of her death still hadn't struck her young mind. On her death bed, Tulip's mother had expressed her wish for Tulip to go to the Green Dragon Inn and deliver a message to a woman named Aman. Everyone was shocked at this, but they couldn't deny a dying woman her last wish. So it was that Tulip journeyed to the Shire, accompanied by merchants headed for Bree. In Bree she aquired directions for the rest of her journey that she had to make alone. She was glad of the peace in the world, for she was a well learned girl, even at the young age of twelve, and knew of the evil events that had happened at the end of the last age. She'd even heard there used to be wolves in the Shire.

Tulip looked around for someone who might know how to find Aman. It was early, and only a few people were up and about. Tulip wasn't surprised that there were so few people about, as she had seen signs of a party remaining in the yard outside the inn. She walked to the bar and waited until someone noticed her.

"Hello there young lass," said a kind voice from behind the bar.

Tulip looked up from her study of the bar's grain to see a woman who, judging by her height, was a hobbit. Tulip smiled as she thought about her friends back home who would have mistaken the woman for a young human girl.

"Welcome to the Green Dragon," the hobbit continued. "My name's Ruby Brown. Can I get you anything? We're just starting to serve breakfast if you'd like some. We've got ham and eggs, or lovely hot scones with butter and jam."

Tulip smiled at Ruby and let out a sigh of relief. "I've been eating stale bread for weeks! A nice scone would be a pleasant change from that for sure. What drinks are you serving? Anything sweet?"

"We have some tea with honey," replied Ruby cheerilly.

"Tea with honey?" gasped Tulip. "I've always wanted to try some of that. We never had that at my house back in Rohan."

"Ah, so you're from Rohan," Ruby said with a smile. "Our Innkeeper was from Rohan. You'd get along well with her. I wonder if you've heard of her. Aman's her name. Lovely woman. So kind."

Tulip's heart skipped a beat. Aman was the Innkeeper here? What luck! From what her mother said it sounded more like Aman had gone to visit the Shire and could possibly be found at the Green Dragon. But the Innkeeper... "Would it be possible to speak to Aman?" Tulip was suddenly very shy. Her mother had spoken highly of Aman. "I have a message for her, from my mother."

"I'll let her know you're looking for her." Ruby began to walk towards what looked to be the kitchen, then turned and said, "But first, breakfast."

"Thank you." Tulip knew she was going to enjoy her stay here. She looked around the Inn once more and saw that people were beginning to arrive and order breakfast. Tulip looked forward to making new friends.

[littlemanpoet]

Uien and Falowik had gone to the hills for the night, as was their way. He got his human sleep under a warm cloak, beneath the stars, while Uien walked slowly nearby, or stood staring at her beloved stars, or sat against an old wizened tree, dreaming with eyes wide open.

As usual, Falowik wondered if the moments when he slept were not the loneliest of Uien's life; but she had said him nay before once when he had asked, for it was when she lived within her memories, and communed with her loved ones and others who had left the shores of Middle Earth forever. Though she gainsaid him, reliving such memories seemed more lonely to him than anything else, let alone human sleep!

They woke with the sun and walked hand in hand back into Bywater. The Green Dragon Inn was much less busy. Such a difference one day made! Dark clouds rode the brisk wind out of the west. It would soon storm. They hurried into town and made their way to the Inn and through its welcoming front door. Sweet smells of a hobbitish breakfast wafted on the air in the Common Room. Falowik's mouth spread wide in a grin and he licked his lips.

"Do we still have some of that King's coin?" he asked.

"Aye, that we do." She looked in the purse at her hip. "Enough to last a fortnight."

"Good. We must pay for our horse's room and board as well as our own."

"I wish to speak with an Elven lady I saw here yesterday. I hope she has not left." Uien quieted and raised her head, sensing as only Elves can. Falowik waited. "No. I do not sense her. Maybe she is no longer here."

"Come let's sit down and be served. Take a little food, Fair One, and maybe later she will appear."

Uien nodded. "I would speak to her of a settling down place."

"I know. In good time."

[peral]

Sharya had only just finished her breakfast when she saw the young girl enter the common room and walk up to the bar. Definitely from Rohan she decided. No where else did they have lovely flaxen hair like that. She got up and tentatively made her way up to the girl, who was by now, looking curiously around the room at all of the patrons who were gathering. Sharya wanted so much to know what another human girl was doing here in the land of halflings. What had brought her here? What strange mission was she out to accomplish? Her nervousness was quite unfounded for as she approached, the girl immediately smiled at her.

"Hello."

"Hi," began Sharya, "I saw that you had just arrived and thought I'd come over and say hello."

The girl laughed. "Yes, indeed, I'm just waiting for my breakfast."

"Then, pray, come sit with me and we can talk, for I'm curious to know what another mortal girl is doing here in a village of halflings."

The girl laughed again, "Of course." As they took a seat, "By the way, I'm Tulip."

"I'm Sharya. To be quite honest with you, it's quite a relief to see someone who is my height." Then she looked curiously at Tulip, "What brings you here? So far away from your home country, Rohan?"

The girl looked surprised, "How did you know I was from Rohan?"

"Your hair. No where else in Middle-Earth does there exist such beautiful golden hair except in the land of the Riddermark."

"I suppose so, my hair has always been my pride and joy." She paused for a moment, as if to contemplate her hair. "Anyway, I'm here looking for a woman by the name of Aman. I have just heard that she is the innkeep here."

"Yes, she is indeed. And look, here comes your breakfast now."

Ruby brought over the tea and with a slight bob asked, "Would you be wanting anything else, miss."

"No thank you, I'm-" here she looked at Sharya, "Don't you want something to eat as well?"

Sharya shook her head. "No thank you, I've already eaten my breakfast."

Tulip nodded to her and shook her head at Ruby, "Well, do you have any scones?"

"Yes, miss, honey covered ones. I shall bring some out for you."

"Thank you."

Sharya smiled as she watched Tulip tentatively sampling her tea.

"Ooh! It's sweet!" she exclaimed.

Sharya grinned amiably at her. Perhaps this week wouldn't be so bad after all, she mused.

[piosenniel]

~*~ Notice of New RPG Opening ~*~

Thalionyulma (Thali, for short) invites you to take a look at the Mirkwood Endgame Discussion Thread – HERE.

Three male Elven characters are needed: two from Mirkwood and one from Lorien.

Should be a fun game! See you there!

~*~ Pio, Game Moderator

[peral]

Sharya returned to the inn somewhat ruffled. What a fool she had been to think that she would have been able to find clothes or weapons in a town of halflings! Of course they wouldn't have anything her size. She only wished that she had realised this before setting out and saved herself all that walking in the wind. And now the sun was gone as well, another bad omen she thought. Of course, she could have bought material and made herself new clothes - for, being an assistant seamstress before had much experience in these things - but she didn't want to, she felt sluggish and disinclined to do work today. She sighed looking down at her travel-stained dress, this would just have to do until she managed to find some clothes or find the strength of mind to sit down and make herself some new ones. The only thing she had managed to find that was of any use was a skinning knife that now hung from her girdle. Now, if only she could find some way to get a bow and arrows she would be all set to live out in the wild a little while.

Re-entering the common room, she was met with a wave of warmth and sound. The room was now filled with patrons drinking, eating and all of them talking. She smiled to herself as she sat down and ordered an ale from the server who went by the name of Ruby. When it came, she immediately took a long draught from it before taking out the skinning knife and inspecting it.

[Sett]

It had been many the hours since they left Bree. They were fatigued and hungry. They were pulling a wagon, which was loaded with nets and weapons. Galither was with three other gondorians. They were all tall and lean except for Falmir who was rather short for a human. Galither was the captain of these men. They were on their way to the icebay of forochel to investigate the ruins of a gondorian ship that had been suspected to sink near there. The weather was causing great strain on them so they decided to stop in a halfling village renown for populating this area they understood as ‘The Shire’.

They noticed a sign pointing to the green dragon inn so they pulled the wagon into the roadside and covered it up with cloth. Falmir sniggered “what are we doing in a halfling inn, we wont fit in”. They all laughed and said, “yea we wont but you might”. Falmir gave them a cold look.

Upon entering the inn they scanned the room briefly noticing that there were others along the halfling. They felt welcomed and removed their coats. Galither looked at the others for a signal for him to see their orders are taken care of. He knew what the rest wanted and proceeded to the bar. He requested four ales. He paid the bartender and walked to the table near the back of the room. It seemed very cosy than his usual stay. He sighed and glanced around the room in more detail. Everyone seemed to be having fun, laughing at jokes and games seemed to lighten up the atmosphere of the dark clouds outside. They felt out of place for a while taking large gulps of their ale. Until falmir started talking about their next plan of action. The other three were not paying him much attention, they were all reminiscing of their past adventure up to this point.

[piosenniel]

EVERYONE

Please be familiar with The Red Book of Westmarch which gives the rules for posting in the Shire RPG's and in The Green Dragon Inn.

Thanks!

Piosenniel, Shire Moderator