Questions on "Treacherous Waters"

[Majestic]

Tomorrow night I plan on running my group through "Treacherous Waters", the event for 2955 in "Darkening of Mirkwood". I've got two questions:

1) In the background stuff (what's going on in the greater world around), it says "The bitter winter of the last year struck Dorwinion especially hard, and many of the vineyards of that land are blighted. The coming grape harvest will be poor indeed. Thranduil’s wine merchant Halbrech makes it known that he seeks to purchase wine from the southlands if none can be found in the North."

Is Halbrech suggesting that he will have to go to Dorwinion for wine, and thus - due to the bitter winter - it will be especially expensive? And of course there could be more going on, when he has to travel South, being as there's more going on with Halbrech (not trying to spoil it for those who don't know his role in Thranduil's court. Or are there some "southlands" that are not Dorwinion, where he is going to get wine? (I don't see much south of Dorwinion except Mordor)

2) Once the adventurers have had their mad dash on the boat, and find themselves stranded in Mirkwood, they have two choices. Follow the river south for 40 miles, or take the more direct route to the Western Eaves (20 miles). But taking the direct route, wouldn't they have to cross the river?

Thanks in advance for any help puzzling these portions of the adventure out.

[Falenthal]

Or are there some "southlands" that are not Dorwinion, where he is going to get wine? (I don't see much south of Dorwinion except Mordor)

For now, I just can give an opinion to this: I think he is referring to wine from Gondor. Gondor trades with Lake-town, and probably there's wine from Anórien. That's what I understand from the sentence "wine from the southlands".

[Otaku-sempai]

I too think that Halbrech was speaking of Gondor, which would involve more overland transport and further expense.

[Majestic]

Awesome, thanks, guys. That helps and does make sense.

[zedturtle]

2) Once the adventurers have had their mad dash on the boat, and find themselves stranded in Mirkwood, they have two choices. Follow the river south for 40 miles, or take the more direct route to the Western Eaves (20 miles). But taking the direct route, wouldn't they have to cross the river?

Yep, it seems certain that crossing the river would be a big challenge. I'd be tempted to make the river sometimes narrow enough that a single felled tree might be used to cross over. But cutting down a tall tree (even for a sturdy dwarf with a sturdy axe) is a job, and one that's likely to attract attention.

[Majestic]

Good call. I like it! Might be a chance to bring some beasties their way (like those from Heart of the Wild), if they choose to go that route.