The Forsaken Inn

[Rich H]

So why am I going on about all this? Well, my players have found their way to the Forsaken Inn and have found it in use, but in need of repair. I had originally planned for it to be a normal inn, but all of my internet research (looking for pictures more than anything else) talked about how it must be abandoned and ruined.

... And that could all be dependant on when in the timeline your campaign is occurring. Also, do you have anything you want to do with it, because I think there's more than enough wiggle room on deciding what purpose the inn serves, who frequents it, etc based on your needs and those of your players.

[Rich H]

I think Eastern Eriador isn't as empty as the sages insist, and any detail filling it in is a good thing.

I agree with this and would also say that its very dependant on the age and specific times within the history of the place.

As I mentioned in an early post, I have it as a seedy establishment but this is around TA 3001 when during my campaign the Shadow is far stronger, the northern lands like Angmar are even more dangerous, and men that are not-capital-E-evil have been pushed from those places and ended up in Eriador; scratching a living along and around the East Road.

Maybe the Forsaken Inn is named thus because of its constantly changing use and disuse throughout the years. It's often not viable, unlike the way an inn in Bree is, but it *could* be and it can serve as a rest point for people just too tired to travel the remaining distance to Bree. But this doesn't hold for much of the time, so often falls into disrepute and disrepair; popping every now and then as a footnote of interest within the area.

[zedturtle]

Bear in mind that it is a days travel from Bree according to Strider, so your choice is camping out or going to the somewhat rundown Inn.

[Rich H]

Bear in mind that it is a days travel from Bree according to Strider, so your choice is camping out or going to the somewhat rundown Inn.

... That was sort of my point. Often people will simply push ahead to Bree or camp. It's one of those business ideas that people occasionally have; it sounds like they could provide some niche service but in practise it just doesn't work out. Then people forget or think they can do better and try again - history is littered with people repeating mistakes, isn't it? That's just one option though. Like I said, it all depends on if you have a specific idea for it. Mine was to allow the hobbit PCs to deal with a group of brigands and get involved with the Rangers - as their actions came to the attention of the Dunadan. Yours may well vary.

[Falenthal]

As an aside, there's a Spanish fan adventure that was written before HotW was published. In it, the PCs ask around in a village with four inns somewhere near the High Pass. I'm not sure if this was based on MERP demographics. In any case I kind of prefer Cubicle 7's take on that area. Also I'd love to see Cubicle 7's take on Dale.

No, it was based in spanish demographics and "bar per inhabitant ratio"
http://www.thelocal.es/20130521/spain-h ... nhabitants

[Glorelendil]

I love the Mos Eisely analogy.

And even if it were known as a gathering place of ne'er-do-wells and ruffians, I don't think the Rangers would destroy it unless it were clearly simply a headquarters for Evil Men. If even some of its residents were not evil but just unlucky or feckless, the Rangers would be unlikely to make the innocent suffer in order to punish the bad apples. I could see them being frustrated by the dilemma (not unlike democracies trying to combat terrorism) but erring on the side of leniency.

It might be fun/useful/interesting to write a history and chronology of the Forsaken Inn, with particular detail between Battle of Five Armies and War of the Ring, specifying who was in charge of the Inn and what the relative danger/safety of the place is for each time bracket. (Maybe with some TNs specified for certain interactions.)

On the other hand, maybe that chronology should, like the Easterly Inn, be somewhat dependent upon the actions of the heroes.

Either way, it could make a really neat fan supplement. Or official supplement...

Shall we make this a brainstorming thread?

[Otaku-sempai]

Maybe the Forsaken Inn was kind of a DIY establishment? No one wants to actually live there, but the owner leaves the door open and drops by with some firewood every now and then. Sign the guestbook and put a few coins in the box when you leave.

Well, the Forsaken Inn was only one day's travel east of Bree. It wasn't quite in the middle of nowhere. I should think that it could still get enough business from nearby homesteads and travelers to sustain itself; although, it may have been a near thing in the dark years leading up to the War of the Ring.

[Rich H]

I love the Mos Eisely analogy.

"We don't serve their kind! Your Elves, they'll have to wait outside!"

And even if it were known as a gathering place of ne'er-do-wells and ruffians, I don't think the Rangers would destroy it unless it were clearly simply a headquarters for Evil Men. If even some of its residents were not evil but just unlucky or feckless, the Rangers would be unlikely to make the innocent suffer in order to punish the bad apples. I could see them being frustrated by the dilemma (not unlike democracies trying to combat terrorism) but erring on the side of leniency.

That's exactly the idea I had for it and as I way of the hobbit PCs getting involved with the Rangers.

It might be fun/useful/interesting to write a history and chronology of the Forsaken Inn, with particular detail between Battle of Five Armies and War of the Ring, specifying who was in charge of the Inn and what the relative danger/safety of the place is for each time bracket. (Maybe with some TNs specified for certain interactions.)

On the other hand, maybe that chronology should, like the Easterly Inn, be somewhat dependent upon the actions of the heroes.

Yeah, although a cool idea I think it would depend on each groups' specific vision of the area and the inn.

Either way, it could make a really neat fan supplement. Or official supplement...

Shall we make this a brainstorming thread?

I think ideas to fit and slot in are a good idea as well as maybe a couple of proposed timelines - eg, the inn as a concern in the way I've used it and made proposals about it and another where it is less 'active'. Feel free to quote my ideas upstream if you create a new thread.

[zedturtle]

I think this could be an excellent brainstorming thread.

My current (2948) conception is that a group of ambitious Men from the Bree-lands have set up shop; as the heroes have entered the scene they are on the brink of thinking that robbery might be more profitable than innery. But the heroes had done well so far to convince them to walk the straight and narrow.

[Glorelendil]

Clearly the Innkeeper should eventually be an agent of Saruman.

EDIT: This is a slippery slope, but...

"These aren't the Hobbits you're looking for."

"Tell Khamûl I have his ring, I just don't have it on me."

"Aren't you a little short for a Ring Bearer?"