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I agree with Elmoth, but only if we are trying to apply real-world human behavior to Middle Earth. Which, as I noted elsewhere, I am becoming increasing averse to doing.

Yes, in the real world all that fertile and empty land would likely be quickly filled by ambitious (and prolific) migrants.

But in Middle Earth it seems that people are far less likely to migrate, settle new areas, have tons of kids, and open trade routes and businesses.

I'm ok with that.

The Rangers of the North played a large part in keeping Orcs and Trolls out of most of Eriador. And Gondor acted as a buffer in the South. The Dunlendings might have had a larger impact in Eriador if many were not more obsessed instead with regaining lands occupied by the Rohirrim. The forests of Eriador were mostly cut down in the Second Age and early in the Third Age. After the fall of the North Kingdoms there just wasn't enough trade to fuel growth in Eriador. Moria fell under control of the Orcs. The Dwarves of Erebor (before the coming of Smaug) traded locally with the folk of Dale and Esgaroth, although there was doubtless some traffic between the Lonely Mountain and the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.

Btw, doesn't it seem strange that Erebor could lose contact with Balin's colony in Moria for twenty-five years, yet no one seems to have investigated the matter?

Otaku-sempai wrote:The Rangers of the North played a large part in keeping Orcs and Trolls out of most of Eriador. .

"Troll Patrol" would have been a cool Ranger background.

We know from primary sources that the men of the Breelands are guarded against dangers beyond their reckoning. So there may not be that many men out there (or they are spread out and few settlements are permanent) but there is something.

We now know that (officially, at least) that the Forsaken Inn is ruined and abandoned, at least in 2946. Oh well. Of course, each of us can have our own internal canon... Rose et al. might have given it a go, but failed.

Why is it called the Forsaken Inn? Here's a light bit of thinking.

In TA 1636 to 1640 the Great Plague moved from Gondor into Eriador (and other places). Even at the end of the time of the plague there would still be some final outbreaks and people would be aware of the danger they would put their friends & neighbours to if they caught it.
I can imagine a population of diseased people being outcast (maybe by choice as in the story of the village of Eyam in Derby,UK) who stayed within living distance of the original Inn. They may be too ill to look after themselves but might be able to travel (by horse cart) along the road.

To help these unfortunates the Bree-folk would be able to move half way towards this inn (along the road); unload supplies of food for the plague affected people and return to Bree - all in one day. The inhabitants of the Inn area would also take half a day to get to the food drop off point and then to return to the Forsaken Inn to feed the diseased inhabitants of the area- all in one day. As long as they did not physically meet each other, then the risk of contagion would be very low. This staggered handover of food/supplies would be a way to avoid spreading the plague again, and would identify a place for anyone else who caught a late outbreak to go to.

So I guess that I am suggesting the Inn could even have been created to feed the unfortunate final sufferers of the Great Plague. Now I would call such a place The Inn of the Forsaken: they have forsaken their homes for the good of the whole community.

Given another 1000+ years to the time of the Orc invasions prior to The Hobbit I can imagine the name changing a little, and with those invasions the area would have been very likely to be 'emptied' one way or another.
With such a sorry history, The Forsaken Inn would have a strong risk of Shadow and few would want to camp in the area.
How well does this match the canon as written?

zedturtle wrote:We now know that (officially, at least) that the Forsaken Inn is ruined and abandoned, at least in 2946. Oh well. Of course, each of us can have our own internal canon... Rose et al. might have given it a go, but failed.

Why do say it's officially ruined and abandoned in 2946? I couldn't find any canon source that states or implies that, maybe I missed that somewhere.

It's in AiME in the descriptions of Breeland. I imagine that this information will be made TOR canon in the Adventurers Companion in the Bree Folk Heroic culture. Or in a forthcoming Breeland and the Shire supplement.

Halbarad wrote:It's in AiME in the descriptions of Breeland. I imagine that this information will be made TOR canon in the Adventurers Companion in the Bree Folk Heroic culture. Or in a forthcoming Breeland and the Shire supplement.

Good to know! Thanks for the prompt response!

I was going crazy trying to locate that piece of information. Quite good stuff in this thread BTW.

Dunheved wrote:Why is it called the Forsaken Inn? Here's a light bit of thinking.

In TA 1636 to 1640 the Great Plague moved from Gondor into Eriador (and other places). Even at the end of the time of the plague there would still be some final outbreaks and people would be aware of the danger they would put their friends & neighbours to if they caught it.
I can imagine a population of diseased people being outcast (maybe by choice as in the story of the village of Eyam in Derby,UK) who stayed within living distance of the original Inn. They may be too ill to look after themselves but might be able to travel (by horse cart) along the road.

To help these unfortunates the Bree-folk would be able to move half way towards this inn (along the road); unload supplies of food for the plague affected people and return to Bree - all in one day. The inhabitants of the Inn area would also take half a day to get to the food drop off point and then to return to the Forsaken Inn to feed the diseased inhabitants of the area- all in one day. As long as they did not physically meet each other, then the risk of contagion would be very low. This staggered handover of food/supplies would be a way to avoid spreading the plague again, and would identify a place for anyone else who caught a late outbreak to go to.

So I guess that I am suggesting the Inn could even have been created to feed the unfortunate final sufferers of the Great Plague. Now I would call such a place The Inn of the Forsaken: they have forsaken their homes for the good of the whole community.

Given another 1000+ years to the time of the Orc invasions prior to The Hobbit I can imagine the name changing a little, and with those invasions the area would have been very likely to be 'emptied' one way or another.
With such a sorry history, The Forsaken Inn would have a strong risk of Shadow and few would want to camp in the area.
How well does this match the canon as written?

Like that