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Places of adventure near the Shire:

- Just north of the Shire, on the other side of the North Moors, is Lake Evendim and the ruins of Annúminas. The remains of ancient estates would dot the lands between the Hills of Evendim (Twilight Hills) and the River Rhûn as well as along the shore of the lake. Barrow-wights might inhabit old Dúnedain crypts and tombs. Some ruins might still hold artefacts of value.

- To the west of the Shire are the Tower Hills where the three White Towers still stand. Some Hobbits might want to try their luck with the fish and wild game that should inhabit the Lone-lands north and south of the hills. Beyond the towers are the High Elves of the Grey Havens and their White Ships--and perhaps other ships from Gondor or other exotic ports.

- Far to the north of the Havens, the Halls of the Dwarves are situated near the source of the Lesser Lhûn.

- Other Dwarven settlements in the southern Blue Mountains might be easier to reach, such as the Dwarf-city of Hargrod (viewtopic.php?f=56&t=4501#p40296). Beyond the southern range is the outlet of the Brandywine River where one might go birding or fishing or trapping for furs. Dúnedain ruins doubtless lie along the banks of the river as well.

- And to the east, where the Greenway meets the Great East Road, is Bree where strange folk from distant lands frequent the inns and taverns (or so rumour says).

Otaku-sempai wrote:Places of adventure near the Shire:

- Just north of the Shire, on the other side of the North Moors, is Lake Evendim and the ruins of Annúminas. The remains of ancient estates would dot the lands between the Twilight Hills and the River Rhûn as well as along the shore of the lake. Barrow-wights might inhabit old Dúnedain crypts and tombs. Some ruins might still hold artefacts of value.

‘All right,’ said Sam, laughing with the rest. ‘But what about these Tree-men, these giants, as you might call them? They do say that one bigger than a tree was seen up away beyond the North Moors not long back.’

‘Who’s they?’

‘My cousin Hal for one. He works for Mr. Boffin at Overhill and goes up to the Northfarthing for the hunting. He saw one.’

‘Says he did, perhaps. Your Hal’s always saying he’s seen things; and maybe he sees things that ain’t there.’

‘But this one was as big as an elm tree, and walking – walking seven yards to a stride, if it was an inch.’
hen I bet it wasn’t an inch. What he saw was an elm tree, as like as not.’

‘But this one was walking, I tell you; and there ain’t no elm tree on the North Moors.’

Otaku-sempai wrote: - To the west of the Shire are the Tower Hills where the three White Towers still stand. Some Hobbits might want to try their luck with the fish and wild game that should inhabit the Lone-lands north and south of the hills. Beyond the towers are the High Elves of the Grey Havens and their White Ships--and perhaps other ships from Gondor or other exotic ports.

And I’ve heard tell that Elves are moving west. They do say they are going to the harbours, out away beyond the White Towers.’ Sam waved his arm vaguely: neither he nor any of them knew how far it was to the Sea, past the old towers beyond the western borders of the Shire. But it was an old tradition that away over there stood the Grey Havens, from which at times elven-ships set sail, never to return.

‘They are sailing, sailing, sailing over the Sea, they are going into the West and leaving us,’ said Sam, half chanting the words, shaking his head sadly and solemnly. But Ted laughed.

‘Well, that isn’t anything new, if you believe the old tales. And I don’t see what it matters to me or you. Let them sail! But I warrant you haven’t seen them doing it; nor anyone else in the Shire.’

‘Well, I don’t know,’ said Sam thoughtfully. He believed he had once seen an Elf in the woods, and still hoped to see more one day. Of all the legends that he had heard in his early years such fragments of tales and half-remembered stories about the Elves as the hobbits knew, had always moved him most deeply. ‘There are some, even in these parts, as know the Fair Folk and get news of them,’ he said. ‘There’s Mr. Baggins now, that I work for.'

Rich, don't you happen to have some notes on your adventures?

Rough notes, yes, so would need to type them up but happy to do so if people are interested; can add it to my to-do list!

SirGalrim wrote:Can I sign up for this Shire campaign of yours Falenthal pretty please?

I was going to say something similar. You make it sound really fun!

I had some ideas to write a few simple adventures with Hobbits to play with my daughter. If they ever become something else than a few drafts, I'll let you know!

I think this kind of adventures might come together with a set of simplified TOR rules. Targeted at kids ranging from 6 to 10 years. The ones that can enjoy the reading (either by themselves or by their parents) of The Hobbit, but not still of Lord of the Rings.

The emphasis should be put not in dangers and corruption, but in the wonder of discovery: both of people and places, but also of the history and ages that are below the surface of the peaceful Shire. And the constant hints at a world wider than meets the eye, still beyond the grasp of the young Hobbits, but which they'll eventually tread, when they have learned a few things, which make them grow up, and the time is right for them...

Falenthal wrote: The emphasis should be put not in dangers and corruption, but in the wonder of discovery: both of people and places, but also of the history and ages that are below the surface of the peaceful Shire. And the constant hints at a world wider than meets the eye, still beyond the grasp of the young Hobbits, but which they'll eventually tread, when they have learned a few things, which make them grow up, and the time is right for them...

Agreed. It's a lovely thread and a useful reminder that adventures aren't always dragons or dungeons but can be as simple as stealing some of Farmer Maggots' Mushrooms or enjoying a fine ale and singing songs in the Golden Perch. My favourite section of LoTR has always been the Shire journey at the beginning ("Three is Company" and "A shortcut to Mushrooms" since I always loved the feel of magical things going on beneath the countryside.

I must say I have never wanted to play a Hobbit as much as I do now after reading some of the posts in this thread.