Blackened Skin

Bestowal dialogue

[17] Wanted: Blackened skin from the stronger beasts found throughout Bree-land. Deliver the items to Second-watcher Heathstraw at the Boar Fountain in Bree.

[21] Wanted: Blackened skin for a personal project. Please deliver the fur to Lieva Dourlily at The Forsaken Inn. No coin involved, but the effort would be appreciated.

[21] Wanted: Blackened skin found on beasts near Trestlebridge. Deliver the items to Guardsman Otley in the town of Trestlebridge.

[21] Wanted: Blackened skins from beasts near Amon Raith. Deliver the items to Nathan Hodges at Amon Raith.

Background

[17] Second-watcher Heathstraw is offering compensation for the collection of blackened skin from the stronger beasts found throughout Bree-land.

[21] An unlikely collection has been requested by one of the workers at The Forsaken Inn. The request is for a large collection of blackened skin. This skin can be found on many of the beasts within the western sections of the Lone-lands.

[21] Guardsman Otley, in Trestlebridge, is awaiting delivery of blackened skin at the war-torn town of Trestlebridge.

[21] Nathan Hodges, at Amon Raith, awaits the collection and delivery of blackened skins.

Objective

[17] * Collect blackened skin (0/10) You have been tasked with finding blackened skin from the stronger beasts within Bree-land. Second-watcher Heathstraw awaits the delivery of these items at the Boar Fountain in Bree.

[21] * Collect blackened skin (0/8) You accepted a task to acquire patches of blackened skin for Leiva Dourlily, a worker at The Forsaken Inn in the Lone-lands. You can find the skin from the beasts in the area of the western Lone-lands.

[21] * Collect blackened skin (0/15) You have been tasked with collecting blackened skin from the beasts near Trestlebridge. You can deliver the items to Guardsman Otley at

[21] * Collect blackened skin (0/15) You accepted a task to deliver blackened skins to Nathan Hodges at Amon Raith in the North Downs. You can find blackened skins from beasts near Amon Raith.

Threats and Follow-through

Bestowal dialogue

'By standing up to the Man, a fearsome brigand named Dirk Hawthorn, I fear I have doomed us all. He set up a camp immediately to the east, just on the south side of the ruins there.

'He threatened to return with enough forces to "stamp out my little homestead before it can be recognized as anything more than a burned patch of land". Mercy me! What a fool am I.

'Please, <name>, help me fix this error so that I can see this dream realized.'

Background

Adso's problems deepen as the brigands become more aggressive towards the poor hobbit.

Objective 1

• Defeat Dirk Hawthorn

Dirk Hawthorn is on the south side of the ruined wall at the foot of the hills surrounding the Barrow-downs, east of Adso's Camp.

Adso fears that the brigand leader, Dirk Hawthorn, will return and kill his workers in the night and asked you to deal with this threat before he could follow through.

Adso Haybank: 'Please don't let the brigands come here and kill these people. They are all innocent. I would hate to see any harm come to them due to my folly.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso awaits your return at his camp along the Great East Road.

The brigands at the ruined wall proved to be no true threat and were dispatched with ease.

Adso Haybank: 'With Dirk Hawthorn gone, I wonder if we can give Bill Ferny a bit of his own medicine?'

Paying Bills

Bestowal dialogue

'Before you run off, I wanted to ask you for another favour. While that brigand was talking to me I saw some of his seconds bullying one of my workers, while two others made off with a lot of my produce.

'That produce feeds my workers and keeps them strong. I need to get that back if they are to remain hale and hearty.

'I am certain you will find that the produce has been distributed to any of these foul brigands in the southern Bree-fields, but there are plenty near the ruins where you are going. Would you recover the produce for me?'

Background

Adso's problems become more difficult as the brigands continue to harass he and his workers.

Objective 1

• Collect Adso's goods (0/12)

Brigands in the southern Bree-fields may carry Adso's produce. Adso Haybank is at his camp along the Great East Road.

Adso worries that his workers will grow ill without proper meals and has asked you to recover his much-needed produce.

Adso Haybank: 'I am worried that my workers will grow ill without proper meals, and the only way to have proper meals is by eating vegatables!

'Please hurry and get my produce back before it spoils, or worse...is eaten by those foul brigands!'

Objective 2

• Return the produce to Adso

Brigands in the southern Bree-fields may carry Adso's produce. Adso Haybank is at his camp along the Great East Road.

Adso worries that his workers will grow ill without proper meals and has asked you to recover his much-needed produce.

Adso Haybank: 'You did it! Look at these onions still green and fresh. My workers as well are indebted to you now. I haven't much more to give, but you have earned at least this much.

'Thank you, <name>'

In the Shadow of Giants

Bestowal dialogue

'Nails are running low...yes, the brigands even took our nails! Can you imagine? Thieves of a different sort than I have ever seen. We needn't fret over the nails, though, and with the cost of iron where it is, I have reasoned a better solution to the problem with building Adso's Inn. The only problem is that the solution lay to the south within the Old Forest.

'In the shadow of the giant trees, there you will find roots. Massive tendrils poking from the earth with the strength of the ages. If we can get tough vines from those roots, we can craft strappings to tie our crossbeams together and save the remaining nails for everything else that we need to build.

'What say you? Do you have the heart to face that dark and gloomy place to collect up some strapping from those roots?'

Background

Buckley Sheppard believes that the roots of the trees in the Old Forest are strong enough to lash great cross-sections of lumber together.

Objective 1

• Collect Tough Vines from the Old Forest (0/20)
• Deliver the tough vines to Buckley Sheppard

Roots can be found throughout the Old Forest in the eastern stretches to the north and south of Adso's camp. Buckley Sheppard is at Adso's camp, along the Great East Road.

Buckley Sheppard has offered to pay you for finding tough vines from the roots in the Old Forest. The vines will be used to make tough strappings to use in place of nails.

Buckley Sheppard: 'Strengthen your heart and face your fears. There is coin to be made if you return with the treasure I seek from the Old Forest.'

Buckley Sheppard: 'Good work! These will do exactly as I expected. We can use these to lash together the beams we need for as long as this place will stand.

'Thank you for your work.'

Wolf-pelts

Bestowal dialogue

'You there, we've a wolf problem which needs addressing. Some time ago, Adso bought a fine, fat milk-cow out of Buckland, but filthy wolves out of the Old Forest stole it, slaughtered it, and dragged it off.

'Hunt down the foul wolves in the northern part of the Old Forest. Bring me pelts as evidence of your work.

'I won't take any old shabby pelt, mind you. I'll only accept the largest and most lustrous.'

Background

Roger Hawkling assists Adso Haybank by supplying the lodge with furs and meat.

Objective 1

• Collect wolf-pelts (0/5)
• Bring the wolf-pelts to Roger Hawkling

There are wolves in the Old Forest.

Roger Hawkling has asked you to help repel the threat of wolves in the area, bringing him their pelts as evidence of your work.

Roger Hawkling: 'You are not getting paid until you bring me five pelts!'

Roger Hawkling: 'These are very fine, indeed! Oh yes, I believe I owe you a reward.'

Searching for Fresh Springs

Bestowal dialogue

'We have been working quite hard on this building for some time now, and it's thirsty work, but it seems that our water supply is running low.

'One of my hunters came across a spring in the northern parts of the Old Forest where the water is particularly sweet and refreshing. A strange thing to find in such a wretched, gloomy wood. Go west into the Old Forest and stay in the north woods. The spring is a beautiful place...hard to miss in that dismal forest.

'I would appreciate it if you could fetch that water for me as soon as possible. I would hate to run out before you return. The Forest is getting dangerous, I hear, so you'll want to be careful.'

Background

Graham Larkspur is one of Adso's workers. He and his companions are running out of water and need help replenishing their supply.

Objective 1

• Find the spring

The entrance to the Old Forest is to the south of Adso's camp. The spring lies westward within the Forest.

Adso Haybank has asked you to fetch water from the spring his hunters found. He warned you to take friends to protect you from the dangers of the Old Forest.

Graham Larkspur: 'Have you brought me that water yet? We are running very short, and this is thirsty work. Please hurry along!'

There is a strange, beautiful woman standing near the spring

Objective 2

• Speak with the beautiful woman at the spring

Upon finding the spring that Graham larkspur sent you, you noticed a beautiful but strange-looking woman standing underneath the oak tree in the western bank of the river. Perhaps she possesses the means for you to take water back to Adso's camp.

Goldberry: 'You have come a long way for water and into danger you do not know. It is true the water of my pool is the sweetest, and will gladly share, but the Forest is wild and untame, unfriendly to those who do not belong.

'Take this bucket and draw from my pool. Unless your friends drink too greedily, this will last far longer than water from the wells of Bree.

'Be wary as you journey back to the Road, lest the Forest trap you. My Tom is the Master, but he is about his business and may not come to save you. Fare you well.'

Objective 3

• Pick up the bucket

The entrance of the Old Forest lies to the east, and Adso's camp is north from there.

Adso sent you into the Old Forest to fetch water, but empty-handed. Goldberry has given you a bucket in which to carry water back to Adso's camp and has granted you leave to draw from her pool, but warns that the Forest is dangerous.

Goldberry: 'You should take that water to your friends, but be wary. The Forest may try to hinder you.'

Objective 4

• Take the water back to Graham Larkspur
• Talk to Graham Larkspur

Graham Larkspur wishes to speak with you again.

You have brought the water back to Graham Larkspur

Graham Larkspur says, "Thank you for this water. It is very much needed!"

Graham Larkspur: 'Thank you, <name>! You have saved us a good deal of time and trouble. I'll not waste more of your time with this. If we need more, I will send my hunters out to the spring.

'Take this as payment for your efforts. I must get back to work.'

Payment in Full

Bestowal dialogue

'Look, friend, I have one more favour to ask of you, and it's a terrible thing, too, that fills me with shame to talk about. You know that Bill Ferny I had you pay off, before? Well he sent me a message telling me that his henchman, Brunmor, would be after me. He went so far as to tell me that the knave is west and north at some place called the Outlaw's Haven.

'It seems all his big talk is backed by this fellow, and if he is to come here, this scant crew till be useless. But you? You've proven yourself over and again! If you can drive off this Brunmor, maybe I can get out of this mess.

'Get rid of him for me, and I swear it's the last thing I'll ask of you...and I'll pay you well, too! Apparently, the Outlaw's Haven is west of my camp and a little ways north, with watchposts and a fenced encampment on a hill.'

Background

Adso Haybank has had enough of the brigands who have been extorting money and food from him.

Objective 1

• Defeat Brunmor

The brigand, Brunmor, is encamped at the Outlaw's Haven west and north of Adso's Camp.

Desperate to rid himself of his debts and his troubles, Adso Haybank has asked you to deal with Bill Ferny's associate, Brunmor.

Adso Haybank: 'I'm sorry to have to ask you to drive off those brigands for me. Their leader and Ferny's henchman, Brunmor, is encamped at the Outlaw's Haven, west and north of my camp.'

Defeated Brunmor

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso Haybank is at his camp, south-east along the Great East Road.

Desperate to rid himself of his troubles, Adso asked you to drive off the brigands who were extorting money from him. The hobbit will be glad to know that you have succeeded.

Adso Haybank: 'Thank you for your help, <name>, though I wish I didn't have to ask you to do it. I should have been the one, but I'm such a small person in this big world.

'Still, you've done everything I could have asked and more. You will always be welcome at Adso's!'

A Matter of Warmth

Bestowal dialogue

'Winter will be upon us soon, and folk around here will need to keep warm. Those Southerners keep looting the site here and taking the most important things this camp has, chief among them blankets and pelts for keeping warm.

'I joined Adso here because the pay was good and hunting bear has long been my profession. Bear-hides can be used for good blankets, but I can only hunt so many, and there is need of me to cure the hides.

'If you are wiling, there are a great many bears in a hollow just north of Outlaw's Haven. Outlaw's Haven is west and north of Adso's Camp. Get me some hides, and I will make it worth your while.'

Background

Roger Hawkling agreed to assist Adso Haybank by offering his expertise on hunting bears throughout Bree-land. Since his arrival, Hawkling has seen an increased need for hunting, skinning, and curing bear-hides for blankets -- a commodity often stolen by the brigands.

Objective 1

• Collect bear-pelts (0/10)
• Bring the bear-pelts to Roger Hawkling

Bears can be found throughout the southern Bree-fields but a sizable sloth of bears can be found north of Outlaw's Haven found west and north of Adso's Camp.

Roger Hawkling has asked you to hunt some bears and bring him their pelts.

Roger Hawkling: 'You are not getting paid until you bring me ten pelts!'

Collected bear-pelts (10/10)

Roger Hawkling: 'Excellent quality! Once I cure these and prepare them they will make adequate blankets. We will find warmrth this winter after all.'

A Matter of Feed

Bestowal dialogue

'Boars can grow quite large and dangerous. The boars of Bree have always been a source of food, and the ones here in the southern Bree-fields are no exception. Adso and others have grown fond of one of my meals, boar's head stew.

'If you could help gather the heads, I can make my delicacy and keep folks here well fed.'

Background

Roger Hawkling is a complete hunter using every bit of the animals he hunts. He has asked you to collect boar's heads to help him with the cooking he does at Adso's camp.

Objective 1

• Collect boar-heads (0/10)
• Bring the boar-heads to Roger Hawkling

Boars range the wilds around Adso's camp and are strewn throughout the southern Bree-fields.

Roger wants you to thin the growing number of wild boards and bring him their heads. He cooks an amazing delicacy from them.

Roger Hawkling: 'You are not getting paid until you bring me ten heads!'

Roger Hawkling: 'Ah, a very fine job, to say the least!'

Down-payments

Bestowal dialogue

'I do not know what to do. The brigands told me to pay them three equal payments and that they would spare my workers and myself. I held my part of the bargain. Now they want more. I haven't anything left after sending workers to Buckland for supplies and the meagre rewards I can offer folk for helping out here and there.

'I cannot allow my workers to suffer for my mistakes. I fear I may need to stop work on the inn, but Chief-watcher Grimbriar is working against the brigands here...so I must ask. Would you be willing to help me send a message to these brigands?

'I hear that you have already done some work against the brigands before...I am sorry if I am mistaken. But, these are evil Men, and they must be stopped. If you are willing to help, could you return to the Old Sweetgrass Farm and send a message to these brigands? The Old Sweetgrass Farm is a short distance north-east of here.'

Background

Adso Haybank has asked your aid in serious action against the brigands extorting and threatening him and his workers.

Objective 1

• Defeat brigands at the Old Sweetgrass Farm (0/12)

Make your way to the Old Sweetgrass Farm north-east of Adso's Camp and help Adso drive the brigands away from his camp.

Adso can think of no way to drive the brigands off that does not involve violence. He sent you to fight and defeat brigands near Old Sweetgrass Farm.

Adso Haybank: 'I am not proud to ask this, but I must think of my workers.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Adso Haybank

Adso Haybank awaits your return at his camp to the south-west of Old Sweetgrass Farm along the Great East Road.

You should return to Adso Haybank with news of your success.

Adso Haybank: 'It's done then, and too late to change now. Oh me....

'I fear I have made a greater error than ever before. One of the Men came here, and I stood up to him. I fear that this may have been an error.'

Supplies and Demands

Bestowal dialogue

'Hello, friend. I have news that will likely make you see the severity of our lives here. Adso is a good fellow trying very hard to keep us safe -- and he has done a wonderful job with the meagre means he has left -- but I simply know that it is not enough. These brigands encroach ever closer, ad they will not leave us be.

'Already, those knaves up near the Old Sweetgrass Farm have taken tools and coin-purses from the workers here. Those who keep their faith in Adso...and now Adso puts his faith in you.

'How do you feel about helping Adso see the worth of his workers?'

Background

Buckley Sheppard told you of the brigands' activity within Adso's camp and how many of the workers have lost their coin-purses or had tools stolen since these knaves started muscling them about. Some workers have fled, but many trust Adso's efforts can make things right.

Objective 1

• Collect coin-purses (0/4)
• Collect workers' tools (0/6)
• Return the items to Buckley Sheppard

The brigands with the stolen tools and coin-purses are at the Old Sweetgrass Farm, north-east of Adso's Camp.

Buckley Sheppard asked you to recover the tools and coin-purses the brigands stole from the workers at Adso's Camp.

Buckley Sheppard: 'You will find that the brigands all around the southern Bree-fields might carry our workers' tools and coin-purses, but most of them headed towards Old Sweetgrass Farm, norht-east of Adso's Camp'

Buckley Sheppard: 'Look at that, you got them all back. I will be sure to see that these are given back to their rightful owners.

'I must say, perhaps Adso is right to put his faith in you.'