Fate of the Black Rider

Bestowal dialogue

'Never fear! My hound, Veronica, will track down that "Black Rider" with just a sniff of his cloak. She's the best hunter in the Four Farthings! Maggot can talk up his Grip, Fang, and Wolf all he likes, but I'll stake Veronica against the pack of 'em!

'You just follow Veronica wherever she leads, and you'll see! She'll find that trespasser!'

Background

Odovacar Bolger is certain the mystery of the trespasser in black will soon be resolved.

Objective 1

• Follow Veronica to the "Black Rider"
• Follow Veronica

Odovacar Bolger has lent you the services of his hound, Veronica, to track down the mysterious "Black Rider". He told you to follow Veronica wherever she lead, and she would find the trespasser.

Odovacar Bolger: 'I want you to find out who has been maxquerading around my sties!'

Veronica: Veronica snuffles at the cloak, sniffs the air for a moment, and then yips excitedly.

Greta Fallohide says, "Down, Veronica! What's got into you?"

Veronica runs back to Odovacar

Objective 2

• Show black cloak to Greta Fallohide

Greta Fallohide is in Budgeford.

Veronica has led you to Greta Fallohide. Could she be the mysterious "Black Rider?"

Greta Fallohide: 'What? What Black Rider? Me? Of all the absurd...! Oh, this black cloak...yes, I have seen it before. I sewed it!

'I sewed that cloak for my good-for-nothing nephew, Fogo. Little thanks I got from him, too. If you want to speak with him, he's likely at The Golden Perch in Stock, cadging drinks.

'I wondered what that cloak was for. he acted so mysteriously about it. I'll take it back, thank you very much, and you go have a word with Fogo.'

Objective 3

• Talk to Fogo Fallohide

Fogo Fallohide can be found at The Golden Perch in Stock, south-east of Budgeford.

Odovacar's Bolger's hound, Veronica, led you to Greta Fallohide, who told you she made the cloak for her nephew, Fogo. Fogo Fallohide is very likely the "Black Rider". You should seek him out.

Greta Fallohide: 'You go talk to my good-for-nothing nephew, Fogo, and ask him what he's been up to. You're sure to find him cadging drinks at The Golden Perch, down Stock way.'

Odovacar Bolger: 'One of those Fallohides is behind the fright? Which one?'

Fogo Fallohide: 'Ah well, I guess you've found out my little secrets. We thought it would be so much fun!

'See, I met this fellow a few days ago, while I was drinking, called himself "The Chief" he did. He said he was an old friend of Odo's, wanted to play a little joke on him. Told me to get black cloak and gave me some money to haunt Odovacar's farm by night.

'Well now! Surely you don't think I meant any harm! I never! That Chief fellow? I haven't seen him since, come to think of it. At least I got some spare money for beer out of it. Oh, yes...I promise not to do it again. Those wolves almost got me! I won't be running around at night anymore, that's for sure!'

Objective 4

• Talk to Odovacar Bolger

Odovacar Bolger can be found at his home in the centre of Budgeford north of his pig sties.

You should return to Odovacar Bolger and let him know what you learned about the "Black Rider."

Fogo Fallohide: 'You go tell old Odovacar that I didn't mean any harm by it -- I just thought it would be a funny joke! Odo's probably at his house in the centre of Budgeford, north of his pig sties.'

Greta Fallohide: 'Shame on Fogo for scaring Mr. Bolger's pigs!'

Odovacar Bolger: 'I suppose it wouldn't be right to report that fool to the Shirriffs. But I wonder who this "Chief" might be, and why would he want to play this terrible joke on me? You don't suppose...that Lotho...no!

'Well, there's no way to prove anything, I guess, but if Lotho wants to buy my farm, he's have a long wait, let me tell you! It will take a lot more than this little "joke" before I let go of my land!

'Thank you kindly, for all your work. You may just have saved me from doing something very foolish. Please accept this small reward for your work.'

Cloak of the Black Rider

Bestowal dialogue

'Cam Puddifoot just told me that one of his hands spotted that so-called Black Rider heading off to the east -- on foot, mind you. No horse in sight, not even a pony.

'Cam says he was seen running through some fields of his, being chased by some wolves. It's bad enough we have to deal with unwanted nuisances like these "Black Riders", but now we have to worry about wolves, too?

'If this fellow gets himself eaten by wolves, I'll never know what's going on here, so you'd best do something about it. Head off to Cam Puddifoot's fields, east of Budgeford, and look for any signs of that "Black Rider".'

Background

Odovacar Bolger has sent you to pursue the so-called Black Rider who has been stalking his pig sties by night.

Objective 1

• Look for signs of the "Black Rider"

The "Black Rider" was seen in Cam Puddifoot's fields, east of Budgeford.

Odovacar Bolger told you that one of his neighbours, Cam Puddifoot, reported the Black Rider on his land, being chased by wolves. Odovacar has asked you to go look for the horseless "Rider".

Odovacar Bolger: 'I want you to find that black-robed chap and get to the bottom of this, <name>. he was seen being chased by wolves throgh Cam Puddifoot's fields, east of Budgeford.'

Objective 2

• Bring black cloak to Odovacar Bolger

Odovacar Bolger is at his home up the hill in the centre of Budgeford.

Odovacar Bolger sent you to search Puddifoot's fields for signs of the Black Rider, but all you found was a ruined black cloak. You should bring the cloak back to Odovacar.

Odovacar Bolger: 'Ha! That's a hobbit-sized cloak all right. It must have got snagged when he was running away.

'Don't worry about losing his trail. We'll soon have him!'

Spectre of the Black Rider

Bestowal dialogue

'I have to tell you, I've a real problem! The hands say they've seen one of those black-cloaked Big Folk that have been riding to and fro lurking around my pig sties by night.

'I've been thinking about selling this farm to Lotho Sackville-Baggins, and this Black Rider business makes me want to sell out all the more. I'm just happy Lotho still wants to buy, considering all the queer Outsiders coming through the Shire.

'But I'm still not sure what's going on. It may be the hands are just scared of shadows. I want you to find out for me. Please go to the sties south of here by the stream at night, and see what there is to see, if anything.'

Background

Odovacar Bolger's workhands reported that they saw a dark figure lurking around Mr. Bolger's pig sties at night.

Objective 1

• Search for the Black Rider at night

Odovacar Bolger's sties are in the southern part of Budgeford by the stream.

Odovacar Bolger has asked you to investigate his workhands' reports by going to his pig sties. He was very particular that you should go there at night.

Odovacar Bolger: 'Have you found any sign of that so-called Black Rider?'

Black Rider says, "First Budgeford! Then the whole Eastfarthing! Tomorrow, the Shire!"

Black Rider says, "Odovacar! I'm coming for you! Ha ha ha!"

Black Rider says, "These sties are mine!"

Black Rider says, "The Bolgers are doomed!"

Black Rider says, "Ba-ha-ha-ha.... Fear my wrath, Bolgers of Budgeford!"

Black Rider says, "I bring terror to the sties of Budgeford!"

You have found the "Black Rider"

Objective 2

• Confront the "Black Rider"

The "Black Rider" is attempting to menace the Bolger sties.

This "Black Rider" looks rather less threatening than expected. You should confront him and find out what's really going on.

Black Rider: 'Cower before me! You will face my wrath! Boooooooooo!

'Er...

'I have to go. So long!'

Black Rider says, "I, er, Oops! Gotta go!"

Objective 3

• Talk to Odovacar Bolger

Odovacar Bolger is at his home up the hill in the centre of Budgeford.

Odovacar Bolger sent you to investigate his workhands' claims of a Black Rider lurking in his pig sties. What you found was a hobbit dressed in a black cloak. You should report your discovery to Odovacar.

Odovacar Bolger: 'What? A hobbit in a black cloak? My fool workhands can't tell a Man from a hobbit? Something queer is going on, and I want to know what....'