Men of Bree
Culture
men of bree
“…four miles along the Road you’ll come upon a village, Bree under Bree-hill, with doors looking westward.”
The inhabitants of the Bree-land and its four villages lying about Bree-hill are the descendants of the ancient people that first dwelt in the region known today as Eriador, the Lone-lands. Few have survived the turmoils that have ravaged the area, but they are still there now.
Today, the Men of Bree live at an old meeting of ways, and even if the traffic was far greater in former days, travellers of various sorts still make their way along those roads. Whoever enters the common room of the Inn of Bree is sure to hear strange tales and news from afar, and maybe be swept away by them.
characteristics
Most Men of Bree are brown-haired and rather short, and tend to be stocky and broad. This, combined with their cheerful disposition, is the reason why they do not appear as outlandish as most foreigners do to their neighbours, the inhabitants of the Shire. But like Hobbits, their appearance can be deceiving: the Men of Bree can be simple and friendly, but they are independent and wise in their own way.
Actual adventurers from Bree-land are rare indeed. If they leave their villages at all, they do it when the vigour of youth is in their limbs, and usually return home to settle down before their fortieth year. Not being of a warlike disposition, the Bree-folk favour simple weapons, derived from everyday tools and hunting implements.
Cultural Blessing — Bree-blood
Due to the position of their homeland, the Men of Bree enjoy better relationships with Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and other inhabitants of the world about them than is considered usual.
Each Man of Bree in the Company increases the Fellowship Rating by 1 point.
The Men of Bree were brown-haired, broad, and rather short, cheerful and independent: they belonged to nobody but themselves…
Standard of Living — Common
Bree-land is not as wealthy as it once was, but these days the inhabitants of the four villages are no more rustic than their neighbours in the Shire, and no less well-off.
attributes
Choose one set of Attributes, or roll a Success die:
|
Roll |
STRENGTH |
HEART |
WITS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
3 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
|
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
6 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
Derived Stats
Calculate the following scores based on your chosen Attribute ratings:
|
Endurance |
STRENGTH + 20 |
|
Hope |
HEART + 10 |
|
Parry |
WITS + 10 |
Skills
Copy the listed Skill ranks onto the character sheet; then, choose one Skill among the two underlined and mark it as Favoured.
|
AWE |
0 |
ENHEARTEN |
2 |
PERSUADE |
2 |
|
ATHLETICS |
1 |
TRAVEL |
1 |
STEALTH |
1 |
|
AWARENESS |
1 |
INSIGHT |
2 |
SCAN |
1 |
|
HUNTING |
1 |
HEALING |
0 |
EXPLORE |
1 |
|
SONG |
1 |
COURTESY |
3 |
RIDDLE |
2 |
|
CRAFT |
2 |
BATTLE |
0 |
LORE |
0 |
Combat Proficiencies
Copy the following Combat Proficiency ranks onto the character sheet, selecting a preferred Proficiency when offered a choice.
|
Axes OR Spears |
2 |
|
Choose one Combat Proficiency |
1 |
Distinctive Features
Choose two Distinctive Features among those listed: Cunning, Fair-spoken, Faithful, Generous, Inquisitive, Patient, Rustic, True-hearted.
Languages and Typical Names
The Men of Bree have forgotten their ancient, native speech, and speak the Common Tongue, albeit slightly altered in a local dialect. They use names that to foreign ears sound similar to those used by Hobbits in the Shire (Hobbits beg to differ, of course).