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Announcements
- Update 7: Shades of the Past went live on Monday! Click here for an overview of the update! The Official Release Notes are available here.
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The Places of Middle-earth
Bree-town
At the intersection of the Great East Road and the North Road, the town of Bree has long stood as a gathering place for Men, Hobbits, and other travelers from the far-off lands of Middle-earth. Long ago, Bree was a thriving town, set against a large, sloping hill within the vibrant lands of Arnor. Although Arnor has long-since faded into distant memories, the remains of those glorious days can still be found throughout the town's varied streets and winding ways. Travelers along the Great East Road, which joins the Shire to the west with Rivendell and the Misty Mountains to the east, still stop at The Prancing Pony Inn to share tales of adventure or news of distant lands. Bree is home to both Men and Hobbits, though adventurers must now be wary of the motivations of many of Bree's residents. As the shadow of evil creeps across the lands and the corruptible spirits of Men weaken, many of Bree's citizens, who were once open and friendly to travelers, may now have been lured into service by agents of darkness.
Bree-town contains a wide variety of neighborhoods, some purely residential, some catering to the needs of trade guilds and village government. At the eastern edge of Bree can be found the marketplace, where proud and venerable merchants clash with an older, prouder class of farmers. South from the West-gate, blacksmiths ply their trade, though resentful of their reliance upon trade with Dwarves for the raw materials they need. At the south end of town is the Stone Quarter, a small community of Dwarf-merchants trying to earn a living trading in imports from the Blue Mountains, North Downs, and the Lonely Mountain. In the southwest, the grey and mournful abodes of the towns poor lay, a slum where little hope dwells. Just within the South-gate, the woodworkers of Bree are busy about their trade. At the center of all lies the Upper Way, where the few who have obtained a modicum of wealth and lore dwell, putting themselves above all others.
For the players in LOTRO, Bree is an excellent travelers' destination just east of the Shire, and is a center for news, commerce, and social interaction within the game. In designing the town of Bree, which is itself likely over 3,000 years old, the artistic decisions made by the Turbine design team had to incorporate varied architectural styles and period influences. Bree buildings are a mix of large dwellings for Men, smaller holes for Hobbits, the familiar Prancing Pony, and a wide variety of shops and buildings one would expect to see in an area settled by such varied peoples. Bree is designed to feel like a living town, albeit a town in its declining years. It is an important social center of the game, as well, so there are a number of common areas throughout which players of many different races and skill levels can spend time sharing tales, trading goods, crafting objects, and preparing for adventure into the barren Lone-lands or the mysterious North Downs not far from the gates and the protective hedge which surrounds the town.
The lands of Middle-earth are rich and vast. Visit The Places Codex to learn more about them!
If you would like to submit an article please email it to lotro@turbine.com with the subject The Free Peoples' Press--Guest Article Submission.
Community News
- Okra member of Insurrection and his friends on Arkenstone tried to take their chickens to Isengard. Click here to learn more about their adventure!
- The Lonely Mountain Band kicks off the Weatherstock Concert Series tonight with Symphonie et Gloria performing!
- The Landroval Times is hosting a series of weekly housing competitions where players are invited to submit screenshots of their homes, and a small paragraph describing their decor and/or what their home means to their character. Click here for all of the Parade of Homes details!
- Looking for a Good Place to Rest? Check out the latest article over at Raising the Shire.
Community Events
Crickhollow
- Memorial Day Cookout on May 26th
- When: Saturday, May 26th 2pm EDT/11am PDT/20:00 CEST/18:00 GMT.
- Where: 4 Brookbank Street in the Greyheight Community of the Shire Homesteads
- Information: Hosted by Second Breakfast. Click here for all the details!
Laurelin
- The Long and Winding Road Tour
- When: Sunday, July 8th, 8 pm UK time
- Where: The Brandywine Bridge
- Information: A night of music and merriment. Click here for more info!
Silverlode
- 2nd Annual Omishan Challenge Race
- When: Saturday, June 2nd at 7:00pm EST. Racers please check in at 6:45pm est for pre-race instructions.
- Where: Clan of Dereth Kinhouse: 5 Roaring Road, Tonbry Neighborhood, Thorin's Hall Homesteads
- Information: Sponsored by Clan of Dereth. Visit this thread for more information!
Recurring Events
Click here for a complete list of recurring events or click on your server below!
If you have an upcoming community event that you would like listed please send an email to lotro@turbine.com with the subject The Free Peoples' Press--Community Event
Postcards from Middle-earth
The Stronghold of Orthanc
My Name is Beornfrith Eorlinga.
Finally made the trip back to my homeland in Rohan only to find it in need. I accompanied Prince Theodred on a scout of Isengard. This is us observing the intimidating site of the stronghold of Orthanc.
Perhaps we can relax one day. But that day is not today.
Beornfrith, thank you for submitting this intimidating image!
Send your postcards to lotro@turbine.com with this subject The Peoples' Press--Postcards from Middle-earth. Be sure to tell us something about your postcard and who you are!
