With the absence of the largest part of the company, it was an excellent occasion to patrol the less dangerous parts, since we were few in number that day. But dangerous or not, even these places should not be forgotten. some of us have looked in Chetwood for the current state and things about the brigands. Not that they are really dangerous: most never held a weapon in their hands and brigands are unorganized with very few discipline. they can attack local farmers, but for an organized group as ours, it couldn't be a very big deal.
The red company got a strange visitor some weeks ago. He called us to a war to Rohan, to defend the eastern borders of Eriador and the fate of Middle-earth. After deciding that the best way to the land of the horselords would be through the mines of Moria, the Red Company left eastwards and only a few of us stayed here, to ensure safety, investigation and eventual reports to the main group. But if there really was a danger, they would be unable to help, since they would be too far and it would take too much time to return. And if it was a case of emergency, they could still not leave their current war be either.
we started by the prancing pony. I remember me a few names of those who were there: Vondris, Qorbo, Meriya, Udwen, Aranhor...but it is some time ago that i witnessed this event and i don't really remember it anymore. But I remember very well that when we left the Combe gate, on the eastern border of Bree, I whispered: "It is strange that these lands looks so peaceful here. I look to hobbits digging in the soil between the nice fresh crops. How is it possible that we patrol here?!" I got some reply of my kinmembers: not all of them thought as I did. "No," said Meriya. "It would hurt me if these lands gets touched by the evil of these days." But i looked around and saw an armed dwarf. why? and i looked to old ruins of the times of old. how where they destroyed? what happened here? it surely isn't so peaceful as it looks. So we hurried to the chetwood.
We did not stay in Chetwood for very long. not all jobs have to be difficult. The first place we moved to after crossing the combe lumber camp and several brigand watchfires, were the blackwold headquarters. the local band of brigands which threatened the local farmers and civils here, has named themselves the blackwolds. not that i find it a good name, I would surely have taken another name. but yeah, it's their choice, isn't it? our quest was very simple: to sneak into their camp and to thin their ranks.
But there were two other spots which we had to pay a visit yet. one was the farm of a farmer of Combe. The brigands took over the farm and the poor lad could escape just in time to the town. I am glad he's alive. since I was stationed here for quiet a time not long ago, I know somewhat about this area. i recently stayed here to patrol the area on my own. The main reason why we visited the farm, was to prevent their own supply. Even the blackwolds realized that they could not be fed with only the stuff they got from raids. So they decided to conquer the farm of the poor fellow here and make their own crops to supply their camp. if we could raid the farm and cut off their supply, it would be a great advantage, since the blackwolds will have less food to be kept alive. And we did successfully. first we struck the overseer of the farm. if he wasn't their, the local brigands would fall into laziness. But he was defeated, all the other opponents were confused and we made quick work of the lads.
a lost spot we visited was another farm, not far from there in the south. There were kept wolves and they had to be defeated, for they could do a lot more damage to the town as the common brigands. there was even the rumor of the breeding of half-wargs. we made our way to that spot quickly: I know that the tales were true. Not long ago, i hunted a lot a wargs in this wood. But the final one I failed to track and I had to give up after a couple of days. so I had to return to the town that day with a deathly wounded ally and with a Threat in the shadow in my back. This warg could still be used to breed new ones and those would be the largest threat. not brigands, but wargs. so we must keep watching this area for only that reason. we could wipe out the wolves there and prevented a new warg to be born, but as long as the one warg existed, they could hide a new den-mother. then we should deal with a new threat.
But that's not a concern for now, since at this moment we succeeded and we could not do anything else. We returned of Bree, where we entered the Prancing Pony. I wondered if I was going to get yet a report from the Red company. It was already some time ago and I really wanted to ease my hearth again. Though, we enjoyed our beverages and talked with each other, about our family and about nice little jokes. I told already a lot and had not a lot to tell at that moment, and I listened gladly while tasting my mug of apple juice...
