(January 9th, 2016)

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This is related to the following event:
The Long Journey 2016
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Captain's Quick Report: The Long Journey

  
   In days beyond our own, there may be stories -- shared across many generations to come -- of travellers in large company whom embark on great journeys.  It may take some time for this document to reach the Archives, but I write it now having just taken my leave from an inspiring company of travelers of Hobbits, Elves, Men, and Dwarves – whom together have formed a story unlike many I know of relating to the races of the Free Peoples.

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Some know perhaps the tale of Thorin and Company, where it is said mostly Dwarves and a Hobbit traversed much of Eriador from west to east to reach The Lonely Mountain and restored the Kingdoms of Erebor and Dale.

Rumours tell of a mysterious Grey Company whom -- supposedly comprised of Men known as Dunedian Rangers that have long operated throughout Eriador to safeguard the lands – may already have made a great journey southwards towards the direction of Rohan and Gondor for quests unknown to the common man.  

We know of at least some company of Elves whom also travelled widely in their groups on behalf of their Elven realms – some such as the now stood-down Warband of Imladris, or perhaps the various Orders from the House of Vanimar Elves.  

And while even more difficult to believe of Hobbit-folk, there are tales of such Halflings whom in significant numbers have made long journeys to places far away from their homes too.  One such case is the founding of the Shire, which itself is rooted in old lore suggesting it was from beyond the Misty Mountains in a Valley of Anduin, that Hobbits, over the generations, made such a great journey that eventually led to the settling in Eriador, and their beloved Shire.  Last year there was supposedly a journey by Shire-hobbits to travel far to Enedwaith to seek out distant kin!

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  So we know that great journeys have been undertaken by companies of Dwarves, Men, and Elves and Hobbits, within their own races of most part – with surely more examples of which than I will ever know! 

  Of those this ol' Bree Captain does know, however, rarely have such journeys been documented or shared where it was a collective host, under one company, travelling together with all races of the Free Peoples represented; Men, Hobbits, Dwarves, and Elves -- together traversing great tracts of landscape to reach a destination so far away from their beginning.

  But such is what happened within this particular instance of 'The Long Journey', an undertaking by the Hobbit Miss Trincia and her friends, with open welcome for others to join this expedition of sorts.  My own eyes observed the group travel from Thorin’s Gate in Ered Luin, passed through the Shire and Bree-land (where some fine and moving songs were played by the Boar Fountain) … and on throughout into the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws.  Though the latter two in truth somehow I must have lost myself amongst the wilderness for a time -- had a most peculiar of folk even come up to me while traveling and declared ‘You have lost connection to the server!’.  Strangest phrase did I ever hear as a Bree Captain, I’ll tell you!  But despite confusing periods, I was able to regain the trail several times afterwards to accompany their group through Eregion as they continued from the Trollshaws.  Everything past Eregion is a slight blur upon my memory sadly with few sketches or drawings from those travels – I vaguely recall finding them one last time in a settled encampment far beyond where I had planned to return back for the central lands of Eriador.  Must have been quite farther south than I’d ever thought to travel – there were folk whom surely looked like Dunlendings!     

  It’s important that I end this writing and resume with swift haste the journey back towards the Eriador and Bree-land I know, however outstanding it was to briefly be part of this company of traveling Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves and Men all making for East Rohan so far from their starting point of origin in Ered Luin, at Thorin’s Gate.  If my schedule holds true, I may arrive in time to the Shire see another interesting spectacle where Hobbits go wassailing through farms, and even make arise mighty apple trees with bountiful harvest and songs from that band of Brandy Badgers!

  A warm and safe journeys do I wish upon Miss Trincia, her friends and company of Free Peoples as they most likely continue to ride now for their destination of East Rohan’s settlement of Snowbourn – where a truly well-deserved rest should they enjoy, with music, dancing, and songs, with any luck, to celebrate a successful journey of great achievement together, as far as this Bree Captain’s perspective goes!
 
Signed,

 

Captain Naismithea Willarc

Watcher of Roads
Representative of the Bree Captain's Guild
Officer of the Sworn Wanderers

 

Overview Collection

(( Disclaimer: Hello folks, I'd like to caution you that taking a look at the embedded slideshows coming up below will likely not go too well if your in a hurry, and hoping to just get a 'general gander' at what the event was like.  The 'Overview Collection' above is more suited for that!

  Viewing the albums embedded below is more geared for those folks looking to get a /slightly/ more play-by-play spirit of how things unfolded.  In fact, I only recommend having a browse through if for some reason, you have an urge to well... just look at a lot and lot of screenshots -- many of the shot angles/perspectives being repeated in other screenshots but at different times during the event, etc!  Thanks for reading. ))

First Collection

Second Collection