Northwestern Middle-earth, Eriador, Bree-land, Bree, the Green.
The 2965th year of the Sun of the Third Age of Middle-earth (T.A. 2965).
Spring Equinox (March 20ish).

The heart of Bree, the Green, is a wide grassy field at the centre of the town on the western side of the East Road, across from The Prancing Pony.
This lush lawn is framed on one side by the administrative buildings of Bree: The Counting-house, the Armoury, and the Reeve’s Hall.
Normally little more than a playing field for local children, today the Green is filled with tents, stalls, and carts, as Bree-land traders sell their goods alongside rare visitors from the tiny communities of southern Eriador, and even the occasional Dwarf from the Blue Mountains.
The Spring Festival & Fair is in full swing!

The Spring Equinox Festival & Fair of Bree lasts a few days, and is really a big event.

Hobbits from all Farthings of the Shire have stalls to sell their goods.

All the merchants of Bree and its Bree-villages - Archet, Staddle, Combe - are present, of course, as well as farmers from all around.

Then there are some people from further afar-- Dwarven tinkers, Men from the South, down by Tharbad...

A big group, of several Dwarves and some Bardings, has arrived from Erebor and Dale, with many wondrous items crafted out East-- and a lot of goods ordered by various folk.
This is where one can finally find whatever one seeks-- and even more!
A fine liquor vendor is close to an apothecary.
Fireworks can be purchased, fur-coats from far North...

Of course it is not only a merchant's fair, though that is a powerful attraction.
The green grassy area is also filled with fun-- music is played, sweets & baked goods are on sale,

There is a dancing-bear, a menagerie of rare animals, various tournaments, some exotic people on display in tents...

So many people.
Such a crowd under the pale blue sky and the nice sun after the long winter days.

Such a crowd.
So many people.
So many things to do!

We shall soon start the first Adventuring Phase.
In Bree, Spring of T.A. 2965, taking part in the Spring Fest, where you all have come and will meet.
Though I will introduce NPCs, drop hints, and plant seeds of what might happen later, this will be a rather open session.
You can explore the Festival fair grounds, interact with the many events going (take part in a contest, sell your wares, purchase items, share drinks with someone).
The goal being to get used to The One Ring Second Edition mechanics (dice rolls, Hope, favoured rolls, advantages etc.), and for PCs to meet.
I will offer up some 'events' (ie. an archery contest) that you can choose to partake in or not-- but, also, please make up your own interactions if you wish (ie. if someone wants to use their Song skill, then just offer to get some ale-drinking people you met singing with you etc.).

Homnir relaxed when they got to Bree, and was walking around town without his armor and shield, but with his axe slung on his belt, just in case trouble brewed. But relaxed is a relative term, as the dour dwarf didn't join much in the festivities, and was mostly walking about greeting folks he knew from previous visits, and looking to hear news from the region.

He had made nothing of the double pack he carried on the journey, and when the merchants from Dale we're setting up, he had gone to one.  Some coin changed hands, and he handed over the toys in the second pack.  Then carefully packed the coins in it, rolled it up, and secured it inside his regular pack.  With a satisfied grunt, he moved on to see about that drink, and perhaps some pork and a place to stay.

[Private to GM: I'm thinking he carried toys here from Dale.  They were made by Kan and Rana, two humans he used to roam with and hunt when he was younger.  They are in their fifties now, with near grown children of their own.  they couldn't afford the opportunity of the caravan, so he took a large pack of toys for them.  All the money made will be given to them when the caravan returns to Dale.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:36, Wed 08 Dec 2021.

With the caravan and its company safely arrived in Bree, Áski concludes his business with the caravan-master for the time being. "Tell the others I can be found at my usual table by the fireside at the Prancing Pony, should they ask. There's a pipe of Southern Star and a pint of Barnabus's Best waiting for me, and the finest people-watching east or west of the Misty Mountains." His armour and traveling gear stowed at the Dwarf-house, Áski washed the grime of three months' travel from his hair, beard, and squat frame, also changing clothes as well before making the customary trek to Bree's finest establishment. News to be had as well, he thought to himself, if one keeps eye and ear open.

With the remnants of the long road scrubbed clean and fresh garments now worn, Kelda looked little different from other attendees, though her height and fair hair indicated she was not a local of Bree.  She walked the stalls, greeted Homnir with a smile as she passed but left the dwarf to his haggling.  The merchants from Dale seemed happy and had no need for assistance so she made her way onto the green itself.

Perhaps half a dozen couples danced in merriment to the musicians and here she halted to enjoy the revelry.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Wed 08 Dec 2021.