Black Tarn Hall

[Vladim]

 

The small village of Black Tarn Hall lies on the western shores of the Black Tarn, a great forest lake into which the Dusky River pours. Situated near Rhosgobel, where the Brown Wizard dwells, the village has recently seen an influx of hunters, trappers and fishermen from other Woodmen settlements. Amaleoda the shield-maiden acts as a chieftain of sorts, and it was she who raised a long-house here, long before any other buildings were erected.

Woodmen rarely travelled here when the Necromancer reigned in Dol Guldur, and pestilent fogs sometimes blew up from the South. Only intrepid treasure-hunters dared venture here, seeking for riches in the barrows of the Northmen of old. But this is all in the past now. Ever since the Necromancer was vanquished, the fogs have dissapeared; the lake is alive with fish and recent years have brought wonderful harvests. Besides, the Woodmen of Black Tarn Hall count the river-maidens as their allies, and Amaleoda herself is said to benefit from their counsel.

In the year 2948, orc raiders attacked the settlement, but they were driven back by Mogdred and the Men of Tyrant's Hill. Much of the village was rebuilt, with stronger fortifications and a palisade to withstand future attacks. Despite this danger, the village is growing still. Bofri the dwarf makes his home here, along with his kinsmen, and the Woodmen have promised to aid him in restoring the Old Forest Road.

[Vladim]

1. The Bell-tower: Here, a stone, two-storied tower once stood, built by the Northmen when they reigned over Rhovanion. When their line of kings died off, it fell into disrepair and crumbled, and only the forest-goblins used it when the Necromancer was lord of Dol Guldur. It has recently been repaired through the work of Woodmen and with the help of Bofri's kin. The dwarves have re-built the ground floor from the old bricks and stones that remained, and upon it the folk of Amaleoda built two more stories from timber harvested from Mirkwood.
As a token of king Bard's friendship towards the Woodmen, Lord Ewald of Dale has brought to the village a bronze bell, cast in the dwarven quarter of Erebor, after the folk-moot of 2948. The bell has been installed upon the top of this tower, where watchmen stand vigilant, and many friendly feathered messengers from Radagast make their nests here. When trouble is spotted, or when ill news are brought, the bell can be rang as a warning, bidding all Woodmen hunters and fishermen many miles away return to the fortified village.
Bofri and his party of dwarves dwell here, spending their days studying old maps of Mirkwood, and planning their expedition to restore the Old Forest Road.

2. The Palisade: Following the attack on the village by orcs and forest goblins in the summer of 2948, the Woodmen have erected a palisade wall to protect their village. Though the wall is not as tall as those of the bigger Woodmen settlements, it is strong enough to deter raiding parties, and ditches have been excavated near it as a further obstacle. Raised platforms also line the palisade at regular intervals, though they are not manned except in times of danger. On its other side, the village is protected by the waters of the lake.

3. The Starting Gate: The village only has one gate, which opens directly onto the forest-path that leads to Rhosgobel.

4. Amaleoda's home: Unlike other Woodmen leaders, Amaleoda does not live in the Great Hall of her village, but in a small lake-house upon stilts, not different from the other modest houses of Black Tarn Hall.

5. The Great House: The Great House was was rebuilt upon a small island to ensure better protection from orcs and spiders, following the attacks of 2948. Village moots frequently gather here, and all folk, be they Woodmen or guests, Men or Dwarves, are allowed to speak and are treated as equals.

6. Nori's smithy.

7. Gramtyng's inn.

8. The docks: Many simple boats are docked here, as Black Tarn Hall is often the final destination for Woodmen travelling down the Dusky River, to ultimately seek Radagast's wise counsel in Rhosgobel.

9. Boatyard: Many boats are made here, either for fishing in the lake or for shipping goods between the towns of the Woodmen.

10. The Barrows of Old: Many old Northmen barrows lie within less than a day's journey from Black Tarn Hall, and tales of treasures still persist amongst the Woodmen, even though these tombs were looted centuries ago.