The Tale of Years (Wilderland)

[Vladim]

A summary of key events occuring in Wilderland. The protagonists may or may not possess knowledge of this information.

[Vladim]

The Last Good Years (2946-2950)

Year 2946:

• (Summer) Events described in "Don't Leave the Path".

Year 2947:

• (Autumn) Events described in "Theft of the Moon".
• Gollum passes through Mirkwood and crosses into the Western Eaves, surviving by preying on the unwary and those too weak to fend themselves.
• Ceawin the generous sends messengers to the houses of the Woodmen. The elders agree to hear his request. A folk-moot is arranged for the following year.

Year 2948:

• (Summer) Events described in "Putting Down Roots".
• Gandalf travels accross the North, intending to invite the rulers into the White Council. He visits the courts of Elves, Dwarves and Men and is generally received with honor and a little suspicion. In the end, he resolves not to invite anyone, to avoid compromising the fragile alliances in the North. He ends his journey in Rhosgobel, where he rests for a few days and confers with Radagast.
• Trespassers from Dale enter the Woodland Realm and cut down trees, including silver beeches that are beloved by the elves.
• Una, a merchant-princess from Dorwinion, travels to Dale and captures King Bard's heart.

Year 2949:

• (Spring) Events described in "The Marsh-Bell".
• (Spring) Events described in "Kinstrife and Dark Tidings".
• (Summer) Events described in "The King's Hunt".
• (Winter) Events described in the first half of "Sentinel of the North".
• (Winter) Events described in the first half of "The honored guest".
• King Bard marries Una of Dorwinion.
• In December, Una gives birth to a son: Prince Bain.
• Spiders attack a Woodman boat journeying down the Dusky River, but River-Maidens intercede to guide the Men out of the webs, saving them. One of the Woodmen reports seeing a gigantic spider lurking in the shadows.
• Gollum lingers on the fringes of the Western Eaves, stealing food from the Woodmen. One farmer tries to catch the chicken-thief; Gollum retaliates by terrifying the farmer's cows, who trample him to death. Ingomer of Woodland-Hall puts a bounty on the head of this "Bloody Ghost".
• Beorn visits Northern Mirkwood and meets with the elves. King Thranduil sends emissaries to meet with him.
• Tensions with the Barding villages along the eastern borders of the Woodland Realm continue, as the Bardings trespass into the elves' land.
• Balin and Gandalf visit Bilbo in the Shire. On the way, they speak of Moria and Balin begins to dream of returning to that list city.

Year 2950:

• (Winter) Events described in the second half of "Sentinel of the North".
• (Winter) Events described in the second half of "The honored guest".
• (Spring) Events described in "Those who Tarry no Longer".
• (Spring) Events described in "Words of the Wise".
• (Spring) Events described in "Varr's Tale".
• (Summer) Events described in "A Darkness in the Marshes".
• (Summer) Events described in "Secrets Buried".
• Those journeying Southwards, through the lands of the Beornings, learn that the Easterly Inn is destroyed during Beorn's absence, by a treacherous orc attack from both the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. The forces appear to have acted in a coordinated manner, and taken full advantage of the absence of so many warriors; they were opportunistic in their assault and destroyed the Inn before falling back quickly. Tragically, all the hobbits there are slain by the orcs; only the dwarf Frier, the establishment's tinkerer, survives to tell the tale, as he hides during the attack.
• Those who find themselves in the Woodland realm, and are in good standing with the Elvenking, learn that he dispatches scouts to the Mountains of Mirkwood, with the goal of finding any records or documents that were hidden when the Necromancer fled from Dol Guldur. Rumors suggest that this is done at the instigation of Gandalf. The scouts find nothing, but report that evil things are stirring in the dark.
• Those who find themselves in the lands of the Woodmen, and particularly at the eaves of Mirkwood, learn that the strength of the orcs at Fenbridge castle grows. Mogdred and his men stop the worst of the attacks, but the efforts are taxing, and lead to worsening of the tensions between Tyrant's Hill (where Mogdred rules) and the rest of the Woodmen houses.
• Those who find themselves in the lands of the Woodmen also witness the continuation of their efforts to hunt down the Bloody Ghost of Mirkwood, yet it is to no avail. Some whisper darkly about Mogdred's men, and blame them for the evil.
• Those who find themselves in the northern cities of Esgaroth or Dale learn that Barding foresters are harassed and ensorcelled by some of the elves of Mirkwood, to chase them away from their beloved trees. The foresters lose their way and wander into the depths of the forest. Three are met by friendlier elves and guided back to the Elf-path, and return to Dale to tell their tale. But one of their companions is less fortunate: he goes mad and is lost, never to return, and most presume he dies in the forest.