<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220302/86db40561bcf497ceecf75fa059dfdb9.png)</div><br/><br/><hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjNco2Y21b_pUj8Z7Yy1L1CDGhdqznDz-Trg&amp;usqp=CAU)</div><div class="floatright">(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/peter-jacksons-the-hobbit/images/6/69/Squint_in_Prancing_Pony.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/peter-jacksons-the-hobbit/images/8/86/Dale-Folk20.png)</div><div align="center"><strong>Name:</strong> Barliman Butterbur, Nob, Bob, Squint and Farulf, Dale-folk Merchant. <br/><strong>Affiliation:</strong> Bree-landers<br/><strong>Time:</strong> TA 3014, winter -<strong>Evening</strong>-<br/><strong>Location:</strong> Bree, the Prancing Pony<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong> Cat, Ubara, Galad, Arion, Oleryd, Dagrahir</div><br/>Barliman, standing behind the counter of his bar, passed one hand on the sides of his face, rubbing his colored-cheeks. He straightened, arching his back and making a few bones crack, observing the men and women who were listening to his words.<br/><br/>His eyes traveled from one to another, the ones sitting together at a table now, then Shishi and Dagrahir, he had easily identified as a man of Gondor.<br/>At this moment, it was unclear to Barliman that Elves were also assembled at the said table, and he did not caught sight of Arion.<br/>Amidst the common agitation within the Prancing Pony, Barliman did not pay attention to Galad's companion, and since the animal behaved so calmly and friendly, his mind returned to telling the tale, Farulf was making fun of.<br/><br/>The fiery-haired woman had asked :<br/><br/><em>-"People have moved back into Norbury of the Kings?"..."That sounds... bold indeed.  And I can imagine that it would arouse interest from far and wide.  But there is also a claimant to the throne of Arnor itself, now?  This man clad in black cloak and helm?  Does he have supporters, or is he standing alone?"-</em><br/><br/>Farulf replied faster than Barliman:<br/><strong>"He's supported by the ghosts of the Kings of Eriador !!"</strong>the dale-merchant started to laugh, the few people assembled next to him mocking Barliman as well, and consequently the people interested in the tale the owner of the Prancing Pony was telling.<br/><br/><strong>"Ghosts of false kings and of the fools who followed them...listen, the kingdoms of Arnor died long ago. Beasts inhabit Fornost, and your story Barliman, is just to keep your customer sitting and paying for their food and drinks. This is an old merchant trick. It works well on women and younglings, ready to write such lies on books..."</strong><br/><br/>Farulf stood up, and offered a salute directed at Cat's table.<br/><br/><strong>"Don't thank me for saving your time and money."<br/></strong><br/>Barliman's cheeks became even more red -if it was possible- while Dagrahir spoke :<br/><br/><em><strong>-"Tell me master Barliman, do you know any more of this man in a cloak and helm of black? Better yet, do you know where he is?"-</strong></em><br/><br/>Barliman spoke, yet with hesitation.<br/><br/><strong>"Rumors said he and his followers passed Bree a few nights ago, but they're moving slowly. At night. He's not alone, death itself accompanies him, a woman even more frightening than anything you can imagine, my friends. Unlike what Farulf believes, there are men, women and children trying to survive after the war against the wasted Land up North. Now, they'll be trapped between the North and this man, who united everything that's bad South."</strong><br/><br/>The Pony's capacity was now at its peak.<br/>Nob and Bob were zigzagging around the many tables of the renowned Inn, and finally offered Galad with his order. The Ale and meat were placed without ceremony on the table, some of the liquid almost splatting on the table, next to Oleryd's book.<br/><br/>Nob spoke :<br/>"I'll be back in a few for the coins, good Lord. Anything else for you travelers ?"<br/><br/>The hobbit waited, before moving away from Cat's table.<br/><br/><em>It's now or never,</em>Squint thought.<br/>He did not -or barely- listened to Galad words, who tried to rassure him :<br/><br/><em>-“Easy, he’s my friend and will not attack unless provoked.” -</em><br/><br/>Instead he had brutally replied :<br/><br/>"I'll peel its skin off, if he only barks at me."<br/><br/>Then Squint suddenly stood up, he gathered his belongings and walked quickly away from the main room of the Pony, exiting from the Inn. The man's attention was so focused on Barliman, the new travelers who entered, the wolf... that he had not noticed Arion, who was sitting at a remote table.<br/><br/>Outside the chaos caused by the laughs, screams and discussion was very audible. Squint took a few steps around the Pony, aiming at the stables were horses from the people resting within were taken care of by Rob.<br/>The man stood silent, and hid in the darkness, making sure the hobbit employed by Barliman was not there.<br/>As calmly as he could, Squint searched within his pack, and pulled out a small torch and his tinder-box. Instant later, the torch was ignited in his hand, and he threw it to start an incident within the stables, rendered the horses uncontrollable.<br/>