Village of Bywater Hobbits from all over, and a great many travellers passing through the Shire along the Great Road as well, flock to this charming little township for shelter, fine brew, idle talk, and general merry-making. All of this takes place at the Green Dragon Inn or its longtime competitor, the Ivy Bush across the street. Some say Bywater is the last place in the West to get a decent beer before reaching The Sea, and certainly it's the place to find out the very latest rumors in the Shire and beyond. To the north is the Bywater Pool, which is merely a wide section of the small river, The Water. An ostler stands in the middle of the street, ready to move horses into the stable if they are left here too long. Even though it's daytime, you can hear the sounds of merriment and good fellowship coming from the Green Dragon. Posted to a tree by the road is a sign that is plain to see in daylight. Contents: Eliado The Nobottle Temperance League(#29493OVnM) Obvious exits: Green Dragon, Ivy Bush, Bywater Pool, Stable Path, South, SouthEast, and West The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "If wines and sherries were juice and berries, we'd all have a happier Yule!" The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "You mouths are purple, your tongues are too, your heads are light, your mind is too!" He comes out of the Green Dragon inn, haply with his Pipe smoking some Old Toby, walks around smoking pipeweed. "Well, if anyone wants some Pipeweed, they can come 'ere to get them Pipeweed! I have them all! in barrels and Pouches! step right up for pipeweed!" yells Eliado, as some hobbits come and go around hobbiton. A young lad is leaning by the wall of the Green Dragon. He looks angry and has his hands in his pockets. As he hears the pipeweed merchant grumbles something, pushes away from the wall and walks up to him. Eliado Hornblower is a Hobbit. He stands straight at just over 3 feet. He has deep, green eyes inset in a slightly pudgy face like jools glistening. He wears a tunic of pale green with a large pockets at each side, which are well filled. Over that, Eliado wears a wastecoat of a light, sky blue, with solid golden buttons. In the breast pocket is his small wooden pipe. Around his waist is a thick belt of brown leather, and attached to it are many pouches of Pipeweed which he sells. Eliado wears baggy, cream colored pants which go right to his hairy ankles. The hair, both on head and feet is a light brown, but slightly darker at the roots. Eli's skin is a slightly tanned brown, although lighter around his eyes. His stomach is small for a Hobbits, but Eli has undoubtably had more than his share of meals. He is intelligent, even for a Hobbit, and he has a shrewd mind and long clever fingers. And on one hand, he has a scar. A nasty one from a really hard river perhaps. And he also has something at his waist. No one can see it, unless in the dark. He takes the sword out. Eliado rolls his eyes and slumps and leans on a nearby wall. Then, he notices a very angry hobbit, with his hands in his pockets, he smiles, "Well now, your the first Took I'v ever seen this mornin'. Well, I bet you know I'm a Hornblower, Eliado Hornblower, but you can call me Eli. And what might yer name be, dear Took?" and crosses his arms across his chest, waiting for a response. Omfast snarls, "Yeah, yeah, spare me your sales babble. You know I don't have the money to buy the finest you have, so show me some o' that cheap stuff I bought last week." Eliado snarls back, "now look 'ere, I won't let you touch my pipeweed unless you show some manners! I was right, you are a Took. But, your aunt Lilly is more respectful! and my cheapest is 25 coppe' coins!" and looks into the Took's eyes, looking deadly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***** ****** ***** ****** ** ** ****** ****** **** ****** ****** ****** ****** ** ** ****** ****** ***** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ****** ** ****** **** ** ** **** **** ** ** ***** ** ***** **** ** * ** **** **** ** ** ** ** ** ** ******* ** ** ** ** ** ****** ** ****** *** *** ****** ****** ***** ** ****** ** ****** ** ** ****** ****** **** SOLD IN POUCHES GREAT WEEDS Old Toby - 25 copper pennies Longbottom Leaf - 25 copper pennies Southern Star - 28 copper pennies Bree Pride - 23 copper pennies LESSER WEEDS Southlinch - 15 copper pennies Troll Chaser - 15 copper pennies Old Forest Gold (OFG) - 15 copper pennies Hornpipe Twist - 16 copper pennies Leafy Sweetcuff - 18 copper pennies Widow's Bite - 20 copper pennies Lemon Grass - 20 copper pennies All Prices are subject to change, negotiation and discount. TODAYS DISCOUNT:- Buy four pouches, get the fifth FREE!! Ask for details --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citro arrives from the west. Citro has arrived. The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "You mouths are purple, your tongues are too, your heads are light, your mind is too!" Eliado takes shows the Took the prices of the pipeweed, "I suggest not Old Forest Gold, it drives you crazt. I suffest some Old Toby, it's the finest! but- I won't let you have any pipeweed unless you have manners!" and looks into the hobbit boy's eyes. Face growing darker as he speaks, Omfast says, "Do not speak of my aunt, do not speak of my manners, but gimme some pipeweed!" He takes a deep breath, and waits for a second before speaking again. "You know exactly that 25 pennies is crying for murder. I don't want rich man's ol' toby -- I just want to smoke when I feel like it. So give me some of that Old Forest Gold you had last week and let's be done with it." Citro walks up and says "hello, Mr.Citro Baggins at your service." Eliado looks deeper into the boy's eyes, "No. Old Forest Gold with drive you bonkers. Either take Southlinch, or got none! and thats that!" and then stops talking to the boy, when he see's an old friend, "Well, hey Citro Baggins! And how you be? well, I'm fine as a fiddle. This young lad wants to kill himself as if he wants every one to think he was murdered!" and holds his hand out for Citro. Eliado laughs. "har har har! How about this litte' Took, we go into the inn, and we do the pipeweed business? sound good?" Citro comes out of the Green Dragon. Citro has arrived. The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "You mouths are purple, your tongues are too, your heads are light, your mind is too!" Citro would you like to buy a watch Omfast shakes his head angrily, " Dear Sir, Mr Citro Baggins, I assume, do I look like I want to buy a watch? I don't have the money. I don't have the time to look at the time. Actually, I just want some good ol' Forest Gold for the week! What's wrong with that?" Omfast turns back to Eli and asks, "So, No Forest Gold for me? How much do you want for that Southlinch, then?" Citro says "oh am sorry? OFG is banned in these parts!" looks at the boy, "It's 15 coins for one pouch o' Southlinch. But, if you buy four pouches of one type of Pipeweed, you'll get the fourth one free!" Omfast stares at the pouches in silence. Then he says, "If you are going to sell four of them cheaper, you can also sell one of them cheaper. So how about 12 copper for a Southlinch?" "Done! just give me the 12 coppe coins, and I'l give you the Southlinch!" Eliado exlaims. You +give 12 Copper Pennies to Eliado. Omfast mutters something under his breath, diggs up some dirty and roots and some coppers out of his pockets and hands them to the merchant. Citro says "Well sir... You are very rude. All I wanted to do was offer my services!" Citro says "And this is what i get sir my watches are the finest quiltity in all of the shire!!" Eliado smiles, "Alright just wait a moment!" Eliado takes a pouch of Southlinch, and he hands them to the Took. "oh, by the way, what is yer name?" asks Eliado. Omfast turns to Citro, and says, "Oh buffer off! Yes your watches are fine. I believe you. But I have no use for watches and no money for watches. I'm sorry. Sell them to this Ol' Toby smoker right here!" He grabs the pouch Eliado is holding and says, "The name is Omfast Cotton. Cotton! You heard me right. Thank you and good bye!" Zar draws near along the road from the southeast. Zar has arrived. The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "A sound mind is divine, and that me dear, means no wine!" Cailean draws near along the road from the southeast. Cailean has arrived. The Nobottle Temperance League fly their banners and cry these words, "If wines and sherries were juice and berries, we'd all have a happier Yule!" Citro shows some of his fine watches to Eliado Says "200 cp for a plain silver watch 250 with it engraved" "300 for gold plain and 350 for gold engraved" Eliado's smile fades, "I'm sorry, I only have 12 cp, and I have to give it to my boss, Talvo Hornblower. I'm sorry, BAggins, but I'm broke!" and Eliado frowns. Citro says "it tis ok" Silence falls as two of the big folk appear... Omfast was just turning away from the pipeweed merchant, stuffing the pouch somewhere under his coat, when he stops dead in his tracks. "Wow! Big Folk!" Zar walks up from the Great East Road, the tall man isnt alone and by his side, Cailean treads in equally mighty strides. "Look like a pleasant village.. Big.. We should find a place to bath at least" Zar mutters to his companion as his glance drifts to two hobbits. "Let avoid them.." Citro says "how is that watch?" Cailean winces as they are noticed, trying to shrink her already lean form behind her companion. "Baths, yes," she too edges along in an avoidance path. Omfast calls out, "Hey! They're probably up to no good! What's going on here?" He boldly takes a few steps in the direction of the two big folk. Eliado smiels, "Did you know that a lot o' Hornblowers and Gamgees are at the Whitmarrow Fields and are making the pipeweed farm? And it's not far -- But I'm not going to tell you." Omfast hisses back at the merchant, "Shh, you sheep head! Look at them two! I wonder what they're up to. No good I bet! My old father told me all about them big folk." He turns back and sees them gone. "Hey! Where did they disappear to! Just my luck! And it's all your fault, too!" he exclaims, genuine chagrin in his face. Eliado looks at the sun, "Well. I am afraid, but it is my time to depart for now. Farewell, Too- Cotton. Farewell. And don't get into trouble you good for cottin! farewell!" and waves to Omfast as he leaves west. And afar you can hear his voice, humming and singing.