What is it with me and curious places?

I was told to make haste to Bree-Land, for an agent of the free peoples awaited me…

However, in order to get to Bree; I was required to traverse this strange land called the ‘Shire’. And to my amazement, it is populated by these small happy-go-lucky folk known as Hobbits! The moment I stepped foot into this beautiful place, full of rolling hills covered in green grasses and blooming flowers; I knew that making haste to any particular place other than this was completely out of the question.

My decision to stick around proved to be the right one when I met a group of Hobbit peace-keepers known as the Bounders. Hardy protectors of the quaint villages that lined the roads and paths throughout the Shire, these Bounders were not shy to ask for aid; and I was much obliged to accept.

They spoke of something foul, dark, and terrible. A blanket of unseen shadow, choking the very life from the land; driving beasts to madness. They spoke of the goblin threat that was growing, completely unchecked. I also heard whispers of Black Riders on black horses, riding openly through the Shire.

After many days and nights of hard work and planning, the Bounders with the help of strange men known as Rangers; were able to  wipe out the Goblins and their foul leaders. The Black Riders however seemed to have just moved on. Their motives are still unknown to me, and most of the peoples in the Shire. There is only one way to shed more light on this enigma…

I must continue on to the Prancing Pony in Bree, and I will question this ‘Strider’. The evil that tainted the Shire has to be the same that tempted the Dourhands back in Ered Luin. I feel steadfast in my path, I have to be strong; for these are trying times.

Makis Bramblebeard was brought up within the ‘Ered Nimrais’, known to most as the ‘White Mountains’. Located between Gondor to the south and Rohan to the north,

A Woodsman by trade, he put far away from his mind the hunger for the shaping of stone and metals that burned deep within his Dwarven kin.

It wasn’t long before he was proficient at his craft. Playing the instruments he built in his spare time, he became quite adept at making music.

Makis’ life was safe and simple for many long years….

All of that ended however, when invaders fouled by the taint of shadow marched from Andrast to pillage and destroy all in sight along the way to Gondor, Makis’ home was caught up in the violence; and all that he held dear in this world was wiped out in a single night.

Makis has since then vowed to destroy all evil-doers who lurk in the lands of Middle-Earth.

I just started playing LotRO in June and I started out on the Meneldor server. There weren’t very many people around and I heard Landroval has a great RP community and a fairly large playerbase. My characters name is Makis Bramblebeard, he is a Dwarf Minstrel and hails from the White Mountains. I look forward to meeting people and having fun in this great world.