Tale of the Abandoned Farm
as told by Uxbri

Exact date unknown, but apparently told sometime in late 5098 (1998) or early 5099 (1999)

Uxbri says, "Place was abandoned…

Uxbri says, "Long time ago...'bout the time of the first invasion..."

[Editor's Note: First invasion references the first of the three invasions by undead during the time of the "scaled stranger" and the Council of Ten.]

Uxbri says, "There was a family of elves."

Uxbri says, "When the hobbits come up here, they travelled with th' hobbits, lookin' t'make a new start."

Uxbri says, "Was common back then."

Uxbri says, "When a whole mess o' people picked up and went..."

Uxbri says, "Some stragglers came too...looking fer a new place t'live, more land, whatever."

Uxbri says, "So anyway, these elves, they were a fambly of butchers."

Uxbri says, "Not the horrible kind."

Uxbri says, "Just y'know..."

Uxbri says, "Cut up meat."

Uxbri says, "They were VERY useful to the hobbits in the early days..."

Uxbri says, "As they were runnin' into new critters..."

Uxbri says, "And it was hard to figger out how to dress the meat."

Uxbri says, "But these butchers..."

Uxbri says, "They sorted it all out, nice as ya please."

Uxbri says, "So the hobbits, they founded their town..."

Uxbri says, "But the elves, bein' a big ol' fambly..."

Uxbri says, "Decided that they needed some more space."

Uxbri says, "So they set out, and found a nice plot o' land sorta south-east of town..."

Uxbri says, "Mebbe a li'l north of the farm."

Uxbri says, "Set themselves up a nice farm of their own, and they raised leapers there fer eatin'."

Uxbri says, "Leapers is good eatin'."

Uxbri nods.

Uxbri says, "So they built a farm house, and a big ol' charnelhouse."

Uxbri says, "Charnelhouse is where ya bop and cut up meat."

Uxbri says, "And they sold lots and lots of meat to the new hobbits, who were gettin' a little tired of berries."

Uxbri says, "Yeah...I know...most elves don't like killin' critters fer food."

Uxbri nods.

Uxbri says, "But heck, some folks do."

Uxbri says, "Anyway, th' invasion came."

Uxbri says, "Bad one."

Uxbri says, "The farm, the charnelhouse..."

Uxbri says, "Well...it was outside the walls of the town."

Uxbri says, "After the first invasion, no one saw any of those elves again..."

Uxbri says, "Save one."

Uxbri says, "An elf was found sitting just outside the barn in the garden..."

Uxbri says, "Leaning against the barn and shaking his head..."

Uxbri says, "Muttering something about claws."

Uxbri says, "Teeth."

Uxbri says, "When the hobbits took him back to town, dragged him, really..."

Uxbri says, "And was asked about the charnelhouse...meat..."

Uxbri exclaims, "He shrieked!"

Uxbri says, "And ran out of town wailing, and was never seen again."

Uxbri says, "There was a family of 22 elves in that farm."

Uxbri says, "No one ever saw 'em again."

Uxbri says, "Some folks say that the wraiths what inhabit the barn are the spirits of those elves..."

Uxbri says, "But I know better."

Uxbri says, "Wraiths...they just the ghosts of folks kilt."

Uxbri says, "Somethin' bad happened to those elves, folks."

Uxbri says, "And horrible things come from folks what die horrible deaths."

Uxbri nods.

Uxbri says, "Ain't no one been over to that charnelhouse since way 'fore I was born."

Uxbri says, "I 'magine that the way there is long blocked."

Uxbri says, "Maybe..."

Uxbri says, "Maybe someday..."

Uxbri says, "We could go have a look."

Uxbri says, "Sure. You go right ahead."

Uxbri says, "I know the way's blocked."

Uxbri says, "But maybe a thaw will come."

Uxbri says, "And maybe..."

Uxbri says, "We can find the way."

(Someone) asks, "Yea..what invaded?"

Uxbri says, "Th' first invasion? Horrible undead. Scaled things."

Uxbri says, "Welp. That's my story."