The smell of pipeweed and the sound of merry laughter drifts from the open door of the Inn of the Prancing Pony. It is a Highday, and like every Highday, Barliman Butterbur has opened his  common room to guests from lands near and far to sample his beer in exchange for coin, conversation, and a promise 'not to go up into thin air, thank you very much!'

This Week's (August 30, 2025) Hook:

It is a hot Commons Day in Bree-town!

Barliman Butterbur is, as ever, run off his feet as guests come to lodge at the Pony or stop in at its common room for a mug of beer—yet he has nothing to cool himself with!

‘Buttercups and bellflowers, this is a heat!’ the innkeeper can be heard complaining to patrons between breathless pants. ‘Oh, I’ve had my fill of beer! But I’d like a bit of water to sprinkle on that red neck of mine. I’d send Nob down to fetch a pail from one of the water-sellers at the market, but that fat-footed fiend has taken the day to buy himself a gift of who-knows-what with the coin his mother gave him for her birthday. Oh, the thought of it burns me up even more... I’m half to flame!’

Nob unavailable, Barliman has pushed his request for water on any man, woman, Hobbit, or traveler who will hear him. The innkeeper has even gone so far as to promise that he’ll put in a good word with the town and get whoever fetches him some water ‘one of those new trade licenses (or whatever that Gembeard and his gang of crooks are calling it)’.

On this Bree Commons Day, patrons keen to get themselves a free trade license dash to the markets in hopes of finding an overheated Butterbur his vaunted water…. 

Character(s) who fetch Barliman the in-game crafted item, "Bowl of Water", will be able to redeem free trade licenses from a Market-ward, allowing them to legally do business in Bree during a Commons Day. We encourage characters interested in this hook to seek out other merchant characters who may be able to craft or sell Bowls of Water!

Bowls of Water can be traded to the Pony's maid, Wrennifer.