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 (October 25, 2025) Hook:,

Little Tom Appledore, son of Audrey Appledore, ale-wife at the Prancing Pony, has disappeared!

On this Commons Day, there is little beer to be got at the Inn of the Prancing Pony, what with the incident that has befallen Audrey, its chief ale-wife. Thus, instead of a throatful of drink, most patrons at the Pony are like to receive an earful of Barliman Butterbur, who has planted himself in the Inn’s Common Room to recount in rote (and with, apparently, little regard for his ale-wife’s privacy) the tale of Tom’s vanishment to any patron who crosses the inn’s door: ‘Poor, poor Audrey woke yesterday—Highday, of course—to find her Tom’s bed empty. Empty, that is, but for a…,’ and whenever the innkeeper says this, his voice goes low and his eyes glaze wet with fear, ‘a single finger-bone! All grit and gristle—and ancient as old Miss Henbran! Oh, it spooks me to say it and splits my heart in just that many pieces; poor Audrey’s been through enough, what with losing her Rowlie in the Bad Winter. And now this, her little Tom one of The Four! Oh! You don’t know about The Four? It goes from bad to worse, I’m sorry to say! Tom’s not the only boy to go up in thin air like that this Autumn! There’s three others, too, all like Tom and his Mum living just outside the West Gate. Poor Éogar, the horse-breeder up north a-ways, lost his grandson in such a way last week, and he’s up to here with grief! Now folks are saying they hear the boys a-crying from the Downs, as though they’d been snatched up by one of the barrow-bogies! I wouldn’t put stock in it, but then, stranger things have been heard than that. In any case, much as I like Miss Appledore and would particularly appreciate her coming back to her labours (look how low we are on beer!), I’ll not be wandering into the Downs myself. No, thank you! But if any of you lot fancy yourselves lacking for brains, I’d be quite happy to put in some word with the Mayor if you could sort out this business with little Tom!’

Character(s) who journey to the Barrow Downs and recover Tom Appledore to his mother, Audrey, will receive a free trade license OR have a crime stricken from their criminal record (the choice is yours)! Please let Nenaras know in-game on Marmaduke or on Discord at Roleplayers of LOTRO if your character(s) complete this hook to claim these rewards!