So how does a Rohirrim farmer's daugher from the Westfold end up in Bree? I decided to write it down for myself. There is a chance, dear reader, that you will use this information to metagame. Bear in mind a few things: Cymaru never talks about her background, so your character could only know this information because your character happens to come from the same village, or your character is a relative to Cymaru or your character might have met her during her time in the Hornburg (now that would be a surprise! hmm.. and I like surprises...)
- Cymaru (pronounced 'Simmeroo') was born as Dynuwyn in the Autumn of the year TA 2976 in Marton, a remote farmer's village in the Westfold, Rohan.
- She is the oldest daughter in a family of eight children, three brothers and four sisters. Her parents were very traditional. The father ruled his family harshly and cold hearted. His favourite phrase was "Such are the ways of the Eorlings" whenever he punished the children and his wife for their 'incompetence' and 'scandalous behaviour'. He claimed to be the guardian of good virtues and family pride and honour, but in reality he abused his family regularly.
- All children were employed on the farm fields, hardships like malnutrition and disease took their toll, resulting in a small build. Father and the boys took care of communications and market affairs, while mother and the girls tended the fields.
- On a hot summers day in 2992, out in the cornfields Dynuwyn met a passing by stranger, a dazzling chap with raven black hair. Young, attractive... hardly anything was said. A look, a kiss... One thing let to another. She never saw him again. She doesn't even know his name! In a few months she discovered she "got knocked up"…
- Shame and scandal when her father discovered his oldest daughter was pregnant without being married. The decision was made to keep the pregnancy a secret. After giving birth to a healthy daughter, Dynuwyn was brought by her father to the gates of the Hornburg to be banned for life. "You disgraced our family 'Cymaru' and you no longer exist to us" her father said, "Such are the ways of the Eorlings".... 'Cymaru' is the apparent village slang for dirt, but by no means a regular Rohirric term.
- Cymaru's child was kept and raised by her parents as if she was their own daughter. As a result of years of indoctrination, 'Cymaru' was ashamed of herself, and she surrendered to her fate.
- She found employment as a servant in the household of some unit commander of the Hornburg garrison and worked for the family for years.
- She met a traveller at the market, a handsome fellow with black hair and brown eyes. A warrior by heart, and employed as a caravan guard, he was quite tall and well build for a Breelander. He courted Cymaru, they were engaged and he persuaded her to come live with him in Breeland. It was the Spring of 3005 TA.
- They reached Bree town after six weeks travelling, joined up with a traders caravan heading northwest. There was nothing there. He had no house, no relatives in Bree, it all turned out a grave disappointment. For a few weeks they stayed in the Prancing Pony, and then he got 'called away by the captain' to 'do battle up north', so he said...
- Butterbur agreed to employ Cymaru as a housekeeper for a meal and a roof. She waited for her fiancé to return. For years. Eight long years. All this time she waited, and worked as hard as she could to keep her mind busy, and to drop to her bed unconcious of exhaustion each night. But many nights she lay awake staring at the ceiling, worrying about the warrior, wondering if he was alive at all.
- It took eight years before the warrior returned. Much to his surprise he found Cymaru still working in the tavern, waiting for him. Lucky for her, the romanticized image she had created of him was destroyed. Broken hearted, she moved on.
- In 3016 TA a man called Eodryth visited the Prancing Pony, dragging along his then 13 year old daughter Eoryn. Long story short, he left her in the cares of Cymaru. He agreed to 'official' guardianship over Eoryn, and she was formally adopted by Cymaru after Eodryth was lost.
- In the meantime, her real daughter had tracked down her mother. Raven black hair and eyes, she bears little resemblance to her mother. Vindictive and bittered, it was impossible to truely connect or bond. After a few awkward encounters Cymaru's daughter slipped away from Bree into mystery.
- Early 3018 TA, still winter, her oldest brother Olric tracked down his 'big' sister with the announcement their father had died of disease. Mother wished to be reunited with her daughter. Cymaru contacted the well known horsetrader and infamous, ever so charming womanizer called Donhelm, to join up with a traders caravan heading for Rohan, taking young Eoryn along. Donhelm had courted Cymaru for years but she never thought he was serious.
- The journey ended up a disaster, mainly due to Dunlending buildup at the borders of Rohan. Many lost their lives, including Cymaru's brother Olric. A cairn was raised for him in the Gap of Rohan. A few friends went missing, including their good friend Mugendo. Donhelm guided the remnants of the caravan back to Bree.
- During the journey, Cymaru finally came to see real Donhelm: not just a shallow womanizer and foul mouthed charlatan, but a warm and sincere caring man, ready and willing to sacrifice his life to save others. They were engaged to be wed.
- However, restless and frustrated by the outcome of the journey, Donhelm decided to organize a search and rescue militia, to track down missing friends. Again Cymaru faced lonely months of anxious waiting and worrying…
- Donhelm led a disastrous expedition in search for his friend Mugendo. Leading his company through the depths of Moria against all odds, they managed to track him down, only to find him alienated and ungrateful for an "unasked and unnecessary" rescue attempt.
- Donhelm returned. He and Cymaru hurried to arrange their marriage, dragging a random person (haha poor Mothwen) to the mayor's office to act as official witness.
- Mr. and mrs.Graymare the next attempt to reach their homelands becomes possible with the launch of the Eastemnet expansion. Serving since march 2008 in the Prancing Pony, after more than 4 years OOC, IC 12 years, Cymaru left Bree to go home, to Rohan. A voyage event starting September 18, 2012, brought them to the ford in the Rohan Gap
- The group consisted of a few Rohirrim, like Ethelceo, Eoryn, Donhelm, Thayenglir and Ysle, and were accompanied by a few sellswords, led by a peculiar couple Rinni and Guvadan. The most peculiar companion was a Dunlending named Drunn
- The small group managed to avoid direct contact, slipping through Dunland disguised, for example by dying their conspicuous fair hair with ash and mud
- RL date October 4, 2012, the group arrived in one of the Rohirrim camps in the Rohan Gap
- Cymaru reaches Stangard
- RL date October 15 2012: the new Rohan expansion live
- ... looking for a nice place to stay ... what about Snowbourn?
- Cymaru and family reach Snowbourn.
- New Westemnet expansion live
- Attempt to reach the Westfold. The group reaches a hilltop lookout point to see Marton, the town where Cymaru was born, burn in the night. In the village nearby they meet up with Cymaru's youngest sister, who had managed to flee the ordeal with her children. She carries grave news about the rest of the family. Their mother, and the two other sisters are no longer...
- Running out of options, the group heads back to Bree, and settle.
- Eoryn, now a full grown young woman, starts to act more and more independent. Cymaru lives in the Graymare estate, and visits Bree on occasion.
