Bore-Lled

Bore-Lled
The village of Bore-Lled (MERP)
Location of Bore-Lled (upper center, ruin N of Caer Gurgust @ confluence of streams) (MERP)
Type	Village
Region	The Oyer, Rast Vorn, Minhiriath
Realm	Arnor (Cardolan)

Bore-Lled was the northern-most village of the tribe Hil Fferid, located along the borders of the Eryn Vorn. Its inhabitants were of the clan Llediu.

Most of the people of Bore-Lled were descended from the ancient and renowned Llediu family. Bore-Lled is a corruption of the Elven tongue that indicates that the village is the home of the Llediu. lt is a comparatively prosperous village, with relatively poor defenses.

Bore-Lled lies in a small vale set between three low hills. The Mebden Trace, the primary path along the edge of the Eryn Vorn, runs just past the east side of the village. The famous Tradehall is situated here for easier access. It is a two-storied wooden building with a thatched roof that serves as general store, tavern, and inn. A large corral encloses the rear of the Tradehall, though there are rarely any horses for sale. A rutted dirt road forks off from the Trace in front of the Tradehall. This serves as Bore-Lled's Center Way; on the south side are the homes of the families of the distaff branches of the Lled family. These homes are similar in construction to the Tradehall, and though only one-storied, they are not much smaller. The barley fields and a few shacks belonging to the jerls of the Llediu lie to the north. The jerls are more than mere slaves, but their status ranks below that of the least of the Lled.

To the north of the Tradehall there is a small stream known as Strem Cadno that is rather marshy in places. Above Strem Cadno, away from the (relative) hustle and bustle of the village, there is a squat one-storied stone building that is the hereditary home of the Mhaigh (D. “Chief”) of the Llediu. There is a large barn behind the Mhaigh’s house, some huts for his jerls, and his fields. The Mhaigh, Ries op Lled, has great powers in theory, but in practice has to gently handle his proud and willful kinsmen. Ries is responsible for the upkeep of the five small watchtowers scattered along the surrounding hills. Only the northern-most tower is regularly manned. As Mhaigh, Ries is also responsible for keeping a month's supply of food in the Cave of Refuge.

Bore-Lled in T.A. 1640-1650

Bore-Lled in Third Age 1640-1650 (refer to plan-view above right):

1. Open wooden watchtowers (5), two-storied with room only for one lookout.
2. The wooden bridge over Strem Cadno. There is usually a guard posted here at night.
3. A small thatched hut, the home of Hagomar the Hermit.
4. A large blue barn. Two-storied with stocks of barley and millet.
5. The Cave of Refuge. The entrance is bricked up when not in use. Inside is stored enough food and water for forty people for a month.
6. The Greathouse of the Mhaigh of the Llediu, home of Ries op Lled. The complex is reached by a narrow footbridge over Strem Cadno and consists of five buildings: three huts for the jerls, a large barn, and the Greathouse itself. This is a solid stone building, about 20'×20' with an extensive cellar, it is the only stone building in the village, and its doors are made of sturdy oak reinforced with iron, and the windows are barred.
7. Fields and a small apple orchard.
8. The Tradehall (D. Ait Mellairt). All of the commercial needs of the people of Lled and travellers are met within the confines of this two-storied wooden building. It is connected with a barn and stable by a rail fence, and a jerl's hut lies in the rear.
9. The "Center Way," a rutted earthen path with four huts and fields on the north. It ends at a small stone well.
10. The 3 houses of the lesser Lled families on the south of Center Way.
11. A somewhat decrepit barn, used only after bountiful harvests.
12. A 12' tall incised stone pillar honoring the founder of Bore-Lled.
13. The southwest path, towards the Cairn (D. Carn Gasadaer).
14. The northwest path, towards Old Coel's house.
15. The Mebden Trace running south towards Sudúri.
16. The Mehden Trace running north towards Annon Baran.

Characters

• Before T.A. 1640: Ethield, Lady of the Mebden Tam op Lled
• T.A. 1640-1650:
  • Men: Borru Lled Brennen Lled Cayleen Lled Cenne (jerl) Clyn Lled Crennan Lled Elmericel Hagomar the Hermit Fyn op Lled (Master of Tradehall) Mhaigh Ries op Lled Roggowen the Ranger Yarri
  • Other: Hivesla-scedu, the “Whispershadow”, a female elven spirit

Notes

• Original forms in MERP:
  • Bor Leath → Bore-Lled
  • Leatha → Llediu
  • Siol Speriang → Hil Fferid ("Siol Speriang" seems to be derived from Gaelic "Siol Sperióg"; the Welsh (or latinized Welsh) version of this could be "Hil Gualchglas" or "Hil Fferid")
  • Cairc-faergus → Caer Gurgust

On some maps Bor-Leath is confused with Althfinn or Caer Gurgust, however the MERP module clearly indends Bor-Leath to be the ruin north-northwest of the settlement on the mouth of the unnamed river east of Eryn Vorn (which is identified as Cairc-faergus in Raiders of Cardolan).

References

• MERP #2005: Arnor
• MERP #8107: Woses of the Black Wood
• MERP #8108: Raiders of Cardolan