From HofWiki

By Matthew Kearns

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“After the death of Smaug in 2941, Dale was rebuilt by Bard, a descendant of the old Kings of Dale, who became its first King.”
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth

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Stats and/or Racial Packages

Attribute Modifiers

See below

Racial Packages

Man of Esgaroth (Middle Man) - Craft or Smithcraft or Stonecraft +2, Debate +1, Sea-craft (Boating) or Teamster +1, Survival (Forest or Mountains) +1, Swim +1

Man of the Outlands (Middle Man or Man of Darkness) - Craft +1, Language +1, Ride +1, Survival (Plains) +2, Teamster +1

Man of the Steppe (Man of Darkness) - Craft +2, Ride +1, Survival (Plains) +2, Teamster +1

(Man of Dale package in the CRB can be used for residents of Dale before its destruction and after its refounding)

History and Lands

Men of this part of Middle-earth come from similar stock as those of the Anduin Vales and to some extent the ancient Easterlings who took up with Morgoth during the First Age.

Bardings and Men of Esgaroth

In the beginning, Dale was a small settlement of Men at the base of Erebor in long years past. As the founding and expansion of power and influence of the Dwarf kingdom under the mountain grew, so did Dale. It co-existed quite harmoniously with the folk of Durin, both peoples prospering from the relationship and sharing in one another’s plight when the great winged drake, Smaug, destroyed both in TA 2270.

During the times leading up to the appearance of Smaug, the governance was held by a hereditary ruler, Lord of Dale, until the time of Girion. After Dale’s destruction, the survivors took up residence along the southern shore of Long Lake, far away from the shadow of the mountain and dragon, thinking the line of lords was broken.

The settlement on Long Lake came to be called Esgaroth, which was then governed by the trading guild led by one who was elected among their ranks. Eventually after many years of trafficking goods between the East and the Woodland-realm, the town became quite prosperous and influential once again. Once Smaug was slain, the majority of the city was in ruins and was never again what it once was, partially due to the resting place of the accursed wyrm.

Toward the end of the Third Age, Dale was refounded by Bard the Bowman, descendant of Girion and the man who slew Smaug with one arrow. He was then declared King of Dale by the new residents and ancestors of Dale, and the people took to calling themselves Bardings in honor of him.

To find out more about Girion and those of his line, see Allies and Adversaries and Issue 9 for Bard the Bowman/King of Dale.

Men of the Outlands

These rural folk live in the area of the Lonely Mountain and within a few days’ ride of Dale and Esgaroth. They live the simple life of farmers, fishers, and craftsmen. Little of their heritage has been interrupted or changed for as long as any can remember, except when the Dark Lord’s minions made war upon all Men at the end of the Third Age, burning and pillaging as they went.

Men of the Steppe

Like the Wainriders and Easterlings further east in Rhûn and south, these people live a nomadic life, roaming the lonely plains between Erebor and Dorwinion. Though they are free from the influence of Sauron, they descend from men who betrayed men and elf, siding with Morgoth long ago. The same as the Men of the Outlands, little to nothing has changed about the Men of the Steppe, appearance or heritage, since the “dark days of when the earth broke and fell into the sea” as they put it.

Physical Description

Bardings

Descendents of original Dale, including the Line of Girion, are a broad and grim folk, coming out most with ire and displeasure. The men and women are of approximately the same height and build, dark brown or black hair, and brown eyes.

Men of Esgaroth and Outlands

These people come from a mixture of the original residents of Dale, Men of the Steppe, and a small portion from the Men of the Anduin Vales. They have no typical or distinguishing features to themselves.

Men of the Steppe

These people are closely related to the ancient Men of the East and those of Dorwinion. They are light of build with light brown to white blonde hair and blue or grey eyes.

Society

Bardings

Their seemingly unfriendly demeanor hides their true nature in the joy that they take in providing for themselves and friends and as skillful workers of wood, greatest in the region, rivaling even the folk of the Woodland-realm. Home, family, and community are the three pillars of life to them. Little crime can be found, but when it is, its roots are typically in outsiders, especially from the East.

Men of Esgaroth and Men of the Outlands

Similar to the Bardings, as they were a part of their society for a long time, they are a people who are simple and honest. Their city is governed by a mayor who is elected by popular vote, a rarity in this world, though typically it is the most wealthy and/or influential merchant. Though initially unfriendly and wary, if you are trustworthy, they will open their arms and hearts to those in need.

Men of the Steppe

These people lead a nomadic life, living frugally off the land, following the herds of wild deer and antelope. They have a simple life where pride and honor are what hold their clans together. Like the rest of the Free Peoples, they revere the elements, sun, moon, earth, sky, plants, animals, etc., but unlike the rest, they worship them as well as deities. To a certain extent this belief reflects the cosmology of Middle-earth, but the Elves and some of the Dúnedain know the actual history of Middle-earth along with who and what created the world.

Economics

Dale

The economy of Dale is fairly closed, like that of Erebor -- Dale supplies the dwarves with foodstuffs and their expert woodcraft items while Erebor trades their own goods (metal- and stonework) and training in these arts. There is little outside trade in Dale as they produce most all they need, though their woodcraft is exported throughout the region via Esgaroth.

Esgaroth and the Outlands

Though it has a limited craft and goods industry, Lake-town’s economy is primarily based on being a waypoint along the profitable trade route between Dale, Erebor, the Woodland-realm, and on to Dorwinion and the beyond.

The Steppe

There is little trade between these nomadic clans and other peoples and realms due to their self-sufficiency. When there is trade, it is done using the barter system where their beadwork and bone/antler carvings are highly prized by the obscure collector.

Standards/Devices

Black Arrow Pennant

The Black Arrow is representative of the ruling family of Dale, formally known as the Line of Girion. The red dragon is Smaug as he was a prominent figure in the history of Dale. The dragon in combination with the arrow represents the refounding of Dale as a proper kingdom and those of the Line of Girion to be the line of kings. The mountain represents Erebor, ‘The Lonely Mountain’, and the realm of The King Under the Mountain where these kingdoms have a symbiotic relationship -- the closest relationship between Men and Dwarves.

Shield of Lake-town

This simple device has a blue field representing Long Lake and The River Running as they are the life-blood of this town. The tree stands for Mirkwood, for it provides much for the town along with being the residence of the Elves of Mirkwood, one of their biggest traders and staunchest allies.