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Child of the 7th Age · 10-05-2002, 06:15 PM

I have a semi-serious issue to raise that I feel needs attention. Helen had mentioned that Cami might be adopting 5 children in the Third Age. At that point, the little hobbit began worrying: how was she to provide for 5 hungry hobbits? (We had originally discussed one adoptee, and Cami thought she'd eek out a living with the Fallohides doing laundry, caring for other's children, trapping some rabbits and catching a fish or two, etc.) Then Cami realized that there was a problem that went far beyond her personal welfare. How are the hobbits of the Third Age going to survive at all? The hobbrim will be in great shape, but I fear for the hobbits' future.

The hobbrim will be set off on an island where there will be no big people to harass them. It will be hidden from all evil. If Angara survives (which may or may not happen!), Ancalimon will nominate her as "Guardian of Meneltarma." She can protect the hobrim and give dragon back rides to all the children.

Also, there's a core group of 30 hobbrim who know exactly what they're doing because they have had experience living in this manner and organizing a community. The seashore is the best place I can think of for easy living--small fish, clams, seabirds and their eggs, seaweed delicacies, searooms,etc.

Now, contrast this with the miserable hobbits. They've all been in prison 60+ years. Their organizational and leadership skills will be minimal. Helen mentioned them working in the mines and as gravediggers, but those aren't good skills for survival unless you're a dwarf. They desperately need skills like hunting, fishing, agriculture, wood and river lore, herbal remedies etc. Would they even know how to light a campfire and cook a meal? I don't think the guards would have trusted them with fire. (Cami will not go if they only eat raw food!)

They certainly need weapons, and to be taught how to use them. They are surrounded by large hungry animals and big folk. The only hobbits who would have such weapons skills would be 75+ years old, and I bet they would have been the first sacrificed, since they weren't as good at physical labor.

According to Tolkien, the hobbits came in as three distinct clans, so they wouldn't even have the advantage of being united. If we go by this, the hobbits would be three groups running off in separate directions. By the way, are we going to drop off all the hobbits in one clump, or do we have separate drop offs for Harfoot, Fallohides, and Stoors? How did they get split up later, if one clump? Take a look at the hobbit migration map in Atlas of Middle-earth and you'll see what I'm referring to.

The loremaster and most of the elders will probably opt for hobbrim land since this is where the history and lore will be protected. Indeed, given this grim choice, any hobbit with a brain would vote to become hobbrim!

What can we do to improve the land hobbits' odds of survival? Possible Ideas:

1. Have some of the tomb hobbits work in agriculture, or fishing or hunting or even food preparation, so they have a pool of skills to draw on??? Is this feasible? Daisy might see and describe these activities briefly as she follows "her" guard around the cmpound and work fields?

2. Send someone with the hobbits who knows what they're doing? (Ancalimon? Woodland Elves?) Let them go in as one bunch. Assume they get "training" and then split up.

2. Cami unfortunately has few needed skills: cooking, the bow and arrow, fishing, simple clothmaking on a hand loom. (I REFUSE to wear animal skins!) Cami is frankly more of a drawback in this situation than an advantage. She does have a clear mind for making plans, but that's about it. Too bad I didn't make her a man with hunting, fighting, etc. skills.

This still doesn't answer the question of how Cami will survive on her own.

3. We have to give them weapons. They aren't going to the Garden of Eden. The Anduin is going to be rough. Where do the weapons come from? The Elves? Sending Mithadan and Ancalimon to Numenor coastline to buy up weapons?

4. Then there's the option where we don't worry about the believability. Just let the hobbits off, and assume they'll make it, since Tolkien tells us they did. (In this case, I fear Cami will have her application in for the "safe" job of the twins' nanny.)

Does any of this make sense, or am I being too fussy?

sharon

[ October 05, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

10-05-2002, 06:15 PM	#289
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	I have a semi-serious issue to raise that I feel needs attention. Helen had mentioned that Cami might be adopting 5 children in the Third Age. At that point, the little hobbit began worrying: how was she to provide for 5 hungry hobbits? (We had originally discussed one adoptee, and Cami thought she'd eek out a living with the Fallohides doing laundry, caring for other's children, trapping some rabbits and catching a fish or two, etc.) Then Cami realized that there was a problem that went far beyond her personal welfare. How are the hobbits of the Third Age going to survive at all? The hobbrim will be in great shape, but I fear for the hobbits' future. The hobbrim will be set off on an island where there will be no big people to harass them. It will be hidden from all evil. If Angara survives (which may or may not happen!), Ancalimon will nominate her as "Guardian of Meneltarma." She can protect the hobrim and give dragon back rides to all the children. Also, there's a core group of 30 hobbrim who know exactly what they're doing because they have had experience living in this manner and organizing a community. The seashore is the best place I can think of for easy living--small fish, clams, seabirds and their eggs, seaweed delicacies, searooms,etc. Now, contrast this with the miserable hobbits. They've all been in prison 60+ years. Their organizational and leadership skills will be minimal. Helen mentioned them working in the mines and as gravediggers, but those aren't good skills for survival unless you're a dwarf. They desperately need skills like hunting, fishing, agriculture, wood and river lore, herbal remedies etc. Would they even know how to light a campfire and cook a meal? I don't think the guards would have trusted them with fire. (Cami will not go if they only eat raw food!) They certainly need weapons, and to be taught how to use them. They are surrounded by large hungry animals and big folk. The only hobbits who would have such weapons skills would be 75+ years old, and I bet they would have been the first sacrificed, since they weren't as good at physical labor. According to Tolkien, the hobbits came in as three distinct clans, so they wouldn't even have the advantage of being united. If we go by this, the hobbits would be three groups running off in separate directions. By the way, are we going to drop off all the hobbits in one clump, or do we have separate drop offs for Harfoot, Fallohides, and Stoors? How did they get split up later, if one clump? Take a look at the hobbit migration map in Atlas of Middle-earth and you'll see what I'm referring to. The loremaster and most of the elders will probably opt for hobbrim land since this is where the history and lore will be protected. Indeed, given this grim choice, any hobbit with a brain would vote to become hobbrim! What can we do to improve the land hobbits' odds of survival? Possible Ideas: 1. Have some of the tomb hobbits work in agriculture, or fishing or hunting or even food preparation, so they have a pool of skills to draw on??? Is this feasible? Daisy might see and describe these activities briefly as she follows "her" guard around the cmpound and work fields? 2. Send someone with the hobbits who knows what they're doing? (Ancalimon? Woodland Elves?) Let them go in as one bunch. Assume they get "training" and then split up. 2. Cami unfortunately has few needed skills: cooking, the bow and arrow, fishing, simple clothmaking on a hand loom. (I REFUSE to wear animal skins!) Cami is frankly more of a drawback in this situation than an advantage. She does have a clear mind for making plans, but that's about it. Too bad I didn't make her a man with hunting, fighting, etc. skills. This still doesn't answer the question of how Cami will survive on her own. 3. We have to give them weapons. They aren't going to the Garden of Eden. The Anduin is going to be rough. Where do the weapons come from? The Elves? Sending Mithadan and Ancalimon to Numenor coastline to buy up weapons? 4. Then there's the option where we don't worry about the believability. Just let the hobbits off, and assume they'll make it, since Tolkien tells us they did. (In this case, I fear Cami will have her application in for the "safe" job of the twins' nanny.) Does any of this make sense, or am I being too fussy? sharon [ October 05, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.