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Kalimac · 12-28-2003, 08:40 PM

One thing I have to keep reminding myself of is that Butterbur is NOT a hobbit! (Ridiculous, after reading the book upwards of 20 times, but there it is). No, I don't think Sharkey's men would do the trick - they're basically glorified Bill Ferny types (heck, one of them IS Bill Ferny!) and Butterbur doesn't seem particularly frightened of him. I get the impression that the Shire didn't really attract the cream of the crop, thugwise - it's a nice, fertile place but it's short on massive treasure hordes and rich prizes that you can get quickly and then trundle away. Nobody lording it over the Shire, except Saruman, is going to get much out of it except good food, pipeweed, and the fun of kicking little people around, and you have to stick around for that.

I wasn't thinking of Wargs, myself, but that's an obvious answer. Another one would be that there's probably considerable unrest in the Misty Mountains these days, and while those are about a month away, Orcs might have been trickling out for a while, sensing unrest and trouble, and by that point they could easily be within a day of Bree. For some reason I also had an image of stray warriors from conquered countries, fleeing to the northwest and not very picky about how they get food and shelter, but I don't think there's a real basis for that.

But no, not just the Ferny-types - they're basically the thugs' Rookie League.

12-28-2003, 08:40 PM	#17
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	One thing I have to keep reminding myself of is that Butterbur is NOT a hobbit! (Ridiculous, after reading the book upwards of 20 times, but there it is). No, I don't think Sharkey's men would do the trick - they're basically glorified Bill Ferny types (heck, one of them IS Bill Ferny!) and Butterbur doesn't seem particularly frightened of him. I get the impression that the Shire didn't really attract the cream of the crop, thugwise - it's a nice, fertile place but it's short on massive treasure hordes and rich prizes that you can get quickly and then trundle away. Nobody lording it over the Shire, except Saruman, is going to get much out of it except good food, pipeweed, and the fun of kicking little people around, and you have to stick around for that. I wasn't thinking of Wargs, myself, but that's an obvious answer. Another one would be that there's probably considerable unrest in the Misty Mountains these days, and while those are about a month away, Orcs might have been trickling out for a while, sensing unrest and trouble, and by that point they could easily be within a day of Bree. For some reason I also had an image of stray warriors from conquered countries, fleeing to the northwest and not very picky about how they get food and shelter, but I don't think there's a real basis for that. But no, not just the Ferny-types - they're basically the thugs' Rookie League. __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.