[Susan Delgado]

Frodo, who was was conned into taking Bilbo's teddy bear and taking it to Mordor by Gandalf's tales of the wonders of the South of Middle Earth and the promise of vast riches.

Sam, a Capt Kirk like person who's always looking for adventure and is always interested in "cruising for Hobbit lasses", but who became tired of Hobbit lasses and decided to go for something different. Gandalf told him about Frodo's journey and about all the "hot chicks" in Gondor and Sam decided Frodo's quest was just the thing.

Merry, an otherwise respectible Hobbit who only agreed to come along because he wanted to escape his creditors.
Pippen, one of those creditors who managed to latch on to Merry just before he escaped and was constantly badgering him about his financial situation.

Aragorn, a power-hungry man who desires dictatorship but just can't find it in the wilderness of Eriador. So, after speaking with Gandalf, he decided Gondor was the place for him.

Boromir is another man whose father became so annoyed by his sons' constant bickering that he would latch onto just about any pretext to send one or both of them away. He Sent Boromir to Imladris, which is about as far as he could think of, and told him some story about the elves and Faramir's dreaming so he wouldn't guess he was really being sent away, and that Denethor was really hoping he would never come back. And, look! He didn't!

Legolas and Gimli are long lost twin brothers- the undesired offspring of a tryst between a trolling elf maiden and a somewhat confused dwarf. Since one resembled an elf and the other a dwarf, each was left with his corresponding race to be raised in respect. They finally found each other after countless years of searching, and, despite their very different backgrounds, they find that they really have a lot in common. They don't know what ever became of their parents, but can only assume the embarrasment of what happened was too much for them, which is why they did what they did.

and, Gandalf. Gandalf is a prestidigitator extraordinaire and a con man as well. He arranged for all the members of the Fellowship to go on this little quest for his own reasons, though no one knows what those reasons are. He not only told Frodo, Sam, and Aragorn about the richness of Gondor, he also ruined Merry's credit and told Pippen where he could meet them, and who do you think told Legolas and Gimli they weren't what they seemed to be? The only person he had nothing to do with was Boromir, but he managed to get rid of him fairly quickly.
------------------------- whew!
What special item did Boromir carry out of Gondor and on his journey?