The return of the Travellers to the boundaries of the Shire should have been a triumphant occasion. Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and Sam were deserving of heroes' welcomes, with streamers, cheering friends, and plenty of good food. Alas, it was not to be, for insidious evil had crept into the Shire in the absence of the four diminutive adventurers. On their return, they found their peaceful home dominated by vicious bullies and rogues, with the fallen wizard Saruman, going by the name of Sharkey, at the centre of it all. A desperate struggle followed, as the Hobbits fought to return the Shire to the way it was and cast out the evil that had infested it.

Frodo of the Nine Fingers	Samwise the Brave	Peregrin Took, Guard of the Citadel	Meriadoc Brandybuck, Knight of the Mark

The supplement itself is divided into two sections. The main section deals with Sharkey's infiltration of the Shire and the oppression of the Hobbits at the hands of his Ruffians. A series of scenarios forms a narrative campaign that tells the story of the Scouring of the Shire from start to finish. The second half of the supplement deals with the Hobbits and the Shire in the wider context. Some of the key events from the Hobbits' long history – from the Goblin invasion led by Golfimbul at the Battle of Greenfields, to the Fell Winter and the attack of the White Wargs – are detailed with scenarios and rules for new protagonists. Throughout the book are excellent tips and guides on how to build scenery to represent the Shire and paint your forces. From constructing a Hobbit-hole, to painting the White Wargs or Shire Militia, the hobby guides throughout the book provide all the tips and ideas players will need to bring the Shire to life.

Sharkey and Worm	Paladin Took	Farmer Maggot	Ruffian with club	Ruffian with bow

The Siege of Gondor and The Battle of Pelennor Fields dealt at length with huge forces of hardened warriors fighting epic battles; The Scouring of the Shire is quite different. It focuses on the considerably smaller skirmishes and incidents that take place over the course of a few months. Players can expect detailed and exciting scenarios that pit a handful of brave Hobbits against the physically intimidating Ruffians. The scenarios are set at a scale at which the loss of just one or two models can really damage a force's chance of success.

The Scouring of the Shire is released on the 12th of March, it's time to dust off those hedges and fences, take six meals a day, have a long doze under a blossom tree, and practice a little stone throwing.

Related Articles:
What Is Shadow & Flame? | What Is The Siege of Gondor?
What Is The Fellowship of The Ring?
What Is The Two Towers? | What Is The Return of The King?

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The Scouring of the Shire