[TheAverageFan]

Here we are, at the end of all things...

THE RETURN OF THE KING
5/5 - The Cracks of Doom & Battle of Bywater - 5/5

"'Are you in pain, Frodo?' said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo's side.

'Well, yes I am,' said Frodo. 'It is my shoulder. The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. It was a year ago today.'

'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,' said Gandalf.

'I fear it may be so with mine,' said Frodo. 'There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?'

Gandalf did not answer." -Return of the King

"Sméagol knows what it's like to loses..."

Upon the Cracks of Doom Sam and Frodo must still defeat Gollum after he bites the Ring from Frodo's finger. To make the battle against the 20-point villain a bit more interesting they must defeat him by pushing him into the lava below. Doing so may prove difficult, but with Samwise The Brave's Double Attack and with Sméagol's Eternal Hatred being a factor, it can be done.

"The leader looked round. He was trapped. But he was not scared, not now with a score of his fellows to back him. He knew too little of hobbits to understand his peril. Foolishly he decided to fight. It would be easy to break out.

'At 'em lads!' he cried. 'Let 'em have it!'

With a long knife in his left hand and a club in the other he made a rush at the ring, trying to burst out back towards Hobbiton. He aimed a savage blow at Merry who stood in his way. He fell dead with four arrows in him:

That was enough for the others. They gave in. Their weapons were taken from them, and they were roped together, and marched off to an empty hut that they had built themselves, and there they were tied hand and foot, and locked up under guard. The dead leader was dragged off and buried." -Return of the King

In the books there is one final battle yet to be had at the Shire itself. Bounder Archers follow Frodo and the other hobbits into battle. They can get a defense buff when adjacent to the Hobbit Heroes, making them hardier folk. Armed with clubs and axes, they are also dangerous close up with Melee Attack 1.

"This was too much for Pippin. His thoughts went back to the Field of Cormallen, and here was a squint-eyed rascal calling the Ring-bearer 'little cocka-whoop'. He cast back his cloak, flashed out his sword, and the silver and sable of Gondor gleamed on him as he rode forward.

'I am a messenger of the King,' he said. 'You are speaking to the King's friend, and one of the most renowned in all the lands of the West. You are a ruffian and a fool. Down on your knees in the road and ask pardon, or I will set this troll's bane in you!'

The sword glinted in the westering sun. Merry and Sam drew their swords also and rode up to support Pippin; but Frodo did not move. The ruffians gave back. Scaring Breeland peasants, and bullying bewildered hobbits, had been their work. Fearless hobbits with bright swords and grim faces were a great surprise. And there was a note in the voices of these newcomers that they had not heard before. It chilled them with fear.

'Go!' said Merry. 'If you trouble this village again, you will regret it.' The three hobbits came on, and then the ruffians turned and fled running away up the Hobbiton Road; but they blew their horns as they ran." -Return of the King

Bywater Ruffians are weak but dangerous in large numbers. With Leaderless Attack they are quite strong against Small figures as long as no Heroes are nearby. However their Lumbering Bully ability can cost them on any whiffed roll: it's a far deadlier power for squad figures than it is for the Ogre Pulverizer.

"There standing at the door was Saruman himself, looking well-fed and well-pleased; his eyes gleamed with malice and amusement.

A sudden light broke on Frodo. 'Sharkey!' he cried.

Saruman laughed. 'So you have heard the name, have you? All my people used to call me that in Isengard, I believe. A sign of affection, possibly. But evidently you did not expect to see me here.'

'I did not,' said Frodo. 'But I might have guessed. A little mischief in a mean way: Gandalf warned me that you were still capable of it.

'Quite capable,' said Saruman, 'and more than a little. You made me laugh, you hobbit-lordlings, riding along with all those great people so secure and so pleased with your little selves. You thought you had done very well out of it all, and could now just amble back and have a nice quiet time in the country. Saruman's home could be all wrecked, and he could be turned out, but no one could touch yours. Oh no! Gandalf would look after your affairs.'

Saruman laughed again. 'Not he! When his tools have done their task he drops them. But you must go dangling after him, dawdling and talking, and riding round twice as far as you needed. "Well," thought I, "if they're such fools, I will get ahead of them and teach them a lesson. One ill turn deserves another." -Return of the King

Saruman The White is the final obstacle the hobbits must face in their journey, and as one of the Maiar he is a mighty foe. With Dominating Presence he is stronger against Common figures. His Voice Of Saruman further bolsters his defense, giving him the chance to dodge or redirect attacks with his magically-enhanced charisma. Lastly he can command Ozirael or Ragnar squads instead of attacking, making him a dangerous commander for the forces of evil in the battle for the Shire.

"'Wormtongue!' called Frodo. 'You need not follow him. I know of no evil you have done to me. You can have rest and food here for a while, until you are stronger and can go your own ways.'

Wormtongue halted and looked back at him, half prepared to stay. Saruman turned. 'No evil?' he cackled. 'Oh no! Even when he sneaks out at night it is only to look at the stars. But did I hear someone ask where poor Lotho is hiding? You know, don't you, Worm? Will you tell them?'

Wormtongue cowered down and whimpered: 'No, no!'

'Then I will,' said Saruman. 'Worm killed your Chief, poor little fellow, your nice little Boss. Didn't you, Worm? Stabbed him in his sleep, I believe. Buried him, I hope; though Worm has been very hungry lately. No, Worm is not really nice. You had better leave him to me.'

A look of wild hatred came into Wormtongue's red eyes. 'You told me to; you made me do it,' he hissed.

Saruman laughed. 'You do what Sharkey says, always, don't you, Worm? Well, now he says: follow!' He kicked Wormtongue in the face as he grovelled, and turned and made off. But at that something snapped: suddenly Wormtongue rose up, drawing a hidden knife, and then with a snarl like a dog he sprang on Saruman's back, jerked his head back, cut his throat, and with a yell ran off down the lane. Before Frodo could recover or speak a word, three hobbit-bows twanged and Wormtongue fell dead." -Return of the King

Gríma Wormtongue is a danger to both sides. Alone he has good stats for a 10-point Hero, but his Eternal Hatred and Backstab Special Attack make him extremely dangerous to your own Heroes. He can easily deal half of Saruman's Life in a single blow.


That ends the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I may make more lesser-known units or do further patch notes, but otherwise let me know what you think of my efforts. And thanks to you all for tuning in!

~TAF