he Shire, a large territory to the northwest of Nevrast and east of the Talonguard Mountains, is the homeland of the hobbit race. Those diminutive, peaceful, and comfort-loving folk are found here in far greater numbers than anywhere else in the world. Most hobbits are content to remain for their whole lives in their homeland, under the wise and benevolent rule of their co-leaders, the elected Mayor based at Michel Delving and the hereditary Thain at Tuckborough. Only those rare hobbits affected—afflicted, in the opinion of those who remain behind—with wanderlust ever leave the Shire for far-off lands or long periods.

In recent years, as the population of Nevrast and other cities has grown, humans have begun to encroach on traditional Shire territory. This has become a serious concern for recent Mayors and Thains. At the same time, there have been reports of an influx of huge wolves, strangely intelligent crows, and other malevolent beings out of the Old Forest.