[NPC] Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger
I thought that this would be a fun one to write up, particularly for anyone who'd like to run a Shire-based adventure:
Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger
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'Fond as he was of Frodo, Fatty Bolger had no desire to leave the Shire, nor to see what lay beyond it.'
The Fellowship of the Ring
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Race: Hobbit (Fallowhide)
Racial Abilities: Six Meals a Day, Small Folk, Soft-footed, Sure at the Mark, Tough as Old Tree-Roots
Attributes: Bearing 9 (+1)*, Nimbleness 9 (+1), Perception 9 (+1)*, Strength 9 (+1), Vitality 10 (+2), Wits 6 (+0)
Reactions: Stamina +2, Swiftness +1*, Willpower +1*, Wisdom +1*
Order: Noble
Order Abilities: Cross-Order Skill (Teamster)
Advancements: 1
Skills: Armed Combat: Clubs (Club) +2, Climb +1, Craft: Cooking +2, Craft: Hatmaking +3, Debate (Bargain) +4, Games (Eating Contests) +1, Inquire (Converse) +2, Insight +1, Inspire +2, Intimidate +2, Language: Westron (Common, Hobbit-dialect) +5, Lore: History (The Shire) +3, Lore: Other (Ghost Stories) +2, Lore: Race (Hobbits) +2, Lore: Realm (Eastfarthing) +4, Lore: Realm (Old Forest) +3, Observe (Taste) +5, Persuade (Charm) +3, Ranged Combat: Thrown Weapons (Stone) +2, Ride (Pony) +2, Stealth (Sneak) +2, Teamster (Carts) +1
Edges: Friends (Bilbo & Frodo Baggins), Hoard 2, Rank, Wary
Flaws: Craven, Weak-willed
Health: 11
Courage: 3
Renown: 1
Gear: Clothing, walking stick, cart and pony.
In the Novels
If there were a fifth Hobbit in the Fellowship of the Ring, it would be none other than Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger, cousin and friend to Frodo Baggins, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took.
Born to Odovacar and Rosamunda Bolger and in 1368 (Shire Reckoning), Fredegar grew up in the Eastfarthing, in the town of Budgefield in the Bridgefields. Though he has Tookish blood running in his veins from his mother's side of the family, he inherited little of their adventuresome nature. Twelve years younger than Frodo, Fredegar was practically a nephew to Bilbo, and was a good and loyal friend of Frodo's, and was equally close to their cousins Meriadoc and Pippin, and Frodo's friend Folco Boffin. As a child, Fredegar (or "Fatty," as he was called, due to his girth), was favorite of Bilbo Baggins, frequenting Bag End often to hear Bilbo's wonderful stories, his childhood dreams inspired by the older Hobbit's adventures. Ironically, though, he has no desire to travel, even as far as the Brandywine Bridge. After a childhood filled with the bogey-stories of his nurses and Bilbo's own stories, Fatty is filled with dread about the Old Forest, believing it filled with goblins, wolves, and other nasty creatures who cause folks to disappear and to never return. Fatty led a fairly sedate life, working as an apprentice in his father's hat-making shop, and serving to keep the folks of Eastfarthing in quality headwear.
When Bilbo left the Shire most unexpectedly, Fatty still regularly attended the birthday parties Frodo continued to throw for Bilbo, despite his absence, and as such, Fatty was privy to the significance of the Ring, and knew of the importance that Gandalf ascribed to it. His loyalty to Frodo and his cousins, plus the desire to be a part of some great adventure (but still remain in the Shire), impelled him to help his fellow Hobbits as best he could.
When Frodo put in motion his plan to leave the Shire, Fatty helped Frodo secure a home in Crickhollow, in Buckland, far enough away from Hobbiton that no one would notice that Frodo had gone. He took care of the paperwork, including the legal matters surrounding the move, and, along with Merry, Pippin, and Folco, helped Frodo to pack. Fatty was one of those who loaned his cart to help transport Frodo's belongings, and took the final load to the new house in Buckland, where he and Merry unpacked and arranged Frodo's things as if the young Hobbit were going to live there. As Fatty Bolger was not well-known in Crickhollow, he volunteered to fend off inquisitive folks who wanted to know where Frodo had gone to. Fatty would keep up the pretense that the young Baggins was in residence at Crickhollow, answering mail, tending to the place's upkeep, paying bills, and passing along news of the Hobbit's departure to Gandalf should the wizard come seeking Frodo. None of the Hobbits had any idea that even this minor task would put Fatty into considerable danger.
When Fatty had seen his friends off on their great adventure, he remained and acted according to plan. Shortly after their departure, however, the small house at Crickhollow was visited by three dark figures in the night... Nazgul! They did not find Fatty, as he had fled at the first sight of them, and ran a mile to the nearest neighbor's house, stricken with fear. His warning gave the Hobbits of the area a chance to raise their alarm, and the Black Riders, realizing that Frodo and the Ring were not at Crickhollow, left without incident.
Perhaps emboldened by his brush with danger, Fatty was among those to resist the ruffians who took over the Shire at the behest of the mysterious boss, Sharkey. While aiding rebels in the Brockenbores, Fatty was captured and imprisoned at the Lockholes in Michel Delving. He was later freed by his friends Frodo and Pippin, after the Hobbits had returned to scour the Shire of its bully overlords. His captivity had been hard, though, and he was nearly starved during his time in the Lockholes. When Fredegar was released, his friends noted that he no longer suited his nickname of Fatty, and would henceforth just be Fredegar. Always practical, though, the first thing the newly-freed Fredegar asked when released from his jail-cell was what the newly-grown Pippin's new hat size was.
In the Game
Fatty Bolger prior to the War of the Ring would most likely be encountered in the Shire, spending time in Bag End or otherwise in the company of Frodo, Merry, Pippin, or Folco Boffin. Fatty has a loving family with both parents still alive, a younger sister named Estella, who later married Meriadoc Brandybuck. As one of Bilbo's favorites, he is undoubtedly interested in encountering new folks, and hearing of strange and faraway lands, though he has little interest in going to any of them, and is prone to fear the unknown.
During the War of the Ring, Fatty would be found in Frodo's new home in Crickhollow, trying to keep up the pretense of Frodo's residence. He is wary of strangers at this time, particularly ones who ask a lot of questions. If adventurers or heroes are trusted by Bilbo and/or Gandalf, Fatty might involve them in schemes to keep the notion of Frodo's departure a secret, or could even send them out on errands to ask discreetly about if Gandalf has been seen in the area, or if someone seems to be paying overmuch attention to the Bagginses.
After the Scouring of the Shire, Fredegar (as he was called once more) is more than likely tending to his fathers' business, helping the Hobbits in the restoration of the Shire, and perhaps assisting his friends in the matters that fell by the wayside while they were away on their great adventure.
* Favored attribute or reaction.
