Stuff to do in the Shire, for experienced adventurers

[Yusei]

Hi,

I like to write my adventures like TV show seasons, and the current season is revolving around the background of one of my PCs. I've now introduced the big bad, and my group is about to enter the Shire, but now I need to keep them there for a few months. I could have them do a fellowship phase, but I also want to keep them on their toes, which means I don't want them to get rid of shadow points right now. I'd like to play one or two "one shot" adventures before going back to my main story arc. My problem is... they are now seasoned adventurers, and the Shire is a pretty nice place to live in. What adventures could they have there?

I'm curious if anyone here wrote adventures in the Shire that did not involve a fully Hobbit group. I'd like to have a change in tone, but still keep it challenging. Maybe not in terms of frightening foes, but I want them to care, and to spend Hope. Any ideas?

[Stormcrow]

Giants roaming the woods in the North Farthing! (To keep this in line with The Lord of the Rings, any such adventure should not become well known to the general population of hobbits; there should be rumors only.)

[Mim]

Ruffians infiltrate the 'fences' in search of 'leaf' &/or act as Saruman's spies. The books don't really explain much about Longbottom & Sarn Ford, so they're kinda up for grabs.

Stormcrow makes a great point, however, in that if you want to keep your games fairly close to canon, the heroes can't discover too much before the War of the Ring

Another alternative is that Old Man Willow is up to no good, or some such sinister infestation within the Old Forest.

[Stormcrow]

A group of impetuous hobbit youths get lost in the Old Forest and have to be rescued. Depending on the year, this may feature a young Farmer Maggot. Run-ins with Tom Bombadil, Goldberry, and Old Man Willow are musts. Maybe this is how Tom met Maggot in the first place...

[Matchstick]

What about something with the entwives? Or at least the moving trees mentioned by Sam. That could be something less combat oriented and more explory, if that makes sense.

[poosticks7]

Not really an adventure idea, but more of an encounter - meet some elves on their way west.

Retrieve a rare herb from Oldforest/Barrowdowns/Fornost to help a sick hobbit/traveler.

[ali69]

...and the ghost haunted Fornost isn´t soo far away...
..or a problem in Annuminas or the sea of Nenunial...

[Mytholder]

"In the Shire" and "action and adventure" don't mix. You could go for something like a mystery (which of the dinner guests stole Primula Took's spoons?!), but I think keeping the Shire as a haven of joy and peace is a better bet.

[Yusei]

Bombadil and the Old Forest are involved in my planned "season finale", but I still have to keep them occupied for a few months, in order for the story to make sense... (don't wanna say too much, in case they stumbled onto this thread).

I think keeping the Shire as a haven of joy and peace is a better bet.

I agree, and so far, most of what I've planned involves taking action to keep the Shire a haven of joy and peace. But I don't want to overdo it. A mystery sounds nice, and I will also include the cheese-rolling festival described in another thread.

[Arthadan]

Help the Shiriffs taking down a particulary vicious wolf decimating the Shire flock. They could even receive a mathom in return from a grateful framer which could be really useful (some kind of minor magical item related to war, perhaps of dúnedain origin).