Other companies\Fellowships apart from Bilbo and Frodo's

[Majestic]

And I wonder if the White Council would meet your criteria? It did take action against Sauron at Dol Guldur.

The first one that came to mind for me was the White Council, too.

Which is clearly a case of the GM saying "Go ahead and feel free this session to bring your most powerful, experienced PCs!"

[Falenthal]

Well, and the Dark Side has fellowships of its own:

The Nine Nazgûl/The Black Riders are a Fellowship: they are said to be more powerful when found together. Minas Morgul is their Sanctuary, of course, to Heal Hope every now and then.

And Gorbag and Shagrat, from Cirith Ungol. Take a read at this:

'[...]They would,’ grunted Gorbag. ‘We’ll see. But anyway, if it [the war] does go well, there should be a lot more room. What d’you say? – if we get a chance, you and me’ll slip off and set up somewhere on our own with a few trusty lads, somewhere where there’s good loot nice and handy, and no big bosses.’

‘Ah!’ said Shagrat. ‘Like old times.’

‘Yes,’ said Gorbag.

[Glorelendil]

Well, and the Dark Side has fellowships of its own:

The Nine Nazgûl/The Black Riders are a Fellowship: they are said to be more powerful when found together. Minas Morgul is their Sanctuary, of course, to Heal Hope every now and then.

And Gorbag and Shagrat, from Cirith Ungol. Take a read at this:

'[...]They would,’ grunted Gorbag. ‘We’ll see. But anyway, if it [the war] does go well, there should be a lot more room. What d’you say? – if we get a chance, you and me’ll slip off and set up somewhere on our own with a few trusty lads, somewhere where there’s good loot nice and handy, and no big bosses.’

‘Ah!’ said Shagrat. ‘Like old times.’

‘Yes,’ said Gorbag.

Oh, that was a nice find, Fal. I was thinking of the Nazgul, too, but Shagrat and Gorbag dreaming about getting the band back together is even better.

[Stormcrow]

I don't take "like old times" to mean that Gorbag and Shagrat were necessarily in cahoots in the past, but that the idea of operating an independent band of bandits was in the past, since Sauron and Saruman had conscripted all the Orcs to their own purposes.

[Glorelendil]

I don't take "like old times" to mean that Gorbag and Shagrat were necessarily in cahoots in the past, but that the idea of operating an independent band of bandits was in the past, since Sauron and Saruman had conscripted all the Orcs to their own purposes.

That's a good point, and probably what was intended.

So more like Archie and Edith singing "Those were the days..."

EDIT: the more I think about it, the more I like that quote. It represents the return to power of Sauron, after a long absence, during a time of rapid change after a long period of relative stasis, and from the point of view of his foot soldiers. Leave it to JRRT to use idle orcish banter to make his world feel real.

[zedturtle]

I don't take "like old times" to mean that Gorbag and Shagrat were necessarily in cahoots in the past, but that the idea of operating an independent band of bandits was in the past, since Sauron and Saruman had conscripted all the Orcs to their own purposes.

That's a good point, and probably what was intended.

So more like Archie and Edith singing "Those were the days..."

EDIT: the more I think about it, the more I like that quote. It represents the return to power of Sauron, after a long absence, during a time of rapid change after a long period of relative stasis, and from the point of view of his foot soldiers. Leave it to JRRT to use idle orcish banter to make his world feel real.

It is rather brilliant, and a good reminder to all of us that try to do worldbuilding that even small things can help set the mood, the tone and the history.