Category:Brigands

Brigands, also known as Rogues or Ruffians, were usually ill-favoured fellows that made a living out of stealing, plundering and murdering. Many of them were Outlaws, Deserters, Tramps, Vagabonds, Half-breeds and Outcasts, who were either poor or had been left out of society due to their low stature. Burglars, Thieves and Charlatans were the most well-known types of brigands, seen commonly in parts of Eriador inhabited by Hobbits and Men, mainly Bree-land and Hobbiton.

Most brigands worked in larger groups, which usually had connections to the Shadow. The Dark Lord Sauron controlled many such bands found in Eriador, offering them promises of treasures and plunder in exchange for their services as Spies and Assassins. In their respective efforts, both the wizard Saruman and the Witch-king of Angmar used brigands such as Bill Ferny, the Squint or Doeth to track down the Ring-bearer and attempt to prevent his escape.

Despite this, not all outlaws and outcasts were allies of the Enemy, proven by the existence of Túrin Turambar's Gaurwaith ("Wolf-men" and Barahir's men. These groups were always foes for the servants of Morgoth and later more predominantly Sauron.

Groups

 * Sharkey's men
 * Barahir's men
 * Gaurwaith

Other names

 * Rogues
 * Tramps
 * Vagabonds
 * Outlaws
 * Outcasts
 * Thieves
 * Burglars
 * Spies
 * Assassins
 * Deserters
 * Ruffians
 * Charlatans
 * Half-breeds

Bill Ferny
Bill Ferny was a relatively well-known brigand in Bree-land and an agent for Saruman and the "Black Riders", though he still served himself the most. When Frodo Baggins and his companions arrived at the Prancing Pony Inn, he tried to assist the servants of the Enemy in hunting him down, being suspected for cutting the ponies bought by the hobbits loose. The other day, Ferny ignored any allegiance to evil and sold Bill, a pony, to "Strider" and the halflings. He was later among the brigands in league with Lotho "Pimple" and then "Sharkey" (Saruman), helping them impose a thug regime over the denizens of the Shire. Following the defeat of the wizard, Bill would aid in a ruffian attack upon the town of Bree, only for the folk to retaliate. Though he evaded capture or death at the hands of the people, the brigand had a run-in with a pack of wolves, an encounter that cost him his very life.

The "Squint"
The man known as the "Squint", "Squint-eyed Southerner" or the "Goblin man" was one of the Wild-men from Dunland, banished by his kin due to supposed Orcish ancestry. He moved to the town of Bree, renting a room at the Prancing Pony Inn, which he used to conduct business. Initially a trader of goods, the "Squint" turned to a life of crime and began to offer his services to the "Necromancer" (Sauron) and Azog. He and his then-partner Bill Ferny Sr. were hired by them to hunt down Thorin II Oakenshield, but failed due to intervention from the wizard Gandalf the Grey. The "Squint" was later used by Saruman to buy pipe-weed from the hobbits and thus extend his influence over the Shire, gaining lists of names and detailed maps of important locations in Eriador. It is suspected that he aided the "Black Riders" in their search for the One Ring, for he was in the town of Bree at that time, trying to recruit Harley Bramble to the side of his powerful "friends". Angered by the refusal, the "Squint" soon led a brigand attack upon the folk there, though Bramble was able to deal with him once and for all. According to rumors, his name was Euog.

Beren Erchamion
Beren Erchamion was the son of Barahir, the leader of a band of outlaws opposing Sauron. Following the death of his father at the hands of Orcs, he fled to Doriath, where he fell in love with Lúthien. Asking for her hand in marriage to King Elu Thingol, he is challenged to bring a Silmaril from Morgoth's Iron Crown. Facing many perils (wilderness full of Orcs and capture by Sauron himself), Beren is reunited with Lúthien and the two succeed in their quest. However, he is mortally wounded by the wolfhound Carcharoth and passes away. At Lúthien's pleas, the Valar send him back and the two lived happily for the rest of their mortal lives, inspiring others to rise against the oppressors.