Book I: In the peaceful Shire, homeland of the Hobbits, Bilbo Baggins, main character of The Hobbit, decides to retire and depart for ever, leaving his entire estate to his nephew and heir Frodo Baggins. This includes a golden ring that causes possessiveness in anyone who owns it. The wizard Gandalf the Grey, family friend of the Bagginses, determines that this is nothing less than the One Ring, Sauron's masterpiece. While it exists, Sauron cannot truly be destroyed; should Sauron ever regain it, ultimate victory will be his. Frodo, his cousins Merry and Pippin, and his gardener Sam set off for the Elven refuge Rivendell, hunted by Sauron's Ringwraiths the entire way. In Bree, they meet Strider, a mysterious ranger who guides them onwards. On the way, Frodo is wounded in an attack by the R