Matrons and Mathoms

A Long-extended Party presents Matrons and Mathoms, a lore and cultural background compiled by alinktothezack, ALeP Storytelling and Play-Testing assistant, with corrections and edits made by Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. This teaser also introduces the highly anticipated hero, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins [TSR 4], featured in the upcoming The Shire’s Reckoning deluxe expansion, to be released whenever those layabouts at A Long-extended Party get around to finishing it.

Have you been looking for a way to support ALeP? We don’t accept any money directly and they certainly won’t offer any, but you can help commission art, like the fantastic Katerina Poliakova piece used for Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, through this Patreon run by Seastan. Supporters of FArCom get access to full resolution images of brand new art commissions, most of which will get turned into ALeP cards!

A note from the editor of this document and the chiefest party planner referenced herein:

The discerning reader will be quick to notice that the following amateur account has been copiously altered, edited, and altogether ameliorated to the highest degree possible. While badly done (apart from revisions) the forthcoming and succeeding words have nonetheless been verified and attested to by yours truly. When asked about whether it was ready for publication, my advice was a simple yet firm “no”. Any proceeding consequences, not to mention blame, must be laid solely at the feet of the original author.

Signed,
Lobelia Sackville-Baggins

Hobbit Culture

Hobbits are a diminutive people (perhaps to non-Shirefolk). A merrymaking people that revel in the simple joys of life, tucked away in their small corner of the world. It might be said that party-going and gift-giving are appropriately emblematic for Hobbits across the Shire. Parties, presents, food, ale–all have been staples of Hobbit culture for as long as there have been Tooks in Tuckborough! It is not altogether proper or respectable to be bringing up that family in Tuckborough, since they are far from emblematic. Surely you’ve heard of Hildifons and Isengar? Cavorting with wizards and going on adventures? Disgraceful! Examining these traditions in more detail will prime any Shire visitor for upcoming events on a holiday abroad.

Similar to the Big Folk, and perhaps even moreso, Hobbits adore the exchange of gifts, giving and receiving freely with joy regardless of the occasion–not just on birthdays. In fact, it is the custom to give gifts on the day of one’s birth rather than to receive them, and the wealthier folk among the denizens of the Shire give unrestrainedly! There is, of course, an art to mathom-giving. Giving too lavishly is unseemly, as is hoarding mathoms better left to more deserving relations! Favors received become treasures that fill a Hobbit’s home, some former treasures even being regifted in the future. Speaking of hoarding and regifting, that cousin of Otho’s really should pass along his set of silver spoons. He has no use for them anyway, burying himself in his belongings under The Hill instead of socializing with relatives. In fact, locals say a museum filled with these trinkets can be found in Michel Delving if ever you find yourself in the West Farthing. While birthdays are certainly important among close relations, they are far from the only celebrations a Hobbit will enjoy during the year!

Celebrating Overlithe

At the base of The Hill, as it’s called by the local folk, it should be noted here that said Hill will be inherited by my husband Otho Sackville-Baggins upon proper execution of inheritance, the Party Field stretches its emerald lawn, eager for festivities, games, and get-togethers of every sort. It plays an important role in The Shire’s Reckoning, the upcoming Deluxe expansion from A Long-extended Party, which is set in the year TA 2972. For shame, calling your game “The Shire’s Reckoning” and then using the Steward’s Calendar for your dates. The correct notation in any properly civilized part of the world is “SR 1372”. That is a year of no celebratory exception; in fact, it’s extraordinary! You see, every year of the Shire Calendar has time carved out for holidays–Yuledays, Mid-year’s Day and Lithedays, and any Took can plan a party for one of those–but only on those exceptional fourth years do Hobbits from about the Shire get to celebrate the leap-day of Overlithe! The regularly occurring Lithe merrymaking days are a pleasure to be sure, but Overlithe brings with it an entire extra day for all the traditional summer festivities and more! Any Hobbit worth his pipe or her umbrella will make their way to the Party Tree just beneath The Hill north of Hobbiton to drink their fill of ale, scarf confectionaries, and perhaps play a game of bowls or two.

Hobbits for time immemorial have enjoyed parties of all kinds and with parties comes party planning! The best and biggest parties require the best and chiefest of party planners. Just so.

I’ve done away with the rest of the transcripted report as the writing meandered and plodded in a most unpleasant way. I recommend instead that you experience the Shire first hand rather than continuing to read this, frankly, shoddy account of Hobbit heritage.

If you do happen to find yourself in the Shire in the near future, it would certainly accommodate all prudence were you to be invited to a most regal occasion on the Party Field in sight of The Hill. I suppose you can consider this your invitation. I daresay my party will be managed better than this transcript. Honestly, it reminds me of how improperly that cousin of Otho’s has been talking about that whole business of heirdom on the Baggins side. Barring any unforeseen surprises from that fool of a cousin-in-law of mine, the whole of Bag End from the smial itself to that set of spoons, will be ours at last! 

Who in their right mind gave a volunteer, an outsider at that, permission to write who-knows-what about well-to-do Hobbits in the first place? Besmirching good names and dragging them through the mud! As if I didn’t have my hands full raising a child barely out of his faunt years, planning a party, and now serving as scrivener for an unprofessional volunteer of questionable qualification! Not even a mathom was offered for my services. Payment at best! Party favor at worst! Exchange for my services either way would have been good and proper. Really! Expecting to write a report hardly knowing cultural essentials and etiquette? Oh for pity’s sake!

I have included the invitation here for you to peruse at your leisure, and should I happen to make your acquaintance on Overlithe, I highly recommend the pie!