All right, before we get started, I've got some big news.

Have you been on the fence about getting ad-free episodes and almost 200 bonus episodes on Patreon?

Well, you're in luck.

50% off for your first month when you sign up this month by the end of December.

We're doing a little sale for the holidays, and now you can get 50% off.

All you have to do is head to patreon.com

slash L-O-T-R Lourcast.

Patreon.com slash L-O-T-R-LORcast.

There's links in the description of each episode and sign up using the code, Bilbo.

Easy to remember, all caps, B-I-L-B-O, and you can get 50% off, or somebody you want to gift this to could get 50% off

for the holidays of your first month.

That means add-free episodes, half off, or almost 200 bonus episodes for half-off for

the first month.

I don't do deals like this very often, so take advantage of it, and if you've been considering

helping to support the show and get a bunch of cool stuff

for it, now's your chance.

So thanks for being here, and let's get on with the show.

Welcome to the Lord of the Rings lore cast, the show that explores the background of Tolkien's amazing world from the very beginning.

We are very close to the end of The Hobbit.

And it's hard to believe that it's been a year and a half.

We started in July of 2024.

It's been, I don't know, we started on episode 114.

...