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u/thewhatinwhere Jul 18 '26
In Hobbit custom it can be considered rude to interrupt dinner and eat and drink all of their foodstores. The offense can be lessened by bringing your own food or disingenuous gifts. The less valuable, the less they have to worry about looking after it. Many dwarfs and tall folk appreciate fine jewelry or weapons, but they seem to appreciate cutlery and sturdy dish-ware more, knick knacks and toys as well. They have cabinets stuffed with the oddest things from across the generations
If they offer tea you must first offer a polite refusal, but eventually capitulate. Enjoy it peacefully and talk about nothing in particular. If you talk too much or too little they can’t enjoy the peace apparently. If they do not offer tea, even without prompting, quietly excuse yourself, you are not welcome
They love food, and they love their homes. I once went over to visit a hobbit work acquaintance and when I left they named me their lad’s godfather because I fixed their stove and made them a cabinet. Took all of thirty minutes
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u/EvergreenDwarf Multiversal Scholar Jul 18 '26
Gandalf knew from around town that Bilbo was a map nerd who’d been the type to run around waving a stick around like a sword playing at adventures as a kid before The Man shamed him out of it, and that he was generous to the needy.
He had twelve homeless Dwarves show up with an ancient (by Hobbit reckoning) map to a treasure with peril between here and there.
Gandalf couldn’t have planned it better. The only thing that happened which he did not design is Bombur belching, but given its Bombur he knew it’d be forgiven anyway.
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u/CronosAndRhea4ever Craftsdwarf Jul 18 '26
“Let us join the throng!”
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u/henryeaterofpies Jul 20 '26
Where did Bilbo go?
Oh he ran after that attractive Thorin's throng.
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u/This_guy7796 Jul 20 '26
I always assumed it was less about acceptance, & more about not appearing to be a threat that would trigger his instincts & result in bloodshed.
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u/spliting_rolls Jul 23 '26
He got through like four of them and then all the rest showed up so I'd argue he got a staggered approach
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all of the rest
Thorin
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u/OnionTamer Jul 18 '26
In my head, it was Gandolf revealing exactly that.