The hobbits—Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin—return to their homeland of the Shire. They find it ravaged by men, who have invaded and set up an oppressive regime. The hobbits lead a rebellion, and in the process of defeating the invaders, they learn that their leader is the wizard Saruman, defeated by the hobbits and their companions in The Two Towers. Frodo decides not to kill Saruman, only for the wizard to be murdered by his despised servant, Wormtongue.