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==Balrogs briefly==
{{cleanup}}
{{disambig-more|Balrog|[[Balrog (disambiguation)]]}}
{{people
|image=[[File:Thomas Rouillard - Valaraukar.jpg|250px]]
|name=Balrogs
|dominions=primarily [[Angband]],<br>[[Moria]] ([[Durin's Bane]])
|languages=
|height=twice the height of a man
|length=
|skincolor=
|haircolor=
|feathers=
|distinctions=Man-like, surrounded by shadow and fire
|lifespan=Immortal
|members=[[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], [[Durin's Bane]]
}}{{Pronounce|Balrog.mp3|Ardamir}}
The '''Balrogs''', or '''Balrogath''' ("Balrog-kind") were [[Maiar]] corrupted by [[Morgoth]] during the creation of [[Arda]], who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords.    Famed Balrogs include [[Gothmog]], slain by [[Ecthelion]], and [[Durin's Bane]], slain by [[Gandalf|Olórin]] (Gandalf).


A '''Balrog''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Demon of Might"; the [[Quenya]] form is '''''Valarauko''''' or '''''Valarauco'''''') was a tall, menacing creature made equally of fire and shadow and with a fiery [[Whip (implement)|whip]] of many thongs. They induced great terror in friends and foes alike and could shroud themselves in darkness and shadow. [[Gandalf]] defeated a Balrog while the Fellowship of the Ring escaped [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (specifically, in Book II, the second half of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'').
== History ==
Balrogs, also called [[Valaraukar]], were originally [[Maiar]],but they were seduced by [[Morgoth]], who corrupted them to his service before the coming of the [[Elves]]. They were originally gathered by him in his ancient fastness of [[Utumno]] during the [[Years of the Lamps]]. When this fortress was destroyed by the [[Valar]], they fled and lurked in the pits of [[Angband]].


The Balrogs were originally [[Maiar]], of the same order as [[Sauron]] and Gandalf, but they became seduced by [[Morgoth]], who corrupted them to his service in the days of his splendour before the coming of the [[Elves (Middle-earth)|Elves]].  During the [[First Age]], they were among the most feared of [[Morgoth]]'s forces.  When his fortress of [[Utumno]] was destroyed by the [[Valar]], many were destroyed, but some fled and lurked in the pits of [[Angband]] or escaped across the Blue mountains to eastern [[Middle-earth]]. In the third age the Dwarves of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Khazad-dûm]] awakened a Balrog while mining for [[Mithril]] and were cast out.
When [[Morgoth|Melkor]] and [[Ungoliant]] escaped from [[Valinor]] many years later with the [[Silmarils]], the Balrogs were still to be found in these pits. Ungoliant threatened Melkor, demanding the Silmarils for herself, but the Balrogs issued from their hiding-place and rescued their lord.


The Balrogs were first encountered by the Elves during the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] in the First Age. After the great victory of the [[Ñoldor]] over Morgoth's [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orc]]s, [[Fëanor]] pressed on towards [[Angband]], but the Balrogs came against him. He was mortally wounded by [[Gothmog]], Lord of Balrogs (the only Balrog known by his name). Though his sons fought off the demons of fire, Fëanor died of his wounds soon after, and his spirit departed for the [[Mandos|Halls of Mandos]].
The Balrogs were first encountered by Elves during the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] ("Battle under the Stars") in the First Age. After the victory of the [[Noldor|Noldorin Elves]] over Morgoth's [[Orcs]], the Elf Lord [[Fëanor]] pressed on towards Angband, but Balrogs came against him. He was surrounded by them and fought long before being mortally wounded by [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], Lord of Balrogs (the only Balrog known by name). Though Fëanor's sons fought off the demons of fire, Fëanor died of his wounds soon after.


Balrogs have been very elusive since the [[First Age]]; if Sauron had any in his service during the [[Second Age]] or the [[War of the Ring]], they were never revealed. Tolkien described only one Balrog after the War of Wrath: [[Durin's Bane]].  It is believed to have been the last Balrog in [[Middle-earth]] and is certainly the best-documented.
After the last battle of the First Age, some Balrogs escaped the Valar's wrath and hid deep underground, in inaccessible places at the roots of the earth. In the Third Age the [[Dwarves]] of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] unwittingly released a Balrog, [[Durin's Bane]], while mining for ''[[mithril]]'' and were driven out of Moria by the creature, which is the same Balrog that Gandalf battled in ''The Fellowship of the Ring''.


==Do Balrogs have wings?==
Just one Balrog appears after the First Age. If Sauron had any in his service during the [[Second Age]] or the [[War of the Ring]], they were never revealed. The sole Balrog described by Tolkien after the [[War of Wrath]] was named [[Durin's Bane]].


[[Image: balrog.png|thumb|300px|The Balrog from [[Peter Jackson|Peter Jackson's]] [[Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
== Other versions of the Legendarium ==
In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', "[[Lungorthin]], Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or if it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.


Discussion has occurred as to whether the Balrogs had [[wing]]s.  Nothing has been decided conclusively, although the Balrog in the [[Peter Jackson]] film version of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring (book)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', released in [[2001]], was clearly winged, albeit with 'wings of shadow', and certainly could not fly. That, however, proves nothing about the Balrogs Tolkien wrote about.
The Balrogs were originally envisioned as being immense in number:
 
{{quote|The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became: they existed in 'hundreds' (p. 170), and were slain by [[Tuor]] and the [[Gondolin|Gondothlim]] in large numbers: "thus five fell before Tuor's great axe [[Dramborleg]], three before [[Ecthelion]]'s sword, and two score were slain by the warriors of the king's house.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]'', commentary by Christopher Tolkien on "The Fall of Gondolin"}}
The debate mainly comes from ''The [[Bridge]] of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Khazad-dûm]]'', a chapter in ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. There are two references in this chapter.
{{quote|There came wolves and serpents and there came Balrogs one thousand, and there came Glomund the Father of Dragons.|''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]'', ''Quenta Silmarillion'', Chapter 16, §15}}
 
"His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings." ''The Lord of the Rings'' II 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
 
There is nothing special in this on its own. The Balrog carried with itself a shadow that assumed a winglike form. The next reference is what forms the debate.
 
"...suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall..."  ''The Lord of the Rings'' II 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
 
Readers usually make their own interpretations about this and feel it to be quite obvious. However, this can be seen in two possible ways. For some, the Balrog has a shadow that assumes a winglike form. Later, this shadow is spread from wall to wall. Others, however, think that the Balrog has actual wings that are spread from wall to wall. There is no real conclusion to the debate and it will probably continue as long as Tolkien has readers.


===Arguments ''for'' Balrog wings===
As the [[legendarium]] became more formidable and internally consistent, and the Balrogs more terrible, this number was much reduced. In the end Tolkien stated that there were probably "at most" seven Balrogs:
The most common argument for those supporting Balrog wings is the second reference in ''The Bridge of Khazad-dûm''. The people supporting Balrog wings believe the sentence to mean that the Balrog had literal wings spreading from wall to wall. There are also other references that may be taken as evidence of Balrog wings. These usually involve discussions about references to speed of travel:
{{quote|In the margin my father wrote: 'There should not be supposed more than say 3 or at most 7 ever existed.'|''[[Morgoth's Ring]]'', Section 2 (AAm*): note 50}}


"Swiftly they arose, and they passed with winged speed over Hithlum, and they came to Lammoth as a tempest of fire." ''The History of Middle-earth Volume X (Morgoth's Ring), The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Rape of the Silmarils''
It should, however, be noted that these texts postdate the published ''The Lord of the Rings'', but predate the materials from which the published ''The Silmarillion'' was drawn. The exact number of Balrogs is therefore very uncertain, but Tolkien's note above seems to have been his final word.


Here, the Balrogs are said to move "with winged speed". This is usually taken as a metaphor for moving very quickly, but there are people who believe this is a strong argument for Balrog wings.
==Etymology==
Balrog is [[Sindarin]] for "Demon of Might" from ''[[balan|bal-]]'', "power" and ''[[raug]], [[rog]]'', "demon".


===Arguments ''against'' Balrog wings===
The [[Quenya]] form '''''[[Valarauko]]''''' points to a possible [[Primitive Quendian]] form *''balaraukô''.


The first reference to the Balrog is one of the main arguments against wings, as it explicitly refers to "wings of shadow" instead of physical wings. Another common argument is that Balrogs are never exactly described as flying, unless one assumes "winged speed" means flying. There are also numerous situations where a Balrog could have either saved or helped itself by flying but didn't do so.
In the earlier [[The Etymologies|Etymologies]], the word Balrog was derived from ''[[ñgwalaraukô]]'',<ref>{{HM|LR}}, [[The Etymologies]], RUK</ref> but this is inconsistent with Quenya ''Valarauko''.


"Many are the songs that have been sung of the duel of [[Glorfindel]] with the Balrog upon a pinnacle of rock in that high place; and both fell to ruin in the abyss." Quenta Silmarillion 23 "Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
A list of [[Old English]] equivalents of [[Elvish]] words, glosses ''[[Balrogs|Balrog]]'' as having the equivalent ''Bealuwearg'' and ''Bealubroga''. As noted by [[Christopher Tolkien]], the Old English word contains the elements ''bealu'' ("evil"; as in ''bale(ful)'') and ''wearg'' ("wolf, outlaw") or ''broga'' ("terror").<ref>{{SM|QA1}}, p. 209</ref>


"I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place, and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin." ''The Lord of the Rings'' III 5 "The White Rider"
==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery>File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Balrog.jpg|A Balrog as envisioned in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Balrog.jpg|<center>A Balrog as envisioned in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
File:Thaurlach.jpg|<center>The Balrog Thaurlach from ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery>


In both the duel with Glorfindel and with Gandalf, the Balrog fell from a great height and did not use its wings. Obviously, it is possible that the wings could not be used for flying. This could be due to its size or its current physical condition (injury or exhaustion as a result of combat). However, even the size of Balrogs are a matter of dispute. Tolkien gives a few statements of the Balrog's size.
If adaptations were to be counted as canon, the matter of Balrog wings would be decided.


"[the Balrog] strode to the fissure, no more than man-high yet terror seemed to go before it." ''The History of Middle-earth Volume VII (The Treason of Isengard), X The Mines of Moria II: The Bridge''
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Balrog has wings and appears capable of limited flight. The head resembles a lion but the rest of the body was rendered in matte black, a technique commonly used for shadowy surreal effect in rotoscope animation.


This does not appear in the published version of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', so it may or may not be taken as a proof. Also, when the Balrog engages the Fellowship, it passes through an entrance.  
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Durin's Bane has wings, albeit wings that were purely decorative as the Balrog could not fly. [[Peter Jackson|Jackson]]'s Demon of Might was indistinct, a real blend of shadow and fire. Only its horned head, cloven feet, and clawed hands could clearly be seen.


The entrance is sized so that "...orcs one after another leaped into the chamber." ''The Lord of the Rings'' II 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" and "...clustered in the doorway." ''The Lord of the Rings'' II 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm". Though these statements are open to interpretation, it is conjectured that Balrogs cannot be very large (clearly not as large as portrayed in [[Peter Jackson]]'s movie) to fit through such an entrance. The Balrog's size matters both because a large size would make it unlikely that its wings were functional, and also because during the confrontation with Gandalf, its wings were said to span the width of the chasm. Physical wings on such a small creature could not possibly do this, thus the belief that they are metaphorical wings of shadow.
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:The Balrog has, once again, wings. The fight sequence, in which the player is Gandalf, takes considerably longer: only after a short fight on the bridge does Gandalf let it collapse.  


Some think the strongest objection is the simplest: that taking references like the second statement seriously mean that all lines must be taken literally. For example, shortly before the Balrog's appearance, "Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the Company." Few would believe that Gandalf literally flew.
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
 
:The chase up the [[Endless Stair]] and the slime Balrog were omitted due to budget constraints.{{fact}} However, part of Gandalf's battle with the Balrog is shown at the beginning of the film, and the fight atop Zirak-Zigil is seen in a flashback after Gandalf's return.
==Miscellaneous==
 
In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', "'''[[Lungothrin]]''', Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. It is not, however, certain if it was another name for '''Gothmog''', or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.
 
The Balrogs were originally envisioned as being immense in number:


"The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became: they existed in 'hundreds' (p. 170), and were slain by [[Tuor]] and the [[Gondolin|Gondothlim]] in large numbers: "thus five fell before Tuor's great axe [[Dramborleg]], three before [[Ecthelion]]'s sword, and two [[score]] were slain by the warrior's of the king's house."
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's The War of the Ring]]'':'''
[[The Book of Lost Tales]] 2, commentary by Christopher Tolkien on ''The Fall of Gondolin''.
:Balrog is the most powerful magical power available to Servants of Sauron. They have horns and wings.


"There came wolves and serpents and there came Balrogs one thousand, and there came Glomund the Father of Dragons." [[The Lost Road]], ''Quenta Silmarillion'' chapter 16, §15.
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age]]'':'''
:The players assist Gandalf in his fight with the Balrog.


As the legendarium became more formidable and internally consistent, and the Balrogs more terrible, this number was much reduced. In the end Tolkien stated that there were probably "at most" seven Balrogs:
'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Balrog is the most powerful magical power available to both Mordor an Isengard faction. Visual appearance follows the movie version.


"In the margin my father wrote: 'There should not be supposed more than say 3 or at most 7 ever existed.'" [[Morgoth's Ring]], Section 2 (AAm*): note 50 (just before section 3).
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Unlike the original game, Balrog is not available to Isengard faction, but only to Mordor and the new Goblin factions.


It should however be noted that these texts postdate the published ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', but predate the materials from which the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' was drawn. The exact number of Balrogs is therefore very uncertain, but Tolkien's note above seems to have been his final word. However, the number of 3 would require the rewriting of much of the Silmarillion, and even the number of 7 causes conflicts. At least two Balrogs were killed at Gondolin, part of a group of more. All others save one were destroyed during the [[War of Wrath]], and yet there were still enough there to allow [[Durin VI|Durin]]'s [[Bane]] to flee from the [[battle]] unnoticed. While "thousands" clearly is not according to author intent a more probable number, taking into account the writings, is that there were at least a dozen.
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Durin's Bane can be observed in two "session plays" (player character not present): one depicts the awakening of the Balrog by Dwarves under [[Durin]] VI, the other depicts dwarves of [[Balin]]'s company fleeing from the ancient evil. After Gandalf defeats him, the lifeless body of [[Durin's Bane]] can be found on the slopes of [[Zirakzigil]]. Despite the players knowing the Balrog dead, another Servant of Sauron tests their will and fears, by portraying an illusion of it. In the illusion, the fight between Gandalf and the Balrog on the [[Endless Stair]] is recreated, until it ends the opposite way of the actual event: the Balrog defeats the Wizard, throwing his lifeless body from Zirakzigil. Players have to defeat the Balrog in order to combat the illusion.
:The game also features another Balrog: named Thaurlach, he can be found in the Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu, where [[Angmar]] meets [[Misty Mountains]]. He fled there are the breaking of [[Thangorodrim]], but was followed by an elf-maiden Glathlírel who was determined to end him. The Balrog eluded her for millennia, until she was able to face him in combat and defeat him. Rather than kill the Balrog, the two Blue Wizards decided to imprison him in the Rift, so that he could await his judgment at the end of days. However, by the end of the Third Age his chains were loosing and a band of players was sent to defeat the weakened Balrog - something, that as Gandalf remarked, should have been done ages ago.


==F.A.Q.==
'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
===Are there any Balrogs left in Middle-earth?
:Balrog is one of the "heroes" available to Servants of Sauron during evil campaign. Appearance reflects the movie version.
Yes, there is still a possibility that [[Balrogs]] are still lurking out there. After the [[Last Battle of the First Age]] some Balrogs escaped the [[Valar]]'s grasps and hid deep underground. [[The Silmarillion]] tells us that,
:"The Balrogs were destroyed, save some few that fled and hid themselves in caverns inaccessible at the roots of the earth..."


== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Balrogs|Images of Balrogs]]
* [[Balrogs/Wings]]
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/TAB.html The Truth About Balrogs] essay series by Conrad Dunkerson.
* Conrad Dunkerson, ''[http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/TAB.html The Truth About Balrogs]''


{{references}}
{{ainur}}
[[Category:Balrogs]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[de:Balrog]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:ainur:maiar:balrogs]]
[[fi:Balrogit]]

Revision as of 23:43, 4 January 2016

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Balrog refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Balrog (disambiguation).


Balrogs
People
Thomas Rouillard - Valaraukar.jpg
General Information
MembersGothmog, Durin's Bane
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
DistinctionsMan-like, surrounded by shadow and fire
Average heighttwice the height of a man
GalleryImages of Balrogs

The Balrogs, or Balrogath ("Balrog-kind") were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Olórin (Gandalf).

History

Balrogs, also called Valaraukar, were originally Maiar,but they were seduced by Morgoth, who corrupted them to his service before the coming of the Elves. They were originally gathered by him in his ancient fastness of Utumno during the Years of the Lamps. When this fortress was destroyed by the Valar, they fled and lurked in the pits of Angband.

When Melkor and Ungoliant escaped from Valinor many years later with the Silmarils, the Balrogs were still to be found in these pits. Ungoliant threatened Melkor, demanding the Silmarils for herself, but the Balrogs issued from their hiding-place and rescued their lord.

The Balrogs were first encountered by Elves during the Dagor-nuin-Giliath ("Battle under the Stars") in the First Age. After the victory of the Noldorin Elves over Morgoth's Orcs, the Elf Lord Fëanor pressed on towards Angband, but Balrogs came against him. He was surrounded by them and fought long before being mortally wounded by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs (the only Balrog known by name). Though Fëanor's sons fought off the demons of fire, Fëanor died of his wounds soon after.

After the last battle of the First Age, some Balrogs escaped the Valar's wrath and hid deep underground, in inaccessible places at the roots of the earth. In the Third Age the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm unwittingly released a Balrog, Durin's Bane, while mining for mithril and were driven out of Moria by the creature, which is the same Balrog that Gandalf battled in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Just one Balrog appears after the First Age. If Sauron had any in his service during the Second Age or the War of the Ring, they were never revealed. The sole Balrog described by Tolkien after the War of Wrath was named Durin's Bane.

Other versions of the Legendarium

In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, Lay of the Children of Húrin, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or if it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to Christopher Tolkien, the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.

The Balrogs were originally envisioned as being immense in number:

"The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became: they existed in 'hundreds' (p. 170), and were slain by Tuor and the Gondothlim in large numbers: "thus five fell before Tuor's great axe Dramborleg, three before Ecthelion's sword, and two score were slain by the warriors of the king's house."
The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, commentary by Christopher Tolkien on "The Fall of Gondolin"
"There came wolves and serpents and there came Balrogs one thousand, and there came Glomund the Father of Dragons."
The Lost Road and Other Writings, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 16, §15

As the legendarium became more formidable and internally consistent, and the Balrogs more terrible, this number was much reduced. In the end Tolkien stated that there were probably "at most" seven Balrogs:

"In the margin my father wrote: 'There should not be supposed more than say 3 or at most 7 ever existed.'"
Morgoth's Ring, Section 2 (AAm*): note 50

It should, however, be noted that these texts postdate the published The Lord of the Rings, but predate the materials from which the published The Silmarillion was drawn. The exact number of Balrogs is therefore very uncertain, but Tolkien's note above seems to have been his final word.

Etymology

Balrog is Sindarin for "Demon of Might" from bal-, "power" and raug, rog, "demon".

The Quenya form Valarauko points to a possible Primitive Quendian form *balaraukô.

In the earlier Etymologies, the word Balrog was derived from ñgwalaraukô,[1] but this is inconsistent with Quenya Valarauko.

A list of Old English equivalents of Elvish words, glosses Balrog as having the equivalent Bealuwearg and Bealubroga. As noted by Christopher Tolkien, the Old English word contains the elements bealu ("evil"; as in bale(ful)) and wearg ("wolf, outlaw") or broga ("terror").[2]

Portrayal in adaptations

If adaptations were to be counted as canon, the matter of Balrog wings would be decided.

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

The Balrog has wings and appears capable of limited flight. The head resembles a lion but the rest of the body was rendered in matte black, a technique commonly used for shadowy surreal effect in rotoscope animation.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Durin's Bane has wings, albeit wings that were purely decorative as the Balrog could not fly. Jackson's Demon of Might was indistinct, a real blend of shadow and fire. Only its horned head, cloven feet, and clawed hands could clearly be seen.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

The Balrog has, once again, wings. The fight sequence, in which the player is Gandalf, takes considerably longer: only after a short fight on the bridge does Gandalf let it collapse.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

The chase up the Endless Stair and the slime Balrog were omitted due to budget constraints.[source?] However, part of Gandalf's battle with the Balrog is shown at the beginning of the film, and the fight atop Zirak-Zigil is seen in a flashback after Gandalf's return.

2003: Sierra's The War of the Ring:

Balrog is the most powerful magical power available to Servants of Sauron. They have horns and wings.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age:

The players assist Gandalf in his fight with the Balrog.

2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth:

Balrog is the most powerful magical power available to both Mordor an Isengard faction. Visual appearance follows the movie version.

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

Unlike the original game, Balrog is not available to Isengard faction, but only to Mordor and the new Goblin factions.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Durin's Bane can be observed in two "session plays" (player character not present): one depicts the awakening of the Balrog by Dwarves under Durin VI, the other depicts dwarves of Balin's company fleeing from the ancient evil. After Gandalf defeats him, the lifeless body of Durin's Bane can be found on the slopes of Zirakzigil. Despite the players knowing the Balrog dead, another Servant of Sauron tests their will and fears, by portraying an illusion of it. In the illusion, the fight between Gandalf and the Balrog on the Endless Stair is recreated, until it ends the opposite way of the actual event: the Balrog defeats the Wizard, throwing his lifeless body from Zirakzigil. Players have to defeat the Balrog in order to combat the illusion.
The game also features another Balrog: named Thaurlach, he can be found in the Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu, where Angmar meets Misty Mountains. He fled there are the breaking of Thangorodrim, but was followed by an elf-maiden Glathlírel who was determined to end him. The Balrog eluded her for millennia, until she was able to face him in combat and defeat him. Rather than kill the Balrog, the two Blue Wizards decided to imprison him in the Rift, so that he could await his judgment at the end of days. However, by the end of the Third Age his chains were loosing and a band of players was sent to defeat the weakened Balrog - something, that as Gandalf remarked, should have been done ages ago.

2009: The Lord of the Rings: Conquest:

Balrog is one of the "heroes" available to Servants of Sauron during evil campaign. Appearance reflects the movie version.

See Also

External links

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, The Etymologies, RUK
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names", p. 209
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar