Black Breath: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
 
mNo edit summary
(12 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The Nazgûl were surrounded by an aura of terror, which affected all living creatures; their breath (called the Black Breath) was poisonous, and their cries caused terror and despair in all who heard them.
{{quote|When the black breath blows</br>and death's shadow grows</br>and all lights pass,</br>come athelas! come athelas!</br>Life to the dying</br>In the king's hand lying!''|The herb-master in the [[Houses of Healing]], quoting "doggerel" spoken by [[Ioreth]]<ref name="House">{{RK|V8}}</ref>}}
 
 
The '''Black Breath''' was a weapon used by the [[Nazgûl]].  The Ringwraiths' breath was poisonous and could overpower those affected by it.
 
==History==
In the evening of [[29 September]] {{TA|3018}}<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] left [[the Prancing Pony]] and went for a stroll in [[Bree]].  He saw and followed (or was drawn by) a dark shadow, but then fell unconscious.  [[Aragorn|Strider]] stated that Merry had been overcome by the Black Breath.<ref>{{FR|I10}}</ref>
 
In the last retreat before the city of [[Minas Tirith]] was besieged, on [[13 March]] {{TA|3019|n}},<ref name="Great"/> [[Faramir]] was struck by a dart shot by one of the flying Nazgûl, which rendered him unconscious.<ref>{{RK|V4}}</ref>  After the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], on [[15 March]] {{TA|3019|n}},<ref name="Great"/> Aragorn came to the [[Houses of Healing]] and recognized that Faramir was suffering from the Black Breath.  Aragorn used ''[[athelas]]'' to cure Faramir, which led to the rapidly spread news that the King had returned.
 
Earlier, it appears that both Merry and [[Éowyn]] were exposed to the Black Breath when they fought the [[Witch-king]].  [[Aragorn]], after treating Faramir, also aided these two with ''athelas''.<ref name="House"/>
 
{{references}}
[[Category: Nazgûl]]
[[de:Schwarzer Anhauch]]
[[fi:Musta Hengitys]]

Revision as of 15:27, 28 July 2014

"When the black breath blows
and death's shadow grows
and all lights pass,
come athelas! come athelas!
Life to the dying
In the king's hand lying!''
"
― The herb-master in the Houses of Healing, quoting "doggerel" spoken by Ioreth[1]


The Black Breath was a weapon used by the Nazgûl. The Ringwraiths' breath was poisonous and could overpower those affected by it.

History

In the evening of 29 September T.A. 3018[2] Meriadoc Brandybuck left the Prancing Pony and went for a stroll in Bree. He saw and followed (or was drawn by) a dark shadow, but then fell unconscious. Strider stated that Merry had been overcome by the Black Breath.[3]

In the last retreat before the city of Minas Tirith was besieged, on 13 March 3019,[2] Faramir was struck by a dart shot by one of the flying Nazgûl, which rendered him unconscious.[4] After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, on 15 March 3019,[2] Aragorn came to the Houses of Healing and recognized that Faramir was suffering from the Black Breath. Aragorn used athelas to cure Faramir, which led to the rapidly spread news that the King had returned.

Earlier, it appears that both Merry and Éowyn were exposed to the Black Breath when they fought the Witch-king. Aragorn, after treating Faramir, also aided these two with athelas.[1]

References