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[[Image:Greater Half-orcs.jpg|thumb|''Greater Half-orcs'' by Steve Otis]]
{{race infobox
| name=Half-orcs
| image=[[File:Steve Otis - Greater Half-orcs.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Greater Half-orcs" by [[Steve Otis]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| origin=
| location=[[Dunland]], [[Isengard]]
| affiliation=[[Saruman]]
| rivalry=
| language=
| people=
| members=
| lifespan=
| distinctions=Lynx-eyed{{fact}}
| height=Larger than normal orcs{{fact}}
| hair=
| skin=[[Wiktionary:Sallow|Sallow]]<ref name=TTIII9/><ref name=Knife/>
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
{{quote|Are they men he has ruined or has he blended the races of orcs and men?|[[Treebeard]] in ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Flotsam and Jetsam]]"}}


<small>''"'He looks more than half like a goblin.'"''<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref></small>
'''Half-orcs''' were among [[Saruman]]'s servants in the late [[Third Age]]. They were large men, lynx-eyed and evil.<ref name=TTIII9>{{TT|III9}}</ref>


'''Half-orcs''' were among [[Saruman]]'s servants in the late [[Third Age]], so named by [[Aragorn]].<ref name=TTIII9>{{TT|III9}}</ref>
Saruman's servants also included creatures known as [[Goblin-men]] who appeared to blend the traits of [[Men]] and [[Orcs]], but they were a different breed.<ref>{{TT|III7}}, [[Gamling]]: ''But these creatures of Isengard, these '''half-orcs''' and '''goblin-men''' that the foul craft of Saruman has bred.''</ref>
==History==
==History==
Among the [[Dunlendings]] who came to Saruman's banner of the [[White Hand]] in [[Isengard]], there were large men, lynx-eyed and evil, who were called ''half-orcs''.<ref name=TTIII9/> Many were counted among the strongest servants of Saruman. The half-orcs mostly perished at [[Battle of the Hornburg]], either before the fortress walls or by the [[Huorns]]. Yet some lived beyond that day of doom and followed [[Saruman]] into exile, even to the [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] lands of [[the Shire]], where they served the fallen [[Wizard]] until his last breath.{{fact}}
The origin and nature of the half-orcs is unknown. Back in the [[First Age]], [[Men]] could under the domination of [[Morgoth]] or his agents be reduced to a savage stage, and it was possible to mate with Orcs, producing stronger and larger Orcs, or vile and cunning Men.<ref name=myths/>


The true nature of the half-orcs is unknown. Perhaps they were Men whose blood, by the sorcery of Saruman, had become mixed with that of Orcs.<ref>[[David Day]] (1996), ''[[A Tolkien Bestiary]]''</ref>
Apparently Saruman learned or rediscovered this in the [[Third Age]] and bred Half-orcs and Goblin-men who served him.<ref name=myths/><ref>{{TT|III7}}</ref>
 
The [[Squint-eyed Southerner]] from [[Dunland]] was possibly a half-orc.<ref name=Knife>{{FR|I11}}</ref>
 
Half-orcs were among the [[Dunlendings]] who came to Saruman's banner of the [[White Hand]] in [[Isengard]].<ref name=TTIII9/> Many were counted among the strongest servants of Saruman. The half-orcs mostly perished at the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], either before the fortress walls or by the [[Huorns]].
 
More Half-orcs later followed [[Saruman]] into exile, and were among his [[Ruffians]] who occupied [[the Shire]].<ref>{{RK|VI8}}</ref>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
Concerning the origin of the half-orcs, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] suggested late in his life that:
{{Blockquote|It became clear in time that undoubted Men could under the domination of [[Morgoth]] or his agents in a few generations be reduced almost to the Orc-level of mind and habits; and then they would or could be made to mate with Orcs, producing new breeds, often larger and more cunning. There is no doubt that long afterwards, in the [[Third Age]], Saruman rediscovered this, or learned of it in lore, and in his lust for mastery committed this, his wickedest deed: the interbreeding of Orcs and Men, producing both Men-orcs large and cunning, and Orc-men treacherous and vile.<ref name=myths>{{MR|P5X}}, pp. 418-9</ref>}}


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Half-orcs in adaptations
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=3
|File:Liz Danforth - Half-orc.jpg|''Half-orc'' in the ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]''
|File:Omar Rayyan - Half-orcs.jpg|''Half-orcs'' in the ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Half-orc Bandit.jpg|''Half-orc Bandit'' in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
}}


'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Half-orcs (Sindarin ''Piryrch'', sing. ''Perorch'') are a crossbeed between Men and Orcs, being a distinct race in their own. Statistics are given for players choosing to be an Half-orc.<ref>{{ICE|2001}}, p. 177</ref>
: Half-orcs (Sindarin ''Piryrch'', sing. ''Perorch'') are a crossbeed between Men and Orcs, being a distinct race in their own. Game statistics are given for players choosing to be a Half-orc.<ref>{{ICE|2001}}, p. 177</ref>


'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Half-orcs and Greater Half-orcs are Orc Factions, playable by Fallen Wizards.
:Half-orcs and Greater Half-orcs are Orc Factions, playable by Fallen Wizards.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/searchCards|articlename=(Results from search for cards in the game Middle Earth)|dated=|website=[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/ Tradecardsoneline.com]|accessed=3 April 2014}}</ref>
 
'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Half-orcs were categorized as one of the varieties of Orc-kind, along with [[orcs]], goblins, and [[Uruk-hai|Uruks]]. Half-orc Bandits were found in the [[Lone-lands]].<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://lotro.mmodb.com/bestiary/half-orc-bandit-2019.php|articlename=Lord of the Rings Online Half-Orc Bandit|dated=|website=[http://lotro.mmodb.com/ Lotro.mmodb.com]|accessed=3 April 2014}}</ref> They were affiliated with [[Saruman]] and could be found in almost every region he had influence in. His half-orcs in [[Eriador]] included many in [[Dunland]], [[Enedwaith]], [[Eregion]], the Lone-lands, and [[Andrath]] in Bree-land. A small number of half-orcs could be found as far as Nan Gurth in [[Angmar]]. His half-orcs also could be found in [[Rohan]] as far east as the Sutcrofts in the [[Eastemnet]].
 
==See also==
*[[Goblin-men]]


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Orcs]]
[[Category:Orcs]]
[[Category:Servants of Saruman]]
[[Category:Servants of Saruman]]
[[de:Halborks]]
[[de:Halborks]]
[[fi:Puoliörkit]]
[[fi:Puoliörkit]]

Revision as of 09:43, 30 March 2021

Half-orcs
Race
Steve Otis - Greater Half-orcs.jpg
"Greater Half-orcs" by Steve Otis
General Information
LocationsDunland, Isengard
AffiliationSaruman
Physical Description
DistinctionsLynx-eyed[source?]
Average heightLarger than normal orcs[source?]
Skin colorSallow[1][2]
GalleryImages of Half-orcs
"Are they men he has ruined or has he blended the races of orcs and men?"
Treebeard in The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"

Half-orcs were among Saruman's servants in the late Third Age. They were large men, lynx-eyed and evil.[1]

Saruman's servants also included creatures known as Goblin-men who appeared to blend the traits of Men and Orcs, but they were a different breed.[3]

History

The origin and nature of the half-orcs is unknown. Back in the First Age, Men could under the domination of Morgoth or his agents be reduced to a savage stage, and it was possible to mate with Orcs, producing stronger and larger Orcs, or vile and cunning Men.[4]

Apparently Saruman learned or rediscovered this in the Third Age and bred Half-orcs and Goblin-men who served him.[4][5]

The Squint-eyed Southerner from Dunland was possibly a half-orc.[2]

Half-orcs were among the Dunlendings who came to Saruman's banner of the White Hand in Isengard.[1] Many were counted among the strongest servants of Saruman. The half-orcs mostly perished at the Battle of the Hornburg, either before the fortress walls or by the Huorns.

More Half-orcs later followed Saruman into exile, and were among his Ruffians who occupied the Shire.[6]

Other versions of the legendarium

Concerning the origin of the half-orcs, J.R.R. Tolkien suggested late in his life that:

It became clear in time that undoubted Men could under the domination of Morgoth or his agents in a few generations be reduced almost to the Orc-level of mind and habits; and then they would or could be made to mate with Orcs, producing new breeds, often larger and more cunning. There is no doubt that long afterwards, in the Third Age, Saruman rediscovered this, or learned of it in lore, and in his lust for mastery committed this, his wickedest deed: the interbreeding of Orcs and Men, producing both Men-orcs large and cunning, and Orc-men treacherous and vile.[4]

Portrayal in adaptations

Half-orcs in adaptations
Half-orc in the Middle-earth Role Playing  
Half-orc Bandit in The Lord of the Rings Online  

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Half-orcs (Sindarin Piryrch, sing. Perorch) are a crossbeed between Men and Orcs, being a distinct race in their own. Game statistics are given for players choosing to be a Half-orc.[7]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Half-orcs and Greater Half-orcs are Orc Factions, playable by Fallen Wizards.[8]

2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Half-orcs were categorized as one of the varieties of Orc-kind, along with orcs, goblins, and Uruks. Half-orc Bandits were found in the Lone-lands.[9] They were affiliated with Saruman and could be found in almost every region he had influence in. His half-orcs in Eriador included many in Dunland, Enedwaith, Eregion, the Lone-lands, and Andrath in Bree-land. A small number of half-orcs could be found as far as Nan Gurth in Angmar. His half-orcs also could be found in Rohan as far east as the Sutcrofts in the Eastemnet.

See also

References