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Sting

2009-09-01T15:00:48Z

Calatur: Link edit

[[Image:John Howe - Sting.jpg|thumb|''Sting'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Sting''' was an [[Elvish]] knife that was probably made in [[Gondolin]] in the [[First Age]]. Its maker and original bearer are unknown.

In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Thorin and Company]] found Sting in a [[Troll]]-hoard along with the other Elvish blades [[Glamdring]] and [[Orcrist]] (which went to [[Gandalf]] and [[Thorin Oakenshield]], respectively). Although it was just a dagger by the standard of [[Men]] or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a [[Hobbit]]. [[Bilbo Baggins]] bore the weapon for the remainder of the quest, first using it to keep [[Gollum]] at bay under the [[Misty Mountains]]. Later, Bilbo gave it the name ''Sting'', after killing a [[Giant Spiders|Giant Spider]] in [[Mirkwood]].

In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Bilbo gave Sting to his nephew, [[Frodo Baggins]], just before the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set off from [[Rivendell]]. Fear of Sting helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily). It also helped Frodo and [[Samwise Gamgee]] escape from Shelob's lair, and Sam used it to seriously wound Shelob in combat. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the [[Third Age]], it remained with Sam. He may have taken it with him to the [[Undying Lands]], or it may have remained as an heirloom of the [[Gardner Family]].

==Special Properties==

Sting had the (apparently) magic ability to detect the presence of [[Orcs]] in its vicinity. When Orcs were nearby, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of [[Moria]]. Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of [[Ungoliant]], such as the spiders of [[Mirkwood]] in [[The Hobbit]] and [[Shelob]] in [[The Two Towers]].

Sting also performed better than ordinary weapons in combat and against odd materials; it cut through the webs of giant spiders easily, whereas the [[Daggers of Westernesse|blade]] that Sam brought from the [[Barrow Downs]] failed to cut through Shelob's webs.

==Portrayal in Adaptions==

In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Sting is leaf-shaped. Upon its crossguard are engraved the [[Sindarin]] words:

''Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im''

Which is translated "[[Maegnas]] is my name, I am the spider's bane".

{{weapons}}

[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]

[[de:Stich]]
[[fr:encyclo:artefacts:armes:dard]]
[[fi:Piikki]]

Balrogs

2009-06-16T19:41:50Z

Calatur: Changed "wing"-link

{{cleanup}}
{{redirect|Balrog|the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog of Moria]] or [[Balrog (band)|bands named Balrog]]}}
{{race
|image=[[Image:Rob_Alexander_-_The_Balrog_of_Moria.jpg|250px]]
|name=Balrogs
|dominions=
|languages=
|height=
|length=
|skincolor=
|haircolor=
|feathers=
|distinctions=Surrounded by fire, shadow, and fear
|lifespan=Immortal
|members=[[Gothmog (Lord of Balrogs)|Gothmog]], [[Durin's Bane]]
}}{{Pronounce|Balrog.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Balrogs''', or '''Balrogath''' were menacing creatures about twice the height of a man consisting of fire and shadow. Balrogs induced great terror in all and were among [[Morgoth]]'s most feared minions. The wizard Gandalf fell fighting a Balrog when the Fellowship escaped [[Moria]] in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. In the First Age notable Elf Lords [[Ecthelion of the Fountain|Ecthelion]] and [[Glorfindel]] each fell fighting separate Balrogs during the sack of [[Gondolin]].

== History ==
Balrogs were originally [[Maiar]] spirits, of the same order as [[Sauron]] and [[Gandalf|Olórin]] (Gandalf), but they were seduced by [[Morgoth]], who corrupted them to his service in ancient times before the coming of the [[Elves]]. During the [[First Age]], they were among the most feared of Morgoth's servants. When Morgoth's fortress of [[Angband]] was destroyed by the [[Valar]] in the First Age, most Balrogs 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 [[Khazad-dûm]] unwittingly released a Balrog while mining for ''[[mithril]]'' and were driven out of Moria by the creature. This is the same Balrog that Gandalf ultimately encountered in The Fellowship of the Ring.

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 Balrogs and fought long before being mortally wounded by [[Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs|Gothmog]], Lord of Balrogs (the only Balrog known by name). Though Feanor's sons fought off the demons of fire, Fëanor died of his wounds soon after, and his spirit departed for the [[Halls of Mandos]].

Just one Balrog appears after the First Age in Tolkien's writings. 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 [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] after the [[War of Wrath]] was [[Durin's Bane]]. It is possible that it was the last Balrog in [[Middle-earth]].

After the last battle of the First Age some Balrogs escaped the [[Valar]]'s wrath and hid deep underground inaccessible at the roots of the earth.

Of the 'few' that remained only one, '[[Durin's Bane]],' was revealed in the process. Thus there may be other Balrogs lurking in Middle-Earth.

== 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 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:
{{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 of the Fountain|Ecthelion's]] sword, and two score were slain by the warrior's of the king's house.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales 2]]'', commentary by Christopher Tolkien on "The Fall of Gondolin"}}
{{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}}

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:
{{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}}

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. Others were destroyed during the [[War of Wrath]], and the Balrog that ultimately became Durin's Bane fled from that battle unnoticed. While "thousands" clearly is not according to the author's intent a more probable number, taking into account the writings, is that there were at least a dozen.

==Etymology==
Balrog is [[Sindarin]] for "Demon of Might"; [[bal]] = power; [[rog]] = demon; the [[Quenya]] form is '''''[[Valarauko]]''''' or '''''Valarauco'''''
== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Peter Jackson's Balrog.jpg|thumb|A Balrog as envisioned in [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
If adaptations were to be counted as canon, the matter of Balrog wings would be decided.

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
: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: ''[[Peter Jackson's 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.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
: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 odes Gandalf let it collapse.

'''2002: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]]'':'''
:The chase up the [[Endless Stair]] and the slime Balrog were omitted due to budget constraints.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring|Sierra's The War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Balrogs are evil units. They have horns and wings.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The Balrog is a red demon with wings and horns.

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Balrogs|Images of Balrogs]]
*[[Balrogs/wings]]

==References==
<small><references/></small>
== External Links ==
* [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/TAB.html The Truth About Balrogs], an essay series by Conrad Dunkerson.

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

Nazgûl

2009-06-12T13:36:56Z

Calatur:

{{race
|image=[[Image:Diego Iaconfcic - Black Riders.jpg|300px]]
|name=Nazgûl
|dominions=[[Angmar]], [[Dol Guldur]], [[Minas Morgul]]
|languages=[[Black Speech]], [[Westron]]
|height=Man-high
|length=
|skincolor=
|haircolor=
|feathers=
|distinctions=Without physical form
|lifespan=Indefinite
|members=[[Witch-king of Angmar]], [[Khamûl]]
}}

<center>{{quote| 'They come from [[Mordor]],' said [[Aragorn II|Strider]] in a low voice. 'From Mordor, [[Barliman Butterbur|Barliman]], if that means anything to you.' |''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Strider (chapter)|Strider]]}}</center>
The '''Nazgûl''' ([[Black Speech]]: '''Ringwraiths''', sometimes written '''''Ring-wraiths'''''), also known as the '''Nine Riders''' or '''Black Riders''' (or simply '''the Nine'''), are evil servants of [[Sauron]] in [[Middle-earth]]. The rarely used [[Quenya]] name for them is '''''Úlairi'''''. The Nazgûl are [[Sauron]]'s "most terrible servants".

== History ==
The nine Nazgûl arose as Sauron's most powerful servants in the [[Second Age]] of Middle-earth. It is said that three of the Nine were lords of [[Númenor]] corrupted by Sauron. They were all powerful mortal [[Men]] to whom Sauron gave nine [[Rings of Power]]. These proved to be their undoing:
{{quote|Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing. They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men; but too often they beheld only the phantoms and delusions of Sauron. And one by one, sooner or later, according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning, they fell under the thralldom of the ring that they bore and of the domination of the One which was Sauron's. And they became forever invisible save to him that wore the Ruling Ring, and they entered into the realm of shadows. The Nazgûl were they, the Ringwraiths, the Enemy's most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"}}

[[Image:John Howe - Nazgul.jpg|thumb|left|''Nazgûl'' by [[John Howe]]]]
For many years the bearers used the rings to gain great wealth, prestige and power. The corrupting effect of the rings caused their bodily forms to fade over time until they had become wraiths entirely. Given form only through the attire of black cloaks and hauberks of silver mail, their original form was completely gone and invisible to mortal eyes. Their hypnotic eyes could be plainly distinguished from their dark clothing, and in a rage they appeared in a hellish fire. Untouchable to mortal men (unless blessed by weapons or tools of the ancient [[Elves]] of the [[First Age]] or by the [[Dunedain]], such as the barrow-blade used by [[Merry]] on the [[Witch-king of Angmar]]), they had many weapons, which included long swords of steel and flame, daggers with venomous properties, and black maces of great strength.

Their arsenal of deadly armaments was not confined to physical means; they also had seemingly magical weapons of devastating power. They 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. Some of the Nazgûl appear to have been accomplished sorcerers and used magic to devastating effect. According to Tolkien, though, it was the fear they inspired that was the chief danger:
{{quote|They have no great physical power against the fearless," he wrote, "but what they have, and the fear that they inspire, is enormously increased in darkness|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

The Nazgûl first appeared around 2251 of the [[Second Age]] and were soon established as Sauron's principal servants. They were dispersed after the first overthrow of Sauron in 3441 at the hands of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]], but their survival was nonetheless assured while the [[One Ring]] persisted. They re-emerged around 1300 of the [[Third Age]], when the Lord of the Nazgûl, the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], led Sauron's forces against the human kingdom of [[Arnor]]. He was eventually defeated in battle in 1975 and returned to [[Mordor]], gathering the other Nazgûl in preparation for the return of Sauron to that realm. In 2000, they besieged [[Minas Ithil]] and captured it after a two-year siege. The city thereafter became the stronghold of the Nazgûl, from where they directed the rebuilding of Sauron's armies, also acquiring a [[palantíri|palantír]] for the Dark Lord.

In 2942 Sauron returned to Mordor and declared himself openly in 2951. Two or three of the Nazgûl were sent to his fortress at [[Dol Guldur]] to garrison that outpost.

In 3017, near the beginning of the story told in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Sauron commanded the Ringwraiths to recover the [[One Ring]] of Power from "Baggins of the Shire". Disguised as horse riders clad in black (hence the term ''Black Riders''), they sought out [[Bilbo Baggins]] who, as [[Gollum]] had revealed, had the One Ring in his possession.

[[Image:Ted_Nasmith_-_The_Nazgûl.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''The Nazgûl'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The Nazgûl at this point were dependent on their black horses (stolen from [[Rohan]]) for transportation. When they were swept away by the waters of the river [[Bruinen]], their horses were killed. The Ringwraiths were forced to return to Mordor to regroup. They reappeared later mounted on [[Fell beasts|flying creatures]], at which point they were referred to as '''Winged Nazgûl'''.

By the conclusion of the [[War of the Ring]], all of the Nine Nazgûl were destroyed. The [[Witch-king_of_Angmar|Lord of the Nazgûl]] himself was slain by [[Éowyn]], the niece of King [[Théoden]] (with help from [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], known as "The Magnificent" thereafter) during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. The remaining eight Ringwraiths attacked the Army of the West during the last battle at the [[Black Gate]]. However, when [[Frodo Baggins]] put on the ring in the fires of [[Mount Doom]], Sauron ordered the eight remaining Nazgûl to fly with all possible speed to Mount Doom to intercept Frodo. They arrived too late, with the Ring falling into the fire along with the hapless Gollum. The Nazgûl were caught in the firestorm of the erupting mountain and were destroyed.

== Identities ==

Only a few of the Nazgûl are named or identified individually in Tolkien's works. Their leader was the [[Witch-king of Angmar]], and his second in command was named [[Khamûl]]. At least three of them were of [[Black Númenóreans|Black Númenórean]] race{{fact}}. Khamûl was a lord of [[Easterlings]], and was the only Nazgûl known by his name.

[[Gothmog, Lieutenant of Morgul]], may have been one of the Nazgûl. It is also possible that either [[Herumor (Black Númenórean)|Herumor]] or [[Fuinur]], or both, became Nazgûl. They were renegade Númenóreans who rose to great power among the Haradrim and it is highly likely that Sauron would have wanted them as Ringwraiths.

== Powers and Abilities ==

The Nazgûl existed mostly in the wraith world (the [[Unseen]]), making them extremely difficult to harm. Ordinary weapons would not hurt them, and even weapons of [[Númenórean]] manufacture would be destroyed if they passed through the wraith forms of the Nazgûl. They could not, however, interact normally with the material world (the [[Seen]]): they needed garments and weapons provided by Sauron to give them form. Consequently, they could be defeated by attacks that destroyed their disguises, forcing them to return to [[Sauron]] to receive new ones.

The Nazgûl spread terror in mortal creatures merely by their presence. Only specially trained horses or the [[fell beasts]] of [[Mordor]] could bear them. They caused panic and despair in their enemies simply by flying overhead, and only individuals of great courage could face them in combat.

They were also poisonous to mortal beings, causing a condition known as the [[Black Breath]]. Merely being in the vicinity of one of them could cause disorientation and illness. Intense exposure could be lethal.

The Nazgûl had poor vision in the material world, but they were acutely aware of the beings with a presence in the wraith world, like the wearer of the [[One Ring]] and certain elves. Anyone who could see into the wraith world could see the Nazgûl as they had appeared in their mortal lives.

The [[Witch King]] could also affect matter with his voice, shattering the dagger that Frodo had gotten in the [[Barrow Downs]] and weakening the gates of [[Minas Tirith]]. Whether other Nazgûl could perform similar feats is unknown.

== Other Titles ==
* The Ringwraiths
* The Black Riders
* The Fell Riders
* The Nine Riders
* The Black Wings
* The Shadows
* The Nine
* The Nine Servants of the Lord of the Rings
* The Shriekers
* [[Úlairi]] ([[Quenya]])

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The Nine are clad in brown and black, and have red eyes. The attack on ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' is their deed, not that of any accomplices.

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]''
:The Nine are skull headed demons, who ride winged horses. The Witch-king himself rides a dragon-like creature, and has no face. Only a suspended crown and two red eyes can be seen. The Nazgûl have the [[Red Eye]] of [[Barad-dûr]] rather than the emblem of [[Minas Morgul]].

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The role of the Ringwraiths was expanded with material from ''[[The Hunt for the Ring]]''.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
:Black Riders form a threat in the Shire-stages of the game, where they need to be avoided by the player (in the persona of [[Frodo Baggins]]), and as the end boss for the game (in the persona of [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]]). They are tall and robed in black, and nothing is seen underneath.

'''2001-3: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The Nazgûl serve as the suspense in the first half of [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|the first film]]. Their dialogue is changed; the conversation with [[Gaffer Gamgee]] is omitted, and the conversation with [[Farmer Maggot]] is reduced. The Nine have an iconic scream, provided by [[Fran Walsh]]. Under their robes, they are pale white ghostly creatures.

:After the death of the Witch-king, the other eight are taken out by [[eagles]] and debris from [[Mount Doom]], however, nothing is told of their individual fates.

'''2004: ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:The Mordor faction has two different Nazgûl units: "Witch-king on Fell Beast" and "Nazgûl on Fell Beast". They are primarily used for scouting and surprise attacks.

'''2006: ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:A new Ringwriath is introduced in the expansion pack, ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]''. Morgomir is the "Lieutenant of Carn-Dûm", the right-hand man of the Witch-king, of [[Black Númenórean]] descent. The design is similar to that in [[Peter Jackson]]'s films: he is hooded and cloaked when he works for the Mordor faction, and white and ghostly when he fights for Angmar.

===Middle-earth Role Playing===
The [[Middle-earth Role Playing]] games by [[Iron Crown Enterprises]] name the eight, other than Khamûl, ''Er-Murazor'' (the [[Witch-king of Angmar|Witch-king]], of Númenórean race), ''Dwar'', ''Ji Indur'', ''Akhorahil''(Númenórean), ''Hoarmurath'', ''Adunaphel'' (female Númenórean), ''Ren'' and ''Uvatha''.

These names have been so widespread that some think they are [[canon]] i.e. referenced by Tolkien, however they are not: It is particularly unlikely, in the context of the books, that any of the Nazgûl would have been female. Nor is it clear who were of Númenórean descent: only Khamûl's origin is given with certainty, and he was an Easterling. While the Witch-king is by many thought of as a Númenórean lord, this cannot be confirmed by any statement in Tolkien's writings.

==Trivia==
* The term ''Nazgûl'' has been used to refer to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM IBM's] cadre of lawyers, with whom it has been said that IBM can blacken the sky.
* Nâzgul is a girl's name of Persian origin, adopted in various Middle-eastern languages, meaning "Shy rose" or "delicate flower".
* George R. R. Martin's novel The Armageddon Rag is about a fictional rock band named the Nazgûl.
* Nazgûl is also the name of an Orkish black metal band from Italy, who sing The Lord of the Rings-inspired songs in Latin.
* Nazgûl is also the name of a pagan black metal band from Spain. Commonly mistaken for the Italian Orkish black metal band and the Norwegian band of the same name.
* The bird-like Ra'zac from Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy are heavily inspired by the steeds of the Nazgûl, particularly their breath, which acts as a mind-numbing drug of sorts.
* In Led Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore" (from Led Zeppelin IV) there is an allusion to a Ringwraith. One of the lyrics reads, "The drums will shake the castle walls, the ringwraiths ride in black, ride on."
* The Garo from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask somewhat resemble the Ringwraiths. The Garo are undead "shells" that are basically robes. The Garo spy on the undead Ikana. The four Poes that haunt the Arbiter's Grounds in Twilight Princess also resemble them.
* Nazgûl appear as enemies in the roguelike computer game NetHack. They breathe a gas that can put your character to sleep, and carry cursed rings that bestow invisibility.

==References==
* ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Two Towers]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Return of the King]]'', passim.
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix B]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Hunt for the Ring]]
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Akallabêth]]
* ''[[The Silmarillion]], [[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"
* ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'', [[The Great River (HoMe)|The Great River]]
* ''[[The War of the Ring]]'', [[The Passage of the Marshes (HoMe)|The Passage of the Marshes]]
* ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 156|#156]], [[Letter 210|#210]], [[Letter 212|#212]], [[Letter 246|#246]], [[Letter 297|#297]]
* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings]]'', in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'' (edited by [[Wayne G. Hammond|W. G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|C. Scull]])

== See Also ==
* '''[[:Category:Images of Nazgûl|Images of Nazgûl]]'''
* the [[Witch-King of Angmar]]
* [[Khamûl]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Nazgûl]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

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

2009-04-19T20:02:42Z

Calatur:

{{video game infobox
| image=[[Image:The Lord of the Rings- The Battle for Middle-earth II box.jpg|250px]]
| name=The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
| developer=[[Electronic Arts]]
| publisher=[[Electronic Arts]]
| platform=Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
| releasedate=2 March 2006
| genre=Real-time strategy
|}}

'''The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II''' is the second game in the real-time strategy genre by [[EA]], released on [[March 2]], [[2006]] for both PC and Xbox 360. Unlike its [[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth|predecessor]], the game is set mainly in the northern regions of [[Middle-earth]]. Factions include the [[Elves]], [[Dwarves]], [[Dúnedain|Men of the West]] (a combination of [[Gondor]] and [[Rohan]]), and the [[Goblins]], along with [[Mordor]] and [[Isengard]]. The gameplay includes naval battles, larger battalions, and more traditional base building, unlike the first part. The game has a special feature where you can create your own hero. The heros are from six categories, such as [[Wizards|wizard]], [[Dwarves|dwarf]] or servants of [[Sauron]]. Also, there are fourteen subcategories, such as hermit, taskmaster and [[troll]]. This game has an expansion set called [[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch King]]. It features [[Angmar]] as the new faction and has general gameplay improvements.

== Plot ==
Set in the regions of northern Middle-earth, the game focuses on the events of the War in the North, which are described in the Appendices of [[The Return of the King]].For the sake of gameplay, Electronic Arts added new battles to the story, and introduced original characters to the game, such as Gorkil the Goblin King. Some characters were altered in their appearances, abilities, and roles. In addition, [[The Hobbit]] lends several elements to the game, including locations and characters such as the High Pass and mountain giants.

The story is divided into Good and Evil Campaigns. Both campaigns focus on the battles fought by the newly introduced factions: the Elves, Dwarves, and Goblins. Instead of the world-map overview in the previous game, the player goes through nine fixed missions in either easy, medium, or hard difficulty mode. Narrated cut scenes provide plot exposition between missions.

===Good campaign===
The Good Campaign opens as [[Glorfindel]] discovers an impending attack on [[Rivendell]]. Thanks to the early warning, Elrond's forces in Rivendell manage to repel the Goblins' attacks. Following the battle, Elrond realizes that the Elves and Dwarves must join forces to defeat [[Sauron]] and his allies. The next battle takes place in the Goblin capital of [[Ettenmoors]], where the Goblin fortress is destroyed, and the Goblin King is killed. After their victory, the heroes are informed that the Goblins, on Sauron's command, enlisted the service of a dragon lord, who is laying waste to the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains. The heroes make their way to the Blue Mountains and help the Dwarven army defeat the dragon and his Goblins.
[[The Grey Havens]] are attacked by the [[Corsairs of Umbar]], allies of Sauron. The [[Dwarves]] eventually decide to come to the aid of the Grey Havens. With the Goblins defeated and all of [[Eriador]] pacified, the Dwarven-Elven alliance is tested by Sauron's forces. Mordor's forces besiege [[Esgaroth]] and [[Erebor]]. However, Elven reinforcements from [[Mirkwood]] led by [[Thranduil]] save the Dwarves. The heroes of the Dwarven-Elven alliance come together for a final battle in [[Dol Guldur]]. The Good forces overcome the defenses and destroy the fortress, eliminating the last threat in the North.

*Mission 1: [[Rivendell]]
*Mission 2: High Pass
*Mission 3: [[Ettenmoors]]
*Mission 4: [[Blue Mountains]]
*Mission 5: [[Grey Havens]]
*Mission 6: [[Celduin]]
*Mission 7: [[Erebor]]
*Mission 8: [[Dol Guldur]]

===Evil campaign===
The Evil Campaign follows an alternate version of the War in the North. Sauron sends the [[Mouth of Sauron]] and the [[Nazgûl]] to the North in order to lead the Goblin army and launch an assault on the Elven forest of [[Lórien]], and another group of Goblins, led by the Goblin King, attack the Grey Havens by land and sea. The Elven port is destroyed, and the march across Eriador begins; Hobbits of the Shire are chosen as the next target. The Goblin King's horde manages to crush the Hobbits, but [[Wormtongue]] suddenly appears with a large army of [[Isengard]] [[Uruk-hai|Uruks]], and claims the land for his master. The Goblins destroy the well-trained army and kill Wormtongue.
The Goblin King besieges Fornost, where the defenders crumble under the relentless Goblin attacks, and Eriador falls under Goblin control. Sauron launches a concurrent campaign east of the Misty Mountains. The Goblins from Dol Guldur eliminate the Elves and the Ents that guard the Forest Road in Mirkwood. For the final battle against the Good factions in the North, the Goblin horde and Sauron's forces from Mordor converge at Rivendell, and completely destroy the remaining Good forces in the North.

*Mission 1: [[Lothlórien]]
*Mission 2: [[Grey Havens]]
*Mission 3: [[Shire]]
*Mission 4: [[Fornost]]
*Mission 5: [[Mirkwood]]
*Mission 6: [[Withered Heath]]
*Mission 7: [[Erebor]]
*Mission 8 [[Rivendell]]

==Factions==
*Elves
*Men of West
*Dwarves

*Mordor
*Isengard
*Goblins
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Role !! Actor
|-
| Narrator || [[Hugo Weaving]]
|-
| [[Gollum]] || [[Dee Bradley Baker]]
|-
| [[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]] || [[Steven Jay Blum]]
|-
| [[Glorfindel]] || [[Jason Carter]]
|-
| [[Haldir of Lórien|Haldir]] || [[Richard Doyle]]
|-
| [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] || [[Chris Edgerly]]
|-
| [[Éomer]] || Chris Edgerly
|-
| [[Thranduil]] || [[Peter Emshwiller]]
|-
| [[Faramir (son of Denethor II)|Faramir]] || [[Crispin Freeman]]
|-
| [[Sharku]] || [[Brian George]]
|-
| [[Arwen]] || [[Kim Mai Guest]]
|-
| [[Boromir (son of Denethor II)|Boromir]] || [[James Horan]]
|-
| [[Mouth of Sauron]] || [[Roger Jackson]]
|-
| [[Gríma Wormtongue]] || [[Nick Jameson]]
|-
| [[Gimli]] || [[Darryl Kurylo]]
|-
| [[Treebeard]] || [[Bob Joles]]
|-
| [[Legolas of Mirkwood|Legolas]] || [[Darryl Kurylo]]
|-
| [[Galadriel]] || [[Lani Minella]]
|-
| [[Theoden]] || [[Phil Proctor]]
|-
| [[Éowyn]] || [[Brianne Siddall]]
|-
| [[Lurtz]] || [[Isaac C. Singleton Jr.]]
|-
| Gorkil || [[André Sogliuzzo]]
|-
| [[Sauron]] || [[Stephen Stanton]]
|-
| [[Peregrin Took]] || [[Dave Wittenberg]]
|}

[[Category:EA Games]]
[[Category:Real-time strategy games]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[de:Die Schlacht um Mittelerde]]

User:Calatur

2009-04-16T18:12:53Z

Calatur:

My user. Meaning "Power of Light" in Quenya. Cala (from root "galen", I think.)= Light, Tur = Power, mastery.

User:Calatur

2009-02-21T21:13:17Z

Calatur: New page: My user. Meaning "Power of Light" in Quenya. Cala = Light, Tur = Power, mastery.

My user. Meaning "Power of Light" in Quenya. Cala = Light, Tur = Power, mastery.

User talk:Calatur

2009-02-21T21:09:52Z

Calatur: Adding welcome message to new user's talk page