Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-26119768-20170222024948/@comment-31907131-20170223034154

Recneps wrote:

Gandalfthegreatestwizard- EpicMithrandir wrote:

Recneps wrote: I've always thought that an infinite amount is just fine. It's rare to see more than 3 at once.. And we know that there were at least 7, and very probably quite a few, Balrogs in existence. They were Maiar, and Maiar tend to be immortal, even if they can't take form again easily.. I picture the slain Balrogs fleeing and then recuperating in this ruined stronghold, which presumably has some leftover magic from Morgoth. But you can, theoretically, keep finding and slaying Balrogs... and certainly if there were seven or around that number, there would not be three left aside from Durin's Bane at this point. Ecthelion killed Gothmog, Glorfindel slew another.

And get this tasty quote, from Tolkien Gateway:

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.'"
 * So no, as this was Tolkien's later opinion, not at least 7; at most 7. Recuperation? More likely after their death their spirits would return to Valinor, and from thence be cast into the Void like their master Morgoth. The one reference from which the Balrogs in Utumno were probably derived was from the First Age I believe, when Morgoth called for aid against Ungoliant and the Balrogs who still dwelt in Utumno after his first defeat answered. But the problem with this is after his return to power, the Balrogs came to Angband, which became his new stronghold until he was finally overthrown. All the Balrogs left at this point likely perished in the War of Wrath or were captured at the same time as Sauron and Morgoth, except Durin's Bane and perhaps another couple of exceptions.
 * So there is a more accurate representation of lore, my friend.

Ah, I wasn't aware of that commentary quote.. Except I do believe that the regeneration still stands. Why would they go to Valinor? They are sentient beings, not players who respawn at an assigned location. Sauron did not go to Valinor at the start of the Third Age. He lingered in the world, and later returned to work more malice. It is more likely that slain Balrogs would gravitate to any remaining works of their master, and since Utumno apparently exists in the Mod, even if it shouldn't, it's logical that they would return there, and eventually take new form. Where did Gothmog go when he was slain, or the Balrog killed by Glorfindel? Durin's Bane? Obviously not to Utumno. I have two theories.The first is they do not regenerate, otherwise the Balrogs would have returned. The second is that they leave at least Arda and probably Ea, and return to Eru (there to probably be thrown into the Void). In any case there should be no Balrogs in Utumno, and if Mevans still wants to contradict lore, a maximum of one, a true not mini-boss. (Who the hell thought it was smart to make a Balrog into a mini-boss in the first place? These can only be killed by the mightiest Elves, and other Ainur.) The only reason Sauron could stay in Middle- earth was because of his Ring. Balrogs don't have Rings, therefore Balrogs do not stay in Middle- earth. Remember at the fall of Saruman, when his spirit looked westward? You are right in saying that they do not return to Valinor, that was a mere theory on my part.

"To the dismay of those that stood by, about the body of Saruman a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shrouded figure it loomed over the Hill. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a sigh dissolved into nothing."

The Valar, I think, must have taken him, and most likely thrown him into the Void. Either that or he simply returned to Iluvatar for judgement. This is likely what happened to all the corrupted Maiar, in my opinion.