All posts by Unferð

<p>Agreed, Denethor was shown to be a drivelling fool in Peter Jackson's adaptations, but when I read the book, I had a prouder figure in mind, and I feel Mr Jackson did him wrong. Just remember this passage from <i>The Return of the King</i>: </p><p>“[Sauron] uses others as his weapons. So do all great lords, if they are wise, Master Halfling. Or why should I sit here in my tower and think, and watch and wait, spending even my sons? For I can still wield a brand.’ </p><p>He stood up and cast open his long black cloak, and behold! he was clad in mail beneath, and girt with a long sword, great hilted in a sheath of black and silver. ‘Thus I have walked, and thus now for many years have I slept,’ he said, ‘lest with age the body should grow soft and timid.’” </p><p>Actually, the fact that Denethor, unlike Théoden, did not endanger the rule of his realm by riding forth himself and risking to be killed makes him already the better ruler. He may have despaired at the seeming impossibility of victory, but he didn't ride forth to a flamboyant death like Théoden. (This conflict of the personalities of a capable ruler and an admirable hero dominates the second part of <i>Beowulf</i>, of which, as I am sure you know, Tolkien was a great scholar and in which he possibly revived literary interest with his essay <i>The Monsters and the Critics</i>.) </p><p>And finally, I suppose having Númenórean blood gives Denethor enough plot armour in Tolkien's works not to die by the hand of a mere Northman. </p>

<div class="quote"><i>Sinthoniel wrote:
I want to come back to Denethor vs Theoden. Denethor looks weak but he once was a wise and strong man and a good ruler. He is only broken because he uses the Palantir that is controlled by Sauron. Denethor is at least as good in fighting as Theoden and he is probably a better strategist. After all, Boromir and Faramir, two of the best men in all of Gondor, are his sons. <p>If Gandalf had not healed Theoden, he would have acted not much different than Denethor. He would have done nothing to fight Saruman until Saruman conquered Edoras itself. </p> </i></div>
<p>Quite so. They are also compared by Gandalf once: </p><p>“Théoden is a kindly old man. Denethor is of another sort, proud and subtle, a man of far greater lineage and power, though he is not called a king.” – <i>The Return of the King</i>, Minas Tirith </p><p>It is also mentioned that Denethor wore chainmail under his clothes at all times so as not to get weak because of his age, and that he still could wield a sword well; that indicates he would win against Théoden both with and without the armies of Gondor behind him. </p>

<p>I know, I know. Dash it, irony <i>is </i>difficult when writing. </p>

<p>Indeed. Should that be a ‘k’? </p>

<p>To the best of my knowledge, no canon source ever mentions Black Númenóreans living in Angmar. Having done a bit of research on my own now, I find that <i>The</i> <i>Tale</i> <i>of</i> <i>Years</i> lists Umbar as their ‘northernmost’ dwelling-place. The ‘information’ about Black Númenóreans in Angmar seems to have been spread by a game. </p><p>See also here. This page concludes that there could well have been Black Númenóreans in Angmar, but I may add that they would certainly not have been present in great numbers and certainly not after the fall of Angmar. </p>

<p>The Black Númenóreans lived in Umbar and neighbouring Harad. They were colonists from Númenor, so I guess they would still try to uphold the customs of the King's Men (like hating Elves and such), but given that Tolkien does not treat ‘evil’ people very well on a general basis, it should be expected their blood and heritage have been watered down quite a lot. Two of them once became leaders of the Haradrim, they would probably still be the ruling class of Umbar and several ringwraiths were said to be Númenóreans. The Mouth of Sauron is, too. </p>

<p>Appendix A mentions the ‘Hillmen’ of Rhudaur. </p>

<p>That is, they were afraid of the Witch-King, who they believed could control the weather, and helped King Arvedui of Arthedain. It was he who gave them the Ring of Barahir as a token, not a Ring of Power; this ring was later reclaimed by the Dúnedain of the North, probably in exchange for something. In my opinion, this makes them one of the almost uninvolved, but rather ‘good’ factions. </p>

<p>Indeed, on kai me on as Marlowe has it or <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Ἀριστοτέλης </span>or <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:22px;">Σωκράτης</span> especially when on kai, but positively all on leads you back by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Shem and Shaun and father, teknon, Molly of met him pike hoses for all on must strive and say yes I said yes I will Yes. </p>

<p>That was part of Tolkien's attempt to make them more fearsome, I guess. You have to keep in mind that in the earlier drafts, there were thousands of Balrogs and they were slain by the dozen. Then, Tolkien changed his mind and began reducing their numbers dramatically, along with making them more powerful and harder to kill. </p>

<p>Incidentally, there is a rather large ‘Lore’ section in the Balrog article here; if you want additional information, you might want to look at the Tolkien Gateway page here. These two cover quite a lot of what is known about Balrogs. </p>

<p>Well he did destroy a mountain (or three) when he fell… so that would be all right. </p>

<p>Yes, I know... The trouble is that intonation is so dashed difficult when typing. </p>

<figure class="article-thumb tright show-info-icon" style="width: 350px"> <figcaption> <p class="caption">Don't tell me this isn't funny.</p> </figcaption></figure>

Pencils

The Principate

<p>þaes þu in helle scealt ƿeorhðo dreogan þeah þin ƿit duge </p>

<p>No, it doesn't. They just die from the Wither Effect. </p>

<div class="quote"><i>Eureka Enderborn wrote: <p>Wait, is the wall isolating Innsmouth inside Kend'arc'i territory, or outside it? </p><p>Innsmouth troops in a small fast boarding craft intercept the vessel and board it, prepared to slay all aboard. </p> </i></div>
<p>The wall goes around Innsmouth, from riverbank to riverbank, with a radius of, say, five miles, making it an enclave. </p><p>The ship proves to be seemingly deserted. On the planks, however, several dark stains mark a sort of path leading down below deck. </p><p>Berry6419: Indeed, and you shall have your reward. But you can also quadruple it by undertaking one last job: go into Innsmouth incognito; no killing this time. Only report what happens there. Do you accept? </p>

<div class="quote"><i>Thorin Stonehelm wrote:
In my opinion Tom Bombadil is the coolest Lotr character (gandalf might rival him) and he is good</i></div>
<p>There is an interesting theory that good ol' Tom might just be the most evil character in all of Tolkien's works. You can read it here, and even if it isn't meant seriously, it is quite funny. </p>