Post by Khamûl the Easterling on Aug 3, 2009 20:04:47 GMT -5
Amongst die-hard Lord of the Rings fans, the mysteries of the Nazgul cause much controversy. There are many groups in the argument about Nazgul. Two such groups are the extreme canonists. They belive only that witch is wrote by a Tolkien is to be held as truth. Then there are others who belive that should something based in the LOTR universe follow the history of the books correctly, then their materials are to be regarded as canon. I am of a sub group with in the second. I hold the materials of the GW LOTR sourcebooks to be canon without doubt. With this said, I shall now describe the named members of the Nine...
The Witch-King of Agmar:
Everyone knows the Witch-King. In the movies, and the trilogy, the Witch-King is the only Nazgul to be refered to in name. He was the most powerful amongst the Nine kings of man, however, like most of the Nine, it is unclear from where his kingdom was located. However, now, he rules the realm of Agmar, and the City of Minas Morgul. He is the wraith that stabbed Frodo.
Khamul the Easterling:
Our very own Khamul! The Shadow of the East is the only truly named Nazgul within the nine, named thus within Tolkien's backround works. Not only being the only wraith with a proper name, Khamul is the only one of the Nine to have had their kingdom named. He was originally of the Easterlings, one of Gondor's greatest enemies. He is the second most powerful of the Nine. Of the Riders, it is Khamul who used sorcery the least, instead using his blades as his primary weapon. Although it is unconfirmed, it is widely believed that Khamul was the Wraith that confronted Frodo within Osgiliath, flying from atop a Fellbeast.
The Dark Marshall:
Amongst the four disputed Nazgul, The Dark Marshall is given the most backround history. According to GW sourcebooks, the DM is thought to be one of the Black Numenorians, traitors that left in the service of Morgoth before the rise of Sauron. He is also said to be a brilliant but cold hearted commander. His forces follow his every order, however, it is mostly from fear. As a King, it was said he was the most sadistic and crule of the Kings.
The Tainted:
While the Nazgul fought the magic of the Rings to a greater or lesser degree, it is said that the Tainted did not. Instead, he embraced Sauron's power openly, reveling in the evil. He is said to be a bearer of diesease, and is considered the mose evil of the Nazgul.
The Undying:
While the Kings of Man were weak, there were a few amongst the Nine that stood their grown in the face of evil. Foremost among them was the Undying. It is said that he was the wisest and oldest of the Kings, and cared little for the Rings. However, for all his wisdom, the Undying did not realize his soon to be fate in time to stop it, and was doomed like the rest of them. Despite this, he fought hardest to keep from being changed, and it is thought that the Undying was the last of the Nine to declare Sauron his master. He is a master sorceror, second only to the powers of the Witch-King.
---------
As well as these six, there is a seventh Nazgul that is named. However, all should doubt his canonity, as he only features in Battle For Middle Earth: 2. While this could be considered canon, it is explicitly stated he is The Witch-King's second in command, a position we all know to belong to Khamul. Because of this, the seventh named Nazgul is dismissed as little more than pure imagination.
The Witch-King of Agmar:
Everyone knows the Witch-King. In the movies, and the trilogy, the Witch-King is the only Nazgul to be refered to in name. He was the most powerful amongst the Nine kings of man, however, like most of the Nine, it is unclear from where his kingdom was located. However, now, he rules the realm of Agmar, and the City of Minas Morgul. He is the wraith that stabbed Frodo.
Khamul the Easterling:
Our very own Khamul! The Shadow of the East is the only truly named Nazgul within the nine, named thus within Tolkien's backround works. Not only being the only wraith with a proper name, Khamul is the only one of the Nine to have had their kingdom named. He was originally of the Easterlings, one of Gondor's greatest enemies. He is the second most powerful of the Nine. Of the Riders, it is Khamul who used sorcery the least, instead using his blades as his primary weapon. Although it is unconfirmed, it is widely believed that Khamul was the Wraith that confronted Frodo within Osgiliath, flying from atop a Fellbeast.
The Dark Marshall:
Amongst the four disputed Nazgul, The Dark Marshall is given the most backround history. According to GW sourcebooks, the DM is thought to be one of the Black Numenorians, traitors that left in the service of Morgoth before the rise of Sauron. He is also said to be a brilliant but cold hearted commander. His forces follow his every order, however, it is mostly from fear. As a King, it was said he was the most sadistic and crule of the Kings.
The Tainted:
While the Nazgul fought the magic of the Rings to a greater or lesser degree, it is said that the Tainted did not. Instead, he embraced Sauron's power openly, reveling in the evil. He is said to be a bearer of diesease, and is considered the mose evil of the Nazgul.
The Undying:
While the Kings of Man were weak, there were a few amongst the Nine that stood their grown in the face of evil. Foremost among them was the Undying. It is said that he was the wisest and oldest of the Kings, and cared little for the Rings. However, for all his wisdom, the Undying did not realize his soon to be fate in time to stop it, and was doomed like the rest of them. Despite this, he fought hardest to keep from being changed, and it is thought that the Undying was the last of the Nine to declare Sauron his master. He is a master sorceror, second only to the powers of the Witch-King.
---------
As well as these six, there is a seventh Nazgul that is named. However, all should doubt his canonity, as he only features in Battle For Middle Earth: 2. While this could be considered canon, it is explicitly stated he is The Witch-King's second in command, a position we all know to belong to Khamul. Because of this, the seventh named Nazgul is dismissed as little more than pure imagination.