Half-orcs: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|Are they men he has ruined or has he blended the races of orcs and men?|[[Treebeard]]<ref>{{TT|III4}}</ref>}} | {{quote|Are they men he has ruined or has he blended the races of orcs and men?|[[Treebeard]]<ref>{{TT|III4}}</ref>}} | ||
'''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 [[Sauron]]'s and [[Saruman]]'s servants in the late [[Third Age]]. They were large men, lynx-eyed and evil.<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> | 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> |
Revision as of 13:08, 16 June 2016
Half-orcs | |
---|---|
Race | |
"Greater Half-orcs" by Steve Otis | |
General Information | |
Locations | Dunland, Isengard, Mordor |
Affiliation | Saruman, Sauron |
Physical Description | |
Distinctions | Lynx-eyed[source?] |
Average height | Larger than normal orcs[source?] |
Skin color | Sallow[1][2] |
Gallery | Images of Half-orcs |
Half-orcs were among Sauron's and 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.[4]
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.[5]
Apparently Saruman learned or rediscovered this in the Third Age and bred Half-orcs and Goblin-men who served him.[5][6]
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 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.[7]
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.
—[5]
Portrayal in adaptations
Half-orcs in adaptations | |||||||||
|
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.[8]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- Half-orcs and Greater Half-orcs are Orc Factions, playable by Fallen Wizards.[9]
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.[10] 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Treebeard"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep", Gamling: But these creatures of Isengard, these half-orcs and goblin-men that the foul craft of Saruman has bred.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] X", pp. 418-9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
- ↑ S. Coleman Charlton (1993), Middle-earth Role Playing (2nd edition, softcover) (#2001), p. 177
- ↑ "(Results from search for cards in the game Middle Earth)", Tradecardsoneline.com (accessed 3 April 2014)
- ↑ "Lord of the Rings Online Half-Orc Bandit", Lotro.mmodb.com (accessed 3 April 2014)