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[[Image:Roac.JPG|thumb|right|''Roäc'' by [[Maret Kernumees]].]]
{{other infobox
| image=[[File:John Howe - Roac, Son of Carc.jpg|250px]]
| name=Roäc
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Ravenhill]], [[Erebor]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth={{TA|2788}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=after {{TA|2941}}
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| parentage=[[Carc]]
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Ravens|Raven]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}


'''Roäc''', son of [[Carc]], was the chief of the [[Ravens|ravens]] that lived on [[Ravenhill]] near [[Erebor]], a descendant of those that had remained on the hill even after [[Smaug]] had driven out their old allies, the [[Dwarves]]. Roäc was a very ancient bird indeed: his father [[Carc]] had seen Smaug descend on the mountain, and Roäc was no less than one hundred and fifty-three years old ('out of the egg', as he put it) when he met [[Thorin]] and [[Bilbo]] on the [[Quest of Erebor]]. It was Roäc who told the adventurers that Smaug was dead, and who arranged for messages to be passed between Thorin and [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] in preparation for the troubles that followed.
'''Roäc''' (b. {{TA|2788}}<ref name=H15/><ref group=note>When [[Thorin and Company]] met Roäc he told them that it was "a hundred years and three and fifty since I came out of the egg". Subtracting 153 from {{TA|2941|n}} yields 2788</ref>) was the chief of the [[ravens]] of [[Ravenhill]] near [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]].<ref name=H15>{{H|15}}</ref>


[[Category:Birds]]
==History==
Roäc was the son of [[Carc]], and as such "''a descendant of those'' [ravens] ''that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies, the [[Dwarves]]"''.<ref>{{webcite|author=Mark Fisher|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/ARDA/r/roac.html|articlename=Roäc: The old raven of Ravenhill|dated=|website=EoA}}</ref>
 
While [[Thorin and Company]] and [[Bilbo Baggins]] were keeping watch on Erebor, an old [[thrushes|thrush]] summoned Roäc. When he met Thorin and Company in [[Third Age]] {{TA|2941|n}}, Roäc was marked by age, being 153 years old.<ref name=H15/>
 
Being able to speak [[Westron]], the raven delivered the news that [[Smaug]] had been killed. Roäc agreed to bring a message to [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin II Ironfoot]] from Thorin, a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor in the wake of war.<ref name=H15/> However, Roäc also gave a piece of advice to Thorin, warning him that "''the treasure is likely to be your death''".<ref name=H16>{{H|16}}</ref>
 
 
 
==Etymology==
 
''Roäc'' is likely an [[Wikipedia:Onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]] name.<ref>{{HM|AH}}, p. 316</ref>
 
==Inspiration==
 
In Celtic mythology, ravens are often associated with warfare and the battleground (especially in Irish mythology). In Welsh mythology, ravens figure as the army of King Arthur's knight Owain.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_in_mythology#Celtic_mythology Raven in mythology: Celtic mythology] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia] (accessed 4 December 2010)</ref> ''See also: [[Ravens#Inspiration|Ravens: Inspiration]]''
 
In ''[[The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún]]'', a raven and a finch speak five of the verses,<ref>{{HM|SG}}, pp. 116-117, 214-215</ref> reminiscent of Roäc and the old thrush.
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Roäc in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:Mark Poole - Roäc the Raven.jpg|''Roäc the Raven'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]
|File:The Hobbit (2003 video game) - Roäc.png|Roäc in [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]
}}
'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:Roäc comes to the Dwarves after Smaug's death. He is voiced by [[John Wyse]].
 
'''1979: [[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:"Rwaak son of Kwaak" informs the Dwarves of Smaugs demise. He is voiced by an uncredited [[Pat Franklyn]].
 
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Roäc, a level 6 Raven, is given game statistics and a short description.<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, pp. 26, 138</ref>
 
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
: "Roäc the Raven" is a Diplomat Ally, playable at any site in Northern Rhovanion.
 
'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
: Roäc does not explicitly appear. However, just prior to the final confrontation with the [[Elves of Mirkwood|Elven]] Army assembled before the gates, a raven is seen flying away from the gate of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], then just before [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]]'s Army of [[Dwarves]] arrives, the raven is seen flying back to [[Thorin]] at the gate.  This visually implies that Thorin sent a message with this raven, though it is not explained in dialogue, and the raven itself does not talk.
 
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Roäc|Images of Roäc]]
{{references|note}}
[[Category:Ravens]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[de:Roac]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/animaux/corbeaux/roac]]
[[fi:Roäc]]

Revision as of 02:06, 11 June 2015

Roäc
Raven
John Howe - Roac, Son of Carc.jpg
Information
LocationRavenhill, Erebor
LanguageWestron
BirthT.A. 2788
Deathafter T.A. 2941
Family
ParentageCarc
Physical Description
RaceRaven
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Roäc

Roäc (b. T.A. 2788[1][note 1]) was the chief of the ravens of Ravenhill near Erebor.[1]

History

Roäc was the son of Carc, and as such "a descendant of those [ravens] that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies, the Dwarves".[2]

While Thorin and Company and Bilbo Baggins were keeping watch on Erebor, an old thrush summoned Roäc. When he met Thorin and Company in Third Age 2941, Roäc was marked by age, being 153 years old.[1]

Being able to speak Westron, the raven delivered the news that Smaug had been killed. Roäc agreed to bring a message to Dáin II Ironfoot from Thorin, a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor in the wake of war.[1] However, Roäc also gave a piece of advice to Thorin, warning him that "the treasure is likely to be your death".[3]


Etymology

Roäc is likely an onomatopoeic name.[4]

Inspiration

In Celtic mythology, ravens are often associated with warfare and the battleground (especially in Irish mythology). In Welsh mythology, ravens figure as the army of King Arthur's knight Owain.[5] See also: Ravens: Inspiration

In The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, a raven and a finch speak five of the verses,[6] reminiscent of Roäc and the old thrush.

Portrayal in adaptations

Roäc in adaptations
Roäc the Raven in MECCG  

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Roäc comes to the Dwarves after Smaug's death. He is voiced by John Wyse.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

"Rwaak son of Kwaak" informs the Dwarves of Smaugs demise. He is voiced by an uncredited Pat Franklyn.

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Roäc, a level 6 Raven, is given game statistics and a short description.[7]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"Roäc the Raven" is a Diplomat Ally, playable at any site in Northern Rhovanion.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Roäc does not explicitly appear. However, just prior to the final confrontation with the Elven Army assembled before the gates, a raven is seen flying away from the gate of Erebor, then just before Dáin's Army of Dwarves arrives, the raven is seen flying back to Thorin at the gate. This visually implies that Thorin sent a message with this raven, though it is not explained in dialogue, and the raven itself does not talk.

See also

Notes

  1. When Thorin and Company met Roäc he told them that it was "a hundred years and three and fifty since I came out of the egg". Subtracting 153 from 2941 yields 2788

References