Lore of Middle-earth - The Nazgûl
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- A dive into the lore of Middle-earth presented as a (sort of) podcast.
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So, their chief weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to Sauron?
and nice red uniforms? :D
oh no, it's the Mordor Inquisition
@@wcs9582 "No one expects the Mordor Inquisition!"
The rings had their powers tied to the one, so if sauron got the one the nine would have been renewed, hence they are only shadows during the war. That’s why the elves hope that destroying the one will release the three and their wearers can heal the hurts of the world. My question is; where were the nine when sauron had the ring taken by isildur?
After hearing you talk about Nazgul in daylight I can't get the mental image of some lone Nazgul wondering around whistling looking at pretty flowers and clumsily attempting to climb a tree, skipping through fields and talking to little animals. Then night falls and Sauron comes in like John Clease shouting "Stop that! It's silly."
Gosh how the hell did you conjure up such silly images of Sauron or the Nazgul?
Merry's sword is a "barrow blade" from Arnor. It's enchanted to be effective against Arnor's enemies (Witch King). A lot of people think that the wound Merry gave the Witch King broke his "protection" from normal weapons.
With the Nazgul's chief weapon being fear, one assumes Farmer Maggot really could have run them off his land and given them a good hiding for their trouble.
All I can say is that this video makes me appreciate the backstories you gave the nazgul more.
As for the Witch-king's "death", there is a part in the books, where Fordo and Sam are into Mordor- I don't remember the exact moment, but I think it was after they left Udun- when they hear a Nazgul cry, but it's not frightening. It clearly says that it was bad news for the Black Tower (aka Barad-dur), as the Witch-king had been met with fate. Sam says there "Cheer up, Mr. Frodo. Things don't go as He wants". From this, I can assume that the Nazgul cannot be killed in a proper way, as they are creatures of magic and their powers come from magic. So, normal weapons have no effect on they physically. But a good hit can incapacitate them for a long time and they need time to recover, which I suppose to mean some centuries in the shadows, until they have the strength to be brought in their physical form. Like Sauron after the Last Alliance's battles, when he was defeated, he needed a long time to recover in Mirkwood, meaning he needed power to retain his physical shape. I think that this is what Merry and Eowyn achieved, striking a good blow to the magic that bonded the Witch-king- but the magic is not resolved. The Witch-king is able to return to Mordor, even though he has no power. Their real death, as we mean it, comes with the destruction of the One Ring, as the magic that keeps them alive is destroyed. Perhaps, as you say, the lava and the fire aids the process, but the magic is gone with the Ring, so they are trully destroyed. I would like to know what you think of this- and if you don't understand something that I write, please don't hesitate to ask me, so as to make clear. Have a nice day, friend!
I'd agree with that, as it seems a very logical conclusion, and it has been my own thought for a while.
There's also made clear notice about the fact that Merry's sword breaks the spell that knits the unseen body of the Witch-king to his will - and it's very reasonable to assume that this allows Eowyn to destroy him, as the spell is broken. Thus, the prophecy is likely just Glorfindel "knowing" what will happen in the future, eventhough anyone with enough power or a magical blade could defeat the Witch-king.
@@otwk , yes, exactly as you say. But do have in mind that prophecies are general "double-face", which means that there are a lot of ways to interpret them. Thanks for pointing this out, hence my like in your comment.
I think it must be implied that these men must have had some kind of titleage, influence and a pedigree because Sauron's purpose was to use the rings to gain dominion over men, plural, and not just over a handful of peasants whose only influence was over their livestock and who were merely lords of their own dirt floors.
The best description of Morgoth is
“Thou Jail Crow of Mandos “
Merry didn't stab the Witch-King with just a "regular normal blade." Merry had used one of the Barrow-blades gifted to the hobbits by Tom Bombadil. And the specific blade that Merry wielded had been enchanted with the power to harm the Witch-king of Angmar by a weapon smith of Arthedain long before. The fact that a non-man had used it of course being coincidence. And because of the blades' elven make, we might assume that the prophecy was referring to elves, when it spoke of "not by the hands of men."
And as a rule of thumb, unless Mandos is the one telling the prophecy, don't pay it too much mind.
Me: But exactly how do the rings influence each other? Is it radio-frequency? Quantum-Tunneling? Midichlorians?
Tod: IT JUST WORKS!
Sauron: "You must worship me as your god!"
Men of the east and south: "Okay."
Sauron: :/
When Merry stabs the Nazgul, doesn't the text say that his weapon was enchanted for that specific purpose? I don't remember the exact quote, but it says something about "no other blade, though wielded by mightier hands".
It's true. His blade came from the wars between Arnor and Angmar, and was specifically enchanted to be effective against the Withc-King.
Truly a downtime activity I have is listening to these podcast like videos of middle Earth, while also building middle Earth (ish) style builds on Minecraft, random I know but Tolkien legendarium is just a ball of adventure and intrigue and these videos fill my heart with joy and my mind with...stuff, I really do enjoy these videos and it's good to see and meet people who are enthusiastic as I am.
I always liked the theory that the sword of westernness undid the magic of the witching and the second blow was extra damage.
What I wouldn’t give to pick Tolkien’s brain for a bit.
I have always loved the nosoul
This is one my favorite lore channels, I like the cadence and amount depth/detail. Thanks!
Yes! I suggested in the isengard video to do a lore about the nazgul. This lore video really fits in with the excellently crafted origin storied you wrote. Great video!
Hmm, I wonder, might Khamul have been good at the beginning? It does seem like Light and Darkness in Middle-Earth is connected to Good and Evil, and since it seems Khamul is weakest of the Nazgul in daylight, maybe its because he was good prior to the corruption of the ring?
I’m glad you are doing mixed lore and game videos as I love to watch both, much appreciated. Can’t wait for your v4.5 gundabad faction overview
Just discovered your channel today and this is the first video I’ve watched. I just wanted to say thank you! The way you speak is so refreshing as SO many videos are narrated in such a monotone manner that it’s often impossible to retain any information for trying to keep focus whilst falling asleep! Bravo sir!
Another awesome Lore video!
One tidbit about Merry and the Black Breath, he's actually woken up by one of the Hobbits from the Prancing Pony, not Strider - it seems Merry wasn't hit as hard as Faramir (but he also was hit by a (probably Southron) arrow at the same time, so that's reasonable) who probably was longer under the shadow of the Nazgûl while also being concerned with is fathers mental state.
Oh, and one sidenote - there's actually a strong suggestion the Nazgûl burned in the fires of Orodruin:
"Fire belched from [Orodruin’s] riven summit. The skies burst into thunder seared with lightning. Down like lashing whips fell a torrent of black rain. And into the heart of the storm, with a cry that pierced all other sounds, tearing the clouds asunder, the Nazgûl came, shooting like flaming bolts, as caught in the fiery ruin of hill and sky they crackled, withered, and went out."
_The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 3, Mount Doom_
As with all your videos, it's just so soothing to chill and listen to the way you tell the lore!
I really enjoy the style of this video. It's seems less "religiously" devoted to Tolkien's fictional universe than many other videos about the subject, which allows for more a more objective literary criticism.
I.C.E. middle earth rpg had a great series of supplements that provided histories for the Nazghul as well as many other characters in Tolkiens world. Not cannon, but well thought put and creative.
I've seen the movies countless times and also read the books, but this video still greatly increased my appreciation for the Nazgûl! Also loved the rant in the end :,D
I very much doubt that Sauron’s ego would have been satisfied by corrupting simple peasant folk.
If Sauron bothered corrupting them they were probably mighty to begin with and very likely good men.
Aye but he is petty as well. It causes some discord and hurts these damn men who are lesser than elves but still beat him and their darn isle....
I bow to this wonderful channel with the MOD and the LORE!
I feel the part about the sorcery.
Great topic & great video. Thank you
Man you’re always making videos it seems. So many times I check and I see a video
Apparently he doesn't have an "essential" job. Or can work from home during this fun of 2020.
Cool stuff!
Just realized that the battering ram Grond is a representation of Carcharoth the Red Maw werewolve that ate Berens hand and the silmaril and burned his insides
The best lotr lore channel ever!!!
If terror and inflicting fear are their primary weapons, they must know it well and be subjectable to it. I can imagine that Eowyn revealing she can effectuate the proficiency of his dead, simply because she is a women, must have inflicted a very true and immense sudden fear into the Witch king. The sword was just finishing it off.
I would like to mention about the Men of the East, they did fight in the later Wars of Beleriand, specifically where Ulfang and his sons, with their realm, betrayed the Elves at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad for they were in service to Melkor, and where Bór and his sons, with their realm, stayed loyal and were wiped out.
They would flee after the War of Wrath into Rhûn and the far East, becoming what we know them as.
That last part is not written down anywhere. The Easterlings of the First Age are not the Easterlings of the Third. Both are called as such as they come from the "east" of the focused world (Beleriand then ME).
If you have canonical writing saying that the traitors of the first age fled to Rhun then I would glady read it. :)
@ You may be right. I don't happen to have "The Peoples of Middle-Earth" anymore, only "The Silmarillion". It is possible that I just misunderstood the part about the Easterling people.
Though it may be fair to assume that the Second Age and Third Age Easterlings are the descendants of those of the First Age, just as it is implied that the Middle-men are descendants of the House of Men left in Middle-Earth, unless there is specific evidence for the Easterlings, it is just speculation at the end of the day.
@ I also do believe you're a little to harsh on Man. If we consider Hildorien the place where Man awoke, they awoke in an area under Melkor's shadow, during a time of great discord in the world without the Valar to guide them such as happened with the Elves. For Man, just as the Elves are Eru's personal children, so are Men, Eru's second born, and he also bestowed upon them a gift, the gift of Death.
Who knows how Man comes out if Melkor had not strayed or Man had awoken under the guide of the Valar and not in a contested war time. And, as shown with the Numenoreans, Man has great potential, just like the Elves, with a little guidance and nurturing, which they received.
Keep in mind that the Rohirrim ended up with the hoard of Scatha... perhaps their weapons came from there or were reforged from that hoard, including Eowyn's sword? The horn they gave Merry came from there... just a thought. But yeah, the knife they said was made by smiths in Numenore... how THAT would have any extra or special power is anyone's guess.
Thank you forever 1000 years of happiness.
The book did mention that the Witch King was no longer seen during that age... presumably the 3rd age. While I suppose someone could claim I'm being legalistic, I thought it left open the door for possible further stories.
A version of this mod set before the first war of the rings would be awesome aswell
There is one in the making
I've personally been of the opinion that there is actually no magic in Middle Earth, 'magic' exists in the form of Clarke's Third Law, where the perspective of the characters is what makes it so, since they don't understand the workings behind it. Elves generally respond in surprise when people call what they do magic, because to them it's science.
Doom or fate in the lord of the rings is a tricky thing. Does proclaiming ones doom ensure it or are you simply seeing the future. This is even a mystery with Mandos does he just see the future or is he setting your fate in stone. In my opinion it's a little of both. Mandos sets your fate in stone yet glorfindel only saw what Mandos had decreed. So to clarify Mandos decreed merry and eowen would be the downfall of the witch-king and glorfindel only saw what was already set in stone. Also in my opinion when eowens sword stabbed into the witch-kings face he died then and there
Well done mate!
10:00
What about the dwarves in Khazad-Dûm? Wouldn't they be an opponent of Sauron also?
Building off the theory that the witch king is of numenorian descent could it be that if injured by weapon of their home land they are made more vulnerable?
No.....
The dagger was created to destroy the witch King
My UA-cam reset and now I lost the playlist I had for your old hidden lore vids:( any chance I can get the link again?
ua-cam.com/play/PLesZst-z4ywZSrEMa1ybHWhNXfxZivH0W.html
finally another lorecast
Been looking forward to the lore on the Nazgul and first comment :)
I’ve always been curious about whether or not the Nazgûl actually had corporeal forms beneath their robes? I know that some writings refer to their “undead flesh” while others (I can’t remember the quote exactly) describe the Witch King throwing back his hood and having a crown upon an invisible head, but that for me appears to be contradictory. Any thoughts?
From what I gathered, they had physical forms that could not be seen by mortals. Only elder beings like Gandalf or Glorfindel could see them in this form.
Their unseen bodies are drapped with the ragged black cloth rainment we see them wearing.
So corporeal? Sort of. I think of them like Johann Krauss in Hellboy 2. Smokey, intangible, no defined form unless forced into a particular shape by clothes or armour.
By binding themselves to a physical form they make themselves more vulnerable, but they also make themselves stronger and better able to affect the physical world.
My Gavin and Melanie to you too.
So what i heard or know of merry was given a barrow blade numenorian but was like "enhanced" or something by tom bombadil and that the spell of the witch king (which is practicly having thorns X in mincraft) but the spell of the witch king would break therefor even if it broke merry a man despite being a hobbit hes a male couldnt finish him and got hurt becuase hes a male so now that any simple blade can wound him possobly kill him ewowyn stroke him down striking were any mortal man or stubborn or immortal elf could die of THE HEAD
(infinity war thor flashbacks ensue)
The Barrow Blades were made by the men of Westernesse, during their war with the Witch-King, specifically to fight Ringwraiths. The men of Westernesse laid upon them many spells for the bane of Mordor.
The Witch-King's powerful magic bound his spirit to a physical form, Merry's attack with the Barrow Blade sundered those spells, destroyed the magic protecting the Witch-King and leaving him vulnerable.
That was why Eowyn's normal sword of the Rohirrim was able to affect him, at any other time it wouldn't harm him, it wouldn't even touch him. But Merry's Barrow Blade broke the magic protecting him, allowing Eowyn to destroy his unseen body.
He wasn't killed, like Sauron was tied to the One Ring, he was tied to Sauron. But he became an impotent spirit of malice, unable to affect the world or regain a physical form.
Tom Bombadil did nothing to the Barrow Blades except give them to the Hobbits. He knew what they were, and that they were made to destroy evil, so he gave them to the Hobbits to help keep them safe.
@@Pro_Butcher_Amateur_Human ya ok hotshot i get it
Glorfindel would be proud (:
I recently came across 2 posters from the late 60s
1st.) A map that details both Bilbos quest & Frodos
2nd.) Various characters of Mid Earth. Would like to know there value and where I could possibly sell them. To someone that would appreciate and take care of em????
doesn't say about merry's sword that the maker wound it with spells for the bane of mordor when the dunedain were young? also didn't eowyn stab the witch king between the head and his crown. ps. I may have read the text on the second point incorrectly.
According to Tolkien, the Nazgul were once kings of men.
Some were said to become kings of men but not all of them.
You really think I would go through all the trouble of this video and not research the most basic thing we know about them?
I thought they died cuz they have immortal life because of the Ring’s existence and there rings lives were tied to The One and since The One is destroyed they no longer have immortality.
you say they would fade at the destruction of the ring. that to me implies something gradual. i disagree.
i would imagine they Dissolve almost instantaneously or at most, mere seconds after the rings integrity is lost.
Of course Nazgul could always be killed. The prophecy was merely a forth-telling of what would become an eventual fact. It had no power in and of itself. Don't forget Glorfindel was a super empowered emmisary of the Valar, practically a Maia himself from the new powers he was given, and they foreknew many things as revealed by Eru when He showed them the result of their music, so it would be nothing for Glorfindel to tap into this attribute as the Valar willed. But such forth-tellings do not make a thing true, it was true so Glorfindels forth-told it.
All noted but the englishmen inside of me must just say that "forth-telling" "foreknew" and "forth-told" are not words.
Forth-telling should be "Foretelling"
Foreknew should just be "knew"
Forth-rold shoudl be "foretold"
The only other thing I would say is that you present what is, I have to say, your opinion, as fact.
I think humans are meant to come into the world weaker thus potential for corrupting as well as breaking the corruption. That's why humans aren't that magical.
But humans can be a little. And can be given gifts of magic... in some writings apparently be adopted by the elves and turn into one?
And in other instances given longer lifespans and more gifts of vision and other things.
But they're the weakest in magical and special ability area for a reason.
Humans are less magical and really extremely frail on purpose; being a double edge sword in that they are more easily corrupted and influenced, but are equally stubborn against such corruption. A double edge sword, a Trojan horse that would be irresistible for Melkor and his dark minions to use, as they seem mostly careless on their methods, too confident, thinking too highly of themselves and their ability to corrupt absolutely.
So basically, humans are bait for Morgoth and his servants like Sauron.
Melkor and all the Ainur were warned attempting to change the music in contradiction to Eru's desires, only results in them being instruments in the devising of things more wonderful than they themselves could not imagine.
Eur is giving Morgoth/Melkor and anyone else a knife, and letting them fall on it.
As a gift for being bait meat, Eru grants humans mortality, so that they may die. Which is mentioned.... death being a gift, remarking it to be: a strange gift.
And unlike Elves or even dwarves, humans are not bound to Ea or Arda, and their spirit goes, the elves not know exactly where, but they are drawn back to Eru... so must be back to the Timeless Halls since that's where Eru presides.
Possibly a reward or solace for using such spirits (humans) in such a miserable fashion; giving them weak pathetic bodies with no real magic and sending them to a tormented cursed realm of existence.
This gives humans the freedom from any of the music of the Ainur including Melkor and those who joined him.
Yet some things there are that they (Ainur) cannot see, neither alone nor taking counsel together; for to none but himself has Ilúvatar revealed all that he has in store, and in every age there come forth things that are new and have no foretelling, for they do not proceed from the past.
And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.'
Are there any stories about the east coast of the continent ? What have the asians been up to?
Well trying to make his enemy's his slaves instead of just killing then worked so well for him lol should of read the prince
The Prince?
@ He probably meant Machiavelli's Il Principe.
I have a theory that's not canon (I think) about their end what if after the one ring was destroyed the were free of it's hold and regeind part of their humanity and went on to start a new life. I know it's not posible but well we will never truly know.
Well since they're all ringbearers they're allowed entry into Valinor, so maybe they are in a tucked-away corner of The Halls of Mandos.
@@marcusromulus5646 I don't think that is an actual rule. I think they made exceptions for Bilbo and Frodo for what they did to save Middle-Earth. With the destruction of the One Ring, they become disembodied spirits. I do believe, that since their spirits are now free and no longer are enslaved to stay on Arda, their spirits would return to Eru like all Men.
@@forrestadams9340 Well Tolkien states that Bilbo and Frodo can go *because* they are ringbearers. He even hints (or maybe the son states outright) that Sam is allowed to go. So i just went with that. Besides, unlike the spirits of all other races, Men's spirits just sort of vanish. Elves go to Halls of Mandos, Dwarves to Aule, Orcs go to the void with Morgoth, and the Ents just return to their forests.
@@marcusromulus5646 That may be, but others do come to Valinor that weren't or aren't Ringbearers, the one who comes to mind is Gimli.
And if I remember correctly, it says that Men return to Eru upon death. And outside of Elves (and possibly Orcs) we don't know about the other races.
It is also possible that the Nazgul go to void, for Gandalf does tell the Witch-King to go there, and in the final legend where Melkor comes back, if I remember correctly, it states all evil comes forth to fight with Melkor in his last grab for control.
@@forrestadams9340 As i recall Gimli is never stated by name to cross to Valinor with Legolas. Pretty sure it mentions Legolas with another. The thing is, except maybe The Witch King the other Nazgul are never stated as 'evil'. So maybe they are released upon death, except the With King maybe? Is it ever stated Men's souls go to Eru, I was always under the impression its left ambiguous, besides i was under the impression that Eru only made Elves. Yavanna made Ents, Aule-Dwarves, Melkor-Orcs, Manwe-Eagles and another made Men. If i had to guess i would have said Ulmo, he seems to be very lenient on Men's transgressions.
Many nazguls live in Kazakhstan.. Quite usual name for girls and.. And actually cute
I clicked this video so fast...
Arachîr, may I ask something personal? I’m from a pretty Christian part of America and I’m just doubting certain things. What brought you to be an atheist? I can give you my email or something if you would rather say privately if you have time to reply at all.
Hope you can forgive my presumption but I thought I'd present an alternative point of view, I was taught Christianity as a child, became an atheist, and after trying to study science/history/culture ended up believing in God.
After comparing the four Gospels I found it presented a different story than I was led to believe.
When people asked Jesus 'are you pharisee or saducee?' something he said is 'truth'. So I feel we are free to study the beautiful universe to find the truth and that this is in line with what Jesus did.
'God is Love' 'Love is the fullness of the law' - in an ideal world, we are all created out of love. It is the highest feeling we are able to attain.
It seems that almost every culture throughout the history of the world fundamentally agrees to this central point, that there is a being/spirit of Light that permeates the reality which we experience.
It is within us all. It's the core of our being. I think that's what is meant by we are in the image of God, not our physical bodies but our spirit of love and curiosity. We are all children of the universe. The sons and daughters of God. 🙏
@@grantaum9677 Thank you. I read this a while ago, but now I have the free time to respond. I have come to find that Scripture is not without error, and it doesn't actually claim to be if you look at the greek.
I think it is inspired by God but that most American Christians thought it would be much more simple to say it is the direct infallible word of God. I certainly feel more lost on the surface not knowing exactly what is the word of God. Only after studying theology in college did I feel actually more lost from Scripture. Sure some story can be made to explain every error or exaggerated promise, but it gets ridiculous and stretched at a point.
I think what you said is quite enlighted relatively speaking, although there is still so much we don't know. I'm still a believing Christian in that I act on and agree with the moral views of Christ and the Bible, but like you, exactly how I follow my belief in God is much more diverse and informed by reality (i.e. I won't do something rash because I believe I've had some sign or omen from God). It's complex but I have faith in God as good and able to do miracles, but I don't go about expecting many the miracles of scripture to happen in this life just because I believe they will.
Thanks so much, friend. It's so good to hear from someone that doesn't think Christianity is foolish but also acknowledges there's much more to God than just what is normally thought of as the Christian religion. Best wishes and prayers, Grant.
@@jonathanz.9675 I wasn't sure if I should stick my nose in but it's a topic I'm fascinated with, I really wish I studied theology that's awesome.
I think it's sad that the subject is so polarised between like science and religion, I don't see why people should have to choose. I really think on the majority of the core issues that deep down we all agree on what's right 👍
Maybe one day we'll all unite on the common ground. For whatever reason I think belief is kind of built into us. I have to say that I do admire the faith of American Christianity, its something I've always struggled with. I'm too much of a doubter ☺
Thanks brother 🙏 stay blessed
@@jonathanz.9675 sorry brother, one more thing if I may ☺ I felt inspired to mention just in case. I thought from Eru we could say... I think the Transfiguration could be very important, I've found accounts which bare apparent similarly to its description in diverse sources, from scientists to Prophets from across the human race. With potential relationship to the function of our pineal gland. I'm very curious about His saying, about how 'If the light of thine eye be single then thy body shall be filled with light'
🙏