Half-trolls
Half-trolls was a comparative term used by the scribes of Gondor to describe the appearance of the Men of Far Harad, who were black skinned with white eyes and red tongues that came to fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[1]
Later in the Battle, the knights of Dol Amroth drove off the "troll-men".[2]
Inspiration
According to Christopher Tolkien, a character in the Thiðrekssaga (a 13th century work which influenced The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún), who is an off-spring of a woman and an incubus, appears "troll-like" and is "all over dark, with black hair and black beard".[3]
Portrayal in adaptations
| Half-trolls in adaptations | |||||||||
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1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Half-trolls (Sindarin Pirtereg, sing. Pertorog) were bred by Sauron, from a union of Olog-hai and Variags or Men from Khand. They are about seven feet tall and have black skin.[4][5]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- "Half-trolls of Far Harad" is a creature, able to inflict two strikes on a player. "Half-trolls" is a Troll Faction, playable at Cirith Ungol or Barad-dûr.
2001-: The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game:
- The Half Trolls are "Mahûd men" of Far Harad who were altered to the size and strength of the Olog-hai of Sauron. During the end of the Third Age, when Sauron was destroyed, their powers diminished and they too fell into darkness.[6] Units include "Half Troll Warband" and "Half Troll of Far Harad".[7]
2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:
- Half-Troll Marauders are crossbreeds of Trolls and an Orcs. These creatures serve as the pikemen unit for the Goblin faction.[8]. In a later expansion pack, Half Troll Swordsmen are available.[6]
2015: The Lord of the Rings Online:
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", p. 846
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", p. 848
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 357
- ↑ S. Coleman Charlton (1993), Middle-earth Role Playing (2nd edition, hardcover) (#2000)
- ↑ R. Mark Colburn, Peter C. Fenlon, John D. Ruemmler, Terry K. Amthor, Jessica M. Ney (1989), Lords of Middle-earth Vol III: Hobbits, Dwarves, Ents, Orcs & Trolls (#8004)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Troll-man at Wikipedia (accessed 14 November 2010)
- ↑ Half Trolls at Games Workshop (accessed 14 November 2010)
- ↑ Battle for Middle-earth II - The Goblin Horde at Ign.com (accessed 14 November 2010)
