Half-trolls

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 00:45, 10 October 2016 by The Lord of the Lord of the Rings (talk | contribs) (I added all that was needed to merge Troll-men and Half-trolls.)

Half-trolls, also known as troll-men, was a term used to describe the men of Far Harad that came to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. They were black skinned with white eyes and red tongues. Later in the Battle, the knights of Dol Amroth are said to have driven off the "troll-men and Variags and orcs".[1] If these names actually referred to some creature is uncertain.

Inspiritation

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".[2]

Portrayal in adaptations

Half-trolls in adaptations
A "Half-troll Brute" in The Lord of the Rings Online  

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.[3][4]

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.[5] Units include "Half Troll Warband" and "Half Troll of Far Harad".[6]

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.[7]. In a later expansion pack, Half Troll Swordsmen are available.[5]

2015: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Half-trolls appear as a type of enemy found throughout the various regions of Gondor and Anórien.

References

Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow