Wolf-riders
From Tolkien Gateway
Wolf Riders by John Howe
Wolf-riders were mostly Orcs, who rode wolves.
History
Orcs used wolves as steeds back in the First Age,[1] as well as wargs well into the Third Age, when wolf-riders came in the Battle of Five Armies.[2]
During the War of the Ring, Saruman employed "Orcs into his service, and Wolf-riders, and evil Men"[note 1] to harass Rohan.[3] Before the Battle of the Hornburg, scouts reported that Wolf-riders were roaming the valley about Helm's Deep.[4]
Other versions of the legendarium
In the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales, a horde of wolfriders chased some of the Exiles of Gondolin in Tumladin, Eärendel among them, but they are saved by Tuor and his men.[5]
Portrayal in adaptations
| Wolf-riders in adaptations | |||||||||
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1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- The card Wolf-riders can be played either as a creature or as a short-event, the latter increasing the prowess and strikes of a Wolf attack.[6]
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:
- A Warg-riding Orc scout is encountered by the Rohan refugees on their way to Helm's Deep. During the skirmish with warg riders, Aragorn falls from a cliff, and is later found by Brego.
Notes
- ↑ Éomer's reference seems to suggest that Wolf-riders are not necessarily Orcs, nor Men, making their identity uncertain. Cf. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Helm's Deep"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin", p. 190
- ↑ "Search for a card: games > Middle Earth", tradecardsonline.com (accessed 19 November 2014)
