- Age
- 4230
The Witch-king is the absolute ruler of Angmar and
Sauron's most powerful servant. Of all the Nazgûl, the
Witch-king is most capable of independent thought; he is
totally subject to Sauron, but within this domination he
constructs plans, military strategy, and political tactics to
further his master's goals. The chief of the Nine is Undead;
he exists in the world of wraiths and shadows. His physical
manifestation can at best be temporarily dispelled, but his
destruction lies in the distant future, the Nazgûl can
exist only so long as the One Ring exists.
His innate power and presence are so
great that all must resist extreme terror at his arrival or flee
in panic. The effect of the Nazgûl's aura varies with range,
and he can, if he chooses, cloak his power. When used to
its fullest, his aura has a radius of three miles. Those within
two to three miles of the Nazgûl feel uneasy, and the
fainthearted may run. Between one and two miles away
reactions are stronger, provoking a desire to seek immediate
concealment. Within one mile of the Ringwraith,
most individuals cannot behave normally: their anxiety
inspires flight or concealment without hesitation.
Those within a thousand feet are overcome by dread and
flee thoughtlessly. Anyone closer than three hundred feet
freezes in panic unless he overcomes his fear through
strength of will. A strong self-discipline is necessary to
overcome the terror that paralyzes both man and animal.
In addition to the great fear that the Lord of the Nine
radiates, those within three hundred feet may succumb to
the Black Breath. The victim falls into dark dreams and
dies in a matter of hours or days, depending on his race.
Eldar who have lived in Valinor are immune to these
effects.
The Númenórean Er-Mûrazôr (A. "Black Prince")
was the most gifted and powerful of the many great Lords
of Westernesse. Although only a Prince, his might outshone
all but a few of Númenor's Kings and, in the end,
he lived longer than any of the Adan sons. Mûrazôr's tale
covers over six and a half millenia and is one of Man's great
tragedies. The Black Prince was born in the year S.A. 1820 in the
port city of Andunië in the province of Andustar on the
island of Númenor (Andor). As the second son of King
Tar-Ciryatan (Q. "Ship-builder") and the younger brother
of (Tar-) Atanamir the Great, he traced his lineage to the
first King, Elros Tar-Minyatur. His mother gave him the
name Tindomul (Q. "Twilight Son"), for he was born
during a solar eclipse and his hair was blacker than any she
had ever seen. Those lords of Tar-Ciryatan's court who
favored the use of Adûnaic (signifying their displeasure
with the Eldar and the Ban of the Valar) called him
Mûrazôr. Like his brother, the proud and greedy heir to
throne, the Black Prince supported his father's
ambitions and lobbied for the increased exploitation
of Middle-earth. Tar-Ciryatan sought great
wealth and sent his huge fleets to Endor in order to
exact tribute, and both his sons embraced the
benefits of his often ruthless policies. They shared
their father's penchant for material things and
power and had witnessed the workings of overweening
ambition first-hand when their father forced
their grandfather from the Númenórean throne.
Atanamir enjoyed the privileges and attention
accorded to the heir to the Adan throne—Tar-
Ciryatan showed him the prideful love he never
shared with Mûrazor.Always aggressive
and fiery, Murazôr resolved to leave home and
found his own empire in the vulnerable expanse
of Middle-earth. He assembled a small fleet
and set sail for Endor in the spring of
S.A. 1880.In S.A. 1882 the Black Prince's
ships dropped anchor in Umbar, where
the Númenórean Lord proclaimed himself
"King." Although successful in
wresting control from the local colonists,
he ruled for only a few months.
The Númenórean adventurer's pretensions
of rule faced an inevitable
and overwhelming challenge from his
father, Tar-Ciryatan, who ordered his
recalcitrant son to return home to
Westernesse. Mûrazôr refused the Adan
King's wishes, but he dared not remain in
Umbar in defiance of the edict from Armenelos.The Lord of the Rings perceived the Prince's
displeasure and offered him a means to achieve his
goals. Sauron realized that both Mûrazôr and his
older brother Atanamir sought to hold onto their
youth, and that they feared aging more than they
feared any corporeal foe. Atanamir showed his terror
of death later in history when he refused to surrender
the Sceptre of Númenor before he died. The Black
Prince revealed this fear by speaking openly of his
bitterness toward the immortal Elves to whom he
was related through Elros Halfelven. Ever-vigilant
and perceptive, the Dark Lord sought to corrupt
Mûrazôr by bringing the dissatisfied Númenórean
to Mordor.
The Black Prince went to Barad-dur during
the first week of S. A. 1883 and became a pupil
of the Lord of the Rings. During the next one
hundred and fifteen years, he expanded his
knowledge of enchantments and spell-casting,
becoming an exceedingly powerful Sorcerer.
Mûrazôr's knowledge of the Black Arts
was second only to Sauron's, and he quickly
rose to become the Evil One's most trusted
lieutenant. His lessons learned, he submitted
his spirit to his Master, who gave him a Ring
of Power in S.A. 1998. The first of the nine
Nazgûl, the Black Prince was known thereafter
as the Witch-king or the Lord of Morgul
(S. "Dark Sorcery").Throughout the rest of the Second
Age, the Witch-king stayed in
Mordor and served Sauron by coordinating
the efforts of the other
Ulairi. These years comprised the
period of his complete transformation
into a hideous wraith possessed
of an exceptional command of sorcery.
His role as the Lord of the Nazgûl
testified to his awesome magical skills. Ironically,
Mûrazôr was the only Ringwraith who
had not presided over a kingdom of his own
for a considerable period prior to accepting
his Ring of Power; however, his origins as
a Prince of the Edain of Númenor provided
him with inherent command
abilities that far exceeded those of his
Undead peers.
The Lord of the Rings gave the
Black Captain all of the trappings of a
King, for, aside from Sauron himself,
the Lord of Morgul was the mightiest
servant of Darkness in Mordor's hierarchy.
No one, not even Gothmog the Halftroll
Warlord (and, later, Lieutenant of
Morgul) or the Mouth of Sauron, enjoyed
such trust from the Evil One. Their relationship
flourished throughout the latter part of the Second
Age, as teacher and pupil sought to build an
unassailable kingdom and establish dominion over
all Men.The Lord of the Nazgûl ruled Angmar from the
mountain citadel of Carn Dûm (S. "Red Fort" or "Red
Hold"), a giant cavern-fortress built into and around the
last peak in the northern Hithaeglir. The Witch-king stands 6'10" and weighed 260 lbs.
His pure Edain heritage give him deep grey eyes, black
hair, and fair skin, but these are obscured beneath his
accoutrements. He wears his father's famous Sea-helm,
the karma of Tar-Ciryatan of Númenor. The helm serves
to protect him, as well as proclaiming him to be King, for
the overlapping sea-drake skin plates rises in a spiny
crown-shaped crest embellished with gold. His simple
iron crown is set into the crest, while the formidable
"Morgul Plate" covers the rest of his imposing figure. Of
sea-drake skin plate, this magic armor deflects all but the
finest of blades.He weilds Vasamacil: (Q.Blade-Eater) a flaming broadsword forged in Thangorodrim out of
black ithilnaur and inlaid with veins of fused rubies and Nallagurth (Q.Death's Proclaimed) Man-slaying mace forged in Utumno out of black
eog and subtly inlaid with veins of fused diamonds.
Its inset black laen tip is enchanted and contains a
permanent symbol, a 20th lvl Slow Death curse.
Sauron's most powerful servant. Of all the Nazgûl, the
Witch-king is most capable of independent thought; he is
totally subject to Sauron, but within this domination he
constructs plans, military strategy, and political tactics to
further his master's goals. The chief of the Nine is Undead;
he exists in the world of wraiths and shadows. His physical
manifestation can at best be temporarily dispelled, but his
destruction lies in the distant future, the Nazgûl can
exist only so long as the One Ring exists.
His innate power and presence are so
great that all must resist extreme terror at his arrival or flee
in panic. The effect of the Nazgûl's aura varies with range,
and he can, if he chooses, cloak his power. When used to
its fullest, his aura has a radius of three miles. Those within
two to three miles of the Nazgûl feel uneasy, and the
fainthearted may run. Between one and two miles away
reactions are stronger, provoking a desire to seek immediate
concealment. Within one mile of the Ringwraith,
most individuals cannot behave normally: their anxiety
inspires flight or concealment without hesitation.
Those within a thousand feet are overcome by dread and
flee thoughtlessly. Anyone closer than three hundred feet
freezes in panic unless he overcomes his fear through
strength of will. A strong self-discipline is necessary to
overcome the terror that paralyzes both man and animal.
In addition to the great fear that the Lord of the Nine
radiates, those within three hundred feet may succumb to
the Black Breath. The victim falls into dark dreams and
dies in a matter of hours or days, depending on his race.
Eldar who have lived in Valinor are immune to these
effects.
The Númenórean Er-Mûrazôr (A. "Black Prince")
was the most gifted and powerful of the many great Lords
of Westernesse. Although only a Prince, his might outshone
all but a few of Númenor's Kings and, in the end,
he lived longer than any of the Adan sons. Mûrazôr's tale
covers over six and a half millenia and is one of Man's great
tragedies. The Black Prince was born in the year S.A. 1820 in the
port city of Andunië in the province of Andustar on the
island of Númenor (Andor). As the second son of King
Tar-Ciryatan (Q. "Ship-builder") and the younger brother
of (Tar-) Atanamir the Great, he traced his lineage to the
first King, Elros Tar-Minyatur. His mother gave him the
name Tindomul (Q. "Twilight Son"), for he was born
during a solar eclipse and his hair was blacker than any she
had ever seen. Those lords of Tar-Ciryatan's court who
favored the use of Adûnaic (signifying their displeasure
with the Eldar and the Ban of the Valar) called him
Mûrazôr. Like his brother, the proud and greedy heir to
throne, the Black Prince supported his father's
ambitions and lobbied for the increased exploitation
of Middle-earth. Tar-Ciryatan sought great
wealth and sent his huge fleets to Endor in order to
exact tribute, and both his sons embraced the
benefits of his often ruthless policies. They shared
their father's penchant for material things and
power and had witnessed the workings of overweening
ambition first-hand when their father forced
their grandfather from the Númenórean throne.
Atanamir enjoyed the privileges and attention
accorded to the heir to the Adan throne—Tar-
Ciryatan showed him the prideful love he never
shared with Mûrazor.Always aggressive
and fiery, Murazôr resolved to leave home and
found his own empire in the vulnerable expanse
of Middle-earth. He assembled a small fleet
and set sail for Endor in the spring of
S.A. 1880.In S.A. 1882 the Black Prince's
ships dropped anchor in Umbar, where
the Númenórean Lord proclaimed himself
"King." Although successful in
wresting control from the local colonists,
he ruled for only a few months.
The Númenórean adventurer's pretensions
of rule faced an inevitable
and overwhelming challenge from his
father, Tar-Ciryatan, who ordered his
recalcitrant son to return home to
Westernesse. Mûrazôr refused the Adan
King's wishes, but he dared not remain in
Umbar in defiance of the edict from Armenelos.The Lord of the Rings perceived the Prince's
displeasure and offered him a means to achieve his
goals. Sauron realized that both Mûrazôr and his
older brother Atanamir sought to hold onto their
youth, and that they feared aging more than they
feared any corporeal foe. Atanamir showed his terror
of death later in history when he refused to surrender
the Sceptre of Númenor before he died. The Black
Prince revealed this fear by speaking openly of his
bitterness toward the immortal Elves to whom he
was related through Elros Halfelven. Ever-vigilant
and perceptive, the Dark Lord sought to corrupt
Mûrazôr by bringing the dissatisfied Númenórean
to Mordor.
The Black Prince went to Barad-dur during
the first week of S. A. 1883 and became a pupil
of the Lord of the Rings. During the next one
hundred and fifteen years, he expanded his
knowledge of enchantments and spell-casting,
becoming an exceedingly powerful Sorcerer.
Mûrazôr's knowledge of the Black Arts
was second only to Sauron's, and he quickly
rose to become the Evil One's most trusted
lieutenant. His lessons learned, he submitted
his spirit to his Master, who gave him a Ring
of Power in S.A. 1998. The first of the nine
Nazgûl, the Black Prince was known thereafter
as the Witch-king or the Lord of Morgul
(S. "Dark Sorcery").Throughout the rest of the Second
Age, the Witch-king stayed in
Mordor and served Sauron by coordinating
the efforts of the other
Ulairi. These years comprised the
period of his complete transformation
into a hideous wraith possessed
of an exceptional command of sorcery.
His role as the Lord of the Nazgûl
testified to his awesome magical skills. Ironically,
Mûrazôr was the only Ringwraith who
had not presided over a kingdom of his own
for a considerable period prior to accepting
his Ring of Power; however, his origins as
a Prince of the Edain of Númenor provided
him with inherent command
abilities that far exceeded those of his
Undead peers.
The Lord of the Rings gave the
Black Captain all of the trappings of a
King, for, aside from Sauron himself,
the Lord of Morgul was the mightiest
servant of Darkness in Mordor's hierarchy.
No one, not even Gothmog the Halftroll
Warlord (and, later, Lieutenant of
Morgul) or the Mouth of Sauron, enjoyed
such trust from the Evil One. Their relationship
flourished throughout the latter part of the Second
Age, as teacher and pupil sought to build an
unassailable kingdom and establish dominion over
all Men.The Lord of the Nazgûl ruled Angmar from the
mountain citadel of Carn Dûm (S. "Red Fort" or "Red
Hold"), a giant cavern-fortress built into and around the
last peak in the northern Hithaeglir. The Witch-king stands 6'10" and weighed 260 lbs.
His pure Edain heritage give him deep grey eyes, black
hair, and fair skin, but these are obscured beneath his
accoutrements. He wears his father's famous Sea-helm,
the karma of Tar-Ciryatan of Númenor. The helm serves
to protect him, as well as proclaiming him to be King, for
the overlapping sea-drake skin plates rises in a spiny
crown-shaped crest embellished with gold. His simple
iron crown is set into the crest, while the formidable
"Morgul Plate" covers the rest of his imposing figure. Of
sea-drake skin plate, this magic armor deflects all but the
finest of blades.He weilds Vasamacil: (Q.Blade-Eater) a flaming broadsword forged in Thangorodrim out of
black ithilnaur and inlaid with veins of fused rubies and Nallagurth (Q.Death's Proclaimed) Man-slaying mace forged in Utumno out of black
eog and subtly inlaid with veins of fused diamonds.
Its inset black laen tip is enchanted and contains a
permanent symbol, a 20th lvl Slow Death curse.
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