Reviews by Aganuzir

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Wed Dec 14, 2005 4:27 pm

Chapter 36, Those Doomed to Die

Angmar,

I loved your chapter!

Krak and Zag are funny, the humour a bit earthy, but they are Easterlings, not sophisticated Numenoreans, so I think it is appropriate.

And Udu and Rut are awesome. Udu's attitude is very Tolkienesque, so to say.

I hope Udu's apprehensions will not come true, that would be a great loss!

Thanks for the recipe of Dushurz-Gabhik, " wormwood, honey, charnel flowers, distilled water from the Morgulduin" Smile smiley face

The EMBLEM of the Nazgul flying Corpse has appeared. Hurrah! The very one that was Tolkien’s own, but never used. Great, that you made it an esoteric symbol.

"once again be consulting the entrails of goats, cattle and birds to
determine ..."

That was very interesting part of the back-story. Seems all the Numenorean nazgul at least tried simple sorcery and divination, Was that during their natural lives?

"You are worse now than the King was after that wench challenged him!"

Also a nice part of back story info.

"I lost confidence long ago in all except the King and you! I know how
Gothmog and Skri have wavered."

So, I guess it refers to how Sauron got the rings from the nazgul around 2950? Am I right to guess, that Goth and Skri were captives in Dol Guldur and lost their Rings earlier than the others, and later helped Sauron to get into Mordor? Or did you have other ideas?

"How do you... know? Once the power existed to slay us all, and in

truth, who can say that the knowledge cannot be learned once again? It was once..."

Refers to the Barrow downs blades, I guess.

But what about the canon story of the Nine seeing the accursed blades in hobbit's hands (or at least in Frodo's hand) at Weathertop (the blade burned like flaming branch in the spirit world)? And the King seeing the same type of blade in Merry's hands at Pelennor?

"He does not watch all the time. His attention is drawn to other
things."

This I like very much. Few realize that even Sauron is unable to watch all the time, and, most likely, the Nine feel his gaze, when directed at them. So when he is not looking, they start to act... according to their own wishes.

Liked the way Rut apologized to Udu for binding him to the beast. A very nice touch, speaks a lot about them.

It is great how many wineskins Udu managed to take with him. Enjoyed this part a lot.

Thank you for explaining "haruspices", I didn’t know what it meant.

The song is wonderful. One of the best bawdy songs I ever read. Where did you get the inspiration?

Poor Elves on the field hearing that bawdy song coming from the sky! They would have been offended, Shocked smiley face

if they could make out the words.

Thank you for the chapter, Angmar. A pleasure to read.

Agan

Choices · Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:38 am

As stated in "Akkalabeth" and "of the Rings of Power and the Third age",
the Nazgul had taken their Rings from Sauron in the middle of the Second Age, while the Kingdom of Angmar existed in the Third Age, from TA 1300 till TA 1975. By this time, the Witch-King has been a nazgul for about 3000 years.

Therefore the mention of "Angmar" in your drabble is incorrect.

EDIT: the addition of a second chapter with the explanatory note helps a lot, thank you.

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:48 pm

Chapter 35, the long-awaited!

Very beautiful new chapter, Angmar and Elfhild!

One sees immediately the work you have done on the the choice of words and the text in general, for it to run so smoothly, like a dance.

I liked the part "Taste My blood and drink of My power" it makes the love-scene rather unusual and creepy.

I wondered reading the scene, was she much smaller than Sauron (in size)? Smile smiley face

So, we have two female spirits - a wind spirit and a Fire spirit

Elfhild wrote: "It was slightly difficult to capture the feeling of a wind spirit, for they are harder to portray than temperamental fire spirits (Sauron, balrogs)...So wind spirits would probably either be quite noble, or quite petty. And so we have Thuringwethil".

I agree with you, Elfhild, the Wind spirit must be really harder to portray. I see it now. The other one, Nariamara, seems gorgeous, but not an overly complicated creature. (And what a gorgeous picture on your website!).

As for pettiness of the wind spirits, I believe the same wind spirit would sway from greatness to pettiness and back. It happened even to Manwe. Yes, Thuringwethil is a very unhappy bat, but quite likeable, somehow.

On what terms is she with the nazgul, I wonder? Smile smiley face

And thank you, Elfhild, for replying at length to my previous comments. Indeed the theory that you came up with, based upon the Silmarillion, is quite realistic and compatible with Canon. It really would make a very interesting novel in itself...

"The illusions on the walls concept were Angmar's idea."
Congratulations, Angmar!

"This chapter offers a rather innovative explanation of what happened to Thuringwethil, and why Sauron dwelt for a time in Taur-nu-Fuin. We thought it fit into canon rather well, and was an interesting gap-filler"

Yes a great gap-filler indeed. Tol-in-Ghauroth story in Silmarillion is a dark one with many omissions. You offered an excellent story, explaining the known facts realistically.
One understands that Sauron was NOT disembodied, however he disappeared somewhere nonetheless, and didn't help his master to deal with Luthien.

By the way, have a look at this cartoon by Allor, depicting how the Silmarils were really obtained from Morgoth. Twisted Evil smiley face

http://allor.ramot.ru/humorpicts_5.htm

Best wishes,

Agan

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:26 pm

Angmar and Elfhild,

The new chapters are awesome, truly beautiful language and imagery. I liked that you used Old English for these ancient stories. Interesting retelling of the Silmarillion, from the point of view of the Dark side. But not contrary to Tolkien, as he recognised himself, that stagnation was intrinsic in the works of the Valar, and later the Elves. Though, the Spring at Almaren was so beautiful!

I believe you are very finely keeping the balance of good and bad in Sauron. Once he was creative and wanted to improve the World. Now, after 7000 years of defeats, he is very tired, hysterical and very cruel to those around him. Considering that Sauron has been embodied much longer than the wizards, he may have started to grow old mentally.

But still he is a god, not a man. You succeeded to show it, not to make him too human. Turighwethil is awesome and believable. Difficult not to pity her. I loved the portrayal of the two magic creatures. And the illusions on the walls were cleverly introduced, making the readers recall how the Dark side has fought for ages, fought through a long defeat.

The story even takes us to Angband of old, showing Sauron returning to his Master Morgoth after a major defeat, much like Angmar will return to Sauron very soon. Sauron got no pity from his Master, though he tried to put part of his blame on the poor bat. Angmar at least fought valliantly, not running away like Gorthaur. What will happen to him?

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:33 am

Chapter 28.
A fascinating chapter !
At last there is a chapter entirely focussed on the Morgul Lord! And I can say, I like how you portray him very much. I liked how he started to talk to Thamtan, deceptively friendly and ended with proposing him a duel. That made imminent sense that he didn’t bother to rave at the Maugoth, to call him names or something. There was no need, as Angmar already decided to take his life. So he just played like a cat with a mouse, perhaps for his own amusement, perhaps more for the other spectators. At least that is how I understood it.

And it looked like Angmar has offered Maugoth a choice. One alternative was a Morgul knife. Then he would have become like nazgul, only weaker, he would have had an invisible body and his fea, inhabiting it for all eternity.
(By the way I liked the reference to "the crew as merry as ours"! Perhaps he was not entirely joking…)

But what was the other choice, the one that he has finally "chosen"?
It looks, he was killed, the body destroyed. But he was not permitted to go to Mandos. Thamtan was left with only a houseless fea, bound to the ME, and specifically to Angmar. He became a spirit, not a wraith. Perhaps he would have a possibility to inhabit other bodies, or animate skeletons, like the Barrow-wights? Did I get it right?
Liked the Black Speech chant, intoned softly as a welcoming bidding.

Then there is another theme: Angmar and Sauron.

It looks like with the Ruling Ring on Sauron’s finger and Angmar’s own returned back to him, the two were able to communicate at a distance directly, not like during the "Hunt for the Ring" in UT, when messengers were needed.

"My little King"…Grr.. Not at all nice to be called that. As well as "My most loyal thrall".

It is really disturbing to read how Sauron felt at home in nazgul’s minds. Their fate is surely not to be envied. I readily believe they were tortured when he was displeased. There must have been a reason for their fear of the fire. I agree that he may have threatened them with destroying their rings. But he is hardly likely to do it, is he? If one nazgul is gone irretrievably, the Nine will never be complete, and that weakens the whole Ring-scheme.

Sauron is not too political, refusing the exchange of prisoners. Why was he so stubborn? Just didn’t want to loose face, or he wanted those women and children too much?

Angmar had a good idea to use the truce to save his battered army. Strange Aragorn has not thought of it.

thank you for the excellent chapter,

Agan

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:27 pm

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Very interesting, indeed, all those dark memories that start to resurface in the nazgul’s minds. I wonder was it an intention of Sauron meant to punish them, or was their own control just slipping? Or perhaps Sauron himself got so distressed, that His control over them was slipping?
It is a new idea that the Numenorean nazgul had no memories of their past lives. It is fascinating. When did Sauron take their memory? Back in the Second Age? However, I believe their appearance left no doubt that they were Numenoreans. They were just so distinct from others physically, and much taller also.

The Morgul Lord started to act better, IMHO, regaining his composure. He at last gave some orders to the troops and prevented his fellows from bickering.

Thantam is plain stupid. Why had he left his banners? I think he had the opportunity to take them.

Thank you for bringing out Bashrash and Lugag again. I will never forget how they ate a turtle in SD!

I think it sounds true that Aragorn would hive Easterling men quarter. But I have more problems with the parley. Somehow I feel that they would not treat with Mordor, convinced as they were that the Enemy would cheat them anyway. The Parley at Morannon in LOTR was just a show, I believe, to give Frodo time, not done in earnest. So I was much surprised to see this truce sought by the West.

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:20 pm

Another interesting battle chapter.

The cavalry battle goes ill for the Easterlings, as it had to be expected. Poor Tooraj! He died a hero. I also have a feeling that Kourosh will hardly survive the battle. Doungha, on the other hand, perhaps, will survive. (Aganuzir’s little prophecy). Smile smiley face

Awesome description of the battle and of Kapurdri effect on Doungha. Kourosh was not affected, but, I think, he was not permitted to drink, being a high-ranking officer. That will weaken him in hand-to-hand encounter.

The nazgul are flying yet again, though now it is perilous. Interesting personalities they are. Rut is quite a nice chap, I believe. Udu seems serious and responsible and has some good humour. Angmar is brave, sure, but I would have liked him to do something about the actual leading of the army. The army near the Gates needs to be prepared for the cavalry attack, I bet they are disorganised and frightened. What is Tahmtan doing, by the way?

Loved the nazgul song. Why does it end with "Agan" in Adunaic, not "Matum" in the Black Speech? And how do you explain that the nazgul’s spell was affecting Rohan horses but not Mordorian ones?

I thought, Angmar had lost his bow when he caught fire. Where has he got a new one?

That is really a pity that the nazgul were unable to kill at least one of the enemy lords! (At least that Imrahil. I never liked the guy.) Why so? Do you need them for further story?

And why didn’t Angmar send someone to help Udu and Zagbolg?

Loved the nazgul talk about women right in the midst of the battle. Rohirric, Dwarves, even Hobbits…Yes, nazgul must be somewhat allergic to hobbits by that time. Smile smiley face

I am afraid Rut will not have his "week in bed with the best Rohirric wenches." He will get "loving chastisement" from Sauron instead… Why didn’t Krak have any women of his own?

Thank you for including maps in your website version, they are of great help.
Smile smiley face

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:08 am

Chapter twenty-five.

Awesome chapter, Angmar! Much as I liked your battle chapters and Elfhild’s wonderful insights into Rohan girls’ mentality, this chapter surpasses all the others, IMO.

I have never read a portrayal of Sauron so close to Tolkien’s own ideas, expressed in his Letters. Sauron is usually understood as a maniacal, utterly evil, destructive being. And a not-so-bright being, in addition. Those who have read only LOTR (I don’t even mention the movie-fans) probably get this impression. The fact that Sauron wanted to bring order into the World, is practically unknown, or misunderstood. I think, that putting several quotes from the “Letters” at the end of the chapter was a very good idea: few have read them before.

I am glad that you have not fallen into the opposite pit, so to say. You have not made Sauron totally righteous, misunderstood creature. You have made him really true to Tolkien.
I easily believe that he still wanted to do Good. Not real good, but what he perceived as Good. And he was not restricted in his means and methods at all. I believe he really suffered a lot when nobody really understood him. And the long chain of defeats could affect even a maia. Yet it rings true that he still understood the meaning of justice and even mercy.

Mouth of Sauron is also exactly as I thought he was. Here, I think we have very few Tolkien writings to rely upon, either that he was cunning and crueler than any orc. But there must have been something appealing to Sauron in this guy, either than his cruelty and servility. I think you succeeded to portray him as Sauron’s most trusted servant, ALMOST his only friend, or somebody approaching a friend as closely as the Maia could ever permit.
I like you were true to Tolkien, making Mouth a mortal man. Strangely enough, often he is portrayed as a Second Age relic, somehow preserved for so long, even without a Ring. Actually, the Mouth might have been of the same age or only slightly older than Aragorn. A middle-aged man by Numenorean standards.

I don’t know why, but I always imagined that the Mouth should hate the Nazgul and be jealous of them. I see you had the same impression. And, of course, the fact that the Morgul Lord was allowed to rule his own city, use his own sigil and banner called for envy.

“Undoubtedly it is the fault of the Witch-king of Angmar. He does not quite seem the same since the South. Even though there was a great victory at Pelennor, things did not go well in the rest of the South. Considering his great losses and blunders there, perhaps he has lost confidence in himself, and thus his usefulness wanes.”

Was Mouth right? What has happened to Angmar?

“The other craved too much power, while the Lieutenant was content to be what he was.” Still the Mouth was ambitious himself, IMHO. He was certainly looking forward to become the Lord of Isengard, as he said himself in LOTR.

I like the reference to “Angmar’s past record”. Indeed, he thought more of his own kingdoms than of helping his weak Master.

“He suspected - nay, he was certain! - Angmar and several of the others had deliberately blundered in the search for the Master Ring! No one so shrewd and cunning as he knew the Witch-king to be could fail so dismally unless he deliberately wished to do so.”

I totally agree with the Mouth here. I had the same impression when I read LOTR. I always wondered why the Dark Lord had not reached the same conclusion himself?

Poor nazgul, “the loving chastisement at the Hand of their Father” looms before them…

Thank you for this chapter,
Aganuzir

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:48 am

Angmar,

Thank you for answering my previous quiestions and for posting more chapters. Here is my belated review.

Chapters 22-24

The chapters are truly captivating and very well written, as usual; especially I liked the description of the battlefield in chapter 24. Kourosh, Doungha and Touraj have already become dear to me. I fear for their fate at the hands of inhuman foes, the Elves. Even the accursed Glorfindel came at last out of Rivendell! What is worse, the Powers seemed to meddle again directly into the affairs of Middle Earth, affecting weather. Shocked smiley face

By the way, how many Elves do you believe were left in ME by this time? I always had an impression that they were too few to be able to put forth a sufficient force anymore.

Looking at the direction of the Mordor army, I have a feeling that it could have been better. The Lieutenant of the army, Tahmtan, seems hopelessly drunk (kapurdi overdose) and useless. The Morgul Lord made a mistake to leave him in charge. Perhaps, he had to join the other Eight to increase the combined power, which was greater when all the Nine were assembled.
But still the nazgul could do little against the Elves. They would have done better to go harass the regrouping Rohirrim instead.

Interesting, that the nazgul use spell-songs. I don’t think Tolkien ever described them singing, not shrieking.

Tolkien wrote in the Unfinished Tales, that Khamul was the most powerful of the nazgul, after the Black Captain himself, but I don’t think Tolkien has ever described either of them as being “devout”. Were they, really? Slaves of the Nine Rings, yes, but “devout” to Sauron?

I like nazgul bickering constantly. It must be trying to serve in a company composed of 9 egotistic ex-Kings.
But I have problems with Skrishau’s character. I remember him from SD, he was really QUIET, spending his days flying between Rohan, Barad-Dur and Dol-Guldur in an endless circle and happy in his solitude. I liked him very much like that. But in the Circles, something has happened to Skri. He is again a remarkable, but a quite different personality. And you have to agree, he is not QUIET anymore. He is the pain in the neck of the whole company. If he is called “quiet”, it could only be in jest.

As for Angmar, this time I am slightly disappointed. I feel he is not formidable enough in these chapters. He was once, when he saved Rut. But on other occasions, he looks too emotional for my taste, loosing his temper with underlings and elves and struggling out of his coat instead of quenching the fire by magick. It would have been better to interrupt the Black Shadow spell, instead of loosing his face like that. He also lost his verbal exchange with Glorfindel. In general, he could have used more humor and patience.

Strange that the nazgul do not wear their Rings. (I think they do not, as their clothes are visible). I believe, from LOTR it is clear, that to wield the power of a ring one must put it on. I think wielding rings to full power could have helped a lot.

Loved the long-forgotten memory of Angmar flashing through Rut’s mind. It makes one want to learn more… It is things like that that I find most captivating.

All in all, it was a pleasure reading these chapters.

Regards,
Aganuzir

The Circles: Book One: The Triumph of The Shadow · Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:43 am

Chapter Twenty and Twenty-one.

A very captivating chapter. I loved the interaction between Thamtan and the Nine. Both chilling and hilarious. "The Silent Ones" must be simple wraiths (morgul-knife products)? The Morgul Lord was great!
Why did the Eighth Nazgul (Skrishau?) smile morbidly at the mention of Gandalf? Has he got something personal against the Wizard?
It is a bit strange that the Morgul Lord has left the actual direction of the troops to the Easterling, and joined the other Eight to fly over the besieged fortress. He could have helped at the gates, at least. It was not his way at the Pelennor.

Poor Dungha, still dreaming of blue eyes and the directives.
I liked the description of the Khandrim cavalry's preparations for battle. So exotic, with berserker draughts and dancing virgins. Interesting that the nazgul are referred to as Priest- Kings and Gods. Was it the draught that made nazgul presence feel intoxicating, "raining down feelings of benediction upon all the troops"?

But a real gem was Sergeant Doungha's motivational speech. "Remember how their ancestors came to these shores and took our people back in slavery to their own lands, some to die in sacrifice to their Unholy Gods in the Dark Temple upon their island!"
It seems that the Easterlings are not aware that the "Unholy Gods in the Dark Temple" in Numenor are the same as they are currently worshipping, and that their own Master has built the Temple on the Island...

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