In the Third Age we know that the phantom-spirits of dead men and elves could be used by Sauron with great effect, but the spirits of the Dead Men of Dunharrow opposed Sauron. At best we can only say that we don’t know what they were and therefore if you’re writing fan fiction or a role-playing adventure you are free to make your own choices.įinally, it seems that Sauron did imprison spirits. However, Tolkien seems to give the impression that most of the Umaiar were slain in the wars of the First Age. Some of these creatures may be lesser Maiar, greatly diminished in power and incapable of returning to their native forms. Even Saruman appears to have used birds to some effect although it’s not clear whom the dark birds in The Fellowship of the Ring really serve when they fly over Dunland and Hollin. Being less than Rational Incarnates they may have been easier to subvert. Perhaps Tolkien only intended the Wargs to be similar to the were-wolves in that they were evil, intelligent, and served a Dark Lord.Īnd there must have been many animals which did Sauron’s bidding, but perhaps not willfully. Tolkien equate them with the were-wolves of Beleriand but such an identification is tempting. The Wargs of the Third Age are demonic wolves. Like dragons and balrogs, it may be that Sauron’s ability to control giant spiders was limited - but perhaps he was able to influence them in subtle ways and thus tease them into serving his purposes. Shelob the great spider (“last child of Ungoliant”) was never really under Sauron’s control but she guarded one portion of his border where she made her lair. Gollum acted on his own accord, it seems, and so Sauron may not have intended to daunt him. It would be difficult to say that Gollum ever served Sauron but Sauron captured Gollum and had him released for some evil purpose. The “men like half-dwarves” and the “men like half-trolls” come to mind, as do the Variags of Khand (although most commentators argue that the Variags were almost certainly men because of the history of the word varyag, variag). And in addition to Men (maybe) there are other man-like races whose natures Tolkien never described. We remain in doubt about dragons and other dreadful creatures but there are plenty of Men who serve Sauron. In the Third Age, Sauron commanded his usual legions of Orcs and Trolls. We can also say that Men served Sauron at various times, at least from the War of the Elves and Sauron onward. Although those fires could have been started by other means, anyone writing fan fiction or a role-playing adventure could reasonably argue that a dragon would fit in with that scenario. One possible incident might point to a use of one or more dragons: the burning of the great forests of Minhiriath during the War of the Elves and Sauron. In the Second Age, with Morgoth gone, Sauron assumed command over many creatures but because Tolkien does not mention any dragon activity in the Second Age readers don’t know if Sauron recruited, allied himself with, or commanded dragons. However, we’re now into speculative territory. And it’s conceivable he also commanded vampires. As one of Morgoth’s field commanders Sauron led an army of Orcs, Trolls, and Were-wolves. In the First Age we know that he was one of Morgoth’s lieutenants (perhaps on par with Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, or maybe above even him). I am guessing that the people asking this question mean “at the end of the Third Age” but it’s a reasonable question to ask of any part of Sauron’s career. Q: What are the Evil Creatures That Served Sauron?ĪNSWER: I think this is a pretty interesting question because it draws us into the inevitable debates about unanswerable questions, such as whether any dragons or balrogs served Sauron.
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