03-11-2003, 04:35 PM | #1 | |||
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Powerful creatures of ME
There have been many mighty creatures roaming the lands of Middle-Earth. I want to discuss which of the creatures that is the most powerful. I have selected three candidates from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to the title "the most powerful creature of Middle-Earth". I have left out creatures mentioned in other books of Tolkien, like Ungoliant. Let's also skip people like the wizards, the valar, the elves, the Uruk-hai and Sauron.
My candidates are: The dragon Smaug, who we could read about in The Hobbit. Smaug lived in the Lonely Mountain, where he guarded a huge dwarven treasure. The mighty dragon described himself like this: "My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"
The spider-shaped Shelob, who dwelt in the mountains on the western borders of Mordor. In LotR, we could read of how she fed on orcs, and that Sauron deliberately sent orcs to her. The Shelob could have been a powerful servant of Sauron, but I believe that she to powerful to be controlled. To have Sauron feeding her says much of her power
The Balrog of Moria, known as Durin's bane. The creature could shroud himself in darkness and engulfed himself in flames. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Company of the Ring travelled through Moria and ran into Durin's bane. He seemed to equal Gandalf's powers, at that says much of how mighty the Balrog was. The two Maiar clashed and fell into the deepest caverns beneath Moria.
Then there are very powerful creatures like the ents (who singlehandedly destroyed Isengard), the Nazgûl, Gwaihir and the Eagles, Beorn, Tom Bombadil and maybe the Oliphaunts. Now, who is the most powerful? Some would claim that no one is as powerful as Smaug, since "he is the biggest of them all". Others would say that the Balrog could beat Smaug any day. Perhaps the Shelob has some fans saying that she is the most powerful. Personally, I would say the Balrog is the strongest. What do the other 'mooters think?
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03-11-2003, 04:39 PM | #2 |
Lurker
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The Balrog. Definitely. It's a MAIA for Eru's sake!
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03-11-2003, 05:02 PM | #3 |
Elf Lord
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I agree with Elf Girl. The dragon is strong, but not enough, and Shelob has no chance. She's so week near them!The balrog is the strongest.
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03-11-2003, 05:07 PM | #4 |
The Quite Querulous Quendi
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Tom Bombadil. Master, last as he was first, no-one ever caught him. And a vision in those wellies.
Though he doesn't play away matches, of course... |
03-11-2003, 05:13 PM | #5 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
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Actually, Ungoliant and Ancalagon the Black are both mentioned in LOTR. Maybe Glaurung, too.
I would say Ungoliant. For rather obvious reasons. EDIT: As WF said, most impressive female character in Tolkien's works!
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03-11-2003, 05:23 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
Otherwize, I agree with you that Ungoliant is the strongest for obvious reasons
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03-11-2003, 05:33 PM | #7 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
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Well, Hoom, Hum, Hroom... Well, all of them are dead except Shelob, so I'd probably have to say her.
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03-11-2003, 05:37 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
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03-11-2003, 05:58 PM | #9 |
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I'll go for Bombadil.
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03-12-2003, 03:42 PM | #10 |
Elf Lord
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Yeah, me too.
And, Tom Bombadil is not a creature, as the wizards aren't. |
03-12-2003, 03:55 PM | #11 |
The Elvish Temptress
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I guess old Glaurung was more powerful than Smaug but well ... that doesn't belong to LotR or the Hobbit.
The Balrog wasn't bad.
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03-12-2003, 04:13 PM | #12 |
Elf Lord
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What do you mean 'the balrog wasn't bad'?
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03-14-2003, 09:09 AM | #13 | |
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Re: Powerful creatures of ME
Quote:
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04-12-2003, 04:22 PM | #14 |
Enting
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I believe that the balrog of moria was the strongest "creature".
though I wouldnt call him a "creature"- I would rather call him a bieng' after all- he is a mia' and they are not "creatures" |
04-12-2003, 04:32 PM | #15 | |
Elf Lord
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Quote:
Last edited by Radagast The Brown : 04-12-2003 at 04:34 PM. |
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04-12-2003, 04:43 PM | #16 |
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#1) Tom Bombodill: he could sing them to death (he almost sung me to death when I read that part in FotR, BORING)
#2) Ungoliant (she even scared Melkor) #3) Balrogs (after all, they are Maia) #4) Glaurung (in his prime only, not before his armour was full wrought) #5) Smaug #6) Nazgul (as a group but not alone) #7) Shelob (she was only wounded not killed by Samwise, and only because she under estimated him, no pun intended) #8) The Eagles #9) The Ents (they did not destroy Isengard "single-handedly", but as an army, together) #10) Beorn In this order. |
04-13-2003, 05:09 AM | #17 | |
The Elvish Temptress
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Quote:
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04-13-2003, 07:33 AM | #18 |
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Yes, yes I would have to say the Balrog too.
After all Balrog is Sindarin for 'power-terror' or 'demon of might'. The Balrog was a maiar were as Shelob was only a descendant of a maiar. (Ruinel- Shelob was blinded and stabbed by Sam and may have eventually died of her wounds, or of starvation caused by her inability to hunt while blind!) (GW - shelob was nothing compared to Ungoliant )
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04-13-2003, 07:57 AM | #19 |
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Both the wizards and the balrogs are maiar. Does that mean that the wizards and the balrogs are equally powerful?
If that's so, could Saruman or any other wizard have beaten the balrog in Moria? Could the balrog have had the strenght to kill Saruman? Off-topic: Funny thing. Lalaith posted the statement "The balrog wasn't bad", and exactly one month later, she explains what she meant
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04-13-2003, 11:11 AM | #20 | ||
Fair Dinkum
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Oh, why can't we have creatures from other books?
I say the Balrog for the reasons that Jonathan stated in the first post. Very convincing. Quote:
Quote:
Last edited by Linaewen : 04-13-2003 at 11:15 AM. |
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