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is strider recruiting zombies

in the return of the king when he goes on the paths of the dead and the dead follow r the dead zombies

The Dead are the spirits of the "mountain men" of the White Mountains. Before the War of the Alliance, they worshiped Sauron as a god, but when Mt. Mindoullin (sp?) was taken by Anarión they stopped their worship and
swore an oath to Gondor. However, when they refused to fight against Mordor, Isildur cursed their spirits to lie in the mountains, waiting for his Heir, so they could furfill their oath.

This is all explained in Book V. I don't blame you for missing it (I skipped over those tedious chapters, too). [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I've always wondered about that. I was confused that people living in the Paths of the Dead were able to follow someone, since they would (apparently) be dead themselves, but they weren't really "dead", were they?

The spirit description makes them more like ghosts, but what I've heard of ghosts implies thier manifest cannot harm nor touch people. They must have in the War, so where they in fact zombies? Hmmm. Does anybody know the implication of ghosts in Nordic or other themes of old? Or where I might find such reseraches to attempt to find out myself?

Dont hold me on this, but i dont think it ever says that they ever actually toutched anything. It says that the Rangers and the Locals marched with the Dead behind, and that the dead "drove out" the Cursairs. I think that, like the Nazgul before they took form, the main weapon of the Dead Men was fear, and any actual deaths other than drowning or burning of ships was caused by the Human army.

There are hundreds of legends about dangerous spirits, so I think they were able to touch something, but the MAIN weapon could have been fear.

Quote:

One day of light we rode, and then came the day without dawn, and still we rode on, and Ciril and Ringló we crossed; and on the third day we came to Linhir above the mouth of Gilrain. And there the men of Lamedon contested the fords with fell folk of Umbar and Harad who had sailed up the river. But defenders and foes alike gave up the battle and fled when we came, crying out that the King of the Dead was upon them. Only Angbor, Lord of Lamedon, had the heart to abide us; and Aragorn bade him gather his folk and come behind, if they dared, when the Grey Host had passed....

....There at Pelargir lay the main fleet of Umbar, fifty great ships and smaller vessels beyond count. Many of those that we pursued had reached the havens before us, and brought their fear with them; and some of the ships had put off, seeking to escape and many of the smalled craft were ablaze. But the Haradrim, being now driven to the brink, turned at bay, and they were fierce in despair; and they laughed when they looked on us, for they were a great army still.
'But Aragorn halted and cried with a great voice: "Now come! By the Black Stone I call you!" And suddenly the Shadow Host that had hung back at the last came up like a grey tide, sweeping all away before it. Faint cries I heard, and dim horns blowing, and a murmer as of countless far voices: it was like the echo of some forgotten battle in the Dark Years long ago. Pale swords were drawn; but I know not whether their blades would still bite, for the Dead needed no longer any weapon but fear. None would withstand them.

[ July 29, 2002: Message edited by: Manwe Sulimo ]

They seem more like wraith's than zombies. In fact very much like the Nazgul, where their ability to affect the living is through fear. And yet unlike the Nazgul because their spirit's are not bound to Sauron.

Oooh, ghosts then. Thank you! However, one question: If they used fear as thier weapon, and the "bad guys" could not stand against them, but the "good guys" could at least try to stand against the Nagul, would that imply the armies against Sauron were stronger and braver of heart than his forces? Or am I just nitpicking too much?

Quote:

would that imply the armies against Sauron were stronger and braver of heart than his forces

I don't think so. Only the bravest of the goodies (gandalf, aragorn, Eowyn) actually fight against the Ringwraiths, and they have knowledge as a weapon i.e, they know that the ringwraiths can be overcome, or like the hobbits at weathertop, they have no choice. Look at the reaction of the ordinary soldiers of Gondor and Rohan at Minas Tirith - they flee from the Nazgul. I don't think it means that the Corsairs are less brave, they just don't know what they are fighting.
BTW, in norse mythology, ghosts can harm people (read the Saga of Grettir the Strong). Besides, I always thought of them as being more like skeletons animated by the spirits - that could still harm and be harmed, though it would take a lot to stop one i.e, crushing their bones completely, and obviously killing them would be impossible (coz they're dead).

I always kind of thought of them as being incorporal (not sure if that is the right word/spelling), kind of like raiths, since they made no noise. It will be interesting to see how they are portrayed in the movie.