The Warg and Warg Rider Appreciation Thread

[Nimrothiel]

Greetings, Warg enthusiasts. I am newly come to post in this thread, though not a tale as of yet. A question plagues my mind, one that I would fain have answered before Eomer of the Rohirrim elects to share with us his doubtless fascinating tale. My question is this: Did only Cam Beleg hold the title of "The Warg Rider," or did more than one such entity exist? If so, were the Warg Riders only evil, or did some fight on the side of good? If so, I will do all within my power to find a tale concerning this aspect of Warg history.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Greetings Nimrothiel, so good to have another Warg enthusiast join us at the Appreciation Thread.

In answer to your questions about the Warg Rider, we here believe to have discovered new things about him only recently. (You can trawl through previous posts to see how we got there). So, here goes my attempt at a general summery.

Cam Beleg was the original and greatest Warg Rider, and the tale of his greatest exploits can be read in Samwise's excellent post a little bit before this one. In after years, more and more beings (I believe they were all Orcs) were sometimes attributed the title of 'The Warg Rider' and, though they were all far less powerful than Cam Beleg himself, they yet kept alive the fear that Cam Beleg could instill in Middle-earth.

The Two Towers movie has given rise to a popular misunderstanding of so-called Warg Riders. I'm sure you all remember Saruman's line in that film "Send out your Warg Riders!" directed to what appeared to be a normal Orc. In the following battle which featured these 'Warg Riders' and the Rohirrim, it is easy for the audience to assume certain things about 'Warg Riders'.

This is a misconception. There are no such things as Warg Riders. Sure, there are riders who ride on Wargs, but that is altogether different. At any one time there is only one Warg Rider.

And in answer to your other query, the Warg Rider is always, but always evil.

[Nimrothiel]

Ah, thank you for that clarification. Excuse me, but I feel the pull of some other thread that is less static and more flexible. Sorry to have wasted screen space for a post by a fellow enthusiast. Note: I did not say "fellow Warg enthusiasts" for this very reason; I fear that I have wasted time and effort in my now vain pursuit of the "good" Warg Rider.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

'The Good Warg Rider' is an oxymoron, Nimrothiel. But surely there are enough delights to keep you tuned to the thread? The tale of how Wargs were linked to the legendary 'Party in Khand' will be arriving shortly.

[High King Fingolfin]

I apologize for the idea Eomer, it was frivolous and I should never have brought it up.(It was my sister's idea actually.) As to my earlier tale of the black Warg with wings, I personally think this Warg was an isolated case, it is probably a rare phenomenon among black Wargs.
Samwise, your tale of the Warg Rider was wonderful! I never suspected that Kharak was the son of Carcharoth.
More Warg tales later.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

But Fingolfin, after your revelation about the Winged Warg, more whispers have been unearthed regarding such beasts. It appears that the Winged Warg has been a long-kept secret, but perhaps the mystery shall be unravelled soon. I myself intend to find one this weekend by delving deep into the dark forests. What a sight it would be!

Please do keep the tales coming Fingolfin. I think we also need Samwise back to tell one as I guess that he has a plethora of Warg stories to unleash. The next time I post it shall be the tale of the Party in Khand. It is a tale both joyous and melancholy, and once more underlines the fact that Wargs have more power than the forces of evil.

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Though there is but one Warg Rider, mighty in legend and song, yet not alone is he among those who have dared in their temerity set bridle to the noble Warg. Indeed, his legend hath but proven the spur that hath kindled in Elf, Man, Dwarf, Orc and yea even Hobbit, to assay this self-same feat.

Of these brave yet misguided souls, the most have perished; their souls unhoused by the blazing wrath of the Wargs, who brook no attempt to master them. Yet others, the proud and noble few, have found favour with the wise Wargs, and have become their allies; being borne without saddle or bridle, for none the Warg chooses to bear of his own accord is suffered to fall from his broad back. And of these mighty Warg-friends, the greatest that is told of in the tales of the Elves is Morsil, the Dark Sheen.

It is told that in the days of Orodreth there lived by the Narog a solitary Elven warrior, skilled in war and song; and the goodwill of bird and beast was his, for he had vowed that never should any creature fall needlessly to his blade. Such a one was Morsil, a lone wanderer of hill and glen. And he was mighty among the Elves of Nargothrond, and failed never to answer the summons of his lord, nor the call of a friend in need.

So it came to pass that on a time his wanderings brought him into lands where dwelt of old a noble tribe of Wargs. Their chief and guardian was the mighty Warg-lord, Balcarkh, who is known also as the Jaws of Fate. Balcarkh knew well of any who passed within his realm, for the beasts, the trees, even the very wind were his allies, and news came to him from all quarters of happenings both great and small. Resolved to punish the insolence of one who would enter his kingdom without due obeisance to his majesty, the great Warg strode forth to meet the intruder, and so it was that he came alone to the edge of his realm and into the hunting grounds of the Petty Wargs. These creatures are more often found in the service of the Orcs and Goblins, for they lack the dignity and freedom of spirit that are the mark of the True Warg. Envious they are of their cousins, and yet contemptuous, for lacking honour in themselves they see it not in any other. And they came upon the dread Warg-lord and fell upon him in great numbers, for it was their way so to bring a strong foe to his knees. Nonetheless it went ill with them that day, for fully half their number were slain before first claw or fang were laid to the Warg-lord's flesh; yet their claws were smeared with poison, and they came upon him with such fury that the day would have gone ill with him had not Morsil come by in his hour of need.

The mighty sword of Morsil sprang unto his hand, shimmering with an inner flame as do the weapons of the High Elves; and he fought by the side of the great Warg until the foe were routed and lay piled about them. And his skills of healing were applied to the treacherous wounds of the Petty Wargs, and so was formed the alliance of Morsil and Balcarkh, whose deeds are writ large in the legends of the Elder Days. Indeed, many an age after their story ended, a bard of Rohan wrote of them a lament, a fragment of which yet remains, though oft misremembered as a chant for the Rohirrim.

Where now the Warg and his rider? Where are the lungs that were blowing?
Where are the sword and the hauberk, and the bright pelt flowing?
Where is the claw on the harpstring, and the red tongue glowing?
Where are the mate and the lair, and the young Wargs growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.