The Warg and Warg Rider Appreciation Thread

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Absolutely One of the Nine, you should look wherever you can. Woods, fields, mountains, deserts, anywhere except the places where humans are frequent.

There is a long and unhappy history between humans and Wargs which we have merely touched upon on this thread.

[SamwiseGamgee]

Here follows the legend of Aldreus, the first ever man, and the severing of the bond between man and warg:

In the days when the elven-folk came back east and settled in their many abodes having followed Feanor and then having lost faith in him there was born of the earth a man, and he was called Aldreus. Mighty he was, as though carven from granite, and yet his face was the fairest ere eye hath seen on mortal man. He was born a babe from a deep crevice, and on hearing his faint, whimpering child cry there came a warg upon him. That warg's name was not known, but that warg raised the child Aldreus like her own offspring. He was a brother to her litter and a son to bioth her and her husband. For many long years they lived happily together, until Aldreus met another human.

Though Aldreus was the first human, he was not the only, and the maiden he laid his eyes upon was the most beautiful thing he had seen. Bellathia he called her, for she was as glorious as the sun rising.

Aldreus's mother did not want it, though, and she forbade that her son follow the maiden into the woods, for she feared her son would not return. Aldreus knew a rage that burned his eyes, such was its intensity and as his mother slept that night he killed her, slitting that fair and caring mother's throat. As his brothers and sisters woke Aldreus panicked, slaying each one of them. Now his cold blooded rage had consumed him, and as the rain began he ran into the forest, seeking Bellathia. He searched this way and that, but in the pouring rain he became lost, and as the forest closed in around him Aldreus did not notice his father's mighty paw sweep down on the back of his head. So devoured with the pain of searing loss was that warg that he did not kill Aldreus immediately, he bound him and hung him by his feet from a branch some 50ft in the air.

Each day the warg visited until finally Aldreus died, and as he did so he cursed all wargs, but after his passing the warg who had killed him prayed to Eru that with this one act there may come a peace between warg and man. His prayer is yet unanswered.

[One of the Nine]

I have found one! His name he will not tell me, but our bond is growing stronger. He is lonely, and has had no rider since the cruel people of the city deemed him a witch and burned him at the stake. I first found his tracks near the edge of the particular cornfield I was searching in, and immediatly took to the trial. I found him later, laying in the sun. So as not to startle him, I let him be until he woke up. He then snarled and bared his teeth until I soothed him, saying that I was a friend. He then began to talk to me. He told me about the many customs of the Wargs and then some that he had started himself. He then told me about his long deseased rider, and then asked me if I would be his new one. We now take rides throught the cornfields, grassy fields, and the occasional mountain. We are having good times, and he says that I am light to his back and an easy rider. How are the rest of you faring in your Warg meetings?

[SamwiseGamgee]

Beware, One Of The Nine, wargs should not be treated lightly. You must always treat the noble beast as is becoming of a creature with such regality. To be permitted to ride upon the back of such a fine creature is an honour I have yet to earn, and for many years have I studied the way of the warg.

I feel I owe you all an explanation not for my first absence but for my most recent notable. This was because I was unexpectedly called away to the town of Eastbourne in Sussex. There had been reported cases of a large warg terrorising the beachy head region of Sussex. I spent nine nights camped out below those cliffs, hoping to find some evidence and confront this beast. I was sadly unsuccesful in this task and had no option but to return home empty handed.

How are we all at the warg appreciation thread? I am glad to see so many new names having posted. Welcome to you all!

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

It doesn't surprise me that you found no Warg there Samwise, it sounds like a case of typical human lies, pinning the blame on Wargs for their own misgivings. Your story was apt and fascinating.

So nice to have you back though! You have noticed the vast number of new subscribers to the Thread, I see. Wonderful isn't it? There is hope for humans after all.

One of the Nine, I'm sure you can appreciate how unusual your situation is. Samwise spoke truthfully, caution is yet necessary in your dealings with this Warg. I hope you play this game cleverly. Nevertheless, good luck to you! and keep your stories coming.

[One of the Nine]

Yes, cation is a virtue I don't like too much, but must be applied here. I have met my dear Warg again near his home, and he tells me much about his past rider. We together also must be careful because of the ever accusing people of the devious city I am shamed to call my own. Just this morning they accused a poor elderly woman of being in contact with a warg, when in fact, she had only scared one off with her many dogs. They take warg appreciation as treason, knowing a warg worse than treason, and riding a warg like terrorism. So, caution is good in my case here. Although, on a brighter outlook, I am learing some famed warg dances, and his wargliness says that he might be able to bring the warg that lives near a city not to far away here. So, for now, I'm happy with my warg findings.

[SamwiseGamgee]

Of recent times on this thread I feel that the great power of wargs has been forgotten. A warg is a creature more noble and honourable than we could ever trully appreciate. Here at the appreciation society we do the best we can to reflect and, well, generally appreciate wargs. However, another word of caution One of the Nine, this warg with which you claim to meet may be a treacherous warg. The haste with which he has befriended you suggests to me that he is tricking you. A warg of nobler spirit would be far more suspicious and less forthcoming, I feel.

I am no expert in warg psychology, though a vast amount of my time in Cambodia during the summer of 1981 was spent researching the field. I feel this is a case of 'Rohan Village Syndrome', that is where a warg befriends you and treats you as an ally only to betray you to a greater power at an opportune moment. Eomer has touched on it before, I believe. The best authority I have for this is in Unravelling The Paradox: A Study In Warg Psychology by Viscount Hughbert Bramble-Heath of Kent, Oxford University Press, 1834:

Wargs are prone to acts of dispicable treachery. It is unclear as to why they should act in such a fashion... but one thing seems clear: the trick is commonly used against unsuspecting humans and often even against warg-followers.
It was first observed in use against a village in Rohan as a servant of the Warg Rider... betrayed the trust of an entire village save one elderly lady for the purposes of his master.
As a result of this common trait wargs should always be held in some suspicion if their friendship is forthcoming.

There are other authorities, such as Wargs; Lovers, Murderers or Gods? by Albert Erekshon, Collins, 1946, which states quite simply:

Wargs should not be trusted.

This is a cynical view and I for one do not agree, but the sentiment would be well learned.

Eomer, I would be interested in your opinions on the matter.