Middle-earth Bad Popularity Cup

[Andsigil]

Oh, come on, ladies and gents. Azog was a warrior king who slew at least two presumably tough dwarves in the form of Nain and Thrór. He also showed a particularly inventive and nasty personality in the subsequent mutilation of the latter said corpse.

Grishnákh displayed the strength of his sword arm by killing... er... kidnapping two hobbits and, umm, getting killed by a spear in the back whilst skulking off.

++Azog

[Groin Redbeard]

Thank you Andsigil. Azog is the most despicable orc in history! He deserves everyone's hatred as being the most despicable orc ever. Death and Azog deserved each other, thank God that Dain II Ironfoot brought them together.

Azog was a warrior king who slew at least two presumably tough dwarves in the form of Nain and Thrór.

We don't know if Azog killed Nain with his own hands; Nain went into Moria alone and was rolled out in two pieces, one of Azog's soldiers could have done it. Thrór was also battle worn when he faced Azog; still, it was an accomplishment, Grishnakh never gave us anything in reference to his achievements.


++Azog

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Azog certainly had a more successful
resume then Grishnakh. Exactly where
would he have gone had he escaped from the
Eotheod anyway, given that he was wrong
about the hobbits having the Ring? On foot
and across Anduin to a not happy Sauron or
flown back by a nazgul?

+ + Azog

[the phantom]

Both of these orcs are worthy competitors. Grishnakh is slippery evil, and played a rather important role in LotR.

But I've got to go with Azog here. He was responsible for starting the War of the Dwarves and the Orcs, and he was horribly evil.

Nar stayed near by for many days in hiding. One day he heard a loud shout and the blare of a horn, and a body was flung out on the steps. Fearing that it was Thror, he began to creep near, but there came a voice from within the gate:
'Come on, beardling! We can see you. But there is no need to be afraid today. We need you as a messenger.'
Then Nar came up, and found that it was indeed the body of Thror, but the head was severed and lay face downward. As he knelt there, he heard orc-laughter in the shadows, and the voice said:
'If beggars will not wait at the door, but sneak in to try thieving, that is what we do to them. If any of your people poke their foul beards in here again, they will fare the same. Go and tell them so! But if his family wish to know who is now king here, the name is written on his face. I wrote it! I killed him! I am the master!'
Then Nar turned the head and saw branded on the brow in Dwarf-runes so that he could read it the name AZOG. That name was branded in his heart and in the hearts of all the Dwarves afterwards. Nar stooped to take the head, but the voice of Azog said:
'Drop it! Be off! Here's your fee, beggar-beard.' A small bag struck him. It held a few coins of little worth.
Weeping, Nar fled down the Silverlode; but he looked back once and saw that Orcs had come from the gate and were hacking up the body and flinging the pieces to the black crows.

What a ridiculously evil chap. Not only did he kill Thror, but he branded his name across Thror's face in Dwarf-runes in order to torture and taunt his family.

++Azog

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

Oh, come on, ladies and gents. Azog was a warrior king who slew at least two presumably tough dwarves in the form of Nain and Thrór. He also showed a particularly inventive and nasty personality in the subsequent mutilation of the latter said corpse.

I am not so sure as to whether Náin was tough. He seemed like a scared old man to me. But anyway... hey, nice picture, Andsigil!

Grishnákh displayed the strength of his sword arm by killing... er... kidnapping two hobbits and, umm, getting killed by a spear in the back whilst skulking off.

Well, he was not a warrior, he was a commander, but not a battle commander, I'd say; and a sort of sneaky-guy.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Azog-4 Grisnakh-2

Second Round:
(5) Carcharoth vs. Eol (3)
(7) Scatha the Worm vs. Tom (0)

(3) Smaug vs. Master of Laketown (2)
(5) The Witch King vs. Sauron (7)

(4) Ar-Pharazon vs. Glaurung (5)
(3) Bill Ferny vs. William (4)

(3) Shagrat vs. Grima Wormtongue (4)
(4) Morgoth vs. Azog (4)

Of the contestants:
4 men
3 dragons
2 trolls
2 orcs
1 vala
1 maia
1 elf
1 wolf
1 nazgul

Next:

Carcharoth vs. Eol

[Andsigil]

I've actually never thought of Eöl as evil, but dark. I'm not sure how much sense that makes, but it's the best I can do. This semi-abstract picture of Eöl and Aredhel by Tom Loback captures the feel for me:



In any event, as a fellow bladesmith, I have to go with ++Eöl.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Andsigil

I've actually never thought of Eöl as evil, but dark. I'm not sure how much sense that makes, but it's the best I can do.

It makes sense, at least for me.

Hmm. I think, to be really objective - or, rather: to be really subjective; I should read the tale of Eöl again. On first thought, I look Carcey more. But let's see... I may decide about my vote later.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

Voting time extended for 12 hours +.

[Morthoron]

**Eol

Perhaps the most intriguing character in all the Silmarillion.