Is THIS how you imagined the vampires?

[davem]

Originally Posted by Raynor

It is interesting that Melkor is here depicted as not being able to fly (nor do we see in other versions any mentioning to the contrary); if this were true, it would imply that neither could Sauron, who, if anything, is a lesser being than he.

I take it this would mean that Ancalagon & Smaug couldn't fly either, as they were lesser beings than Morgoth?

A vampire shape with pinions vast
Screeching leaped from the ground & passed
Its dark blood dripping on the trees (Lay of Leithian)

Or perhaps Sauron just screamed, jumped into the air & then ran off through the forest flapping his wings....

[sallkid]

If there were any "true" vampires in tolkien i strongly doubt that they'd look like this.
It brings to mind more the image of the Balrog, or one of the Nameless (Fell) Beasts.

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by davem

I take it this would mean that Ancalagon & Smaug couldn't fly either, as they were lesser beings than Morgoth?

Seeing that Melkor is described time and again as not being able to make new sentient beings, the race of dragons is likely a corruption of a race already able to fly. In that sense, these "proto-dragons" had this gift from the design of Eru (I am not aware that any vala was able to make even non-sentient beings).