The character and non-player characters will be from four different races. A description of each is listed below. Each description includes four sections: physical, nature, intelligence, attitudes, and costuming. The physical section gives the physical description for the race. The nature section gives a description of the general nature for the race. The intelligence section gives a description of the mental faculties for the race. The attitudes section gives a description of the attitudes towards other races. The costuming section gives hints for costumes for characters of each race. These are all for a typical member of the race. There are always exceptions.
Orc:
Physical:
Orcs are 3’-5’ tall with apelike proportions, long arms, short legs
and broad hunched over backs. They are usually bald with pointed ears. They have
fangs and small claws that are usually kept sharp. Their eyes glow with a
malevolent light betraying their evil origins. They are filthy and infested with
fungi and parasites. Since battle scars are considered a sign of strength, Orcs
will sport them with pride. They also use tattooing for tribal identification
and battle decorations.
Nature:
Orcs are violent, cruel and cannibalistic. They only respect the terror
invoked by a greater power more cruel than themselves. They have no appreciation
for beauty and seek to destroy it whenever possible. They are extremely tough
and have the endurance to outlast most other races. They have an innate fear of
bright light and sunlight. These will cause Orcs to feel nauseous and sunlight
will cause their skin to blister.
Intelligence:
Orcs are on average less intelligent than Men. They tend to act rashly with little forethought and they usually resort to violence to solve most problems. When under strict control of a greater power Orcs can be marshaled into a very effective force for the purposes of accomplishing most tasks. In addition certain Orcs possess a high degree of skill in crafts such as armor and weapon making and fortification.
The Orc Shamans form an exception to this. They are specially bred by
Sauron to have intelligence that far exceeds that of an average Orc and rivals
that of a Black Númenórean. In addition they possess the physical
characteristics of the strongest Uruk including a resistance to light. They are
considered the ultimate in Orc breeding.
Attitudes:
Orcs hate all other living things including other Orcs. Amongst the
Sauron’s servants they have the greatest animosity towards men however they
will not hesitate to pick fights with other Orcs, Uruks and Trolls. Orcs from
the same tribe will tend to be the most civil except when trying to determine
rank within the tribe. However even in this case if they are left to their own
devices they can easily fall into squabbling amongst themselves.
Costuming:
Orcs are by nature filthy disease infested creatures. They eat sleep and work in their armor. Those Orcs that cannot wear armor because it interferes with their work will wear leather garments that function as light armor. Orc equipment and gear is not pretty but very functional. The most common armors are scale mail consisting of metal plates sewn onto a leather harness and light plate mail consisting of a metal breastplate and arms and legs greaves. Most Orcs will wear helmets in battle but few will wear them during normal daily activities. Typical Orc weapons are scimitar like swords and axes. Orcs’ that are highly skilled in combat will often wield morning stars.
Indications that an Orc has been through a lot of battle are prestigious so battle scars are displayed as openly as possible. Orcs will frequently tattoo themselves to make themselves more ferocious looking. They will also tattoo their tribal symbols on their skin. If they have their tribal symbol on their equipment it will usually always be on their breastplate. For those Orcs in the service of Sauron the shield is reserved for his symbol, a flaming lidless eye with a catlike pupil. Few Orcs wear jewelry and when they do it is usually made from non-ornamental metals and in a place that most surely caused the wearer great pain to put it there.
Men:
Description:
The men that serve Sauron come from many different ethnic backgrounds. The most prominent are the Black Númenóreans, Umbareans, Sagath, Variags and the Haradrim.
The Black Númenóreans share a lineage with the rulers of Gondor traced back to the lost island kingdom of Numenor. They are of greater stature than most men 6’-7’ tall and possess exceptional strength and endurance.
The Umbareans are Black Númenóreans that are from the city state of Umbar.
The Sagath are members of certain Eastern kingdoms that serve Sauron. They are physically similar to the Variags however they are on average more highly skilled and educated.
The Variags are members of Eastern nomadic tribes that have often warred against the West even when not under the sway of Sauron. They are typically 5’-6’ tall possessing a high level of dexterity.
The Haradrim that hail from the Southern Kingdoms are typically taller and possess more physical endurance than the Variags however they do not possess the dexterity of the Variags nor the stature of the Black Númenóreans.
Nature:
The men that serve Sauron are as cruel and wicked as Orcs however they are much better disciplined. This discipline along with a tolerance of sunlight makes them a very important component of the Sauron’s forces. They are often drawn into the service of Sauron by greed and lust for power and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to get it.
Intelligence:
The men that serve the Sauron are frequently the most intelligent and
skilled members of any force. They are often placed in leadership positions over
members of the other races or members of special units used for very specific
highly skilled tasks: reconnaissance, spying. Among the men, the Black Númenóreans
are most frequently in the leadership positions being the most highly
intelligent and skilled.
Attitudes:
The men that serve Sauron have little love and a lot of contempt for the
other races that serve. They consider them a necessary evil that must be
carefully controlled to avoid chaos both on and off the battlefield. The men are
ruthless in maintaining this control and will often exhibit cruelty that will
frighten even an Orc. This is very important given the fact that they are often
outnumbered by the Orcs and any weakness might result in mutinous behavior from
them.
Costuming:
The Men that serve the Sauron at Barad-wath wear the uniform of their unit that consists of black garments with the symbol of the flaming eye emblazoned on the front. They almost always wear armor when on duty especially that which will bring them in contact with Uruks, Trolls and Orcs. Since the Men that serve Sauron originate from many different areas of Middle Earth they will usually wear the armor from their particular region. The type of armor it is varies from region to region.
The Black Numénóreans typically wear medium to heavy plate that is frequently made from superior materials. They prefer colors of silver and black. The Umbareans prefer lighter armor, chain and scale mail are common, and they favor the colors blue and yellow. The Haradrim wear armor similar to the Umbareans however their colors are bright red and yellow. The Variags and Sagath also prefer lighter armor like that worn by the Umbareans and Haradrim with the colors of brown and green.
The Black Numénóreans wield great broad swords and maces. The Umbareans and Haradrim favor lighter weapons like scimitars and short swords. The Variags and Sagath prefer long swords, light maces and spears.
Uruk:
Physical:
The Sauron first bred Uruks in the early third age. Uruks were
specifically bred to eliminate the major weaknesses of Orcs and they are
considered a vast improvement on the Orc. Uruks are taller than Orcs, 5’-6’
tall and possess a stature similar to that of a man rather than an ape. They
have a tough grey or black hide and a strength and endurance that exceed a man
of similar size. They have facial features similar to that of an Orc with fangs
and cat-like glowing eyes.
Nature:
The Uruk-hai (Uruk people) are as cruel and vicious as Orcs but their
superior intelligence and discipline make them better servants to Sauron. They
are cannibalistic and relish torture like the Orcs but they control these
instincts when they will get in the way of their duties. In addition the Uruks
have no fear of bright light and sunlight and are able to operate fully in
either.
Intelligence:
The Uruk-hai on average possess intelligence and discipline close to that
of men. However this intelligence is focused very narrowly on their military
duties. These traits make them well suited as elite units and as the commanders
of Orcs.
Attitudes:
Most Uruks consider themselves the superior warriors amongst the forces
of Sauron. They believe Orcs to be lazy and stupid and take pleasure in working
them extremely hard. They think Trolls with the exception of the Olog-hai are
incredibly stupid and of little use other than for menial tasks that require
great strength. They resent the Olog-hai when forced to take orders from them
but fear them enough to hide it. The Uruk-hai have a strong hatred for men who
they consider to be weak and soft. This hatred is fueled by the common
perception that men are unjustly favored over the Uruk-hai when it comes to
positions within the armies of Sauron.
Costuming:
On average the Uruk-hai tend to be better kept than Orcs. Like Orcs they wear their armor almost continually. They prefer heavier armor usually light or medium plate armor. Their preference is for heavier weapons as well. Their typical weapons include heavy broad swords and great axes. They typically have no symbols on their equipment except that of the flaming eye. They use war paint in battle but do not typically have tattoos.
Trolls:
Physical:
Trolls in general are 8’-12’ tall with green, black, or gray scales
for skin. They have bulbous facial features with a mouth bursting with sharp
fangs and tusks. Their eyes are deep set and black. They appear overweight or
even fat but they are always immensely strong. There are numerous different
types of Trolls including Cave, Stone and the Olog-hai. The Cave Trolls tend to
be green while the Stone Trolls and the Olog-hai are gray and black
respectfully.
Nature:
All trolls are cannibalistic and thrive on raw meat from anywhere they can get it. With the exception of the sun they tend to be completely fearless and they will attack to kill and eat anyone given the opportunity. Trolls are innately evil but the extent of their wickedness is frequently hampered by their utter lack of intelligence. They have little use for possessions but frequently collect them from their victims. All Troll breeds except the Olog-hai will be permanently transformed into stone if they are exposed to sunlight. In addition each breed has certain specific characteristics.
Cave Trolls tend to be mindless
brutes that are set loose in a berserker rage in battle. They are also well
suited for very simple tasks such as moving large objects. Stone Trolls are on
average more intelligent than Cave Trolls however they are still very limited in
what they can be asked to do. The Olog-hai were bred by Sauron to make Trolls
more useful for his purposes. The Olog-hai possess the intelligence and
discipline of men and can operate freely in the sunlight. The Olog-hai tend to
possess a fanatical devotion to Sauron and serve as commanders and elite units
in his forces.
Intelligence:
The different troll breeds possess differing levels of intelligence with
the Cave Trolls being by far the stupidest and the Olog-hai being the most
intelligent. Cave Trolls are like wild animals only more stupid. They are
carefully controlled at all times to avoid “accidents”. The Stone Trolls are
smarter than Cave Trolls but still very stupid. They are capable of performing
guard duties with some assistance and need fewer controls placed on their
behavior. The Olog-hai are brilliant when compared to other breeds and they are
capable of not only leading large troops into battle but of devising new and
innovative strategies on the battlefield. However these are only the typical
levels. Occasionally you will find a Cave Troll that can count or an Olog that
cannot.
Attitudes:
A Cave Troll views everyone else as lunch and must be controlled to avoid
him acting on it. A Stone Troll can be taught to distinguish between allies and
foes however they can make mistakes. Also a Cave Troll or Stone Troll that is
provoked will lash out regardless of who is provoking it. They do not have a
sense of humor. The Olog-hai have contempt for all other races as they consider
themselves physically and mentally superior to them. The Olog-hai recognize
their importance in maintaining order within the forces of Sauron so in general
they do not let their opinions of others interfere with their duties.
Costuming:
The extent of equipment a Troll possesses varies greatly depending on its intelligent. The typical Cave Troll will have little more than a loin cloth and club while an Olog will be armored in heavy plate armor and wield a giant two handed sword or flail. A Stone Troll will frequently possess armor consisting of rudimentary scale mail but they rarely use weapons more sophisticated than giant spiked clubs. Trolls typically have little or no adornment on their equipment and they do not use war paint or tattoos. A Troll’s natural demeanor is usually fearsome enough to strike fear in the hearts of its foes. The Olog-hai will usually have the symbol of the flaming eye on their armor and shields.
Nazgûl
Physical:
The Nazgûl appear as tall armored men cloaked in black. Their helms
appear to have nothing in them but two points of red light. They use demonic
horses or fell beasts as steeds. Fell beasts are giant reptilian flying beasts
with long serpentine necks and heads.
Nature:
The Nazgûl are a direct extension of Sauron’s will. They are incapable
and uninterested in functioning except in the pursuit of his goals. A Nazgûl
chills the air by his presence and when he unleashes his full presence it can
drive people insane with fear. The Nazgûl are invulnerable to normal weapons
and some magical ones. These weapons will shatter when they hit the Nazgûl.
Anyone attacking a Nazgûl regardless of the outcome may fall under the Shadow
as a result. This will make the limbs used in the attack numb and useless. The
victim will slowly be pulled into a deep coma and eventual death. The Nazgûl
are virtually blind in the physical world but their other senses easily make up
for this shortcoming.
Intelligence:
The Nazgûl were nine great kings of men that each accepted a Ring of
Power from Sauron. They retained most of the abilities they had in life
throughout their transformation to Ring-Wraiths. They are extremely intelligent
and possess a high level of skill in arms and sorcery.
Attitudes:
The Nazgûl are the unfaltering executors of Sauron’s will. They have
no consideration of others except in the capacity to be used as a tool for
completing tasks for Sauron. The Nazgûl have no tolerance for servants that
fail to carry out their instructions whether due to incompetence or deliberate
intention. These individuals are dealt with swiftly and harshly.