Elves have their impressive grace and fluid agility, Dwarves have their incredible craftsmanship and engineering, and even the Orcs have their ruthless tenacity and strength.
Men.
Men have nothing but each other.
Elves are the stories of legends, Dwarves are the aspirations of the wealthy, and the Orcs are the stories told to children to scare and warn.
Men.
All but the most heroic of men are lost to history.
Elves are wise and intelligent, the Dwarves are courageous and full of heart, and the Orcs are cunning and ruthless.
Men.
Men are greedy, and easy to scare.
So, what is it that makes men special?
When the times are troubled and all seems to be lost, somehow, even the most scared of men gather their courage and fights for what's right.
"There will be a day when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship," their King, Aragorn shouts.
Their courage is different from the Elves or the Dwarves. Men make no mistake about how scared they are, or pretend to possess unspeakable skills. But in the end, Men fight on, no matter how scared they are.
"But it is not this day," the King carries on.
Not this day, or the next. Men aren't broken so easily when faced with impossible odds.
"An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day!"
As long as good men band together to overcome their fears and hopelessness, there's nothing which is unachievable.
"This day we fight!"
Everyday is a fight for mankind, from the harsh crop-growing to the long hours of the watch.
"By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!" the King grounds to a halt with a round of applause and cheers.
What is it that men hold dear?
The Elves hold their traditions dear, the Dwarves hold their gold dear.
Men.
Men hold each other dearly.
They may be going to their deaths with this charge upon the Black gate. But... they will not cower or hide.
The Age of Man never wavered.
It was just forgotten.