Xena vs. The Lord of the Rings
Appendix D
Middle-Earth? What Middle-Earth?
What everybody should know while reading this story.
Okay, so we're definitely not in Kansas any more - I mean, in the Xenaverse.
Our heroes are now in Middle-Earth, the world created by J.R.R.Tolkien; the
world of Dwarves and Elves, Hobbits and Men, Orcs and Dragons, good and
evil. To those of you unfamiliar with this world and all these different
creatures, this is a brief introduction.
About the Hobbits
The Hobbits are small-sized, peace-loving people. About three feet tall, they are of little use in battles between the bigger folk. They dwell underground in cozy holes they dig in pretty hills, decorating them, having their little gardens in front of them, and so on. They love simple things, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper.
About the Elves
The Elves are noble and wise people, tall and slender, and beautiful to watch. They love peace, arts and nature, and they prefer living on their own, but when threatened, they do their part in fierce battles against the Enemy. Being the first-borne in the Middle Earth they are immortal, though they can be killed by a weapon or by grief. Many things common to them may seem magical to the other races. Some day all Elves will go to Gray Havens and sail over the Sea to the Undying Lands, thus leaving this world to humans. For some reason the Elves are not on particularly good terms with the Dwarfs.
About the Orcs
The Orcs are, by definition, bad. They are misfits of nature, originally bred from the evil sorcery of Morgoth. There's nothing sweet or worth of pity in them. They are as ugly as the Elves are pretty. They're black skinned, red eyed, they have long, yellow teeth and nails. They are about five feet tall, but sturdy and strong. They live for battles only, if not against the other races, then against each other, as they are purely evil and tortured creatures, driven by the will of Sauron, their evil master, whom they fear more than death itself. Like all evil-borne creatures, the Orcs can't stand direct sunlight. Therefore they live in dark caves, and come out only by night. Throughout the times they have formed the backbone of the armies of the Enemy.
About the Enemy
The name of the Enemy is Sauron, the former apprentice of Morgoth. For thousands of years he has plagued the Middle-Earth with his evil schemes which aim to the destruction of everything. Every time the alliance of Elves and Men has defeated him. Every time he has returned. Now he lives in Mordor, the tortured land. His troops mainly consist of Orcs, but also wolf-riders, trolls and wild-men. His allies are misled people from east and south.
About the Rings of Power
The Rings of Power were forged by the Elven Smiths of Eregion five thousand years ago with the help of Sauron. At that time the Smiths didn't recognize him to be evil. They forged nineteen rings in total, but when they were ready, Sauron himself forged the One in the volcanic cracks of Mount Doom. With this ring he would rule the power of all the other rings and the minds of their wielders.
All these rings may possess different powers, but one is common to all; they can vastly expand the lifespan of the wielder. Most powerful are the three Elven rings, with the exception of the One Ring, of course. Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. -- J.R.R Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings -- But the One Ring was taken from Sauron, and everybody thought it was lost for good. Now it has returned. And if Sauron gets it back, there will be no force on Earth to stop him. The Nazguls, a.k.a. Ringwraiths are the current wielders of the nine rings, and look at what these rings have done to these human beings who once were true kings.
About other creatures
Many, many other living beings dwell in the Middle-Earth, too. Here's some
of them in short.
The Dwarves are short, strong and stubborn, but honest in general. They
can make marvellous things from stone and metal.
Not much is known about the Wizards. Two thousand years ago they came
from west over the Sea. They look like humans, but with great wisdom.
The Trolls come in different forms. In general they are dull but
have incredible strength. They are twice as tall as the Orcs. Sunlight turns
them into stone, and kills them.
Mirkwood was once known as Greenwood. Then came the Spiders; large,
black, venomous, evil creatures, the descendants of the great Ungoliath,
knitting such thick webs that the sunlight can't penetrate to the
underbrush of the forest.