The Ring Wraiths of Mordor

“In rode the Lord of the Nazgul.  A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair…”

J.R.R Tolkien, The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings

The Nine Ringwraiths of Mordor 

Dark Riders or Nazgul are ring wraiths dispatched from Mordor by the Dark Lord Sauron to hunt for the one ring held by “Baggins” in the "Shire". 

LotR WotR: The 9 Abroad

LotR WotR: The Nine Dark Riders

LotR WotR: The 9 Abroad

The nine riders from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings were once nine kings of men - The Great Lords of Numenor, from a time long passed. 

When each of the nine was given a ring of power it granted them great power and endless life and during their mortal years they prospered and became great in each of their kingdoms.

However the nine slowly succumbed to Saurons power over the rings and as the holder of the one ring, he enslaved them to his will and they became his formidable ring wraiths.  

LotR SBG: The 9 Abroad

All that now remains of the nine are their twisted spirits - their bodies having faded away to nothing and they need their dark cloaks to give form to their shape. 

The leader of the nine ring wraiths is the Witch King of Angmar. But together they are the most deadly of Sauron’s servants - the nine ring wraiths.

I have finally managed to complete (paint and base) my Nazgul Ring Wraiths for LotR Strategy Battle Game and War of the Ring - these are both the foot and mounted versions - some are the newer characters wraiths. 

WotR: The 9 Abroad

LotR WotR: The Nine Dark Riders

The Nine Abroad (see above) are now fully painted and based to fit in with ever growing Mordor army.  

To the left are the 9 abroad, to the right the dark riders, ring wraiths mounted on twisted Mordor Steeds, and although it would be tempting to have nine ring Wraiths on fell beasts, I don’t think that my budget would stretch that far…

…but wouldn’t that be something!

The Witch King of Angmar (Ringwraith)

LotR SBG: The Witch King of Angmar (Mordor)

The Witch-king is the greatest and most feared of the Nazgûl. 

LotR SBG: The Witch King of Angmar (Mordor)

Immeasurably ancient, and a source of prodigious power, the Witch-king draws his power from the limitless will of Sauron. 

The Witch-king is both a deadly strategist and sorcerer. 

His cloaked and armoured form a terror to all who behold it, and his presence upon the battlefield a horror that few can hope to withstand.

As long as his dark master survives, the Witch King endures. 

LotR SBG: The Witch King of Angmar (Mordor)

Minas Morgul, once a fortress of the Moon, is the Witch King's stronghold, a place of foul magic and sorcery.  

Just as the Witch King is enslaved to the will of Sauron, so too are the spirits and spetres that haunt that vile domain. 

The Witch King is foremost amongst the Dark Lords Leutenants.

The Dark Marshal (Ringwraith)

LotR SBG: The Dark Marshal Ringwraith

LotR SBG: The Dark Marshal Ringwraith

LotR SBG: The Dark Marshal Ringwraith

In the centuries since the Dark Marshal and his fellow kings became Ringwraiths, he has become even more sadistic and malicious. 

The most black-hearted and unrelentingly cruel of all the Nazgûl, his name is a byword for misery and death. 

Where the Dark Marshal passes, Evil creatures fight harder, fearful of their lives whilst Good warriors feel the icy touch of death upon their hearts.

Khamul the Easterling (Ringwraith)

LotR SBG: Khamul The Easterling Ringwraith

Lieutenant of Dol Guldur, Khamûl is second amongst the Ringwraiths, a dark 
terror clad in an impenetrable shroud of cloth and armour. 

LotR SBG: Khamul The Easterling Ringwraith

LotR SBG: Khamul The Easterling Ringwraith

The knowledge of how he came into the service of the Lord of the Rings has long been lost, though a few of the Wise believe that he once ruled a land beyond Mordor's eastern boundaries.

 This at least must be partially true, for only a king of great influence would have received the tainted gift of a Ring of Power. 

Other than this, little is known of Khamûl's past save what he has done since in the servie of Mordor. 

Whatever the deeds of the man that he once was, Khamûl walks now only where Sauron bids him, his will bound solely to that of his dark master.

The Shadow Lord (Ringwraith)

LotR SBG: The Shadow Lord Ringwraith (Mordor)

LotR SBG: The Shadow Lord Ringwraith (Mordor)

LotR SBG: The Shadow Lord Ringwraith (Mordor)

The Shadow Lord was once the king of a small and insignificant kingdom. 

When Sauron offered him one of the Nine Rings, the promise of its power proved irresistible. 

Now, his physical being all but gone, and his will enslaved to Sauron, the Shadow Lord wears his dark pride like a cloak, blotting the sun from the sky and dimming the sight of his foes.

The Betrayer

LotR SBG: The Betrayer Ringwraith (Mordor)

Cursed long ago for yielding the Southlands to Sauron's rule, the Betrayer is driven by malice and self-hatred that knows no bounds. 

Of all the Nazgûl, the Betrayer is amongst the lowest of Sauron's lieutenants, for even the Dark Lord is leery of placing faith in one who betrayed his kin so readily.

The Undying

LotR SBG: The Undying Ringwraith (Mordor)

The Undying has endured long where others have fallen. He is said to be the oldest of the Ringwraiths, and the last to succumb to the wasting influences of the Rings of Power. 

Through an obsessive mastery of evil magics, the Undying has learnt to draw sustenance from the magics of others, fortifying himself with the magical energy that flows around him.

The Dwimmerlaik

LotR SBG: The Dwimmerlaik
Ringwraith (Mordor)

The Dwimmerlaik is possibly the most mysterious of all the Nazgûl, for scant record of his past deeds exist in the tomes of the Wise. 

Yet in Rohan, this particular Ringwraith is feared beyond all others, for he has been a blight upon that realm for centuries untold, directing the Dark Lord's minions against the Sons of Eorl.

The Tainted

LotR SBG: The Tainted Ringwraith (Mordor)

Where the other Nazgul were slowly swallowed by the taint of their rings, the Tainted gave himself wholly and willingly to Sauron. 

Now all natural things rebel in his presence, vegetation withers, animals sicken and bold warriors cower. He is an abomination whose merest presence is poison to life, honour and hope

The Knight of Umbar

LotR SBG: The Knight of Umbar
Ringwraith (Mordor)

Like all of the Nazgûl, the Knight of Umbar's past is shrouded in mystery. 

If the rumours pertaining to him hold any truth, he was once one of the great Númenórean kings who ruled the Southlands prior to the days of the Last Alliance.

The Winged Nazgul (Ringwraith)

The Ringwraiths, or Nazgûl, were once the Kings of Men, the bearers of the magical rings created by Sauron. 

LotR SBG: The Winged Nazgul on Fellbeast

LotR SBG: The Winged Nazgul on Fellbeast

Their rings granted endless life but gradually enslaved the Kings to Saurons will. 

Together with their leader, the Witch-king of Angmar, they are known as the Nine and are the most deadly of Sauron's servant.  

The Fell beasts they ride live amidst the pinnacles of the mountains of Shadow, preying om any who draw near.  

They are simply brutal creatures, easily bent to the will of their cruel masters.

I am currently working on a huge Cirith Ungol army to complement my Mordor army... photos to follow along with Gorgoroth battle host and huge number of Gothmogs Morannon orcs... keep watching!

To see my fully Painted Armies please visit this blog:

LotR / WotR Dwarf Army (UPDATED) 

http://eastgrinsteadwargamers.blogspot.com/2011/10/wotr-dwarven-army.html

LotR / WotR - Moria / Misty Mountains army

lhttp://eastgrinsteadwargamers.blogspot.com/2011/10/wotr-misty-mountains-moria-army.html

LoTR/ WotR Angmar Army

http://www.eastgrinsteadwargamers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/wotr-angmar-army.html

LoTR / WotR Huge Mordor Army

http://www.eastgrinsteadwargamers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/6000-point-mordor-army.html

LoTR / WotR Isengard Army

http://www.eastgrinsteadwargamers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/wotr-warg-riders-of-isengard.html

  

We are about to start playing LOTR SBG - both skirmish battles and walk through the books/films each Monday night and WotR on club nights.

We welcome anyone interested in playing Lotr SBG, WotR or any warhammer/40K battle - why not let us know so that we can arrange some starter battles, like the one above, or if you/your club want to challenge us. We have all the LOTR SBG figures and LOTR scenery from the Mines of Moria to the siege of Helms Deep ready and waiting.  

Feel free to email us to come along or arrange a game.

East Grinstead War Gaming club 

Sussex