Grendel in Middle-earth Contest

[Arthadan]

Hi all,

After starting the Basiliks thread and reading all the great inputs, I would like to proppose a sort of contest.

The idea is taking a nordic Myth creature (I have chosen Grendel, as propposed by Tolwen) and try to adapt it to fit in Middle-earth.

Rules:
- Each participant should provide background for a monster inspired by Grendel (and his mother) so it can be used for adventures in Middle-earth (game stats not needed).
- Timeframe: between the Battle of the Five Armies and The Lord of the Rings.
- Location: North-western Middle-earth (from Mordor up to Forodwaith).
- Prize would be immortal fame.
- The winner would be chosen by the votes of the participants.

I'm open to suggestions about the rules to make it more interesting. For now just tell me who's in, then we'll settle a deadline and the contest would be on!

[Jez]

I'll illustrate the illustrious winner.

[PaulButler]

Hrm...

[LOTR_Nerd]

Count me in.

[Beran]

Isn't Grendal essentially a demon born troll (using Tolkien templates)?

[Elmoth]

he can be a troll, or a very large orc. A troll might be a little bit too much for what Grendel looks like. he and his mother might be olog hai, though, that is one way of seeing them

[Woodclaw]

he can be a troll, or a very large orc. A troll might be a little bit too much for what Grendel looks like. he and his mother might be olog hai, though, that is one way of seeing them

I actually played something of Grendel scenario in the Long Marshes using the Ogre stats the LM screen.
Thanks to a couple of lucky shots from a Daleman's longbow and a Dwarven axe he lasted barely 4 rounds.

[Halbarad]

Why just Nordic myth? Surely British and Irish critters fit the bill equally well.

Ps If you look in Rich H's Dale PDF you'll find several critters already done(by me, with a little assistance from the marvellous Mr H)

[Arthadan]

Thanks all for the interest (and Giblet Blizzard for his kind offer)!

So, besides LOTR_Nerd and myself who's in?

Please don't discuss possible origins of Grendel, I think it is better we work each one on our own so we can have different versions to vote (and discuss afterwards).

Answering Halbarad:

Why just Nordic myth? Surely British and Irish critters fit the bill equally well.

Well, Tolkien's original intention was to create a mythology for Great Britain as rich and complex as the Greek one because he deemed the surviving fragments where not enough. He did not took inspiration from them as far as I know, so I think not all British and Irish critters fit the bill and those who do needs some extra work to really fit the setting.

Ps If you look in Rich H's Dale PDF you'll find several critters already done(by me, with a little assistance from the marvellous Mr H)

I've taken a look and is a wonderful work, congrats! I'll make a quick review of some of your monsters. Please keep in mind I'm *quite* picky when it comes to Middle-earth, but I guess if you've read the Basilik thread then you already knew that.

The Fell Hound doesn't feel quite right to me. Hounds are usually "good" and opposed to wolves/Wargs (Huan vs. Carcharoth), so having a fell hound is almost like having a fell Giant Eagle (that is, stretching the canon too much to my personal liking). Besides, the creature concept is close enough to Wargs to make it a bit redundant.

Then the Fennorm works better, only thing a bit odd for me is the place where you have put it. I think it would work better as guardian placed on purppose by Sauron on some specific location (same as he "recovered" the Fell Beasts to be ridden by the Nazgûl). Now that I think about it, same applies to the Basiliks (however in this case their presence maybe related to Sauron).

And finally the Myrrhross. I quite like this one and I think if works perfectly either as a legend or as a true creature. Howere, I miss some explanation about it origin (at least what Northmen believe) to root it deeper in the setting. Something like the cursed brother of Felaróf comes to mind.

[Halbarad]

Thanks for taking time to look at the creatures Arthadan. I'm not sure that I agree with what you write, regarding the suitability of British and Irish creatures. What to remember is that British (the English in particular) are descended in the main from Germanic Saxons and Scandinavian Danes and Norman French, who are of Norse ancestry as well. Many of the creatures of British folklore could therefore be considered as part of a broader 'Diaspora' of Geman/Scandinavian mythology.

Irish and British Celtic folklore also could have a place. The Gwathuirim and the Dunlendings are most likely based on Celts in the same way that the Northmen are based on Germans and Scandinavians. There's an almost historical 'Arthurian' or post Romano British feel about the relationship between them and the Rohirrim.

The Rohirrim(Saxons) are invited by Cirion(Vortigern) to settle in Britain(Calenardhon) to protect it from ravaging Pictish raiders and Irish pirates(a somewhat different Balchoth analogy?). They end up supplanting the locals and driving them into the peripheral wilderness areas of the Dunland Fells(Wales).
Forgoil is a term used by the Dunlendings to refer to the Rohirrim, along with Strawheads. This is probably a play on Fir Gall. Fir means Man and Gall means Foreigner in the Gaelic tongue. The Professor probably meant it to represent a Middle Earth version of the Gaelic term 'Sassenach'.

If we can accept then, the existence of a pseudo Celtic culture existing, then surely there is a place for pseudo Celtic creatures?

The Myrrhross from the Dale PDF was actually based on the 'Kelpie' or 'Water Horse from Scotish Celtic mythology. My thoughts are that it is a Fell spirit given equine form.

The idea for the Fennorm came from the tale of the Lambton Worm, from English mediaeval folklore crossed with the Stoorworm from the Norse Gaels of Orkney and a big dollop of Runequest imagery.

I'll come back with my thoughts on the Black Hounds.