Talion was, in Norse mythology, the Captain of the Rangers of Ithilien during the Third Age, who later went on to be slain in battle with the forces of Mordor at the Battle of Narchost in TA 2942 (4122 BC), resurrected by the wraith of the Elvish lord Celebrimbor in TA 2980 (4084 BC), and waged a decades-long war against the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron in Mordor from TA 2980 to TA 3019 (4045 BC), when he finally fell victim to the corruption of Isildur's Ring of Power and became a Nazgul ("Ringwraith"). He was freed from Sauron's slavery after the destruction of the One Ring at the end of the War of the Ring, enabling his body to die and his spirit to leave for Valinor, the "Undying Lands".
Biography[]
Early life and death[]
Talion and his family being sacrificed
Talion was born in Rhovanion in TA 2825 (4201 BC), though was exiled from his homeland for indeterminate reasons. As a Dúnadan, a descendant of the Numenorians, Talion was long lived. and he married a noblewoman named Ioreth and fathered a son, Dirhael. Talion, who did not get along well with Ioreth's father, decided to join the Rangers of Ithilien, rising through their ranks to the title of Captain. He once killed a nobleman to defend his wife, but a sympathetic judge decided to assign Talion to defend the Black Gate rather than have him executed for murder. Talion lived there in peace for several years, raising his son to be a warrior. However, in TA 2942 (4122 BC), the Dark Lord Sauron returned to Mordor, leading a large Orcish army in an assault on the Black Gate. Talion and his son held the Narchost tower against Orcish attacks, but the Gondorians were overwhelmed, and the Black Hand of Sauron captured Talion and his family. The Black Hand had the Tower of Sauron and the Hammer of Sauron restrain the captured humans as he uttered the words, "A sacrifice of blood and bone. A bridge for you to follow," and cut their throats with his axe. Talion was the last to have his throat cut, and he remained dead for 38 years.
Resurrection[]
Talion slaying Gruz Madaxe
In TA 2980 (4084 BC), the wraith of the Elvish lord Celebrimbor raised Talion from the dead, telling him that a curse bound them together within the walls of Arda, and that they had to find the one who had cast it upon them: the Black Hand of Sauron. In the 38 years between Talion's death and resurrection, the Orcs had thoroughly conquered and colonized Mordor in Sauron's name, enslaved several humans and put them to work on construction projects, and Udûn was populated by Orcish settlements. Talion's body was raised again, with his soul and that of Celebrimbor sharing it; he found that he had the same physicality and martial skills as his old self, but that he could also drain the life from Orcs and use Elven arrows fashioned from Celebrimbor's wraith powers. He based himself from a forge tower in the center of Mordor, and he was almost immediately accosted by the Orcish warrior Thror Deadhand, who taunted him, saying, "So we missed one of you at Narchost, eh? An easy mistake to fix!" However, Talion was able to slay Thror, Gruz Madaxe, and a few other Orcs before interrogating Dikk Falsetask, whom he captured. Talion demanded to know about the Black Hand, and Dikk said that he was a "fiend...made of thin air," and that he once owned a slave who swore that he had fought the Black Hand himself. Under duress, he revealed that he had sold the slave for a keg of grog to Gimûb the Slaver, upon which Talion cast away the Orc, who ran for his life. Celebrimbor told Talion that they would then have to go and find the Slaver, and, when Talion expressed his doubts about trusting an Orc, Celebrimbor said that trust had nothing to do with it, as an Orc's thoughts could not lie.
Talion looking down on the Orcish soldiers at the internment camp
Talion decided to set out and find the Slaver, but, along the way, he grew infuriated at the sight of an Orcish patrol near some enslaved Gondorians and decided to attack them. Having only recently regained his ability to fight in battle, he was overwhelmed by superior numbers, and the Orc Gorfel the Runt cut him down, earning Gorfel a promotion to Captain in Sauron's army. Two weeks later, Talion was revived; it was said that, every time he died, it would take two weeks for him to be raised again, with his old body wisping away whenever he died, and Celebrimbor raising him anew. The resurrected Talion soon formed a rivalry with the captain Khrosh Flesh-Rot during another quixotic attempt at slaying all of the Orcs he saw, and he was also challenged by the crossbow captain Mûzglob the Blacksmith, who told him that their fight should be no contest at all, and asked Talion if they should skip to the torture and screaming. Talion narrowly escaped death by climbing up a cliffside and waiting until the Orcish search party split up, but he was slain after returning to the fight in an attempt to slay the Blacksmith. Mûzglob was promoted for his success, killing another Uruk captain to take his place in the hierarchy of Sauron's army.
Freed slaves thanking Talion
Upon being resurrected, Talion killed the Orcish guard Cogbunzomm Madchains and freed the human slaves he was overseeing. Talion decided to embark on a vendetta against his nemesis, Khrosh Flesh-Rot, whom he found was patrolling in the vicinity of the internment camp. Talion succeeded in ambushing and overpowering him, cutting him down. Talion also slew Azo Proudseeker before the Orcish captain Mozû Ear-Collector took notice of him; Mozû quipped, "Nasty men, coming in here, causing bother for years! Not any more!" Talion cut down Mozû as well, and he freed several more slaves in the process.
Talion walking towards the internment camp
Talion continued his campaign of resistance, stealthily killing the warrior Engigg Halfpack to acquire intelligence on one of the Orc captains' weaknesses, as well as killing the Orcish warriors Rarl Froststriker, Grugdor Primefight, Kest Wildmaw, Minunk Clanbone, and Cuhlulkuld Lonestrike, around the internment camp area. At the time, Talion deviated from Celebrimbor's mission in order to satiate his 38-year-long desire for revenge for his family's deaths, taking pleasure in cutting down Orc after Orc, and continuing to exercise his duties as a former Ranger of Gondor by freeing Gondorian slaves from their Orcish captors, becoming somewhat of a nuisance to the Uruks of Mordor.
Talion overlooking a defeated Mûzglob
During one of his hit-and-run attacks on Orcish warriors, Talion once again came across Mûzglob the Blacksmith. Having honed his combat skills through several Orc-slayings, Talion was able to cut down Mûzglob in their second fight, and he also cut down several of Mûzglob's underlings, including Delnos Dragonstrike, Them Viceblood, Homuz Loneblood, and Huhlme Cravensteel. Following the battle, he drained the life out of the Orcish warrior Thagtumm Deepflame, using his wraith skills for the first time.
Talion sheathing his sword after another battle
Talion continued his campaign of Orc-slayings, killing Zido Keennight, Rorngel'gu Broadbrass, Creld Darkhorn, Kulnoth Thundermane, and Thinkavzorg Boldedge. He then came across an Orcish patrol on the Southern Black Road, where he killed Mogzath Deepdrum and Hakonam Blindsmile before making his way into the Southern Udûn Pass and killing Malathek Dualcrusher. He returned to the Black Road after locating an Orcish patrol, and he ambushed it and slew Brolgolkosh Tuskscream, Cura Wrathmaw, Irnzenk Loneslayer, Krernuk Warpscream, Throso Redmaul, Inzumm Thunderspirit, Durnost Nosemaul, and Trorn Lowscream, among others. Talion soon made his way to an Orcish fortress, where he obtained intelligence on the Orcish captain Brogg the Twin. However, he was surprised to see Mûzglob's return, and Mûzglob taunted him, saying, "Found you at last! But I won't make the mistake of leaving you for dead." Talion fought bravely before attempting to flee, only to be killed by one of Mûzglob's arrows.
Talion attacking several Orcs at Durthang
When Talion recovered, he went through the Udûn Foothills to Durthang, intending on seeking his revenge against Mûzglob. Talion killed Aggu Rabidstriker and Hultu'rurm Bitterslice before taking on several Orcish warriors in the stronghold's courtyard, where he encountered Mûzglob; Mûzglob taunted Talion about his earlier attempt to kill him with his Elven shot, telling him, "That arrow didn't kill me so I'll shove it down your gullet!" Talion attempted to whittle down the Orcs' numbers by using hit-and-run tactics such as climbing walls to escape the Orcs, shooting down beehives in order to create bee attacks against the Orcish warriors, setting free large beasts to maul the Orcs, and jumping down to kill Orcs such as Trarg Deadarm with his sword. However, while taking on Mûzglob and his guards Buld Hellchest, Kagnumm Nosechewer, Ganich Brightslice, and Hasomvosh Madheart, he was once again killed by Mûzglob, who told him, "If you won't learn, I won't stop. How's that sound?"
Talion slaying an Orc on the bridge out of Durthang
When Talion was resurrected at the forge tower, he once again decided to hunt down Mûzglob at Durthang. Along the way, he killed the Orcish warriors Brurm Bloodwish, Brinde Clanhorn, Thradost Warripper, Kome Axewind, Mukturn Lonesmile, and Grank Wrathhorn, but, during the intense fighting at Durthang, he was cut down by the great white Orc Hûra the Funny One, who was then promoted to Captain in Sauron's army for successfully cutting down Talion. Hûra killed another Uruk captain to take his place in the Mordor army's hierarchy, and, when Talion discovered that Hûra was at the East Garrison, Talion decided to hunt him down and seek vengeance.
Talion fighting Thrak Fire-Brander and his men
Talion proceeded to kill the Orcish warrior Dargurl Dualband before coming across the Uruk captain Ratlûg Frog-Blood and slaying him in battle. Talion went on to kill the Uruks Hugles Rabidmaw, Bruth Fullkill, and Odogg Lowmarch before facing the Orcish captain Thrak Fire-Brander in battle. Talion took on increasingly large numbers of Orcish warriors, and they were joined by the Uruk captain Norûk of the Black Gate and Hûra. Talion forced Hûra to retreat before cutting him down, only to be killed by a crossbow bolt fired by Mûzglob, who taunted him by asking him, "Do you still feel pain after all these deaths?"
Reunion with Hirgon[]
Talion watching the Orcs beating Hirgon
Having made several new enemies, Talion decided to finally head to the Black Gate to hunt down both Gimûb the Slaver and Norûk of the Black Gate. When Talion arrived, he saw several Uruks catch and beat an escaped slave, and Celebrimbor told Talion that the slave's recapture provided him with a distraction. Talion used his wraith vision to locate Gimûb, and he killed the Orcish warriors Crim Goremane, Kuglurn Rockfury, and Thuttagon Lowbones before coming across Gimûb. Gimûb taunted Talion, saying that he would make a strong slave. However, Talion slew Gimûb in the ensuing duel.
Talion meeting Hirgon
Talion then helped to set free a bald slave tied to a post, and the beaten slave from earlier approached Talion, revealing himself to be Hirgon. Talion greeted him by saying, "So you didn't die ten years ago," to which Hirgon responded by saying, "I take it you did not come here to arrest me for treason. Captain." Talion told Hirgon that they were all that remained of the Narchost garrison, and he told Hirgon that he was looking for the slave who had fought the Black Hand of Sauron. Hirgon told Talion that he was looking at him, revealing himself to be Gimûb's former slave. Hirgon then said that he had been stuck in the internment camp for weeks, and he told Talion to come to the Outcast Camp to speak to his scouts. As the two spoke, Talion took notice of a strange creature, Gollum, spying on him from a distance before running off. Talion was then confronted by Hûra and Norûk, who tracked him down; Hûra told Talion that leaving him to die would be his last mistake, while Norûk said that he was surprised that the Morgai flies had not drained him. Talion fought off Norûk, who deduced that his strategy was flawed and decided to retreat, while Hûra slew Talion in battle and warned him, "You might look elsewhere for revenge, if you were smart!"
Talion fighting Orcs at the proving grounds
Seeking vengeance against Hûra once again, Talion tracked him down to the Uruk Proving Grounds, where he first met the Orcish captain Feldûsh Man-Eater, who taunted Talion by saying, "Waste not, want not," suggesting that he would eat Talion once he killed him. Talion also came across the Uruk captain Kâka the Bleeder, who told him, "Won't get away from me, no you won't! I's gonna find you, promise that!" Talion fled to a guard tower, where he killed Morn Aridforce before turning the corner and cutting down Feldûsh and chasing down and killing Kâka. He proceeded to kill the Orcish guard Ba'rendam Axerest before Hûra looked up at him from the ground and told him, "See this pretty scar? That was your doing!" Talion fought Hûra until Hûra ordered a retreat, upon which Talion gave chase and cut Hûra down. He also tracked down and cut down Gorfel and Mûzglob, after which he left the stronghold.
Hûra locking weapons with Talion
Talion then came across the elite captain Otha Flesh-Burner and his patrol of Orcish warriors, and Otha taunted Talion, shouting, "Spent too much time in the shadows! Time to show everyone what you are!" Talion fought Otha until Otha shot an explosive crossbow bolt which killed Talion, and Otha jeered, "Think you just helped me earn some time off!" After Talion was resurrected at the forge tower, he killed Gemze Forechewer and Brar Dreamdeath and made his way to confront Otha once again. However, Hûra joined the fight as well, and the Orcish warrior Tûgog the Warrior cut Talion down and jeered, "Is that all it takes to kill a Ranger? Easy!" Talion once again rose from the dead at the Forge Tower, where Celebrimbor told Talion that, if they did not defeat the Black Hand and break the curse, Talion himself would become a wraith. He proceeded to kill the Orcish warriors Henesto Warpbeast and Gavzi Vengetwist, freeing the slaves they were overseeing.
Gallery[]
