[Rumil]

(Rumil hangs his head in shame for letting his innate Tookishness raise its head for a moment) [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

So, in a spirit of reconciliation, I decided to try and take things seriously (for once) and try and figure out what the Nazgul were upto. Therefore, I've compiled a list of Nazgul sightings from the Fords of Bruinen to the day after the Pelennor Fields (I expect I've missed some!);-

20th Nov 3018 - Nazgul get washed away at Bruinen, squelch their way back to Mordor (or Dol Guldur or Minas Morgul?)

Eventually they get home and are issued with Fell Beasts.

23rd Feb - Legolas downs one Nazgul at Sarn Gebir
26th Feb - Grishnakh mentions Nazgul waiting near Anduin (possibly same as above?)
30th Feb - Frodo and Sam see a Nazgul over Dead Marshes
1st Mar - One Nazgul patrols over Dead Marshes
4th Mar - One Nazgul seen over the slagheaps at the gates of Mordor
5th Mar - 4 Nazgul at the Morannon, 1 seen flying over Dol Baran (presumably off to vist Saruman)
6th Mar - 1 Nazgul over Dunharrow (hoping to pick up Pippin from Isengard)
9th Mar - Nazgul heard at Minas Tirith
10th Mar - Witchking departs Minas Morgul, 5 Nazgul attack Faramir
11th Mar - Nazgul heard at Minas Tirith
12th Mar - Witchking in Osgiliath
13th Mar - 'the Nazgul' (all of them or only some?) wound Faramir
14th Mar - 'the Nazgul' circle Minas Tirith
15th Mar - Witchking 'killed' at Pelennor Fields, Gothmog (possibly a Nazgul) takes command, one Nazgul at Cirith Ungol, one spotted over the Morgai (possibly same as above), one Nazgul carries news of defeat to Sauron
16th Mar - Some Nazgul fly recon over Minas Tirith

Right, so what can this tell us? First of all, between 3 and 5 are accounted for on the day of the Pelennor Fields. We know 5+ were present on the 10th. Tolkien refers to 'the Nazgul' during the seige of Minas Tirith, can this be taken to mean all 9 are there? If so, at least 4 are unaccounted for, in this case I'd agree with previous posts that they were sent to the rear to allow Witchking the glory of taking Minas Tirith, then stayed there, out of harms way, probably quite shocked that 'number 1' had bought it.

If these 4+ were elsewhere, the attacks on Lorien or accompanying the armies in the Wold or Anorien would be possible locations, perhaps one or two were kept as messengers at Minas Morgul and Barad Dur. They could perhaps still be in transit from Dol Guldur after passing on the 'attack' orders.

So what about the one(s) at Cirith Ungol? I'd imagine they were sent back to check on the rumours of spies attempting to enter Mordor - WK had sensed a presence when he rode forth from Minas Morgul. One nearly caught Frodo and Sam on their escape from the tower. Another Nazgul was spotted taking the news of defeat to Sauron. In this way, Frodo and Sam actually helped the allies win at the Pelennor Fields!

On Fell Beasts, airspeed velocity of etc., I wonder what size they were? A recent thread commented that Thorondor, 1st age Lord of the Eagles was the same wingspan as a B52 bomber. I'd imagine his 3rd age descendants as being somewhere between a Cessna and a Boeing 737. The closest aeroplane parallel I can think of with the Nazgul would be Stukas - the evil wail and all!!

Also I wonder if the Nazgul used the serious thermals over Mt. Doom to gain height before their travels?