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Old 05-17-2002, 12:49 AM   #8
Marileangorifurnimaluim
Eerie Forest Spectre
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction
Posts: 798
Marileangorifurnimaluim has just left Hobbiton.
Silmaril

I agree with Kuru here. You have to be careful with non-canon. What you describe are really Tolkien's background notes, notes which every author makes, but very few if any publish. It's the development of Tolkien's thought, and it's hard to say what the final word is from them. What we do know is finished, complete, and final is the LotR. In that, as Kuru and Gwaihir point out, orcs 'avenge their fallen captain' and show a great deal of rogueish independence.

They're like brigands. They have a cultish clan-pride, based not on loyalty, but on being exclusionary and superior. They will avenge the insult to their clan. I find the character Ugluk interesting - tired soldier just doing his job, humoring unwilling followers. Offers a great deal of insight into the nature of orcs there. What a brutal sense of humor they had. Leaving that poor slob hanging for Shelob..
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