Interesting article about Variags

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

If you'll permit me to raise a point here Morthoron, there's no evidence I can see that the Variags of Khand fought with axes.

You are entirely right. I conflated the "Easterlings with axes" with the men of Khand. My point was, though, there was no mention of Variags being horsemen either. Having axes on horses was merely the slicing of the cake.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

You are entirely right. I conflated the "Easterlings with axes" with the men of Khand. My point was, though, there was no mention of Variags being horsemen either. Having axes on horses was merely the slicing of the cake.

Yep. I think virtually everything we know about the Variags is:
1. They lived in Khand.
2. They were Men.
3. They were allies of the Wainriders, and that's assuming the "Men of Khand" of the second millennium of the Third Age were the same as the Variags of 3019. I notice that the Tolkien Gateway cautiously observes that "The Men of Khand included the Variags." (emphasis mine) We don't even know for sure that all Men of Khand were "Variags". The index to HOME 12 suggests this, but is that Professor Tolkien's own view, or Christopher Tolkien's interpretation?
4. They fought for Sauron at the Pelennor.

I think that more or less sums up literally everything we're told about them. I don't think there's anything about their behaviour or appearance.