Posted: September 16, 1999 at 22:56:00: by Russ
: Although the Orcs do come across as cannon fodder, they actually were very deadly and efficient soldiers. It was Orcs (primarily) who wiped out most of the Noldorin forces of the First Age.Keep in mind I agree with the entire rest of your message and am only mitpicking here. But, my impression of the First Age wars is that orcs alone never did it. The Noldor won the orc vs elf battles. It was only when balrogs, dragons, or treachery came into play that the Noldor were defeated. This, oddly enough is consistent with Boromir's account of the battle at Osgiliath six thousand years later - athough there may be a certain amount of bluster. He said that numbers (of orcs) almoe could not have defeated the Gondorian soldiers. It was the shadow (later revealed to be nazgul) that caused thier defeat. The only straight orc victory over the elves appears to be the War of the Elves and Sauron.
Russ
Russ
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