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Re: few questions

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  Posted by Tar-Elenion on May 28, 2000 at 21:14:55
In Reply to: Re: few questions posted by Michael Martinez on May 28, 2000 at 15:15:23:



: : : Orcs were not, in fact, particularly good at seeing at night : : : or in the dark. Whenever they are encountered at night or in : : : the dark, they are carrying torches or near some light : : : source. The Rohirrim were able to use the torches to target : : : the Orcs with volleys of arrows before retreating to the : : : Hornburg.

: : Would this then, in addition to the psychological effect it had : : on the defenders, be a partial reason for Sauron clouding the : : sky at the Battle of Pellenor Fields? Not the main reason, but : : it would obsure the sun, which Michael stated teh orcs weren't : : especially fond of, while still providing light a plenty from : : that of a night-time battle?

: I'm sure the Orcs were happy not to have to deal with sun, but since they had to use torches (or other sources of fire) to see by, I don't believe it would proved much of a boon to them. Sauron launched his full attack against Aragorn's army before the Morannon in broad daylight. If darkness were really that necessary for Orc efficiency on the battlefield, he should have considered waiting until nightfall (though I'm sure some people would be quick to point out he thought he would recover the Ring).

: The cloud seems to have been intended solely to heighten the powers of the Nazgul, in my opinion.

Im 'Gladden Fields' chapter of UT, The Orcs wait for the sun to go behind clouds before attacking. Also they are referred to (or at least some are referred to) as 'night-eyed'. In The Hobbit too IIRC the goblins pursue the Thorin and Co. in the dark (or was this a sense of smell thing, I forget). Orcs could probably see better at night than Men, though some light would doubtless be an improvement over none at all. I think similarly that the Eldar could see well enough in the dark, but with some other light sources they could see even better.




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