Monster:Wolf
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There are more threats in the cliffs and crags of the North Downs than Orcs and evil Men. Many creatures that walk on four legs, both natural and evil, stalk prey in the hills and fields of the North Downs.
At the northern end of the Greenway, beyond the lonely town of Trestlebridge, and in southern reaches of Annundir, packs of wolves roam in search of easy prey. Unlike lynx, wolves are not mere beasts. They are highly intelligent and cunning, but worse yet, they are servants of the Enemy, corrupt and evil. From these hounds of evil were bred the fiercest of their kind, the Wargs. It is said that there was a time as well when fell-spirits were cast into wolves, creating a breed of Werewolves.
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[edit] Wolves
[edit] Quick Facts
| Species: | Canis lupus and related species |
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| Types: | Wargs, Werewolves1, White Wolves |
| Meaning: | 'Wolf' is a very ancient word indeed, descending to modern English through Old English wulf2 |
[edit] Fearsome predators of the northern lands
Wolves were of old allied with the Dark Lord; Morgoth bred the two greatest of their kind, and Sauron was wont to take the form of a great Wolf. The lesser kinds were sometimes used as steeds by the Orcs.
[edit] Footnotes
| 1 | Strictly speaking, it isn't clear whether Werewolves should be considered a 'type' of wolf, but they were clearly related in some way to true wolves. |
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| 2 | This Old English form of the word does actually appear in Tolkien's work. Wulf was the name of the son of Freca, to whom Helm Hammerhand refused the hand of his daughter. |
