The mountain giants are secondary antagonists from The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II and minor antagonist from The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2: The Rise of the Witch-king. These creatures were large and rather animalistic monsters of the race of giants, allies of Angmar, the goblins of the Ettenmoors, and the Dark Lord Sauron.
History[]
Before the War of the Ring[]
Little is known about the origin of the mountain giants, but it is certain that they lived in the northern part of Middle-earth, mainly in the areas of Angmar, Ettenmoors and the Misty Mountains. They fought on the side of Angmar against the Dunedains, although they did not have a major role, they were more like supporting creatures in the armies of evil. After the fall of Angmar, these creatures were not seen for a long time, until the War of the Ring. In Ettenmoors, as allies of the goblins and Sauron, they took part in the northern attacks against the homelands of the elves and dwarves.
Evil campaign[]
The mountain giants help the goblins to kil the Dunedains and dwarves in Fornost.
When the Mouth of Sauron attacked Lórien with some Nazgul and a group of goblins, they also found some mountain giants. The creatures were fast asleep, but the elves successfully bound them, but the evil leader realized that if they woke the creatures, they could easily break free and join them. There were three giants in Lórien and everything went according to plan, after the fights were too close to them, the giants awoke, easily tore the bonds and joined the forces of evil. The three giants threw large rocks, with which they easily destroyed the buildings of the elves, as well as the chif city of Lórien, Caras Galadhon. Many mountain giants then joined Sauron's forces and fought in several areas. The goblins of Ettenmoors launched a great northern campaign under the leadership of their king, Gorkil, and the giants joined this army. They conquered and destroyed the harbors and fortresses of the Gray Havens, captured and destroyed the Shire, and then attacked and destroyed the former, ancient capital of the Dunedains, Fornost. After Dol Guldur's armies captured Mirkwood, the Blue Mountains, and Erebor, all the forces of evil in the north headed for Rivendell. The dragons also joined the forces of evil, including their leader, Drogoth. The dragon joined the armies of the goblins who, together with the giants, arrived at the borders of Rivendell. The elves and the members of the last free peoples of Middle-earth persevered to the end and launched counter-attacks, but Sauron, with his minions, including the mountain giants, destroyed Rivendell and brought Middle-earth completely under his total domanation.
Good campaign[]
As allies of Sauron, the mountain giants helped the goblins of Ettenmoors, who launched an attack on Rivendell. However, a legendary elf, Glorfindel, warned Elrond in time, who was accompanied by a dwarf, Glóin. In the first attack, besides the goblins, a giant and two trolls took part, but the elves killed them. They then launched a counterattack, but there were also giants here, and a wyrm also appeared, but with the help of the eagles, the forces of good defeated the monsters.
Glorfindel and Glóin set out with the troops of Rivendell to stop the goblin invasion, and they started at the High Pass. However, the place was also protected by the giants, who tried to prevent further marches. One of the giants knocked down a huge pillar of ice with his rock, which fell and completely blocked further marches, so the elves had to learn another way. There was also a giant on the other path, however the creature attacked the elves instead of the ice pillar, which was a fatal mistake as the creature was defeated and the elves were able to successfully move on against the goblins. The elves then easily defeated the goblins, destroyed their camps and after defeating the Watcher in the Water, the area became theirs completely. However, a goblin messenger notified the king, Gorkil, and the Ettenmoors prepared to attack with a large army, including giants.
The elves first liberated a smaller settlement, but it was close to a small mountain where there was a drum. When the elves could push forward better, a mountain troll started running up the mountain, because if it starts beating the drum, the sound call the giants from the mountains. However, the elven archers of Mirkwood killed the troll in time, so the reinforcements of the giants did not arrive, and the elves continued the march. After freeing an Ent council, they and the Ents began a siege against the citadel of Ettenmoors, which was defended by the Goblin King, but the Goblins still had giants. However, the elves eventually killed the evil leader and his minions, and the castle was completely destroyed. However, not long after the victory, Glorfindel and Glóin were approached by a dwarven messenger who came from the Blue Mountains. He said that their home was attacked by a dragon, but in addition to that, spider riders, fire-breathers and mountain giants also invaded the mountains. Glorfindel and Glóin set out with a small group to slay the dragon, Drogoth and expel the evil monsters from the mountain citadel. Due to the constant attacks of the dragon and the spiders, it was not easy for the forces of good, and they also had to fight against the giants sometimes. However, Glorfinden and Glóin had already become quite experienced warriors and successfully defeated the monsters, then entered the citadel where they also fought the last giants and firedrakes. After defeating the last giant, the dwarves and elves killed the last enemies and defeated the dragon. These creatures were not seen again until and after the end of the War of the Ring.
Power and abilities[]
The mountain giants were strong allies of Sauron and the goblins. Due to their enormous size, they had enormous physical strength from the outset, they were perhaps even stronger beings than the Ents. The giants were able to trample several smaller groups one after the other with just their steps, thus destroying a smaller army in a matter of seconds. They were also able to throw huge rocks, either from a distance or at close range, they were very useful creatures during sieges, as they were the ones to break through enemy gates or walls.
Trivia[]
- These creatures only appear in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, Tolkien's original works mention giants, but not this species directly.
