Wraiths, also known as the Houseless and the Unbodied, are beings who were killed yet remain in existence by some dark sorcery such as necromancy or a Morgul-blade,^[1] or someone who died in darkness or serious dishonor.

History

During the First Age, the love-sick Gorlim, having betrayed Barahir and the XII Bëorings, appeared to Beren as a Wraith, confessing what he had done.^[2]

During the Second Age, Sauron swayed and corrupted nine powerful Men of Númenórean and Easterling stock by giving them each one of the Nine Rings.^[3] Afterwards, they slowly faded into darkness, becoming Nazgûl enslaved to the will of Sauron, fated to roam the world until their end.^[4]

During the Dark Years of Sauron's influence and rule in Middle-earth, the Men of the Mountains swore an oath to Isildur. After they broke it in order to continue worshiping Sauron, Isildur cursed them to never rest until their oath was fulfilled. Thus, they became Wraiths who haunted the mountains throughout the Third Age.^[5] During the War of the Ring, they aided Aragorn II, in taking the Corsair fleet at Pelargir. As a result, Aragorn released them from their oath.^[6]

The Dunlendings feared that Helm Hammerhand was a Wraith or Snow-troll that wandered through Rohan as its protector.^[7]

At the start of the War of the Ring, the Nazgûl were dispatched to search for the One Ring. When Frodo Baggins was stabbed by the Witch-king of Angmar, he was infected by the evil magic from a Morgul-knife;^[1] if Glorfindel had not saved Frodo, he would have eventually become a wraith himself,^[4] implying that people could become Wraiths by being stabbed with a Morgul-knife.^[3]

In adaptations

Middle-earth Role Playing

In the game, Middle-earth Role Playing, a Númenórean lieutenant named Gaurithoth haunts a grave around the Blue Mountains while serving the Witch-king as a Wraith.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game

The Games Workshop tabletop Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game mentions the Castellans of Dol Guldur, animated suits of armor possessed by the ghosts of people tortured to death in the fortress' dungeons, or whom agreed to be bound to Sauron's will in exchange for learning sorcery from him.

The Lord of the Rings Online

In the video game, The Lord of the Rings Online, Wraiths exist as a category of Unseen creatures including the Nazgûl and the Cargûl. The spirits of Men are categorized as Shades and The Dead. The main antagonist of the Shadows of Angmar storyline is a Wraith named Mordirith who acts as the Witch-king's Steward of Angmar in mockery of the Steward of Gondor.

References