Editing Nazgûl (section)

==In the Books==
Back in the day, Sauron deceived the Noldor Elves of Eregion into forging the Rings of Power for the races of Middle Earth. Three went to the [[Elves]], seven to the [[Dwarves]], and nine to the races of [[Human|Men]]. The rings passed to the humans would greatly enhance their life spans and abilities: most of the Nine were kings of sorts, but a few of them were powerful warriors or wizards. But the rings were corrupting: and one by one the Nine fell under the thrall of the Dark Lord. this put them in a state between two worlds: this one and the spirit world. This made them borderline immortal and they became the chief servants of Sauron. Bound to the will of Sauron, the power of the Nine was proportional to that of the Dark Lord: if they were as powerful as they were around the siege of Minas Tirith when they confronted the [[Halfling|Hobbits]] and Aragorn at Weathertop, they would have likely succeeded.

Tollers designed them as "samey," individuality bleached out of them by the terrible power that consumed them - with the partial exception of The Witch-King of Angmar. He also mooted Khamûl the Easterling as the Witch-King's number two and successor in command for the Battle of the Black Gate after the former bit it courtesy of a Numenorian blade and a pissed off shieldmaiden, and marked three as Numenorean lords. Among the other five were some sorcerers (not the Wizards - they're Maiar); ethnically, we can suspect Haradrim, and/or locals who'd cut deals. There's been talk some might have been female in life although as wraiths, it's not like any of their genitalia work too good anymore. Their bond proved their undoing as well: when the Dark Lord was destroyed alongside his Ring, the Nazgûl perished as well.