Half-trolls

Half-troll of Far Harad, as depicted in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game

"Gothmog the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray; Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues."

—'The Lord of the Rings, Vol. III, The Return of the King, Book V, Ch. IV, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"

"Half-trolls" or "troll-men" was a term used to describe the appearance of a group of Men from Far Harad who fought for the Dark Lord Sauron during the War of the Ring. These Men were said to have black skin, white eyes, and red tongues.

In the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, these Men were under the command of Gothmog and were sent out to fight alongside a group of "Easterlings with axes", some "Southrons in scarlet", and the "Variags of Khand". The half-trolls were driven out of the Pelennor Fields by the Swan-knights of Dol Amroth along with many Orcs and Variags.

While this term was used only in relation to a mannish group with 'trollish' traits, it is possible that half-trolls (in which these men were compared to) actually do exist, even if only in folklore. If true half-trolls did exist, it is possible they were members of a hybrid race, being bred in a similarly way to the half-orcs of Saruman.

Inspiration

According to Christopher Tolkien, a character in the Thiðrekssaga (a 13th century work which influenced The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún) who is an off-spring of a woman and an incubus, appears "troll-like" and is "all over dark, with black hair and black beard".

In adaptations

The Hunt for Gollum fan film

In the non-canonical and non-profit movie The Hunt for Gollum, the Orc chieftain Goblok attacks Aragorn. He is said to be a half-troll on a website by the cast member that played him.

Video games

A half-troll swordsman in ROTWK

• In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, Half-Troll Marauders are rare and hefty crossbreeds of Trolls and Orcs. These marauders were strong and clever enough to eke out an existence wandering the empty wastes of the north. As a race hunted by the clever Dúnedain Rangers, the marauders never found peace on their own, and as such their numbers remained few. It was in this way that the Goblin faction pressed the half-trolls into the service of war. The marauders were welcomed into the caverns of the Misty Mountains upon the condition that they would don the twisted metal armor of the goblin army and serve as pikemen when they were called upon to fight. In The Rise of the Witch-king expansion, Half Troll Swordsmen are similar to the marauders but have swords instead of pikes. They have helmets and armor that are the same as the marauders', but more knight-like than orc-like.

• In Third Age: Total War mod of Medieval II: Total War, they are available to the Harad faction and are advanced light infantry known as troll-men of Harad.

• In The Lord of the Rings, half-trolls are referred to as the Mahûd men of Far Harad who were altered to the size and strength of the Olog-hai of Sauron. During the end of the Third Age, when Sauron was destroyed, their powers diminished, and they too fell into darkness. Units include Half Troll Warband and Half Troll of Far Harad.

• In The Lord of the Rings Online, half-trolls appear as a type of Troll-kind creature crossed with the blood of Men. They have the strength and appearance of Trolls yet are also cunning and intelligent. Sauron bestowed half-trolls onto the Haradrim as a gift. Half-trolls can be found throughout the various regions of Gondor and Anórien, fighting alongside Men of Harad and the Corsairs of Umbar.

Gallery

Half-troll marauders in the BFME games as part of the goblin faction

Half-troll swordsman in The Rise of the Witch-king

Strategy Battle Game Half-trolls