Skauril I

Skauril is an unswerving servant of Dol Guldur and a trusted lieutenant of the feared Nazgûl, Khamûl the Easterling. An Easterling himself, Skauril is dark of hair and tall for his race. His temper is short. He is brave, but not to the point of foolishness.He bears no love for the West. Gondorian soldiers destroyed his village when he was a boy. Skauril was the sole survivor. He escaped only by hiding in the village oven. It had cooled somewhat from the weekly baking, but the scars he took on his feet and knees will last all his life, a continuing reminder of deeper scars within.After killing everyone they could find, the Gondorians finished their looting, burning, and carousing, and left. Scavengers found Skauril, unconscious. In return for the promised gratitude of adistant "rich" uncle, they bandaged him and carried him to his relative's encampment.His uncle was angry at the prospect of another mouth to feed,and a wounded child at that. At first, he refused to accept the smelly, infected bundle. It soon became clear that the indignant "rescuers" were not going to leave without some compensation for their efforts. He grudgingly paid the scavengers a small "reward" to forestall bloodshed. They stomped off, muttering at havingtaken so much trouble for nothing.For the rest of Skauril's brief childhood, his uncle missed no chance to remind the boy of his debt for the reward, for shelter, and for each bite to go into his mouth. Skauril left as soon as he had grown large enough to lie his way into an apprenticeship.His training as a Conjurer gave him an outlet for his rage. An agent of Khamûl offered him a chance for revenge. He rose through the net of spies the Nazgûl spread throughout the region,and was given command of Orcs, Men, and ordered to a task.Skauril is sworn to remove all vestiges of light and mirth from Mirkwood.Skauril is well suited to this goal. He knows the value of an ironwill and a closed mouth. Sly and careful, when possible he makeshis attacks look like the work of bandits or wolves. He has succeeded in cutting traffic through the Great Wood by half.Khamûl is very pleased.