Mur-Grishi

The Mur-Grishi (BS. "Black Blood") was a small, select cult of fanatical assassins dedicated to the Lord of Death. There were nine "initiates" who were full-ranking members of the cult, and eighteen "acolytes." Aside from Sauron, the Witch-king, and the Ongûliun (the chief initiate), the existence of the cult was known to none. The members of the Mor-sereg were utterly evil. Their greatest act of devotion was the assassination of a Dúnadan, Elf, or other enemy of the Dark Lord. They conducted no rituals as such, living only to kill in the service of their master. In between such assassinations, they strove to improve their skills and powers or would act as spies for the Dark Lord. Cultists acted on the direct order of the Ongûliun, or more rarely on the orders of the Witch-king or one of the other Nazgul. The Mor-sereg was the product of the Ongûliun's tormented imagination, and he had personally chosen its members. The cult had existed since the late Second Age, and membership was limited to thirty-six. When an initiate Was killed, an acolyte took his place, and a new member was picked by Sauron, the Witch-king, or the Ongûliun. Members were chosen for their skill, power, and fanatical dedication, and could come from any profession. Since Sauron's hatred of the Dúnedain was so great, the power of the Mor-sereg was centered in Angmar. Initiates and acolytes, however, did dwell in other parts of Middle-Earth, acting at the bidding of the Dark Lord.