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Kurúki, also spelled as Kurûki, was the name of an evil "Magician" who once served Glaurung, the Dragon-King of Nargothrond after the fall of Dor-Cúarthol.
History[]
During the latter half of the First Age, there was an evil "Magician" named Kurúki who made his abode at Methed-en-glad in Dor-Cúarthol of the lands of Methiriad in Beleriand. Kurúki was often a supplier of seemingly magical drinks, or "baneful drinks" as he called them, to many folk. Sometimes he did business with the Woodmen in the Forest of Brethil while other times, he did business with Orcs and Outlaws who were passing through on business of their own. On rare occasions, he did business with En-keladim. Kurúki had good relations with one particular band of Orc-hunters which roamed Methiriad, often roaming quite close to the West March of the Kingdom of Doriath.
Sometime in the year 496, Kurúki was contracted by a band of Orc-hunters working for the dragon Glaurung. Thanks to some seemingly enchanted drinks he gave them, the Orc-hunters ambushed a company of Elves, led by Mablung, who were resting at a guarded bridge over the Taeglin; they were escorting Niënor to the Kingdom of Doriath. While the ambush succeeded in causing Niënor to flee into the Forest of Brethil in terror and confusion, the Orc-hunters were overtaken and killed by the Elves when they tried to pursue her. As Mablung and his Elves began their own search, Niënor encountered Kurúki when he had come to the site to scavenge the remains of both sides. Kurúki offered his aid to her instead, giving her one of his "baneful drinks", causing her to wander distraught in the woods, seeking the image of Túrin that was placed in her mind by the drink, without the context that he was her brother.
A year after the deaths of Glaurung, Túrin, and Niënor, Húrin came and wrought his vengeance on the Halethrim before encountering Kurúki at Methed-en-glad to murder him for his own part in the tragedy of the children of Húrin.
Etymology[]
Kurúki is a Quenya name comprised of the word kuru ("magic, wizardry"), and the element ki ("may; particle of uncertainty").
Notes[]
Kurúki, or Kurûki, was only briefly mentioned in a preliminary sketch which predated the tale of Turambar and the Foalókë in The Book of Lost Tales. He could be considered an early precursor to Gorthû and essentially Sauron, just like Fankil and Langon.
Tolkien discarded the character of Kurúki, ultimately giving his only two roles to "a band of Orc-hunters" and Glarung respectively.
References[]
- The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One
- Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Tolli Kuruvar"
- The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two
- II: "Turambar and the Foalókë": "Notes and Commentary", pg. 138-40
- Index, entry "Kurúki"
- Parma Eldalamberon 14, pg. 59
- The Children of Húrin
- Chapter XIV: "The Journey of Morwen and Niënor to Nargothrond"
- Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth
- Part One: The First Age: Narn I Hîn Húrin
- "The Journey of Morwen and Nienor to Nargothrond"
- Part One: The First Age: Narn I Hîn Húrin
- Kurúki on The Lord of the Rings Wiki
- Orc-hunters on The Lord of the Rings Wiki
- "Methiriad" on Tolkien Gateway