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Morinehtar

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Morinehtar was the senior of the two "Blue Wizards" (S. Ithryn Luin), a skilled and determined emissary from Valinor. His companion Rómestamo, once his friend, had originally been the lesser Istar of the pair. Before Arda and time began, he was among the Ainur and served the Vala Oromë as one of his People of the hunt. When the first elves awoke at Cuivienen, he became one of six powerful guardians who protected them from evil. During his time in Valinor, possibly during the great journey, he received his first Quenya name: Alatar.

Alatar in his youth

Alatar in his youth

Description[]

Morinehtar served Araw the Hunter, which shaped his nature. He was agile, an exceptional rider, and loved the wilderness. None of the other Istari matched his physical abilities. He wore blues and greens like the sky and forest, and favored the elven longbow. Though sociable, he preferred the quiet of woodlands. Standing 6'7", he moved with natural grace. His long blue robes with green lining caught the moonlight. Like all Istari, he appeared as an old man, but his bright eyes, strong voice, and confident movements revealed his true Maiarin nature. Unlike Gandalf, he walked upright—he ignored the world's burdens to pursue his own agenda. Morinehtar shared the fate of all Istari except Gandalf. Bound to flesh, he developed mortal weaknesses: desire, fear, pride, jealousy. His mission changed. Power corrupted him. Originally, he was meant to use force only against force, maintaining the Balance. Later he served his own purposes. His secret schemes threatening the very Balance he was sent to protect. In the East, he built a realm and waited for Sauron's power to fade. Araw had sent him there, to the ancient homelands of Elves and Men. But like Saruman, Morinehtar had grander ambitions. His power was considerable. Among the Istari, he ranked second—below Saruman, above Gandalf. Like his peers, he equaled Sauron in strength. Among Araw's people, no Maia stood higher.

History[]

Little was recorded in the West about the Blue Wizards, but traditions in the East and South preserved fragments of their story—often as myth, cultic devotion, or conflicting lore. Among them, Alatar, known in Middle-earth by many names, became a figure of great influence and tragic failure. His prophetic name Morinehtar, meaning "Darkness-slayer," was both title and burden.

Origins and Mission[]

Morinehtar´s nature reflected Araw's own: fierce, nomadic, attuned to wilderness and the warrior spirit. In Aman, he was already Alatar, a chieftain of the Hunter. When chosen for the mission to Middle-earth, he received the name Morinehtar—foretelling his role against Sauron. Unlike the other Istari, Morinehtar and his companion Rómestámo arrived during the Second Age, not the Third Age. They traveled far from the Westlands. Their mission was not to guide Elves or Dúnedain, but to stir rebellion in Rhûn, Harad, the Uttermost East, and Far South—lands where Sauron's dominion grew unchecked and where Morinehtar foolishly awakened The Bearer's Sleeping Root.

The Hidden War[]

Morinehtar and Rómestamo were remarkably successful. Though their deeds were largely unknown in the West, they played a crucial role in weakening the Shadow. The Dark Lord was never able to unleash his full military strength against the West, for vast portions of his armies and resources were tied up in suppressing uprisings across his nine realms—rebellions that the Blue Wizards had sown. Morinehtar operated under many identities. He was known by dozens of names and titles among the peoples of East and South: as a wandering prophet, a warrior-mage, a healer, and even a divine figure. Many legendary magicians, immortal sages, and mysterious wanderers of eastern or southern folklore were, in truth, echoes of Morinehtar.

The Aina Ambar and Its Division[]

The Ithryn Luin founded the Aina Ambar (Q."Holy Fate Fellowship"), a spiritual movement to teach reverence for Eru Ilúvatar. Mannish cultures quickly transformed their teachings into superstitious religions, making the Valar and Maiar into gods and the Istari into divine avatars. The Aina Ambar split into two major sects: The Cult of the Hunt, following Morinehtar, emphasized rebellion, liberation, and destroying darkness. The Cult of Doom, following Rómestámo, preached fatalism, preparation for the end, and accepting destiny. These rival cults became powerful forces in the East, clashing in doctrine and practice. Their followers built temples, led revolts, and shaped entire cultures around their masters' teachings.

Tactics, Sacrifice, and Moral Ambiguity[]

The Blue Wizards did not lead armies or rule kingdoms. They worked through mortal agents, often manipulatively and cynically. They demanded great sacrifices, tolerated fanaticism, and bore heavy moral burdens. Sometimes they allowed or ignored atrocities committed by their followers against real or supposed servants of the shadow. Morinehtar became controversial. Some believed he later adopted elements of Sauron's teachings, either from necessity or disillusionment. Others claimed he pretended to serve Sauron to betray him from within. Still others argued this supposed betrayal was Sauron's deception—that Morinehtar remained loyal to his mission, though wounded and ultimately defeated. Unlike Saruman, Morinehtar did not fall to pride alone. Unlike Radagast, he did not retreat into nature. His failure was complex, tragic, and deeply man-like.

The Final Rift[]

In the Fourth Age, freed from Sauron's influence, Morinehtar and Rómestámo—once allies and friends—became rivals through competing teachings. Their former disciples turned against one another, driven by different interpretations of their words. The conflicts between the Cult of the Hunt and the Cult of Doom -or their respective successors- continued long after the Wizards themselves had vanished. Their influence endured through clashes over beliefs, shaping faith and power in East and South for centuries.

Legacy[]

Morinehtar's legacy was one of fire and shadow. He was liberator, prophet, tactician—and perhaps fallen hero. His story defied simple categorization. He stirred rebellion, inspired devotion, and made choices that led to both salvation and ruin. To some, he was the Darkness-slayer, a beacon in the night. To others, he was a false god, manipulator, or tragic failure. But to all who remembered him, he was a force that changed Middle-earth forever.

Morinehtar left a tangled legacy. He led rebellions, founded religious movements, and influenced entire regions through his followers. His methods were disputable—he used deception, tolerated zealotry, and made morally questionable choices. Different groups remembered him differently. His defenders saw him as the Darkness-slayer who fought Sauron's influence in the East. His opponents viewed him as a false god who corrupted his original mission.

Names[]

Artifacts[]

The Hunter

The Hunter

  • Huntsman's Garb
  • Robes of Aman ("Robes of Lóal") – Blue outside, green inside. Fashioned in Valinor, they provided him protection like a rigid hide but did not encumber his movements. When worn normally (blue side out), he had a bonus when hiding in rain, water, or simply against the sky. The robes would reverse following command, showing the green side, which helped him hiding when he attempting to conceal himself in foliage.
  • Boots of Tracelessness – Blue, they left no boot prints and made no noise.
  • Blue Bow – magical longbow, it could not break in normal usage.
  • Ancient Root ("I-Sûd") – This slightly gnarled, 5' long, magic white staff was actually a living tree root which, when planted in the ground, would become a 100' tall tree beside or around its holder. Tree became staff upon command.

Powers[]

  • Denial of Vision – An enchanted blue-green tattoo, shaped as a tree, adorned the middle of Morinehtar left palm. Normally invisible, this magic symbol appeared when Morinehtar wove his hand. All who faced the symbol had to resist it's pattern or only remember seeing an old man with no recollection of what events took place.
  • Languages – Morinehtar knew 25 languages. His mother tongue was Valarin, but he typically spoke Avarin or Wômawian.

Notes[]

The Ithryn Luin in Fan Adaptations and Game Lore[]

In MERP (Iron Crown Enterprises), Alatar and Pallando—known as “the Hunter” and “the Soul-keeper”—operate in southeastern Middle-earth, founding the realms of Luinemar and Fëamardi and opposing Nazgûl like Khamûl and Dwar. Secondary works like Emissaries of the East,by Cory Rushton detail Pallando’s stewardship of Wômawas Drûs and his later refuge in Lurs Vorganis. In Incánus Ennorath, Pallando is active in Arthanor and eventually withdraws to the island of Amazôn.In LOTRO, the Blue Wizard may be reflected in Yirokhsar the Blue, leader of the cultic Blue Caste aiding Mordor. Middle-earth: Total War portrays Alatar as corrupted, leading Sauron’s eastern armies via a sect of dragon-worshippers. In The Fourth Age: Total War, Alatar and Pallando become rival warlords among the Easterlings. The Palantir Quest Campaign Site identifies Alatar as “Taladhan the Black,” manipulating Easterling lord Vacros from Sarn Goriwing. These varied portrayals suggest a fall and divergence after T.A. 2,941, with possible redemption and resurgence following Sauron’s defeat.

References[]

  • MERP: Lords of Middle-earth Vol. I - The Immortals
  • MERP: Valar & Maiar
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