A group of Dwarves encountering a Specter in the ancient dark halls of Moria.
Shadows, Shades and Spectres were different names or descriptions given to those unseen or hidden from the world (or this world in contrast to the Shadow-realm). They were often used to name unclear forms such as those associated with Ghosts and Phantoms or non-incarnate souls such as houseless demons.
- Shadows (S. "Hûath") appeared as dark shapes on objects, places where there was less light of the sun, though there was seemingly no visible object causing them.
- Shades (S. "Lumath") appeared as cold and dark areas which were not reached by the sun or as distinct hues where colours seemed to change or differ from their natural conditions.
- Spectres (S. "Cantath") could appear as fear or other feelings of discomfort or alienness; they could also be non-forms such as contours or adumbrations.
See:
Notes[]
In Role-playing games such as MERP or Rolemaster, Shadows, shades, spectres or apparitions are often treated as different classes or types of undead, while in truth they are simply words referring to different visual, acoustic or psychological phenomena.
References[]
- Original reference: ICE MERP #2012 Creatures of Middle-earth, pg. 129
Editorial Note: This entry contains speculative or fan-based material — such as fanon, fanfiction, or theory constructs — that may not be directly supported by canonical texts. Interpretations offered here are part of the NNCA’s speculative corpus and should not be mistaken for primary Tolkien sources.