SAURON THE DARK LORD
????? is the Dark Lord Sauron in these games.
Sauron does also have leaders for each of the armies he controls. Sauron will issue orders to his minions as required during the battles, but there is also scope for the leaders to follow their own objectives, if Sauron is not fully involved in their local actions.
​
Army of Mordor - ????
Army of Minas Morgul - Ross
Army of Dol Guldur - Steven and Graham
Army of Angmar - Ross
Army of Moria - Steven
Army of Isengard - Graham
​
Sauron in the Lord of the Rings books was the main antagonist, a fallen Maiar spirit and the second Dark Lord, who created the One Ring to conquer Middle-earth. Once a skilled smith and lieutenant to the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, he was originally known as Mairon before being corrupted and eventually serving Morgoth fully. Sauron was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men at the end of the Second Age but continued his quest for power throughout the Third Age, often appearing as the disembodied "Eye" while searching for the lost Ring.
​
In the Second Age, Sauron deceived the Elves of Eregion into forging the Rings of Power, but secretly forged the One Ring for himself in Mount Doom to control them all, becoming the "Lord of the Rings". His primary goal throughout The Lord of the Rings is to regain the One Ring to restore his full power and conquer all of Middle-earth.
Sauron is often represented as the "Eye of Sauron," a non-physical manifestation of his will and power that searches the land for the Ring.Tolkien does not provide a detailed description in the main text, but characters who saw him describe him as being of immense height and terrible to behold, likely in a dark, imposing form. He is noted to have only nine fingers after Isildur cut off the one holding the Ring.
​
Sauron's Will could reach across the entirety of Middle-earth, though its direct influence varied by distance from Mordor and the presence of resistance. His power and Will were not limited by conventional physical distance but by the strength of his own form (which was tied to the One Ring) and the inherent free will of his opponents.
-
Geographical Reach: Sauron's dominion in the Third Age was centered in Mordor, but his influence extended to the South (Harad) and East (Rhûn), where most Men were under his direct domain. In the West, his power was less direct, but he was still a pervasive, looming threat.
-
Mental and Spiritual Domination: A primary manifestation of his Will was mental and spiritual. He could perceive the thoughts of those who were far off and subtlely influence the minds of Men, inspiring fear and bending them to his service.
-
The One Ring's Role: The One Ring was the primary conduit and amplifier of his Will, containing a large portion of his inherent power.
-
Without the Ring (during The Lord of the Rings): His power was substantial but incomplete. He still commanded vast armies and exerted immense influence, but strongholds like Rivendell and Lothlórien could withstand him due to the power of the Elven Rings and the resilience of their inhabitants.
-
With the Ring: If he had regained the One Ring, he would have instantly become vastly more powerful, his will achieving total dominion over all of Middle-earth. All the other Rings of Power (except perhaps the Three Elven Rings, which would have simply faded) would have fallen under his control, and no force in Middle-earth could have withstood him.
-
-
Physical Manifestations: Sauron could also physically manipulate the environment. He could cause geological disturbances, create massive ash clouds, and blight the lands around his strongholds, demonstrating a far-reaching physical impact when he chose to exert it. He generally held back from using his full destructive power in the Third Age, however, because he wanted to conquer and rule Middle-earth, not destroy it.
In essence, Sauron's Will was a shadow that could stretch across continents, the effectiveness of which was determined by the spiritual strength of those he sought to dominate and whether he was in possession of the One Ring.
