Third of the Nazgûl

Iron Crown EnterprisesDecipher

“Dwar the Ringwraith” by Donato Giancola
Man (early) Wraith (later)
Dwar of Waw
Biographical Information
Other names	Dog-lord
Titles	King of Waw
Position	Third of the Nazgûl
Affiliation	Nazgûl Eye of Sauron
Birth	S.A. 1949 Horm, Waw
Death	25 March T.A. 3019 Morannon
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Height	6 ft 4 in
Eye colour	Pale hazel
Clothing	Reinforced cloth armour Wolf's head helmet
Weaponry	Morgul-knife War-dancer Air-cleaver
Steed	Black horse

Man (early) Wraith (later)
Úlairë Nelya
Biographical Information
Other names	The Black Hunter
Position	Third of the Nazgûl
Affiliation	Nazgûl Eye of Sauron
Death	25 March T.A. 3019 Morannon
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Steed	Black horse

The Third of the Nazgûl was never differentiated in Tolkien's works, but several adaptations did attribute individual traits to this specific Nazgûl.

Iron Crown Enterprises constructed an elaborate non-canonical backstory for Middle-earth Role Playing, identifying the character as Dwar of Waw, a backstory which was also used in the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game.

Decipher, for their Trading Card Game, instead limited this individualization to naming the character Úlairë Nelya (Q. Third Nazgûl), and assigning the epithet of Black Hunter.

While some other adaptations also individualized the Nine, none are known to have assigned specific numbers.

Backstory in Middle-earth Role Playing

Dwar was born as Dendra Dwar in S.A. 1949 in Horm on the island of Waw. His father was a fisherman and his mother died in childbirth. In S.A. 1965, his home was attacked by the K'prur people from the neighbouring kingdom of Hent. His father was mortally wounded, and Dwar vowed revenge. He left his home and traveled to the mainland realm of the Wôlim, where he became a skilled warrior and scout. In S.A. 1969, he began studying ancient magical arts and became a Mage.

In S.A. 1980, Dwar returned to Waw as the Lord of Dogs. With a small group of warriors and a pack of warhounds, he retook the citadel of Alk Waw from the K'prur. He became the High-lord of the isle, ruling without convening the traditional Elder Councils. The island became known as the Isle of Dogs. He used his growing power and a newly built fleet to plunder coastal towns and conquer neighbouring islands, incorporating them into his kingdom.

At the height of his power, he accepted a Ring of Power from Sauron, and withdrew from public life. His armies successfully conquered Hent while his nephew became the new Lord of Dogs. Dwar ruled his kingdom from the shadows, manipulating his heirs for the next 252 years.

In S.A. 2250, Dwar left Waw and moved to Sauron's fortress, Barad-dûr, where he bred war-wolves. He fled back to Waw when Sauron was captured by the Númenóreans, but returned to Mordor after the Downfall of Númenor to continue his work. Many of his creations were slaughtered in the War of the Last Alliance, and he passed into the shadows.

Dwar reappeared around T.A. 1050, briefly residing with Sauron in Dol Guldur before returning to Waw. For the next 589 years, he ruled there from the shadows. He was recalled to the West in T.A. 1640 to help prepare Mordor for Sauron's return. He continued his work breeding war-hounds and participated in the capture of Minas Ithil.

During the Watchful Peace, Dwar followed Sauron eastward and was contested by the Blue Wizards. He returned to Mordor in T.A. 2941 to help rebuild Barad-dûr.

During the War of the Ring, Dwar rode with the Black Riders in search of the One Ring. After his fruitless search, he joined the remaining wraiths at the Battle of the Morannon, where he perished with Sauron's defeat.

Weaponry in Middle-earth Role Playing

Beyond a Morgul-knife, the Ringwraith is noted to have possessed the following weapons:

• War-dancer: A falchion made of ithilnaur and inlaid with white gold and pearl. A dagger was sheathed in the hilt, with the falchion's pearl-tipped pommel being its end.
• Air-cleaver: A gé or killing-bola. This enchanted Braric weapon was made of silvery ogamur.