I understand that the 9 Nazgul could get horses, it was even hinted that Rohan sent them some in the book. But where did they get their fell beasts? and are they related to the dragons?
I think they might have been with Melkor at the begining of the darkness, but how they remained hidden is confusing. They might have been thought to be dragons, (if they were flying high so people missed the differences) which might be why they weren't descovered before. Just an idea.
Tolkien likened them to pterodactyls (after they were discovered, of course), so it would make sense if they were some kind of ancient animal. Keep in mind they weren't originally evil or monstrous, Sauron just captured them and corrupted them.
I thought the fell beasts were bred by Sauron. I'm not sure of there origins. I just finished a read through of the Silmarillion and I didn't see any mention of those creatures specifically.
That would make sense, but I think it's actually stated somewhere in the Silmarillion that dragons were made in mockery of eagles, which are separate from fell beasts. I think that what you see in the movies isn't what the fell beasts originally were before they were captured and grown by Sauron. Imagine less body armor and teeth and all that scary stuff.
I would totally agree with that. It isn't stated that the fell beasts had their own will or personality, and dragons all seem to be incredibly independent. I always pictured something more like a flying dinosaur that had been brought under control of sauron and kept secret from the rest of the world. I think different than dragons for sure though.
The Beasts might have been bred from creatures found in the far South of Harad, though they might have also come from the distant East. Maybe they were the inspiration for the legends of Eastern Dragons.
I think they might have been with Melkor at the begining of the darkness, but how they remained hidden is confusing. They might have been thought to be dragons, (if they were flying high so people missed the differences) which might be why they weren't descovered before. Just an idea.
Tolkien likened them to pterodactyls (after they were discovered, of course), so it would make sense if they were some kind of ancient animal. Keep in mind they weren't originally evil or monstrous, Sauron just captured them and corrupted them.
I thought the fell beasts were bred by Sauron. I'm not sure of there origins. I just finished a read through of the Silmarillion and I didn't see any mention of those creatures specifically.
My bet is that Melkor made them in mockery of Manwe's eagles. They are a sort of horrible mirror image of the eagles.
That would make sense, but I think it's actually stated somewhere in the Silmarillion that dragons were made in mockery of eagles, which are separate from fell beasts. I think that what you see in the movies isn't what the fell beasts originally were before they were captured and grown by Sauron. Imagine less body armor and teeth and all that scary stuff.
I would totally agree with that. It isn't stated that the fell beasts had their own will or personality, and dragons all seem to be incredibly independent. I always pictured something more like a flying dinosaur that had been brought under control of sauron and kept secret from the rest of the world. I think different than dragons for sure though.
The Beasts might have been bred from creatures found in the far South of Harad, though they might have also come from the distant East. Maybe they were the inspiration for the legends of Eastern Dragons.