Riddermark Lord
LOTR:LCG Alt Art Attachment: Support of the Eagles (Tactics) - art by Antonio José Manzanedo
The Great Eagles battled with Melkor’s dragons in the War of Wrath in the First Age. Led by Thorondor, the myriad host of attacking avian creatures included Gwaihir and Landroval – who were still active in the Third Age and played roles in the War of the Ring.
This alternate artwork is by Antonio José Manzanedo, who illustrated other LOTR:LCG cards - notably multiple versions of the dragon Dagnir, as well as the heroes Brand son of Bain, and Bard son of Brand from the Ered Mithrin cycle.
I chose this image because it is likely indicative of the Great Eagles’ mindset/memory when visualizing the Support of the Eagles.
Considering Support of the Eagles, and the One Ring:
Imagine you are a three Age lifespan 9,000+ year old creature like the Great Eagle Gwaihir, sent to Middle-earth by Manwe, son of Eru Illuvatar, the creator of all. You fought Melkor (whom Sauron was merely his lieutenant) and an innumerable host of Balrogs and winged Dragons in the First Age War of Wrath - all of which eventually left a sizable portion of Middle-earth destroyed and underneath the sea.
Compared to that, the Third Age would seem trivial in both scope and timeframe. It is no wonder the Eagles of the Third Age would only be involved in the most critical situations (sometimes, when they felt like it), and only if influenced by a Maiar they were friendly with – such as Gandalf or Radagast.
With the above nonchalance of the Eagles, their unreliability as animal creatures, plus the One Ring’s proven power of corruption to even powerful Maiar (like Saruman), it explains to me why the Eagles would/could not fly the Ring or Ringbearer to Mount Doom to toss it in.
LOTR:LCG Alt Art Attachment: Support of the Eagles (Tactics) - art by Antonio José Manzanedo
The Great Eagles battled with Melkor’s dragons in the War of Wrath in the First Age. Led by Thorondor, the myriad host of attacking avian creatures included Gwaihir and Landroval – who were still active in the Third Age and played roles in the War of the Ring.
This alternate artwork is by Antonio José Manzanedo, who illustrated other LOTR:LCG cards - notably multiple versions of the dragon Dagnir, as well as the heroes Brand son of Bain, and Bard son of Brand from the Ered Mithrin cycle.
I chose this image because it is likely indicative of the Great Eagles’ mindset/memory when visualizing the Support of the Eagles.
Considering Support of the Eagles, and the One Ring:
Imagine you are a three Age lifespan 9,000+ year old creature like the Great Eagle Gwaihir, sent to Middle-earth by Manwe, son of Eru Illuvatar, the creator of all. You fought Melkor (whom Sauron was merely his lieutenant) and an innumerable host of Balrogs and winged Dragons in the First Age War of Wrath - all of which eventually left a sizable portion of Middle-earth destroyed and underneath the sea.
Compared to that, the Third Age would seem trivial in both scope and timeframe. It is no wonder the Eagles of the Third Age would only be involved in the most critical situations (sometimes, when they felt like it), and only if influenced by a Maiar they were friendly with – such as Gandalf or Radagast.
With the above nonchalance of the Eagles, their unreliability as animal creatures, plus the One Ring’s proven power of corruption to even powerful Maiar (like Saruman), it explains to me why the Eagles would/could not fly the Ring or Ringbearer to Mount Doom to toss it in.