Khamûl The Easterling

He was born in easternmost Endor in 1744, second age, Komûl was the eldest son of Mûl Tanûl, the high Lord of the Womaw. Khamôl appeared at Barad-Dûr in Mordor around year 2000, second age. He was known thereafter as Khamûl, in accordance witn the Black Speech pronunciation of his given name. While at the Dark Tower, he served Sauron as the Master of the hold, and his responsiobilites included administering the maintenance of the Citadel and its garrison. The wardship remained in his capable hands until SA 3350, when Ûrzahil of Umbar became the Mouth of Sauron and the Lieutenant of the Tower.

Khamûl fled Mordor when Sauron was captured in 3262 but returned in the year of 3400. The Easterling remained in Mordor during the war of the Last Alliance (SA 3429-3441). When the Dark tower fell in SA 3441, the Nazgûl met the vangard of the Elven host and fought a long, brutal melee. Unprotected, Sauron was forced to engage his foes in personal combat. This proved to be his undoing for, although he slew both Elendil the Tall and il-galad, the Evil one lost his One Ring (and his finger) in the fray, and his spirit passed into the Shadow World. The second age ended as the Nazgûl went into exile with Sauron, which lasted over a thousand years.

Khamûl briefly took up residence with Sauron at the citadel of Dol-Guldur in southen Mirkwood as they slowly rebuilded their strength. In the third age, Khamûl accompanied the other eight in the surprise assault against Minas Ithil. Two years later they took the surrounded city and captured the Palantír. Minas Ithil bacame the home of the Ringwraiths and was henceforth called Minas Morgul. During Saurons last stay at Dol-Guldur Khamûls warriors captured the Dwarf Lord Thraín II and took his Ring of power. During his last year of imprisonment he managed to give Gandalf the key to the side entry into Erebor ("Lonely Mountain") In 3017 the Hobbit Gollum was captured and Sauron came to know how the Ring was found. Later Gollum came in the hands of Aragon and was held by the elves in northen Mirkwood. Khamûl and Adûnaphel led the Orcs of Dol-Guldur in an attempt to crush the Silvan Elves and recapture Gollum, but the Elves inflicted heavy damage on Khamûls underlings and eventually Gollum escaped on his own.

Khamûl rode with the other eight Black Riders to Gladden Fields (where Gollum found the Ring in the river) hoping to find the Shire. But they only found deserted settlements of the Stoors, and quickly realized that it must be in Eriador. They skirted Loríen and rode through Rohan, up the Greenway, with took them to the land of the Hobbits. In the Green Hill Country, Khamûls keen sense of smell nearly uncovered Frodos hiding place below the road. Following the defeat at Rivendell, Khamûl and Adûnaphel retured to Dol-Guldur and prepared for the war.