Remember Saumuron teasing his Uruk Hai with some “man flesh” snacks? And Gandalf explains for us that Orcs (Uruk Hai being super charged Orcs) were simply unholy crosses between elves and goblins?
Well, what were wizards then, if not men? Men breeding with elves?
And the Hobbits had to be birddogging either pygmies or Dwarves to achieve their short stature.
This is some real weapons-grade Nurd Dorkery, isn’t it?
“This is some real weapons-grade Nurd Dorkery, isn’t it?”
Word.
The wizards, called the Istari in Quenya, were actually Maiar (a kind of angel) send specifically to Middle-Earth in human form by Eru Iluvatar for the purpose of fighting the servants of Melkor, a.k.a. Morgoth, of which Sauron was chief. There were five Istari, though only two are mentioned by name in the surviving chronicles.
Interestingly, the Balrogs of Morgoth were also Maiar. Consequently, when Gandalf battles the Balrog in Moria, he is going up against a creature fully his equal in rank and power.
Now there's some Nurd Dorkery for you right there.
Wizards are Maiar from the blessed realm.