The Troll Riders of Mordor were amongst the most dangerous & formidable forces in Sauron's Army and his quest to rule Middle Earth. Sauron had long employed Mountain Trolls as beasts of burden and war due to their enormous brute strength and it was eventually discovered that some could be trained to great success as War Mounts. Separated from their mothers at birth by their Orc handlers, the Mountain Trolls were trained to wear a saddle and carry a rider into battle. Whereas normal Attack Trolls would become lost in a battle frenzy, the Troll Riders were able to control and focus their Mounted War Trolls so that they could be guided in the battlefield to where they could inflict the most damage or protect a stronghold as needed.

Armed with heavy spiked iron gloves and a helmet, the Mounted War Trolls would fight their way into the enemy, smashing everything in sight. The long, spiky iron cheek-plates on the Troll's helmet served dual purposes as both a weapon used to crush & impale enemies and also as blinders used to keep them focused in the heat of battle. Heavy chains were attached to the helmet and used as reins to help guide and control the Troll. The Orcs that rode the Trolls would usually be armed with a short-range bow but some would prefer a spear or sword. The Orcs made the Troll saddles from rotted leather skins and bone and included a number of pouches for carrying spoiled meat, bread and ale for their journey to war as well as a few extra to fill with the spoils of war after the fighting was done.

The Troll Rider and Mounted War Troll were created using a LOTR Two Towers Armored Troll and LOTR Warg Rider "Sharku". I sculpted a new ear and leather skull cap for Sharku out of Super Sculpey and painted it with acrylic paints. The spear was taken from a Stan Winston "Realm of the Claw" figure".

As for the Troll, I cut out the levers in the back and removed the handle and chains to use them later for the saddle and helmet. I then sculpted the saddle, belt spikes, iron gloves, and helmet horns out of Super Sculpey and then painted them with acrylics. I also added some war paint and attached a Mordor War Banner. The Helmet is removable.

Thanks for looking!