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| “ | Set them ablaze! For Gondor! | „ |
| ~ Baranor to his men when ambushing the warchief. |
Captain Baranor (real name Warad), is a supporting protagonist in the 2017 video game Middle-earth: Shadow of War, and the main protagonist of the story expansion The Desolation of Mordor.
He is a Gondorian captain whom was raised by a wealthy family in Minas Ithil, and attempts to protect the city from Sauron's forces during the siege. After the fall of the city, Baranor remained in Mordor to find Idril and his fellow soldiers to rescue them from the orcs. During his pursuit to fight against Sauron's army, he traveled to Lithlad where he reunited with his brother Jagai, and worked with the Vanishing Sons to claim the fortress of Shindram.
He was voiced by Ike Amadi, who also voiced Javik from Mass Effect 3, Knack from the titular video game, Cyrax from Mortal Kombat 11, Jax Briggs from Mortal Kombat Legends, Azir from Legends of Runeterra, and Fred Radcliff from Fallout 76.
Biography[]
Background[]
Warad is a man of Haradrim descent who was born in Umbar to unnamed parents, and is the younger brother to Jagai. According to Jagai, Warad once went into the caves when he was seven, and he saved him from being nearly killed by Caragor. Due to the region's conflict with Gondor, Warad was taken there as a guarantee for peace between the regions, but he was return to his home when he turned to the age of ten. However, Warad's parents were killed during a mercenary raid, as Jagai survived the incident and became a mercenary with the Vanishing Sons. Due to his parents or the order not returning to claim him, Warad was adopted by a wealthy family in Minas Ithil, where he was either given or chose the name Baranor. At some point in his adulthood, Baranor became a soldier and rose to the rank of sergeant due to his bravery and superior combat skills.
He was then placed in the guard of Minas Ithil to protect the city from the Uruk-hai, where he acted as General Castimir's number two. He also began a romantic relationship with Castamir's daughter Idril, but the two kept it a secret presumably due to their duties.
Shadow of War[]
Sauron's force under the leadership of the Witch-king of Angmar committed a siege on Minas Ithil, leading to Baranor to command the troops to hold the gate. He was introduced to Talion after he assisted Idril and the others, and he asked them for the Palantir since he didn't want it to fall into Sauron's hands. During the siege, Baranor decided to take some of his men to the Cirith Ungol region to locate a warchief leading the assault, and they were assisted by Talion. When Castamir seemingly disappeared, Baranor worked with Idril and several men to obtain information to find his location, as Talion dealt with the Witch-king's chosen in the arena. Idril managed to find his location and returned to the city with her father, but unbeknownst to her, the general had made a deal with the Nazgûl to give them the Palantir in exchange for his daughter's freedom.
In the final assault on the city, the Witch-king arrived and massacred the Gondorian soldiers before reaching the Palantir's tower. The city would fall as a result of the siege, but Baranor, Idril and several other men managed to escape into the regions of Mordor, but he lost contact with her when they were ambushed by Sauron's forces. Despite losing his home, Baranor remained in Mordor to rescue any of his brothers whom were captured, and also to locate Idril to get her to safety. In Seregost, Baranor encountered Talion once again, and was assisted by the ranger in rescuing captured Gondorian soldiers. The two learned that Idril was alive and was in the region as well, and Baranor continued his search for her.
The two managed to reunite with Idril, who refused to leave Mordor until all of their brothers were free. Baranor continued to work with Talion to rescue soldiers, but he was captured during the mission and taken to Gorgorth. He was later saved by Talion and Idril, and decided to remain in Mordor with her to fight against Sauron's forces.
Desolation of Mordor[]
During his quest to fight against Sauron's forces, Baranor wanted to take the fortress of Shindrûm, but realized he needed mercenaries from the Vanishing Sons to do so. While traveling to Lithlad, Baranor and his men were attacked by were-wyrns until the dwarf Torvin arrived, saving the captain from certain death. He explains his plans to Torvin, who gives him a gauntlet and kite to reach his destination. At the oasis, Baranor reunites with his brother Jagai (who now goes by the name Serka), and agrees to help him take the fortress. Serka enlists Baranor in obtaining coin from the Uruk's supply wagons, but learn that his brother works for the Orcs in exchange for coin to maintain his control over the Vanishing Sons. After obtaining the coins from the wagon, Baranor destroys grog barrels to lure a giant wyrn to block the supply line.
Later on, Baranor works with Serka in infiltrating the fortress to obtain information on the captains and warchiefs, but Baranor wounds the overlord Takra the Sandspider while he is giving a speech to his army. After escaping from the fortress, Baranor uses the intel to eliminate Takra's warchiefs and obtain the outposts around Lithlad. When returning to the oasis to speak to his brother, he finds a mercenary named Zhoja in command, revealing that he handed Serka to the orcs at the fighting pits. Baranor manages to rescue his brother and return, where he witnesses Serka regain his position and order his men to feed Zhoja to were-wyrns. Afterward, the brothers work together to repel an orc attack on the oasis, preventing them from taking their supplies and poisoning their drinking water.
Once all of the outposts are claimed, Baranor and Serka lead the Vanishing Sons into attacking Shindram, where the brothers confront and kill Takra. Despite their victory, the two decide to instead abandon the fortress and lure the orcs into being killed by the giant wyrn. Baranor then tells Serka that there are more grander fortress across Mordor, such as Gorgoroth, wanting it to be the next fortress to take from Sauron's army. Though Baranor's fate is currently unknown, it's assumed he either died fighting against Sauron and his forces, or lived long enough to see Sauron's final defeat when the One Ring was destroyed.
Trivia[]
- Baranor is the only playable character in both games who doesn't have any powers.
- Though Lithariel is playable in the trial "Test of Defiance", it's only a skin since Celebrimbor appears and outcasts refer to Lithariel as "Ranger".
