Kurúki

Kurúki, or KurûkiThe History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II, entry "Kurûki", was a character in a preliminary early sketch that possibly predatedThe History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, II: "Turambar and the Foalókë", Notes and Commentary, pgs. 138-40 the tale of "Turambar and the Foalókë" in The Book of Lost Tales.The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Index, entry "Kurúki"
==Biography==
Kurúki was an evil magician whom Vainóni and her mother, Tirannë, fell in with. As a result, Kurúki gave to them a baneful drink, causing them to "forget their names and wander distraught in the woods". Later, when the dragon called the Foalókë exhaled his last breath, he lifted Kurúki's veil "set over them", restoring Vainóni's memories. Vainóni was greatly disturbed at some of these memories, and fled through the woods until she threw herself off of a waterfall.
==Etymology==
The meaning of Kurúki is not given, though it is comprised of the Qenya word kuru ("magic, wizardry")The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, pg. 269 (entry "Tolli Kuruvar"), and possibly the Qenya element ki ("nearer possibility, may")Parma Eldalamberon XIV, "Early Qenya and Valmaric", Early Qenya Grammar: "Early Qenya Grammar in Manuscript", Past tense, "The ‘conditional’ or subjunctive", pg. 59.
==Behind the scenes==
Tolkien ultimately discarded this character, having Glaurung instead erase Nienóri's memory in addition to breaking the spell of forgetfulness, and having "a band of Orc-hunters" chase Niënor into the Forest of Brethil rather than fleeing immediately after losing her memory.Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Part One: The First Age: Narn I Hîn Húrin, "The Journey of Morwen and Nienor to Nargothrond",
In his commentary, Christopher Tolkien speculates that the fragment involving Kurúki could be glimpse into a draft of the "Tale of Turambar" predating the erased text written beneath many of the stories in The Book of Lost Tales. The ultimate story in which a villain temporarily clouds Niënor's memory, soon before she falls from a precipice, is given in The Children of Húrin.The Children of Húrin, Chapter XVII: "The Death of Glaurung"
==References==
Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales
Category:Characters of unspecified race
Category:Mystery
Category:Precanonical evil characters
Qenya names & words
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