Match 19392 Gandalf vs. Chernabog

[Boratz]

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. Despite being a hole of comfort, the hobbit that resided their was restless and moving about his hole frantically. Alas, this particular hobbit that lived in this hole had experienced his fair share of comfort. While a great many hobbits preferred their comfort and safety over the lands beyond their borders, this hobbit had seen dangers that would send a shiver down the spines of the bravest of warriors. He had experienced adventures that involved flesh eating trolls and a dragon larger than many castles within the world. His eyes had seen treasures that filled mountains and the inside of the elven kingdoms. This particular hobbit had experienced adventures that only few would ever imagine and only fewer would ever experience.

A celebration was approaching for this particular hobbit that was known far and wide throughout his land. He was famous amongst many of the hobbits that dwelt within the Shire. While his reputation was seen fondly by some, it was seen menacing by others that would prefer to keep the quite serenity within the hobbit community. As the hobbits prepared for this grand celebration for this particular hobbit's eleventy-first birthday, all Bilbo wanted was to be left alone. When pressing the ink against the pages to finish his book, the older hobbit could not think of the words to write. Even with being left alone, he felt as if he was surrounded by a thousand hungry dwarves. His hand trembled after feeling his skin run cold. Bilbo reached down to tear up the piece of paper that he had just scribbled on. He threw the shards of paper onto the ground and rose to his feet. 

His thoughts moved from his book to his dear nephew. Bilbo's thoughts then went to the weight that was pushing down in his pocket. The older hobbit pushed his hand deep within his pocket and felt the small golden ring that he had found all those years ago. Closing his eyes, he could feel as if the Ring was talking to him. Every night that he slept, he dreamed of the small golden ring. He had hoped to finish his story or finish his final preparations for what was to come after his party, but the Ring continued to call on him. Every morning since early spring, he could feel the weight of the Ring growing heavier. With every waking moment since that early day in spring, he could feel a voice whispering in his ear. He did not understand what was happening, but figured it was best to proceed with his plan to leave the Shire behind after his birthday festivities. 

Bilbo sat down in his chair. He dropped the golden ring on his table and gazed upon it. It was his intention to leave all of his belongings to his dear nephew, but that burning desire in his heart was telling him not to let go of his precious. While gazing upon that small golden ring, the noises in his ears grew louder. He closed his eyes and started trembling. While his body shook, he fell out of his chair and rolled across the floor. His body was drenched with sweat while his spine shook with a violent chill. In his agony, he could see the very shadow that plagued his nightmares night after night since early spring. The old hobbit had a vision of darkness and a sensation of dread. Within the darkness, he could see fiery eyes and felt the essence of pure evil. Instantly, the old hobbit was at ease as the cold chill had left his spine. His eyes slowly opened and he pushed himself up to his feet. A knock at the door echoed through his hobbit hole and the old hobbit let out a grunt. He grabbed the small golden ring and started yelling at the person knocking at his door. 

Before approaching the familiar sights of the Shire, the traveling wizard with a long blue pointed hat felt something terrible in the pit of his chest. His mouth frowned under the long gray scraggly beard that covered his face. While his wrinkled eyes did not see a physical danger to the peaceful community of halflings, he could sense a danger lurking around the corner. With this uneasiness bearing down upon him, he felt as if he had to be vigilant during this visit. While it had been quite some time since he had last stepped foot in the Shire, he realized not much had changed since his last visit. Despite the uneasiness within him, he was excited to reunite with his old friend. Curiosity took hold once he realized that he would also be seeing the young Frodo Baggins once again. Gandalf chomped down on his pipe while approaching the small village of Hobbiton.

The sweet aroma of cakes filled the air around as smoke rose out of the surrounding hobbit holes. Fall colors spread wide and far over the peaceful village wile a great many hobbits worked around the Shire. The Grey Wizard's wrinkled eyes caught a hold of several families of halflings. He would smile and nod at all that he past. While there were many that responded with friendly gestures, a small few gave off looks of disdain. It was not much of a surprise to the Maia for what had learned about hobbits over his many years and interactions with them, most of them enjoyed a peaceful quite life. It did not stop the gray wizard from bringing along his fireworks to entertain the halflings. Soon he felt the presence of his dear friend, Frodo Baggins. The young hobbit sat beneath a tree with his eyes reading over pages in a book. After hearing Gandalf singing over the sound of his carriage, the young Frodo raced through the Shire.

"You are late!" Frodo snapped with his arms crossing over his chest.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins... Nor is he early; he arrives precisely when he means to." Gandalf muttered while raising his head to look over the young hobbit. 

It was not long before the wise wizard and the young hobbit burst into laughter. Frodo jumped down into the carriage to embrace his friend. Riding through the Shire, they spoke of Bilbo and the celebration that was to come. Frodo joked that Bilbo had the entire Shire in an uproar over his party while also making a quip that Gandalf has been labeled as a disturbance of the peace. Frodo shared his concerns about the odd behaviors of his uncle. Since early spring, he noticed a change in Bilbo as did many other hobbits in the Shire. Gandalf leaned back in the carriage while continuing to smoke his pipe. That terrible feeling that he had felt before approaching the land of the hobbits had grown worse. He tilted his head and saw a dark cloud far off in the distance. Frodo made a remark that he hoped that the sky would be clear for Bilbo's birthday celebration. While looking over the dark cloud, Gandalf had a feeling that it was not that of a storm but something else entirely. 

Before approaching Bilbo's hole in the ground, Frodo had left the grey wizard so that Gandalf could meet with his dear uncle alone. Gandalf looked over the hobbit hole and memories came flooding in from all those years ago. While a great deal has happened since Bilbo went on that unexpected journey with the company of dwarves, he noticed that not much had changed about Bag End. The Maia's eyes looked over the sign that hung over the gate. "No admittance except on party business." The Grey Wizard dismissed the sign while opening the gate. The gate creaked opened while Gandalf walked through. His eyes wandered over the bright green grass that surrounded the hole and they came to rest on the small circular door that stood in front of Bag End. He was more than sure that Bilbo would be most welcoming to him. With his long staff, Gandalf knocked on the door to Bag End. Almost immediately he could hear the sounds of footsteps scurrying around and Bilbo's voice yelling from inside. 

"No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!" Bilbo screamed from inside Bag End.

"And what about very old friends?" Gandalf asked.

The door to the famous hobbit hole creaked opened and Bilbo stood in the doorway. A smile formed across his small cheeks as his eyes adjusted to the towering wizard. "Gandalf?"

"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf exclaimed. 

"My dear Gandalf!" Bilbo yelled as he ran out of his hole.

The tall wizard knelt down to his knees as Bilbo ran to embrace his old friend. "It is good to see you!" Gandalf said while Bilbo hugged him tight. As Bilbo let go of his old friend, Gandalf looked him over. "You haven't aged a day."

Before Bilbo could lead the Grey Wizard into his home, the old hobbit's eyes looked off into the distance. "I sure hope we are not in for a storm. Especially today of all days." Bilbo muttered while glancing up at the tall wizard.

That uneasiness grew worse within Gandalf's chest. Since his arrival, the dark cloud in the horizon had moved closer. "I am sure it is nothing." The wizard said with a gust of assurance.

Bilbo led his old friend into Bag End. As with all hobbits, Bilbo immediately started to run around his hole in hopes to be the best host that he could. He prepared a warm kettle of tea for his dear old friend while offering an assortment of pastries. Gandalf assured his small friend that tea would be all that he needed. The two friends caught up and spoke of Bilbo's future plans. The old hobbit had planned to leave the Shire behind shortly after his birthday celebration. He was to leave everything to his dear nephew. After preparing for the night festivities, Gandalf and Bilbo sat outside Bag End to smoke their pipes. 

Once the festivities began, fireworks lit up the skies above. Hobbits, both young and old cheered while watching Gandalf entertain all who had come to join in on Bilbo's celebration. There was dancing and singing among the halflings as they all had a good old time. Bilbo sat back recounting his adventures to the Lonely Mountains while a great many circled around him to listen to the same tales being told once again. It was a good time indeed, but the Grey Wizard kept a watchful eye at the horizon. He realized that since the time of his arrival, that same dark cloud had moved closer to the Shire. The darkness had engulfed the skies as the bright shining stars were nowhere to be seen. It was not long before the hobbits had begun to realize that a darkness had covered the stars. 

A gust of wind started moving through Hobbiton. Decorations and tables were carried off by the powerful draft. Many of the hobbits scattered around to pick up the debris that was a result of the wind gust. Gandalf's looked over the Shire's residents before turning his gaze back up into the skies above. Lightning flashed across the skies while thunder shook the world below. A faint chanting could be heard within the clouds, but the tall wizard could not make out the words with the sounds of thunder shaking the world around. With the time of joyous celebration now over, panic had spread amongst the halflings. Gandalf's mouth dropped as his eyes became fixated on the dark cloud above. His eyes became black as night as several visions had fallen over the Istari. With the power of the vision taking comtrol of him, the Grey Wizard fell to his knees. His body trembled and shook while Frodo and Bilbo tried to make their way through the scrambling hobbits. They pushed themselves toward the Grey Wizard. Little did they know that Gandalf was stuck in a trance.

In a cold dark room, there laid a crystal ball. This was no ordinary crystal ball for it had a great power inside of it. It was known by some as a palantir. For those that knew how to wield its power, it was used to communicate with forces around the world and to see events in history that was long thought forgotten. It was also believed that it could see events that were on the other side of the world. There were many mysteries locked within the palantir that even Gandalf had yet to discover. A shadowy figure stood over the indestructible ball with a hand stretch out over it. The pale, wrinkled hand had long fingernails that covered a large portion of the palantir. The Grey Wizard could not see who was touching the indestructible sphere but he could feel that they possessed a great power. 

On a mountain top, a shadow towered high over the world. This mountain was different than many that the Grey Wizard had encountered on Middle Earth. It was the Bald Mountain. On a night known as Walpurgins Night, the creatures of evil had gathered together to worship their master. Under his spell, they danced furiously until the coming of dawn and the sounds of church bells sent the infernal army slinking back into their abodes of darkness. While the armies of evil departed, the shadow opened his wings and spread out his arms. In fit of rage, the large behemoth flew high up into the sky. It left behind the unholy Bald Mountain to take to the skies above. This master of wickedness spread a darkness over the world. A hellish inferno erupted over the lands while cruel creatures plagued the surrounding villages and kingdoms. For 200 years, the master of the Bald Kingdom had conquered the world around him. Despite conquering 200 kingdoms and villages, the shadow desired more. 

As the creatures of evil danced for their master, the master of the Bald Mountain heard a whisper from within shadows. The voice spoke of a Ring of Power that would grant the Master of the Bald Mountain a supremacy of all worlds. This voice promised the shadow absolute power. After hearing the voice in the shadows, the master of darkness searched high and low for this Ring of Power. He searched over the conquered kingdoms on the world that he had conquered before hearing that same low and melodious voice once again. The voice guided him into a new world. A world that held this Ring of Power. For 200 days, the shadow searched as far as the eye could see throughout the lands of Middle Earth. The shadow raised hellish creatures from the ground to plunder the different kingdoms until it caught scent of the Ring of Power. He heard that same voice once more but this time it told him about inscription on the One Ring.

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

The shadow found the Ring in a kingdom of halflings. Despite their short stature, the master of the Bald Mountain could sense a beacon of light among the hobbits. The master of darkness whispered its dreadful name to this beacon of light.

Gandalf's eyes cleared of the darkness. He rose back up to his feet. Before Frodo or Bilbo could ask what was happening, the Grey Wizard chanted a name that they had never heard.

"CHERNABOG!" Gandalf shouted while glaring into the sky.

He could see the shadow forming into a devilish beast. 

"Leave now!" Gandalf shouted at the hobbits before drawing his sword.

**************************************

Can Gandalf the Grey protect the Shire from Chernabog or will he fail? Will Chernabog defeat Gandalf and take the One Ring from Bilbo?

Gandalf the Grey has his staff and the Glamdring. He also has all of his power prior to becoming Gandalf the White.

Chernabog has all of his power.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Gandalf
Read more about Gandalf at Wikipedia
Official Site: John Tolkien & HarperCollins Links: Wikipedia: Gandalf Encyclopedia of Arda The One Ring

Chernabog
Read more about Chernabog at Wikipedia
Official Site: Disney Links: Chernabog Wikipedia page Fantasia Wikipedia page Fantasia imdb page

[Boratz]

Hope you all enjoy

[leroypowell3]

Good match up. I'm leaning toward Gandalf but I'm sure someone will put up an argument for Chernabog whom I really don't know.

[JohnnyChany]

Great match, Boratz. Everything tied in very well together and I think these characters cross over nicely. I'm biased toward Chernabog because he did so well for my fantasy team awhile back. Although any time he is in a match it presents a similar problem as it is hard to know what the breadth of his power really is. I will say that the way he throws around demons and reshapes them in Night at Bald Mountain gives me some indication that he is powerful enough to command a horde of demonic and ghostly creatures which might be enough to overwhelm Gandalf on his own at this point in his evolution.

[Macklemore]

I mean, as much as I like to believe that Gandalf has what it takes to deal with Chernabog, I don't think he could actually do anything to a creature that size. Maybe if he was in his white wizard form, where he gets exponentially more power and magic, but as it stands he should fail pretty handily to either Chernabog himself or his mooks. Wasn't he mountain sized? We're talking Ancalogon the Black levels of size here.

[Pizzaguy2995]

While Chernobog’s feats are very ambiguous, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s a very powerful demon. Thing is Gandalf has already taken on a very similar threat in the Balrog, whose feats and abilities are much more detailed and established, so I’m thinking it’ll end a similar way; Gandalf just barely beating the demonic force and then being reborn as Gandalf the White.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.70 - Pizzaguy2995
5.00 - JohnnyChany
4.00 - broadwaybeyonder

FPA Calculation:
3 Total Votes cast
13.70 Total Combined Score
13.70 / 3 = 4.57 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Gandalf: 3
Chernabog: 2