Ori from ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ and Agandaur announced for Guardians of Middle-earth

It was announced today, with an accompanying Battle Profile video, that Ori from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be playable in Guardians of Middle-earth. Ori is brother to Nori and Dori, as well as a remote kinsman of Thorin Oakenshield. His writing and knowledge of ancient and arcane lore make him one of the most renowned Dwarven scribes.

Ori is an Ability Damage character, using arcane powers to make his quill as deadly as any sword. He is built for late-game dominance, so while he's godly later on, he's incredibly vulnerable early on. His abilities are super-charged, with one ability marking enemies so that another will deal even more damage. Each ability used increases his ability damage, and it looks like his AOE dominance is off the charts.

The spotlight isn't just on dwarves, though. Agandaur was also revealed in the Battle Profile video. He was once a noble and proud man, he has a lust of power that bent him to the will of the dark arts. He summons lightning to torment his enemies. Like Ori, Agandaur's power grows through each ability use. He can overcharge his abilities, too, with massive AOE damage. This feared lieutenants of Sauron should not be taken lightly.

Guardians of Middle-earth releases on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation Network on the PlayStation 3 in December 2012.

You can follow Movies and Culture Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at LLiebl@GameZone.com