Cirith Ungol (Lhingris)

This page is about the small part of Cirith Ungol located in Lhingris. For the larger part located in Imlad Morgul, see Cirith Ungol (Imlad Morgul). For the Deed, see The Tower of Cirith Ungol (Deed). 

Cirith Ungol
Region:	The Plateau of Gorgoroth
Dungeon(s):	Tower of Cirith Ungol
Landmark(s):	Cirith Ungol
Connecting Area(s):	Lhingris
Levels:	Mainly 111

Cirith Ungol
Type:	Watchtower
Region:	The Plateau of Gorgoroth
Area:	Cirith Ungol
Location:	[60.3S, 7.3E]

Tower of Cirith Ungol
Region:	The Plateau of Gorgoroth
Area:	Cirith Ungol
Location:	[60.4S, 8.1E]

Location

Cirith Ungol (Sindarin for Cleft of the Spider or Pass of the Spider) is a small area and a point of interest within Lhingris in the Plateau of Gorgoroth. ^{[60.3S, 7.3E]} It also contains three interior public dungeon spaces, together comprising the Tower of Cirith Ungol.

The entrance to the main interior of the Tower is just across the courtyard gate. ^{[60.4S, 8.1E]} The northern wing of this interior has stairs that climb up to where a ladder provides access to the top. ^{[60.3S, 7.6E]} Beyond this is a walkway that bridges the inner courtyard and provides access to the turret of the Tower. ^{[60.3S, 7.2E]} This is a much smaller space, with another set of stairs that lead to another ladder that provides access to the uppermost chamber.

Player characters initially visit Cirith Ungol disguised as the Silent One to go among the Orc garrison. After completion of Necessary Sacrifices, the situation changes. Cirith Ungol becomes overrun by spiders, who fight against the remaining Orcs.

Note: Cirith Ungol does not have its own map. Opening the map displays the full Plateau of Gorgoroth map. All of Cirith Ungol is also displayed on the map of Lhingris, however, so it may be helpful to zoom in to this smaller map to get a better sense of location. Once you enter the tower itself there is a map of the interior.

Landmarks

These landmarks are located within Cirith Ungol:

• The Tower of Cirith Ungol

NPCs

• Belzagar
• Captain Róglarg
• Danghát
• Krúrglok
• Legolas
• Lúksu
• Práguk
• Sárnazt
• Shíkurz
• Under-gate Warden

Deeds

The following deeds can be advanced by visiting this location:

• Strongholds of the Ephel Dúath
• The Tower of Cirith Ungol

Quests

See "Mordor: Lhingris Quests" for more quests
Starting:

• [111] Ignoble Duties
  • [110] Cleaning Up Shagrat's Garrison
  • [111] Keeping Them On Guard
  • [110] Wake Up
  • [111] Wretched Webs
  • [111] Deadly or Dead
  • [111] A Right Mess
  • [111] Ready for the Tarks
  • [111] Time Enough for a Meal
  • [110] Too Many Legs
• [111] The Search for the Elf-warrior
  • [111] The Search: Iant Angos
  • [111] The Search: Fennas Gost
  • [111] The Search: Torech Ungol
• [111] Will of the Pale Herald
• [111] Orders from the Top
• [111] Necessary Sacrifices
  • [111] Instance: Necessary Sacrifices
• [111] The Enmity of Shelob
• [111] Children of Terror
• [111] A Message for the Pale Herald
• [111] Gnats in Her Net
  • [111] Instance: Gnats in Her Net

Involving:

• [110] Chapter 3.2: The Valley of Webs
• [110] Chapter 3.2: The Second Garrison
• [111] Lost Lore of Gorgoroth: Lhingris
• [111] A Fly in the Web
• [111] The Hunger of Shelob
  • [111] Against the Shadow
  • [111] Captured and Cornered
  • [111] Eyes in the Dark
  • [111] Her Ladyship's Lair

Creatures

The following creatures are found within this area:

• Durkhlát
• Mordor Archer
• Mordor Warrior
• Mordor Shield-bearer
• Mordor Torch-bearer
• Ungol Brood-mother
• Ungol Broodling
• Ungol Hatchling (Critter)
• Ungol Spiderling
• Ungol Stalker
• Ungol Web-spinner
• Zhavár-hai Husk

Maps

Lore

The Tower of Cirith Ungol was built by the Men of Gondor to keep watch on Mordor after Sauron's defeat at the end of the War of the Last Alliance. The pass and the tower were named Cirith Ungol - "Pass of the Spider" - because Shelob had dwelt there since before Sauron came to Mordor. By the end of the Third Age the significance of this name was not common knowledge, yet it was remembered that some horror lurked in the passes above Minas Morgul.

Gondor's grip on Mordor was weakened by the Great Plague, and at some point before the end of the year of the Plague, Orcs took Cirith Ungol. It is also said that the Lord of the Nazgûl claimed the tower by treachery. Sauron had his servants occupy the tower, for both Gondor and he intended to use it to contain his slaves within Mordor. The Orcs attempted to expand the tunnels under the tower, and in so doing intruded on Shelob's lair. In retaliation, she sent her children to kill everyone in the tunnels, yet relented before they reached the cellars of the tower itself. Most of the time, Shelob and Cirith Ungol had an uneasy truce, maintained by allowing her to feed on the Orcs occasionally.

During the War of the Ring, the garrison of Cirith Ungol was under the command of Shagrat, who had Frodo Baggins imprisoned in the top chamber of the tower. A battle between Shagrat's garrison and an accompanying force of Morgul Orcs under Gorbag broke out when the Orcs coveted his mithril-coat. This resulted in the destruction of the entire garrison, except Shagrat, and Frodo's escape. His successor, Captain Róglarg, refuses to believe his story, instead believing the rumour that it was a mighty Elf who wiped out Shagrat's Orcs. Róglarg says Shagrat was sent to the Black Pits for his failure.

Two of the Gúrzyul seem to be involved in running Cirith Ungol: Ugrukhôr, Captain of the Pit, who sent Róglarg and his garrison to hold the tower, and Rûkhor the Pale Herald, who sent Belzagar, one of his emissaries.

Gallery

• Views of Cirith Ungol.
• 
  Cirith Ungol looms over Lhingris.
• 
  The approach to the outermost gate of Cirith Ungol.
• 
  A view from above of the courtyards and battlements of Cirith Ungol.
• 
  The entrance to the uppermost chamber.
• 
  Looking up to the top.
• 
  Overlooking Lhingris and Talath Úrui from near the entrance.
• 
  Cirith Ungol attacked by spiders and covered in webs.
• 
  Orcs and spiders continue to do battle in the courtyard.

• Views of the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
• 
  Interior map of the main structure of the Tower, the turret, and the top chamber.
• 
  The interior of the Tower choked with webs and infested with spiders.
• 
  The Under-gate has been ripped open, exposing a passage to Torech Ungol.
• 
  Orcs still attempt to defend chambers and stairways within the Tower.
• 
  Trapped Orcs cower in the upper turret.