Udûn
Udûn | |
---|---|
Region: | The Plateau of Gorgoroth |
Dungeon(s): | Anglach Durthang |
Landmark(s): | Anglach Durthang Maudhúl Ghûg Maudhúl Târ Maudhúl Târ Overlook Maudhúl Vôr Morannon Mornaur Mornaur Lookout Rhûd Vorn Rogkalúr |
Settlement(s): | Udûn Foothold |
Connecting Area(s): |
Cirith Gorgor Dor Amarth Durthang Lhingris |
Levels: | Mainly 106 - 108 |
Resource tier: | T11 - Doomfold |
Location
Udûn (Sindarin for Hell or Underworld, literally Deep-hidden) is an area within the Plateau of Gorgoroth.
Udûn connects Gorgoroth to the lands beyond and is thus sometimes called "Mordor's antechamber". This polluted valley holds the great forges, quarries, and parade grounds that readied Sauron's armies for war.
It lies between Cirith Gorgor and the Morannon in the north-west and the Isenmouthe in the south-east. The castle of Durthang overlooks Udûn from the mountain spur in the south-west, while across the valley the great foundry of Anglach stands on the inner face of the Ered Lithui.
Settlements
The following settlements are found within this area:
Landmarks
These landmarks are located within Udûn:
- Anglach
- Durthang
- Maudhúl Ghûg
- Maudhúl Târ
- Maudhúl Târ Overlook
- Maudhúl Vôr
- Morannon
- Mornaur
- Mornaur Lookout
- Rhûd Vorn
- Rogkalúr
NPCs
See list of all NPCs within Udûn
Quests
- [107] Lost Lore of Gorgoroth: Udûn - Soot-smudged Page - Landscape
- Udûn Foothold
- [106] A Foothold in Mordor - vector quest from Sador
- [105] The Ash of Gorgoroth - introductory quest to the Ash system
- The Slaves of Udûn
- [106] Whispers and Signs
- [106] An Answer Unspoken
- [107] Advanced Signs - Landscape
- [106] The Overseer's Post
- [106] Three Proofs
- [107] Sorcerers of Rhûd Vorn - Landscape
- [107] A Reluctant Leader
- [107] What Was Spoken and What Revealed
- [106] An Answer Unspoken
- [106] Whispers and Signs
- General and Landscape quests
- [106] The Things They Left Behind - Landscape
- [106] A Sneak Among the Leavings - Landscape
- [106] A Few Come Forward - Landscape
- [106] The Things They Left Behind - Landscape
- [106] The Ears of Ugrukhôr - Landscape
- [107] The Fists of Ugrukhôr - Landscape
- Gearworks quest-chain
- [106] Gearworks - Landscape
- [106] Gear in the Machine - Landscape
- [106] Turning the Gears - Landscape
- [106] The Caretaker - Landscape
- [106] Gearworks - Landscape
- Mornaur
- [106] Mornaur: Fruits of the Forge - Landscape
- [106] Mornaur: Aganbâr the Cruel - Landscape
- [106] Mornaur: Forgeworkers - Landscape
- Durthang
- [107] Durthang: Talons and Venom - Landscape
- [107] Durthang: Lowering the Guards - Landscape
- [107] Durthang: Prized Possessions - Landscape
- [107] Durthang: Sorcerer's Baubles - Landscape
- [107] Durthang: Lieutenants of Ugrukhôr - Landscape
- The Search of Captain Lachír
- [106] A Tedious Search
- [106] Open and Shut
- [106] A More Thorough Lockdown - Landscape
- [106] The Lonely Lookout
- [107] The Dark Depths of Anglach
- [107] Anglach: Fragments of the Past - Landscape
- [107] Anglach: Hammers Raised - Landscape
- [108] Anglach: Four to Open - Landscape
- [107] The Fatal Prize
- [106] Open and Shut
-
- [107] A Solemn Gathering
- [107] The Burning Plains of Dor Amarth - vector quest to Dor Amarth
- [106] A Tedious Search
Creatures
The following creatures are found within this area:
Ancient Evil
Spiders and Insects
Beasts
Orc-kind
Goblins
Orcs
Uruks
- Black Uruk Enforcer
- Captain Shárdul
- Khilnazt the Silencer
- Magtárb the Furious
- Mordor Black-arrow
- Mordor Warleader
- Ongdrágh, Master of the Mines
Men
Angmarim
Brigands
Easterlings
Dwarves
Troll-kind
- Anglach Hammerer
- Mordor Olog
- Udûn Hammerer
- Udûn Slag-Heaver
- Sharlag Man-breaker
- Thormurg the Slaughterer
Maps
Lore
Dates: Constructed in the beginning of the World, ruined c.4,000 years before the beginning of the First Age Location: The far north of the World Pronunciation: oo'doon Meaning: The Sindarin form of an originally Quenya name, probably meaning 'Underworld'
- Udûn was the Sindarin name of the fortress of the first Dark Lord in the far north of the World. It was the first and greatest of his citadels, delved in the earliest days, the home to hosts of demons and monsters. From Udûn, the Dark Lord troubled the world for millennia. From there, he drove the Valar out of their dwelling-place in Middle-earth, and into the West. At the time of the awakening of the Elves, though, the Valar attacked Udûn in full force, and destroyed it utterly, carrying its master back to Valinor as their prisoner.
- Udûn also appears as a name for the northern valley of Mordor that lay behind the Morannon. No doubt Sauron chose this name in memory of his ancient master's greatest stronghold [1] Udûn is also translated as "hell" and is said to have been beneath Thangorodrim.[2]
- In the Second Age, it is believed, Sauron here ordered the construction of mines, forge-works, and parade grounds for the building of an army against the kingdoms of Men and Elves. He also discovered strange ores, with which he developed Morgul-steel, a secret alloy with dark enchantments. The knife Gulthauk and Mormagáth the Shadow-hammer were the greatest of the Morgul-weapons, so the Dark Lord took them for himself.[3]
- After the Last Alliance of Elves and Men breached the Morannon, Sauron's forces quickly retreated through Udûn to make a stand their Barad-dûr. The Last Alliance destroyed what works they could along the way, but forwent a thorough clearing of the valley in favour of pursuing the enemy host. Seven years later, after the victory of the Last Alliance, Isildur, King of Gondor, returned and ordered the building of Durthand, the Black Shield.[3] This fortress was held by an order of Gondorian sentinels called the Thandrim. The Thandrim maintained their vigil for at least sixteen centuries, but eventually Gondor lost its hold on Mordor.[note 1] Ugrukhôr, Captain of the Pit, claimed Durthand and renamed it to Durthang, the Dark Oppression, in mockery of its original name.[4] He restored and extended the fortifications and foundries of Udûn, and at this time Anglach and Mornaur were built.[3]
- Following Sauron's demise, the various forges, foundries, weapon halls, and smelteries constructed in the valley of Udûn have been left in shambles, with acid pools and waste left free to pour out onto the landscape. Foul orc villages and encampments clutter along the roads, as they prepared for the Host of the West. Slaves that survived the initial quakes and blast of One Ring's destruction still work away, not knowing the liberation that awaits them. Yet, many ancient curses and hidden evils still lie within the tall strongholds of Durthang and Anglach, waiting to pour out onto careless explorers seeking to pillage the once mighty war-machine.[5]
- Ugrukhôr still lives, and his forces still oppose the Conquest of Gorgoroth. He is one of the Gúrzyul who are competing for power after their master's demise.[6]
Notes
- ↑ According to Evils of Udûn by Narthavron, it was sixteen centuries. This would match with the time of the Great Plague. However, Annoth mentions Eärnil was King of Gondor at the time of Durthand's loss. Eärnil I ruled in the 10th century of the Third Age, before Gondor waned. Therefore, Annoth likely meant Eärnil II, who ruled in the 20th and 21s centuries and was the father of Eärnur the last king before Elessar. If this is correct, Durthand must have been held for centuries after the Great Plague and been taken around the same time as Minas Ithil.
References
- ↑ From the original Lorebook, offical Lore entry: https://web.archive.org/web/20100414192124/http://lorebook.lotro.com:80/wiki/Lore:Udûn_(stronghold_of_Melkor)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Index"
- ↑ a b c Evils of Udûn
- ↑ Chapter 1.2: The Cruel History of Durthang
- ↑ An Adventurer's Guide to Mordor; OMG_Peanuts; https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?656588-An-Adventurer-s-Guide-to-Mordor
- ↑ Chapter 5.1: A Question of Purpose