Tower of Orthanc

This page is about the location. For the raid, see The Tower of Orthanc.

Tower of Orthanc
Type:	Tower
Region:	Nan Curunír
Location:	[79.2S, 2.5W]

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Description

The heart of Isengard is the Tower of Orthanc, a massive black tower constructed late in the Second Age by the survivors of Númenor and contained one of the seven palantíri. The tower is now the seat of Saruman the White. The tower sits within the stone walls of the Ring of Isengard, at the end of Nan Curunír. The interior of the tower isn't accessible outside of quest instances, though the building looms over every version of the Ring of Isengard.

This is also where the raid the Tower of Orthanc takes place.

Quest Involvement

[72] Instance: In the Presence of Saruman
[72] Instance: The Wizard's Vale
[85] Interlude: Strength of Will
[95] Chapter 5: Wizard to Manage
[95] Chapter 6: The Drowning Pits
[95] Interlude: Last March of the Ents
- [95] Instance: Last March of the Ents
[95] Chapter 8: Allies of the King
[110] Chapter 3: High and Low

NPCs

Lore

Orthanc is the black tower of Isengard. Its name means both "Mount Fang" in Sindarin, and "Cunning Mind" in Old English, the language Tolkien uses to "translate" Rohirric. It is interesting to note that in certain interpretations, Grendel's glof (Glove or Paw or Stomach or Bag) in Beowulf is described as being made with orþonc (ll. 2087-88).

Orthanc was, according to J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, built during the end of the Second Age by the men of Gondor out of four many sided columns of rock joined together by an unknown process and then hardened. No known weapon could harm it. The Ents themselves could not break the tower, although they could split solid rock into fragments with ease. Orthanc rose up to more than 500 feet (150 meters) above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair, and above that was a small window and balcony.

Orthanc housed one of the palantíri of the South Kingdom, and was guarded by a special warden. In the days of the early stewards the tower was locked and its keys taken to Minas Tirith. When Isengard fell to the Dunlendings in T.A. 2710 they were unable to enter the tower.

More than two centuries before the War of the Ring, the Wizard Saruman came to Steward Beren in Minas Tirith, and proposed that he should be granted Isengard as a dwelling-place. Seeing advantage in having such a powerful ally guarding the Gap of Rohan, Beren agreed, and granted Saruman the Key of Orthanc.

From that time on, the valley where Isengard stood became known as Nan Curunír, which literally translates as the 'Valley of Saruman'.

Curunír was the Elvish equivalent of Saruman's name, but when rendered into the Common Speech, Nan Curunír is known simply as the 'Wizard's Vale'.

Gallery

Interior Chamber
Throne-room of Orthanc
Throne of Orthanc

Settlements, Areas and Landmarks of Nan Curunír
Areas:	Isengard Depths • Ring of Isengard	Areas:
Settlements:	Dagoras' Camp • Isengard • Ox-clan Merchant Camp	Settlements:
Landmarks:	Barracks • Blackmarch Fort • Circle of Fangs • Dungeons • Fang-rider's Warren • Fâsh's Command • The Gates of Isengard • Guard-house of Isengard • Kitchens • Morflak's Command • The Pillar of the White Hand • Quickbeam's Grove • The Savage Dens • Tower of Orthanc • War Machines	Landmarks:
Interiors:	Guard-house of Isengard	Interiors:
Dungeons:	The Forges of Isengard	Dungeons:
Instances:	Dargnákh Unleashed • Fangorn's Edge • Pits of Isengard • The Foundry • The Tower of Orthanc	Instances: