Book 2 - Chapter 3 - Isengard
Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2018 7:53 pm
Beneath the mountain's arm within the Wizard's Vale through years uncounted had stood that ancient place that Men called Isengard. Partly it was shaped in the making of the mountains, but mighty works the Men of Westernesse had wrought there of old; and Saruman had dwelt there long and had not been idle.
This was its fashion, while Saruman was at his height, accounted by many the chief of Wizards. A great ring-wall of stone, like towering cliffs, stood out from the shelter of the mountain-side, from which it ran and then returned again. One entrance only was there made in it, a great arch delved in the southern wall. Here through the black rock a long tunnel had been hewn, closed at either end with mighty doors of iron. They were so wrought and poised upon their huge hinges, posts of steel driven into the living stone, that when unbarred they could be moved with a light thrust of the arms, noiselessly. One who passed in and came at length out of the echoing tunnel, beheld a plain, a great circle, somewhat hollowed like a vast shallow bowl: a mile it measured from rim to rim. Once it had been green and filled with avenues, and groves of fruitful trees, watered by streams that flowed from the mountains to a lake. But no green thing grew there in the latter days of Saruman. The roads were paved with stone-flags, dark and hard; and beside their borders instead of trees there marched long lines of pillars, some of marble, some of copper and of iron joined by heavy chains.
Many houses there were, chambers, halls, and passages, cut and tunnelled back into the walls upon their inner side, so that all the open circle was overlooked by countless windows and dark doors. Thousands could dwell there, workers, servants, slaves, and warriors with great store of arms; wolves were fed and stabled in deep dens beneath. The plain, too, was bored and delved. Shafts were driven deep into the ground; their upper ends were covered by low mounds and domes of stone, so that in the moonlight the Ring of Isengard looked like a graveyard of unquiet dead. For the ground trembled. The shafts ran down by many slopes and spiral stairs to caverns far under; there Saruman had treasuries, store-houses, armouries, smithies, and great furnaces. Iron wheels revolved there endlessly, and hammers thudded. At night plumes of vapour steamed from the vents, lit from beneath with red light, or blue, or venomous green.
To the centre all the roads ran between their chains. There stood a tower of marvellous shape.
TTT, Book III, Ch 8, The Road to Isengard
August 26th, 2957, The Third Age of Middle-earth
It has been a few weeks since the Fellowship arrived in Isengard. Its strange but its hard to recall just how long you've actually been here. It seems longer at times, or even shorter at times. Still the time spent has been productive, and will continue to be.
Your access to all of Isengard has been limited, but little by little you have gained some access to other areas. A smithy along the southeast side of the ring wall has been opened up to you, mainly for Telurin's use as Saruman has agreed to work with him and his Lamp. For the most part when you need to spread your wings you head outside of the Ringwall and travel up and down the River Isen among the Vale as far south as the Fords of Isen in the Gap of Rohan. Its out here you train with bow and blade, and put your feet to walking and exploring.
About a week into your stay Dwrgi was called away, and you have not seen her since. She offers some kind good-byes and well wishes and then has returned to her duties for the White Wizard that don't involve your company. Vara, Blain and the dwarves that remain have been talking more and more about moving on and finally its come to it. They have decided they will march north along the eastern side of the Misty Mountains and gaze into the Mirrormere and take a look on the Gates of Durin of Moria. They could not be talked out of it. Blain has decided that he must look on Khazad-dum after seeing Stoneholt, he must see Moria. Saruman has offered them some aid in this, and the Wizard has held several private meetings with Vara and Blain both about the venture. He has even given them supplies and provisions for the trip.
So today Blain stands, dressed for the coming fall weather, ready to march out of Isengard with Vara, Balwain, and Oxdis. So you stand with them at the gates saying your farewells to the Khazad.
This was its fashion, while Saruman was at his height, accounted by many the chief of Wizards. A great ring-wall of stone, like towering cliffs, stood out from the shelter of the mountain-side, from which it ran and then returned again. One entrance only was there made in it, a great arch delved in the southern wall. Here through the black rock a long tunnel had been hewn, closed at either end with mighty doors of iron. They were so wrought and poised upon their huge hinges, posts of steel driven into the living stone, that when unbarred they could be moved with a light thrust of the arms, noiselessly. One who passed in and came at length out of the echoing tunnel, beheld a plain, a great circle, somewhat hollowed like a vast shallow bowl: a mile it measured from rim to rim. Once it had been green and filled with avenues, and groves of fruitful trees, watered by streams that flowed from the mountains to a lake. But no green thing grew there in the latter days of Saruman. The roads were paved with stone-flags, dark and hard; and beside their borders instead of trees there marched long lines of pillars, some of marble, some of copper and of iron joined by heavy chains.
Many houses there were, chambers, halls, and passages, cut and tunnelled back into the walls upon their inner side, so that all the open circle was overlooked by countless windows and dark doors. Thousands could dwell there, workers, servants, slaves, and warriors with great store of arms; wolves were fed and stabled in deep dens beneath. The plain, too, was bored and delved. Shafts were driven deep into the ground; their upper ends were covered by low mounds and domes of stone, so that in the moonlight the Ring of Isengard looked like a graveyard of unquiet dead. For the ground trembled. The shafts ran down by many slopes and spiral stairs to caverns far under; there Saruman had treasuries, store-houses, armouries, smithies, and great furnaces. Iron wheels revolved there endlessly, and hammers thudded. At night plumes of vapour steamed from the vents, lit from beneath with red light, or blue, or venomous green.
To the centre all the roads ran between their chains. There stood a tower of marvellous shape.
TTT, Book III, Ch 8, The Road to Isengard
August 26th, 2957, The Third Age of Middle-earth
It has been a few weeks since the Fellowship arrived in Isengard. Its strange but its hard to recall just how long you've actually been here. It seems longer at times, or even shorter at times. Still the time spent has been productive, and will continue to be.
Your access to all of Isengard has been limited, but little by little you have gained some access to other areas. A smithy along the southeast side of the ring wall has been opened up to you, mainly for Telurin's use as Saruman has agreed to work with him and his Lamp. For the most part when you need to spread your wings you head outside of the Ringwall and travel up and down the River Isen among the Vale as far south as the Fords of Isen in the Gap of Rohan. Its out here you train with bow and blade, and put your feet to walking and exploring.
About a week into your stay Dwrgi was called away, and you have not seen her since. She offers some kind good-byes and well wishes and then has returned to her duties for the White Wizard that don't involve your company. Vara, Blain and the dwarves that remain have been talking more and more about moving on and finally its come to it. They have decided they will march north along the eastern side of the Misty Mountains and gaze into the Mirrormere and take a look on the Gates of Durin of Moria. They could not be talked out of it. Blain has decided that he must look on Khazad-dum after seeing Stoneholt, he must see Moria. Saruman has offered them some aid in this, and the Wizard has held several private meetings with Vara and Blain both about the venture. He has even given them supplies and provisions for the trip.
So today Blain stands, dressed for the coming fall weather, ready to march out of Isengard with Vara, Balwain, and Oxdis. So you stand with them at the gates saying your farewells to the Khazad.