Nan Curunír is the name given in the late Third Age to the valley in the southern feet of the Misty Mountains where Isengard stands. The name is taken from Curunír, the Sindarin name of the Wizard Saruman. Isengard ("Iron Fortress", Angrenost in Sindarin) is a great fortress located south of the Misty Mountains near the Gap of Rohan. In the centre of the Ring of Isengard stands the stone tower of Orthanc.
Orthanc was built during the Second Age by the Númenóreans of Gondor out of a single piece of stone by an unknown process and then hardened. No known weapon can harm it. Orthanc roises up 500 feet above the plain of Isengard, and ends in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance is at the top of a high stair, and above that is a small window.
Orthanc houses one of the palantíri of the South Kingdom, and was guarded by a special warden until Isengard was mostly abandoned by Gondor around the time of foundation of Rohan. After that the tower was locked. When Beren, Ruling Steward of Gondor gave Isengard to Saruman, he also gave the keys to Orthanc to the Wizard and Saruman made it his base of operations.
Special Features:
- Main vegetation: mountains
- Special units: Guards of the Orthanc, Trolls
- Capability to gather local troops when under siege (only AI) |