bon olivier (order #42065) 83.114.187.4 - Fan Modules - Free

ISENGARD
d o l b a r a n
‘It opened southward, leaning back into
the slope of round Dol Baran, the last
hill of the northern ranges, greenfooted,
crowned with heather.’
— The Two Towers
The last hill of the Misty
Mountains, Dol Baran (‘Goldenbrown
Hill’) stands as the western
gate of the entrance into Nan Curunír.
The rounded hill is skirted in green
vegetation, topped with heather, and
dotted with thornbushes.
Wolves, as well as forces of the
White Hand, often prowl this hill,
keeping watch over all who pass
into the Vale, or through the Gap of
Rohan. As the War of the Ring grows
nigh, Saruman labours to establish a
permanent outpost here, creating a
first means of defence and surveillance
for the western ‘gate’ of Nan Curunír.
Once complete it will resemble the
Eastern Outpost (see page 63–4),
but for the time being the site is little
more than a clearance harbouring a
collection of planks, tents, labourers,
and the soldiers that oversee them.
t h e r i V e r i se n
Fed by the Misty Mountains,
the River Isen (Rohirric for ‘iron’)
flows from Nan Curunír south,
through the Gap of Rohan and
then west, joining with the Adorn
approximately 50 leagues southwest
of Isengard, before finally spilling
into the Sea between Enedhwaith
and Drúwaith Iaur. The Isen marks
the western boundary of Rohan,
often defended against the steady
tide of Dunlendings from the west.
The Isen has no bridge anywhere
along its length, but may be crossed
at the Fords of Isen thirty miles
south of Isengard (or, more recently,
just north of Isengard on the High
Path). During the War of the Ring,
the Ents divert the Isen’s waters to
flood the Ring of Isengard.
f o r d s o f i se n
‘[T]hree lines of flat stepping-stones
across the stream, and between them
fords for horses, that went from either
brink to a bare eyot in the midst.’
— The Two Towers
Those wishing to cross the Gap
of Rohan find themselves blocked by
the raging river Isen. No bridges span
this mighty waterway, and all must
travel to the fords to gain passage. The
Rohirrim patrol this area as best they
2
can, for it marks the main entrance into
their lands from the west, and the Men
of Dunland have often taken control
of the fords, demanding payment in
exchange for passage, especially during
the time of the Dunlending occupation
of Nan Curunír. Also called the
Crossings of Isen, the fords were the
site of a battle between King Helm
and Wulf in TA 2758. Later, during
the War of the Ring, Saruman’s forces
and the Rohirrim waged two fierce
battles here.
Three rows of broad, flat stepping-stones
proceed straight across
the waters, with graded fords between
them for horses. The path leads over
a sandbar lingering in the centre. The
rushing waters usually babble and
churn over the stones, offering only a
minor impediment to those keeping
to the ford. During Saruman’s rise to
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