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Cirith Ungol |
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Description
This great tower sits high on the inner (eastern) side of the Mountains of Shadow. The tower, constucted by Gondor in the early 3rd age, now guards the pass bearing the same name from both unwanted exit and entry, and overlooks the Morgai Gorge and Gorgoroth.
Territory
The orcs of Cirith Ungol control the cleft itself, the Morgai pass where the Morgul-road runs below the heights of the Tower, and the deadly tunnels beneath the Tower and mountain. Of course, the orcs do not really control the tunnels, for the tunnels are the lair of Shelob, the whispered monster of Cirith Ungol. The orcs of the Tower know better than any how to avoid her haunts, but still She finds a meal in a stray orc once in a while.
Occupants
The Tower of Cirith Ungol is occupied solely by orcs. Most of them are big fighting orcs equipped with spears, scimitars, and bows, but many trackers and scouts ("snufflers") are taken from nearby garrisons to aid the soldiers of Cirith Ungol when needed. The garrison of Cirith Ungol is comprised of less than one hundred troops.
INSIGNIA: The elite orcs of Cirith Ungol wear the insignia of Barad-dur: a glaring crimson eye on a black surcoat or flag.
History
The Tower of Cirith Ungol was built by Gondor after the fall of Barad-dur at the end of the Second Age. It was intended originally to guard the pass against the escape of monsters of Mordor out to Minas Ithil. When the Nazgul conquered Minas Ithil, occupying it and renaming it Minas Morgul, the conquered Cirith Ungol as well, and established a garrison there to guard the pass leading in and out of Mordor.
The orcs of Cirith Ungol are renowned for their obsessive loyalty to the Eye, and they have never been known to form into distinct tribes. They always remained separate from the ancient Zaghbuurz clan which dominated the orcs of Minas Morgul.
