Mordor was a vast barren realm filled with utter darkness and located in the south-east of the Westlands east of Gondor. The land was protected from three sides by mountain ranges, arranged roughly rectangularly: Ered Lithui in the north, and Ephel Dúath in the west until turned to the east, forming a southern range. A narrow pass led through Ephel Dúath and the city of Minas Ithil was guarding that; an even more difficult pass was guarded by the fortress of Cirith Ungol. Another known fortress was Durthang in northern Ephel Dúath. In the north-west corner of Mordor, the deep valley of Udûn was the only entrance for armies, and that is where Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor. In front of the Morannon lay the Dagorlad. The southern part of Mordor, Nurn, was slighly more fertile, and moist enough to carry the inland sea of Núrnen. Nurn was made somewhat fertile because the ash blown from Mount Doom left its soil nutrient rich, thus allowing dry-land farming. To the west of Mordor was the narrow land of Ithilien with the great river Anduin, to the east Rhûn, and to the south-east, Khand. The main fortress that stood at the foothills of Ered Lithui was known to be Barad-Dûr.
Barad-Dûr, also known as the Dark Tower, was the chief fortress of Sauron, on the Plateau of Gorgoroth in Mordor. Known in Black Speech as Lugbúrz, the Eye of Sauron kept watch over Middle-earth from its highest tower. It was built upon the end of a long southern spur of the Ered Lithui in the northern part of the Plateau of Gorgoroth. It stood about 30 miles east of Mount Doom and about 100 miles southeast of the Black Gate. There was both a road leading north to the Black Gate and Sauron's road to the Sammath Naur leading west to Mount Doom. The latter ran from the Dark Tower's western gate over a deep abyss, the plain and around the mountain to the dark entrance of the Chambers of Fire. The Dark Tower was the greatest fortress ever built since the Fall of Angband. It was founded upon a mighty iron mountain throne above immeasurable pits and appeared even blacker and darker than the mantling clouds and shades in which it stood. It was immeasurably strong with its countless gargantuan towers, walls and battlements and was made of very hard and unbreakable substances. Usually it was described as made of steel, iron or adamant. It had gaping gates, great courts and dungeons with deep and terrible prisons.
Endless screams was heard on top of the dark tower of Barad-Dûr. One of the Four Horsemen Leslie Geraci, remaining inside her armor and helmet, enters one of the chambers of Barad-Dûr that was filled with machines designed to torture prisoners. She walks all around the chamber as many Orcs, Hobgoblins, Uruks, Goblins, Sneepers, Sakaarans, Rock Trolls, were doing their jobs. Their, she approaches a wide rack that was burning hot. Inside the rack was a creature, who was screaming in pain due to hours of long torture by the guards.
"You know, I really don't admire this," Leslie Geraci said in her own hollow voice, ignoring the screams. "We will find out once you break and you will have no other choice but to cooperate." She grabs the creature's chin and squeezes it tight. "You will tell us where the ring is… Gollum."
"No… no… don't hurts us," Gollum wailed. "Precious. Must not tell where the precious is. Yes, we promised."
"No more games!" Leslie Geraci yelled fiercely at him and continued to squeeze his chin. "We're through with your lies and riddles! How long are you going to keep this up?! The more we burn you up, the more you croak!" She sighs and lowers his voice. "I'm not going to ask you again; where… is… the ring?"
Gollum tried as much to resist and scream at the same time, but at that moment he finally answered his question. "Shire! Baggins!"
Leslie Geraci paused and looked at the creature. Believing his words, she turns to the guards. "Release him."
Then at a split moment, Leslie turns into her fiery-shadowy mist form and flies through the air and reaches to the very top of the tower where the Eye of Sauron was hovering and staring directly outside Mordor's borders. Leslie returns back to her form to meet her master. Tendrils of flame wrapped around the Dark Lord and Leslie bends her right knee to address to her master.
"My lord, I bring news," Leslie Geraci informed his master. "The creature has revealed the location of the ring and its bearer. It is in the Shire."
"You have served me well!" Sauron thundered in a very loud voice which was like a whisper. "It is time for it to awaken and hear my call!"
"And what of the ring bearer?" Leslie Geraci asked.
"Send the Nazgûl," Sauron ordered. "All of them."
"It would be easy for the Four Horsemen to take care of the job master," Leslie offered to take care of the job. "I can…"
"You will remain here and help command our armies once our allies arrive," Sauron ordered. "Do as your master commands."
"Yes, my lord," Leslie Geraci complied to her master's command.
Minas Morgûl, formerly known as Minas Ithil, was the twin city of Minas Tirith. In its prime, Minas Ithil was a beautiful place. The moon cast silver light throughout the courtyards and streets, and reflected off the marble walls, so that it seemed to shine. The houses also shone white. The city also had one tall tower, with many windows, that rotated slowly. The city was accessed by a road, which was said to gleam like the city's white marble walls, running over a bridge as it crossed Imlad Morgul. Large meadows were placed on both banks of the stream. When it was taken by the forces of evil, the beauty was replaced by terror. The lovely white light was replaced by a sickly corpse-pale light, the meadows were filled with sick pale flowers, and Imlad Morgul began to steam cold poisonous vapors. At the head of the bridge crossing the stream the bestial and human figures that stood there were corrupted.
After the destruction of Númenor, Isildur and Anárion, the sons of Elendil, landed in Gondor. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of Mordor from where he would rule the fief of Ithilien; while Anárion built Minas Anor to rule over the fief of Anórien. Minas Ithil housed a palantír, the Ithil-Stone. Even when Sauron returned after escaping Númenor's destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces took Minas Ithil by storm, but was defeated by the Last Alliance. However, during the Third Age and ten years after fleeing from Dol Guldur, Minas ithil was under siege by Sauron's armies and the city was know known as Minas Morgûl.
The Four Horsemen gather together and stand on top of the main gate of Minas Morgûl. Knowing their mission in New York had been a failure, they would continue on with their master's grand plan in conquering the universe and prepare for war against those who would oppose the Dark Lord. They remained silent and looked down to see the main gate of the city opening. Coming out were nine black-hooded riders that were mounted on their horses and prepared their long journey from Mordor to the Shire. Each rider wore metal, spiked boots and are clothed and robed and hooded in black, and no face was visible. They were known as the Nazgûl, an order of nine immortal Human Kings who were corrupted by the rings of power and became the highest servants of the Dark Lord Sauron throughout the Second and Third Age. They were known as Sauron's most terrible servants, and often travelled on black horses or their fellbeasts, wearing black cloaks and hauberks of silver mail. They are described as being strongest when The Dark Lord has possession of the One Ring. Their names were Er-Mûrazôr, Khamûl, Suladân I, Helm Hammerhand, Riya, Yuka, Gothmog, Morgomir, and Talion.
Er-Mûrazôr, known in Middle-Earth as the Witch-King of Angmar, is the mightiest of the nine Ringwraiths and Sauron's highest ranking officer. The Númenórean Er-Mûrazôr was the most gifted and powerful of the many great Lords of Númenor. Although only a prince, his might outshone all but a few of Númenor's Kings and, in the end, he lived longer than any of the Adan. Mûrazôr's tale covers over six and a half millennia and is one of Man's great tragedies. He was born in S.A. 1820 in the port city of Andunie in the province of Andustar on the island of Númenor. As the second son of King Tar-Ciryatan and the younger brother of Tar-Atanamir the Great, he traced his lineage to the first King, Elros Tar-Minyatur. His mother gave him the name 'Tindomul', for he was born during a solar eclipse and his hair was blacker than any she had ever seen. Those Lords of Tar-Ciryatan's court who favored the use of Adûnaic called him Er-Mûrazôr. Like his brother, the proud and greedy heir to the throne, Er-Mûrazôr supported his father's ambitions and lobbied for the increased exploitation of Middle-Earth. Always aggressive and fiery, Er-Mûrazôr resolved to leave home and found his own empire in the vulnerable expanse of Middle-earth. He assembled a small fleet and set sail for Middle-earth in the spring of SA 1880. The sixty-year-old Prince landed at Vinyalonde in Eriador, at the mouth of the Gwathlo in Enedhwaith. There, he debarked at the ancient haven amidst little celebration and, within weeks, he engaged in a brief struggle for dominance over the strategic port. His plans to carve out a kingdom in the fertile lands that Sauron's hordes ravaged in the war with the Elves failed, forcing Er-Mûrazôr and his followers to voyage southward.
Two years later, his ships dropped anchor in Umbar, where the Númenórean Lord proclaimed himself King. Although successful in wresting control from the local colonists, he ruled only for a few months. The Númenórean adventurer's pretensions of rule faced an inevitable and overwhelming challenge from his father, Tar-Ciryatan, who ordered his recalcitrant son to return home to Númenor. Mûrazôr refused to follow the King's bidding, but he dared not remain in Umbar in defiance of the edict from Armenelos. Sauron perceived the Prince's displeasure and offered him a means to achieve his goals. The Dark Lord realized that both Mûrazôr and his older brother Atanamir sought to hold onto their youth, and that they feared aging more than any corporeal foe. Atanamir showed his terror of death when he later refused to surrender the Sceptre of Númenor until he died. The Black Prince, on the other hand, exhibited this fear by speaking openly of his bitterness toward the immortal Elves to whom he was related. Ever vigilant and perceptive, the Dark Lord corrupted Mûrazôr by bringing the dissatisfied Númenórean to Mordor. The Black Prince went to Barad-dûr and became a pupil of Sauron. Through out the years, he expanded his knowledge of enchantments and spell-casting, becoming an exceedingly powerful Sorceror. Mûrazôr's knowledge of the Black Arts was second only to Sauron's, and he quickly rose to become the Dark Lord's most trusted lieutenant. His lessons learned, he submitted his spirit to his Master, who gave him a Ring of Power in SA 1998. The first of the nine Nazgûl, the Black Prince was known thereafter as the Witch-King.
While the Witch-King of Angmar declares himself as a leader amongst the nine, the second Nazgûl was Khamûl, also known as the Black Easterling. Born at Laeg Goak in the Farthest East in SA 1744, Khamûl was the son of Mûl Tanûl, the High-lord of the Wômaw. His mother, Klêa, was popular despite her Shay heritage, but died while the young heir was only seven. His people had descended from the remnants of the First Tribe of Cuivienen, the same lineage that produced the Edain of western Middle-Earth. Proud and desperate, Khamûl sought help elsewhere and turned to his age-old ally Dardarian. Dardarian met Khamûl at the Isle of Sunrises, at the easternmost point in the Middle Land. There, the Elf-queen seduced her stepson, using her exceptional beauty and charm and, most importantly, an offer of immortality. Khamûl agreed to an alliance between the Wômaw and Dardarien's Avar kingdom of Helkanen. This union led to Númenórean concessions the following year, preventing any outright conquest and relegating Dúnadan interests to centers of commercial rather than strategic value.
Unfortunately for the Wômaw, Dardarian's pact led to the downfall of the Hionvor. Unbeknownst to Khamûl, Dardarian served Sauron of Mordor. In S.A. 1996, only a year after the First Acknowledgement, Khamûl accepted the instrument that conferred the gift promised by his lover. Taking one of the Nine Rings of Men, Khamûl became the immortal slave of the Lord of the Rings. His reign over Wômawas Drûs ended abruptly. Khamûl disappeared from Laeg Goak in the spring of S.A. 1997, after nearly seven months of virtual isolation from his people and his court. These seven months were marked by palace intrigue and a bloody transition to a new order. Over three dozen of the Hionvor's trusted advisers perished in a purge that nearly ruined the kingdom. The outer Hiona gathered in preparation for a revolt, and Kómul departed in favor of a Númenórean supported faction led by his cousin Âon. Almost no one in Wômawas Drûs realized the critical nature of their King's abdication, but Kómul's dethronement probably saved the Wômaw from the Shadow. The deposed monarch could do little more than swear a vengeful oath, a curse that he would act upon a millennia later.
The third rider of the Nazgûl was Suladân I. Born in the kingdom of Harad, his mother died from childbirth and was left under the care of his father, a member of the King's Men. Years after when his grandfather returned to Númenór with the Dark Lord Sauron as a hostage, Suladân was to learn from his father about the policies of the King's Men and majority to oppose the Ban of the Valar. During his tutoring sessions inside one of the the city's libraries, he was tutored by a young human man, who revealed himself to be one of the messengers who worshipped the Valar and a loyal ally to the Faithful, a faction of Númenóreans who remained friendly with the Elves and the Valar. Rather than ignoring his pleas, Suladân chose to listen and learn a lot on what the messenger told him.
His father learned of what he had been doing for the past couple of years and was sentenced to be locked away for three days while his tutor was executed under the orders of the king. He was released a few days later and was given a lesson from his father that those who chose to remain loyal to Valar and turn aside from the policies are to be arrested and executed. Angered over his mentor's death, Suladân saw in his father as a very tyrannical man and planned to usurp his rule since he feared that rebelling against the Valar for lead to certain punishment for defying the ban. As he followed what his mentor left for him, he taught many dissidents in every part of the kingdom about mortality and wisdom. He would learn from his father that he and the King's Men were now being incited to worship Melkor and sacrifice any person who were members of the Faithful due to Sauron corrupting the King's Men. Angered by this, Suladân considered that as an act of treason and insanity, and so forged a resistance to remove his father out of power and prevent any more sacrifices. The resistance was a success, in which Suladân confronted his father with his people that followed him. Rather than killing him, Suladân chose to show mercy and banished his father as punishment. With that, Suladân became the new ruling king.
Following the destruction of Númenór, Suladân was deeply angered and believed that Sauron was responsible for its destruction. Now in command of his father's armies, Suladân led his people to confront Sauron and his followers. He also came across one of the nine Nazgûl Jí Indûr and his forces. Suladân slew him in combat by slicing his hand off with the Ruling Ring of Power. Upon arriving at the fortress, the brave King called the Dark Lord out to face him. As the front doors open, he and his forces were ready to confront the Dark Lord face-to-face, but by surprise, the Dark Lord surrendered and offered the same Ring of Power that belonged to Jí Indûr. The temptation was too great, and Suladân accepted the offer and moved Sauron from the position of enemy to advisor. Believing he won, he was deceived when Sauron set him up as the king's advisor and began steadily corrupting him which granted the king immortality. He returned home to the capital city to announce his victory to his people, but would fall completely under Sauron's will and fade away to become one of the new Nazgûl to serve the dark lord forever. His rule over Harad didn't last long when his own people, including Messengers of the Valar and members of the Faithful, sought to rid Sauron and free their beloved king from the Dark Lord's power. This forced Sauron to call in an army of Haradrim warriors from different tribes to lay siege on the city and bring it to ruin.
The fourth of the riders was Helm Hammerhand, who was known in history as the ninth king to rule the great nation of Rohan and his life was a tragedy. Helm Hammerhand was the son of King Gram and Queen Marcswith of Rohan. In life, Hammerhand was a powerful but known in Rohan to be a very grim man, who resented fools and did not suffer them gladly, which caused him to make enemies both outside his kingdom and court, as well as within in. As he himself stated, he was a great hunter, having hunted every beast in Mordor. Described a grim man of great strength, Hammerhand was a legend on the battlefield, revered for his stamina which caused some to believe he had the capacity to fight for days on end without rest, with nothing but his own hands as his weapons. At a young age, Helm married a beautful Rohirrim woman named Éowyn Ethelfléd and would go on to have four children; Haleth Helmson, Bérnwyn, Háma Helmson, and Aelda. Helm loved his children and taught them the values to defend Rohan from any evil that would dare to invade the land. His sister Hild would give birth to a son named Fréaláf Hildeson a few months after Haleth was born.
During his reign as King, a man named Freca, a Dunlending with Rohirric blood planned to have his son, Wulf, marry Aelda. At the same time, a powerful Rohirrim warlord known as Siric had recently rescued Bérnwyn from being killed by a group of Dunlendings. He rode to Edoras with her and proposed the exact same thing in offering to marry Bérnwyn since he truly loved her while Freca and Wulf brought a great force of their men, planning to threaten the King to comply with his demands, but Helm Hammerhand smote him with his fist and Freca died soon thereafter. He also refused to allow Siric to marry his daughter and rejected the Warlord's plea. The King of the Riddermark then declared Siric, Wulf, his family, and all their kin and allies to be enemies of Rohan.
Four years later, Helm had recently been at war with Wulf, who planning his revenge on the king for murdering his father. As Wulf led an army of Dunlendings to invaded Rohan from the northwest, just as an allied Easterling army struck across the Anduin, Rohan was nearly at Wulf's mercy, for the Riders could not defeat both enemies. The Rohirrim had to flee into the vales of Ered Nimrais, despite fact that the heights were gripped by the chilly air of the First Long Winter and Rohan would soon be overrun. At some point, Helm came into conflict with Ûvatha Achef, one of the nine Nazgûl that swore their loyalty to Sauron. The mighty king slew him in conflict and even cut off his enemy's hand which held the Ring of Power.
King Helm wasn't willing to lose hope in losing his kingdom to the enemy, so he decided to focus on his own plans to overwhelm the enemy. However, he decided to travel to Aldburg and bring his daughter Bérnwyn to be safe. While riding through the forest with his daughter, Helm suddenly came face-to-face with Siric, who told him that he should've been honorable in offering his daughter's hand to him since he wanted to make peace and prevent any more bloodshed from happening. Before Helm could do anything to defend his daughter and himself, Siric was quick to order his own Rohirrim archers to open fire him down with a flurry of arrows at point blank. Left to die, Helm was found by his son Haleth, who was leading a very large cavalry of riders that had just defeated a force of Dunlendings near the river Isen. He was safely brought back to Edoras and suffered in great pain while his fellow doctors and nurses were doing everything they could to help him. Nearing the end of his life, Helm was visited by Sauron (in the guise of his fair form Annatar) and Celebrimbor Telperinquar, who were here to offer him power and a way to be saved from dying. Weakly accepting their offer, Sauron placed the Ring of Power on the king's hand, and promised it will provide Bérnwyn's safe return. As the Ring of Power rapidly made him renewed, he would fall under its dark influence.
Filled with vengeance, Helm planned to rescue his daughter from Siric's clutches and swore to kill him for what he did. However, even while Haleth, Fréaláf, Háma, Aelda, Fréawyn, Captain Fréan were concerned and worried of the King's madness and that there should be better way to resolve this without any bloodshed, Helm ignored their pleas and ordered Haleth to stay behind to defend Edoras from any incoming enemies while he, along with Háma and Captain Fréan, led a large battalion of Rohirrim soldiers to lay siege on Snowbourn and rescue Bérnwyn from the Warlord who had taken her.
While his son Háma had been busy fighting outside the city, Helm and Fréan led a small handful of troops to confront Siric in his chamber. Even while Bérnwyn pleaded her lover not to fight her father and Siric warning the King that by killing him would start a war, Helm ignored his warning and plea, and openly declared that war had already come to him and his people for betraying Rohan. He then proceeded to kill Siric just before swinging at his enemy with his great war hammer. However, in an attempt to stop her father, his own daughter Bérnwyn stepped forward in front of his hammer, causing him to accidentally strike her down and kill her. Infuriated, her proceeded to take his hammer and kill both friend and foe alike in the chamber where his daughter died, even going as far as to kill Fréan, who desperately tried to calm him down. After the siege was over, Helm carried his daughter down the steps while his son Háma was horrified to have seen Bérnwyn slain. He then returned to Edoras with his son and the remaining troops that fought in the siege, and buried his daughter out of horror and grief, and swore that he will destroy all of his enemies to avenge her death. He and his younger son led a cavalry of riders to the Crossings of Isen and were ambushed by an army of Dunlendings. Helm unleashed his fury upon the eyes of his enemies and killed as many that came to him and would not stop until they were all perished. His son was able to calm him down and pleaded him to retreat since they were being overwhelmed.
Despite the Ring's power over him, Helm listened to his son's plea and ordered a retreat. Eventually, Helm and his son led their forces and a large number of villagers to seek refuge in the old fortress called the Hornburg at Helm's Deep. Keeping the fortress fully guarded and protected, Helm sought to tell his son the truth on how he slew Bérnwyn, but before that could happen, a group of Rohirrim scouts rode to the Hornburg to inform the King that Edoras was under siege. Hearing this, he immediately rallied as many soldiers to follow him and ride to Edoras to aid his son, but that was when a large army of Dunlendings arrived and besieged the fortress. Realizing that he could not escape to join his Haleth and his forces in Edoras, Helm had to stay and defend the fortress until the enemy was defeated. Upon learning that his son Haleth fell defending the doors of the Golden Hall, Helm continued to fall more through anger, despair, and grief as he fought against the enemy. He and his son continued to hold the fortress during the Long Winter. As more Dunlendings continued to come, the powerful King would always blow his great war-horn, and broke through the Dunlending ranks, clad in white, stalking men like a Snow Troll and slaying them with his bare hands.
A year later, his son Háma led by a small force of soldiers and volunteers to search for food, but they were lost in a terrible blizzard and never seen again. This caused Helm to become even more fierce and terrible. The Hornburg held a large war-horn, and whenever it was blown, Helm continued to break through the Dunlending ranks, slaying many of them that he sees. Every time the horn was heard, it would fill the Dunlendings with fear which causes them to react. At some point before the Long Winter ended, Helm went on to fight by himself and engage a small force Dunlendings while most turned away in fear and retreated back to Edoras and Dunland. He suddenly disappeared during a terrible snowstorm and did not return. His soldiers spent days searching for their lost king until they managed to find him frozen in the snow still standing, his eyes open, and ready to fight against his foe.
The fifth and sixth of the Nazgûl were Riya and Yuka, twin sisters who were the daughters of Sagong, the ruling Emperor of Shen. These powerful warriors were sent to Mordor for conquest by their father. There, they waged a war against two of the Nazgûl whose armies they defeated and whose rings they took for themselves. Upon returning to Shen, they were welcomed back to a grand triumph, though they soon became corrupted by the influence of their Rings of Power. They overthrew their father and assumed control of his throne. Ultimately they became servants of Sauron, who led them back to Mordor where they served him for many years.
The last of the Nazgûl was an honorable man named Talion. Like Helm Hammerhand, Suladân, Gothmog, Talion's life was a very deep tragedy. Before his fall, Talion was born to a wealthy noble family that lived in the fertile region of Lossarnach. He had three older brothers, two older sisters, and one younger brother. His mother Loreth died from an illness when he turned twelve and his father Dîrsael was murdered by his brother-in-law for accusing him of his sister's death. This left Talion and his siblings as orphans and lived under the care of their beloved aunt. For many years when evil was slowly rising and enemies invading Gondor's borders, Talion and his siblings trained to be one of the most skillful fighters to defend Gondor's borders from Haradrim, Easterlings, Variags, and worst of all, the Black Númenóreans who all paid homage to the Dark Lord Sauron. Two of his elder brothers and one of his elder sisters, including friends, were killed during the fight, leaving Talion and his surviving siblings to openly grieve to them. Even as siblings chose were living separately in different parts within Gondor, Talion sought to live in the region of Ithilien in hopes to fight alone rather than losing friends and family that way. That was when he fell in love with a beautiful young woman named Ioreth, daughter of Gereth and Hallas while he attended his younger brother's wedding at Imloth Melui.
At some point after he married Ioreth, Talion got into a fight with a noble who was assaulting Ioreth and killed him by accident. Talion was branded a criminal and was to be sentenced to death while his wife, friends, and siblings were defending him. His life was saved when Ioreth pleaded with her parents to prevent her husband from being turned in and revealed she was pregnant. In order to save Talion, Hallas claimed to have done it for his daughter's sake, Ioreth's father explained he was offered a position guarding The Black Gate, and he decided to send Talion and Ioreth there. Thanks to his father-in-law, Talion would assume a vacant post among the Rangers of Gondor and stationed himself at the Black Gate, the gateway into the realm of Mordor. There, Talion lived at the outpost with his wife and son, whom they named him Dirhael. Talion and Ioreth raised their son at The Black Gate, and there Talion taught his son skills to let him become a soldier, though Ioreth disapproved of this, saying there were other things he could become like a flute player, suggestions which Talion laughed off. Talion had also celebrated events such as anniversaries of his marriage with his wife at the Black Gate as well, during one of which they discussed the possibility of leaving the gate, and Ioreth asked Talion if he had spoken with her father about this. Talion said that Ioreth's father refused, and he was still stubborn, causing Ioreth to suggest they leave anyway as she was tired of hiding at the Gate.
That was when a vicious attack was launched by Sauron, who sent his followers and armies to reclaim Mordor once again. Talion fought bravely to defend his wife and son, and the inhabitants to prevent the enemy from coming. While he failed to protect his wife, who was held by the Tower of Sauron at sword point, Talion was forced to comply, only to get beaten down when he tried to reach his wife. Dragged and beaten, Talion was at the very top of the Black Gate being held by Sauron's loyal servants, who also brought Dirhael and Ioreth. When the Hand of Sauron draws his sword and proceeded to cut the throats of both Dirhael and Loreth, Talion was the last one to be sacrificed and died, but it was not the end for him. He was revived by Celebrimbor, an immensely powerful Wraith; where the two joined forces and began a quest for vengeance on those responsible for the death of his loved ones. With the aid of some allies and foes, Talion was successful in tracking down and slaying the Hammer of Sauron, Tower of Sauron, and the finally the Hand of Sauron, avenging his wife and son. Despite wanting to move on and reunite with his family, Talion continued to remain in the physical plane and declared his intention to create a new Ring of Power.
Together, Talion and Celebrimbor were successful in forging a new ring, a pure one that is not corrupt, but when Celebrimbor was captured by the spider Shelob due to her fear on what Talion and Celebrimbor planned to do, Talion was forced to give her the ring so that he can save Celebrimbor. With this ring Shelob sees into the future, she sends Talion and Celebrimbor to Minas Ithil to reclaim the Palantir, but all that failed when it was already delivered to the enemy and Minas Ithil had fallen under the enemy. Once the Witch-king seized Minas Ithil, Talion was able to save Shelob, who returns the Ring to him and tells him that the fate of Middle-earth is in his hands. With the Ring back in his possession, Talion begins to use its power to dominate Orcs and build his army, defeat the Balrog Tar Goroth, help Ratbag defeat a traitor, and hunt the Nazgûl alongside a skillful elven assassin named Eltariel. Eventually, Talion builds up enough strength to assault Sauron's fortress directly. During the battle, Talion faces Isildur, now corrupted into a Nazgûl. Talion manages to defeat Isildur, and he and Celebrimbor use the New Ring's power to break Sauron's hold to him. Celebrimbor attempts to dominate Isildur, but is stopped by Talion, who horrified by this and frees Isildur by killing him. Celebrimbor lashes out angrily that Isildur would have been a valuable asset to their cause, leading Talion to realize that Celebrimbor's desire for revenge and thirst for power has corroded all reason, and that if he obeys, a Bright Lord will rule over Middle-Earth instead of a dark one. Talion refuses to follow Celebrimbor's orders any more, causing the wraith to abandon him, possessing and giving his ring to Eltariel instead.
Without Celebrimbor, Talion slowly dies and decided it was time for him to reunite with his family, but is visited by Shelob in a vision. Shelob informs him that if Talion had gone on to fight Sauron, they'd have succeeded and Celebrimbor would have enslaved Sauron and marched on to conquer the rest of Middle-earth. She implores Talion to continue to fight to contain the darkness within Mordor as she was only out to prevent the rise of Celebrimbor and Tailon succeeded in that. Deciding to put his fate in his own hands, Talion picks up the Ring of Power Isildur was wearing to preserve his own life. He then uses the power of Isildur's Ring to assault and seize Minas Morgul, defeating the Witch-king in the process. Talion then takes possession of the Palantir and observes Celebrimbor and Eltariel making their assault on Sauron. The two manage to gain the upper hand and Celebrimbor attempts to dominate Sauron, only for Sauron to cut off Eltariel's ring finger and merge himself with Celebrimbor. As a result, Sauron and Celebrimbor remain trapped in Sauron's tower in the form of a flaming eye as their spirits continue to battle for dominance. Talion decides to use Minas Morgul as a fortress to keep Sauron's forces contained in Mordor and out of Middle Earth for as long as he can. By doing, Tailon hopes that by keeping Mordor in a constant state of war that the rest of Middle Earth will prepare for the coming of Sauron, but as decades passed, Talion eventually succumbs to the corruption of Isildur's ring and joins Sauron's forces as a Nazgûl, replacing Isildur.
Many inhabits in Middle-Earth never learned about the existence of the Nazgûl or who they are. The only beings who knew about them were the Light Elves, for they saw how difficult it was to kill them since they were bound under the will of the Dark Lord like the Four Horsemen.
Elsewhere, Gandalf had been spending months in traveling south, west, east, and north in every country, kingdom, and realm of Middle-Earth to search for answers about Bilbo's funny and magic ring that he kept for years since his adventure to the east. He feared that the ring he kept was evil when he heard the word 'precious' from him, and he remembering hearing that word before from someone who could've possibly had it before. His answers to solving the puzzle was getting closer then ever, so he decided to pay a visit to the kingdom of Gondor. Gondor carried a lot of history within the world of Arda. It was known to be the southern kingdom of the Númenóreans in Middle-Earth. Before the Downfall of Númenor, the region that would become Gondor was home to many Númenórean colonists, who either mingled with the indigenous Middle Men if they were friendly, or dispersed them into Ras Morthil, Dunland, and Drúadan Forest. Dwarves and Light Elves also settled in the nation, building their own cities in the kingdom. The Dwarves built their greatest city in the White Mountains and the elves built the city of Edhellond. The land on which Gondor was founded was more fertile than the more northerly areas of Middle-Earth, and therefore it already had a fairly large population and settlements, including a well-established city and haven called Pelargir, founded by the Faithful Númenóreans.
Long ago during the Second Age, the refugees from Númenor led by Isildur and Anárion were given a warm reception upon their arrival by those Númenórean colonists. Those north of the river Anduin accepted Elendil's claim to kingship over them, being a heir of the Faithful Lords of Andúnie. After their arrival and acceptance by the people, Isildur and Anárion put themselves to the task of ordering their realm. Isildur took the area then known as Ithilien and built the tower of Minas Ithil near the realm of Mordor, and within its walls he planted a seedling of the White Tree of Númenor that he had taken before its burning. Anárion raised the tower of Minas Anor on the other side of Anduin's floodplain as a bulwark against the Dunlendings. In between their cities, the brothers founded Osgiliath, their capital, from which they jointly reigned; these three cities also housed three of the Palantíri, the Seeing Stones that the Faithful had taken with them from Númenor, to maintain contact with Elendil and the other areas under their control. As for the Dúnedain, they were at first unaware that Sauron had survived the disastrous downfall, but soon after, the Dark Lord launched an attack on Minas Ithil, which forced Isildur into a retreat. Sauron took the fortress and burned the White Tree that had grown there, but Isildur saved one of its seedlings and took it and his family on a ship down the Anduin. He sailed to the north to confer with Elendil about these events. Anárion remained in Gondor and continued to hold Osgiliath. He also managed to push back Sauron's forces to the mountain range of Ephel Dúath, but Sauron began to gather reinforcements, among whom were a large number of Black Númenóreans, and the humans of Gondor knew that their realm was in great danger of being destroyed unless aid came.
Elendil reacted to the threat of Sauron by combining forces with Gil-Galad the Elven-king to make the Last Alliance of Middle-Earth. Their armies marched southeast from Arnor and Gil-Galad's realm of Lindon. Supported by the forces of Gondor, Lórinand, Mirkwood and the dwarves of the Ered Luin and Khazad-Dûm, the Alliance fought a great battle in Mordor. The armies of Elendil and Gil-Galad were victorious, and entered Mordor itself, where they laid a siege on Sauron's Tower of Barad-Dûr for months. During this time, Anárion was killed by a rock thrown from the Tower that broke his helm. The siege ended when Sauron himself emerged from Barad-Dûr to fight the Alliance. Once the battle was, the long Second Age came to an end, Isildur built a secret tomb for his father on the mountain Amon Anwar. He also aided his nephew Meneldil, who was now King, in reorganizing Gondor. He then planted the seedling of the White Tree that he had saved in Minas Ithil, and brought to Minas Anor (later known as Minas Tirith), and it endured for several centuries. After these acts, Isildur left Gondor in the third year of the Third Age with the intent of ruling his father's kingdom of Arnor.
Throughout the Third Age, Gondor's power and wealth increasingly grew. Its power would continue to grow into the 9th century of the Third Age. While the power of Gondor's sister kingdom Arnor peaked during the 9th century, when it broke into various successor states, Gondor's greatest glory was yet to come, but the line of the Kings would fail. This happened during the Angmar War, in which King Eärnil and his son Prince Eärnur were leading a fleet of their armies to aid the people of Arthedain that were fighting against Er-Mûrazôr's army. However, by the time that they arrived, Eärnil and King Arvedui had both perished, leaving Eärnur devastated and wanted to kill Er-Mûrazôr in order to avenge his father's death. By the time he mastered his horse and return, the Witch-king had fled. Before Eärnur would follow, he was stopped by an elf, who then prophesied to him that it was better that he not fight the Lord of the Nazgûl because "never by the hand of man shall he fall". Eärnur ascended to the throne of Gondor throughout the war and sought to use his method in confronting the Nazgûl for killing his father. He then led his armies to aid the remnants of Arthedain to stand against Er-Mûrazôr's armies that had taken the city of Fornost Erain. Eärnur confronted Er-Mûrazôr during the battle and was never heard from again, in which the Line of Anárion was shattered.
After the disappearance of Eärnur, there was no proof that the last king was dead, and no claimant had enough support to be accepted as his successor. Following the end of the Angmar War which led to the defeat of the Nazgûl, the realm was governed by a long line of hereditary Stewards. Whenever there was a new Steward, he would swear an oath to yield rule of Gondor back to the King, in essence only an heir of Isildur, if he should ever return. In Gondor there was no one who could claim descent from Isildur in direct line, and the northern line of Arnor had effectively disappeared, so this oath was not considered seriously.
Passing through the borders of Gondor, Gandalf makes his way to the city of Minas Tirith, one of the ten capital cities of the kingdom. Minas Tirith, originally known as Minas Anor, was known in history to be the main capital of the southern kingdom of Gondor and the seat of its Kings and ruling Stewards. It was densely populated with Gondorian Argens, Carmondians, Centauri, Kronans, Minotaurs, Rock Trolls, Satyrs, Sinnarians, Sivians, Zen-Whoberi, and Zyndarians, who were either civilians, workers, guards, or soldiers, and the entire land area of the city was over 369.75 mi², which was a bit bigger than New York City and San Francisco. Although, there were a number of Orcs and Ologs, all who carried a sense of strong nobility, will, intelligence, and honor in their hearts, and did not serve under the Dark Lord Sauron during the Dark Days.
The White City of Minas Tirith was built behind the southern parts of the White Mountains with seven massive, concentric tiers cut on the city culminating in the Citadel at the summit. The outer wall was called the City Wall. Each of the seven levels stood 100 feet higher than the one below it and was surrounded by a white wall. Each level was walled and held a gate with each gate faced a different direction: only the great gate and that of the seventh level faced east; the gate to the second level faced southeast, and that to the third faced northeast; so altering between the two such that the path up through the levels wound to and fro rather than following a straight line. An outcropping of rock as high as the seventh level bisected all the lower levels except the lowest on the line of the Great Gate. The winding path through the city therefore passed through tunnels in this 'keel' five times. Massive tunnels were built by the dwarves, so that many civilians of Minas Tirith could pay a visit to dwarven city.
After approaching the main gate, the guards on top noticed his arrival and opened the gate for him to enter. He quickly dismounts from his horse and leaves him under the care of two female guards. He walks through Minas Tirith and had trouble passing through countless civilians and guards that were all walking about, talking, and laughing at the same. He made a long way to reach the second level which had a huge market where sellers were doing their job in selling the best food to their customers. Many civilians were also entertained by the amazing constructional artwork that was made by the famous Olog architect named Ar-Kaius. Gandalf passes Ar-Kaius and meets up with Mâku, who had just finished fixing a couple of broken shields for the soldiers that came home from the war against the Umbareans. Mâku had a helmet that covered his face and was considered one of the friendliest orcs that Gondor had during the Third Age.
"Ah, Gandalf," Mâku bowed his head. "This is an unexpected honor."
"Like wise my friend," Gandalf replied with a great smile. "I'm trying to search for some answers."
"A-About what?" Mâku chuckled when he started polishing a sword.
"You are good at clearing ways, and I need your help to guide me to the Great Library of Minas Tirith," Gandalf said.
"I wish that dirty Ratbag would be the one to help you, but since he never comes back to the city occasionally, it would be an honor to help you," Mâku sighed, thus agreeing to help him. "Follow me then."
Mâku was really good in knowing the best ways for Gandalf to lead him to the Great Library of Minas Tirith. Passing through corners and passes, Mâku left Gandalf after he helped him reach his destination. Gandalf entered the library which was described to be incredibly massive. Filled with books, he quietly passes through several people who were wandering the library. He then makes his way down into the lower depths of the library and enters a small chamber filled with ancient scrolls, maps, and books. Removing his hat, he placed a number of these books and scrolls high on a wooden table and spent hours trying to search for any clues. He never fell asleep, instead he lit his pipe and pulled out a great sheath of old papers. Gandalf was a bit frustrated in trying to find these answers, but that was when his eyes settle on an old parchment. Gandalf looked at it and read it.
The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor, and the finding of the Ring of Power. It has come to me, The One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate, for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me though I buy it with great pain. The markings on the band begin to fade. The writing, which was first as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell.
Gandalf looks at an inscription written on the page and his eyes widen upon realization. The answers were finally solved. The ring Bilbo had kept in the Shire was the One Ring that belonged to the Dark Lord. Realizing that he left in the Shire under the care of Frodo Baggins, he feared that the young hobbit could succumb to the corruption of Sauron's ring and become something that the world would fear.