Surgax

Surgax,or Surgax Ukog,was the stronghold of the Asharag in the hills east of the Cirith Auris (S. "Hot-cleft Pass"). The site was a fortified mountain cleft, with tunnels cut into both sides of the precipitous basalt cliffs. A twenty-foot high wall spanned the opening into the crag; the only entry was through a 9' x 9' iron door which opened inwardly and could be reinforced by a thirty-ton stone. (This enormous rock could be moved on great oak rollers in a remarkably short time.) Along the inner face of the guard wall were ramparts from which the Orcs could mount a defense. This position was further protected by positions set some sixty feet up into the cliffside. Two cave chambers, each accessible by winding passages from the cleft below, overlooked their respective sides of the wall below. The only way up to the stronghold from the the valley below was by way of a severely sloped, 9' wide switchback road. Stores for three months could be kept in the cool, ice-lined ware chambers, and a fortune of nearly 3,000 gp in precious metals, coins, and jewels was locked in the treasure hold. A small gold mine was reputedly nearby. Continual income was a necessity, for like all the local Orc tribes in the region, some tribute was always bound for the chambers beneath Mt. Gundabad.