Gundabad

[[File:Gundabad.jpg|thumb|The three Peaks of Gundabad]][[File:Gundabad2.jpg|thumb|Cross section of Gundabad]]

'''Mount Gundabad''' (Kh."Royal Hewing" - Gunduzbad) faced the peak [[Ugtilai]] across the [[Den Loke]], the gap between the [[Hithaeglir]] and the [[Ered Mithrin]]. It was the place of the Awakening of the [[Longbeards]] until [[Skorg]] the dread conquered the city and founded the Orc-realm under the mountain,having approached the [[Dragon Gap]] from the

north and having driven his band through howling blizzards in the [[Forodwaith]].

== CHRONOLOGY ==

=== '''First Age''' ===

{| class="article-table"

!Year

!Event(s)

|-

|520

|After the defeat of his last remaining enemy kingdom (Gondolin), Morgoth turns his thoughts on securing a stronghold for the future destruction of all other enemies of his domination. He deems Gundabad a prime candidate, which opens a road from the Northwest into Rhovanion and beyond. He entrusts his most capable underlings with the mission.

|-

|527

|After seven years of preparation his forces are ready and march against the dwarven citadel. As a means of securing the place after its capture, the Evil One’s general has with him the [[Ulûkai]], an evil artefact crafted by Morgoth and possessing some of his foul spirit.

|-

|529

|In the second year of the campaign, the Dwarves are decisively defeated and Mount Gundabad is taken. The

Naugrim however are able to conceal and seal their sacred halls before the orcs breach the defences. Soon after

the capture, construction of the dungeon complex with the Chamber of the [[Ulûkai]] begins.

|-

|541

|The orcish chieftain [[Mukarg]] is made ruler of Mount Gundabad when the majority of the forces are withdrawn to [[Thangorodrim]] to halt the invasion of the Host of Valinor in [[Beleriand]]. With skill he is able to ward off any dwarven attempts to re-conquer the city.

|}

=== '''Second Age''' ===

{| class="article-table"

!Year

!Event(s)

|-

|ca. 40

|Knowledge of the [[Ulûkai]] is lost with the violent death of [[Mukarg]] and his orcs when the Dwarves re-take their city. It does however act as a subtle attractor for evil creatures. Consequently, trouble with them never really ceases for the Dwarves of Mount Gundabad in the future.

|-

|ca. 10 - 250

|The Dwarves have to fight great numbers of fleeing orcs from the remnants of Morgoth’s armies. Hereby they make alliance with local mannish groups. The ferocity and persistence of the orcish attacks upon this region is partially caused by the influence of the [[Ulûkai]]. After the defeat of the Orcs the region is safe again but the power of the [[Ulûkai]] is an underlying menace waiting for its reactivation at the right moment.

|-

|ca. 250 -

1693

|The alliance of [[Durin’s Folk]] and their [[Northman]] allies flourish. The [[Hithaeglir]] south to [[Lorinand]], the [[Ered Mithrin]], [[Erebor]] and [[Emyn Engrin]] are Dwarf-territory, whereas all adjacent lands (Vales of the [[Anduin]], lands

south of the Ered Mithrin and west of the Emyn Engrin) are considered lands of their mannish allies. The Men provide foodstuffs, husbandry, animals and mounted warriors while the Dwarves contribute their marvellous works of craftsmanship, finished products and the finest heavy infantry. The relationship sometimes even grows into friendship between the two people.

|-

|1693

|The [[War of Sauron and the Elves]] begins and [[Sauron]] dispatches a considerable force of orcs to secure the northern routes over the [[Misty Mountains]]. Leader of this host is the brilliant orcish general [[Skorg]].

The skill of Skorg combined with a few sorcerers dispatched from Sauron soon give him complete control of his forces and forms the mass of goblins into a quite capable and effective fighting machine. The relative vicinity of Sauron wearing the [[One Ring]] further motivates the Orcs to an unheard-of discipline.

Seeing the strength of the Northman cavalry Skorg is also given the service of a sizable force of mannish cavalry from territories under Sauron’s control. Prepared in this manner he marches to battle with the Dwarf-Northman alliance. The latter have mustered their forces as well and meet their foes in the field rather than waiting for them to come and forsaking the initiative.

|-

|1964

|The first year of the campaign sees only a few minor clashes while both sides try to outmanoeuvre the other. The only major engagement is inconclusive and doesn’t change the overall situation.

|-

|1965

|Sauron invades [[Eregion]]. [[Gil-galad]] sends [[Elrond]] to Eregion. In the North the war becomes a stalemate.

Sauron’s forces, headquartered in the eastern Emyn Engrin wait for their chance to crush the well-organized defence.

|-

|1969

|Skorg recognizes the importance of better intelligence and sends out scouts to prepare for the great assault he knows will come. The whole year passes with the preparations.

|-

|1967

|Finally Sauron is able to decisively breach the elven defence in Eriador. Eregion is laid to waste. [[Celebrimbor]] slain. Elronds army is caught by Sauron’s forces and in danger of being overwhelmed. Just in this moment a

dwarven army from [[Khazad-dûm]] accompanied by Elves from Lorinand fall upon Sauron’s rear. Elrond perceives his chance and is able to extricate his forces from Sauron’s encirclement (although with heavy

losses). Furious, Sauron turns towards the Dwarves and defeats them in a few minor engagements. Their host is able to retreat to Khazad-dûm in good order with only minimal losses. The gates of Moria are shut.

Elrond retreats with remnants of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.

To enable this attack upon Sauron’s army Durin III of Khazad-dûm is forced to thin out his forces in the North. Skorg perceives his chance and attacks with great strength. Because of his thorough planning, treachery and sheer numbers he is able to overwhelm the defenders in a great [[battle at the Narrows]] between [[Greenwood]] and the Ered Mithrin. The remaining Dwarves retreat to the main citadel at Mount Gundabad with the remnants of their allies’ forces while the remaining Northmen (mostly the old, women and children) are scattered throughout the land. The siege of Gundabad is begun.

|-

|1699

|In the west Sauron overruns Eriador. At Mount Gundabad Skorg is able to gain access into the city by means

of a secret passage revealed by a traitor (the name of this Dwarf is cursed among the Naugrim and not known to other races). The valiant defenders are slain to the man. The holy halls of the Naugrim are so well protected by enchantments and clever craftsmanship that the orcs are unable to enter them. These protective measures were undertaken for just this worst case when the war began. Skorg appoints himself as Ruler of the North. The Ered Mithrin and Hithaeglir are secured by the founding of Orc-strongholds along

all strategic locations. The most prominent of these new orc settlements is [[Goblin-gate]] at the [[High Pass]] above [[Imladris]].

|-

|1700

|[[Tar-Minastir]] sends a great navy from [[Númenor]] to [[Lindon]]. Sauron is defeated at the [[Lune]] and then again at [[Sarn Ford]] and [[Tharbad]].

|-

|1701

|Sauron is driven out of Eriador: The Westlands have peace for a long while. The orcs still rule in Mount Gundabad however. Skorg is able to ward off all dwarven counterattacks. The reason behind this is simple:

Mount Gundabad being the only major conquest not lost after Sauron’s defeat in Eriador is strengthened by the Dark Lord with what forces are left at his disposal. The ancient dwarven alliance with the Northmen is gone beyond revival with the destruction of most mannish settlements and the killing of their inhabitants.

This situation keeps the Dwarves constantly plotting for revenge against the goblins. They start

reconnaissance missions instead of fruitless assaults. Eventually the Dwarves are able to establish communication with slaves of the [[Goblin King]]. This gives them good intelligence of the situation in Mount Gundabad.

|-

|1750

|In order to show his power Skorg orders the building of a new gate as the main entrance into Mount Gundabad. This is later known as the [[Drake Gate]]. The old dwarven entrance is abandoned.

|-

|1930

|Skorg dies. He is the only orcish ruler of Mount Gundabad to die non-violently. After his death he is entombed in a hidden dungeon complex (by chance near to that of the still lost Ulûkai). Constant power struggles over his succession weaken the Orcs’ strength.

|-

|1932

|Perceiving their chance, Durin’s tribe assembles his forces and an army from Khazad-dûm marches northward, surprises the Orcs and is able to breach the defences by the intelligence gathered about the orcish installations in the past and aided by a revolt of the orcs’ slaves.

The remnants of the Orcish population retreat to the surviving orc-holds in the Ered Mithrin and wait for a chance to re-claim Mount Gundabad. The [[Crypt of Skorg]] remains undetected however.

Once again the site of Awakening of the [[Longbeards]] is in dwarven hands. The orcish infestation of the Hithaeglir and Ered Mithrin cannot be removed completely though. And there is a price to this victory: As we are told in the [[Silmarillion]] the Seven Rings of the Dwarves have a malevolent influence on their wearers

(though not according to Sauron’s original intentions). This is also true for Durin’s Ring. The power and wealth of Khazad-dûm reaches unheard-of heights in this time but the Naugrim become more jealous and reclusive.

Additionally their number begins to dwindle. Slowly at first but it is felt nonetheless. From that time onward Mount Gundabad is still revered as a sacred site but the number of its inhabitants remains relatively small because of the King’s decision to use his resources primarily otherwise (clearly an effect of Durin’s ring). They remain vigilant however and are able to repulse any attacks the orcs make.

The new orcish installations (like the Drake Gate) are sealed and/or demolished as far as possible to reestablish the original dwarven character of the place.

The rest of the Second Age Mount Gundabad remains in dwarven hands though the influence of [[Durin’s Ring]] in Moria and the Ulûkai in Gundabad slowly erodes the Naugrim’s strength in Gundabad over the years and enables the orcs to hold other settlements (e.g. like Goblin-gate). There are still meetings of delegations of all the dwarven tribes in Gundabad, though less frequently than in past times.

|-

|3429 - 3441

|[[War of the Last Alliance|The War of the Last Alliance]] weakens the orcish strength in the northern mountains seriously. Their remaining elite warriors are killed at the disaster of the Gladden Fields. The northern lands are free from the orc menace for long years although they cannot be evicted totally from the Mountains. The power of Durin’s House is also weakened through the losses of war (even though they did not participate with their full force).

|}

=== '''Third Age''' ===

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!Event(s)

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=== '''Fourth Age''' ===

After Sauron’s fall and the general decline of evil influences, the permanent re-capture of Gundabad by the Dwarves becomes possible. It is up to each GM to decide if and when this happens.

The Fourth Age information in The Heirs of Elessar and the Forth Age in Other Minds, Issue 91 might be a good starting point for such a scenario. The following information is compatible withthat article.

{| class="article-table"

!Year

!Event(s)

|-

|70

|Capture of Gundabad by a great alliance of Men and Dwarves. The Wizard [[Radagast]] plays a pivotal role in detecting an underlying evil influence here. [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] are instrumental in locating and removing the [[Ulûkai]] from its ancient resting place.

|-

|325 - 329

|In the [[Second War of the Dwarves with the Orcs]], Gundabad is an important staging and supply point for the Naugrim’s forces. It ends with the final re-capturing of Moria.

|-

|925

|With the emergence of [[Durin VII]] a final era of glory begins both for Gundabad as well as for Durin’s House in general. Within the next 10 years, the last remnants of orcish pockets are cleaned from both the Hithaeglir and most of the Grey Mountains.

|-

|1399

|Warriors of Gundabad take place in the storming of the last orc strongholds in the eastern Ered Mithrin. In the following centuries, the Dwarves take less and less part in the affairs of men. The time has finally come for the Naugrim to make place for the Secondborn.

|-

|ca. 2150

|Last known contact with the Dwarves; presumably in the Gundabad area.

|}

==Mount Gundabad in TA 1650==

*Political Organization: Subject state (of [[Angmar]]), Autocracy (Dictatorship).

*Rulers: [[Zalg]], The [[Ashdurbuk]],High Chief of Gundabad.[[Hurog]], Warlord of the [[Cloven Spire]].[[Bralg]], Warlord of the [[Twisted Spire]].

*Administrative Organization: Brutal repression keeps the [[Orcs]] (and their [[slaves]]) in line. The High Chieftaincy usually goes to the strongest of the descendants of the Seed of [[Skorg]]. Raw favoritism determines the recipients of the most lucrative offices. The High Chief claims all property as his own, but hoarding is very common among the Orcs.

*Population: 12.600 Orcs, 39 [[Trolls]]. 2.400 Slaves.

*Military: 5,800 Orcish [[Warriors]].220 [[Uruks]].20 Trolls.500 [[Wargs]].

*Products: [[Iron]], [[nickel]], slaves.

*Symbol: The Triple Peaks of Gundabad on a Red Field.

Where the chain of the [[Misty Mountains]]abuts the

heights of the [[Grey Mountains]], the [[Goblin|Goblinrace makesits]]

capital. In the [[First Age]], Orcish refugees from the destruction

of [[Angband]] made the

triple peaked mountain their

base from which they would

carry out the legacy of

[[Morgoth]]'s hatred of the [[Free

Peoples]], and it has been a

gruesome model of Orcish

society ever since. Orcish

politics are as primitive as

the rest of their society. Few

tribal [[chieftain]] outside of

the Mountain acknowledge

the Ashdurbuk as their

overlord without a [[blade]] at

their throat. Any tribute

collected by the Lord of

Gundabad comes to him through the brute force of his

[[collector]]s and not through his authority as the lord of all

Orcs. However, no Orc-[[lord]] is greater than he, and he

maintains order within his realm better than any lesser

chieftain, so it is understandable that Gundabad be considered

the center of Orcish power.

In fact, while Mount Gundabad is the focus for Orcish

authority, it in turn is but a fief of Angmar's empire.

Though the [[Witch-king]] allows the Lord of Gundabad

freedom during peace time, he expects the Orcs of the

Mountain to follow his every command when he makes

his final assault on [[Arthedain]]. Though the Ashdurbuk

understands his role, relations between [[Carn Dûm]] and

Gundabad are nonetheless strained, and many an unfortunate

messenger between the two realms lies

dead. To add to the current Ashdurbuk's worries,

both of his sons, warlords in their own

rights, hope to claim their father's throne. The

Ashdurbuk is careful to show no signs of weakness,

lest his sons usurp the right to rule.

Life within the Mountain is nasty, brutish,

and short, factions among the Orcs fight with

one another, vying for power in Gundabads'

violent hierarchy. By Orcish standards, weak

individuals deserve death, and victors deserve authority.

The system is crude, but it works well enough for the

Ashdurbuk to organize mining and smithing efforts into

viable industries. Slave labor forms the basis for the Orcs'

economy, which requires the constant supervision of

Orcish overseers. Gundabad exports enough ores and

finished [[metal]] products to Angmar to exchange for [[food]]

that cannot be grown in the depths. However, the Orcs

simply rake most of the items

they desire, either from other Orc tribes or from the [[Northmen]] foolhardy or unfortunate enough to live in

Gundabads shadow.

==Places of Note:==

'''The Deeps''':

'''Dúrin's Womb''':

'''Dwarven City Ruins''':

*Central Residences

*Entrance Hall

*Northwestern Forge

*Main Gate

*Marketplace

*Northern Residences

*Southeastern Residences

*Southern Residences

*Southwestern Residences

'''Entrace Hall''':

[[Crypt of Skorg]]

[[Drake Gate]]

==Rulers of Gundabad:==

===Dwarven Kings:===

*[[Dúrin I]] -Awoke at Gundabad after Y.T. 1050, later moved his tribe to [[Khazad-dûm]]

*[[Thulur]] - King of Gundabad in F.A. 529, defeated by [[Mukarg]]

*[[Dúrin V]] - reconquered Gundabad at the end of the Second and beginning of the Third Age

*[[Rugi]] - Dwarven King who ruled Gundabad until 1267 he and the Dragon [[Ichashu]] killing each other.

===Goblin-Kings:===

*[[Mukarg]] - about SA 587

*[[Skorg]] - until SA 1699-1930

*[[Brok of Gundabad]] - SA 1930-2230

*[[Morgh]] - SA 2230-2500

*[[Sark]] - SA 2500-2750

*[[Brak]] - SA 2750-3050

*[[Morghash]] - SA 3050-3325

*[[Grimtok]] - SA 3325-3441

*[[Balcog]] - after TA 1267

*[[Zalg]] - about TA 1650

*[[Bralg]] -after TA 1650

*[[Gorkil]] - until TA 1975

*[[Azog the Defiler]] - 1975 - TA 2799

*[[Gordúf]] - after TA 2799

*[[Bolg the Strong]] - about TA 2941

*[[Gorzûl]] - about 3019

==Characters:==

'''Orcs''':

Akargin [[Akargun]] [[Azog the Defiler]] [[Balcog]] [[Baltog]] [[Bolg the Strong]] [[Bolg the Younger]] [[Bralg the insane]] [[Fimbul]] [[Ghardak]] [[Gorduf]] [[Gorkil]] [[Gorzul]] [[Grachuk]] [[Hurog]] [[Karagat]] [[Lagbug]] [[Lughorn]] [[Lunul]] [[Mauthak]] [[Mukarg]] [[Obad]] [[Saviga]] [[Skorg]] [[Uglag]] [[Urzog]] [[Yazneg]] [[Zalg]] [[Zarbag]]

'''Dwarves''': [[Dirn]]

'''Men:''' [[Barlof]] [[Fylaric]] [[Voisiol]]

'''Trolls:''' [[Thob]]

==Artefacts:==

[[Ulûkai]]

==References:==

*Other Minds Magazine, issue 21, August 2019, article: ''The history of Mount Gundabad'' - '''revision for MERP: Mount Gundabad'''

*MERP: Mount Gundabad

[[Category:Fortress]]

[[Category:delving]]