Dúrnost

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Non-canon alert The subject of this article originates from non-canonical sources. To learn about what is considered "canon", see LOTR:Canon.

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Dúrnost at the dawn of the Second Age

Dúrnost was the name given to a fortress in Forodwaith once used by Sauron.

History

Built at an unknown time prior to the Second Age, Dúrnost came to be occupied by Sauron and many Orcs, some of whom were followers of the fallen Elf Adar. It was here that Sauron carried out a number of arcane experiments in which he sought to harness the power of the Unseen world, though none proved to be successful. These experiments came at the cost of many Orc-lives, which angered Adar and incited him to turn on Sauron during his attempted coronation, mortally wounding him with Morgoth's iron crown. His dying spirit released a wave of energy that covered the area, and turned it into a bitterly cold environment. This betrayal took Sauron possibly centuries to fully recover from, slowly rebuilding his physical form.

The fortress as seen by Galadriel

The fortress lay undisturbed for many years thereafter, until a small company of Elves led by Galadriel discovered the place, searching for signs of Sauron's whereabouts. Galadriel discovered the remnants of Sauron's experiments within, including an anvil inscribed with his sigil (actually a map depicting where he could be found), before her company was attacked by a snow-troll.

Behind the scenes

The fortress first appeared in the premiere episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season One, though it was not named. It was created for the series, and as such is non-canonical.

Appearances

• The Rings of Power – "A Shadow of the Past"
• The Rings of Power – "Elven Kings Under the Sky"