Isengards

Isengard is a fictional fortress located in the northwestern region of Middle-earth, a fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is situated at the southern end of the Misty Mountains, guarding the Gap of Rohan. The fortress itself is a circular, seemingly impenetrable wall of stone, with a single, massive tower known as Orthanc at its center. Orthanc is an ancient structure made of a black, unbreakable material, rising to a great height and possessing four spires.

Initially, Isengard was a stronghold of the people of Gondor, intended as a defense against enemies from the north. It was placed under the guardianship of the Istari, wizards sent to aid the free peoples of Middle-earth. The wizard Saruman, chief of the Istari, took up residence in Orthanc and eventually declared Isengard his own domain.

Under Saruman's control, Isengard was transformed from a place of defense into a center of industry and war. He began to dig and mine beneath the fortress, creating a vast underground complex where he forged weapons and bred his Uruk-hai. The surrounding lands were defiled, and the trees were felled to fuel his furnaces. Saruman's ambition and his alliance with the Dark Lord Sauron turned Isengard into a significant threat to the free peoples.

The history of Isengard is marked by its eventual fall. After Saruman's treachery was revealed, the fortress was attacked and overthrown by the Ents, ancient tree-like creatures of Fangorn Forest. The wall was breached, the tower of Orthanc remained standing, and the surrounding lands were flooded. Although Saruman was eventually expelled, Isengard remained a scarred and desolate place, a testament to his corrupting influence.