Welcome to the Lord of the Rings lore cast, the show that explores the background of Tolkien's amazing world from the very beginning. The

The Thus the exiles of Numenor established their realms, in Arnor and in Gondor.

But ere many years had passed, it became manifest that their enemy, Sauron, had also returned.

He came in secret, as has been told, to his ancient kingdom of Mordor beyond the Ephel Duath, the mountains of shadow, and that country marched with Gondor upon the east.

There above the valley of Gorgoroth was built his fortress vast and strong.

Baradur, the dark tower.

And there was a fiery mountain in that land that the elves named Orodruin.

Indeed, for that reason Sauron had set there his dwelling long before.

For he used the fire that welled there from the heart of the earth,

in his sorceries, and in his forging.

And in the midst of the land of Mordor, he had fashioned the ruling alliance.

And it begins with Sauron retreating back to Mordor

like you heard in the intro.

And not only does he return to this land

that he has secretly been using for a very long time

and forging the ruling ring, the one at Mount Doom.

But he also creates for himself a new shape.

Remember, this goes back to the flooding and the destruction of Numenor, where he went down

with the island also.

And from that moment on, he was no longer able to create for himself a fair semblance, a fair

visage. So what he did create was dark and terrible.

It says here that now he brooded in the dark until he had wrought for himself a new shape.

...