See also: Dol Guldur (Biome).
Dol Guldur is an evil Orcish faction that infests the Dol Guldur biome in southern Mirkwood. They are the leftover forces of Sauron which he bred while he inhabited the dark fortress until he was driven out by the White Council and made his abode in Mordor instead. In these latter days Sauron's evil Dol Guldur Orcs and the spawn of Ungoliant are rapidly multiplying once again and spreading into neighboring lands. The forces of Dol Guldur represent the source of all corruption in the forest of Mirkwood, and their sinister urge to conquer directly contrasts the tranquil seclusion of their counterpart faction: the Wood-elves, of whom they are the bitterest of foes.
The Dol Guldur faction in the mod is made up of Dol Guldur Orcs, Mirkwood Spiders, and Mirk-trolls, giant iron-clad creatures bred by Sauron. This is one of the weakest and least-extensive Orc factions, though their forces are still quite fearsome indeed, especially when backed by the Mirk-trolls, their most powerful units. Yet they do not use Orc bombs; nor do they have Uruks or Wargs, having allied with Spiders instead.
History[]
Dol Guldur was originally known as Amon Lanc ("Bald Hill") in Greenwood the Great. It had been the capital of Oropher's Silvan Elves. However, these fled in the Second Age, when Easterlings and Orcs began to assail and invade the woods. These bands were responsible for breaking the League of Rhovanion and, later, the slaying of Isildur and his men.
Sometime after T.A. 1000, an evil presence took over Amon Lanc. It was in 1050 that a shadow fell upon Greenwood, and it began to be known as Mirkwood. A hostile entity was said to have taken refuge there, known as the "Necromancer" by the men of the Vale. Thranduil of the Elves led his people from the Emyn Duir the Forest River, where they remained. The forest became infected with Orcs, spirits, and the spawn of Ungoliant.
The White Council had long feared the Necromancer in Dol Guldur might be a Nazgûl. In T.A. 2063, Gandalf went to Dol Guldur as a spy, and the Necromancer, not yet powerful enough to face him, fled to the East. After four centuries in T.A. 2460 the Necromancer returned there. Dol Guldur became a base for the Balchoth, who continued to invade the Vale of Anduin, slaying kin of the Northmen and ambushing the scouts of Cirion. In T.A. 2510, when Eorl the Young was leading his riders to the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, he steered his force westward to avoid the shadow of Dol Guldur, and they were hidden by the mists of Lórien.
A black fir-wood under nightshade.
In T.A. 2845 Thráin II, King of Durin's Folk-in-exile and holder of the last of the Seven Rings, was captured near the eaves of Mirkwood, then imprisoned and tortured in Dol Guldur's dungeons. His Ring was taken from him and brought to the Dark Lord. In 2850 the wizard Gandalf confirmed that the Necromancer, the master of Dol Guldur, was the Dark Lord returned.
The fortress on the heights.
Gandalf returned to the White Council and urged an attack on Dol Guldur, but was overruled by Saruman, who secretly had begun searching for the One Ring in the area by then. In T.A. 2941 Saruman finally agreed to an attack. During the battle, the Dark Lord withdrew to Mordor, as he had already planned to do. However, the White Council successfully disrupted the Dark Lord's plans for an assault on Lórien, Rivendell, and Eriador. In 2951, Dol Guldur was reoccupied by Khamûl, the second chief of the Nine, and two other Nazgûl, and prepared for war once again.
Dol Guldur, the Hill of Sorcery, remains shrouded in mirk and shadow, clad in black fir that let in no light of day. None go near it, not even the Elves, for it is still a very evil place, returned from destruction with power sevenfold. The Orcs thither await the orders of Khamûl, who will burn all the woods to the ground and drive all the Men and Elves of Rhovanion before him. To him also come cruel Balchoth out of the East, and under his command lie great spiders of the Wood and spirits of Elder Days. There will be night in Rivendell, and savage swords in Eriador!
Locations[]
The forces of the hill of sorcery largely concentrate around their stronghold. The Spiders of Dol Guldur also spawn throughout Mirkwood, even in the northern reaches at night. Mirk-trolls only spawn in the Dol Guldur biome and in invasions. Dol Guldur Orcs also spawn in Wilderland, East Bight, and the Mirkwood Mountains, but only at night (aside from caves, in which they spawn day and night). In all biomes except Dol Guldur, like most Orcs, they are subject to weakness and slowness during the day. Dol Guldur Orcs can also be found in Orc dungeons in these biomes, and locked up in cells in Wood-Elven Towers in Northern Mirkwood.
Alignment[]
The Orcs and spiders of Dol Guldur are almost universally hated. They are neutral with the evil factions from far-off lands and only allies with Angmar and Mordor. They are also friendly towards Gundabad.
Ranks of Dol Guldur:
- Enemy (-)
- Stranger (+0)
- Mirkwood Thrall (+10)
- Mirkwood Servant (+50)
- Mirkwood Brigand (+100)
- Mirkwood Torchbearer (+200)
- Mirkwood Despoiler (+500)
- Dol Guldur Captain (+1000)
- Khamûl's Lieutenant (+2000)
Inter-faction relations for Dol Guldur (DOL_GULDUR)
| Allies |
Friends |
Neutral |
Enemies |
Mortal Enemies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Angmar •Mordor |
•Gundabad | •Dunland •Half-trolls •Isengard •Morwaith •Near Harad •Rhúdel •Taurethrim |
None | •Blue Mountains •Bree-land •Dale •Dorwinion •Dúnedain of the North •Durin's Folk •Fangorn •Gondor •High Elves •Hobbits •Lothlórien •Rohan •Woodland Realm |
Sphere of influence[]
Dol Guldur's Sphere of Influence is centred around their stronghold atop Amon Lanc, as well as the home of their enemies, the Wood-elves.
Dol Guldur's area of influence
Invasions[]
Dol Guldur invasions summon (in decreasing order of rarity) spiders, Orcs, archers, Mirk-trolls and banner bearers. They spawn in the following areas:
Conquest[]
Conquerable biomes[]
Dol Guldur, Mirkwood, Woodland Realm, Grey Mountains, Vales of Anduin, Gladden Fields, Lothlórien, Field of Celebrant, Rohan, Fangorn, Long Marshes, Dale, Erebor, Wilderland (including northern), East Bight and Dorwinion.
Ally aids only[]
Angmar, Ettenmoors, Coldfells, Misty Mountains, Forodwaith, Lone-lands, Trollshaws, The Angle, Rivendell, Midgewater, Bree-land, Barrow-downs, Eriador, Old Forest, The Shire, Blue Mountains, Lindon, Minhiriath, Swanfleet, Eregion, Mordor, Iron Hills, Rhúdel, Dagorlad, Nindalf, Emyn Muil, Ithilien, Gondor (and all its sub-biomes), White Mountains, Harondor, Tolfalas, Harnennor, Southron Coasts, Far Harad, Taur-i-Thorogrim and Perdorogwaith.
NPCs[]
- Dol Guldur Orc - The basic foot soldiers of Dol Guldur.
- Dol Guldur Orc Archer - Ranged units of Dol Guldur.
- Dol Guldur Banner Bearer - Standard bearers for the hill of sorcery.
- Dol Guldur Orc Chieftain - Commanders of evil, found at the top of mighty towers.
- Dol Guldur Orc Trader - Sly fellows armed with poisoned daggers and economics.
- Mirkwood Spider - The scourge of the Greenwood.
- Mirk-troll - Mighty creatures related to the Olog-hai of Mordor.
Structures[]
- Dol Guldur Orc Camp - Encampments of Orcs found in the Wilderland.
- Dol Guldur Spider Pit - Foul breeding pts of Ungoliant.
- Dol Guldur Altar - Mysterious monuments of sorcery, decorated with torches and home to a Dol Guldur crafting table.
- Dol Guldur Tower - Intimidating structures home to a Dol Guldur Orc Chieftain.
Items[]
Dol Guldur crafting table - A block used to craft many Dol Guldur items.- Banner of Dol Guldur - The standard of Dol Guldur, depicting its namesake.
- Dol Guldur Brick - The dark, purplish building material used throughout Dol Guldur.
- Dol Guldur Equipment - The weapons and tools used by the armies of Dol Guldur.
- Dol Guldur Armour - Dark armour for a dark army.
 The Regiments of Dol Guldur 
|
|
Orc (Archer, Banner Bearer) •
Olog-hai •
Spider
|
|
The Westlands:
Angmar •
Blue Mountains •
Bree-land •
Dale •
Dol Guldur •
Dúnedain of the North Rhûn:
Harad:
Half-Trolls • Morwaith • Near Harad • Taurethrim The Deeps of the Earth:
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