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LotR Amon Sûl, the Weathertop

The strategic importance of Weathertop Hill was recognized early on, as during the first days of the North Kingdom, the Dúnedain of Arnor slightly flattened its conical summit in order to build the Tower of Amon Sûl upon it. The Stone of Amon Sûl, the most powerful of Arnor's three palantíri was installed within the watch-tower. This palantír further enhanced Weathertop Hill's value, as it could be used for intelligence gathering and rapid communication with the King in Annúminas, or later in Fornost Erain. It is said that in SA 3431, Elendil and Gil-galad created their Last Alliance against Sauron on Weathertop Hill, though it is unknown if they were inside the watch-tower or outside the watch-tower when they did.

In TA 861, after After King Eärendur passed away and Arnor was divided into Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur, the Tower of Amon Sûl upon Weathertop Hill was desired by all three of his sons due to the palantír within the watch-tower. Nonetheless, during this time, the Tower of Amon Sûl may have changed hands on several occasions.

In TA 1409, the forces of the Witch-king attacked Weathertop Hill, burned the watch-tower, and destroyed the fortifications on and around it. King Arveleg I was slain in the defense of the Tower of Amon Sûl alongside, or concurrent with, the last prince of Cardolan; the remaining Dúnedain of Arthedain were able to secure and save the Stone of Amon Sûl before retreating to their capital, Fornost Erain.

By the time of the Great War of the Ring many centuries later, only a ring of broken stonework remained of the Tower of Amon Sûl atop Weathertop Hill. The Bree-landers paid little heed to it, and it faded into obscurity.

On October 3 of TA 3018, Gandalf and Shadowfax were discreetly stalked by the Ringwraiths until the night of October 3, when he was attacked by six or nine of them, including the Witch King, inside the Tower of Amon Sûl. Gandalf left a message on a cairn while putting up a fiery battle against them. Frodo Baggins and Aragorn saw a glimpse of the lights of that battle from their camp in the Midgewater Marshes. The Witch King, Khamûl, and three others remained, watching the watch-tower and waiting for the Ring Bearer to come for two days thereafter. On October 6, Aragorn, Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took arrived at the Tower of Amon Sûl from the north, discovering the cairn with the message. They made camp in a dell below the watch-tower, and that evening, Aragorn sang to the hobbits of the tale of Tinúviel. At dusk, the five Ringwraiths who had been awaiting the Ring-bearer ascended Weathertop Hill to attack them. During the skirmish below the watch-tower, Frodo received his everlasting wound from the Morgul-knife of the Witch-king. As Frodo suffered from the spell of the wound, they rode hastily away from Weathertop Hill the next day, but were soon pursued again by the Nazgûl. After fourteen days, they reached and crossed the Ford of Bruinen with Glorfindel, and were free of the Ringwraiths' pursuit.


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I recommend to play this on Hard/Very Hard :)