Isengard

**The Council of Isengard** is a new power. The fortress itself, consisting of a ring of stone enclosing a courtyard and the shining black tower of Orthanc, was build by  Gondor in the second age to guard the Gap of Rohan and the river Isen. Its importance dwindled after Gondor granted Calenardhon to the  Rohirrim and now longer had any interest in the area, and thus the keys were willingly turned over to Saruman the White in Third Age 2759. At that time he was the great and wise leader of the White Council that opposed Sauron, but he has since fallen to jealousy and ambition. Now he seeks to make himself a great lord and rule in the manner of Sauron, though none can yet say whether he will set himself in alliance with or competition to  Mordor. Many suspect, though, that he means to claim the One Ring for himself, if he can.

## Geography

Isengard sits in Nan-Curunír, or the Wizard's Valley, at the headwaters of the river Isen. The Misty Mountians stretch far to the north and contain many orcs, some of whom may be willing to serve Saruman instead of Sauron. Wild Dunlendings bearing ancestral resentment against the Rohirrim inhabit the hills and plains to the west, and to their south the quiet fisherfolk of Enedwaith. To the east is  Rohan, currently being softened for conquest by Saruman's puppet Gríma Wormtongue. Just to their north is Fangorn forest, ripe for harvesting.

## Focus Tree

    **The Fires of Industry** branch super-speeds Isengard's economic and military development. The left-line grants civilian factories, economic buffs, and political advisors, while the right-branch grants military factories, combat buffs, and generals. "Clear the Ring of Isengard" unlocks a decision allowing Isengard to exchange wood for population in Nan-Curunír, while "Harvest Fangorn" unlocks a decision allowing Isengard to transfer wood from Fangorn to Nan-Curunír; note that this will eventually provoke the Ents to declare war.

**Speak to Beasts** grants intelligence bonuses, as well as bonuses to Trolls & Cavalry.

**Embrace the Shadow** changes the ruling ideology to Melkorite and encourages cooperation with  Mordor, while **Our Own Way** changes the ruling ideology to Conquest and allows forming The Rainbow Council faction. One of these ideologies is necessary to diplomatically puppet Isengard's neighbors or to begin wars of subjugation.

**The Rotting House Of Eorl** branch focuses on  Rohan. The left sub-branch helps Gríma become king (and thus Isengard's vassal) if Rohan's AI is not set to historical, while the other focuses aid in conquering it.

**Invite Dunlending Leader to Orthanc**, **Invite Enedwaithy leaders to Orthanc**, and **Recruit Misty Mountain Orcs** allow for the diplomatic vassalisation of Runland, Enedwaith, and Orcs of the Misty Mountains, respectively. Their decision to submit it based on relative strength, their opinion of you, and the similarity of ruling ideologies.

**Investigate the Shire** allows for the forceful vassalization of The Shire by increasing the popularity of Isengard's ruling ideology, and the final focus places Saruman (and the player, if they are playing Isengard) in control of The Shire-- useful for escaping a losing situation.

## Special Mechanics

With the correct focuses, Isengard can use decisions to exchange wood for population or trolls in Nan-Curunír, and can transfer wood from Fangorn to Nan-Curunír at the risk of enraging the Ents.

Isengard has unique decisions to add vassals to a powerful tech sharing group for political power.

If Isengard has puppets that controls at least 50% of various regions as their core territory, Isengard unlocks a powerful design company and a powerful recurring decision themed to that region. For performance reasons, this is checked monthly.

With Death of Dishonor,  Waking the Tiger, or  Together for Victory, Isengard uses custom autonomy levels that grant bonuses to research speed-- the higher the autonomy, the larger the bonus. For performance reasons, this is updated monthly.

## AI Paths

Isengard's AI has two sets of behavior that the player can choose between in the "Game Rules" menu before starting a campaign.

### Historical

Isengard will focus on their development branch, taking breaks to found the Rainbow Council faction & vassalize Dunland. Isengard will start a border war with  Rohan and mortally wound Prince Théodred in October 3017, and invade Rohan in February 3018. It will subdue The Shire, and Saruman will escape there if he is reduced to Orthanc.

### Melkorite

This is the same as historical, except that Isengard will join  Mordor's The Shadow faction; this results in Rohan becoming involved in the wider war much sooner.