MERP

First Edition (First Printing)

Product: The Tower of Cirith Ungol and Shelobs Lair
Stock #: 8030
Producer: Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE)
Designers: Jeff McKeage, Peter Fenlon,
John Ruemmler, Coleman Charlton, Terry
Amthor, Chris Christensen and Bruce
Neidlinger.
Release date: 1984
Category: Middle-earth Series Adventure
Module
Format:
Shrink-wrapped
Sourcebook
(Saddle-stapled softcover ANSI A, 31 pages;
Stock # 8030) with a full-color map of the
north-western part of Mordor.

Comments: This adventure module set in the generic MERP game time T.A. 1640 describes
the passageway which leads to Mordor through Minas Ithil and the dark fortress of Cirith
Ungol, which also hosts the giant spiders lair in its vicinity. The module follows the same
structure as the previous ones and begins with abbreviations, definitions, map keys and
conversion rules, before it presents an overview
description of the land, plants and animals,
including the giant spiders. Then follows three
chapters on the politics, physical overview and
operations of the land, its history, Gondor and
Minas Ithil (including its garrison, prominent
figures and prices table), the various Orc Tribes, the
Tower of Cirith Ungol, and Shelob the Great, that
terrifying spider and her lair (Torech Ungol) as
described by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the
Rings, who is described in detail for use in the
game by the Gamemaster. Then follows a chapter
describing possible adventures filled with valuable
information for the GM, such as floorplans for the
various places of interst, tables for NPCs and
encounter tables. One adventure centers on Cirit
Ungol, another one of Cirit Ungol and Shelobs
Lair, a two more only on Shelobs Lair (of which
one is set in the beginning of the Fourth Age). The
module ends with a section dealing with a list of magical items, tables of NPCs, poisons and
rotten things (!), and enchanted or potent substances. This module presents much background
information to flesh out the area of the two keeps in detail. In total, the book contains one
major full color map, three major and seven lesser floorplans.