<P> In his ongoing efforts to conquer Middle - earth, Sauron regained the allegiance of many of Morgoth's servants from the First Age, and successfully corrupted Númenor . However, in doing so, he expended a great deal of his power, and lost the ability to ever again assume a pleasing disguise . Returning to Mordor, he regained his strength, eventually capturing Minas Ithil . However, realizing that if they did not join together, Sauron would destroy both men and elves, Elendil, High - King of Arnor, and Gil - galad, High - King of Noldor, formed the Last Alliance of Men and Elves, and attacked Sauron in his fortress, Barad - dûr . The alliance was victorious, with Isildur cutting the One Ring from Sauron's hand . However, although presented with a chance to destroy the Ring forever, Isildur, already beginning to succumb to its corruption, chose not to do so . As such, although Sauron's physical form was vanquished, his spirit, bound to the Ring, survived . Some time later, Isildur was attacked and killed by a band of orcs, and the Ring was lost in the river Anduin for over two thousand years . </P> <P> Meanwhile, during the Third Age, a still weakened Sauron covertly established a stronghold at Dol Guldur . In response to this undetermined evil, the Valar sent five Maiar to Middle - earth . Taking the form of wizards, they were led by Saruman . Unsure of the origin of the evil power in Dol Guldur, the wizard Gandalf was sent to investigate . However, Sauron hid from Gandalf, waiting for four hundred years before returning . Around the same time, the One Ring was found by a Hobbit named Sméagol, who became utterly corrupted by it, living in the caves of the Misty Mountains, and physically transforming into a creature known as Gollum . For five hundred years, Gollum was consumed and corrupted by the Ring . Eventually, Gandalf was able to determine the evil presence in Dol Guldur was indeed Sauron . Gandalf reported back to the White Council, but Saruman dissuaded them from moving against Sauron . Only when he learned the One Ring may be in the vicinity of the Gladden Fields did Saruman agree to attack Sauron, hoping to find the Ring himself . The Council drove Sauron from Dol Guldur, unaware that he knew the Ring had been found . Just prior to Sauron's departure, the Ring passed to another hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who used it to assist in the victory of elves, men and dwarves at the Battle of the Five Armies . Sixty years later, Gollum was captured by orcs, and taken to Mordor, where he was tortured into revealing the owner and location of the Ring; Bilbo Baggins of the Shire . In the meantime, Bilbo had left the Shire to live in Rivendell, and upon the advice of Gandalf had (very reluctantly) given the Ring to his nephew, Frodo Baggins . With the information given him by Gollum, Sauron, still unable to take physical form, thus sent the Nazgûl to the Shire to retrieve the One Ring . Frodo, and his friends, Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin "Pippin" Took and Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck managed to escape the Shire and make it to Bree, where they encountered the ranger Aragorn, the last surviving descendent of Isildur, and rightful heir to the throne of Gondor . Aragorn vowed to protect the hobbits on their journey to Rivendell . </P> <P> After a tutorial level in which the player controls Isildur during the Battle of the Last Alliance, the game begins with Aragorn (voiced by Viggo Mortensen) stating "I am Isildur's heir . Not Isildur himself . My fate is my own ." He then rides to Helm's Deep where he awaits the attack of Saruman's army of orcs and Uruk - hai . Atop the battlements he tells Éowyn (Carole Ruggier) of his encounters with the enemy prior to his arrival . Shortly after he first met the hobbits, the group stay at Weathertop for the night, but are attacked by the Nazgûl . Aragorn successfully drives them off but not before Frodo (Elijah Wood) is stabbed by the Witch - king with a Morgul - blade . The party reach Rivendell, where Frodo is healed . The Council of Elrond then form a fellowship of nine to bring the Ring to Mordor to destroy it; Frodo (who will carry the Ring), Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli . </P> <P> Attempting to cross the mountain Caradhras, a snowstorm causes an avalanche, closing the pass . The party reluctantly decide the only way past the Misty Mountains is to go under them, via the goblin mines of Moria . They arrive at the Doors of Durin, but are attacked by the Watcher . After slaying the creature, they continue into Moria . Inside, Gimli (John Rhys - Davies) is horrified to learn that his cousin Balin is dead . In the Chamber of Mazarbul, the Fellowship finds Balin's tomb and a record of how the dwarves lost the mine to the goblins . The fellowship is then attacked by a hoard of goblins and a cave troll . The party manage to fight off their attackers and get to the exit, but on their way across the Bridge of Khazad - dûm they are confronted by a Balrog, and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape . </P>

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