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Nordinbad as it appears in War in the North
Nordinbad is a location in the game The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. It is a Dwarven fortress hidden deep within the Grey Mountains, providing isolation and refuge for the Dwarves of Durin's Folk who have inhabited it since before the Dwarves fled the Grey Mountains. They lived around an underground lake known as Azan-zâram.
Gorin of the Longbeards was the Lord of Nordinbad.
History[]
The great underground lake of Azan-zâram
Centuries before the War of the Ring, the great-great grandsire of Lord Gorin, discovered the caves in which dwelt the hidden lake that would be called Azan-zâram. He chose to lead some of his kin there and over the course of many years, they slowly built the hall that they would name, Nordinbad. Though Nordinbad was never wealthy in gold or jewels, the inhabitants considered it to be rich in beauty. So they took great care to enhance and preserve this beauty and to never defile it.
When the Dragons came down from the north and attacked the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains, all Dwarven halls but Nordinbad were either lost or abandoned and since then it has remained the only settlement of Dwarves in the Grey Mountains. Due to their few numbers and defenses, they have maintained the security of their home by keeping it hidden from outsiders, even their own kind. Despite this secrecy, they still recognized Dáin II Ironfoot as their king, even though he wasn’t aware of their existence.
In the Third Age, during the War of the Ring, Agandaûr, the Right Hand of Sauron, gatherd armies of Orcs all over the north, as well as Goblins, Trolls, and several other foul things. Agandaûr eventually arrived at Nordinbad under parley, and tells them to turn over the fortress to him and he will spare them. The Dwarves refuse. Angered, Agandaûr warns them that they will all be destroyed by the fiery doom that awaits them. And so he declared war on Nordinbad, as well as all other Free Folk in the North of Middle-earth.
When Agandaûr was gathering Orcs at Mount Gundabad, the Dwarves led by prince Nordri go to activate an ancient weapon deep within the mountain itself. With the help of three warriors set out from Rivendell named Eradan, Farin and Andriel, Nordri and his friend Bruni are able to activate this weapon, killing many Orcs. With the help of the Great Eagle Beleram, as well as his companions Baranthor and Armenel, the heroes are able to escape and return to Nordinbad.
There, Lord Gorin rewards Eradan, Andriel and Farin for their help, and tells them of their negotiations with Agandaûr. When they mention the 'fiery doom', Gorin feared that he referred to a dragon who lives in the mountains eastward named Úrgost. Farin, Eradan and Andriel set out to find the wizard Radagast the Brown in Mirkwood to see if he can help them find where Úrgost is based.
During the heroes' quest to find the dragon, Agandaûr lays siege to Nordinbad. The Dwarves are hit hard, with many killed or wounded. Gorin is wounded and Nordri's friend Bruni is killed. Eradan, Farin and Andriel return and deal with the remaining forces of Agandaûr: Orcs, Uruk-hai, goblins, Trolls and Men of Carn Dum. Beleram is injured badly, whilst Baranthor and Armenel are killed.
When the battle ends, Eradan, Andriel and Farin receive a reward from Gorin for saving Nordinbad. They then set out to end Agandaûr for good at his stronghold of Carn Dûm, the former fortress of the Witch-king and part of their bargain with Úrgost.
Eventually, the three heroes defeat Agandaûr, and on his death Sauron falls as well. Nordinbad is not only safe, but so is every other land in Middle-earth. With Agandaûr defeated, Úrgost can lay claim to Carn Dûm.
Following the conclusion of the War of the Ring, it is possible that the Dwarves of Nordinbad regain contact with the Dwarves of Erebor. In War in the North, after Glóin is informed of the existence of Nordinbad from the protagonist, he wants to set up relations with the lost folk of Longbeards.