I.C.E. MERP
The Grey Mountains
Introduction
The great Dragon, Angurth, lay sleeping upon his glistening treasure hoard. His dreams we’re an evil mash of fire and battle. Black images of pillaged cities, fleeing peoples, and dead kings on blood-soaked fields flitted through the dark corridors of his mind. He rested content.
Then, welling up from the deep pits of his own otherworld, Angurth heard faint but steady commands. The words mingled with his wonderful dreams, taking a strong grip on his eerie thoughts.
“Awake, awake, great drakes of power. Come forth from your mean caves and holes. Display your mighty, awful splendor for all the peoples of all the lands to see and fear. Let them quake and scatter before your tumultuous onslaught. You are hungry once again!”
Angurth raised a sleep-heavy eyelid. The words faded away. All was quiet in his warm cavern of gold.
Then he stirred. Slowly heaving himself up from his great pile of First Age riches, the black golden Dragon unfurled his leathery wings. He circled his gilt bedding with lithe, carefully-placed steps. Each piece of treasure lay where he had last left it. His great chamber was secure.
“I have slept too long,” thought Angurth. “It is once again time for the hunt.”
Leaving his resting place, the waking Dragon slithered through the maze of tunnels which led out to his cold, wind-blown aerie, high in the Grey Mountains.
Middle-earth’s morning sun was breaking over the snow-covered peaks, setting Angurth’s scales aflame with a sparkling brilliance. He spread his baleful, black wings as he peered far into the shaded valleys, miles below. “To the first kill!” roared Angurth as he spouted a long stream of Dragon-flame into the chill air. Then, leaping from his rocky perch, he glided off towards the sun. Far to the south, deep in a magnificent black hall heavy with malicious deeds and dour thoughts, the Dark Lord, Sauron, knew his message was drawing The Enemy’s evil creatures from their slumber.
Credits
Authors: Craig Paget, Karen McCullough & Joseph A. McCullough V
Editor/developer: Kevin Barrett
Cover illustration: David Martin & Ellisa Mitchell-Martin
Interior illustration: Ellisa Mitchell-Martin
Layouts: Eric Bruns (additional layouts by Bill Covert)
Color maps: Peter C. Fenlon
Project specific contributions: Series Editor : Jessica Ney ; Content Editor : Pete Fenlon ; Page Design & Paste-up : Bill Covert ; Cover Graphics : Terry K. Amthor.
ICE management — Art director/Production manager: Terry K. Amthor ; Sales Manager : Deane Begiebing ; Editing & Development Manager : Coleman Charlton ; President : Peter Fenlon ; CEO : Bruce Neidlinger.
ICE staff — Editing development: Staff. Kevin Barrett, Monte Cook, Pete Fenlon, Jessica Ney, Terry Amthor ; Graphics & Production Staff : Bill Covert. (Eric Bruns) Sales & Customer Service Staff : Heike Kubasch ; Shipping Staff : John Breckenridge, Jasper Merendino, Sterling.
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 Tolkien Enterprises, a division of Elan Merchandising, Inc., Berkeley, CA. The Grey Mountains. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and all characters and places therein, are trademark properties of Tolkien Enterprises.
Produced and distributed by Iron Crown Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 1605, Charlottesville, VA 22902.
First U.S. Edition, 1992
