As Saruman the fallen wizard sends his hordes to assail the lands of Rohan, King Theoden calls all his people together to take shelter in the fortress of Helms Deep. Built across the mouth of high-walled valley at the base of the White Mountains, the fortress consists of the tall Hornburg tower, a wide keep with room for the entire army of Edoras, and the long, arcing Deeping Wall with its stone battlements. Properly provisioned, the nation of Rohan could shelter indefinitely in Helms Deep from even a very large host, but never have they faced assault such as that which Saruman had prepared.