Great Signal

The Great Signal , as Gorbag the Orc called it, occurred on 10 March T.A. 3019 . On that date, as Sam and Gollum urged the weary Frodo to stand up and start climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol , the ground shook and a vivid, violent red flash leapt up from within Mordor , painting the clouds crimson, followed by a crack of thunder. The Signal was answered by Minas Morgul ; blue lightning forked from the tallest tower and surrounding hills into the dark clouds.