Saruman
- This page is about Saruman as an NPC. For Saruman as a boss in the Tower of Orthanc raid, see Saruman (The Tower of Orthanc).
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Saruman, also known as Curunír, Sharkey, Sharkû, the White Wizard and the Jailor of Mordor, was a skilled and crafty Maia, once the head of the Order of the Wizards and the leader of the White Council before becoming, by the late Third Age, a power-hungry servant of Sauron the Dark Lord. From his fortress-tower of Orthanc in Isengard, the Wizard plotted against both the Free Peoples and against his "new master",[1] coveting the One Ring for himself.
- A mighty Maia of Aulë, Saruman the White was sent by the Valar with four others (Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown and the two Blue Wizards) from Valinor to Middle-earth to guide the Free Peoples in the struggle against Sauron. From the beginning, Saruman's relationship with Gandalf was tainted by resentment, which gradually turned into hatred as Saruman's envy of the recognition Gandalf enjoyed among Elves and Men alike grew. Long he researched the lore of Middle-earth, especially the works of the Dark Lord such as the Rings of Power, hoping to discover therein a means to victory. Regarded as the greatest of the Istari and holding vast knowledge of Sauron, Saruman was chosen to lead the White Council against the return of the Shadow, although he did not forget that Gandalf had been Lady Galadriel's first choice. Confident that the Grey Pilgrim's visits into the Shire were related to some undisclosed scheme, Saruman set spies to watch Gandalf's movements. By this time, the White Wizard had come to admire the Dark Lord and had become interested in the One Ring: with the Ring in his possesion, Saruman fancied that he would be Sauron's successor and bring order to the world. Following the Long Winter and the war in Rohan, the Wizard settled in the Tower of Orthanc with leave from both King Fréaláf and Steward Beren of Gondor. Even while the Council conferred on the riddle of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, Saruman sought clues to the Ring's whereabouts, even searching for it in the Anduin river. With the Necromancer confirmed to be Sauron returned, Saruman finally consented to an attack against Dol Guldur, joining the Council in driving the ancient Enemy out of the fortress. After that he withdrew to Isengard, claiming the stronghold as his own seat of power and using the Palantír he found in Orthanc.
- Through the Seeing Stone he was soon ensnared by the Dark Lord and joined him, becoming "an ally or servant of Sauron".[2]. Working under the command of Mordor and for his own private schemes, Saruman began gathering an army to conquer Rohan: he recruited evil things such as Orcs, Wargs, Trolls and Crebain, in addition to breeding his own Half-orcs and Uruk-hai, and forged alliances with some of the Wild Men of Dunland. Hoping to weaken the realm from within, Saruman bought Gríma Wormtongue, Théoden King's counselor, and used him as a mole in the royal court. His agents also spread throughout Eriador, chiefly in Bree-land and around the Shire, in spite of the Dúnedain Rangers' watch. Saruman also unsuccessfully tried to win Gandalf over, proposing that they share in Sauron's power as his vassals or that they take the Ring for themselves and supplant him. During the War of the Ring, Saruman waged war against Théoden and his people on Sauron's behalf, but then "cheated [his] new master"[1] as well by trying to claim the Ring for himself. The battle at Helm's Deep and the unexpected attack of the Ents - whose Fangorn Forest had been used to fuel Isengard's war machine - resulted in Saruman's downfall. Caught between the Free Peoples and his master, the Wizard remained in his tower with his servant Wormtongue until near the conflict's end. Once allowed to leave Isengard, Saruman made his way to the Shire - now under the control of his agents - and enacted his petty revenge by terrorizing the local Hobbits. He was ultimately defeated by the Hobbits and perished at the hands of the backstabber Gríma, whom he had mistreated one too many times.
Saruman is fought during the Tower of Orthanc 12-man raid. For information about his vitals during this encounter, see Saruman (The Tower of Orthanc).
Quest Involvement
- [7] Chapter 6: Worrisome Tidings
- [19] Instance: A Long Way From Gondor
- [68] Instance: The Auction
- [69] The Pit -- Battle IV
- [75] Instance: The Gates of Isengard
Vol. 3, Book 4
- [72] Instance: The Wizard's Vale - Session play
- [85] Instance: Man and Monster
- [105] Year 7 Trifles: This Time with Feeling II
- [110] Chapter 3: High and Low
Quotes
- "Isengard bids five."
Gallery
- Saruman Appearances
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Saruman in the Rise of Isengard video trailer
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Saruman atop Orthanc
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![[83.5S, 20.8W]](/wiki/File:Dunland_map.jpg){kind=link}
Note
In the movie The Return of the King Saruman dies in Orthanc, being stabbed in the back by Grima, after which his body fell down and was impaled on a machine's spiked. However, in the books, Saruman rather went on with the scouring of the Shire where he later died when Grima slashed his throat. (And Grima then died being shot by Hobbits when he tried to escape.) It should be noted that Lotro closely follows the books.