The Voice of Saruman

[Saruman The White]

Those who seek out the White Wizard more often than not long for counsel, or require information which only Saruman the Wise can purvey, for he is learned in the forgotten lore of ancient Middle Earth. His fame in recent years has stretched to encompass the far reaches of Middle Earth, for he has taken that legendary tower of Númenor, Orthanc in Isengard, as his abode. There Saruman has lingered long of late, musing over a great many hidden and unknown books and secrets, which had ere now evaded him. But it is also said that inside of Orthanc lays a great treasure; the splendour of which was consigned to the previous owner of the tower but has now fallen into the grasp of Saruman, and it is this discovery which is the cause of Saruman’s recent reticence and eremitic temperament.

Though those who aren’t daunted by the prospect of his alluring, averring voice and his eminence as a powerful wizard of erudite knowledge often find their trust in him well founded, for Saruman is the leader of the White Council, and due to this, in addition to his own wisdom and power he harbours strong ties with the sagely figures of Middle Earth. But there have been murmurings and troubled susurrus amongst folk that Saruman has grown proud and withdrawn, and that he no longer welcomes any visitors who aren’t of a notable ilk in his nascent stronghold about the gnarled, rocky feet of the Misty Mountains. And while all rumour has some basis and relation to true thought, Saruman does in fact still entertain those who would seek him out, even if he no longer travels abroad to delight in the glades of Lóthlorien, the musty eaves of Fangorn or the ochre fields of Rohan.

But all impending guests of the White Wizard must be aware of this caveat: Saruman’s gaze is far, and discerns patterns beyond frail flesh and the present moment. Those who seek his counsel frequently find that what he shares with them is rarely what they expect to hear, though the ineffable magnetism of Saruman’s averring voice always allays their concern, for the voice of Saruman is a beautiful and melodious thing, and those who hear it are enthralled by it, and seek to please it with their own agreement, for all that magical voice says seems pleasant and altogether truthful. But bear in mind to keep your wits about you, for Saruman is powerful and diligent in his studies, and it is said that you shouldn’t idly meddle in the affairs of a wizard, for they are subtle and quick to anger…[/size]

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Okay! I was thinking that Saruman could serve adventurers as a tool for knowledge and counsel in their journey, and if what they say is of significant interest to him, they could in fact find Saruman stalking their party in the hope that they unveil some secret treasure or his sole ambition: The One Ring of Sauron.

It might be an interesting twist for Saruman to play the role we've seen Gandalf play by counselling and even accompanying some adventurers, although they'll soon find (since his mortality has been sullied) that Saruman is far more proud than Gandalf and actually holds back part of his knowledge as well as his own dark designs for the securing of power.

I'm really open to anything since I'm just looking for a compelling storyline and an excuse to put Saruman into the fray, whether if it's just as a brief counsellor in Orthanc, a deceitful companion or as a treacherous antagonist who subtly disguises his evil actions from the White Council.