#a spy in isengard

[oldschoolfrp]

Saruman the White ponders his palantír. "You are the trusted apprentice to one of the greatest Wizards in all Middle-earth" in A Spy in Isengard (Angus McBride cover art for Middle-earth Quest gamebook #1 by Terry K Amthor, Iron Crown Enterprises, 1988). McBride has been memed more than once.

[coffeetime88]

Spotted at my local library

[wizardarchives]

Saruman by Angus McBride

Illustration of Saruman from Lord of the Rings gazing into the Palantir. Mostly recognized now from the pondering the orb meme.

Cover for A Spy in Isengard (Middle-Earth Quest) by Terry K. Amthor (1988)

Used for the the roleplaying game supplement Angus McBride's Characters of Middle-Earth by Angus McBride and Jessica M Ney (1990).

Also used in the Middle-earth supplement Valar & Maiar: The Immortal Powers (1993)

Later reused for the Saruman card in the Middle-Earth: The Wizards TCG (1995)

[its-to-the-death]

Fictional Weapon War Round 3

Orb (Pondering My Orb meme)

First posted to Twitter in October 2021 and the rest is history

The image is from a gamebook called Middle-Earth Quest: A Spy In Isengard and the artist is Angus McBride

Kendal (Aurora webcomic)

Forged after Vash defeated the storm god, Tynan, by using the metal to replace his arm and the blue crystal to replace his eye

Was then passed on to a person by the name of Kendal

Mod comment:

These have both been very heavy hitters up until now but only one can move on

[rat-detector]

TREAT OR TRICK 🐀

You get A Spy In Isengard

[pastoralbear]

On the one hand, y'all speak for yourselves with regard to "no one on this website fucks".

On the other hand, I immediately knew it was the orb from "A Spy in Isengard".

On the other other hand, so did my spouse, which might explain my first point.

[warrioreowynofrohan]

LOTR Newsletter - September 20

The first of our days using in-universe time!

But I’m going to hop back a couple of days of in-universe time to recap some events.

Gandalf is rescued from Isengard by Gwaihir on the night of September 18th-19th. But there's a very interesting version of this in "The Hunt for the Ring" in Unfinished Tales that gives us a lot more insight on a potential characterization of Saruman.

In Version C, on the other hand, the Black Riders arrived at the Gate of Isengard while Gandalf was still a prisoner in the tower. In this account, Saruman, in fear and despair, and perceiving the full horror of service to Mordor, resolved suddenly to yield to Gandalf, and to beg for his pardon and help. Temporizing at the Gate, he admitted that he had Gandalf within, and said that he would go and try to discover what he knew; if that were unavailing, he would deliver Gandalf up to them. Then Saruman hastened to the summit of Orthanc – and found Gandalf gone. Away south against the setting moon he saw a great Eagle flying towards Edoras. Now Saruman’s case was worse. If Gandalf had escaped there was still a real chance that Sauron would not get the Ring, and would be defeated. In his heart Saruman recognized the great power and the strange ‘good fortune’ that went with Gandalf. But now he was left alone to deal with the Nine. His mood changed, and his pride reasserted itself in anger at Gandalf’s escape from impenetrable Isengard, and in a fury of jealousy. He went back to the Gate, and he lied, saying that he had made Gandalf confess. He did not admit that this was his own knowledge, not being aware of how much Sauron knew of his mind and heart. [Footnote: Earlier in this version it is said that Sauron had at this time, by means of the palantíri, at last begun to daunt Saruman, and could in any case often read his thought even when he withheld information. Thus Sauron was aware that Saruman had some guess at the place where the Ring was; and Saruman actually revealed that he had got as his prisoner Gandalf, who knew the most.] “I will report this myself to the Lord of Barad-dûr,” he said loftily, “to whom I speak from afar on great matters that concern us. But all that you need to know on the mission that he has given you is where “the Shire” lies. That, says Mithrandir, is northwest from here some six hundred miles, on the borders of the seaward Elvish country.” To his pleasure Saruman saw that even the Witch-king did not relish that. “You must cross Isen by the Fords, and then rounding the Mountains’ end make for Tharbad upon Greyflood. Go with speed, and I will report to your Master that you have done so.” This skillful speech convinced even the Witch-king for the moment that Saruman was a faithful ally, high in Sauron’s confidence. At once the Riders left the Gate and rode in haste to the Fords of Isen. Behind them Saruman sent out wolves and Orcs in vain pursuit of Gandalf; but in this he had other purposes also, to impress his power upon the Nazgûl, perhaps also to prevent them from lingering near, and in his anger he wished to do some injury to Rohan, and to increase the fear of him which his agent Wormtongue was building up in Théoden’s heart. Wormtongue had been in Isengard not long since, and was then on his way back to Edoras; among the pursuers were some bringing messages to him. When he was rid of the Riders Saruman retired to Orthanc, and sat in earnest and dreadful thought. It seems that he resolved still to temporize, and still to hope to get the Ring for himself. He thought that the direction of the Riders to the Shire might hinder them rather than help them, for he knew of the guard of the Rangers, and he believed also (knowing of the oracular dream-words and Boromir’s mission) that the Ring had gone and was already on its way to Rivendell. At once he marshalled and sent out into Eriador all the spies, spy-birds, and agents that he could muster.

This is intriguing on several levels. Firstly, that Saruman actually considered changing his mind and begging Gandalf for help after having kept his as prisoner for over two months. I feel like this gets at something important about Tolkien's writings. Many of his evil characters are not completely devoid of good impulses; but those are only impulses, not convictions, and when any barrier or temptation comes up (often, as in this case, related to pride), they don't follow up on them. It's choices, not impulses, that define them.

Secondly, the fact that the power of Saruman's voice actually is - or was, before the events of The Two Towers - enough to con the Lord of the Nazgul, and to convince him (temporarily) that Saruman is a loyal and prominent ally, and that he got the Shire's location out of Gandalf (rather than already knowing it himself). And also that he's still got Gandalf captive.

Thirdly, the fact that Saruman's already sending wolves and orcs into Rohan on raids. It really gives a sense of how stressful the several months before The Two Towers would have been to Éomer and Éowyn (and Théodred) - they know perfectly well that Saruman's a danger, but they can't get Théoden to agree to do anything about it.

And the last line confirms what is only suggested in the books (but outright stated in the movies): that the flocks of crows that fly over the company in Eregion are indeed spies of Saruman.

On September 19th Gandalf comes to Edoras, and Théoden refuses him admittance on the advice of Wormtongue; on September 20th Théoden tells him "Take any horse, only be gone ere tomorrow is old!", and refuses to listen to his warnings about Saruman.

So, by September 20th, when Frodo's goods are sent off to Crickhollow, the Ringwraiths already know where the Shire is, and are on their way there. The clock is ticking...

[hermajesdyke]

Pondering my blorbo

original art by Angus McBride for the cover of Middle-Earth Quest: A Spy In Isengard (1988)

[calekinnieplus]

Hallo. I'm literally gonna pass out the moment I close my eyes, but I can't miss this update. I've read for 3 hours (I was out most of the day, when all I wanted to do was read, rip) and I reached chapter 738. A more meaningful accomplishment is the fact that I finished volume 3!! Officially started reading volume 4!! We're moving FORWARD AYEEEEE

What's there to say today? A lot. I wanna talk in detail about it all, honest. But I'll just skim today, I think. As I said, very sleepy (when am I not, when making these updates. It's like a requirement for me to do these while sleepy lol).

So! Klein engaged in a fight involving demigods! That's right, not just A demigod, but Multiple demigods. Reinette, Shanks, Suah, that crazy angel, Jahn Kottman, Azik and the added bonus of Admiral Blood Senor. Of course, each individual appeared at different times, but the fact that Klein was capable of creating such chaos is undoubtedly AMAZING. HOW did he successfully do that?? I mean, I know how, but HOW??

The Orange Light personally extended an olive branch to Klein and explained some stuff about the gray fog. Useful

Klein fulfilled his promises to bury the Loen soldier and to carry on the dead Nightmare Nighthawk's last wish. He's still so Kind.

Gehrman Sparrow gained an infamous reputation. He's now on the level of pirate admirals, comparable to the Four Kings of the Sea. Arguably, could be the 5th. His adventures left their mark on those around him and it warms my heart to see people remember him for his good deeds.

We have the entrance of Dwayne Dantès! And apparently, he's a DILF. Well done, Klein! /lh

The evil spirit found in the room where Alista did the Sequence 0 ritual is gonna be a huge headache in the future, I can feel it. I wonder where it went off to...

Klein actually got a hug!! Albeit, a greeting hug, but still! A win is a win! Detective Isengard, you have my heart. Please don't die :>

Concerning that, it was lovely to see Sherlock Moriarty reconnect with his companions. I missed you, my boy!! Ian, Sharron, Isengard, love 'em all <33

Speaking of Sharron, she has my respect for dealing with Klein’s ridiculous bullshit. It's not Klein’s fault his fate seems to put him through the most ridiculous adventures, but Sharron going "ok" after Klein dropped crazy thing after crazy thing was the funniest shit y'all. Slay.

Mmmmmm the ideas concerning the theft of the Antigonus notebook are difficult af, but I trust in Klein’s plans. After all, he got out of that demigod royale battle with incredibly few injuries. I wonder who the Nighthawk spy will be 👀👀👀 is it perhaps 👀 a certain poet? 👀👀👀

(I know he'll join the Tarot Club eventually, because Spoilers yay. But I wonder how that'll go down)

"Skim," I said. Uh-huh.

Anyway, considering that I've only read for 3 hours today, quite a lot of stuff happened and I'm failing to recall them all. I want to read what's next so bad, but I have stuff to do tomorrow as well, so :(( I'll see how it goes

Praise the Fool!

[petite-guignol]

I cannot believe I actually owned a copy of A Spy in Isengard and I sold it for like $15 to some random LOTR fan on eBay like a month before the "pondering my orb" meme blew up. I could have marked that shit up SO much

[themarshesbreathe]

- Treebeard Speech -

''But Saruman now! Saruman is a neighbour: I cannot overlook him. I must do something, I suppose. I have often wondered lately what I should do about Saruman.'

'Who is Saruman?' asked Pippin. 'Do you know anything about his history?'

'Saruman is a Wizard,' answered Treebeard. 'More than that I cannot say. I do not know the history of Wizards. They appeared first after the Great Ships came over the Sea; but if they came with the Ships I never can tell. Saruman was reckoned great among them, I believe. He gave up wandering about and minding the affairs of Men and Elves, some time ago - you would call it a very long time ago; and he settled down at Angrenost, or Isengard as the Men of Rohan call it. He was chosen to be the head of the White Council, they say; but that did not turn out too well. I wonder now if even then Saruman was not turning to evil ways. But at any rate he used to give no trouble to his neighbours. I used to talk to him. There was a time when he was always walking about my woods. He was polite in those days, always asking my leave (at least when he met me); and was always eager to listen. I told him many things that he would never have found out by himself; but he never repaid me in like kind. I cannot remember that he ever told me anything. And he got more and more like that; his face as I remember it - I have not seen it for many a day - became like windows in a stone wall: windows with shutters inside.

'I think that I now understand what he is up to. He is plotting to become a Power. He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment. And now it is clear that he is a black traitor. He has taken up with foul folk, with the Orcs. Brm, hoom! Worse than that: he has been doing something to them: something dangerous. For these Isengarders are more like wicked Men. It is a mark of evil things that came in the Great Darkness that they cannot abide the Sun; but Saruman's Orcs can endure it, even if they hate it. I wonder what he has done? Are they Men he has ruined, or has he blended the races of Orcs and Men? That would be a black evil!'

Treebeard rumbled for a moment, as if he were pronouncing some deep, subterranean Entish malediction. 'Some time ago I began to wonder how Orcs dared to pass through my woods so freely,' he went on. 'Only lately did I guess that Saruman was to blame, and that long ago he had been spying out all the ways, and discovering my secrets. He and his foul folk are making havoc now. Down on the borders they are felling trees - good trees. Some of the trees they just cut down and leave to rot - orc-mischief that; but most are hewn up and carried off to feed the fires of Orthanc. There is always a smoke rising from Isengard these days.

'Curse him, root and branch! Many of these trees were my friends, creatures I had known from nut and acorn; many had voices of their own that are lost for ever now. And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once there were singing groves. I have been idle. I have let things slip. It must stop!''

- The Two Towers, J.R.R Tolkien

--------------

It's crazy to me that a person can create a spiel like this, with the steady and unique pace of an ancient being that herds trees, that goes about and through a lot of different things that spring purely from their own imagination. Crazy creativity fr.

[hayden-in-a-cheguevara-shirt]

ok esse é um clássico favorito então resolvi traduzir pq sou uma filha da puta inútil

[post]:

[reblogs]:

user 1:

isso parece uma camisinha e o fato de todo mundo nos comentários estar dizendo "o orbe" prova que ninguém nesse site transa

user 2:

que tipo de camisinhas com cara de bolas saltitantes são essas que você tá usando

user 3:

o fato de alguém pensar que parece uma camisinha é prova de que ninguém nesse site transa

user 4:

ok pessoal LITERALMENTE tiraram isso da imagem "mago ponderando seu orbe"

é um orbe.

user 4:

ok sem querer bater em cachorro morto mas eu encontrei a imagem ORIGINAL e é a arte da capa de um ttrpg temático de senhor dos anéis.

então

user 5:

Não não é essa é de 1993 seu poser do caralho, é de A SPY IN ISENGARD publicado em 1988, eu tô DOENTE e CANSADO de vocês sempre ERRANDO

user 6:

5 adições de reblog depois e esse post ainda é melhor resumido por "ninguém nesse site transa"

[aemiron-main]

Angus McBride also did some awesome LOTR/The Hobbit/Tolkien in general art!

He’s actually the guy responsible for the art from the “wizard pondering his orb” meme, which is actually from the cover of Middle Earth Quest: A Spy In Isengard:

art by Angus McBride, an illustrator who did historic and fantasy work in and around the 1960s

[its-to-the-death]

Fictional Weapon War Round 4

Portal Gun (Portal)

Can create two portals so anything can move between them

Surfaces can be treated with moon rocks or space debris to more compatible with the portals

Can pick up and manipulate objects directly in front of it.

Orb (Pondering My Orb meme)

First posted to Twitter in October 2021 and the rest is history

The image is from a gamebook called Middle-Earth Quest: A Spy In Isengard and the artist is Angus McBride

[assassinbait]

Y'all, I have in my possession an original orb. Had this for years and knew this meme was familiar somehow. It's my boyfriend's mother's og copy she let us borrow or gave I dunno the circumstances, we got it like 10 years ago. You can see where Fade chewed the corners when she was a puppy

[mykofanesvlepy]

39. "Pondering better world" Angus Mcbride, cover of Middle-Earth Quest: A Spy In Isengard