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special discount to help you dive in. Welcome everyone, to Nerd of the Rings, today
we are tackling a question I get asked a lot. For those unfamiliar, for these videos I
begin with the most likely starting point of the scenario. I then go through my usual
research process of dates, travel distances, but also quotes from the books and Tolkien himself
that give us clues as to how this might play out. Today, we tackle the question -
What if Saruman got the One Ring? First, let’s establish some things about Saruman
prior to the War of the Ring. By the time we meet Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, he has coveted
the One Ring for quite some time. While it might be a bit nebulous to fans of the films, in
the books, we realize Saruman left the path of good long ago. After spending his first almost
1500 years in Middle-earth in the lands of Rhun, Saruman returns to the westlands and is
made the leader of the White Council in 2463 TA - the very year Deagol and Smeagol
found the One Ring in the river Anduin. Over the next 300 years, Saruman would
spend a great deal of time in Minas Tirith, researching its vast archives. It is here he
learns a palantir is likely still in Orthanc, though the topic he researched most throughout
his years in Middle-earth - and indeed became an expert in - was the Rings of Power. Saruman
would move to Orthanc in 2759 TA, with both Rohan and Gondor welcoming an
ally at their northern border. Nearly 100 years later in 2851, at a
meeting of the White Council, Gandalf says that Sauron has returned to Dol Guldur
and says the council should attack. However, Saruman believes that as Sauron builds his
strength, the One Ring would reveal itself. He overrules Gandalf, and this is the moment,
nearly 200 years before the War of the Ring, that we know for certain that Saruman
desires the One Ring for himself. Over the coming centuries, Saruman would play
his game with the council - posing as their ally, while secretly making moves that would put him
in the place of supreme power. Around 2990 TA, he begins breeding his army of orcs which
would be concealed, kept secret in the tunnels burrowed beneath Isengard. Ten years
later, through his use of the palantir, Saruman would become partially subservient to Sauron, as
the latter affects him through the seeing stone. But as we learn from Gandalf’s meeting
with Saruman in The Fellowship of the Ring, Saruman was not a loyal servant of Sauron… We’ll return to the text throughout the video,
but for now, let’s begin with where the canon turns to theory. In my mind, there is
truly one starting point for a scenario where Saruman would have received the One
Ring - when his orcs attack the Fellowship at Amon Hen. As we know, the Fellowship is
on the western side of the Anduin when they are waylaid by orcs and Uruk-hai from
Isengard and Mordor. In this scenario, we make the small change in that it is not Merry
and Pippin who are captured - but Frodo and Sam. Boromir is still slain by the orcs,
leaving Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin to decide their course of
action. As the remaining Fellowship regroups, the band of orcs sets out across the plains of
Rohan - heading northwest to Isengard. Unlike the canon story, Aragorn’s path is quite clear -
he must pursue the orcs carrying Frodo and Sam, or else all is lost. However, the great run of the
three hunters - where over just three days they cover 45 leagues or 155 miles (250 km) - would
not be possible with Merry and Pippin in-tow. Realizing this shortly into their journey,
Aragorn and Legolas continue the pursuit, while leaving Gimli to protect and lead the
hobbits. Aragorn sends the trio toward Edoras, in hopes of warning the Rohirrim and gaining
an ally. Now in the canon story, Eomer while in Edoras hears of the orcs traveling through
Rohan from the Emyn Muil. And the following day, on March 27, he would set out from the Eastfold
against Theoden’s orders to intervene. As this theory is contingent upon Saruman getting the
One Ring, we could say that perhaps Eomer obeyed Theoden’s orders - or, more interestingly, Eomer
encounters not the orcs, but Gimli and the hobbits making their way toward Edoras. This delay allows
the orcs to return to Orthanc with their prey. Meanwhile, Aragorn and Legolas
travel the edge of Fangorn Forest, following the path of the Uruks.
They are met by a figure cloaked in white, who reveals himself to be a resurrected Gandalf.
Whether by force, or by the power and persuasion of his Voice, Saruman gets the ring from Frodo
Baggins. Placing it on his finger, the bearers of the three rings immediately know of Saruman’s
possession. Gandalf takes off his ring of fire, lest he risk falling under Saruman’s control. He
turns to Aragorn, saying they must make haste to Rohan, not Isengard - for the ring is already with
Saruman and they must rally what forces they can. But the wizard Saruman is cunning - and will
not waste the opportunity to use others to his advantage. Despite placing the ring upon his
finger, he does not claim it as his own - for now, he possesses it, but does not claim
it. Instead he reveals to Sauron in the Palantir that he now has the ring,
and feigns loyalty to the dark lord. As we know, the One Ring enhances the natural
abilities and powers of its wearer. For Saruman, perhaps greater than any magic he
wielded, was the power in his voice. Let’s return to the canon story for a moment
to realize the power of Saruman’s voice. We see after Isengard’s defeat Gandalf warns
the others to beware the voice of Saruman. And Tolkien tells us of the effect on those who
were not prepared or strong enough to resist it… Suddenly another voice spoke, low and melodious,
its very sound an enchantment. Those who listened unwarily to that voice could seldom report
the words that they heard; and if they did, they wondered, for little power remained
in them. Mostly they remembered only that it was a delight to hear the voice speaking,
all that it said seemed wise and reasonable, and desire awoke in them by swift agreement to
seem wise themselves. When others spoke they seemed harsh and uncouth by contrast; and if
they gainsaid the voice, anger was kindled in the hearts of those under the spell. For some the
spell lasted only while the voice spoke to them, and when it spake to another they smiled, as
men do who see through a juggler's trick while others gape at it. For many the sound of the
voice alone was enough to hold them enthralled; but for those whom it conquered the spell endured
when they were far away, and ever they heard that soft voice whispering and urging them. But
none were unmoved; none rejected its pleas and its commands without an effort of mind and
will, so long as its master had control of it. Earlier in the book, we learn that Saruman’s voice
not only worked on men, but on the mightiest of the servants of Sauron. When the Nazgul arrive
at Isengard seeking the Shire, Saruman claims to not know where it lies, but that they should
instead seek Gandalf nearby. Here Tolkien states: Such was still the power of the voice of
Saruman that even the Lord of the Nazgûl did not question what it said, whether
it was false or short of the full truth; but straightway he rode from the Gate
and began to hunt for Gandalf in Rohan. Using the One Ring, Saruman feigns his loyalty to
Sauron, saying he will dutifully hand it over - but first, Sauron must attack Gondor, to prevent
their rallying with Rohan to attack Isengard. Sauron agrees, though he is deeply troubled,
for Saruman’s treachery is already known to him. As the month of March dawns, Gandalf,
Aragorn and Legolas arrive in Edoras. There, Gandalf heals Theoden and in turn releases the
captured Gimli, Merry, and Pippin who found an unfriendly welcome when they arrived a day
earlier. With Theoden renewed, the Rohirrim are mustered to take the fight to Saruman, in
hopes they could defeat him through combined strength before Saruman has a chance to further
build his forces or rally others to his banner. Much like what transpires in the books, Theoden
musters the Rohirrim to make war upon Saruman, though with the peril of the situation known
thanks to Gandalf, he first sends word to Minas Tirith, asking for aid from Denethor.
Saruman, now in possession of the ring, has no need to make a rushed and swift attack
upon Rohan as he does in the canon tale. Instead, he is content to fortify Isengard against any
coming threat. In Unfinished Tales, when the Nazgul come to Orthanc, we are told that even the
company of the Witch-king could not assail the Circle of Isengard because it was too strong. It
could only be attacked by a great strength of war. Knowing they are likely riding to a siege,
Theoden takes the additional time to summon riders from throughout Rohan, including
sending out riders to find and retrieve Erkenbrand and his 1000 riders to swell their
numbers. Meanwhile, Gandalf rides out of Edoras on an unknown errand, pledging to return.
In total, it is likely Theoden musters at least 6000 riders - the same number that in the
canon story rides to Minas Tirith - and double the 3000 that are present at
the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The 6000+ Rohirrim ride to
encircle Isengard and begin the siege. This cuts off any potential
reinforcements from Dunland, Mordor, or the Misty Mountains. All the while, they
hope that Gondor will answer their call. However, in the East, Sauron’s forces are
on the move. Rather than being alerted to Pippin and Aragorn in the Palantir
on March 5th & 6th respectively, Sauron had been contacted by the Saruman
possessing the ring at the end of February. Thus, the Siege of Minas Tirith instead
begins on March 9th. Any chance of Denethor aiding the Rohirrim is gone,
for Gondor must look to its own defense. While still formidable, Sauron’s force attacking
Mordor is notably different from the canon story. Since the attack comes sooner, there are no
Corsairs yet making their way up the river through the southern fiefdoms. And while
many orcs are still present at the Siege, the Witch-king is not. The orc-chieftan Gothmog
commands Mordor’s forces at the Pelennor Fields, as the Witch-king, all the Nazgul, and a force
of Haradrim and Easterlings have already marched from the Black Gate toward Isengard days earlier.
For Sauron knows he cannot trust Saruman - but nor can he allow Gondor to aid in his defeat, lest
the ring come to Aragorn or Gandalf instead. As this force must travel with all possible speed,
Sauron does not afford the time to send forth his veil of Darkness, leaving his orcs behind so as
not to slow the host’s progress in the daylight. The Rohirrim are seemingly left alone in their
attack, until Gandalf the White appears leading not a group of Rohirrim, but a group of
Ents. The Ents attack the walls of Isengard, finally breaching the great circle. However, as
they and the Rohirrim enter, they are met not with a small feeble defense as in the actual story,
but a mighty army numbering over 10,000 strong. Even with inferior numbers, the Rohirrim and
Ents may yet have undoubtedly won the day, were it not for the devices of Saruman. For
since it had not been sent to breach Helm’s Deep, Saruman forces use his blasting fire
to terrible effect against the Ents and Rohirrim. As the battle rages
on in doubt of who shall prevail, nine fell beasts begin to circle overhead,
as Sauron’s northern host arrives. Saruman’s betrayal of both sides of the war has
now come to haunt him. While Sauron’s forces are an enemy to all, if the Witch-king focuses
on Saruman - which he undoubtedly will do at the command of his master - all could be
lost. His true allegiance to only himself undoubtedly known to all, Saruman does what
he had refrained from doing for the past 12 days - he places the One Ring upon his
finger and fully claims it for his own. The immediate result of this is the Nazgul come
under Saruman’s command. As Saruman had told the Witch-king when they had come to Orthanc
seeking the Shire: ‘I know what you seek, though you do not name it. I have it not, as
surely its servants perceive without telling; for if I had it, then you would
bow before me and call me Lord. We see this is not a mere theory of Saruman’s.
But is also known to others - in the end, the Nazgul are servants of the One Ring - not
its creator. Frodo when in Lorien had asked Galadriel why, as Ring bearer, he couldn’t
control the Nazgul. Galadriel responds: Before you could use that power you
would need to become far stronger, and to train your will to
the domination of others. If anyone in Middle-earth other than Sauron
were equipped to ensnare and command the Nazgul, it would be Saruman - one who had excelled
in manipulation and using others to his own purposes. With the Nazgul under his
command, Saruman turns the tide of battle. The Witch-king’s forces join with Isengard
and rout the Rohirrim. Aragorn, Theoden, Legolas, Gimli, Eomer, and thousands more
lay dead and Gandalf the White is subdued. While a fight between the upgraded Gandalf
the White and a ring-wielding Saruman, would make its own intriguing theory,
a battle-weary and captured Gandalf would likely be no match for the
might of Saruman. In this instance, we are reminded of an exchange between Saruman
and Gandalf leading to the latter’s imprisonment: Certainly as Gandalf the Grey,
he knew he would stand no chance against a ring-bearing Saruman. And
in a scenario where he is defeated and weary, he would no doubt be quickly
eliminated by the new Lord of the Ring. But what of the original Lord of the Ring? In
this instance - Saruman, being like Gandalf an emissary of the Powers, a creature of the
order of the Maiar, and an immortal spirit taking physical form - would produce the same
end result for Sauron as Gandalf taking the ring. Tolkien himself lays this
out for us in Letter 246: If Gandalf proved the victor, the result
would have been for Sauron the same as the destruction of the Ring; for him it would have
been destroyed, taken from him for ever. But the Ring and all its works would have endured.
It would have been the master in the end. Thus, Sauron is reduced to
nothing more than a spirit, unable to ever again take physical form as
the ring is forever lost to him. His gambit to send his Nazgul to overtake Saruman
had failed, and a new power has arisen. The Rohirrim, Gandalf, and the three hunters are
dead upon the battlefield of Isengard. Saruman commands the re-fortifying of Isengard, keeping
his surviving orcs alongside the Haradrim and Easterlings for his protection, led the
Nazgul. Days later, Witch-king and five ringwraiths fly south on fell beasts, coming
to a still in-progress Siege of Minas Tirith on March 15. Khamul and the remaining two nazgul
are left behind to lead the defense of Orthanc. However, the nazgul come not to wreak
havoc upon Gondor, but upon Sauron’s army. For Saruman would soon have no further need of
foul orcs. His new world would be built upon men. The Nazgul rally the Haradrim and Easterlings,
in turning on the orcs. Their numbers are swelled this very day, as the Corsairs, unhindered
by Aragorn, arrive at the port of Harlond. The orcs are destroyed and the symbol of
the White Hand is seen as the deliverer of Gondor. The Witch-king, as Saruman’s emissary, tells Denethor that Minas Tirith, the men of
Middle-earth, and even the Nazgul themselves, have been freed from the tyranny of Sauron thanks
to Saruman ringbearer, Saruman of Many Colors. Saruman in the coming days would make contact
directly with Denethor through the Palantir. And while Denethor had for so long held off
against the influence of Sauron in the palantir, his relief at the survival of Gondor and the
defeat of the dark lord lowers his defenses, and the steward enters into
an alliance with Saruman. Together, they would amass an army to trample the
last remaining threats to Saruman’s rule - Lorien and Rivendell. With neither Galadriel nor Elrond
able to wield the protective power of their rings, both realms will surely fall under
the dominion of the One. Meanwhile, Sauron’s northern force of Easterlings
that had attacked Erebor, is victorious, for there is no destruction of the ring
to break their morale and turn the tide. With Saruman’s conquest of Middle-earth complete, he would operate through his persuasive voice -
and his nazgul - to rally men of Gondor, Harad, and Rhun under his banner. Setting up lords
and kings, all subservient to him. We see in the Scouring of the Shire that Saruman turns the
land of the halflings into an industrial nightmare made to benefit only himself. This is but a taste
of what Saruman will do now that he commands the One Ring and great armies. All of Middle-earth
will now be turned to the fires of industry, as Saruman uses all for his gain - craving
ever more knowledge, rule, and order. It is certainly a bleak image should Saruman
gain the One Ring. If you enjoyed this theory, or just enjoy Middle-earth in general,
please hit that subscribe button as we pull ever closer to 1 million
subscribers here on Nerd of the Rings. – A young captain of Gondor wanders the lands
that were long ago part of their realm. He is conflicted - he is loyal to Gondor, and to
his father - but that loyalty is at odds with what he knows in his heart - peace in Gondor
has come at too great a price for the peoples of Middle-earth. His company of loyal men
meets another group upon the road. Their leader confronts him, declaring that though it
be not recognized by the tyrant of Isengard, these lands belong to Rohan. It seems the
captain of Gondor has met one who thinks as he does regarding their new found
overlord, and thus Faramir meets Eowyn. Now, I am super excited to tell you
about A Long-Expected Soundscape. Not only will I be able to tell you about it, but I’ll be able to show you first hand what
this incredible audio experience is like. I backed this project on Kickstarter
when it launched on Tolkien Reading Day in 2022. Let’s do a walk
through of what my friend Jordan Rannells has spent the last year
creating for the Tolkien fandom: Jordan has created a 3D audio
version of the Lord of the Rings. He went out into the woods to record nature
sounds, some of which you’re hearing right now. He then recorded and designed sound FX
like the Balrog, and the Ents. You can even hear some audio cameos of me as an orc
growling and laughing in Moria and in Mordor. Next, Jordan has written an entire
score for the Trilogy. Music that you’ve been listening to throughout
this video. Every character has a theme, every moment is scored specifically.
Not just looped background music. Let’s break down what that really means.
Jordan has composed and timed all of the Score, Sound FX and ambience to Andy Serkis’ audiobook.
That means if you have bought them from audible, you can play them at the same time and they
will sync up perfectly. You can also just put the chapters on without the book and listen as
you hear Gandalf’s fireworks, the Rohirrim ride to meet Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, or even the
vivid detail of Shelob as she battles with Sam. The depth and detail that Jordan has gone to
to create this project is truly incredible, every moment has been thought through. How
windy would it be on the higher levels of Minas Tirith? What moments should his
Eucatastrophe motif be played? What does a Mumakil really sound like and how does
it feel to have a Fell Beast fly above you. You can listen as you read, you can just listen, you can sync it up with Andy’s audiobook, have
it on with your DND games, and so much more. The applications of this project are endless and
all you need is your computer, or a podcast feed, and a set of headphones to be able to sit down
in a fully 3D immersive audio experience of the Lord of the Rings. Mixed in Dolby Atmos.
Now today is a very special day for the soundscape because I’m happy to announce that The
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this experience and yes, he will be creating additional soundscapes for The Hobbit and The
Silmarillion so you definitely want to get in on this now so when those are launched, maybe
you can even get your voice on them like I did. So check out JordanRannells.com
and use the promo code: NERD25 to experience the trilogy in
a fantastic and completely new way. as always I want to say a huge thank you to
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