[QUOTE=Tolwen,Oct 25 2012, 05:52 PM] [QUOTE=Beran,Oct 24 2012, 11:29 PM]
What is described in a module as background info, world fluff for the LM to read and what actually known to the acting people in that time and place are entirely different things.

Tolwen


[/QUOTE]

This point bears repeating. Remember that even the members of the White Council, as wise as they were, recognized neither Sauron as the Necromancer nor the One Ring until Gandalf placed it in the fire at Bag End. That two such very significant matters could be unrecognized by he Wisest of the Wise in the West, experts on watch for any signs of the Enemy says much about what must have been unknown, unclear, and extant in Middle Earth to allow for this confusion. At the least there must have been wizards beyond the Istari, the Ringwraiths, Sauron and a few elves. Likewise there must have been other magical rings of Power than just the twenty accounted in the ancient rhyme. Otherwise a magical ring not set with a stone would have been instantly recognizable.

In such circumstances it seems entirely possible that the names of the Nazgul should have been forgotten. Note also that even Gandalf had to go to Minis Tirith and read Isuldurs original writings to learn he description of the One Ring.

Horsa,
I agree with the general sentiment, but I wanted to note that one possible "loophole" in the idea with regards to Gandalf and Ring Lore, is that Saruman was a servant of Aule and peer of Sauron (before he "embraced the dark side"). So it is Saruman who focuses on Ring Lore and whatever corollary information that might exist. With an "expert" looking into the matter, why would Gandalf or any others of the Wise look into the matter? I think it is only when the Wise suspect Saruman of treachery that they pursue their own separate investigations into Saruman's decisions and activities.

Indeed. And we do note that Saruman persuaded the Council that the threat was less than it might have appeared.

It is just all too easy to forget that although most RPG sourcebooks are written from a third person omniscient point of view, the characters in the game do not share that knowledge.