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[Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 12:32 pm
by Rich H
Friday help required!!!
My players will likely be meeting Saruman this evening (in the game, obviously, not in real life!) and I'd like to describe him differently to each of them - part of the innate magic he uses when dealing with others. So, what descriptions would you guys use for each of the following PCs:
1) Brand, a man of Dale and envoy of King Bard. Capable with both sword and longbow and learned and reasoned; Brand is perhaps many things to his companions. Steadfast, brave and fair-spoken. Wisdom: 4, Valour: 3, Vigour: 3. Calling: Scholar
2) Thogrim Stonehammer, a dwarf of the Lonely Mountain. Of a noble house of Dwarves, related to King Dain, Thogrim is brave and hardy; recently he has reclaimed his father's axe lost at the Battle of Five Armies. Wisdom: 3, Valour: 4, Vigour: 3. Calling: Slayer
3) Iwgar, a Woodman and friend to Radagast. Brave but restless and often withdrawn; Iwgar struggles to find his place in the world. Wisdom: 3, Valour: 3, Vigour: 3. Calling: Wanderer
4) Grimbold the Red, an old Beorning warrior. An old warrior of Beorn and protector of his peoples' mountain borders; Grimbold is a huge man; fierce and tall. He should be enjoying his winter years but still wields his axe in defense of his people. Wisdom: 2, Valour: 4, Vigour: 3. Calling: Warden
I've provided some 'colour' in the above description thinking that Saruman will naturally use such nuggets to great effect. I'd like him to provide each player with separate descriptions of the White Wizard and, maybe, mention the above things but I'm at work so struggling to come up with captivating and well written description so need your help...
Go forth to victory, TOR forum posters!
EDIT: Oh, the meeting is taking place before Saruman's fall from grace, TA 2949
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:06 pm
by Glorelendil
Are you planning to somehow only let each player see their own "version" of Saruman, or are you just going to go around the table changing Saruman's persona for each one of them, and letting the other players see what's going on? I assume the latter, just for logistics.
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:09 pm
by Rich H
Either/or; depends how much detail I want to put in it. I was thinking of 'hand out' cards for initial descriptions of how each visualise and feel in the presence of Saruman - which is why I wanted to get the wording 'right' or at least put a little more effort in than simply winging it.
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:14 pm
by Earendil
That's a cool idea! I wish I'd thought of it when my players met Saruman...
I would shy away from making the descriptions
too different. It shouldn't be as if they're seeing different people, IMO: it should be more subtle than that. I'd give each of them a description that focusses on the aspect of Saruman that might appeal most to them. Of course you know your players and their characters best, but based on the descriptions you've given:
1) Brand, a man of Dale and envoy of King Bard. Capable with both sword and longbow and learned and reasoned; Brand is perhaps many things to his companions. Steadfast, brave and fair-spoken. Wisdom: 4, Valour: 3, Vigour: 3. Calling: Scholar
Brand might see deep and broad wisdom and learning in Saruman's eyes, beside which his own learning is small and humble; perceiving that this is one of the wisest beings in the whole of Middle-Earth -- perhaps
the wisest.
2) Thogrim Stonehammer, a dwarf of the Lonely Mountain. Of a noble house of Dwarves, related to King Dain, Thogrim is brave and hardy; recently he has reclaimed his father's axe lost at the Battle of Five Armies. Wisdom: 3, Valour: 4, Vigour: 3. Calling: Slayer
Thogrim might note Saruman's noble bearing and charisma: many would follow him to the ends of the earth if he were their leader, even apart from his magical skills. He could bring many together in the fight against the Shadow.
3) Iwgar, a Woodman and friend to Radagast. Brave but restless and often withdrawn; Iwgar struggles to find his place in the world. Wisdom: 3, Valour: 3, Vigour: 3. Calling: Wanderer
Iwgar might see the similarities between Radagast and Saruman; clearly they are of the same people. Yet he would also note how fair-spoken Saruman is, making Radagast seem clumsy and crude by comparison. Here is someone who can soothe a troubled heart and lay doubts to rest. Even a wanderer eventually seeks rest...
4) Grimbold the Red, an old Beorning warrior. An old warrior of Beorn and protector of his peoples' mountain borders; Grimbold is a huge man; fierce and tall. He should be enjoying his winter years but still wields his axe in defense of his people. Wisdom: 2, Valour: 4, Vigour: 3. Calling: Warden
Grimbold might notice how tall and straight Saruman is depite his years; clearly far older than Grimbold himself, but still working ceaselessly for the good of the Free Peoples. He might see in Saruman's eyes a will of iron, driving him to ever greater accomplishments.
All of them should perceive Saruman to be extremely wise (but Brand should notice it the most). But note that both Galadriel and Cirdan seem to have considered Gandalf wiser than Saruman (Galadriel wanted him to be head of the council, Cirdan gave Narya to him), so maybe if the heroes can make a very (
very!) difficult Wisdom roll, they could detect that Saruman is nevertheless somewhat flawed, with pride perhaps his greatest weakness.
Hope that helps!
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:00 pm
by Glorelendil
In each case I'd have Saruman tell them what they want to hear, even if they don't realize what that might be.
I once knew a guy, only vaguely, who made an offhand prediction about me that I liked. I realized that after that I viewed everything he said as very wise and insightful, because I wanted him to be right about the prediction.
Interesting little bit of psychology.
(P.S. That was in 1991 and so far still hasn't come true.)
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:19 pm
by zedturtle
One idea, which wasn't really mine but Bill's, was to give the characters a bit of time to stew in the meeting chambers. The heroes asked each other questions, that they didn't really have answers for, but when Saruman appeared, he was able to answer all the questions.
Otherwise, have each hero see something they want in Saruman, like GE says.
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 4:36 pm
by Rich H
Thanks chaps, much appreciated. Short on time so have put together the following:
Meeting Saruman
You come now to the foot of Orthanc. It is black, and the rock gleams as if it were wet. The many faces of the stone have sharp edges as though they have been newly chiselled. On the eastern side, in the angle of two piers, there is a great door, high above the ground; and over it a shuttered window, opening upon a balcony hedged with iron bars. Up to the threshold of the door there mounted a flight of twenty-seven broad stairs, hewn by some unknown art of the same black stone. This is the only entrance to the tower; but many tall windows are cut with deep embrasures in the climbing walls: far up they peer like little eyes in the sheer faces of the horns.
Suddenly a voice speaks, low and melodious, its very sound an enchantment and enthralling; a delight to hear, wise and reasonable, learned beyond all things.
"So... Four companions have at my door. Journeyed far from Wilderland, kinsman in battle if not in blood. Come they have to the tower of Orthanc for guidance from Saruman the White, , for guidance; seeking answers in dark times". The words are statements rather than questions; their tone strong and rich, full of reason and confidence. And desire awakes in you, by swift agreement, to seem wise yourselves.
You look up, astonished, for you have heard no sound of his coming; and you see a figure standing at the rail, looking down upon you:
*** Hand out descriptions to each player ***
"But come now," says a soft voice; this time from the doors before you that swing open, for now the wizard stands there, impossibly, no longer stood above you upon the balcony. "For indeed I alone can aid you, can I not", his words again ring out as truth and fact; comforting after so long in doubt. And when you speak it seems harsh and uncouth by contrast.
PC Descriptions
Brand
You see before you an old man, swathed in a great white cloak. His hair and beard are white, but strands of black still show about his lips and ears. His face is long, with a high forehead, and he has deep eyes, full of wisdom both deep and broad, besides which your own learning is small and humble. He looks upon you like a benevolent master now, a lordly king who needs no crown, and you feel a great desire to please this, perhaps, wisest of all in Middle-earth.
Thogrim
You see before you an old man, swathed in a great white cloak. His hair and beard are white, but strands of black still show about his lips and ears. His face is long, with a high forehead and noble of bearing, and he has deep eyes, hard to fathom, though the look they now bear is proud and benevolent. And they fill you with strength and courage when his gaze falls upon you, and you would wish to follow this greatest of all the ends of the earth if he should so command; for he would bring many together in the fight against the Shadow.
Iwgar
You see before you an old man, swathed in a great white cloak. His hair and beard are white, but strands of black still show about his lips and ears. His face is long, with a high forehead, and he has darkling eyes, hard to fathom, though the look they now bear is of restful peace and benevolence. Both like, and unlike Radagast; clearly they are of the same people. Yet Radagast’s speech will be forever clumsy and crude now that you have listened to the words of the White Wizard. For here can be found residing the deepest knowledge; one who can soothe the troubled and restless heart. And lay doubts to rest; for even a wanderer eventually seeks respite.
Grimbold
You see before you an old man, swathed in a great white cloak. His hair and beard are white, but strands of black still show about his lips and ears. His face is long, with a high forehead, and he has deep steely eyes, hard to fathom, though the look they now bear is grave and benevolent. The old and ancient, Saruman stand tall and straight; clearly far older than yourself, but still unbroken by years of toil and still working ceaselessly for the good of the Free Peoples; the greatest opponent of the Shadow.
I've lifted bits of the above from Lord of the Rings, to give it a bit of 'literary weight'. I usually don't read out text verbatum but I think it's in keeping in this case; when meeting one of the greatest beings in Middle-earth for the first time.
Thanks for the quick replies/help.
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:47 pm
by Falenthal
Great work, Eärendil!
Very fine ideas, subtle but powerful.
I've sometimes done this "individual description" of the same scene, but usually regarding places, not people. With someone like Saruman, it's really a good idea. With places I tend to highlight to each player what their character would focus on: in a Court meeting at Dale, a social character will see who the most influential attendants are, a warrior will notice how well guarded the place is, a woodman will be dazed by the stonemasonery and the fancy dresses, a hobbit will salivate at the sight of silver trays full of meat and fruits,...
Re: [Need some inspiration] Meeting Saruman
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:08 am
by Rich H
Falenthal wrote:With someone like Saruman, it's really a good idea.
Glad you like it. It's an idea I picked up from GMing Amber in the early 90s where every PC's perception of the world and people around him were shaped by the attributes, personality, and good/bad stuff that they had. I think it works for Saruman and it's something that is referenced in the Lord of the Rings after all.
Anyway, it went down really well with the players.