Lord ’s Study

The Lord’s Study is a small room, roughly circular in shape, and sur- prisingly cosy for a chamber of dark stone. This is due to the furnishings: a heavy desk of wood stands against one wall, its warm golden-brown hues ornamented with carved knotwork. A similarly decorated table stands nearby, though its surface is hidden beneath scrolls, tomes, unbound leaves, and letters. A large chair, its thick cushions green as new grass and stuffed with down, sits between desk and table so Saruman might reach either easily. Behind the table stands

a small bookshelf containing adminis- trative journals and a few other books Saruman frequently consults.

The ceiling is low—a mere ten feet—and has rounded corners rather than squared. This increases the sense of security and comfort. The Men of Gondor covered the ceiling with beaten and polished gold, which was restored at Saruman’s command, so that this room alone in Orthanc has a roof of sunlight, for the smallest candle creates a powerful reflection from above.

Although this chamber is strictly off-limits, Saruman keeps only the most trivial administrative records in this room. Even so, he spends much time in this chamber in thought and meditation, considering the events of the world, the deeds of the Free Peoples, and the machinations of Sauron. He prefers this chamber for such because it is closeted from imme- diate distractions, yet near enough the Great Hall that he may appear the instant a messenger or sentry arrives with tidings.

ISENGARD

32

Library

The Men of Gondor placed as much stock in knowledge as they did in warfare, and so collected many books and scrolls. Most of their keeps and castles had libraries, and Orthanc was no exception.

The walls of the library of the Lord’s Level (Saruman also keeps a private library on the Secret Level) bear great shelves that reach the fif- teen-foot ceilings, some as deep as three feet, carved from the living rock of the tower. Ladders allow schol- ars to reach the highest tomes. The room’s temperature is comfortable: warm enough to keep bindings from cracking, but cool enough that ink does not fade too quickly.

Several large, free-standing podi- ums of stone and iron stand in a circle at the centre of the room. A few stuffed chairs have been shoved against the wall; Saruman reads while standing, and usually leaves the tomes he has most recently consulted upon the book-stands.

When the Men of Gondor quit Orthanc, they took some of their books, but left many behind. The Dunlendings destroyed much of what they left, but Saruman has accumulated a great deal of recorded

knowledge since his arrival. The texts here at the end of the Third Age are of a general nature, including much of Middle-earth’s history and geogra- phy as well as much information on the various crafts of Men. For those seeking specific knowledge, this room counts as a large, well-organised library. (See ‘Answering Questions in Libraries’ on page 79 of Paths of the

Wise.) Nothing regarding wizardry

or enchantments is kept here, how- ever. Such knowledge is secreted in the tower’s higher levels.

Because learning is a powerful thing, any of Saruman’s vassals who wish to consult the works in this room must receive his explicit permission. Even when his leave is granted, these lucky few are observed in their stud- ies by one of Saruman’s henchman of appropriate rank and skill. Although Saruman once allowed the Wise and their allies to study here free of super- vision, by the end of the Third Age such permission is unheard-of.

Though it contains much lost lore, this room’s greatest secret may be the cunningly hidden secret passage to the Long Stair, accessed by lifting a portion of one shelf that appears burdened by heavy tomes. The tomes can be removed and consulted with-

out the shelf ’s secret being guessed. Finding the passage’s trigger by acci- dent is impossible; even one who knows the trigger lies somewhere in the room must make a TN 25 Search test to discover it.

Balcony

Past a narrow passageway off the Great Hall lies a set of doors con- sisting of an iron latticework with thin leather stretched across it. The light from beyond shines through the leather, giving the far end of the otherwise pitch-dark tunnel a warm golden glow. The doors open onto the balcony above Orthanc’s main entrance. The balcony itself is organi- cally composed of the same stone as the rest of the tower, and a waist-high iron railing skirts its edge. From here, Saruman or another of his follow- ers may address visitors to Orthanc before they ascend its 27 steps.

t

l

l

This level sits a good deal above the Lord’s Level, being reached by a wide staircase that switches back upon itself many times before ascend-

33

The Fortress of Iron

contains quarters that have served alternately to house members of the lord’s household, his personal retain- ers, his bodyguard, members of his extended family, visiting dignitaries, and—in the latter days of Saruman’s reign—virtually no one.

Foyer

This room was once particularly ornate, serving as a focal point for this level’s activities. Although wood- en chairs still line it and sconces and lanterns of iron adorn its walls, it is largely unused in the late Third Age, as Saruman does not travel frequently to this level.