"The Istari" by mairon666
“The Order of Istari. Messengers sent to contest the will of Sauron.”
— CelebrimborThe Order of Istari, also simply called Istari or Wizards, were an order of five Maiar sent by the Valar as emissaries to watch over the Free Peoples of Middle-earth and help them challenge the dominion of Sauron.
Background[]
Before Shadow of series[]
With the age of Men approaching, the Valar made special arrangements for the overthrow of Sauron: five Maiar were selected to form the Order of Istari ("Wizards" in Elvish) and go to Middle-earth as messengers of the Valar. Their mission was to watch over the world and to guide Elves, Men and other creatures of good-will in the struggle against the Dark Lord. The Five Istari were forbidden from abusing their power or imitating Sauron by seeking dominion over the Free Peoples. While in Middle-earth, the Wizards concealed their angelic nature, assuming the humble forms of old wizened Men.
The Blue Wizards went to the distant East and South, to lands under the influence of the Dark Lord. They spent time among the local tribes of Men there, aiding those who had rebelled against Sauron-worship and creating their own magic cults, thus fomenting dissension and disarray in the region. After the first defeat of the Dark Lord, the Blue Wizards went off in search of his hiding place. They were never seen or heard off again, and Sauron eventually returned.
The other three Wizards were active in the North-Western lands of Middle-earth as members of the White Council, a group of the Wise that opposed the steady re-emergence of evil. Of them, Gandalf the Grey was the most recognizable, travelling from Lindon to Angmar and all the way to the green hills of the Shire. The wandering Wizard lended his aid to all those in need and was particularly fond of the peaceful race of Hobbits, while also taking close council with the Elven loremaster Elrond and with Lady Galadriel. It was Gandalf who first noticed the signs of Sauron's return and foiled his plans to conquer the North: the Orcs and Goblins of the Misty Mountains suffered a grievous defeat in the Battle of the Five Armies and the Dark Lord himself was driven out of Dol Guldur by the White Council and back to the ruins of Barad-dûr in Mordor. In these events Gandalf also received the aid of his trusted friend and fellow Istar Radagast the Brown. While he had largely neglected Elves and Men preferring the company of wild animals, the Brown Wizard often helped rally bird and beast to join the fight against the Dark Lord.
The third Istar in the West was Saruman the White, recognized by all, even by the Elves, as the head of the Order. The White Wizard spent many years researching the lore of Middle-earth in hopes of finding a means to defeating the Dark Lord. While he did not succeed, Saruman amassed considerable knowledge about Sauron's works, especially the Rings of Power, which led to him being chosen to lead the White Council. With the blessing of both the Ruling Steward of Gondor and the King of Rohan, Saruman took up residence in the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard and was considered a friend and ally of the kingdoms of Men for many years. But even as he conferred with his allies to stand against the ancient Enemy, Saruman had become enamored with the ways of Sauron. Thoughts of mastery took root in the Istar's mind, and the White Wizard came to covet the secrets of the Dark Lord's power.
Shadow of series[]
Note: see the articles on Saruman and the Blue Wizards[]
“Saruman is one of the Istari. With the power of the Ring he could've built a great army to challenge the Dark Lord.”
— TalionThough not "yet under Sauron's control", Saruman took an interest in the One Ring for his own gain. The White Wizard fancied that, if he could obtain the Ring he could perhaps wield its power for himself and become the successor, or even the equal, of the Dark Lord. Unbeknownst to the Council, Saruman and his spies searched in the Anduin river for Isildur's body and the Ring he carried, but found nothing. Following Sauron's flight from Dol Guldur, Saruman began to make his move. During her travels in the Grey Mountains, Lady Marwen of Núrn met Saruman and asked for his aid against the threat posed by the Black Captains, servants of Sauron. The White Wizard gave her a staff and an elixir that was supposedly meant to help her. Instead, the elixir poisoned Marwen's mind and ate at her strength, voiding her of her own will and leaving her susceptible to possession by Saruman. The unfortunate Queen of the Shore was not the White Wizard's only pawn: Saruman had also sent his crows and had his own Uruk agents infiltrated among the ranks of Sauron's army, through which he kept a watch on events in Mordor. The Dark Lord was not oblivious to the White Wizard's eavesdropping: Saruman's spies were often harrassed by Sauron's Hell-haws and Morgai Flies.
In their struggle against the Black Captains and their dark master, Talion and Celebrimbor stumbled upon several artifacts related to the Order of Istari, particularly items associated with the Blue Wizards: a star chart, a broken staff and a weathered azurite figurine depicting the Two Istari - probably a sacred artifact from one of their magic cults. Talion and Celebrimbor also discovered three coded journal entries belonging to Saruman's spies in Mordor. After becoming aware of the "Gravewalker", the White Wizard attempted to use the cursed duo to his own advantage. Through Marwen, Saruman reached out to Talion and Celebrimbor and feigned to assist them in their efforts. In truth, Saruman was using Marwen, Talion and Celebrimbor to build an army within Mordor to challenge Sauron, at the very least to stall Sauron and buy Saruman time to find the Ring. But the White Wizard's attempt to manipulate the Gravewalker ultimately yielded nothing: Talion and Celebrimbor discovered Saruman's possession of Marwen and broke the staff, freeing the queen from the spell and shattering Saruman's control over Marwen and the Tribesmen of Núrn. Celebrimbor correctly concluded that Saruman was competing with Sauron to become the Lord of the Rings, of which there could only be one. Through his Uruk agents in Mordor, Saruman later learned of the forging of the New Ring and continued to watch the struggle between Celebrimbor and Sauron unfold, which he hoped would at the very least weaken both parties. Eventually, however, Saruman fell under Sauron's influence.
After Shadow of series[]
Now fully corrupted and lured with promises of power, the White Wizard became a servant of the Dark Lord. As his first command, Sauron demaded that Saruman build him an army worthy of Mordor, with which to conquer Rohan. The corrupted Wizard followed this command through, mustering a great force to advance the cause of his new master, but also in the hopes that he would one day be able to claim the One Ring and usurp the Dark Lord. Saruman's ambitions ultimately came to naught and he was defeated in the War of the Ring.
Gandalf, on the other hand, accomplished his mission as the Enemy of Sauron: he rallied the kingdoms of Men against the Dark Lord and staged the quest of the Fellowship to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power. Owing to the Grey Pilgrim's careful planning, the One Ring came undone in the fires of Mount Doom and the Dark Lord was finally overthrown.
Members[]
- Saruman the White (chief)
- Gandalf the Grey
- Radagast the Brown
- Alatar the Blue
- Pallando the Blue
Trivia[]
- Although the Istari make no physical appearance in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, they are often mentioned by Celebrimbor, who seems to known much about their order and purpose.
- Several artifacts (an weathered azurite figure, a broken staff and ) pertaining to the Blue Wizards are found scattered throughout Mordor and reveal details of their brief presence in the region.
- Though not seen, Saruman's influence is felt through his spies and his unwilling vessel, Marwen. Aside from communicating through the possessed Queen, the White Wizard is also heard talking to one of his agents in one artifact memory.
- Gandalf's name is also mentioned in the appendices of Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
Gallery[]
