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ISENGARD
SPecialty: Sorcery
effect: Saruman uses this spell to
raise fell legions at incredible speed.
The spell is cast upon an infant Orc,
Half-orc, or Uruk, placing them in a
dormant state, dramatically increasing
their rate of growth. Once entranced,
the infant is wrapped in a cocoon
made from entrails and buried in
specially-prepared pits of filth (see
‘Spawning Tunnels’ on page 54). If
kept warm and properly tended, in
a month’s time the ghastly cocoon
will burst, and from it rise a fullygrown
Orc-spawn. They are strong
and sometimes berserk, their minds
still empty, though the spell leaves
them impressionable and quick to
learn. Quickened Orc-spawn know
only one thing when they are re-born:
that they serve Saruman.
Though well-suited to Saruman’s
purposes, the quickening process is
not perfect: when quickened, Orcspawn
must make a TN 10 Vitality
test. If they fail, some aspect of their
growth has gone awry and they must
take the Ill-made flaw (see page 80).
Uncanny Industry (S)
‘We have work to do.’
— Saruman, The Fellowship of
the Ring film
caSting time: 5 hours
range: Touch
Duration: One day per point of
Bearing
wearineSS tn: 12
coSt: 3 spell picks
requiSite: Crafting-spell, Blessing of
Aulë, any Craft skill 6+
methoD: Standard, Song
SPecialty: Sorcery
effect: Saruman incorporated into
this spell many secrets of craft and toil
learned among the Dwarves of the East.
A corruption of the Blessing of Aulë
spell (see page 50 of Paths of the Wise),
this spell weaves a subtle enchantment
over a region one half-mile in radi-
us per point of the caster’s Bearing.
When the spell is cast, the caster must
specify one profession to be affected.
‘Profession’ in this case refers to a single
type of skilled or unskilled labour corresponding
to a skill specialty: miners,
masons, farmers, or weaponsmiths are
all appropriate examples.
Those from the specified profession
within the area of effect find
their efforts more productive. The
rate at which they work is increased
by 10% for every point of the caster’s
Bearing modifier. Workers require less
sleep and nourishment, and ignore all
effects of Weariness for the duration
of the spell. This spell cannot be cast
more than once on the same region at
the same time for increased effect.
One drawback of Uncanny Industry
is that only raw, crude efforts are
improved by the spell. Skilled craftsmen
often find their efforts diminished
by their haste. All those using
a Craft skill (including Smithcraft,
Stonecraft, and Siegecraft) while
affected by the spell have their skill
ranks temporarily capped at a maximum
value equal to the caster’s
Bearing modifier.
The enhanced productivity of
Uncanny Industry bears a heavy price.
Whatever works are raised while this
spell is in effect scour the region affected.
In their fervour, the labour force
despoils their surroundings by pulling
down trees, ravaging stone, fouling
water, and ruining soil. A caster may
only use this spell in a given area a
number of times equal to 100 divided
by his Bearing modifier before the
region is laid waste. (Multiple consecutive
casters with different Bearing
modifiers each contribute a number
of ‘points’ equal to their Bearing modifiers
each time one of them casts the
spell. When a given region’s total points
equal 100 the region is despoiled.) The
enchanted vigour also takes its toll on
the workers. When the spell expires,
all who toiled under its effects must
make a TN 15 Vitality test or lose 6
Weariness levels. A Disastrous Failure
results in the death of the labourer.
Each additional pick spent on this
spell allows the caster to add an additional
profession to the group affected
by the spell. The statistics above apply
to Saruman as of the dissolution of
the White Council in TA 2951, 49
years before his fall from grace, and
nearly 60 years prior to the War of the
Ring. Though not yet wholly corrupt,
bitterness and envy have a deep hold
on the Wizard’s heart, and Saruman
is dangerously close to leaving the light
forever. The influence of Linnar’s Ring,
(see ‘Treasury of Orthanc’ on page 35)
and Morgayamar (see ‘Morgayamay,
the Shadow Under Orthanc’ on page
96), combined with his own dark heart,
make Saruman’s doom inevitable.
saruman’s baCkground
Saruman was first of the five Istari
to arrive in Middle-earth. Of all the
Wizards, Saruman was ablest in
lore and craft; he studied long in the
archives of Gondor, and earned the
name Curunír (‘Man of Skill’) among
the Elves. Wherever he went, Saruman
sought knowledge of Sauron, and of
the bitter struggles against him and his
servants that dominated the Second
Age. Those in Gondor humoured
the White Wizard, assuring him that
the Shadow was defeated. The Elves
thought otherwise, but said little.
Saruman suspected that some tether
bound the spirit of Sauron to Middleearth.
After all, the fall of Númenor
had not destroyed him, so how could
the Last Alliance? Saruman watched
as the Witch-king rose, and learned
of the Rings of Power. From Elrond,
Saruman coaxed the tale of the Ruling
Ring. Was this the answer, the key
to Sauron’s vulnerability? The White
Wizard learned all he could of Rings of
Power, and asked the Wise to examine
one of the Three. The Elf-lords refused
him, and would not reveal where the
rings were hidden. Saruman did not
take this lightly, and bitterness took
root in his heart. Pridefully, Saruman
believed that he alone had the craft to
forge a counter to Sauron’s Ring.
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