Would you have been suspicious? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 07-08-2002, 02:07 PM

It is the year 2953. You are a member of the White Council which met in that year. At that Council, you debate about the Rings. Saruman, the leader of the Council, pretends he discovered that the One Ring passed down Anduin to the Sea. His voice and demeanor are admittedly convincing.

However, Saruman afterwards withdraws to Isengard and takes it as his own, fortifying it. You do not know this, but he sends out spies to watch Gandalf, and also put agents in Bree and the Southfarthing.

One manuscript in HoMe actually says Gandalf first began to think more seriously about Bilbo's Ring after this debate in 2953. Moreover, Gandalf does know that Bilbo told many lies about getting the Ring which was very uncharacteristic of him, and the wizard had serious suspicions about that.

Wouldn't you be wondering by 3018 why the White Council had not met again? Their previous meeting had taken place just twelve years before the last one (2941-2953).It has now been 65 years since you last met.

Moreover, by 2954, Mount Doom had burst into flames, a sure sign that Sauron had something under way. Since Sauron had openly declared himself and was gathering power in Mordor by 2951, there should have been no question that this foretold a serious downturn. Surely a meeting should have been called some time after the flames showing in Mordor. Why didn't Saruman call that meeting?

If you put all this together with the fortification of Isengard, and the fact that Saruman had overuled Gandalf's plan to attack Sauron back in 2851, wouldn't you begin to be a bit suspicious and at least want to learn more about Saruman's behavior?

I think I would. Perhaps, Gandalf and the others were so "good" that they could not envision a maia such as Saruman turning to the bad.

Perhaps I would be more suspicious than they because I live in the modern world. I have frankly heard too many untruths and half-truths voiced by politicians. I think I would have had a gut feeling that all was not well with Saruman.

How about you?

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

07-08-2002, 02:07 PM	#1
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Would you have been suspicious? It is the year 2953. You are a member of the White Council which met in that year. At that Council, you debate about the Rings. Saruman, the leader of the Council, pretends he discovered that the One Ring passed down Anduin to the Sea. His voice and demeanor are admittedly convincing. However, Saruman afterwards withdraws to Isengard and takes it as his own, fortifying it. You do not know this, but he sends out spies to watch Gandalf, and also put agents in Bree and the Southfarthing. One manuscript in HoMe actually says Gandalf first began to think more seriously about Bilbo's Ring after this debate in 2953. Moreover, Gandalf does know that Bilbo told many lies about getting the Ring which was very uncharacteristic of him, and the wizard had serious suspicions about that. Wouldn't you be wondering by 3018 why the White Council had not met again? Their previous meeting had taken place just twelve years before the last one (2941-2953).It has now been 65 years since you last met. Moreover, by 2954, Mount Doom had burst into flames, a sure sign that Sauron had something under way. Since Sauron had openly declared himself and was gathering power in Mordor by 2951, there should have been no question that this foretold a serious downturn. Surely a meeting should have been called some time after the flames showing in Mordor. Why didn't Saruman call that meeting? If you put all this together with the fortification of Isengard, and the fact that Saruman had overuled Gandalf's plan to attack Sauron back in 2851, wouldn't you begin to be a bit suspicious and at least want to learn more about Saruman's behavior? I think I would. Perhaps, Gandalf and the others were so "good" that they could not envision a maia such as Saruman turning to the bad. Perhaps I would be more suspicious than they because I live in the modern world. I have frankly heard too many untruths and half-truths voiced by politicians. I think I would have had a gut feeling that all was not well with Saruman. How about you? [ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.