Saruman the White

The wizard Saruman the White, Lord of Isengard, is the greatest of the Istari brotherhood, known through-out Middle-earth for his vast store of knowledge of all things arcane and esoteric. He has devoted much study to the matter of the Rings of Power and in particular the Ruling Ring - its making and its history as it passed from one hand to another, and into obscurity - believing that if he and his Order find it, they themselves can make the best use of it against the growing power of the Dark Lord.
Saruman's house is Orthanc, a vast tower hewn from a solid pillar of unbreakable black obsidian which rises to a great pronged spire. The Tower of Orthanc stands at the heart of Isengard, the strategic fortress that lies in a commanding position between the Misty Mountains and the Gap of Rohan. Its main defence is a natural ringwall of stone that measures a mile or more from rim to rim, enclosing beautiful trees and gardens, watered by streams that flow down the mountains. Unknown to all but Saruman, Isengard is home to one of the rare seeing-stones, the palantir, a great ball of black stone with which the wizard is able to spy upon the whereabouts and fortunes of both allies and foes throughout Middle-earth. The caverns below Isengard hide another secret. Down there, a new breed of creature is being hatched, as Saruman plans to form an army of his own to rival the Dark Lord's...