Hi All,
I was pondering over LOTR and Silmarillion once again.
Regarding Saruman's ring (sounds odd). Big assumptions ahead.
While i know we do not have information on this ring and its capabilities. Gandalf considered it to be a lesser ring.
However, that is never expanded upon or confirmed.
I think it may have more significance than a petty attempt at copying Sauron's designs.
Curumo was not just any Vala, he was a Maiar of Aulë, as well as Mairon.
Both worked with Aulë to fashion the world and its many elements and secrets. Both likely worked on the Lamps in some capacity, before Melkor threw them down.
Even after Mairon betrayed the Valar to join Melkor. Curumo remained and likely continued to learn much from Aulë and through observation of the machinations of both Melkor and Mairon from afar.
Also Curumo had an advantage, while he was not involved, he was both in the presence of and likely got to see the silmarils up close. Allowing him to potentially learn something to apply to his own works.
The reason for my blub above.
Curumo likely was always attracted to power, the want to set his own order upon things. He was likely even envious that Melkor sought Mairons allegiance over his own.
I believe when he came to middle earth embodied as an Istari, he researched all he could find on the ring, its lore and last location. He coveted it and the power it held. He wanted to become a power in his own right.
His ego would not want to simply copy Saurons homework, he would have sought to improve upon it, to surpass it.
I also believe he would have had some idea that his ring could be connected to the One Ring upon making it. He likely would have learned from and used Saurons ring lore, but would have been aware that it could bind his own to the One. He likely would have tried to prevent this though his understanding of the lore and through his own knowledge and might.
If he succeeded, his ring might not have been dependent on the One Rings continued existence.
We do not know if Saruman successfully invested any of his own native power into his ring. But what if he did?.
What if this became a vessel akin to Saurons for a portion of his power. Used in a similar manner to focus and concentrate his power to to allow him not only increased power of domination and subjugation but of his lust for industry and progress.
Saruman saw himself the superior of all Istari, i believe its safe to assume he believed he could better Saurons works. He envied Sauron and Covetted his power, i do not think he would blindly subjugate himself to it though blind imitation of his work.
I do not believe Saruman could use this to reconstitute his body, Sauron learned how to do this over a long period of time to reembody himself. Each time losing parts of himself.
Upon his bodily death, the west reject Saruman. He was cast low and could not recover from this fate.
But his ring was not destroyed.
Perhaps this is the only ring left with inherent power within middle earth. Saruman was a creature of industry. Everything within Middle Earth was but material and fuel for this vision.
I would think that any soul that would find this ring (if it retained power) would be fueled by greed and want to horde and consume resources. That this new evil would be the spark that moves the 4th or 5th age of the world into a industrial revelation not unlike our own history. Leading to new great evils and new great wars of man. We would as a race, dig greedily and deeply.
Those wielders of this ring have an increased desire to organize, to command, to extract, to manufacture and to impose order upon the natural world.
This would be a pretty terrifying tool in the hands of man.
Manwe would with his great sight see man expand, consume and war with one another. But there would be no clear cause beside the folly of man.
No further messengers would come from or go to the west via the straight road. No reason to intervene seeing this as mans own struggle to overcome.
Saruman could ultimately achieve his ambition for shaping the world in his image, and never know he succeeded.
Each evil that fell left middle earth also left something behind, Melkor invested his essence into arda itself, Saurons influence would remain poisoning the likes of the Easterlings for some time after his fall. a small echo of itself.
This could be the echo of Saruman, the same principle applied.
Arda is Mogoths ring
Suarons was a ring of Domination.
Sarumons could be a ring of reckless ambitious progress.
After some time(ages) the ring could be lost between wielders, lost to time. But the systems and industry that the ring helped create would persevere.
His influence shaping the world long after both he and his ring are forgotten.
If you read this far, thank you. I enjoyed thinking this through. I know it was a long post.
