Saruman's Ring

[Rumil]

Oooops, sorry about the ringS bit, thought I remembered Saruman described as 'maker of rings' but checked and is in fact 'ring-maker'(still doesn't preclude him from making more than one really).

As for the underlings and apprentice sorcerors bit, I know there's no direct evidence, however to speculate;-

The 'fire of Orthanc' - presumably some explosive device- was used at Helm's Deep. Would S have entrusted this 'Magic' to ordinary orcs or Dunlendings? Surely he would have had some specially trained apprentices (lab technicians? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] ) to handle it.

I seem to remember the Dunlendings (or was it men of Carn Dum?) being described as having sorcerors - perhaps fertile recruiting grounds for Saruman?

Perhaps the ring allowed him to 'keep an eye' (sorry!) on his forces from the safety of Isengard and influence his officers.