...there is much else that may be told.
The Devilry of Saruman, or the fire of Orthanc, was a type of mysterious explosive substance that was supposedly created by Saruman at Orthanc.[1]
History
It was used by Saruman's army of Uruk-Hai and Dunlendings to blast the culvert of the Deeping Wall during the Battle of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep.[1] It is unknown whether it was just a single substance, or if it was made up of a list of an assortment of ingredients, which would potentially most likely would have included gunpowder. Saruman is also said to have possibly have used it in the Battle of Isengard against the Ents. It may possibly have been the cause of the death of Beechbone.
It is possible that a similar substance was used by the Witch-king's forces to blast breaches in the Rammas Echor at the onset of the Siege of Gondor.[2] The Wild Men when later speaking with the Rohirrim said the destruction of the wall was caused by "earth-thunder".[3]
Portrayal in adaptations
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The Fire of Isengard travelling out of Orthanc - The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)
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The fire of Isengard hitting the wall - The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)
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Saruman filling the fire - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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Uruk-hai placing the ball - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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The Fire is triggered - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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"Devilry of Saruman" from The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game: The Treachery of Saruman
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"Fire of Orthanc" from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
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_-_Fire_of_Isengard.png)
1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):
- During the Battle of the Hornburg, magical projectiles travel out of Orthanc and fly over Helm's Deep. Aragorn cries out "Fire of Isengard!" and one of the projectiles strikes the outer wall of Helm's Deep, breaching it and allowing the Orcs to enter. The Eorlings retreat to the Glittering Caves.
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:
- In the Isengard Unleashed scene, Gríma tells Saruman that the Hornburg was a weakness in a small culvert in the wall. Saruman fills an orb with powder and Gríma asks him "How can fire undo stone?". In the scene The Breach of the Deeping Wall, an Uruk-hai place the powder, sealed in a spiked ball, in the culvert. A torch-bearing Uruk runs forward and Aragorn orders Legolas to "bring him down". The Uruk, unfazed by Legolas' arrows, dives into the culvert, igniting the fire and triggering an explosion that breaches the wall of the fortress.
2014: The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game:
- The fire is depicted in the 2015 expansion The Treason of Saruman on the "Devilry of Saruman" card, illustrated by Álvaro Calvo Escudero. The card has the following effects:
When Revealed: Place 3 progress on the main quest (bypassing any active location). Until the end of the round, treat each character's text box as if it was blank (except for Traits).
Shadow: Attacking enemy gets +2 Attack and gains Toughness 2 until the end of the round.
2023: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth:
- The fire is depicted on the "Fire of Orthanc" card, illustrated by Jeremy Paillotin. The card has the following effects:
Destroy target artifact or land. Creatures without flying can’t block this turn.