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GANDALF
"All that the unsuspecting Bilbo saw that morning was
an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue
hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which his
long white beard hung below his waist, and immense black
boots."
--The Hobbit
Gandalf - Troublemaker of the Shire
(150 Point Version)
"Gandalf! If you had heard only quarter of what
I have heard about him, and I have only heard very little
of all there is to hear, you would be prepared for any
sort of remarkable tale. Tales and adventures sprouted
up all over the place wherever he went, in the most
extraordinary fashion."
--The Hobbit
Master of fireworks, friend of children and eccentrics,
harbinger of adventure in its most scandalous and disruptive
forms...Gandalf is all of these things, but to the people
of the Shire, he is first and foremost a mystery.
Appearing when least expected, speaking in riddles,
offering explanations which explain nothing at all,
he ensnares plain quiet Hobbits in his schemes and leads
them off on mad quests which too often end in madness.
Then again, they may also end in fabulou riches and
renown. It's been known to happen.
So if Gandalf shows up on your doorstep, be very polite...but
be very, very careful.
Gandalf - Servant of the Secret Fire
(200 Point Version)
'You cannot pass," he said..."I am a servant of the
Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. You cannot
pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn.
Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.'...
...but still Gandalf could be seen, glimmering in the
gloom; he seemed small, and altogether alone: grey and
bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm."
--The Fellowship of the Ring
Istari, member of the White Council, messenger of the
Valar, and keeper of Narya, the Elven Ring of Fire--Gandalf
is so much more than he appears to the oblivious folk
who encounter him day to day.
Deliberately concealing his true power unless forced
by dire necessity to reveal it, he travels among the
people of Middle-Earth as both harbinger of danger and
bearer of hope--warrior and wizard, aiding where he
can; but less a leader than a guide, understanding that
the fate of the Children of Eru rests ultimately within
their own hands.
Gandalf - he White
(300 Point Version)
"Then suddenly he threw back his grey cloak, and cast
aside his hat, and leaped to horseback. He wore no helm
nor mail, his snowy hair flew free in the wind, his
white robes shone dazzling in the sun.
'Behold the White Rider!' cried Aragorn, and all took
up the words."
--The Two Towers
Funny thing about throwing down with a Balrog, dying,
and being returned to life to finish your appointed
task. It can really change a person.
Gandalf is through with waiting in the wings, playing
the instigator, the herald of doom, the crotchety-but-kindly
advisor. He's all business no. From here on out, it's
No More Mister Nice Wizard.
Theoden needs a boot in the backside? No problem. Saruman's
gotten too big for his britches? He's outta here. The
Lord of the Nazgul's about to invade Minas Tirith? Bring
it on, baby.
It almost makes one wonder what they really needed Aragorn,
Frodo and all the rest for. And considering that Gandalf
derives from the same race as Sauron himself, it's a
darn good thing for everyone that he appears to be unsullied
by personal ambitions.
Then again, we never did find out what happened in the
Undying Lands after the books ended, did we?