Radagast Battle of Five Armies & The Third Age of Middle-Earth The current year for our Middle-Earth campaign is set during the year of 2946 of the Third Age. Inspired By J.R.R. Tolkien

Radagast the Brown, known originally as Aiwendil, was one of the five Istari (wizards) sent to Middle-earth by the Valar to aid in the fight against Sauron. Unlike Gandalf or Saruman, who engaged more in the affairs of Elves and Men, Radagast became deeply involved with the natural world, particularly the flora and fauna. His name in Quenya means "Friend of Birds", reflecting his unique connection to the animal kingdom. This deep affinity for nature was a direct result of his association with the Vala Yavanna, the "Lady of the Earth and Nature," who specifically requested he join the mission, a request Saruman reluctantly accepted.

Despite his reclusive nature, Radagast played a crucial, albeit often unwitting, role in the larger conflict against Sauron. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf recounts how he encountered Radagast, who had been manipulated by Saruman into luring Gandalf to the tower of Orthanc, where he was captured. Fortuitously, it was also Radagast who, by chance, helped secure Gandalf's rescue. He had previously sent the great Eagle, Gwaihir, with news of Sauron's forces, and Gwaihir, upon finding Gandalf imprisoned, carried him to safety.

Radagast made his home at Rhosgobel, a dwelling located near the western eaves of Mirkwood, the great forest that became increasingly shadowed by the Necromancer's influence. It was here that he lived as a hermit, communicating with and caring for the myriad of creatures in the region, rather than traveling widely. He was known as a "master of shapes and changes of hue" and possessed great lore of herbs and animals, using his bond with birds and beasts to gather information about the goings-on in Middle-earth's wild places. This simple existence led some, like Saruman, to scorn him as "the Bird-tamer" or "the Simple".

In J.R.R. Tolkien's primary writings, Radagast's appearances are fleeting, essentially serving as a plot device to move the narrative forward. He is mentioned in passing in The Hobbit and his actions in The Lord of the Rings are conveyed second-hand by Gandalf. After the Council of Elrond, scouts are sent to Rhosgobel but find his home empty, and his ultimate fate after the War of the Ring is not explicitly recorded in the main texts. Tolkien intentionally left certain characters' fates vague, contributing to the atmosphere of the fantasy world.

Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film series provided a much more significant and visually distinct portrayal of Radagast, portrayed by actor Sylvester McCoy. In the films, he is shown as an eccentric yet capable wizard with a distinctive appearance, a sled drawn by giant rabbits, and a deep, active involvement in the battle against the evil in Mirkwood and Dol Guldur. This cinematic interpretation, while expanding greatly on Tolkien's brief descriptions, captured the core elements of his character: his dedication to the natural world and his unique form of magic.

Ultimately, Radagast the Brown represents a different kind of wisdom in Middle-earth: one tied intrinsically to the land and non-human life. While other wizards failed their mission by falling to pride or simply becoming distracted by the affairs of Men and Elves, Radagast's commitment was to Yavanna's creations. Though he remained an isolated figure, his role in the gathering of information through the natural world, and his critical interaction with the Eagles, meant that he was, in his own quiet way, indispensable to the larger fight against the Shadow.