Wandering from town to town, though most often found in the wilderness among the birds and beasts, Radagast the Brown appears to be an unassuming old man with a great love for the plants and wildlife of Middle-earth. While he does bear a deep affinity for the natural world, this hermit from east of the Misty Mountains is far more than his simple attire and quiet mannerisms convey. In truth, he is a powerful Wizard of the same order as Gandalf the Grey and Saruman the White, and Radagast’s powers are mighty, indeed.
Although he dwells in Rhosgobel on the edge of Mirkwood Forest, Radagast has been seen throughout Eriador of late, following strange purposes that he keeps to himself. Travelers who encounter Radagast need not be alarmed, however, for he is no friend to the dark forces rising in deepest Angmar; rather, his intentions are good and his actions most often work to the betterment of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth … or at least of the beasts who live alongside them. Much can be learned from Radagast, especially about the wilds of Middle-earth and all the living things found there.

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Radagast is mentioned only occasionally in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, though it is clear that he is a Wizard of great power who has walked Middle-earth for centuries, much like Gandalf and Saruman. In The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, the design team at Turbine carefully approached the task of bringing Radagast to life, since he is indeed one of Middle-earth’s most powerful characters, yet his powers, beyond the ability to speak with animals and to understand nature, are only vaguely identified, as is his overall role in the War of the Ring.