07-11-2006, 06:08 PM | #1 |
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the twenty rings of power
what was essentually so special about them, really? afterall, all they did was to distroy peoples lives once sauron tampered with then by making the one ring to rule them all. so why keep them when you know that you can't use them to their full potential because your eminy knows about them?
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07-11-2006, 06:22 PM | #2 |
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were they so easy to take off though?
especially after Sauron made the one and began to exert control over them! Hindsight is a wonderful thing huh? but what lore or power went into their making that the smiths of Eregion harnessed or twisted or wrought? |
07-11-2006, 06:28 PM | #3 | |
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i believe, as does this article here, that it was the power to preserve middle earth in a timeless zone almost. There is also this quote that helps to back it up:
Quote:
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07-11-2006, 06:49 PM | #4 |
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was then some essence of the west or some residue / light or elemental force perhaps from the trees or similiar summoned or caught or entrapped or focused into the rings of power think you?
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07-11-2006, 07:02 PM | #5 |
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i think the power that all the rings had was desire, or there was greed in there that worked on each individuals desires, individual person or race. for example, the elves desire was to have a bit of valinor without leaving middle earth. therefore, that's what their rings did (preserving, but also enlarging) ie. lorien, rivendale. On the other hand, once given to them, one man-king might want to practice dark arts, so the ring he had gave him that power to be able to do so, whilst another might want to help another country, and so his ring gave him resorces and the abilities to go the job sucessfully.
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07-13-2006, 05:32 AM | #6 |
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The Rings of Power
This essay will help to explain the basics of the Rings, what powers they had, and other such matters. To begin with, some basic facts: The Rings were made in Eregion, right next to the mines of Moria, on the west side, around 1500-1600 of the Second age. They were made by the Gwaith-i-Mirdain (People of the Jewel-smiths), and they were most cunning things ever wrought, except for the simarils, of course. The leader of this group was Celebrimbor, son of Curufin. We don’t know how they were made, but we do know that they contained powerful magic “The power of the Elven-Rings was very great” (Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power, page 297). The 19 were made originally because the elves of Eregion wanted to live both in Middle-earth, and yet have the bliss and wonder of Valinor. The One, however, was made because Sauron wanted to eventually bring the elves under his rule by deceptive means. Now, to understand why everyone considers the Rings to be dangerous, we first have to look at what powers they had: All Rings = One power I believe that all the Rings had was being able to work on the desires/greed of the race/person in question. For example, the elves wanted to have Valinor, but not leave Middle-earth, therefore the Rings preserved and slowed down decay, whilst the dwarves wanted gold and mithril, therefore, they found massive gold and mithril hoards. Finally, Men wanted power, whether for good or evil, so their Rings enlarged that power. 3 Rings = The powers that they had was that they didn’t turn the person invisible, as well as being able to kindle hearts, as “With it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill” (Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, page 1122). But the main power that they had was to preserve and prevent decay, e.g. Lorien, Rivendell. 7 + 9 Rings = They made a person invisible, put them both in the spiritual world when worn, and corrupted because they were made under the guidance of Sauron. Around 550 years after the nine were given, the nazgul first appeared. However, this only happened to men, because dwarves were too tough, and so it didn’t affect them. An interesting question to ask would be: Could an elf become a slave to Sauron if he wore one of the seven or nine? I believe the answer to be yes, because in their own way, elves are as weak as men, and the ring would work on that elf’s desire, and eventually, hello elf nazgul. The One Ring = Its powers are that it controls the other Rings of Power, it seems to understand the Orc language (unless they were speaking the common speech in the first place, of course). It can sense its surroundings, and even influence them to suite its own needs, e.g. Gollum in cave in Hobbit, Frodo in Prancing Pony, and Sam in Cirith Ungol, and finally, it corrupts, controls, and abandons the person that has it. (The last one only happens if that person isn’t heading towards Sauron). A question to ask is: How did Sauron manage to corrupt the Rings in the first place? There are two possible answers to this. 1) Sauron planned the whole business with the One Ring from the start, and so when he helped those fateful elves, he left himself a kind of ‘back door’ that he could use to ensnare them. 2) A less likely possibility is that once he helped make the Rings, and the Ruling Ring, he did some powerful spell to add the ensnaring part to them. I personally believe 1). Of course, the ultimate question we have to ask ourselves is: Why, when they realized that Sauron had control of the Rings, didn’t they destroy them as soon as possible? The simple answer is that “They failed to find the strength” (Unfinished Tales, History of Galadriel and Celeborn, page 237). So I hope you like it, and that there is lots of discussion about it.
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07-13-2006, 12:18 PM | #7 | |
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07-13-2006, 12:35 PM | #8 | |
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07-13-2006, 07:20 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
I like the essay...although what makes you think that the seven dwarven rings made people invisible? In fact, IIRC, Tolkien says that the only effect that they had was to increase gold hoards. Whether or not he was speaking with invisibility in mind, I don't know. Also, did the nine rings actually make men invisible? I was rather under the impression that it was Sauron's influence that turned the men into wraiths after they died.
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07-13-2006, 10:08 PM | #10 | |
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I think at first they didn't destroy them because they might not have known how to. Later, they thought the One was lost, so there wasn't any threat of someone controlling thier three via the One.
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07-14-2006, 04:08 AM | #11 | |
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07-14-2006, 03:50 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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07-14-2006, 04:06 PM | #13 |
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You know, I never did think about this before.
Though the rings did make you powerful over people though, as demonstrated when Sam scares off the orcs in the tower. Great points Jammi.
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07-14-2006, 04:08 PM | #14 |
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what about the last alliance though?
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07-14-2006, 04:18 PM | #15 | |
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07-14-2006, 06:13 PM | #16 |
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Interesting essay, Jammi.
I was very busy lately, so I had no time to comment. I shall do it later. Only some things now. In UT it is stated clearly that Celebrimbor and Co. DID understand the necessiy to destroy all the rings, but they "failed to find the strength". Not the power, mind you, but moral strength. Rings were as dear to Celebrimbor as Silmarils to Feanor. And Galadriel and Celebrimbor still hoped to use them one day.. so great was their desire to preserve things as they were and get the bliss of Valinor in ME. Now a question: Destroying the One Ring meant the end of th power of all the other 19. Now, could it be that the end of ALL the 19 could mean the loss of the power of the One and thus Sauron's destruction? Perhaps Celebrimbor had Sauron's very existence in his hands but did nothing? |
07-14-2006, 06:28 PM | #17 |
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sounds in keeping with the elves...
... but ...??? |
07-14-2006, 07:47 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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07-14-2006, 10:03 PM | #19 | |
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07-15-2006, 06:25 PM | #20 | |
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