The White Council

Re: The Rings of Power

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: My theory is that it only turned the weaker bearers invisible; : and this only because it was the ruling ring and so powerful. : People who had enough power to master the ring would not (or : could choose to not) become invisible. They may be able even to : choose a form that the visible world would see.

I agree, in principle. Sauron, at least, was visible while wearing the Ring. I believe a powerful being like Gandalf, and perhaps one of the Noldor (especially one of the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, who knew the secrets of the Rings) should have been able -- eventually, at least -- to render themselves visible while wearing the One Ring or one of the Seven and Nine.

Dwarves, of course, could not be turned into wraiths, so their Rings didn't make them invisible, but that was just due to the nature of Dwarves.

: :If it did not affect the dwarves, why did they accept the : : rings. If it did, why didn't they use this feature to greater : : effect in their war against Sauron?

: The rings did affect them. They were victorious in wars and : prolific in gathering wealth. They became greedy and : quarrelsome as well, which is why they weren't very successful : against Sauron (being disunited in fighting him). Also, while : Sauron wore the One, all their plans would be exposed to him.

Good points.

: What did he do with the Nazgul rings? He could have used these : to make a second set of Nazgul?

: He kept them. Safe. If Sauron had tried to make a second set of : Nazgul, no doubt the nazgul would have found out. That would : have pissed them off to no end. Sauron then probably would have : been dealing with an insurrection. Instead of being his most : faithful servants, the nazgul would most likely have become his : most bitter enemies (not that they would have united with the : west).

I cannot agree with this. Once Sauron took back the Nine Rings he should have been free to do with them as he pleased. There is no indication, however, that he tried to create new Nazgul with them. But Tolkien says the Nine were enslaved to him through their Rings, and their wills were totally subservient to his own.