[Tar-Palantir]

Hey Tirinor,I also like the TV remote analogy [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img], in fact I use three remote controls - tv, vcr, and dvd? I need to get a "One Remote", lol.

I have two other thoughts, the first comes simply from how I envision it, rather than anything I can pull from the books. And involves thinking of all the rings as part of one whole. As if from first conception they (all 20 rings) were forged upon a framework of the finished product. And when A crux piece (ala, the One Ring) is removed, the whole construct collapses or diminishes. A good visual might be the spokes of a wheel with the One Ring as the hub. I don't know if you've played any D&D (been over a decade since I have) but it's easy to visualize this using their concept of the magical 'weave' whereby all spellcasters learn their craft in terms of accessing and manipulating this one source. oh sorry, now I'm babbling, I'm sure you get what I mean.

My second thought is just a comparison. When the One Ring was tossed in the Cracks of Doom how is it that Sauron was any less powerful than he was before? He wasn't in possession of the Ring during his Third Age stint in Mordor, he did much without it. Yet as soon as it's tossed, he is forced from Mordor, his minions scatter, etc... I am sure there is a simply answer, but it seems similar to the 'One and the Three' scenario.

And if the answer to my second comparison is "because the Ring and the Dark Lord are one" then doesn't that answer the curious question of diminishing Rings? (Since they are all bound, they are one, no?)

I think I confused myself a little, (I've never thought so hard about Tolkein until I joined this board a few days ago!) but let me know what you think! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]