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William Cloud Hicklin · 12-23-2007, 08:12 AM

Call the Nazgul? I would say rather that it was a sort of omnidirectional 'evil minion' beacon, to which the Nazgul naturally were especially sensitive. The Ring exercised a pull on the Orcs who destroyed Isildur's army, even though they had no idea of it.

I don't think the Ring 'ordered' or 'directed' or 'persuaded' Smeagol to kill Deagol at all: Smeagol was an odious and greedy little swine who was especially susceptible to the Ring's broadcast temptation. I see no suggestion it 'chose' him over Deagol.

You're attributing to the Ring a calculating intelligence which far, far overstates its 'sentience'

12-23-2007, 08:12 AM	#93
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,301	Call the Nazgul? I would say rather that it was a sort of omnidirectional 'evil minion' beacon, to which the Nazgul naturally were especially sensitive. The Ring exercised a pull on the Orcs who destroyed Isildur's army, even though they had no idea of it. I don't think the Ring 'ordered' or 'directed' or 'persuaded' Smeagol to kill Deagol at all: Smeagol was an odious and greedy little swine who was especially susceptible to the Ring's broadcast temptation. I see no suggestion it 'chose' him over Deagol. You're attributing to the Ring a calculating intelligence which far, far overstates its 'sentience' __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.