The Military uses of the Palantiri.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

I think the UT essay says that they could not transmit sound under any circumstances.

Ah, okay! Now I understand what you meant by your last post. I thought that by putting emphasis on "viewing", you meant "viewing the other fellow", i.e. that you meant that they'd just make telephones out of the Palantíri. That's why I wondered, okay.

But still, see - for example Aragorn was not viewing anything, he was just "talking" to Sauron, and still it was enough for him. Okay, of course Sauron is Sauron, but I think it was not only his presence or the struggle that ruined Aragorn so much. Does it say anywhere explicitely that there would not be much strain by using them? (Even some strain is enough, though, for you to think it over twice whether to call your cousin in Gondor to just show him how nice lunch you just made for yourself.)