Sauron with the Seven (three recovered) & the Nine

[Formendacil]

Without thinking long on the matter, it seems to me rather strange to suggest that Sauro would have retained for himself Rings that expressed turned one into a Wraith if his purpose were re-embodiment. Stretching his life into longevity would hardly be necessary when, as a Maia, he'd already cheated death and the destruction of his body.

No, it seems to me that Sauron wanted the 3 of Seven, and the Nine for reasons other than re-incorporating, a process which, in any case, I think only the One would have helped him with--not because it was a Ring, but because it was a Ring into which he had imbued so much of his power. It seems to me more that he wanted the Seven and the Nine for other reasons. Whatever other powers they might have, I'm not sure I'd want to speculate, but it might not have been for their powers at all, but simply so that, once he had the One again--or in case he did not recover it--he would not have other people running around with powerful Rings. In other words, not in order to use them, but to prevent other from using them.

Hmm... now I'm wondering... let's imagine that Gandalf or Saruman had the One Ring and was set on becoming the new Ringlord: would Sauron's possession of the Seven and Nine have been a defence against the Ringlord, or would they have weakened him against the Ringlord--as the Seven and Nine were meant to bend others to his will when he had the One?

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Whatever other powers they might have, I'm not sure I'd want to speculate, but it might not have been for their powers at all, but simply so that, once he had the One again--or in case he did not recover it--he would not have other people running around with powerful Rings.

If he regained the One, why wouldn't he have wanted other people have the rest of the Rings? It was made to rule them all, wasn't it?

[Gorthaur the Cruel]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Without thinking long on the matter, it seems to me rather strange to suggest that Sauro would have retained for himself Rings that expressed turned one into a Wraith if his purpose were re-embodiment. Stretching his life into longevity would hardly be necessary when, as a Maia, he'd already cheated death and the destruction of his body.

But why would you expect Sauron, a maia, to turn into a wraith when the rings of power have different effects on specific races (e.g. dwarves not having the same reaction as men)? I did not argue for the Nine & the Seven's life-lengthening qualities, but for their virtue to enhance a bearer's natural powers, which was something Sauron greatly needed (after his severe reduction sans the One). And was this not his lore to begin with? I highly doubt he would become a thrall by his own creation (save maybe the One). Re-embodiment takes power and time. If his weakened state can gain some enhancement from the stolen three of the Seven and Nine, I don't see anything strange about that.

I'm not sure I'd want to speculate, but it might not have been for their powers at all, but simply so that, once he had the One again--or in case he did not recover it--he would not have other people running around with powerful Rings. In other words, not in order to use them, but to prevent other from using them.

But those rings were tainted. They were evil and worked towards evil even if Sauron does not wear the One. The Nine & Seven were not unsullied like the Three, for Sauron participated in their creation. Would it not be more profitable if the opposite were to occur: To have the Seven & the Nine rings scattered (regardless if the One is not recovered) and wreak havoc on their own?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel

But why would you expect Sauron, a maia, to turn into a wraith when the rings of power have different effects on specific races (e.g. dwarves not having the same reaction as men)? I did not argue for the Nine & the Seven's life-lengthening qualities, but for their virtue to enhance a bearer's natural powers, which was something Sauron greatly needed (after his severe reduction sans the One). And was this not his lore to begin with? I highly doubt he would become a thrall by his own creation (save maybe the One). Re-embodiment takes power and time. If his weakened state can gain some enhancement from the stolen three of the Seven and Nine, I don't see anything strange about that.

Do the Seven and the Nine enhance the wearer's powers? I'm not at all clear that they do. Each of the Nazgûl were powerful in their own right before they got hold of a Ring.

In any case, I was not saying that Sauron would have become a wraith if he'd used the Seven and Nine. Obviously not, since the One had no such effect. My question was whether they'd be of any use to Sauron in terms of regenerating, since wraithifying was the intended effect of the Seven and Nine on Men--more so, I dare say, than giving them power: power was merely to be a lure for enslaving the wearer to Sauron's will.

Originally Posted by Gorthaur the Cruel

But those rings were tainted. They were evil and worked towards evil even if Sauron does not wear the One. The Nine & Seven were not unsullied like the Three, for Sauron participated in their creation. Would it not be more profitable if the opposite were to occur: To have the Seven & the Nine rings scattered (regardless if the One is not recovered) and wreak havoc on their own?

If the Seven and the Nine merely weaken people to be dominated by evil, then yes. In such a case, however, then Sauron would not have wanted to recover them at all, and certainly not to help him regenerate. If, however, the Rings have a power about them do something "positive" (by which I certainly do not mean "good"), then they could be used as a force against him.