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Old 11-03-2003, 03:08 AM   #9
Eurytus
Wight
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: England
Posts: 179
Eurytus has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

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In the face of determined charge by a force of Men, their power is marginal...
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The Nazgul alone cannot withstand a whole army, if that's what you mean. Their power is seriously un-marginal when they lead an army.
Depends what you mean by the nature of the power to which you refer. If you mean they were physically powerful in themselves then I must disagree with you. Tolkien states in one of his letters that their primary power is in their ability to cause fear, however someone who can master his fear of the Nazgul can physically overcome them. Their physical strength and physical prowess with force of arms is not up to that much. This is why Sauron uses them primarily as messengers (with the exception of the Witchking) and why Gandalf and Aragorn were able to give them a bit of pasting at Weathertop, and also why they lost their nerve totally when confronted by Glorfindel.

Indeed, even the Witchking did not choose to face King Earnil of Gondor in single combat, although he challenged him to it. When it came to the crunch the Witchking captured him through treachery.

Generally, master your fear and you master the Nazgul.
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