What Powered The Three?

[Andsigil]

Good question.

None of this is canon; just some semi-educated w.a.g.-ing on my part, but I've always had the impression that Middle Earth was a world born of immense magical energy that depleted slowly over the eons.

The most powerful dwarves, men, and elves were always the oldest. This is especially true of the elves who were either old enough to have seen the light of Valinor, and/or those of the oldest and most distinguished lineages. Galadriel was the last of the elves in the 3rd age, for example, who saw Valinor, and she remained the most powerful because of it.

Celebrimbor, though born in Middle Earth, was nonetheless the grandson of Feanor, the greatest elven smith and the son of Curufin, the son most like Feanor. "Feanor" meant "spirit of fire"and was written in a way (at least to me) which gave the impression that he radiated inner energy and power. That light was barely dimmed in his grandson.

Compare Feanor's creation, imbued(?) with his inner power and energy: the Silmarils. They were Valar-level and world-changing relics. Similarly, the Three Rings were Celebrimbor's creation, imbued with his inner power and energy. They, too were world-changing relics, but for all their greatness, they were slightly more modest (Maiar-level if you will?) in their power.

I hope I was able to articulate my version of all this with at least a modicum of acceptability.

Cheers.

Addendum: This depletion of power over generations is not in a straight line, but more of a trend. Much as the stock market has peaks and valleys, while overall going up over the decades, so does the inherited power of ME heroes have peaks and valleys while going down. This explains why, for example, Aragorn could hold his own with the heroes of old (the quote or quotes on this escape me, sorry) despite being around at the advent of the Fourth Age.

[Belegorn]

I've no idea what the power source is for the Three. Perhaps in their design to do specific things, they draw on the power or essence of the wielder to work. The One itself draws on the power that is already in it and it can only be fully accessed by some really mighty folk.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Belegorn

I've no idea what the power source is for the Three. Perhaps in their design to do specific things, they draw on the power or essence of the wielder to work. The One itself draws on the power that is already in it and it can only be fully accessed by some really mighty folk.

It isn't apparent to me why Celebrimbor would have endowed the Three with different respective powers. They weren't intended for any specific user, and the "Fire", "Air", and "Water" designations may have thus been only for cosmetic reasons with respect to their stones.

The purpose behind their making was to promote general healing and preservation, and that power would have to have been drawn from the fea of the maker(s). The specific use of that power and its manifestation would have been colored by the individual will and desires of the keeper.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

It isn't apparent to me why Celebrimbor would have endowed the Three with different respective powers. They weren't intended for any specific user, and the "Fire", "Air", and "Water" designations may have thus been only for cosmetic reasons with respect to their stones.

The purpose behind their making was to promote general healing and preservation, and that power would have to have been drawn from the fea of the maker(s). The specific use of that power and its manifestation would have been colored by the individual will and desires of the keeper.

I agree. I think the way the Three were used does not necessarily correlate with some "specialisation" on the part of the respective Rings, just the priorities and necessities of their wielders. For instance, Rivendell was not quite a "Land out of Time" to the same extent as Lothlórien, but it seems to me that similar effects of "staying" and preservation were used through Vilya and Nenya in their respective locations.

What Círdan said of Narya, by this logic, could probably be applied to all of them; it may have simply been that Narya was the one Círdan was discussing at the time.

Interestingly, Círdan's claim that Narya was "idle" in his care suggests that Lindon was not under the same "staying" effect as Rivendell or Lórien.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Interestingly, Círdan's claim that Narya was "idle" in his care suggests that Lindon was not under the same "staying" effect as Rivendell or Lórien.

Agreed. Mithlond predated the creation of the Three, and had not been established with any parallel to Rivendell or Lórien. Its role had nothing to do with "preservation", and Círdan seemingly could find no use for Narya there.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Or, perhaps, as a Sinda Cirdan wasn't as prone as the Noldor to play with the laws of Arda and Time.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

It isn't apparent to me why Celebrimbor would have endowed the Three with different respective powers. They weren't intended for any specific user, and the "Fire", "Air", and "Water" designations may have thus been only for cosmetic reasons with respect to their stones.

In part. But then in Letter No. 301: Fireworks... appear in the books because they are part of the representation of Gandalf, bearer of the Ring of Fire, the Kindler: the most childlike aspect shown to the Hobbits being fireworks. Note the word repeated in 'The Istari': Círdan... gave to his keeping the Third Ring, Narya the Red. "For," said he, "great labours and perils lie before you, and lest your task prove too great and wearisome, take this Ring for your aid and comfort... I deem that in days ere long to come it should be in nobler hands than mine, that may wield it for the kindling of all hearts to courage." (Gandalf also uses fire magic on Caradhras (where he says its use announces "Gandalf is here"), and in the fight with the Wargs. Also, although obviously predating the invention of rings, Gandalf in The Hobbit took out several goblins with a "flash;" in the draft for the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul Gandalf's unnamed spell vs the Balrog "singed an inch off my eyebrows."

It could also perhaps be said that the core of Galdriel's power in Lorien flows from the Silverlode or the Naith where Silverlode and Anduin come together; and her Mirror is a basin of water.

The connection of Elrond and Imladris to Vilya is obscure, but there is his name ("Starry vault"), and the fact that Rivendall above its deep gorge is bounded only by the heavens (although of course the Bruinen seems to be at least as important)