The "Well what next?" fox and The One Ring

[Sardy]

Well, it certainly offers a new answer to the age old debates of 'why didn't the eagles fly the ring to Mt. Doom?' and 'why not just cast it in the ocean?'

After all, as the saying goes, ya can't trust an eagle... To say nothing of the fishes...!

[Marwhini]

Originally Posted by Sardy

Well, it certainly offers a new answer to the age old debates of 'why didn't the eagles fly the ring to Mt. Doom?' and 'why not just cast it in the ocean?'

After all, as the saying goes, ya can't trust an eagle... To say nothing of the fishes...!

Do people really take that "Why didn't the Eagles fly with it to Mt. Doom?" seriously?

Can people really not see what is wrong with that?

The "Use the Great Eagles to fly it back to Mordor" has to be one of the worst ideas I can think of with the One Ring.

It's doing nothing more than delivering the One Ring to Sauron by Air-Mail.

The "Cast it into the ocean" makes only marginally more sense, but it still leaves Sauron alive, and mostly "Well."

And a fish could eat the thing, get caught by some hapless fisherman, who then winds up using it and we are right back where we started.

As for the Fox, Tolkien mentions in several places the distinctions between "mere beasts" (animals without Fëa), and those who could speak. And he admits that this threw himself a curve-ball. And it is another case of having to reference back to those "underlying postulates" and "coherent theological and metaphysical systems" again.


To begin with:

How would the fox use the ring having no fingers? Is the One Ring really so accommodating that it would stay on its Paw, should it decide to "wear" it?


Why am I even thinking about this?

MB

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Marwhini

How would the fox use the ring having no fingers? Is the One Ring really so accommodating that it would stay on its Paw, should it decide to "wear" it?

First of all, the Ring has an effect even when not worn directly. It can still influence the mind of people in its vicinity (Boromir), or just those who think about it for an extended time (Saruman). It can also give some power to the Bearer even when not worn directly (Frodo with Gollum on the slopes of Orodruin).

Originally Posted by Marhwini

Why am I even thinking about this?

Fun?

[Inziladun]

I'm sorry, but I just had to bring this up.

If, as is likely, a bacterium had landed on the inner surface of the Ring, would the Ring corrupt it into an evil bacterium? Would it be invisible to other bacteria? Would its life stretch out and become an unending weariness? Would it use its increased strength and stature to rule over other bacteria? Would it fight to keep other bacteria from adhering to the Ring? Would it still evolve genetically, or would it instead become a Bacteria-wraith?

With credit to these fine people.

[Marwhini]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

First of all, the Ring has an effect even when not worn directly. It can still influence the mind of people in its vicinity (Boromir), or just those who think about it for an extended time (Saruman). It can also give some power to the Bearer even when not worn directly (Frodo with Gollum on the slopes of Orodruin).



Fun?

True... I was just thinking in terms of the larger effects of the One Ring upon the world.

The Fox just having the ring and never using it might not produce the more severe effects we see upon those who actually use it.

And the Nazgûl seem to have had a harder time tracking it down unless it was actually worn.

I can just see the Nazgûl with a pack of Spectral Fox-hounds riding through the Shire hunting the Fox who has taken the One Ring.


As for the Bacterium.... Bacteria are immortal already.

And what does an "Evil Bacteria" do, even?

I'll take a look at the link...

MB