Mordor Communication

[Mithadan]

We do not know the "range" of osanwe. We do know from the essay that one factor allowing osanwe to be possible is the openness of the recipient to receiving the message. Another factor is likely the native strength of the sender.

We do know, or can at least assume, that Gandalf employed osanwe when reaching out to Frodo on Amon Hen ("Take it off! Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring!"). William would be better able to quickly determine whether Gandalf was on Caradhras or in Lorien (or being carried by Gwaihir) when this took place, but this transmission was from a distance. We can assume that Sauron, a Maia like Gandalf's message to Frodo, could similarly transmit his thought to a Nazgul at a distance.

Then there is the factor of the recipient's willingness to receive the transmission. A Nazgul, under the control of Sauron who held the Nine, would be entirely open to receiving a message from his master using osanwe.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Acc to Tolkien, the range of Osanwe was in theory unlimited, but in practice was subject to many limiting or attenuating factors, especially among Eruhini and most especially among mortals. At the other extreme, the Valar probably could communicate with one another at will anywhere (I can envision Vana mind-yelling at Orome to get home from his damn hunt right now, we have dinner guests this evening.....)

One wonders if these limitations were among those accepted by the Istari when they chose to became incarnate. It was after all the hroa which was the source of most of the limitations.

[Bingo]

I haven't read Osanwe-Kenta, but I just remembered that there is some kind of long distance communication associated with the one ring.

For in the day that Sauron first put on the One, Celebrimbor, maker of the Three, was aware of him, and from afar he heard him speak these words, and so his evil purposes were revealed.

But all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing, and their minds and hearts will become revealed to Sauron, if he regains the One.

So maybe, if Sauron holds the nine rings (or wears them on his nine fingers?) he might have a mental link with each of the nazgûl.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Originally Posted by Mithadan

We do not know the "range" of osanwe. We do know from the essay that one factor allowing osanwe to be possible is the openness of the recipient to receiving the message. Another factor is likely the native strength of the sender.

We do know, or can at least assume, that Gandalf employed osanwe when reaching out to Frodo on Amon Hen ("Take it off! Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring!"). William would be better able to quickly determine whether Gandalf was on Caradhras or in Lorien (or being carried by Gwaihir) when this took place, but this transmission was from a distance. We can assume that Sauron, a Maia like Gandalf's message to Frodo, could similarly transmit his thought to a Nazgul at a distance.

Then there is the factor of the recipient's willingness to receive the transmission. A Nazgul, under the control of Sauron who held the Nine, would be entirely open to receiving a message from his master using osanwe.

FWIW, Gandalf was "on a hill in Fangorn"