Dragons, Balrogs and other nasties - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Mithadan*** · 01-18-2001, 10:03 AM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist
Posts: 521</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
In UT, there is an essay called the Quest of Erebor in which Gandalf reveals that one of his motivations in "sponsoring" Thorin and co. was to eliminate Smaug from the coming conflict with Sauron. This raises several questions. The Hobbit and LoTR both imply that Smaug was not the last dragon (in Letters, JRRT specifically states that the "race" of Dragons survived into later ages). If there were other dragons, why didn't Sauron use them (other than the undersized steeds for the Nazgul)?

Which raises the broader question. Sauron was Morgoth's Lieutenant, but still an underling. To what extent could Sauron control the greater constructs/minions of Morgoth that survived to the Third Age? These include Dragons, the Balrog, perhaps the Watcher in the Water, and others that we may not know of. I raised this question on another board long ago and the primary answer seemed to be that Sauron couldn't control Morgoth's greater servants without the Ring. I find this "answer" to be unsatisfactory and, in my opinion, wrong. Thoughts?

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

01-18-2001, 10:03 AM	#1
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,383	Dragons, Balrogs and other nasties <font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist Posts: 521</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> In UT, there is an essay called the Quest of Erebor in which Gandalf reveals that one of his motivations in "sponsoring" Thorin and co. was to eliminate Smaug from the coming conflict with Sauron. This raises several questions. The Hobbit and LoTR both imply that Smaug was not the last dragon (in Letters, JRRT specifically states that the "race" of Dragons survived into later ages). If there were other dragons, why didn't Sauron use them (other than the undersized steeds for the Nazgul)? Which raises the broader question. Sauron was Morgoth's Lieutenant, but still an underling. To what extent could Sauron control the greater constructs/minions of Morgoth that survived to the Third Age? These include Dragons, the Balrog, perhaps the Watcher in the Water, and others that we may not know of. I raised this question on another board long ago and the primary answer seemed to be that Sauron couldn't control Morgoth's greater servants without the Ring. I find this "answer" to be unsatisfactory and, in my opinion, wrong. Thoughts? --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.