The True Master.

[Gurthang]

Originally Posted by Farael

Does it? The only characteristics the Ring seems to have is the ability to corrupt anyone who wears it (but Sauron himself) and that it wants to go to Sauron as badly as Sauron wants to find it.

Truthfully, I think it is a split decision. I think for every point I make, which is completely valid, there is an equally valid counterpoint. But I will continue, because I feel that the Ring is somehow more... something, and I like trying to think it out.

The reasons I say the Ring has more dominant characteristics are as follows:

Sauron is searching with a large portion of his resources to find it. In this I see Gollum, as I pointed out in my first post. He is so infatuatied with the Ring that he bends most of himself to get it back. I think if Sauron had been less concerned about finding his 'precious', he could have swept Gondor and Rohan much sooner and taken Middle-Earth rather easily.

As pointed out, the Ring does want to get back to Sauron. But to do this it does nothing. It simply is carried by a someone who will eventually succomb to the will of the One. In this way, by doing nothing, it will get back to Sauron. By simply existing, it is a driving force.

The Ring's effects are lasting. Gollum, and to a lesser extent Bilbo and Frodo, were eternally effected by bearing the Ring. Perhaps Sauron could overpower someone's will, but I think that once he stopped bending his will upon them, they would not feel such a pain as the Ring left. Of course, that's only conjecture.

Finally, I still say that the Ring seems more essential to the survival of the seperate-but-one will. It's destroyed, Sauron's finished. It's not destroyed, Sauron's still out there.