• PrinceWith999Enemies@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    In the books, Isildur turned invisible by putting on the ring, and dove into a river to escape a band of orcs. The ring, under its own will, slipped from his finger and he was spotted by orcish archers, who killed him.

    I’ve always thought that the “invisibility” aspect of the ring was that it shifted the wearer into the shadow realm. The Nine were invisible without their cloaks, but were visible when the ring was worn. It also made the wearer more visible to Sauron, iirc.

    If that’s the case, then the power granted by the ring might mean that magic users (such as Gandalf or Galadriel) would more easily draw on power from the other realm into this one.

    • RecluseRamble@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      7 months ago

      Isildur turned invisible by putting on the ring, and dove into a river to escape a band of orcs

      Happened in the movies too, AFAIR.

      And in the books it was a big thing that Tom Bombadil did not become invisible when he put on the ring. Invisibility seems to be a core feature.

    • orbitz@lemmy.ca
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      7 months ago

      I thought the pulling the wearer into the other realm was part of the lore, that’s why it wouldn’t work the same on elves or a wizard, they are already part of that realm. So I’m agreeing I just thought I saw on tolkienfans it was the intended reading of the situation but I can’t remember if it was just theory from letters or something he wrote about.

      Also why Frodo saw such a bright light when rescued at the Ford, he saw the elf, Glorifindal? As he was in the other realm. Also showed why that elf couldn’t go on the quest with them, he’d be like a beacon.