Tolkien Imponderables

[Scrooge]

Originally Posted by Wally

In Moria, what were the Drums in the Deep. i.e., what made the sound? And what made the sound of the hammer tapping that Gimli heard?

Signals. In deep quiet, taps can travel a great distance through hard stone. Most likely, a goblin heard the pebble and the tapping was code for "Possible intruders. Wake Balrog."

Originally Posted by mithrand1r

Sauron was able, though, to influence what Denethor was able to see with the palantir. (How I am not sure.)

Maybe he held the palantir out the window of Barad-Dur so that Denethor could see the vast armies Sauron was building? Denethor's despair was caused by seeing Sauron's armies and believing that there was no way to defend against them, and trying to ignore it instead of preparing.

Originally Posted by Olmer

The whole point of Aragorn's journey was to USURP the kingship.
The crown and the throne are not things to be handed over to a bum with a dubious origin. He needed a lot of luck and a help which only a wizard could provide. Particulary, Gandalf.

It is not usurping if he is indeed the rightful heir. However dubious you believe his origin to be, commanding the army from the Paths of the Dead means his blood was true and his claim to the throne valid. The line of Stewards had no right to withhold it.

Originally Posted by Olmer

Yeah! This is what hobbits were saying in theirs Red Book.
But this is only hobbit's point of view, which is, naturally, could be quite incomplete and inconsistent.

You know, if you don't accept what is in the canon as, well, canon, there is a limit to how profitable the discussion can be.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

With no advocates for the devil, the profitability of the discussion is likewise limited, IMO.

I like seeing things from the point of view of the "bad" guys sometimes, especially knowing that it's all in fun.

Just a comment on the existence of ESP/remote viewing/the human mind/etc. I'm of the opinion that it isn't a new ability that is developing but rather that it's an old ability that's diminishing. That is, unless/until we figure out what it's all about and find a way to nurture it again.

[slippolives]

In Moria, what were the Drums in the Deep. i.e., what made the sound?
I like to think it's the orcs communicating with each other, an alarm even, it seems a very good way to let others know that there was some sort of party in the enourmous underground complex. In fact drums are one of the earliest forms of communication and when European expeditions came into the jungles to explore the primeval forests, they were surprised to find that the message of their coming and their intention was carried through the woods a step in advance of their arrival.


And what made the sound of the hammer tapping that Gimli heard?
Well, maybe there was still some communication going on. Also, Middle Earth is a place where undead were common (Wights of the Barrow Down, Dead Men of Dunharrow, Ring Wraiths etc), Moria was massive with milleniums of history, and of course not completely explored, we only see and hear what the Fellowship sees and hears, so the mines and the empty former Khazad-dum dwarven mansions could be full of undead, or other types of creatures that have taken residense inside. Maybe the tapping was some sort of Dwarven ghost or wraith, possibly some rogue orcs that were mining, or an orc that was stationed in that section of the mine tapping out communications with some of the higher up's as a warning that intruders were heading west through the tunnels.

Also in Moria, why did Gandalf tell everyone not to drink any of the water found there?
Ok, the place is full of orcs and who knows what else.. which we find out later like the Watcher in the Water. Pretty good advice I would say. Gandalf had been there before and knew it was a dark foul smelling place with orcs and trolls drinking from and most likely using the water as underground bathrooms.