Current Events > In Lord of the Rings, why doesn't ....

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Aragorn use the army of the dead to attack Mordor as well?

I've only seen the movies and there, TAOTD seemed unstoppable. Does Sauron have some magic protection against them or something? Or are they not as strong in the books, but they help turn the tide of battle?

Thanks :)

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They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

Because he gave his word to free them after Pelennor

They fulfilled their oath, so he released them.

HiddenRoar posted...

They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/Xw92bte

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HiddenRoar posted...

They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

lol

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Also the Nazgul didnt think of taking off their cloaks so theyd be invisible when attacking Weathertop. They could have just snuck up and grabbed the ring.

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DarthAragorn posted...

Because he gave his word to free them after Pelennor

And even earlier in the book, since they're released right after capturing the ships from the Corsairs for Aragorn's group.

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I guess keeping the word is a good reason, but Aragorn knew that the battle for Minas Tirith wasn't the final battle, why didn't he make a better promise?

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HiddenRoar posted...

They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

I saw a video once explaining this one. Iirc it was that they wouldn't enter Mordor because of Saurons eye and the Nazguls or something. Thats why they appear after Saurons tower crumbles

They could have used the eagles to get close, though >_<

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The eagles would have been spotted.

Gandalf is basically a minor deity, he knows best.

Aragorn gave his word to free them if they keep their oath.

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Aragorn: Come on, after an eternity of waiting whats one more fight after this one you lazy ghost bastards?

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If you wanna justify it, he released the Army of the Dead because they fulfilled their oath and Aragorn is honorable. Olus he may not have known about future battles.

And the eagles would have been seen and taken out by the fell beasts or wyverns or whatever the hell the nazgul birds are called.

Again... That's if you want to make it make sense.

Look they're plot holes ok

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Also in addition to the usual points about why the eagles wouldn't work, one of the big advantages the Fellowship had was that Sauron didn't think anyone was actually going to attempt to destroy the ring. He assumed anyone who was in possession of the ring would either try to challenge him directly or just keep it and remain hidden like Gollum and Bilbo did. Aragorn was able to draw out all of Mordor's armies at the Black Gate because Sauron thought he possibly had the ring.

Flying into Mordor on eagles would have clued him on what was really going on, I would imagine. The Nazgul would have been on top of the eagles immediately, and everything Mordor could possibly muster would be sent straight to Mount Doom.

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Everyone goes on about the Eagles being scared. If that was true then why did they turn up at the end of the final battle?

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Feetish posted...

Everyone goes on about the Eagles being scared. If that was true then why did they turn up at the end of the final battle?

Well shit was done at that point. That kinda reinforces them being scared lol

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Their oath was to aid Gondor, not fight all the world's battles. They fulfilled their promise, which was what they broke originally. Holding them to do more would be dishonorable.

Smackems posted...

Well shit was done at that point. That kinda reinforces them being scared lol

I dont quite get what you mean.

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Try actually watching the fucking movie next time.
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Gladius_ posted...

If the eagles went to Mordor then Sauron would call all flying beasts to his aid. Not to mention trebuchet, ballistas, and every other form of defense would be trained to the sky. Even worse the eagles aren't beyond temptation and could fall victim to the allure of the One Ring.

But couldnt a bunch of them all attack from one end of Mordor while a solitary eagle flies straight to Mount Doom?

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Feetish posted...

But couldnt a bunch of them all attack from one end of Mordor while a solitary eagle flies straight to Mount Doom?

I think Sauron would be wise to their plan by that point and would have Mt. Doom properly guarded. And I have to imagine an eagle entering Mordor from any direction would be spotted well before they could make it to Mt. Doom and regardless of any distractions.

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HiddenRoar posted...

They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

ugh they cant!!
[LFAQs-redacted-quote]



thank you!!!

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GeneralKenobi85 posted...

I think Sauron would be wise to their plan by that point and would have Mt. Doom properly guarded. And I have to imagine an eagle entering Mordor from any direction would be spotted well before they could make it to Mt. Doom and regardless of any distractions.

I get what youre saying but Gandalf can be on the eagle and shine his white light in the faces of the Nazgul etc.

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Gladius_ posted...

That is unlikely to work on their beasts. Further you are now entrusting the ring to the eagles and gandalf which Gandalf admitted he would likely be tempted by. You are adding more to the equation to possibly fall under influence.

Well well just have to agree its a great book full of plot holes and oddities that no one can explain.

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https://m.imgur.com/gallery/T9CBQ

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Gladius_ posted...

That is unlikely to work on their beasts. Further you are now entrusting the ring to the eagles and gandalf which Gandalf admitted he would likely be tempted by. You are adding more to the equation to possibly fall under influence.

This is a good point too, since Tolkien even stated that Frodo's inability to throw the ring in wasn't due to a failure of his own will. Willingly destroying the ring was likely impossible for anyone. It only worked out due to some luck and divine intervention.

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Gladius_ posted...

You don't get to say "We have to agree it's full of plot holes." When you have no further argument. I gave you why it doesn't work and those answers show it isn't a plot hole. We know the ring is corrupting. We know hobbits have greater resistance. The eagles are not mere animals but fully sentient creatures that would be tempted just as anything else. Gandalf admitted as powerful and good HE is he would be tempted. So why not the eagles?

He's clearly trolling, I wouldn't argue with him anymore. At least he's saying exactly what I would say if I wanted to troll.

On topic though, the ghost army was not enslaved to Aragorn. Them helping was a deal done entirely out of self interest. Aragorn probably would have been cursed or murdered had he tried to string them along.

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Gladius_ posted...

You don't get to say "We have to agree it's full of plot holes." When you have no further argument. I gave you why it doesn't work and those answers show it isn't a plot hole. We know the ring is corrupting. We know hobbits have greater resistance. The eagles are not mere animals but fully sentient creatures that would be tempted just as anything else. Gandalf admitted as powerful and good HE is he would be tempted. So why not the eagles?

Thank you for your kind comments sir. Perhaps one day well converse on a less divisive subject.

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I hated how they did the Army of the Dead in the movies. It was just one giant win button. It's like Jackson and Co. were rushing to get the movie done.

As for everything else, it's explained. I feel like people are just trying to come up with ways to say "plot hole! plot hole!"

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Gladius_ posted...

I have said for years, however, that they probably could convince Tom Bombadill to eat the ring. The main argument they used for the "why not give it to him?" Idea is that he doesn't care for such things and in time he would forget about it and it would eventually be lost. However, if he devoured the ring that would all be moot. This is my insane "how to deal with the ring" idea. Considering he is beyond corruption.

Would he not just poop it out eventually?

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Gladius_ posted...

I have said for years, however, that they probably could convince Tom Bombadill to eat the ring. The main argument they used for the "why not give it to him?" Idea is that he doesn't care for such things and in time he would forget about it and it would eventually be lost. However, if he devoured the ring that would all be moot. This is my insane "how to deal with the ring" idea. Considering he is beyond corruption.

Wouldn't he just shit it out without any damage done? Does Tom Bombadil even shit? Truly a mysterious fellow.

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I doubt Tolkien was thinking about some nerds talking about whether Tom Bombadil shits or not when he wrote LOTR. I guess he should have.

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Why does Aragorn, the largest Fellowship member, not simply eat the other eight.

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Jabodie posted...

Would he not just poop it out eventually?

Some say that Tom is the actual god of that universe in earthly guise.

Would god poop? Does Kim Jong Un poop? No

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If left with Tom, the world simply succumb to darkness - except for whatever area Tom deemed his around his home. Forever.

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HiddenRoar posted...

They didn't even think of riding the eagles all the way to Mt. Doom so...

If you want the three books to end up being about two paragraphs, then okay.

Gandalf told the fools to fly before the Balrog dragged him down

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Movie Legolas + Eagles would have been instawin.

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Ilishe posted...

If left with Tom, the world simply succumb to darkness - except for whatever area Tom deemed his around his home. Forever.

This

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