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Sauron: Ruling Ring
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Before and during the First Age, Sauron was in origination an "angelic" spirit called a Maia in Tolkien's invented mythology. He was at first a powerful servant of Aulë the Smith, an even greater angelic spirit, one of the Valar, or ruling powers of the world. However, Sauron was among those soon subverted by Morgoth, an evil Vala, and Sauron himself turned to evil. Ever after, Sauron served Morgoth faithfully, and even in later days, after Morgoth was defeated and locked outside the confines of the world, Sauron encouraged and coerced men to worship Morgoth as god.
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Undoubtedly, Sauron was the embodiment of Evil in Middle-earth. He forged the Ring of Power, invented the Dark Language, made new creatures. Also he was a cunning diplomat able to influence and negotiate with different people.
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Sauron's power soon recovered to the point that he was able to extend his will over Middle-earth. The Eye of Sauron, as his attention and force of will was perceived, became a symbol of oppression and fear. Following his expulsion from Dol Guldur, Sauron returned to Mordor, publicly declared himself, and raised Barad-dûr anew. In preparation for a final war against Men and Elves, he bred immense armies of Orcs, augmenting them with Men from the East and South who (through their leaders) were in his service. At this point, Sauron was described as a great lidless eye, with a terrible, far-reaching gaze. Minus the One Ring, this was the most terrible form he could achieve.
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Sauron bred immense armies of orcs. He allied with and enslaved men from the east and south. He gathered his most terrifying servants, the Dark Riders, or Ringwraiths, each wearing one of the nine rings designed for mortal men. Sauron adopted the symbol of a lidless eye, and he was able at that time to send out his will over Middle Earth, so that the Eye of Sauron was a symbol and power of fear. But he was defeated when his One Ring, found by Bilbo the Hobbit, was cast by Frodo, Bilbo's nephew, into the Crack of Doom in Morder where it had been made. Then Sauron's power was unmade, and his corporeal power in Middle Earth came to an end.
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Sauron was enraged and declared war against the Elves. He invaded Eriador with a great force in 1695 and launched an assault on Eregion. Elrond came with a force from Lindon to help the Elves of Eregion, but they were greatly outnumbered by Sauron's army and Eregion was destroyed. Sauron captured the Nine Rings and he tortured Celebrimbor to learn the location of the Seven Rings, but the Three Rings had been sent far away and Celebrimbor refused to reveal where they were.
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At the Ring's destruction, Sauron's power was immediately broken and his form in Middle-earth was destroyed. His departing spirit towered above Mordor like a black cloud, but was blown away by a powerful wind from the West. Barad-dûr crumbled, the Nazgûl were destroyed, and Sauron was permanently crippled.
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Ruling Ring