Who Is the White-Cloaked Cult of Witches in THE RINGS OF POWER?

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As a die-hard fan of Tolkien’s lore who’s spent countless hours lost in the labyrinthine history of Middle-earth, I can’t help but feel both intrigued and slightly baffled by the enigmatic cult of Sauron’s White Cloaks on “The Rings of Power.”

In the seventh installment of “The Rings of Power,” titled “The Eye,” we witnessed the reappearance of the enigmatic mystics. Clad in white, these figures are on a quest to find the Stranger. However, who are these sinister figures and what do the three cloaked witches desire with the man from the meteorite in “The Rings of Power”? The solution to these puzzles will reveal if Nori’s large companion is genuinely virtuous or poised to endanger all of Middle-earth

Who Are The Rings of Power‘s White Cloak Characters?

At the scene where a meteorite struck, there were initially three individuals identified as Kali Kopae (The Ascetic), Edith Poor (The Nomad), and Bridie Sisson (The Dweller). These three appear to be in charge, and while Prime Video calls them “mystics,” their garb definitely gives off a spiritual vibe. To put it another way, they could quite effortlessly pass for witches within the context of The Rings of Power. In an interview, one of the showrunners on The Rings of Power, Patrick McKay, mentioned that the White Cloaks are reminiscent of Macbeth’s trio of witches. He explained, “We’re…considering Macbeth, and we’re considering the old crones and the three witches, trying to come up with something unusual and peculiar.”

Through the generosity of one of the show’s executive producers, we have gained insight into their origin. Lindsey Weber disclosed to Time that The Dweller originates from the distant eastern lands, more precisely, Rhûn – a region steeped in J.R.R. Tolkien’s most ominous folklore

What Do We Know About The Rings of Power‘s Three White-Cloaked Witches?

In this fictional world, it was noticeable that the enigmatic White Cloaks emerged following the arrival of the stranger. Some individuals, such as Waldreg, interpreted the meteorite’s appearance as a portent of Sauron’s return. The mystical artifacts linking them to both the stranger and these cloaked figures are intriguing. They bear a shield emblazoned with the same celestial configuration that the stranger is searching for, which in this realm often foretells impending evil. Additionally, they wield a staff strikingly similar to the Eye of Sauron as depicted in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy

In their white cloaks, the three witches from The Rings of Power were able to trace the Stranger’s journey across Middle-earth. Upon discovering his crash site, one of them, the Dweller, touched the ground where the Stranger had been. This action led them to the tree that the Stranger had healed at the new home of the Harfoots. After the Dweller touched this tree, the cult was able to determine the direction in which the bearded man had traveled. However, Nori’s efforts to mislead them were unsuccessful

From the outset, it’s evident that the White Cloak cult is malevolent. While the Stranger employs magic to restore the Harfoots’ new territory, the Dweller resorts to dark sorcery to torch their carts, leaving the group with meager supplies and no shelter

In the second season of The Rings of Power, we encounter more white cloak witches, but their backstory and objectives remain largely unexplored. It’s clear they are associated with the dark sorcerer from Rhûn. During this season, we witness more of their magic being utilized. Their magic seems to revolve around blood and moths, and they even possess the power to revive one of their deceased coven members, known as The Dweller

Are the Cult Members Human Skin-Changers?

Since the premiere of “The Rings of Power,” massive wolves have been prowling around the Harfoots. In episode seven, Poppy spotted a huge wolf’s paw print in the mud, not too distant from where the White Cloaks were stationed. Later on, when Nori encountered the group in an episode of “The Rings of Power,” the witches mysteriously vanished and reappeared behind her. This sequence of events suggests they might be shape-shifters, akin to Beorn from “The Hobbit.”

Considering Sauron himself is a shape-shifter, it’s possible his most zealous followers would also possess a similar type of ability. Especially ones that are also sorcerers like the White Cloaks seem to be. Not only was The Dweller immune to fire, she blew on the embers in her hand, causing the Harfoots carriages to go up in flames. She is a dangerous fire of immense power. In the finale of The Rings of Power, the white-cloaked cult of Sauron was also able to change their shapes into those of Nori and the Stranger, further highlighting their immense and evil powers.

Apart from being the lord of many evil beings, Sauron also has a strong bond with wolves. The first werewolf was created when Morgoth infused an evil spirit into a regular wolf. Sauron had control over this beast and all subsequent werewolves that followed. One of his werewolves was responsible for the death of Galadriel’s brother, Finrod. On at least one occasion, Sauron himself assumed the form of a werewolf. These werewolves continued to serve him even into the Third Age, long after The Rings of Power

From the first season of The Rings of Power, there appears to be limited supporting data for this hypothesis; however, it’s not completely implausible either

Are the Cult Members Maiar?

Although humans can transform physically and practice dark sorcery, it’s plausible that the White Cloaks might be related to the Maiar, like Sauron and Middle-earth’s wizards. The Maiar are powerful spiritual entities, and one of them served loyally as Sauron’s minion during the First Age. Moreover, The Dweller’s command over fire resembles the Stranger’s own mastery in this area

This theory remains on the table as we head into The Rings of Power season two.

Are The Rings of Power‘s White Cloaks Priests?

In simpler terms, “The Rings of Power” is a TV show based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age. The series is compressing the timeline significantly and incorporating its own backstory into Middle-earth. As such, we can’t predict what alterations the program might make in the future. However, according to Tolkien’s authentic history, Sauron played a role in the downfall of Númenor by persuading many islanders to worship Morgoth instead of the Valar. Moreover, Sauron acted as the high priest for Morgoth’s cult

Additionally, the author had envisioned a narrative taking place during Middle-earth’s Fourth Age, featuring The New Cult of Shadows – a faction of men devoted to the original Dark Lord

It’s plausible that “The Rings of Power” may be borrowing elements from two distinct groups to create a religious order that fervently believed in the resurrection of Sauron, the heir of Morgoth

Regardless of whether someone is a human or a Maiar, a priest or a soldier, the origin of the White Cloaks indicates their function in the events to unfold

Rhûn and the Easterling Men Loyal to Morgoth and Sauron

Here are some possibilities for where:

The witches wearing white cloaks hail from Rhûn as well, and it appears they departed only upon witnessing the meteor impact of the Stranger on Middle-earth. This scenario, however, stirs up the key question: Is the white-cloaked cult seeking the Stranger because he is Sauron or because the Stranger poses a threat to their own master?

Why Are the White Cloaks Looking for the Stranger?

In the epic tale of Middle-earth, known as “The Rings of Power,” there’s a looming figure named Sauron who is set to craft all the rings of power and ignite conflict during the Second Age. But who exactly is this enigmatic character, and where does he currently reside? This question has been at the forefront of discussions about “The Rings of Power.” In the final episodes, it was disclosed that Sauron, in fact, goes by the name Halbrand. However, Halbrand wasn’t the only contender throughout the series. When a powerful individual arrived on a meteor, there were doubts. Furthermore, it appeared the coven of witches considered the Stranger to be Sauron, explaining why the White Cloaks pursued him relentlessly for so long

In the final episode of ‘The Rings of Power’, the character Nori considers the Stranger as benevolent, but he turns out to be something else, being referred to as an Istar or sorcerer by the cult in white hooded cloaks. Whether he is Gandalf the Maia himself or another wizard, he poses the greatest danger to Sauron throughout Middle-earth. The mystics call him “the other”, linking him to Sauron. It’s interesting to note that the Stranger also sought the same constellation as the mystics did. Furthermore, he possessed many of the powers they anticipated from Sauron. Although in Tolkien’s legendarium, the Istari are sent to Middle-earth to combat Sauron, it remains possible that there may be a more profound connection between the Stranger and Sauron yet to be revealed

Is The White-Cloaked Cult of Witches Dead on The Rings of Power?

The Strangeron is knownas the Hermit’s Hat,canonlybezenfrom Rhûn,where the stars were strange. Butnotbeforethe true meaningof Rhûn,where the stars arose strange. Althoughitseemedlikewhite-cloakedc wasdead

In a post-season interview, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay subtly alluded to the witches’ future in “The Rings of Power.” When queried about their destiny, Payne cryptically responded:

It seems like you are hinting at a deeper meaning or message that lies beneath the surface of your presentations, but were unsure if you have been completely defeated or merely temporarily vanquished. I believe this is a question people may be pondering in their minds

Meanwhile, McKay says:

The enchanting narrative implies that these sorcerers are less alluring compared to one another, and they’re stationed here, but they vanish in another guise. Their genuine presence in the realm of the unseen is mysterious and ominous, with a hint of magic making them beguiling… Perhaps there’s a slightly altered form of magic and we can unfurl the layers in forthcoming seasons

Currently, the Resurrected one is summoned by their coven, though their charms,’s them for more experienced enchant witches, even though The Dweller has been called back by her comrades, although The Adept and The Novice remain absent. Moreover, we encounter a whole host of other such-like comrades in the vicinity

The Impact of the White Cloak Witches

The White Cloaked followers of Sauron redirect the Stranger and Nori onto an alternate journey. As they traverse towards Rhûn, their objective is to unravel the enigmas surrounding the wizard’s powers and origins, as well as his staff, which he has yet to find his true one. It remains unclear in The Rings of Power how deeply involved the cult of the Dark Wizard and Sauron himself are in Middle-earth’s destiny. However, given the intricate relationship between magic, malevolence, and uncertainty, it is plausible that these cloaked mystics could greatly influence the future events of Middle-earth. After all, when it comes to magic and evil, the possibilities are endless

Mikey Walsh serves as a staff writer for TopMob. To keep up with his updates, you can find him on Twitter using the handle @burgermike. Additionally, if anyone is interested in rankings of the Targaryen kings, they might want to follow his work

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2024-09-06 00:12