palantír

A palantír is a fictional artifact from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, primarily appearing in The Lord of the Rings. These stones are seeing stones, capable of transmitting thoughts and images across vast distances. They were originally crafted by the Noldor in Valinor. There were seven palantíri in existence, with some being lost and others coming into the possession of various rulers and fortresses in Middle-earth. Their primary function was communication and observation, allowing users to see events happening in other locations where a palantír was present, or to communicate directly with another user.

Ownership of a palantír often conferred significant power and influence. However, the stones were not without their dangers. They required great mental discipline to use effectively, and a user's mind could be overwhelmed or deceived by a more powerful or malicious entity controlling another stone. Sauron, the Dark Lord, possessed and utilized palantíri to his advantage, using them to spy on his enemies and sow discord. The hobbit Frodo Baggins briefly used a palantír, risking his sanity and revealing himself to Sauron. The palantíri were ultimately gathered and kept safe by Aragorn at the end of the Third Age, their use becoming a thing of the past.