How would things have turned out if Dain had taken 👁️Sauron's bribe?

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Now this hypothetical scenario - was it ever an actual plan of Sauron's that worked as he expected or hoped?

If you mean by that "what actually happened", I'd say no.

. . . and he dealt them out to the other peoples of Middle-earth, hoping thus to bring under his sway all those who desired secret power beyond the measure of their kind.

So his intention was to dominate and control all the races, through the Rings. This worked well enough with Men. But

The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows.

So, though the Dwarves were indeed corrupted by the Rings, "to the profit of Sauron", it can't be said to have been his original goal.

Of course you might be meaning something else. 🤔

 

[Eljorahir]

if Dain and the rest of Durin's folk had taken the bribe and sworn allegiance to Mordor.

Entertaining the premise of the thread, here's a possible storyline:

Dain and all his people are corrupted...with a few important exceptions: all the remaining dwarves we know and love from Thorin's company are the only dwarves who flee and escape the corruption.

Gloin and Gimli flee to Rivendell and alert Elrond to what's happened. Elrond immediately alerts Gandalf and Galadriel (via the power of The Three Rings.)

Gandalf has just enough time to get to The Shire and get Frodo moving. Frodo can then follow (more or less) the same storyline.

Meanwhile, Dain is kept busy waging war on his nearest neighbors and eventually conquers Dale, Escaroth, and Northern Mirkwood. The elves of Mirkwood flee to Rivendell and Lothlorien. The Men that escape all go south and join up with Rohan and Gondor.

yada yada yada...

The Ring is destroyed. Dain comes to his senses, apologizes, and steps down as King Under the Mountain.
All hail the new King Under the Mountain...King Gimli!!! ✨ ✨ ✨

 

[Olorgando]

So, though the Dwarves were indeed corrupted by the Rings, "to the profit of Sauron", it can't be said to have been his original goal.
Of course you might be meaning something else. 🤔

No, quite right, I meant that last line of the One Ring's inscription (FotR, Book Two, chapter II "The Council of Elrond" (p. 255 in 2002 hardcover)

"One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them."

Scorecard?
The Nine: clean sweep, caught all of those human wimps
The Seven: caused plenty of trouble, but as to binding utter failures
The Three: utter failures

And then to add insult to injury that incident at Mount Doom with three of those utterly insignificant whatsits - the Ruling Ring destroyed (nullifying The Nine).

Very much an occasion for the German term "Schadenfreude" discussed in another thread. 😝

 

[LaurelinBearsFruit]

I just want to say that I feel honored and immensely fulfilled that my little passing musing has proliferated this lengthy and thought-provoking of a discussion. Though on a Tolkien forum, I should expect no less!

Looking forward to any further discussions that may arise from the subject and looking forward to any future discussions of what if scenarios.