The Mule replaces Sauron in Middle Earth

[Sophicles]

The Mule of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series somehow finds himself teleported into Middle Earth at the beginning of the Third Era.

Sauron and his ring is nowhere to be found, but the power vacuum has left an opening for a new Dark Lord to arise, and so he begins amassing power and gathering an army. Maiar such as Saruman and Gandalf are present on the planet.

Can the super-strong super genius with psychic empathic powers take over Middle Earth and dominate it the way Sauron intended, if no Valar intervention is allowed?

[Tanrage]

Super Strong Super Genius? It's been a while since my last reread bit I recall the Mule being a weakling and of average intelligence. His Psi power was strong though/

[Sharpandpointies]

Been...like, 35 years since I read any Foundation. What sort of feats does this guy have? Details, please. ^_^

[Sophicles]

Super Strong Super Genius? It's been a while since my last reread bit I recall the Mule being a weakling and of average intelligence. His Psi power was strong though/

He does have health issues and is sterile like mules are, due to the genetic experimentation and mutations he has.

But according to the text, he has "immense physical strength".

https://youtu.be/zmWBiwYbTto?t=70

He seemingly was a tactical genius, able to conquer a galactic empire on at an incredibly fast speed using very cunning and strategic applications of his empathic powers.

[regnak]

He does have health issues and is sterile like mules are, due to the genetic experimentation and mutations he has.

But according to the text, he has "immense physical strength".

https://youtu.be/zmWBiwYbTto?t=70

He seemingly was a tactical genius, able to conquer a galactic empire on at an incredibly fast speed using very cunning and strategic applications of his empathic powers.

That was misinformation put out by the Mule himself. He was a sickly and weak physical specimen.

[Captain Jibberish]

The Mule of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series somehow finds himself teleported into Middle Earth at the beginning of the Third Era.

Sauron and his ring is nowhere to be found, but the power vacuum has left an opening for a new Dark Lord to arise, and so he begins amassing power and gathering an army. Maiar such as Saruman and Gandalf are present on the planet.

Can the super-strong super genius with psychic empathic powers take over Middle Earth and dominate it the way Sauron intended, if no Valar intervention is allowed?

The Mule's ability to "adjust" the emotions of anyone he comes into contact with is pretty powerful, though who knows if it would work on Elves or the Maiar. The difference in technology level might really limit the ability of the Mule's influence to spread, though he would be trying to conquer a continent or a world here, not the whole galaxy.

The biggest limit on the Mule's ability to form an empire in this scenario vs Sauron is that the Mule, despite his vast mental powers, is a mortal being. Even if he adjusts all the leaders of the human factions and Orcs in Middle Earth and crushes the Elves and Dwarves into submission, eventually he will die of natural causes, and not leaving any natural heirs his empire will collapse. Even if he causes 50 years of horror and chaos in Middle-Earth, since you've taken Sauron out in this scenario the free peoples of Middle Earth will be much better off in the long run.