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"Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of the One."
-- Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring

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"Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,"... and so J.R.R. Tolkien told of the fallibility of Men and their desire for power, in his epic tale, and how that power can corrupt completely. The professor created a mystique about these artifacts that were made by the hands of Celebrimbor and the Dark-lord, Sauron – objects of great, but not blatant, power.

In the Core Rule Book is a very subtle description of the powers that these rings contain. Decipher and the CODA system stresses the idea of 'story-telling' instead of defining a list of mechanics on how the rings 'work'. The mystique is left in place and the Narrator has free reign on how he or she would like to use the Rings of Power in their chronicle. Some think this is best, as it does not put limits on the wondrous items and also keeps them from being 'cheapened'. Still, others think that the descriptions done by Decipher have defined these – the greatest treasures created since the Silmarils – as trivial and minor in power and might. I have to say I agree with both sides of the argument and I was a little apprehensive in putting pen to paper on this project. But, as all of the optional rules go, you may use what you want and leave the rest.

The following is to be used in unison with the information given in the Core Rule Book, from here on out to be referred to as the CRB, and the powers that are listed therein.

Description

Of all the Rings of Power, the Nine were most like the One Ring, and their wearers, Men, were more susceptible to Sauron's control than any other. They were simple bands of gold, each with a single stone, though some were imbued with more power than others.

The Nine Rings were crafted by the Elves of Eregion with the aid of Annatar - Sauron, the Dark Lord, in disguise. Like the Three rings for Elves, the Nine were created to enhance the wearer's power of understanding, but unlike the Three they hid a dark secret - a corrupting influence that would cause the wearer to succumb to the will of the Dark Lord. The Nine were intended to be worn by Men but any being of great enough power could use these artifacts. An individual that takes up one of the Nine must have a minimum of '10 Advancements, a Bearing of 10 and Willpower of 6 to be able to use any of the powers listed below. Anyone of lesser stature that wields the ring will not be able to perceive it for what it is and find it useless in his or her hand, though they may still be affected by some of the ring's general effects (i.e. extension of their lifespan, desire etc.)

Some powers listed below are automatic while others require a 'force of the wearer's will' to enable; these requirements can only be fulfilled by those that meet the above listed requirements. The requirements needed to activate a power of the rings are given in the manifestation section of each power. Narrators are to understand that the powers given in the CRB are unchanged or enhanced upon here:

General Effects

The Nine Rings have the following general effects and will affect any that may wield them:

Protect Itself

Has the power to protect itself by hiding from those not powerful enough to perceive it. To see the ring, a person must make a Bearing Test TN 15. The Narrator may also allow a Perception or Observe (Sense Power).

Manifestation

This power is automatic to any who look upon the ring or the wearers' hand.

Desire

Those of a weak will shall become very attached to the ring and desire it above all other things. The ring has the ability to change its size to slip off a finger and to keep it contained the wielder must make a Bearing Test TN 12 once a week. This may at times require the use of Courage, but even the weakest willed individual would gladly spend it to keep such a treasure.

Manifestation

This power is automatic to any who possess one of the Nine, but do not fill the Advancement, Bearing and Willpower requirements.

Extension of Years

The Nine Rings have the ability to extend the life of any mortal who wears them. This extension of years causes great weariness and the rings will become great burdens. The eventuality is that the wearer will slowly fade over time becoming a wraith. This may take many numbers of 'normal' lifetimes for the wearer but the effect of the extension will be evident to any who look upon the wearer until they have faded completely.

Manifestation

This power is automatic to any who possess one of the Nine.

Corrupting Influence

The Nine Rings slowly corrupt any that wear them and bring the wearer under the control of the Dark Lord. Each year that the ring is possessed and its powers used by an individual, whether innocently or not, will cause that individual to gain 1 permanent Corruption. These accumulated points of Corruption may never be removed by any means. The wearer may attempt to save against the Corruption by making a Willpower test TN 15.

Manifestation

This power is automatic to any who possess one of the Nine.

Powers

The Nine Rings were made equal for the most part although three of them were intended for the mightiest of the race of Men. These powers do not require Weariness Tests and do not cause any spell penalties for having the active.

Greater Sanctum

Like the Magician Order ability, the Nine may exert a Sanctum around the wearer that covers an area based on the chart below. If the wielder already has a Sanctum, the rings may either potentially extend the area of the Sanctum or allow the wielder to create a new one. The wearer may also subdue this power by making a Willpower test TN 12.

Manifestation

This power is automatic but the Sanctum area may only be as large as the strength of the wearer can manifest. See the chart below: • 10 Advancements – 1⁄2 square mile per point of Bearing • 15 Advancements – 1 square mile per point of Bearing • 20 Advancements – 2 square miles per point of Bearing • 25 Advancements – 4 square miles per point of Bearing • 30 Advancements – 8 square miles per point of Bearing • 35 Advancements – 16 square miles per point of Bearing • 40 Advancements – 20 square miles per point of Bearing • 45 Advancements – 40 square miles per point of Bearing (Maximum)

Greater Sanctum Power

Like the Magician Order ability, the Nine grant Sanctum Power to the wearer allowing them to control the subtle magics of the land within their Sanctum. The wearer may also manifest some spell affects with the Nine.

Manifestation

Use Table 4.1: Sanctum Power TN's, in the CRB on page 90, to manifest any control over the land.

Veil

Like the spell, the wielder of a ring may put a veil around their Sanctum that allows no one to see in using Farseeing and imposes the –8 to any that attempt to Observe (Sense Power).

Manifestation

Bearing Test TN 12 to manifest and a Willpower Test TN 12 daily to maintain. This has the affect as having an active spell for as long as the wearer maintains a veil over the sanctum.

Misdirection

Like the spell, the wielder of a ring may weave a spell of Misdirection throughout his or her Sanctum to deter any unwanted from entering.

Manifestation

Bearing Test TN 10 to manifest and a Willpower Test TN 12 per hour to maintain. This has the affect as having an active spell for as long as the wearer maintains the misdirection effect.

Note: The above-mentioned powers were not witnessed in the Lord of the Rings but this can be explained by the fact that Sauron had taken the Nine away from the Ringwraiths to maintain his control of them. But as the mortal kings wore these treasures and slowly fell into corruption, these powers would allow them greater control of their kingdoms. The powers would have been a great benefit to the Witch-king during his rule of Angmar.

Observation

The ring sharpens the hearing and sense of smell of the wearer. It bestows a +3 bonus to all Observe (Hear) and Observe (Scent) tests. It dims the sight in the light of day causing a -2 penalty to all Observe (See) tests, but enhances the same sense in shadows and dark - +2 to Observe (See) tests.

Manifestation

Automatic

Comprehension

The ring allows the wearer to comprehend the speech of all who serve the Shadow as if he has 3 levels in the appropriate language skill.

Manifestation

Automatic

Invisibility

The ring allows the wearer to walk unseen amongst their fellows, although traces of the wearers passing would still be evident (i.e. footprints in snow, brushing against a branch causing it to move, any sounds made, etc.).

Manifestation

This power is automatic to any of weaker will but those of greater strength may gain control of it. If the ring is put on by those of weak will, they will turn invisible whether they wish to or not. A wearer of 10 Advancements minimum and a base Willpower of +6 (no Edge or Order bonuses) may control the invisibility effect as they wish.

Spellcasting

The ring grants to the wearer the Magician Ability, Spellcasting, and the wearer may choose new spells from the following specialties without knowing them prior (all spell prerequisites must still be met): Air and Storm, Fire Smoke and Light, and Sorcery as listed on page 161 of the Core Rule Book.

Manifestation

Automatic; the wearer gains one additional 5 spell picks per each 10 Advancement levels. If the wearer was a Magician/Wizard prior to obtaining a ring, they will receive an additional 5 spell picks to add to their current allotment. As the wearer becomes corrupt, they will tend towards Sorcery above all other specialties.

Empower

Like the spell Word of Command, the wearer of a ring is able to empower a spell and increase a chosen effect (i.e. range, duration, damage, etc.) once per day.

Manifestation

Need to have a minimum of 20 Advancements and then a Bearing Test TN 15 to empower the spell.

Unique Powers

Of the Nine, three were meant for the High Men of Númenor. During the Second Age when the Númenoreans were the greatest power within Middle-earth, Sauron sought to corrupt some of the fine princes of that people and bring them under his will. The Dark Lord saw to it that three of the Nine were given greater powers and he bestowed them as gifts to the mightiest Númenoreans who harboured resentment towards the throne in Armenelos and wished autonomy from their king. These Men of Westernesse had settled their own lands within the bounds of Middle-earth and ruled them as they wished. With the gifts of Sauron, they grew in power enough to eventually break from the throne in Númenor. Like the other six lesser kings that Sauron ensnared, the Númenorean lords fell into his sway and became his mightiest of servants.

Command

Like the spell, the ring conveys the automatic power of Command to its wearer. If the wearer desires, the power may be used in unison with the spell to gain an additional +5 bonus to their Willpower test.

Manifestation

Need to have a minimum of 20 Advancements and then a Bearing Test TN 12 to command.

Fit for a King

(Witch-king's ring only) Of all of the Nazgûls, only the Witch-king had semi-independent thought and freedom of choice from Sauron. Where the other rings completely chained the wills of the other Úlairi to Sauron, the Witch- king's ring allowed the Dark Lord's second-in-command the ability to command as he wished or needed. It is wondered that this 'freedom' from Sauron may have allowed the Witch-king's fell spirit to persist even with the destruction of the One and Sauron.

The One Ring

As all other Rings of Power, the Nine are bound to the Ruling Ring. Should Sauron retrieve his Ring, or another individual of great enough Bearing take it as his or her own, the wearers of the Nine will immediately be known to the wearer of the One. The Ruling Ring's wearer may then attempt a Test of Wills against the wearers of the Three, gaining a +8 advantage to the tests. If the Ruling Ring is successful in the Test of Wills, the wearers of the Nine will become puppets to the master Ring and its wearer – their minds being opened to the One and easily manipulated.