20 Wondrous Rings
Magic rings are a staple of fantasy gaming, and much sought after by adventurers. Such objects can call forth or project a range of powers and effects, at their owner’s command.
To generate a magic ring’s description, roll on the table below.
Crafted from a slender piece of magically shaped white ash, this ring appears sized for a human’s little finger. The ring’s surface is incredibly smooth and free of any imperfection.
This solid, grey-iron ring is chunky enough to be used as an impromptu knuckleduster. Dwarven runes, whose meanings hint at the ring’s powers, decorate the inside of the band.
A faint shimmer seems to hover over the surface of this golden band. The ring reacts in a particularly strange way to flickering torchlight and the like; the flame’s reflections seem to dance and writhe across the ring’s surface as if they are bound within.
Forged of platinum this plain silvery ring at first glance seems to be nothing particularly special. The ring is incredibly light and appears worn through much use. Perceptive characters, detect the almost worn smooth sigil of the legendary elven archmage Firmah Aralivar etched into its band.
The jagged shards of several teeth are fused into this cracked and seemingly brittle bone ring. The teeth jut from the ring, and easily snag on clothes and the like.
The surface of this plain iron ring is always slick with moisture, although it never slips from its owner’s finger. Close observation of the ring reveals tiny beads of moisture appearing spontaneously upon the band. Experimentation reveals the liquid is seawater.
Grains of multi-coloured sand fill this supernaturally toughened glass ring. Every morning at dawn, the grains of sand rearrange themselves into a different pattern.
Beautiful carvings of shooting stars, or perhaps ball lightning or fireballs, decorate this exquisite ivory ring.
Five small settings each holding a tiny black stone (an onyx) stand proud from this tarnished silver ring. One of the piece’s stones is slightly chipped (which may affect the ring’s powers). The ring is an antique from a distant—now fallen—culture.
This chunky golden ring comprises a beautiful translucent purple stone (an amethyst) encircled by a rearing silver snake.
A single large gem setting dominates this ornate silver ring. Worn and tarnished, the ring is obviously old but the gem shines with a lustre undimmed by age. Disconcertingly, the ring’s gem resembles an unblinking eye with a deep blue iris.
This golden ring has a boxy, angular design. A procession of tiny magical runes cover the ring’s head. The work is exquisite and the individual runes are too small to see without a magnifying glass or magical aid.
Of white gold, this beautiful ring has four prongs designed to resemble curved flower stems. The ring’s setting holds a beautifully bright transparent red stone (a jasper). Faint motes of yellow light dance within the stone and brighten considerably when the ring’s power is called forth.
Crafted from bronze this old plain ring has strange runes of obvious magical origin inscribed all over its band. The ring is old and tarnished with age.
This chunky golden ring has an intricately wrought band that comprises three coiled, interwoven tentacles. The three tentacles come to together to hold a faintly glowing red gem (a ruby) in a recessed setting.
A pentagram surrounding the faintly glowing sigil of a lidless, staring eye dominates this silver ring’s wide, flat head. Characters steeped in the mystic arts can identify the pentagram as one designed to imprison extra-planar beings.
Crafted in the form of a snake-like golden dragon consuming its own tail this ring is both extravagant and beautiful. Tiny flecks of glimmering ruby comprise the dragon’s eyes. A close examination of the ring yields the suggestion that the eyes are moving—and taking in all that occurs in the surrounds.
This ring has a particularly wide band, which covers half the wearer’s finger. Delicately carved flecks of red, purple and golden stones (garnets, amethysts and ambers) cover the ring in a colourful mosaic of simple geometric shapes.
Thick dwarven runes cover the band of this chunky, dented golden ring. Except for the runes, that speak of the earth and the fearsome power lurking therein, the ring lacks any form of ornamentation or marks of identification.
This ring is not hewn or forged from any known kind of metal or stone. Instead, it comprises a living band of heatless, writhing flames that dance over and caress the wearer’s finger that radiates the same amount of light as a candle.
Want More?
This article is an extract from GM's Miscellany: 20 Things V.
