Andvaranaut
The inspiration for Wagner and Tolkein, Andvaranaut is a magic ring crafted by the dwarf Andvari to bring him great wealth. When Loki tried to take the ring from him he cursed it so that whoever possessed the ring would never get anything but misery from it. Loki quickly passed it on to the dwarf-king Hreidmar. Fafnir took it from Hreidmar and was in turn slain by Sigurd who gave it to Brunhilde, and from her it passed on to queen Grimhild of the Nibelungen and hence back into mortal hands.
The ring is a wicked thing, tainted by evil and with a cruel character. It can create or find wealth of many types, including gold and vis, making it a tempting prospect. Those who try to use it, however, are doomed to suffer the curse of the ring and have all their ventures come to ill ends.
The infamous Verditius curse-maker Himnis the Mad once owned Andvaranaut but seems to have resisted the temptation to use the ring instead only studying it.
Magic Might: 3 (Terram)
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +1, Pre +1, Com 0, Str -1, Sta 0, Dex -3, Qik +2
Size: -12
Season: Summer
Virtues and Flaws: Magic Thing; Tainted with Evil; Tainted Treasure*; Blatant Magical Air; Hatred
*All wealth generated by using Andvaranaut acts as tainted treasure as described in RoP:tI
Magic Qualities and Inferiorities: Lesser Power x3; Minor Flaw x2; Major Flaw; Improved Powers; Ritual Power x2
Personality Traits: Magic Ring +3*, Spiteful to Wearer +6, Insidious +3
Soak: +0
Wound Penalties: –1 (1), –3 (2), –5 (3), Incapacitated (4+)
Fatigue Levels: n/a
Abilities: Penetration 5, Intrigue 8, Guile 4, Folk Ken 4, Charm 3
Powers:
Sound of the World Below, 0 points, Init +0, Terram
R: Touch, D: Concentration, T: Individual
This power allows the wearer of the ring to hear through dirt and stone as if it was not there. This has applications for eavesdropping, but more importantly can be coupled with the power The Ring of Gold.
(Base 20 +1 Touch +1 Concentration)
The Ring of Gold, 0 points, Init +1, Terram
R: Touch, D: Diameter, T: Hearing
This power allows the wearer of the ring to hear a ringing sound from a certain earthy material chosen when the power is activated – gold, silver, and gemstone are common selections.
(Base 2 +1 Touch +1 Diameter +3 Hearing)
Whisper of Vis, 0 points, Init +1, Vim
R: Touch, D: Diameter, T: Hearing
This power allows the wearer of the ring to hear a whispering sound coming from any vis within hearing range.
(Base 1 +1 Touch +1 Diameter +3 Hearing)
The Bearer of the Ring, the Wearer of the Ring, 0 points, Init -10
R: Touch, D: Special, T: Individual
This power represents the personal aspect of the ring’s curse. It inflicts a unique curse equivalent in magnitude to a major flaw (just like a Greater Malediction ) with the specifics chosen by the ring to cause as much harm to the wearer as possible. This power can only ever be used on one person at a time – if a new person acquires the ring and is cursed the former owner is freed.
A person under the influence of the curse can be subtly influenced by the ring. The storyguide should provide advice to the character in a similar way to the Common Sense Virtue, except that the advice serves the ring’s agenda, not that of the character. There is no compulsion to follow this advice.
Vis: 1 Terram
Appearance: Andvaranaut has a fairly plain appearance. It is a finely made gold ring without a stone and is engraved with norse runes representing wealth and vision.
Where is it now?
Having passed through a series of legendary owners and into the hands of the Nibelungen, for a time the ring passes from history. It is next seen again in the hands of Himnis the Mad, the founder of the Verditius tradition of curse-makers. After the death of Himnis the ring once again seems lost – is it in the hands of one of his pupil’s hermetic lineages, is it hidden in one of the legendary caches of the mad magus, or has it passed out of Verditius hands entirely?
For ideas relating to Himnis the Mad see Sub Rosa #17.
Alternative Versions: Andvari’s gift sits at the crossroads of magic, faerie and infernal. It could work equally well as a dark faerie in the shape of a ring which feeds off of the misery inflicted on its owner, or as a demonic ring whose purpose is to lead whoever owns it to a cruel fate through their own greed.