LogFAQs > #956334945

Sauron, in disguise, taught the Elves the art of making rings of power. He had a hand in the making of most of the rings, except the Three, which Celebrimbor made in secret. Then Sauron forged the One Ring, and bound much of his own power into the Ring so it might overcome the will of the Elves and control the others. As soon as he put on the Ring, the Elves knew they were betrayed and took off their rings. Sauron attacked and was able to seize most of them, but the Three were hidden and remained safe.

Sauron gave the Nine to men, who used it to become great kings and sorcerers, but the corrupting influence of the One Ring eventually turned everything they did to evil. The Rings extended the lives of the wearers, but they became more and more ethereal until they were reduced to wraiths, becoming the Ring Wraiths or Nazgl, their lives bound to Sauron's will.

Sauron gave the Seven to the Dwarf lords, but Dwarves are not so easily turned. Their main love is for gold, and it was said that the base of every great Dwarven hoard was a Ring of Power. But their lust for treasure ultimately lead to their downfall. Four of the Seven were consumed by dragons, and the remaining three eventually returned to Sauron. The last of these was taken from Thrin II, father of Thorin Oakenshield.

The Three remained hidden until Isildur cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Untainted by Sauron's power, the Elves were able to use the Three, though their power was still bound to the One, and when it was destroyed, the Three began to fade. The Three Rings were Narya, the Ring of Fire, originally held by Crdan the Shipwright and later by Gandalf the Grey, Nenya, the Ring of Water, wielded by Galadriel, and Vilya, the Ring of Air and the most powerful of the Three, born first by Gil-galad and then after his death by Elrond.

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Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum,
Minutus carborata descendum pantorum.