“Narya, Nenya, and Vilya, they were named, the Rings of Fire, and of Water, and of Air, set with ruby and adamant and sapphire; and of all the Elven-rings Sauron most desired to possess them, for those who had them in their keeping could ward off the decays of time and postpone the weariness of the world.”. ―The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
Unlike The Seven and The Nine, I was able to glean a bit more information about the distinctions among The Three. That said, I will be leaning a fair bit on guesswork. Overall the elven rings are very similar, as a whole their powers are geared towards “preservation” in one form or another. From what I could find, they definitely seem more similar than they are different. However, though the differences are subtle they are not so small as to make amalgamating them into a single artifact, like the Sixteen, seem reasonable. Looking at the available information on each ring and the activities of their wearers, each seems to take a different approach to the task of holding back the tides of time and ruin. Below I try do do justice to the subtle, though vast powers of Narya, Nenya, and Vilya.
One caveat before proceeding, there is possibly some “elemental” aspect of the Three’s powers, but I have decided to ignore this below. The names ended up seeming far more symbolic than directly descriptive of their powers. Further, given the power of the bearers during the third age some of the relevant feats might not have been derived from the ring at all.
“Take this ring, master,” he said, “for your labours will be heavy; but it will support you in the weariness that you have taken upon yourself. For this is the Ring of Fire, and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill.” ― The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, “The Third Age”
Narya “The Ring of Fire” (Artifact)
Level: 9
Form: Gold ring set with a ruby.
Effect: When putting on this ring, and while wearing it, the wearer is instantly aware of if the Lord of the Rings is currently wearing, or later dons, the One Ring. They can choose to remove this ring as an immediate free action in response to this knowledge.
Narya and its wearer are immune to remote viewing effects, such as by the Distance Viewing(O50/R130) ability. It also protects the wearer from weariness granting the them an asset on all tasks to resist mental and physical exhaustion. In addition, Narya has powers tied to protecting the mind and bolstering the spirit, granting the wearer Discerning Mind(O47/R129) and one of the following abilities of their choice: Encouragement (O45/R134), Good Advice (O143/R145), or Inspiring Ease (R154). If a task being affected by a use of the selected ability is a mental defense task, that task is eased by one additional step.
If the wearer is the ruler of a nation or other territory, while within that territory, as an action they can spend 10 Intellect Points to extend Narya’s power over their realm. For 24 hours all allied characters in the wearer’s territory ease mental defense rolls made against attempts to confuse, persuade, frighten, or otherwise negatively influence them by two steps. Allied creatures within the wearer’s territory instead defend against such attacks as two levels higher.
As an action the wearer can conceal the ring from sight choosing to make the ring invisible or have it take on the appearance of a mote of red light, flame, or similar phenomenon. This lasts until the wearer ends the concealment as an action. A creature in possession of the One Ring, even if they are not wearing it, is immune to this effect.
Drawback: All rolls made by the wearer against the Master of the One Ring and his agents, while he wears the One Ring, are hindered by one step.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (check each day; destruction of the One Ring also depletes this ring)
“Three rings for the Elven kings under the sky…”
Nenya “The Ring of Water” (Artifact)
Level: 9
Form: Ring of silvery metal set with a white diamond.
Effect: When putting on this ring, and while wearing it, the wearer is instantly aware of if the Lord of the Rings is currently wearing, or later dons, the One Ring. They can choose to remove this ring as an immediate free action in response to this knowledge.
Nenya and its wearer are immune to remote viewing effects, such as by the Distance Viewing(O58/R130) ability. It also guards the wearer from detection by evil forces granting them an asset on all tasks to conceal their presence from evil creatures. In addition, Nenya has the ability to preserve, and ward off evil, granting the wearer Force Field Barrier(R143) and one of the following abilities of their choice: Foil Danger(R142), Force Field(O60/R143), or Protector (O148/R172).
If the wearer is a the ruler of a nation or other territory, while present that territory ,as an action they can spend 10 Intellect Points to extend Nenya’s power over their realm. For 24 hours their territory gains an aspect of timelessness. The land, structures, and objects on it are reverted to and held in a pristine state(buildings do not decay, natural resources such as soil and air do not deplete, blades do not rust, ect). However, cyphers are expended normally and artifacts can still be depleted. Additionally, attempts by evil creatures and forces to locate, target, enter, or traverse this territory are hindered by two steps. Attempts by such creatures to locate or target characters within the wearer’s territory are also hindered by two steps.
As an action the wearer can conceal the ring from sight choosing to make the ring invisible or have it take on the appearance of a mote of cold white light, flame, or similar phenomenon. This lasts until the wearer ends the concealment as an action. A creature in possession of the One Ring, even if they are not wearing it, is immune to this effect.
Drawback: All rolls made by the wearer against the Master of the One Ring and his agents, while he wears the One Ring, are hindered by one step.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (check each day; destruction of the One Ring also depletes this ring)
“Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained.” ―The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, Chapter 2: The Council of Elrond
Vilya “The Ring of Air” (Artifact)
Level: 9
Form: Gold ring set with a sapphire.
Effect: When putting on this ring, and while wearing it, the wearer is instantly aware of if the Lord of the Rings is currently wearing, or later dons, the One Ring. They can choose to remove this ring as an immediate free action in response to this knowledge.
Vilya and its wearer are immune to remote viewing effects, such as the Distance Viewing(O58/R130) ability. It also empowers the wearer to thwart injuries and afflictions granting the wearer an asset on all tasks to heal a creature or treat a disease or poison. In addition, Vilya has the ability to preserve life granting the wearer Healing Pulse (R148), Restful Presence (R177), and one of the following abilities of their choice: Alleviate(O181/R109), Healing Touch(O181/R149), Repair Flesh(O60/R176), .
If the wearer is the ruler of a nation or other territory, while present that territory, as an action they can spend 10 Intellect Points to extend Vilya’s power over their realm. For 24 hours, the progression of afflictions (such as disease, poison, and mutation) within their territory is paused and creatures naturally heal more easily. Allied characters in the wearer’s territory add +2 to their recovery rolls and ease tasks to resist diseases, poisons, and similar afflictions by two steps. Allied creatures within the wearer’s territory instead defend against afflictions as two levels higher, and increase their Health pool by three points.
As an action the wearer can conceal the ring from sight choosing to make the ring invisible or have it take on the appearance of a mote of blue light, flame, or similar phenomenon. This lasts until the wearer ends the concealment as an action. A creature in possession of the One Ring, even if they are not wearing it, is immune to this effect.
Drawback: All rolls made by the wearer against the Master of the One Ring and his agents, while he wears the One Ring, are hindered by one step.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (check each day; destruction of the One Ring also depletes this ring)
“But Sauron could not discover them, for they were given into the hands of the Wise, who concealed them and never again used them openly while Sauron kept the Ruling Ring. Therefore the Three remained unsullied, for they were forged by Celebrimbor alone, and the hand of Sauron had never touched them; yet they also were subject to the One.” ―The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
Notes
- Page numbers are in the following format (O###/R###). “O” for Original Rulebook and “R” for Revised Rulebook.
- Like The Sixteen, if the Three are going to a key element of a game the following Depletion entry should be used instead:
- Depletion: — (Destruction of the One Ring depletes this ring)
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James Ray 
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