"Coveted by Jörd, by Járni, by the Unseelie Queen, by Tiamat, by Khaz Zaenak, by Anoxtasia, and now by the Cloud Maiden."
—The World-Tree
The Ring of Winter is a legendary ring of pure evil created during the primordial era. It was said to have been 'forged' by the first ice to have ever existed in the ever-churning chaos. The ring was sentient, and evaded all magical attempts to locate it or its wearer. It is believed that if a truly evil and powerful got their hands on the ring, they would be able to control it and unlock its true powers.
The ring was a golden, featureless band that was constantly covered in a layer of frost that never melted. It was extremely cold to the touch and could numb the hand of its wearer. It did not seem cold to someone who had been attuned to it, however. The ring made it impossible for the wearer to be detected through divination magic, rendered its wearer immune to cold, and halted aging entirely. It also constantly attempted to take control of its wearer to compel them to cause unnecessary harm and destruction.
The ring was capable of quickly and permanently lowering the temperature of a 120‑foot (37‑meter) radius sphere to a minimum of −30 ℉ (−34 ℃), and could do this multiple times until the wearer decided to end the effect. It could create inanimate objects and animated creatures made of ice, and cast powerful ice spells. Furthermore, if wielded by a powerful evil entity, it was rumored that the ring could be used to summon and control white dragons or the ice primordials, and freeze entire worlds. It was nigh indestructible, and the only mythological method of destroying it for good was for the leader of the Summer Court (usually Deltus) to wear the ring, melting it away.
Little is known about the true origin of the ring. Gleaned from ancient history, the ring was created sometime just before or just after the beginning of the Realmshatter. Gods, devils, fey, and mortals alike have long sought after the ring but have been unable to find it, with the only rumored wielders to have potentially been one of the giant gods Jörd, Laufus, or Ymirus; the first winter-eladrin; or the first kings or queens of the snow-elves. It is believed that the ring exists somewhere in the continent of Teer.