Clarification of Ring of Elemental Command

[Natertot]

Hello all,

In the Ring of Elemental Command entry it states that:

"Each appears to be nothing more than a lesser magic ring until fully activated (by meeting a special condition, such as single-handedly slaying an elemental of the appropriate type or exposure to a sacred material of the appropriate element), but each has certain other powers as well as the following common properties."

It then lists the "other powers" (specifically - the protection and command ability of elementals, the attack and saving throw penalties/bonuses and DR bypass, being able to converse with elementals).

My clarification is does one get access to the "other powers" when the ring is dormant as well as the single listed spell or not?

Let me know what you all think.

Thanks!

Nathan

[LazarX]

You get no access to anything but the apparent power until the needed event triggers full activation of the ring. You do get the penalties though. But you may not realize that off the bat.

[trogwolf]

How can I know what activates the ring? Do I have to be a sorcerer like Madame Zelekhati in Destiny of the Sands Part 1?

Spoiler:

"Her half-elven heritage has driven her both to explore the lands across the Inner Sea and later to return to her dune-ridden homeland. There her sorcerous powers manifested, simultaneously awakening the ring that she kept as a memento of her deceased family."

She apparently didn't slay a sandman before the ring activated for her.

"when she encountered a sandman, a sinister elemental creature. Her ring—a mostly dormant ring of elemental command— allowed her to command the sandman."

How would I know if a particular sample of Earth was sacred? Is the Dormant ring of earth elemental command from Destiny of the Sands ONLY a Sandman commanding ring or was that just the first elemental that Zelekhati happened to encounter after her ring activated? Are there other Sacred "Earth" materials that would activate it with the result of being able to command an earth elemental other than a Sandman?

[trogwolf]

Spoiler:

I am guessing that being a Sorcerer with the Elemental Bloodline is key to Madame Zelekhati's activation of the Dormant ring of earth elemental command without having had to kill an Earth Elemental. I would appreciate definite confirmation or denial of this deduction.

[FLite]

1. Spoiler tags are your friend. Please do not spoiler scenarios for other players.

2. It could have awakened because she was the heir to the family lineage. It could have wakened because of her blood line. It could have wakened because she turned 47. Who knows.

3. Ask your GM. In a home game, your character would probably need to do some research using K(Arcana) (for the ring) K(Planes) (it involves elementals) and/or K(Geography) (To find sacred ground.) Since this is PFS, your GM in this matter is Mike Brock. I suspect that if the it is ever possible to awaken the item in question, it will require a boon from a high level scenario. (Also it will almost certainly require the expenditure of something on the order of 200,000 gp. So. Um... Yeah.)

[trogwolf]

FLite, I didn't know about Spoiler tags. Thanks. I will try to figure out how to create one if I need to ask another question of this type in the future. You mentioned Mike Brock. I will try to get in touch with him with my question. Thank you.