When speaking about 'those things,' even Elrond's usually calm and steady voice inevitably carried a weighty tone.
The former Great Dark Enemy, Sorun, crafted sixteen rings. Disguising himself as an Elf known as the 'King of Gifts,' he gave these rings to the most powerful and strong-willed King heroes among the Dwarves and humans.
Since obtaining these rings, the greed of the Dwarves intensified, and they began to be utterly captivated by gold and jewels.
The cities of the Dwarves also dug deeper and deeper in their increasingly fervent mining surges.
To this day, even the royal lineage of the Durin Race has fallen prey to a mental condition known as [Dragon Sickness].
And humans had even less resistance than the Dwarves.
The nine Kings who accepted the rings were all leaders of ancient and powerful nations.
But with the rings' corruption, they became the servants of Sorun, from their souls to their bodies.
They wore black robes, rode black horses, galloping in the night.
