Welcome back.
I'd probably go with Domination here. The other two powers have too much baggage, and besides they both give him capabilities beyond simple thrall-making. Allowing Domination to make fine thralls won't break anything.
Thanks. It's good to be back.
As for the ring-IoP, my original thought for this guy is slightly more mature, more subtle version of Pavel Young of the Honorverse, if Pavel had gone into politics instead of the navy; distinct sociopathic tendencies (in the "I'm the only real person, everyone else are cardboard cutouts to play with and manipulate" sense), a member of an old, powerful family with extensive blackmail files, and thinks that the only appropriate place for an attractive woman is in his bed. In this guy's case, he didn't have the humbling encounter that Pavel did with Honor Harrington, and did have a hereditary artifact that his family has been using to generate consent (both political and other) for generations. (highly recommend the
Honor Harrington series, btw; freely and legally available to read at the link).
With that in mind, I needed something subtle, that could produce fine thralls, and Domination is specifically capable of neither by description, unless I just re-skin it as such, maybe like this:
Hypnos [-2]
Description: There is the blatant mental attacks of the Black Court, as direct and overpowering as a firehose and then there is the subtle workings of Hypnos. Hypnos allows the user to make subtle adjustments to a victim's personality and general mental state that will often go unnoticed and unremarked unless activated or pushed against.
Skills affected: Discipline
Effects:
Psychic Manipulation: Given some time and appropriate measures--typically an hour or so of quiet social interaction, like a date, dinner or other similar period/situation--you may make a covert psychic attack against an unsuspecting or helpless target, dealing mental stress and consequences or setting up a mental maneuver until the degree of manipulation desired has been achieved. The target can defend with Discipline, but cannot counter-attack, leaving them to eventually be worn down.
Create Fine Thrall: Inflicting consequences and Taking Out a victim allows them to be finely enthralled; triggers and compulsions can be implanted, ranging from the subtle to the overt.
how's that look?
EDIT:
Clarification: By default, even if it is an IoP, if you go the Ritual route you are still using mortal magic (not sponsored magic) and thus still violating the Laws. That being said, if you want to run it this way at your table, that's perfectly acceptable. Just remember that a player taking evocation in a boom stick has the same argument when it comes to killing. Sponsored magic is free of this restriction (usually). Incite emotion and domination aren't magic and thus don't apply to the laws anyway.
Point. Forgot about that. I think what you posted with the Sponsored Magic was closer to what I originally had in mind anyway, so no worries.
