Staff of The Grand Sage

Slot none; Aura overwhelming evocation and transmutation; CL 30th; Weight 4 lbs.

DESCRIPTION

This long, knotted, and intertwining staff was crafted by a powerful wizard over 2,000 years ago from the limb of the silvery-white Eushon tree. Carved with sigils and runes of power, this powerful +5 holy adamantine shod quarterstaff can be used to smite opponents, and contains an enormous array of spells and powers. Unlike a normal staff, the staff of the great sage holds only 25 charges, but regains charges at the rate of 1 charge per day, as long as 1 charge remains. It cannot be recharged normally. While some of its powers use charges, others do not. The staff of the great sage does not lose its powers if it runs out of charges. 

LEGENDARY POWERS

Basic Abilities legendary power (8/day), legendary surge (+1d20; concentration and caster level checks), mythic bond.

Advanced Abilities eternal bond (arcane spellcaster only), foe-biter, metamagician, powerful (x3), returning, undetectable, unstoppable 

strike, upgradable.

POWERS

If 1 charge is expended (a free action), the staff deals double damage (x3 on a critical hit) for 1 round. 

The staff of the grand sage also possesses a number of spell-like powers. The following powers do not use charges:

• Continual flame

• Detect magic

• Dispel magic

• Enlarge person (Fortitude DC 21 negates)

• Hold portal

• Knock

• Levitate

• Light

• Mage armor

• Mage hand

• Pyrotechnics (Will or Fortitude DC 22 negates)

• Web

The following powers drain 1 charge per usage:

• Cone of cold (mythic, 15d10 damage, Reflex DC 25 half)

• Dimension door 

• Fireball (mythic, 10d10 damage, Reflex DC 23 half)

• Fly

• Globe of invulnerability 

• Hold monster 

• Ice storm

• Invisibility

• Lightning bolt (mythic, 10d6 damage, Reflex DC 23 half)

• Magic missile (mythic, 1d6+1 damage, maximized)

• Passwall

• Ray of enfeeblement 

• Wall of fire

• Wall of force (in a 10-ft.-diameter hemisphere around the caster only)

• Wall of ice

These powers drain 2 charges per usage:

• Astral projection

• Greater teleport

• Overland flight

• Plane shift (Will DC 27 negates)

• Summon monster IX

• Telekinesis (400 lbs. maximum weight; Will DC 25 negates)

• Phase door 

These powers drain 3 charges per usage:

• Chain Lightning (mythic, 20d10 damage, Reflex DC 26 half)

• Delayed Blast Fireball (mythic, 20d10 damage, Reflex DC 27 half)

• Gate

• Polar Ray (mythic, 25d10 damage)

The wielder of the staff of the great sage gains and a +5 luck bonus to AC and on saving throws. The wielder also gains spell resistance 30. If this is willingly lowered, however, the staff can also be used to absorb arcane spell energy directed at its wielder, as a rod of absorption does. Unlike the rod, this staff converts spell levels into charges rather than retaining them as spell energy usable by a spellcaster. If the staff absorbs enough spell levels to exceed its limit of 25 charges, it explodes as if a retributive strike had been performed (see below). Unlike a staff of magi, the wielder knows how many spell levels are cast at him, as it communicate this knowledge as a rod of absorption does.

The staff of the great sage can be broken for a retributive strike. Such an act must be purposeful and declared by the wielder. All charges in the staff are released in a 30-foot spread. All creatures and objects within 2 squares of the broken staff take an amount of damage equal to 20 x the number of charges in the staff, those 3 or 4 squares away take an amount of damage equal to 15 x the number of charges, and those 5 or 6 squares away take an amount of damage equal to 10 x the number of charges. All those affected can make DC 27 Reflex saves to reduce the damage by half.

The character breaking the staff has a 50% chance (01—50 on d%) of traveling to another plane of existence, but if he does not (51—100), the explosive release of spell energy destroys him (no saving throw). 

Unlike other staves used in a retributive strike, the staff of the great sage is never completely destroyed. The staff regenerates itself at the rate of 1 hit point per month, until it is fully regenerated. Once it is fully regenerated, it remains without charges until it is recharged through spell absorption.

DESTRUCTION

The staff of the great sage can only be destroyed if it is broken in a retributive strike, doused in unholy water, and cast into the flames of the Elemental Plane of Fire. 

HISTORY

The Staff of the Great Sage is an artifact of the great age of man, and was lost for many centuries. However, its was recovered by the hero arcanist of the Off-Worlder War, Wu Yan Ravenhill, and his companions, from an ancient vault containing a treasure horde of goodly and neutral artifacts. Claimed by the Wu Yan Ravenhill, the powerful arcanist wielded it throughout the war in his battle against the evil forces hell bent to bring eternal darkness to the world. Wu has gained complete control over the artifact, and has in fact, enhanced it to suit his needs. It has remained in his possession to this very day, as he continues to protect the world from incursions by evil forces.